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.

Creating Value from Sustainability Webinar and Why Business Leaders are Prioritising Sustainability

At 11 am on the 22nd of November 2012, Edie and Temple Group are hosting a webinar based on the results of a recently published survey of why businesses are prioritising sustainability. With contributions from CBI Head of Energy and Climate Change Dr Matthew Brown, Temple Group Head of Sustainability Carol Somper and some of the exemplar case study subjects featured in the report itself, this webinar will introduce the reasons for taking a sustainable approach and asks what the benefits are to business.

NextGen Auto International Summit China – Innovating technologies: Sustaining the Future (Event)

This event will take place on December 11 to December 13, 2012 in Shanghai, China. Inspira Event Limited is the conference advisor of the “NextGen Auto International Summit China – Innovating technologies; sustaining the future” organized by Messe Frankfurt which is launched alongside Automechanika Shanghai, one of the leading global automotive trade fairs supported by the Shanghai government.

The NextGen Auto conference is expected to bring together over 500 senior executive decision makers from throughout the industry.

The conference will explore and evaluate a number of important issues including how to:

Solar Latin America Summit (Event)

The Solar Latin America Summit will take place on November 29 and 30, 2012 in Santiago Chile. Due to increasing energy demands, Latin America has seen a surge in interest for alternative and renewable energies. Chile alone has an objective to achieve 9GW of solar energy by 2020 with a combined target for Latin America nearing 20GW.

Clean and Green Energy Forum: Investing for a Renewable Future (Event)

On December 3 and 4, 2012 in Orange County, CA, Opal Event’s Clean and Green Energy Forum: Investing for a Renewable Future will bring together experts to discuss the most important topics in cleantech and greentech. With rising costs of oil and natural gas, we find ourselves in a global movement focusing on a need for cleaner and more efficient energy options.

Attendees will represent many of the nation’s pension funds, endowments, foundations, family offices as well as utility companies, federal and state government agencies, and energy-equipment companies.

Republicans Believe in Demonic Possession but Not Climate Change (Video)

It is little wonder that a political party so out of touch with reality did not succeed in the election of 2012. "...A staggering 68 percent of registered Republican voters stated that they believe demonic possession is real. Meanwhile, only 48 percent of self-identified Republicans believe in another equally if not more scary natural phenomenon: climate change.". In this video the Young Turks host Cenk Uygur breaks it down.

A Word of Thanks from President Obama (Video)

After the announcement of his elelction victory President Obama made a surprise visit to the campaign office in Chicago to give a heartfelt thank-you to staff and volunteers. President Obama thanked his team and his supporters all around the world "I'm Really Proud of All of You. Thank you. This is your victory". He wasn't just talking to those in Chicago—he was talking to everyone who supported him.

President Obama's 2012 Victory Speech (Video)

After being re-elected President of the United States, President Obama gave his victory address in Chicago, IL. See the full speech in the video above or some brief highlights quoted below:

"Despite all our differences most of us share certain hopes for America's future, We want our children to grow up in a world that... isn't threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet. We want to pass on a country that is safe"

Global Sustainability Leaders Survey: Budgets & Priorities (Webinar)

On November 15th 2012 Verdantix will air a complimentary webinar, titled "Global Sustainability Leaders Survey: Budgets & Priorities." With sustainability budgets expected to rise in 2013, the Verdantix annual survey of 250 global heads of sustainability is intended to shed light on these findings. Presented by Verdantix CEO, David Metcalfe, the Webinar will also share survey data on governance for sustainability spending.

This unique global sustainability spending data set will help you benchmark your spending plans and align your investments with market demand in 13 countries and 20 industries.

The State of Government Sustainability Efforts

We have seen some progress on government sustainability and government's environmental collaboration. One survey of senior policymakers and managers, indicated that more than half said their jurisdictions have appointed someone to lead sustainability efforts.

Despite progress, most government leaders have been woefully inadequate in their efforts to manage climate change. This is particularly true of conservatives. World leaders will only respond when there is sufficient popular support and right now they are lacking in political will and leadership.

We are on Track for a 6 Degree Rise in Temperature

According to a new analysis released on November 5 and reported in the Guardian, the world is on track for "at least six degrees of warming" by the end of the century. The new research was conducted by consultancy giant PwC. Their investigation concluded that we will need a "5.1 per cent annual cut in global emissions per unit of GDP, known as carbon intensity, through to 2050 if the world is to avoid the worst effects of climate change and meet an internationally agreed target of limiting average temperature increases to just two degrees above pre-industrial levels."

