Return to Newsletters
| Terra Incognita For Climate Change Policy – “Dead Ahead” As #44 Leaves / #45 Assumes Responsibility for Public Policy
We are about to enter “uncertain terrain” or as the ancient Romans called it, terra incognita – when it comes to what [national] public policies the United States of America will / or will not pursue in the days ahead regarding the complex issues surrounding “climate change” (or dare we say…”global warming”). Elected officials may /or may not / pay attention to, or adopt the recommendations emanating from, the Federal government’s official research and analysis bodies and those closely affiliated with the U.S. government. Politics. Worldviews. Business/vested interests. Pandering to the base. Ignorance – deliberate and otherwise. All of these can get in the way and cloud the political lens of the U.S. senator, member of the House, appointed cabinet officer (the secretary)…and higher up. In this last week of the eight-year reign of the 44th Chief Executive, Barack Obama, the influential National Academy of Sciences (NAS) put out a report and made recommendations that contained a specific metric that we will no doubt be hearing about no matter the side of the climate change issues we are on. The question posed is: what is the “social cost of carbon???” The answer from NAS is $36 per ton for carbon dioxide. Remember that “monetary cost” number: $36 per ton when we do a proper cost-benefit analysis (positive, negative) on the various impacts on human societies (flood, drought; impacts on agriculture, human health, etc.). ALL have economic consequences. (The new report is an updating estimation of the social cost of carbon in 2017.) NAS is a private, not-for-profit society established by an Act of Congress and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. The society provides independent, objective advice to public sector leaders in the fields of science and technology. Consider this: Over the years some 500+ members have won the Nobel Prize. Under the NAS banner, there are two important subgroups: The National Academy of Engineering (1964) and the National Academy of Medicine (1970). All together, there are 6,000 experts involved from the various field. NAS says in the matters of engineering, science and medicine, Congress and the White House issue legislation (laws, which become rules) or Presidential Executive Orders based on the society’s recommendations. The hometown newspaper of the nation’s capital published the results with an appropriate headline: “Scientists have a new way to calculate what global warming costs. Trump’s team isn’t going to like it.” (The Washington Post story by Chelsea Harvey is our Top Story this week.)
Top Story Scientists have a new way to calculate what global warming costs. Trump’s team isn’t going to like it.
Sustainability in Focus 5 Reasons Why Sustainability and Social Issues Attract Customers Goals for Sustainability and CSR Professionals in Earth 2017 Source: Sustainable Brands – However, rather than adjusting their priorities in the face of this transition, investors appear to be doubling down on the financial value of corporate sustainability… With a record $1.4 trillion in sustainability assets, investors bail on fossil fuels 2017 preview: Sustainability Source: Farm Bureau – With large corporations like Chipotle and Walmart using the term “sustainable” to get consumers’ attention and grow their market share, farmers and ranchers need to start defining sustainability for themselves experts told… Sustainability Reporting Trends in New Year – ’16 going on ‘17 Conserving Natural Resources With Sustainable Homes The expanding role of sustainability leadership Source: Sustainable Brands – It can be difficult being a sustainability practitioner. Our mission sets us in opposition to the general direction of the world. Finding ways to stay optimistic, to celebrate change and keep an eye on the scale of transformation… 4 sustainable investing myths, debunked The importance of sustainability accounting and reporting in assessing a firm: A student’s perspective Source: Yahoo Finance – Sonoma County Winegrowers are quickly closing in on its goal of becoming the nation’s first 100% sustainable wine region by 2019. According to the latest Report Card published in the Sonoma County… Our core beliefs: Safety, free trade and sustainability
ESG Issues & Players For the U.S., 2016 Was the Second Warmest Year on Record – text/video U.S. Small-Business Optimism Index Surges by Most Since 1980 The drought is over in Northern California after up to 20 inches of rain and 12 feet of snow China’s Swapping Energy Independence for Cleaner Air
Asset Managers, US Pension Funds, Sovereign Wealth Funds The Risk And Opportunity For America’s Corporate Pension Plans Millennials are falling behind their boomer parents Source: China Money Network – Sovereign wealth funds globally have increased their allocations to private equity, real estate, infrastructure and emerging markets, while reducing their exposure to listed and developed market investments, according to white… Solar Farms Generate Dazzling Returns for Pension Funds
The Trump Transition — And Potential Impacts on Sustainability How Donald Trump’s tweets set the tone for the biggest auto show of the year Trump Tax Cuts Could Jump-Start Global Economy, World Bank Says U.S. companies have new business risk – being labeled ‘anti-American’ by Trump |
_________________________________________ GET CERTIFIED IN CSR WITH _________________________________________
G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ Update 2017 – Forward Momentum! For Sustainability – Pope Francis Set the Tone in 2016 Good News: Solar & Wind Emerge in Global Search for Renewable Energy Sources _________________________________________ Governance & Accountability Institute Featured Service _________________________________________ Governance & Accountability Institute Research
_________________________________________ GRI’S USA, UK & IRELAND
G&A Institute is the exclusive Data Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) in the USA, UK and Republic of Ireland. We identify, receive, collect, analyze, database, and communicate about every report issued in any of the 3 countries. Over the past 6+ years, G&A analyzed 6,000-plus sustainability reports in this pro bono role and databased 100+ important data points for each report.
_________________________________________
Navigating the way to sustainability… Copyrights for other providers are noted where appropriate. Please credit the source if quoted. |
||||||||||||||
The Sustainability Highlights eNewsletter is prepared by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. Governance & Accountability Instiute is the “Sustainability Headquarters™” for clients in the corporate, investment, public and social sectors. Based in New York, G&A is a for-profit consulting organization providing a range of value-added strategies, services and resources related to ESG & sustainability to clients in the corporate and capital markets communities. For G&A’s full range of services, click on each of the links below:
For more information, contact Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. |
|||||||||||||||
Terra Incognita for Climate Change Policy – “Dead Ahead” as #44 Leaves / #45 Assumes Responsibility for Public Policy
January 20, 2017
