ESG

US Agency Halts "Due Diligence" Rule on Minerals

June 15, 2017

According to Reuters, Acting Chairman of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Mike Piwowar has announced that, during a court-mandated review of a rule requiring reporting on "conflict minerals" from Africa, the SEC would not require businesses to perform "due diligence" on their use of such minerals in support of such reporting.
Extractives Initiative Ratchets up Payment Reporting Rules

May 26, 2017

The nongovernmental organization (NGO) Global Witness reports that the board of the Extractives Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global group that includes governments, NGOs, and oil, gas, and mining companies, has decided to require member companies to report all payments they make to governments for their projects around the world.
UK Official Criticizes "Modern Slavery" Reporting Efforts

May 25, 2017

In a recent letter to business leaders, the UK's Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland OBE, who is charged with monitoring corporate implementation of the country's Modern Slavery Act, said he is "disappointed" with the level of compliance by businesses with the law's requirements to report on efforts to eradicate forced labor around the world.
Skeptics Question "Sustainable Finance" Products

May 18, 2017

Reuters reports that, while a report from an alliance of organizations advocating "sustainable investment" indicates a growing movement toward "ethical, sustainable and socially responsible" finance, skeptics of such investment products question whether they actually contribute to the global "sustainability" agenda.
Utility Company Pursues "Green Bond" Market

May 15, 2017

French utility company Engie has announced its release of a second "green bond," valued at 1.5 billion euros and aimed at investments in renewable energy projects that will help fulfill the UN's climate change and "sustainable development" agendas.
NGO Expresses "Maturity" Concerns with BHR Reporting

May 10, 2017

A study from the nongovernmental organization Shift on the "maturity" of 74 companies' reporting practices on matters related to the global business and human rights (BHR) agenda warns that many of the companies' reports lack clarity regarding relevant BHR risks and the usefulness of human rights impact assessments.
Telecoms Agree to Global Speech, Privacy Standards

May 08, 2017

The multi-stakeholder organization Global Network Initiative has announced that seven telecommunications companies have agreed to become participants in the group's efforts to promote global business standards for users' free expression and privacy rights, including by agreeing to perform "human rights impact assessments" on their operations.
Company Launches "Next-Gen" Platform to Advance SDGs

May 03, 2017

Global software company SAP has launched a Next-Gen Global Challenges platform through which it is soliciting ideas, for public release at a New York summit in October, to pressure industry leaders into fulfilling the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals.
GRI, UN Agree "Responsible Investment" Partnership

May 03, 2017

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the UN Conference on Trade and Development have agreed to a "strategic partnership" through which they will push for "responsible investment" and "green finance" in line with the UN's comprehensive Sustainable Development Goals and the Sustainable Stock Exchanges initiative.
ISO Releases International Standard for Sustainable Procurement

April 26, 2017

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a new set of standards designed to help companies ensure that their suppliers respect international norms regarding sustainability, workers’ rights, and environmental protection.