Ceres in the NewsFor press inquiries, press kits or to schedule an interview with a Ceres staff member contact:
Peyton Fleming 617-247-0700 x 120 | fleming@ceres.org
Platts on 08/13/10: Mining Companies Must Disclose Safety Violations Under New US Law
Workplace safety records for companies with US mining operations, in the spotlight since the Upper Big Branch blast, will be more visible to investors, as federal regulators prepare to enforce a law requiring them to detail violations and fines meted out by the Mine Safety and Health Administration in their financial disclosure forms.
More
The New York Times on 08/05/10: Investors Ask Oil, Insurance Groups to Disclose Safety Plans
A coalition of mostly institutional investors is demanding oil and gas
companies disclose their existing safeguards and plans of action in the
event of another offshore rig disaster and possible oil spill like the
one experienced by BP PLC and other companies in the Gulf of Mexico. More
Bloomberg on 08/05/10 - California, New York Pension Funds Demand Detail on Oil Groups Spill Plans
The investors sent letters to the chief executive officers
at 27 oil and gas producers such as Exxon Mobil Corp and
insurance companies including American International Group Inc.,
asking them to detail their capability to prevent or respond to
an accident, as well as what they learned from the Gulf spill.
U.S. states, through their public pension funds, invest in such
companies as ConocoPhillips and Chevron Corp. More
Marketplace on 08/03/10: Extracting Oil from Canadian Sand Pits
Canada has some of the most oil in the world, and about half of it comes
from the "oil sands." Oil companies use some of the most expensive,
energy intensive technology to extract the oil from the sand -- which
leaves an impact on the environment too. More
Huffington Post on 07/26/10: The Senate Punts Recklessly on Energy and Climate
Even in hyper-partisan modern Washington one would have thought that, in the end, the Senate would have more plain sense than to turn its back on comprehensive energy and climate legislation this year. But that's exactly what it did last week. More
New York Times on 07/25/10: Health Rules Could Cut Greenhouse Emissions
A proposed rule on mercury, a pollutant bad for fish and the people who eat too many of them, could help the administration of President Barack Obama get near its short-term climate goal, even if the U.S. Congress fails this year or next to pass a bill tackling greenhouse gases directly. More
Asia Water Project on 07/22/10: SEC's Climate Change Guidance Could Mean Increased Scrutiny of Overseas Supply Chains
Jim Coburn, a senior program manager at Ceres, writes about the impact of a new guidance from the U.S. SEC on climate change disclosure. The guidance is likely to improve reporting of the risks and opportunities relating to climate change, including impacts on water. More
Boston Globe on 07/11/10: Green Firms Uniting to Flex Political Muscle
Several green-friendly businesses — including many young tech companies not yet household names — are the regional face of a multimillion dollar lobbying effort aimed at key senators across the country. Their effort is backed by some of the world’s most recognizable consumer brands and Fortune 500 companies, lending their corporate names to persuade Congress to support climate and energy legislation on Capitol Hill. Read more
New York Times on 07/09/10: Utilities Face the Decision Point of Big Shifts -- to Gas, Renewables and Efficiency
With or without a climate bill, electric utilities are shifting their investments to efficiency measures that cut long-term costs and integrate more natural gas and renewable energy into their power supplies, according to a new report. More
BusinessGreen on 07/08/10: Record Proxy Season as Shareholders Crank Up Climate Demands
July 8, 2010 - Pressure on US firms to develop climate change policies has reached record levels, according to new figures from ethical investor coalition Ceres showing that more than 100 climate and energy-related shareholder resolutions were filed during this year's proxy season. More
Huffington Post on 07/01/10: Outdoor Industries: Feeling the Heat from Climate Change
Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres, blogs about growing effects of climate change on businesses in the outdoor industry. Outdoor pursuits will be among the first activities widely altered by climate change, and many of the $750 billion outdoor industry's largest companies are getting vocal about it. More
Responsible Investor on 06/24/10: $10 Trillion Investor Group to Act Big on Big Oil and Insurance
The Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), an investor coalition representing $10trn of assets, is planning to write to oil majors – as well as insurers and re-insurers – in the wake of BP’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Rob Berridge, senior manager of investor programs at Ceres, said the INCR is currently drafting the letter. More
Great Falls Tribune on 06/15/10: Outdoor Operators Urge Senate to Pass Climate Legislation
June 15, 2010 - While our Senate leaders decide whether to begin debate this summer on the nation's first comprehensive climate change and energy legislation, businesses like ours in Montana and throughout the nation are concerned about the impacts of climate change on our $3 billion a year tourism and recreation economy. More
National Journal Energy & Environment Blog on 06/14/10: EPA Vote: Momentum Builder?
