Industries

Helping clients meet their business challenges begins with an in-depth understanding of the industries in which they work. That’s why KPMG LLP established its industry-driven structure. In fact, KPMG LLP was the first of the Big Four firms to organize itself along the same industry lines as clients.

How We Work

We bring together passionate problem-solvers, innovative technologies, and full-service capabilities to create opportunity with every insight.

Learn more

Careers & Culture

What is culture? Culture is how we do things around here. It is the combination of a predominant mindset, actions (both big and small) that we all commit to every day, and the underlying processes, programs and systems supporting how work gets done.

Learn more

Environmental, Social, and Governance: Government leadership as a catalyst for success

Leading by example drives government transformation

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:

  • What key forces are driving the need for all levels of government to focus on ESG now
  • U.S. residents’ and federal, state, and city government employees’ sentiments regarding governments’ approach to ESG
  • ESG imperatives in government
  • Urgent ESG priorities in government
  • Four roles of government in addressing ESG issues
  • Key questions to ask when adopting an ESG lens
  • Challenges governments face in addressing ESG issues
  • Benefits of governments leading by example on ESG
  • Stories of governments taking action on ESG

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.

Dive into our thinking:

Environmental, Social, and Governance: Government leadership as a catalyst for success

Environmental, Social, and Governance: Government leadership as a catalyst for success

Download PDF

Now 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

Lorna Stark

National Sector Leader for Government, KPMG LLP

Latest insights

ESG – Environment, Social, Governance Policies – Come to Government

KPMG’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 Policy

KPMG’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 opportunity

This 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 Framework

A 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 Planning

KPMG’s Lorna Stark joins New York City government leaders for a discussion on strengthening infrastructure resiliency.

government building at night

Government & Public Sector

Helping governments modernize and focus on becoming connected, powered and trusted.

Read more

Explore more insights

Meet our team

Image of Lorna Stark
Lorna Stark
Line of Business Leader, Government & Healthcare, KPMG US

Thank you!

Thank you for contacting KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

Contact KPMG

Use this form to submit general inquiries to KPMG. We will respond to you as soon as possible.

By submitting, you agree that KPMG LLP may process any personal information you provide pursuant to KPMG LLP's Privacy Statement.

An error occurred. Please contact customer support.

Job seekers

Visit our careers section or search our jobs database.

Submit RFP

Use the RFP submission form to detail the services KPMG can help assist you with.

Office locations

International hotline

You can confidentially report concerns to the KPMG International hotline

Press contacts

Do you need to speak with our Press Office? Here's how to get in touch.

Headline