ESG investor proposals are booming, fueled partly by conservative groups critical of ‘anti-racist’ corporate trainings

Investor proposals pushing environmental and social actions on corporations continued to accelerate in 2022, according to an analysis out this morning from the Conference Board and ESGAUGE. As of mid-July, shareholders had filed 813 proposals at Russell 3000 companies and 642 at S&P 500 companies—both the highest levels in five years. Environmental and social issues led the way, with 471 such proposals—up from 403 last year and 339 the year before. 

Some 101 climate-related proposals were filed versus 60 in 2021 and 50 in 2020. More importantly, 11 of the climate resolutions passed up from eight last year and three the year prior. Companies affected included Boeing, Caterpillar, Chevron, Chubb, Costco, and Exxon Mobil.

On social issues, some 43 proposals were filed calling on companies to conduct racial or civil rights audits. Of those, 31 went to a vote and eight passed. Last year, only nine such proposals went to a vote, and none passed.

Part of the overall rise in proposals on social issues came from conservative groups opposing efforts by institutional investors to press companies on social issues. Some 49 proposals were filed by two conservative groups alone⁠—the National Legal and Policy Center and the National Center for Public Policy Research. The proposals criticized “anti-racist” training programs at large companies as being discriminatory. Most such proposals received only single-digit support from shareholders.                 

You can read the full report here. My takeaway is that ESG isn’t going anywhere, despite political pushback.

Separately, if you are having trouble sleeping at night, don’t listen to this week’s episode of Leadership Next, which features billionaire investor-turned-historian Ray Dalio. Dalio has analyzed data from the last several hundred years of human history, and concluded today’s data portends a significant possibility of 1) a global financial crisis, 2) a U.S. civil war, and 3) a serious U.S.-China confrontation, all layered over with a climate crisis. The good news? The amazing ability of humans, and Americans in particular, to innovate their way out of difficult problems. You can listen on Apple or Spotify.

More news below.

Alan Murray
@alansmurray
alan.murray@fortune.com

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This edition of CEO Daily was edited by David Meyer.