Social Responsibility: Page 2

  • A building facade with the Microsoft logo and it's night time
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    Jeenah Moon via Getty Images
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    Amid DEI cuts, Microsoft works to distinguish itself from those responding to ‘woke’ backlash

    While some companies axed DEI roles due to “woke” backlash, the motivations of other companies may be more nuanced.

    By Caroline Colvin • July 29, 2024
  • Mukhtar Babayev, COP29 President-Designate, speaks on stage.
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    COP29 president lays out climate action priorities ahead of summit

    Azerbaijan’s Mukhtar Babayev said he’s committed to boosting climate finance and finalizing the implementation of the Paris Agreement’s Article 6 at this year’s summit.

    By • July 23, 2024
  • Visual displaying components of ESG. Explore the Trendline➔
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    TarikVision via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from ESG Dive

    This year has shaped up to be a formative one for ESG, both on the regulatory and financial front, with the SEC’s climate disclosure rule and the battle over shareholder rights and proposal approvals.

    By ESG Dive staff
  • Latin American businessman talking to a group of coworkers in a business meeting at the office
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    Hispanolistic via Getty Images
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    Bias in hiring, performance evaluations can derail corporate DEI goals

    The Conference Board’s “Bias Interrupters” framework offers a way to foster inclusion and control for legal risk.

    By Carolyn Crist • July 23, 2024
  • A storefront with riding mowers, wheelbarrows and other garden equipment out front.
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    Courtesy of Tractor Supply
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    Deep Dive

    Tractor Supply retreats on DEI, climate after ‘anti-woke’ backlash. Now the real fallout begins.

    The retailer's pullback of its corporate diversity and climate efforts could alienate some customers, employees and investors.

    By Daphne Howland • July 15, 2024
  • Silver Chevy Volt electric vehicles and Opel Amperas come off an assembly line.
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    Bill Pugliano via Getty Images
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    GM shareholders vote down 3 ethical supply chain proposals

    Responding to the proposals, the automaker defended its existing practices for supplier agreements and operational policies.

    By Kelly Stroh • July 15, 2024
  • KPMG accounting logo
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    Sean Gallup via Getty Images
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    Sustainability is a key factor in improved financial performance: KPMG

    Indicators like lower carbon dioxide emissions, land environmental impact reduction and business ethics policies are linked to increased gross profit margin, per a study of 2,617 companies.

    By Suman Bhattacharyya • July 11, 2024
  • Young Happy Businesswoman Using Laptop Computer in Modern Office with Colleagues with VFX Hologram Edit Visualizing Stock Exchange Interface, Opened Charts.
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    gorodenkoff via Getty Images
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    Generative AI gains foothold in ESG landscape

    The increased use of artificial intelligence in ESG, beyond reporting, was on display at the Amazon Web Services conference last week.

    By • Updated July 8, 2024
  • Heavy smoke clouds of carbon emissions spew from three cylindrical columns rising from a factory in the background, partly obscured by trees, with the roof of a house barely visible in the foreground.
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    Mark Wilson via Getty Images
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    Supreme Court blocks enforcement of EPA’s ‘good neighbor’ rule

    The 5-4 decision was criticized by clean energy advocates who said the court failed to address the “public health harm that occurs during the pendency of the stay granted.”

    By Robert Walton • June 28, 2024
  • Nestlé's new Sustainably Sourced chocolate brand.
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    Courtesy of Nestlé
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    Nestlé introduces sustainably sourced chocolate brand

    The confectionery offering, which uses cocoa certified by the Rainforest Alliance, will be available in airports around the world.

    By Christopher Doering • June 25, 2024
  • funding contest open only to Black women is likely discriminatory, says 11th Circuit
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    gorodenkoff via Getty Images
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    11th Cir. deals another blow to corporate DEI programs

    The federal appellate court ruled 2-1 that a competition designed to award grants to businesses owned by Black women likely violates federal civil rights law. 

    By David Weisenfeld • June 21, 2024
  • Light through the Pride flag turns the street many colors.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Morningstar index targets LGBTQ+ inclusive companies

    “As LGBTQ+ identities become more ubiquitous, inclusive investing will continue to develop,” the firm said in an accompanying paper.

    By • June 21, 2024
  • A container ship sits docked at the Port of Oakland on June 07, 2023.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    How Supplier.io’s collaboration with CDP boosts supply chain transparency

    Supplier.io CEO Aylin Basom said clients were asking the supply chain diversity and ESG data company for additional insights, which led the company to pursue the partnership.

