Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

From Paris, a Big Kiss to Nixon and (Anthony) Kennedy

Dec 8, 2015 3:30 PM ET

In the three years leading to the ongoing Paris climate negotiations, the world has witnessed a truly big pivot. Back in 2012, business as usual global warming pollution was set to heat the world up 8 degrees F by century’s end. Neither of the two biggest polluters, the US or China, had put serious policies in place to address the crisis. But now, if the commitments being made here in Paris are carried through, that 8 degree number will be cut to 6 degrees F.

What changed?

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Spending Valuable Time on Financial Education

Dec 8, 2015 3:00 PM ET

Research by the Money Advice Service maintains that adult habits around money can be formed as early as the age of seven. And in this fast evolving technical age, where the whole, traditional transaction of purchase is often unseen (just look at iTunes and Uber), Visa Europe believes that teaching young people money management is more essential than ever.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Service Dog Supports Cedar Crest Middle School Student to Shine Onstage

Dec 8, 2015 2:45 PM ET

For the first time at Cedar Crest Middle School, a service dog accompanied a student actor onstage. Guest blogger Gwen Wenger talks about her daughter Emma's experience in the school play and how service dog SSD Kindle helped make it possible.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services South Texas Food Drive

Dec 8, 2015 2:15 PM ET

During the month of November, several of Republic’s South Texas Area locations, including Southwest Houston, Northwest Houston, McCarty Landfill, Customer Service and the Consolidated C&C Center, held their 5th annual Food Drive, supporting the Greater Houston Food Bank.

Environment

A Clean-Energy Future: The Road Ahead?

Dec 8, 2015 1:00 PM ET

Many environmental thought leaders have said the Chevrolet carbon-reduction initiative leaves a legacy. We asked Sue Hall, CEO of Climate Neutral Business Network, to provide insight as to what the future holds.

Environment

COP21: This Time, It’s Different

Dec 8, 2015 12:35 PM ET

“This time it’s different.”

That’s a theme I am hearing quite a lot here in Paris in the midst of the COP 21 climate change conference. There is a sense that, despite this being yet another international meeting to discuss how we can tackle the common challenge of global climate change, this time it will be different. This time we will make meaningful progress. We’ve heard that before. So why is “this time” different?

Energy

Turning Around the Energy Crisis

Dec 8, 2015 12:30 PM ET

“An exciting, original approach how we can fast track the green economy and green finance by combining opportunity and responsibility in new compelling ways.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sustainable Packaging

Dec 8, 2015 12:00 PM ET

Watch the sustainable packaging video from UPS.

Environment

Deal Prospects Improve as Time Narrows: Tracking the Climate Talks

Dec 8, 2015 12:00 PM ET

Optimism continues to improve in Paris as ministers get down to the hard graft of bridging divisions between rich and poor countries.

Environment

Business Leaders Come to Paris to Show Support for International Climate Agreement and Showcase Solutions at Caring for Climate Business Forum

Dec 8, 2015 12:00 PM ET

Unprecedented corporate engagement on key climate issues including carbon pricing, finance, responsible policy engagement and science-based targets were announced today at the conclusion of the Caring for Climate (C4C) Business Forum, the official avenue for business at the Conference of Parties (COP) event in Paris.

Innovation & Technology

High School Students Drive Others to Take the It Can Wait Pledge

Dec 8, 2015 11:35 AM ET

High school students across the nation are putting down their phones – at least while they are behind the wheel – and urging people, young and old, to join them in taking the It Can Wait pledge, a promise to refrain from texting, emailing, posting or surfing the web while driving.

Environment

See How Much CO2 the Earth Is Churning Out in Real Time

Dec 8, 2015 11:15 AM ET

Fossil-fuel burning and deforestation are the main drivers of global warming. The CO2 they give off makes up more than 75 percent of annual climate pollution. The Bloomberg Carbon Clock is a real-time estimate of the global monthly atmospheric CO2 level.

Research, Reports & Publications

Domtar's Online Training Tool "My Knowledge Tree" Leads Employees to Success

Dec 8, 2015 11:05 AM ET

Climbing the tree that leads to success

Health & Healthcare

Sanofi – For Better Mental Health Care in Madagascar

Dec 8, 2015 10:55 AM ET

Sanofi has launched in 2008 in Madagascar a training programme for healthcare professionals to help for a better mental health care.

Environment

Climax Mine, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Recycles Biosolids for Land Reclamation

Dec 8, 2015 10:40 AM ET

Since 1997, Climax operations has helped local communities recycle waste by converting the biosolids from their wastewater treatment plants into compost to reclaim and revegetate lands used in past mining activities.

Energy

As Simple, or Perhaps Complicated, as Flicking a Switch

Dec 8, 2015 10:00 AM ET

Breakthrough Energy Coalition has pledged investment dollars to bring to market and scale clean and affordable energy technologies.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Siemens to Increase R&D Investment by €300 Million to a Total of €4.8 Billion

Dec 8, 2015 9:45 AM ET

Environment

BSR COP21 Daily Dispatch: Day 9

Dec 8, 2015 9:30 AM ET

The BSR COP21 Daily Dispatch highlights news and insights on the policy negotiations and their implications for business and a sustainable future for our climate.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Bard MBA in Sustainability Podcast w/ Pepsi's Manoj Fenelon

Dec 8, 2015 9:30 AM ET

In a world teeming with answers, Manoj helps ask good questions that catalyze and channel collective imagination.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Amgen Foundation Goes to the White House: STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative

Dec 8, 2015 9:30 AM ET

Recently, the VC STEM Regional Network was selected to be one of the 27 communities to pilot the national STEM Learning Ecosystems Initiative, which plans to utilize cross-sector collaboration to develop creative ways to increase the equity and quality of STEM learning outcomes for all.

Environment

CBRE Pilot Program Saves Clients One Billion Gallons of Water Over 18 Months

Dec 8, 2015 9:20 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Antea Group Intern Creates Lasting Value for Local Breweries Via MnTap Program

Dec 8, 2015 9:15 AM ET

Antea Group intern Ross Wise focused on creating sustainability manuals for the Brewers Association, a non-profit association with over 2,700 member breweries and 45,000 member homebrewers. Ross helped to collect data on water, natural gas, energy, and CO2 usage for 25 breweries, and used that information to develop best practices and find potential cost savings.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Finding Your Passion at Work

Dec 8, 2015 9:15 AM ET

Many workers feel that although they do their job and do it well, they don’t have the passion for the work that they once had—or maybe it was never there in the first place.

Education

IBM Launching Teacher TryScience in Kenya

Dec 8, 2015 9:00 AM ET

The Ministry of Education and Science in Kenya recently launched the national roll out of Teachers TryScience. This is hugely significant for Kenya where they note that "The future prosperity of Kenya depends on young people choosing STEM related subjects." Currently only 2% of students study STEM subjects at tertiary level.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

2015 Global Microscope Shows Progress in the Environment for Financial Inclusion in Most Countries

Dec 8, 2015 8:10 AM ET

Access to affordable, diverse financial services is expanding and deepening in many parts of the world, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s (EIU) 2015 Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion.