Infographic - Companies, Governments and the Environment

Event - Convergence Paris (Virtual)

Convergence Paris Virtual is free and will take place on Wed-Thu, June 26-27, 2013, between 8:30 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. Like the live event, Convergence Paris Virtual will provide insights from business innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the opportunities for radical efficiencies created through technology advancements in energy, buildings and transportation.

Event - Convergence Paris (Live)

Convergence Paris will take place on June 26, 2013 - June 27, 2013. Convergence Paris will bring together business innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the opportunities for radical efficiencies created through technology advancements in energy, buildings and transportation. Converging technologies, new financing models, and policy breakthroughs allow companies and their partners to leverage innovations to seize emerging opportunities. New alliances are forming at at this event you can get a better understanding of how a rapidly growing ecosystem of players are joining together in new ways — multinationals, startups, cities, universities and others —creating synergistic and profitable (and sometimes unlikely) partnerships.

Event - Accelerate: Collaborating for Sustainability Conference

Accelerate: Collaborating for Sustainability Conference, will take place on June 10 - 11 2013, in Guelph, Ontario. This conference focuses on the prescient topic of collaboration as it applies to sustainability. Change-makers throughout society are increasingly calling for greater collaboration to solve complex challenges, especially around sustainability issues. But there is precious little expertise in how to convene diverse groups and steward multi-stakeholder change processes.

Sustainable Cities: Oxymoron or the Shape of the Future? (White Paper)

The Harvard Business School has come up with a powerful analysis in the working Paper "Sustainable Cities: Oxymoron or the Shape of the Future?" When we think holistically we can create sustainable value. The failed business approach of the past has been due to the "single factor analysis" pitfalls. What is holding us back is the monomaniacal focus on one company or technology at at time. When we collaborate with all stakeholders, we can avoid those pitfalls. This requires us to follow the advice of great philosophers and prophets of history, exemplified by Aristotle, who pointed out that the best form of government is one where all participate and compete to find the best way to serve the communities in which they live.

Environmental Collaboration Transforming Government

Environmental issues are forcing governments to collaborate both internally and externally. Management of the vast number of interconnected environmental concerns demands that government collaborates both between various departments and with other governments. Focusing on collaboration between and within various agencies is a matter of efficient governance. Clearly environmental issues do not respect national boundaries. To get serious about containing climate change we must manage intra-governmental conflicts as well as transnational issues.

Green Buildings of the Future at UC Irvine (Video)

Join Green Schools Designer Wendy Rogers as she interviews guests at the LPA Sustainable Office and Energy Showcase, in UC Irvine's University Research Park - LPA Irvine. The 15,000-square-foot expansion is tracking LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council - it's the next generation of collaborative, open office design.

The EPA Seeks Historic Proposal to Protect Clean Air

In the last couple of months, more than 2 million Americans have submitted comments in support of the EPA's efforts to reduce carbon pollution. The proposal has received more comments than any agency has ever received. Carbon pollution is linked to significant health hazards like asthma-inducing smog. Carbon pollution is a pandemic in the US with half of Americans (158 million) living in counties with unacceptable air pollution levels.

EPA's Top Green Powered Organizations (Q1 2012)

In April 2012, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its list of the Top 50 Green-Powered Organizations. This quarterly list is part of the Green Power Partnership which works with a wide variety of leading organizations in the US. This includes Fortune 500® companies, local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities.

MaRS Cleantech Fund LP: Canadian First in Early-Stage Technology Investing

On March 26th, MaRS announced the launch of Canada’s first dedicated early-stage cleantech venture fund. The MaRS Cleantech Fund LP ushers in a new model in early-stage technology investing by leveraging the strength of a non-exclusive, but strategic relationship between MaRS Discovery District and the private sector.

Innovation is the Future of Canadian Cleantech

Canada has performed well over the last few years. The country looks particularly good when compared to many other nations which suffered tremendously after the recession of 2007 & 2008. Although Canada's ruling Conservatives may try to take the credit, the nation's economic strength is attributable to the market demand for Canada's abundant natural resources like oil and potash.

Global Growth of Cleantech 2007-2020

There is a growing interest in green innovation. Investors are increasingly interested in investing in cleantech, particularly innovative green technology. Over the course of the last five years cleantech has grown tremendously.

How the West can Capitalize on the Growth of Chinese Cleantech in 2012

For the past decade Western countries have led the way in cleantech, but the reduction of government support for the sector is advancing China's position as an international cleantech leader. Due to the eurozone crisis, China can expect to see very little demand from European countries. However, demand from domestic Chinese companies may be enough to drive the growth of China's cleantech industry in 2012.

GHG Protocol and Scope 3 Accounting and Reporting Standard

The Greenhouse Gas Protocol (GHG Protocol) is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions. A decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the GHG Protocol is working with businesses, governments, and environmental groups around the world to build a new generation of credible and effective programs for tackling climate change. It serves as the foundation for nearly every GHG standard and program in the world - from the International Standards Organization to The Climate Registry - as well as hundreds of GHG inventories prepared by individual companies.

Top CSR Initiatives for 2012

Many organizations that practice corporate social responsibility (CSR) are expanding their reach in 2012. Corporations are increasingly seeing the value of environmental sustainability. In addition to making more environmentally responsible decisions in 2012, organizations are realizing the value of working with others to achieve their goals and fulfill their CSR potential. Here are some CSR initiatives for 2012.

GM Collaborating with LG to Develop EVs

Consumer electronics leader LG Group, the second largest South Korean conglomerate, is expanding its collaborating with with automotive giant General Motors (GM), the largest US automaker. The new partnership will see the two companies team up to design and build hybrid and fully electric vehicles.

The Crucial Role of Public Private Partnerships in US Battery Technology

Public private collaborations have played a fundamental role advancing the US position in the development of commercial scale energy storage systems for cell phones, laptops, hybrids and electric vehicles. National laboratories conduct vital research that make it possible for the private sector to achieve commercial scale.

According to Jeff Chamberlain, who currently heads up battery research and development for Argonne National Lab, "In the U.S., businesses tend to invest in research that will pay off in the short term. National laboratories are filling a gap by conducting the essential research that will change the game 10 to 20 years down the road."

Ford Collaboration with Zipcar

Ford and Zipcar are collaborating to deploy hundreds of car-sharing vehicles in college campuses. Car sharing is a more environmentally sustainable approach to transportation than ownership. It is an important way of minimizing traffic and emissions.

Ford and Toyota Collaborating on Hybrid Technology and Telematics

Ford and Toyota announced that they are working together on a new more efficient hybrid system and advanced telematics. Ford has developed an excellent reputation for trucks, and Toyota has owned the hybrid car market for a couple decades. So, it stands to reason that the two should be partnering to develop a hybrid system for light trucks and SUVs.

Fisker Buying Engines from BMW for New Cars

Electric vehicle developer California based Fisker Automotive is collaborating with Germany's BMW to procure the engines for upcoming Fisker mid-sized cars. Since its inception in 2007 Fisker has been working on luxury high-performing extended-range electric cars. The current generation of cars is sold under the name Karma, it has an all-electric drive range of more than 50 miles (51.6 miles or 83 km) and a solar roof. The Karma can go from 0-60 mph in under 6 seconds (5.9 seconds).