Journey to Towards Unified ESG Framework

The global landscape of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting is witnessing a transformative shift, marked by the withdrawal of nearly $24 billion from green-focused funds in 2024. In the United States, political polarization and opposition from conservative states have dampened enthusiasm for ESG initiatives.

India finds itself at a crucial crossroads, having lost out on potential billions in sustainable investments due to bureaucratic inefficiencies and the absence of clear regulatory frameworks. As global investment dynamics grow increasingly challenging, India must urgently establish comprehensive and interoperable ESG regulations. Swift action will ensure India remains competitive and capitalizes on the growing sustainable investment market.

ESG Reporting:

• Overview: Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting serves as a vital framework for assessing a company’s sustainability and ethical practices across three core dimensions:
• Environmental Impact: Evaluating how a company manages its environmental responsibilities, such as carbon emissions, waste reduction, and resource efficiency.
• Social Responsibility: Measuring a company’s contributions to society, including labor practices, diversity, community engagement, and human rights.
• Corporate Governance: Assessing the integrity of a company’s leadership, transparency, and adherence to ethical business practices.

As global environmental and social challenges intensify, investors and stakeholders are increasingly demanding that businesses adopt responsible and sustainable practices. Strong ESG performance has become crucial for ensuring long-term business resilience, minimizing risks, and building investor trust.

Evolution of ESG Regulations in India

• 2009: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) issued the “Voluntary Guidelines on Corporate Social Responsibility” to encourage responsible business practices.
• 2011: MCA introduced the “National Voluntary Guidelines (NVGs) on Social, Environmental, and Economic Responsibilities of Business”, providing a structured framework for ESG reporting.
• 2012: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) mandated the top 100 listed companies (by market capitalization) to file the Business Responsibility Report (BRR), marking a significant step toward formal ESG disclosures.
• 2016: The BRR requirement was extended to cover the top 500 listed companies.
• 2019: MCA revised the NVGs and introduced the updated “National Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC)”.
• 2021: SEBI launched the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) framework, which:
• Was initially voluntary for the top 1000 companies.
• Became mandatory starting from FY 2023.
• 2023: SEBI introduced the BRSR Core framework, applicable to the top 150 listed companies (by market capitalization) from FY 2024.

Importance of a Robust Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Framework for India

1. Addressing Climate Crisis and Vulnerability

• India ranks as the 7th most vulnerable country to climate change (Global Climate Risk Index 2019), facing frequent and severe events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves that disrupt lives and economic growth.
• In 2021, India incurred an income loss of $159 billion, accounting for 5.4% of GDP, across sectors such as services, manufacturing, agriculture, and construction, due to extreme heatwaves.
• A strong ESG framework ensures the adoption of adaptation and mitigation strategies, improving climate resilience.

2. Enhancing Global Competitiveness and Meeting Trade Standards

• India’s export industries are under growing pressure to comply with ESG standards, as global markets increasingly enforce sustainable trade practices.

For example, the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), effective from January 1, 2026, will impose tariffs on imports from carbon-intensive industries, such as steel, cement, fertilizers, aluminium, and hydrocarbon products.

• India exports 26.6% of iron ore pellets, iron, steel, and aluminium products to the EU, making these sectors particularly vulnerable to CBAM.
• Failure to adopt ESG principles could severely impact India’s export potential, competitiveness, and trade relationships.
  
  

Challenges Hindering Effective ESG Implementation in India

1. Lack of Regulatory Clarity and Enforcement

• India lacks a comprehensive and legally binding ESG framework, while enforcement mechanisms are particularly weak for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
• Many companies view ESG as a compliance exercise rather than a strategic imperative, leading to superficial adoption of its principles.
• For instance, despite SEBI’s BRSR mandate for the top 1,000 firms, numerous listed SMEs struggle to meet ESG reporting standards.

2. High Cost of ESG Adoption and Limited Capital

• Transitioning to sustainable practices demands significant financial investments, which are often unaffordable for cash-strapped industries, especially in energy-intensive sectors like MSMEs.
• The absence of affordable green financing compounds the problem. For example, costs for industries like cement and steel increase by 25–75% when adopting ESG practices (e.g., green cement and green steel).

3. Insufficient Awareness and ESG Skill Gaps

• A lack of awareness and expertise among industries, particularly in Tier-2 and Tier-3 regions, hinders ESG adoption.
• India’s workforce lacks the technical skills needed to implement ESG frameworks effectively.
• The top 1,000 listed companies alone require approximately 5,000 mid-to-senior ESG experts and 100,000 additional professionals for auditing and operational roles.
• With 7,000 listed entities in 2022 and a projected 10,000 by 2032, India will need over 1 million ESG-ready professionals in the near future.

4. Weak Infrastructure for Renewable Energy Transition

• India’s energy transition goals are constrained by inadequate infrastructure, grid inefficiencies, and inconsistent policies, particularly in rural and industrial areas.
• Despite achieving a renewable energy capacity of 203 GW as of October 2024, transmission losses remain at 15–17%, and rural areas often lack access to clean, affordable energy.
• Industries face difficulties in ensuring a stable power supply from renewable sources.

5. Balancing Economic Growth with ESG Goals

• India’s developmental priorities, such as industrialization and job creation, frequently conflict with ESG objectives.
• Industries prioritize profits and short-term growth, which slows down ESG adoption.
• For instance, coal continues to meet 50% of India’s energy needs, and new thermal plants, like the Amarkantak Thermal Power Station, are being approved to address energy demands despite climate concerns.

