UN-ESG

English Soccer Club Joins UN “Climate Neutral” Initiative

August 08, 2018

The English soccer club Forest Green Rovers has become the first soccer club to sign up to the UN’s Climate Neutral Now initiative seeking commitments from global businesses and organizations to reduce and offset their greenhouse gas emissions to fulfill the UN’s Paris climate agreement.
UNGC, GRI Guide Companies on SDG Reporting

August 08, 2018

The UN Global Compact (UNGC) and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) have published global guidance on how companies should embed the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their social and environmental reporting to investors and to the public.
L’Oréal Adopts UN LGBTI Business Standards

August 08, 2018

Cosmetics company L’Oréal has announced its support of the UN LGBTI Standards of Conduct for Business, joining a growing number of large companies that have adopted the global guidelines for businesses on how to avoid discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lloyds Ceases Funding for New Coal Plants

August 08, 2018

The Economic Times reports that the UK’s Lloyds Banking Group has joined the ranks of Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC, along with other financial institutions responding to pressure from the UN and environmental activist groups, in halting funding for new coal-fired power stations and thermal coal mines to contribute to the fulfillment of the UN’s Paris climate accord.
Coalition Seeks Observance of Labor Norms in Construction

August 06, 2018

Building Responsibly, a coalition of engineering and construction companies, has produced a document explaining the “business case” for implementing the global labor rights agenda in the construction sector, including government scrutiny and reporting requirements and reviews by corporate benchmarking initiatives.
US Judge Rejects New York Climate Suit

August 03, 2018

The New York Times reports that a US federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by New York City seeking to force large energy companies to pay for future costs officials say they will face in dealing with the impacts of climate change, finding that global warming is an issue that must be addressed through the political process.
US Companies Form “Sustainable” Food Group

August 03, 2018

A group of US-based food companies has created an advocacy group called the Sustainable Food Policy Alliance that will seek to advance the UN “sustainable development” agenda by promoting global social and environmental goals among US policymakers and in their own supply chains.
UN Event Seeks Public-Private Action on SDG Finance

August 03, 2018

Government and industry participants in a UN-hosted event on national action plans for fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) called for officials and investors to cooperate to ensure private investments are aligned with government SDG plans, aiming to push private finance toward more “sustainable” initiatives.
NGOs Seek Robust Labor Reporting Mandates in Australia

August 03, 2018

In response to advisory committee recommendations on the creation of modern slavery reporting requirements in Australia, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations has called for stronger mandates on what companies must report in relation to their anti-slavery efforts, rules for how they make these reports public, and fines for non-compliant companies.
NGO Publishes “Blueprint” for Governments on Worker Rights

August 03, 2018

The nongovernmental organization Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) has published a “blueprint” for governments to protect workers’ rights through measures including corporate due diligence requirements, public reporting, and public procurement restrictions that pressure companies to ensure labor rights in their global supply chains.