La sostenibilità sociale come fulcro del paradigma ESG e delle politiche di sviluppo sostenibile: una prospettiva costituzionalmente orientata

The essay investigates social sustainability as a legal and axiological imperative, positioning it at the core of the ESG framework and sustainable development policies from a constitutionally oriented perspective. It must not be reduced to a compensatory tool of the ecological transition, but rather seen as a foundational element of legitimacy for public policy and strategic decision-making. By referring to the principles of social utility (Article 41 of the Italian Constitution), solidarity (Article 2), and to the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and the Treaty on European Union (TEU), the binding nature of social sustainability within national and supranational legal frameworks is underscored. Recent European regulatory developments – including the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) – and the transition toward stakeholderoriented business models define a structural obligation for distributive justice and inclusion. In this perspective, social sustainability emerges as the fulcrum of a multilevel governance system based on accountability, participation, and human dignity, an essential condition for addressing global challenges without leaving anyone behind.