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2017’s Top 10 Sustainable Business Stories – HBR Author Andrew Winston Weighs In – What Are Your Top 2017 Stories? Once again, the authoritative Harvard Business Review weighs in on corporate sustainability with a commentary piece on the top trends of 2017 – with “big leaps both forward and backward” in the year just concluded. And there was some predictability, writes author Andrew Winston in his commentary, as he says he predicted: “…the context for sustainable business in 2017 may center on the competition between two stories, the election of Donald Trump and significant action on climate change…” Of course, as we all quickly learned after the January 20 inauguration, the U.S. signaled it would be pulling out of the historic Paris Climate Accord – to become at some point in 2018 probably the ONLY country standing by itself. At least at the [Federal] governmental level. And so, Trend #1, writes Andrew Winston, is the “Newtonian equal-and-opposite reaction from business, states, and cities – nothing short of amazing – their pushback on policy decisions is my #1 story of 2017.” Other top stories & trends that he picked: #2, the deadly costs of climate change became even more obvious. #3, Trump Administration begins dismantling of environmental protections. #4, (we can hear the cheers at your end as you read this – “investors woke up about climate risk and benefits of sustainability”). #5, something to carefully watch from other leading economies (like the USA!) in 2018, China accelerated its cleantech advantage with a series of dramatic moves. Completing the list: #6, cleantech continues the relentless mark and coal continued to die (Morgan Stanley predicted an inflection point in 2020 when renewable become the cheapest energy source globally). #7 is “famous CEOs” took moral stands (Tesla’s Elon Musk, Disney’s Robert Iger and others). #8, companies took a stand, such as suing to fight the president’s first Executive Order (the poorly-executed and hateful immigration ban). #9 is the early -2017 event that millions watched on TV, the Super Bowl, as companies touted in their very expensive ads their views on social sustainability and stands taken on the new administration’s policies. Finally, at #10 author Winston has in focus the global Unilever, “the consensus corporate leader on managing sustainability for business and social value” -- fighting off a takeover bid by Kraft Heinz and 3G Capital. What is your list of top stories and trends for 2017? Send us your nominations. And if you have not already read G&A Institute Chair Hank Boerner’s book published at the end of 2016 and looking into 2017 and 2018, the book is available with our compliments. (“Trends Converging! – A 2016 Look Ahead of the Curve” – that is, what’s ahead in 2017 that affects Sustainability & CR managers…sustainable/ESG investing professionals?) Reading Trends Converging! you can see what is working / what may not work if the policies of the Trump Administration and the Congress intervene on the wrong side of history. The book is can be downloaded at: https://www.ga-institute.com/research/research/research-reports/ About the HBR essay: Author Andrew Winston wrote the popular books “Green to Gold” and “The Big Pivot.” His “So What’s Next” look at mega-trends is included with predictions for 2018. This is a very powerful column and we urge your reading – it’s our Top Story for you this week.
Our Top Story For You... The Top 10 Sustainable Business Stories of 2017 About Sustainability: Progress Is Being Made - We See Forward Momentum! For Your Attention: The Editors' Scans Climate change and sustainability disclosure: Why we must start Overheard in sustainability: The funniest moments in 2017 Source: MorningStar - After years of increasing momentum for sustainable investing, 2017 began with concerns that the new administration would have a chilling effect on the field's growth. Saudi Arabia casts an allure for sustainability Intl Sustainability (ISGP) Seeing Positive Chart Signals Opinion: The Sustainability Sham Sustainability In The Supply Chain: Multiple Advantages Will plastics cede to paper in the sustainable packaging market?
Our Focus This Week on A Range of ESG Topics & Issues – More Things to Think About… Why The Massive Fears Around Cryptocurrency Will Rise And What's Next for 2018 US shale oil drillers set to kick off the new year with big production gains World’s wealthiest gain $1 trillion in 2017 on market exuberance Business Schools Finally Teaching Ethics and Tackling Social Change to MBAs People Can Handle the Truth About the Environment
News for You From the Corporate Sector -Both Positive & Negative - Headlines Source: GreenBiz - When President Donald Trump signed an order in early December to remove more than 2 million acres of Utah land from federal protection, Patagonia was ready. 3 Ways to Make a Commitment to Sustainability Your Customers Want to See Source: GreenBiz - We see in the numbers a growing willingness among companies to commit to sustainability, even if they are starting from zero today. Guest column: How to source sustainable fabrics... Additional Headlines…. Volkswagen to install 2,800 U.S. electric vehicle charging stations Hasbro Recognized for Sustainability Leadership, Attaining No. 3 Spot on Newsweek’s 2017 Green Rankings Blockchain Is Pumping New Life Into Old-School Companies Like IBM and Visa Apple Is Now Facing Eight Lawsuits After Admitting to Slowing Down Old iPhones California Says Nestle Lacks Permits To Extract Millions Of Gallons Of Water Claire's Pulls Items From Stores Over Asbestos Concerns -text/video Tesla's make-or-break year? 2018 will test Elon Musk
News & Opinion: Asset Managers, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pension Funds Goldman Sachs launching trading desk for bitcoin, report says Abu Dhabi's IPIC says Malaysian fund 1MDB paid settlement in full How Big Is Your State’s Share of $6 Trillion in Unfunded Pension Liabilities' Trump Administration News / Affecting Directions on Governance and ESG Trump administration set to unveil $1 trillion infrastructure proposal in 2018
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G&A's To The Point! is a businesss intelligence web-platform resource. This management briefing service offers timely insights and perspectives on Corporate Sustainability, Responsibility & Citizenship.Click here to request a one-week trial subscription. Below are links to a sampling of three recent briefs: IS YOUR COMPANY’S KEY DATA & “SECRET SAUCE” SAFE? Pssst! Foreign Entities Are Snooping… _________________________________________
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G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ You And The 21st Century Company — All About Iteration, Innovation & Disruption! The 21st Century Company: How It Creates Values – And for Whom
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G&A Institute is the Data Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) in the USA, UK and Republic of Ireland. We identify, receive, collect, analyze, database, and communicate about every report issued in any of the 3 countries. Over the past 6+ years, G&A analyzed 6,000-plus sustainability reports in this pro bono role and databased 100+ important data points for each report. ____________________
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The Sustainability Highlights eNewsletter is prepared by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. Governance & Accountability Instiute is the “Sustainability Headquarters™” for clients in the corporate, investment, public and social sectors. Based in New York, G&A is a for-profit consulting organization providing a range of value-added strategies, services and resources related to ESG & sustainability to clients in the corporate and capital markets communities.For G&A's full range of services, click on each of the links below: For more information, contact Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. | |||||||||||||
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