CBIS : SRI News Archive

SRI News Archive

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News Archive

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Press Release Archive

SRI News

SRI News Archive

SRI News Archive

3/2/2011

Companies and Shareowners Differ on what Engagement Means
Benchmarking of views on engagement by investors and issuers finds that changes in corporate behavior is most likely when shareowners are in agreement on an issue.

1/12/2010

Investors Remain at Risk Due to Corporate Breaches of Supply Chain Standards
According to a new EIRIS report, companies in consumer industries are responding to NGO pressure, but recommends investor engagement with companies on supply chain polices, management, and reporting.

1/5/2010

Indian Government Issues Voluntary Guidelines for Corporate Governance and Corporate Social Responsibility
At the conclusion of the first India Corporate Week, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs issues guidelines intended to encourage best practices in corporate governance and corporate social responsibility.

1/4/2010

Fed Chief Acknowledges Failure of Regulatory Oversight in Subprime Mortgage Crisis
Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke calls for strengthening regulatory system to prevent the recurrence of a crisis warned of by the socially responsible investment community for years.

12/28/2009

US Department of Energy Will Fund Research and Development of Alternative Energy Sources
The formation by the DOE of three Energy Innovation Hubs is intended to accelerate the commercial deployment of new energy technologies.

12/18/2009

Clean Jobs Creation Needs Private Investment to Succeed
A Five-Point Plan issued by the Apollo Alliance details a number of opportunities for private investors in the creation of jobs that help combat climate change. Second of a two-part series.

12/15/2009

US Secretary of Energy Announces Plan for Clean Energy Deployment in Developing Countries
While progress toward even a non-binding agreement in Copenhagen stalls, the US Secretary of Energy announces program to help fund energy efficiency measures in developing countries.

12/14/2009

Goldman Sachs to Allow Shareowner Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
In the wake of an uproar over its plans to award $23 billion in bonuses, TARP recipient also announces that Management Committee will receive equity Shares at Risk instead of cash.

12/10/2009

Institutional Investors Ask SEC to Clarify That Climate Change is a Material Risk
Despite regulatory and legislative progress, the failure of companies to disclose risks remains widespread, according to the request for interpretive guidance.

12/2/2009

ICCR Members Target Executive Compensation at Health Industry Companies
In their shareowner resolution, 30 ICCR members ask 21 companies in the health industry to report on disparities between executive compensation, including health benefits, to compensation of lowest-paid employees.

11/24/2009

Corporations Are Advised to Improve Human Rights Reporting
The Global Reporting Initiative and its partners in a human rights initiative find insufficient attention to negative impacts of human rights issues in corporate reporting, and plans to update its Sustainability Reporting Framework.

11/23/2009

Corporations are Failing to Recognize Adaptation in Their Climate Change Strategy
Finding that adaptation to climate change requires a long-term investment horizon, a report from UK-based institutional investors recommends that investors increase their role in public policy debates on climate change.

11/17/2009

Shareowner Activists Continue to Press Cisco on Human Rights
An investor coalition led by Boston Common Asset Management has sought for years to engage the company on the issue of freedom of expression on the Internet, but without meaningful response has had to re-introduce shareowner proposals.

11/11/2009

Is Climate Denial Growing in the US?
Survey by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press finds decreasing numbers believing evidence of global warming, but a majority in favor of a cap-and-trade program as well as an international agreement on climate change.

11/5/2009

House Committee Approves Investor Protection Act
The Act, which includes an amendment authorizing the SEC to allow shareowner votes on corporate directors, awaits final approval from the full House of Representatives.

11/4/2009

Role of Stock Exchanges on Corporate ESG Disclosure Gains Traction
Reports from the World Federation of Exchanges and EIRIS coincide with UN meeting on how stock exchanges can encourage responsible investment.

10/20/2009

Shareowners Rush to Challenge Goldman Sachs on Huge Payouts of Bonuses
As the TARP bailout recipient prepares to award executives with billions of dollars in bonuses, shareowners call for a review of its compensation practices.

10/19/2009

Investors Urge Companies to Distance Themselves from Associations Over Climate Change
A letter to 14 companies notes misalignment between their positions on climate change and that of the US Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers.

10/12/2009

Are Senior Citizens the New Targets for Predatory Lenders?
The National Consumer Law Center finds an increase in reverse mortgages directed at older homeowners, and details potential opportunities for abuse by lenders.

10/7/2009

Survey Finds a Majority of Corporate Respondents Measuring Their Carbon Footprints
Most corporate respondents to an EcoSecurities survey have undertaken energy efficiency, recycling, and waste management activities, and would purchase carbon offsets to support solar and wind power projects.

10/6/2009

Executive Compensation Declines in 2008, but Far Less than Decline in Stock Markets
Report from the Corporate Library describes a slight decline in total realized executive compensation as revolutionary, but an inadequate response to much greater declines in shareowner value.

9/29/2009

EPA Finalizes Rule for Mandatory Emissions Reporting
Facilities responsible for 85% of greenhouse gas emissions in the US will be required to monitor and report on emissions starting in 2010.

9/21/2009

Shareowner Opposition to Board Nominees Increases in 2009
PROXY Governance finds that significant increase in votes against nominees in director elections led to failure of 84 directors at 48 companies to attain majority shareowner support.

9/11/2009

Social Investment Forum Issues Framework for Reform of Financial Industry
Organization of socially responsible investors states its support for Obama Administration recommendations, while calling for mandatory environmental, social, and governance disclosure as well.

9/8/2009

Third World Climate Conference Ends with Call from Experts for a Strengthened Global Framework
Participants in the Expert Segment of the Conference conclude that current climate services capabilities are insufficient, and major new and strengthened research efforts are necessary.

9/4/2009

Sustainable Development Is Integral to Reducing Impacts of Climate Change
Report by the UCLA School of Law calls for commitment from local, state, and federal governments to remove impediments to sustainable development projects.

9/1/2009

World Water Week Participants Call for Attention to Water Issues at Copenhagen Climate Conference
Unanimously supported by 2,500 participants, the Stockholm Statement calls for inclusion of adaptive measures with broad development goals, and increased funding to support adaptive measures.

8/29/2009

Investors Are Enthusiastic About ESG in Emerging Markets
IFC report finds that sustainable criteria are of increasing importance to asset owners and managers when investing in emerging markets.

8/27/2009

Largest US Companies Have to Improve Environmental Policies, Practices, and Disclosure
Report finds that few companies listed in the Russell 1000 Index have publicly available environmental policies, certifiable environmental management systems, or sustainability reporting mechanisms.

8/10/2009

Responsible Investing Poised to Become Mainstream
Report by Robeco Investment Management and Booz & Company expects responsible investing to grow to as much as 20% of total assets under management by 2015.

8/1/2009

US House Passes Bill that Limits Executive Compensation
In addition to requiring annual shareowner votes on executive compensation, the bill gives regulators the power to prohibit risky compensation packages at large financial institutions.

7/31/2009

Socially Responsible Investors Welcome Signs that the SEC is Considering Mandatory ESG Reporting
The Social Investment Forum responds to questions from SEC commissioners on mandatory ESG reporting with letter, and the first meeting of the SEC's Investor Advisory Committee includes ESG reporting on its agenda.

7/29/2009

Companies Face Challenges in Improving Visibility of Supply Chains
Respondents to a Business Performance Management Forum survey cite cost savings, environmental compliance, and improved customer service as factors in enforcing sustainability throughout their supply chains.

7/24/2009

Report Calls for Effective Board Oversight of Risk Exposure and Exercise of Shareowner Responsibilities
UK report identifies excessive risk taking by financial industries as significant factor in the financial crisis, and provides recommendations for boards and institutional shareowners to prevent recurrence.

7/22/2009

UNEP Hones Legal Argument for ESG Incorporation in Investments in New Study
Report by the United Nations Environment Program Finance Initiative's Asset Management Working Group serves as a sequel to landmark Freshfields study, which established legal case for ESG criteria in investing. First in a two-part series.

7/17/2009

Responsible Investors Show no Sign of Retreat from Principles in Troubled Times
Report by the UN Principles for Responsible Investment finds that asset owners and investment managers have increased their commitment to Responsible Investing in the wake of the economic crisis.

7/15/2009

Investor Awareness of Impact of Climate Change is Growing
The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change finds that signatories to its Investor Statement on Climate Change report increased attention to climate change in their investments.

7/8/2009

Investors Call for Improved ESG Disclosure by Companies in Emerging Markets
Seventy percent of respondents to survey by the Emerging Market Disclosure Project say that lack of ESG disclosure by companies in emerging markets hampers their efforts to increase investments.

7/6/2009

SEC Proposes Rule Changes to Improve Corporate Transparency
Proposals address shareowner votes on executive compensation at TARP recipients and disclosure of information on corporate governance, and eliminate broker voting on uninstructed shares.

7/2/2009

Report Suggests that CDFIs are Weathering the Worst of the Economic Crisis
With funding for community development financial institutions a central part of the economic stimulus, and with renewed interest from individual investors, CDFIs look forward to improved performance for remainder of 2009.

6/17/2009

Investors Call on ILO to Ensure End of Child Labor in Uzbekistan
Letter from investors to the ILO cites documentation that rights abuses continue in Uzbek cotton harvest, and asks the organization to monitor fall 2009 harvest.

6/15/2009

Industry Initiatives Help Companies Adapt to Expectations on CSR Issues
Report by the Ethical Corporation Institute finds examples of success among industry initiatives that address CSR, but others that have yet to meet the expectations of stakeholders.

6/11/2009

Obama Administration Proposes Legislation on Say-on-Pay
Legislation would authorize the SEC to require annual shareowner votes on executive compensation, and would require standards of independence for corporate compensation committees.

6/10/2009

Damage to Ecosystems Can Lead to Financial Losses and Reputational Risks for Companies
Report by Eurosif and oekem research finds that risks to five industrial sectors can be offset by attention to biodiversity. The financial services sector faces risks and opportunities as well.

6/2/2009

Investors Must Lead Efforts to Reduce Climate Change Risks
Report by the United Nations Global Compact finds opportunities in a transition to a low-carbon economy to be challenged by the urgency of climate change risks.

5/29/2009

Hybrid Boards of Directors Can Lead to Increased Share Values
Study by the Investor Responsibility Research Center Institute and PROXY Governance finds that efforts by activist institutional shareowners to seat dissident board members correlates with increased share prices.

5/28/2009

Global Business Leaders Issue Call for Effective Climate Change Treaty
At the World Business Summit on Climate Change, statement by business leaders outlines issues that an effective climate change treaty must address.

5/22/2009

Effective Policies Can Limit Competitiveness Impacts of Climate Change Legislation
In the second of a two-part series, the climate change policy implications of the Pew Center's report on competitiveness impacts on US business are explored.

5/21/2009

Companies Are Slow to Adopt Interactive Technologies in GRI Reporting
Study by the Global Reporting Initiative finds that while most companies provide sustainability information on their web sites, access by users can be hampered by inconsistent terminology.

