Profit and the Environment: Common Sense or Contradiction?

In recent years it has been recognised that stronger environmental regulation of trade and industry has been required. Both the US and European Union have put in place new stringent controls on business. This coupled with increased public pressure has meant that companies now have to pay greater attention to environmental issues. This is especially true as the public perception of a company will affect greatly its share price.
This book describes the issues surrounding business practice and the environment, both for corporate directors and for investors.

Spis treści:
Acknowledgements.
List of Abbreviations.
A Brief Introduction to the Environment
PART I A CHANGING WORLD
1 The Environment
Introduction
Climate change
Population growth
Water resources
Disappearing forests
Depletion of fish stocks
Industrial pollution
Sustainable development
The European Union
The Bellagio Principles
Conclusion
2 The Rapid Development of Environmental Law
Introduction
How US law is made
The EU legislative system
The development of environmental law
US law on the atmosphere
EU air pollution regulation
Water regulation in the US
EU water law
Contaminated land: the US perspective
EU contaminated land regulation
US waste regulation
EU waste regulation
Conclusion
3 Reputational Issues
Introduction
What is reputation?
Stakeholders
Making a corporate commitment
Reputation and shareholder activism
Reputation and strategic partnership
Reputation and the unthinkable
Conclusion
PART II THE CORPORATE RESPONSE
4 Environmental Accounting and Reporting
Introduction
The emergence of environmental accounting
Environmental issues in financial accounting
Definition of environmental costs
Environmentally induced costs: assets or expenses
THE IASC approach
Summary of environmental accounting
Environmental reporting
Different approaches t o environmental reporting
GRI sustainability reporting guidelines
Independent review
Conclusion
5 Socially Responsible Investing
A short history of ethical investment
Research methodology
The Morley approach
The Friends Provident system
The Dow Jones sustainablility group index
The FTSE4Good indices
Risk issues
The Turnbull Report
Shareholder engagement
6 The Sustainable Company: Some Case Studies
Introduction
Bristol–Myers Squibb
ICI
UBS
7 How to Identify a Strong Performer
Introduction
The environment: spurring the next revolution?
Environmental management systems
Communicating between companies and investors
Conclusion
8 SMEs and the Environment
Introduction
Definitions of an SME
Environment: perceived attitudes of SMEs
SMEs and environmental management
Climate change levy and other issues
Environmental reporting and accounting
9 Final Thoughts
Bibliography
Index

Nota biograficzna:
HILARY STONE is a specialist in environmental law. Originally a lawyer in private practice specialising in advising corporate clients on environmental issues, she currently lectures at the Centre for Environmental Research, Brunel University .
JOHN WASHINGTON–SMITH is an independent environmental consultant specialising in environmental management, auditing and training. He was previously the RAF′s head of environmental policy, which gave him considerable experience of managing both environmental and public relations issues.

Okładka tylna:
In recent years it has been recognised that stronger environmental regulation of trade and industry has been required. Both the US and European Union have put in place new stringent controls on business. This coupled with increased public pressure has meant that companies now have to pay greater attention to environmental issues. This is especially true as the public perception of a company will affect greatly its share price.
This book describes the issues surrounding business practice and the environment, both for corporate directors and for investors.