Engaging Boards of Directors on Sustainability is a Key Success Factor

Boards of directors can play an invaluable role helping a company to inculcate sustainability into their DNA. Because of their unique position, boards of directors are well placed to integrate sustainability into business strategies and practices. This supports both the long-term profitability and the viability of an enterprise.

However, there is a disconnect between what is good for a firm and what they are actually doing. Most boards of directors are not engaged in sustainability even though almost all managers and directors think they should be.

Event - The Sustainability Summit 2017

This Summit will take place on March 23-24, 2017 in London. What does COP21 and the push for greater environmental sustainability mean for business? The Sustainability Summit will bring together key thinkers, policymakers and business leaders, who will deliver strategies, ideas and solutions to decision makers, helping them to turn challenges into new opportunities and prepare for the future.

How Sustainability has Become a Mainstream Phenomenon

Sustainability programs are not just for forward-thinking international conglomerates they are now part of mainstream practices for business both large and small. The data has convincingly made the case that sustainability is good for business and managers are integrating it into their strategies in ever increasing numbers.

There are a number of good reasons why businesses are embracing sustainability. In 2015 sustainability reached a tipping point and in 2016 it has become obvious that sustainability is a 21st-century megatrend. We are even beginning to conceive of a post sustainability world.

Organizations and Individuals Coalesce for Action on Climate Change

There is a powerful synergy building between grassroots activism and those who are working with governments and the private sector. The United Nations, companies, investors, activists, environmental groups and coalitions are coming together to call for action on climate change.

We saw the largest climate protest in human history on September 21, 2014. A total of 2,600 events took place in 166 countries around the world as part of a global call for action on Climate Change. In New York City, the People's Climate Events saw an estimated 400,000 people come together. This involved 1,576 organizations and hundreds of thousands of social media posts. From students to senior citizens, people of every age, ethnicity and ideology were represented at this march. This unprecedented event sent a clear message to leaders at the UN Climate Summit on September 23.

Business Leadership at the UN Climate Summit

The recent UN Climate Summit on September 23, 2014 was different from previous meetings and one of the primary reasons for this is the fact that the business community is showing real leadership. As should be obvious to all, we will not be able to make substantial cuts in carbon emissions without support from the business and industry.

Corporations Go 100% Renewable for Climate Week NYC

During Climate Week NYC, corporations stepped forward with ambitious renewable energy plans. The business leaders that gathered in New York for Climate Week are working to encourage the corporate world to take meaningful action on climate change. As part of a campaign, called RE100, more than a dozen corporations made pledges to derive all of their power from renewable sources of energy in honor of Climate Week NYC.

The RE110 campaign encourages 100 of the world's largest businesses to commit to get all of their power from renewables by 2020. RE100 is convened by The Climate Group in partnership with CDP. RE100 is an action of the WE MEAN BUSINESS coalition.

Event - Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development

This event will take place on November 24 - 25, 2014 at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. The Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development is subtitled "Building Prosperity through Economic, Social and Natural Capital." It will gather business leaders, NGOs and policy-makers from around the world to share practical solutions for sustainable growth and creating shared value with economic, social and natural capital. Topics discussed will include disruptive innovation, equitable growth, the sustainable supply chain, clean energy access, next-level integrated reporting and harnessing the natural assets of cities.

Video - The Worldwide Charter for Fair International Commerce

The Worldwide Charter for Fair International Commerce is free of charge project that has been developed by the International Businesses Standards Organization (IBSO) to be a code of conduct and a minimal set of universal principles for the international business community. This IBSO's initiative allows for participating organizations to formally proclaim their commitment to promote sustainable and positive business practices with respect to social and environmental values. Every Worldwide Charter for Fair International Commerce signatory have a right to use the Charter Signatory logo on site and in other advertising purposes and being listed in Catalogue on IBSO's official site.

The We Mean Business Coalition: Low Carbon Economics

There are some powerful coalitions that are helping to make the case for a low carbon economy. One of those groups is the newly formed "We Mean Business" group. As they explain, climate change is not only a very serious threat it is a tremendous opportunity. They make the point that the business community is already feeling the impact of climate change and this is destined to get far worse if we continue with business as usual.

They enumerate the impacts of climate change which include damage to facilities, disruption of supply and distribution chains, threats to power supplies and global food and water resources. Climate change contributes to overall uncertainty to the marketplace thus increasing the cost of doing business.

Eleven Business Pledges at the UN Climate Summit

At the UN Climate Summit companies played a leading role through initiatives designed to reduce pollution, conserve forests and combat climate change. While industry is often maligned for contributing to eco-degeneration, these claims are being blunted by new initiatives.

The business community is increasingly engaging in efforts to promote the transition to a low carbon economy, cut emissions, diminish deforestation, reduce pollution, adopt renewable sources of energy, increase the number of electric vehicles, and lower the carbon footprint of rail and aviation.

