Palm | Kelapa Sawit

A new study by responsible investment research firm EIRIS says that two-thirds of the world's top 100 brands are failing on climate change.

The report "Cool Brands versus Hot Brands?" focuses on the world's leading 100 brands, and finds that 69% of those with a high climate change impact lack adequate policies, management systems and reporting on climate change.

According to the study, those who don't get it include Porsche. And those who get, and have shown leadership, include Gillette, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Honda.

EIRIS has applied its climate change methodology to give climate score to studied companies. Here is the report. But if you are hoping to find the list of the 100 brands and their respective scores or ranking, you will be disappointed.

New studies are being produced all of the time and some of them are just ridiculous; "British scientists have found that 40% of the 60% of people who eat Cheetohs will also eat Fritos."

While studies like these actually exist somewhere, they don't really tell people anything! They also make it easy for people to just gloss over studies in general because we are inundated by them on a regular basis.

It's because of this over-exposure that, instead of giving you statistics or telling you about a "new study", we will just let you know some of the causes that are impacting food production, clean water sources, and soil erosion.

• Population growth
• Urbanization
• Increasing pollution
• Climate Variations

These are the areas where we can make a difference by reducing our footprint on the earth and by creating more sustainable practices. While you can't just come out and tell people "Don't have kids!" We can inform people on the effects of overpopulation on the environment. We can also make small changes in our daily routine in order to lessen the impact of pollution on the Earth. Maybe it's carpool to work, or ride your bike instead of driving.

While new studies will come out all of the time, we don't need them to tell us that change is needed. It's the little changes in your daily routine that, while it may seem small, will have a major impact if everyone adopts the same attitude.

Who knows, we may even see a study about how changes in your daily life are helping to reduce soil erosion and promote sustainability! Either that or we'll find out that you do in fact "eat Cheetos and Fritos."

My current mobile phone is only the fourth phone I have owned in the last 15 years. And this phone still does its job very well. I don't see why I should change my phone. But my 12 year old does not share the view. He already owns his fourth mobile phone and looking forward to the fifth one next month. He is already cribbing that his is the most old-fashioned phone in his group of friends. Everytime a new mobile is launched and backed by sexy advertising, he and millions others like him, want to throw their otherwise perfect phones and buy a new one. Just to stay with the fashion! It's obvious that the old phones are dumped in poor countries or simply trashed adding to landfils.
I don't see any attempt by mobile phone manufacturers (and why should they?) or telecommunication service providers to promote a responsible consumption of mobile phones.

Ethical Corporation magazine is organizing a live online debate on how mobile companies can enable a low carbon economy. The first session begins in a few minutes with two more sessions today to accomodate different time zones.
The debate is triggered by a new report Carbon Connections: Qualtifying mobile's role in tackling climate change. The debate will be moderated by Toby Webb, founder and managing director of Ethical Corporation, Simon Propper, Managing Director, Context Group and Pam Muckosy, Head of Research, Ethical Corporation. Speakers are from Vodafone, SAP and the Climate Group.
Join the debate if you are interested here

Minimizing electricity consumption is one of the simple ways people can contribute to climate change mitigation. But the location and design of electric meters don't help. For strange reasons, electric meters are hidden somewhere far away from the users' eyes. And why not? That is where they serve the power producing and distribution companies best. Hide and bill!

They are causing global warming! There is a recent article in “Wired” magazine that claims old growth or virgin forests contribute to global warming. Listen to what they say: “Over its lifetime, a tree shifts from being a vacuum cleaner for atmospheric carbon to an emitter. A tree absorbs roughly 1,500 pounds of carbon dioxide in its first 55 years. After that, its growth slows, and it takes in less carbon. Left untouched, it ultimately rots or burns and all that carbon dioxide gets released”. As you can see, this is no more than using climate change to log the last remaining virgin forests. Notice that yearly figure of 55—that’s exactly when timber companies like to log their tree farms. “After that its growth slows and takes in less carbon”: well let me inform them that the difference in a 55 year old tree and a 200 year old tree is tremendous—it takes in more carbon during that stage than the first 55—that’s why they are so big! “Left untouched, it ultimately rots or burns and all that carbon dioxide gets released”. They make it sound like ancient forests burn easy and the truth is they are more resistant to fire than a tree farm. Rotting logs? The Willamette National Forest defines old growth forests with about 4 down trees per acre (with 200 year old trees). Then they give us this bit of advice: “A well-managed tree farm acts like a factory for sucking CO₂ out of the atmosphere, so the most climate-friendly policy is to continually cut down trees and plant new ones.” Wow, they don’t care about biodiversity, the creatures that live in those down trees or the forest, the great watersheds, inspiration, people’s livelihoods, and sentient and non-sentient beings (trees). This kind of attitude is what got us in this mess; sustainability is using the land for our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. I guess all they think the next one needs is clear cuts with brush and small trees, invasive weeds, no recreation, few animals, and fire hazards. Trees grow fast in Oregon and there is no reason to stop logging public lands, but this kind of logic evades me.

David Best-PSU student

Here is an informative survey and quiz about Oregon’s old growth forests.

Click here

Driving sustainability, save the trees, climate protection; how can I/you make a difference? This site lists many avenues to pursue in an effort to live a green life and help our planet. Many, many people would like to be part of the green revolution but do not know how to begin. The sites listed on the ~green is universal page~offer ideas and places to explore. You are invited to explore.

http://www.greenisuniversal.com/resources.php?__source=GGLCAMP018NBCU_Green_GenericADGP007RecycleKWRD015recycling+facts&sky=GGLCAMP018NBCU_Green_GenericADGP007RecycleKWRD015recycling+facts

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