Climate Change was the Hot Topic at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Climate change was the dominant theme at and this year's World Economic Forum (WEF). Panel discussions covered a wide range of related topics and including global warming, ocean sustainability and biodiversity. Al Gore, David Attenborough and Jane Goodall were among the participants.

This year's Global Risk Assessment report released at the WEF in Davos revealed, yet again, that climate change and related phenomenon are among the greatest risks both in terms of impact and likelihood. The report surveys nearly 1,000 decision-makers (public sector, private sector, academia and civil society) who are asked to assess the risks facing the world.  Over a ten-year horizon, extreme weather and climate-change policy failures are seen as the gravest threats.

Small Business Owners Support Action on Climate and Energy

The US small business community overwhelmingly believe in the veracity of climate change. They see this as a threat to their businesses and they endorse government regulatory efforts to reduce power plant emissions.

The views of the small business community on climate and energy issues is crucial because they are both a powerful economic engine and the primary source of job creation in America. The sheer size and scope of the small business community make their contributions to climate mitigation and adaptation absolutely essential.

These are the findings in a June 2014 American Sustainable Business Council poll of 555 small business owners. For the purposes of this study small business are defined as those with between 2 and 99 employees. 

This Year's WEF Gives us Reason to Hope

Climate and energy conversations that took place at this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos gave us reason to hope. Many of those who constitute the core of the world's economic power acknowledged the urgency of climate action and the opportunities associated with forging a new green economy.

We are beginning to see the kind of leadership from CEO's and investors that is an essential if we are to succeed in tackling climate change. Companies and investors are coming together to advance meaningful solutions. Business leaders are now looking at climate change as both a risk and an opportunity. Investors are showing unprecedented interest in investments that support low carbon technologies.

Video - Live Earth 2015: Pharrell Williams and Al Gore Launch Live Earth Climate Action Concert

Climate campaigner and former US vice-president Al Gore and hit musician Pharrell Williams announce Live Earth, concerts in seven continents intended to galvanise support for climate action. Announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the event is intended to 'have humanity harmonise all at once.' 

Collaboration and Cooperation are Imperitive (WEF Summaries)

Collaboration and cooperation are commonly mentioned as important aspects of sustainability and they emerged as salient themes at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Over the course of the last year we have seen historic collaboration on carbon emissions reduction between the US and China. We have also seen tremendous progress in some private sector areas.

While many are talking about global disunity, others are pointing to significant examples of global collaboration. John Kerry, US Secretary of State, said "I don’t see an unraveling [of international cooperation]. I see just the opposite. I see nations coming together … to reach an ambitious global agreement to address climate change, with the recent agreement by China and the United States that begins to set the targets to make the Paris negotiations this year a success."

Towards a Global Climate Agreement at COP21 (WEF)

Much of the climate momentum that occurred at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos is in anticipation of COP21 where it is hoped that a global agreement can be signed.

François Hollande, the President of France and host to next year's COP21 climate talks in Paris, made a number of prescient comments in Davos.

"I call upon the whole of business to make an economic contribution to the most fragile of states, in the name of solidarity and security. I call on you also to counter another threat which is one that looms over the very future of this world: we need to fight global warming,"  Hollande said.

Curbing Fossil Fuels - Carbon Pricing and an End to Subsidies (WEF Summaries)

Carbon pricing and fossil fuel subsidies were popular topics at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland. The comments made by economists, business leaders and climate experts signal a global readiness to price carbon and remove oil subsidies.

Investors and business leaders need and want regulatory certainty. Regulations on fossil fuels are coming the only question is when. Climate economist Lord Nicholas Stern was among those who argued that we need to see carbon taxes and eliminate oil subsidies.

If we are to get serious about tackling climate change we will need to curb fossil fuel use. One of the best ways to do so is through carbon pricing schemes. Rowan Douglas, CEO Capital, Science & Policy Practice and Chairman, Willis Research Network, said, "Carbon pricing is a very important tool in the armory. I think it is difficult to see the world achieving its targets without some sort of pricing mechanism for this critical pollutant."

The Value of Investing in Climate Mitigation (WEF Summaries)

One of the salient themes that emerged at the 2015 edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) is that investors are very interested in climate action. There have been a number of important developments during the course of the WEF but few are more important than the emerging trend of integrating climate risks into financial assessments. The risks and the opportunities  posed by climate change are bottom line issues.

Low carbon energy investments are providing considerable returns. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, clean energy investment increased by 16 percent in 2014. The We Mean Business Coalition reports that companies are achieving 20+ percent internal rates of return on their own clean energy projects.

Global Economies Feeling the Heat from Climate Change (WEF Summaries)

Economic assessments of climate risks and the potential returns from mitigation and adaptation emerged as salient themes at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

A number of speakers made the point that it is important to calculate the massive risks associated with climate change. We are already seeing that climate change is systemically disrupting the global economy and the situation is destined to get far worse if we do not significantly reduce global carbon emissions.

