The NBI's weekly sustainable development news update

On A Clear Day: Issue 280, 22 January 2010

Industry News

“THE MARKET GROWS WHERE WATER FLOWS" Water scarcity is increasing in most urban areas worldwide. It will be affecting your business soon. It might already have done so. Are you ready, or will you be caught out? What can you do to reduce or mitigate the effects? Is there a global water crisis? Has the world reached a "tipping point" on water? Are there opportunities for your business? WBCSD, 15 January 2010

BUSINESS FORGES CLIMATE ROADMAP The South African business sector is moving ahead with emission and energy reduction strategies, despite little legislative guidance on targets, penalties or policies. The pivotal United Nations Climate Change Conference, held in Denmark last month, failed to produce a decisive binding agreement on global action to combat climate change. Lezette Englebrecht, ITweb, 21 January 2010

INVESTORS URGE GOVERNMENTS TO ACT ON CLIMATE CHANGE Global investors representing $13 trillion in assets called on the United States and other countries to adopt policies to fight climate change they said would unleash a potential flood of private money into renewable and efficient energy. Timothy Gardner, PlanetArk, 19 January 2010

FINANCIAL CRISIS THREATENS TO SET BACK EDUCATION WORLDWIDE, UN REPORT WARNS The global financial crisis threatens to deprive millions of children in the world’s poorest countries of an education, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, with a knock-on effect on future economic growth, poverty reduction and progress in health and other areas, according to a United Nations report released this week. UN News, 19 January 2010

UK FIRM ENETERS SA RENEWABLE ENERGY MARKET UK-based Renewable Energy Systems (RES) has announced its entry into the South African renewable energy market with the acquisition of a portfolio of wind power projects from Cape Town-based South African Renewable Green Energy. Christy van der Merwe, Engineering News, 20 January 2010

RAW MATERIALS: HEADING FOR A GLOBAL RESOURCE CRUNCH? With the world's population growing and industrialisation rising, competition for raw materials is intensifying, raising concerns about access to key natural resources for European industry. EU industries, and particularly those active in telecoms, aerospace and other hi-tech sectors, are facing fierce competition for natural resources from emerging economies. EurActiv, 20 January 2010

PRICE FIXING Environmental valuations aim to solve a problem that troubles both economists and ecologists: the misallocation of resources. Take mangrove swamps. Over the past two decades around a third of the world’s mangrove swamps have been converted for human use, with many turned into valuable shrimp farms. In 2007 an economic study of such shrimp farms in Thailand showed that the commercial profits per hectare were $9,632. If that were the only factor, conversion would seem an excellent idea. The Economist, 18 January 2010

HOW FOREST CARBON MARKETS FARED IN 2009 CLIMATEBIZ.COM The Copenhagen Accord may have disappointed many of us, but it also yielded agreement on the need to develop financing mechanisms for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD). For REDD to work, however, investors will have to be on board - and for that to happen, the forestry markets will have to become more transparent and trustworthy. PlanetArk, originally from Greener World Media,19 January 2010

SIXTY CORPORATIONS BEGIN MEASURING EMISSIONS FROM PRODUCTS AND SUPPLY CHAINS  Sixty corporations began measuring the greenhouse gas emissions of their products and supply chains by road testing a new global framework that is part of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Initiative. Developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the two new GHG Protocol standards â€' the Product Life Cycle Accounting and Reporting Standard and the Scope 3 (Corporate Value Chain) Accounting and Reporting Standard â€' provide methods to account for emissions associated with individual products across their life-cycles and of corporations across their value chains. WRI, 21 January 2010

SENIOR UN OFFICIALS URGE GREATER EFFORTS TO HELP LEAST DEVELOPED COUNTRIES Senior United Nations officials have called for greater efforts to help the world’s poorest countries meet their development targets, as a three-day meeting kicked off in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to examine a decade of assistance to this group of nations. UN News, 18 January 2010

21ST CENTRUY ACCOUNTABILITY - DON'T FORGET MORAL COMPASS Good citizens follow the law. The concept is simple: stick to a set of rules and stay out of trouble. But decent citizens also realize that the law alone does not dictate our every move. Other powerful forces â€' family, friends, colleagues, peers, moral values â€' play a role in determining how we interact with the world and people around us. The same concept should hold true for corporations. Most follow strict financial guidelines and corporate governance standards. Jonathan Wootliff, Environmental Leader, 20 January 2010

UN INTRODUCES WEBSITE FOR PARTNERSHIPS WITH BUSINESS Companies seeking assistance in meeting their mission of corporate social responsibility (CSR) should find support at Business.un.org , a website designed to facilitate collaboration between the United Nations and the private sector. WBCSD, originally from SocialFunds.com, 19 January 2010

Notices, Reports & Surveys

INCENTIVES TO SUSTAIN FOREST ECOSYSTEM SERVICES. A REVIEW AND LESSON FOR REDD Tropical deforestation and forest degradation contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions. Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD) is an important component of a viable global climate policy framework. This report focuses on national and sub-national aspects of REDD activities and the role of performance-based payments for avoided deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. Eldis

EDUCATION FOR ALL GLOBAL MONITORING REPORT: REACHING THE MARGINALISED (JANUARY 2010) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation warns that the aftershock of the global financial crisis threatens to deprive millions of children in the world’s poorest countries of an education. Polity

GREEN AND BLUE WATER ACCOUNTING IN THE LIMPOMPO AND NILE BASINS: IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL POLICY Water scarcity is a critical issue for food production in the poor developing countries because agriculture is the primary consumer of the dwindling freshwater around the globe. This paper calls for strategies for the sustainable use of water in agriculture. Eldis

THE 2010 ESKOM ENERGY EFFICIENT LIGHTING DESIGN COMPETITION The goal of the energy efficient lighting design competition is to demonstrate that efficient lighting technologies, such as discharge, fluorescent and LED technologies, can be used in very contemporary and attractive luminaries and lighting design systems intended for residential lighting. The closing date for entries is close of business on 30 July 2010. For more information, go to:
http://www.lighting-design.co.za/

South African Events

SEMINAR CARBON TAX VERSUS CAP AND TRADE 27 January 2010, Minerals and Energy Education and Training Institute, Randburg. For more information, email events@meeti.org.za or call +27 11 709 4311.

