Issue 13 - October 2003

News

• ACCA participates in GRI's structured feedback questionnaire
• ACCA has submitted its response to GRI, responding to their request for structured feedback on the 2002 version of the Guidelines.
• More legislation not the answer to "fat cat pay" problem
• ACCA has responded to the UK's Department of Trade and Industry that its consultation document on "fat cat pay" fails to address the root of the problem - namely, the current lack of an effective restraint mechanism for directors' pay
• ACCA launches 2003 cycle of Environmental and Sustainability Reporting Awards
• Potential participants have been invited to enter Award programs held in Australia & New Zealand, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, North America, Pakistan and Singapore
• Online directory launched of good practice among European SMEs Enterprise Europe
• Over forty case studies of responsible entrepreneurship in Europe's SMEs are listed in an online directory posted on the Commission's Europa website
• ACCA fears that the OFR plans could reduce disclosure
• These concerns are raised in ACCA's response to the UK government's consultation document on what information should be included in companies' new Operating and Financial Reviews (OFRs)
• UK reporting awards case studies published
• The 2002 UK Award winners were interviewed about the reporting process they follow within their organisations. The case studies are now available to read on the ACCA website
• General Guidelines on the verification, validation and assurance of environmental and sustainability reports
• This draft for public comment has been published by Standards Australia. The closing date for comment is 21 October.
• UKSIF / Just Pensions' pharmaceutical sector note issued
• The first in this series of sector notes identifies potentially material social, environmental and ethical risks facing the pharmaceutical sector, as well as highlighting the work of the Pharmaceutical Shareowners Group on access to medicines in developing countries.
• Edging closer to a UK Government CSR Academy?
• Plans for a new CSR academy moved a step closer as the UK's Minister for CSR announced the new members of a steering group who will take forward recommendations for driving forward skills for CSR.

New Publications

• Directions #3, Trends in CSR Reporting 2002-03
• Directions #3 is a joint research project by Context and salterbaxter, and reports on the latest trends in CSR reporting in the UK, rest of Europe and the US
• Enterprise3: Your Business and the Triple Bottom Line Economic, Environmental, Social Performance
• This guide identifies ways that SMEs can adopt better business practices to make a positive difference for the environment and society, while at the same time improving their overall business performance
• China: The investment agenda for building an environmentally sustainable economy
• This latest ASrIA research report provides a summary health check of the Nation and the measures underway to address the country's grave environmental challenges
• FEE Discussion Paper on the Financial Reporting and Auditing Aspects of Corporate Governance
• This paper highlights the essential role the audit committee needs to play in the future corporate governance debate
• Good Companies, Better Employees
• This research report, by The Corporate Citizenship Company, shows how community involvement and good corporate citizenship can enhance employee morale, motivation, commitment and performance
• AccountAbility Quarterly: Does Reporting Work? The Effect of Regulation
• This latest issue of AccountAbility Quarterly tries to get beyond the usual debate concerning voluntary versus mandatory approaches to reporting, to see what works and why

GRI update

• GRI update