“Sustainability” – What Does It Mean To Most People? Is it Ambiguous? From the University of Buffalo (NY) Law School we have a new book about the meanings of sustainability – for experts and the lay audience. What does the term mean? Many things to many people, author Jessica Owley (associate professor) thinks. We need to move beyond what may be too “squishy/mushy” terminology, she posts. With co-author Albany Law School (NY) faculty member Keith Hirokawa, the voices of various thinkers are presented in the book – “Rethinking Sustainability to Meet the Challenge of Climate Change.” One question the authors post: Has “sustainability” as a term reached the end of its useful life? They think the term has to be re-examined, refiners or articulated in greater detail to more publicly address the “daunting issue of climate change.” The voices of the Environmental Law Collaborative, a groups of scholars that Owley assembled, comprise the heart of the book. The authors say the book is about the importance of tackling climate change without losing sight that it is a “wicked, multi-faceted problem with people (us!) at its core.” Addressing climate change is about public health, livelihoods, and well being.” The book is one more contribution to the broadening public dialogue about sustainability, climate change, global warming and related topics. Highlights are in our Top Story this week. Top Story of the Week UB environmental law expert tackles ambiguous – but essential – concept of ‘sustainability’
(Friday - July 24, 2015)
Source: University of Buffalo - Sustainability may be one of those “squishy/mushy” buzz words too vague to be much use. But the principle behind it demands citizens come to grips with the grave problems it was created to solve. Sustainability in Focus Can Collectively become the ESPN of sustainability?
(Monday - July 20, 2015)
Source: GreenBiz - The fact is, boomers like me, especially in the corporate world, have had a decades-long, massive failure reaching any consumer segment with relevant, motivating sustainability content. As a matter of reality, many companies... Sustainability as a business approach
(Tuesday - July 21, 2015)
Source: Farm Futures - Mention 'sustainability' in a farm meeting and you might be greeted with a roll of the eyes. Not because your listeners don't believe in it, more likely it's because U.S. farmers have been living sustainability for generations.... Firms embracing sustainability reporting gain viable investment
(Thursday - July 23, 2015)
Source: The Malaysian Insider - Malaysian companies that embrace sustainability reporting and business model stand to benefit from the growing demand for sustainable investment.
Wide-ranging sustainability strategy in place for the 2018 FIFA World Cup™
(Thursday - July 23, 2015)
Source: FIFA.com - “The FIFA World Cup and this sustainability strategy will drive innovative standards and practices forward in many different areas. Our holistic approach covers social, economic and environmental matters,” said the LOC’s Head of...
What is the millennium development goal on sustainability all about?
(Thursday - July 23, 2015)
Source: The Guardian - Its four targets focus on sustainable development, environmental protection, access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and improving the lives of millions of people living in slums.
On History, Sustainability, and Community
(Friday - July 24, 2015)
Source: Huff Post - Even if you don't believe in climate change, you must believe in sustainability. As former treasury secretary Hank Paulson said, "Economic growth and environmental protection are not at odds. They're opposite sides of the same... ESG Issues & Players Climate scientists say 2015 on track to be warmest year on record
(Tuesday - July 21, 2015)
Source: The Guardian - The Earth experienced its hottest June and the hottest first half of the year since records began, according to scientists. Off-the-charts heat is “getting to be a monthly thing”, said Jessica Blunden, a climate scientist for the... The science and morality of climate change
(Tuesday - July 21, 2015)
Source: The Hill - "The absence of certainty is not an excuse to do nothing," Christine Todd Whitman, President George W. Bush's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, once cautioned. Greece reopens banks and pays off some debt in first steps towards normality
(Tuesday - July 21, 2015)
Source: The Guardian - Greece has taken a step back to normality after its banks reopened following three weeks of closures and receipt of a €7.2bn (£5bn) loan, with almost all of it spent on repaying debt The Dodd-Frank Act at 5: Examining progress and pushback
(Wednesday - July 22, 2015)
Source: Devex Impact - Since officially being inked into U.S. law on July 21, 2010, as the most sweeping set of financial reforms since the Great Depression, the landmark bill’s efforts to promote good governance in developing countries have indeed... Ethics across the generations
(Wednesday - July 22, 2015)
Source: Management Issues - We hear a lot about different generations in the workplace - Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials. But what does business ethics mean to them, and how do you engage them with ethical issues in the workplace?... Asset Managers,US Pension Funds,
Sovereign Wealth Funds Labor groups want fossil fuel divestment from pension fund
(Wednesday - July 22, 2015) Associated Profiles : Pension Reserves Investment Management Board (Massachusetts), Massachusetts Pension Reserves Investment Management Board Profile
Source: WWLP 22News - The groups delivered a letter to the Pension Reserves Investment Management Board on Tuesday morning, ahead of an investment committee meeting at the fund's offices near Faneuil Hall, according... What's behind the falling prices of oil, gold and copper
(Wednesday - July 22, 2015)
Source: CNN Money - There's a firesale on raw materials like copper, aluminum, gold and oil, raising concerns about the health of the global economy. How Wall Street makes its money now, in one chart
(Tuesday - July 21, 2015)
Source: Fortune - Dodd-Frank may have made the banks safer, but it hasn’t changed the breakdown of their revenue much. Watching the Watchers  Global Water Partnership
Headquarters: Stockholm, Sweden
Established: 1996
KEY PARTNERS
Co-founders are World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, and Swedish International Development Agency.
