Why (almost) everyone hates ESG right now

Zero: The Climate Race

Bloomberg

Technology, Business, Science

4.7 • 219 Ratings

🗓️ 27 February 2025

⏱️ 28 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The world of ESG regulation and investing was already suffering a period of shaky confidence even before President Donald Trump returned to the White House. Now, companies are facing a new period of uncertainty when it comes to Environmental, Social, and Governance policies. Reporter Frances Schwartzkopff tells Akshat Rathi why the EU is rolling back some ESG legislation. And reporter Saijel Kishan explains that many companies today are still keeping their ESG plans in place — but just not talking about it.

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Zero is a production of Bloomberg Green. Our producer is Mythili Rao. Special thanks this week to Aaron Rutkoff, Siobhan Wagner and Jessica Beck. Thoughts or suggestions? Email us at [email protected]. For more coverage of climate change and solutions, visit https://www.bloomberg.com/green.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Don't miss the fifth Qatar Economic Forum powered by Bloomberg this May 20th to 22nd, live in Doha.
0:08.4	Programmed by Bloomberg News, the Qatar Economic Forum will convene the world leaders and international CEOs who are providing unique perspectives on the critical issues facing the global economy.
0:20.0	Join us in Doha and be there as it happens.
0:22.8	Request an invitation today at catar Economic Forum.com.
0:29.8	Welcome to Zero. I am Akshadrati.
0:32.6	This week, the ESG backlash.
0:50.3	Thank you. the ESG backlash. The world of ESG regulation and investing was already suffering a period of shaky confidence
0:55.1	even before Donald Trump came back to the White House.
0:59.0	And now, Trump appears to be bringing in a new period of uncertainty about just how accountable
1:05.3	companies will have to be to governments and investors when it comes to their environmental,
1:10.7	social and governance policies.
1:13.9	So this week, we are looking at the history of ESG and its future.
1:19.1	Reporter Sejel Kishin, who has been watching these developments from New York,
1:22.9	tells me how the US used to be a leader in ESG once upon a time,
1:27.9	and we talk about why many companies today are still keeping their ESG plans in place,
1:33.6	but just not talking about it.
1:35.4	But first, I spoke with Copenhagen-based reporter Francis Schwartzcoff
1:39.4	about how the ESG movement grew into its current form,
1:43.8	why Europe is leading on it,
1:45.5	and why major rollbacks appear imminent.
2:04.8	Fran, welcome to the show.
2:06.8	Thanks very much for inviting me.
	...

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