Last week, the Senate defeated a resolution by Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
R-Alaska, to overturn EPA climate regulations. The result, which fell
four votes short of passage, set off a barrage of statements from
senators and interest groups saying the vote is -- or is not -- symbolic
of how lawmakers would vote on comprehensive energy and climate
legislation. More
Canadian Press on 06/10/10: Environmental, Safety Performance Crucial When Picking Energy Stocks
As the planet's cheap, easy-to-access oil and gas resources dwindle, energy firms are drilling deeper and further afield than ever before. Those engineering feats could mean huge payoffs for investors. But when things go wrong — as they certainly did with BP PLC's oil well disaster in the Gulf of Mexico — they really go wrong. More
Business News Network on 06/09/10: BP's Environmental Record
The Gulf of Mexico spill is one of many environmental disasters for BP.
So why hasn't the company learned from past mistakes, and what should
eco-friendly investors do with BP shares? BNN speaks with Andrew Logan,
oil industry program director at Ceres. Watch
Marketplace on 06/09/10: A Push for Businesses to be Sustainable
Mindy Lubber, president of
Ceres, talks with Kai Ryssdal about corporate responsibility and
sustainability, and challenges companies might face to go green. Listen
Business Week on 06/03/10: The Rise of the Climate Consultant
June 3, 2010 - Although the fate of climate legislation in the Senate is uncertain at best, some companies are snapping to attention because of a mix of federal action and historic weather calamities—the kind scientists say are likelier in a warmer world. Flooding in early May killed 30 people in the Southeast. The East Coast braved two "once-in-a-century" snowstorms in two months. This decade is the hottest in recorded history. Despite intense opposition, the Environmental Protection Agency is moving ahead with carbon regulations. And in February, the Securities & Exchange Commission urged public companies to disclose material risks from climate change. More
Reuters on 05/17/10: Oil sands risks like slow-motion oil spill: report
Some environmental risks of Canada's oil sands are similar to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill "but playing out in slow motion," the co-author of a report, by RiskMetrics Group on commission by Ceres, warning investors of the ecological, financial and social risks of oil sands development said on Monday. Read More
The Guardian on 05/17/10: Tar Sands Oil Extraction Spreading Rapidly
The successful development of Canada's tar sands has triggered a rush by
Shell and other oil companies to set up
similar operations in Russia, Congo and even Madagascar. The revelations come just 24 hours before Shell's annual general meeting
and on the day when Ceres launches its own survey warning that Canadian tar
sands extraction could pose an even bigger risk than the U.S. rig disaster which
has knocked $30bn (£20.6bn) off the value of BP. More
Politico on 04/28/10: Democrats Press Obama on Climate
Senate Democrats, business groups and environmentalists are pressuring President Barack Obama to break the climate change logjam — saying only his personal intervention can save splintering efforts to pass a bill this year. Read More
The Hill on 04/28/10: Nike, eBay, and Other Companies Press Senate on Stalled Climate Bill As Negotiations Continue
An array of companies including Nike, eBay, Levi Strauss and Starbucks on Wednesday pressed the Senate to get stalled climate and energy legislation “back on track.” Read More
MarketWatch on 04/23/10: Green Business Leads People and Politicians
As 40 years of Earth Days pass, it's interesting to note that it is the business community that has taken up the cause of climate change more than any other. Read More
Politico on 04/23/10: SEC's Climate Change Transparency
Transparency is a cornerstone of our economy. For investors, that means being entitled to hear about the risks of an investment before making a long-term capital commitment. That’s why the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new climate change disclosure guidance is important. Read More
Boston Globe on 04/22/10: Boston Proposes Wind Turbine That Could Power 800 Homes
The city is proposing to build a wind turbine on Moon Island in Boston Harbor that could power as many as 800 homes and intends to use $2.8 million in federal grants to boost energy-efficiency programs. The plans are part of a larger effort by the city to cut greenhouse-gas emissions and better manage the effects of climate change. Read More
Harvard Business Review Blog on 04/21/10: Compensation and Sustainability
Mindy Lubber of Ceres blogs about addressing sustainability issues, innovative compensation schemes and the demand for new business models in the 21st Century Corporation. Read More
The Climate Desk on 04/19/10: Betting on Change
Is the planet really warming up? Just ask the corporations that stand to make—or lose—billions due to "climate exposure." Read More
SouthCoastToday.com on 04/17/10: Storms, Science, and Climate Change
Mindy Lubber of Ceres provides a guest view on the weather events around the SouthCoast and New England, touching on how we need a new path after the economic shocks of recent years for our families, our country and our planet. Read More
