SustainabilityHQ.com Weekly Highlights May 31, 2012

From Fringe to Mainstream: Companies Integrate CSR Initiatives into Everyday Business
(Friday - May 25, 2012)
Source: Knowledge@Wharton   In 1970, the economist and Nobel laureate Milton Friedman published an article in The New York Times Magazine titled, "The Social Responsibility of Business Is to Increase Its Profits." In the article, he referred to corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs as "hypocritical window-dressing," and said that businesspeople inclined toward such programs "reveal a suicidal impulse." Even four decades ago, at a time of growing public concern for the environment, his views represented the general skepticism and contempt with which many in Corporate America viewed CSR.

Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility Reporting

G&A Institute is the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) sole data partner for the United States of America, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. As the data partner we monitor, analyze and database information on all Sustainability reports issued in these territories. Recent Sustainability and CR Reports issued in the USA, UK and Ireland are:

USA

• Campbell Highlights Progress on 2020 CSR Agenda in 2012 Report
  May 29, 2012 Source: Market Watch

• Progress Energy issues 2012 Corporate Responsibility Report
  May 29, 2012 Source: Cape Fear Business News

• Dow Corning Sustainability Report
  May 29, 2012 Source: Dow Corning

• Wells Fargo Introduces 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Report
  May 29, 2012 Source: Wells Fargo

• Texas Instruments reports on 2011 citizenship progress and goals
  May 29, 2012 Source: MarketWatch

• Significant Reductions in Energy Use, Waste-to-Landfill Highlight Ball's Third Sustainability Report
  May 24, 2012 Source: MarketWatch

United Kingdom

• Crest Nicholson publishes its 10th annual Sustainability Report
  May 29, 2012 Source: Crest Nicholson
• BT’s 2012 Better Future Report
  May 29, 2012 Source: Sustainable Business Forum

ESG / Sustainability

Why the Shale Gas Industry Needs Regulations for Fracking?
(Wednesday - May 30, 2012)
Source: Time - You’ll rarely find a business in America—and especially one in the fossil-fuel industry—asking for more regulation. The default mode of industry groups like U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Petroleum Institute (API) is...

EU greenhouse gas emissions rise despite climate change policies
(Wednesday - May 30, 2012)
Source: Guardian.co.uk - Greenhouse gas emissions for the European Union increased in 2010, despite the economic recession and policies intended to tackle climate change. The increase of 2.4% takes Europe further away from its international commitments...

Antarctic Area Thought Stable Threatened by Warm Currents - Businessweek
(Tuesday - May 29, 2012) Associated Profiles : Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC)
Source: BusinessWeek - In contrast, the loss of ice from the grounded ice sheet does raise the oceans. The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2007 estimated the smaller West Antarctica ice sheet is shrinking, while the larger East sheet is...

Fukushima: former Japanese government admits policy to blame
(Monday - May 28, 2012)
Source: Telegraph.co.uk - Japan's prime minister at the time of the Fukushima nuclear crisis apologised Monday and said the government and its push for nuclear energy bore most of the responsibility for the disaster, in the most explicit and public...

Sovereign Wealth Funds

A Radical Change Of Heart In China On Private Capital
(Tuesday - May 29, 2012) Associated Profiles : China Investment Corporation
Source: Forbes - In a stunning series of announcements last week, Beijing opened the doors to private capital. In the process, officials signaled a reversal of a half decade of anti-reform sentiment. On Saturday, for instance, the China...

Gaddafi property in Italy seized - Saudi Gazette
(Tuesday - May 29, 2012) Associated Profiles : Libyan Investment Authority
Source: Saudi Gazette - The ICC and Italy say the assets, registered in the name of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA), were held by it on behalf of the Gaddafi family. The LIA, however, says that the assets were its legitimate property and is...

Kuwait finance minister quits after opposition push
(Saturday - May 26, 2012) Associated Profiles : Kuwait Investment Authority
Source: Reuters - KUWAIT - Kuwait's finance minister resigned on Thursday after opposition lawmakers accused him in parliament of failing to deal with alleged financial irregularities in his departments. Mustapha al-Shamali, who served as finance ...

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 May 31, 2012