Corporate boards raise concerning knowledge gaps when it comes to sustainability, new global research finds

• A new report by Heidrick & Struggles, INSEAD and BCG, found that more than two-thirds of directors (68%) feel that sustainability has little impact on financial performance today, and only 10% believe sustainability will negatively affect medium- to long-term financial results.
• The survey also found that only 29% of global board directors feel completely knowledgeable enough to challenge or monitor execution on sustainability, and 89% rely only on management updates to stay informed on the topic of ESG.
• A combined 48% of respondents confirmed that knowledge or experience with sustainability is either "not at all" or just "slightly" part of the competency matrix for their board selection.

CHICAGO, July 10, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Though significant progress has been made on boardroom awareness and acceptance of the sustainability agenda, capacity challenges, and a self-declared lack of expertise at the board level has revealed a gap between intentions and prioritization of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda. That is according to a new global survey of board directors published today by Heidrick & Struggles (Nasdaq: HSII), a premier provider of global leadership advisory and on-demand talent solutions, in partnership with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), one of the world's leading management consulting firms, and the INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre, a global INSEAD centre of excellence for research, innovation and impact in corporate governance.

The report finds that, despite greater societal expectations on businesses in terms of ESG, most boards do not feel financial pressure to act on sustainability issues. 68% of those surveyed said that sustainability considerations have "no effect" or a "slight effect" on financial performance today, but 52% of those surveyed said they are acting on sustainability because it's the 'right thing to do', with a similar number (51%) citing legislative requirements.

The Role of the Board in the Sustainability Era 2023 is a global survey examining the perceptions of boards towards a full spectrum of ESG issues, as well as how the drive for sustainability is influencing and reorganizing the efforts of boards. The findings reveal how boards are adapting their own composition, governance, and process considerations with varying degrees of success to better meet their organizations' ambitions and stakeholders' expectations for sustainability.