SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS: INDIA'S ESG LEADERSHIP & GREEN INITIATIVES

In a conversation with BW Businessworld, SUDHIR MISHRA, Founder and Managing Partner, Trust Legal, sheds light on India’s multifaceted sustainability landscape. With extensive experience in environmental law, Mishra shares thoughts on the nation’s journey towards achieving environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals and its global responsibilities

- ASHIMA OHRI

Could you elaborate on what constitutes ESG and how it should be approached beyond environmental considerations?

ESG stands for environmental, social and governance factors. However, people tend to focus excessively on the environmental aspect and overlook the ‘S’ and ‘G’. The social element in India has tremendous potential. For instance, our laws on child labour and women’s rights have substantially improved. Policies like the PoSH Act 2013 (the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace - Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) have triggered greater empowerment and gender neutrality. Similarly, India’s legal mandates on women’s representation in corporate boards are more progressive than many neighbouring countries. The focus should be on telling these success stories, which are not widely known.