Winning a seat at the ESG table

Financial Institutions (FIs) struggle to identify, assess and develop appropriate responses that proactively address potential events for more traditional known risks let alone new, emerging and imprecise risks in the often difficult-to-quantify Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) space. ESG-related risks present even greater challenges to established risk management frameworks such as COSO because ESG risks are generally not well known to the business and include ‘black swans’ or other unforeseen events that can challenge the entities’ short-term or long-term performance or even survival; tend to be longer term in nature than the timeline with which strategy is set or risks have been considered historically; and beyond the scope of any one entity. The good news is that FIs’ existing — and often highly sophisticated risk, compliance and legal functions (Risk Team) — are well equipped to integrate and mitigate these significant ESG-related risks into the FI’s risk management framework. The authors, drawing upon first-hand experience as government-appointed monitors for large, global financial institutions, provide a practical roadmap for defining and mapping ESG-related risks. They also explain why Chief Risk Officers, Chief Compliance Officers and Chief Legal Officers must seize this unique opportunity to not only avoid the financial, legal, regulatory, and reputational losses that will inevitably follow without an ESG risk management programme — but also enhance the value the Risk Team delivers as ESG priorities become pervasive across FIs worldwide. Acknowledging that sustainability and/or ESG professionals are uniquely qualified to provide critical guidance defining and communicating the FI’s objectives, the authors provide a proven framework and methodology for compliance and risk practitioners to leverage as they reach across the aisle to their counterparts in Sustainability or Corporate Social Responsibility to elevate the ESG risk conversation and their own visibility.