power users must purchase ENERGY STAR rated computers
power management features such as the "sleep" or "hibernate" settings
on client computers, whenever possible. The Initiative’s power
management policies recommend computers turn off the display and hard
drive after 15 minutes of inactivity, and put the system into "sleep"
mode after 30 minutes of inactivity.
computer manufacturers must at a base meet ENERGY STAR specifications and work toward Climate Savers Computing bronze, silver, gold standards.
Corpobligation: Responsibility and obligations extend to international non-governmental organizations (INGO). These obligations to donors and other stakeholders include transparency, independence, and commitments to promoting human rights and equality.
INGO Accountability Charter created in 2006 by leading INGOs
The "Charter outlines our common commitment to excellence, transparency and
accountability. To demonstrate and build on these commitments, we seek to:
· identify and define shared principles, policies and practices;
· enhance transparency and accountability, both internally and externally;
· encourage communication with stakeholders; and
· improve our performance and effectiveness as organisations."
Maps can cut through the BS around the big environmental choices that we will make as a society, individuals, corporations and governments. Peter Black, of the Environmental Defense Fund, has created brilliant maps that communicate more information than thousands of words. They bolster global warming arguments made by many a scientist, government, and campaigner. Issues covered range from oil reserves, transport patterns, wind resources, temperature changes and beyond.
Offshore drilling
The map below shows the ridiculousness of drilling in offshore-nature-preserves.
Corpobligation: Big companies getting better but there is still room to improve. Reaching for Benchmarks is crucial
THE SKINNY
Highlights from the S&P/TSX 60 companies in the 2008 ranking
(numbers refer to 2007 year unless specified)
$9.8 billion ➜ the corporate tax gap
$4.9 billion ➜ tax gap decrease from previous year
$99.4 billion ➜ corporate income before taxes
$3.7 billion ➜ corporate income increase from previous year
$5.8 billion ➜ the pension gap
$36 billion ➜ pension gap decrease from previous year
1.37 million ➜ number of employees
$81 billion ➜ total profits
$7.9 million ➜ average CEO compensation
2.39 percent ➜ profits consumed by total compensation of top
three paid execs from each firm
34 ➜ number of companies with SD-related board committees
10 ➜ companies with no female board members
52 ➜ companies with no visible minority board members
0 ➜ female CEOs
Corporate Knights produces a wide ranging series of reports on
Corporate Citizenship and other environmental and social issues of the
day. They collected some interesting numbers in the process of creating
their Best 50 Corporate Citizens of Canada report [pdf].
There seem to still be some challenges in the leadership and board composition of these companies with 0 female CEOs and only 8/60 companies including a visible minority on their boards.
The Advisory Group Report (National
Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Canadian
Extractive Industry in Developing Countries - Advisory Group
Report)presents two possible courses for the future of CSR
and Extractive industries: a high road of responsibility or a low
road of the status quo, which will lead to disaster. If the reports
recommendations are accepted, and implemented by Parliament, then
there will be better oversight, more monitoring, changes in
enforcement of Canada's domestic laws overseas, and changes in how
the government values CSR. All of these changes have the potential to
improve the reputations and practices of Canadian
companies abroad. This is a big "if". The Report was
commissioned by the previous Liberal government (2005) and the
Conservative government may be less enthusiastic about adopting the
recommendations. There are also questions about Canadian businesses
competitiveness with less regulated corporations from other
countries. We would argue that Canada cannot compete with countries
like China or Sudan by lowering our human rights or environmental
standards. A decision to not adopt the recommendations will be a
significant and damaging policy choice because we will continue to
fall behind the practices of the UK, EU and USA and the government
will be turning away from the recommendations of not only civil
society but the leaders of Canada’s extractive industry.
CSR Data Blog
Fund, has created brilliant maps that communicate more information than thousands of words. They bolster global warming arguments made by many a scientist, government, and campaigner. Issues covered range from oil reserves, transport patterns, wind resources, temperature changes and beyond.
