Category Archives: emissions
When to Use Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Credits
I recently saw another research firm quoted as saying some firms are “buying” green credentials by purchasing renewable energy credits and offsets. The implication was that there is something dishonest about this practice. That’s unfair. Most of the companies we … Continue reading
The Most Interesting Things Today
One of the most interesting things for me at today’s New York Times conference on the future of energy was a comment that U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu made. Thomas Friedman asked Secretary Chu what he would want to … Continue reading
Filed under carbon, efficiency, emissions, transportation
Is Clean Water Vs. Dirty Air a Good Trade-Off?
Do you need to put 5,000 more cars to the road to get clean drinking water? I find the trade-offs that arise in energy development, environmental protection and human health fascinating. Over the years I’ve written on this topic a few times: … Continue reading
Filed under climate change, emissions, grid, transportation, utilities, water
Carbon Reduction Targets: How Do Different Sectors Compare?
I love the Carbon Disclosure Project. As I’ve written before, the organization’s strategy is brilliantly simple, and it’s having a very significant global impact on corporate behavior when it comes to disclosing and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The CDP recently … Continue reading
Filed under emissions
Pharma Companies Face a Supply Chain Sustainability Opportunity
We published another sustainability goals benchmark report today, this one focused on the pharmaceutical industry. A couple of things that stand out from the benchmark: – Judging from the goals they have announced, the major pharmas are serious about sustainability. … Continue reading
Filed under carbon, emissions, Life Cycle Assessment, Supply chain, sustainability
Setback for Carbon Sequestration
The New York Times reported today that American Electric Power has decided to put aside plans to build a full-scale carbon-capture plant at its Mountaineer coal-fired power plant in West Virginia because of inadequate economic and regulatory rationale. The company … Continue reading
New-Vehicle Stickers and Nits
The U.S. federal government yesterday revealed the new window stickers that will be required on vehicles starting in the 2013 model year. The new labels provide more information about fuel economy, CO2 emissions and smog impacts and are intended help consumers consider … Continue reading
Filed under emissions, Life Cycle Assessment, transportation
PUMA and Environmental Costs
Did you hear that “sportlifestyle company” PUMA burns up about half its income in environmental degradation? That factoid was not emphasized in this week’s announcement that the company had developed an “Environmental Profit & Loss Account.” The E P&L calculates environmental aspects of the … Continue reading
Filed under carbon, ecosystem services, emissions, Supply chain, sustainability, water
Setting Goals for Environmental Performance
This is the season that many companies publish their corporate sustainability reports, and in those reports updates on their sustainability goals. Some companies have recently announced meeting or exceeding goals they’d set. Apparel maker H&M, for instance, recently reported that … Continue reading
Filed under efficiency, emissions, sustainability, water
High Carbon Companies Have Lower Values
New research by researchers from the University of Wisconsin, University of Notre Dame and Georgetown University found that companies with higher carbon emissions tend to have lower valuations. Environmental Leader reported on the study here. The full study is here (for … Continue reading
The Carbon Footprint of Bread
I came across a nifty study of the carbon footprint of bread, just published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. The study looked at bread produced and consumed in the U.K. The bottom line: the carbon footprint of bread … Continue reading
Filed under carbon, efficiency, emissions, Supply chain
Two Approaches to Cleaning up Dirty Ports
Can targeted economic incentives clean up an industry? Or does real change require a fundamental, government-backed restructuring? That’s the question raised by two different clean-up approaches being pursued by U.S. ports. Ports are a vital link in international trade. But they … Continue reading
Filed under emissions, incentives, transportation
Future Cleantech Execs Gather in NYC
This week marked the kickoff of the CleantechExecs program at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU (NYU-Poly). The program will last 10 days spread over several months and will include appearances by an array of speakers from industry, finance and government. … Continue reading
Carbon on Company Balance Sheets?
Despite the fizzle after the great fanfare of the Copenhagen Summit, many companies remain intensely focused on the strategic implications of climate change. Some believe that a requirement to monitor, report and reduce their carbon emissions is coming and is just a … Continue reading
Filed under carbon, emissions, Supply chain, sustainability
Where is Clean Tech Heading in 2010?
Sorry, I can’t say I know yet where clean tech is heading in 2010. I’m still getting reoriented after the holiday. But early signs are that, as usual, both the hype and the backlash against the hype, are a bit … Continue reading
Filed under emissions, natural gas, oil
