The NBI's weekly sustainable development news update

On A Clear Day: Issue 272, 23 October 2009

Industry News

LEADING COMPANIES MEASURE EMISSIONS South Africa's top companies are increasingly measuring and disclosing their greenhouse gas emissions - but they lack ambition when it comes to setting emission reduction targets. Ingi Salgado, Business Report, 22 October 2009

STANDARD BANK READIES $230M AUSSIES CARBON FOREST FUND South Africa’s Standard Bank is in position to launch a A$250 million ($230 million) forestry fund in Australia that will sell carbon offsets to companies that will need to meet emissions reduction targets under the nation’s pending carbon trading laws, reports Reuters. Environmental Leader, 20 October 2009

THE YIN AND YANG OF CSR REPORTING When corporate social responsibility reports first emerged, they were packaged as a "feel good" communications tool for showcasing a company's community relations, environmental or volunteer activities. There was no industry-accepted, gold standard for what constituted a well-written or comprehensive report. Companies were free to come up with their own recipe and approach. Jill Kolling, GreenBiz, 22 October 2009

INSURERS CALL FOR 40% EMISSIONS  CUTS BY 2020 TO CONTROL THE RISKS ARISING FROM CLIMATE CHANGE ClimateWise, a global collaboration of leading insurers focused on reducing the risks of climate change, today called on developed countries to agree to a 40% cut in emissions by 2020 at the UN climate change negotiations in Copenhagen in December. ClimateWise also called on major developing countries to agree to substantial reductions relative to business as usual. Climatewise, 22 October 2009

GREATER AWARENESS SA's Top 100 listed companies have kept climate change high on their agendas, despite facing more immediate pressures caused by the international economic downturn. Their response rate to critical questions posed on behalf of institutional investors is among the highest internationally, and suggests they are "largely willing to engage climate change issues". Martin Schneider, Financial Mail Special Report, 16 October 2009

WORLD LEADERS TOLD TO SEAL COPENHAGEN CLIMATE DEAL IN PERSON Britain urged world leaders on Monday to turn up in person to salvage a U.N. climate deal in Copenhagen in December, as Australia and India outlined steps to rein in their greenhouse gas emissions. WBCSD, originally from Reuters, 19 October 2009

ANTI-POVERTY FIGHT NEEDS MORE THAN MONEY "Investing in children and securing their rights is one of the surest ways to ending poverty," U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told 1,500 students at the United Nations International School in New York City Friday as part of the Stand Up Take Action Campaign organised by the U.N. Millennium Campaign. Suzanne Hoeksema, IPS, 18 October 2009

RICH SHOULD OFFER IMF RESOURCES TO POOR - SOROS Billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros suggested that European nations offer some of their International Monetary Fund (IMF) resources to poor countries, which could provide them as much as $100-billion in aid. Polity, originally from Reuters, 23 October 2009

FINDINGS OF 'SUPPLY CHAIN INTELLIGENCE REPORT' TO BE DISCUSSED AT NOVEMEBER CONFERENCE The majority of South Africa’s companies are not implementing environmentally sustainable business strategies, according to TerraNova Research’s ‘Supply Chain Intelligence Report 2009’. Leandi Cameron, Engineering News, 16 October 2009

FOSSIL FUEL PRODUCTION SOARS DESPITE RECESSION Fossil fuel producers are dodging the global downturn as production of oil, coal and natural gas reached record levels last year, the Worldwatch Institute reported. WBCSD, originally from EurActiv.com, 16 October 2009

'WORLD MUST USE GM CROPS' The world needs genetically modified crops both to increase food yields and minimise the environmental impact of farming, Britain's top science academy said recently. News24, originally from Reuters, 21 October 2009

Notices, Reports & Surveys

CARBON DISCLOSURE PROJECT 2009 REPORT: SOUTH AFRICA JSE 100 The response rate to South Africa’s third CDP is amongst the highest internationally and suggests that local companies are largely willing to engage climate change issues. National Business Initiative

AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE: AN AGENDA FOR NEGOTATION IN COPEHAGEN This brief is a compilation of views of leading experts from around the world on the key negotiating outcomes that must be pursued now, in order to effectively put agriculture on the climate change agenda. It is emphasised that If fundamental climate change mitigation and adaptation goals are to be met, international climate negotiations must include agriculture. Eldis

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ARTICLES REQUESTED The International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ) and the InterPress Service (IPS) are commissioning the articles. Journalists are encouraged to consider a feature on a less-known aspect of climate change. After pitches are approved, journalists will be required to complete an 800 to 1,200 word piece. Contributing journalists will receive US$250 for their work. Article pitches must be submitted in English, French or Spanish. Only articles written by independent journalists will be accepted. For more information or to submit a pitch, e-mail IFEJ President Darryl D’Monte at darryldmonte@gmail.com or go to: http://www.mediaforfreedom.com/ReadArticle.asp?ArticleID=16653

THE STATE OF FOOD SECURITY IN THE WORLD (OCTOBER 2009) This report highlights the fact that, even before the food crisis and the economic crisis, the number of hungry people had been increasing slowly but steadily. With the onset of these crises, however, the number of hungry people in the world increased sharply. Polity

South African Events

CAMBRIDGE RESILIENCE FORUM In November 2009 the Cambridge Resilience Forum presents three international experts â€' all of them Core Faculty at the 8th BEP South Africa seminar - at two events each, in Cape Town and Johannesburg:

• Jo da Silva â€' ‘Can the built environment broker a new relationship between People and Planet?’
• Paul Gilding and Prof Jorgen Randers â€' ‘The Great Disruption and the One Degree War Plan to deal with the climate crisis’

For all the information and to book online, go to: www.cpsl.co.za/forum/ or contact Magda de Kok on +27 21 469 4765 or email magda.dekok@cpsl.cam.ac.uk

CSI TRAINING WORKSHOPS Trialogue, publisher of The CSI Handbook will be holding its next workshops on 28 and 29 October 2009 to be held at Room 4, Conference Building, Pick n Pay Head Office, 101 Rosmead Avenue, Kenilworth, Cape Town. Cost - R3995 (excl Vat) per delegate. Please visit www.trialogue.co.za for the registration form which can be emailed to Vee Sampson at vsampson@trialogue.co.za or faxed to: +27 21 762 3127. Please call Vee if you have any further queries: +27 21 762 1166.

WATER INVESTMENT WORLD AFRICA 2009 2-6 November, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. The event where Africa’s water industry, government, financiers and investors come together to strategically plan the way forward. Terrapinn

BUSINESS WORKSHOP ON CLIMAGE CHANGE 9 November 2009, AstroTech Conference Centre, Cnr of Anerley Rd & Third Ave, Parktown. The National Business Initiative in collaboration with Business Unity South Africa is convening a workshop on business and climate change. For more information, please contact Christine Dunbar on +27 11 544 6000 or email dunbar.christine@nbi.org.za

CEM-02.1: ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS 9-14 November 2009. Course fee: R 9,700.00 (No VAT charged). For more information, contact Theresa de Jager on +27 18 299 2714, fax +27 18 299 2726 or email: ceminfo@nwu.ac.za or URL: http://cem.puk.ac.za

CEM-03.1: IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (ISO 14001), 16-19 November 2009 Course fee: R 8,100.00 (No VAT charged). For more information, contact Theresa de Jager on +27 18 299 2714, fax +27 18 299 2726 or email: ceminfo@nwu.ac.za or URL: http://cem.puk.ac.za

NBI 2009 ANNUAL REPORT BACK EVENTS: THE ROLE OF RESPONSIBLE CORPORATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA OVER THE NEXT DECADE AND BEYOND Each year the National Business Initiative (NBI) hosts annual report back meetings with its business members, partners and stakeholders in various provinces to present the impact of the organisation and to discuss critical issues facing the country, business leadership and companies. For more information, go to: www.nbi.org.za.

