What Organizations are Doing for Earth Hour 2012

In 2012, Earth Hour is issuing a simple promise and a challenge - I Will If You Will. Here are a few examples of some of the Earth Hour challenges in 2012:

Sharan Burrow ITUC General Secretary inspires action

The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary, Sharan Burrow, has challenged trade unions around the world to take action for the environment. As part of Earth Hour’s I Will If You Will campaign Burrow has created a trade union network challenge to further encourage the transition to a more sustainable and low carbon economy. “If 100 trade union federations reach out to their national governments and ask them to invest 2% of the value of their economy (GDP) in green jobs, then I will ask the top 100 CEOs to support unions to run environmental awareness initiatives and to invest in greening their supply chains and products to create new jobs." In addition to the challenge, the ITUC has also launched the ITUC Earth Hour Workplace Challenge. It encourages individual and workplace environmental changes from eating less meat and turning off computers at night to using technology to reduce travel to work meetings. The Workplace Challenge is open to workers, managers and union representatives, so take a look.

WAGGGS challenge girl guides and girl scouts to take action for Earth Hour

Chief Executive Mary McPhail and World Board Chairman Nadine El Achy of the World Association of the Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), have challenged girl guides and girl scouts around the world for Earth Hour's I Will If You Will campaign. The Chief Executive Mary McPhail pledges to hold an environmental action parade at the United Nations Rio+20 sustainability conference in June 2012, if girl guides and scouts around the world take up the challenge and learn more about environmental issues. "We want young people to be at the heart of efforts to save our planet. We would like girl guides and girl scouts to help us to show the United Nations how important young peoples views on the environment are." See the WAGGGS challenge here

Everest bike challenge for Earth Hour

31-year old mountain bike freestyle rider and runway fashion model Vittoria Brumotti, will pedal his bicycle as far as he can up the slopes of Everest, the world’s highest mountain, for Earth Hour. The Italian and his bike have already made it into the Guinness Book of Records for making 71 jumps on the peak of Punta Coroddi in Sardinia. But aiming for the 8,839 metre Everest will be in another league altogether. Brumotti will be recording a video message in the midst of the ride, where he will wear a panda cap in honour of WWF’s Earth Hour. “When I was a child I was a great fan of WWF, and now that I’m a grown up man I’m all the more convinced about that,” he said. “I appreciate the commitment of Earth Hour, which is as strong as the commitment devoted to my endeavours. I am proud to offer my contribution. WWF Earth Hour forever!”

The National Hockey League switching off for Earth Hour

Twenty National Hockey League (NHL) arenas will be switching-off non-essential lighting for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 PM local time. All facilities have pledged to scale back the energy used in their operations during the hour. NHL Green is further supporting this initiative by reducing energy usage at NHL headquarters in New York City at that time.

"For the NHL, the success of this event is about more than turning the lights off for one hour. It is about changing the way our sport approaches energy consumption," said Bernadette Mansur, SVP of NHL Green. "Our facilities are challenging themselves to operate more efficiently, and we are encouraging our employees to observe Earth Hour at home and reduce their energy”. consumption throughout the day."

Siemens Poland launches energy saving challenge for Earth Hour

For Earth Hour 2012, Siemens Home Appliances Division Poland has announced the “The Energy Is Inside Us” challenge. For every 10,000 supporters of the energy saving action on Siemens Poland facebook page, Siemens Home Appliances company will provide three energy efficient Siemens home appliances to a foster home. The campaign will take place over the next 12 months with a series of events being hosted by promising Polish actors, Borys Szyc. To save energy with Siemens and WWF, all you need is to fill in the application at energyinsideus.org/register

Siemens Home Appliances Division develops water and energy solutions for washing machines, tumble dryers, ovens, fridges, freezers, dishwashers and vacuum cleaners, among others. The Siemens Home Appliances eco-friendly solutions and resource saving policies in logistics, production and service cooperates with WWF on multiple projects as part of their social and natural responsibility actions.

Hitting the high notes in support of Earth Hour

Italian singer-songwriter Elisa Toffoli, and musician Niccolò Fabi, will be headline acts at a pedal-powered concert by roman band Tetes de Bois to celebrate Earth Hour on March 31. The show will take place at the beautiful Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, with large crowds expected to turn up to show their support for the environment. As ambassadors for Earth Hour, Elisa and Niccolò will be singing together as the castle lights are turned out. “By turning off the lights we will create light and life” Elisa says. Both artists truly believe in the importance of awareness and how Earth Hour encourages that. "By turning off the lights, we can increase our awareness" says Niccolo. “Now is the time not to give up the fight. Earth Hour can reach even new generations, who should learn right from the start about the importance of protecting and preserving their planet and its treasures.” Elisa adds.

HSBC supports Earth Hour from the United Kingdom to the UAE

HSBC colleagues in 58 offices around the world will be switching off their lights, at the workplace and at home, at 8:30pm (local time) this Saturday 31st March to support WWF's Earth Hour 2012. In taking further steps to reduce their carbon footprint and raise awareness for energy conservation, HSBC UAE branches are competing to see who can reduce their carbon footprint by the greatest amount between 1 April and 1 June and over 5000 staff will be making pledges to support the EWS-WWF call to action, as senior leaders and CEO's offer to cycle to their offices, work in the staff canteens and job swap in return for employees taking concrete and measurable action to reduce their energy consumption. Brenton Hush, HSBC Australia CTSO has challenged colleagues to reduce their energy consumption. The colleague making the best pledge will win a three-day visit to an Earthwatch exhibition in Queensland. HSBC Brunei is supporting a 15 km "Earth Hour" bike ride will take place to raise awareness of energy conservation and alternative transport.

