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Investors increasingly non-financial factors as part of their risk analysis process and growth assessments of corporates. Machine learning (ML) models for predicting ESG scores are an extremely useful tool to help investors make more informed decisions on their portfolios. Such a tool with wide-encompassing alternative data can be useful to the investors. The use of such datasets and machine learning models for ESG ratings can continuously improve the accuracy and reliability of those models. Using machine learning algorithms to identify key drivers of ESG ratings is an effective way of improving portfolio performance. Although the current state of ESG ratings is relatively static, data collection and mapping methodologies are evolving. As more data becomes available, the noise in ESG factors will become less important. This unique document provides a machine learning algorithm for predicting an ESG rating based on a company's financial and non-financial attributes. The financial and non-financial attributes of corporations are extracted from Moody's Orbis and Ratings from S&P. The objective here is to predict the ESG rating of companies where the ESG rating is not easily accessible. At the same time, this approach would allow investors to have a suitable framework for investments based on ESG ratings.  With the latest financial and non-financial disclosure by a corporate an ESG score can be predicted which can be used to identify its riskiness with a corresponding increase/decrease of ESG score.

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This is the foreword to Volume 29 of Journal of Ecological Society written by Mr. Yogesh Pathak. It introduces in brief the articles in this issue which focus on Man-Nature Relationship.