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Blueprints for Sustainability: Unmasking ESG Trends in Modern Infrastructure

July 27, 2026
5 mins read
Some infrastructure sectors carry far more ESG risk than others. We analyzed over 250,000 projects worldwide to map exactly where that risk concentrates, what drives it, and how real-world controversies like the Turów and Cerrejón coal mines play out once they start.

Infrastructure sits at the center of the energy transition, and it's also one of the sectors most exposed to ESG controversy, from community displacement and water pollution to safety failures and corruption. As LPs, lenders, and regulators sharpen their scrutiny, knowing where that risk concentrates and how it evolves has become essential to due diligence and portfolio monitoring alike.

This whitepaper draws on SESAMm's analysis of over 250,000 infrastructure projects worldwide between 2021 and 2026, built on our natural language processing engine's coverage of millions of news, NGO, and regulatory sources.

It covers which project types carry the highest ESG risk, which pillar (Environmental, Social, or Governance) dominates the narrative, what drives spikes in governance controversy, and how two contrasting case studies, the Turów and Cerrejón coal mines, show just how differently a controversy can play out over time.

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As regulatory demands grow and ESG expectations evolve, financial institutions face a critical question: Is sustainability compliance merely a cost center or can it drive measurable financial and competitive advantages?

Watch this on-demand webinar to hear Gwen Safa, Global Head of Sustainable Corporate Solutions at Barclays Investment Bank, and Sylvain Forté, CEO of SESAMm, offer actionable insights on transforming ESG challenges into strategic opportunities. 

Together, they unpack:

  • Why leading firms are reframing ESG as a value driver, not just a regulatory obligation
  • How to navigate the ESG backlash while staying aligned with long-term investor and stakeholder expectations
  • Where ESG meets reputational risk and why both are critical to financial performance and trust

Whether you're managing risk, sourcing deals, or building client trust, this session offers a candid look at the shifting role of ESG and what it means for the future of finance.

As social values shape consumer expectations, companies are under growing pressure to align with progressive causes. But not all support is genuine. SESAMm’s latest report, Beyond Greenwashing: Unveiling the Spectrum of Colorwashing, explores how brands adopt the language of inclusion, without the action to match.

Colorwashing refers to the use of social justice themes in marketing—such as gender, race, or LGBTQ+ rights—to appear ethical or inclusive while avoiding meaningful change. The report analyzes major forms, including pinkwashing, rainbowwashing, racialwashing, bluewashing, and orangewashing.

Key Takeaways:

  • Colorwashing is on the rise:  Mentions of pinkwashing, rainbowwashing, and blackwashing have grown sharply since 2020.
  • It’s about image, not impact: Many companies leverage social issues for PR, but fail to back them with policy or internal reform.
  • Consumers are calling it out: There’s an increasing backlash against symbolic gestures that lack substance, especially during high-visibility moments like Pride Month.
  • AI can help: Real-time controversy detection enables investors and communications teams to monitor and address potential colorwashing early.

Greenwashing is evolving—and so are the tools to uncover it.

In our most recent webinar, "How to Spot Greenwashing vs Real Sustainability Using AI," SESAMm CEO Sylvain Forté and Fingreen AI CEO Louis Frank sat down and unpacked the complexities of ESG credibility in today’s climate-conscious market. From emerging patterns in greenwashing to the rise of corporate silence—greenhushing—they explored what the latest data tells us and how AI is changing the game.

What you'll learn:

  • Breaking Down ESG Buzzwords: An Introduction to Greenwashing, Greenhushing, and Greenwishing, showing how their mentions have surged in recent years—across sectors and regions.
  • The Data Doesn’t Lie: While oil and gas and industrials are frequent offenders, every industry faces reputational risks—case in point: the controversies surrounding firms like DWS and BNY Mellon.
  • Traceability & Transparency: How open methodologies can help verify commitments like Net Zero and SDG alignment.

Fill out the form to access the webinar replay now!


In our recent webinar, “Navigating UNGC Violations: Key ESG Risks for Investors Across Sectors,” SESAMm CEO Sylvain Forté and Head of Sales Andrew Bernstein break down the latest research on corporate alignment with the UN Global Compact (UNGC). The session also marks the launch of our UNGC Breach Detection tool, designed to help investors monitor and address UNGC-related ESG risks in line with SFDR’s PAI 10.

