This book critically explores the intersection of corporate activities, regulatory frameworks, and environmental social governance (ESG) issues across key industries, primarily in the Global South.

With an emphasis on both environmental and social justice, the book examines how corporate actions impact local communities, ecosystems, and labor standards, and it assesses the effectiveness of ESG principles in mitigating these impacts. Through a series of in-depth case studies spanning Brazil, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Morocco, Mexico, Kenya, Thailand, and Latin America it seeks to contribute a comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted challenges of implementing and enforcing ESG standards in contexts often marked by regulatory gaps, economic pressures, and socio-political complexities. Focusing on these countries is imperative because they represent diverse regulatory environments and high-impact industries where ESG issues are particularly urgent.

By linking legal analysis with socio-environmental case studies, the book bridges the gap between policy intentions and on-the-ground realities, offering actionable insights for policymakers, academics, and practitioners involved in ESG, environmental law, and sustainable development. In doing so, it contributes to a growing dialogue on equitable governance and sustainable corporate practices, aiming to inspire collaborative, cross-sectoral solutions that enhance justice and sustainability in the Global South.

Shuma Talukdar is a corporate lawyer and certified corporate governance professional with over eighteen years of multi-jurisdictional and cross-sectoral experience spanning shipping, energy, infrastructure, and development. She holds dual master’s degrees in Business Law and Public Administration and is currently a doctoral researcher in law at Mahindra University, Hyderabad, India. She is the co-founder of LexEd Research, a policy-oriented think tank. Her scholarship engages with sustainability law, corporate accountability, and transnational law and governance, with a particular emphasis on Global South perspectives. Talukdar is the co-editor of Judicial Responses to Climate Change in the Global South (Springer Nature, 2023). She has presented her research at leading institutions worldwide, including the Asian Institute of Technology, the Max Planck Institute, the Sutherland School of Law, University College Cork, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Canberra, and the University of Hamburg, among others, and has published with leading international publishers.