Dr. Edoardo Monaco, Director and Associate Professor of GAD, recently took part in the Standards Working Committee of China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) that formulated national "ESG Assessment Guidelines", alongside institutions  like Securities Association of China, China Development Research Institute, China Institute for Sustainable Development, and more. The Guidelines were officially implemented on October 12, 2021.

In 2006, Kofi Annan, then UN Secretary-General, led the establishment of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI), which combined social responsibility, corporate governance and environmental protection and thus brought about the concept of ESG and its assessment for the first time.

Since then, the relevance of and global interest in ESG have grown exponentially.

Today, ESG assessment can provide valuable insights and help create long-term value for multiple stakeholders and, most importantly, contribute to a more sustainable and resilient future for all. For enterprises, good ESG ratings can significantly boost brand image, as well as attract investments  and even financing at favorable conditions.

The recently issued ESG Guidelines provide enterprises and institutions in China with a standardized system comprising of basic principles, requirements, indicators and methods for evaluation. This ultimately contributes to social and environmental responsibility, as well as to the overall pursuit of sustainable development and "Ecological Civilization" in the country and beyond.

Note for current and prospective students: the GAD Programme now offers a Concentration Elective course on this very topic, taught by Dr. Monaco and entitled "From SDGs to ESG: Sustainability Frameworks for Public and Private Sectors"!

For More Information:

http://www.ttbz.org.cn/StandardManage/Detail/51308/