ESG / Sustainability Green action now part of leading global firms: Carbon Disclosure Project (Economic Times) - MUMBAI: The 2011 annual CDP Global 500 report, published on Wednesday, reported for the first time in the 10 years since the survey begun more than two-thirds (68%) of leading global businesses have embedded climate change actions in their business strategies, a 20% jump on 2010. The CDP Global 500 report, which examines carbon reduction activities at the world's largest public corporations, also found 45% of companies are now reducing and reporting reductions in their greenhouse gas emissions, a marked increase on last year when it was just 19%. Associated Profiles : Carbon Disclosure Project
More Bad News for Global Warming True Believers (FrontPage Mag) A stunning report by a panel of international scientists casts doubt that man is the cause of global warming or climate change. The study concluded that “natural causes,” not anthropogenic (man-made) causes, “are very likely to be dominant.” This finding flies in the face of crucial climate policies and actions by President Obama and congressional Democrats. Associated Profiles : Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)
Socially Responsible Investing: Very Profitable! (The Motley Fool) History hasn't always been kind to investors who try to earn profits while keeping their consciences clear. Companies need to stay solvent, and no matter how much good a company does, it won't survive in the marketplace if it doesn't make a profit. Many in the business community are rightfully skeptical of "purpose over profits" mantra.
Google reveals its carbon footprint, promotes wind energy and solar power (Reve Wind) Currently, very little of the world’s power is from renewables like wind turbines and solar energy. "We're working on changing that by buying electricity directly from wind farms near our data centers." Currently, very little of the world’s power is from renewables like wind turbines and solar energy. We're working on changing that by buying electricity directly from wind farms near our data centers. Associated Profiles : The Climate Group
Commentary
Sustainability from the CEO Perspective (Forbes) In 1987, the term ‘sustainability’ officially shifted from financial to environmental when Norwegian Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland in a key United Nations report coined the original definition, “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own needs.” Two decades later, we’ve come full circle and corporations are seeing the financial power and business case of focusing on the environment. US Pension Funds
CalPERS Targets $800 Million for Investment in California Infrastructure (CalPERS) SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Board of Administration today earmarked up to $800 million for investments in California infrastructure over the next three years. CalPERS plan calls for investments in both public and private infrastructure including, but not limited to, transportation, energy, natural resources, utilities, water, communications and other social support services. Associated Profiles : California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS)
Transition at New York State Common Retirement Fund (Empire State News) ALBANY - State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli announced that Raudline Etienne, Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the New York State Common Retirement Fund since March 2008, will leave her position effective Thursday, September 15. Ms. Etienne will be taking a position as Senior Director at Albright Stonebridge Group. DiNapoli also announced that Marjorie Tsang, currently the Assistant Comptroller for Real Estate Investments, will serve as interim CIO of the Fund. Associated Profiles : New York State Common Retirement Fund
Kansas pension gap may more than double (Kansas Rporter.org) TOPEKA — Fixing Kansas' underfunded state pension system will take far more money than previously thought, members of a panel formed to recommend those changes are finding. Tougher accounting rules expected next year will force the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System, or KPERS, to raise its current $8.3 billion projected shortfall in meeting long-term pension obligations over the next 30 years, David Draine, a senior researcher at the Pew Center on the States, a Washington, D.C., public policy think tank, told the panel at its first full day of information gathering last week. Associated Profiles : Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS)
Sovereign Wealth Funds
Doubts over China white knight role in Italy crisis (The Standard) Italian Economy Minister Giulio Tremonti met Chinese officials last week, including the head of its sovereign wealth fund, a Treasury spokesman said, after the Financial Times reported that Rome had asked China to buy "significant" quantities of its bonds. But there were doubts in the market over whether China would actually invest in Italian assets. Associated Profiles : State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) Investment Company (China)