• 10 November 2009, Johannesburg, contact Natalie Langeveldt
• 16 November 2009, East London, contact Vuyiseka Mgqabi
• 17 November 2009, Cape Town, contact Maria Kyle
• 24 November 2009, Durban, contact Desiree Pillay

CARBON  MARKETS AFRICA 10-11 November 2009 Cape Town, South Africa. The event will create a platform for CDM project hosts to interact with the key players in the carbon markets value chain to deliver a progressive plan of action for a potentially substantial carbon market. Greenpower Conferences

ENVIRONMENTAL CONFERENCE 2009 11-12 November, Gallagher Convention Center, Midrand. For more information, please contact Retha Weir on +27 14 792 0500 or email envirocon@envass.co.za

GOVERNANCE AND SMALL-SCALE AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHERN AFRICA 9-11 November 2009, Johannesburg. For more information, go to: NGO-Pulse.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COURSE 25-27 November, Johannesburg. For further information please contact Michelle or Samantha on +27 11 582 3200. Alternatively to download the course brochure go to http://www.Mngmt-Training6.co.za/courses/Corporate%20Governance/CGV20091125.pdf. To register online go to http://www.Mngmt-Training6.co.za/register/default.asp?CourseID=7

SEMINAR ON ENHANCING FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY FOR NGOs 25 November 2009, Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Auditorium, 19 Fredman Drive, Sandton. To book your seat please fill in the attached booking form and send to Mihloti Mgimeti (mmgimeti@cafsouthernafrica.org) at CAF Southern Africa or call + 27 11 726 1148.

International Events

CORPORATE ENERGY SUMMIT 26-28 October 2009 Venue to be confirmed, Chicago, IL. For more information, go to: IQPC.

BIOENERGY MARKETS WEST AFRICA 27â€'29 October 2009, Ghana. For further details call +971 4 813 5219, email amit.shahani@greenpowerconferences.com or go to: www.greenpowerconferences.com.

GLOBAL FORUM ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2 November 2009, Bangkok. For more information, go to: Global Reporting Initiative.

SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT - RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR RURAL VILLAGES 7-14 November 2009, Nicaragua, Sabana Grande. For more information, contact 970-963-8855, fax: 970-963-8866 or email sei@solarenergy.org

2009 COURAGE TO LEAD DINNER 11 November 2009, Mandarin Oriental, New York. Top leaders will be tackling today’s toughest environmental challenges. For more informaiton, contact Rich Barnett 1 202-729-7647 or email
richb@wri.org

BIOFUELS ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMICAL SUSTAIABILITY SUMMIT 16â€'18 November 2009 Venue to be Confirmed, Washington, D.C. The Biofuels Environmental and Economical Sustainability Summit will be your chance to meet and network with the numerous Biofuel manufacturers, feedstock growers, fuel distributors and government leaders, thus taking your business to the next level. For more information, go to: http://www.biofuelsindustrysummit.com/Event.aspx?id=209906

4TH INTERNATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY STORAGE CONFERENCE IRES 2009 24-25 November, Berlin, Representation of the Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. WCRE

CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE 25 November 2009, United Kingdom, London. For further details, call +44 (0)20 7760 8699, fax +44 (0)20 7490 2296 or email: conferences@marketforce.eu.com. For more information, visit: Renewable Energy World

AFRICA FINANCE AND INVESTMENT FORUM 13-15 December 2009, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Organised by European Marketing Research Council (EMRC) in collaboration with FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, this is the third forum of its kind, inviting financiers, bankers, government officials, private sector investors and entrepreneurs to discuss real business opportunities to finance projects in Africa. It will take place . You can find more information about EMRC and the Forum on www.emrc.be.

WBCSD EVENTS CALENDAR Check out the WBCSD Events Calendar for conferences, workshops and seminars related to business and sustainable development.

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For a Sustainable Future

"On a Clear Day seeks to notify subscribers of interesting articles, papers and news freely available from the internet. The National Business Initiative encourages debate on sustainability issues and does not necessarily endorse any particular viewpoint. We welcome any feedback you might have. Please direct comments and queries to mensele.mapitso@nbi.org.za"