Most Company Boards Lack Clear Environmental, Social Expertise

Most directors at the world’s largest publicly held companies oversee environmental and social issues but lack clear expertise in them, according to a May 16 analysis by sustainability advocacy group Ceres and consultant KKS Advisors.

The study found that 62 percent of Forbes 500 company boards monitor sustainability issues via a designated committee, regular reports from management, or both. But only 17 percent of boards have at least one director with demonstrated sustainability expertise or experience in their bios.

Ceres’ Veena Ramani, one of the report’s authors, said ideally boards should have more than one member versed in environmental and ...