Reports for Companies http://www.ceres.org daily 1 2011-01-31T16:35:24Z Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies are Investing in Renewable Energy http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/power-forward-why-the-world2019s-largest-companies-are-investing-in-renewable-energy This report shows that a majority of Fortune 100 companies have set a renewable energy commitment, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitment or both. The trend is even stronger internationally, as more than two-thirds of Fortune’s Global 100 have set the same commitments. Large corporations are increasingly turning to renewable energy to power their operations. Companies are investing in renewable energy because it makes good business sense: renewable energy helps reduce long-term operating costs, diversify energy supply and hedge against market volatility in traditional fuel markets. It also enables companies to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals and demonstrate leadership on broader corporate sustainability and climate commitments.

This report shows that a majority of Fortune 100 companies have set a renewable energy commitment, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitment or both. The trend is even stronger internationally, as more than two-thirds of Fortune’s Global 100 have set the same commitments.

Through two dozen interviews with Fortune and Global 100 executives and analysis of public disclosures, the report finds that clean energy practices are becoming standard procedures for some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, including AT&T, DuPont, General Motors, HP, Sprint, and Walmart.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-12-10T08:00:00Z Resource Stormy Future for U.S. Property/Casualty Insurers: The Growing Costs and Risks of Extreme Weather Events http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/stormy-future This Ceres report examines how extreme weather trends may be a harbinger of significant challenges ahead for a sector in which many companies are already confronting profitability and growth challenges. This analysis is based on a careful review of U.S. property/casualty insurance industry financial results as reported by A. M. Best Company in early 2012. This Ceres report examines how extreme weather trends may be a harbinger of significant challenges ahead for a sector in which many companies are already confronting profitability and growth challenges. This analysis is based on a careful review of U.S. property/casualty insurance industry financial results as reported by A. M. Best Company in early 2012.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-09-20T14:35:00Z Resource Supplier Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Building the Foundation for Sustainable Supply Chains http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/supplier-self-assessment-questionnaire-saq-building-the-foundation-for-sustainable-supply-chains The Supplier Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Building the Foundation for Sustainable Supply Chains will be useful for all companies seeking to strengthen their supply chain engagement. The goal is to help companies be more competitive and build resiliency in their supply chains by identifying, assessing, managing and disclosing supply chain sustainability risks. The Supplier Self-Assessment Questionnaire (SAQ): Building the Foundation for Sustainable Supply Chains will be useful for all companies seeking to strengthen their supply chain engagement, though it was designed with the industrial goods sector in mind, as well as those that are just beginning to address sustainability issues in their supply chains. Drawing on leading practices in the field, and addressing environmental, social, and governance issues, the SAQ is a “conversation starter” for companies to use with their suppliers as they begin to assess the sustainability risks in their supply chains. The goal is to help companies be more competitive and build resiliency in their supply chains by identifying, assessing, managing and disclosing supply chain sustainability risks.

The SAQ is part of a broader strategy to raise the bar of supply chain sustainability performance across the global economy. Traditionally, supply chain management has focused on whether a particular supplier facility is complying with certain minimum standards or codes of conduct related to treatment of workers or environmental impacts.

]]> No publisher Megan Doherty 2012-08-31T12:10:00Z Resource Physical Risks from Climate Change: A guide for companies and investors on disclosure and management of climate impacts http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/physical-risks-from-climate-change The year 2011 set records for economic losses and insured losses caused by natural catastrophes, with extreme weather events accounting for 90 percent of the disasters and eight of the 10 most costly, resulting in overall losses of more than $148 billion and insured losses of more than $55 billion. Climate change is predicted to increase these trends. Climate change has already started to cause a wide range of physical effects— with serious implications for investors and businesses. While weather variability and extremes have always existed, the science shows that extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, that incremental climatic changes are already underway, and that the impacts of climate change are expected to grow more severe over the coming years and decades.

