{"id":43908,"date":"2021-01-26T03:51:02","date_gmt":"2021-01-26T11:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/?p=43908"},"modified":"2021-01-29T16:39:03","modified_gmt":"2021-01-30T00:39:03","slug":"sustainability-faq-davos-2021-update","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salesforce.com\/news\/stories\/sustainability-faq-davos-2021-update\/","title":{"rendered":"The Path to Integrating ESG Data into the Core of a Business – Behind Salesforce and Accenture’s Expanded Partnership"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today, nearly 90 percent <\/a>of customers expect corporations to live up to a set of values higher than shareholder return alone. Environmental social governance (ESG) is now a business imperative, and the companies leveraging the combination of sustainability and technology are 2.5x more likely<\/a> to be among tomorrow\u2019s strongest-performing businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, Accenture and Salesforce announced they are expanding their alliance to help companies embed sustainability into their business, meet growing customer and stakeholder expectations, and contribute advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals<\/a> (SDGs)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. What are the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The SDGs are the world\u2019s to-do list for helping people and the planet. Adopted by 193 countries, the 17 SDGs measure the collective progress against the world\u2019s most pressing challenges, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In September 2019, world leaders<\/a> called for a Decade of Action<\/a> and delivery for sustainable development, pledging to mobilize financing, enhance national implementation and strengthen institutions to achieve the Goals by the target date of 2030, leaving no one behind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce is committed to achieving Goals 4: Quality Education; 5: Gender Equality; 7: Affordable and Clean Energy; 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities; and 13: Climate Action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. What is Environmental Social Governance (ESG)?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Environmental Social Governance (ESG) is a self-regulating model that helps an organization be socially accountable \u2014 to itself, its stakeholders, and the public. By practicing corporate social responsibility, also called corporate citizenship, companies can be conscious of the kind of impact they are having on all aspects of society, including their economic, social, and environmental impacts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. Why is ESG important to businesses?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Aside from helping to address global inequality, sustainability can drive business success. Research shows<\/a> that companies with high ESG ratings have a lower cost of debt and equity. ESG can also drive consumer preference. McKinsey research<\/a> shows that customers say they are willing to pay an additional 5% for a green product if it meets the same performance standard of a non-green alternative. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A strong ESG focus can help companies attract and retain quality employees, enhance employee motivation by instilling a sense of purpose, and increase productivity overall. Among other advantages<\/a>, if done right, it can also help combat rising operating expenses, such as the cost of water or carbon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q. What is Salesforce Sustainability Cloud? <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce Sustainability Cloud is a carbon accounting product that gives businesses a 360-degree view of their environmental impact and provides data-driven insights to help accelerate the world\u2019s efforts towards carbon neutrality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salesforce Sustainability Cloud enables businesses to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n