5/20/2009

How Will Climate Change Legislation Affect US Competitiveness?
Report from the Pew Center on Global Climate Change finds that a flexible cap-and-trade program can reduce emissions while protecting vulnerable industries from foreign competition. First of a two-part series.

5/19/2009

Corporations Show Improvement on ESG Issues, but Have a Long Way to Go
Research by EIRIS finds that financial institutions score the lowest in managing their ESG risks.

5/1/2009

Report Finds that Electric Utilities Are Unprepared for Carbon Regulation
A new report by the Carbon Disclosure Project finds that disclosure by electric utilities on greenhouse gas emissions has improved, but falls short of the demands of a low carbon economy.

5/1/2009

4/28/2009

PepsiCo Agrees to Policy Respecting Human Right to Water
Shareowner advocates led by NorthStar Asset Management succeed in engagement with PepsiCo on resolution calling for adoption of water management policy.

4/28/2009

4/24/2009

Toy Companies Are Failing to Address Climate Change
Research by Climate Counts finds that toy and children's equipment manufacturers score the lowest of all industry sectors, with eight of thirteen companies receiving scores of zero.

4/22/2009

European Commission Is Urged to Mandate ESG Reporting by Corporations
Report from Eurosif recommends regulatory action to increase transparency in corporations and institutional investors, and to enhance the rights of shareowners.

4/20/2009

2008 Sees Increases in CSR Reporting and Adherence to GRI Guidelines
CorporateRegister.com users vote Vodafone as best CSR report overall for the second year in a row, and Royal Dutch Shell for best carbon reporting.

4/9/2009

Corporate Efforts to Help Eradicate Human Trafficking and Child Sex Tourism are Insufficient
Organizations dedicated to the eradication of human trafficking and child sex tourism find that US companies are especially reluctant to take action. Second of a two-part series.

4/7/2009

Human Trafficking and Child Sex Tourism: Crimes of Global Proportions Intersect with Corporate Responsibility
Activist shareowner engagement leads to progress in corporate action against human trafficking and child sex tourism, but much work yet remains to be done, especially among US-based corporations. First of a two-part series.

4/3/2009

Insurers Improve Response to Climate Change
Report from Ceres finds increased awareness of climate risks, and new products and offerings, but concludes that room for improvement remains.

4/1/2009

Labor Unions and Environmental Groups Join to Endorse Climate Change Legislation
The Blue Green Alliance announces support for a cap-and-trade system and a renewable electricity standard included in proposed Waxman-Markey clean energy legislation.

3/30/2009

Real Estate Investors Are Encouraged to Apply Responsible Investment Principles to Property Investments
The UNEP FI Property Working Group finds that equity approaches to responsible investment can be applied to commercial property investment as well.

3/13/2009

EPA Proposes Mandated National Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The proposed rule, which would mandate annual reporting from major emitters of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, could lead to mandatory limits on emissions.

3/10/2009

Investors Want More Disclosure of Climate Risk Data from Corporations
CDP survey of signatory investors finds that integration of climate risk considerations into investment decisions is growing.

3/4/2009

Role of Corporate Boards in Sustainability Issues Is Growing
Survey of board directors finds that as shareowner resolutions increase, more boards of directors are addressing the risks and opportunities of sustainability issues.

2/26/2009

Economic Stimulus Is Expected to Spur Investment in Renewable Energy
The renewable energy industry and sustainable investors believe stimulus will provide significant investment in green energy infrastructure. Second in a two-part series.

2/18/2009

Consumer Demand for Green Products is Still Rising, Survey Finds
Survey by Boston Consulting Group of 9,000 consumers worldwide indicates that buying green products remains a priority despite economic downturn.

2/6/2009

UN Global Compact Calls on Corporations to Address Climate Change
Marking the tenth anniversary of its formation, the initiative focuses its corporate sustainability efforts on collaboration for a low-carbon economy.

1/29/2009

Intel Agrees to Shareowner Vote on Executive Compensation
Endorsement adds another corporation to a growing number opting for engagement in a year when issue commands public attention.

1/13/2009

Investors Request High-Quality Communications on Progress
Letter to companies that have joined the United Nations Global Compact praise the reporting of some while identifying as laggards those that have not submitted COPs.

12/30/2008

Wells Fargo Exceeds Environmental Financing Goals
Bank's progress report details $3 billion in financing for green business opportunities over a three-year period.

12/24/2008

Report Warns of Unsustainable Consumption
WBCSD report finds consumers willing to embrace sustainable lifestyle, but need access to products and services to do so.

12/23/2008

Investors Ask Obama to Improve Corporate Financial Disclosure
President-Elect is asked to return SEC to original mission of protecting investors and strengthening shareowner rights.

12/18/2008

Book Review: Investing for Change: Profit from Responsible Investment
Authors Augustin Landier and Vinay B. Nair trace the history of SRI and suggest modifications to traditional screening methods in order to increase profitability.

12/16/2008

Investors Call on World's Largest Companies to Join Water Sustainability Effort
Alliance with assets of $1.5 trillion under management contributes to effort by the UN Global Compact to expand membership in the CEO Water Mandate.

11/26/2008

Business Can Take Leading Role in Alleviating Poverty
Report by WBCSD notes increasing reliance on business as a partner with government and NGOs in sustainable development in developing countries.

11/24/2008

2008 Accountability Rating Finds More Companies Willing to Address Social and Environmental Challenges
Annual measure of corporate accountability finds telecoms developing effective CSR vision, while oil & gas sector suffers due to operational performance.

11/21/2008

Shareowners Prepare for the 2009 Proxy Season
SRI leaders reflect on successful shareowner advocacy programs while preparing for increased engagement with corporations in new proxy season.

11/12/2008

Report Finds That Most Corporations Fail to Address Risks That Threaten Long-Term Profitability
EIRIS report on responsible business practices finds insufficient ESG risk management and inadequate disclosure and advocates PRI involvement for responsible investors.

11/5/2008

Institutional Investors Call on SEC to Require Climate Change Disclosure
Fourteen large institutional investors join in request for improved ESG reporting as goal of SEC's 21st Century Disclosure Initiative.

10/28/2008

Executive Pay Comes Under Fire from Activist Shareholders for Contributing to Financial Crisis
Study of shareholder voting by mutual funds shows SRI funds leading the way to increased shareholder activism on matter of executive compensation.

10/17/2008

Sustainable Investment Strategies Earn Respect in Aftermath of the Financial Crisis
Having sounded warnings for years about the causes of the economic crisis, sustainable and responsible investment may be embraced by more mainstream investors.

10/10/2008

Investor Initiatives Join Forces to Call for ESG Considerations in Investment Research
UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment and Enhanced Analytics Initiative have more than $15 trillion in assets and a shared commitment to better research.

10/7/2008

European SRI Market Reaches $3.7 Trillion in 2007
Eurosif study finds 102% increase in SRI assets since 2005 fueled by increasing relevance of environmental, social and governance issues for institutional investors and high net worth individuals.

10/2/2008

SRI Advocates Call for Help Against Foreclosures and Regulation of Wall Street
Responsible investors have led the fight against predatory lending for nearly 10 years with both successes and failures. Advocates see opportunity in current crisis to put end to practice. Last of a three-part series.

9/26/2008

CDFIs Offer Responsible Alternative to Predatory Lenders
Community development financial institutions provide housing loans to underserved markets, yet maintain profitability and low net charge-offs. Part II of a three-part series on the credit crisis.

9/23/2008

Effects of Predatory Lending Lead to Economic Crisis
Proposed $700 billion bailout by Treasury Department offers measure of relief to roiling markets while raising questions of fairness. Part I of a three-part series.

9/11/2008

Investors Push Companies For Greater Disclosure on Lawsuits
A proposed FASB rule change would require that loss contingencies related litigation be disclosed to investors.

8/28/2008

ESG Criteria Creeping Slowly into Mainstream Investing
New report lays out the five hurdles ESG investing has to clear before it can be incorporated on a large scale.

8/25/2008

Getting on Board with Corporate Social Responsibility
Corporate boards can and should influence their companies' social and environmental performances finds a new report.

8/13/2008

Investors Still Supporting Clean Energy
Even during the current uneasy economic period, clean energy companies are still finding investors

8/13/2008

Charities Should Match Investments to Missions Says 83% of Public
Survey finds the majority of the public expects charities to invest ethically.

8/5/2008

Half of S&P 100 Companies Published Sustainability Reports in 2007
More leading US companies are publishing their sustainability work and embracing the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines.

7/23/2008

Sunshine is the Best Disinfectant: Shareholder Activists Promote Corporate Transparency
SocialFunds writer Bill Baue speaks with Sanford Lewis of the Investor Environmental Health Network on his shareholder activism promoting corporate disclosure

7/16/2008

The Very Rich Green Their Portfolios
With European and Middle Eastern investors leading the way, high-net-worth investors are putting their money into green technologies and alternative energy sources.

7/11/2008

Green Fast Food: Really Here or a Green Dream?
The fast food industry is seeing a growing demand for environmental sustainability. How can investors, consumers, and other stakeholders know which restaurants are truly embracing sustainable development and which are only greenwashing their practices?

7/8/2008

Renewable Energy Wows World Investors
The United Nations Environmental Program reports a new record in sustainable energy investments in 2007 with more than $148 billion invested globally.

7/2/2008

UN PRI Stresses Disclosure
Principles for Responsible Investment considers expelling firms who don%146t follow disclosure requests.

6/16/2008

Principled Companies Praised
Ethisphere Magazine publishes its second annual list of the World's Most Ethical Companies.

6/5/2008

Envisioning the Sustainable Supply Chain
Innovative collaborations between suppliers, retailers and consumers need to be forged so future supply chains support businesses and the environment.

6/4/2008

Executive Pay Weighs Heavy with Shareholders
With more than 90 "say on pay" resolutions this year, shareholders continue to push for advisory votes on executive compensation.

5/28/2008

Large UK Companies Put Their Best Foot Forward
New study of the FTSE 100 finds most companies, but not all, are improving their performance on environmental, social and governance issues.

5/23/2008

Executive Compensation Consultants: The Next Battlefield for Say on Pay
Investors ask the SEC to mandate disclosure of a company's use of executive compensation consultants and if the consultants are used in other areas of the business as well.

5/21/2008

Will 2008 Be the Year Congress Acts on Climate Change?
Institutional investors send a message to Congress that action on climate change policy is a business imperative.

5/13/2008

Disney and McDonald's Take Steps to Protect Global Labor
In partnership with prominent stakeholders, the two companies strive to improve working conditions in factories overseas while new data shows an uptick in companies monitoring suppliers' labor practices.

5/1/2008

Tracking Suppliers' Carbon Footprints
The Carbon Disclosure Project reports on the carbon emissions of some of the world's largest corporations' supply chains.

