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1. ASrIA BRIEFING, BENCHMARKING EHS PERFORMANCE WITH CONTOUR
8th July 2005, Hong Kong. Eric Ching, a Principle Consultant at the Hong Kong Productivity Council, provided an explanation and overview of benchmarking corporate environmental, health and safety performance using innovative software developed by the Confederation of British Industry. Our thanks to ASrIA member Rabobank for providing the venue.
http://www.asria.org/events/hongkong/05july

2. A GLOBAL ALLIANCE AGAINST FORCED LABOUR
The ILO has launched a comprehensive report on forced labour which includes the first estimates by an international organization of the number of people in forced labour and in trafficking, globally and regionally (in particular Asia Pacific where most forced labour occurs), details of trends, and estimates of the profits of the forced labour 'industry'. It proposes a new global initiative to abolish such practices.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1120536381

3. SEEKING ASIAN SRI SIGNATORIES TO GLOBAL REPORTING STATEMENT
Last year a group of North American social research analysts issued a collective statement calling on companies to produce annual sustainability reports based on the GRI's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. They are now issuing a global call for sustainability reporting from SRI institutions around the world.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121935303

4. JAPANESE PULP PRODUCER INVITES COMMENTS ON SOURCING POLICIES
Nippon Paper Group runs a public consultation on its wood chip sourcing policies.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1122260146

5. ASrIA MEMBER ON HONG KONG HONOURS LIST 2005
Congratulations to Shalini Mahtani, chief executive officer of Hong Kong NGO, Community Business, for receiving the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service 2005.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121826920

6. CSR ASIA SUMMER SCHOOL
CSR Asia Summer School will be held in Hong Kong from 3-6 August 2005. This four day workshop is aimed at new CSR managers, auditing staff, researchers, postgraduate students and any others interested in attending. The emphasis is on CSR in the Asia-Pacific region.
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1117688702

7. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ASIA: UNDERSTANDING GENDER DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL EFFECTIVENESS
22 - 23 November 2005, Hong Kong. The conference will be the first Diversity and Inclusion conference in Asia. Its primary objectives are to create a platform for D & I experts globally to come together to learn what companies are doing to address diversity in Asia, and to raise the awareness and importance of these issues in the region
http://www.asria.org/news/events/1119954118

8. CSR SEMINAR FOR BUSINESS LEADERS IN BANGKOK
7 June 2005, Bangkok. Last week, more than 100 senior business executives attended a seminar on CSR trends, sponsored by the Thai Institute of Directors and the World Bank.
http://www.asria.org/news/press/1118113879