The year 2011 set records for economic losses and insured losses caused by natural catastrophes, with extreme weather events accounting for 90 percent of the disasters and eight of the 10 most costly, resulting in overall losses of more than $148 billion and insured losses of more than $55 billion. Climate change is predicted to increase these trends.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-05-31T07:00:00Z Resource The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/the-road-to-2020-corporate-progress-on-the-ceres-roadmap-for-sustainability The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (www.ceres.org/roadto2020) assesses how U.S. businesses are progressing on sustainability and uses as a framework, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability—a guide for integrating sustainability across a company’s entire enterprise. Specifically, it evaluates where 600 large publicly traded companies stand on sustainability issues in terms of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance. The Road to 2020: Corporate Progress on The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (www.ceres.org/ceresroadmap) assesses how U.S. businesses are progressing on sustainability and uses as a framework, The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability—a guide for integrating sustainability across a company’s entire enterprise. Specifically, it evaluates where 600 large publicly traded companies stand on sustainability issues in terms of governance, stakeholder engagement, disclosure and performance.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-04-25T10:40:00Z Resource Improving Workers' Well-Being: A New Approach to Supply Chain Engagement http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/improving-workers-well-being-a-new-approach-to-supply-chain-engagement Pioneering a new strategy for its supply chain requires that LS&Co. also design a new approach to the engagement and support of its manufacturing suppliers. At the heart of this new approach is the company’s ongoing commitment to the protection of human rights and improvement of supplier performance through its current TOE, which remains as relevant today as it was 20 years ago. The following chapter presents the core components of this new strategy, along with a summary of key stakeholder feedback and guidance gathered throughout these Ceres’ led dialogues. Pioneering a new strategy for its supply chain requires that LS&Co. also design a new approach to the engagement and support of its manufacturing suppliers. At the heart of this new approach is the company’s ongoing commitment to the protection of human rights and improvement of supplier performance through its current TOE, which remains as relevant today as it was 20 years ago. The following chapter presents the core components of this new strategy, along with a summary of key stakeholder feedback and guidance gathered throughout these Ceres’ led dialogues.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-04-25T07:00:00Z Resource Institutional Investors' Expectations of Corporate Climate Risk Management http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/institutional-investors-expectations-of-corporate-climate-risk-management January 2012 - This report indicates the key climate change-related practices that investors expect companies to undertake based on our understanding of best practice management of climate change risks and opportunities. It also outlines the actions that investors are prepared to undertake on this topic. January 2012 - This report indicates the key climate change-related practices that investors expect companies to undertake based on our understanding of best practice management of climate change risks and opportunities. It also outlines the actions that investors are prepared to undertake on this topic.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2012-01-11T14:50:00Z Resource The Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Framework for 21st Century Water Risk Management http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/aqua-gauge October 2011 - This report introduces experts and newcomers alike to the Ceres Aqua Gauge™, a new framework for assessing corporate management of water risk. The report provides a broad overview of how competing freshwater demands and limits to supply are beginning to affect corporate financial performance in a range of industrial sectors. The report also identifies trends in corporate and investor responses to emerging water issues — and explains how investors can identify holdings in their portfolios more likely to be exposed to water-related risks. October 2011 - This report introduces experts and newcomers alike to the Ceres Aqua Gauge™, a new framework for assessing corporate management of water risk. The report provides a broad overview of how competing freshwater demands and limits to supply are beginning to affect corporate financial performance in a range of industrial sectors. The report also identifies trends in corporate and investor responses to emerging water issues — and explains how investors can identify holdings in their portfolios more likely to be exposed to water-related risks.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-10-18T07:00:00Z Resource Disclosing Climate Risks: A Guide for Corporate Executives, Attorneys & Directors http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/disclosing-climate-risks-2011 February 2011 - This Ceres report, developed with input from its 90-plus member Investor Network on Climate Risk, outlines generally weak climate disclosure to date by businesses and steps for improving such disclosure, especially in annual 10-K financial filings that are next due from companies by March 31, 2011. It comes just a week after the consulting firm Mercer issued a new study warning that climate change could increase investment portfolio risk by 10 percent over the next 20 years. February 2011 - This Ceres report, developed with input from its 90-plus member Investor Network on Climate Risk, outlines generally weak climate disclosure to date by businesses and steps for improving such disclosure, especially in annual 10-K financial filings that are next due from companies by March 31, 2011. It comes just a week after the consulting firm Mercer issued a new study warning that climate change could increase investment portfolio risk by 10 percent over the next 20 years.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-02-06T19:50:00Z Resource New Jobs-Cleaner Air: Employment Effects under Planned Changes to EPA’s Air Pollution Rules http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/new-jobs-cleaner-air February 2011 - This study demonstrates how new air pollution rules proposed for the electric power sector by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide long-term economic benefits across much of the United States in the form of highly skilled, well paying jobs through infrastructure investment in the nation's generation fleet. Significantly, many of these jobs will be created over the next five years as the United States recovers from its severe economic downturn. February 2011 - This study demonstrates how new air pollution rules proposed for the electric power sector by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide long-term economic benefits across much of the United States in the form of highly skilled, well paying jobs through infrastructure investment in the nation's generation fleet. Significantly, many of these jobs will be created over the next five years as the United States recovers from its severe economic downturn.

