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First global sustainability reporting standards launched
First global sustainability reporting standards launched
GRI has launched the world’s first global standards for sustainability reporting, giving companies a common language for disclosing non-financial information. The GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards will enable companies around the world to be more transparent about their impacts on the economy, the environment and society.
Global Reporting Initiative – Eco-business – Sustainable Brands
No one saw Tesla’s solar roof coming
The vision presented at Universal Studios in Los Angeles is the grand unification of Musk’s clean-energy ambitions. The future is powered entirely by Tesla: a house topped with sculpted Tuscan solar tiles, where night-time electricity is stored in two sleek wall-hung Powerwall batteries, and where a Model 3 prototype electric car sits parked out.
Millennials want sustainable investments
“Everyone is always so curious about millennials,” says Audrey Choi, chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Sustainable Investing. “Especially in this space.” So when her firm surveyed 800 individual investors about sustainable investing in a late-2014 poll, it included a sample of 200 millennials.
What corporations need to know about carbon removal
In the future, carbon removal solutions will play a critical role in corporate climate action strategies. While carbon removal might be a long game for corporations, there is a strong business case to be made for targeted near-term action around carbon removal, as evidenced by the corporate leaders who already have begun to emerge in this space.
Carbon capture and storage plant hits target
Two years after its official launch in October 2014, SaskPower’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility at Boundary Dam Power Station in Estevan has achieved its target of capturing 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) in one year, the Crown corporation announced Monday.
Future of SunEdison’s Ontario projects hazy
The future of several solar-power and energy-storage projects is uncertain after the filing of bankruptcy protection by a key player in the Canadian solar-energy scene. SunEdison Inc.’s Canadian subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy protection in Canada under the Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act on Thursday.
Wind assets for sale as Suncor aims to increase dividends
Suncor Energy Inc. is planning to sell all or parts of its Ontario wind power business following the $1.13-billion divestiture of its lubricants business Monday. Suncor confirmed it planned to sell all or parts of its wind power assets in Ontario, but planned to hold onto its wind generating capacity in Alberta and Saskatchewan.
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Here are three trends driving sustainable business
An evolution has taken place in the sustainable business sector over the past year. How are businesses embedding sustainability initiatives that are good for both business and society? These three important issues emerged about what is necessary to scale this movement to the point where sustainable business becomes business as usual.
Climate change plan will impact Alberta economy
Alberta released estimates Monday showing its climate change plan will shrink the economy in the short term, but Environment Minister Shannon Phillips said the figures are a work in progress. The province estimates the economic impact of the plan will be 0.3 or 0.4 per cent of the GDP by the year 2022, which translates into slower growth of .05 per cent per year during that time.
N.S. manufacturers express concern over carbon tax
Nova Scotia’s largest companies are weighing in against the federal government’s carbon pricing plans for the first time. The Nova Scotia division of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association said carbon pricing will add “significant costs” to doing business in the province.
N.B. makes recommendations on climate action
The chair of the New Brunswick’s select committee on climate change says he hopes, over time, all 85 recommendations made will be implemented to help combat climate change. Carleton-Victoria MLA Andrew Harvey said the targets set for 2030 are 40 per cent below 1990 levels and will remove the equivalent of five megatonnes of carbon emissions from the system.
Financial crunch forces recycling companies to adapt
One of the largest waste management companies in North America is disinvesting in recycling. Waste Management CEO David Steiner argues that in order for recycling to be profitable again, “you either need to draw down the processing cost or you need to drive up the price on the back-end,” a position he held early last year.
Brookfield sets sights on India wind power firm
Canada’s Brookfield Asset Management Inc. is in talks to buy the operational wind energy assets of Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners-controlled renewable energy platform Continuum Wind Energy, two people aware of the development said. “Brookfield has been keen on acquiring renewable energy assets in India.
India proving a good market for Canadian clean tech firms
In India’s garment district of Tamil Nadu, a Canadian solar company is providing critical backup power to an area where electricity outages remain all too common. In two neighbouring Indian States, another Canadian company is providing 350 megawatts of solar power to light homes and businesses.
China ready to invest in Canadian clean technology
Canadian clean technology companies could be the next major investment for China’s business elite. “We are more interested in investing in environment technology, clean tech [and] innovative sectors such as creative industries,” said Wang Chaoyong, the chairman and CEO of ChinaEquity, one of the country’s most successful independent venture capital firms.
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Government policy
Canada not ready for climate change, report warns
Canada is ill-prepared for the increased flooding and extreme weather that will occur under climate change, and needs to act now or face much higher costs to fix damaged buildings and infrastructure in the future, a new report warns the University of Waterloo’s Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation says in a report.
The Rebel back in as media at COP 22
The United Nations has bowed to pressure from Environment Minister Catherine McKenna and three Canadian journalist advocacy groups, offering The Rebel — the right-wing news and opinion platform published by political commentator Ezra Levant — media accreditation at next week’s Conference of the Parties (COP 22) in Morocco.
