ESG

EU Adopts Directive on Corporate Non-financial Reporting

October 01, 2014

The Council of the EU has adopted a directive providing for the reporting of non-financial information, on human rights, environmental, and other impacts, by large corporations across the bloc, paving the way for its entering into force in 20 days.
NGOs Seek Binding EU Conflict Minerals Rules

October 01, 2014

A group of nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") have called on the European Parliament to overhaul a proposal of the European Commission in order to require a large number of European companies to investigate their supply chains and report on the use of so-called "conflict minerals" in their operations.
NGO Supports BHR Due Diligence Requirements in Switzerland

October 01, 2014

The Swiss Coalition for Corporate Justice has called on the Swiss Parliament to adopt legislation requiring companies to investigate alleged human rights violations and environmental impacts in their operations and to report to the government on their progress on these issues.
Unilever Drives Forward Human Rights Reporting Initiative

September 24, 2014

As pressure from the UN and nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") mounts on businesses to respond to international business and human rights principles, the NGO Shift has announced its partnership with the multinational company Unilever to develop a corporate reporting framework on human rights.
Businesses Make Deforestation Pledges at UN Summit

September 24, 2014

In response to UN pressure toward an international climate agenda, businesses and governments have made pledges to prevent deforestation worldwide, including 20 global food companies committing to "deforestation-free sourcing policies" of acquiring palm oil.
Companies Finance "Climate Fund" for Developing Countries

September 24, 2014

The UN has announced that, as a result of its pressure for redistribution of funds to finance "green" initiatives during its recent climate summit, a group of financial and insurance institutions have pledged over $200 billion by the end of next year toward "low-carbon" programs in developing countries.
UN Pushes Business Leaders on Carbon Policies

September 24, 2014

At the recent climate summit in New York, the UN Global Compact called for businesses to abide by its "Business Leadership Criteria on Carbon Pricing," under which companies must integrate carbon pricing into their business strategies and issue public reports on their progress.
U.K. Imposes Payment Reporting Requirements on Businesses

August 27, 2014

The U.K. Government has announced new rules requiring, as of January 2015, mining, gas, and oil companies registered in Britain to report payments made to government in all countries in which they operate.
GRI, China Launch CSR Initiative

August 06, 2014

At a conference in Beijing, the Global Reporting Initiative ("GRI") and the State Information Center of China launched the China Corporate Social Responsibility ("CSR") Monitoring and Evaluation System to pressure Chinese businesses to abide by and report on their performance regarding CSR in their operations.
NGOs Push for Mandatory EU Conflict Mineral Due Diligence

July 23, 2014

In response to a European Commission proposal for voluntary corporate reporting on conflict minerals from war-torn countries, a group of nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") is pushing the European Parliament to adopt stricter standards that require mitigation of the use of such minerals.