6. Resistance from Traditional Industries

• Key industries like steel, cement, textiles, and mining, which are critical to India’s economy, often resist ESG adoption due to outdated processes and profit-driven models.
• Transitioning to cleaner technologies and practices threatens competitiveness and increases costs.
• For example, the cement industry contributes 8% of global CO₂ emissions, but shifting to alternative energy sources significantly increases production expenses.

7. Social Inequality and Poor Workforce Conditions

• Deep socio-economic inequalities and a lack of focus on labor practices create barriers to effective ESG implementation in India.
• Approximately 90% of India’s workforce operates in the informal sector, often without access to fair wages, healthcare, or safety measures.
• For instance, the construction industry continues to report serious workplace safety violations, underscoring the need for stricter regulations.

8. Environmental Policy Gaps and Delayed Implementation

• Despite progressive policies, bureaucratic hurdles and poor monitoring lead to delays and inconsistencies in enforcing environmental regulations.
• Many projects bypass environmental impact assessments (EIAs), as highlighted by the 2020 Vizag gas leak in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
• Stricter enforcement, timely clearances, and improved accountability mechanisms are urgently required.

9. Investor Reluctance and ESG Misalignment

• Indian investors often prioritize short-term returns over sustainability, viewing ESG as secondary to profit generation.
• A study revealed that while 80% of Indian investors have adopted sustainability policies, only 14% have implemented them for more than five years, and 58% for over two years.
• Furthermore, a lack of alignment between ESG performance metrics and financial outcomes limits investor confidence.

Measures India Can Adopt to Enhance the ESG Framework

1. Create a Robust and Unified ESG Framework

• India should develop a comprehensive regulatory framework applicable across all sectors, including MSMEs, to ensure uniform ESG implementation.
• This framework must define sector-specific ESG goals, establish clear reporting standards, mandate disclosures, and enforce penalties for non-compliance.
• Setting up an ESG Regulatory Authority can streamline enforcement, provide industry-specific guidance, and eliminate ambiguities.

2. Scale Up Green Financing Initiatives

• To facilitate ESG adoption, India must focus on expanding green financing through mechanisms like sovereign green bonds, ESG-linked loans, and dedicated green finance institutions.
• Tax incentives, low-interest loans, and subsidies for ESG-compliant businesses can attract investments and encourage sustainable transitions.
• Collaborating with private financial institutions to create Green Transition Funds can enhance capital accessibility for both MSMEs and large industries.

3. Promote Adoption of Circular Economy Models

• Transitioning to a circular economy is crucial, emphasizing sustainable production, resource efficiency, and waste minimization.
• Initiatives like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) should be strictly enforced for industries such as plastics, electronics, and automobiles.
• Incentivizing waste-to-energy projects, recycling ecosystems, and remanufacturing industries can reduce landfill dependency and improve sustainability.

4. Strengthen ESG-Linked Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs)

• India should bolster Public-Private Partnerships to accelerate ESG-driven projects in areas like renewable energy, urban infrastructure, and environmental conservation.
• Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes can incorporate ESG components to attract private sector participation in cleaner production.
• PPPs can focus on investments in large-scale solar and wind farms, green urban transport systems, and carbon-neutral industrial hubs.

5. Implement Carbon Pricing and Taxation Policies

• India should introduce carbon pricing mechanisms, such as carbon taxes or emissions trading systems, to hold industries accountable for their carbon footprint.
• Revenue generated from carbon taxes can be reinvested in clean energy infrastructure and technology.
• Integrating carbon pricing with existing programs like the Perform, Achieve, Trade (PAT) scheme can ensure sector-wide accountability.

6. Build ESG Awareness and Industry Capacity

• Comprehensive ESG awareness campaigns and skill-building programs should empower industries, especially in MSMEs and rural regions.
• ESG training modules can be incorporated into initiatives like Skill India 2.0, creating a workforce equipped for green jobs.
• Capacity-building programs targeting industry leaders can highlight the economic and social benefits of ESG adoption.

7. Modernize Energy Infrastructure for Renewable Transition

• Upgrading energy infrastructure is essential for integrating renewable energy at scale.
• Investments in modernizing transmission grids, expanding energy storage solutions, and establishing micro-grids in rural areas are key.
• Scaling initiatives like the National Green Hydrogen Mission, along with supporting infrastructure, can accelerate the transition to cleaner fuels.
• Companies like Tata Steel, aiming for 100% material efficiency by FY30, can serve as role models.

8. Ensure Mandatory ESG Reporting and Third-Party Audits

• ESG disclosures should be made mandatory for all listed companies and large industries, with third-party audits ensuring credibility and preventing greenwashing.
• Tools like Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR) can be simplified for MSMEs.
• Introducing a national ESG Ratings System will encourage businesses to improve their performance.

9. Incentivize Adoption of Renewable Energy and Cleaner Technologies

• The government should provide targeted incentives such as tax breaks, subsidies, and technology-sharing initiatives to drive renewable energy adoption and cleaner technologies.
• Policies promoting green hydrogen, energy-efficient machinery, and EV infrastructure should be expanded.
• Strengthening schemes like FAME (Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles) can support sustainable transitions further.

India must embrace a forward-thinking approach to enhance its ESG regulatory framework by ensuring policy clarity and uniformity to attract sustainable investments. This requires simplifying regulations, lowering adoption costs, and investing in critical infrastructure. Prioritizing innovation and fostering collaborations with global leaders will help India gain a competitive advantage in the ESG domain. By addressing these challenges proactively, India can establish itself as a major player in the global sustainable investment ecosystem.

The End of the Blog: Journey to Towards Unified ESG Framework