On thin ice: Abu Dhabi wealth fund ADIA wary on global growth (Kipp Report) Rising government debt levels and inflationary pressures in emerging economies will cast a shadow on global economic growth, sovereign wealth fund Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) said in its 2010 annual review. The fund, whose assets range from Citigroup bonds to a stake in London’s Gatwick Airport, expects economic growth to remain “hesitant” in the near-term but said it was confident equity returns will revert back to historical levels of 6-8 percent in a post-recovery phase. Associated Profiles : Abu Dhabi Investment Authority
Up and Up and UP (China Daily) Inflation is running away, and by the looks of things if consumers don't curb their spending, things will only get worse. SL Luo reports. "Sugar's up, salt's up, everything's up. Up, Up, Up." So goes one of Canto-pop idol Samuel Hui Koon-kit's smash hits of the 1970s, mirroring the hard times Hong Kong had to endure as inflation spun out of control back in those days. Associated Profiles : Associated Profiles : Hong Kong (China) Monetary Authority -- Investment Portfolio Asset Managers
Brazil is concentrating on growth (UV10, Brazil) Brazil has renewed strength as an investment opportunity as a result of its recent interest rate cut, it has been claimed. HSBC Global Asset Management said that it expects there to be further cuts to the interest rate as Brazil tries to avoid the effects of a global downturn, with the bank predicting a fall to 10.5 per cent in 2012. Associated Profiles : HSBC Global Asset Management
Asia Stocks Set for Lowest in a Year on China Bailout Reluctance (BusinessWeek) Asian stocks fell, with the regional benchmark index set for its lowest close in more than a year, after the Chinese premier said economies “must put their own houses in order” and not rely on bailouts from China. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index earlier swung between gains and losses after French lenders dismissed concerns over their access to funds, easing concern that Europe's debt crisis may lead to a freezing of credit markets. Associated Profiles : Credit Suisse Group AG
Blackstone CEO: US Spirit, Confidence Is Broken (NewsMax) The nation’s spirit and confidence have been pushed to the breaking point as economic growth has crawled to a halt, says Stephen A. Schwarzman, chairman, co-founder and CEO of Blackstone Group, an asset management and financial services firm. “We actually have to re-launch America. It’s not just taxes, it’s not just spending, there’s a spirit and confidence that has been strained to breaking point,” Schwarzman told CNBC. Associated Profiles : The Blackstone Group | Corporate ESG Performance Factors are important to financial analysts, asset owners and managers, and many stakeholders. The ESG framework or approach considers environmental and energy issues and impacts, the company’s positioning and actions on social/societal issues, and corporate governance. ESG key performance indicators are also considered proxies for effective governance and management of corporations by investors. Dozens of independent research and financial analysis firms are 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. Many of the ESG market players and corporate reputation influencers are profiled by G&A Institute. 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 atinfo@sustainabilityhq.com. _______________________________
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Watching the Watchers  Friends of the Earth (Europe)
Headquarters: Brussels, Belgium
Established: 1969
KEY PARTNERS
Part of Friends of the Earth International. Funders include several European Union Commission agencies, Oxfam Novib, and foundations.
OVERVIEW/MISSION
The organization summarizes its activities by writing: "Friends of the Earth Europe campaigns for sustainable and just societies and for the protection of the environment, unites more than 30 national organisations with thousands of local groups and is part of the world's largest grassroots environmental network, Friends of the Earth International."
News Sweeps
EU Puts Limits On Modified Honey
(Thursday - September 08, 2011) Associated Profiles : Friends of the Earth (Europe)
- "This is a victory for beekeepers, consumers and the movement for GM-free agriculture in Europe," Mute Schimpf, a food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said in a statement. "This ruling ... > 1862
EU court rules against honey with traces of pollen from GM corn, seeks tests
(Thursday - September 08, 2011) Associated Profiles : Friends of the Earth (Europe)
Source: FNB News - Mute Schimpf, food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said that the ruling "would confirm that existing laws allowing traces of unauthorised GM contamination are insufficient and would need ...
[more] EU court says honey with traces of genetically modified pollen needs special ...
(Wednesday - September 07, 2011) Associated Profiles : Friends of the Earth (Europe)
- “This is a victory for beekeepers, consumers and the movement for GMO-free agriculture in Europe,” Mute Schimpf, a food campaigner for Friends of the Earth Europe, said in a statement. “This ruling rewrites the ...
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