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Newsletter

Source: Governance & Accountability Institute

Sustainability-Highlights-Header
September 3, 2014

SERVICES  |  RESEARCH  |  EVENTS  |  WEBINARS  |  BLOG  |  ARCHIVE

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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...

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Governance & Accountability Institute Research Reports


Learn more @ G&A!

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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:

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Featured Events

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Governance & Accountability Institute Service Highlight

Many Reasons to Contact
Governance & Accountability Institute. Is this one yours?

G&A's Stakeholder Identification, Monitoring & Engagement
1b6778ca81.jpgIdentifying, 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

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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 platforms.  For more information, please email us at info@sustainabilityhq.com
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For more on:
ESG & Sustainability Players
- Shaping Perceptions, Valuations & Decision-Making

Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWFs)
- State-Owned Global Investors

US Public Sector Investors 
- State and Municipal Retirement Funds

Asset Managers
- Investors adopting ESG guidelines / policies & shaping market trends

Navigating the way to sustainability...
Contents © 2009 - 2014 | All Rights Reserved
Copyrights for other providers are noted where appropriate. Please credit the source if quoted.
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Are We Experiencing a New Wave in Corporate Sustainability? The Economist Editors Think So / And Explain

There’s an interesting take by the influential The Economist magazine – on corporate sustainability.  The editors have been focusing on sustainability, CR, and related topics for a decade or more.  In the latest exploration of the topic, the editors look at what they see as the “first wave” of corporate sustainability, which (they say) focused on specific objectives that were measurable:  cost saving; increased share price valuation; protecting license to operate.  (All sound intentions, we could say, and if achieved, a measure of good management.)

And they explain the “second wave” is emerging:  that is, say the editors and the folks they interview, more specific  objectives set and focus on key targeted audiences, or constituencies, to make favorable impressions (suppliers, customers, investors). As corporate sustainability journeys mature, objectives are set with both company and key stakeholders in mind.  Unilever, aiming to help a billion people improve their health and well-being.  In this way, sustainability becomes more a core part of overall strategy, not a standalone or “accompanying” strategy.

We see this in our close monitoring of corporate sustainability reports. The leaders are more “wholistic” in their views of what the strategies and actions are, and what they accomplish (or intend to accomplish).  It reminds the G&A team of the 1980s rhetorical question – what business are you in?   Answer:  Airlines – in transportation, in leisure and travel, not just aircraft operations.  Stock brokerage:  helping people build wealth and create security (not just selling stock for commission).

The sustainability leaders are thinking through the meaning of their business operations and what their stakeholder expectations are or might be – and what is material to disclose and explain.  The Economist article is a new presentation of the changing face of corporate sustainability – what the editors think of as “the new wave.”  Good read for you as the calendar pages turn and here in the USA we begin what is essentially a new business year (as summer winds down).

Top Story of the Week

A new green wave      
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: The Economist - BILL MCKIBBEN, an American environmentalist, once dismissed sustainability as “a buzzless buzzword”. That seems about right. A survey of 2,000 companies by the MIT Sloan Management Review and the Boston Consulting Group found that two-thirds of business people thought social and environmental matters were “significant” or “very significant” but that only 10% thought they themselves were doing enough about it.

Sustainability in Focus

Sustainable Supply Chains - 3 Ways To Reduce Procurement Risks  
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: Procurement Leaders - What do companies like Unilever, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Wilmar International and Mars have in common? They’ve all made public commitments to implement a zero-deforestation policy throughout their supply chains. With...

Is sustainability reporting missing the mark?
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: GreenBiz - Not the words of an anti-corporatist radical green — but of Peter Bakker, president and CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, on stage at this year's recent EAT Forum in Stockholm. You could feel the...

5 ways to prevent sustainability efforts from failing
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: GreenBiz - You're not the first person to struggle with changing corporate behavior. In fact, the biggest obstacles probably don't have anything to do with sustainability per se, but rather with the reluctance and difficulty associated with...

Big Food Acquires Green Companies To Boost Sustainability, But Does It Work?
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: International Business Times - Major food corporations looking to boost their credibility among consumers who demand authenticity, sustainability and social awareness from their food purveyors often rely on the acquisition of smaller, greener companies that...

How to growth-hack a sustainable future
(Thursday - August 28, 2014)
Source: Green Biz - Most technologies that might disrupt our business future are neutral in terms of sustainability — or at least start that way. It is not until they are applied that they become supporters, or detractors, of a sustainable future.

Yale journal explores advances in sustainable manufacturing
(Wednesday - August 27, 2014)
Source: PHYS.org - In recent years, increasing pressure from policymakers, consumers, and suppliers has prompted manufacturers to set environmental targets that go beyond reducing the pollutants they emit from their smokestacks or discharge into...

Nespresso to Invest in $550 Million Sustainability Program  
(Wednesday - August 27, 2014)
Source: Bloomberg - Nespresso plans to spend 500 million Swiss francs ($550 million) in the next six years in an effort to improve the environmental and social impact of Europe’s biggest single-serve coffee brand...

Citi’s Pam Flaherty sees sustainability for operations and investors  
(Tuesday - August 26, 2014)
Source: Reuters - Leading Citi’s sustainability efforts is in part about broad stakeholder and partner engagement. You have to be able to visualize impact and potential across a spectrum of constituents, as much external as internal.

Sustainability: The Universal Solvent of Private Property Rights
(Tuesday - August 26, 2014)
Source: American Thinker - The alchemists of old were diligently ambitious in their goals. These antecedents of modern chemistry were not hindered by a lack of knowledge of atomic structure and physical chemistry when it came to setting priorities...