Farmers worried over Canadian carbon price
Canada’s carbon price may weaken the farm sector in one of the world’s biggest grain-shipping countries, raising farmers’ costs and discouraging investment in fertilizer production, industry groups say. At $50, it would raise fertilizer prices by $2 per acre for Canadian farmers.
Financing sustainability
Big business takes climate change seriously
The business case for aggressive climate and energy action is gathering in strength and expanding in scope, much like how many believe climate change is fueling stronger and scarier superstorms. More companies are setting science-based climate targets in response.
NEB pessimistic about the future of solar
The future of solar in Canada remains “highly speculative,” according to the National Energy Board. One barrier that few in Canada consider is the issue of home ownership. Soaring housing prices are blocking many Canadians from buying a home, and renters have little reason to go solar.
Sustainability professionals
Sustainable Prosperity think tank gets a name change
Sustainable Prosperity has changed its name to Smart Prosperity Institute and will continue to be Canada’s leading source of research and policy insights for a stronger, cleaner economy. Based at the University of Ottawa, the institute’s forthcoming work includes a series of policy briefs on accelerating clean innovation across the economy.
Experts meet to discuss forest health, sustainability
The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) convened North American researchers, conservationists, academics and government officials for its first meeting to provide guidance for the SFI Conservation Impact Project. This project helps sustainably sourced forest product stakeholders understand the value of well-managed forests and to promote their management.
Adding green ingredients a challenge for global companies
Consumer demand for safe products has global companies scrambling for greener ingredients, but obstacles are daunting. Suppliers are often reluctant to share their formulations, buyers balk at higher costs, and in some cases cost-effective safer substitutes simply aren’t available.
Clean technology
Adding renewables to the grid a tricky proposition
Adding wind energy is not as “simple” as building wind farms. It also means constructing new transmission lines. Both Germany and China know this first hand. The Guardian newspaper has reported that the German government is paying wind producers to hold back when it comes to generating power — because its grid is unable to handle the additional capacity.
Competition encourages mines to use renewables
Energy and Mines has released the final shortlist of international mining companies eligible for awards based on their investments and commitments to renewables. The shortlist includes a geographically diverse group of mining operators with a wide variety of project sizes using wind, solar and solar thermal technologies to power their operations.
Podcast: The difficulty of clean technology design
Dreaming, designing, building and deploying new kinds of hardware is tough in any business. But in the energy business, where change comes particularly slowly, developing new tech is an especially hellacious undertaking.
Green buildings
Solar panels to help power Alberta schools
The Alberta government plans to install solar panels on three dozen schools around the province as part of its strategy to combat climate change. Education Minister David Eggen said the province is working with students to find solutions.
Wildlife and business
Dramatic drop in wildlife highlights unsustainable practices
Global populations of vertebrates — mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish — have declined by 58 percent between 1970 and 2012, states a new report from the World Wildlife Fund. The report demonstrates the need to rethink how we produce, consume, measure success and value the natural environment.
Federal government promises more transparency over fishery
The Canadian government is taking action to improve the management of the fisheries to ensure healthy fish stocks for future generations and making that information public. The results of its annual Sustainability Survey for Fisheries are online for the first time, so Canadians can now monitor the progress being made on managing 159 of our key fish stocks.
Biz Buzz
CN makes global list of climate action companies
For its actions and strategies in response to climate change, CN has been awarded a position on the Climate A List by CDP, the international not-for-profit that drives sustainable economies. CN is among the nine per cent of corporations around the world participating in CDP’s climate change program to be awarded a position on the Climate A List.
CN’s tree-planting program helps green communities
CN announced the names of the 50 communities across Canada that will be awarded grants of $25,000 to fund local tree planting projects in honour of our nation’s 150th anniversary. Since CN launched From the Ground Up in 2012, more than 60,000 trees and shrubs have been planted, helping to enhance the environmental and social health of 150 communities across Canada.
Tesla announces quarterly profit
Tesla Motors Inc’s shares rose more than five per cent in early trading on Thursday as investors welcomed the electric car maker’s first quarterly profit in more than three years and its reassurance that the Model 3 sedan would not need new capital. Tesla said its profits were helped by nearly $139-million in sales of clean car credits.
Environics celebrates eight years of carbon neutrality
Environics Communications, a full-service North American integrated communications firm with offices in Canada and the United States, is marking its eighth anniversary of attaining carbon neutral status. This year, the agency purchased 407 Verified Carbon Units to offset the equivalent amount of emissions created.
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Industry Events
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Greenbuild 2024: Built to Scale
Nov 12 2024
to Nov 15 2024
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
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Sustainable Finance Forum 2024
Nov 28 2024
to Nov 29 2024
Shaw Centre, Ottawa
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