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The Sustainability Initiative
- Special Report: The Business of Sustainability
- Interview: Green, Despite the Downturn — Michael S. Hopkins
- Research: For Real, Not Just For Show — Joe Manget, Catherine Roche, and Felix Münnich
Special Report: Design Thinking
Hard skills from a soft scienceBeyond Green
Beyond Green
Climate change and rising fire risk
As fires sweep through the hills outside Los Angeles, the question arises: Are wildfires with us for the foreseeable future? In this post, What a 1-Degree Temperature Increase Means for Wildfires, Tom Kenworthy of the Center for American Progress says yes, due to climate change. “Inaction,” he notes, “will cost the western United States dearly.”
He sites two papers, one from the non-profit Headwaters Institute in Bozeman, Montana. It found that a 1-degree rise in spring and summer temperatures “will increase the area burned by seasonal fires in Montana by more than 300% and more than double the cost of protecting homes threatened by fire.”
He also cites a study by Harvard University researchers, which predicted a 50% increase in wildfires in the West by 2050 (measured by area). They may rise 75-175% in the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountains. That figures comes from “computer models calculating impacts of moderate global warming on western U.S. wildfire patterns and atmospheric chemistry.”
Since 2000, wildland fires in the United States have burned an average of more than 7 million acres a year, about double the average acreage for the previous four decades, Kenworthy writes. Given patterns of development, especially of homes in wooded areas, there’s no reason to expect any moderation.
Graphic from Harvard Researchers, Rising Fire Risk by 2050
California’s green legal battleground
The New York Times reports that the US Chamber of Commerce and National Automobile Dealers Association is trying to block the state from regulating its greenhouse gas emissions.
Cell phone ratings from an unusual source
Companies face reviews and critiques all the time — but in the case of cell phones, an environmental group is raising the bar by rating cell phones based on radiation emissions.
China pumps up green development
A new report says that China leads in the race to go green, with government supporting Chinese businesses in low carbon vehicles, energy efficiency, renewable energy and low carbon buildings.
Khosla raises $1 billion for clean energy funds
Billionaire venture capitalist Vinod Khosla has raised more than $1 billion for clean energy funds, with state pension funds making big commitments, according to Bloomberg News. It’s the first time Khosla has raised money from outside investors.
Is oil peaking?
On the 150th anniversary of the first oil well, the NY Times Green Inc. blog has a nice round up of recent commentary, including this Op-Ed that argued against the entire concept of peak oil.
What is the definition of a ‘Smart Grid’?
Terms get bandied about often in the world of sustainability, but there aren’t always firm definitions in a young field. That’s a risk, because without definitions, standards are impossible. And without standards, a new industry will never take off.
Industrial apocalypse? Two futurists debate
Over at the Guardian, two environmental writers debate the fate of the world, which might be summed up as apocalyptic v. work like hell to prevent it.
Will Wal-Mart sustainability program lead to sticker shock?
Stephen Stokes of AMR Research has an interesting post over at Climate Progress on the impact of Wal-Mart’s sustainability program.
Wind lowering cost of power in Texas
Texas currently ranks as the sixth largest wind producer in the world (if it were a country) and that is having the effect of lowering electricity prices in Texas, an analysis by Bernstein Research finds.
The Coal-Capture Conundrum
The WaPo has a good read on the effort to capture the greenhouse gasses emitted by coal fired electricity plants. The article points out that such capture will be necessary, if carbon emissions are going to fall, because coal-fired plants account for so much Co2.
Joel Makower’s inside take on Wal-Mart sustainability index
Green business guru Joel Makower has an insiders take on Wal-Mart’s sustainability index, saying “like so many things related to both Walmart and sustainability, there is both more and less going on here than meets the eye.”
Greenpeace praises Kimberly-Clark on paper sourcing initiative
Greenpeace gave a big bear hug to Kimberly-Clark, the paper giant that agreed to a sustainable fiber procurement policy after a public campaign.
“Cash for Clunkers” in limbo after boosting car sales
The government’s “cash for clunkers” program has proven so popular with drivers that it pushed car sales up in July. Ford posted its first sales gain in two years.
