Corporations are facing a fundamental shift in the nature of environmental, health, safety, and social responsibility (EHS&SR) issues. These dynamics will affect their ability to bring products to market, raise capital and either expand existing or develop new facilities. Yet business executives, and even some EHS&SR managers, are unaware of the full significance of the transition underway. They are still stuck in a two-dimensional world of EHS&SR defined by government regulations and public relations. The emerging landscape is far more complex and populated by a new breed of "rule makers" most commonly referred to as non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This article describes the challenges of this transition and makes recommendations on how to turn these challenges into competitive opportunities. © 2004 NetLogex, LLC. All rights reserved.