4/28/2008

The Toxic 100: New Report on Polluting Companies Hopes to Empower Communities and Shareholders
Index of top corporate air polluters updated in new report from researchers at University of Massachusetts.

4/24/2008

Abolishing Child Labor on West African Cocoa Farms
Mil Niepold of Verit%233 on the International Cocoa Verification Board and Bama Athreya of the International Labor Rights Forum on the Commitment to Ethical Cocoa Sourcing.

4/18/2008

Climate Change Resolutions Picking Up Heat
A new report from Ceres shows mutual funds are starting to move away from voting against climate change resolutions, to not voting on them at all.

4/16/2008

2008 Proxy Season Preview Whets Shareholders Appetites
As You Sow publishes its Preview guide to the 2008 proxy season to help institutional and individual investors get an overview of the environmental and social issues addressed in this year%146s resolutions.

4/15/2008

Ford Establishes Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan
Shareholders withdraw resolutions at Ford after the carmaker agrees to release its plans on how it will decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

4/10/2008

Transparent Supply Chain Sends A Clear Message
Hewlett-Packard recently released a list of its largest suppliers in hopes of increasing accountability from factory floors to consumers' front doors.

4/10/2008

4/8/2008

Citi Addressing Climate Change
Citi becomes a Ceres network company on the heels of embracing the Carbon Principles.

4/8/2008

Citi Addressing Climate Change
Citi becomes a Ceres network company on the heels of embracing the Carbon Principles.

3/25/2008

ICCR Defines the Past, Present, and Future of Shareowner Activism
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility Executive Director Laura Berry speaks with SocialFunds.com about transformative changes in shareowner activism.

3/20/2008

What Companies Talk About When They Talk About Climate Change
New report from Corporate Register examines climate change communications from leading companies.

3/6/2008

SRI Assets Surge Ahead
New socially responsible investing study reports one dollar out of every nine dollars under professional management is invested responsibly.

3/2/2008

Measuring Companies with a Ruler of Responsibility
With 21 return businesses from the 2007 list, CRO's 100 Best Corporate Citizens 2008 ranks large-cap companies' corporate responsibility.

2/27/2008

Fighting Climate Change, State by State
A core group of state treasurers and controllers are moving their investments into environmentally friendly and clean tech funds, while thinking big about climate change.

2/24/2008

Responsible Businesses are More Competitive
IBM study reports businesses with corporate social responsibility as part of their core plans have an advantage.

2/15/2008

Foundations Move Toward Mission Related Investing, One Foundation at a Time
Climate change issues may push foundations to examine their portfolios and proxy voting policies.

2/13/2008

Three Major Banks Sign The Carbon Principles
With the help of environmental groups and power companies, Citi, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley outline carbon risk management for banks.

1/14/2008

Are Banks Getting Caught With Their Umbrellas Down?
A new report from the RiskMetrics Group ranks 40 of the world's largest banks responses to climate change risks and possibilities.

1/8/2008

Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2007
New alternative energy and green funds fuel expansion of socially responsible investing; climate change is pushed to the forefront; community development organizations flourish despite the subprime mortgage debacle; consumers demand healthy products and work environments; and SEC limits shareholder rights.

12/31/2007

Whistling Past the Graveyard%151Socially Responsible Investing and the Financial Crisis
SRI thought leaders analyze the potential impacts of the widespread economic downturn caused by the subprime meltdown and deflating dollar.

12/17/2007

Socially Responsible Investing Branches Out Over Asset Classes
A handbook published by Boston College's Institute for Responsible Investment outlines how managers can diversify socially responsible investments.

12/6/2007

Giving the Gift of Gore? Video Game Buyers Beware
ICCR works to educate video game buyers on video games ratings and works with retailers to keep mature and violent video games out of children's hands.

11/30/2007

Sustainability Issues All Over the Map at Large Cap Companies
An extensive study from RiskMetrics shows sustainability governance among companies varies widely from country to country, and from sector to sector.

11/28/2007

Environmental, Social and Governance Standards: Glass Half-Empty or Half-Full?
The spread of voluntary and mandatory ESG disclosure and performance standards for business raises the question, how robust is implementation and enforcement?

11/20/2007

Consumers Demand Companies Walk Their Green Talk
The growing number of consumers who identify themselves as "conscious" creates more opportunities for sustainable companies.

11/8/2007

CEOs Add ESG Issues to Business Blueprints
A report from McKinsey & Company finds that more CEOs are including environmental, social, and governance issues in core strategies.

10/30/2007

Connecting the Dots Between Climate Change, Companies, and Financial Performance
Laying the groundwork for new investment products, Innovest releases the first study relating how companies manage climate change risk to their financial performance.

10/24/2007

Risking the Weather: The Insurance Sector Faces Climate Change
A new report sponsored by Ceres and written by Evan Mills, one of the recipients of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, highlights new products offered by the insurance sector in response to the changing climate.

10/12/2007

"Living" Companies Perform Better
Corporations that care about people more than things are more sustainable and profitable, puts forth author and financial counselor Jay Bragdon.

10/8/2007

Investors, States, and Activists Petition Securities and Exchange Commission To Mandate Climate Risk Disclosure
Twenty-two petitioners representing investment managers, state officials and environmental groups recently filed a petition with the Securities and Exchange Commission to improve reporting by companies on the financial impact of climate change.

9/12/2007

The Subprime Meltdown and SRI: Engage, Avoid, Predict
Shareowner activists engaged banks on predatory lending long before the subprime crisis climaxed, and SRI research predicted the meltdown in time to avoid some impacts.

9/6/2007

Shareholder Activists Turn Up Heat on the SEC
The Social Investment Forum and the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility launch a website as part of a campaign to garner support against SEC's proposals limiting shareholder rights.

8/30/2007

Green Outsourcing: Companies Demanding More Environmentally Sound Suppliers
Brown-Wilson Group's newest "Black Book of Outsourcing" reports that businesses are including more environmental factors when choosing suppliers.

8/25/2007

Fiddling While The Planet Burns: Mainstream Investment Funds Blinkered To Climate Risk
Part one of a two-part article looks at the lack of climate risk calculations by UK fuund managers. Part two will examine some new tools for assessing climate risks to investments.

8/21/2007

Book Review-World Inc: How the Growing Power of Business is Revolutionizing Profits, People and the Future of Both
Author Bruce Piasecki argues that better products will help make a better world as companies face the "S" frontier.

8/17/2007

To Avoid Risk of Alien Tort Claims Act Cases, Companies Must Improve Human Rights
The first-ever corporate ATCA verdict of not guilty does not diminish the ongoing liabilities companies face in US courts for human rights violations committed overseas.

8/12/2007

Jitters About Regulatory Outlook Rile Confidence in Coal Mining Stocks
Growing political momentum for enacting state and national laws to reduce CO2 emissions is raising worries among investors of the long term viability of the coal industry.

8/3/2007

Book Review-A Billion Bootstraps: Microcredit, Barefoot Banking and the Business Solution for Ending Poverty
Phil Smith and Eric Thurman offer a primer on microcredit for businesspeople who want the best bang for their charitable bucks.

8/2/2007

Many Sustainability Reports Upbeat, Ignoring Climate Change Risks
A new study from GRI and KPMG on sustainability reports notes that companies highlight new business opportunities created by climate change and shy away from risks associated with climate change.

8/1/2007

SEC Chair Cox Votes For Two Opposing Proxy Access Proposals--Both May Curtail Shareowner Rights
Republican commissioners support a proposal barring shareowners from nominating directors; Democrats support one allowing it, though it introduced other reductions in shareowner power.

7/27/2007

Executives and the Environment: Looking Back at Proxy Season 2007
With the 2007 proxy season over, shareholders saw a jump in the number of socially responsible proposals, with support growing for climate change proposals and accountability for executive pay.

7/18/2007

One and Two Percent Allocations Add Up for Social and Community Development
TIAA-CREF allocates 2% of its Social Choice account for proactive social investments and the Social Investment Forum and Co-op America's 1% or More for Community campaign aims to double the amount invested in community development.

7/16/2007

Sustainability Picks Up Where Supply and Demand Meet
Both investors and companies are working on sustainability issues as new reports by UN PRI and Goldman Sachs show ESG issues are gaining momentum.

6/29/2007

ABN Amro: Honored for its Global Sustainability Work and Called Out for Its Climate Change Finance
The Financial Times awards banking goliath ABN Amro its 2007 Sustainable Banking Award while a new report points to the bank's carbon-intensive investments.

6/13/2007

Shareholders Push Social and Environmental Issues to the Forefront
Proxy season 2007 sees a huge number of social and environmental resolutions at US companies with the growing support of voters.

5/30/2007

Shareholder Resolutions on Climate Change to Heat Up ExxonMobil%146s Annual Meeting
A broad coalition of shareholders is seriously concerned about ExxonMobil%146s lackluster response to global climate change and plans to give thumbs down to board member Michael Boskin.

5/16/2007

Banking on the Future: The Two Biggest US Banks To Dedicate Billions to Halting Climate Change
Citigroup and Bank of America have pledged billions of dollars to help fight climate change while a new report questions Chinese banks%146 environmental policies.

5/4/2007

Grading Sustainability Reports: Creating the Curve
As more and more companies publish sustainability reports, awards and studies of these reports help raise reporting standards.

5/2/2007

Yes and No: Newmont Recommends Voting For One Resolution, Petitions SEC to Omit Another
The actions span the gamut of corporate responses to shareowner resolutions on environmental, social, and governance issues, from wholehearted support to forceful opposition.

4/26/2007

Shareholders Work to Make AIDS Drugs Available Worldwide
Abbott Labs changes its tune and lowers price of AIDS fighting drugs in low-and-middle income countries.

4/12/2007

Water, Water, But Not Everywhere
The entry of private equity firms and consolidation of utility operations by large conglomerates are poised to change the water industry over the next 20 years.

4/10/2007

Porter and Kramer Framework Melding CSR with Business Strategy Wins Harvard Award
The Harvard Business Review grants the 2006 McKinsey Award to an article arguing companies create competitive advantage by integrating social and environmental issues into core strategy.

4/4/2007

Carbon Offsets: Modern-Day Indulgences to Assuage Carbon Guilt or Market Mechanism for Supporting Clean Energy
Even as they gain popularity as a climate change solution, carbon offsets have come under considerable criticism for diluting action on global warming--the truth likely resides between these extremes.

3/27/2007

Shareowner Activism Precedes Development of SRI Slavery Screen
Most slavery exists far up the supply chain, and auditing practices do not yet exist to monitor for slavery at second- or third-tier suppliers, so it is too early to enact an enforceable slavery screen.

3/19/2007

Ruggie Report Says Voluntary Human Rights Initiatives Set Stage for Binding Global Standards
While the report finds significant flaws with voluntary collaborations between corporations and civil society, they currently fill the gap created by nation-states failing to protect human rights.

3/14/2007

Mutual Funds Inch Toward More Conscientious Proxy Voting on Social and Environmental Resolutions
Corporate social responsibility resolutions addressing climate change reveal the increasing complexity of assessing proxy voting records.

