BSR Insight Archives: 2011 our-insights
December 20, 2011
BSR’s Climate Initiatives for 2012
The close of 2011 marks the end of a record year for weather disasters and an inconclusive finish to the COP17 climate talks. For 2012, that means climate leadership will rest firmly on the shoulders of business.
In This Issue
December 13, 2011
Corporate Complicity in Human Rights
Human Rights Day, which took place just a few days ago, gives us an opportunity to reflect on the continuing challenges for business and human rights. Chief among these is the issue of “corporate complicity” in human rights violations. Companies are expected to avoid direct violations of human rights, but they are also expected to avoid complicity in violations committed by others.
In This Issue
December 6, 2011
Are You a Corporate Idealist?
This is the time of year when many of us are making lists: presents to buy (or presents we want), resolutions to follow, last-minute things to get done before the offices close for the holidays. This week, Christine Bader, BSR's Human Rights Advisor, offers her own list in the form of a “manifesto” for the Corporate Idealist.
In This Issue
November 29, 2011
The Future of Fuels
Over the past two years, we have seen both the largest oil spill and one of the deadliest nuclear accidents in history, highlighting the costs of satisfying our growing energy demands with current sources and technologies. At the same time, the recession and concerns about national security have made new energy options more attractive, especially if they promise local jobs and supply, whether those be in renewable sources such as wind and solar, or “unconventional” fossil fuels in the United States and Canada.
In This Issue
November 22, 2011
How to Start a Living Wage Program
Earlier this year, BSR Advisory Services Manager Roger McElrath outlined some of the trickier issues with offering a living wage—beginning with how to define it, who is responsible for ensuring that it is defined, and the role of the company. In that article, McElrath argued that a fundamental part of any company’s CSR efforts should be ensuring that the wage level is adequate to support, at minimum, the purchase of basic necessities.
