New York announces $20bn plan to adapt to climate change
The New York Mayor has announced a $20bn plan to prepare for rising sea levels and hotter summers expected as a result of climate change in the coming decades. The ambitious proposal – which could become the benchmark for other cities dealing with climate change – follows widespread destruction wreaked by Superstorm Sandy last year. The more than 400-page plan includes 250 recommendations ranging from new floodwalls and storm barriers to upgrades of power and telecommunications infrastructures. The Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, said: “Investments will pay for themselves many times over in the years to come” (Reuters)
Corporate Reputation
GSK halts drug trials over ‘fake research’
A top scientist at GlaxoSmithKline’s (GSK) drug development operation in China has been dismissed for allegedly fabricating research into a potentially ground-breaking approach to tackling multiple sclerosis. The scandal developed after an anonymous whistle-blower raised concerns about a paper published in a scientific journal. GSK admitted that investigations had established data in the paper were misrepresented and was praised for its response to the allegations. A charity in the field, the Multiple Sclerosis Trust, said the affair showed the importance of peer review processes in testing the validity of medical research. “Fabrications undermine confidence in research, but the fact that GSK have identified the problem and taken steps to withdraw the offending paper is encouraging,” the trust said. (Times*)
Google, Facebook and Microsoft seek data request transparency
Google, Facebook and Microsoft have asked the US government to allow them to disclose the security requests they receive for handing over user data. The move comes after a broader effort by technology companies and advocacy groups to demand more transparency around US spying programmes. Recent report claimed that US authorities had direct access to the servers of nine major US tech firms, including Google and Apple. Google said the claims were "untrue" but added that nondisclosure rules of such requests "fuel that speculation". Currently in the US, companies are prohibited by law from disclosing the existence of national security requests. (Financial Times*, BBC)
Policy & Research
UN climate talks break down over procedural dispute
A key strand of U.N. climate talks meant to draft law forcing nations to cut emissions broke down yesterday after Russia, Ukraine and Belarus blocked progress for eight days over a dispute on how laws should be passed. The Subsidiary Body for Implementation, one the bodies that advise envoys at annual U.N. climate talks, was due to discuss how to compensate poor nations for future loss or damage suffered as a result of global warming caused by rising emissions of heat-trapping gases. However the meeting will now end on Friday without negotiators having discussed any agenda items after Russia said it could not take part unless voting rules for passing law were clarified. (Reuters)
Social Investment
Ericsson and Entel partner for 21st century education in Chile
Ericsson and Chilean mobile operator Entel have launched a project dubbed ‘Connect To Learn’, to offer education for rural students, in three schools in Chile that previously did not have access to technology in education. Connect To Learn in partnership with Millennium Promise and the Earth Institute at Columbia University is using the latest technology to improve educational opportunities for young people, especially girls. Through the programme, mobile broadband connectivity has been implemented in all of the schools, including online educational resources, a cloud-computing service and relevant training for teachers. (Telecom Paper)
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