Carbon reporting group launches Water Disclosure Project.—reliability high.
"Having encouraged over 2,500 companies to measure and report on their carbon footprint, the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) will today launch a new initiative designed to repeat the trick with firms' water footprints. The group, which is backed by 475 institutional investors, will announce that from next year it is to send questionnaires on water use to approximately 300 of the world’s largest corporations in water intensive sectors such as chemicals, consumer goods, food and beverage, mining, forestry, pharmaceuticals, power generation and semiconductor manufacturing." See Business Green. More at CDP site.
Companies, Industries, Markets and Supply Chains
Ingersoll Rand Surveys Suppliers About Their Environmental Impact.—reliability medium.
"Taking a page from Walmart’s playbook, Ingersoll Rand has launched a survey designed to capture data relating to the environmental impact of its supplier network. the data will be used to assess the current state of key environmental factors across Ingersoll Rand’s supply chain and to help suppliers reduce the environmental impact of their business practices as part of the company’s long-term sustainability efforts. The survey targets the company’s top 500 global suppliers" See 2Sustain. Press release here.
Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores.—reliability high.
"Nike has topped Climate Counts’ third annual corporate climate performance scorecard with 83 points (out of a possible 100) for the second year in a row. Stoneyfield Farm followed closely with 81 points. Unilever received 80 points. The climate performance scorecard ranks 90 companies in 12 sectors." "Those with the lowest scores include SkyWest Air (0), Regions (1), SunTrust (2), Wendy’s Arby’s Group (2), PNC Financial Services (3) and Viacom (3)." From Environmental Leader. More at Climate Counts site.
Giants vs. Startups: SAP Stakes Carbon Accounting Claim.—reliability high.
"SAP may have chosen to buy a carbon accounting software startup rather than build its own. But now that it has it, SAP sees its customer base as giving it a big advantage." Interview with Peter Graf, SAP's chief sustainability officer, discussion of carbon accounting software competitive environment. See Greentech Media.
Related:
News Corp Going Carbon Neutral With Hara.—reliability high.
"Rupert Murdoch’s got a new partner with a Silicon Valley pedigree to help his company News Corp go carbon neutral by 2010: Hara. The media giant plans to announce on Thursday that’s it’s using Hara’s software to track and reduce energy and carbon emissions." From earth2tech. [Hara is not related to HaraBara.]
"Rupert Murdoch’s got a new partner with a Silicon Valley pedigree to help his company News Corp go carbon neutral by 2010: Hara. The media giant plans to announce on Thursday that’s it’s using Hara’s software to track and reduce energy and carbon emissions." From earth2tech. [Hara is not related to HaraBara.]
And: New
Deloitte Whitepaper Addresses Carbon Accounting Questions as Companies
Prepare for Climate Legislation.—reliability high.
White paper "seeks to address some of the common accounting questions that companies will need to address as carbon legislation impacts their operations." "Europe still has not reached consensus on how to account for emission allowances and carbon traders in the United States have only started to grapple with the accounting issues of an already complex and unfamiliar market. Moreover, as carbon markets evolve and incorporate new elements, additional accounting challenges will continue to emerge." See CSRWire. Access report here.
Government and
RegulationWhite paper "seeks to address some of the common accounting questions that companies will need to address as carbon legislation impacts their operations." "Europe still has not reached consensus on how to account for emission allowances and carbon traders in the United States have only started to grapple with the accounting issues of an already complex and unfamiliar market. Moreover, as carbon markets evolve and incorporate new elements, additional accounting challenges will continue to emerge." See CSRWire. Access report here.
California regulators outlaw power-hungry TVs.—reliability medium.
"The California Energy Commission, after two years of study, voted unanimously to ban the sale of large-format televisions that use too much electricity. It approved standards that would set maximum power consumption for TVs of up to 58 inches beginning Jan. 1, 2011." "Some television manufacturers, notably market leader Vizio Inc. of Irvine, say they will have no trouble complying with the new standards. But, the Consumer Electronics Assn., an industry trade group, has complained that the California rules would stifle technological innovation and are arbitrary." From Los Angeles Times Greenspace blog.
EU agrees on new energy-efficiency labels.—reliability high.
"The Swedish EU Presidency struck a deal on 17 November with the European Parliament on a new energy label for household appliances which will add more classes to the closed A-G format. After months of wrangling over the format, EU lawmakers settled on an energy label to which additional 'A' classes can be added on top of the traditional best-performing 'A' category. The highest possible class will now be A+++." See EurActive. [Would have been smarter to start with T-Z instead of A-G. What happens when they get to A++++++++++++?]
A Stimulus That Could Save Money.—reliability high.
"And the economy still needs help. So White House officials are looking at creating a new version of cash for clunkers — this time for home weatherization. John Doerr, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist, and former President Bill Clinton have separately suggested versions of the idea to the White House. Mr. Doerr calls his proposal, which would give households money to pay for weatherization projects, 'cash for caulkers.' Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s chief of staff, told me, 'It’s one of the top things he’s looking at.'" Writer's own home weatherization experience. From The New York Times. [More of the benefit of such a stimulus might stay closer to home than "cash for clunkers". Hard to see how Toyota could be the biggest beneficiary of more weatherization work. And the future savings could be much greater.]
[Crossposted from HaraBara.com courtesy of HaraBara, Inc. Copyright © 2009 HaraBara, Inc.]