3/8/2007

Chocolate Giant Commits to Responsible Supplier Code
The Hershey Company is working to create a supplier code of conduct that goes above and beyond just cocoa suppliers.

2/27/2007

Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, and UBS Report on Climate Risks and Opportunities for Investing
Lehman Brothers and UBS agree climate change represents a market failure for neglecting to price carbon externalizations in valuations, while Citigroup makes specific stock picks.

2/14/2007

Top US Jewelry Retailers Get the Gold for Signing Responsibility Pledge
In time for Valentine%146s Day, seven out of the top ten US jewelry retailers sign No Dirty Gold%146s "Golden Rules" to back responsible gold mining practices.

2/5/2007

S&P 500 Lags on Climate Disclosure, Electric Utilities Burning Economic Value Into Carbon
Two recent reports use findings of the 2006 Carbon Disclosure Project to assess limits of transparency on climate risks and opportunities and drag on value creation at electric utilities.

2/1/2007

Top CEOs Address Climate Change
A collaboration between ten major US companies and four environmental organizations calls on the Federal government to quickly enact strong legislation to reduce greenhouse emissions.

1/30/2007

"Say on Pay" Highlighted in the Upcoming 2007 Proxy Season
Institutional investors band together, asking for the right to weigh in on top executive compensation packages.

1/24/2007

Surveyed Managers Emphasize Socially Responsible Issues
EIRIS%146 newest survey asserts that both SRI and mainstreams investors view specific environmental, social, and governance factors as important when applied to certain sectors.

1/19/2007

From Competition to Cooperation: Companies Collaborate on Social and Environmental Issues
Collaborative initiatives bring together companies, investors, and activists to address issues such as online freedom of expression, climate change, and labor rights in the global supply chain.

1/12/2007

Study Links Options Backdating to Corporate Governance Weaknesses
Harvard Professor Lucian Bebchuk and colleagues use a new method of identifying CEO and outside director manipulation of stock option timing and assert correlations to governance problems.

1/5/2007

Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2006
Green investing booms, microfinance pioneer wins Nobel Peace Prize, shareowner democracy increases, resolutions receive record votes, and UN launches Principles of Responsible Investment

12/22/2006

Costs of Carbon and Coal: Examining Emissions Trading Scheme Impact on Shareowner Value
WWF and SAM Group collaborate on a study modeling impacts of rising costs of carbon dioxide emissions on the valuation of German utility RWE, the biggest private carbon emitter in Europe.

12/13/2006

Retailers Improve on Keeping Violent Video Games Out of the Hands of Children
An Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility report also identifies several areas where the seven companies examined stand to improve performance--predominantly on disclosure.

12/5/2006

Eight Percent of Fortune 500 Taking EPA Challenge to Their Double Green Energy Use
Fortune 500 companies are installing renewable energy generation on-site as well as purchasing green power directly or through renewable energy certificates.

12/1/2006

Pharma Companies Need to Keep Improving AIDS Response, Says ICCR and Nigerian Doctor
Chukwumuanya Igboekwu of Physicians for Social Justice adds his own critiques to the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility study on pharmaceutical industry shortcomings in addressing AIDS.

11/29/2006

Ecosystem Depletion Presents Businesses with Risks and Opportunities
Four prominent environmental and business organizations report on the business risks and opportunities associated with ecosystem crises such as climate change and water scarcity.

11/29/2006

Corporate Accountability Improves, Progressing on Stakeholder Engagement But Not Assurance
Vodafone, BP, and Shell top the annual Global Accountability Rating by AccountAbility and CSRnetwork, with Home Depot rising 10 percentage points and Chevron falling 20.

11/16/2006

Dear Sir or Madam: Stakeholder Letters Push Corporate Sustainability Improvements
Letters remains an important mode for addressing environmental, social, and governance issues, encompassing a broader swath than simply communication between shareowners and companies.

11/13/2006

Sustainability Reporting Improving, But Not Necessarily Contributing to True Sustainability
The biennial survey of global reporters by SustainAbility assesses disclosure on sustainability performance, but refrains from directly assessing corporate sustainability performance.

11/3/2006

As Climate Debate Matures, Companies Strategize Solutions and Investors Push for Disclosure
Companies are taking tangible actions to minimize risks and seize opportunities related to climate change, while investors promote more robust climate-related disclosure.

10/23/2006

Votes for Social and Environmental Resolutions Rising, But Proxy Firm Support Still Lagging
Over a quarter of social and environmental resolutions topped 15 percent support this proxy season, but proxy advisory firm recommendations supporting such proposals remain low.

10/17/2006

Nobel Prize Links Microfinance to Peace
The granting of the Nobel Peace Prize to Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank breaks new ground by explicitly linking economic development to peace development.

10/5/2006

Investors Call on S&P 500 Companies to Use New Global Reporting Initiative G3 Guidelines
Only 13 percent of the S&P 500 issues GRI reports--those that do see the move as insulating them against the possibility of future mandated disclosure on issues such as climate risk.

9/29/2006

Book Review: The Business Case for Diversity
DiversityInc presents compelling anecdotal evidence supporting the business case for diversity as well as copious empirical evidence, some of which is marred by editorial oversights.

9/27/2006

BP, John Deere, Goldman Sachs, and Allianz Among Renewable Energy Award Winners
The third annual award ceremony, sponsored by Euromoney and Ernst and Young, took place during the Renewable Energy Finance Forum.

9/26/2006

Emerging Markets Emerging as Socially Responsible Investing Opportunities
A report by the Ethical Investment Research Services examines 50 emerging market companies using various SRI screens, and finds a number of possible plays.

9/25/2006

Mainstreaming of SRI Boosts Assets in Europe Over One Trillion Euros
The latest report by Eurosif on socially responsible investing in Europe notes the distinction between core SRI, which is steady, and broad SRI, which is fueling the growth.

9/18/2006

Academic Joins Shareowners in Advocating Corporate Lobbying Reform
Yale University Professor Bob Repetto issues paper calling for companies to rapidly adopt best practice on corporate lobbying, including oversight and approval by independent directors.

9/14/2006

Court Affirms Shareowner Right to File Resolutions on Proxy Access for Nominating Directors
The decision, which simply upholds existing rules that SEC practice had departed from, fills the void left when the SEC proposed then abandoned a rule on proxy access for nominating directors.

8/25/2006

Trucost Joins Yale Professor to Devise Tool to Gauge Financial Cost of Environmental Impacts
Professor Robert Repetto and Trucost Researcher Dan Dias apply the TRUEVA methodology for measuring externalities in financial terms to the US electric sector, which scores terribly.

8/18/2006

ICCR Benchmarks Pharma Responses to AIDS and Diseases of Poverty in Emerging Markets
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility report assesses 15 pharmaceutical companies, and finds all of them falling short of best practice in most areas on AIDS and neglected diseases.

8/15/2006

Benchmarking Corporate Climate Change Mitigation to Scientific Targets
The Center for Sustainable Innovation launches a new tool for measuring corporate sustainability using emissions reductions goals set by science, not business or politics.

8/9/2006

Shareowners Push TimeWarner on Movies Depicting Smoking, Recycled Paper, and Pay Disparity
Part two of this two-part article documents steps forward made by TimeWarner, as well as areas where shareowner activists continue to press for progress.

8/8/2006

Shareowner Activists See Progress at TimeWarner, and Room for Improvement
In part one of this two-part article, activists applaud the company on its first corporate social responsibility report while continuing to push on environmental, social, and governance issues.

8/4/2006

Book Review--International Documents on Corporate Responsibility
A comprehensive compendium of important codes on corporate social responsibility.

8/1/2006

BP, Suncor, and Shell Top Oil Sector Sustainability Rating; Chevron and ExxonMobil Rank Low
The report by Jantzi Research examines 23 oil companies worldwide on environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions as well as human rights and other social issues.

7/18/2006

UN Advances Business Case for Materiality of SRI, Leaving Skeptics Little Wiggle Room
A new UNEP FI report assesses how investment banks are integrating environmental, social, and governance factors and linking them to financial performance in their research.

7/13/2006

Book Review--The Triple Bottom Line: How Today's Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social, and Environmental Success--And How You Can Too
The book lays out a framework for companies to follow on the path toward integrating the triple bottom line of economic, social, and environmental sustainability.

7/6/2006

Assessing Job Creation as a Social Indicator Correlating to Financial Performance
A new study from Switzerland-based Pictet & Cie argues that job creation eclipses all other labor issues as a key indicator of corporate social responsibility, and measures its impact on returns.

7/3/2006

Does Trucost Measurement of Corporate Carbon Footprints Reduce Environmental Impacts?
Trucost ranks the carbon intensity in UK portfolios, arguing for overweighting companies with lower carbon footprints to reduce ecological impact while maintaining performance.

6/29/2006

Sending Funds Home to Mexico Just Got Cheaper for Latino Community Credit Union Members
The Durham, North Carolina-based community development credit union will charge a flat $3 fee, use the exchange rate set by the Fed, and allow recipients to set up accounts in Mexico.

6/21/2006

Canadian SRI Funds Perform On Par with Mainstream Funds
A survey of Canadian socially responsible investing funds finds a broad range of rigorousness in assessing corporate social and environmental sustainability.

6/20/2006

Correlating Proxy Advisory Firm Recommendations with Voting Results
A look at the link between recommendations by Institutional Shareholder Services, Glass Lewis, and PROXYGovernance and voting results at Citigroup, Chevron, ExxonMobil, and Wal-Mart.

6/15/2006

World Resources Institute and Citigroup Team Up to Report on Solutions to Climate Change
The report recommends a dozen companies poised to profit from a carbon-constrained future, including Archer Daniels Midland, Caterpillar, Cypress Semiconductor, GE, Itron, Johnson Controls, Monsanto, and Waste Management

6/9/2006

Corporate Shenanigans: Companies Dis Shareowners at Annual Meetings
Home Depot exemplifies a phenomenon of companies manipulating annual meeting protocols to disempower shareowners, following in the footsteps of Weyerhaeuser, Whole Foods, and others.

6/7/2006

Book Review--Managing the Business Case for Sustainability: The Integration of Social, Environmental, and Economic Performance
The book presents a wide breadth of academic and practitioner perspectives on corporate social and environmental sustainability.

6/6/2006

Bank of China International Investment Managers Launches First SRI Fund in China
The fund combines quantitative screening with qualitative assessment on issues such as corporate governance and social responsibility, but it is unclear how it will handle human rights.

6/2/2006

The Numbers--and the Stories Behind Them--on Community Development Financial Institutions
CDFI Data Project recently released the most comprehensive report on the CDFI industry, with statistics documenting CDFI growth and case studies illustrating positive social impacts.

5/18/2006

The Case for Categorizing Community Development Venture Capital as a New Asset Class
A white paper by Pacific Community Ventures lays out the argument and identifies steps to promote growth in community development venture capital, such as standardizing social return metrics.