Here is a summary of 11 pledges made at the UN Climate Summit:

Sign the Sustainability Charter for Businesses and Others

Sustainability is a buzzword that is gaining momentum, but a growing number of organizations are coming forward with practical initiatives to help turn the concept into reality. One such initiative is called the Worldwide Charter for Fair International Commerce (WCFIC). Developed by the IBSO, this global initiative supports international businesses showcasing a particular social and environmental sensibility through following a code of conduct and a set of universal principles; reflecting the core values of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, labor conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and other internationally recognized principles.

The UN Climate Summit in NYC Gives Us Reason to Hope

Those in attendance at the UN Climate Summit in New York City made significant progress towards the goal of a global climate agreement in 2015. At the end of the Summit, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon summarized the outcome saying "This was a great day!"

The UN Climate Summit was a success simply by virtue of those who attended. There were an unprecedented number of world leaders in attendance, this included 100 government leaders and more than 800 leaders from business, finance and civil society.

UN Climate Summit: Ban Ki-moon Final Summary

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has summarized the accomplishments of the UN Climate Summit in New York city. This includes a number of emissions reducing initiatives like the New York Declaration on Forests, zero net deforestation commitment from leading palm oil producers and commodities traders, and emissions reductions throughout the supply chains of retailers of meat and agricultural products. Financial achievements include decarbonizing efforts from institutional investors and green investments from the insurance industry. In energy and agriculture there was progress on the African Clean Energy Corridor and the Global Alliance for Climate-Smart Agriculture. There were also commitments to reduce methane emissions and HFCs.

Sign the Ceres Climate Declaration

President Obama and Highlights from the U.N. Climate Summit

Some promising signs emerged from the UN Climate Summit on Tuesday. This year the summit has more urgency as those assembled are asked to work towards a global climate agreement by 2015. This summit may very well be making progress towards that ambitious and elusive goal. If nothing else the level of engagement bodes well. In Copenhagen there were only 95 leaders at the New York Summit on September 23, there were 125.

Climate Change and SDG's Dominate the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly

The importance of the 69th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) cannot be overstated. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said that the 69th session could be the “most consequential” in and for a generation, he also said, “the coming year must be a time for action. A time for results.” UNGA's 69th session officially opened in New York on September 16, 2014. The theme for this session is ‘Delivering on and Implementing a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda.'

Two major issues that will be addressed at this assembly are post 2015 development goals and climate change. UNGA President Sam Kutesa, Uganda, said UNGA 69 has an “historic opportunity” to formulate a transformative post-2015 development agenda. He told delegates it is “our responsibility to ensure that adequate means for implementing the agenda, in terms of finances, technology development and transfer and capacity building are mobilized.”

India Social Good Summit 2014: Climate Activism in New Delhi Highlights the Role of Social Media in Innovation

The People's Climate March was an historic and unprecedented event that took place in cities all around the world. In India, New Delhi was the hub of climate activism that included the inaugural India Social Good Summit 2014. This event highlighted the role of technology and digital media on global social good initiatives.

This event was organized by UNDP in collaboration with IIT Delhi and it brought together diverse voices who reflected on the role of technology and social media in crafting a better world.

Emphasizing the penetration of social media in our daily lives, Shekhar Kapur, who presented the keynote address, commented: "Social media is changing the way we live and relate to each other. It’s sucking inertia out of the system. Before we know it ideas have spread and taken hold. Today Social media has become a stronger social influencer than films."

Petitions for Action on Climate Change

There has never been a better time to support efforts to manage climate change. With the upcoming UN Climate Summit on Tuesday, September 23, now is the time to make your voice heard. In addition to the People's Climate March which took place on September 21, a number of organizations are circulating petitions to help amplify the message for the 125 leaders attending the Summit at UN headquarters in New York. Here are petitions from Avaaz and 350.org:

The People's Climate March Sets the Stage for the UN Climate Summit

Two major events are coalescing to give us hope that we may be able to muster the political will to finally tackle the climate crisis. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has invited world leaders from government, finance, business, and civil society to a climate summit that will take place at UN headquarters on September 23, 2014. The goal of this meeting is to “galvanize and catalyze climate action.”

On September 21, just two days before the Summit, the People’s Climate March took place in New York and in cities all around the world.  On this day there were a total of 2,646 events in 156 countries. In New York City alone more than 400,000 people converged in support of climate action. This was the largest event calling for action on climate change in world history. 

Historic People's Climate March Sends an Unprecedented Message to Leaders

Sunday September 21 was a historic day for the climate movement. On this day more people took to the streets calling for climate action than on any other day in history. From New York City to Rio, London to Delhi people assembled to demand that their leaders act on climate change. In New York City alone more than 400,000 people converged in support of climate action. The procession of marchers in Midtown Manhattan stretched for nearly 30 blocks. Around the world there were a total of 2,646 events in 156 countries.

This event sends a clear message to the 125 heads of state who are attending the UN Climate Summit on September 23. No longer can leaders contend that people are apathetic about the climate movement. More people than ever are demanding action in place of rhetoric.