Overview
Why did ESG investing take the corporate world by storm, only to fail so often? This video uncovers how pressures from governments and big clients pushed companies to prioritize appearances over results, leading to underperformance and missed opportunities.

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Grade level and subjects
• Recommended for grades 6-12
• Subjects: Business and Science / Technology
• Works in Classroom, Hybrid, and Homeschool settings

What students will learn
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
• identify the key components of ESG investing as discussed in the video;
• analyze how ESG pressures have influenced corporate decisions and outcomes; and
• evaluate the effectiveness of ESG investing in achieving its stated goals.

Key concepts and terms covered
Bureaucracy, Governance, Sustainability, and Underperformance.

Sample discussion questions
• What does ESG stand for?
• How does the video suggest that focusing on ESG might affect innovation?
• If you were investing money, would you choose a fund that supports ESG goals even if it earns less? Why or why not?
• Are ESG governance initiatives truly about ethical leadership, or do they sometimes serve as a way to control how companies operate?
• Can ESG policies lead to a concentration of power where large investment firms dictate social and political values to the entire market? Why or why not?

What’s in the free teacher’s guide
This printable 9-page Teacher's Guide includes a lesson description, learning objectives, key vocabulary, a fill-in viewing guide with answer key, discussion and analysis questions, and classroom activities.

Standards alignment
Aligned to state standards — use the SITC Standards Tool to match this video to the standards in your state.