As explained by several economists, we do not have to make the false choice between combating climate change and growth. We can both grow our economy and act on climate change.

Business Leadership on Climate Change (WEF Summaries)

The 2015 edition of the World Economic Forum (WEF) put unprecedented emphasis on the role of business to manage climate change. Both to mitigate costly risks and reap lucrative benefits, the business community is beginning to take climate concerns very seriously.

One of the key stories that emerged out of the WED last week is that an unprecedented number of business leaders are showing bold leadership on climate action. Business leaders are speaking more clearly and more cohesively than ever about the need to address climate change.

As Al Gore explained in a Davos presentation, "We have the solutions at hand. And this is why I’m so excited about all of the work being done, led by the business community," he said. "The private sector is leading the way," he added.

WEF Summaries: Climate Change

Climate change was a central part of this year's World Economic Forum (WEF) which took place in Davos Switzerland from January 21 to 24. Unlike previous meetings there was an unprecedented sense of urgency in this year's discussions about climate change.

A WEF plenary titled "Tackling Climate, Development and Growth" included Paul Polman, A. Michael Spence, Jakaya M. Kikwete, Christine Lagarde, Ban Ki-moon and Jim Yong Kim. This distinguished panel shared the view that to combat climate change we must engage sustainable development. They also said that to succeed in efforts to reduce climate impacts we must see significant investments from both the public and private sector.

Video - WEF 2015: A Climate for Action

Related
WEF Summaries: Climate Change
Towards a Global Climate Agreement at COP21 (WEF Summaries)
Business Leadership on Climate Change (WEF Summaries)
Curbing Fossil Fuels - Carbon Pricing and an End to Subsidies (WEF Summaries)
The Value of Investing in Climate Mitigation (WEF Summaries)
Global Economies Feeling the Heat from Climate Change (WEF Summaries)
Collaboration and Cooperation are Imperitive (WEF Summaries)
What is The World Economic Forum (WEF)
Risks Associated with Environment, Climate, Water Crisis and Extreme Weather in the WEF Report

Video - WEF Pre-Annual Meeting Press Conference

The Pre Annual Meeting Press Conference outlines the official programme and participants at this year’s Annual Meeting in Davos.

What is The World Economic Forum (WEF)

The 2015 edition of the World Economic Forum convenes on Wednesday January 21, in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. The World Economic Forum (WEF) is an international institution committed to improving the state of the world through public-private cooperation. The WEF’s Annual Meeting convenes global leaders from across business, government, international organizations, academia and civil society to map the changes taking place in our world.

The Forum has evolved from an opportunity for European corporate stakeholders to discuss business strategies into an organization that today is widely regarded as the world’s foremost multistakeholder platform for public-private partnership.

Ethical Corporations Top Anayses of 2013

The Ethical Corporation provides business intelligence for sustainability to more than 3,000 multinational companies every year. Their conferences are widely recognized as the best in the field of corporate responsibility and sustainability.  They publish the leading responsible business magazine, website, research reports and analyses. 

Here are the Ethical Corporations three most read analyses of 2013 from the Business Strategy hub:

US Energy Efficiency in 2013: Success Stories and Barriers

Energy efficiency has played a pivotal role in American productivity improvements. In 2013, energy efficiency continued to move forward in the U.S. Driven by cost savings, energy efficiency is good for business and the economy. Improving efficiency increases production and can even lead to a higher quality of material life. Energy efficiency improves the nation’s GDP for each national energy dollar. Perhaps most importantly, energy efficiency is a meaningful part of emissions reductions, which combats climate change and improves air quality.

Despite progress, there is still a lot of room for improvement in energy efficiency. As reported in Forbes, the U.S. is the global leader in wasting energy with the nation currently wasting more energy than it uses. A total of 57 percent of the energy flowing into our economy is wasted as heat, noise, and leaks, costing U.S. businesses and households an estimated $130 billion per year. In addition to massive cost savings, it is estimated that energy efficiency can also create more than one million jobs in the U.S.

Andrew Winston's Top 10 Sustainable Business Stories for 2013

Andrew Winston has been providing a top ten list of sustainable business stories for the last four years. He is the co-author of the best-seller Green to Gold and the author of Green Recovery. His forthcoming book, The Big Pivot, will be released in April. He advises some of the world’s biggest companies on environmental strategy. Here is his list of the top ten sustainable business stories for 2013.

This year, like recent years, saw some continuation of big trends: with a few exceptions, the international policy community keeps failing to come to a meaningful agreement on climate change; carbon emissions just keep rising; transparency is increasingly unavoidable and keeps gaining technology-enabled traction; pressure from big companies on their suppliers keeps going up.

So what’s really new this year? Let’s dive in.

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.