Global Environmental Policies Module 1 Business and Industry

Global Environmental Policies - Module 1: Business and Industry - Global Environmental Policies and Business and Industry

Seminar Structure Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Governments Business and Industry Today NPOs and Communities Module 2: National Environmental Policy Module 3: Local Environmental Policy

Business and Sustainability Manufacturing Marketing Maintenance and use Energy and Raw Materials Disposal

Business and Environment • Raw material consumption • Energy consumption • Manufacturing waste • Packaging waste • Transportation pollution • Health impacts

Main message Business has to become environmentally sustainable to survive

Advantages of Sustainable Policies • Reduced costs of consumption, waste disposal, and noncompliance • Reduced liability and environmental risk • Improved use of assets, particularly human assets • New markets • Preparedness for future regulations and market trends

Key issues for Businesses • • Innovation Quality Customer Relations Management Capacity Joint venture Technology Brand Value Employee Relations • Environmental and Community Issues Key issues that make businesses competitive

Key issues for Businesses • Rising competition and pressure to build reputation and shareholder value • Rising societal expectations and pressure to build accountability and societal value

Key Sustainability Trends • New regulatory and financial frameworks: For example, eco-taxes and subsidies • New voluntary initiatives and standards: For example, the Global Reporting Initiative • New market mechanisms: For example, CO 2 trading to sustainability index

The United Nations Global Compact is a collaboration between the UN and business to apply a set of core principles in the areas of human rights, labour standards and environmental practice. More info: http: //www. unglobalcompact. org

Example: Private Sector - TEPCO A Global Compact member: TEPCO The Tokyo Electric Power Company has taken its fight against global climate change and environmental degradation on to the world stage with innovative schemes in Australia, China, Indonesia, Russia and Thailand.

Example: Local Governments - Kawasaki Governments and the Global Compact? Many local governments are now signing the Global Compact as a way to illustrate its commitment to the environment. and issues related to economic and social sectors More info: http: //www. unglobalcompact. org Kawasaki was the first city in Japan to sign the Global Compact as a city – in order to drive enterprises in the city to adopt CSR prolicies

UN and Business Sector 2. UNCTAD: United Nations Conference on Trade and Development www. untad. org 1. BCUN: Business Council for the United Nations 3. UNIDO: United Nations Industrial Development Organization www. unido. org http: //www. unfoundation. org/features/bcun/

World Business Council for Sustainable development The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) is a coalition of 165 international companies united by a shared commitment to sustainable development via the three pillars of economic growth, ecological balance and social progress. Its mission is to provide business leadership for change toward sustainable development, and to promote the role of eco-efficiency, innovation and corporate social responsibility. Keidanren - Japan Business Foundation is a member of WBCSD.

World Trade Organization (WTO) The World Trade Organization (WTO) is a global international organization dealing with the rules of trade between nations. The goal is to help producers of goods and services, exporters, and importers conduct their business. One of the areas WTO focuses on is environment and sustainable development

Where is Sustainability going? • Sustainability is about stability • Think life cycle, think systems • Use Nature as a model • Start inside and move outward to close the loop

Emerging Messages RIO+20 The 3 rd UN Earth Summit held in Rio in June 2012 How can we build a “Green Economy”?

What is a Green Economy? l l l Increase in public and private investment in green sectors Increase in quantity & quality of jobs in green sectors Increase in share of green sectors in GDP • Decrease in Energy/resource use per unit of production • Decrease in CO 2 and pollution level/GDP • Decrease in wasteful consumption

Key Drivers of a Green Economy • Renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, marine including wave, biogas, and fuel cell) • Green buildings (green retrofits for energy and water efficiency, residential and commercial assessment; green products and materials, and LEED construction) • Clean transportation (alternative fuels, public transit, hybrid and electric vehicles, carsharing and carpooling programs)

Key Drivers of a Green Economy • Water management (Water reclamation, greywater and rainwater systems, low-water landscaping, water purification, stormwater management) • Waste management (recycling, municipal solid waste salvage, brownfield land remediation, Superfund cleanup, sustainable packaging) • Land management (organic agriculture, habitat conservation and restoration; urban forestry and parks, reforestation and afforestation and soil stabilization)

UNEP’s Green Economy Report • • • Agriculture Fisheries Water Forests Renewable Energy Manufacturing Waste Building Transport Tourism Cities Finance Download full report from: http: //goo. gl/5 gj. Qx

Business and Sustainability See Sustainable Business at: http: //www. gdrc. org/sustbiz/

Next session Module 1: Global Environmental Policy Governments Business and Industry NPOs and Communities Next … Module 2: National Environmental Policy Module 3: Local Environmental Policy

Class Communication … Resources, websites, ideas, notes will be available online: www. gdrc. info/gep/ Send me an email anytime! Hari Srinivas hari. srinivas@kwansei. ac. jp IMPORTANT: When you send an email, please always put “[GEP]” in the subject line!