Speaking about this year’s activity, Simon Martin Head of Group Corporate Sustainability commented “As a long term supporter of WWF’s Earth Hour, HSBC sees this campaign as an effective and symbolic way to raise awareness among our employees, customers and the wider public of the continued importance of consuming global resources responsibly and with an eye to the future. We understand the value of the world’s eco-systems to continued economic development and we want to play our part in protecting these resources.

Find out more about what is going on for Earth Hour at www.earthhour.org.

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Earth Hour Video: I Will If You Will

Official Earth Hour Video 2012



This Earth Hour 2012: 8.30pm, Saturday 31 March, celebrate your action for the planet with the people of world by switching off your lights for an hour, then go beyond the hour. From its inception as a single-city initiative -- Sydney, Australia - in 2007, Earth Hour has grown into a global symbol of hope and movement for change. Earth Hour 2011 created history as the world's largest ever voluntary action with people, businesses and governments in 135 countries across every continent coming together to celebrate an unambiguous commitment to the one thing that unites us all -- the planet.

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GOP Fights Removal of Oil Subsidies

Republicans have rejected a bill that would have killed tax breaks for big oil companies. Despite the President's plea to end oil subsidies, on Thursday March 29 the Senate voted 51-47 against a Democratic bill that would remove billions of dollars in oil company tax breaks. President Obama has been a champion of ending big oil's subsidies since taking office. "It's like hitting the American people twice," Obama said. "You're already paying a premium at the pump right now. And on top of that, Congress...has thought it was a good idea to send billions of dollars more in tax dollars to the oil industry."

To justify their resistance to the bill Republicans are using the flawed logic of higher gas prices. In February the average price of gasoline in the US was $3.58 a gallon, an 11.5 percent increase over February 2010.

According to a panel of experts testifying before members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources the US has reduced demand and increased supply.

The President has said, "American oil is booming. The oil industry is doing just fine. With record profits and rising production, I'm not worried about the big oil companies."

According to the panel of experts there is not much the US can do domestically to reduce increasing gas prices. High gas prices are largely due to the looming showdown with Iran and geopolitical instability in major oil exporting countries like Sudan, Nigeria and Iraq.

"We are held captive by global markets that we have no control over," said Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va.

Although Republicans are trying to suggest that eradicating oil subsidies would increase the price of gas, Frank Verrastro, senior vice president of the Energy and National Security Program, explains this is simply not the case.

Verrastro said the elimination of tax breaks for oil companies would not change the price at the pump which is due to the global nature of the oil market.

International events beyond American control are driving oil's price volatility. New projects like the Keystone XL pipeline will not have much of an effect on the retail price of gas either so there is little chance of any immediate cost relief.

The only way to gain control over the costs of energy is to reduce dependence on foreign oil and the only way to do this is to develop alternative sources of power.

"With the ability to access these new, unconventional resources, we may very well be on the verge of an American energy renaissance," Verrastro said.

However $20 billion in federal subsidies to the largest oil and gas companies make it more difficult for these alternatives, particularly renewable sources, to grow to a size where they can make a difference in America's energy picture. Subsidies make even less sense when you consider that The five largest oil companies reported a combined $140 billion in profit in 2011.

"They can either vote to spend billions of dollars on oil subsidies that keep us trapped in the past," said President Obama, "or they can vote to end these taxpayer subsidies that aren't needed to boost oil production."

"Members of Congress have a simple choice to make: They can stand with the big oil companies, or they can stand with the American people," Mr Obama said before Thursday's vote in the Senate. It would appear the GOP would rather wallow in the past and stand with big oil.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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The Lean Sustainable Supply Chain

Lean, Green Supply Chain is Key to Lower Costs, Improved Profitability
LEAN Sustainable Supply Chain Strategies Detailed in a new book by Robert Palevich. Efficiency applied to the supply chain is just the beginning for enterprises looking to maximize profit and minimize environmental impact.

“The Lean Sustainable Supply Chain” reveals the benefits of combining lean and green concepts with forecasting and business IQ to establish a world-class supply chain that drives both profitability and sustainability.

“Competition today is not only with your competitors at the market level,” says Palevich. “It begins at the supply chains where 50-80 percent of cost is embedded before product goes to market. As you increase integration of suppliers in the supply chain, you increase gross margin return on investment. This allows you to sell better quality at a lower cost.”

“The Lean Sustainable Supply Chain” condenses innovations from Palevich’s 30 years of IT and supply chain experience in a multi-billion dollar hardware cooperative, detailing the technologies and process improvements that generated more than $45 million in savings.

Palevich introduces the essential concepts of lean, green supply chain management and offers comprehensive case studies to make them relevant. These real-world examples and the associated data are proof the book’s concepts are more than theoretical; they are practical and produce measurable results.

Warehouse management systems, RFID and transportation management systems are just three of the many strategies Palevich details. He documents their impact on cost control, how they reduce CO2 emission and energy use, even how lean and green supply chains limit the amount of highway damage by optimizing materials handling.

This book empowers managers to understand the relationship between 20 related technologies and their relationship to efficiency and profitability. Palevich simplifies that challenge with sample formulas to calculate the potential impact on your company.

“The Lean Sustainable Supply Chain” is published by FT Press, an imprint of Pearson Education, Inc., and is available now at Amazon.com.

