NASDAQ OMX Group and CRD Analytics Announce Companies In/Out of the Sustainability Benchmark Twice annually the NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability Index is re-balanced The Index (NASDAQ: QCRD) is an equally-weighted equity index that is a benchmark for stocks of companies that take a leadership role in sustainability performance reporting, and traded on a major US stock exchange. Added effective May 18, 2015: Adobe Systems, Autodesk, Campbell’s Soup Company, Consolidated Edison, DIRECTTV, FedEx, NRG Energy, Tesla Motors, and Verizon Communications. Eliminated: Hess Corp, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Statoil ASA, ENI, Rio Tinto, Vale SA, NetApp, and Petrobas. For information about this well-established benchmark, read our Top Story this week. Top Story of the Week Breaking News: Semi-annual Changes to the NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability Index(Tuesday - May 19, 2015)
Source: CRD Analytics - The NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:NDAQ), and CRD Analytics today announced the results of the semi-annual re-ranking of the NASDAQ OMX CRD Global Sustainability Index (NASDAQ:QCRD), which will become effective prior to market... Sustainability in Focus Why Attaining Sustainability Requires Us to Bridge Generational Divide
(Thursday - May 21, 2015)
Source: Huff Post - Managing change while confronting the onslaught of converging social, economic, and environmental issues that challenge humanity requires all generations to work together. Although we inherently know that collaboration is a... Why Sustainability Requires More Than Technological Advances
(Thursday - May 21, 2015)
Source: Triple Pundit - Technology is often seen as a path forward to achieve sustainability. This theme occurs throughout current-day blogs (for example see this discussion by Gabi Zedlmayer on TriplePundit). However, this idea is not new. A quick... Urgent action needed to fill environment sustainability skills gap
(Friday - May 22, 2015)
Source: Business Green - The global business community is heading towards a perfect storm of challenges and opportunities. The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment's (IEMA) conference aims to upskill the global workforce to face the... China's sustainability initiatives - Green meetings have a competitive edge
(Friday - May 22, 2015)
Source: CEI - On the corporate side, sustainability is being pushed down the supply chain by procurement and marketers who realise sustainability can serve as another arrow in their quiver to better attract events and shows. Certification to a... Actuaries need to think ‘carefully’ about the link between sustainability and the financial system
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: The Actuary - The review Sustainability and the Financial System, launched at an event in London to look at the impact of monetary policy on the economy and the environment, identified the three key themes where further research is needed... New report confirms environmental sustainability is good business
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: Lexology - A new study released by Morgan Stanley confirms that investors appear to place a premium on sustainability yet believe that sustainable investments require some financial sacrifice. Two key findings include: 1) nearly... U.S. FDA considers expanding tests for drug residues in milk
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: Reuters - U.S. health regulators are reviewing current standards for assessing drug residues in milk sold to consumers, a move that could expand testing for veterinary drugs at a time of growing consumer concern over food safety, health... Communication's part of the sustainability story
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: Eco-Business - Sustainability strategies may be increasingly adopted by a growing number of companies worldwide, but communicating these efforts and engaging both internal and external stakeholders remain a challenge for many, especially if... Introducing the Sustainability Truth-O-Meter
(Tuesday - May 19, 2015)
Source: GreenBiz - Out of left field comes the jarring news all over the media and digital world that your product uses 1,000 gallons of water. But you’ve never even seen this statistic before. How a new boss can breathe fresh life into sustainability
(Tuesday - May 19, 2015)
Source: The Guardian - Chief executives, like prime ministers, are said to have 100 days to get themselves established. It’s their chance to lay out their vision, establish their priorities and show everyone who’s boss. But what about the old boss, and... ESG Issues & Players OPEC may condemn the world to an oil glut for years
(Friday - May 22, 2015)
Source: MarketWatch - The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries could flood the market with oil for years if it opts to do nothing to alter its output ceiling at a highly-anticipated meeting in June. Survey: Wall Street ethics still an oxymoron
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: CBS: Money Watch - July marks the fifth anniversary of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, better known as the Dodd-Frank Act. The measure was a direct response to the excesses perpetrated by Wall Street and to the lack... As States Ready Disaster Plans, Feds Urge Them To Consider Climate Change - text/audio
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: NPR - The Atlantic hurricane season starts next month — a time when coastal states have their disaster plans at the ready. Now, the federal government wants states to consider the potential effects of climate change in those blueprints. Asset Managers, US Pension Funds,
Sovereign Wealth Funds Dutch Pension Giant Replaces Chief Finance & Risk Officer
(Thursday - May 21, 2015) Associated Profiles : PGGM – Asset Managers for Pension Funds
Source: aiCIO - GGMî has appointed a new steward to oversee its governance arrangements. (Paul Boomkamp, incoming CFRO, PGGM) Paul Boomkamp is to become PGGM's chief finance and risk... Largest U.S. Pensions Divided on Activism
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015) Associated Profiles : California State Teachers’ Retirement System
