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The DJSI Corporate Sustainability Assessment Will Soon Be “Open” for US Companies to Begin Their Response Effort – a Workshop for Corporate Staff is Scheduled for April 6th in New York City, Presented by G&A Institute in collaboration with RobecoSAM The Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes are some of the most important and widely-used benchmarks for global investors – the suppliers of capital to the corporate sector. The “DJSI” benchmarks include the well-known “World” and “North America” indexes. The DJSI are managed by RobecoSAM which described them as a family of best-in-class indices (launched in 1999) that evaluate the sustainability performance of thousands of publicly-traded companies. The indices track the stock performance of the world’s leading companies across 60 industries in terms of economic, environmental and social criteria. RobecoSAM is a strategic partner of the S&P Dow Jones Indices and the RobecoSAM “Smart ESG Methodology” is used to generate ESG factor scores to construct a family of indices; the methodology is used for example in constructing the S&P ESG Factor Weighted Index family. RobecoSAM has been driving innovation of the fields of ESG investing…the indices are built on the strength of rigorous internal analytics and research. An important input to the process is the annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment (the “CSA”) that RobecoSAM explains in this way: “The quality of a company’s strategy and management and its performance in dealing with opportunities and risks deriving from economic, environmental and social development can be quantified and used to identify and select leading companies for investment purposes. For this reason, RobecoSAM developed the CSA to help identify those companies that are best equipped to recognize and respond to emerging opportunities and risks resulting from global sustainability trends.” Very soon, the CSA questionnaire will be landing in the offices of leading US companies for internal managements to complete and return to RobecoSAM as the process for adjusting the family of funds is underway (the results will be known in early fall). One day after the Skytop Strategies “ESG Summit 4” conference, G&A Institute in collaboration with RobecoSAM is presenting a workshop to help American corporate managements in the response process in New York City on April 6th. Special Note Skytop’s CEO Chris Skroupa interviewed RobecoSAM’s Robert Dornau and G&A’s Louis Coppola on the workshop and the importance of the DJSI CSA questionnaire to corporate managements. There’s lots of important details for you in the Top Story this week from the Forbes interviews. If you’d like to learn more about G&A’s advisory services for responding to the RobecoSAM CSA please contact Louis Coppola at lcoppola@ga-institute.com. Top Story The Corporate Sustainability Assessment; Important ESG Events In Early April
Sustainability: Forward Momentum! For Your Attention: The Editors’ Scans The case for merging sustainability, risk and compliance Building green: Energy efficiency, sustainability can be incorporated into home design 2030 Districts Network Partners With ULI Greenprint, Measurabl To Advance Sustainability In 18 Major North American Cities Do sustainability tools work? How would we know? Sustainability in Action: Together We Are Stronger Don’t Miss The Re|focus Sustainability & Recycling Summit Sustainable Fashion Takes Charge in Australia (Thursday – March 22, 2018) Source: CFO – For large multinational corporations, sustainability is now an accepted part of doing business, and companies are starting to recognize the meaningful business value that sustainability can offer. Sustainability: The New Communications Imperative The case for merging sustainability, risk and compliance 2018 salary survey aims to shed light on sustainability pay Speech by Vice-President Katainen at the High-Level Conference on Financing Sustainable Growth – ‘Sustainable finance within the Commission’s Agenda promoting sustainability Our Focus This Week on A Range of ESG Topics & Issues – More Things to Think About… Water shortages could affect 5bn people by 2050, UN report warns Zuckerberg: Facebook ‘made mistakes’ with users’ data Fed raises rates, signals confidence in strengthening economy (Wednesday – March 21, 2018) Source: Fortune – In recent months, Bitcoin’s supporters have pointed to its falling use in illegal transactions as a sign of the cryptocurrency’s growth toward mainstream acceptance. But German researchers say that links to child pornography… World Water Day 2018: UNESCO report confirms trouble for India; major water crisis predicted by 2050 RTA releases first public transport sustainability report News for You From the Corporate Sector -Both Positive & Negative – Headlines BMW Group publishes Sustainable Value Report 2017: “For us, sustainability means future viability.” Starbucks says it’s achieved pay equity in the US Citigroup restricts gun sales by business customers (Friday – March 23, 2018) Source: Washington Times News & Opinion: Asset Managers, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pension Funds CalPERS’ 2018 Corporate Engagement Strategy Aimed At Improving Financial Returns – Priorities Include Board Diversity And Climate Risk Reporting Kazakhstan’s frozen billions sound alarm for sovereign funds One year after divestment decision, Barnard shifts focus to sustainability practices (Wednesday – March 21, 2018) Source: Plant Based News – Cardiff University has announced it will to stop investing in fossil fuels by 2021. The University was named as one of the top 100 universities in the world last year.
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G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ Ceres on Corporate Sustainability: “Turning Point” Research Effort Results _________________________________________
_________________________________________ Governance & Accountability Institute Featured Service _________________________________________ Governance & Accountability Institute Research FLASH REPORT: 85% of S&P 500 Index® Companies Publish Sustainability Reports in 2017
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Navigating the way to sustainability… Copyrights for other providers are noted where appropriate.
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The Sustainability Highlights eNewsletter is prepared by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. Governance & Accountability Instiute is the “Sustainability Headquarters™” for clients in the corporate, investment, public and social sectors. Based in New York, G&A is a for-profit consulting organization providing a range of value-added strategies, services and resources related to ESG & sustainability to clients in the corporate and capital markets communities. For G&A’s full range of services, click on each of the links below: For more information, contact Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. |
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DJSI CSA Will Soon Be “Open” for US Companies to Begin Their Response Effort – Workshop for Corporate Staff Scheduled for April 6th/NYC, Presented by G&A Institute w/ RobecoSAM
March 29, 2018
Sustainability Reporting
