Ceres works to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and resilient world by making the business case for action on the most pressing sustainability challenges: climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and nature and biodiversity loss. With data-driven research and expert analysis, Ceres inspires investors and companies to act on these global challenges and advocates for market and policy solutions that transform industries, unlock business opportunities, and foster innovation and job growth—proving that sustainability is the bottom line. Ceres’ theory of change recognizes that climate, water, and nature risks financially impact investment portfolios and corporate bottom lines, and that addressing these risks allows investors and companies to safeguard long-term profitability, maintain competitive edge, and take advantage of business opportunities driving innovation and economic growth. While individuals, communities, and policymakers have essential roles in environmental stewardship, investors and companies remain uniquely positioned to deliver high-impact solutions. Ceres was founded in 1989 by visionary investors and environmentalists in response to the Exxon Valdez oil spill, led by responsible investing pioneer Joan Bavaria, who recognized that corporate-caused environmental disasters carry deep financial and economic risk. They established the Ceres Principles, the world’s first corporate code of environmental conduct, calling on companies to acknowledge environmental impacts and act more responsibly to protect communities and economies.
Why it matters: Ceres makes the business case that addressing climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss is financially essential for safeguarding long-term profitability and competitive edge, demonstrating that sustainability is the bottom line rather than a cost. By focusing on investors and companies as uniquely positioned to deliver high-impact solutions and using data-driven research to inspire action while advocating for market and policy solutions, Ceres mobilizes the financial power and operational reach of the private sector to accelerate transition to a cleaner, more just world. The organization’s founding in response to the Exxon Valdez spill and creation of the world’s first corporate code of environmental conduct reflects understanding that environmental disasters carry deep financial risk, making corporate environmental responsibility essential for protecting communities, economies, and investors.
