Over the last forty years, the ESG framework has undergone remarkable transformations in corporate and international law, evolving from voluntary corporate philanthropy into a system shaped by law. Yet, despite growing social pressure, turning ESG obligations from soft law into hard law has been a winding road.
In this special issue, we have gathered contributions that trace this path from multiple angles: the recurring oscillation between expansion and retrenchment of ESG obligations, the constitutional weight of sustainability commitments in EU law, the persistent gap between disclosure and real-world outcomes, and the practical limits of due diligence in complex value chains. We also look beyond the usual terrain of corporate ESG law, following accountability's shifting sands into outer space and artificial intelligence — two frontiers where governance frameworks remain fragmented or altogether absent.
We hope, therefore, to offer readers a clearer map of the terrain ESG law is currently crossing.
