Category: ESG fundamentals · Reviewed by Amy Price, Account Executive · Last reviewed 2026-06-10
S&P Global ESG Scores are produced by S&P Global Sustainable1 from the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA), a long-established questionnaire-based methodology that also underpins the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices. The scores are widely referenced by UK and international insurers as one of several ESG inputs.
Category: ESG fundamentals Also known as: S&P CSA, S&P Corporate Sustainability Assessment, S&P Global ESG Score Established / Date: CSA launched by SAM in 1999; acquired by S&P Global in January 2020 Related concepts: ESG ratings, MSCI ESG ratings, Sustainalytics ESG ratings
The S&P Global ESG Score is a numeric score from 0 to 100 derived primarily from the annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment, a questionnaire issued to assessed companies covering industry-specific environmental, social and governance criteria. Companies that decline to participate may be scored on publicly available information alone, generally resulting in lower scores. The CSA was originally launched in 1999 by SAM (Sustainable Asset Management AG) of Zurich and was acquired by S&P Global in January 2020, becoming part of S&P Global Sustainable1.
The methodology, documented in the “S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) Methodology” publication [1], identifies sub-industry-specific material criteria and weights them according to financial relevance. Three dimensions (Environmental, Social and Governance & Economic) are scored separately and combined into the overall ESG Score. The top-scoring companies in each industry are included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and regional indices, which have been published since 1999.
S&P Global ESG Scores cover more than 13,000 companies globally and feed into a wide range of sustainable index and benchmark products, including the S&P 500 ESG Index.
S&P Global is a US-listed parent (NYSE: SPGI) and its ESG rating activity has historically operated outside the UK financial services perimeter. HM Treasury’s November 2023 consultation response on ESG ratings provider regulation confirmed the intention to bring the activity within UK FCA oversight, with implementation expected in 2026 [2]. EU Regulation 2024/3005, applicable from 2 July 2026, applies to S&P Global Sustainable1 activities targeted at the EU.
S&P Global’s CSA methodology is updated annually and is published on the S&P Global Sustainable1 website. Methodology changes have at times produced material score movements, including the widely-reported May 2022 removal of Tesla Inc. from the S&P 500 ESG Index, which prompted broader public debate about ESG methodology design and the FCA-relevant question of clarity of methodology under PS23/16 [3].
UK insurers including Aviva and Legal & General reference S&P Global ESG data in their published sustainability disclosures. The Dow Jones Sustainability Index inclusion or exclusion is often noted in corporate disclosures and forms one of the data points considered by underwriters of large corporate D&O programmes. The CSA methodology’s distinct questionnaire-led approach means that a company’s S&P Global score is influenced by the quality and completeness of its CSA submission, which is itself an indication of corporate ESG engagement maturity.
Lloyd’s managing agents typically licence ESG data from multiple providers and apply triangulation, weighting and override processes documented in their internal ESG underwriting framework. The PRA’s SS 3/19 expectation that firms understand third-party data methodology applies equally to S&P Global ESG inputs.
UK companies invited to participate in the annual CSA should treat the submission as a structured opportunity to present their ESG governance, data and performance. The process is more demanding than passive data scraping but provides more direct influence over the resulting score. Non-participation may produce a “Public Information”-only score, which tends to be lower and may invite additional underwriting scrutiny.
Companies whose D&O renewal incorporates ESG underwriting questions should expect insurers to reference both the CSA score and DJSI inclusion status, particularly where the company is in scope of section 414CB Companies Act 2006 climate disclosure.
A FTSE 100 UK consumer goods company participates annually in the S&P Global CSA and achieves a 72/100 ESG Score, securing inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe Index. At renewal of its £75 million D&O programme, the broker presents the CSA report alongside the company’s section 414CB climate disclosure and modern slavery statement. The strong score, combined with credible TCFD-aligned disclosures, supports renewal at flat terms despite broader D&O market firming. A subsequent methodology change reweighting plastic packaging exposure could trigger renewal review.
This entry is part of the Apex Insurance Wiki. Last reviewed by Matt Bartlett on 2026-06-10. Next review: 2026-12-10.
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