Obama and Hollande call for “ambitious” global climate change deal
The presidents of the United States and France have called for a global pact to fight climate change. Francois Hollande and Barack Obama urged for more clean energy partnerships to create jobs, as well as support for developing countries as they shift to low-carbon energy. “As we work toward next year’s climate conference in Paris, we continue to urge all nations to join us in pursuit of an ambitious and inclusive global agreement that reduces greenhouse gas emissions through concrete actions,” read the op-ed published in the Washington Post and Le Monde newspapers. Although France has repeatedly called for ambitious carbon cuts, the European Union scaled back its long-term climate goals in January due to difficult economic conditions. The new emission targets fall short of what some scientists and environmentalists say is needed to prevent the worst effects of climate change. (Reuters)
Value Chain
UK clothing giants sign green pledge
UK clothing powerhouses including Tesco, Next and designer Stella McCartney are among 53 retailers, suppliers, charities and recyclers in the textiles sector who have committed to significantly reducing the environmental impacts of clothing across its lifecycle. Led by waste advice organisation, WRAP, the ‘Sustainable Clothing Action Plan’ (SCAP) 2020 Commitment targets a 15 percent reduction in carbon, water and waste to landfill, plus a 3.5% percent reduction in waste per tonne of clothing, by 2020. The key aims of the SCAP signatories, which represent 40 percent of the UK clothing market based on retail sales value, are to use lower-impact fibres, extend the active life of clothes, and increase re-use and recycling. The actions will be reinforced by measurement to help focus effort, and informing consumers about changes they can make. If the targets are met, the UK can expect an annual carbon saving equivalent to removing 250,000 cars from the road, a water saving equivalent to 170,000 Olympic sized swimming pools, and the elimination of 16,000 tonnes of waste. (Edie)
Social Investment
Social enterprises and cooperatives need to tell Britain’s leaders what they want
The Social Economy Alliance (SEA) is calling on social enterprises and cooperatives to join its campaign and tell British leaders what they can do to help the social economy. In a letter published today, the SEA says that more should be done to help shape policies that can help the economy serve society and communities. Initiatives supported by the Alliance, which has 24 member organisations from across all spectrums of the social economy, include cooperative housing, social finance and community energy. The letter claims that the UK is at the “cutting edge” of the social economy, but that “mainstream political parties are being slow to wake up to it“, and calls on the knowledge and expertise of organisations to help shape future public policy for the next government. Celia Richardson, director of the Alliance said, “The UK needs an economy that works for people and communities. Social enterprises, cooperatives and likeminded organisations are building a social economy that’s addressing some of the country’s toughest challenges.” (BlueandGreenTomorrow)
Strategy
Barclays hails progress in rebuilding trust
Global banking giant Barclays says it has made “significant” process in rebuilding trust among consumers following various scandals which have hit the banking industry, and says it will step up efforts in 2014 by judging the performance of all staff by how they demonstrate Barclays’ “values and purpose” and not just business performance. The bank says that current staff training aims to embed its values, and plans to extend the performance review system introduced for managing directors in 2013 that sees performance judged by exhibiting “the right values and behaviours,” to all staff in 2014. The bank also announced its plans to publish an annual scorecard on performance in terms of “5Cs” – customer and client, colleague, citizenship, conduct and company. Chief executive of Barclays, Anthony Jenkins, said that the bank is in a “very different place, a much more positive place” than a year ago, adding that “2014 will be a pivotal year in our transformation.” (Marketing Week)
Environment
BYD plan first all-electric London cab fleet
Chinese carmaker BYD has announced that it plans to launch London’s first ever all-electric taxi fleet. The move comes ahead of a 2018 deadline set by Mayor Boris Johnson for all of the city’s taxis to be zero-emission. Taxis reportedly account for over a third of all exhaust emissions in London, with the push for zero-emission cabs forming part of a wider drive by the government to make the UK a major market for electric vehicles. BYD, which already operates fleets of electric taxis across China, Colombia and Hong Kong, plans to launch the London fleet with emissions free taxi company, Thriev. Nissan, the world’s most successful electric car manufacturer, and the London Taxi Company, which builds the iconic ‘black cab’, are both also developing fully-electric models ahead of the 2018 deadline. (FT*)
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