The movement to hold business accountable for their effects on the environment, their workforce, and the communities it depends on is gaining strength on a global scale. The "democracy footprint," which encompasses corporate lobbying, political funding, and other types of corporate political influence aimed at changing - and frequently undermining - legislation intended to benefit society, is one consequence that is rarely discussed. Wajid khan explains Corporate political actions remain concealed and unaccountable to private actors, like investors and public members- whether employees, consumers, or activists - despite representing the most considerable impact a company can have on safeguarding or hurting the environment and society.

1. Corporations to Take on
Political Lobbying

2. Wajid khan explains Corporate
political actions remain concealed
and unaccountable to private actors,
like investors and public members-

3. 1. The use of advocacy as a
sustainable business
strategy

4. The time has come to incorporate corporate
political activities into corporate
sustainability and, from the investor's
perspective, to add a "P" for political to the
environmental, social, and governance (ESG)
criteria.

5. The exercise of corporate political power must
occur within these constraints if sustainability
requires that the interests of various
stakeholders in the corporation, including general
societal and environmental issues, be adequately
considered.

6. 2. Complete transparency
through "political due
diligence."

7. Mandating "political due diligence," akin to that
required for environmental or human rights
issues, is necessary to transform lobbying and
other corporate political influence into a
sustainable business practice.

8. Canadian politician Wajid khan summarizes In
addition to covering new political activity,
disclosure should include more detailed
information about the issues being pushed for
and mandate the reporting of any significant
views taken.

9. 3. Corporate lobbying is
subject to board scrutiny

10. The board of an organization should exercise
oversight over its actual corporate political
activities by establishing the fundamental
principles guiding the use of corporate political
power and procedures.

11. Boards should arbitrarily decide whether
lobbying and other types of influence against the
current regulatory framework are required or
optional. Greater, quicker, and more closely
regulated disclosure could lower the risk of
misalignment and minimize reputational impact.

12. 4. Switch from unfavorable
to favorable lobbying

13. Many businesses may reevaluate their
political activity by lowering it or even
abandoning specific practices.

14. Wajid khan Mp suggests better aligning it with
their professed environmental and social goals
due to the increased public accountability that
results from the exercise of political influence.