Socially Responsible Investing News

SocialFunds.com

Daily news from Socialfunds.com covering socially responsible investing and corporate responsibility

EIRIS Report Details Human Rights Abuses and Other Allegations Against Vedanta Resources Operations in India

By Robert Kropp. The UK-based investment research firm seeks to raise investor awareness of Vedanta's mining operations in India, and pressure the company to engage with investors more constructively.

 

Report Examines Role of Business in a Sustainable Economy

By Robert Kropp. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development identifies alarming levels of growth in urbanization and consumption, and describes crucial role of business in transition to sustainability.

 

Investors Lead Way on Climate Change As Senate Fails to Act

By Robert Kropp. The US Senate abandons effort to pass meaningful legislation in a year when climate change-related shareowner resolutions attract widespread support.

 

Investors Address Human Rights in Electronics Supply Chains

By Robert Kropp. In the aftermath of suicides at the Foxconn manufacturing plant in China, an investor coalition asks for improved conditions for workers.

 

The Corporate Library and GovernanceMetrics International Announce Merger

By Robert Kropp. The combination of corporate governance research firms is the most recent of many mergers and acquisitions in the environmental, social, and governance research sector.

 

Will 2011 Be a Watershed Year for Corporate Governance?

By Robert Kropp. SocialFunds.com talks with James McRitchie of Corpgov.net about corporate governance and the 2010 proxy season. Third of a three-part series.

 

Mutual Funds Continue to Support Management on Executive Compensation

By Robert Kropp. A new report finds that although withholding votes from directors over compensation issues has increased, support by mutual funds for management proposals on compensation issues was 84% in 2008.

 

Extractive Industries Will Be Required to Disclose Payments to Governments

By Robert Kropp. A provision in the financial reform bill requires energy and mining companies to report payments they make in return for oil, gas, and minerals.

 

SEC Seeks to Overhaul Proxy Infrastructure for the First Time in 30 Years

By Robert Kropp. A concept release published by the Agency seeks public comment in order to increase the transparency and integrity of the proxy system.

 

Passage of Financial Reform Bill Applauded by Sustainability Investors

By Robert Kropp. Bill as passed by Senate includes provision for proxy access but not a majority voting standard.

 

Bond Program Will Help Affordable Housing in New York City

By Robert Kropp. Through its CRA Qualified Investment Fund, Community Capital Management will finance the acquisition and development of 5,600 affordable units.

 

Large US Companies Continue to Lag in Reporting on Environmental Issues

By Robert Kropp. IW Financial and Soyka & Company follow last year's The Road Not Yet Taken with a new study that finds many S&P1000 companies insufficiently transparent regarding environmental policies.

 

Human Rights Abuses Found in Kazakhstan Suppliers of Tobacco to Philip Morris

By Robert Kropp. A report by Human Rights Watch finds abuses of migrant workers and the frequent use of child labor in the company's supply chain in Kazakhstan.

 

Appleseed Fund Announces Investment Policy That Excludes Too-Big-To-Fail Banks

By Robert Kropp. Although the policy does not change an investment strategy that excludes big banks that represent a systemic risk, Appleseed is the first mutual fund to explicitly exclude them.

 

Carbon Disclosure Project and Global Reporting Initiative to Coordinate Reporting Guidelines

By Robert Kropp. To standardize the two most widely used mechanisms for corporate emissions reporting, the organizations publish a linkage document comparing indicators and questions.

 

China Renews Google's License to Operate

By Robert Kropp. Free speech issue is sidestepped as the company will continue to direct its Chinese users to its Hong Kong-based search engine.

 

UN Global Compact and the Global Reporting Initiative Join to Promote Corporate Sustainability

By Robert Kropp. The Global Compact will adopt the GRI's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines as its recommended reporting framework, while the GRI will integrate the Global Compact's Ten Principles into its Guidelines.

 

Verite Publishes Report on Role of Brokers in Forced Labor

By Robert Kropp. The report coincides with the organization's launch of the Well Made initiative, which aims to engage stakeholders in finding solutions to the problem.

 

New EPA Reporting Rules Aim to Track Methane Emissions

By Robert Kropp. Agency's emissions reporting requirements are extended to include underground coal mines, industrial wastewater treatment systems, industrial waste landfills, and magnesium production facilities.

 

Landmark Sustainable Investment Law for UK-Based Pension Funds Is Ten Years Old

By Robert Kropp. The UK Sustainable Investment and Finance (UKSIF) marks the anniversary of ground-breaking regulation with a review of a decade's worth of accomplishments.

 
 
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