About the Author: Robert Palevich directs the Business Enterprise System and Technology (BEST) Center at the Richard T. Doermer School of Business at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. He formerly served as Global Director of supply chain and e-business at Do it Best, Corporation. Palevich holds a Bachelor of Science in industrial management from Purdue University, and an MSBA and MBA from Indiana University.

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Sustainable Investing with Green Alpha® Advisors

You won't hear traditional investment managers say this: The Earth is warming, some formerly abundant resources are becoming scarce, populations are increasing, and the global economy is beginning to change to reflect these realities.

Green Alpha® Advisors seeks to identify, and purchase shares in companies that put their businesses in the path of these changes - companies with business models that both disrupt business-as-usual and represent the next, green economy. They focus on companies with proven, profitable businesses. They still believe in buy and hold, and they reject the notion that the true value of a good company changes ten percent or more each day.

Green Alpha practices investment management with a transparent process, making their reasons for portfolio positions clear, and they don't play games with synthetic assets, such as credit default swaps, or with computer tricks like high-frequency trading.

In short they are doing the job that investment managers are supposed to be doing: Making long-term investments in key businesses,
then watching them grow.

For more information click here.

Carbon Measurement Guide for Companies

A free guide helps companies to measuring their carbon footprints. The guide provides practical suggestions to help you measure the carbon footprint of your organisation. Learn how to define what your measure, where to find the relevant data, hints and tips to make the process easier, and pros and cons of online and offline measurement tools, as well as considerations for outsourcing your carbon footprint measurement.

This new Carbon Measurement Guide provides practical suggestions to help ease the process of measuring the carbon footprint of your organisation.

Download this FREE guide to learn:
  • How to reduce your business' greenhouse gas emissions
  • How you can save energy and reduce costs
  • How to use your reductions to establish your position as a market leader.
To download the Carbon Measurement Guide click here.

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New Tool Helps Companies with Water Risks

A global online tool launched by WWF and German development finance institution DEG (Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH) enables companies and investors to address their water-related risks. WWF and DEG have created a practical online questionnaire that not only identifies water risk in supply chains and investment portfolios, but also provides practical steps to mitigate risk.

Roughly 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in river basins that experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year; more than 900 million people lack access to safe drinking water and 2.7 billion lack access to basic sanitation services. Population growth and climate change are set to increase pressure on vital freshwater resources, with serious consequences for nature, people and economies.

“Water scarcity is a concern for conservationists, communities and companies alike. But simply competing for every last drop will do no good to anyone. If water users become aware of their water risks – and work together to find solutions – we can ensure that people, nature and businesses have the water they need,” said Jim Leape, WWF International Director General.

A risk that cannot be ignored

Virtually every business sector relies on water. Yet many executives remain unaware of how water flows through their supply chains, or how the health of the environment where their facilities are located could affect long-term profitability.

WWF and DEG’s message to companies is simple: Why take the risk? DEG has established water as a critical field for its client companies, and has used the Water Risk Filter to help them identify and mitigate water risk in business operations.

“Water availability is the most underestimated critical issue for the companies we are financing, but we believe that financial institutions can help make the companies more sustainable in their performance. Our work with WWF looks beyond the risks and shows practical ways how to change them into business opportunities,” said Bruno Wenn, Chairman of DEG.

What makes the tool unique?

The Water Risk Filter incorporates WWF’s science-based approach to water stewardship. It has a number of unique features:
  • It is easy to use. Geared specifically for non-experts, it guides users through a simple questionnaire and a pre-assessment survey that uses industry and geographic information to evaluate in less than 5 minutes if additional evaluation is necessary.
  • It is global and draws on data sheets for 235 countries and territories, providing interactive maps and case studies.
  • The tool uses the best available data as well as company specific information to analyse all relevant indicators of water risk.
  • The tool goes beyond an assessment and provides a mitigation toolbox for the user.
“The Water Risk Filter will undoubtedly identify water ‘red zones’ – those places where scarcity creates investment risk. The answer is not to abandon those places; from a practical standpoint this won’t be possible. Instead we must turn red to green and manage resources within scarcity,” said Stuart Orr, WWF Freshwater Manager.

Global fashion retailer H&M was among the companies to test the online tool.

“The outcomes from the Water Risk Filter are important inputs for our new, holistic water strategy that we are developing together with WWF. It shows us where and how we can have the biggest impact, and helps improve our understanding of how sustainable our supply chain is, given the often difficult local water situations,” said Mikael Blomme, Environmental Sustainability Manager at H&M.

Ivo Mulder, Programme Officer, Biodiversity and Ecosystems/ Water and Finance of UNEP welcomed the water risk filter and stressed the important role of risk assessment for companies in terms of competitiveness, reputation and investor confidence.

“For a long time, financial institutions have focused on climate change as the factor with the most material impact on loans, investments and insurance products. That landscape is changing quickly, with water emerging beyond reputational risk. It now holds the potential of affecting debt-servicing and the creditworthiness of clients. The Water Risk Filter helps financial institutions better understand and structure the different components of water risks, and assess these risks throughout the due diligence processes,” Mulder said.

For more information contact Gretchen Lyons tel: +41 22 364 9043/+41 79 916 0136, email: glyons@wwfint.org or Natalie Boudou nboudou@wwfint.org tel: +41 22 364 9554/+41 79 820 2898

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The War Between the Earth's Carrying Capacity and Rising Demand

Worldwatch Institute's Vital Signs 2012 showcases the planet's growing demand for food and energy, its shrinking resources, and the implications of this dilemma.

