The ESG world has a data problem, but not the one most people think. Every platform boasts about the size of its dataset. Millions of data points, thousands of metrics, dozens of providers, and real-time feeds. But if you’ve ever actually had to use that data for reporting or investment analysis, you’ll know the truth:

More isn’t always better. In fact, more is often the problem.

When More Data Becomes the Problem

For ESG analysts and sustainability teams, the day-to-day reality isn’t a shortage of data; it’s sorting through a mess of inconsistent, incomplete, and sometimes contradictory information. You’ve got:

• Scores that change with no explanation

• Duplicate disclosures from different providers

• Climate targets buried in appendices

• ESG risks flagged by one system and missed by another

And then there’s the reporting pressure: SFDR, CSRD, EU Taxonomy, net zero alignment, clients, regulators, internal stakeholders. Each one asking for something slightly different and expecting answers yesterday.

So you dig, you merge datasets, you run pivot tables, you cross-check scores against claims. And after all that? You still have to gut-check the output because half of it isn’t traceable.

ESG Needs Better Questions, Not Bigger Dashboards

Here’s the shift we need to make: Stop collecting everything and start asking the right things.

The most valuable ESG tools don’t just give you more data; they help you interrogate what you already have. They make it easier to answer questions like:

• How does this portfolio align with SFDR Article 8 or 9 requirements?

• What’s the actual carbon footprint of these holdings, and where are the gaps?

• Which companies are greenwashing based on their own disclosures?

• What’s changed since last quarter, and is it material?

• Which of these suppliers is putting us at risk under CSRD?

In other words, the power lies in the questions, not the inputs. And that’s where most ESG platforms fall short; they give you volume, not clarity.

GaiaLens Is Built for Questions

At GaiaLens, we’ve taken a different approach. Instead of piling on metrics, we built tools that help analysts cut through the noise and get straight to the insight. Here’s how:

GL Chat

Upload your own documents, whether that’s sustainability reports, policies, or disclosures, and ask anything:

"How did Company X perform on Scope 3 emissions in 2023?"

"Does this firm disclose SBTi targets?"

You'll get structured, cited answers, not guesses.

GL Report

Generate SFDR-ready reports instantly. No endless spreadsheets, no second-guessing mappings, just compliant, regulator-aligned outputs fast.

Daily ESG Scores

Track company performance in real time, pillar by pillar. Spot greenwashing early and know when to investigate further or when to move on.

Greenwashing Score

See where public claims don’t match data. Because if you’re relying on how a company says it performs, you’re already behind.

Stop Collecting, Start Interrogating.

We don’t need more ESG data; we need smarter ways to use it. We need platforms that cut through the complexity, not add to it.

At GaiaLens, we’re building tools for analysts who don’t just want to tick the ESG box. They want to ask sharper questions, find stronger signals, and build better portfolios. Because that’s where the insight lives; in the questions, not the dashboards.

Want to try it yourself? Start with our free plan and see what ESG looks like when your tools actually help you think.