GRI launches new digital alliance to boost corporate sustainability reporting
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has launched a new programme to help businesses improve their sustainability reporting by taking advantage of digital platforms. Launched at the 5th GRI Global Conference in Amsterdam, the Digital Reporting Alliance aims to address two key challenges in sustainability reporting – the lack of structured data and the lack of demand for digital reporting. Under the new programme, the Alliance will create a platform to make filing digital sustainability reports simpler, and promote a standard system of reporting across digital reports. “Sustainability information from business and government represents a vast amount of data that is currently underutilised,” said Michael Meehan, GRI’s chief executive. “For innovation to take place, this information needs to be liberated and provided in a way that can be analysed and integrated.” (Business Green)
Responsible Investment
‘Aiming for A’ climate change resolution overwhelmingly approved by Glencore shareholders
A shareholder resolution on climate change proposed by the ‘Aiming for A‘ coalition has been overwhelmingly approved by Glencore‘s shareholders, receiving the support of 98 percent of those who registered a vote. The same resolution was also passed earlier in the AGM season at Glencore’s mining sector peers Anglo American and Rio Tinto. With all the resolutions passing with the support of more than 75 percent of shareholders, the three companies are legally obliged to implement them. This marks the second successful round of resolutions filed in the UK by the coalition, which last year passed resolutions on climate risk disclosure at the BP and Shell AGMs. The coalition was founded by church and charity fund manager CCLA. This year’s mining resolutions were co-filed by a much wider group of investors, with assets of over $8 trillion. They include some of the world’s largest fund managers and pension funds, such as Aviva, BNP Paribas and Old Mutual. (The Church of England)
Scientists team up with investors to assess climate risk
Norwegian scientists have teamed up with some of the world’s leading investment firms to assess the financial risks associated with global warming. Launched this week, the Centre for International Climate and Environmental Research (CICERO) Climate Finance initiative will bring together climate scientists and investors, including BlackRock and the World Bank, to develop tools to help investors more effectively incorporate climate risk into long-term investment decisions. “Climate change researchers and financial stakeholders do not always speak the same language,” said Kristin Hal Vorsen, director of CICERO Climate Finance and former Norwegian minister of finance. “Our goal is to bridge that gap and jointly develop solutions.” (Business Green)
Strategy
Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Apple and other companies commit to help make computers easier to use for disabled people
Apple, Google and other tech companies yesterday marked Global Accessibility Awareness Day, which aims to make technology easier use for people with disabilities. The companies took the day to highlight their work in accessibility as well as running sessions to help people understand the special features that are built into their technology. Both Apple and Google maintain special websites to highlight accessibility features of their products, such as captions on YouTube. Gaming studio Naughty Dog, a subsidiary of Sony, also used the day to highlight the accessibility options it has built into its new Uncharted 4 title. The company consulted with Josh Straub, editor-in-chief of DAGERS (Disabled Accessibility for Gaming Entertainment Rating System), to design specialised features for the game. Straub gave the game his highest recommendation, calling it “completely barrier free” for players with visual, fine-motor or auditory disabilities. (Independent; Polygon)
Waste
Grocery supply chains worth £300 million in food waste war, says WRAP
UK grocery retailers and supply chain operators are missing out on a £300 million windfall, and the chance to increase supply-chain redistribution streams four-fold, by failing to tackle food waste issues, new analysis from waste-reduction charity WRAP has revealed. “Through a combination of prevention, redistribution to people and diversion to animal feed, the grocery supply chain could, in the next 10 years, almost halve its avoidable food waste, from 2009 when we first started work in this area,” said Dr Richard Swannell, WRAP director. The research highlights that around 270 kilotonnes of current food surplus and waste streams may be suitable for redistribution. Report findings are being shared with businesses in the food and drink sector as part of the Courtauld Commitment 2025, which calls on industry firms to pledge major reductions in food waste and carbon emissions. (edie)
Image source: Food Waste by Nick Saltmarsh / CC BY 2.0
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