Monthly Archives: December 2015

Ratings, rankings and indices converge around materiality

Materiality Tracker

Ratings, rankings and indices are converging around materiality December 2015 User View by Allen White, Vice President, Tellus Institute; Co-Founder Global Reporting Initiative and Corporation 20/20; Founder, Global Initiative for Sustainability Ratings, United States THE User Views of 2015 on Materialitytracker lead us to conclude that the boundaries between financial and non-financial are rapidly dissolving. Debates over the relevance of environmental, social and … more

December 2015: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Materiality Tracker

On 12 December governments at COP 21 finalise a new agreement following the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. Fossil fuel producers play down its significance. Others describe it as historic. Richard Branson speaks of a “Paris effect” that will ensure the economy of the future is clean energy driven. The pact implies a science-based net zero emissions target for the 2nd half of … more

November 2015: ExxonMobil

Materiality Tracker

On 4 November the New York State Attorney-General sends a subpoena to ExxonMobil requesting financial records and other documentation for an investigation on whether the company misled investors and the public about climate change risks and how it could affect ExxonMobil. The Attorney-General’s office has broad powers to initiate financial fraud cases because of New York state’s Martin Act (1921). … more

October 2015: Thomson Reuters

Materiality Tracker

Thomson Reuters Launches an online, multimedia report entitled “Seven Reasons the World will be Sustainable”. It profiles the challenge for the Global 500 to take on carbon pricing. It also quotes the Global Sustainable Investment Review, highlighting that the global sustainable investment market has grown from $13.3 trillion in 2012 to $21.4 trillion in 2014, representing 30.2% of professionally managed … more

September 2015: Volkswagen

Materiality Tracker

In September 2015 US regulators found Volkswagen guilty of intentionally falsifying emissions data. It catalyzed much debate on VW, the car manufacturing industry and test standards in Europe to limit air polluting NOx emissions. While consumer reaction worldwide did not immediately show a dramatic impact on sales revenues, investors made their displeasure clear. VW shares fell 70% over the following … more

August 2015: Apple

Materiality Tracker

After the Black Monday China stock market crash of 24 August, Apple’s shares dropped 10% as investors were concerned about its exposure to the Chinese market. Later that day Apple CEO Tim Cook took the unprecedented step of replying to an email of the TV host of the CNBC show Mad Money. He indicated that Apple has continued to see … more