UN-ESG

Report Seeks Investor Pressure for Australian Labor Reporting

February 22, 2019

The pension-fund adviser Australian Council for Superannuation Investors has called on investors to put pressure on Australian companies from a broad range of sectors to fully comply with a new law requiring them to report on their efforts to end forced labor in their global supply chains.
Securities Commission Group Promotes ESG Reporting

February 21, 2019

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has applauded the International Organization of Securities Commissions for issuing a report promoting the disclosure by securities issuers of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impacts of financial assets to investors.
NGO Seeks “Exhaustive” Corporate Vigilance Plans in France

February 14, 2019

The human rights activist group Sherpa has published a reference guide for companies and “stakeholders” calling on companies to respond to a new “duty of vigilance” imposed by French law with “exhaustive and sincere vigilance plans” explaining how they will address their negative social and environmental impacts.
GRI Calls for Improved Corporate Environmental Reporting

February 14, 2019

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has released a discussion paper calling for companies to interact with investors and others to improve their reporting on efforts to address water use and greenhouse gas emissions in their operations.
NGO Project: EU Companies Fail to Report “Meaningful” Data

February 13, 2019

The Alliance for Corporate Transparency has published a report finding that European companies are largely failing to disclose “meaningful” social and environmental information in compliance with the EU Non-financial Reporting Directive, including by failing to describe their “human rights due diligence system.”
ISO Releases Standard on “Sustainable” Tourist Accommodations

February 06, 2019

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) has released a new global standard, as part of its promotion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, guiding tourist accommodation facilities on how to implement “sustainability management systems” to protect human rights and the environment in their operations.
NGOs Use Benchmarking to Prod Companies on Supply Chains

February 06, 2019

A press release from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility praising apparel companies for high rankings in an annual supply chain benchmarking report shows how activist groups are successfully using a carrot-and-stick technique to persuade companies to respect the business and human rights (BHR) agenda.
UK Lawmakers Rank Fashion Retailers' “Sustainability” Efforts

February 06, 2019

The BBC reports that the UK Parliament’s Environmental Audit Committee has ranked fashion retailers on their commitment to reducing their negative social and environmental impacts and on their involvement in initiatives aimed at achieving “sustainability” in the clothing industry.
EC Pressures Internet Companies on Anti-Disinformation Efforts

January 31, 2019

In response to the first reports submitted by internet companies on their efforts to combat “disinformation” on their online platforms under an agreed EU code of practice, the European Commission (EC) has called for a more “systematic approach” from the companies to limit disinformation campaigns prior to the 2019 European Parliament elections.
EU Body Issues Guidelines for Corporate Climate Reporting

January 31, 2019

The European Commission’s Technical Expert Group on Sustainable Finance has issued a report recommending standards for disclosures on climate impacts corporations should make as part of their non-financial reporting obligations under EU law.