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In This Issue
Editor's Note
Global Trends in Sustainable Investment
Despite the recent economic downturn, sustainable investment is growing not just in the United States and Europe but also in newer markets like China. Reporting from BSR's Beijing office, Xin Zhuo and Laura Gitman explore recent trends in sustainable investment in the country, and in particular how regulations are driving improved ESG performance. They also provide recommendations for how public companies can link management of ESG issues to overall performance.
Also this week, we released "Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age," a new BSR report that describes the freedom of expression and privacy risks faced by information and communications technology companies, and how these risks can be more effectively mitigated by the industry.
And finally, we highlight a snapshot of the perceived impact and likelihood of risks occurring in the next 10 years. According to the World Economic Forum's report, climate change, fiscal crises, and economy disparity are the top three global risks to look out for in the next decade.
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In Depth
Trends in Sustainable Investment
By Laura Gitman, Managing Director, Advisory Services, BSR
Despite the recent economic downturn, sustainable investment is extending beyond the United States and Europe, and into countries where it was previously not widely practiced.
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Toolbox
Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age
By Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services, BSR
Today, BSR published "Protecting Human Rights in the Digital Age," a new report describing the freedom of expression and privacy risks faced by information and communications technology (ICT) companies, and how these risks can be more effectively mitigated by the industry.
The key theme of the report—a valuable resource for any ICT company undertaking human rights due diligence, especially in light of the recent recommendations from the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Business and Human Rights—is the relationship among human rights, ICT companies, law enforcement agencies, and national security concerns. There are legitimate reasons why companies may restrict the free flow of information or allow access to personal information, but at the same time, there is the risk that law enforcement agencies will make demands of the private sector to undertake invasive privacy or freedom of expression activities that infringe on human rights.
The report concludes that the entire ICT value chain and its stakeholders (governments, human rights groups, and academics) need to explore how human rights can be protected in the context of today’s law enforcement and national security activities.
This report was commissioned by the Global Network Initiative.
For more information on human rights and ICT, contact Dunstan Allison Hope.
Quick Hit
Top Global Risks of the Next Decade
According to the World Economic Forum's "Global Risks 2011" report—which analyzes the global risk landscape in the coming decade—economic disparity and global governance failures are the two most significant risks given their high degrees of impact and interconnectedness. The report also identifies three main clusters of risks: the "macroeconomic imbalances" nexus (currency volatility, fiscal crises, and asset price collapse); the "illegal economy" nexus (state fragility, illicit trade, organized crime, and corruption); and the "water-food-energy" nexus (rising global population and resource shortages). Additionally, the report includes a series of risk-response strategies that can help all stakeholders take advantage of opportunities for innovation that emerge from risk mitigation.
The graphic below illustrates the perceived impact (in US$ billions) and likelihood of risks occurring in the next 10 years. The data reveals that climate change tops this list, followed by fiscal crises, economy disparity, global governance failures, and extreme weather events.
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