5/11/2006

Digging for More than Gold: SRI Letter Asks Newmont to Address Western Shoshone Concerns
The letter cites a recent decision by the United Nations Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination to support Western Shoshone claims.

5/9/2006

Confirming the CalPERS Effect: Academic Study Links Shareowner Activism to Financial Gain
Examining companies targeted for governance reform by the CalPERS Focus List, the study presents data correlating activism to increasing shareowner value as well as cautionary notes.

5/2/2006

United Nations Endorses SRI Strategies in Launching Principles for Responsible Investment
Some 50 institutional investors globally representing $4 trillion in assets have signed on to the Principles, which promote the consideration of environmental, social and governance factors.

4/28/2006

Survey Shows Public Corporations Upping Green Initiatives While Smaller Companies Lag

3/28/2006

Corporate Action on Climate Change Improves Over Past Three Years, But Still Insufficient
A report from Ceres benchmarks corporate governance on climate change, finding steady gains by leaders while some laggards leapfrog toward the top and other laggards stagnate at the bottom.

3/8/2006

Wells Fargo Issues Alternative Energy Report to Join Ranks of Banks Advancing SRI Research
The report provides an overview of the alternative energy market as well as the pros and cons of investment opportunities in wind, solar, hydroelectric, hydrogen, biomass, and even nuclear.

3/7/2006

SEC Forces Chevron, Dow, and CVS to Include Shareowner Resolutions on Their Proxies
Part two of this two-part article examines no-action activity thus far in the 2006 proxy season, focusing on attempts to apply the personal grievance rule and expand a new risk assessment rule.

3/6/2006

Resolution Withdrawals Signal Success in Shareowner Advocacy Early in 2006 Proxy Season
Part one of this two-part article examines withdrawal of resolutions on climate change, sexual orientation nondiscrimination, political contributions, and HIV/AIDS policies.

3/2/2006

SRI Community Adding Its Two Cents to Comments on GRI G3 Guidelines
The Global Reporting Initiative is seeking public comments on its new sustainability reporting guidelines by March 31st.

3/1/2006

Book Review--Strategic Corporate Social Responsibility: Stakeholders in a Global Environment
The book maps the landscape of CSR, advocates a strategic approach taking global stakeholders into account, and presents a wealth of case studies to illustrate its points.

2/28/2006

State Laws Effectively Curb Predatory Lending Without Stifling Subprime Market, Study Finds
The Center for Responsible Lending study rebuts opponents of state anti-predatory lending laws, and suggests significant implications for the two competing anti-predatory bills now in Congress.

2/22/2006

Defining Corporate Complicity in Human Rights Abuses
Business and Human Rights Seminar report maps the landscape of corporate complicity in human rights abuses, and addresses the dichotomy of mandatory laws versus voluntary codes.

2/17/2006

IT Company Collusion with Chinese Authorities to Repress Free Expression Shorts Shareowner Value
Boston Common Asset Management submits testimony to congressional hearings asserting that protecting shareholder value and respecting human rights are not mutually exclusive mandates.

2/14/2006

Financial Wonks Meet Treehuggers: New Tool Places Valuation on Corporate Sustainability
The sdEffect analytical framework takes the next step in establishing metrics to translate sustainable development into valuation.

2/1/2006

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Surveys Track Growth of Interest in CSR and SRI
Part two of this two-part article focuses on a survey by McKinsey Quarterly on increasing interest from global corporate executives in corporate social responsibility.

1/31/2006

Two Sides of the Same Coin: Surveys Track Growth of Interest in SRI and CSR
Part one of this two-part article focuses on a survey by Mercer Investment Consulting on increasing interest from institutional investors in socially responsible investing.

1/28/2006

How to Determine the Top 100 Sustainable Companies in the World
Innovest Strategic Value Advisors and Corporate Knights announce the Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies at the World Economic Forum, documenting financial outpeformance.

1/10/2006

Majority-Vote Director Election Shareowner Resolutions To Top 100, Dominate Proxy Season
A memo from corporate law firm Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz opines that majority-vote elections will become universal, but shareowners still seek proxy access to nominate directors.

1/6/2006

Wal-Mart Faces Host of Shareowner Resolutions, From Union-Busting to Sustainability Reporting
The broad range of resolutions suggests that the sustainability commitments announced by Wal-Mart last year did not convince shareowners that the company has solved all its challenges.

1/5/2006

Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2005
Socially responsible investing, corporate social responsibility, and microfinance embraced by the mainstream; shareowner advocates withdraw several climate change resolutions as companies agree to report; and exchange traded funds apply SRI strategies.

12/23/2005

Are European Finance Sector Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives Adequate?
A report from a recent EU conference on CSR suggest so, while a Corporate Responsibility Coalition report says voluntary CSR initiatives and current regulation fall short.

12/16/2005

EPA Tries to Pull a Disappearing Act on the Toxics Release Inventory
In response to the Environmental Protection Agency proposal to dilute TRI, the socially responsible investing community launches the SaveTRI.org website.

12/15/2005

Solar Energy Helps Fuel Socially Responsible Investing
Managers from Winslow Green Growth Fund, New Alternatives Fund, and Portfolio 21 discuss the opportunities and challenges of investing in solar power.

12/15/2005

12/14/2005

SRI Community Releases Retailer Guidelines to Avoid Violent Video Game Sales to Kids
The Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility guidelines address underage exposure to graphic violence, strong sexual content, and racist themes, as well as impact on shareholder value.

12/14/2005

11/30/2005

A Light Bulb Turns On: Goldman Sachs First Investment Bank to Adopt Environmental Policy
The policy matches the robustness of other such policies recently adopted by global financial institutions, but the status of Goldman Sachs as an investment bank brings added significance.

11/23/2005

New International Finance Corporation Sustainability Standards: Watershed or Watered Down?
A group of socially responsible investors express concern over perceived shortcomings in the proposed IFC policy revisions, while the IFC points out where the policies break new ground.

11/16/2005

Shareowner Empowerment Is Alive and Well: a Preview of the 2006 Proxy Season
Part two of this two-part article examines the developing trends in shareowner activism as resolutions are filed for the upcoming proxy season.

11/14/2005

Forging Ahead from the Crossroads: Reviewing the 2005 Proxy Season
Part one of this two-part article looks back at this year's proxy season, which was highlighted by majority vote director election proposals while part two previews the upcoming proxy season.

11/10/2005

One Year On: Global Compact Maps Progress on Mainstreaming ESG Considerations
Two recent reports paint a vivid picture of developments over the past year on integrating environmental, social, and governance considerations into traditional financial analysis.

11/3/2005

Fiduciary Duty Redefined to Allow (and Sometimes Require) Environmental, Social and Governance Considerations
A report commissioned by UNEP FI and prepared by Freshfields attorneys dispels the persistent myth that laws prevent fiduciaries from considering environmental, social, and governance issues.

11/2/2005

Insurers at the Crossroads: Intersection Between Insurance and Sustainability is a Busy Corner
Swiss Re exemplifies global sustainability leadership, as the chair of its US arm gives the keynote address at a summit on climate change and insurance in Connecticut.

10/18/2005

Book Review--The False Promise of Pay for Performance: Embracing a Positive Model of the Company Executive
According to James McConvill, the problem with perverse executive compensation is not managerial power, as an earlier book suggests, but rather the very pay for performance system.

10/13/2005

Moskowitz Prize Winning Study Correlates Corporate Eco-Efficiency and Financial Outperformance
The paper finds a significant and positive relationship between Innovest eco-efficiency ratings and both market-based and accounting-based financial performance metrics.

10/12/2005

Divining the Future of Socially Responsible Investing
A study commissioned by Vancity Credit Union surveys 42 SRI thought leaders to identify trends, opportunities, and obstacles, as well as potential developments that defy prediction.

10/11/2005

Business Roundtable May Be Seeing the Light with New Initiative
The SEE Change program hints at a tipping point for US business community engagement of social, environmental, and economic issues, but the program's success may depend on how critics view its performance.

9/29/2005

Insurers Behind the Curve on Addressing and Disclosing Risks of Climate Change
Two reports, one from Ceres and one from Friends of the Earth, concur that climate change is catching insurance companies, which are particularly impacted by global warming, unawares.

9/28/2005

GAO Finds Federal Corporate Social Responsibility Programs Widespread But Uncoordinated
The Congressional Human Rights Caucus convenes a briefing today to discuss the findings of a Government Accountability Office report on US government initiatives on CSR.

9/21/2005

Third Carbon Disclosure Project Survey Finds Increasing Action on Climate Change
CDP3, now sponsored by 155 institutional investors with more than $21 trillion in assets, also reveals some significant footdragging by the Financial Times 500 companies.

9/20/2005

Community Investment Bridges the Gap from Destitution to Restitution After Hurricane Katrina
Predominantly low-income African Americans were barred from crossing the bridge out of New Orleans, but now community development bridge loans are spanning the gulf back to stability.

8/30/2005

Toxic 100 Uses Enhanced Toxics Release Inventory Data to List Top Corporate Polluters
The Toxic 100 aggregates facility-level TRI data to compute company-wide toxic emissions performance.

8/26/2005

Shareowner Resolution Asks Monsanto to Create Ethics Oversight Committee
The company stonewalls inquiries related to the resolution, which springs from a $1.5 million settlement with the SEC and DOJ earlier this year regarding a bribe Monstanto paid in Indonesia.

8/23/2005

World Bank and IMF: Indicators of Investor Opportunity or Red Flags of Investor Risk?
Two academic papers produce empirical evidence that World Bank and International Monetary Fund loan conditions stipulating market reform may prove counterproductive and fuel backlash.

7/27/2005

New Study Shows Benefits of Sustainable Forestry Certification
Third-party verification leads to measurable improvements in the protection of forests, wildlife, and stakeholder rights.

7/21/2005

Shell Doubles Cost Projections of Sakhalin II, Project Critics Redouble Opposition
The largest oil and gas project in the world meets resistance over concerns about its social and environmental impacts, as well as its economic sustainability.

7/19/2005

The Lowdown from Corporate Governance and Proxy Advisory Experts on ISS-IRRC Merger
Implications of the buyout of the Investor Responsibility Research Center by Institutional Shareholder Services on social research and competition in proxy advisory services.

7/15/2005

TIAA-CREF Creates New Director of Social Investing Post But Refrains From Some SRI Strategies
TIAA-CREF enhances its proxy voting and practices some community investment, but finds obstacles to supporting community development financial institutions and SRI venture capital.

7/14/2005

Gap and Nike Engage Stakeholders For Assurance Statements on Sustainability Reports
Sustainability reports, whose credibility is enhanced by such stakeholder engagement and assurance statements, are gaining in significance, as KLD indexes add Nike due in part to its report.

7/13/2005

Thinking Outside the Big-Box: Report Suggests Smart Growth for Retailer Siting Decisions
Domini Social Investments and Christian Brothers Investment Services provide retailers nine recommendations, examples of best practice and cautionary tales, and helpful resources.