The global economy continued to grow last year, world population surpassed 7 billion, and the use of energy and other natural resources generally rose. The Worldwatch Institute captures the impacts of this rising consumption and the increasingly risky state of humanity in Vital Signs 2012, the latest compilation of indicators from the Institute's Vital Signs project. The Washington, D.C.-based environmental publisher Island Press released the book today as part of a new partnership with Worldwatch.

Vital Signs 2012 provides up-to-date figures on our most important global concerns. Drawing from international agencies and organizations and from Worldwatch's own research, the report provides authoritative data and analysis on some of the most significant global trends, including population growth, renewable energy production, and oil consumption.

"The information showcased in Vital Signs 2012 will inform governments, policymakers, NGOs, and individuals about the current state of the world's consumption patterns, economic priorities, and environmental health, allowing for more well-informed policies and decision making," said Michael Renner, Worldwatch senior researcher and director of the Vital Signs project. "Commitments are needed to reverse a number of harmful trends."

Population growth combined with rising resource use, heavily tilted toward the world's wealthy on a per capita basis but growing rapidly among the expanding global middle class, is reflected in rising worldwide resource consumption. Oil use reached an all-time high of 87.4 million barrels a day in 2011. Meat consumption increased 2.6 percent in 2010. Growing demand for timber translated into forested areas shrinking by 1.3 percent, or 520,000 square kilometers, from 2000 to 2010-an area roughly the size of France.

"The story that resource consumption is rising is hardly new," said Worldwatch President Robert Engelman. "In fact, it's an ongoing challenge to keep that critically important story fresh and interesting. But these rising trends will not last forever. They can't. Their continued growth in our lifetimes reminds us how urgent it is to develop new ways of assuring decent lives and livelihoods for all-ones that do not result in increasingly negative impacts on the people and world around us."

The use of biofuels, for example, can play a role in the transition to more sustainable lifestyles. The United States is the global leader in corn-based ethanol, yielding 49 billion liters annually, or 57 percent of the world output. Yet demand for this renewable energy source is a double-edged sword. Under the right circumstances, biofuels can be a less carbon-intensive alternative to fossil fuels. But using corn to make biofuels comes at the expense of its availability to be consumed as food, and rising demand for ethanol has pushed up the price of staple grains. In April 2011, the Cereal Price Index hit a record high of 265, reflecting a 5 percent price jump worldwide.

Vital Signs 2012 also highlights the rising consumption of animal protein, as well as destructive industrial livestock practices that help make this growth possible. As more people in developing countries enter the middle class, meat consumption is rising and the intake of processed meat is shifting to unhealthy levels. Meanwhile, the expansion of factory farming to meet increasing meat demand fosters the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, swine flu, and mad cow disease.

Not all of the trends highlighted in the report are cause for concern, however. Increasing demand for more time-efficient transportation systems has led a growing number of countries to invest in high-speed trains, which release 80 to 120 fewer grams of carbon dioxide per passenger-kilometer than automobiles do. High-speed trains demonstrate how environmental efficiency can be congruent with consumer convenience.

Vital Signs 2012 analyzes the aforementioned trends and many more, using straightforward language and easy-to-read charts to explain global trends to governments, businesses, and consumers, helping them to make more informed decisions for our future.

Further Highlights

Organic agriculture: Challenges such as rising farmland prices, inconsistencies in organic standards, and higher prices of organic foods continue to impede a broad global shift to sustainable agriculture.

Overweight and obesity: A survey of statistics in 177 countries shows that 38 percent of adults----those 15 years or older----are now overweight, with trends on the rise across different regions of the world and different income levels.

Auto industry: Auto industry manufacturing and sales are back in action, with China eclipsing all other contenders and producing more vehicles than Japan and the United States combined. Japan, however, had the highest share of hybrid-electric vehicle sales at 11 percent in 2010.

Biofuels: Global production of biofuels reached an all-time high of 105 billion liters in 2010, up 17 percent from 2009, mostly as a result of high oil prices, global economic rebound, and new biofuel-related laws and mandates around the world.

Oil: Global oil consumption reached a new all-time high of 87.4 million barrels per day in 2010. Oil remains the largest commercial source of energy, but its share in the global energy supply has slid for the last 11 consecutive years.

Ecosystem services: In the United States, payments for ecosystem services (PES) transactions total $1.5-2.4 billion annually, helping to restore the ecosystems and biological diversity that provide communities with free yet invaluable services.

Meat: Livestock are responsible for 40 percent of the world's methane emissions and 65 percent of nitrous oxide emissions. These greenhouse gases are 25 to 100 times more potent than carbon dioxide.

Factory farming: Factory farming has contributed to a tripling in global meat production over the last four decades. It is associated with heavy use of chemical inputs, the spread of disease, antibiotic overuse and resistance, massive water consumption, and declines in human health.

Population growth: Although fertility rates are falling worldwide, many countries with high birth rates will have to accommodate a rapidly expanding labor force in the next few decades. In Uganda, where women give birth to six children on average, this means needing to generate more than 1.5 million new jobs by the late 2030s.

Grain production: Although preliminary data for 2011 indicate that grain production is recovering from a slump, its revival is being seriously hindered by climatic changes and by rising demand for ethanol fuel, producing ripple effects throughout the economy through increased grain prices.

