Indian Energy Minerals Forum 2022 Webinar Series 3, Webinar #6: Tribal Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

ESG is an acronym for Environmental, Social, and Governance. ESG takes the holistic view that sustainability extends beyond just environmental issues. ESG is best characterized as a framework that helps stakeholders understand how an organization is managing risks and opportunities related to environmental, social, and governance criteria. While the term ESG is often used in the context of investing, stakeholders include not just the investment community but also customers, suppliers, and employees. All of them are increasingly interested in how sustainable an organization’s operations are. Today ESG is mainstream. Law firms have ESG practices. Corporate boards have ESG committees. And companies have ESG statements and are rated by investors on matching that company’s deeds to its words. And the total investment last year was a record $649 billion, accounting for 10 percent of worldwide assets. And several investment analysts predict that ESG investments will reach $1 trillion before the end of this decade. For Indian Country, what does this mean? And both Indigenous communities and shareholders have more authority to shape that direction under ESG. This webinar will consider ESG and the importance and impacts to tribal governments, economies, development, sustainability and the future.

Speakers

Michael Moore

Program Director
United States Energy Association

Derrick Watchman

President
SageBrush Hill Group, LLC

Steve Grey

Former Board Chairman
Four Corners Economic Development

Taylor Reed Branson

Founder
Branson Group

Dr. Renia Ehrenfeucht

Professor and the Chair of the Community + Regional Planning
University of New Mexico School of Architecture + Planning

Ryan Scott

Risk Management and Sustainability Reporting
HBW Resources