7/8/2005

French Pension Reserve Fund Commits 600 Million Euros to Socially Responsible Investment
The fund seeks to drive innovation and best practice through this significant infusion of cash into the European SRI asset management community.

7/1/2005

Chicago Climate Exchange Prepares 4-year Extension
There are now over 100 members in the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX).

6/30/2005

Sustainable Summer Reading
Experts in the SRI and CSR arenas offer their recommendations for books to take on vacation this summer.

6/15/2005

Business for Social Responsibility Suggests Improvements to the Global Reporting Initiative
A BSR report surveys 19 member companies on their experience and opinions of sustainability reporting according to GRI guidelines, identifying both strengths and weaknesses.

6/14/2005

Mount Holyoke First US College to Dedicate Fund Exclusively to Community Investment
While other schools have devoted some funds to community investment, this move by the Massachusetts-based women's college sets precedent and may lead to its use of other SRI strategies.

5/26/2005

The Ghost of a Shareholder Resolution Haunts ExxonMobil Annual Meeting
Despite an unprecedented 28 percent vote for a first-year climate change resolution and strong support for seven others, the censoring of a resolution quashes shareholder democracy.

5/26/2005

5/13/2005

IFC Urged to Include Corporate Screens and Address Climate Change in New Standards
A group of socially responsible investment practitioners recommends revisions to new International Finance Corporation social and environmental sustainability standards.

5/5/2005

Long-term Performance of 15 Year-Old Domini 400 Social Index Helps Validate SRI
Since its 1990 inception, the DSI has outperformed the S&P 500, helping quash the widespread perception that socially responsible investing automatically underperforms.

5/3/2005

Newly-Launched Funds Advance the Maturation of Socially Responsible Investment
Calvert launches two fund of funds comprised of existing Calvert funds across a range of asset classes; Domini releases load-share clone of flagship fund for use by commission-based brokers.

4/29/2005

JPMorgan Chase Environmental Policy Triggers Tipping Point for US Bank Sustainability
The JPMC policy surpasses environmental best practice established by Citigroup and Bank of America in some areas, but also lags these sustainability leaders in others.

4/25/2005

Study Argues Less is More in Socially Responsible Investment Research
The proposed method may correlate environmental sustainability to financial performance well, but the radical reductionism seems ill-suited to a field that thrives on diversity of approaches.

4/8/2005

Oil Spread Upon the Waters of Ecuador May Return Harm for ChevronTexaco Shareholders
A shareholder delegation surveys the environmental and social impact of oil operations, assessing potential risk from a twelve-year old lawsuit in its judicial inspection phase (part one of a multi-part article).

3/31/2005

Campus Activists and Alumni Donors Want Proxy Voting and Endowment Holdings Disclosure
While some US colleges and universities are enhancing endowment transparency and engaging in socially responsible investment, most oppose disclosure and are also retreating from SRI.

3/22/2005

Faith-Based and Environmentalist Shareowners Withdraw Climate Change Resolutions at Six Companies
The six oil and gas companies commit to measure, mitigate, and disclose data related to global warming, and evangelicals join their faith-based compatriots in concern over climate change.

3/16/2005

Not Just for Corporations: Six Microfinance Banks on Three Continents Use GRI Guidelines
Microfinance institutions in Africa, Asia, and South America are issuing sustainability reports using Global Reporting Initiative guidelines, as are other non-corporate entities such as GRI itself.

3/15/2005

US Representatives Introduce Anti-Predatory Mortgage Lending Bill
The bill, based on an effective North Carolina anti- predatory lending law, and is supported by anti-predatory lending activists such as the Center for Responsible Lending and Fair Finance Watch.

3/9/2005

Taco Bell Agrees to Pay Florida Tomato Pickers A Penny More Per Pound to End Boycott
Shareowner activists will also withdraw their resolution if parent company Yum! Brands agrees to join agricultural supply chain working group to address industry-wide reform.

3/8/2005

Comparing Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase Policies: Which Stems Illegal Logging in Indonesia?
Before providing funding, financial institution policies requiring documentation certifying legitimate timber sourcing may help promote sustainable logging in Southeast Asia.

3/4/2005

Campaign to Enhance Pharma Industry Accountability Broadens Shareowner Action
The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility sent letters to over 2,750 institutional investors seeking support for three resolutions filed at nine pharmaceutical companies.

3/2/2005

Carrots and Sweets: Tying Executive Remuneration to Extra-Financial Performance Indicators
A report from Henderson Global Investors and Universities Superannuation Scheme finds incentives for extra-financial performance tied to short-term instead of long-term indicators.

2/22/2005

Book Review--Corporations and the Public Interest: Guiding the Invisible Hand
Steve Lydenberg eloquently describes corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investment, fields in which he is an expert, and recommends mechanisms to fuel their trajectories.

2/18/2005

Binding Resolutions and Coordination Circumvent Structural Limitations of Shareowner Action
A preview of the 2005 proxy season reveals tactics that challenge the systemic imbalance of power favoring corporate management and directors over shareowners.

2/17/2005

Deafening Silence: Corporate Political Contribution Non-Disclosure Impacts Shareowner Value
A Center for Political Accountability report documents corporate secrecy on political donations, and a Common Cause report reveals how mutual funds fail to support contribution transparency.

2/8/2005

Academic Study Links Predatory Lending to Increased Risk of Foreclosure
Prepayment penalties increase the risk of foreclosure by 20 percent, while balloon payments raise the risk to almost 50 percent, according to the University of North Carolina study.

2/4/2005

Speaking From Both Sides of the Mouth: The Art and Science of Corporate Tax Avoidance
Three reports--by a US tax watchdog, a pair of US academics, and a UK socially responsible investment firm--find troubling trends in corporate tax strategies.

2/3/2005

Community Investment Surpasses the $1 Billion Mark at The Rock
The Prudential Financial Social Investment Program, one of the oldest community investment programs in the country, has distributed more than $1 billion before its 30th anniversary.

2/2/2005

List of Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies Highlights Alcoa, BP, and Toyota
Canadian corporate social responsibility magazine Corporate Knights sponsored the list, which is based on sustainability ratings from Innovest Strategic Value Advisors.

1/20/2005

World Economic Forum Report Finds Decreasing Corporate Awareness and Response to AIDS
The report also finds an increase in companies adopting HIV/AIDS policies, a trend confirmed by the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

1/14/2005

2004 Socially Responsible Investment Fund Performance
Of the broadly-screened SRI mutual fund tracked by SocialFunds.com, two earned over 20 percent returns, and six others joined them in outperforming more than 80 percent of their SRI and non-SRI peer funds.

1/13/2005

World Economic Forum and AccountAbility Report on Mainstreaming Responsible Investment
The report, based on three roundtables convened by the report sponsors, is particularly illuminating in representing attitudes and perceptions toward social and environmental issues of roundtable participants from the mainstream investment community.

1/11/2005

Top Five Socially Responsible Investing News Stories of 2004
Shareowner engagement shifted for confrontational to collaborative, sustainability analysis fused with financial analysis, and fiduciary duty expanded to include social and environmental issues.

12/29/2004

Report Finds Bank Sector Assessment of Impact on Disadvantaged Communities Lacking
AccountAbility and Business for Social Responsibility to apply their new assessment methodology to the pharmaceutical, agricultural, and extractive sectors next.

12/17/2004

UNEP Report Takes First Steps Toward Understanding Slow Consumer Uptake of Sustainability
While advancing interesting findings, the report is marred by lack of adequate documentation.

12/15/2004

New Indexes Seek to Link Corporate Governance and Diversity to Financial Performance
A DiversityInc index and joint FTSE-ISS indexes try to answer if diversity and corporate governance, respectively, correlate to financial outperformance.

12/9/2004

Corporations Fight to Keep Political Contributions in the Closet
The Center for Political Accountability expands its campaign by advancing shareowner resolutions asking companies to disclose political donations and to provide a business rationale for them.

12/8/2004

Two Reports Reveal Proxy Votes Rubber-Stamp Management Recommendations
One finds the majority of top US mutual funds voting against climate change resolutions, the other finds contradictory proxy by Canadian pension fund managers.

12/7/2004

Ford HIV Report Exemplifies New Shareowner Action Strategy
Ford joins Coca-Cola, Cinergy, and others heeding shareowner resolutions requesting reporting on social and environmental issues, but it remains to be seen how far the strategy will extend.

12/3/2004

Bhopal, Climate Change Require Shift From Legal Liability to Moral Accountability
A report by SustainAbility examines how increasing legal liabilities are blending into moral liabilities, forcing companies to face social and environmental accountability.

12/1/2004

ICCR Spends World AIDS Day Preparing Shareowner Resolutions for Upcoming Proxy Season
This year's resolution has expanded to cover operations in India and China as well as Africa, and ICCR is campaigning for pharma companies to provide better access to medicines for children.

11/19/2004

European Socially Responsible Investment Firms Let the Sun Shine In
The European Social Investment Forum releases transparency guidelines covering seventeen socially responsible investment practitioners.

10/29/2004

Is CRA the Right Remedy for Race-Based Disparity in Mortgage Lending?
A new study finds significant disparity between lending to minorities versus whites, but a Community Reinvestment Act expert questions the focus on CRA as the cure.

10/27/2004

SEC Decision on Shareowner Nomination of Corporate Board Directors Still Pending
Supporters and opponents of the proposed SEC rule granting shareowner access to the proxy to nominate directors advance their causes while the rule languishes in limbo.

10/26/2004

Moskowitz Prize Study Removes Doubt Over Link Between Strong Corporate Social and Financial Performance
The study analyzes over 50 published studies on corporate social performance and corporate financial performance, and finds an unambiguous positive relationship.

10/19/2004

FDIC Proposes Rule Watering Down Community Reinvestment Act Requirements
The SaveCRA.org website promotes opposition to the rule change, posting information and a sample letter to file with the FDIC before the end of the comment period tomorrow.

10/11/2004

Morningstar Grades Mutual Fund Governance, SRI Funds Rate Well
Morningstar Fiduciary Grades find relatively few areas of weak performance for those socially responsible investment mutual funds rated.

10/7/2004

Memo From: SRI Analysts To: Companies--Use GRI Sustainability Reporting Platform!
A coalition of 17 socially responsible investment firms recommends that companies disclose social and environmental data using the Global Reporting Initiative.

10/5/2004

Disclosure: How SEC Proxy Voting Rules May Shift the Definition of Fiduciary Duty
Will mandatory disclosure of mutual fund proxy voting records drive change in the general definition of fiduciary duty, or will the principle of undivided loyalty prevent this development? Part two of a two-part article.

9/15/2004

About Face: Cintas Settles Lawsuit and Supports Vendor Standards Resolution
In his apology, Tim Smith of Walden Asset Management highlights the need for accurate information, which Cintas promises to supply in the report requested by the resolution.

