The future of CSR and ESG Reporting - An Interview with David Vidal, Director of The Conference Board about CSR and Sustainability Reporting

Mar 3, 2011 11:30 AM ET
(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Recently, 3BL Media attended the official launch of GRI’s Focal Point USA at the New York Stock Exchange and had the opportunity to interview David Vidal, Director of The Conference Board and discuss the latest trends in sustainability reporting and ESG disclosure in the USA and internationally.   Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched their new office in New York to help US companies to tell the world about their sustainability by providing support to those who produce sustainability reports. GRI’s new ‘Focal Point USA’ aims to boost the number of US companies reporting on sustainability in a consistent manner, to improve the quality of those reports, and to increase US organizations’ input into developing new guidelines for sustainability reporting.   GRI provides the world’s most widely-used framework for producing sustainability reports, also known as Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reports. The framework enables large and small companies, non-profit organizations and government bodies worldwide to assess their sustainability and disclose the results in a similar way to financial reporting. Transparency through reporting on these factors drives the sustainability of individual organizations and, ultimately, the global economy.
 
Each of the ‘Big Four’ accounting and professional services firms in the United States – Deloitte, Ernst & Young LLP, KPMG and PwC U.S. – has agreed to provide donations to sponsor GRI’s new Focal Point USA for the first two years. The Conference Board has agreed to host the GRI Focal Point USA on a pro-bono basis during that same period of time.
 
Earlier this year, 3BL Media and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) announced that they have entered into an agreement to provide packaged report services to companies that wish to bring broader exposure to their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability reports. In October 2010, Amsterdam-based GRI launched its ‘Focal Point USA’ in New York, where it is working to increase the quality and quantity of sustainability reports being produced by US companies.
 
3BL Media is an Organizational Stakeholder (OS) of GRI and stands in support of its mission to further promote sustainability reporting by all companies.
 
For more information about the Global Reporting Initiative, please visit
http://www.globalreporting.org
  About 3BL Media 3BL Media is a leading distributor of CSR and ESG news and content for corporations, non-profits and SMEs worldwide. 3BL Media helps organizations ensure that their press releases, news, multimedia and other important announcements reach the widest possible audience of media, professionals, investors, practitioners and consumers. Through a combination of both traditional and social media distribution channels, 3BL Media provides their clients with broadest possible reach, impact and influence among stakeholders. Website: http://3blmedia.com