Gender Equality Remains ESG’s Obvious Yet Elusive Goal

On average, the WBA-indexed businesses received close to 19 out of 100 points on gender equality, up four points from 2024’s benchmark. Still, more than one in 10 firms scored zero, and only eight companies cleared the halfway mark. In a word, Agarwal said, progress has been “marginal,” though efforts can vary by geography, sector or whether a company focuses on direct operations or the supply chain. Overall, however, gender equality is a systemic issue that requires coordinated action beyond the boardroom. ...