The adoption of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards is relevant not only because investors are more inclined to consider them in their investment decisions but also due to their potential positive impact on sustainable development. While ESG implementation is still mostly voluntary, governments around the world are increasingly integrating these standards into their legal frameworks. Thus, understanding how the law supports ESG adoption becomes essential. However, the law alone is not sufficient to ensure that companies apply these standards. Investment is also needed to guarantee that the impact of ESG practices is long-lasting. In this paper we present our findings on how legal frameworks of 10 countries support ESG standards implementation, and what funding alternatives are available, particularly to small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

A new report, Just Climate Transitions in Bangladesh: Accelerating Multistakeholder Action in Textile and Apparel and Construction Industries, examines how Bangladesh can pursue low-carbon growth while protecting workers and sustaining competitiveness.
Bangladesh’s economy expanded 24-fold between 1980 and 2023, while GHG emissions rose 176%. The textile, apparel, and construction sectors—representing 74% of industrial GDP, 80% of the industrial workforce, and around half of industrial emissions—sit at the center of a just transition challenge.

Developed with support from the H&M Foundation and Laudes Foundation, and informed by 100+ local and international stakeholders, the report identifies seven interlinked priorities and calls for coordinated action across industry, workers’ organizations, policymakers, development actors, finance, and philanthropy.