ESG stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance criteria used to evaluate a company's ethical impact and sustainability. Environmental covers carbon footprint, waste management, and resource use. Social includes employee treatment, diversity, community relations, and customer satisfaction. Governance involves leadership ethics, executive pay, shareholder rights, and transparency. ESG scores affect investment decisions, with $35+ trillion in ESG assets globally. Benefits include better risk management, improved reputation, and access to conscious capital.