What is ESG and Why is it Important

According to the Financial Times lexicon, "ESG" (environmental, social and governance) is a generic term used in capital markets and used by investors to evaluate corporate behavior and to determine the future financial performance of companies.

ESG factors include sustainable, ethical and corporate governance issues such as managing a company's carbon footprint and safeguarding systems in place to ensure full accountability.

How Governments can Show Support for Cleantech

Many want to see more government investment in clean technology. There are a lot of things governments can do to help advance cleantech. They can provide tax credits, craft policy mandates, impose standards, develop regulations and pass legislation. On the macroeconomic level, governments can also play an important role supporting education, developing markets and encouraging demand.

Cleantech subsidies were provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). The U.S. Production Tax Credit (PTC) provides a 2.2-cent per kilowatt-hour benefit for the first ten years of a renewable energy facility’s operation. It was born in 1992 and is set to expire at the end of 2012. The PTC for incremental hydro, wave, tidal, geothermal, MSW, and bioenergy was extended until the end of 2013.

Republicans Need a Serious Policy Review

The GOP's election defeat of 2012 lends credence to the belief that Republicans desperately need to change their strategy. The party can no longer win by appealing only to older white males. Republicans did not win the Presidency and they lost ground in the Senate, however they did retain the House. If they want to be the party of the majority they will need to adopt more rational fact based policy positions, this includes the science of climate change.

Republicans are at odds the majority of the American voting public. There is popular support to raise taxes on the wealthly, and maintain spending on social programs. However, the GOP has painted itself into a corner as the Republican House was elected on a no-tax-hike pledge, and includes a larger contingent of small-government advocates than before.

Hopes for Environmental Action in President Obama's Second Term

President Obama's second term will likely be more audacious than his first. In the President's own words, "the best is yet to come." In his first term, President Obama laid down stricter fuel economy standards and through the EPA more stringent requirements for coal plants. In his victory speech the President said, “We want our kids to grow up in an America… that isn’t threatened by the destructive power of a warming planet.”

Now that the President's environmental achievements from the first term are safe, we can expect more from the President in his second term. Optimism springs from the fact that the President does not have to face another election which frees him to undertake bolder action on the environment, climate change and clean energy.

Here are eight things the President can support to show leadership on the environment:

President Obama's Victory Speech: "The Best is Yet to Come"

At the end of a hard-fought campaign, President Obama won the popular vote and he earned 303 electoral college votes to 206 for Republican challenger Mitt Romney. The Senate remains under the control of the Democrats however, the House remains under the control of Republicans. Now the hard work of bridging a divided nation will commence.

Here is the full transcript of President Obama's victory speech:
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Tornadoes and Floods Underscore the Costs of Global Warming

This article was originally written in the spring of 2011 after an unusual number of killer tornadoes and floods ravaged the US, it reviews the increasing costs of extreme weather in a warming world. Tornadoes along with Hurricane Irene and most recently Hurricane Sandy, make a powerful case for aggressive efforts to address climate change.
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The wave of tornadoes and floods in the spring of 2011 are a small preview of what life will look like in a world ravaged by global warming. The US Global Change Research Program has warned of more extreme weather events in the future as the planet gets warmer.

When it comes to tornadoes, Spring 2011 was one of the deadliest and most destructive seasons in American history. The tornado that hit Joplin on May 22 was one of the deadliest tornadoes ever. The EF-5 wedge tornado, that swept thru Joplin was over a mile wide, it completely destroying about 20% of the town, killing 160 people and causing $2.8 billion in damage. The southern state tornadoes that touched down between April 22 and 28 are likely to surpass 2004’s Hurricane Ivan as the costliest natural disaster in Alabama’s history.

Obama's and Romney's Energy Advisers: A Study in Contrasts

As reviewed in an article by Elisa Wood , there is a profound difference between President Obama's energy advisor and Republican nominee Mitt Romney's energy advisor. Harold Hamm is part of team Romney while Heather Zichal is in Obama's camp.

Hamm made his fortune from oil, his academic qualifications consist of little more than a high school diploma. By contrast, Zichal has worked as an intern for the Sierra Club while at Rutgers University. Her meteoric rise in Washington's policy ranks took a little over a decade.

