GEO-5 for Business - UNEP

Impacts of a Changing Environment on the Corporate Sector

This new report, GEO-5 for Business, is based on the flagship assessment by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Environment Outlook 5, which was launched in advance of the Rio+20 Summit. GEO-5 for Business outlines current and future impacts of environmental trends across a range of sectors from construction to food. It dovetails with other assessments such as those by the UNEP hosted International Resource Panel that estimate consumption of natural resources will triple by 2050 unless urgent action is taken to decouple economic growth from natural resource use. GEO-5 for Business recommends that businesses conduct a deeper, company-specific analysis, taking a life-cycle approach using this report as a framework and guide.

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GEO-5 for Business - UNEP  

Greening the Building Supply Chain

This report provides the basis for such actions, and UNEP-SBCI looks forward to establishing collaborations to help realize the necessary gains. UNEP-SBCI is pleased to have worked with its partners and Task Force on Supply Chain, who provided the practical experience and needed expertise to inform this dialogue. A special thanks to Skanska for their generous support and leadership in these efforts.

this Report was specifically produced to define prioritisation of green interventions for study by UNEP-SBCI and partners in future work programmes, and to support the development of a Sustainable Buildings and Construction programme under the 10 Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production. The Report also maps the interdependencies upstream and downstream of the construction site, allowing the various stakeholders to gain insight into their role and on how they impact on the overall system.

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Greening the Building Supply Chain 

Integrating the environment In Urban Planning and Management - UNEP

Key principles and approaches for cities in the 21st century.

The report describes the social and economic benefits that can be generated by addressing environmental challenges, and provides convincing evidence to support engagement with these issues.

- Cities are important sites for engaging with environmental issues.

- Activities in towns and cities affect the environment locally, regionally and globally in both negative and positive ways.

- A range of strategies can be used to integrate the environment in urban planning and management

- Environmental strategies for urban areas need to be supported by key underlying principles.

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Integrating the environment In Urban Planning and Management - UNEP 

Sustainable, Resource Efficient Cities – Making it Happen! UNEP

This publication presents a rationale for socially inclusive urban transitions to sustainable growth and draws on a range of case studies and theoretical and analytical considerations to establish the basis of the argument. It identifies some of the elements that are required to develop a shared language on city transitions to sustainability.

The report is divided into three sections:

• Section 1 presents the challenges, trends, and pressures facing cities today.
• Section 2 outlines the sustainability challenges and choices, exploring particularly infrastructure options available for realising sustainable, resource-efficient cities in the building, transport, waste and water sectors.
• Section 3 examines a number of approaches describing how cities can transition to sustainable, resource-efficient growth.

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Sustainable, Resource Efficient Cities – Making it Happen!

Cities and Carbon Finance: a Feasibility Study on an Urban CDM

This report analyses existing CDM methodologies and makes specific recommendations on how cities can improve their access to climate finance through the use of Urban CDM and addresses three important questions: 

- Is the Clean Development Mechanism the right instrument to provide carbon finance to carbon emission mitigation activities in cities/urban areas? 

- Under which circumstances can the CDM be best applied for the major emission sources in cities? 

- What is the status of CDM in urban areas? What are the existing barriers and what are the solutions that will offer cities access to carbon finance?

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Cities and Carbon Finance: a Feasibility Study on an Urban CDM

Social Progress Index 2016 Results

The 2016 Social Progress Index includes 133 countries covering 94 percent of the world’s population. An additional 27 countries are included with results for 9 to 11 of the total 12 components. This brings total coverage to 99 percent of the world’s population. Social Progress Index can create a measure of the world’s average level of social progress by weighting each country’s score by population and summing across all countries.

 

The Social Progress Index aims to meet this pressing need through a robust and holistic measurement framework for social and environmental performance that can be used by leaders in government, business, and civil society to benchmark success and accelerate progress. The Social Progress Index is the first comprehensive framework for measuring social progress that is independent of GDP, but complementary to it. Our vision is a world in which social progress sits alongside GDP as a core benchmark for national performance. The Index provides a systematic, empirical foundation to guide strategy for inclusive growth. It was first implemented at the national level in 2014, and has been enhanced each year and expanded to regions, cities, and individual communities.

To read click here: Social Progress Index 2016

 

 

 

Renewables 2016 Global Status Report

2015 was an extraordinary year for renewable energy. Renewables are now cost competitive with fossil fuels in many markets and are established around the world as mainstream sources of energy. Cities, communities and companies are leading the rapidly expanding “100% renewable” movement. Distributed renewable energy is advancing rapidly to close the energy access gap.

First released in 2005, REN21's Renewables Global Status Report (GSR) has grown to become a truly collaborative effort, drawing on an international network of over 500 authors, contributors and reviewers. Today it is the most frequently referenced report on renewable energy market, industry and policy trends

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Global Trends in Renewable Energy Investment Report - REN21

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2016 - Yale

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks countries’ performance on high-priority environmental issues in two areas: protection of human health and protection of ecosystems. Within these two policy objectives the EPI scores national performance in nine issue areas comprised of more than 20 indicators (see EPI Framework). EPI indicators measure country proximity to meeting internationally established targets or, in the absence of agreed targets, how nations compare to one another.

