Since its emergence, the collection of environmental, social and governance factors under the acronym of ESG has garnered widespread interest and support.

The movement created an enthusiastic energy about saving the planet, with net-zero pledges focused on going green, reducing emissions and embracing eco-friendly practices across industries. ESG’s appeal expanded gradually alongside the growth of sustainability concepts. Major corporations made green promises to prioritize sustainability, and even oil and gas firms began integrating ESG goals into their operations. The rise of ESG-focused efforts signaled a transformative shift in business practices and investment strategies, such as excluding specific un-ESG investments and implementing travel and paperless incentives.

But in the past three years, the ESG issue has been heightened with politicization regardless of individual interest. There have been reports of investors prioritizing financial returns over environm