While climate change always seems to bring troubling news, few reports in the past year are more compelling than those from scientists saying our ability to reach the Paris Agreement’s goal of 1.5˚C above pre-industrial levels is pretty much out of reach.
Read moreShareholders and Local Communities Join to Demand Racial and Environmental Justice
Often, companies have no “business-case rationale” to listen to the communities negatively affected by their operations and no incentives to act. As shareholders, we have legal standing to engage the executives and boards of these public companies.
Read moreIncrease in EEO-1 Data Reporting Shows Positive Link Between Diversity and Financial Performance
A report released by As You Sow and Whistle Stop Capital in November 2022 assessed the data from 277 EEO-1 reports, looking at the link between workforce diversity and corporate financial performance. In line with our hypothesis and others’ previous research, the analysis found that financial metrics, like return on equity and net profit, were associated with higher levels of diversity in management.
Read moreIllegally Captured Primates Used in Animal Testing Pose Health and Investor Risks
Animal testing behemoth Charles River Laboratories is one of the largest importers of monkeys into the U.S., each year bringing in thousands of monkeys – mostly long-tailed macaques – from Southeast Asia and Mauritius. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified long-tailed macaques as “endangered,” identifying the U.S. experimentation industry as a major driver pushing these monkeys toward extinction.
Read moreRailroad Workers' Lack of Paid Sick Leave Puts Employees, Public and Investors at Risk
Impact Shares considers paid sick leave (PSL) to represent an important human capital investment critical to investors, as well as a racial and gender equity concern. Filing a shareholder proposal at Norfolk Southern railways requesting that the company adopt a PSL policy as a standard benefit was the first step in leveraging our position as an ETF issuer representing leading social and environmental advocacy organizations.
Read moreA Framework for Evaluating Goals and Risks of Corporate Political Spending
Companies today face a high-risk landscape for their political spending and its impact. The crisis that confronts U.S. democracy and the gridlock blocking action on a broad range of issues from climate change to voting, women’s reproductive rights, guns and even democracy itself has put front and center the role of company political spending in contributing to the breakdown.
Read moreRecord Number of Proposals Address Threats to Reproductive Health Care
Investors working with Rhia Ventures filed a record 30 proposals this proxy season to advance comprehensive and reproductive health care, double the number from the 2022 proxy season. The subject matter of the proposals expanded from last year’s focus on risk mitigation and political spending misalignment to include a number of new areas of concern that have intensified since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion in June 2022.
Read moreRussian Military's Reliance on Dual-Use Components Exposes Companies to Human Rights Risks
The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has already resulted in more than 69,000 Russian war crimes and crimes of aggression registered by the Office of Prosecutor General of Ukraine. In addition, 18,900 Ukrainians have been killed or injured, and millions more have been forced to flee their homes. With this humanitarian crisis, investor concerns have grown about the human rights risks faced by companies with operations and/or value chain activities in conflict-affected and high-risk areas
Read moreBig Oil Tax Dodging, Transparency and Standards
This year, Oxfam America and co-filers have filed a series of new tax transparency proposals at extractive industry giants ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, requesting that the companies disclose country-by-country financial information in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. This disclosure would reveal key insights for investors seeking to evaluate a company’s risk profile, including information surrounding revenues, profits, losses and tax payments.
Read moreIndependent Audits Can Further Worker Health and Safety
Safety at work is a bare minimum for workers’ dignity. Yet, far too often, it is at risk. In June 2022, the International Labor Organization (ILO) recognized a safe and healthy work environment as a universal labor right, adding it to the core ILO fundamental principles of rights at work.
Read moreSupporting Workers' Right to Freedom of Association
The New York City Retirement Systems (NYCRS) submitted shareholder proposals at seven companies to safeguard workers’ freedom of association and collective bargaining rights, which are defined as fundamental human rights under internationally recognized human rights standards.
Read moreWar on ESG Highlights the Need for Lobbying Disclosure
For 2023, proponents have filed at least 30 proposals asking for lobbying disclosure reports that include federal and state lobbying amounts, payments to trade associations and 501(c)(4) social welfare groups used for lobbying, and payments to tax-exempt organizations that write and endorse model legislation.
Read moreMisalignment Between Company Reproductive Health Policies And Influence Spending
Reproductive rights are on the line this year as the U.S. Supreme Court considers a direct challenge to Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision protecting the right to access abortion without excessive government restriction. Should Roe be overturned or gravely weakened, as is widely anticipated, as many as 26 states are poised to ban abortion completely within their borders.
Read moreGrowing Support for Racial Justice Audits
Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) members have a long history of supporting calls for diversity and justice, including respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and addressing the negative impacts of policies and practices on communities of color.
Read moreChanging Corporate Attitudes on Racial Justice
After George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, stakeholders in public companies asked management and boards what they could do about racial injustice. Without any metrics to define best practices and separate leaders from laggards, there was no way to measure and therefore manage this critical social issue.
Read moreA Model Code for Companies to Govern Their Political Spending
As the 2022 proxy season unfolds, there’s good news and concerning news about companies and their political spending. Which wins out – greater control over political spending or a return to “business as usual” – will affect how companies fare as shareholders pay even closer attention to what they do with their political money and how it aligns with their values and positions.
Read moreMcDonald's Breaks Animal Welfare Pledge - Now Faces Board Battle
On February 20, 2022, McDonald’s confirmed that Carl Icahn nominated both Maisie Ganzler and me for the company’s board of directors in response to McDonald’s failure to meet a public pledge it made ten years ago to end the egregiously cruel and controversial practice of pig gestation crates by this year.
Read moreSecret Influence: Astroturfing Sways Public Policy
Lobbying by companies can provide governments with valuable insights and data for public policy making, yet only 8 percent of the world’s 1,000 largest companies report their spending on lobbying to investors.
Read morePipeline Finance and Respect for Indigenous Rights
Oil is already flowing through the Enbridge Line 3 tar sands pipeline, a project that has been subject to several years of protest, litigation, and opposition led by Indigenous Peoples and Indigenous-led organizations.
Read moreMandatory Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Is Good for Investors and Business
When done responsibly, business can be a driving force for prosperity and inclusive economic development. Yet, far too often, companies in many different sectors harm people and planet in their operations or value chains.
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