ESGTech: Guiding ESG Regulation and Digital Governance

Abstract

The role of technology in shaping regulatory processes has been widely studied in the field of digital governance. This research complements such literature by exposing how data technologies are shaping the regulatory trajectory of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. The paper discusses the regulatory challenges surrounding ESG and the position that data technologies have assumed in addressing such issues. The case explored with this research is Bloomberg’s methodology for proprietary ES Scores. This study contributes to the e-government literature by emphasising how the absence of law both accelerates and constrains the scope of technology and how technology alleviates regulatory concerns whilst also assuming governing properties. This paper offers valuable insights into the complex production of ESG data and contributes with an imperative of ESGTech in guiding digital governance.