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Encouraging News & Opinion Coming Out of Ceres Gathering in San Francisco -- Progress in Corporate Sustainability Continuing! Water scarcity, resource depletion, climate change impacts...these were top-of-the-agenda items at the annual Ceres Conference convened last week in San Francisco. These of course are pressing challenges for the domestic and global business communities, for investors and various stakeholders. While there are many aspects to these issues to consider, the takeaway from the conference, writes Aaron Pickering, is that the focus on sustainability is good business (and good for business). Among the key issues and topics in the Ceres dialogue: the role of clean-energy in driving economic growth. Clean energy creates jobs -- lots of them. Clean energy power -- think renewables -- making for cheaper consumption than traditional fossil fuels in many parts of the word. (A study by Ceres, WWF, CDP and Calvert indicated that Fortune 500 companies saved almost US$3.7 billion through their climate and energy commitments in 2016. That is good for business -- and many stakeholders!) Cheers to Walmart Stores, General Motors, Bank of America, Google, Apple, and Facebook -- these are among F-500 companies that have set or are setting definitive science-based goals -- and (23) are setting practices in place to power 100 percent of their operations with renewables. IBM is working toward the 2020 renewable energy goal the company has set, with more than 3,000 energy conservation programs in place; in 2015, the company saved $30 million and avoided emissions of 250,000 metric tons. Lots of good news coming out of the very popular Ceres gathering in San Francisco, welcome indeed in contrast to some of the news coming out of the nation's capital as the Trump forces and members of the Congress look to dismantle vital parts of the Obama Administration environmental and energy-saving policies. Tune in to the Top Story by Aaron Pickering (VP of Cone Communications; Ceres is a client of his company). And there is much more encouraging news in the selections for you in this week's newsletter by our Editor-in-Chief Ken Cynar and the G&A Team. The forces arrayed against the foes of U.S. environmental protection, clean energy and greater sustainability policies are broad-based and influential. Top Stories This Week... Ceres Conference 2017: Business Leaders Prove Sustainability is The Bottom Line
Important Items for Your Attention: Editors' Sustainability Scans - Progress! First global standard for sustainable procurement hits the market The Progress Toward Sustainability The progress toward sustainability Our Focus - This Week In Agriculture Source: Ag Web - If you think sustainability is a term clever food companies use to sell products to shoppers at a higher mark-up, you need to do some homework. Sustainability is increasingly a driving force behind profitable farm businesses as... Source: High Plains Ag Journal - A trio of industry groups hosted federal officials for a field day of demonstrations on seed treatments, planting practices, and equipment innovations that are bringing continuous improvement to sustainable farming practices. Special News -- CSR Course Coming Up Rutgers Offering CSR Certificate Program (Corporate Social Responsibility) this Spring
Source: Smithers Pira - Sustainability is a fast-growing and vitally important area of concern for packaging that addresses economic, environmental and social objectives. Source: GreenBiz - How, at the 29-year mark, she creatively and strategically has embedded sustainability across the company’s brand-building and business development practices. Thanks to her conviction, vision and effort, sustainability is at the... Source: GreenBiz - As climate risks loom larger in the corporate world — threatening the long-term viability of certain supply chains and product lines, not to mention reputation — how can corporate boards of directors gauge and respond to them... We would need 1.7 Earths to make our consumption sustainable A Gaping Crack in The Antarctic Ice Shelf Just Forged a Devastating New Path Oil's OPEC-Driven Gain Wiped Out as Shale Boom Offsets Cuts Detailed look at the global warming ‘hiatus’ again confirms that humans are changing the climate Why irate passengers are bad for airline stocks
China Sovereign Wealth Fund Exec Blasts China’s Forays Into Hollywood Source: Bloomberg - Since last year, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund has funneled about $50 billion of the kingdom’s reserves into investments abroad, almost all of it into technology. It is said to be committing as much as $45... North Carolina's pension fund ranks No. 3 in U.S. China leverage rising at 'alarming pace': central bank official From the Corporate Sector -- News for You Sustainable business equals profitable business: 5 questions for Ingersoll Rand Porsche Planted 5000 Trees Last Week For Sustainability Infosys plans to hire 10,000 U.S. workers after Trump targets outsourcing firms Source: Green Money Journal - or an industry that prides itself on mastering risk management, finding value and uncovering arbitrage opportunities, I think the financial services sector is falling flat. Why? Because most firms are overlooking one of the... Sappi North America Releases 2016 Sustainability Report Target slashes CEO pay package after bleak year Mohawk Industries talks about 2016 Sustainability Report Apple joins 'Made in America' trend with $1 billion fund to promote U.S. manufacturing
President Trump Celebrates Health Vote Win with Jubilant Republicans Trump Weighs Breaking Up Wall Street Banks, Raising Gas Tax |
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