Video - Companies Combating Climate Change (CDP Report)

In this video, Lord Adair Turner, Former Chairman of the Financial Services Authority, James Bevan, Chief Investment Officer at CCLA and Paul Simpson talk about the CDP report which ranks companies in terms of their climate performance. This report comes on the heels of Standard & Poor's Ratings Services which stated that climate change will hit countries' economic growth rates and public finances. Former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson recently said that climate change is, "the single biggest risk that exists to the economy today."

The Best and the Worst Climate Performers (CDP)

In addition to ranking corporate leaders, the most recent CDP report lists the leading sectors in terms of climate performance. It reviews regional and national climate leaders and laggards. The report also singled out a few large corporations which refused to disclose their climate performance data. Performance leaders are those who received an "A" grade in the report.

According to the CDP, the sectors most represented in the 2014 Climate Performance Leaders Index are Information Technology, Financials, Consumer Staples, Consumer Discretionary and Industrials. Together these four sectors constitute 86 percent of the A list index.

According to the CDP's climate performance list, almost half of the leaders are based in Europe, with a further third located in either the US or Japan. More than a quarter of the Spanish and Belgian companies that took part in CDP’s climate change program were awarded an A rating. Other nations that performed well are Portugal, the Netherlands and South Korea.

By contrast, the laggards on climate performance are Canada, Switzerland, Australia and China.

Climate Action Enhances Profit by 9.6% (2014 CDP Report)

Engaging climate change is becoming almost synonymous with profitability. According to a new study, the more a company does to address climate change the more it appears to profit. This is a solid refutation of the conservative line the we simply cannot afford to manage climate change. It flies in the face of the false argument that we must chose between combating climate change and economic growth.

Companies from Apple to Zurich are showing climate leadership is not only a corporate responsibility it is also spawns a bevy of bottom line benefits. According to new research from CDP, companies that assume the responsibility to engage climate change outperform their peers. In fact, in the period between 2010 and 2014, companies that showed leadership through action to mitigate climate change outperformed the Bloomberg World Index by 9.6 percent.

Sustainability is Profitable According to the CDP's 2014 Climate Change Report

Some interesting insights came to light in the 2014 version of the annual CDP S&P 500 Climate Change Report. Overall the report suggests that companies in the S&P 500 are actively managing and planning for climate-change and the companies that do so are more profitable. The report indicates that for companies that are addressing climate change the return on equity was 18 percent higher than their peers and 67 percent higher than companies who do not disclose on climate change. The dividend yield for shareholders was 21 percent stronger then low ranking peers.

Further their results indicate that such efforts make them more stable with 50 percent lower volatility earnings over the past decade than low ranking peers.

As explained in the report, "Investors should take note that the debate has squarely moved from the moral to the material and should reward climate leaders with higher valuation multiples."

CDP Climate Disclosure Leaders List 2014

CDP Climate Performance Leaders List 2014

Complimentary e-Book: How to Add Value with Environmental Data

"How to Add Value with Environmental Data" is a complimentary e-book that teaches you how to put your data to better use. It helps readers to to take full advantage of the Environmental Data they collect.

The book is intended for those who want to know more about how environmental data already captured in your systems can be usable information that creates business value.

In the book you will learn about critical tips to help you better manage your data, streamline operations and create cost savings.

Don't wait – get the 5 Ways to Create Business Value with your Environmental Data e-book today!

Click here to download the book.

Business Sustainability Tips from Accor's Planet 21 Program

Have you decided to green your business? Excellent decision, but where do you start? While recycling paper, using less electricity, and carpooling may be obvious sustainable options for some, Accor’s Planet 21 program offers more creative options for your business.

Office decor is the last thing people think of when it comes to sustainable business. However, repurposing items to liven up your office is a great way to give back to the environment. Some Accor hotels reuse old tires as pots to hold fresh plants. Old bricks and wood can also be reused for tables, pots, and wall decorations. Looking for something a little more green? Check out Accor Novotel Auckland Airport’s living wall. This wall is adorned with native fauna, creating a beautiful aesthetic and bringing added benefits as well. Living walls are said to clean indoor air quality in the office space, especially of pollution that stems from printers.

Event - Rethink Sustainability Initiatives (RSI): Action Partners

This event will take place on Wednesday, November 20, 2013, 10:30am to 3:30pm at MaRS Discovery District, 101 College St., Toronto. Rethink Sustainability Initiatives (RSI) is where leaders who care about sustainability can learn from experts and the real-time experience of their peers – to build it successfully into their businesses — via interactive events, think tanks, publications and other means.

A special keynote presentation and lunch meeting with Sir Richard Branson’s Carbon War Room COO Peter Boyd. In addition to delivering a keynote presentation, Peter Boyd will also be participating in the open forum Leaders Circle with Daniels Carbon, Lafarge, KPMG and other action partners. This diverse group of leaders will share their expertise and commitment to addressing key sustainability challenges facing our environment. Their discussions will focus on actionable ideas and solutions to reducing carbon emissions, as well as strengthening the resilience and future readiness of buildings and cities – throughout the supply chain and beyond.

Event - Sustainability Leaders Forum

The annual Sustainability Leaders Forum will take place on November 21, 2013 at Faversham House in London UK. This event brings together over 580 inspiring thought leaders who want to challenge and exceed existing sustainable business objectives and positively influence their stakeholders.

