Surveillance Capitalism

UN, Banks Publish “Principles for Responsible Banking”

December 13, 2018

The UN Environment Finance Initiative and 28 banks recently launched in Paris a set of Principles for Responsible Banking, a framework under which the banking industry is intended to mainstream the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris climate deal in their operations.
Paper Explores Global Approach to SDG Financing

December 13, 2018

Olaf Weber of the Centre for International Governance Innovation writes that, to provide adequate funding to the fulfillment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the banking industry must integrate the SDGs in the operations of its members, supported by SDG-oriented financial regulation by governments around the globe.
China Requires Tech Firms to Report on Logging of User Data

December 10, 2018

Al Jazeera reports that, in a move likely to reignite controversy regarding cooperation between Western technology firms and the Chinese government, the country’s Cyberspace Administration is requiring new “assessment reports” from internet platforms showing they are logging accurate details of their users.
Advisory Board Report Examines BHR Engagement by FIFA

December 07, 2018

In November, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) published the second report from its Human Rights Advisory Board - made up of representatives from the UN, NGOs, unions, and FIFA sponsors - examining the global body’s engagement with the business and human rights (BHR) agenda.
Companies See Rise in Social-Activist Shareholder Resolutions

December 07, 2018

Joe Williams of the Washington Examiner writes that social-activist organizations are increasingly adopting a strategy of buying shareholder status at major companies to force businesses to respond to resolutions pursuing these activists’ social and environmental agendas.
Oxfam Calls on Companies to Adapt Strategies to Achieve SDGs

December 07, 2018

The nongovernmental organization Oxfam has published a discussion paper finding that, on the whole, 76 global companies the paper examines have not done enough to adapt their “sustainability” strategies to contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Energy Companies Agree to BHR Assessments of Suppliers

December 05, 2018

Hydrocarbon Engineering reports that energy companies BP, Equinor, Shell, and Total have agreed to create an “industry framework” on conducting due diligence to ensure the compliance of their suppliers with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (BHR).
Facebook Seeks to Hire “Human Rights Policy Director”

December 04, 2018

Tech Crunch reports that social-media company Facebook recently advertised a “human rights policy director” position whose responsibilities would include “conflict prevention” and “peace-building,” citing the company’s duty to comply with the global human rights agenda.
Businesses Pledge “Just” Transition to Renewable Energy

December 03, 2018

At the recent Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, a group of companies signed a Pledge for Just Transition to Decent Jobs declaring their commitments to “decent” labor standards and wage guarantees while engaging in a transition to renewable energy as part of the UN’s Paris climate deal.
Development Banks Launch Partnership for “Green Bonds”

December 03, 2018

The World Bank and several other global development banks have partnered to establish a Global Green Bond Partnership that will assist with efforts by a wide range of actors across the globe to issue “green” investment vehicles that expand financing for achievement of the UN’s Paris climate agreement.