Shareholder Advocacy: Values in Action

As investors, we have unique power and responsibilities that allow us to engage corporate leaders and other decision-makers on critical environmental issues.  We use strategic engagement to improve corporate environmental practices and contribute to a healthier, more sustainable world. 

We directly engage with companies on multiple levels, including through direct outreach and the filing of shareholder resolutions.  While we seek to find consensus with the companies we engage through dialogue, in certain cases we use our legal right as shareholders to file formal resolutions with the companies. 

Filing shareholder resolutions encourages increased dialogue and allows us to raise concerns with broader management, other influential shareholders, the media and the general public.  Green Century works in collaboration with numerous coalitions of socially responsible investors, religious communities, and environmental groups to amplify our collective voice and achieve greater social and environmental change. 

In addition, Green Century weighs in on relevant public policy initiatives, encouraging government leaders and policymakers to set strong environmental and transparency guidelines for companies. 

Green Century has a long history and tradition of advocating for greater corporate environmental responsibility.  We engage companies on the merits of improving their environmental performance and make the business case that such action may help them succeed financially as well.  For example, as companies around the globe are seeking opportunities to cut expenses, it is clear that reducing energy consumption will result in reduced energy costs along with a lower carbon footprint.

Green Century's approach has enabled us to accomplish a number of important environmental achievements over the past decade.  But the impact of our work is found not only in our victories -- it is also found at the companies whose cultures reflect an increased awareness of the role that they can play in achieving a clean, healthy environment.