Sustainability vs. Resilience

By William E. Rees, originally published by Resilience.org: Sustainability vs. Resilience In my opinion this article [The End of Sustainability] is poorly reasoned, and mis-represents (misunderstands?) both sustainability and resilience. Two sample quotes to illustrate (ignoring for a moment that the authors use a questionable definition/understanding of sustainability)… read the full article here

Sustainability in Business Association Education 2015

The Sustainability in Business Association will celebrate its 6th birthday this year with a change of focus and a wider business and sectoral agenda. Included in the new initiatives are; • An updated website with increased member content. This will include sustainability podcasts and papers from a number of conferences. • Members will have the opportunity to present at a selection of conferences and have their business papers published internationally with an ISBN number. Academic papers will also have the option of peer reviewing before publication. • Sustainability streams and access to member rates will be available at the following …

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Expansion of re-use water at WWTP :: SustainabilityMatters

Victor Harbor is a popular and rapidly expanding coastal town on the Fleurieu Peninsula, some ninety kilometres south of Adelaide. The Victor Harbor Wastewater Treatment and Reuse Project (VHWTRP) was first commissioned in December 2005. Now with a greater demand for sustainable re-use water in the region, SA Water engaged United Utilities to upgrade the plant and network… more Expansion of re-use water at WWTP :: SustainabilityMatters.

Gaining a competitive advantage through reducing your carbon footprint

Design Business Strategies that Prepare your Organisation for a Carbon Constrained Future Understand the basics of carbon accounting and how a carbon price might impact your business. Learn about the risks and opportunities created under the introduction of a carbon price. Develop a roadmap of energy efficiency opportunities that save energy and save money. See the presenation from Rob Cawthorne, the  Managing Director of the  Carbon Reduction Institute at the “Taking Care of Business: Sustainable Transformation” Conference on the Gold Coast this September. You will Learn about governments’ sustainability plans and the relevant grants available, make the “triple bottom line” relevant to …

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Can Tourism Operators Manage Water Sustainably?

The relationship that water has with the tourism sector is complex. While the UNWTO has recognised that water is an essential component of tourism, the problem of overuse has also been highlighted as worldwide fresh water resources become scarcer. The challenge for sustainable water management exists in many parts of the world and is no longer confined to arid destinations, high volume tourism destinations or developing nations. A significant portion of the water use in the tourism sector is associated with accommodation and hospitality. Responsibility for the way that water is used in accommodation venues is vested in both the …

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The Benefits of Green Credentials.

As sustainability and environmental policy continue to evolve, forming the biggest business opportunity of the 21st century, it is now a business imperative for companies to have credible green credentials. The GreenBizCheck presentation aims to educate attendees on the importance for all companies, from micro businesses through to large multinationals, of achieving certifiable green credentials. The GreenBizCheck workshop will examine, how government, corporate and consumer pressure are influencing the criteria for procurement decisions, what credible green certification options are available and the differences between them, how to protect your rating and engage staff, how to communicate your green credentials with …

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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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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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