Posts Tagged ‘dave knight’

The cultural challenge of combating climate change

Thursday, February 18th, 2010

I was at the ACCA/KPMG Climate Change Challenge event the other evening. I was there with captains of industry, entrepreneurs, leading practitioners and experts in accounting, business and climate change.

I came away challenged. On one hand there was a total acceptance of the basis of the science. Sure, as our enquiry widens and we become cleverer at piecing together inherently complex issues like climate change, we will improve on the detail. But the contention that humans are inducing climate change to a degree which warrants immediate attention and action simply wasn’t a matter for debate.

On the other hand, there was a lack of consensus on the speed and scale of change that’s needed to prevent the most adverse consequences predicted.
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Posted in climate change | 4 Comments »

The price of tomatoes

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

I’ve just read an article in Ethical Performance (Nov 09 edition, Vol 11, issue 6 p2) about the price of tomatoes. A host of US companies including McDonalds and the worlds biggest catering company, Compass, have agreed to pay a premium for their tomatoes.

Current business conditions are keeping the pressure on to reduce costs. So why are these companies prepared to do this, and what does the price of toms have to do with the rest of business?
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Harnessing people power

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

I envy people who are able to stick to a gym schedule. But it’s not for me – I don’t quite manage it. Instead, I go to the everyday gym.

I’m the fella jogging up the stairs coming out of the Bakerloo Line at Paddington, running for the bus, pushing a rotary mower around the garden, making life that little bit more difficult for myself.

And I’m not the only one. There’s a growing band of people out there who recognise the benefits of a bit of extra manual effort in our daily activities. And we know it’s not just beneficial for our own wellbeing, but also for the planet’s.
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Posted in General CR and sustainability issues, climate change | 2 Comments »

To fly or not to fly

Monday, October 12th, 2009

I’m soon to fly off to San Francisco for work. I’ve always wanted to go and have even considered taking some flowers for my hair (but I was worried about getting through Customs).

It will be my first time visiting the city and it will give me an opportunity to catch up with colleagues as well as clients I have worked with for a while but not been to visit.

Hang on a minute, I’m a sustainability advisor. What am I doing flying? (more…)

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Posted in climate change | No Comments »

Sustainability is good for business – even in the recession

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Some commentators have been quick to talk down corporate responsibility and sustainable business as fads that have no place in the economic downturn. The suggestion is that business should focus on what really matters, and these nice-to-haves can wait until companies get themselves back on track.

In some ways, they’re right. This is the end of the CR movement as we know it. But not because it is a passing fad. Instead, it is the end of the beginning of CR, and the time is right to scale up and put sustainability at the heart of the business model. I offer two simple reasons why sustainability is good for business right now, even in the recession. (more…)

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Posted in General CR and sustainability issues, Uncategorized | No Comments »