McKinsey & Company on 04/13/10: Business As The Engine For Social Change
The world can no longer afford business as usual. Our global economy faces unprecedented challenges, whether from climate change, ever-increasing food and water shortages, surging populations, or myopic financial markets obsessed with short-term gains and growth at all costs. Read More
ABC News on 04/07/10: Massey Energy, West Virginia Mine Owner, Draws Scorn on Wall Street
Massey Energy, owners of the West Virginia mine that exploded Monday, has drawn criticism for an array of safety violations and environmental issues over the years -- so much so that even some big Wall Street banks refuse to finance the Richmond, Virginia-based company. Read More
Treasury & Risk on 04/01/10: Making Waves on Climate Change
Sure, it’s early days for the Securities and Exchange Commission’s new guidelines for climate-change risk disclosure, and they aren’t likely to have a big impact on the current reporting season since they were recently released. But that doesn’t mean companies can give the guidelines short shrift. Read More
Time on 03/17/10: Is Corporate America Our Best Hope Against Climate Change?
One of the unexpected twists of the global climate change debate is that the roles of government and business have in many ways been reversed. Read More
E&E News on 03/15/10: Md. Treasurer Kopp Discusses SEC Guidance on Corporate Climate Disclosure
Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp explains why she believes information about climate-related risks is so critical for investors. She also gives her take on proposed legislation that seeks to nullify the SEC interpretive guidance. Read More
HuffingtonPost on 03/15/10: Sustainability Must Drive Business Success
Mindy Lubber of Ceres blogs about the importance of sustainability in the 21st century business world as a strategy of success. More
State Journal on 03/14/10: Corporate Climate Change-Related Risk on Shareholders’ Minds
During this year's proxy season, companies are dealing with the implications of guidance issued in January by the Securities and Exchange Commission that requires disclosure of risk related to climate change. At the same time, shareholders increasingly are filing resolutions seeking such disclosure, as well as a broader range of actions, including sustainability reporting and planning for carbon footprint reduction. Read More
Reuters on 03/10/10: Time for Next Stage of Sustainable Business
Corporate America needs to track its use of energy and resources as closely as it does its hiring and cash flow if it wants to keep pace with social concern about climate change and other sustainability issues, an activist U.S. investor group argues in a new report. More
Financial Times on 3/4/10: Investors Increasingly Concerned About Climate Change
One way of judging investor sentiment is through the types of investor resolutions filed each year. This year, a record of 95 resolutions involving climate change have been filed. Read More
HuffingtonPost on 3/1/10: The Color of Money: Green is Green in Colorado
Mindy Lubber of Ceres blogs about the ‘Race for American Jobs’ event held last week in Denver, Colorado. Read More
Huffington Post on 2/18/10: Banks Should Finance Energy Efficiency Loans, Not Subprime Mortgages
Mindy Lubber of Ceres blogs about how banks and financial institutions can refurbish their tarnished reputations by innovating new financial products that actually help average Americans. More
OregonLive.com on 02/16/10: Nike, Starbucks, other Northwest Businesses Push Congress for ‘Clean Energy Economy’
Just pass it? Nike and other businesses, including Starbucks and Portland's Gerding Edlen development firm, called on Congress to approve comprehensive climate change legislation this year and said a "clean energy economy" is the next great economic boom. Read More
IPS on 02/16/10: Q&A: “Sustainability Issues Are Economic Issues”
Fresh from a whirlwind tour of non-stop meetings at the World Economic Forum in Davos and a U.N investor summit on climate risk attended by George Soros, Al Gore, and 500 of the world's most powerful institutional and private investors, Mindy Lubber has a full plate. Read More
MarketWatch on 02/12/10: Climate Change Debate Crowded With Ignorance, Thomas Kostigen’s Ethics Monitor
Both global warming skeptics and climate change believers are using the snowstorms pounding the East Coast of the United States as fodder to further their debate. Read More
BusinessWeek on 02/11/10: Companies Vague on Water-Scarcity Risk, Investors Say (Update 1)
Companies in water-intensive industries including utilities and computer-chip makers aren’t providing enough information about the potential business risks of falling water supplies. Read More
The Hill on 02/08/10: Disclosing Financial Climate-Change Risks
Legendary House Speaker Sam Rayburn ushered in the 1933 Truth in Securities Act in the grim depths of the Great Depression. It was based on the principle that the purchase and sale of securities should be an honest bargain, and disclosure its cornerstone. Read More
New York Times on 01/30/10: Climate Change and the S.E.C.
