Apple aims to kill a bill that could make it easier to fix your iPhone
A New York bill called the Fair Repair Act would require hardware manufacturers to make repair instructions and parts available to the public, cutting down on manufacturing costs and e-waste generated from disposed phones. But documents in public government filings show that Apple has lobbied to kill the bill. The tech giant forbids official parts or device blueprints from being used outside of authorised facilities. “The manufacturing impact of the electronic sector is huge,” said Kyle Wiens, founder of online wiki iFixit. “Apple in particular has been really vocal about how environmentally friendly they are, but then, behind the scenes, they’re subverting every possible technique that people could have to make their products last longer.” When asked to comment, Apple pointed to its own environmental initiatives, but declined to comment on its lobbying efforts. (Washington Post)
Strategy
Dell 2016 Legacy of Good Update demonstrates business benefits of CSR
Dell has reported significant progress against its 2020 Legacy of Good plan and 21 goals in support of the environment, communities and Dell team members. The privately-owned technology company has a long-term commitment to putting its technology and expertise to work where they can do the most good for people and the planet. The company’s flexible work solutions have avoided 13,000 tonnes of CO2e emissions and saved the company $39.5 million in the last two years. Meanwhile, 36.2 million pounds of sustainable materials have been used in Dell products since the start of FY14, putting the company 72 percent of the way towards its 2020 goal. The company has reached 1.6 million underserved children around the world via its Youth Learning programmes, and has now installed 11 solar-powered Dell Learning Labs in remote countries. (Business Wire)
Employees
Report: UK’s young are missing out on pension billions
UK employers are spending 20 times more on pensions for older workers than younger staff, a study from the Intergenerational Foundation suggests. British businesses put £42 billion a year into guaranteed final salary schemes, most of which have been closed to younger workers, but only £1.8 billion into defined contribution schemes. The think-tank said this is equivalent to older workers getting contributions worth £23,600 a year, compared with £1,600 for younger staff. The Foundation says the government should change the law to allow businesses to water down expensive pension promises made to older staff decades ago. But Baroness Altmann, the pensions minister, said it would be “really dangerous” to allow older people’s benefits to be cut without a guarantee that the money would go to younger employees. (Times*)
Energy
IRENA and Terrawatt Initiative launch effort to streamline solar development
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has teamed up with the Terrawatt Initiative – a private sector coalition launched at last year’s Paris climate summit including Engie, Total, Solairedirect, Iberdrola and Schneider Electric – to make it simpler for private investors to back solar projects. The Solar Energy Standardisation Initiative (SESI) will bring together stakeholders from the public and private sector to agree a standard template for solar project documents, which would be accepted by finance institutions. “Simplifying the negotiation of these contractual documents will help reduce transaction costs, and allow investment in solar PV to advance more rapidly in more markets worldwide,” said IRENA’s Henning Wuester. Attendees at SESI’s first meeting will include the Climate Bonds Initiative, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. (Business Green)
Scientists moot ‘green fracking’ technique
Adding CO2 instead of water to the cocktail used in fracking could boost oil and gas extraction and help fight global warming at the same time, scientists have said. Benoit Coasne, a French scientist from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, found that swapping water for CO2 would eliminate technical problems, prolonging the operating life of a fracking well. “Our study demonstrates that alternative solutions are possible,” said Coasne. “There is also a potentially huge side benefit: carbon dioxide naturally replaces methane within the rock pores, raising hopes that CO2 could be stored in the ground.” Opponents of fracking warn against its environmental impacts, especially water contamination and the possibility it may trigger earthquakes. Coasne’s team made no attempt to calculate the potential cost of using CO2 in fracking fluid, or how much of the heat-trapping gas could be safely stored in capped wells. (Economic Times)
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