The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) movement has quickly evolved in the U.S. from socially responsible investing to a strategic imperative, affecting not only investment decisions and shareholders but also business strategy, the economy, and people around the world. For governments, the goal is to build long-term sustainability and achieve desired outcomes for constituents and other stakeholders.
Governments are not new to addressing environmental and social issues. However, key forces are driving the need for all levels of government—federal, state, regional, local, and tribal—to focus on ESG holistically as central to their missions. With increasing global risks, the mounting costs of those risks, heightened employee, public, and stakeholder expectations, declining trust in government, and new funding opportunities, a focus on ESG can have a profound impact on mission achievement at all levels of governments.
For more insights into the U.S. public’s and government employees’ sentiments regarding governments’ approach to ESG, in the Spring of 2022, KPMG surveyed 1,000 U.S. residents and 427 federal, state, and city government employees. The survey reveals the degree to which government employees and constituents are holding governments accountable for addressing ESG issues, their satisfaction with governments’ action on ESG, the ESG issues of most importance to them, and other important insights.
In Environmental, Social, and Governance: Government leadership as a catalyst for success, we explore:
Now is the time for governments to lead by example and make ESG investments in a coordinated manner so that positive outcomes can be greater than the sum of their parts over time, and consistently so. Now is the time to help deliver on the promise of a Modern Government—one that is connected, powered, and trusted, creating positive change that benefits government workers, constituents, and communities.
Environmental, Social, and Governance: Government leadership as a catalyst for success
Environmental, Social, and Governance: Government leadership as a catalyst for success
Download PDFNow is the time for government agencies to transform their mindsets and consider ESG holistically as central to their missions rather than as siloed issues managed in distinct areas of the agency…This mindset shift, in which governments realize and embrace their leadership in ESG across their many roles, can serve as a catalyst for the success of the overall ESG movement and governments’ own modernization and transformation efforts.
Lorna Stark
National Sector Leader for Government, KPMG LLP
ESG – Environment, Social, Governance Policies – Come to GovernmentKPMG’s Lorna Stark joins a FedInsider webinar on how governments that place a strategic focus on ESG can produce tangible impacts on operations, finances, and organizational resilience. | The Modern Government: The Evolution of Environmental, Social, and Governance PolicyKPMG’s Corinne Dougherty joins a GovExec webinar exploring key trends and priorities in the ESG landscape and leading practices for governments as they act on ESG issues. | ESG isn’t just an investment for federal agencies; it’s an opportunityThis Federal News Network article explores how federal agencies are embracing concrete steps towards ESG. |
What is an ESG Framework and How Does It Apply to Governments?A fireside chat with KPMG and e.Republic on what ESG means for government. | Centering Constituent Concerns with an Environmental, Social and Governance FrameworkA fireside chat with KPMG and e.Republic on how adopting an ESG framework can help governments advance their mission. | Strengthening NYC and Setting an Example for Infrastructure PlanningKPMG’s Lorna Stark joins New York City government leaders for a discussion on strengthening infrastructure resiliency. |
Helping governments modernize and focus on becoming connected, powered and trusted.
Read moreBuilding momentum toward health equity
The KPMG LLP health equity flywheel offers a framework for action and change
Modern government: Connected. Powered. Trusted.
Organizations that provide human-centric experiences earn the public’s trust and attract next-generation workers.
Governments' untapped opportunity to achieve climate and health equity goals
Effective method empowers every agency role