Document Type
Article
Publication Date
Fall 2022
Abstract
Transparency on ESG (environmental, social, and governance) is an important, if imperfect, step in striving for sustainability. Because a constellation of nonprofit organizations created voluntary reporting frameworks with little government involvement, ESG reporting governance is institutionally dense and fragmented. Reporting companies and information users have both expressed dissatisfaction. In 2020, standard-setting organizations indicated their intent to cooperate to simplify ESG reporting rules. In a different yet similar context, scholars utilize regime theory to understand institutional density and the potential for international cooperation, primarily among states. This article is the first to apply regime theory to ESG reporting governance architecture to better understand this unusual arena of rulemaking. It identifies key obstacles to global consolidation of ESG reporting governance and predicts that differences between the reporting philosophies in the European Union and the United States are among the factors that will prevent global consolidation of ESG reporting governance. This article concludes with advice for practitioners. It draws on law and strategy and proactive law literature to propose approaches for reporting companies navigating the complex landscape of ESG reporting governance.
Copyright Statement
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article:
Sulkowski, A. & Jebe, R. (2022). Evolving ESG Reporting Governance, Regime Theory, and Proactive Law: Predictions and Strategies. American Business Law Journal, 59(3), 449-503,
which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1111/ablj.12210. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions. This article may not be enhanced, enriched or otherwise transformed into a derivative work, without express permission from Wiley or by statutory rights under applicable legislation. Copyright notices must not be removed, obscured or modified. The article must be linked to Wiley’s version of record on Wiley Online Library and any embedding, framing or otherwise making available the article or pages thereof by third parties from platforms, services and websites other than Wiley Online Library must be prohibited.
Publication Information
Sulkowski, Adam and Jebe, Ruth. (2022). "Evolving ESG Reporting Governance, Regime Theory, and Proactive Law: Predictions and Strategies". American Business Law Journal, 59(3), 449-503. https://doi.org/10.1111/ablj.12210