Business Climate

Ceres, a coalition of environmentalists and institutional investors, has released a report that grades 100 of the world's largest companies based on how they are positioning themselves in a "carbon-constrained" world market -- that is, one in which carbon emissions are regulated. On that score, the report gives high marks to DuPont and BP (both of which, it should be noted, have lately suffered bad press for other reasons). In a press release, Ceres explains that DuPont "has reduced its greenhouse gas emissions 72 percent since 1990 and developed forward-thinking commercial products such as energy-efficient building materials, components for solar, wind and fuel cell systems and next-generation refrigerants with low global warming potential." Failing grades, meanwhile, were handed out to usual suspects like Newmont Mining and ExxonMobil. The latter is currently the most profitable company in the world, but if its corporate philosophy doesn't change soon, its fortunes undoubtedly will.