ESG in 2026 is already shaping up to be defined by regulatory and political divergence and renewed litigation and stakeholder scrutiny. In our 7 ESG trends to watch in 2026 blog post, we identify the ESG trends we expect will shape the global regulatory, litigation and corporate strategy landscape in the year ahead.
Building on this analysis, we’ve also released a two‑part podcast series where our experts break down how these trends are unfolding in practice and what they mean for organisations navigating this environment.
Part 1: ESG litigation risk in a fragmented regulatory world
Part 2: How AI, climate transition planning, supply chains and environmental rules are evolving
We hope you find these insights helpful as you progress with your plans for 2026. Please get in touch with your usual Freshfields contact or a member of our ESG Risk & Advisory Group if you would like to discuss any of these developments in more detail.


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