Notes
Latest Notes
Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments for the InterAmerican Development Bank
The InterAmerican Bank’s new Environmental and Social Performance Framework (ESPF)...
ISSUE 43: THE ROLE OF THE FINANCIAL SECTOR IN RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS
As we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations...
ISSUE 42: WHAT LENDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH IESCS
Banks engage Independent Environmental and Social Consultants (IESC) to identify...
ISSUE 41: WHO CARES ABOUT CONSENT?
HINT: COMPANIES, SHAREHOLDERS, INVESTORS, MANAGERS, AND LENDERS NEED SOCIAL LICENSE...
ISSUE 40: COVID CULTURAL REACTIONS WORLDWIDE – A FOLLOW-UP VIEW FROM BEHIND THE HEADLINES
This time last year we checked in on our on-the-ground partners in >50 countries...
ISSUE 39: DANCING ALONG THE EDGE
Balancing the responsibility to protect vs. respect human rights in challenging environments.
ISSUE NO. 38: LENDERS’ GUIDE TO TCFD CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT APPLICATION – LESSONS LEARNED AND OUTLOOK
wo years ago, Blackrock[1] and other investors released reports citing that climate...
ISSUE NO. 37: WHAT THE “S”? PART THREE – COMPANY APPROACHES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)
In our previous posts exploring the social aspects of ESG, we have discussed the...
ISSUE NO. 36: THE EXTRACTIVES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT
“Indigenous people don’t favor economic development!” “Tribal people are...
ISSUE NO. 35: OIL & GAS AND NGOS: NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT?
Update: 10 Years Ago We Were Thinking… It has been just about ten years since we...
ISSUE NO. 34: DEAR COLLEAGUE: R U REACHING UR STAKEHOLDERS?
We know from experience that in-person stakeholder engagement is the ideal format...
ISSUE NO. 33: THE TWO CULTURES: MINING VERSUS EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND WHAT MINERS SHOULD DO ABOUT IT – PART TWO
Two factors dominate the mining industry’s DNA – one business-based and the other...
ISSUE NO. 32: WHAT THE “S”? PART TWO – ABOUT ESG MEANING AND BUSINESS SIGNIFICANCE
Previously, we discussed the accelerating importance of ESG’s “S” to investors,...
ISSUE NO. 31: HOW TO SATISFY INCREASING INVESTOR DEMANDS FOR REPORTING ON STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS
Blackrock’s 2021 Proxy Voting Guidelines for Shareholders call on companies to...
ISSUE NO. 30: MINING IN THE REAL WORLD TODAY: WHY DON’T THEY LIKE US? PART ONE
I put it to you that mining, and indeed, the whole extractive industry, faces quite...
ISSUE NO. 29: WHAT THE “S”?
WHAT IS “S” AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? “S” heavily impacts operating performance and...
ISSUE NO. 28: DUE DILIGENCE FOR M&A IN THE TIME OF COVID – OVERCOMING RESTRICTIONS TO RELIABLY IDENTIFY AND REPORT RISKS
Conclusion of the U.S. election and the promise of widespread COVID 19 vaccines and...
ISSUE NO. 27: LISTENING TO YOUR ELDERS MAY JUST PAY OFF AFTER ALL
We doubt whether many mining company managers and executives need another scary...
ISSUE NO. 26: WHY WE SHOULD STOP CARING ABOUT WHALES
If we want to build and maintain sustainable societies and sustainable businesses,...
ISSUE NO. 25: INSIGHTS FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AN OFFSHORE WIND EIS: PART III
This is the third in a series of notes analyzing public comments on the Supplement...
ISSUE NO. 24: INSIGHTS FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AN OFFSHORE WIND EIS: PART II
This is the second in a series of notes analyzing public comments on the Supplement...
ISSUE NO. 23: CREATING BUSINESS VALUE THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND HOW TO DO IT
SOLAR FARMS. MEATPACKING FACILITIES. OFFSHORE OIL PROJECTS. COPPER MINES. GAS...
ISSUE NO. 22: THE PANDEMIC LESSONS
The rapidly increasing importance of a company’s environmental, social and...
ISSUE NO. 21: THE SWISS RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS INITIATIVE: OUR COMMENTARY
The Swiss Responsible Business Initiative (RBI) is a national initiative that aims...
ISSUE NO. 20: WHAT CAN PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS TELL US ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT?
Analysis of Public Comments on Vineyard Wind Supplement to the Draft Environmental...
