Progress
I’m happy to report that the seeds we CSR/SRI practitioners have
sown over the past 10 years are beginning to shows signs of taking root.
Collectively, we’ve worked hard over the last decade to encourage
business to take responsibility for its impact on society and the environment.
Now we are beginning to reap the rewards. In the past six months I have
published the following four research studies that reveal
positive trends:
Trends
On the international front this research
indicates that leading financial institutions are beginning to embed CSR
into their operations by integrating it into their business strategies
and incorporating CSR objectives into performance management programs.
Similarly, my interviews with global thought leaders suggest that socially
responsible investment is going mainstream. And research I conducted for
the Canadian
Co-operative Association reveals that, over the coming decade,
CSR is predicted to attract the serious attention of corporate boards,
driven by values or enterprise risk management priorities.
This integration of social and environmental considerations into governance
and financial markets is a critical development if CSR is to achieve its
greatest potential.
Productivity
I’ve been busy this year on the following projects:
Sustainability Purchasing Network - Charlene Easton,
Tim Reeve and I are raising the funds to support a Sustainability Purchasing
Network designed to help purchasers improve their practices, grow the
sustainable enterprise sector in B.C. and move corporations towards a
triple bottom line orientation. We hope to launch it in 2006. Check out the background
study.
CSR Practitioners' Network - I supported the Canadian
credit union system with CSR awareness-raising workshops and am working
with The
Co-operators on the creation of a CSR
Practitioners' Network for Canadian co-operatives. We hope
to introduce it in 2006.
Pension Fund Investment Pool - I having been working
with the Canadian
Community Economic Development Network to establish a $20 million
pension fund investment pool designed to catalyze financing for community
economic and First Nations development. This builds upon earlier work
for the National
Round Table on Environment and Economy and others to close the
capital
gap for underserved sustainability markets in Canada.
Looking Ahead
In addition to helping valued clients chart their CSR courses, I look
forward to supporting the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010
Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games with sustainability planning.
As well, I’ll be spreading the word this fall with several CSR/SRI
speaking
engagements across the country.
In preparation for 2006, I am seeking partners and funding to create:
- Corporate Sustainability Governance guidelines and training
- Corporate Social Performance guidelines
- Sustainable Finance initiatives
- A Sustainability Purchasing Network
I would enjoy talking with you about any of my current or future projects.
By exchanging ideas and working together we will continue to make steady
progress.
I hope to see you at the Harvest
Moon Mingle. If not, I’ll send a moonbeam your way.
All the best for a productive fall,
Coro
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