Which of the following is a reason to pursue sustainability disclosure and improvement, according to the material?

• A. Responding to Investor Interest
• B. Taking Ownership of Your Sustainability Story: ESG Data Aggregators may assume poor performance if data is not released
• C. Peer Effects: companies can face increased pressure to be among the top performers in their industry
• D. Improving Performance Management: sustainability information helps generate a more complete picture of the risks and opportunities facing a company

Answer: (C)

Peer effects drive sustainability disclosure and improvement because when peers in the same industry disclose data and perform well, there’s pressure to keep up. Being seen as a top performer signals credibility to investors, customers, and other stakeholders, while lagging behind peers can harm reputation and perceived competitiveness. This competitive pressure motivates companies to disclose more and push for stronger sustainability performance to avoid being left behind. While other reasons exist, the material highlights the social and competitive pull of peers as a key motivator.