Event - Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership

IMPACT! the Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership will take place on May 23 - 24, 2014 in Guelph, Ontario. A total of 175 Canadian University and College students will be invited to participate in this all expenses paid trip and conference. University and college students from across Canada will participate in this conference to be real and effective agents for change in their communities, organizations and businesses.

Webinar: Sustainabilitly in Small Business for Big Impacts

Small Business Big Impacts is a webinar that is useful to all sustainability professionals particularly those associated with SMEs. This webinar will review the ways in which small and mid-sized companies can benefit financially from taking action as stewards of the world’s resources. 

The live webinar will take place on Tuesday October 22, 2013 at 11:00 AM Pacific Time-USA. For those not located in the Pacific Timezone, find your webinar time here. Those who are unable to attend the live stream can register and receive the link to view the recording later.

Most large corporations have recognized that they can drive innovation, competitive advantage and improved financial performance by adopting sustainable business practices. Small and mid-sized companies (SMEs) typically have not yet embraced sustainability as a key element of their business strategy. This represents a major lost opportunity, both for the SME business community and for the entire economy.

Event - Annual Sustainable Florida Conference and Awards: Working on the Green Sustainability Summit

The Annual Sustainable Florida Conference is titled Working on the Green. This Sustainability Summit is scheduled for Wednesday, October 30, 2013, beginning at 8:30 AM. The Best Practice Awards Luncheon is at 12 noon. This exciting program features several of Florida’s sustainability leaders in an informal setting that will educate, inspire and facilitate your first steps.

Profit Oriented Sustainability Guide for Small Businesses

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The "Small Business Guide to Increasing Profit by Putting People and Environment First" was developed by the Network for Business Sustainability and Funded by the TD Bank.

This practical guide on how to make money by becoming more sustainable provides an overview of how to cut costs, motivate employees, enhance reputation and increase sales – while helping the environment, employees, and the community.

The guide is broken down into two section, retail service and manufacturing and addresses with the following four areas:

GEMI Sustainable Supply Chain Tool: Free & Interactive

On October 10, 2013, the Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI) announced that it is creating a new tool to help businesses with supply chain sustainability and the procurement decision-making process. This complimentary tool will be an interactive and online, it is designed to help business prioritize supply chain processes and identify “hotspot” processes as well as opportunities for improvement. It is ideal for sustainability and purchasing professionals.

Growth Strategies For Energy & Sustainability In 2014

Growth Strategies For Energy & Sustainability In 2014 will take place on November 12th 2013 at the Charing Cross Hotel, The Strand, London. This event is presented by Verdantix, it will address the growth prospects for the energy and sustainability market as the UK, Eurozone and US emerge from recession. How can the heads of energy and sustainability persuade the CEO and CFO to increase funding for their initiatives. These are crucial issues that leaders in the energy and sustainability market should focus on as they head into planning and budgeting for the 2014 financial year.

The Verdantix Summit will equip attendees with the data, insights and connections you need to power up your energy and sustainability strategies. It will discuss the drivers behind the market and link profitability with improved performance on energy and sustainability. It will also provide new perspectives on drivers of growth: energy supply risk, the rise of materiality, how ESG metrics impact valuation and CFO engagement.

Video Webinar - Sustainable Strategies: Selling Less and Making More

Video Webinar - Creating a Culture of Sustainability in Your Organization

To what extent is the appropriate organizational culture necessary to achieve your corporate sustainability objectives? Many scholars suggest that the pathway for achieving corporate sustainability is by creating a culture within their organization that values a sustainability framework from all aspects of the organization. It cannot be addressed by any single corporate action. Leading sustainability expert and author of Capitalism at the Crossroads, Stuart L. Hart, believes that when sustainability is viewed from the appropriate set of business lenses, leaders can create a culture to align their organization's strategies and people to improve performance and shareholder value. Join us to learn more about Hart's sustainability and strategy framework that helps leaders and organizations harmonize their concerns for the planet with their strategies for growth, innovation and profitability.

VProgram for Creating Value through a Sustainable Strategy

Professors Bob Eccles and George Serafeim talk about key takeaways from the program for creating value through a sustainable strategy.

For more information click here.

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Webinar - Climate Change 2.0: A Profit-Centric Paradigm For Businesses

This complimentary Verdantix webinar will take place on Thursday, October 17, 2013 at 4.00pm - 5.00pm (UK), 11am - 12 noon (EDT), 8am - 9am (PST). For over 20 years the dominant narrative for business discussions on climate change has been shaped by scientific data and forecasts, ethical considerations and government policy. Non-profits, media, scientists and politicians implored business leaders to change their investment decisions to fight climate change. In response, corporations in developed economies have gathered their GHG data and launched sustainability communications campaigns. In addition, utilities have invested in large-scale renewable energy and a small minority of firms have sought to make absolute reductions in GHG emissions. But the prevailing scientific-ethical paradigm has failed to engage the vast majority of business leaders and redirect significant flows of investment capital to climate change programs. Based on an assessment of business opportunities as well as risks, this Verdantix webinar offers a profit-centric paradigm for executives to make sense of climate change for their business.