Ceres

Formed in 1989, Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with capital market leaders such as investors, companies and nonprofits to drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy. It focuses on the following areas of action:

• Coordination of deep stakeholder engagements and dialogue with Ceres network members and global partners;
• Delivery of science-based research and innovative tools that inspire best practices;
• Co-leadership of global initiatives that drive collective action and economy-wide solutions;
• Mobilization of advocacy campaigns to advance strong state, federal and global policy and regulatory actions; and
• Leverage of the power of the media and digital communications to promote bold sustainability leadership.

Ceres created the code of environmental conduct for companies and launched the global standard for corporate sustainability reporting in 1997 now known as Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and used by tens of thousands of companies worldwide.

The Ceres Investor Network includes more than 200 institutional investors, managing more than $47 trillion in assets. Ceres works with members to advance sustainable investment practices, engage with corporate leaders, and advocate for key policy and regulatory solutions to accelerate the transition to a net zero emissions economy.

Why it matters 

• Ceres plays a key role in several global climate initiatives in the financial sector, of which:
  • the Global Investor Coalition on Climate Change;
  • the Investor Agenda;
  • Climate Action 100+;
  • the Paris Aligned Investment Initiative, established by the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC). ; and
  • the Net Zero Asset Managers initiative, which is part of the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ).

• Ceres advocates for stronger climate policies, helps companies and investors improve climate and sustainability risk disclosures and address ESG issues

Ceres helps members of the Ceres Investor Network better assess and mitigate climate risk in their investment portfolios, therefore reducing climate-related risks, improving transparency and disclosure, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition, provides guidance to companies to use the leading frameworks for sustainability disclosure in their voluntary reports and financial filings, and encourages investors, companies and governments to support the work of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). For instance it offers recommendations on how companies can establish systems that address climate change as a systemic risk, or on how the banking industry can measure, analyze, and act against threats posed by climate change physical risks.

Main areas of work related to climate mainstreaming:

In 2019, Ceres launched the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets to accelerate the net-zero transition with large-scale behaviour and systems change in capital markets. Through this accelerator, Ceres educates and engages regulators, financial institutions, investors and other capital market influencers to act on the climate crisis as a systemic financial risk through four key initiatives:

• Regulators: Regulating Climate as a Financial Risk
• Banks: Financing a Net-Zero Economy
• Corporate Boards: Board Oversight of ESG and Responsible Policy Engagement
• Investors: Achieving Paris-Aligned Portfolios