9/14/2004

Conference Promotes Sustainability Through Corporate Collaboration
The Society for Organizational Learning (SoL) Business Innovation for Sustainability Forum calls for cooperation amongst companies as well as with stakeholders.

9/10/2004

New Web Tool Identifies Climate Risk and Opportunity in 24 Biggest Mutual Funds
KLD Research & Analytics information reveals both positive and negative corporate performance on climate change, allowing retail investors to lobby their mutual funds.

9/8/2004

Book Review--Corporate Social Opportunity: Seven Steps to Make Corporate Social Responsibility Work for Your Business
Book provides extensive real-world examples and hypothetical scenarios to help business people transform corporate responsibility from risks to opportunities.

8/25/2004

As Mutual Funds Prepare to Reveal Proxy Votes, Guideline Disclosure Acts as Acid Test
Investor-friendly website accessibility to mutual funds' proxy voting guidelines may signal proxy voting record accessibility and investor-friendly proxy voting.

8/24/2004

Got Water? Report Recommends Solutions for Businesses To Address Water Scarcity
A new Pacific Institute report outlines the impacts on business of water scarcity, and offers ten steps companies can take to help solve these problems.

8/19/2004

US Banks Criticized for Involvement in China State Bank Bonds
Nongovernmental organizations and socially responsible investing firms criticize US banks for selling Chinese bonds that fund socially and environmentally problematic projects.

8/5/2004

Microcredit Development Fund Helps Transform Household Scraps into Sustainable Entrepreneurship
The Deutsche Bank Microcredit Development Fund seeks to alleviate poverty worldwide by helping microfinance institutions grow to scale and achieve sustainability.

8/4/2004

Can Corporate Social Responsibility Put the Brakes on HIV in Africa?
A field report from Africa by Dan Rosan of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility.

7/28/2004

Keeping Score: The Mathematics and Linguistics of the World Bank Extractive Industries Review
World Bank Group management and socially responsible investors interpret EIR recommendations differently.

7/14/2004

How HIV/AIDS Impacts Corporations, and How Corporations Can Impact HIV/AIDS
The World Economic Forum and the International Labor Organization report on the impact of HIV/AIDS on business, but will companies respond by addressing HIV/AIDS?

7/8/2004

The Responsible Summer Reading List
Fifteen recommended books on corporate sustainability and our general welfare

7/1/2004

Does Supreme Court Validation of Alien Tort Claims Act Apply to Corporations?
Human rights organizations say yes, lawyers representing corporations in ATCA cases say no, but the Supreme Court opinion itself remains vague on the issue.

6/17/2004

Book Review--Profits With Principles: Seven Strategies for Delivering Value with Values
Pertinent case studies that illustrate corporate social responsibility best practice abound in this well-structured and well-written book.

6/8/2004

US Socially Responsible Investment Indexes Diverse in Style, Study Says
A study presented at a recent socially responsible investment conference finds variability in US SRI index construction.

5/27/2004

ExxonMobil Mocks Climate Change, Maine Treasurer Finds It No Laughing Matter
Senior management remains resolute in its disbelief of climate change risk.

5/26/2004

New Bank of America Policy Sets Best Practice on Climate Change in US Bank Sector
Environmentalist organization Rainforest Action Network helps usher Bank of America into the vanguard of US banks improving their environmental responsibility.

5/21/2004

Baker & McKenzie Paper Concludes Social Investing Consistent with Fiduciary Duty
The opinion of a major US corporate law firm sets the bar for the fiduciary case for SRI.

5/14/2004

Shareowner Resolution Withdrawn as JP Morgan Chase Addresses Environmental Risks
A group of socially responsible investment advocates withdrew a shareowner resolution from JP Morgan Chase when the company established an office of environmental affairs.

5/13/2004

Dell First US Computer Company to Commit to a Global Recycling Goal
In its 2004 Sustainability Report, Dell commits to increase its fiscal year 2005 computer recycling 50 percent over fiscal year 2004 levels.

5/11/2004

ChevronTexaco Faces Class-Action Lawsuit in Ecuador Over Environmental Damage
A resolution asking ChevronTexaco to report on new initiatives to address its legacy of environmental damage in Ecuador gained nine percent support from shareowners.

5/4/2004

Three More Companies Address Climate Risk, So Shareowners Withdraw Resolutions
Shareowners withdrew climate change resolutions at Southern Company and TXU, which agreed to issue reports, and at Reliant, which agreed to expand disclosure.

4/29/2004

First-Year Resolution on HIV/AIDS Garners Significant Support at Pharmaceuticals
The HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens human life and shareowner value, according to a shareowner resolution filed at companies in the pharmaceutical, oil, and beverage sectors.

4/22/2004

Forget Sit Ins: Student Activists Now Promote Socially Responsible Investment
Students and alumni from 22 prestigious colleges and universities launch the Responsible Endowment Coalition to urge schools to practice socially responsible investing.

4/21/2004

Tyco Recommends Vote in Favor of Shareowner Resolution, Joining Three Others
While companies routinely recommend voting against shareowner resolutions, four companies so far this proxy season have bucked this standard approach.

4/20/2004

Women Directors Rare Even in Developed Economies, According to First Global Study
A UK-based socially responsible investment research firm study of companies in global developed economies finds only seven percent of board seats occupied by women.

4/16/2004

Thirteen Pension Funds Call on SEC to Require Disclosure on Climate Change Risk
Institutional investors ask the Securities and Exchange Commission to issue a clarification that climate change is a material risk which must be disclosed in filings.

4/14/2004

Stock Option Dilution Rose But Granting Slowed in 2003, Anticipating Mandatory Expensing
Right after the Financial Accounting Standards Board called for mandatory option expensing, the Investor Responsibility Research Center released its yearly dilution study.

3/18/2004

Occidental To Adopt Formal Human Rights Policy, Shareowners Withdraw Resolution
Successful shareholder action results in steps towards Occidental formalizing its human rights policy.

3/10/2004

Disney Vote and California Bill May Affect SEC Shareowner Director Nomination Rule
The significant withhold vote at Disney and a bill being considered by the California State Legislature may have a bearing on the SEC's proposed rule on shareowner director nominations.

2/10/2004

Cintas Defamation Suit Challenges Shareowner Free Speech Rights
Cintas files a defamation lawsuit against Tim Smith of Walden Asset Management for alleging that the company uses sweatshop labor in Haiti.

2/6/2004

California Treasurer Proposes Environmental Screening for State Pension Investments
California Treasurer Phil Angelides pitches the Green Wave Initiative to CalPERS and CalSTRS, the state's huge pension funds, asking them to support green investments.

1/22/2004

Book Review--The Corporate Responsibility Code Book
This book is no thriller, but it is indispensable for anyone seeking to grasp the complex landscape of the multitudinous tools that measure corporate social responsibility.

1/14/2004

Book Review--True to Our Roots: Fermenting a Business Revolution
Paul Dolan, president of Fetzer Vineyards, promotes sustainable business practices by relating his personal transformation committing to organic growing practices.

1/8/2004

Shareowner Resolution Calls Costco on Cultural Crimes in Mexican Site Development
Shareowners express concern that Costco, which demolished a culturally significant site in Mexico to build a store, may be demolishing its reputation in the process.

12/30/2003

The Evolution of Business for Social Responsibility: A Talk with BSR CEO Robert Dunn
In a SocialFunds interview, Business for Social Responsibility CEO Robert Dunn discusses how BSR has evolved while CSR has matured over the past decade.

12/19/2003

Top Five Social Investing News Stories of 2003
The major social investing news stories of the year include SEC reforms, stock exchanges mandating social, environmental, and corporate governance practices, and climate risk assessment defined as a fiduciary duty.

12/16/2003

Board Pay, Board Say
Two new reports assess the past year for directors of corporate boards, examining issues such as director pay, workload, and independence.

12/12/2003

Book Review--How Does it Pay to Be Green?
An empirical study finds a positive relationship between environmental and economic performance when environmental strategies are factored into business decisions.

12/11/2003

Women Sit in Less Than a Seventh of Fortune 500 Board of Director Seats
According to a new Catalyst report, women will inhabit less than a quarter of Fortune 500 board director seats by 2023, though regulations and shareowner action may change this.

12/10/2003

US Community Investment Assets Nearly Double Over the Past Two Years
Community development financial institution assets rise 84 percent from 2001 to 2003, making community investment the fastest growing segment of socially responsible investing.

12/5/2003

Morgan Stanley Study Correlates Sustainability with Financial Outperformance
Morgan Stanley's joint study with Oekom Research finds that sustainability leaders in the MCSI World Index financially outperformed sustainability laggards over the past four years.

11/26/2003

UN Institutional Investor Summit Considers Opportunities of Addressing Climate Change
Institutional investors make the business case and investment case for assessing, reporting, and mitigating climate change at a UN Summit (part two of a two-part article).

11/20/2003

Carmakers and Carbon Constraints: Who Will Capitalize and Who Will Cave?
A new report assesses ten auto companies’ relative readiness for reduced carbon emissions and increased fuel efficiency regulations in Japan, the EU, and the US.

11/7/2003

British American Tobacco Reluctantly Exits Myanmar
Bowing to pressure from activists and the UK government, BAT sold its interest in its Myanmar operation, though it will continue to license its cigarette brands there.

11/6/2003

European Socially Responsible Investment Retail Funds Increase in Number, Decrease in Assets
A recent study reports that the number of European SRI retail mutual funds increased since the end of 2001 while the amounts of assets held by them decreased.

11/5/2003

Social Investment Forum’s Trends Report Tracks Rises and Falls in SRI
Assets in screened portfolios grew since 2001, while overall assets in socially responsible investments fell during the same time period, according to SIF’s 2003 Trends Report.

10/31/2003

Moskowitz Prize-Winning Study Correlates Lower Corruption With Higher Shareowner Value
The Social Investment Forum awards its annual Moskowitz Prize to a study that correlates lower political corruption with higher corporate value in international markets.

10/30/2003

Emerging Markets Represent Underdeveloped Opportunities for SRI, Study Says
An International Finance Corporation report on socially responsible investing in emerging markets finds obstacles and opportunities.

10/28/2003

Coordinate US Corporate Social Responsibility Policy, Kenan Institute Study Group Says
A study group convened by the Kenan Institute recommends synchronizing US public policy on CSR and asking the SEC to consider requiring triple bottom line reporting.

10/21/2003

Community Development Financial Institutions Help Rebuild Post-9/11
The National Community Capital Association unveils a report on the impact of CDFIs on post-9/11 lower Manhattan.

10/17/2003

SRI Growing Amongst European Institutional Investors and in Asian Emerging Markets
Two new reports document the status and prospects of sustainable and responsible investment in Asian emerging markets and with European institutional investors.

10/14/2003

Resolutions Ask TIAA-CREF to Practice the Good Corporate Governance It Preaches
TIAA-CREF faces several resolutions asking it to reconcile its strong corporate governance advocacy with what filers describe as its own weak governance policies.