State Fact Sheets

Download fact sheets showing how investments to clean and modernize power plants create new jobs and boost the economy in the following states:

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2011-02-01T23:35:00Z Resource Multiplying Our Impact: Ceres 2009-2010 Annual Report http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/ceres-2009-2010-annual-report November 2010 - This Ceres Annual Report highlights the remarkable achievements that we have made over the past year in working to build a sustainable global economy. It highlights our successes in four of today's most pressing sustainability issues: the scarcity of water, the need to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, supporting human rights and combating climate change. Ceres' Annual Report also includes case studies of the achievements we have made with our partners, including Oxfam America, Ford Motor Co. and the California Public Employees' Retirement System. November 2010 - This Ceres Annual Report highlights the remarkable achievements that we have made over the past year in working to build a sustainable global economy. It highlights our successes in four of today's most pressing sustainability issues: the scarcity of water, the need to replace fossil fuels with clean energy, supporting human rights and combating climate change. Ceres' Annual Report also includes case studies of the achievements we have made with our partners, including Oxfam America, Ford Motor Co. and the California Public Employees' Retirement System.

]]> No publisher boese.josh@gmail.com annual report 2010-11-20T19:20:00Z Resource The 21st Century Electric Utility: Positioning for a Low-Carbon Future http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/the-21st-century-electric-utility-positioning-for-a-low-carbon-future-1 July 2010 - This report identifies five key elements of a 21st century electric utility business model and makes specific recommendations to utilities as they transition to a low-carbon future. It is by no means the final word on this complex and constantly evolving subject. Rather it is a starting point for utilities, policymakers, regulators, investors, analysts, and advocates to consider the utility decisions and behaviors best suited to helping us realize the energy future we all want – a future that, as the report says, “minimizes cost, risk and environmental impact, and maximizes opportunity, options and societal benefit.” July 2010 - This report identifies five key elements of a 21st century electric utility business model and makes specific recommendations to utilities as they transition to a low-carbon future. It is by no means the final word on this complex and constantly evolving subject. Rather it is a starting point for utilities, policymakers, regulators, investors, analysts, and advocates to consider the utility decisions and behaviors best suited to helping us realize the energy future we all want – a future that, as the report says, “minimizes cost, risk and environmental impact, and maximizes opportunity, options and societal benefit.”

]]> No publisher Brian Sant 2010-07-27T18:40:00Z Resource 2009 Ceres-ACCA Reporting Awards Judges Report http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/2009-ceres-acca-judges-report April 2010 - Ninety-three sustainability reports from companies and organizations, representing over 20 sectors, were submitted for review this year. Of these, fourteen reports were short-listed and an expert panel of judges met in January 2010 to select the award winners. April 2010 - Ninety-three sustainability reports from companies and organizations, representing over 20 sectors, were submitted for review this year. Of these, fourteen reports were short-listed and an expert panel of judges met in January 2010 to select the award winners.

]]> No publisher Brian Sant judges 2010-04-01T18:55:00Z Resource The 21st Century Corporation: The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/ceres-roadmap-to-sustainability-2010 March 2010 - The Ceres Roadmap serves as a vision and practical guide for integrating sustainability into the DNA of business — from the boardroom to the copy room. It analyzes the drivers, risks and opportunities involved in making the shift to sustainability, and details strategies and results from companies who are taking on these challenges. The Ceres Roadmap is designed to provide a comprehensive platform for sustainable business strategy and for accelerating best practices and performance. March 2010 - The Ceres Roadmap serves as a vision and practical guide for integrating sustainability into the DNA of business — from the boardroom to the copy room. It analyzes the drivers, risks and opportunities involved in making the shift to sustainability, and details strategies and results from companies who are taking on these challenges. The Ceres Roadmap is designed to provide a comprehensive platform for sustainable business strategy and for accelerating best practices and performance.

]]> No publisher boese.josh@gmail.com 2010-03-10T15:55:00Z Resource Global Climate Disclosure Framework for Oil & Gas Companies http://www.ceres.org/resources/reports/global-climate-disclosure-framework-oil-gas-companies-2010 March 2010 - In general, companies in the Oil and Gas industry are more transparent than the average of other sectors in respect of their climate-related performances. Nonetheless, the information provided by most companies remains inadequate to fully gauge the exposure of companies to evolving climate change related pressures. This report outlines the main areas of reporting necessary to allow investors to fully assess the impacts of climate-related changes on Oil and Gas companies. March 2010 -In general, companies in the Oil and Gas industry are more transparent than the average of other sectors in respect of their climate-related performances. Nonetheless, the information provided by most companies remains inadequate to fully gauge the exposure of companies to evolving climate change related pressures. This report outlines the main areas of reporting necessary to allow investors to fully assess the impacts of climate-related changes on Oil and Gas companies.

]]> No publisher boese.josh@gmail.com 2010-03-10T15:55:00Z Resource