In the midst of a shifting climate on many ESG issues, proxy advisory firm ISS Governance is undertaking its annual survey that will feed into its proxy voting recommendations for the coming year.
The firm’s annual benchmark policy survey, which is open until Aug. 22, seeks input from institutional investors, corporate directors, public companies and others as part of its policy development process for the 2026 proxy season and beyond.
This year’s survey comes amid a backlash to various ESG issues in the U.S. — with the new U.S. government attacking efforts at improving corporate diversity and tackling climate change, and pursuing regulatory changes to make it tougher to get shareholder proposals on proxy ballots.
Against that backdrop, the survey this year seeks feedback on the idea of removing or modifying the use of ESG metrics in executive compensation plans in Canada and the U.S. It also specifically asks for input on board diversity and DEI topics in the U.S.
It tackles traditional governance topics too, such as the use of dual-class share structures, board governance and overboarding, along with other considerations in executive and director pay.
The survey also canvasses views on potential emerging governance and risk management issues in areas such as the use of artificial intelligence, along with biodiversity, cybersecurity and human rights.
“Our annual policy survey is an important mechanism by which we invite and obtain feedback from a wide range of market participants, including both institutional investors and public companies, and we encourage all interested parties to share their views by participating in the survey,” said Georgina Marshall, global head of research at ISS, in a release.
“The results inform our policy development in a variety of ways, and we firmly believe that our commitment to this approach continues to enhance the value and relevance of our policies and of the data, research and vote recommendations we deliver to our clients,” she added.
Along with the survey, the firm engages in policy-specific roundtables and other engagements with investors in various regions to put together its voting policy recommendations. Once those draft recommendations are formed, the firm issues them for public comment before finalizing them.