ESG and Corporate Climate Actions

The rise and development of environmental, social and governance (ESG) globally has become a compelling trend in the twenty-first century. ESG represents the three key dimensions of environmental, social and corporate governance, and they have become an important topic of concern for investors and corporations. This chapter first introduces the concept and connotation of ESG, reviews its developmental history and relevant theoretical foundations, and describes the basic connection between ESG and climate change. Second, this chapter reviews current discourse in the literature on ESG and corporate behaviour, particularly studies related to climate change, in terms of both corporate ESG performance and related information disclosure. Finally, this chapter briefly describes possible directions for future research based on the existing research base. This chapter will help provide an in-depth understanding of ESG-related concepts, a comprehensive understanding of ESG’s historical evolution and current development, and an understanding of current corporate behaviour related to ESG and climate change.