Dr Yahya Anouti

Businesses in the Middle East expect governments to step up and develop policy frameworks similar to the Green New Deal in Europe ahead of COP28 as they transition from an ESG ‘start-up’ mode to a more sustainable ‘scale-up’ mode.
 
The latest PwC ESG Middle East report reveals that 64% of companies have adopted a formal ESG strategy in the last year, and the number of companies with no ESG strategy has halved. 
 
Additionally, businesses are increasingly transparent about their environmental impact, with 70% reporting on their ESG impact and 59% having their reporting formally audited or assured. The survey reflects the region's growing emphasis on sustainability and accountability.
 
Concrete steps
"In last year’s survey, companies in the Middle East were in the early stages of their ESG journeys with many only just starting to think about developing their ESG strategies. This year, our survey finds that companies have taken concrete steps in progressing their ESG actions while highlighting significant gaps, notably within sustainability skills and green funding," said Dr Yahya Anouti, PwC Middle East’s ESG Leader. 
 
"Alongside an increased appetite and progress seen on ESG in the region, companies are developing a stronger sense of what is needed to further progress on their ESG agenda. We strongly believe that with the right coordinated response from governments, 2023 could be the region’s most environmentally transformative year yet."
 
Organisations are taking practical steps towards ESG, with 60% of survey respondents calling for increased time allocation by leaders to address ESG-related issues such as risk management, compliance, and circular economy. 
 
The Middle East has also witnessed a growing sustainability mandate at the executive level, with over a quarter of respondents stating they now have a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), and responsibility for ESG shifting from CEOs to CSOs.
 
Unlocking skills and green funding
A lack of internal skills and expertise in sustainability is the top barrier to advancing the ESG agenda, according to 41% of companies surveyed. In addition, finance is a significant gap, with almost one-third of respondents citing funding constraints as a major barrier to ESG implementation. 
 
This is despite the region's active participation in raising green finance. The report highlights a lack of awareness and access to green finance, with nearly half of the organisations surveyed relying on self-funding for ESG activities and only 13% accessing sustainable finance.
 
"ESG transformation requires a joint effort between businesses and government bodies. To accelerate progress, companies must prioritise ESG imperatives, while policymakers should continue to develop clear policies and regulations to support their ambitions," says Stephen Anderson, PwC Middle East's Strategy and Markets Leader. 
 
"Green standards, improved circular infrastructure and tangible incentives for green growth are becoming increasingly important for companies in the region. The three most desired ESG-related government policies are clear policies and regulations, certification mechanisms, and tangible incentives for green growth, which businesses hope to see announced at COP28."
 
The report details four critical areas that need to be addressed to further drive ESG transformation in the region: Ensuring policy coherence, integrating ESG thinking throughout the organisation's operations and strategy, building sustainability skills and boosting access and clarity on green financing.-- TradeArabia News Service