Two themes stand out from the last two months. Firstly, climate change issues have been dominant, thanks in part to the high profile afforded by the G8. Several reports relevant to investors have been released (see Global News items 10 and 11) and a related report on the impacts of the car industry (Global News item 12). KLD have also published an index tracking corporations on the proactiveness of their response to climate change (Global News item 4). Secondly, a number of initiatives have been taking place related to key reporting standards, in particular the integration of social reporting into ISO standards and the translation of GRI standards into Chinese (see Global News items 1,2,3). ASrIA ran a briefing in Hong Kong on Environmental Health and Safety (see Asian News item 1).
IN THIS ISSUE:
ASIAN SRI NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
ASrIA briefing, benchmarking EHS performance with contour A global alliance against forced labour Seeking Asian SRI signatories to global reporting statement Japanese pulp producer invites comments on sourcing policies ASrIA member on Hong Kong Honours List 2005 CSR Asia summer school Diversity and Inclusion in Asia: understanding gender diversity and cross-cultural effectiveness CSR Seminar for business leaders in Bangkok
GLOBAL SRI NEWS
Join the GRI partnership for ISO 26000 Business for Social Responsibility suggests improvements to the Global Reporting Initiative New GRI documents available in Chinese New KLD Index benchmarks 100 global companies on climate change French Pension Reserve Fund Commits 600 Million Euros to SRI Vigeo-Ethibel merger forms new European SRI research firm The Co-operative Group CSR report KPMG finds more than half of Fortune 250 issuing standalone sustainability reports New WRI report finds environmental loophole in standards for MDBs Report equips investors with tools to analyze climate risk Henderson publishes two new reports on climate change Energy security & climate change: investing in the clean car revolution Free online course focuses on corporate social responsibility HSBC puts freshwater on the global agenda How does CSR differ in Europe, North America, and Asia? New WRI blog launches with sights on ''Next Billion'' consumers dollars 7TH anniversary TBLI conference Annual SVN Europe conference SMIA05, the 2nd congress with innovation fair on sustainable management in action Beyond compliance: innovative strategies for responsible sourcing Tremblant Forum 05 Conference & book launch on "The finance of climate change" Canadian socially responsible investment conference
	ASIAN SRI NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
	1. ASrIA BRIEFING, BENCHMARKING EHS PERFORMANCE WITH CONTOUR 8th July 2005, Hong Kong. Eric Ching, a Principle Consultant at the Hong Kong Productivity Council, provided an explanation and overview of benchmarking corporate environmental, health and safety performance using innovative software developed by the Confederation of British Industry. Our thanks to ASrIA member Rabobank for providing the venue. http://www.asria.org/events/hongkong/05july 2. A GLOBAL ALLIANCE AGAINST FORCED LABOUR The ILO has launched a comprehensive report on forced labour which includes the first estimates by an international organization of the number of people in forced labour and in trafficking, globally and regionally (in particular Asia Pacific where most forced labour occurs), details of trends, and estimates of the profits of the forced labour 'industry'. It proposes a new global initiative to abolish such practices. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1120536381 3. SEEKING ASIAN SRI SIGNATORIES TO GLOBAL REPORTING STATEMENT Last year a group of North American social research analysts issued a collective statement calling on companies to produce annual sustainability reports based on the GRI's Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. They are now issuing a global call for sustainability reporting from SRI institutions around the world. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121935303 4. JAPANESE PULP PRODUCER INVITES COMMENTS ON SOURCING POLICIES Nippon Paper Group runs a public consultation on its wood chip sourcing policies. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1122260146 5. ASrIA MEMBER ON HONG KONG HONOURS LIST 2005 Congratulations to Shalini Mahtani, chief executive officer of Hong Kong NGO, Community Business, for receiving the Chief Executive's Commendation for Community Service 2005. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121826920 6. CSR ASIA SUMMER SCHOOL CSR Asia Summer School will be held in Hong Kong from 3-6 August 2005. This four day workshop is aimed at new CSR managers, auditing staff, researchers, postgraduate students and any others interested in attending. The emphasis is on CSR in the Asia-Pacific region. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1117688702 7. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN ASIA: UNDERSTANDING GENDER DIVERSITY AND CROSS-CULTURAL EFFECTIVENESS 22 - 23 November 2005, Hong Kong. The conference will be the first Diversity and Inclusion conference in Asia. Its primary objectives are to create a platform for D & I experts globally to come together to learn what companies are doing to address diversity in Asia, and to raise the awareness and importance of these issues in the region http://www.asria.org/news/events/1119954118 8. CSR SEMINAR FOR BUSINESS LEADERS IN BANGKOK 7 June 2005, Bangkok. Last week, more than 100 senior business executives attended a seminar on CSR trends, sponsored by the Thai Institute of Directors and the World Bank. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1118113879
	GLOBAL SRI NEWS
	1. JOIN THE GRI PARTNERSHIP FOR ISO 26000 ISO has embarked on its first ever multi-stakeholder standard-setting process with the aim of creating the ISO 26000 Guideline for Social Responsibility. Scoping work on this began in 2004, technical work began in 2005, and the results are expected in 2008. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1120448181 2. BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY SUGGEST IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE A BSR report surveys 19 member companies on their experience and opinions of sustainability reporting according to GRI guidelines, identifying both strengths and weaknesses. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1119248129 3. NEW GRI DOCUMENTS AVAILABLE IN CHINESE The GRI Guidelines are now available in traditional Chinese characters, complementing the existing version in simplified characters. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1117168692 4. NEW KLD INDEX BENCHMARKS 100 GLOBAL COMPANIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE While the G8 agreement on climate change may amount to hot air, the KLD Global Climate 100 Index will allow investors to support high-profile large-cap companies as well as little-known small caps actively mitigating climate change. