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Follow on Google News | Companies that fail to link ESG disclosures to corporate strategy fail to connect with investorThe Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) today released a report examining how companies can frame their ESG disclosures to meet the needs of mainstream investors.
By: Global Reporting Initiative The report - Reaching Investors: communicating value through ESG disclosure – was written following extensive consultation with the finance industry (1). It was launched by GRI at an event hosted by Bloomberg LP in New York City today. Disclosure on economic, social and governance performance – known as sustainability reporting - has become a mainstream business activity; the majority of Global Fortune 250 companies now issue such reports according to the recent International Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting from KPMG. Investors have been a key driver in promoting the uptake of sustainability reporting - they are increasingly asking companies for ESG information to help them make investment decisions. Indeed, assets of over USD 15 trillion (estimated to be around 15% of total global capital markets) are now managed by signatories to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI). UNPRI signatories commit to integrating ESG issues into investment analysis and to seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which they invest, by, for example, requesting ESG disclosure based on the GRI Reporting Framework (2) . Sean Gilbert, Sustainability Reporting Framework Director at GRI said: “As we can see from the number of investors now actively seeking ESG information in order to help them base investment decisions, the dichotomy between sustainability and long-term business value is false.” But, for ESG data to be useful to investors it must be presented in a consistent way, regardless of whether in the format of a combined sustainability and annual report or separate documents. Crucially, the link between a company’s performance on environmental, social and governance issues and its business strategy must be made. Without this link investors will have no way to gage what the ESG disclosure might mean for the financial bottom line. In addition to factoring in shareholders and stakeholders expectations of the company’s sustainability performance, and linking ESG disclosure to business strategy the GRI report recommends the following for companies issuing sustainability reports: • Include supporting statements about ESG performance with facts and / or evidence • Contain forward looking contextual information • Be concise • Cover a balance of positive and negative sustainability performance • Relate ESG strategy to current opportunities and risks “Reporting should show how the company’s behavior in a rapidly changing economic, environmental and social context is affecting its long-term value – for example how the company is dealing with risks and opportunities presented by climate change or how it is addressing poverty and inequalities in the communities in which it operates and thus derives its workforce and consumers. In this context, business has to think differently and perform differently and, as we’ve seen, investors are increasingly seeking out ESG leaders. Sustainability reporting should help investors find those companies as well as help the companies understand how they themselves are positioned in the context of sustainability,” The report can be downloaded, free of charge from: http://www.globalreporting.org/ Notes to editors 1. The following individuals participated in discussions to develop the report Berit Lindholt Lauridsen, International Finance Corporation Bailey Bishop, State Street Global Advisors David Diamond, Allianz Global Investors France (formerly at Crédit Agricole Asset Management) David Russell, USS Masahiro Kato, Mitsubishi UFJ Claudia Kruse, J.P. Morgan Jean-Philippe Martin, Oddo Securities Jayn Harding, FTSE Group Hendrik Garz, West LB AG Seema Suchak, F&C Asset Management Claus Frier and Camilla Jensen, Novozymes Erik Bransdma, EoN Tim Weekes, Umicore Sarah Cleveland, Watson Wyatt Investment Consulting (formerly Rogerscasey) Melissa Epperly, Goldman Sachs International Paul Lee, Hermes Equity Ownership Services Ltd. 2. Signatories to the UNPRI commit to the following six principles: • We will incorporate ESG issues into investment analysis and decision-making processes. • We will be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into our ownership policies and practices. • We will seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which we invest. • We will promote acceptance and implementation of the Principles within the investment industry. • We will work together to enhance our effectiveness in implementing the Principles. • We will each report on our activities and progress towards implementing the Principles. 3. About GRI The Global Reporting Initiative has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance. www.globalreporting.org # # # The Global Reporting Initiative has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance. www.globalreporting.org End
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