Corporate lobbying will become a key business risk in 2003

The progressive careers agency, Lifeworth.com, released their Annual Review of Corporate Responsibility, The Review describes a growing interest and concern about the relationship between corporations and governments Lobbying by companies and their trade associations against social and environmental regulations or against measures to help citizens in poorer countries is identified as an emerging concern. “NGOs are gearing-up to place the political activities of corporations and their associations firmly on top of the corporate responsibility agenda this year” said lead author Dr. Jem Bendell. “If you help people with one hand while lobbying against them with the other, it won’t take long for people to call it hypocrisy. Corporate lobbying is becoming a key business risk,” he said. ... lees meer

Companies fail to act on climate risk

Most of the world’s top 500 companies are failing to take action to deal with the risks of global warming, according to research on the impact of climate change on the corporate world. Some companies in the heavy industries could see their value tumble by as much as 40 per cent – equating to billions of dollars – if they ignore the threat to their business. ... lees meer

Eu Parliament narrowly affirms CSR should be voluntary

The European Parliament has agreed a motion that promotes the uptake of corporate social responsibility by European businesses – but says that this must remain a voluntary movement. The debate, held following the World Economic Forum at Davos, called for multinational companies to include social, societal and environmental concerns in their business activities. The Parliament also agreed that the process of globalisation must be accompanied by efforts to reduce poverty. ... lees meer

CSR code for European Sugar Industry

On 7 February 2003 the social partners of the European Sugar Industry, CEFS and EFFAT, signed a joint code of conduct setting minimum standards on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in eight areas. The European Sugar Industry is the first sector to voluntarily agree on minimum CSR standards on a broad scale. ... lees meer

GRI Update February 2003

The February 2003 update from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): Ã?? Invitation to Register as Organisational Stakeholders Ã?? Financial Planning for the Long-term Ã?? Update on Stakeholder Council Ã?? Report Assurance on the GRI Agenda Ã?? Work on Telecommunications and Other Sectors Progressing Ã?? July 2003 Event in Cooperation with Int’l. Corporate Governance Network Ã?? New Website Coming in Days Ã?? More Organisations Use the GRI Guidelines ... lees meer

A global right to know

In 1984, 40 tons of lethal gas leaked from a Union Carbide plant at Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh. Thousands of people were killed. The disaster in India led the U.S. Congress to pass a law requiring companies to disclose chemical emissions. But even though Bhopal was an overseas disaster, the law it inspired applies only in the United States. Dangerous pollutants are just one aspect of corporate behavior that can be hidden abroad. Companies should have to make public information about overseas activities that would be prohibited or subject to disclosure laws at home. ... lees meer