10/9/2003

SEC Opens Proxy to Shareowner-Nominated Directors, Critics Bemoan Triggers, Thresholds
New SEC rules will allow shareowners to use companies' proxies to nominate director candidates, but corporate governance advocates point out potential pitfalls.

9/26/2003

Identifying the Effects of Interlocking Directorships on Board Independence
A new report from The Corporate Library uncovers ways interlocking directorships impede board independence, though shareowner activists could leverage this interlock to push corporate governance reform.

9/25/2003

Sustainable Computer Producers Perform Better than Less Sustainable Counterparts
Innovest adds social considerations to its environmental assessment in its recent computer industry report, and sustainability still outperforms business-as-usual.

9/17/2003

Shareowner Action Prompts Procter & Gamble to Sell Fair Trade Coffee
In response to a shareowner action campaign, Procter & Gamble launched a Fair Trade Certified coffee; critics challenge the company to commit more fully to sustainability.

8/7/2003

Report Finds Oil Companies' Social and Environmental Practices Unsustainable
Oekom Research's report criticizes the oil industry's uneven progress in sustainable development, but those in the industry question the report's findings.

8/1/2003

Critics Find Study of SRI Underperformance Fundamentally Flawed
A recent Wharton School study that finds underperformance by socially responsible investment mutual funds is based on an unsound research design, according to critics.

7/25/2003

Survey Finds SRI Fund Managers See Bright Future in Europe
A recent survey of fund managers conducted by UK Social Investment Forum and Thomson Extel reveals high expectations for significant SRI growth in Europe. Those surveyed also ranked top SRI firms and analysts.

7/23/2003

Climate Change Litigation Could Affect Companies’ Market Value
In the near future companies could face the risk of being on the receiving end of climate change lawsuits, a development that stands to impact shareowner value.

7/22/2003

Foundation Begins to Reconcile Investments with Programs
The Fetzer Institute uses screens and community investment to align a small portion of its assets with its social and environmental goals.

7/18/2003

SEC Report on Shareowner Nomination of Directors Opens Some Doors, But May Close Others
A recent SEC report recommends several solutions for allowing shareowners access to director nominations, but social investors worry it may not solve some problems.

7/17/2003

Philadelphia Innovates Solutions to Predatory Lending for Low- and Middle-Income Homeowners
Two programs supported by the city of Philadelphia help low- and middle-income homeowners exposed to predatory lending when seeking loans to rehabilitate their houses.

7/15/2003

First Steps for the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development
Carlos Guimaraes, chair of the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development, speaks about the new organization's strong membership, partnerships, and projects.

7/11/2003

Members of Congress Consider Social and Environmental Disclosure in SEC Filings
A group of Senators and Representatives summoned a symposium on the need for social and environmental disclosure by companies in their SEC filings.

7/10/2003

Report Connects the Dots Between Corporate Governance and Climate Change Risk
A report reveals the degree to which 20 major global companies use corporate governance to address climate change risks and opportunities.

6/25/2003

Huh?!?: CEO Pay Goes Up in 2002 While the Stock Market Goes Down
The Corporate Library’s report shows how CEO pay increased in 2002 despite the fact that the stock market declined significantly, a trend that does not sit well with investors.

6/18/2003

Investors Managing $3 Trillion Back Blair's Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Developing countries are being prodded to support oil and mining companies disclosure of payments the companies make to governments.

6/5/2003

Will Equator Principles Deliver Social and Environmental Responsibility from Banks?
Social investors and NGOs question whether the Equator Principles will serve their stated purpose of increasing global banks' social and environmental responsibility.

6/4/2003

Nike and Others Increase Transparency into Their Global Labor Practices
The Fair Labor Association releases a report today on the internal and independent external monitoring of apparel and footwear manufacturers' global labor practices.

6/3/2003

FedEx and UPS Green Up Their Fleets With Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles
FedEx introduces hybrid electric delivery vehicles, while UPS is investing in fuel cell technology.

6/3/2003

FedEx and UPS Green Up Their Fleets With Hybrid Electric and Fuel Cell Vehicles
FedEx introduces hybrid electric delivery vehicles, while UPS is investing in fuel cell technology.

5/30/2003

World's Largest Coffee Traders Agree to Sustainability, but How Committed Are They?
Rainforest Alliance's recent agreement on sustainability with the world's two largest coffee traders holds promise but the devil may be in the details.

5/29/2003

Book Review: Saving the Corporate Soul & (Who Knows?) Maybe Your Own
A new book recommends a series of corporate reforms that mirror those advocated by the corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investment communities.

5/28/2003

Religious Institutions Issue Benchmarks for Corporate Social Responsibility Performance
A global coalition of religious activists have published the third edition of a comprehensive set of guidelines for corporate social and environmental performance.

5/15/2003

Report Asks When ExxonMobil Will Wake Up to Climate-Related Risks
beware of the significant risks the company faces in terms of how the oil giant addresses climate change.

5/13/2003

Investors Press Companies on Stock Options Expensing
A shareowner resolution on options expensing is garnering support, and a California pension fund has released a study on how to best expense stock options.

4/23/2003

Is Nike Guaranteed Free Speech? The Supreme Court Will Decide
Advocates of socially responsible investment and corporate social responsibility on both sides of the Atlantic weigh in on the implications of Nike's Supreme Court case.

4/22/2003

Earth Day Founder Not the Only One to Link Climate Change and Investing
The voices of institutional investors representing public pension funds join those from the insurance industry to advance a business case for addressing climate change.

4/15/2003

Back in the U.S.A.
A combination of investors, activists, and congresspeople are working to make sure U.S. companies keep paying their share of taxes.

4/9/2003

Return to Sender: Dell Inches Toward a Computer Take-Back Recycling Program
Calvert-led coalition conducts shareowner action urging U.S. computer companies to implement take-back programs for recycling obsolete computers and components.

4/2/2003

PepsiCo Shareowners Will Address the Business Risks of Water Scarcity
The SEC is requiring PepsiCo's to allow its shareowners to vote on a resolution regarding the business risks of water scarcity.

3/25/2003

Guide Rates Best and Worst Lenders in Terms of Reaching the Underserved
When it comes to reaching minorities, women, and low- and middle-income borrowers, Bank of America rates as one of the best and ABN AMRO rates as one of the worst.

3/12/2003

Mutual Fund Industry Takes Last Stab at Blocking Proxy Voting Disclosure
The Investment Company Institute, the mutual fund industry trade group, continues to lobby against new SEC rules that require disclosure of proxy voting policies and records.

3/11/2003

Book Review: Socially Responsible Investment: A Global Revolution
A new book is generous in its history of socially responsible investing, but it shortchanges readers with its definition of SRI and its coverage of SRI's globalization.

2/27/2003

International Right to Know Campaign Promotes Disclosure of Global Corporate Impacts
In a recent report, the International Right to Know Campaign outlines the benefits of corporate disclosure of global environmental and social policies and practices.

2/25/2003

SRI Issues Will Impact Companies' Financial Performance, UK Pension Fund Trustees Say
A recent survey finds that pension fund trustees in the United Kingdom view socially responsible investing (SRI) issues as linked to companies' future financial performance.

2/20/2003

Chinese Toy Manufacturer Labor Standards Found Lacking
New report highlights structural obstacles to toy manufacturer implementation of labor codes of conduct.

2/12/2003

Corporate Social Responsibility Rating Agencies Balance Standardization and Differentiation
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) rating agencies are struggling to balance the need to standardize CSR ratings with the need to differentiate their ratings from competitors'.

2/12/2003

2/11/2003

National Wildlife Federation and Amnesty International USA Embrace SRI
Two well-known advocacy organizations have made a commitment to lowering the wall between their program activities and their investments.

2/11/2003

2/6/2003

World Economic Forum Surveys CEO Attitudes Toward Corporate Citizenship
The World Economic Forum CEO survey finds much enthusiasm but less substance in the adaptation of corporate social responsibility into core business activities.

2/6/2003

1/24/2003

SEC Tells Mutual Funds To Disclose Their Proxy Votes
The Securities and Exchange Commission voted in favor of rule changes that require mutual fund companies to disclose their proxy voting policies and their actual proxy votes.

1/24/2003

1/22/2003

ICCR Proxy Resolutions Book Gauges Shareowner Action Climate
In its new publication, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility rounds up the social and environmental shareowner resolutions to be voted on in the 2003 proxy season.

1/9/2003

Book Review: The Sustainability Advantage
In a new book written for corporate senior executives, a former IBM manager systematically quantifies the business case for sustainability.

1/6/2003

Investment in Affordable Housing Generates Market-beating Returns
CalPERS' highest returning investment category over the last ten years is its Single Family Housing Program. The pension giant is not the only institutional investor that has had success with community investing.

1/2/2003

NEC Pioneers "Green" Computer
NEC reverses the computer industry's foot-dragging on addressing environmental liabilities by introducing the PowerMate eco, the first eco-efficient computer.

12/30/2002

Community Investment Pays: More Conversation with F.B. Heron's Luther Ragin
Luther Ragin details F.B. Heron Foundation's returns on its community investments and urges other foundations and institutional investors to consider community investing (part two of a two-part article).

12/27/2002

Helping People Help Themselves: A Conversation with F.B. Heron's Luther Ragin
Luther Ragin explains why and how the F.B. Heron Foundation commits a whopping 18 percent of its total assets toward community investment projects (part one of a two-part article).

11/1/2002

WRI Promotes Sustainable Business in China
The World Resources Institute has launched a project that will support green business initiatives in China.

11/1/2002

Oekom Pans Telecoms' Social and Environmental Performance
A recent report from the German research firm concludes that only a handful of telecommunications companies have above average social and environmental practices.

10/31/2002

Nike Greenwash Decision a Double-Edged Sword
While some cheer the California Supreme Court ruling against Nike as a victory for truth in advertising, others consider it a potential defeat for CSR reporting and increased corporate transparency.

10/29/2002

SRI Index Fund Uses Overweighting and Underweighting to Fully Replicate S&P 500
Instead of screening companies in or out of the Total Social Impact Fund, this enhanced index fund concentrates its holdings in positive social and environmental performers.

10/28/2002

Seven New SRI Mutual Funds Launched by Seminal Canadian Investment Firm
Ethical Funds recently introduced seven new SRI mutual funds in response to investor requests and a poll that shows overwhelming support for shareowner action in Canada.

10/25/2002

Corporate Governance Now Rated by Mainstream Investment Research Firms
Mainstream investment research firms are now evaluating corporate governance as a potential indicator of stock valuation.

10/24/2002

Eco-Efficient Real Estate and Retail Food Stocks Outperform Environmental Laggards
Two recent Innovest reports correlate strong energy management, particularly participation in the EPA ENERGY STAR program, with superior stock performance.

10/21/2002

Teamsters Union Joins Boycott of World Bank Bonds
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters joins six other international unions in refusing to invest in World Bank bonds.