What’s Lost When We Talk ‘ESG’ and Not ‘Sustainability’

Corporate profitability is the sole purpose of ESG (environment, social and governance) disclosure, not sustainable development per se.  SDG achievement for the sustainability of the biosphere and socio-economic environment of the world for all stakeholders is not the intended purpose of ESG.  Instead, it focuses on profits and shareholder maximization above all else.  Sustainability professionals and their clients – developers, lenders, and investors – advocate ESG for the benefit of the business stakeholders.  ESG analysis and disclosure informs them about the "sustainability risk" that the companies are exposed to from environmental and social impacts on their business, solely to increase stakeholder profitability.