Nuclear power: Due to increasing costs of production, a slowed demand for electricity, and fresh memories of disaster in Japan, generation of nuclear power fell in 2011.

Wind Power: Global wind power capacity increased in 2010 to a total of 197,000 megawatts, representing a 24 percent increase from 2009. China is in the lead, overtaking the United States in 2010 with 45,000 megawatts of total installed wind power capacity.

Natural gas: Driven by surging natural gas consumption in Asia and the United States, global use of this fossil fuel increased 7.4 percent from 2009 to hit a record 111.9 trillion cubic feet in 2010.

For more information or to buy the book click here.

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EPA Limits GHGs from Power Plants

In a move that could effectively end construction of any new conventional coal-fired power generation in the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today has proposed the first limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new power plants.

“Today we’re taking a common sense step to reduce pollution in our air, protect the planet for our children, and move us into a new era of American energy,” said EPA administrator Lisa Jackson. “Right now there are no limits to the amount of carbon pollution that future power plants will be able to put into our skies–in the health and economic threats of a changing climate continued to grow.”

The average US coal plant today emits about 2249 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour of power produced. The new EPA rules will limit those emissions to 1000 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour or at about the level of a modern natural gas plant.

“This is an important common sense step towards tackling the ongoing threat of climate change,” said Jackson. “We build on where the industry is going and lock that trend in, which we believe is an important signal for investors.”

The initial impact of the emissions rule on utilities is expected to initially be negligible; with natural gas prices at 10 year lows most utilities are shutting down coal plants, not building new ones. By the end of 2011 the share of electrical power generation from coal-fired plants dropped below 40 percent, the lowest share since 1978 according to the Energy Information Administration.

Jackson said that the EPA has no plans to set rules on existing plants, and the new limit will apply only to the construction of new power plants. Fifteen plants with pending instruction permits are exempt from the proposed rule.

Joe Mendelson, climate policy director for the National Wildlife Federation characterized the new EPA rule as a “milestone in the fight to rein in climate change. The EPA is taking a big step toward protecting the world our children will inherit.”

Source: Global Warming is Real

Understanding Responsible Procurement and Creating Value

Knowing what drives your company's approach to responsible procurement is a key success factor. In any change process it is important to explain why, how and when. Implementing a responsible procurement program is a change process and understanding value drivers are the key to success.

A new book helps company's to understand their value drivers and create sus­tain­able sup­ply chains which deliver tan­gi­ble and last­ing ben­e­fits for your busi­ness, the envi­ron­ment and soci­ety.

The complimentary e-book is titled "Understanding Responsible Procurement and Creating Value." It is a great introduction for everyone who wants to engage responsible procurement.

The book describes the typical value drivers, it includes 5 practical tips for starting your own programme and a section about how to avoid the most common pitfalls.

To download this book click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Cuts to Ontario's Wind and Solar FiTs

The Canadian province of Ontario announced cuts to Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for wind and solar on Thursday March 22. Enacted in 2009, the tariffs have driven the province's exponential renewable energy growth. Wind power in Ontario now has more than 1,750 MW of installed capacity and they plan to have 7,500 MW by 2018. Solar power in the province can now generate more than 200 MW. In 2011, Ontario's generous FiTs also provoked a great deal of interest from international players.

According to the government of Ontario, the Green Energy Act has leveraged more than $27 billion in new investment and economic opportunities. It also has created 20,000 clean energy jobs.

The cuts to Ontario's FiTs are due to pressure from conservative legislators, the cost of electricity and the steep decline of equipment prices in solar and wind. Rates are now adjusted annually to reflect current prices.

The government has expedited the approval process and made more funds available for local communities. Ontario is also calling for new strategies in other cleantech sectors like smart grid technologies.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Air and Water in the OECD Report

Around the world urban air pollution is expected to become one of the biggest environmental causes of premature death in the coming decades. According to an OECD report by 2050, there could be 3.6 million premature deaths a year from exposure to particulate matter.

Most of those deaths are expected to come from China and India. China already has massive problems with air pollution and this is expected to put the nation in the position of being the world leader in pollution-triggered deaths in coming decades. The ageing populations of wealthier nations will be most susceptible to ground level ozone.

The report said that water demand and global GHG emissions could increase by as much as half by 2050. Groundwater depletion and pollution will threaten agriculture and to urban water supplies.

However, the OECD study said governments can tackle some of the key problems like getting rid of tax breaks for diesel fuel. Governments could also remove fossil fuel and water subsidies. Governments may also want to consider shelving biofuels.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Implications of US Duties on Chinese Solar

The US Department of Commerce is imposing duties on Chinese solar manufacturers who are unfairly benefiting from China's export subsidies. The countervailing duties (CVD) is 3 to almost 5 percent. These modest duties were arrived at by the math done by the Department of Commerce in their ruling. Based on the Department of Commerce's numbers, Chinese solar companies aren't as heavily subsidized as many believe.

This is a preliminary decision by the Department of Commerce, its final ruling is currently scheduled for June 4. If on July 19, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) also decides on an injury impact of Chinese solar cells, the Department of Commerce will issue the CVD order on July 26.

A decision on antidumping (AD) penalties is expected on May 17. The AD and the CVD may be related but they're officially two different investigations with different rules and principles. Typically AD penalties tend to be higher than the CVD. Which means when the CVD and AD are combined we could see the 20 to 30 percent levels that many industry insiders were expecting.

