|
Economic Growth, Protecting & Preserving Our Ecological Systems – Are These Conflicted, Or Complementary As We Strive For Greater Global Sustainability? The continued drive toward greater societal sustainability is very encouraging. The public sector, multilateral organizations, companies, investors, NGOs, and other stakeholders are adopting new strategies and embracing new approaches and best practices. Picture the installation of the vast array of a desert solar generating “farm” – that’s progress to cheer. But there are substantial societal challenges that will require much more effort than we see today if we are to achieve greater, widespread sustainability -- worldwide. Growth is good/growth is an issue. We are on track, demographers tell us, to see the global population grow from today’s 7.6 billion to 9.6 billion by the year 2050. We recall a description that describes the challenge of meeting this particular situation: It is like changing tires on an automobile that is moving. The imagery of that is tantalizing to consider. This could apply to the challenges of developing solutions to vexing social, environmental and governance issues of 2018 as we steadily move towards 2050. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (the SDGs) are an excellent roadmap for us to (1) look at the vexing societal issues and (2) collaborate and innovate to develop solutions, even as economic, population, demographic, political, financial, and other issues throw up still more challenges to meet as we strive to meet today’s challenges. Reality: We have to continue “growing”, right? The 17 SDGs include such laudable and aspirational goals as ending poverty (#1), proving education (#4), providing clean water and sanitation (#6), and achieving “zero” hunger (#2). Governments, industry, investors, civic leadership, NGOs, and other stakeholders are busily trying to figure out the “how” of addressing the challenges. (And, how to pay for the work to be done.) This week the UN Secretary General spoke about the lack of progress in general since the goals were structured in 2015. Only 12 years are left until the 2030 deadline for having solutions in place, observers noted. So the question: Can sustainable development logically co-exist with current economic growth? The Phys.Org organization provides an interesting (brief) exploration of the topic in a feature article in September. There’s an elephant in the room, say the authors, and that is the “trilemma of population growth, economic growth, and environmental sustainability” – which (they say) reveals the vast incompatibility of current models of economic development with environmental sustainability. These are some of the findings of a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academic of Sciences (USA); the lead author is Professor Graeme Cumming of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies at James Cook University. An example of the research results: High-income countries often rely more on non-extractive industries, such as manufacturing and services, but consume more per capital and import more raw materials. In low-income countries, populations depend more on the extractive industries (agriculture, mining, logging), but have lower per capita consumption rates and higher population growth (and will have more mouths to feed). The world is divided into two distinct groups of national economies, the authors posit in the Proceedings, roughly equated to developed and less developed nations…and both are pushed toward two different equilibrium points that are unsustainable under population growth. (They studied data and models that are described in the Journal report.) The solution that we can all agree on: We need to find ways to make economic development and good standards of living compatible with ecological sustainability. We can use this knowledge to steer economic growth towards win-win outcomes for people and the environment (so say the authors). The Journal article is available to you at: Our Top Story provides highlights of the report authored by Professor Cumming and his colleague, Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel); Dr. Cumming presents brief highlights for you. This Week's Top Story Can sustainable development co-exist with current economic growth?
Sustainability: Forward Momentum! Sustainability a ‘minor consideration’ for majority of investors worldwide There is no part of business left untouched by challenges of sustainability Blockchain Could Help Achieve The UN's Sustainable Development Plan A global shift to sustainability would save us $26 trillion. Why aren’t we doing it? How To Combine Style And Sustainability 5 ways to encourage sustainable behavior through integrated corporate performance Overcooked and Underserved: Sustainability in a World of Fast-Food Philanthropy Development bank EIB sells first "sustainability" bond
Our Focus This Week on A Range of ESG Topics & Issues – More For You to Think About – What Will Be the Future Impact of These Developments? UC sets higher standards, greater goals for sustainability Can we consume less without wrecking the economy? U.S. factory activity hits 14-year high; supply constraints rising Commentary: It's Not Either Growth Or The Environment World's oceans in 'shocking' state say scientists as they warn of marine extinction Great Barrier Reef Shows Significant Signs of Recovery
From the Corporate Sector - Both Positive & Negative – Headline Scans for You Commentary: Designing sustainability’s first product recall Weekly Roundup: Nestlé revives Zimbabwe's coffee industry, Corbion achieves sustainability rating from Ecovadis Global Compact Awards for Sustainable Development Goals Initiatives">Frontera Receives United Nations Global Compact Awards for Sustainable Development Goals Initiatives Headlines… Nike shares fall as backlash erupts over new ad campaign featuring Colin Kaepernick Facebook, Twitter fall as they face U.S. Congress People Are Still Eating Recalled Honey Smacks Cereal—and They're Getting Sick Burberry bans fur, stops destroying unsold goods Bernie Sanders Hit With Avalanche Of Criticism Over Amazon-Bashing Bill News & Opinion: Asset Managers, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pension Funds Saudi wealth fund bets big to remake oil-based economy World’s Largest Sovereign Wealth Fund Raises Standards for Oceans, Sustainability Supply chain issues for 13th Responsible Supply Chain Summit Nevada Pension Fund Earns 8.6%
|
________________________________________ _________________________________________
G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ INTERNSHIP: SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS DATA ANALYST _________________________________________ Louis Coppola from G&A Institute Goes In Depth on How to Improve ESG Performance
_________________________________________
FLASH REPORT: 85% of S&P 500 Index® Companies Publish Sustainability Reports in 2017
Using The GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework Improves The Quality of ESG Disclosures - Joint Research From G&A Institute and Baruch College Shows
________________________________________ GRI'S USA, UK & IRELAND
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. Find out more @ G&A's What's A Data Partner _________________________________________
Navigating the way to sustainability... | ||||||||||||||
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. | |||||||||||||||
Stakeholder Engagement
