The Sustainability Learning Forum

From Global Compact to Global Leadership

Prof. V. Kasturi Rangan, Harvard Business School

The global financial crisis of 2008 was a stark reminder of business’s role in society. When well governed and well led, the role of business transcends one of profitability for its owners and incentives for its managers. Its role is to create value for society. Profit is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Without profit, there is no growth, and without growth there is no development. But if business does not create value and instead divvies up the same pie over and over again for personal gains (remember the subprime mortgages, collateral debt obligations, and credit default swaps?), then it is bound to fail and cause havoc for society. more[...]

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The Global Compact 2000–2010

Prof. Andreas Rasche, Copenhagen Business School

Over the last 10 years, the Global Compact has grown significantly, both in terms of the number of participants and their engagement. While only a handful of companies and NGOs met on July 26, 2000, at the UN Headquarters in New York to launch the Global Compact, today (as of February 2010) more than 7,300 business and non-business participants are part of the initiative. more[...]

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The Future of Cities

Wolfram Haller, Siemens
Siemens

Today more than half the world’s population lives in cities, which emit 80 percent of all greenhouse gases and use 75 percent of energy – figures rising. It is thus with the cities that we must start if we want to manage population growth, increasing energy demand and climate change. Many solutions are already available, including environmentally compatible energy supply, highly efficient building, transportation and water supply systems and affordable financial models. These improve climate protection, increase the security of supply, enhance the quality of life and reduce costs. For world wide success, however, cooperation on a global basis is needed, for example in United Nations programs. more[...] login_required

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The Future of Cities

Wolfram Haller, Siemens

Today more than half the world’s population lives in cities, which emit 80 percent of all greenhouse gases and use 75 percent of energy – figures rising. It is thus with the cities that we must start if we want to manage population growth, increasing energy demand and climate change. Many solutions are already available, including environmentally compatible energy supply, highly efficient building, transportation and water supply systems and affordable financial models. These improve climate protection, increase the security of supply, enhance the quality of life and reduce costs. For world wide success, however, cooperation on a global basis is needed, for example in United Nations programs. more[...]

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Systematic and Holistic Program for a Balanced Industrial Ecology

M Bhaskar, TÜV Rheinland Group
Dagny Buehler-Thierfelder, TÜV Rheinland Holding
TÜV Rheinland Holding

In Karnataka, one of the fastest-growing states of India, officials have become aware of the increasing pollution and exploitation of natural resources by the major industries and the growing population. Indian energy production has risen over 20 percent since 2000; during the same period, CO2 emissions went up by nearly 30 percent. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has identified 118 companies – the majority small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – from all the main industries that are using resources inefficiently and are polluting the environment. More than half of the companies are located in the district of Bangalore and are a constant threat to the ecological balance of the region. more[...] login_required

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Systematic and Holistic Program for a Balanced Industrial Ecology

M Bhaskar, TÜV Rheinland Group
Dagny Buehler-Thierfelder, TÜV Rheinland Holding

In Karnataka, one of the fastest-growing states of India, officials have become aware of the increasing pollution and exploitation of natural resources by the major industries and the growing population. Indian energy production has risen over 20 percent since 2000; during the same period, CO2 emissions went up by nearly 30 percent. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has identified 118 companies – the majority small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – from all the main industries that are using resources inefficiently and are polluting the environment. More than half of the companies are located in the district of Bangalore and are a constant threat to the ecological balance of the region. more[...]

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The TMS Group’s Green Campaign

Jeffrey Revels, TMS Group
TMS Group

In 2009 The TMS Group launched an ambitious program entitled the TMS Green Campaign, which is designed to create awareness of significant environmental and energy conservation issues by promoting the “glocal” concept of “think globally and act locally.” Furthermore, the objective is to transform the awareness into actions and encourage employee-driven conservation practices within their workplaces, homes, and at the grassroots level in their communities. more[...]

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Digital Solution Helps Build Smart Green Cities

Editorial Team

In Xi'an, China, Huawei worked with the local government and telecom operators, integrating the ecity solutions with existing city service systems. As a result, participation of residents and enterprises into local city administration is substantially facilitated and workung efficiency greatly improved, enhancing social inclusiveness while effectively reducing carbon footprints. more[...] login_required

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Digital Solution Helps Build Smart Green Cities

Wang Dong, Huawei
Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

In Xi'an, China, Huawei worked with the local government and telecom operators, integrating the ecity solutions with existing city service systems. As a result, participation of residents and enterprises into local city administration is substantially facilitated and workung efficiency greatly improved, enhancing social inclusiveness while effectively reducing carbon footprints. more[...]

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Petrobras Development & Citizenship Program

Editorial Team

The Petrobras Development & Citizenship Program brings together the company’s principal investments in social projects in Brazil. Designed to have a long-term vision, the program is aligned with the company’s Social Responsibility Policy and has the same time horizon as the Petrobras Business Plan. The program invests in social projects that contribute to promoting development with equal opportunities and harnessing local potential. more[...]

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Petrobras Development & Citizenship Program

Petrobras

The Petrobras Development & Citizenship Program brings together the company’s principal investments in social projects in Brazil. Designed to have a long-term vision, the program is aligned with the company’s Social Responsibility Policy and has the same time horizon as the Petrobras Business Plan. The program invests in social projects that contribute to promoting development with equal opportunities and harnessing local potential. more[...]

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Factory of the Future – The Otto Grameen Textile Company

Editorial Team

Over two million people work in the textile industry in Bangladesh, with women accounting for 80 percent of the workforce in clothing factories. The clothing industry is one of the region’s key employers and plays an important role as a source of income for the poorest strata of society. These people need the jobs, yet all too often they have to work in textile factories under poor safety conditions for wages that do not even cover their basic needs. more[...] login_required

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Factory of the Future – The Otto Grameen Textile Company

Andreas Streubig, Otto Group
Otto Group

Over two million people work in the textile industry in Bangladesh, with women accounting for 80 percent of the workforce in clothing factories. The clothing industry is one of the region’s key employers and plays an important role as a source of income for the poorest strata of society. These people need the jobs, yet all too often they have to work in textile factories under poor safety conditions for wages that do not even cover their basic needs. more[...]

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Water Stewardship at Coca-Cola Hellenic

Editorial Team

In long-term partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies and others, Coca-Cola Hellenic is working to conserve watersheds and raise awareness of water scarcity and other sustainability issues. more[...] login_required

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Water Stewardship at Coca-Cola Hellenic

Jens Rupp, Coca-Cola Hellenic

As populations grow and become more affluent, demand for freshwater grows. Since the world’s freshwater is finite, there is competing demand for this vital resource: for drinking water and sanitation, agriculture, industry, and maintaining ecosystems. Climate change is expected to further disrupt water availability in many areas. more[...]

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