A Vote for Obama is a Vote for Survival

This may be the most important election in US history. There are two clear and distinct paths going forward, the choice Amercans make today will reverberate around the world and define the future. For anyone who sees the value of the environment or who understands the crucial importance of developing clean energy the choice is obvious.

President Obama has been endorsed by the Sierra Club, Environment America, the League of Conservation Voters, and Clean Water Action. In addition the President has recieved endorsements from Mayor Bloomberg, Colin Powell, Gov. Cuomo, and even Gov Christie.

There is no guarantee that a vote for Obama will succeed in staving off the worst effects of climate change, but it is the best shot we have to protect our planet. We know that a vote for Mitt Romney will increase America's dependence on fossil fuels while decreasing clean energy. A vote for the Republicans will also undermine decades of environmental protections. It is not overstating the case to say a vote for Romney risks runaway climate change which could result in death on a planetary scale.

Republican Gov. Christie Embraces President Obama

Republican Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie’s public embrace of Mr. Obama reverberated across the country. Gov. Christie said that President Obama deserves "great credit" for his response to Hurricane Sandy, during an appearance on "CBS This Morning" Tuesday.

"I can't thank the president enough for that," Christie said, referring to the major disaster declaration Obama signed for New Jersey, expediting federal aid to the state. "Cooperation from the president of the United States has been outstanding. He deserves great credit."

Climate Change is One of the Reasons Colin Powell Endorses President Obama

Prominent Republican Colin Powell and former secretary of state under President George W. Bush, has endorsed President Obama for re-election in 2012. Powell is a retired four-star general, he was formally chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush and he was also national security advisor under former President Ronald Reagan.

President Obama's position on climate change is one of the reasons Powell cited for his endorsement. Other reasons include the economy, foreign policy, defense, education, immigration, and health care.

At a rally in Richmond, Virginia, President Obama welcomed the endorsement, saying:

Hurricane Sandy Prompts Gov. Cuomo and Other Democrats to Speak Out on Climate Change

The horrendous impact of Hurricane Sandy is putting climate change back on the political radar just ahead of election day. A growing number of politicians are speaking out on the need for public policy that addresses the impacts of extreme weather events caused by climate change.

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has been traveling across the country stumping for President Obama. “It’s a longer conversation,” Cuomo said at a press briefing last Wednesday. “But I think part of learning from this is the recognition that climate change is a reality, extreme weather is a reality, it is a reality that we are vulnerable.

Citing Climate Change Mayor Bloomberg Endorses President Obama

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Michael Bloomberg has endorsed President Obama. Bloomberg's endorsement is significant because in addition to being a business leader, he was the first Republican governor of New Jersey, and he is now the conservative independent mayor of New York City. Although Bloomberg has been critical of both candidates, he indicated that President Obama was the better candidate to tackle the global climate change.

“The devastation that Hurricane Sandy brought to New York City and much of the Northeast — in lost lives, lost homes and lost business — brought the stakes of next Tuesday’s presidential election into sharp relief,” Mr. Bloomberg wrote in an editorial for Bloomberg View.

European Forum on Eco-innovation 2012 (Event)

The 13th European Forum on Eco-innovation brokerage event will take place on November 26 and 27, in Lisbon, Portugal. The DG-Environment of the European Commission, and the Portuguese Environment Agency will organize the 13th European Forum on Eco-innovation dedicated to the "Developing new markets for Eco-Innovation - with special focus on Water”. This event is supported by tree European networks for research, policy and partnerships, namely: Eco-Innovera – boosting eco-innovation through co-operation in research and dissemination; Ecopol – public innovation partnership for better policies and instruments in support of eco-innovation; and Environmental-NCP-Together – promoting partnerships and co-operating to improve their effectiveness.

Eco-innovation: Empowering Entrepreneurship (Event)

Eco-innovation: Empowering Entrepreneurship will take place on December 11th and 12, in Brussels Belgium. This conference will discuss the role of eco-innovation policies and businesses in supporting European competitiveness, jobs creation, environmental protection and the well-being of European citizens.

