Click here to watch Can We Use Corporate Governance to Combat Climate Change?

About the Program:

Despite recent setbacks, the corporation remains a dominant form for American businesses because it has historically produced profitable results for shareholders. It has not, however, provided consistently positive outcomes for other stakeholders, among them, consumers, employees and, perhaps most catastrophically, the global environment. Under the current system of corporate governance, this is not likely to change because the limited legal duties imposed on corporate leaders focus almost exclusively on the rights of the company’s shareholders and management and not on the rights of those outside the corporation. We will explore the possibility of changing or adapting the way American corporations are governed so that businesses begin to take more effective steps to lower greenhouse emissions and prevent global warming. This program is co-sponsored by the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce.

Keynote:

Peter Fusaro - Chairman & Founder, Global Change Associates

Panelists:

• Doug Cogan – Director of Climate Risk Management, RiskMetrics Group Inc.
• Prof. Daniel Greenwood – Hofstra School of Law
  Learn more about Prof. Greenwood's work at http://law.hofstra.edu/greenwood
• Stephen Viederman – Former President of the Jesse Smith Noyes Foundation and frequent author on corporate fiduciary duties and environmental issues

Moderator:

• David Rosenberg, Esq. - Associate Professor in the Law Department in the Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College

Issues to be addressed:

• Do corporate directors/officers have a legal obligation beyond ensuring that corporations comply with existing environmental law?
• What are the duties of a corporation’s directors regarding its contribution to global warming?
• Might courts or legislatures create fiduciary duties where they do not currently exist?
• Is the board’s oversight function changing significantly as stricter environmental regulations are enacted?
• What is the role of shareholders in influencing a corporation’s environmental record?
• Could shareholders sue directors for allowing activity that is legal but environmentally problematic?
• Is there a special role for institutional investors? For managers of “green” investment funds?
• Is it possible to influence elections of directors based on their environmental record?
• What are the ethical implications of corporate lobbying against environmental restrictions?
• Which other areas of law and policy would address this problem more effectively?

Co-Sponsor

The Manhattan Chamber of Commerce advocates for, connects and educates the business community in Manhattan. Learn more at www.manhattancc.org/.

Registration

Registration Fees (includes networking reception):

• Single Registration - $35
• Discounted Registration (for members of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, National Investor Relations Institute, New York Society of Security Analysts, CEO Trust, or Financial Executives International) - $15
• Complimentary registration for Baruch College alumni, students, staff, and faculty

Register online, by phone or e-mail:

1. Complete the online registration form or
2. Call us at 646-312-3231 or

3. E-mail us at matthew.lepere@baruch.cuny.edu

After you have registered, please submit the appropriate registration fee via mail or fax.

To pay via mail:

Please make check payable to Baruch College and send to:

Baruch College - Climate Change Seminar
Center for Corporate Integrity
55 Lexington Avenue, B11-275
New York, NY 10010

To pay via fax:

Please complete our credit card payment form and fax to: (646) 312 – 3351