Corporate Boards Paying Attention To Environmental Issues

August 13, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

About 25 percent of Fortune 500 companies now have a board committee overseeing environmental issues, compared with fewer than 10 percent five years ago, according to Ceres President Mindy Lubber, Wall Street Journal reports.

Companies like Integrys Energy Group, Quicksilver Resources, and Tesoro have created separate environmental panels, joining established ones at companies like DuPont, Occidental Petroleum. and Rohm & Hass.

Such panels try to ensure decision makers effectively handle conservation efforts, new environmentally-friendly ventures, compliance with environmental regulations and related business risks.

A good example is the special panel at American Electric Power. It was created in 2003 in response to a shareholder resolution urging the director to assess how the company would deal with potential regulations to reduce CO2 and other power-plant emissions. In 2006, the panel was awarded the highest U.S. ranking for board involvement in climate change from Ceres.

Still, less than one-fifth of energy industry executives surveyed by KPMG said sustainability was a permanent agenda item at board meetings, and 29 percent said it had never come up at such gatherings.

Activists say focusing board committees on the environment doesn’t ensure eco-friendly behavior; citing Exxon Mobil Corp, which has a special panels to monitor safety, health and the environment but is criticized for the lack of a comprehensive strategy to lower GHG emissions.

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Make sustainability part of your strategy.

Get equipped at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader