SustainabilityHQ.com Weekly Highlights December 1, 2011

New Profiles Added to SHQ - ESG

Union of Concerned Scientists - a non-profit partnership of scientists and citizens combining rigorous scientific analysis, innovative policy development, and effective citizen advocacy to achieve practical environmental solutions.

Jantzi-Sustainalytics -  a leading global provider of ESG research and analysis, with nearly 20 years of experience in the RI and SRI markets.

The Conference Board - a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest.

Steel Recycling Institute  serves as an informational and technical resource for the recycling, life cycle impact and ultimate sustainability of steel, as well as all steel products, including containers, construction and automotive.

National Recycling Coalition's mission is to partner with and facilitate activities between and among NGO’s, businesses, trade associations, individuals and government to maintain a prosperous and productive American recycling system that is committed to the conservation of natural resources.

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries calls itself “Voice of the Recycling Industry” – the organization has an active government relations agenda and operates programs for industry standards and alerting law enforcement to theft of metals.

Congressional Recycling Caucus'  aim is to educate Senate members and staff on the need for recycling, the benefits of recycling to the U.S. economy and environment, and to support public policies aimed at increasing recycling across the country.

New Profiles Added to SHQ - Asset Managers

TIAA-CREF (“T-C”) - a leader in helping those in the academic, medical, cultural, governmental and research fields plan for and live in retirement.

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) - Backed by the strength and stability of the State Street organization,SSgA makes continual investments in our asset management and client service platform, resulting in a client-focused, solutions-driven orientation.

UBS - a global firm providing financial services to private, corporate and institutional clients.

US Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Reporting Announcements
Governance & Accountability Institute is the US Data Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative.  Here are Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility reports as they are issued in the US:

Crown Demonstrates Commitment to Sustainability with Launch of First Formal Report
(PR Newswire)  Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CCK) (Crown) (www.crowncork.com), a leading supplier of metal packaging products worldwide, today announced the release of its first sustainability report. Titled "Creating an Infinitely Bright Future," the report combines industry and internal data with focused case studies to highlight how the company is addressing the three pillars of sustainability – economic, environmental and social – through its innovations, operations and people. 

Global Impact Releases 2011 Annual Rep
(Global Impact)  Global Impact, whose mission is to assure help for the world’s most vulnerable people, released its 2011 Annual Report today, Partnerships: For People, For Impact, For Giving, For Results. The report outlines Global Impact’s sustained effort to meet critical humanitarian needs around the world, and underscores Global Impact’s success in building strategic partnerships and alliances with the corporations, non-governmental organizations and government entities to increase charitable giving and strengthen donor engagement.

Woolworths Limited (ASX:WOW) publishes Corporate Responsibility Report 2011  (Report Alert) 
Woolworths Limited has issued the company’s fourth Corporate Responsibility Report, which outlines the highlights in business performance, responsible retailing, community investment, sustainability and looking after employees. A copy of the report can be found at www.woolworthslimited.com.au

ESG / Sustainability

Nestle ‘sure’ child labour occurs in supply chain as company allows probe  
(Confectionery News)  Nestle has become the first food company to allow the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to investigate whether children are working on cocoa farms supplying its factories as the company said that it would almost certainly be the case.  Associated Profiles : Fair Labor Association

Africa: 'God Wants Us to Live in a Garden, Not a Desert'  
(All Africa.com)  Durban — The European Union plan to save the Kyoto Protocol may meet its greatest obstacle in the developing world. Abias Huongo, one of Angola's negotiators, says developing country blocs of which it is part - including the Africa and Least Developed Countries groups - are not able yet to express support for a global legally binding deal.  Associated Profiles : Union of Concerned Scientists 

Arab region to face extreme weather events: UN official
 (Kuwait Times)  The Arab region and the North Africa could witness extreme weather events as a result of the rapid urbanization and climate change, said a UN expert. In an exclusive interview with the Kuwait Times on the sidelines of 19th ASEAN Summit 2011 in Nusa Dua, Bali, Margareta Wahlstrom, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General of Disaster Risk Reduction, said many of the countries in the region are already severely affected by water stress, probably one of the most significant issues today. Associated Profiles : Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)

Five questions with GRI  
(Corporate Secretary)  Mike Wallace helped launch Focal Point USA in October 2010 and now works with various institutions that have committed to the application and development of the Global Reporting Initiative’s Sustainability Reporting Framework. Here he talks to deputy editor Aarti Maharaj about sustainability performance.

Commentary

The Future Of Green Tech, Part II  
(Richard Barr –AC/S HQ Featured Commentator)  In August I posted The Future Of Green Tech, Part I, and since I know you all have been sitting on the edge of your seats since then waiting for Part II, I decided my wonderful extended summer vacation just had to end at some point.  But seriously, if you read Part I it may have been seen as just one more piece of depressing news.  Now, I’m here to cheer you up.  I’ll repeat part of the introduction for those of you who are reading this without having seen Part II -- but if you have the time, by all means, check it out.

Sovereign Wealth Funds

Britain 'would welcome' China investment in infrastructure
(MSN News)  Britain said on Monday it would welcome investment by China's $400 billion sovereign wealth fund in infrastructure projects, saying it would represent a "very significant boost" to the ailing economy.  Ministers are expected to detail a 30 billion ($46.7 billion, 34.9 billion euros) programme of investment in roads, railways and high-speed broadband on Tuesday as part of a package of measures to try to boost stalled growth.  Associated Profiles : China Investment Corporation

Federal judge orders class-action status against Countrywide
(Thomson Reuters)  A federal judge in California signed an order on Monday granting class-action status to retirement funds suing Countrywide Financial Corp for deceptive practices. The order, signed by U.S. District Judge Mariana Pfaelzer in the Central District of California, certified a class consisting of several state retirement funds that bought mortgage-backed securities sold by Countrywide entities before Jan. 14, 2010.  Associated Profiles : Iowa Public Employees Retirement System (IPERS)

China's Forex Purchases Fall for 1st Time in 4 Years 
(Business China)    China's funds outstanding for foreign exchange (FOFE) fell in October, the first time since 2007, down RMB 24.89 billion ($3.9 billion) from September, the People’s Bank of China, or central bank, said on Monday. Prior to the decline, the central bank bought RMB 376.94 billion worth of foreign exchange from commercial banks in August and RMB 247.26 billion in September.  Associated Profiles : State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) Investment Company (China)

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 December 1, 2011