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In This Issue
Editor's Note
CSR in Saudi Arabia
On a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, BSR's Partnership Development Director Chad Bolick and Research & Innovation Director Faris Natour discovered that corporate social responsibility is developing with its own distinct characteristics in the kingdom. This week, they share what they learned and talk about BSR's new project to support human rights in the region.
Also this week, we report on an online forum allowing companies to contribute ideas and comments about the current phase of the UN Business and Human Rights Mandate.
And we highlight lessons from recent trainings BSR conducted on energy efficiency in China.
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In Depth
A Visit to Saudi Arabia: Key Trends in CSR and Human Rights
By
As BSR launches a two-year program focused on sustainability and human rights in Saudi Arabia, we look at three key trends that will define how corporate social responsibility becomes an integrated concept in the kingdom.
Read more →
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Spotlight
Energy Efficiency in China Requires Going Back to the Basics
By Daniel Gross
After Copenhagen, attention will switch from government commitments to on-the-ground changes needed now to lower emissions, especially in developing countries.
Recently, BSR launched a website and conducted trainings focused on how Chinese manufacturers can become more energy efficient by reducing waste, costs, and carbon emissions. We recommend:
- Focusing on people and systems: Assign people specific responsibilities (such as checking daily for air-compression system leaks or ensuring that motors are operating efficiently), and use energy-efficiency teams to track progress.
- Speaking the boss' language: Seventy-seven percent of 300 factory managers BSR polled list management buy-in as their biggest obstacle. Before seeking senior-level approval, analyze the returns on investments of carbon-emissions-reduction options.
- Remembering that less is more: Look for simple, no-cost management solutions before investing in new technologies. For example, remove unused lights before purchasing new ones.
For more information on BSR’s capacity-building work in China, contact Daniel Gross at dgross@bsr.org.
Toolbox
New Online Forum for UN Business and Human Rights Mandate
By Faris Natour, Director, Human Rights, BSR
UN Secretary-General's Special Representative on Business and Human Rights John Ruggie has launched an online forum for companies and other stakeholders to provide input as Ruggie develops guiding principles to operationalize the UN "Protect, Respect, Remedy" framework. The framework is composed of three pillars: the state duty to protect against human rights abuses, the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, and greater access to effective remedy for victims of corporate-related abuses.
All are welcome to contribute ideas and comments, and even rate what others have posted in terms of relevance and whether you agree or disagree. The current phase of the consultation, focused on the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, will run through February 2010.
For background on Ruggie's work, visit his web portal. Questions may be directed to Christine Bader, advisor to the UN secretary-general's special representative on business and human rights.
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