Tragedy of the Commons: tragically common
Despite clear business case examples and regulatory reforms being so obviously required, the “tragedy of the commons” as described by Garrett Hardin in his 1968 paper* seems to repeat itself daily in many ways, in many sectors. Take the case of nutrient overload and the agrifood value chain. Debates about the “clean green” image of […]
New IIRC Framework and GRI’s G4 aligned: Revised Comparative Table
Following the launch of the IIRC’s International <IR> Framework in December, a revised Comparative Table (click here) on the core requirements of the Integrated Reporting Framework (IR1) and the G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines is now available. It lists the core requirements of the IR1 and indicates alongside each the most relevant requirements of the G4. The […]
Lessons from Nelson Mandela for business leadership
Enterprise 21st century has a vacancy: visionary leadership. As we celebrate the life of Nelson Mandela this week, media reports are full of stories from people of all walks of life about how Madiba, in person and image, inspired them. And while his life was overly politicized, beyond his choice, it is worth considering what […]
Africa’s Mineral Wealth: Curse or Blessing?
Interviewed on CNBC on the outcomes of the Mining Lekgotla held in Johannesburg last week, the deputy chief executive of the South African Chamber of Mines acknowledged that his industry still has much to learn in how it manages its employees and works with local communities. This was a bold statement from the executive of […]
G4 and IR1: Updated Comparison
An updated Comparative Table (click here) on the core requirements of the Integrated Reporting Framework (IR1 – Consultation Draft) and the G4 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines is now available, based on the final version of the G4 launched by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) on 22 May. Using the structure of the IR1 as point of departure, […]
G4 and IR1 compared: Time to align forces
How does G4 and IR1 compare? How do they complement each other? A comparative analysis is now available (click here – Comparative Table), highlighting extracts from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)’s G4 that logically link with the latest International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC) requirements. It also serves to address some myths and four key messages […]
Natural Capital: Gaining Currency with Integrated Reporting
Natural Capital may be priceless, but it is due to increasingly make its way into the annual reports of corporations world-wide. Consider Natural Capital at Risk – The Top 100 Externalities of Business – published last month by the TEEB for Business Coalition in the same week that the IIRC published a new draft of its Integrated Reporting (IR) Framework. Its […]
Sign of the times: ESG Products & Services
Recent banking scandals have raised interest in corporate governance and organisational culture as make-or-break features of what makes a responsible financial institution. These can also be found in a longer list of sustainability expectations of financial institutions that have crystallised over the last two decades. In my work with Incite we have identified the ten […]
Basel III and ESG: What’s on the table?
Rescue packages and financial regulation remain in the headlines. Seeking to prevent a repeat of the financial crisis of early 2008 onwards, the Basel III requirements have zoomed in on the capital adequacy (capital buffers), leverage ratios and market liquidity (reserves) of banks. Introduced by the Basel Committee’s 27 member countries and others as of […]
Are banking values bankrupt?
It has of late become significantly less glamorous to admit that you work in the banking sector. The banking crisis of 2008 and ensuing world financial crisis have been accompanied by a series of scandals and shocks involving major banks. Think HSBC and drug cartel money, Barclays and Libor, Wegelin and tax evasion. The latter, […]