The Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies is a non-profit organization that strives for a sustainable future by transforming the economy. It was mostly founded as a reaction to the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Its belief that big thinking yields big returns has led to the realisation that solving the planet’s environmental challenges will require a transformation of the global economy. Ceres works with a global network of companies, investors and policymakers encouraging them to incorporate more sustainable alternatives like investing in low-carbon solutions, transitioning away from fossil fuels to greener technologies, as well as valuing water sources and managing them properly. Its Investor Network in Climate Risk and Sustainability is growing continuously. It consists of 160 institutional investors and collectively manages assets worth more than $ 25 trillion used to leverage shareholder power to secure meaningful commitments on sustainability issues. Ceres also offers leadership programs for its large network of companies and investors in order to “drive economic solutions for the world’s biggest sustainability challenges.”

Initiatives

• Commit to Climate: an initiative aiming “to build private sector leadership on climate action.”
• We Are Still In: a coalition between “3800 3,800 investors, companies, mayors, governors, college presidents and other leaders committed to action on climate change.“
• Climate Action 100+: a five-year initiative aiming to attain the Paris Agreement goals by encouraging companies to “drive the clean energy transition.”
• Connect the Drops: “urges policymakers to advance resilient water solutions that ensure sustainable management of the state’s” water supplies.
• Clean Trillion: aims to limit global warming to below 1.5°C thus avoiding the worst effects of climate change by taking part in the necessary efforts to invest an additional $44 trillion in clean energy—more than $1 trillion per year for the next 36 years.

Reports

• TURNING POINT: Corporate Progress on the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability (February 2018, 127p): “offers valuable insight for companies, investors, and advocates into how more than 600” U.S. companies tackle urgent sustainability issues.
• Running the Risk: How Corporate Boards Can Oversee Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Issues (November 2019, 43p): “provides guidance to corporate boards on how they can effectively oversee risks posed by ESG issues.”
• Change the Conversation: Redefining How Companies Engage Investors On Sustainability (February 2019, 40p): “highlights key trends in investors’ evolving expectations for corporate sustainability.”

Tools

• Ceres Aqua Gauge: A Comprehensive Assessment Tool for Evaluating Corporate Management of Water Risk
• Investor Water Toolkit: a “comprehensive resource to evaluate and act on water risks in investment portfolios.”
• SEC Sustainability Disclosure Search Tool: gives insights on how companies deal with sustainability issues.