Meetings are a key part of any ESG or sustainability role, and participating confidently in French is crucial for expats and international professionals.
This guide shows you how to prepare, communicate, and contribute effectively in ESG meetings in French-speaking workplaces.
Why ESG Meetings Require Specific French Skills
ESG meetings often involve:
- Discussing sustainability metrics and KPIs
- Reviewing corporate social responsibility initiatives
- Debating environmental or governance strategies
- Collaborating with stakeholders across departments and countries
Challenges for expats:
- Using precise ESG vocabulary
- Speaking formally and clearly
- Participating actively without hesitation
- Understanding French business etiquette
1. Learn Key ESG Vocabulary
Using the right words will make your contributions more professional:
| English | French | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainability | Développement durable | Nous intégrons le développement durable dans toutes nos décisions. |
| ESG Criteria | Critères ESG | Les investisseurs évaluent les projets selon les critères ESG. |
| Stakeholders | Parties prenantes | Toutes les parties prenantes ont été consultées pour ce projet. |
| KPI | Indicateurs de performance | Nos indicateurs de performance montrent une réduction de 15 % des émissions. |
| Governance | Gouvernance | La gouvernance de l’entreprise garantit la transparence. |
2. Prepare Your Talking Points
Before the meeting:
- Review the agenda / ordre du jour
- Prepare data, charts, and examples
- Practice phrases to express opinions or suggestions
Useful phrases:
- Je souhaiterais ajouter un point concernant… — I would like to add a point regarding…
- À mon avis, nous devrions considérer… — In my opinion, we should consider…
- Je propose de… — I propose to…
- Pouvez-vous clarifier ce point ? — Can you clarify this point?
3. Use Professional Meeting Etiquette
- Greet everyone formally: Bonjour à tous
- Address individuals politely: Monsieur / Madame [Nom]
- Speak clearly and avoid filler words
- Take notes and summarize when appropriate: Pour résumer…
4. Ask Smart Questions
Engage confidently by asking relevant questions:
- Quels sont les objectifs ESG pour le prochain trimestre ? — What are the ESG objectives for the next quarter?
- Comment mesurons-nous l’impact social de ce projet ? — How are we measuring the social impact of this project?
- Quels indicateurs de performance suivons-nous pour la gouvernance ? — Which KPIs are we tracking for governance?
5. Follow Up After the Meeting
Professionalism continues after the meeting:
- Send a summary email: Merci pour cette réunion. Veuillez trouver ci-joint le compte rendu et les prochaines étapes.
(Thank you for the meeting. Please find attached the minutes and next steps.) - Use ESG vocabulary correctly in your follow-up documents
Quick Tips for Success
- Practice ESG phrases before the meeting
- Keep sentences short and formal
- Take notes to participate actively
- Review KPIs, reports, and ESG updates beforehand
- Maintain a confident, professional tone
Take Your ESG French to the Next Level
Participating in ESG meetings in French doesn’t have to be stressful. With personalized coaching, you can:
- Learn professional ESG vocabulary
- Speak confidently in meetings and presentations
- Prepare follow-up emails and reports
- Enhance your credibility as an ESG professional
Book your ESG French coaching session today:
https://getsetfrench.ch/about-contact/
More about ESG in French: