Can Select Committees influence a company’s environmental, social and governance credentials?
In this paper, Stanley Kwong examines the role of House of Commons Select Committees in scrutinising companies on their sustainability records and holding them publicly accountable. He observes that the investigative approach of Select Committees makes them well-placed to perform this function, and argues that they have the potential to positively influence companies’ sustainability credentials. However, to be most effective they should integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) frameworks more deliberately into their inquiry work.
Stanley Kwong is a sustainable finance expert, working at the forefront of responsible investment and impact investing. He previously worked as an environmental and climate change specialist advising the House of Commons Select Committees and the UK Civil Service. Stanley completed a Masters in Sustainability at Cambridge University, researching democracy, climate justice and intergenerational representation.
This publication presents the personal views of the author and not those of The Constitution Society, which publishes it as a contribution to debate on this important subject.