SocialFunds.com Daily news from Socialfunds.com covering socially responsible investing and corporate responsibility http://www.socialfunds.com TIAA-CREF Calls on Shareowners to Take More Active Roles in Corporate Governance By Robert Kropp. Referring to crises in governance from Enron to the financial crisis, the financial services organization recommends that institutional investors meet their responsibilities as universal owners through active engagement with companies in their portfolios. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2883.html news@socialfunds.com Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST In Wake of Controversial Supreme Court Decision, Shareowner Activists Develop Plan for Corporate Disclosure of Political Spending By Robert Kropp. Asserting that excessive corporate political spending reduces shareowner value and weakens corporate governance, shareowner advocates call on corporations to adopt a framework for disclosure developed by the Center for Political Accountability. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2882.html news@socialfunds.com Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST Shareowners Are Urged to Press Companies to Link Compensation with ESG Factors By Robert Kropp. A Eurosif study of companies listed in the FTSE Eurofirst300 index finds that relatively few European companies link executive compensation to ESG performance, with financial institutions lagging behind all other sectors. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2881.html news@socialfunds.com Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST Book Review: The Surprising Solution: Creating Possibility in a Swift and Severe World By Robert Kropp. Author Bruce Piasecki describes a new global equity culture in which the corporations that thrive will be those that respond to the social challenges of a resource-restrained world. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2880.html news@socialfunds.com Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST Obama Announces Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets for Federal Agencies By Robert Kropp. Following his October Executive Order directing Federal agencies to set reduction targets, Obama announces that the Federal Government will reduce GHG emissions by 28% by 2020. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2879.html news@socialfunds.com Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST SEC Ruling on Proxy Disclosure Is Likely to Lead to Increased Shareowner Activism By Robert Kropp. An overview by the Corporate Library details some of the possible effects of the ruling on shareowner actions in what could shape up to be a critically important proxy season. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2878.html news@socialfunds.com Mon, 01 Feb 2010 08:00:00 EST Shareowner Campaign Targets Hydraulic Fracturing by Natural Gas Companies By Robert Kropp. Twelve shareowner resolutions ask natural gas companies for transparency about the business and environmental risks of a controversial drilling method. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2875.html news@socialfunds.com Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Report Links Effective Corporate Sustainability Reporting to Presence of Key Performance Indicators By Robert Kropp. Based on his survey of prominent investors and analysts, Dr. Axel Hesse of Sustainable Development Management develops key performance indicators for sustainability that should be included in corporate reporting. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2873.html news@socialfunds.com Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST SEC Issues Guidance for Corporate Reporting on Climate Change By Robert Kropp. The decision, which directs companies to disclose business risks and opportunities associated with climate change, is welcomed by investors who have been calling for such guidance for years. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2874.html news@socialfunds.com Thu, 28 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Sixty Companies Agree to Measure Emissions From Product Life Cycles and Supply Chains By Robert Kropp. Measurement and disclosure of Scope 3 emissions and emissions from product life cycles are based on standards developed by the Greenhouse Gas Protocol. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2872.html news@socialfunds.com Tue, 26 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Most Socially Responsible Mutual Funds Outperformed Benchmarks in 2009 By Robert Kropp. A study of mutual funds managed by members of the Social Investment Forum finds that two-thirds outperformed their benchmarks across nearly all asset classes in 2009, and most large cap funds outperformed the S&P 500 over three and 10 years. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2871.html news@socialfunds.com Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Apple Tells Shareowners to Reject Proposal for Annual Sustainability Report By Robert Kropp. Asserting that industry peers HP and Dell issue such reports and are far more transparent on sustainability issues, shareowner proposal filed by As You Sow requests that Apple produce a report that includes greenhouse gas reduction targets. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2870.html news@socialfunds.com Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Advocates for Corporate Accountability Denounce Supreme Court Ruling on Political Spending By Robert Kropp. Fearing that the decision will lead to an erosion of standards for corporate accountability and disclosure, advocates call on shareowners to redouble efforts for disclosure of corporate political spending. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2869.html news@socialfunds.com Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Report Details the Growth of Market for Forest Offset Credits By Robert Kropp. Although the vast majority of projects are transacted in voluntary markets, third-party certification as well as commitments to offsets by governments have grown. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2868.html news@socialfunds.com Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST UN Introduces Website for Partnerships with Business By Robert Kropp. The need for humanitarian assistance following disasters such as earthquake in Haiti leads to development of the first single interface connecting business with the entire UN system. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2867.html news@socialfunds.com Tue, 19 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Canadian Tar Sands Are Target of Shareowner Resolution at Shell By Robert Kropp. Coalition of investors successfully files a resolution addressing the financial, environmental, and reputational risks of Shell's oil extraction from Canadian tar sands. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2866.html news@socialfunds.com Mon, 18 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Investors Call on Governments to Act on Climate Change Now By Robert Kropp. Investor groups attending the 2010 Investor Summit on Climate Risk at the UN endorse a statement calling for climate change policies that encourage private investment. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2865.html news@socialfunds.com Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Investors Urge Companies to Keep Minerals from War-Torn Congo Out of Supply Chains By Robert Kropp. Minerals smuggled out of the Democratic Republic of the Congo are funding the conflict there by entering the corporate supply chains of several industries, and investors are requesting that companies take steps to end the process. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2864.html news@socialfunds.com Thu, 14 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Google to Review Business Operations in China Following Cyber-Attacks By Robert Kropp. After years of complying with Chinese demands for self-censorship, Google responds to attacks on users’ email by announcing it is no longer willing to censor search results. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2862.html news@socialfunds.com Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST Investors Remain at Risk Due to Corporate Breaches of Supply Chain Standards By Robert Kropp. According to a new EIRIS report, companies in consumer industries are responding to NGO pressure, but recommends investor engagement with companies on supply chain polices, management, and reporting. http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/2861.html news@socialfunds.com Tue, 12 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST