Archive for April 2015

US Assumes Chairmanship of the Arctic Council and Promises to Prioritize Climate and the Environment

April 30, 2015 Add Comment Edit

The far north will assume a leading role in the war against climate change now that the U.S. has replaced Canada as the leader of the Arctic Council. On Friday April 24th 2015, the U.S. assumed the leadership of the international body that is charged with addressing climate change and other important...

The Unacceptable Risks of Arctic Drilling

April 30, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Drilling for fossil fuels in the Arctic is one of the most controversial corollaries of a warmer world. In addition to climate change causing emissions from the burning of fossil fuels there are also a number of environmental risks associated with drilling in a region as remote as the Arctic. The...

Shipping in the Arctic: Economic Opportunty or Environmental Calamity?

April 29, 2015 Add Comment Edit

The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the global average and as the ice disappears the Arctic Ocean is becoming more navigable. Previously inhospitable areas will see a lot more traffic from shipping, fishing, and tourism. Tourism is on the rise in the Arctic. The number of nights spent by visitors...

The Vatican's Climate Conference Calls for a Moral Awakening that Includes Rejecting Fossil Fuels

April 29, 2015 Add Comment Edit

On April 28th, the Vatican held a major conference on climate change that called for a moral awakening. The summit addressed the need for urgent action including reductions in our consumption of fossil fuels. The conference was titled, Protect the Earth, Dignify Humanity: The Moral Dimensions of Climate...

April 29, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Arctic sea ice has been getting smaller and thinner as part of a general decline witnessed over the past four decades. In recent years Arctic sea ice has reached the lowest level ever recorded, shrinking to less than half the area it occupied a few decades ago. MaximumsIn 2015 Arctic sea ice maximum...

Sustainability Communications: Internal and External

April 28, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Good sustainability communications can mean the difference between success and failure. Sustainability leaders must understand the art of effective communication both internally and externally. There are a host of challenged companies face in communicating sustainability. First and foremost they must...

Arctic Warming Feedback Loops: Algae Blooms and Thawing Permafrost

April 28, 2015 Add Comment Edit

The Arctic is the epicenter of global warming and what happens in the far north has global implications. New research points to previously unknown warming feedback loops in the Arctic that could push us past irreversible tipping points. The latest research points to relationships between warming, algae...

Sustainable Procurement: Environmental Social and Economic Supply Chain Considerations

April 28, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Addressing supply chain issues are at the top of the list of sustainability initiatives because they represent more than half of business expenses and they are the source of around three quarters of GHG emissions. Scrutinizing upstream procurement issues is also important for downstream customers who...

Moving Towards 100 Percent Renewable Energy in the US

April 27, 2015 Add Comment Edit

We are moving towards 100 percent renewable energy. While we are still a long way off (currently the world only gets about 1 percent of its total energy needs from renewables) we now know that it is possible. We are seeing promising reports about the feasibility of 100 percent renewables in nations...

April 27, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Sustainability is a creative enterprise that goes far beyond token environmental concern. Sustainability is about more than just minimizing egregious environmental and social impacts. As we head towards a global climate agreement at the end of 2015, companies must find the equilibrium between sustainability...

Australian State Meets Energy Needs with Renewables

April 27, 2015 Add Comment Edit

One Australian state has been able to meet all of its power demands with renewable energy. This corroborates reports which suggest that 100 percent renewable energy in Australia is achievable. On a few occasions the state of South Australia produced enough renewable energy to supply all the power...

Sustainability Lends Legitimacy to Profitability

April 27, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Sustainability is helping organizations to shed the destructive business practices that earned them a reputation as resource devouring planet killers. Through environmental and social engagement corporations can be redeemed and capitalism can be rehabilitated.To be viable a business must be profitable....

April 26, 2015 Add Comment Edit

This Gala event will take place on May 27th 2015 in Ottawa, Ontario. This is Ottawa's most important fundraising event for water. It will be hosted by Evan Solomon, with musical guests Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers. This year's gala honors Canada's Ambassador to Ireland Kevin Vickers...

Event - Monterey County Hospitality Association (MCHA) Sustainability Seminar

April 26, 2015 Add Comment Edit

The MCHA Sustainability Seminar will take place on April 28th 2015 at Asilomar Conference Grounds. At this seminar, which is part of MCHA’s 2015 leadership seminar series, professionals will discuss ambitious environmental stewardship efforts. This year’s MCHA sustainability seminar is titled "Creating...

Event - Cause Marketing Forum (CMF) Chicago: Nonprofit/Business

April 26, 2015 Add Comment Edit

CMF Chicago will take place from May 27 to May 29. This event is for everyone from cause marketing beginners to veterans. This includes people who work for a businesses and nonprofits. There are a number of special programs geared towards all of the groups (separate fees apply for the small group sessions).This...

Event - Sustainable Investing Conference: Risk Value Impact

April 26, 2015 Add Comment Edit

The 5th annual Sustainable Investing: Risk, Value, Impact conference will take place May 4th–6th at the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Participants will learn about new approaches, trends and policy developments while networking with industry leaders. This event offers a unique opportunity to network...

Event - Responsible Business Summit Asia

April 26, 2015 Add Comment Edit

Ethical Corporation's Responsible Business Summit Asia will take place on May 6 - 7 2015 in Singapore. This event is the regional leading meeting place to find out where business leaders and innovators are headed around their sustainability and CSR strategy – so you can be a leader too. Cutting edge...

Event - Culture in Sustainable Futures: Theories Policies and Practices

April 26, 2015 Add Comment Edit

The International Conference in Sustainable Future Culture in Sustainable Futures: Theories Policies and Practices will take place in Helsinki on May 6 - 8, 2015. This conference will address the following questions: Is culture the fourth pillar of sustainability, alongside the ecological, economic...