IOD INSIGHTS TO KING III 4 February 2010, Western Cape. An introduction and overview of the South African code on Corporate Governance â€' King III, with insights into the development and thinking behind the content. Institute of Directors

GRI SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING TRAINING COURSE 9-11 February 2010 in Johannesburg and 9-11 March 2010 in Pretoria. This internationally certified course will enhance participants’ ability to contribute to, participate in and manage their organisation’s sustainability reporting process. The course is certified by the Global Reporting Initiative. The 2-day GRI-certified course is supplemented by an optional 1-day workshop on GRI Performance Indicators. The course and workshop will earn CPD credits for members of SAICA and other accounting bodies. For more information visit www.envsustsol.co.za, e-mail envsustsol@mweb.co.za or phone 082 395 7582.

SOLAR WATER HEATING 15-16 February 2010, Minerals and Energy Education and Training Institute, Randburg. For more information, email events@meeti.org.za , call +27 11 709 4311 or go to: MEETI

ENVIRONMENTAL LAW FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGERS 15-20 February 2010, Potchefstroom. Course fee: R10,450.00 (No VAT charged). For more information, contact Theresa de Jager on +27 18 299 2714, fax +27 18 299 2726 or e-mail: theresa.dejager@nwu.ac.za or go to: www.cem.puk.ac.za

GCX CARBON FOOTPRINT ANALYST  COURSE 15-17 February 2010, Cape Town. The purpose of this course is to educate individuals on the key areas required in order to become a carbon footprint analyst. This is a hands on course where the learners will be taken through the logical steps required to complete a carbon footprint assessment. On completion learners will have the skills and knowledge required to complete a small business carbon footprint assessment. For more info: http://www.globalcarbonexchange.com

ENERGY INDABA 2010: A TIME OF CHANGE 24-26 February, Sandton Convention Convention Centre. For more information, email: info@siyenza.za.com or go to: www.energyafricaexpo.com

INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT - AND OVERVIEW OF PRINCIPLES, TOOLS AND ISSUES 08-12 March 2010, Potchefstroom. Course fee: R7,600.00 (No VAT charged). For more information, contact Theresa de Jager on +27 18 299 2714, fax +27 18 299 2726, e-mail: theresa.dejager@nwu.ac.za or go to: www.cem.puk.ac.za

POWER & ELECTRICITY WORLD AFRICA 15-19 March 2010, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg. Africa’s leading power and electricity conference and exhibition, brings you all 5 energy profiles, solution providers from across the globe and a CEO filled conference agenda. Terrapinn

GREEN BUILDING WORLD AFRICA CONFERENCE 16â€'17 March 2010, Sandton. For more information, email debbie.tagg@terrapinn.co.za or call +27 11 516 4073.

International Events

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM 27-31 January 2010, Davos. The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting has engaged leaders from all walks of life to shape the global agenda at the start of the year for the last four decades. For more information about the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, please contact annualmeeting@weforum.org or go to: http://www.weforum.org/en/events/AnnualMeeting2010/index.htm

DRIVING CHANGE FOR CR 4 February 2010, Business in the Community, 137 Shepherdess Walk, London. The course uses a mixture of CR theory, practical tools, techniques, case studies and guest speakers to illustrate methods to achieve change and integrate corporate responsibility, no matter what level of CR maturity your organisation is at. For further information, please contact Thomas Milburn (thomas.milburn@bitc.org.uk) on 0207 566 8706. Business in the Community

WORKSHOP ON ICT AND HUMAN RIGHTS 9 February 2010, Paris. Information and communications technology (ICT) has been one of the most powerful drivers of change in our global society and has greatly shaped how we protect and advance human rights today. Business for Social Responsibility

POWER AND ELECTRICITY WORLD NEW ZEALAND 15-18 February 2010, Convention Centre, Auckland, New Zealand. where energy chiefs, policy makers and solution providers meet to shape the future of their industry. Terrapin

INTRODUCTION AND RENEWABLE ENERGY 18-19 February 2010, San Francisco. This comprehensive yet time-effective two-day training course will ensure you are up-to-speed with the key aspects of the renewable energy/power industries and the economic factors and technologies that are driving them. Alternatively you may call +44 (0)207 099 0600, e-mail: info@greenpowerconferences.com or click here.

WATER FOOTPRINT & AVAILABLITY RISK MANAGEMENT 25-26 February 2010, San Francisco. The Summit brings together multi-national corporations, with complex international supply chains, to share insights on measuring water use in volume and investigating new and innovative strategies to secure your business in regions of increasing water scarcity. For more information, please contact 1-800-721-3915. CSRwire

WORLD BIOFUELS MARKETS 15â€'17 March 2010, Amsterdam. For more information, contact +44 20 7099 0600, email info@greenpowerconferences.com, or go to: www.worldbiofuelsmarkets.com

FT INVESTING IN A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE ORGANIZED BY FINANCIAL TIMES 24 March 2010 New York City. Financial Times Investing in a Sustainable Future will bring together senior corporate responsibility executives and socially responsible investors in a dynamic peer-to-peer forum to discuss the latest CSR issues and how they impact the bottom line. For more information or to register, please contact Annette Berry at +1 212-641-6415 or email annette.berry@ft.com.

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"