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121318777 5. FRENCH PENSION RESERVE FUND COMMITS 600 MILLION EUROS TO SRI The fund seeks to drive innovation and best practice through this significant infusion of cash into the European SRI asset management community http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121318204 6. VIGEO-ETHIBEL MERGER FORMS NEW EUROPEAN SRI RESEARCH FIRM The Vigeo Group becomes the largest corporate social responsibility rating agency in Europe, with global operations that the newly-created company plans to expand. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121318459 7. THE CO-OPERATIVE GROUP CSR REPORT The Co-operative Group, parent company of ASrIA member the Co-operative Insurance Society, have published their new Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2004, providing interesting perspectives on community oriented banking and investment. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1121670886 8. KPMG FINDS MORE THAN HALF ON FORTUNE 250 ISSUING STANDALONE SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS KPMG has released its 2005 International Survey of Corporate Responsibility Reporting. The survey found a substantial increase in the percentage of companies issuing standalone CR reports, from 45 percent (112 companies) in 2002 to 52 percent (129 companies) in 2005 for G250 companies. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1119942162 9. NEW WRI REPORT FINDS ENVIRONMENTAL LOOPHOLE IN STANDARDS FOR MDBS A report released today by the World Resources Institute (WRI) recommends that multilateral development banks (MDBs) incorporate environmental and social policies into their lending to financial intermediary (FI) institutions in developing countries. http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/4059.html 10. REPORT EQUIPS INVESTORS WITH TOOLS TO ANALYZE CLIMATE RISK Investor Network on Climate Risk and World Resources Institute team up on a report that provides a framework for valuating climate risk in the absence of regulatory clarity. The fifth point of the ten-point "Call for Action" issued by the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) at a United Nations summit last month asked investment managers to improve their analysis of risks and opportunities associated with climate change. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1118130013 11.HENDERSON PUBLISHES TWO NEW REPORTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change is widely recognised as the most significant environmental issue facing the global economy. 2005 is set to be a pivotal year, with regulatory controls on carbon tightening and discussions starting on global carbon reductions after 2012. Henderson commissioned Trucost, an environmental consultancy, to conduct two inter-related studies on these issues. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1119237973 12.ENERGY SECURITY & CLIMATE CHANGE: INVESTING IN THE CLEAN CAR REVOLUTION A collaborative effort between Merrill Lynch and the World Resources Institute. The objective of the report is to present a clear, concise explanation of the market forces and regulatory environment driving the trend toward cleaner cars and to highlight companies from the Merrill Lynch global auto universe which are leveraged to it. http://www.asria.org/ref/library/csrguidelines/1118977807 13. FREE ONLINE COURSE FOCUSES ON CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY The course aims to teach the critical processes for gaining competitive advantage through CSR. By integrating CSR with Balanced Scorecard processes, organizations are shown a way to improve business performance across the enterprise. http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/4047.html 14. HSBC PUTS FRESHWATER ON THE GLOBAL AGENDA HSBC has launched a guideline governing its project finance activities in the freshwater infrastructure arena. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1118114085 15. HOW DOES CSR DIFFER IN EUROPE, NORTH AMERICA, AND ASIA? The results of a recent survey comparing corporate social responsibility in various areas of the world -- Europe, North America, and Asia -- have recently been published in The Journal of Corporate Citizenship, Spring 2005 issue. http://www.asria.org/news/press/1117595300 16. NEW WRI BLOG LAUNCHES WITH SIGHTS ON ''NEXT BILLION'' CONSUMERS DOLLARS A new hyper-interactive blog has been launched as the world's premiere online water cooler and conference room for business development aimed towards eradicating poverty. The "NextBillion.net - Development through Enterprise" blog, created by the World Resources Institute (WRI), is located at www.nextbillion.net. http://asp.sriworld.com/asria/press_releases/article.cgi/3991.html 17. 7TH ANNIVERSARY TBLI CONFERENCE 2-4 November 2005, Frankfurt. Brooklyn Bridge is pleased to present the 7th annual TBLI Conference in Frankfurt this year. It is the largest global conference on sustainable investments (Triple Bottom Line Investing), providing social and environmental returns in addition to financial returns and covering the fields of public equity, private equity, debt financing, microfinancing and bonds and more. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1120011413 18. ANNUAL SVN EUROPE CONFERENCE 29 September - 1 October 2005, Tuscany. Social Venture Network Europe's annual international conference offers experienced business cases, inspiration, networking, knowledge and ways to refresh professional creativity. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1117435101 19. SMIA05, THE 2nd CONGRESS WITH INNOVATION FAIR ON SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT IN ACTION 19-20 September 2005, Geneva. Concepts and strategies in sustainable management: Climate change, corporate governance, dialog with NGO's, co-operation and development networks, market mechanism, sustainability conscious shareholders, regulations, etc. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1106127861 20. BEYOND COMPLIANCE: INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES FOR RESPONSIBLE SOURCING 19 September 2005, New York. At the 7th Annual SAI Conference, you will hear practical solutions to the challenges facing corporations, non-governmental organizations and trade unions in this complex era of global shifts, social compliance and extensive supply chains. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1115176436 21. TREMBLANT FORUM 05 15 September 2005, Quebec. Tremblant Forum 05 aims to provide useful direction and context to the most important codes, indices, guidelines and networks of international organizations that international investors need to navigate. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1121830296 22. CONFERENCE & BOOK LAUNCH ON "THE FINANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE" 15 July 2005, London. The inaugural Conference on "The Finance of Climate Change" was held in conjunction with the book launch of "The Finance of Climate Change - A Guide for Governments, Corporations and Investors." http://www.asria.org/news/events/1118284642 23. CANADIAN SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT CONFERENCE 12-14 June 2005, Toronto. Find a written review of the conference and links to media articles. Full presentations will be posted soon. http://www.asria.org/news/events/1110854290
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	ASrIA E-Bulletin July 25, 2005 The Association for Sustainable & Responsible Investment in Asia