An Evaluation of the Usefulness of Web-based Financial and Environmental Performance Information Provided by Oil and Gas Companies

Environmentally conscious investors require financial information in addition to environmental information to evaluate a company's performance. Sources of such information include organizations that specialize in providing environmental performance data, such as the Council on Economic Priorities (CEP) or the Investor Responsibility Research Center (IRRC). Both of these organizations research, evaluate, and rank companies based on a variety of metrics, and both charge for their service. Through company websites, the Internet offers another potential source of information, since most companies have a "web presence." However, information supplied on a company website has the risk of bias (i.e. the website may be a marketing tool for the company). This potential bias leads to the question of whether information provided by firms is sufficient for an environmentally conscious investor to make an informed decision.