Digital technology uptake needed to reach Sustainable Development Goals
The Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI), which brings to together some of the biggest companies from the ICT sector including Microsoft, BT and Verizon, has released a new report in partnership with consultants Accenture which claims that innovative smart solutions can reduce global emissions by 20 percent and help bridge the “achievement gaps” of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report notes that more than 1.5 billion people could benefit from accessible and affordable medical services through enhanced e-healthcare, while utilising the Internet of Things and robotics would enhance manufacturing and smart logistics to the tune of $1 trillion. However, smart technology will fail to reach its potential without the aid of incentivised policies, an enabling regulatory environment and an increase in demand, the report says. (edie)
Energy
Report: Biofuels are good for food security
A new study by researchers from ten institutions says that using crops for biofuel does not conflict with food security – and can even support it. The study, published in the journal GCB Bioenergy and partly funded by the US Department of Energy, addresses concerns raised by some campaigners that the world’s poor could suffer from a dash to bioenergy to meet climate goals. “Investment in biofuels seems to be promoting improvements in the way people are managing land. There seem to be a lot of positive benefits of bringing biofuels into these sectors,” said Keith Kline of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the lead author of the study. But Kelly Stone, a policy analyst for the ActionAid, said she was “not reassured or persuaded” by the paper. “Land is a limited resource, and any increases in efficiencies and yields will not come at a scale that leaves us with large amounts of land for biofuels,” she said. (Climate Home)
Corporate Reputation
Biggest US coal company funded dozens of groups questioning climate change
Peabody Energy, America’s biggest coalmining company, has funded at least two dozen groups that cast doubt on manmade climate change and oppose environment regulations, according to a Guardian investigation. The funding spanned trade associations, corporate lobby groups, and industry front groups as well as conservative think-tanks. Peabody was long known as an outlier even among fossil fuel companies for its public rejection of climate science and action. But its funding of climate denial groups was only exposed in disclosures after the coal titan was forced to seek bankruptcy protection in April, under competition from cheap natural gas. “These groups collectively are the heart and soul of climate denial,” said Kert Davies, founder of the Climate Investigation Center. “It’s the broadest list I have seen of one company funding so many nodes in the denial machine.” (Guardian)
HSBC ends Household International legal fight by agreeing to pay record $1.6 billion
HSBC plans to record a $585 million pre-tax charge for settling a 14-year-old shareholder lawsuit over allegations that executives of a business acquired by the bank in 2003 misled investors. The HSBC Finance unit agreed to a $1.58 billion deal to resolve the litigation, subject to court approval. Investors of Household International sued in 2002, alleging the company and three executives made misleading comments about mortgage-lending practices. In October 2013, a judge entered a $2.46 billion judgment against HSBC on some claims. “We are pleased to resolve this 14-year case that’s based on events that took place before HSBC acquired Household,” said Rob Sherman, HSBC spokesman. (Independent; Reuters)
Conservation
Singapore crushes illegal ivory worth $10 million
Singapore has crushed, for the first time, nearly 8 tonnes of confiscated elephant ivory worth about US $10 million. The ivory crush is intended to send a “strong signal of Singapore’s zero tolerance on the use of Singapore as a conduit to smuggle endangered species and their parts,” said Singapore’s Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA). AVA officials used an industrial rock crusher to crush and pulverise the ivory, and then incinerated it at an eco-waste incineration plant. While ivory is not in big demand in Singapore, according to a study by wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC and WWF Singapore, the country is an important transit hub for ivory shipments moving from Africa to China and Vietnam. (Eco-Business)
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