What exactly is ESG? Where did it come from, and how did it start to take hold and reshape our world? How is it related to the infamous UN SDGs?
In this episode of Liberty Curious, Paul Mueller joins Kate Wand to discuss and dissect.
Paul is an economist and Senior Research Faculty at AIER who specializes in defending freedom and combatting collectivism. He has written a definitive collection of articles on ESG.
ESG has been perniciously changing the way corporations, governments, NGOs and institutions operate. This ideological framework synonymous with stakeholder capitalism has become the subject of scrutiny and public backlash, but nonetheless continues to dominate.
The conversation explores the history, definition, and implications of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing. It delves into the origins of ESG in the post-World War II era and the rise of international organizations. The discussion highlights the utopian ideals and ideological shifts that have shaped the ESG movement. It also examines the technocratic element of ESG and the challenges of calculation and efficiency. The conversation raises concerns about the potential for eco-dictatorship and the threat ESG poses to freedom and individualism. In this conversation, Paul Mueller and Kate Wand discuss the totalitarianism of climate alarmists and the loss of individualism in the ESG movement. They explore the advocates for ESG, such as the World Economic Forum, and the pushback against ESG, including Larry Fink’s change in stance. They also delve into the philosophical elements underlying the green movement and the potential future of ESG. The conversation highlights the importance of transparency, the value of nuclear energy, and the need to focus on adaptation rather than prevention. They conclude by discussing the role of intellectuals in shaping ESG policies.
Paul Mueller’s Related Articles:
A Short Guide to ESG Series at AIER
The Totalitarianism of Climate Alarmists – Washington Examiner Dec 1, 2023
Newsom’s California Is Showing Us What The Green Energy Transition Looks Like — And It Isn’t Pretty – Daily Caller, Dec 12, 2023
Use these timestamps to navigate the episode topics:
0:00 – Intro
1:31 – History of ESG
3:21 – ESG as a Quest for Global Solidarity
10:19 – Post-World War II Era and the Rise of International Organizations
12:22 – Utopian Ideals and Ideological Shifts
13:40 – Stakeholder Capitalism and the Technocratic Element of ESG
16:15 – The Problem of Calculation and Efficiency in ESG
18:45 – Consumer Value and the Top-Down Approach of ESG
31:40 – The Potential for Eco-Dictatorship in ESG
36:12 – ESG as a Threat to Freedom and Individualism
38:38 – Totalitarianism and the Loss of Individualism
41:05 – Advocates for ESG and the Totalitarianism of Climate Alarmists
45:05 – Larry Fink and the Pushback Against ESG
53:09 – The Social Responsibility of Businesses and the Birth of Stakeholder Capitalism
56:18 – The Future of ESG and its Impact on Economies
59:18 – The Potential of Nuclear Energy and the Need for Transparency
1:03:08 – The Malthusian Element and the Importance of Human Existence
1:05:20 – The Value of Adaptation and the Inefficiencies of ESG Means
1:05:47 – The Role of Intellectuals in Shaping ESG Policies