Pushing forward with plan to tap Sahara’s energy potential
This week, 12 companies signed an agreement to explore the energy potential of the Saharan dessert. On the face of it, the proposal is appealing: tap the sun and convert it into energy to power Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
History of cap and trade: Moving beyond “sue the bastards”
When cap and trade first appeared in the 1980s to limit pollution - in this case, acid rain - it was a pariah to nearly everyone who looked at it. At times it was described as “morally bankrupt” or even “a license to kill,” according to a Smithsonian article.
Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard gives thumbs up to Wal-Mart sustainability
In this video, Patagonia Yvon Chouinard makes an interesting point: he believes Wal-Mart’s sustainability initiative will make the company more money.
Transporting people without boosting emissions?
Buses might be the answer. Climate Progress blog notes that “transportation is responsible for roughly a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions,” a figure that will increase as the standard of living rises in the developing world.
Britain’s fisheries minister joins a restaurant boycott
Britain’s fisheries minister says he will boycott the high-end Nobu restaurant group because it continues to serve endangered bluefin tuna. Last week, the UK joined France in proposing to ban the species from international trade.
Wal-Mart sustainability index begins with 15 questions, ends with a rating
Wal-Mart rolled out its concept of a sustainability index, which “will establish a single source of data for evaluating the sustainability of products.” At the outset, the company is asking 100,000 global suppliers to answer 15 questions about their business practices.
Wal-Mart to launch sustainability index
Marc Gunther reports that Wal-Mart will unveil a new sustainability index and “measure the sustainability” of every product it sells.
The generation “M” Manifesto to old people who run the world
This rather hilarious post by Umair Haque, Director of the Havas Media Lab, appears on the Harvard Business Publishing web site. It sums up many of the principles of sustainability.
Did Muhammad Yunus slip on a banana peel?
The quick answer to the question is “yes” — if Yunus, the founder of the Grameen Bank, could be thought to represent the whole sector making tiny loans to entrepreneurs, according to a new survey of the sector.
Oxfam details economic impact of climate change
“Climate change’s most savage impact on humanity in the near future is likely to be in the increase of hunger,” according to a recent report from Oxfam.
Climate bill seen as a milestone
Joseph Romm, the indefatigable policy analyst at Climate Progress, makes the point that despite some shortcomings, the passage of the climate bill last week in the House was a milestone in a larger process.
Report predicts Detroit profits rise with fuel economy
A paper from the Transportation Research Institute at U. Mich. projects that US car profits will rise if companies get in gear and ramp up fuel economy. And here’s the kicker - profits will rise faster for Detroit than for the Japanese.
Is “green” marketing going the way of “natural”?
A couple of decades ago, there was a popular food label known as “natural.” Problem was, companies began slapping it on everything and consumers lost faith in it. Which raises a question: Is “green” following in natural’s footsteps?
Tesla expects a profit on electric car
Electric car start-up Tesla Motors, set to begin delivery of its $128,500 roadster next month, expects to turn a profit, according to a blog post by CEO Elon Musk. Toyota also reported record sales for its new Prius.
Waste. Not. Clean tech in San Jose
Talk about novel ways to use waste. San Jose has embarked on a $20 million project to turn the remnants of human waste — what usually ends up as sewage sludge in landfills — into 900,000 gallons of biogas.
Efficiency the big winner in global stimulus spending
Fifty-three percent, or $184 billion, of global stimulus spending is going to projects and to companies that improve the efficiency of buildings, transportation and industry.
Worries arise over food v. fuel in investor ‘land grab’
The rush by investors into agricultural land is becoming a hot issue. This week, for example, Fortune had a long piece about a hedge fund manager buying up farm land for investment in the U.S., but the same trend is underway globally.
Shell settles over Nigerian human rights abuses
Royal Dutch Shell agreed to pay $15.5 million to settle a case accusing it of taking part in human rights abuses in the Niger Delta in the early 1990s, though it admitted to no wrongdoing.
Obama may visit climate talks, notching up action
President Obama may visit the climate talks in Copenhagen this December, bringing even more emphasis to a new regime. He said as much in Europe this week.
GM’s strategic (electric) shift
Environmental business consultant Joel Makower asserts that in the midst of GM’s current crisis, the company is getting it. The “it,” of course, is a strategic shift that will put the company on a greener trajectory
Cutting water use in half, without rocket science
NRDC in a new report finds that industry in California can cut its water use in half, saving as much water as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego together consume.