본 연구는 ESG활동에 적극적인 기업일수록 ESG위원회를 설치하는지 그리고 이를 효과적으로 운영하는지를 살펴보았다. 2021년 한 해 15% 정도의 유가증권시장 상장사들이 ESG경영을 표명하며 이사회 산하에 ESG위원회를 앞 다투어 설치하였다. 그러나 기업들의 ESG위원회 설치가 이사회 내 ESG 전담 소위원회를 설치하여 ESG에 대한 안건을 올바르게 이해하고 적절한 의사결정을 하기 위한 목적인지 아니면 단순히 기업 홍보성 목적인지에 대해서는 의문이 제기되고 있는 현실이다. 이에 본 연구는 기업의 ESG 활동수준과 ESG위원회 설치간의 관련성을 살펴봄으로써 기업의 ESG위원회 설치의 목적을 실증적으로 분석하였다. 한국기업지배구조원의 ESG 평가점수(ESG모네타)를 이용하여 ESG위원회의 설치 요인을 실증적으로 검토한 결과는 다음과 같다. 우선, ESG 활동을 적극적으로 수행하는 기업일수록 ESG위원회를 설치하고 있음을 보였다. 또한 ESG 활동수준이 높을수록 독립성, 활동성, 다양성이 높은 ESG위원회 를 설치하고 있음이 나타났다. 마지막으로, ESG 활동수준과 ESG위원회 설치간의 양(+)의 관계는 환경리스크가 큰 산업에서 더 크게 나타났다. 본 연구가 제시한 결과는 ESG위원회를 다룬 국내외 연구가 매우 드문 상황에서 향후 기업의 ESG 활동 및 ESG 관련 기업지배 구조를 논의하는 데 유의미한 자료로 활용될 것으로 기대한다. 또한 본 연구는 기업의 ESG 활동수준과 ESG위원회 설치간의 유의적인 관련성을 검증해보임으로써 기업이 ESG위원회를 적극적으로 설치한 목적에 대한 정당성을 부여하였다는 점에서 그 의미가 있다. 마지 막으로 본 연구는 ESG위원회가 투자자들의 요구에 따라 투명하게 운영되려면 ESG 운영위원회의 독립성, 활동성, 다양성의 확보가 우선되어야함을 보여 준다.
This study examined what factors affect ESG committee formation, focusing on firm’s ESG performance. In 2021, about 15% of the firms in KOSPI adopted the ESG committee with an attempt to ESG management. However, it is questionable whether the purpose of adoption of ESG committee is to appropriately understand the firm’s agenda for ESG so that the firm can make appropriate decisions, or simply for ESG washing. Thus, this study aims to empirically examine the purpose of adoption of the ESG committee by investigating the relationship between the firm’s ESG performance and the ESG committee. Specifically, using ESG score provided by the Korea Corporate Governance Service, this study examined the factors affecting the adoption of the ESG committee. First, we examined the relationship between ESG performance and the adoption of ESG committee. Second, we analyzed if there was a significant difference in composition of ESG committees depending on the ESG performance. More specifically, we examined whether ESG performance influenced the ESG committee’s independence, committees activity, and diversity. In addition, we looked at whether firms in industries with high environmental risk were more active in establishing ESG committee. The results showed that the firms that are more active in implementing ESG activities was more likely to establish ESG committees. Firms that have actively implemented ESG activities are the ones that understand the importance of and increasing needs for sustainability and have dedicated to develop the business strategies and value management. Our result these firms adopt ESG committee suggest that the purpose of forming ESG committee is to actively respond to the changes in the social paradigm. The result also showed that the ESG committee was more independent when the firm’s ESG performance was high. The firms that actively conduct ESG are more likely to elect outside directors and appoint the committee chair among the outside directors. Companies that actively perform the ESG were also likely to form more active ESG committee. The formation of ESG committee is important, but in order to perform the role of committees, it is necessary to look at how often meetings are held and what topics are discussed in the meetings. Our results indicate that companies that actively engaged in ESG are more likely to hold meetings to develop realistic and effective ESG management strategies. Companies that actively conducted the ESG showed that ESG committee had at least one female director. This means that companies that are more active in ESG may allow diversity in ESG committee. Finally, the relationship between ESG performance and ESG committee was more significant in the industry with high environmental risks. It is interpreted that the firms in the industry with high environmental risks may encounter more frequent incidents to control and manage the ESG risks. In addition, the results of this study were robust even using ESG grades, not ESG scores. Additional analysis was performed to examine which factors had more significant effect on ESG committee formation using individual scores of E, S, and G instead of the total ESG score. As a result, companies with high scores in G (e.g., Governance) were more likely to adopt ESG committee, which tend to be more independent, active, and diverse. This means that strong corporate governance is an important factor in the establishment of ESG committees. This study has empirical and academic implications. Studies dealing with ESG committee is extremely rare. Although several studies have examined CSR committee, ESG committees and CSR committees are different. Therefore, the results of this study will be meaningful in discussing ESG performance and corporate governance related to ESG. Another implication is that these results showed a significant relationship between the firm’s ESG performance and the adoption of ESG committee. This result provides a rationale for the purpose of the adoption of the ESG committee. This study is meaningful in that it provides justification for the adoption of the ESG committee by verifying the significant relationship between the ESG activity and ESG committee adoption. The results also imply that in order for the ESG Committee to operate transparently, securing the independence, activity, and diversity of the ESG Committee must be prioritized.