ESG addresses many dimensions and activities at once, making it quite difficult for companies to understand how central ESG topics are to their corporate strategy. When reporting on ESG, a persistent question is: how often are core topics mentioned and linked to corporate risks and opportunities? Enter the Recomentor Ambition Indicator, which measures how diligently your company is tackling or plans to tackle specific topics on your path to ESG compliance.
In this blog, we’ll explore why the Ambition Indicator matters, how it can guide your ESG reporting strategy, and how different stakeholders can use it.
What is it?
The Recomentor Ambition Indicator evaluates how forward-thinking and committed your statements are. If your ESG disclosures present clear, near-term actions with strong confidence, the score will be higher. If they rely on distant or less-certain goals, it will be lower. Recomentor extracts action statements directly from your ESG report; for example, if your report discusses “reducing carbon emissions,” the tool identifies the relevant verbs and surrounding language such as “will reduce,” “aim to cut,” “plan to explore.” It evaluates the level of commitment (whether firm targets or exploratory intentions) , assesses certainty and timeline, and assigns a numerical indicator that shows how strong, immediate, and concrete each ESG commitment is.
Benchmark
Ambition Indicator (a real number)
- A numerical value that shows how strong or aspirational your commitments are.
Why does the Ambition Indicator matter?
- Provides timelines: Tells you if you’re setting clear, time-bound targets/actions or simply offering general pledges.
- Demonstrates commitments: Signals to stakeholders how serious and immediate your ESG commitments are.
- Defines next steps: Helps prioritize which goals need firmer actions to drive real impact.
- Measures competition: Allows you to see if you are matching or exceeding industry leaders in setting ambitious ESG targets.
Four Guiding Questions
- Companies & Sustainability Departments: “Are our goals strong and time-bound enough to show genuine ambition?”
- ESG Consulting Firms: “Which ESG statements in a client’s report lack actions, and how can we help them set bolder targets?”
- Financial Institutions: “Does the company demonstrate immediate, actionable ESG plans, or are their commitments too vague?”
- Investor Relations Departments: “How can we communicate our ambition more convincingly to build investor confidence?”
By using this indicator, you can ensure that your ESG strategy demonstrates real ambition and drives meaningful impact. Do you have a need for this in your company? Check out our platform page to learn more and book a demo call.