Ceres Report Released: Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Growing Competitive Pressures for Water

Recently, Ceres an international "advocate for sustainability leadership" issued a report titled, Hydraulic Fracturing & Water Stress: Growing Competitive Pressures for Water (2013). According to the press release for the brief report, and available with a one-time free registration,

[t]his Ceres research paper analyzes water use in hydraulic fracturing operations across the United States and the extent to which this activity is taking place in water stressed regions. It provides an overview of efforts underway, such as the use of recycled water and nonfreshwater resources, to mitigate these impacts and suggests key questions that industry, water managers and investors should be asking.

Ceres Report Released: Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey 2012

Yesterday, Ceres an international "advocate for sustainability leadership"  issued a report titled, Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey 2012 (2013). According to the press release for the report, and available with a one-time free registration,

[t]his report summarizes responses from insurance companies to a survey on climate risk developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). In 2012 insurance regulators in California, New York and Washington required insurers that write in excess of $300 million in direct written premiums, and are licensed to operate in any of the three states, to disclose their climate-related risks using this survey. The aim of the survey and Ceres’ analysis of the responses is to provide regulators with substantive information about the risks to insurers posed by climate change, as well as steps insurers are taking in response to their understanding of climate change risks.

Ceres & World Wildlife Fund Report Released: Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies are Investing in Renewable Energy

Yesterday, Ceres an international "advocate for sustainability leadership" and the World Wildlife Fund,  a leading conservation organization focused on saving endangered species,  issued a report titled, Power Forward: Why the World’s Largest Companies are Investing in Renewable Energy (2012). According to the press release for the 48-page report available here,

Large corporations are increasingly turning to renewable energy to power their operations. Companies are investing in renewable energy because it makes good business sense: renewable energy helps reduce long-term operating costs, diversify energy supply and hedge against market volatility in traditional fuel markets. It also enables companies to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals and demonstrate leadership on broader corporate sustainability and climate commitments.

This report shows that a majority of Fortune 100 companies have set a renewable energy commitment, a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction commitment or both. The trend is even stronger internationally, as more than two-thirds of Fortune’s Global 100 have set the same commitments.

Through two dozen interviews with Fortune and Global 100 executives and analysis of public disclosures, the report finds that clean energy practices are becoming standard procedures for some of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, including AT&T, DuPont, General Motors, HP, Sprint, and Walmart.

The Ripple Effect: Water Risk in the Municipal Debt Market

This report from CERES dated October 2010 finds that water availability is being tested like never before. More extreme droughts, surging water demand, pollution, and climate change are growing risks that threaten water supplies in many parts of the United States. In some regions, water scarcity is already crimping economic production and sparking interstate legal battles. The stresses are especially severe in regions experiencing rapid population and economic growth, including the West, Southwest and Southeast.

Toolkit for Foundations and Individual Investors: Harnessing Your Investments to Help Solve the Climate Crisis, November 2008

This Ceres report issued today identifies the steps foundations and individual investors can take to address climate change-related risks and opportunities that may be embedded in their investment portfolios. Ceres is a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups.

The "Toolkit for Foundations and Individual Investors: Harnessing Your Investments to Help Solve the Climate Crisis" is co-sponsored by the Environmental Grantmakers Association).

The toolkit outlines five steps foundations and other investors can take to advance tangible climate solutions, including:

1) Pressing companies to improve their climate change strategies
2) Engaging with Wall Street investment managers to incorporate climate change into investment research and decision making
3) Joining other institutional investors in supporting policy solutions and SEC regulatory actions
4) Investing in clean technologies and energy efficiency
5) Coordinating with other investors to address climate-related risks.