ESG Standards and Sustainable Business: Challenges and New Opportunities
The panel organised by the Association of Corporate Lawyers was held on 24 May 2024, the day the Council of the EU adopted the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
The discussion focused on the new due-diligence rules requiring companies within scope to identify and address adverse human-rights and environmental impacts of their activities inside and outside the European Union.
Participation in the panel connected the latest developments in EU law with corporate compliance, value-chain responsibility and the practical challenges of implementing ESG standards.
The timing of the panel made it possible to consider the Directive’s final solutions and their implications for companies, lawyers and compliance professionals. The discussion showed that due diligence requires legal analysis to be connected with risk management, supplier information and measures to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts. The topic was subsequently incorporated into JMC EECL teaching and research assignments.