Business leaders and managers are being challenged by the rising expectations of stockholders and stakeholder with regard to the corporate performance in the areas of ESG (environmental, social issue and governance) performance. Peers and competitors are increasingly setting the pace for industries and sectors as they create and implement sustainability and corporate responsibility strategies and actions. Who cares about this? Asset owners and asset managers looking at investments through the ESG/Sustainability lens. And third party stakeholders who are setting the pace in ESG research, standard setting (for industries), media, issue advocates…and others watching the corporate sector. Our team is watching the watchers for you. We bring you news, commentary and research in key areas of interest for both investors and asset managers -- and for corporate boards, executives and managers. As Sustainability and ESG frameworks are adopted by more investors, the capital markets are determining winners, laggards and losers. Track the trends, the news, updates, the important developments – makeSustainability HQ™ your headquarters for ESG knowledge management. ESG / Sustainability Beyond the fundamentals
(Source: HFM Week) Investment funds that take into account the impacts of environmental, social and governance issues are gathering momentum with investors, thanks to a recognition of the value of extra-financial analysis and a strong run of performance in 2011. Socially responsible investing (SRI) has always been seen as worthwhile, but not necessarily a partner for good returns. However, looking beyond a corporate’s bottom-line to factors that shape its internal and external image can pay dividends. Environmental, social and governance investing (ESG), a concept with its roots in SRI, has become a useful tool for hedge funds, as they evaluate prospects and gather alpha. Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), North Carolina Retirement Systems
Do you really understand Carbon Pricing?
(Source: Environmental Expert) In 2010 the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released its Vision 2050 report, which laid out a pathway leading to a global population of some 9 billion people living well, within the resource limits of the planet by 2050. Associated Profiles : World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD Commentary How Can the US Unite to Address & Resolve Issues?
(Source: Hank Boerner, CSRWire Talkback) In our fractious and contentious public policy debates – where the nation is almost equally divided pro and con on many issues – how can we agree on solutions or at least the basic questions to unite and move forward to preserve our quality of life and build on the great legacies of generations past? These are not idle questions – with the end of the Cold War we have lost the common enemy (the USSR and satellite states), and to an alarming extent, our common purpose. Associated Profiles : Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc Research How green is my future?
(Source: Nature) For centuries, humans have powered a growing world by extracting Earth's carbon-rich rocks, peat and liquids and burning them in ever greater amounts, but that trend is beginning to change. A report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), released on 9 May at a briefing in Abu Dhabi, suggests that an inevitable — if slow — shift towards specialized energy crops, sunlight, wind and other sources of renewable power will mark the next four decades. Associated Profiles : Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC) Sovereign Wealth Funds U.S. Banks Hold Billions In Frozen Libyan Assets, Out Of Rebels' Reach
(Source: Radio Free Europe) As the battle against the Libyan government of Muammar Qaddafi nears its three-month mark with little sign of abating, rebel forces say they need more than just NATO military assistance. In the besieged city of Misurata, a focal point of the rebel effort, the fighting is still heavy and residents are desperate for food, medicine, and basic necessities. Associated Profiles : Libyan Investment Authority Singapore to explore bolder investments of reserves
(Source: My Sinchew.com) The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) will explore bolder ways of investing the country's foreign reserves, its chairman Lee Kuan Yew said in remarks published Tuesday. The 87-year-old former prime minister said the GIC, known in the market for conservative investments, cannot keep following conventional practices as it grows. Associated Profiles : Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) |
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 Lawmakers' decision to force government workers to contribute to pensions eases county budget woes
(Source: Palm Beach Post) The new requirement that state and county workers contribute to their pensions is deeply reducing Palm Beach County's budget woes next year, chopping tens of millions of dollars from its expected shortfall, county officials say. The county might still need millions more in cuts to make ends meet, however. Preliminary departmental budget proposals call for eliminating more than 200 positions, most of which are already unfilled, county Budget Director John Wilson said Tuesday. Associated Profiles : Florida Retirement System Pension Plan
Blog: Maryland Pension System Makes No Effort to Keep Its Investments At Home
(Source: City Biz List – Baltimore) A new national study found that many state pension systems over-invest in their own states and lose money, But Maryland is not one of them. The study, published earlier this month by two faculty members at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, looked at whether state pension systems seemed to be biased toward making investments in their own states. The study found that when states keep their pension investment dollars close to home, they tend to lose more. Associated Profiles : Maryland State Retirement and Pension System (MSRPS)
NY pension fund invests heavily in natural gas
(Source: Seattle PI) The overseers of New York state's public pension fund are betting big on the future of natural gas. The Press and Sun-Bulletin of Binghamton reports that the state comptroller has invested more than $1 billion of the $140 billion fund in companies involved in gas drilling. Associated Profiles : New York State Common Retirement Fund Watching the Watchers  Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
Headquarters: Bonn, Germany
Established: 1997
KEY PARTNERS
World Fair Trade Organization and the European Fair Trade Association, plus around 25 member organizations of FLO
OVERVIEW/MISSION
Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) describes itself in brief as: “We are 24 organizations working to secure a better deal for producers. From our headquarters in Bonn, Germany, we set international Fairtrade standards and support Fairtrade producers.” FLO states its vision as “a world in which all producers can enjoy secure and sustainable livelihoods, fulfil their potential and decide on their future.”
The 24 member organizations include Fairtrade Labelling Initiatives that license companies to use the FAIRTRADE mark. Producer groups may also join Producer Networks: there are three Producer Networks, covering Africa, Asia and Latin America/the Caribbean region. There are 19 FairTrade Labelling Initiatives covering 23 countries. New standards include those for mangoes, pineapples, rice and bananas.
News Sweeps
The facts on Fairtrade
(Wednesday - April 27, 2011) Associated Profiles :Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
- The standards are developed by a multi stakeholder initiative called FLO, Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International. The label mainly certifies transactions, and is based on demand, but does have minimum. FLO takes big step toward fair textiles
(Tuesday - April 05, 2011) Associated Profiles : Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
- Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International (FLO) has partnered with important players in textiles, labour rights and within Fairtrade to try to change this situation. FLO is currently overseeing a major project.
[more] York U bookstore first in Canada to offer fair trade campus wear
(Tuesday - March 29, 2011) Associated Profiles : Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International
- Provided by Wearfair, the shirts are made of 100 per cent fair trade organic cotton certified by TransFair Canada, a member of the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations International. They retail for $17.95. Similar York. |