China has warned that it might move ahead with investigations of its own into US imports of solar materials. Lower tariffs against Chinese solar may decrease the likelihood of retaliation against US companies which have also received government incentives. There are also ongoing efforts to revive both the 1603 Treasury grant and Investment Tax Credit [ITC].

In anticipation of the ruling Chinese firms have radically increased their exports to the US in late 2011 and they've also been preparing ways to get around the tariff by sending some production to other countries before exporting to the US, a practice called "tolling."

The DOC decision specifically excludes products coming from China that were made from cells produced anywhere else. Thus, tolling is a means by which Chinese firms could outsource production and avoid tariffs.

However, with a CVD of only 3 to 5 percent, the additional costs of tolling (extra shipping, manufacturing, and requalification of the products) do not warrant sending production to other countries. According to Maxim's Chew tolling adds about 6.5 percent to module production costs (about $0.05/W). However, AD penalties of 10 percent to 100 percent makes tolling much more likely.

The Chinese and the rest of the world want access to the US solar market which is significant (US installations more than doubling in 2011 to 1.8 gigawatts). As stated by Robert Petrina, Managing Director of Yingli Green Energy Americas "Regardless of the outcome of this proceeding, we remain dedicated to the US solar market."

Tariffs against the Chinese solar industry would help expand American manufacturing and jobs in the renewable energy sector. However, the US accounts for only 3 percent of global solar PV cell and module manufacturing. Whereas China and Taiwan constitute a 74 percent market share of global solar cell production in 2011, up from 63 percent in 2010.

The global solar markets is having a tough time and a trade war does not benefit the industry as a whole. Duties will cause the costs for Chinese companies to rise and this will affect pricing all the way down the chain

Fatima Toor from Lux Research. "Everybody recognizes that it won't be a good idea for the US Department of Commerce to put huge tariffs on modules." In the final analysis trade barriers are not in anyones interest as they will further delay our transition away from fossil fuels.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Environmental Events 2012

FEBRUARY

February 2 : World Wetlands Day
February 20 : World Day of Social Justice

MARCH

March 14 : International Day of Action Against Dams and For Rivers, Water and Life
March 21 : World Forestry Day
March 22 : World Water Day
March 23 : World Meteorological Day
March 26 : Earth Hour

APRIL

April 7 : World Health Day
April 22 : Earth Day
April 29 : Arbor Day (Different nations have different tree planting days)

MAY
May 5: Climate Impact Day (Connect the Dots)
May 12 : World Fair Trade Day (2nd Saturday of May)
May 14-15 : International Migratory Bird Day (Second Weekend each May)
May 22 : International Day for Biological Diversity (Theme for 2012: Marine Biodiversity)

JUNE

June 5 : World Environment Day (Theme for 2012: Green Economy)
June 8 : World Oceans Day
June 15 : Global Wind Day
June 17 : World Day to Combat Desertification
June 20 : World Refugee Day
June 15-18 : Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum

JULY

July 10 : International Happiness Day
July 11 : World Population Day

AUGUST

August 9 : International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
August 12 : World Youth Day
August 19 : World Humanitarian Day
August 26 : World Kitchen Garden Day
August 29 : International Day Against Nuclear Tests

SEPTEMBER

September 15: International Coastal Cleanup Day (3rd Saturday of September)
September 2 : World Car-Free Day

OCTOBER

October : TBA International Day of Climate Action by 350.org
First Week of October: Junk Mail Awareness Week
October : Non GMO Month
October 1 : World Vegetarian Day
October 3 : World Habitat Day
October 4 : World Animal Day
October 16 : World Food Day
October 27 : World Paper Free Day

NOVEMBER

November 1 : World Vegan Day
November 19 : World Toilet Day
November 21 : World Fisheries Day

November 23/24 : Buy Nothing Day (Friday after Thanksgiving Day in US and the day after internationally)

NOVEMBER & DECEMBER

November 26 to December 7 : UNFCCC COP 18 Climate Change Conference to be held at Qatar

DECEMBER

December 9 : International Day against Corruption
December 10 : Human Rights Day and International Animal Rights Day
December 11 : International Mountain Day (for Indigenous peoples)

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Calendar of Global Environmental Events - Spring
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Effective Green Marketing Event

Learn how to market to your key demographic by attending the EcoTuesday event on March 27th in San Francisco. This month's event will include Carolyn Parrs, she is co-founder of Mind Over Markets, a dedicated green marketing communications company who works one-on-one with entrepreneurs and executives internationally to succeed in the growing green market. Carolyn is a featured author on Green Marketing in the Thomson Reuters book series for C-level executives called Inside the Minds: Greening your Business.

This is a great opportunity to network with other sustainability leaders in an intimate setting. The cost is only $10 with online RSVP, $15 at the door. For more information or to register click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The New Sustainability Advantage

The recently released book “The New Sustainability Advantage,” proves that the quantified business case for sustainability is more compelling than ever before. This is a revised version of the 2002 book “The Sustainability Advantage.” The new book makes an even more compelling business case for sustainability strategies than described in its 2002 version.

