Newly Added Profiles ESG / Sustainability Water Is Now, and Forever, a Human Right
(Source: The Epoch Times) Last year, on July 28, 2010, the United Nations General Assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the human right to water—a right that is essential for life itself. This past week, at the one-year commemoration of this historic vote, President Evo Morales of Bolivia referred to the right as “la Madre de todos los Derechos,” “the Mother of all Rights.” G7 financial policymakers from major industrialized nations will stand ready to provide extra cash if markets seize up
(Source: Balkans.com) Political leaders failed to halt a global stock market rout that gathered steam yesterday (8 August) as investors lost confidence that Europe and the United States can rein in their budgets quickly and fear spread of a double-dip recession. The European Central Bank swept into the bond market to buy up Italian and Spanish debt and sling a safety net under the euro zone's third and fourth largest economies. But bickering persisted in Europe over a longer-term rescue plan. Associated Profiles : Standard & Poors Commentary  The Economy, The Deficit & Jobs: The President’s Max Bialystock Moment
(Source: Peter Kinder, VSHQ Featured Commentator ) ‘It’s the economy, stupid!’ That phrase widely attributed to Bill Clinton in his successful 1992 campaign spotlights what’s been wrong with our past two Democratic presidents. They substituted in their minds a mushy, two-word concept – ‘the economy’ – for one, four-letter word – ‘jobs’.
No-Confidence Vote: Poor governance is at the root of S&P’s downgrade
(Source: Syracuse) It’s hard to predict even the short-term effects of Friday’s decision by Standard & Poor’s to lower the credit rating of the U.S. government. It’s never happened before, so it’s uncharted territory. One conclusion is inescapable, however: The consequences won’t be good. Another sure bet: If Congress and the White House continue their “chicken” game of taking the nation’s economic security to the brink in conducting routine business, things can only get worse. Associated Profiles : Standard & Poors CSR Report Special Edition: ESG for Investors, Part One: How Investment Funds Identify and Measure ESG Impacts
(Source: 3BL Media) The initial segment of "ESG for Investors - How Investment Funds Identify and Measure ESG Impacts" is an interview with Anne Simpson, CalPERS, Senior Portfolio Manager for Corporate Governance. Simpson discusses integrating ESG data into financial analysis, and describes the three "P's"—performance, priorities, and procurement— as a framework for capital allocation. The interview is conducted in three parts. Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Taking stock of your company's social impact
(Source: Guardian, UK) If you gave a leading CEO two minutes to tell you about their company's record on the environment, they'd probably give you a few insightful statistics on water, carbon and waste management that would let you know they were focused on the issues that matter and were making progress. Now ask them their about their impact on society and you'll probably still get their donations budget and the number of employees who volunteer – not the interesting and relevant stuff on the difference they've made to their local communities, or how they've been part of solving a big social problem. Associated Profiles : UN - Global Reporting Initiative GRI Research Toyota Motor Corp. Publishes 'Sustainability Report 2011'
(Source: 4-Traders.com) Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces the publication today of its "Sustainability Report 2011”1, which outlines TMC's environmental, social and corporate governance activities conducted primarily during fiscal year 20102 and the concepts and policies that serve as their foundation. TMC issues such a report every year to disclose information to the public, share information with consolidated companies and business partners, and support the management and assessment of TMC’s corporate social responsibility initiatives. Sovereign Wealth Funds Singapore's GIC says closely monitoring U.S. credit rating developments
(Source: Xinhaunet.com) The Government Investment Corporation (GIC), one of the two sovereign wealth funds of Singapore, said it was following the latest developments related to the U.S. credit rating. A spokesperson for the company said that it takes a long-term perspective for its investments and that it is closely following any developments that could affect the investment outlook, including the U.S. credit rating and similar developments in Europe, local daily Lianhe Zaobao said on Sunday. Associated Profiles : Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) Why China’s not precious about the US debt ceiling crisis
(Source: The Conversation) After initially refraining from public comment, China has now joined the ranks of countries and international institutions voicing concerns over the US public debt-ceiling impasse. Late last month, China’s State Administration of Foreign Exchange delivered the message: “We hope the US government will take responsible policies and measures to boost global financial market confidence and respect and protect the interests of investors.” Associated Profiles : State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) Investment Company (China) Norway Oil Fund Invest in London Properties
(Source: NASDAQ) Norway's sovereign wealth fund has taken another step towards its target of investing 5% of its assets in property by buying a stake in two central London addresses for GBP7 million. Norway's Pension Fund Global, sometimes referred to as the oil fund, bought a 25% stake in 4 Conduit Street and 1 Maddox Street, alongside a 75% investment by the U.K. Crown Estate, with the total investment by both parties valued at GBP28 million, according to a statement from the Crown Estate Sunday. Associated Profiles : Norwegian Government Pension Fund – Global (Statens pensjonsfond – Utland) , Norwegian Government Pension Fund - Norway | Corporate ESG Performance Factors are important to financial analysts, asset owners and managers, and a wide range of stakeholders. The ESG framework – which considers environmental and energy issues and impacts, the company positioning and actions on social/societal issues, and corporate governance – is an investing framework, a style, an approach, an expanding set of guidelines -- depending on the analyst and sell- or buy-side investor and the method of their embrace of ESG factors in analysis and investment decision-making. ESG key performance indicators are becoming proxies for the effective governance and management of corporations for investors. There are dozens of researchers and financial analysts monitoring and measuring these and advising investors The Sustainability HQ™ platform is an important profiling and monitoring resource for the G&A team, and for our clients and subscribers. In these Highlights we offer a few of the results of our continuous global scanning for ESG, sustainability and corporate responsibility news, commentary and research from thousands of global sources. The Associated Profiles indicated are contained in our platforms. For more information, email us at info@sustainabilityhq.com. _______________________________
