Investment in clean energy must triple to avert climate change catastrophe says UN
The UN’s top climate official, Christina Figueres, has urged institutions to begin building the foundations of a clean energy economy by up-scaling their investments. Global investment in clean technologies is currently at about $300 billion a year, but Figueres said that this is nowhere near where it needs to be. The International Energy Agency said four years ago that it would take $1 trillion a year in new infrastructure projects by 2030 to make the shift from a coal and oil based economy to the cleaner fuels and technologies that would help keep global warming below a 2°C threshold. Figueres said she hopes to make her case by showing the opportunities in cleantech investment – “look at the advances in the telecommunications industry over the past 30 years… That is the kind of technological advance we will see in energy.” (GreenWise; FT*)
Supply Chain
Investigation finds hazardous chemicals being used in major clothes brands
An investigation by Greenpeace East Asia has revealed that hazardous chemicals are being used in children’s clothes and shoes made by major brands including Adidas, Nike and Primark. The investigation carried out tests on products sold by 12 brands across the industry, all of which were found to have contained hazardous chemicals. According to the report, once released into the environment, many of these chemicals can have adverse impacts either on human reproductive, hormonal or immune systems. Under Greenpeace’s Detox campaign, which calls for major clothing brands to commit to zero discharge of all hazardous chemicals by 2020, 18 major companies have already made landmark Detox commitments. Greenpeace campaigner, Chih An Lee said that, “thanks to global people power, some of the world’s biggest brands have already committed to Detox and many of them are heading towards supply chain transparency and the elimination of the worst chemicals.” (Edie)
Waste
Community shop to extend range to non-food products
Community Shop, the UK’s first social supermarket, which redistributes food in the supply chain that would otherwise go to waste, is planning to widen the range of manufacturers and retailers that it works with, as well as extending its product range to non-food items. Sarah Dunwell, a director at Community Shop, said that, “we’re interested in any food – fresh and chilled products in particular – and residual and end of line products such as washing powder and even washing machines.” The shop, which opened last December, provides people on social benefits with a range of food products at heavily discounted prices. The store is already turning a profit and there are plans for 20 further stores across the UK by the end of 2014. Meanwhile, a new study from Oxfam claims that Britons pay more for food than most other European countries, with only Austrians and Icelanders paying more for daily staples. There are an estimated half a million people using food banks in the UK, three times as many as a year ago. (GreenWise, Times*)
Waitrose joins Tesco in putting a new spin on customer recycling
Waitrose has become the second major food retailer to team up with Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) to encourage higher household recycling rates through the launch of a customer pledge scheme. Last summer Tesco set up a similar scheme with CCE, which resulted in 37,000 customer pledges during the first six months, in return for discount vouchers or Clubcard points. Under the new Waitrose initiative, shoppers will be asked to make a pledge to recycle a selected material for one month, as part of an online ‘Spin to Recycle’ campaign as well as being given further recycling hints and tips. Quentin Clark, head of sustainability & ethical sourcing at Waitrose, said that, “the campaign will offer a fun way to engage consumers about waste and recycling.” (Edie)
Environment
Shanghai environmental spending not matching economic growth
According to a survey from the Shanghai Municipal Statistics Bureau, Shanghai devoted a smaller share of its resources and met a smaller proportion of its goals for environmental protection in the five years from 2008 to 2012, despite growing public dissatisfaction with the city’s environment in recent years. Although the city increased nominal spending on environmental protection by eight percent annually during the period, environmental protection spending as a percentage of local GDP fell. At the same time, the city government claims that it achieved 88 percent of its environmental protection objectives in 2012. This figure is down from 93 percent in 2008, having fallen for three straight years, according to the survey. The bureau also revealed results showing that since 2010, public satisfaction with urban environmental protection has fallen. (CleanBiz.Asia)
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