Insurers Improve Response to Climate Change

The insurance industry has become an important messenger of climate risks. With the cost of natural disasters in 2008 reaching $181 billion in total economic losses and 236,000 deaths, insurers have increasingly acknowledged that climate change is a material risk to their business. A new report from Ceres finds that many new product offerings launched by insurers in 2008 could reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in many energy intensive industry sectors. ... lees meer

Sense and sustainability

Corporate social responsibility used to be seen as a luxury. No longer. In today’s climate, looking beyond short-term profit is vital for survival – and ICT can help. Roger Trapp, introducing the final supplement in our series, explains. ... lees meer

Bringing the Consumer Perspective to CSR Reporting

What do companies such as Whole Foods, Burt’s Bees and Lowe’s have that corporate America craves? According to consumers: eco-sensibility. Consumers believe that when they support companies like these, they do more than just shop. They align themselves with businesses that do good things for the environment. This green paper provides research findings from the Earthsense Eco-Insights Survey on how consumers perceive corporate environmental responsibility. Findings are based on Earthsense Business Indicator (EBI) metrics that identify companies which consumers see as sustainability leaders. They also identify the businesses consumers support based on eco-friendly products, and they track changes in perceptions over time. ... lees meer

Companies With a Commitment to Sustainability Tend to Outperform Their Peers During the Financial Crisis

While President Obama’s green policies will certainly boost innovation in certain areas, many in industry still believe that there is a fundamental conflict between “sustainable” and “affordable.” But companies looking for ways to survive in the current economic climate should think twice before cutting back on sustainable initiatives. In 16 out of 18 industries companies with a commitment to sustainability were the clear leaders in the financial markets. ... lees meer

European Multi-stakeholder Forum on CSR

On 10th February 2009 the European Commission is hosting a plenary meeting of the European Multistakeholder Forum on CSR. The aims of this meeting are to review progress on CSR in Europe and globally, and to discuss possibilities for future joint initiatives. The Forum will bring together about 250 persons from key stakeholder groups, including employers and business representatives, trade unions, investors, academics, civil society organisations and public authorities. ... lees meer