Following his keynote address at the Seoul ESG Forum on 24 September 2025, CCE’s Director Dr Paul Jefferiss discussed the emerging “EESG” framework and its potential to reshape urban governance in an interview for The Seoul Institute.
The interview was given to Junyoung Choi, Director of the Center for External Collaborative Research at the Seoul Institute. It expanded on themes from the presentation, exploring the emerging concept of “EESG” — an enhanced Environmental, Social and Governance framework that adds Economy — and its potential to transform urban decision-making from corporate boardrooms to city halls. The interview navigates from company offices to city streets, reflecting Paul’s long-standing experience across government, NGOs, academia and business.
For CCE, this interview aligns with our mission to advance climate governance from theory to impact. It signals our commitment to thinking beyond corporate boundaries and into the civic realm, where climate action meets urban transformation.
Highlights:
Cities at the forefront of climate action: Cities are on the front lines of addressing climate change and need governance systems that integrate environmental goals, social equity, and strong governance within a unified “EESG” framework rather than working in silos. |
A unified EESG mindset: This integrated approach helps urban leaders manage systemic risks—such as heat islands, supply chain fragility, and nature-based infrastructure—while unlocking opportunities for sustainable growth. |
Shared language for leadership: Boards, city executives, and investors must align around common principles of decision-making, incentives, and accountability to connect climate ambition with urban competitiveness. |
Beyond compliance to transformation: We need to rethink how value is structured, services are delivered, and success is measured. |
Challenges and opportunities: Implementing EESG faces barriers such as legacy infrastructure, data gaps, and institutional silos. We need stronger cross-sector partnerships and new governance literacies to manage complexity—while maintaining optimism about the scale and visibility cities bring to climate action. |
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