Based on recent case studies, the book shows that if a typical company were to use best-practice sustainability approaches already being used by real companies, it could improve its profit by at least 51% to 81% within three to five years, while avoiding a potential 16% to 36% erosion of profits if it does nothing. The fully revised business case is organized around seven easy-to-grasp bottom-line benefits that align with current evidence about the most significant sustainability-related contributors to:
  • increase profit
  • increase revenue
  • reduce energy expenses
  • reduce waste expenses
  • reduce materials and water expenses
  • increase employee productivity
  • reduce hiring and attrition expenses
  • reduce strategic and operational risks
The new version is a 90% rewrite of the 2002 version. Compared to the first version of The Sustainability Advantage, it has three other enhancements beyond the more compelling business case and the new list of benefits:
  • It more rigorously estimates 14 risks to profit if a company chooses to opt out of the sustainability imperative.
  • It calculates the potential bottom-line benefits for both a typical large corporation and a typical small enterprise.
  • It is formatted in the same concise two-page, text-and-sidebar treatment of each subtopic that is used in two other books written by Bob Willard.
This excellent book is a must read for all business people. Its retail price is CDN/US $19.95, plus applicable taxes and shipping costs. If you would like to know more about the book or how to order it click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Earth Day Vanity License Plate Contest

A leading marketer of automotive appearance products is conducting a contest designed to call attention to Earth Day, April 22. Environmental causes receive funds from states that are derived from vanity license plate fees.

In 2012, the personalized license plate celebrates its 75th anniversary. In observance of this event Eagle One will award a cash prize of $1,000 to the individual who submits the most creative, environmentally-oriented message for a vanity plate using a combination of up to seven letters and numbers. The winner will be selected by a panel of automotive journalists.

Eagle One has joined the “green” movement with the introduction of its EnviroShine line of appearance products which is the first eco-line to be available at national auto-parts retailers.

Entries will be accepted from March 12 through April 9. To enter, submit to eagleone.com. One online entry per person and entrant must be 18 years or older. The winner will be announced
April 20.

For more information or to submit an entry click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility

Applications are now being accepted for an October, 2012 certificate program in Corporate Social Responsibility at the University of Toronto. The Certificate in Corporate Social Responsibility is presented by the University of St. Michael's College, Continuing Education Division in the University of Toronto in partnership with The Conference Board of Canada.

Who Should Attend?

Executives, managers, consultants and other key individuals involved in strategic planning, public affairs, community investment, environmental sustainability, human resources, compliance and ethics; directors of not for profit agencies and foundations; public sector leaders and managers.

The CSR Program will enable participants to:
  • Appreciate the complexity of CSR in the context of today's global environment
  • Consider the evolution of CSR from margin to mainstream
  • Articulate an understanding of CSR
  • Integrate CSR into strategic planning
  • Acquire skills and techniques for leading organizational change
  • Become part of a community of ongoing learning
Spaces are limited. For more information or to apply for the CSR certificate click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Event: Sustainable Meetings Conference

On April 22 to 25, 2012 the event known as the Sustainable Meetings Conference will take place Hilton Bonaventure in Montreal Quebec. The annual Sustainable Meetings Conference is the premier event for meeting organizers and hosts to address sustainability issues that are redefining the events industry.

The core design of the conference embeds the framework of the APEX/ASTM sustainable meeting standards in an exciting and interactive environment. Explore measurement techniques, reporting methods, sustainable supply chain management, cutting-edge hybrid meeting technologies, and the significance of sustainability strategy on a global level.

The GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference is scheduled for April 22-25, 2012 at the Hilton Montreal Bonaventure. Explore the latest green meeting strategies in the unique and sophisticated setting of Montreal, Quebec. Before and after conference sessions, shop Sainte-Catherine Street, tour the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Montreal, enjoy a beautiful view of the city from Mount Royal, and experience Montreal’s unsurpassed sustainable dining options.

The annual GMIC Sustainable Meetings Conference is the premier event for planners and suppliers to address sustainability issues that are redefining the events industry. Whether you are an experienced green meetings professional or in the beginning stages of implementing green event practices, the annual Sustainable Meetings Conference will help take your green meeting strategies to the next level.

The core design of the conference embeds the framework of the APEX/ASTM sustainable meeting standards in an exciting and interactive environment. Explore measurement techniques, reporting methods, sustainable supply chain management, cutting-edge hybrid meeting technologies, and the significance of sustainability strategy on a global level.

Building on the momentum from the 2011 GAME ON! event, the 2012 Sustainable Meetings Conference will continue to apply gaming theory principles to the conference design. Enjoy customized mobile application technology, experiential learning tracks, case study integration, and virtual access elements.

The event is hosted By The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) which is a global community dedicated to sustainability in the meetings and events industry, not only through education but also by spearheading research, policy and standards. The GMIC has led the development of numerous sustainability standards and metrics that are endorsed by the industry as whole. As a global nonprofit association, the GMIC has member representation in over 20

For more information or to view the updated 2012 program on the conference website click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The 2012 Sustainable Operations Summit

The 2012 Sustainable Operations Summit will take place in New York City on April 17-19 2012. While the summit program will be hosted at the Hilton New York there will also be networking activities and tours of some of New York's greenest locations.

Speakers will include BILL CLINTON Founder, The William J. Clinton Foundation and the 42nd President of the United States of America

The William J. Clinton Foundation launched the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) to create and advance solutions to the core issues driving climate change. CCI takes a holistic approach, addressing the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions and the people, policies, and practices that impact them. Working with governments and businesses around the world, CCI focuses on three strategic program areas: reducing emissions in cities, catalyzing the large-scale supply of clean energy, and working to stop deforestation.

As the U.S. sits on the sidelines, debating the validity of climate change, the rest of the world is making substantial investments in clean energy and sustainable technologies for the sake of the planet and the betterment of their economies.

