ESG

UNEP Signs NY Fund to "Decarbonization" Program

January 27, 2017

The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has announced that the New York State Common Retirement Fund, the third-largest pension fund in the US, is joining UNEP's Portfolio Decarbonization Coalition, a group of institutional investors that have pledged to gradually transfer a substantial portion of their investments to climate-friendly assets.
NGO Leader Pushes Corporate Tax as "Moral" Issue

January 25, 2017

The Guardian reports that, on a panel at the recent World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, Executive Director of Oxfam International Winnie Byanyima called for governments to consider corporate taxation a moral matter and ensure businesses contribute their "fair share" to the fulfillment of the global economic, social, and cultural "human rights" agenda.
UN Launches "Green" Digital Finance Initiative

January 25, 2017

As part of its efforts to divert global investment funds toward climate-friendly projects, the UN Environment Programme and a Chinese financial services provider have launched a Green Digital Finance Alliance that aims to promote global "green finance" for the UN's sustainable development agenda and to encourage climate-friendly lifestyles in China.
UN Official Lobbies for "Women's Empowerment" Action

January 25, 2017

In a recent press release, UN Women outlined how its Executive Director Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka sought to advance expansive initiatives pushing corporate action toward and public reporting on "women's empowerment" as part of the UN's sustainable development agenda at the World Economic Forum gathering in Davos, Switzerland.
Companies Launch Investor Tool on Climate Action

January 25, 2017

AP reports that a group of financial companies has launched at the London Stock Exchange an online tool called the Transition Pathway Initiative to permit investors to scrutinize the actions companies have taken to prepare for measures aimed at combating global warming.
G20 Panel Calls for Link Between Climate, Executive Pay

January 24, 2017

According to a report from the G20 group of countries' Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures led by former New York Mayor and climate activist Michael Bloomberg, energy companies should adopt policies informing shareholders how they are linking executive and board member pay to the management of climate change risks facing their industry.
UK Businesses Support Report on Fulfilling SDGs

January 23, 2017

A group of British companies have published a letter supporting a Business & Sustainable Development Commission report asserting that government measures focused on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will contribute to massive economic growth and create a world that is "comprehensively sustainable."
NGO Pushes Scrutiny of "Modern Slavery" Statements

January 19, 2017

The nongovernmental organization Ethical Trading Initiative has called on companies to place their "Modern Slavery Statements," made under a recently passed UK law mandating corporate reporting on forced labor, in a "central registry" maintained by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre for scrutiny by civil society.
GRI, IIRC Establish "Integrated Reporting" Group

January 19, 2017

The Global Reporting Initiative and the International Integrated Reporting Council have formed a "Corporate Leadership Group on integrated reporting" to communicate with companies on how to navigate the "sometimes confusing landscape" of global corporate reporting standards by integrating their disclosure on financial and "sustainability" issues.
GRI, UN Form Group on Corporate SDG Reporting

January 19, 2017

The Global Reporting Initiative explains how it is forming a group of "leading businesses, reporting experts and data users" in cooperation with the UN Global Compact to develop principles of corporate reporting on the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and permit businesses to "show leadership in their SDG performance."