The Sustainability Learning Forum

Slum Upgrading in São Paulo

Katharina Riese, TÜV Rheinland
Jorge Luiz Babadopulos, TÜV Rheinland
Amilton Degani, TÜV Rheinland
TÜV Rheinland Holding

With a population of about 20 million people, São Paulo is the fifth largest urban agglomeration in the world. The rapid rural-to-urban migration following the industrialization that took place during the mid-20th century has led to an immense urban population increase. Today, 75 percent of the Latin American population live in urban areas. The city’s infrastructure cannot satisfy the needs of that rapidly growing population. more[...] login_required

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Friends of Kitui

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The real issue is universal access to affordable basic services

Diana Mitlin, International Institute for Environment and Development

As global institutions and official development assistance agencies reflect on what should follow the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), this is an opportunity to recognise their critical flaw — global leaders have endorsed partial MDG targets. more[...] login_required

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Mitlin, Diana

Editorial Team

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FDS™: A Small-Scale Farming Revolution

Netafim

Hundreds of millions of smallholders are struggling to survive from subsistence farming in developing countries across South America, Asia, and Africa. Given the lack of water infrastructure throughout these and other areas, there is a critical need to make the most of the limited available water sources in such regions. In response, OECD countries, international donors, and NGOs have been promoting technologies such as drip irrigation, which optimizes resources, enhances global food security, and promotes sustainable productivity. more[...] login_required

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Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation

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Meeting the Global Water Challenge

Susan Steinhagen, Nestlé
Nestlé S.A.

As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé depends on reliable access to clean water at every level in order to maintain our ability to meet consumers’ needs. Our long-term success depends on effective management of water resources that supply our everyday business operations and support the livelihoods of suppliers and consumers. We apply a lifecycle approach to assess the impacts of our own operations and those along the wider value chain from farmer to consumer, thereby creating shared value to both Nestlé and society. more[...] login_required

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GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies for Access to Sustainable Energy for All

Francoise Guichard, GDF Suez
Engie

The GDF SUEZ Group, the world’s largest utility, is seeking to combat poverty and economic disparities with the launch of the GDF SUEZ Rassembleurs d’Energies initiative. This global initiative promotes access for the poorest populations to energy and essential services and supports the reduction of energy poverty. It provides socially responsible investment, donations, as well as technical and managerial assistance, with the GDF SUEZ Group coordinating these various tools in support of social entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations. more[...]

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Committee of Entities in the Fight against Hunger and for Life (COEP)

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Community Development and Sustainability

Claudia Rodrigues Segond, Eletrobras Furnas
Electrobras Furnas

Since its founding in 1957, FURNAS has been working toward the development of Brazilian society by generating and transmitting electrical energy. Today, the company runs a complex of 15 hydroelectric power plants, two thermal units, and a transmission system responsible for 40 percent of the electrical energy consumed in Brazil. As a participant in the Global Compact, the company promotes activities for the sustainable development of the communities in the vicinities of its installations, upholding the Ten Principles of the Global Compact. more[...]

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Food Security for Africa: an urgent global Challenge

Albert Sasson, European Commission

On September 14, 2010, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) published its estimates concerning the number of people suffering from hunger in 2010: 925 million. This figure was below the 1,020 billion in 2009, but it was higher than the number reached before the 2008 global food crisis. The 2010 figure corresponded to 13.5% of the world population, while the 2015 objective (millennium development goal (MDG) number 1) was 8%. The FAO concluded that we were still far from achieving MDG 1, that is, halving the number of hungry people worldwide by 2015. more[...] login_required

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Global Food Price Volatility and Spikes: An Overview of Costs, Causes, and Solutions

Prof. Joachim von Braun, Center for Development Research

Since the 2007-08 food crisis, many thoughtful analyses have addressed the causes and impacts of high and volatile international food prices and proposed solutions to the crisis. These studies have covered global as well as local food price dynamics and policy reactions. The food price problem is, however, far-reaching, and its impacts are wide and interrelated. more[...] login_required

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