An inaugural 10-country global research study of public attitudes to ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) principles for governments and corporates has found that environment, especially climate change, dominates people’s concerns. More than half of consumers say they are willing to boycott companies with poor ESG performance and believe ESG claims should be regulated with penalties imposed for poor practice.

The SEC Newgate ESG Monitor found that people were strongly interested in ESG, with six in 10 rating their interest in ESG issues as high. Other key findings include strong public demand for consistent and measurable ESG reporting, significant levels of social media and buyer’s choice activism in response to poor ESG performance, and demand for all organisations to take responsibility for issues such as their supply chains and contribution to local communities.

The SEC Newgate ESG Monitor surveying more than 10,000 people in Europe, the Americas and Asia-Pacific found that in all 10 countries, climate change or the environment was the number one ESG concern. It also identified environmental issues including action on climate change and carbon neutrality as being the most powerful factors in determining public perceptions of governments’ and corporates’ ESG performance. The countries surveyed were: Australia, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, the UK and the U.S.A.

To download the Global ESG Monitor: www.secnewgateesgmonitor.com