CERES is a coalition of activist and investor organizations united to advance corporate responsibility. It is this unique combination of the investor perspective, which requires profitable companies and robust economies, and the environmental perspective, which prizes the goal of a healthy planet, that shapes CERES’ strategies and methods. It believes that economic prosperity and protection of the earth cannot be pursued separately.

CERES uses the carrot and the stick to pursue its ends. It works in partnership with corporations that have made a serious and public commitment to full disclosure and high-level engagement with its stakeholders. Together they explore difficult issues through respectful discussion and information sharing. CERES connects companies to the expertise and constructive criticism of the Coalition, provides them with a framework for disclosing their impacts, and recognizes their accomplishments.

Over the past two years, the Foundation has supported CERES’ efforts to press corporations to adopt policies addressing the risk of climate change. CERES has succeeded in focusing the attention of corporate directors and major institutional investors on how responsible behavior on climate change minimizes risk and builds value.

In 1997, CERES launched the Global Reporting Initiative, an international, multi-stakeholder effort to create a common framework for reporting the economic, environmental and social impacts of corporate activity. The GRI was created in the belief that greater disclosure by corporations according to independent, comparable standards would drive improvements in practices and policies by companies. Developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme, and with support from the Foundation, the GRI incorporates the active participation of businesses, accountancy, human rights, environmental, labor and governmental organizations from around the world. The GRI was formally inaugurated as an independent, global standard-setting body at a ceremony at the United Nations headquarters on April 4, 2002.

For more information visit: www.ceres.org

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