With the 30th edition of the Conference of Parties (COP 30) concluding in Brazil, the global urgency around Climate Change has pushed the international community to adopt stronger multilateral measures and introduce new commitments and mechanisms to unlock climate finance. For businesses, this reaffirmed the need for a pragmatic approach to embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles into core corporate strategy to ensure long-term competitiveness.

As a key statutory body driving best practices in Corporate Governance, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) has defined stewardship as the responsible management of assets and relationships to generate sustainable, long-term value. In this context, ICSI introduced the ICSI Guiding Principles on Stewardship (IGPS), a framework designed to strengthen principle-based governance across the corporate ecosystem.

The International Financial Services Centers Authority (IFSCA) has recognised the IGPS for adoption by Fund Management Entities and Institutional Investors in IFSCs, aiming to safeguard the interests of clients, beneficiaries and society as a whole.

Centred on long-term value and sustainable benefits, the IGPS emphasises stewardship beyond mere compliance. It underscores the critical role of Investors and Stewards in promoting sustainable development and encouraging companies to transition from short-term gains to strategies that prioritise consistent value creation. Institutional Investors and Fund Managers can drive this shift by demanding the implementation of robust ESG frameworks that elevate long-term growth over immediate returns.

To help translate these principles into practical action, ICSI launched a Stakeholder Engagement Toolkit on ESG this year. Designed to complement the IGPS, the toolkit equips Company Secretaries and Boards with structured guidance for developing comprehensive ESG policies and effective engagement strategies.

ICSI has further advanced its climate governance efforts through the introduction of the ICSI Principles on Climate Change Governance (IPCG). This framework aims to enhance transparency around climate-related disclosures, offering guidance on establishing metrics and targets to measure sustainability performance and progress towards organisational climate goals.

Reflecting the Institute’s proactive stance, CS Dhananjay Shukla, President, ICSI, stated, “Integrating climate consideration into business frameworks requires a cohesive methodology of well-crafted principles, detailed guidance on climate and sustainability matters and equipped professionals who can coherently translate it into reality. As a leading force in promoting best practices, the ICSI is offering it all, through its various initiatives.”

Echoing this vision, CS Asish Mohan, Secretary, ICSI, said, “In a world where climate change is requiring corporations and nations, investors and investees, to act strategically, the Institute of Company Secretaries of India aims to utilise the significant pedestals occupied by these investors and stewards and promote principles-based governance to support sustainable development.”