The 2016 Environmental Performance Index provides a global view of environmental performance and country by country metrics to inform decision-making. Launched at the World Economic Forum, the EPI is in its 15th year and more relevant than ever to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and carrying out the recent international climate change agreement.

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The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2016 

Contents: 

Health impacts

Air quality

Water and sanitation

Water resources

Agriculture

Forests

Fisheries

Biodiversity and habitat

Climate and energy

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS/World Cities Report 2016 - UN Habitat

Urbanization and Development: Emerging Futures

Urbanization and growth go hand in hand, and no one can deny that urbanization is essential for socioeconomic transformation, wealth generation, prosperity and development. As this Report asserts, the emerging future of cities largely depends on the way we plan and manage urbanization, and the way we leverage this transformative process to ‘provide the setting, the underlying base and also the momentum for global change’. The analysis of urban development of the past twenty years presented in this first edition of the World Cities Report shows, with compelling evidence, that there are new forms of collaboration and cooperation, planning governance, finance and learning that can sustain positive change.

The Report unequivocally demonstrates that the current urbanization model is unsustainable in many respects, puts many people at risk, creates unnecessary costs, negatively affects the environment, and is intrinsically unfair. It conveys a clear message that the pattern of urbanization needs to change in order to better respond to the challenges of our time, to address issues such as inequality, climate change, informality, insecurity, and the unsustainable forms of urban expansion.

Joan Clos Under-Secretary-General,

United Nations Executive Director, UN-Habitat

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World Cities Report 2016 - UN Habitat (Full Report) 

World Cities Report 2016 - UN Habitat (On Line)

Chapters

From Habitat II to Habitat III: Twenty Years of Urban Development

Urbanization as a Transformative Force

The Fate of Housing

The Widening Urban Divide

 “Just” Environmental Sustainabilities

Rules of the Game: Urban Governance and Legislation

A City that Plans: Reinventing Urban Planning

The Changing Dynamics of Urban Economies

Principles For a New Urban Agenda

The New Urban Agenda

The Guardian Cities/The story of cities: London's Great Stink heralds a wonder of the industrial world

By the mid-1800s, the River Thames had been used as a dumping ground for human excrement for centuries. At last, fear of its ‘evil odour’ led to one of the greatest advancements in urban planning: Joseph Bazalgette’s sewage system.  

London is, of course, an ancient metropolis, but according to the city’s prolific biographer (and Londoner) Peter Ackroyd, the 19th century “was the true century of change”. And by the mid-1800s, reform of the capital’s sanitation, like much else in the nation’s political and social life, was long overdue.

To read click here: The Guardian Cities/The story of cities: London

The Journey to Sustainable Food - Report 2016 - Oxfam

The newly updated Behind the Brands scorecard shows that the ‘Big 10’ food and beverage companies have made significant new commitments over the past three years to improve social and environmental standards in their vast supply chains. Pushed by over 700,000 actions by concerned consumers, progress has been most evident in the areas of protecting land rights, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tackling gender inequality. But there is much work still to do. 

These companies must now ensure that their suppliers actually change their practices in line with the commitments made. But to accelerate the transformation towards a more sustainable food system, the companies must go much further and fundamentally re-write the business models in their supply chains to ensure that much more power and much more of the value their products generate reaches the farmers and workers who produce their ingredients.

Behind the Brands scorecard April 2016: 

- Land

- Women

- Farmers

- Workers

- Climate

- Transparency

- Water

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The Journey to Sustainable Food - Report 2016 - Oxfam

The Guardian Cities/Jane Jacobs v Robert Moses, battle of New York's urban titans

When city planning supremo Robert Moses proposed a road through Greenwich Village in 1955, he met opposition from one particularly feisty local resident: Jane Jacobs. It was the start of a decades-long struggle for swaths of New York.

Jacobs – one of those common citizens, denigrated at the time as merely a “housewife” – has, perhaps more than any other, offered inspiration to those informed that plans drawn up in the corridors of power will require them to move elsewhere. Simply say “no”.

To read click here: Jane Jacobs v Robert Moses, battle of New York's urban titans

Key Logistics trends in life sciences 2020+ - DHL

This white paper allows a deep dive into the logistical future especially focusing on the key challenges and trends in the field of life sciences. With identifying the most important required actions for the coming years the white paper provides a holistic understanding for life sciences logisticians to be prepared for the future.

DHL and its research partner Z_punkt The Foresight Company followed a three stage approach when conducting the research. Initially, the most important megatrends were analyzed. Secondly, key challenges based on current changes and developments in society, technology, politics and economy were evaluated. Finally, the research team drew conclusions on the respective logistics implications and pointed out areas where action is needed.