OVERVIEW/MISSION
The Global Water Partnership states its mission: “The Global Water Partnership's vision is for a water secure world. Our mission is to support the sustainable development and management of water resources at all levels.”
BACKGROUND
The World Bank, United Nations Development Programm and Swedish International Development Agency established the Global Water Partnership in 1996. GWP's financing partners group is composed of North American and European governments, and its sponsoring partners list comprises countries and organizations that signed the Global Water Partnership Organization's memorandum of understanding in 2002.
STRUCTURE
Global Water Partnership is a network that includes "over 2,550 Partner organisations in 161 countries around the world. The network has 80 Country Water Partnerships and 13 Regional Water Partnerships." Global Water Partnership invites organizations working on water resources-related programs to join its partnership program. GWP also has a system of regional chairs and secretariats.
METHODOLOGIES / OPERATIONS
Global Water Partnership developed a set of strategic goals for 2009-2013. They cover water as part of sustainable development, addressing development challenges, communications and knowledge sharing, and building effective networks. GWP’s programs include: IWRM ToolBox – an online library of good practices materials related to water resource management. Case study summaries are sorted by region, and full-length reports/papers are provided for some. There are three tool box sections: The Enabling Environment, Institutional Roles, and Management Instruments. References are also provided.
Associated programs – Global Water Partnership helps partners through programs and alliances that address specific capacity or regional needs. A list and summaries are available here. Dialogues & Planning – GWP has held “governance dialogues” in East Africa to discuss water management and service delivery. It also produces papers on integrated water resource management planning for governments. The GWP Web site lists planning and dialogue efforts online. News Sweeps
Singh wants Rowley to engage in water debate
(Friday - July 17, 2015) Associated Profiles : Global Water Partnership
- Trinidad Express Newspapers - It ends today. Among those who also addressed the stakeholders were Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) chief executive officer Gerard Yorke; head, Water Resources Agency, WASA, Regional Coordinator...
Get the science right to value nature
(Thursday - July 16, 2015) Associated Profiles : Global Water Partnership
- Phys.org - An international group of scientists, industry representatives and policymakers wants to set guidelines for the science behind valuing nature. The group has published new guidelines in the latest edition of Science on...
In adaptation, understanding economics is priceless
(Tuesday - July 07, 2015) Associated Profiles : Global Water Partnership
- United Nations Development Program - In partnership with USAID and the îGlobal Water Partnershipî, UNDP has been working to build the capacity of technical officers in developing countries to understand the economics... | Check It Out...
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Your corporate sustainability journey may have begun. Or, the journey may be far along, maturing – and the story being told through the GRI sustainability report. Who is taking notice? Who is recognizing the company's reporting effort (the progress report for corporate achievements), and bestowing recognition? Which of the many “best of” lists, and ratings, rankings, scores ,and other third party judgments is your company being included in – where are you positioned in the race to the top? Learn more About G&A's Awards & Recognitions Program _______________________________
Corporate ESG Performance Factors & SustainabilityHQ Corporate ESG Performance Factors are important to financial analysts, asset owners and managers, and many stakeholders. The ESG framework or approach considers environmental issues and impacts, the company’s positioning and actions on social/societal issues, and important aspects of corporate governance. ESG key performance indicators are considered by investors as proxies for effective governance and management. Increasing numbers of of independent research and financial analysis firms monitor and measure these and advisie investors. The Sustainability HQ™ platform is an important profiling and monitoring resource for the G&A team, and for our clients and subscribers. ESG market players and corporate reputation influencers are profiled and monitored by G&A Institute. In these Highlights we provide some results of our continuous global scanning for ESG, sustainability and corporate responsibility news. The Associated Profiles indicated are in our Sustainability HQ™ platforms. For more information, please email us at info@sustainabilityhq.com
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