Watch this webinar to learn how to:

  • Tech, Automotive, and Retail sectors show the highest number of confirmed and potential UNGC breaches.
  • A significant gap exists between allegations and enforcement—many companies face claims without consequences.
  • SESAMm’s new UNGC Breach Detection tool uses AI to identify and classify violations across industries, offering timely, data-driven insights.

Fill out the form to access the webinar replay now!

Webinar Replay: Navigating UNGC Violations - Key ESG Risks for Investors Across Sectors

As sustainability expectations rise, so does scrutiny. This ebook explores how industries are performing against the UNGC’s Ten Principles—and where risks are being overlooked.
Backed by SESAMm’s AI-powered UNGC violations screening, it offers a data-backed view into ESG alignment and accountability.

What You'll Learn:

  • Commitment doesn’t always mean compliance: Public alignment with the UNGC is there, but our data reveals persistent ESG risks that often go unaddressed.
  • Certain sectors face heightened exposure: The technology, finance, and automotive industries consistently rank among those most frequently linked to potential breaches.
  • The enforcement gap is widening: A clear disconnect exists between alleged violations and actual accountability, emphasizing the need for real-time monitoring and stronger ESG oversight.

In our recent webinar with WeeFin, "Addressing Core Challenges in ESG Data Management," CEOs Sylvain Forté and Gregoire Hug discussed both the fast-evolving ESG landscape and how managing complex data is more critical than ever.

Watch this webinar to learn how to:

  • Manage the lack of standardization and the inconsistency in ESG data.
  • Address data quality issues and missing data.
  • Implement a dedicated ESG data management system to balance flexibility and standardization for meaningful reports.

Fill out the form to access the webinar replay now!

Webinar Replay: Addressing Core Challenges in ESG Data Management

In our latest webinar with the European Association for Sustainable Rating Agencies (EASRA), “ESG Ratings in 2025: Emerging Trends and Evolving Standards,” SESAMm’s CEO, Sylvain Forté, Julia Haake, Head of ESG Rating Agency at Ethifinance, Diana van Maasdijk, CEO at Equileap, Saurabh Srivastava, Head of Sustainability Data and Ratings at Inrate, and Emmanuel de la Ville, Founder of Ethifinance, sat down and discussed the future of ESG ratings and what’s next for all parties involved.

Key Takeaways:

  • Keep up with the latest regulatory updates.
  • Explore the newest AI innovations reshaping ESG ratings.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of the political climate and emerging trends affecting ESG.

Fill out the form to access the webinar replay now!

A few months ago, Sylvain Forté, CEO of SESAMm, and Julia Haake, Head of ESG Ratings Agency at Ethifinance, sat down and dove deeper into how AI and new regulatory standards are reshaping the future of ESG ratings for rating providers.
Download the ebook and have an insider’s view into their thoughts on ESG regulations for rating agencies, the challenges they face, and the possible solutions.

What You'll Learn:

  • Upcoming ESG Regulations for Rating Providers
  • ESG Data Availability and Key Challenges
  • AI Applications in ESG Ratings
  • CSRD and ISSB: Impacts on Data Standardization

Watch the replay of our webinar, "CSDDD Demystified: A Practical Guide for Corporate Sustainability," to gain the actionable insights your business needs to navigate the complexities of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

In this session, Kevin Ozadanir, Head of Corporate Sales at SESAMm, and Greta Koch, Technical Negotiator for the European People’s Party on the CSDDD, break down the directive's objectives and provide practical guidance for companies tackling compliance challenges. This is your opportunity to:

  • Understand the CSDDD's objectives and its role in strengthening the EU's sustainability agenda.
  • Learn how the directive compares to other regulations, such as the German Supply Chain Act, and what sets it apart.
  • Prepare for compliance by exploring strategies to integrate sustainable systems and address diverse regulatory expectations across the EU.
  • Get a blueprint for effective risk analysis and supply chain management tailored to companies operating across multiple jurisdictions.
  • Stay ahead of political developments, including the potential repeal of Germany's Supply Chain Act and what it means for global sustainability.

The webinar wraps up with a deep dive into integrating CSDDD with other frameworks, such as the EU Taxonomy and CSRD, and provides a clear roadmap for aligning your operations with evolving corporate sustainability standards.

Don't miss this chance to equip your team with the knowledge to tackle regulatory challenges with confidence. Fill out the form to access the webinar replay now!

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