Source: Wall Street Journal - Decades ago, Calpers became one of the first U.S. pensions willing to publicly challenge companies' policies and performance while Calstrs had little presence in the activist world. Those... Five big banks face criminal charges and $5 billion bill over FX rigging | Reuters
(Wednesday - May 20, 2015)
Source: FirstPost - LONDON/NEW YORK Five of the world's biggest banks are expected to be hit with a combined bill of more than $5 billion and criminal charges on Wednesday in a settlement with U.S. and British authorities over rigging of currency... Watching the Watchers Western Growers Association
Headquarters: Irvine, California
Established: 1926, as Western Growers Protective Association
KEY PARTNERS
Farm Employers Labor Services and University of California Cooperative Extension (for California wage and benefit survey) OVERVIEW/MISSION
Western Growers Association describes its work by writing, “As one of the nation's leading agricultural trade associations, it is our vision to guide our members toward a healthy, sustainable and profitable future. We are dedicated to providing quality services and programs that benefit and enhance the competitiveness of our members.” WGA’s mission statement is shorter and more focused: “To enhance the competitiveness and profitability of our members.” BACKGROUND
WGA was founded in 1926 in the Imperial Valley of California as the Western Growers Protective Association, to “combat rate hikes instituted by the railroads.” STRUCTURE
WGA is a membership organization with around 3,000 members in California and Arizona. WGA claims that its members grow nearly half the fresh produce supply for the United States. News Sweeps
Produce giant Taylor Farms buys new Salinas building - from itself - for nearly $38 million. (Friday - May 08, 2015) Associated Profiles : Western Growers Association
- Monterey County Weekly - On April 22, trade association and lobbyist Western Growers Association, headquartered in Irvine, signed on as a conference partner and announced plans to open an office on the first floor...
School gardens sprout in central San Joaquin Valley
(Tuesday - May 05, 2015) Associated Profiles : Western Growers Association
- Fresno Bee - Greenberg Elementary is developing a garden to attract butterflies. The School of Unlimited Learning charter school in downtown Fresno obtained a grant from Western Growers and planted its first garden...
Enthused about ag-tech fund, boot camp and Bill Marler
(Tuesday - May 05, 2015) Associated Profiles : Western Growers Association
- The Salinas Californian - The new Western Growers fund, which will be managed by Silicon Valley Venture Partners, is initially going to top $4 million, but as it matures and returns are earned as funded companies... | Check It Out...
G&A Institute Sustainability Update™
Informative, insightful, thought provoking
The Governance & Accountability Instituteblog focusing on the sustainable world evolving daily before our eyes. Read it, absorb it, question it and challenge. G&A's Sustainability Update™
Insights & perspectives for your sustainable journey...
Recent Posts Sweeping Changes in Corporate Sustainability? Yes – Check Out Sustainable Brands Top 10 As Part of Trust Across America’s “North American Trust Awards” – the new “Hank Boerner Accountability Award” Goes to Intel Disclosure -– It’s All About Materiality So – What is Material in Climate Change? An interesting dialogue is going on… Corporate CEOs – Acknowledged to be the Face of the Brand — What Face Do Sustainability Leadership Companies Present? Lawyers and Sustainability Disclosure/Reporting Helpful Advice & Guidelines to Win Your Case _______________________________
Governance & Accountability Institute Research Reports
 
Learn more @ G&A!
_______________________________ Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Reporting G&A Institute is the Global Reporting
Initiative's (GRI) sole data partner for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. As the data partner we monitor, analyze and database information on all Sustainability reports issued in these territories. For a list of recently issued Sustainability reports please follow the links below:
 _______________________________ _______________________________
Governance & Accountability Institute Service Highlight
Many Reasons to Contact
Governance & Accountability Institute.
Is this one yours?
G&A's Stakeholder Identification, Monitoring & Engagement
Identifying, prioritizing, monitoring, and understanding the third parties and stakeholders watching your company…shaping the issues…influencing outcomes…creating risk and opportunity…and perhaps impacting license to operate. Learn more About G&A's Stakeholder Identification, Monitoring & Engagement _______________________________
Corporate ESG Performance Factors & SustainabilityHQ Corporate ESG Performance Factors are important to financial analysts, asset owners and managers, and many stakeholders. The ESG framework or approach considers environmental issues and impacts, the company’s positioning and actions on social/societal issues, and important aspects of corporate governance. ESG key performance indicators are considered by investors as proxies for effective governance and management. Increasing numbers of of independent research and financial analysis firms monitor and measure these and advisie investors. The Sustainability HQ™ platform is an important profiling and monitoring resource for the G&A team, and for our clients and subscribers. ESG market players and corporate reputation influencers are profiled and monitored by G&A Institute. In these Highlights we provide some results of our continuous global scanning for ESG, sustainability and corporate responsibility news. The Associated Profiles indicated are in our Sustainability HQ™ platforms. For more information, please email us at info@sustainabilityhq.com
_______________________________
Navigating the way to sustainability...
Contents © 2009 - 2015 | All Rights Reserved
Copyrights for other providers are noted where appropriate. Please credit the source if quoted.
_______________________________ |
Join us on LinkedIN
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook
Sign up for SHQ Highlights