This article originally appeared on GreenBiz.com 5 November 2012 – Trust is a valued but elusive resource, especially when applied to business. Trust in business is seen as both a driver of corporate sustainability efforts and a hoped-for outcome of any sensible corporate sustainability strategy. New data from the 2012 BSR/GlobeScan State of Sustainable Business Poll offers insights into strategies for enhancing trust in companies. GlobeScan has been working with BSR for the past four years on an annual quantitative survey of BSR member … “What Your Business Needs To Do To Overcome Public Distrust”
[jumplinks] Download the Full Release (PDF) 22 October 2012 – A new 21-nation poll for BBC World Service indicates that citizens around the world would strongly prefer to see Barack Obama re-elected as US President rather than his Republican challenger Mitt Romney. The poll of 21,797 people, conducted by GlobeScan/PIPA between July 3 and September 3, 2012, indicates that Obama is preferred to Romney in 20 of the 21 countries polled. Overall, an average of 50 per cent would prefer … “Global Poll: Obama Overwhelmingly Preferred to Romney”
‘State of Sustainable Business’ Research Reveals Strong Focus on Human Rights, Climate Change Download the Full Report (PDF) San Francisco, 18 October 2012 – Results from the fourth annual “BSR/GlobeScan State of Sustainable Business Poll 2012,” released today, outline the progress global business has made on 14 key sustainability challenges over the past 20 years, the areas where business is likely to make the most progress over the next 20 years, and key priorities for the year ahead—including human rights and … “New Poll of Business Leaders Highlights Sustainability Priorities for Global Companies”
Published by The Financial Times on October 17th, 2012, this letter was written by GlobeScan Chairman and CEO, Doug Miller, in response to an October 11th, 2012 article entitled “Companies are facing a new type of opponent” Sir, Michael Skapinker’s article “Companies are facing a new type of opponent” (October 11) builds very well on Simon Zadek’s keen observation that conflict today stems increasingly from the gulf between rich and poor within countries. Mr. Skapinker goes on to argue quite effectively that … “Companies Must Find Their Inner Societal Purpose”
This article by Sam Mountford originally appeared on GreenBiz.com October 3rd, 2012, as part of our Proof Points blog series 3 October 2012 – As I sit here writing this article, it has started raining again here in London. No surprises there, you might think. But even by soggy British standards, this summer has been extreme — the wettest for a century, meteorologists say. Communities in the north of England are under several feet of water, for the second time in less than … “Is Business our Last Great Hope on Climate Change?”
National Geographic Explores the World of Green Consumers: Read More on the Canadian Results (PDF) Toronto, Canada – 25 September 2012 – A new global analysis released today by the National Geographic Society finds that Canadian consumers rank 16th out of 17 countries surveyed in sustainable behavior. Canadian consumers are less likely than most to feel “guilty about the impact” they have on the environment (24% feel guilty), yet they are near the top in believing their individual choices could … “Canadian Consumers Among the Least Green and Least Guilty About Their Environmental Impact”
Download the Full Report 11 September 2012 – Over the last decade there has been extraordinary growth in the number of ratings, rankings and awards that seek to measure corporate sustainability performance. Just this week, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), Newsweek Green Rankings and others will announce how corporations have performed in their 2012 rankings of the world’s most sustainable companies. With the growing number of ratings, companies struggle to keep track and every year invest more time and effort into responding … “Experts Using Sustainability Ratings for Information, Not Action”
This article originally appeared on GreenBiz.com Sept 6, 2012, as part of our Proof Points blog series 10 September 2012 – With economic difficulties looming ever larger around the world, pessimism has now taken hold among consumers in a growing number of countries, infecting even those that have so far been doing well — like emerging economies in Asia and Latin America. But for many, Africa now constitutes a bright spot. Rapidly-growing countries such as Nigeria and Ghana contribute to the cautiously … “Africa, Optimism and What it Means for Companies”
27 August 2012 – A national survey has found that millions of Indians are observing changes in their local rainfall, temperatures, and weather, report more frequent droughts and floods, and a more unpredictable monsoon. A majority of respondents said their own household’s drinking water and food supply, health, and income are vulnerable to a severe drought or flood and that it would take them months to years to recover. Only 7 percent of respondents said they know “a lot” about global … “New Study: Indians are Worried About Global Warming and Support National Action”
The EU’s Reputation Tarnished by the Debt Crisis GlobeScan research analyst, Lionel Bellier writes in Les Echos to give his impressions on the deterioration of the EU’s reputation among the global public following the debt crisis in the Eurozone. “Procrastination, lack of leadership, prolonged decisions… For nearly two years, through their mismanagement of the sovereign debt crisis, the leaders of European institutions, including the governments of Member States, provided the stick to be beaten with. They thus continuously, and almost unconsciously, undermined the … “EU’s Reputation Tarnished by the Debt Crisis”