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Key Logistics trends in life sciences 2020+ - DHL

 

100 Best Corporate Citizens 2015 - Corporate Responsibility Magazine

Corporate Responsibility Magazine is pleased to present our 17th annual list of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. This year’s 100 Best List began with our research team documenting 260 data points of disclosure and performance measurements for the entire Russell 1000. 

1.      Microsoft Corporation  

2.        Hasbro, Inc.

3.        Johnson & Johnson

4.        Xerox Corp

5.        Sigma-Aldrich Corp.

6.        Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.

7.        Intel Corp.

8.        Campbell Soup Co.

9.        Ecolab, Inc.

10.          Lockheed Martin Corp.

CR Magazine’s annual set of “Industry Sector Best Corporate Citizens” lists. It serves as a buyer’s guide for establishing that your supply chain/value chain is comprised of the most responsible, sustainable and transparent companies—and this guide helps ensure you are creating shared value when strategic opportunities arise.

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100 Best Corporate Citizens 2015 - Corporate Responsibility Magazine Corporate Responsibility Magazine

Aid Transparency Index (ATI)

The 2016 ATI, presented at an event in Washington DC, measures development organisations’ commitment to aid transparency and the publication of aid information.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) tops the Index for the second time, having been ranked first in the last ATI, with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) being placed second.

UNICEF enters the Index’s ‘very good’ category for the first time, jumping into third place. This category also includes the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (UK-DFID), the Global Fund, the World Bank-International Development Association (WB-IDA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Asian Development Bank (AsDB), the government of Sweden and the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The ATI uses 39 weighted indicators to assess development organisations commitment to aid transparency and publication of aid information.

To read click here: Aid Transparency Index (ATI)

Living Blue Planet Report 2015 - WWF

WWF's Living Blue Planet Report takes a deep look at the health of our oceans and the impact of human activity on marine life. Data on marine ecosystems and human impacts upon them is limited, reflecting the lack of attention the ocean has received to date. Nevertheless, the trends shown here present a compelling case for action to restore our ocean to health.  

Contents

• The state of our blue planet
• Our ocean under pressure
• Why we should care
• Turning the tide
• Turning the tide

To read click here: Living Blue Planet Repor 2015 WWF

EVENTS/The 2016 Strategic Innovation Summit: Affordable Communities Everywhere

The Summit 2016 will examine housing solutions from the perspective of “ e Doctrine of the ree D ́s – Dignity, Durability, and Delight,” developed by Prof. Vijay Govindarajan and Jack Wilson at Dartmouth College. The agenda will build upon this framework, identifying relevant parameters that define each “D” relating to affordable and sustainable communities. To further the conversation, Summit participants will be allowed to dive deep into questions concerning the efficient development, management, and evaluation of existing and proposed projects launching around the globe. 

June 3 - 4, 2016

Harvard University

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Hosted by the Technology and Entrepreneurship Center Harvard

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The Innovators Forum 2016 

Insight from the 2015 Strategic Innovation Summit at Harvard

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS/Going Green, LSE

Going Green: How cities are leading the next economy is the concluding report of our major global survey of 90 city governments and a case study analysis of innovative green strategies in eight cities. The survey was conducted by LSE Cities, ICLEI – local governments for sustainability and the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), in order to closely analyse the strengths and weaknesses of cities as key contributors to the emerging green economy. Previous editions of this report were prepared for the Rio+20 summit in June 2012 and for the Global Green Growth Forum in Copenhagen in October 2012.

This final report includes a new section featuring findings on cities’ policy approaches across six sectors: land-use, transport, buildings, energy, waste, and water. 

To read click here: Special Publications/Going Green, LSE

Global Report on Equitable, Healthier, Cities for Sustainable Development - WHO / UN Habitat

This report provides a baseline for understanding achievements to date for urban health, delineates key challenges going forward and highlights innovative solutions undertaken by local, national and international stakeholders to aid in the process of pursuing the SDGs.

From 2016 to 2030, the global community will focus its attention on achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by 193 United Nations (UN) Member States (1). Goal 3 – the “health goal” – of the SDGs includes 13 targets on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. This goal vastly extends the ambitions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by including targets on maternal and child health, infectious diseases, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), universal health coverage (UHC) and environmental health. Goal 11 – the “city goal” – consists of 10 targets that aim to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable. These 10 targets include a variety of critical issues such as housing, transport, economy and environment that strengthen the physical and social fabric of a city.

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Global report on Equitable, Healthier, Cities for Sustainable Development - Summary 

Global report on Equitable, Healthier, Cities for Sustainable Development - Full Report

The Guardian Cities/The story of cities: Barcelona's unloved planner invents science of 'urbanisation'

In the mid-1850s, Barcelona was on the brink of collapse. An industrial city with a busy port, it had grown increasingly dense throughout the industrial revolution, mostly spearheaded by the huge development of the textile sector.

These days, Barcelona is consistently praised as an urban success story. And its fortunes are inextricably linked to Cerdà’s work, which propelled it, in the words of Permanyer, “from a provincial town where it was difficult to live, to a truly modern city”.

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The Guardian Cities/The story of cities: Barcelona