    By • June 17, 2024
  • The hands of a person of color can be seen typing on a laptop.
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    Christina Morillo | Pexels

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    DEI success ultimately stems from strong CEO leadership, survey indicates

    While acknowledging the increased pushback regarding DEI programs, Black executives noted the importance of sustaining their initiatives.

    By Carolyn Crist • June 17, 2024
  • Hershey's chocolate bars are shown on July 16, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Hershey ramps up renewable energy sourcing to slash emissions

    The chocolate manufacturer increased its procurement of electricity from green sources to 80% in 2023, up from 77% in 2022 — a rise it attributed to PPAs and clean energy credits.

    By • June 14, 2024
  • A group of people in masks stand outside a government building, holding signs in support of affirmative action.
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    Anna Moneymaker via Getty Images
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    DEI backlash won’t halt workplace initiatives, most leaders say

    Nearly all leaders said they believe DEI is important for its positive impact on recruiting, hiring and retention, a survey finds.

    By Carolyn Crist • June 12, 2024
  • Street signs for the intersection of Wall St. and Broad St., with the stripes of an American flag in the background.
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    Michael Santiago/Getty Images via Getty Images
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    SEC asks organizations to complete diversity self-assessment

    The agency said it will use the voluntary disclosures from its regulated firms to identify any trends and progress on diversity-related activities.

    By • June 10, 2024
  • A 'Citi' sign is displayed outside Citigroup Center near Citibank headquarters in Manhattan on December 5, 2012 in New York City.
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    Mario Tama via Getty Images
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    Citi boosts paid parental leave to match industry peers

    The bank is giving birth mothers an additional eight weeks of recovery time, bringing total leave to 24 weeks, in line with policies by Morgan Stanley and Barclays.

    By Dan Ennis • June 5, 2024
  • Bank of America's logo on a building façade
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    Mario Tama / Staff via Getty Images
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    Bank of America tweaks its restriction on firearms, energy lending

    New language indicates lending decisions go to senior risk officials for case-by-case evaluation, rather than being a non-negotiable “no.”

    By Dan Ennis • June 3, 2024
  • A picture of the United Nations logo.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    UN agency launches ESG metrics to measure workplace reproductive health care access

    The UNFPA unveiled a slate of ESG indicators organizations can use to measure their performance across various sexual and reproductive issues being faced by their employees.

    By • May 30, 2024
  • Seven orange statues stand on the Smithsonian Castle grounds.
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    Alex Wong via Getty Images
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    Why is the gender pay gap widening in STEM?

    While the reasons for the gap remain stubborn problems, job search engine Adzuna hypothesizes that this specific issue is a result of the pandemic. 

    By Jen A. Miller • May 30, 2024
  • A sign is posted in front of a Google office on April 26, 2022 in San Francisco, California. Google parent company Alphabet will report first quarter earnings today after the closing bell.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Google, Meta, Microsoft, Salesforce launch coalition to contract carbon removal credits

    The Symbiosis Coalition aims to purchase up to 20 million tons of nature-based carbon removal credits for the tech companies by 2030.

    By • May 29, 2024
  • Photo looking up at high rises and Wall Street sign.
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    franckreporter via Getty Images
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    JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley shareholders modestly support Indigenous rights, climate proposals

    While voters did not approve shareholder resolutions at either meeting, the results displayed similar, if not greater, support as nearly identical proposals at other large U.S. banks.

    By • May 24, 2024
  • Picture of Shein office lobby.
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    Courtesy of Shein
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    Shein factory employees work long hours under poor conditions: report

    Following allegations from human rights group Public Eye, the fast fashion giant said it invests tens of millions of dollars into strengthening its supply chain governance and compliance.

    By Laurel Deppen • May 21, 2024
  • Red Hat DEI lawsuit filed by America First
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    Courtesy of Red Hat
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    Red Hat’s DEI program discriminatory, lawsuit says

    A senior manager says he was fired for being white and male and retaliated against for his merit-based hiring advocacy.

    By Robert Freedman • May 13, 2024
  • The Canary Wharf headquarters of Barclays Bank.
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    Oli Scarff via Getty Images
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    Barclays pressed on climate commitments and Gaza at annual meeting

    The bank was asked to pull back financing for its North American fracking operations during the meeting as it faced protests over its alleged ties to the war in the Middle East outside the venue.

    By • May 10, 2024