SustainabilityHQ.com Weekly Highlights August 23, 2012

Can natural gas help tackle global warming? A primer.
(Tuesday - August 21, 2012)
Source: Washington Post - This winter, the United States reached a striking milestone. Carbon-dioxide emissions from the energy sector sank to their lowest levels in 20 years. At a glance, the country appears to be making major progress in tackling...

Apple ends trading day as most valuable company ever
(Monday - August 20, 2012)
Source: LA Times - Add another item to Apple's list of accomplishments: it's got the record for being the most valuable company ever. As of the close of the stock market Monday, the Cupertino, Calif., tech giant's market value has climbed to...

In a surprise, CO2 emissions fall to 20-year low in U.S.
(Friday - August 17, 2012)
Source: NY Times - Mainly because power plants have switched from coal to natural gas, climate-changing carbon dioxide emissions hit an unexpected 20-year low earlier this year, the Associated Press reports. AP cites a "little-noticed technical...

ESG / Sustainability

Progress Being Made In Eliminating Conflict From Minerals Supply Chains
(Friday - August 17, 2012)
Source: Forbes - Today the Enough Project released “Taking Conflict Out of Consumer Gadgets: Company Rankings on Conflict Minerals 2012,” its second report ranking company progress toward responsible and conflict-free supply chains. The report...

GRI calls for feedback on latest sustainability reporting guidelines
(Friday - August 17, 2012) Associated Profiles : UN - Global Reporting Initiative GRI
Source: Business Green - The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has launched a comment period for its latest sustainability reporting guidelines, urging businesses and the public to provide feedback on the proposed changes to the popular standard.

Commentary

Voices from the Shale - Cynical Social Responsibility (CSR):In Search of Transparency in the Energy Industry...Is Spectra Energy a Benchmark?
(Wednesday - August 22, 2012)
Source: Mike Benard, featured commentator, Accountability-Central.com - When the energy industry touts its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), an acquaintance says this really translates to Cynical Social Responsibility as a more accurate reflection of industry behavior.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Govt fails economic `road test': Labour
(Wednesday - August 22, 2012) Associated Profiles : New Zealand Superannuation Fund
Source: NZ City - Mr Parker questioned Finance Minister Bill English in parliament on Wednesday about the promise made four years ago that 40 per cent of New Zealand Superannuation Fund would be invested in New Zealand. Mr English said it had...

Dutch pension funds lose millions on Facebook investments
(Tuesday - August 21, 2012) Associated Profiles : PGGM – Asset Managers for Pension Funds
Source: China.org - According to the Dutch newspaper, the pension funds for civil servants APB and careworkers pension fund PGGM both invested in the internet share despite warnings of hype surrounding Facebook's initial public offering (IPO)...

Islamic finance body plans ethics code
(Tuesday - August 21, 2012) Associated Profiles : Istithmar World - Dubai
Source: Saudi Gazette - Regulations come in many different ways, some are lenient and some are structured," said Hassan, who  among other posts sits on the Shariah boards of the Malaysian central bank and of Dar Al, the firm which advised Goldman Sachs ...

This is just a sample of some of the articles from this weeks SustainabilityHQ Highlights.  You can view the full Highlights by using the following links.  Sustainability | ESG, Highlights for the Week of August 23, 2012