Make SustainabilityHQ™ your daily headquarters for important news, commentary and research results – your HQs for Sustainability and ESG knowledge management. The key capital market players focused on Sustainability and ESG (environmental management, social issues and effective corporate governance) are profiled with an abundance of relevant information. Updates are continuous. The third party organizations helping to shape corporate valuations and corporate reputations are profiled and news about these players is updated every day. Log in and check it out! _______________________________
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United States Pension Funds CalPERS examines ESG integration
(Source: Global Pensions) The Investment Committee of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) is to hold a workshop to examine how best to integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues into the pension fund’s investment process. For the past year, the CalPERS Investment Office has been developing a comprehensive plan to implement ESG into investment decision-making across all asset classes. The workshop, which takes place next week, will seek Board input on priorities and the development of an ESG integration plan. Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) NY comptroller optimistic in Wall Street crisis
(Source: Seattle PI) Albany, NY - The sole trustee of the massive New York state public pension fund says he's concerned about the huge Wall Street drop Monday, but he remains confident in long-term investing and strength of the pension. State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says the pension fund is protected from such stock market dips by its long-term investment strategy. The Democrat say he feels the pension fund is well positioned to ride out the big drop. Associated Profiles: New York State Common Retirement Fund Bell scandal prompts Calif. retirement system to reduce some top pensions
(Source: The Bellingham Press) Los Angeles - California's state retirement system has slashed the benefits of scores of top-paid local government officials as part of a review of overly generous public pensions prompted by the Bell scandal.Although the California Public Employees Retirement System has cut the benefits of individuals in the past, its review is its largest systematic effort to examine and possibly adjust high-end pensions. Associated Profiles: California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Hines Joins With New York Pension Fund to Invest $1 Billion in Real Estate
(Sources: Bloomberg) Hines and New York State Common Retirement Fund said they will invest more than $1 billion in U.S. office and medical buildings amid a recovery in commercial property prices. The Houston-based real estate firm and the New York pension, the nation’s third-largest plan, formed a joint venture to develop, acquire, own and manage buildings primarily occupied by a single tenant, Hines said today in a statement. The partnership will be funded with $500 million in equity. Associated Profiles : New York State Common Retirement Fund Commentary Public workers' pension contributions are a reasonable policy (Source: The News-Press) Governance by poppycock is no way to get things done. It's a wonder then, a blessed wonder, that public policy of any merit ever emerges from the Capitol. During last year's campaign, Gov. Rick Scott derided the Florida Retirement System, the state-run program with more than 650,000 public-employee participants and more than 300,000 beneficiaries. Back then, FRS, reflecting the declines of the recession, operated with a $16.7 billion gap between what it projected to have in the bank and what it projected to need to pay future benefits. Watching the Watchers  As You Sow (AYS)
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA
Established: 1992 ESG/Sustainability Focus: Yes: focus on corporate responsibility. KEY PARTNERS
Collaborates with numerous organizations, including Proxy Impact, Social Investment Forum (SIF), Sustainable Investments Institute (SI2), Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), Trillium Asset Management, Walden Asset Management, and Green Century.
Clients include Domini Social Investments and Calvert Group – two of the largest SRI asset managers and mutual fund companies in the US. Also – clients and partners include these firms: Disney; McDonald's; Dell; HP; Starbucks; Coca-Cola; Time-Warner; Gap; Home Depot; Staples. OVERVIEW/MISSION
As You Sow states that its mission is: "To promote corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, grantmaking, and innovative legal strategies." The organization's vision is "A safe, just, and sustainable world in which environmental health and human rights are central to corporate decision making." The organization's focus is on: Corporate Responsibility; Sustainability; Human Rights; Health & Safety; Environmental Enforcement; Grantmaking. As You Sow has been a prominent player in proxy voting and shareholder action for many years. News Sweeps A wealth of goodwill for mission
(Wednesday - August 03, 2011) Associated Profiles : As You Sow - “I really believe as you sow into your community you really reap the rewards,” she said. The restoration work on the Mission to Seafarers' building at 717 Flinders street is likely to be completed in 2014. [more] A Fizzy, Risky Stock Idea
(Wednesday - July 06, 2011) Associated Profiles : As You Sow - Despite consumers' increased efforts to recycle their refuse, about 40 million tons of packaging still gets landfilled or burned in the US As You Sow notes that products and packaging make up 44% of US greenhouse ... [more] |
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