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| The Summit will bring together a wide variety CSR topics organised in different formats including the keynote panel, 18 breakout sessions, the CSR Bazaar and the World Café.
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Keynote panel
Details to be confirmed.
Breakout Sessions
The 18 breakout sessions are organised under four streams, each with a special focus.
- Environment
- Workplace and community
- Marketplace and Transparency
- Asian CSR
CSR Bazaar
The CSR Bazaar is a unique new feature of the Summit, which will bring together a selection of interesting presentations and case studies that will be presented concurrently in the same plenary room. Delegates can freely move around different counters to listen to presentations of their choice and learn more in less time. Click here for information about the various CSR Bazaar presentations.
World Café
The World Café is another new feature of the Summit. At the end of the two day Summit, delegates will be brought together in roundtables, where a table host will facilitate group discussion on the key outcomes of the Summit. Results of the discussions will then be summarised in the plenary session. The World Café will be a highly valuable session for information and idea exchange, consolidation of learning and some last minute networking.
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| Stream: Environment |
1a. Climate change adaptation: the role of business, government and civil society
The physical impacts of climate change are already upon us as evidenced by warmer temperatures in certain parts of the world, more extreme weather events, shifting seasons and changes in water flow. Climate change will have negative effects on business and global markets. Businesses will likely experience repercussions of climate change through supply chains, employees and the vulnerability of surrounding communities. It will likely lead to a change in existing business models and risk management structures. Furthermore, Southeast Asia is home to some of the populations most vulnerable to climate change. Poverty coupled with already existing social and environmental challenges has left a lot of communities lacking the resources necessary for adaptive actions. Some businesses are beginning to plan to minimise their own risks, improve adaptative capacity and resilience and leverage new opportunities. Government leadership is also emerging, helping to set clear frameworks for adaptation. Can the private sector bring the creativity and innovation that is critical for assuring successful adaptation across society? Are there opportunities for business to collaborate with the global community on climate change adaptation? This panel will hear from business , government and civil society on how best to leverage the resources required to ensure greater society is better equipped to deal with the future impacts of climate change.
1b. Tackling the water challenge
Population growth and economic development are accelerating demand for water. Increasing industrialisation is also impacting on risks associated with water contamination. In addition, climate change impacts are putting enormous strains on available drinking water sources. With evidence of an emerging water crisis increasing, water needs to become part of businesses’ strategic thinking. This panel/workshop will
- introduce practical tools and measures to assess water-related risks in your operations and supply chain and
- help you increase water efficiency and start thinking about sustainable water management.
1c. Towards a Malaysia coalition for greener offices
Offices generate a lot of waste. Tonnes of paper, rolls of toners, kilowatts of electricity and gallons of water are purchased, used and thrown away daily indiscriminately. A straw poll found companies in Malaysia want to reduce their waste and increase recycling, but individual companies lack the power to effect greater change. This session is the start of a coalition of companies who want to do something about their waste and more responsible sourcing of paper and other office equipment. Brain storm and action plan on bulk sourcing of recycled or FSC paper, identifying recycling agents, and demonstration on company initiatives. Bring along data on how much waste you generate and how much a difference you can make!
1d. Corporate Climate Change Strategies Post-Copenhagen
Global climate change is the single biggest risk to our economy and our planet. Scientific evidence and economic analysis confirm the need for rapid, radical cuts in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Amid the credit crisis and financial turmoil the clock is counting down to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in December 2009, which will set the tone for climate change action over the coming decade. Whatever decisions will be made in Copenhagen, the regulatory environment is likely to change and will primarily impact the corporate sector which is one of the major contributors of GHG emissions. What kinds of strategies will be needed to assist companies in meeting their responsibilities to reduce their contribution to global warming? How will certain market based solutions such as the Clean Development Mechanism continue post-Copenhagen and what will this mean for business? This panel will bring together experts in a discussion format and provide an evaluation of the risks and opportunities businesses need to be prepared for. A case study from the aviation industry will also be discussed.
