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 Crisis Continues at Crippled Japanese Nuclear Power Plants
(Source: VOA) Japan's military failed on Wednesday a first attempt to drop water from helicopters on one of the damaged reactors at its crippled nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture in what officials acknowledge is a desperate move to try to stem radiation leaks from the facility. In a risky mission, Japan's military tried to air drop the water on the plant's damaged reactors to try to cool radioactive fuel rods. But the helicopters were called back. The Defense Ministry says the radiation level was too high. Report Shows C-Suite Misaligned with Senior Teams on Importance of Sustainability
(Source: Business Wire) Ingersoll-Rand plc, a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, together with the Economist Intelligence Unit, announced today the results of a global C-level executive study on energy efficiency and sustainability. The survey calls out the gap in perception between CEOs and other senior executives in their organizations. Respondents beneath the C-suite are significantly more likely (61 percent vs. 49 percent) to say that their organizations do not do enough to integrate energy efficiency initiatives into business strategy. This is critical as funding, implementation and prioritization require executive level support. Lack of support can mean lack of progress. The farmer, the scientist and the nuclear engineer: can they together create a sustainable future?
(Source: Business Intelligence Middle East) Could industrial farming, genetically modified foods and nuclear power be part of the solution to creating a sustainable future? Surprising as it may sound, these were some of the topics discussed at the recent 24th Sustainability Executive Roundtable here at INSEAD - where non-governmental organisation (NGO) activists, politicians and captains of industry came together around the topic of “Business and Politics: Partners or Opponents?” Associated Profiles : World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) Infographic of the Day: The World's Drinking Water Crisis
(Source: Fastcodesign) Perhaps you're vaguely aware that the world is wracked by drinking water shortages. But as much as we hear that news these days, the problem always seems fairly abstract. Here's an infographic that tries to solve that dilemma, by showing exactly why water supplies are falling in the world's biggest cities. The piece was designed by Florian Kräutli, for Visualizing.org's World Water Day Challenge, a $5,000 prize offered by GE for the best visualization of the world's water woes. Sovereign Wealth Funds Norway’s Oil Fund: Is It Realizing Its Full Potential?
(Source: EuroAsia Review) Despite the large size of Norway’s fund (second only to that of Abu Dhabi), its managers treat it in much the same way that a Norwegian family would treat its own personal savings account. The money is consigned to fund managers to invest in a wide array of stocks and bonds so as to minimize risk. In effect, Norway has a big set of mutual funds. The aim is to avoid converting oil export proceeds into domestic currency and thus pushing up the exchange rate (the Dutch Disease), while using the revenue for future generations to use as best they can. Associated Profiles : Norwegian Government Pension Fund (SPF) Five Facts About Sovereign Wealth Funds That Will BLOW YOUR MIND
(Source: Business Insider) Well, I’d probably turn to the sovereign wealth fund community. It turns out that this sector is sitting on a whopping $4 trillion in assets under management (well, $3.98 trillion, according to Preqin, but who’s counting, right?). Meanwhile, the latest estimate for the global hedge fund sector is a paltry $2.47 trillion … and this is the result of a “comeback” for this beleaguered corner of the alternative investment industry. What is interesting is that the sovereign wealth fund space was able to overcome some incredible odds to post 11 percent year-over-year growth in 2010, including the raiding of the Russian fund to fix a budget shortfall. So, this flexible source of capital is growing. That gives some weird countries, like Libya, much more breathing room than they'd have otherwise. Let's take a closer look at this $4 trillion space and what's going on in it… Associated Profiles : Libyan Investment Authority , National Wealth Fund Middle East Unrest Hits Sovereign Wealth Funds
(Source: CNBC) State-owned funds in the Middle East and North Africa manage almost $1 trillion in assets. However, as violence erupts across the Arab world, the region's governments are dipping into this money to appease angry protestors. Saudi Arabia has handed out about $37 billion, while Oman, Bahrain, Libya and Kuwait have boosted domestic spending up to 4 percent of GDP. Associated Profiles : Sanabil al-Saudia - (Has been known as Public Investment Fund), Hassana Investment Company |
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 to seek legislation to bar gifts to public employees
(Source: LA Times) Shaken by a report alleging wrongdoing by former top officials, directors of the California Public Employees' Retirement System voted to push for legislation curtailing gift-giving to public employees and limiting board members and executives from going to work for companies doing business with the pension fund. "Misconduct and serious ethical breaches have no place at CalPERS," Anne Stausboll, chief executive of nation's largest public pension fund, said at a board of directors meeting Tuesday. Associated Profiles :California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS Government pensions no longer a sure thing
(Source: Lancaster Eagle Gazette) More and more questions have been asked about the state's five public pension funds, in descending order of size: Public Employees Retirement System, State Teachers Retirement System, School Employees Retirement System and police and firefighters pensions, which together send checks to nearly 400,000 retirees. Monthly checks might be as low as $800 for a retired bus driver with just 10 years service to as much as $9,300 for a highly ranked, full university professor retired after 35 years. Associated Profiles : Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) Dave Bergstrom: Minnesota's public-employee pensions are managed responsibly
(Source: Twin Cities.com) Much attention has been drawn recently to challenges other states have experienced with their public pension plans. In Minnesota, we have been fortunate that state legislators and governors have historically worked together on a bipartisan basis to maintain the financial soundness of Minnesota's public pension plans. Minnesota public pensions have been well managed in a fiscally disciplined manner. Benefits are modest. Most public employees pay half the cost of their pensions, typically 5 percent to 6 percent of their paychecks, to fund their own pension plans. Associated Profiles : Minnesota State Retirement System (MSRS) Watching the Watchers  Institute for Responsible Technology
Headquarters: Fairfield, Iowa
Established: 2003
ESG/Sustainability Focus:
Exclusive focus on campaigning against genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
OVERVIEW/MISSION
The Institute for Responsible Technology calls itself “a world leader in educating policy makers and the public about genetically modified (GM) foods and crops.” The group writes: “We investigate and report their risks and impact on health, environment, the economy, and agriculture, as well as the problems associated with current research, regulation, corporate practices, and reporting. Institute for Responsible Technology News Sweeps
Opposed to GMOs
(Saturday - February 26, 2011) Associated Profiles : Institute for Responsible Technology
- A video clip of Dr. Oz's special on GMOs can be viewed at the Institute for Responsible Technology website. Jeffrey Smith who I believe to be one of the greatest men of our time can also be heard being interviewed ... 'Healthy People' conference set March 8, 9
(Saturday - February 26, 2011) Associated Profiles : Institute for Responsible Technology
- He is an author and founder of the Institute for Responsible Technology -- a world leader in educating the public and policy makers about the health risks of genetically modified food (commonly known as GMOs: ... [more] |
