Opinion: Why is ESG such a polarising topic in the US?

In the US, a wave of anti-ESG sentiment has been gaining momentum as Republicans describe the trend as “woke capitalism”— but is there any truth to these claims, or is allowing investors to assess environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations just a natural evolution of capitalism? “ESG, like almost any new initiative or development, can and will inherently become highly politicised,” a senior executive of a large asset owner told AsianInvestor. A few highlights from…