Glossary
Accountability Assurance Standard (AA1000AS)
A set of guidelines issued by AccountAbility for providing assurance on publicly available information, particularly CSR reports. More information can be found at www.accountability21.net.
Assurance
The process of confirming that reported performance information has been prepared in accordance with specified criteria and is free from material errors, omissions, and misrepresentations.
Climate change
Changes in global climate patterns caused by human-produced greenhouse gas emissions. Also known as global warming.
Corporate social responsibility (csr)
A company’s commitment to operating in a socially, economically and environmentally sustainable manner, while recognizing the interests of its stakeholders.
CSR report
Corporate social responsibility report is the term used by 23% of the companies in our survey to refer to reports that detail the environmental, social and economic impacts of a company’s operations. Other terms include sustainability report, corporate responsibility report and corporate citizenship report.
GHG
Greenhouse gas. A number of anthropologically produced and naturally occurring gases whose presence in the atmosphere traps energy radiated by the Earth. Primary GHGs, aside from water vapour, include the following six gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride.
GRI
Global Reporting Initiative. An international network of business, civil society, labour and professional institutions whose vision is to create a common framework for CSR reporting. More information can be found at www.globalreporting.org.
GRI G3 guidelines
The most recent set of standards and guidelines for CSR reporting published by the GRI.
International Standard for Assurance Engagements (ISAE 3000)
An standard published by the International Federation of Accounts for providing assurance on non-financial information. More information can be found at www.ifac.org.
KPI
Key performance indicator. Quantifiable, comparable metrics used to measure performance on specific issues.
Materiality
Defined by the GRI as “the threshold at which an issue or indicator becomes sufficiently important that it should be reported. Beyond this threshold, not all material topics will be of equal importance and the emphasis within a report should reflect the relative priority of these material topics and indicators.” The GRI also specifies that “materiality for sustainability reporting is not limited only to those sustainability topics that have a significant financial impact on the organization. Determining materiality for a sustainability report also includes considering economic, environmental, and social impacts that cross a threshold in affecting the ability to meet the needs of the present without compromising the needs of future generations.”
NGO
Non-governmental organization. A non-profit group or association unaffiliated with government, often associated with promoting causes such as humanitarian issues and development.
Stakeholder
A person or group that is affected, either positively or negatively, by a company’s operations, even if they have no financial connection to the company. A company’s stakeholders can include its employees, customers, suppliers, governments, shareholders, NGOs and members of the communities in which it operates.
Sustainable Development
Generally defined by the UN and others as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
UN Global Compact Principles
A set of 10 business principles, published by the United Nations, to which companies can voluntarily ascribe. The principles, drawn from various UN documents, address human rights, labour standards, anti-corruption and the environment. More information can be found at www.unglobalcompact.org.
WBCSD/WRI Greenhouse Gas Protocol
The WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The GHG Protocol Initiative, a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change. More information can be found at www.ghgprotocol.org.