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Abstract
This paper discusses the evolution of risk management to include the sustainability risk space, which has developed a range of approaches to measure and manage so-called nonfinancial risks (such as extreme climate change-induced catastrophes, data fraud and theft, and social ills, to name a few) that can pose significant micro- and macroeconomic threats. We note that, although the practise of sustainability risk management is still evolving, environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and metrics have emerged that may help companies in their strategic planning and decision-making processes, as well as in measuring, managing, mitigating and/or where appropriate eliminating these material ESG-related risk exposures. Secondly, the paper summarises selected approaches to corporate sustainability reporting and observe that the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board’s industry-specific, financially material framework is uniquely well-suited for use in the context of identifying, assessing, responding to, and monitoring enterprise-level risks and opportunities. By drawing explicit links between sustainability and finance, this materiality-driven perspective has been shown to help companies enhance return on assets and return on equity, as well as risk-adjusted shareholder returns. The paper analyses shareholders’ increasing interest in ESG risks, opportunities, and related data, which helps them analyse performance across corporations and allocate economic capital to its best, most efficient users. Ultimately, investor-focused ESG reporting can help corporations address risks and opportunities in a way that is mutually beneficial to the organisation, its shareholders, and society at large, incentivising companies to become better global citizens and leading to more sustainable and inclusive economic growth and development. The paper concludes by suggesting business is the best agent for change that can help transition to a more robust and resilient global economy.
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Author's Biography
Dr. Madelyn Antoncic is a Senior Fellow, Development Research Institute (DRI), New York University. She is a Member of the Board of Directors and Risk Committee of ACWA Power, Saudi Arabia and S&P Global Ratings. Dr. Antoncic most recently was Senior Advisor to UNCTAD on ESG and SDG Reporting; was CEO of Global Algorithmic Institute, an early-stage start-up NGO using Big Data to track corporate SDG reporting; and CEO of SASB. She is a former Vice-President and Treasurer of the World Bank. Her experience spans global financial markets across all asset classes in large, complex, global financial institutions in both the private and public sector. She began her career as an Economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, followed by various senior market roles at Goldman Sachs, Barclays Capital, Lehman Brothers and Principal Global Investors. She has published widely on ESG issues and has served as a judge of Corporate Sustainability Report (CSR’s) competitions for both UNCTAD-ISAR’s and the Asia Sustainability Reporting Summit, respectively. She is known for her leadership in financial innovation including implementation of national climate-related disaster risk reduction and mitigation structures to help emerging and developing economies transfer climate-related disaster and other risks to the markets to enable them to be more fiscally resilient. Dr. Antoncic is an internationally recognized industry leader and expert on risk management, ESG and governance. She is the subject of many risk management and governance graduate school case studies concerning the Great Financial Crisis. She is a frequent speaker and key note including at high-level fora such as at the UN General Assembly (UNGA), SDG Business Forum Plenary; the Ministry Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) Tokyo, First Annual TCFD Summit; UNCTAD-ISARs; G20 Greening the Financial System: Financing for Sustainable Growth and Development; World Bank and IMF High-level Global Infrastructure Forum on Mechanisms to Increase Infrastructure Finance; the UN Climate Change Summit; The Sandai Dialogue, Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management in National Development Planning. Her awards include First Prize Honoree of the International UNCTAD-ISAR Honours 2020, with GAI for Harmonizing Corporate Sustainability Reporting; the Fulbright Scholars Award for International Cooperation; National Partnership for Women and Families award for Leadership sharing the stage with Senator Christopher J. Dodd; Risk Manager of the Year; was named among the 100 Most Influential People in Finance; listed among top thought leaders helping shape (and reshape) accounting in 2020 and beyond; received the Women in Business, Distinguished Alumna award; and the Girl Scouts Annual Tribute award. She is a member of the Board of Overseers of Weill Cornell Medicine of Cornell University and the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Risk Management in Financial Institutions; and the Journal of A.I., Robotics & Workplace Automation. She is a former Board member of One-to-World supporting Fulbright students and scholars; the World Bank Group Pension Finance Committee, as Vice-Chairman; the Public Sector Issuers Forum, as Co-chair; Barclay’s Capital Board and member of the Executive Committee of the Board; and the Board of Directors of the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York. Dr. Antoncic holds a Ph.D. in Economics, a minor in Finance from NYU; was an Alfred P Sloan Foundation Doctoral Fellow and a member of the adjunct faculty at NYU Stern’s graduate and undergraduate schools.
Citation
Antoncic, Madelyn (2019, June 1). Why sustainability? Because risk evolves and risk management should too. In the Journal of Risk Management in Financial Institutions, Volume 12, Issue 3. https://doi.org/10.69554/NGCI9028.Publications LLP