ISSUE NO. 19: WE’RE LISTENING
One positive outcome of the past few months is that it has given us the opportunity...
ISSUE NO. 18: OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPERS FACE INCREASED LENDER ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
KEY TAKE-AWAY: Commercial banks will soon implement updated project finance...
Strategic Environmental and Social Assessments for the InterAmerican Development Bank
The InterAmerican Bank’s new Environmental and Social Performance Framework (ESPF) will become...
ISSUE 43: THE ROLE OF THE FINANCIAL SECTOR IN RESPECTING HUMAN RIGHTS
As we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Guiding Principles...
ISSUE 42: WHAT LENDERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WORKING WITH IESCS
Banks engage Independent Environmental and Social Consultants (IESC) to identify and protect...
ISSUE 41: WHO CARES ABOUT CONSENT?
HINT: COMPANIES, SHAREHOLDERS, INVESTORS, MANAGERS, AND LENDERS NEED SOCIAL LICENSE TO OPERATE...
ISSUE 40: COVID CULTURAL REACTIONS WORLDWIDE – A FOLLOW-UP VIEW FROM BEHIND THE HEADLINES
This time last year we checked in on our on-the-ground partners in >50 countries to make sure...
ISSUE 39: DANCING ALONG THE EDGE
Balancing the responsibility to protect vs. respect human rights in challenging environments.
ISSUE NO. 38: LENDERS’ GUIDE TO TCFD CLIMATE CHANGE RISK ASSESSMENT APPLICATION – LESSONS LEARNED AND OUTLOOK
wo years ago, Blackrock[1] and other investors released reports citing that climate risks in...
ISSUE NO. 37: WHAT THE “S”? PART THREE – COMPANY APPROACHES TO DIVERSITY, EQUITY & INCLUSION (DEI)
In our previous posts exploring the social aspects of ESG, we have discussed the accelerating...
ISSUE NO. 36: THE EXTRACTIVES AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INVOLVEMENT
“Indigenous people don’t favor economic development!” “Tribal people are anti-extractives.” These...
ISSUE NO. 35: OIL & GAS AND NGOS: NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT?
Update: 10 Years Ago We Were Thinking… It has been just about ten years since we published this...
ISSUE NO. 34: DEAR COLLEAGUE: R U REACHING UR STAKEHOLDERS?
We know from experience that in-person stakeholder engagement is the ideal format for building...
ISSUE NO. 33: THE TWO CULTURES: MINING VERSUS EVERYDAY PEOPLE AND WHAT MINERS SHOULD DO ABOUT IT – PART TWO
Two factors dominate the mining industry’s DNA – one business-based and the other from science....
ISSUE NO. 32: WHAT THE “S”? PART TWO – ABOUT ESG MEANING AND BUSINESS SIGNIFICANCE
Previously, we discussed the accelerating importance of ESG’s “S” to investors, customers,...
ISSUE NO. 31: HOW TO SATISFY INCREASING INVESTOR DEMANDS FOR REPORTING ON STAKEHOLDER INTERESTS
Blackrock’s 2021 Proxy Voting Guidelines for Shareholders call on companies to undertake...
ISSUE NO. 30: MINING IN THE REAL WORLD TODAY: WHY DON’T THEY LIKE US? PART ONE
I put it to you that mining, and indeed, the whole extractive industry, faces quite a challenge....
ISSUE NO. 29: WHAT THE “S”?
WHAT IS “S” AND WHY DOES IT MATTER? “S” heavily impacts operating performance and its management...
ISSUE NO. 28: DUE DILIGENCE FOR M&A IN THE TIME OF COVID – OVERCOMING RESTRICTIONS TO RELIABLY IDENTIFY AND REPORT RISKS
Conclusion of the U.S. election and the promise of widespread COVID 19 vaccines and treatments...
ISSUE NO. 27: LISTENING TO YOUR ELDERS MAY JUST PAY OFF AFTER ALL
We doubt whether many mining company managers and executives need another scary reminder about...
ISSUE NO. 26: WHY WE SHOULD STOP CARING ABOUT WHALES
If we want to build and maintain sustainable societies and sustainable businesses, we need to stop...
ISSUE NO. 25: INSIGHTS FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AN OFFSHORE WIND EIS: PART III
This is the third in a series of notes analyzing public comments on the Supplement to the Draft...
ISSUE NO. 24: INSIGHTS FROM PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AN OFFSHORE WIND EIS: PART II
This is the second in a series of notes analyzing public comments on the Supplement to the Draft...
