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Upcoming Events- 26
May - The Amsterdam Global Conference on Sustainability and Transparency
- Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Target Audience: Executives from CSR departments, marketing, communications, corporate governance, auditing, accountancy, law, regulators, Government and policy
- 27
Mar - Earth Hour Australia 2010
- Location: http://earthhour.org.au/
Target Audience: Everyone!
- 27
May - 11th National Business Leaders Forum on Sustainable Development
- Location: Canberra
Target Audience: CEOs, Govt & Civic Leaders
What is GRI?
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework and is committed to its continuous improvement and application worldwide. This framework sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance. The cornerstone of the framework is the Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. The third version of the Guidelines – known as the G3 (3rd edition) Guidelines - was published in 2006, and is a free public good. These guidelines allow organisations to make meaningful, public, transparent disclosure on their sustainability performance. The G3 Guidelines can be downloaded from the GRI website free of charge along with a wide range of additional resources.
Download the full KPMG report here
A KPMG survey released in 2008 found that disclosure on corporate economic, environmental and social performance has become the norm among larger companies globally. Over 80 per cent of Global Fortune 250 companies (G250) now disclose their sustainability performance in “sustainability” or “corporate responsibility” reports, of which more than 75% use GRI’s Sustainability Reporting Framework as their basis. GRI’s vision is that reporting on economic, environmental and social performance by all organizations becomes as routine and comparable as financial reporting.
“In the broader context of market meltdown and climate change concerns about the importance of trusted, responsible, sustainable and transparent business practice has never been greater” Dr Simon Longstaff, Executive Director, St James Ethics Centre.
GRI in Australia
Since its establishment, the GRI network of stakeholders around the world has grown immensely. Recently, the GRI Secretariat has been looking at ways to more effectively meet the needs of stakeholders in different regions, to increase both the use of and the participation in the development of the GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework, and to generally strengthen and expand the GRI network.
Over the past two years, opportunities have arisen to address these needs, in the form of regional GRI representation, or ‘focal points’, that are established through the collaboration between GRI, national host organizations and other national institutions. GRI ‘Focal Points’ consist of one or more individuals employed by host organizations to represent GRI locally.
On 17 October 2008, GRI and St James Ethics Centre (the Centre) signed an agreement to establish a base for GRI in Australia. This ‘Australian GRI Focal Point’ will be hosted by the Centre and set up over the coming months during which networks and communities of practice will be established nationally and across the public and private sectors.
GRI and St James Ethics Centre are grateful to the Australian Federal Government, through Treasury for funding the collaboration as part of the broader Responsible Business Practice Project and are delighted that Australia’s largest accounting body - CPA Australia - will assist in the resourcing of a position in the newly founded base. View full Media Release.
“In a world first, the (Federal Treasury) funding has enabled the Centre to become the focal point in Australia for the Global Reporting Initiative – the international gold standard for reporting on sustainability and the UN Global Compact – the global initiative in corporate citizenship.” The Hon Minister Nick Sherry, 5 February 2009
GRI chose to partner with St James Ethics Centre due to its strong links with key players in regional corporate responsibility and sustainability, including its trusteeship of the Corporate Responsibility Index (CRI) – an initiative of Business in the Community (UK) and its longstanding partnership with the National Business Leader’s Forum on Sustainable Development.
The collaborative initiative will serve to strengthen the collective goals of both organizations – increasing the uptake of responsible business practice and making reporting on economic, environmental and social performance by all organizations as routine and comparable as financial reporting.
The Australian GRI Focal Point
The Focal Point will be based at St James Ethics Centre and will work under the overall direction of the GRI Secretariat; advised by a multi-stakeholder Advisory Group of key representatives from different constituencies and regions in Australia. Background and aims of the Australian GRI Focal Point.
Strategic objectives of the Australian GRI Focal Point:
- Maintain GRI’s position as the leading global standard setting body
- Increase value for reporting organizations and report users
- Build and manage a dynamic regional network
- Harmonisation with other international reporting initiatives
Advisory Group for the Australian GRI Focal Point
To successfully locate a GRI Focal Point in Australia a strategic stakeholder advising body will be created. The GRI will convene this Advisory Group in consultation with the Centre. It will discuss the strategic objectives for the region, avenues for financial support in Australia and the preferred role and activities for the Focal Point. The Advisory Group function, members and Terms of Reference.
Case Studies and Australian GRI reports
Email us your report to share with other Australian GRI users!
As the Network of GRI users grows the Focal Point will gather Australian experiences to create country specific guidance. In addition, the Advisory Group will also provide expertise in areas such as environmental and human rights issues in Australia.
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Have your say: The 2010 GRI Readers' Choice Awards
Australian Network partners
These partners assist with the promotion of the GRI Readers' Choice Awards by reaching out to their respective networks.