Saving Money Is No. 1 Sustainability Driver
(Tuesday - August 26, 2014)
Source: Environmental Leader - Saving money is the no. 1 reason executives give for moving towards more environmentally sustainable business practices, according to a Grant Thornton report.

ESG Issues & Players

RepRisk releases report on Top 10 Most Controversial Mining Projects
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: RepRisk - RepRisk has released its latest Special Report on the 10 Most Controversial Mining Projects. These projects have attracted the most criticism related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in the past two years...

Five Trends that Show Corporate Responsibility is Here to Stay
(Thursday - August 28, 2014)
Source: TMCnet - (3BL Media Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Sustainability began as an ad-hoc response to environmental accidents but has evolved into a global movement...

Mexico poised for an ‘energy renaissance’ following reforms
(Tuesday - August 26, 2014)
Source: Fortune - Mexico’s energy reform will bring the country “enormous benefits” and will be a “game changer” for the nation’s role in the global economy, according to report released Monday...

Science group says climate change worsening, dangerous
(Wednesday - August 27, 2014)
Source: USA Today - Human influence on the planet's climate is clear and having "widespread and consequential impacts on human and natural systems," some of which may be irreversible, says a draft report out today from a United Nations science panel...

Asset Managers, US Pension Funds, Sovereign Wealth Funds

America Accelerates As Growth Gallops At 4.2%
(Friday - August 29, 2014)
Source: Forbes - The world’s largest economy showed its true potential today as it grew even larger in Q2. The Commerce Department reported GDP growth from April through June of 4.2 percent. This exceeded expectations and was built on improved...

CalPERS and CalSTRS Post Annual Returns Above 18%
(Friday - August 29, 2014) Associated Profiles : National Fund [of Kazakhstan]
Source: swfinstitute.org - The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) returned 18.42% for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th. CalPERS defeated its custom benchmark of 17.98% and surpassed last fiscal...

How American companies change their address to avoid corporate taxes
(Wednesday - August 27, 2014)
Source: PBS News Hour - In recent years, a number of American companies, as many as 22 since 2011, have relocated outside U.S. borders, usually through mergers with or purchases of a foreign company. One impact of changing their business addresses...

See you in court, Libya tells Goldman Sachs
(Wednesday - August 27, 2014) Associated Profiles : Libyan Investment Authority
Source: - The Times - The Libyan Investment Authority said it had been told by Goldman Sachs that it had withdrawn a court request to have the lawsuit dismissed, which means that the case will go to trial in October. In...

Watching the Watchers

Carbon War Room
Headquarters: Washington, DC, USA
Established: 2009

ESG/Sustainability Focus: Yes, a focus on “harnessing the power of entrepreneurs to implement market-driven solutions to climate change.”

KEY PARTNERS

Virgin Unite
 is a co-founder, and Carbon War Room’s Web site lists partner organizations for certain specific issues, such as Oceana, Forum for the Future, and Blue Communications for shipping, and Environmental Defense Fund and Vote Solar on Green Cities Finance Forum. 

OVERVIEW/MISSION

Carbon War Room
 describes its activity: “The War Room fulfills a critical strategic role in monitoring all areas affecting climate change and identifying areas that need resources and implementation support.” 

CWR is a collaborative group that incorporates business, scientific, and national security concerns as it looks for market-based technologies for mitigating climate change and creating a post-carbon economy. 

BACKGROUND

Sir Richard Branson (Virgin) co-founded Carbon War Room in 2009. Other founders listed on the CWR site are Virgin Unite, Michael Haas, Vladas Lasas, Strive Masiyiwa, Shelly Meyers, Boudewijn Poelmann, and Mark Shuttleworth

News Sweeps
Richard Branson | Survival strategy for the long term
(Friday - June 20, 2014) Associated Profiles : Carbon War Room
- Live Mint - We at Virgin often encounter similar obstacles. The Carbon War Room, a non-profit group we support that’s devoted to seeking market-based solutions to climate change, can’t simply argue that...

Brazil World Cup team flies high on sustainable jet fuel
(Friday - June 20, 2014) Associated Profiles : Carbon War Room
- Green Biz - In related news, Richard Branson has revealed Delta Airlines has joined his Carbon War Room initiative to accelerate the airline industry's transition to renewable jet fuels. Branson said the program's...

Delta joins efforts to accelerate renewable jet fuel commercialization
(Wednesday - June 18, 2014) Associated Profiles : Carbon War Room
- Financial News - 17 June 2014 Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) said it is partnering with the Carbon War Room, a nonprofit founded by Sir Richard Branson, in an effort to accelerate low-carbon jet fuel production...

SustainabilityHQ Highlights is prepared by the Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. The SustainabilityHQ platform is available by subscription.

Governance & Accountability Instiute is the “Sustainability Headquarters™” for clients in the corporate, investment, public and social sectors. Based in New York, G&A is a for-profit consulting organization providing a range of value-added strategies, services and resources related to ESG & sustainability to clients in the corporate and capital markets communities.The G&A services portfolio includes:
ESG Counseling, Strategies & Benchmarking | Competitive Benchmarking | Sustainability Coaching, Team Building & Training | Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility Reporting | ESG & CR Issues Monitoring & Research | Stakeholder Identification, Monitoring & Engagement | Awards & Recognitions Program | External Assurance

SustainabilityHQ™ is managed and published by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
For more information, contact us at:
845 Third Avenue, Suite 644, 6th Floor | New York, New York 10022
Tel 646.430.8230 | Web www.ga-institute.com | Email info@ga-institute.com