ISSUE NO. 23: CREATING BUSINESS VALUE THROUGH COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND HOW TO DO IT
SOLAR FARMS. MEATPACKING FACILITIES. OFFSHORE OIL PROJECTS. COPPER MINES. GAS PIPELINES. OFFSHORE...
ISSUE NO. 22: THE PANDEMIC LESSONS
The rapidly increasing importance of a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG)...
ISSUE NO. 21: THE SWISS RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS INITIATIVE: OUR COMMENTARY
The Swiss Responsible Business Initiative (RBI) is a national initiative that aims to hold...
ISSUE NO. 20: WHAT CAN PUBLIC COMMENTS TO ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS TELL US ABOUT THE VIABILITY OF OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT?
Analysis of Public Comments on Vineyard Wind Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact...
ISSUE NO. 19: WE’RE LISTENING
One positive outcome of the past few months is that it has given us the opportunity to do what we...
ISSUE NO. 18: OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPERS FACE INCREASED LENDER ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS
KEY TAKE-AWAY: Commercial banks will soon implement updated project finance standards that will...
ISSUE NO. 17: READINGS TO HELP DEFINE ESG IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
The COVID-19 crisis raises critical questions about the meaning of Environmental, Social and...
ISSUE NO. 16: DOES THE FRENCH “DUTY OF VIGILANCE” LAW CONSTITUTE BEST PRACTICE FOR DOMESTIC BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS LEGISLATION?
In our combined 50 years of human rights assessment practice, one of the key learnings we have...
ISSUE NO. 15: COVID CULTURAL REACTIONS WORLDWIDE – A VIEW FROM BEHIND THE HEADLINES
The news these days is full of updates on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting us here in the...
ISSUE NO. 14: TURBULENT TIMES – SOCIOPOLITICAL TRENDS IMPACTING LATIN AMERICA
What a year in Latin America! The “Latin American Spring” erupted in 2019. Violent...
ISSUE NO. 13: SIGNIFICANCE OF PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE EQUATOR PRINCIPLES
Are you finding it overwhelming to track all the changes in ESG standards? We’ve broken down the...
ISSUE NO. 12: WHAT DO KAYAK, COMMUTER TRAINS, MAJOR CAPITAL PROJECTS, AND DETROIT HOUSING CHALLENGES HAVE IN COMMON?
The last twenty years have seen data availability change the way people interact with major...
ISSUE NO. 11: MANAGING MARINE GROWTH IN THE OFFSHORE RENEWABLES INDUSTRY: LESSONS LEARNED FROM OIL AND GAS
Management of marine growth (a.k.a. biofouling or epifauna/epiflora) is an important engineering...
ISSUE NO. 10: LESSONS FROM THE FIELD – PRACTICAL CHALLENGES TO APPLYING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND GOOD PRACTICES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS (UPDATED)
Global companies and investors are facing a surge in new requirements and expectations for...
ISSUE NO. 9: MODERN DAY SLAVERY: GRAY AREAS AND MANAGEMENT APPROACHES
The emerging focus on modern slavery has highlighted abuses occurring when workers are forced to...
ISSUE NO. 8: FAIR LABOR PRACTICES IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN – HOW FAR DOWN DO YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES EXTEND?
The 2nd in a series of Acorn International posts on Lessons from the Field – Practical Challenges...
ISSUE NO. 7: BUSINESS AND HUMAN RIGHTS – ASSURANCE UNDER CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES
Business and Human Rights – Assurance Under Challenging Circumstances Much has been written lately...
ISSUE NO. 6: TRANSFORMATION AT RANDALLS
An impossibly long grocery store line Filled with articles and impatience Eyes rolling, throats...
ISSUE NO. 5: REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE (ESG) TRENDS AFFECTING FRONTIER MARKET INVESTMENTS
Investors have traditionally looked for distinctive growth opportunities in markets where they can...
ISSUE NO. 4: DR. CHRIS ANDERSON ON THE EXTRACTIVES SECTOR
Writers Series: Part I, Dr. Chris Anderson on the Extractives Sector This is the first article in...
ISSUE NO. 3: REGIONAL NON-TECHNICAL RISK TRENDS AFFECTING OIL AND GAS / ENERGY INVESTMENTS
Investment in the global energy sector has experienced impressive swings in recent years. Sharp...
ISSUE NO. 1: SOCIAL RISK TRENDS IN MEXICO’S ENERGY INDUSTRY
In 2014, we predicted that most significant obstacles to operators investing in energy sector...
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