The NBI's weekly sustainable development news update

On A Clear Day: Issue 273, 30 October 2009

Industry News

BSR 2009: THE QUANDARY OF MANDATORY SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING Increasingly, voluntary sustainability reporting is becoming a mainstream practice. Yet with the global economy still roiling, trust in business remains low and the question of mandatory reporting is being raised with greater persistence. Leslie Guevarra, GreenBiz, 26 October 2009

IFC AND GLOBAL REPORTING INITIATIVE LAUNCH GUIDE ON GENDER AND SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING  IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, and the Global Reporting Initiative today launched a practitioner’s guide to help organisations worldwide create opportunities for women, adopt best practices in sustainability reporting, and improve companies’ bottom lines. GRI, 27 October 2009

AFRICA TAKES FIRM STANCE ON CLIMATE CHANGE Africa will neither accept replacement of the Kyoto Protocol, nor its merger with any new agreement, say African climate change negotiators meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at the last African major preparatory gathering, before the UN Climate Change negotiations in Copenhagen in December. UNEP, 26 October 2009

CAN COPENHAGEN DELIVER A NEW INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION? As December’s Copenhagen climate summit approaches, new evidence is emerging of the massive scale of the action needed to avert the risk of runaway global warming. At the same time, contradictory signals emerging from the pre-summit discussions don’t inspire confidence that such action is likely to be taken. David Vigar, GreenBiz, 23 October 2009

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE IN DEVELOPING ECONOMIES Ways of triggering multi billion dollar, low carbon technology investments in developing economies are outlined in a new report issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and a global partnership of investors and insurance companies this week. GLOBE-Net, 27 October 2009

NERSA TO APPROVE RENEWABLE ENERGY TARIFF GUIDELINES THIS WEEK The National Energy Regulator of SA (Nersa) is set to approve the second phase of the renewable energy feed-in tariff guidelines The approved guidelines will indicate the extent to which Nersa has accommodated the renewable energy industry’s concerns which were raised at public hearings earlier this year. Siseko Njobeni, Business Day, 27 October 2009

KYOTO CDM OFFSET SPENDING FELL 12% IN 2008 â€' MORE TO COME The 12% drop in purchases of carbon offsets under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in 2008 may be just the tip of the iceberg, considering the global economic turndown and growing skepticism about the future of the program. Environmental Leader, 23 October 2009

WHY THE UN MUST FORM GLOBAL ORGAN TO MANAGE WORLD HABITAT Global environmental crises, from vanishing biodiversity and degrading forests to collapsing fish stocks and climate change, will not be solved without some tough thinking about international governance. The way the world has evolved its response to the unfolding challenges has become a bewildering and confusing array of institutions, agreements and treaties that is in urgent need of reform. John Michuki and Stefania Prestigiaco, allAfrica, 28 October 2009

AFRICAN NATIONS APPEAL FOR QUICK DOHA TRADE PACT African nations will ask developed states to speed up work to conclude the Doha round trade talks and to make early concessions on reducing cotton subsidies that hurt poor farmers, a South African minister said this week. Engineering News, originally from Reuters, 29 October 2009

Notices, Reports & Surveys

AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE: AN AGENDA FOR NEGOTIATION IN COPENHAGEN 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

THE CR REPORTING AWARDS 2010 are open for voting! Use your votes now on http://www.corporateregister.com/crra. This is the third annual round of the CR Reporting Awards, established in 2007 as the first global awards in this field, and now recognised worldwide as one of the most prestigious CR awards. Collectively, the world’s largest community of CR report readers vote for winning reports - no ‘expert’ panel is used.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY (CR) Index For the past seven years the CR Index has inspired and challenged over 350 companies to continuously improve their impact on society and the environment. This year we expect to have more than 100 companies participate and use our tool to both improve their management practices and communicate to stakeholders how seriously they take their CR agenda. Participating companies have until 27 November to fill in the online survey system (BOB) survey and submit their entry. Business in the Community

TRANSPORT, ENERGY AND CO2: MOVING TOWARD SUSTAINABILITY The report discusses the prospects for shifting more travel to the most efficient modes and reducing travel growth rates, improving vehicle fuel efficiency by up to 50% using cost-effective, incremental technologies, and moving toward electricity, hydrogen, and advanced biofuels to achieve a more secure and sustainable transport future. IEA

REFORMING WILDLIFE GOVERNANCE IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA: THE ROLE OF CORRUPTION This brief looks at the role corruption plays in structuring wildlife governance systems in Africa by comparing the differing governance structures which have elicited variant economic and ecological outcomes. Wildlife is an important economic asset in Africa worth billions of dollars annually. The biological diversity is a natural spectacle and priceless global heritage. Eldis

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

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 CLIMATE 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

EDUCATION: FIXING THE SYSTEM 10 November 2009, GIBS Auditorium, 26 Melville Road, Illovo. This forum looks to address the key recommendations for improvement in SA education system. For more information, visit: GIBS website.

NETWORK FOR SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS (NSE) 11 November 2009, GIBS Restaurant, Melville Road, Illovo. FirstRand CEO-designate Sizwe Nxasana will address the need for formal sector business and social entrepreneurs to work more closely in addressing South African developmental needs. For more information, contact Dineo Lengane, on +57 11 771 4249, email lenganed@gibs.co.za or go to: http://www.gibs.co.za/home.asp?pid=971

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 CORPORATIOS 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
• 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.

DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES - KING III AND SUSTAINBILITY 20 November 2009, The Hilton Hotel, Sandton. Join SAICA for an interactive Masterclass on the new role and responsibilities of directors in terms of King III and sustainability. Contact details: 08610 SAICA or 08610 724 22, fax 011 621 6809, email: pertuniam@saica.co.za

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

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 SUSTAINABILITY 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

MANAGING CARBON EMISSIONS WITH YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN 30 November 2009, London. This one day workshop will equip you with the tools required to start working responsibly with your supply chain to reduce carbon emissions. Business in the Community

UNITED NATIONS CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE 7-18 December 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark. For more information, go to: http://en.cop15.dk/

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"