CO2 emissions are being ‘outsourced’ by rich countries to rising economies
The world’s richest countries are increasingly outsourcing their carbon pollution to China and other rising economies, according to a report by the UN. This outsourcing comes in the form of electronic devices such as smartphones, cheap clothes and other goods manufactured in China and other rising economies but consumed in the US and Europe. The report states that, “a growing share of CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion in developing countries is released in the production of goods and services exported, notably from upper-middle-income countries to high-income countries.” The outsourcing of emissions skews efforts to account for all global emissions, which are typically conducted on a national basis, and further fuels the growing debate about how to assign responsibility for emissions generated producing goods that were made in one country, but destined for another. (Guardian)
Two-thirds of Americans believe climate change is happening
A survey by the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication, has found that 63 percent of Americans believe that global warming is happening, however scepticism increased by 7 percent in 2013 to 23 percent. 51 percent of respondents said they were ‘somewhat’ or ‘very worried’ about climate change. The upward trend of scepticism of climate change is thought to have been down to media coverage of the so-called global warming ‘pause’. Ed Maibach, an author of the survey, said that, “it is possible that this idea helped to convince many people who were previously undecided to conclude that the climate really isn’t changing.” (BlueandGreenTomorrow)
International Development
Developing cities should follow example of Singapore
A report by energy company Shell and research and development initiative, the Centre for Liveable Cities, has stated that the cities of tomorrow can learn from the example of Singapore by embracing density in order to be more resource efficient. The report describes how Singapore took progressive steps in urban planning, housing and transportation which allowed the city-state room to plan for long term development. The report says that lessons to be learnt from examples like Singapore could be especially valuable to China, where over half of the 130 largest cities are still in the early stages of their development. Jeremy Bentham, Shell’s vice-president of Global Business Environment, said that, “how cities around the world develop in coming decades will determine how efficiently we use vital resources – particularly energy, food and water – and directly impact the quality of life for billions of future urban citizens.” (BlueandGreenTomorrow)
Supply Chain
Mondelez hits sustainable palm oil target two years early
Mondelez International, the owner of Cadbury and other snack brands, has achieved Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) coverage for 100 percent of the palm oil it bought in 2013, two years ahead of schedule. Dave Brown, vice-president of Global Commodities and Strategic Sourcing, said that, “achieving 100 percent RSPO is an important milestone toward our long-term commitment to only buy palm oil that’s produced on legally held land, doesn’t lead to deforestation or loss of peat land, respects human rights, including land rights, and doesn’t use forced or child labour.” The confectionary multinational is also planning to publish an action plan to give priority to supplies that meet its sustainability principles and eliminate those that do not by 2020; “we’ve also challenged our palm oil suppliers to provide transparency on the levels of traceability in their palm oil supply chains. Knowing the sources of palm oil supplies is an essential first step to enable scrutiny and promote improvements in practice on the ground.” (Ethical Performance)
Responsible Investment
Swiss central bank to sell shares of ‘unethical’ companies
The Swiss National Bank (SNB) has announced that it will sell its shares in companies that do not meet its ethical standards, including those of firms that commit serious human rights abuses. The SNB’s portfolio, of which 16 percent is made up of stock holdings, currently includes weapons producers and mining firms whose environmental records have been criticised. The bank plans to offload shares it owns that it deems questionable and avoid future investments in such stocks. A spokesperson for the bank said that, “recently the board has decided in principle to refrain from shares of companies that produce weapons condemned by the international community, seriously abuse fundamental human rights or systematically cause grave damage to the environment.” (Thomson Reuters)
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