Corporate understanding of ecosystem services

The reliance organizations have on ecosystem services such as clean water, air, climate, timber, fibres, food and genetic resources is fundamentally an element of corporate risk and strategy that is often overlooked. Where traditional environmental management examines the impact the organization has on the environment, the idea of ecosystem services is novel in the sense that it is also concerned with the impact the environment has on the organization. We surveyed corporate managers in the Australian resources and infrastructure sectors and found that most are ill-equipped to address ecosystem services as a strategic aspect of long-term organizational sustainability. A high …

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Integrated Reporting – The next step in TBL Accountability

The impacts of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues on an organisation’s bottom line are intuitively well understood. Consider the negative impacts of the Deepwater oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on BP’s bottom line, or the positive impact of General Electric’s environmentally driven business strategy – ecomagination. The idea therefore that sustainability issues should be fully integrated into business strategy and reflected in an organisation’s performance reporting seems obvious. Leading companies are beginning to transform their business strategies and performance reporting in order to meet their stakeholders’ increasing expectations for information that provides a holistic representation of their …

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Beyond sustainability: Exploring the principles of restorative management

The leadership of sustainability is an emerging issue in Fortune 1000 companies, and 70% of these companies have indicated that they intend to increase their investments in sustainability over the next five years. The implications of this trend are that business leaders have begun to understand the importance of sustainability as well as how its integrated implementation can offer both a competitive advantage and a new host of unforeseen benefits. Many of the current sustainability management practices have set the foundation for the next phase of sustainability, which is restorative management. While sustainable organizational practices contribute to thriving, restorative management …

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Rethink! Addressing the global consequences of urbanisation in Cities

By the end of the 21st century 85% of our global population will be living in cities. By then cities as we know it today have ceased to exist. The majority of humans would have organized themselves into Megacities and Super Urban Conglomerates of 40 million people or more and Megacities would have replaced nations and became self supportive as economic drivers and engines for growth and compete at a global level for resources, top talents and businesses. This urbanization trend would be exclusively for the new and upcoming global economy. However we are under threat of over stressing our …

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US Fracking Rules Would Disclose Drilling Chemicals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is pressing companies for more information about the chemicals in fluids, something they say is a trade secret. The agency holds the last in a series of community meetings on hydraulic fracturing, called fracking, on Wednesday in New York. The new Wyoming rules say companies must submit to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission [3] a full list of chemicals they plan to use in fracking operations on a well-by-well basis. Companies will also have to report the concentration of each chemical used once the job is done. Drillers retain the right to claim …

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10 Ways to Cut Carbon Emissions in Your Buildings

Johnson Controls Inc. and its Make Your Buildings Work program offer 10 tips on how your company can reduce its carbon footprint and emissions by minimizing the environmental impacts of facilities and operations.  The advice is part of Johnson Controls’ campaign to emphasize practical solutions for building owners, managers and operators to improve the energy efficiency and performance of their properties. The company’s “10 Tips” series is among resources available on the JCI microsite MakeYourBuildingsWork.com. Here are Johnson Controls’ recommendations for cutting carbon emissions: 1. Consider investigating in renewable energy technologies to become less dependent on the grid. This is …

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States call for solar subsidy cut

Annabel Hepworth – The Australian March 07, 2011 12:00AM JULIA Gillard is under pressure from the states to roll back generous subsidies for rooftop solar schemes amid predictions that escalating costs from the federal renewable energy scheme will add as much as $90 to yearly household power bills… more “Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” Conference 15th& 16th September – Radisson Resort, Gold Coast

A sustainable approach makes business sense

By santos | Published: March 4, 2010 An integrated sustainability framework delivers value beyond traditional economic measures. The efficiency and effectiveness in which environmental resources are managed is the pathway to the licence to operate within communities and with government regulators. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the use of clean water, land disturbance and waste to landfill contributes to the key concept of “doing more with less” and has a positive effect on operating and regulatory costs – ultimately benefiting both the company and the environment. Government regulators and financial stakeholders demand high standards of environmental and social performance. Strong relationships …

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Australia’s first modern large electric car consortium

Five local companies have joined forces to build prototypes of Australia’s first modern large electric car. Supported by the Australian Government, the consortium hopes to produce a family car which could revolutionise the Australian car industry. Announcing more than $3.5 million in funding from the Green Car Innovation Fund for the consortium’s project worth nearly $26 million, Innovation Minister Senator Kim Carr said the concept for the car was based on the Holden Commodore. “The government understands that Australia’s future relies on our ability to green our industries. This includes manufacturing environmentally friendly vehicles,” Senator Carr said. “This Melbourne-based consortium, …

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