Surveillance Capitalism

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.
Under Pressure, Financiers Divest from Fossil Fuels

September 24, 2014

Amid pressure from the UN, nongovernmental organizations, and individuals such as Desmond Tutu, who recently compared funding fossil fuels to financing apartheid, the Rockefeller family and other investors have recently announced their divestment from fossil fuels in order to combat climate change.
ILO Pushes Partnerships on Labor Issues in Retail Industry

September 17, 2014

As part of the UN's initiatives pushing internationally developed labor standards, the UN's International Labour Organization ("ILO") has announced a partnership with retailer H&M to promote such standards, as well as the development of "employers' and workers' organizations" in the garment industry.
Under Pressure, Yale Considers Divestment in Fossil Fuels

September 10, 2014

As pressure from nongovernmental organizations and international organizations ramps up, The New York Times reports that Yale University has asked the managers of its investments to consider the risks of continuing to fund projects and companies that allegedly contribute to climate change.
NGOs Push General Mills into Climate Commitment

July 30, 2014

Food company General Mills has responded to a publicity campaign from a group of nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") by announcing its commitment to disclose the actions it is taking to counter climate change and signing on to a declaration to reduce its environmental impact.
Coke, Pepsi Adopt UN Guidelines on Land Rights

July 14, 2014

Following the decision of Coca-Cola to support the UN Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure, which seek to pressure businesses to avoid violation of land ownership rights in developing countries, Pepsi has agreed to promote the Guidelines and carry out impact assessments in its supply chain.
Under NGO Pressure, Businesses Call for Climate Change Action

July 14, 2014

As nongovernmental organizations ("NGOs") ramp up pressure on corporations to support action on global warming, Oxfam has announced that CEOs and hundreds of businesses have signed on to a statement supporting a global agreement combating climate change.
BP Publishes 2013 "Sustainability Review"

June 23, 2014

As nongovernmental organizations ramp up their pressure on transnational corporations to provide human rights and environmental impact assessments, the oil and gas company BP has released an assessment of its impacts on the environment and societies in which it operated in 2013.
Unilever Commits to International BHR Standards

June 23, 2014

Consumer goods company Unilever has announced that it will report on its progress in implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights ("BHR") in its operations and that it will produce impact assessments reviewing activities in its supply chain.