Jay OwenSRI/ESG News, Trendspotting, Earth Systems Science

CSRwire

Daily News Alert

11.11.13

The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire

Breaking Free From Our Carbon Entanglement and a Dinosaur Industry

In a remarkable milestone, Mexican economist diplomat José Angel Gurría spoke out as secretary-general of the OECD – sketching a future that should have the global coal industry shaking in its boots.

His message is that we need to achieve net zero emissions of carbon dioxide emissions, to which the coal industry is a massive contributor, by the second half of the century.

With 2015 slated to see the next major climate summit, in Paris, political leaders have a shrinking window of opportunity to get a grip on the biggest crisis of all. The latest International Panel on Climate Change report, stresses the existential threat to key parts of our global economy—with the level of warming now outside anything seen in the history of civilization.

The answer? “Whatever policy mix we cook up,” Angel Gurría insisted.

Willingly or not, asset holders, governments and corporations will have to face the facts on carbon emissions. The OECD knows the incumbent industries will resist the necessary changes—but can we turn up the heat under the world’s politicians and make coal look like a dinosaur industry? John Elkington lays out the stakes on Talkback.

Adaptation and Resiliency In the Face of Climate Change at VERGE

When looking at the landscape of climate change in the literal sense, destructive storms like Hurricane Sandy and rising sea levels are threatening to consume vast areas. City planners have their work cut out, and are using technology to discover future crisis scenarios—and solutions.

At verge San Francisco, techniques using digital mapping were shown by the City of Vancouver as an effective means to identify where to address climate change. They were able to use technology to map heat problem spots. By being able to “see” scenarios, the City was able to strategically plant thousands of trees to offset temperature rise.

In addition to extreme heat planning, flood risk assessment is a big part of green infrastructure, too.How has Vancouver been able to identify the dizzying number of changes to be made, and then narrow them down to an actionable to-do list?

One answer is “lidar” – which is a 3D scan of a city. By seeing where flood areas are through digital visualization, urban planners can more accurately project where they need to build, fill, rezone and be proactive.

For any smart urban planner, lidar scans are proving to be a must-have to prevent disaster scenarios, writes Amy Seidman of Noble Profit. Read more of her smart city takeaways on Talkback.

Roozt.com: Harnessing the Power of Online Shopping for Social Good

Roozt.com: Harnessing the Power of Online Shopping for Social Good

Roozt.com, the oldest and largest online shopping platform for socially conscious brands, unveiled a new user experience that lets members harness their entire social networks for social good—si…Read More.

Learn more and start a ‘Movement’.

Press Releases

Posted: November 08, 2013 02:13PM

Green Festival ‘Closes’ the Concourse This Weekend

Posted: November 08, 2013 01:14PM

Global Impact Launches Philippine Typhoon Haiyan Relief Fund

Events

Posted: November 08, 2013 11:35AM

Ethical Corporation’s 7th Annual CR Reporting and Communications Summit

Posted: November 08, 2013 11:23AM

Ecochem – The Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering Event

Reports

Posted: November 08, 2013 11:00AM

Coca-Cola 2012-2013 Global Sustainability Report

CSRlive Multimedia Picks November 11, 2013

Obama Issues New Executive Order on Climate Change 
President Obama issued an Executive Order designed to encourage Americans to incorporate climate change awareness into plans. 3p.

Nation’s Poor at 49.7M, Higher Than Official Rate 
The number of poor people in America is 3 million higher than the official count, encompassing 1 in 6 residents. AP.

Massive Toxic Japanese Tsunami Island of Trash On the Move 
The UK reports that an island of trash, some of it presumed toxic from Fukushima radiation, is floating across the Pacific. Truth-out.org.

Features

CBS

Honoring Veterans: New Partnership Enhances Health of San Diego Homeless Veterans

Stratos Inc.

The Mining Association of Canada and Stratos Inc. Recognized with a Joint Excellence in Corporate Responsibility Award for the Towards Sustainable Mining Initiative

Coca-Cola Company, The

Coca-Cola Releases 2012-2013 Global Sustainability Report

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

100,000 Jobs Mission Doubles Its Commitment to Hire Veterans

IKEA

IKEA to Nearly Double Current Size of Maryland’s Largest Rooftop Array, on Distribution Center in Perriville, Making It One of the Largest Such Installations in U.S.

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase Joins Military Spouse Employment Partnership

The Resource Foundation

The Resource Foundation Honors Longtime Corporate Partner Johnson & Johnson at Its 25th Anniversary Gala

TBLI Conference B.V.

TBLI CONFERENCE™ Announces ESG Leaders Awards 2013 Nominees

CBS

Golden Gate Park CommUNITY Garden Opens

PR News

PR News’ CSR Awards Has Over 30 Categories to Choose From; Entry Deadline This Friday, Nov. 8

Taproot Foundation

Taproot Foundation to Launch on Helpouts by Google

Yale Center for Customer Insights

Sustainability Marketing: The Power of True Stories

Green Festival

The Twelfth Annual Green Festival Returns to San Francisco November 9 & 10, 2013

MCSquared PR Inc.

Actor Danny Glover to Visit Contaminated Areas in the Ecuadorian Rainforest Where Chevron Operated

Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series (TSSS)

Sustainable Wine: Balancing Environmental, Social and Economic Issues

Roozt.com

Roozt.com Unveils Movements, a New User Experience for Online Shoppers to Create Social Change