ESG

NGO Seeks “Exhaustive” Corporate Vigilance Plans in France

February 14, 2019

The human rights activist group Sherpa has published a reference guide for companies and “stakeholders” calling on companies to respond to a new “duty of vigilance” imposed by French law with “exhaustive and sincere vigilance plans” explaining how they will address their negative social and environmental impacts.
GRI Calls for Improved Corporate Environmental Reporting

February 14, 2019

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released a discussion paper calling for companies to interact with investors and others to improve their reporting on efforts to address water use and greenhouse gas emissions in their operations.
NGO Project: EU Companies Fail to Report “Meaningful” Data

February 13, 2019

The Alliance for Corporate Transparency has published a report finding that European companies are largely failing to disclose “meaningful” social and environmental information in compliance with the EU Non-financial Reporting Directive, including by failing to describe their “human rights due diligence system.”
US States Ramp up Commitments to UN Climate Agenda

February 11, 2019

The New York Times reports that the launch of US House of Representatives Member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Green New Deal plan is highlighting the pursuit of ambitious climate initiatives by political leaders in US states aiming to sidestep federal policy by implementing the UN’s Paris climate accord.
“Green New Deal” Echoes UN Social, Environmental Wishlist

February 07, 2019

A nonbinding resolution for a “Green New Deal” published today by Member of the US House of Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and US Senator Ed Markey echoes the UN’s “sustainable development” agenda in its call for “10-year national mobilizations” aimed at eliminating the use of fossil fuels and guaranteeing job benefits for every American.
ISO Releases Standard on “Sustainable” Tourist Accommodations

February 06, 2019

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a new global standard, as part of its promotion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, guiding tourist accommodation facilities on how to implement “sustainability management systems” to protect human rights and the environment in their operations.
NGOs Use Benchmarking to Prod Companies on Supply Chains

February 06, 2019

A press release from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility praising apparel companies for high rankings in an annual supply chain benchmarking report shows how activist groups are successfully using a carrot-and-stick technique to persuade companies to respect the business and human rights (BHR) agenda.
UK Lawmakers Rank Fashion Retailers' “Sustainability” Efforts

February 06, 2019

The BBC reports that the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has ranked fashion retailers on their commitment to reducing their negative social and environmental impacts and on their involvement in initiatives aimed at achieving “sustainability” in the clothing industry.
Ben & Jerry’s Removes Plastic Products from Shops

February 05, 2019

As companies respond to pressure from environmental activist groups to jettison “single-use plastic” products, PR Newswire reports that ice cream chain and self-proclaimed “aspiring social justice company” Ben & Jerry’s will no longer offer plastic straws or plastic spoons in its locations beginning in early 2019.
German Body Seeks Closure of All Coal Plants

February 04, 2019

The Los Angeles Times reports that a German government commission has issued recommendations seeking the closure of all of the country’s coal power plants by the year 2038 in favor of a move to renewable energy and $45 billion in spending for regions affected by the policy, in line with the goals of the UN’s Paris climate accord.