There were predictable howls after the Securities and Exchange Commission told publicly held companies they should warn investors of any potential effects from climate change on their bottom lines. More
New York Times on 01/27/10: S.E.C. Adds Climate Risk to Disclosure List
The Securities and Exchange Commission said on Wednesday for the first time that public companies should warn investors of any serious risks that global warming might pose to their businesses. More
Business Week on 01/27/10: SEC Sets Corporate Climate-Change Disclosure Standard (Update1)
Companies must consider the effects of global warming and efforts to curb climate change when disclosing business risks to investors, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said. More
BusinessGreen.com on 01/27/10: Davos Business Leaders Urge Global Support for Copenhagen Accord
Some of the world's most powerful businesses have today called on world leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos to embrace the Copenhagen Accord and use it to spur a "race to the top" that would see national, state and municipal governments compete to take more ambitious action to tackle climate change. More
TIME on 01/15/10: After Copenhagen, Getting Business into Green Tech
This was the fourth Investor Summit on Climate Risk, occurring after Copenhagen, before the
U.S. Senate begins its real work on climate legislation this year and
just as investors begin to climb out of the recession. Investors, especially large-scale
institutional funds that need to worry about the long term, are ready
to bet on cutting carbon — but impatient. More
CNBC (via UN Dispatch) on 01/14/10: Ted Turner and Sen Tim Wirth at the UN Today for Investors Summit on Climate Risk
Haiti has justifiably been taking up alot of energy and focus of the United Nations over the last two days. But it is worth noting that there has been a long scheduled meeting of entrepreneurs and investors concerned about climate change at the UN today.Earlier this morning, UN Foundation President Tim Wirth and Board Chair Ted Turner discussed both Haiti and today's summit on CNBC. Watch
The Guardian on 01/14/10: Investors urge governments to take immediate action on climate change
Over 450 investors controlling $13tn of assets yesterday urged world governments to pre-empt an international climate change
treaty and take immediate action on global warming, or risk losing the
opportunity to establish a clean and sustainable low-carbon economy. More
The New York Times on 01/14/10: White House Will Press Ahead With Climate Bill, U.S. Negotiator Tells Investors
U.S. climate envoy Todd Stern today urged nations that signed the
Copenhagen Accord to submit their greenhouse gas emissions-reduction
targets and to hammer out details critical to implementing the broad
agreement. More
The Wall Street Journal on 01/14/10: Clean Economy Investors At UN Conference Seek Market Clarity
Investors representing $13 trillion in assets Thursday said they are
eager to invest in a low-carbon economy, but they need the certainty
and transparency of a legally binding agreement "with ambitious
greenhouse gas emission-reduction targets." More
The New York Times on 01/07/10: Does Your Money Manager Worry About Climate Change Risk? The Odds Are 50-50
Most money managers overseeing trillions of dollars in investments are
ignoring many risks that climate change poses to the assets they
operate for corporations, governments and other institutions, according
to a new analysis. More
Bloomberg on 01/06/10: Most money managers ignore climate risk to profit
In a survey of asset managers, almost three quarters said they don't
take into account global warming when analyzing a company, Ceres, whose
investors have $8.5 trillion under management, said today in a report.
Almost half said climate change isn't relevant to their investment
decisions. More
Boston Herald on 01/01/10: Adding Sustainability into the Bottom Line is Mindy Lubber’s Mission
As president of Ceres, the national network of investors, environmentalists and other public interest groups working to build sustainability into the corporate bottom line, Lubber is a strong advocate for tying environmental consideration, policy and regulation to business economics. More
|