Feb. 14, 2008 - Environmental and social performance is rating high on the corporate reporting agenda, with two-thirds of Global Fortune 500 companies issuing a standalone non-financial report in 2007, according to a new study from CorporateRegister.com. In addition, the report notes "a marked commitment to disclosing robust, credible climate change information."

Of the non-financial reports reviewed in the study, 87% address climate change, and 78% include concrete emissions greenhouse gas emissions data. An average of 44% provide independent verification of their climate change disclosures (one in ten North American reporters do this, compared to three out of five in Europe).  

"The question on everyone's mind is, ‘how can I trust you?’" says Robert Dornau, director of the climate change program at SGS Group, a corporate reporting consultancy. "Independent third-party assurance is an important way to respond to stakeholder concerns over credibility, especially with regard to climate change and emissions data."

Download the report here (free registration required).