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Archives for Sustainability

Companies Continue To Struggle To Communicate Sustainability Effectively

April 10, 2015

Companies are struggling to effectively communicate with investors on sustainability, according to the UN Global Compact – Accenture CEO Study on Sustainability in collaboration with the Principles for Responsible Investment. However, the detail contained in this report does show that 88% of investors surveyed do see sustainability as an opportunity for competitive advantage and 78%… » read more

Climate & Environment, Economic Development, leveraging sustainability, Sustainable Business

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The Financial Value of Sustainability

As I reflect back on my journey in business and finance that has brought me to where I am today, the overriding constant in conducting business is, it is results, outcomes and accountability that have always carried weight. Serving customers well and adding value – making them more efficient, more effective, helping them grow. And,… » read more

Climate & Environment, Sustainable Business, Sustainbaility, Sustainbale Viability

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Can city mayors lead the way on sustainable development?

January 30, 2015

  On a recent trip to San Francisco and Austin, Texas, I found myself accompanied by two potential agents of change – Benjamin Barber’s book If Mayors Ruled the World and a newly appointed Swedish city mayor, Niklas Nordström. The former has the power to inspire and empower local politicians who wish to take on… » read more

Climate negotiation, Leadership and sustainability, Political Governence, Sustainability and Leadership

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Building the Business Case for CSR

July 30, 2012

The business case for CSR is complex, yet, in a more sophisticated, inter-connected, post global-recession world, the business case is stronger than ever before. Moreover, climate change, poverty, social disenfranchisement and inequality must be addressed in a meaningful manner that is both qualitative and quantitative. With economic uncertainty and weakness, governments are reluctant to put… » read more

carbon strategies, corporate social responsibility, eco-efficiency, economic profit, Energy, green, green business, leveraging sustainability, solutions, Sustainable Business

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The evolution of sustainability

June 28, 2011

The evolution of sustainability Christopher Gleadle Throughout the great recession of 2007 – 2010, there has been a dislocation of trust between companies and the global communities they serve. Emerging from the recession – any company wanting to repair such dislocation has used sustainability as the model to achieve best results. Whether it is customers,… » read more

green, policy

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EBS 2009: Gerard Van Harten From Dow Benelux

April 1, 2009

We were pleased to be able to interview Gerard Van Harten at the 2009 European Business Summit in Brussels. Mr Van Harten is Chairman of Dow Benelux. He spoke about policies relating to sustainability and the stance of Dow on these issues. If you would like to tell us your opinion, please leave a comment… » read more

Business & Climate Change, Businesses, dow, dow benelux, EBS, EBS 2009, energy saving, English, European Business Summit, gerard van harten, Global Warming, sustainable energy

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Flemish couple receives a fine for equivalent to 400 euro per tonne CO2

February 26, 2009

Is this fine by the Flemish government appropriate? As of January 2009, all new residential houses in Flanders must be audited by the Flemish Energy Agency (VEA). This is to ensure that energy use is kept within appropriate limits. Houses are rated according to their so-called E-level, which must be less than 100 to receive… » read more

buildings, electricity, English, Incentives, nuclear

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EU climate lead in peril

November 12, 2008

For how long will the EU’s self-acclaimed “climate leadership” survive the Obama revolution? Could a “green” Obama administration pose a bigger challenge to the EU’s climate credentials than the temporary backlash of the financial crisis? Who will win the race for the new “eco-competitiveness”? These questions are hard to answer for the moment but there… » read more

energy security, US climate policy

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A President for “Hard Times”?

November 4, 2008

Whoever wins the US Presidency today will be facing the ultimate challenge: steering a self-destructing Western-based economic growth model through a painful transition towards a new global sustainability. This is a task far beyond any past Apollo project. These are indeed historical elections and it is appropriate that the whole world is watching. Although the… » read more

energy security

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Europe’s climate and energy debate keeps on living in Disneyland

October 30, 2008

Friends of Europe’s annual energy summit (held on 30 October) saw tough exchanges between CCS defenders and the renewable energy sector but kept dodging the real question: can we solve the climate/energy crisis without questioning our economic growth and development paradigm? Energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs, as expected, defended his commission resolve not to “deviate” from… » read more

Biofuels, energy saving, energy security, Global Warming, renewable energy sources, sustainable energy

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Stop blaming the bankers

October 24, 2008

In times of crisis, people always need scapegoats in order to avoid having to look at one’s own responsibilities and this financial crisis is no different. But blaming bankers is a bit too easy when one looks at this crisis from a systemic and sustainability point of view. We have all enjoyed living beyond our… » read more

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