Social Sustainability Event

The Social Sustainability event will take place on November 27th, 2012 in Sandwell,UK. Social sustainability can win you business and ultimately prove added value in the long term. Social sustainability is a fundamental component of sustainable development and is now an integral part of all public sector bids. It is part of the sustainable communities' agenda, social capital and corporate social responsibility.

One of the key components is that the local community benefits from business activities, whether that be job opportunities, improved facilities or local supply chain involvement. It's also about ensuring that every pound spent in improving the local infrastructure generates growth opportunities for the wider community.

The Triple Bottom Line Investment Conference 2012 (Event)

On November 8 and 9, the Triple Bottom Line Investment (TBLI) CONFERENCE 2012, will take place in Zurich, Switzerland. The TBLI Conference is the largest and longest running conference in the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment industry - which is devoted to mobilizing Capital for Good.

Who Will Be There

The 14th annual TBLI CONFERENCE will be attended by the most influential and wealthy asset owners, asset managers, sustainability professionals and others in the ESG and impact investing space such as BNY Mellon Asset Management, Bank Sarasin & Cie Ltd, Natixis AM, SAM (Dow Jones Sustainable Index) just to name a few.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie Accepts the Science of Climate Change (Video)

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie showed his support for President Obama after Hurricane Sandy. This should come as no surprise as Christie disagrees with the GOP's stance on climate change. In 2011 Christie held a press conference at the State House to discuss the administration's policies on climate change and promoting renewable energy. The Governor stressed the need to have effective policies in place to combat the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment, while leading New Jersey into a greener and more renewable energy future. As a moderate and pragmatic man who accepts the science of climate change Christie may represent the future of a rejuvenated Republican party.

Bloomberg Endorses Obama Citing Climate Change (Video)

In a stunning move, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg endorsed the re-election of Barack Obama almost solely because of the issue of climate change. In a piece on the Bloomberg news web site, he said that the destruction caused by hurricane Sandy had led him to his decision. He wrote:

"The floods and fires that swept through our city left a path of destruction that will require years of recovery and rebuilding work. And in the short term, our subway system remains partially shut down, and many city residents and businesses still have no power. In just 14 months, two hurricanes have forced us to evacuate neighborhoods — something our city government had never done before. If this is a trend, it is simply not sustainable."

Hurricane Sandy Underscores Republican's Anti-Science Climate Change Denial (Video)

As Hurricane Sandy pounds the east coast Cenk Uygur, host of The Young Turks discusses the Republican party's stance on climate change. Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney's comments on climate change during is RNC speech are discussed. Cenk also breaks down the real reason the Republican party has the opinions they do about climate change, turns out it's all about the money.

Romney's Climate Change Ignorance on Display (Video)

At the Republican National Convention, Mitt Romney made some derisive comments about President Obama's efforts to tackle climate change. In light of Hurricane Sandy, these comments can only be described as woefully ignorant. America has a choice to make and it would be nothing short of a national tragedy to see a candidate as profoundly misinformed as Mitt Romney win this election.

Romney Ignores the Causes of Hurricane Sandy as Republicans Shout Down Climate Change Advocate (Video)

At a Romney rally in Richmond, Virginia, a Climate Change advocate was shouted down by an angry crowd of Republicans. In response to the statement "What about climate? That's what caused this monster storm. Climate change," the Republicans in attendance all began booing and then started chanting "U-S-A". The man, who was holding a sign that read "END CLIMATE SILENCE" was immediately escorted out of the event.

Meteorologist Discusses Relationship Between Hurricane Sandy and Climate Change (Video)

Forecasters say Hurricane Sandy is a rare, hybrid super storm created by an Arctic jet stream from the north wrapping itself around a tropical storm from the south. Jeff Masters, director of meteorology at the Weather Underground, warns that such a "Frankenstorm," as it is called, is an outgrowth of the extreme weather changes caused by global warming. "When you heat the oceans more, you extend the length of hurricane season," Masters says. "There's been ample evidence over the last decade or so that hurricane season is getting longer -- it starts earlier, ends later. You're more likely to get these sort of late October storms now, and you're more likely to have this sort of situation where a late October storm meets up with a winter low pressure system and gives us this ridiculous combination of a nor'easter and hurricane that comes ashore, bringing all kinds of destruction."

Hurricane Sandy is a Wake-up Call for those who Doubt the Science of Climate Change (Video)

This video address Hurricane Sandy and the relationship of this super-storm to climate change. 350.org founder Bill McKibben says the storm is a wake-up call. Climate scientist Greg Jones from Southern Oregon University says: "This is a unique event and as a climate scientist I worry that these events will be more frequent."

