VideoCorporate Political Responsibility Taskforce

Can Americans Really Collaborate?

Bill Shireman of In This Together & Madeleine Para of Citizens Climate Lobby

Video 1 of 3

 

On May 19, 2022, we spoke with Bill Shireman of Future500 and In This Together and Madeleine Para of Citizens Climate Lobby to explore “Radical Collaboration: Can Business Help Unleash America’s Middle 70% to Address Climate & Strengthen Democracy?”

Though it is rarely featured in the news, research shows that most Americans can collaborate on solutions to systemic threats such as climate change. Yet, many of these “solution citizens” feel isolated and discouraged in the current environment of toxic polarization and destructive conflict. To address this challenge, am community of social entrepreneurs has been emerging, working to enable conservatives and progressives to work together on clean energy, conservation and strengthening democracy.

In this module, we explore:

  • How are Americans not as divided as they may seem on solving issues like climate change?
  • What is preventing citizens with solutions from leading the way?

The Corporate Political Responsibility Taskforce (CPRT)’s Expert Dialogues are in-depth, recorded conversations with academic experts, stakeholder advocates and business practitioners to provide our members and other CPR champions with the expertise and context they need to develop principled, proactive CPR strategies. We invite those interested in a constructive, non-partisan, principles-based discussion.

Bill Shireman is the President of Future 500 and co-chair of In This Together, which is mobilizing solution citizens and companies to tackle political polarization and revitalize democracy. He is known for bringing together capitalists, activists, conservatives, progressives, and other unusual bedfellows to overcome challenges that often divide them.

Madeleine Para is the Executive Director of Citizens Climate Lobby,a nonprofit, nonpartisan, grassroots advocacy climate change organization bringing a respectful, nonpartisan approach designed to create a broad, sustainable foundation for climate action across all geographic regions and political inclinations.

The full transcript for this module is available here

KEYWORDS: #CorporatePoliticalResponsibility #ESG #Polarization #Inclusion #CPR_Trends #Climate #CivicInstitutions #CPRProcesses #CPR_Responsibility #Greenwashing

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This article outlines CEO activism and its influence, risks, and rewards. Authors reference research to assert that CEOs must strategically decide when and how to engage with social and political issues. The included playbook provides insight on how to go about engagement for positive impact. By raising awareness and leveraging economic power, CEOs can embrace transparency and accountability to their company values.

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Outlines a structured framework for CEOs to disclose 3–5 year strategic plans—financial and non-financial—to long-term investors, helping align sustainability, purpose, and market-facing strategy while demonstrating material impact on stock performance and investor confidence.

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This article examines how current economic and political upheavals reflect an ongoing misalignment between business and economies and acceptable societal outcomes. Encourages re-examination of long-held assumptions. 

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WebsiteGlobal Reporting Initiative

Summary of voluntary standard on reporting public policy management approach, including political contribution disclosures as is certified by the Global Reporting Initiative.

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This report from the New America Foundation’s political reform program advocates for a voluntary public database that tracks the political positions and papers of advocacy groups, making it easier to track who is advocating for what when it comes to critical policy debates, demystifying the lobbying process. 

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ToolUnited Nations Global Compact

Seeks to advance the rule of law by engaging responsible business to support the building and strengthening of legal frameworks and accountable institutions – serving as a complement to, not substitute for, government action. 

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This article advocates for and examines the role of managers in weighing corporate political responsibility with traditional shareholder primacy when lobbying. Builds a strong case and suggests that companies consider whether the public is informed or has the necessary expertise.

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Dominic Barton, Mark Wiseman, Laurence Fink, Richard Edelman, Henry M. Paulson Jr., Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Nicholas Carr, Nitin Nohria, Paul Polman, Whitney MacMillan, Greg Page, Chanda Kochhar, Kathleen McLaughlin, Doug McMillon, Adrian Orr, John D. Rogers, Lim Chow Kiat, Euan Munro, Charles Tilley, Lei Zhang, Michael Sabia, James P. Gorman, David Walker, Angel Gurría, Ronald P. O’Hanley, Donald Kaberuka, Julie Hembrock Daum, Edward Speed, Angelien Kemna


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Lays out core principles—transparency, integrity, accountability, and effectiveness—with practical examples to help professionals and organizations engage in ethical and responsible lobbying. 

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ArticleOxford

This chapter introduces a “market failures” approach to business ethics, arguing that while profit is a core obligation, businesses also have a duty to avoid exploiting legal or structural gaps in the market in order to preserve trust, fair competition, and long-term legitimacy.

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ToolUN Global Compact

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BookHarvard University Press

Advances the argument that American CEOs, seemingly more powerful today than ever, have abrogated the key leadership role they once played in addressing national challenges, with grave consequences for American society. 

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ReportUN

Widely accepted multi-sector framework outlining expectations for companies to evaluate and disclose their commitment to human rights, identify salient issues, identifying processes for responding to claims, conducting due diligence and identifying strategies to prevent, mitigate or remediate adverse impacts on individuals and communities. Supports corporate political responsibility by outlining political rights as human rights, and providing established processes to draw on. 

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ReportHeritage Foundation

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