(Pic from Amerinfo)

CSR Wire has news that fourteen major investment companies have lanched a report on SRI for the UN's Environment Programme Finance Initiative.

The report, entitled "Show Me the Money", confirms the growing importance of environmental, social and governance (ESG) concerns to the global investment industry. UNEP FI is a unique public-private partnership between UNEP and more than 160 banks, insurers and asset managers.

"There is a growing worldwide understanding of the pivotal role the investment community and capital market actors have to play in addressing critical ESG challenges, " explained Achim Steiner, UNEP Executive Director and United Nations Undersecretary General.

"At the same time, the mainstream investment community is waking to the burgeoning opportunities associated with sustainability promoting companies, technologies and investment funds. From clean-tech, to renewables and ecosystem services, the growth industries of the 21st century are emerging at an accelerated pace," added the head of UNEP.

"Show Me The Money" is a 47-page summary report synthesising more than 1,000 pages of research from the mainstream financial analyst community. The report draws on work by a group of leading financial institutions* and covers the impact of qualitative and new risk issues on company value. Industries covered include the auto-industry, aerospace and defense, the media, and the food and beverage industries.

For the full report in pdf, click here.

In other corporate social responsibility news ...

*From SourceWire: UK companies are becoming more responsible, but are the public convinced?

*Singapore is ahead of Malaysia and Hong Kong in CSR, says Channel News Asia.

*From GreenBiz: Uber-Efficient IKEA Has More in Store

*Nigeria is currently hosting a summit of world dignitaries focusing on the role of private enterprise in enhancing Africa's long-term economic growth and development.

*Apple investigates IPod working conditions in China.

*From Ethical Corporation ... Big companies and ethics: When size matters.

*"Supermarkets' lowest price approach is 'socially, economically and politically flawed'" ...

*At the Boston Globe: Cohen, Greenfield re-emerge for Ben & Jerry's new campaign. More on this at Rethinking Corporate Social Responsibility.

*floods in Mumbai and corporate responsibility addressed at the IndiaTimes blog.

*Mike's Points asks: "Is corporate social responsibility profitable?"