1e. Lessons from sustainable agriculture initiatives
The past decade has seen a proliferation of sustainable agriculture initiatives. The Forest Stewardship Council and the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil are among the models now being followed by the biofuels industry, soy producers as well as other industries and intergovernmental organisations. But have they been effective? This panel will include experts involved in these initiatives, and highlight the areas which have been successful, and those where future and existing initiatives have failed to deliver true sustainability.
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| Stream: Workplace and Community |
2a. Resolution and prevention of community conflict
In Southeast Asia alone, NGOs estimate that there are over a thousand open, unresolved conflicts between local communities and companies over land, livelihoods and environmental degradation. Such conflicts are detrimental to operations and reputation, and cause severe hardship to many communities. This panel will explore new frameworks to avoid and resolve such conflicts through the ‘Free, Prior, Informed Consent’ Framework and toolkit, and how it has worked in practice.
2b. Codes of Conduct: An SME perspective
What happens when an SME receives a request from a client to comply with its code of conduct? Conventional wisdom suggests SMEs understand codes of conduct and the accompanying checklists and choose one of two paths: i) compliance with the code; or ii) non-compliance, but falsification of data to suggest compliance. This view, however, masks a basic fact: few SMEs have staff who understand the concepts underpinning codes of conduct and thus often make choices based on limited information. SMEs with little or no experience of the language of codes of conduct, social auditing or high-level global labour standards are daunted by codes and struggle to comprehend key clauses and how they should respond. This session is for both major parties involved in the process: i) companies expecting SME suppliers to comply with codes; and ii) SMEs requested to comply with codes. Based on a new publication by CSR Asia, Stephen Frost will lead participants through key areas of codes of conduct that present SMEs with difficulties. He will provide commentary on how codes could be presented more effectively by clients and explanations that will make sense to SMEs.
2c. Embedding Gender in Sustainability Reporting: Tools and Practices
Research on companies’ reporting on gender equality found that companies rarely report much gender disaggregated data. This workshop is for practitioners who want to establish themselves as leaders in managing gender issues. It will highlight some of the existing and emerging business drivers for improving practices and reporting on material gender issues. In addition, legal and ethical imperatives for reporting on gender issues will be discussed. Practical steps will be offered on how to embed gender in sustainability reporting. In particular, Workshop leaders from GRI and IFC will focus in depth on 3 areas of top priority as per interest expressed by the participants, and draw on the recently produced Resource Guide that is based on research and multi-stakeholder consultations in Brazil, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2d. What are core labour standards and how do they apply to my business?
These fundamental international labour standards form the basis of almost all codes of conduct applicable to the supply chain. Yet despite their importance, few companies understand the core standards or know how to apply them to their business. With more clients expecting compliance with these standards in the supply chain, it is essential that suppliers at least understand the main elements. In this hands-on workshop, participants will be provided with clear outlines of the standards and why they are important to business in the supply chain, along with best practice case studies on how other companies have been able to implement such standards.
2e. Current bottlenecks in social enterprise development in Asia
This workshop will explore current bottlenecks in social enterprise (SE) development in Asia. Challenges from across countries and within countries are different. Drawing from cross sector and cross country experiences, this workshop aims to discuss and engage participants to be part of a focus group in exchanging ideas, brainstorming creative solutions and engaging in first level feasibility discussions for next steps. Both SE practitioners and industry practitioners, especially those who don’t have a background on SE, are encouraged to participate in order to stimulate out-of-the-box thinking.
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| Stream: Marketplace and Transparency |
3a. Transparency and governance
Following the financial crisis the issue of corporate transparency is central to the debate regarding the future of business. Businesses are required to clearly outline how they manage their business and how accountable are those who run the business. This session will look at how good corporate governance is the fundamental basis for corporate social responsibility and is the issue that a company must address to satisfy all stakeholders.
3b. Countering bribery and corruption
This session will be a facilitated workshop to identify and provide tools for how companies can tackle the challenges presented by bribery and corruption. Using case studies and best practice examples this session will help delegates understand how to identify the challenges presented by bribery and corruption and measures to address the issue.
3c. Responsible lending – driving change through finance
Lending policies of banks are highly influential in deciding which projects can proceed and which fail. Some global banks are using this opportunity to ensure that they are not involuntarily funding environmental degradation, poor labour standards and human rights abuses. This panel will explore how such policies work.
3d. Product stewardship – taking responsibility for end users
The past years have seen a number of cases on product responsibility related to defective or contaminated consumer products. But to what extent are companies also responsible for how their product is ultimately used, disposed of or misused? In this panel, companies will explain why they have decided to take on this added responsibility.
3e. Best practice in Asian sustainability reporting
Disclosure is a key part of a CSR strategy and is increasingly a regulatory requirement in much of Asia (Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Malaysia). This session will introduce the ACCA research into CSR disclosure in countries which make up the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and what ASEAN stakeholder expectations are in regard to CSR disclosure. The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) will then speak on the GRI methodology and how a CSR report can be managed and disclosed. Following that, Det Norske Veritas (DNV) will present on what best practice is in assurance.
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| Stream: CSR Asia |
4a. Review and update of IFC Social and Environmental Standards
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has started a review and update of its standards on social and environmental sustainability and its disclosure policy. The Policy and Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability and the Policy on Disclosure of Information came into effect on April 30, 2006. The review and update process will ensure that the standards and policy reflect lessons learned from the last three years of implementation as well as evolutions in the global environment. It also will give stakeholders the opportunity to provide their advice, comments, and guidance. The process should take about 18 months, leading to updated versions by January 2011.
This session will engage delegates in a highly interactive dialogue to review the standards in setting the direction for the E&S aspects of private sector financing in emerging markets, including engagement in difficult/controversial sectors and approaches to emerging issues such as water scarcity and climate change.
4b. Carbon disclosure in Asia: What are stakeholders looking for?
With climate change and environmental performance reaching the top of the public policy agenda around the region, it is becoming increasingly relevant for businesses to report to their stakeholders on their climate change impact. In Asia, the frequency and severity of extreme weather events is pushing the private sector to start acknowledging and responding to those physical climate change related risks. Moreover, institutional investors are also demanding that companies disclose on the regulatory, reputational and litigation risks of climate change and on the strategies being taken to mitigate these risks. This session will give a perspective on what investors and other stakeholders expect of companies and the direction in which carbon disclosure is headed in Asia.
4c. Asian Sustainability RatingTM
The Asian Sustainability RatingTM (ASRTM) now in its second year, is a rating of the largest companies in Asia based on their CSR disclosure. The ASRTM compares CSR disclosure of the largest companies in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Japan, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Australia, and Pakistan. The research, conducted by CSR Asia and our partners, reviews what companies are disclosing to their stakeholders about their CSR. Based on a set of indicators that meets international best practice for CSR disclosure the ASRTM enables companies to benchmark their performance and to identify country and company strengths and weaknesses. This session will review the results, make comparisons with 2008 and look at the regulatory frameworks in Asia that support CSR disclosure.
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| CSR Bazaar |
5a. Climate change and food security
Rising food prices have posed a risk to the stability of many countries in Asia and these risks will be further compounded by climate change. Despite recent advances in analysing the economic impacts of global warming information about climatic threats to food security in developing countries is still extremely limited. What is the role of business in assisting governments and inter-governmental bodies on tackling these issues and ensuring a more secure food industry in the face of changing climates? In this session the UN World Food Programme will present how it works together with business in dealing with food security and climate change and shows ways for companies to engage their employees, customers and stakeholders.
5b. The future of stakeholder engagement –best practice tools, processes and practices from leading corporations
Proactive stakeholder engagement is key to a successful CSR program yet represents an enormous challenge to most CSR practitioners. We will explore these challenges in depth and cover select case studies from some of the top corporations and brands in the world on how they are leveraging innovative new tools, processes and strategic practices to go from reactive to proactive stakeholder engagement and dialogue and in doing so redefining their competitive advantage.
5c. CSR risks of oil and gas development in Burma
The oil and gas sector is currently Burma’s largest source of income, with revenues expected to rise astronomically when several new projects – most notably the Shwe natural gas project – come to fruition. The representative from Arakan Oil Watch, an NGO aiming to protect human rights and the environment from extractive industries in Burma, will argue that there is a lack of adequate environmental and social standards in Burma. Case studies will be used to highlight the risks of abuses, litigation and settlement which would exert reputational, shareholder and financial risks. Recommendations will also be made to help companies mitigate these risks and respond proactively to stakeholders’ expectations.
5d. Climate change in Asia - corporations that are waking up!
Facing up to the realities of climate change will be an issue that few industries will be able to escape from. Beyond the corridor of powers, be it at the global or national level, what are Asian companies up to? What are their responses? Are these real and will it make a difference? WILD ASIA, a Malaysian-based social enterprise working to support environmental and social initiatives in the region, shares some of the lessons learnt from the tourism and plantation sectors. Whilst they may not be making headlines, some of the efforts of local corporations could actually make a difference. This session aims to highlight some of the issues faced by operations on the ground and what people are doing to create positive change. It is hoped that these ideas could be applied by other corporations to their own work spaces.
5e. Turn CSR into workplace practices: the bottom-up approach
For large corporations dependent on a large workforce in the field or factory floor, looking to understand and engage the hundreds of workers and their concerns can seem daunting. Many corporations have social policies written up, but do these higher-level visions get translated and understood in the field or factory floor? WILD ASIA, a Malaysian-based social enterprise working to support environmental and social initiatives in the region, shares some of the lessons learnt from the tourism and plantation sectors. The team will share their experience in engaging workers and operational teams alike, getting them to participate in their own learning and finding solutions to workplace concerns.
5f. Carbon trading through climate mitigation and pro-poor strategies
Deforestation is the second largest contributor to global green house gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for as much as 20% of GHG released. It is the largest GHG source from the developing world. REDD (Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) is a framework designed to address this issue. This session will use a case study approach of one of the world’s first REDD projects located in Cambodia that involves community forests in selling carbon units in the voluntary carbon market to private sector companies. This cutting edge carbon offset project seeks to achieve significant community development benefits (payments for carbon sequestration) from the selling of carbon from the sustainable forest management (avoided deforestation) of a 60,000 ha block of tropical forest.
5g. Naked CSR: exposing the risks and opportunities of social media
It is currently estimated that there are 416,281,000 internet users in Asia Pacific, representing 41% of total internet users across the world (comScore stats). This represents the most dramatic regional internet growth rate anywhere in the world!
How many of these new netizens are your employees? How many of them work for your suppliers? How many of them are your customers? The rise of social media is dramatically altering the face of CSR and corporate reputation management in the Asia-Pacific region, yet the associated brand risks are still relatively misunderstood. Furthermore, the power of social media and the networks it enables has created the most significant opportunity for a company to mobilize individuals around key social and environmental issues – a CSR leadership opportunity that is commonly overlooked.
An interactive mini-workshop with audience participation to illustrate the dynamics of social media networks with respect to CSR issues, this session is designed to help you identify and manage CSR-related social media risks and to mobilise your CSR ambassadors around key social or environmental issues.
5h. Sino-German cooperation on CSR - experiences and lessons learnt
The Sino-German Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Project is implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). Its cooperation partner is the WTO Department of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Over the course of five years (2007-2012) the project will focus on strengthening Chinese institutions and organisations through innovative policy development and dialogue on CSR, initiating public-private partnerships with Chinese companies, and promoting international exchange on CSR. The CSR Project is the first bilateral project of its kind to focus exclusively on CSR in China.
Some major activities are policy recommendations to the Chinese central government and provincial government, organisation of training workshops as well as consultancy on CSR strategy implementation at company level.
The speaker of this presentation will share his experiences and the lessons learnt in the implementation of this project.
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