Well, we have sat on the sidelines long enough and it is apparent that others will have to address these critical issues. The business community, city leadership and entrepreneurs are coming together to find cost effective solutions to address climate change. “Going green” is estimated to be a $100 billion dollar business by the year 2017.

Whether you believe in the science behind climate change or not, you cannot overlook the solid data that confirms the cost savings and efficiency gains of organizations that have embraced sustainability as a core value. Further, as an American you cannot deny the need to invest in clean energy as a way to strengthen our economy, our national security and provide a wholesome future for our children.

The Sustainable Operations Summit is the premier forum for leading organizations to share best practices that benefit both the environment and the bottom line. The 2012 summit will bring together some of the world's brightest minds in sustainability in New York City during Earth Week to share innovative approaches to reduce our impact on the environment with a focus on energy, the built environment and resource conservation.

From the High Line to the Skyline, NYC plays the perfect host for the summit as it is home to some of the most inspiring green building and urban renewal projects in the world.

The 2012 Sustainable Operations Summit is the future of sustainable operations. From exclusive keynote presentations to interactive discussions, the 2012 Summit will provide you with the knowledge and connections necessary to make a positive impact on your organization.

For more information or to register click here.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The Water Resources Investor Event

Water in the west is both a challenge and an opportunity. A Water Resources Investor Event is being held in Santa Barbara California on April 12 and 13. Water rights trading and water resource development are emerging markets that are creating abundant business opportunities. However, these new markets are not always easily understood. WestWater Research and American Water Intelligence are coming together to provide information and direction to water trading and development opportunities through a series of thought-provoking, regional conferences.

These events will be the premier forum for leaders from Wall Street to the water sector to provide valuable insight on:
  • Investing and financing water development projects in the US
  • Are water rights a good investment?
  • Pricing, trading and other market fundamentals
  • Legal and regulatory risk management in water deals
  • Native American water rights in an era of water marketing
  • Environmental water markets and mitigating water development
  • Making business sense of the water development sector
  • Water is a critical component of our economic future, and the western US has many issues relating to water supply, development and management projects, environmental regulations, and expanding populations. All of these issues also offer political and financial challenges, as well as investment opportunities.
Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is one of the most trusted nonprofit providers of market-based solutions designed to help businesses and organizations balance their energy, carbon and water footprints.

One percent of the profits from these events will be used to purchase water restoration certificates to return water to stressed watersheds in the Western U.S.

American Water Intelligence

American Water Intelligence is the foremost news resource for America’s water industry, providing up-to-date, market-leading analysis and strategic data from a variety of industry sources.

WestWater Research

WestWater Research is a leading economic consulting firm in water rights trading and water asset valuation.

Who should attend these events?

You should attend if you understand that water challenges will touch all areas of our economy. You should attend if you want to achieve sustainable and resilient strategies relating to water risk. You should attend if you want to take advantage of the myriad of economic opportunities being created.
  • Investment executives
  • Water resource managers
  • Energy and utility executives
  • Municipalities and local government leaders
  • Attorneys (will receive CLE credit)
  • Water right owners
  • Engineering consultants
  • Local business leaders

For more information about American Water Intelligence and WestWater Research click here.

For more information click here.

To register email: mw@globalwaterintel.com

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: Native Americans Caged at Obama Keystone XL Protest



This video reviews President Obama's reversal on the Keystone XL pipeline. It focuses specifically on Native Americans whose protests against the Keystone XL were relegated to a "free speech zone" cage in Memorial park.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Video: Bill McKibben on Obama's Decision to Fast-Track the Keystone XL


This video from democracynow.org addresses President Obama's announcement that he is seeking to expedite the building of the southern portion of the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Oklahoma to Texas. This video includes an interview with 350.org's Bill McKibben. The pipeline approval comes two months after Obama rejected a proposal for the 1,300-mile Keystone XL pipeline from the Alberta tar sands oil fields to Texas after large protests by environmental groups. It also comes at a time when much of the nation is experiencing a heat wave that some scientists and meteorologists have linked to climate change. Spring only began on Tuesday, but it has felt like summer this week throughout much of the Northeast, Midwest and parts of Canada. Record temperatures have been recorded in Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Indianapolis and Buffalo and many other cities and towns. Some 36 states set daily high temperature records last Thursday.

© 2012, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Obama to Expedite the Keystone XL Pipeline
The Center for Biological Diversity CREDO and Friends of the Earth Slam Keystone Reversal
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Republicans Vow to Continue Push for Keystone
GOP's Keystone XL Proposal Fails in Senate
Anti-Keystone XL Ad Campaign
The Keystone XL and Rising Fuel Prices
Video: Keystone XL will Raise Gas Prices
Republicans Refuse to Let the Keystone XL Die
Keystone XL Protest Message Campaign a Success
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Obama Cancels the Keystone XL Pipeline Project
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Nebraska's Special Session to Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline
South Dakota Wants Additional Protections Against Spills from the Keystone XL Pipeline
Safety Measures for the Keystone XL Rejected by Environmentalists in Nebraska
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Keystone XL Protest Ends in Washington
Oil Spills Add to Concerns about the Keystone XL Pipeline
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Religious Leaders Join the Protest Against Keystone XL Pipeline
US Protests Against the Tar Sands Oil
Canada on Track to be a Dirty Energy Superpower
Bill McKibben and other Protestors Jailed for their Opposition to the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Video: NASA's Leading Climatologist Addresses Crowd Before he was Arrested at the Keystone XL Tar Sands Protest in Washington