Caring for Climate: The Business Leadership Platform

The rise of climate change as a fundamental issue for society has emphasised the need for leadership and voluntary action on the environment. Against this background The Global Compact, together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), has developed Caring for Climate: The Business Leadership Platform as a way to mobilise business action on climate change. Within months of launching the initiative, 200 companies from around the world, including many of the world’s largest transnational corporations, have endorsed the statement and are already taking action.

Through the United Nations Global Compact, thousands of companies in over 100 countries are working to integrate 10 principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption into  their strategies and day to day operations. The Global Compact’s commitment to environmental protection is firmly embedded in our foundational spirit and three environmental principles which are drawn from the 1992 Rio Declaration on Environment and Development: Business should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges; Business should undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; Business should encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.

The rise of climate change as a fundamental issue for society has emphasised the need for leadership and voluntary action on the environment, including in the areas of biodiversity and responsible management of chemicals, wastes and water. The importance of early action is increasingly recognised, particularly in today’s globally integrated world where the ability to compete is more and more linked to a company’s capacity to innovate and demonstrate viable solutions for increasing energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.

Against this background, the Global Compact, together with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), has developed Caring for Climate: The Business Leadership Platform as a way to mobilise business action on climate change. It is based on a shared belief that seriously addressing the climate challenge requires a preparedness to publicly express a vision and strategy, to make specific commitments, to set examples, to strengthen execution capability, to enhance public disclosure and to conduct pro-climate advocacy.

Text and photograph courtesy Climate Action, a partner and Cooperating Organization with dgCommunity Glocalization.

Celulose Irani - Biomass to Electricity

Located in Vargem Bonita, Brazil, the Celulose Irani Project demonstrates how one paper manufacturer is finding economic value in what was once considered waste. The facility uses byproduct biomass from their paper production process to generate sustainable energy for their facility. Irani thus provides a model for biomass projects that reduce both. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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Brazil launches sustainable development plan for Amazon

AFP, 8 May 2008 - Brazil has launched an ambitious sustainable development plan for the Amazon that aims to lay down a new model for the vast jungle area balancing economic and environmental priorities, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said. "We all understand that the Amazon needs to develop, but we also understand that there had to be a develo. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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New Guide Demystifies Green Forest Product Purchasing

Washington D.C. and Geneva, 3 April, 2008 – Corporate managers will now get powerful help with today's release of a “Guide to the Guides” ( 1.8 MB) – a toolbox that helps them understand and find the best advice on how to purchase products originating from the world's forests. Countless resources have been developed to help businesses sustainabl. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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Water for Fuel

Geneva, 10 March 2008 - As demand for biofuels increases, industry will face additional questions: How can the water be equitably shared? Is biofuel a practical energy solution? What are the options? These questions and others at the water and energy nexus will be the focus of a new WBCSD water and energy workstream of the Council’s Water Project. . . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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Mobility as a Driver of Economic Development: China Case Study

As economic growth and industrialization accelerate and livelihoods and incomes improve, so the demand for mobility increases. However, in much of the developing world, demand for mobility solutions to drive economic growth continues to outpace supply, while the growing number of vehicles and other mobility solutions has not been matched by the nec. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership

The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership is an action and advisory group, established in 2003 to take a lead in accelerating the shift to low carbon vehicles and fuels in the UK and to help ensure that UK business can benefit from that shift. The LowCVP is a partnership of over 270 organisations from the automotive and fuel industries, the environmental . . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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Transportation and greenhouse gas mitigation

Nic Lutsey and Dan Sperling, Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis Transportation presents a substantial and growing worldwide greenhouse gas (GHG) emission challenge. GHG mitigation strategies can be grouped into three categories: vehicle efficiency, low carbon fuels, and travel reduction. Potential GHG reduction. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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The greening of shipping

Published on 27 November 2007. Efthimios E Mitropoulos, Secretary-General, International Maritime Organization. Climate change and global warming pose a great threat to our environment. In a world dependent on motorised transport systems that emit large quantities of greenhouse gases, significant reductions in shipping emissions will help to red. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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UNEP working towards a greener postal sector

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU) have agreed to work together to slash the CO2 emissions caused by members of the postal sector. Under the agreement signed in Berne last week by Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, and Edouard Dayan, Director General of the UPU, UNEP will help the UPU calcul. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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Shock report forecasts huge increase in aviation’s global environmental impacts

A report submitted to the 7th US/Europe ATM R&D Seminar held in Barcelona last summer has recently surfaced, following research by the AEF. The technical report uses date forecasts from authoritative Government regulator research sources (1). The report was submitted to the Seminar organisers but not accepted and remains unpublished - until today!T. . .

Added by  Anuradha Bhattacharjee  May 12, 2008
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