Youth Advocacy for Action on Climate Change (Video)

Young people need to act, they also need to vote for candidates that will support them. In April, 2012, 10,000 young people came together to stand up for the Earth and push for clean energy and green jobs. This generation is engaged in a fight for survival, they are fighting for themselves and they are fighting on behalf of the children of all species. However, they are fighting against powerful entrenched interests that have spent billions to buy politicians and misinform the public. For that reason alone, this is the most important generation of Americans at the most important time in history.

The Staggering Costs of Ignoring Climate Change

As the US election draws near voters need to acknowledge that there are staggering costs associated with ignoring climate change. Although Republicans claim to be advocates of fiscal responsibility, challenger Mitt Romney has made it clear that he has no intention of addressing climate change. Here is a re-edited article that was written in 2011 in the wake of Hurricane Irene, but is even more relevant in light of devastating costs associated with Hurricane Sandy.

Extreme weather events like Hurricane Irene illustrate the costs of man’s impact on the earth. The planet has been getting warmer since the dawn of the industrial age and for every one degree rise in temperature, moisture rises by 7 percent. Scientists predict that warmer temperatures will increase the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Or to put it another way, global warming amplifies the risk factors for extreme weather events.

Hurricane Sandy, Climate Change and the Upcoming Election

Hurricane Sandy wreaked massive destruction on the U.S. east coast. What is particularly noteworthy is the fact that this super-storm traversed a section of ocean that is typically too cold to form hurricanes. In addition to 90 mph (144 kph) winds and massive amounts of rain there was up to 3 feet of snow in West Virginia and other areas. The storm was accompanied by record low barometric pressure that pushed the storm far inland. Hurricane Sandy combined with two other weather systems to become a huge mega-storm. The super-storm ploughed well into the Midwest causing waves exceeding 24 feet (7.2 meters) on Lake Michigan. Even more destructive were the record storm surges of 14-feet (4.27-meters) that struck the coasts of both New York and New Jersey. The impact of Sandy prompted New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to say “The level of devastation at the Jersey Shore is unthinkable,” he said. “It is beyond anything I thought I’d ever see…it is a devastating sight right now.”

Romney's Environmentally Destructive Vision for America

Republican nominee Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have presented two radically different visions. While environmentalists have criticized both candidates, it should be obvious that one is clearly better than the other. Obama's campaign slogan is "Forward" while Romney's policy agenda can best be described as "Backwards". Romney has emphasized an increased reliance on fossil fuels, in contrast, President Obama has worked towards the development of a 21 century energy economy. Overall, Obama's environmental Efforts on energy and other issues rank him as one of the greenest Presidents in American history. Romney's proposed policies are nothing short of an environmental nightmare. It is not overstating the case to say that a Romney presidency would imperil the planet. If Romney wins the White House it may very well push us beyond tipping points that will make it impossible to get a handle on climate change.

Insurance Company Acknowledges Extreme Weather Caused by Climate Change

Extreme weather is costing insurance companies billions of dollars and this is forcing them to accept the veracity of climate change. Even before the mega-storm known as Hurricane Sandy hit in late October 2012, a Huffington Post article indicated that federal disaster declarations have doubled winter storm losses since the 1980s. In 2011, thunderstorms caused over $25 billion in damages in the U.S., more than double the previous record.

As reported by Bloomberg, the total economic loss from the Hurricane could exceed $20 billion, including insured losses of about $7 billion to $8 billion. These costs could subtract 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points from US gross domestic product in the fourth quarter. The industry forecasting firm IHS Global Insight estimates the costs of Sandy could be as high as $50 billion in damages and lost business.

The Daily Beast's List of America's Greenest Politicians (2012)

The Daily Beast ranked the greenest legislators to identify the most "eco-friendly" politicians in the US. To compile this list they started with the most recent annual scoring of legislators’ environmental records from the League of Conservation Voters (LCV). They also looked at donations from the fossil fuel industry and donations from environmental policy and alternate energy interests. Bonus points were awarded for politicians who are members of environmental caucuses. It should come as no surprise that all are Democrats and not a single Republican made the list. Here is the list of the 20 greenest politicians in America: