ESG due diligence
Also called: sustainability DD
ELI5
Check sustainability and governance risks before investing.
Used in conversation
“ESG due diligence found unsupported net-zero language.”
Definition
Review of environmental, social and governance risks, practices and claims.
Here “ESG due diligence” means: Review of environmental, social and governance risks, practices and claims.
Pitch context
You will see “ESG due diligence” in fundraising decks, data rooms, term sheets and investor conversations when the discussion reaches investor diligence & data rooms.
Why it matters: In investor diligence & data rooms, a loose definition can change rights, obligations, approval, disclosure or enforceability.
Caution
Meaning, enforceability and required process vary by jurisdiction and agreement; this definition is not legal advice.
Sources & evidence · 7
Direct term-level sources and supporting source families.
- National Venture Capital Association — Model Legal DocumentsDirect source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- National Institute of Standards and Technology — Computer Security Resource Center GlossaryDirect source · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- OECD — G20/OECD Principles of Corporate Governance 2023Direct source · institutional · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Small Business Capital Formation GlossarySupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission — Exempt OfferingsSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Safe financing documentsSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Y Combinator — Series A Term Sheet TemplateSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16