The GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) has produced the first global standard for sustainability reporting, the so-called “G4” Guidelines. This set of documents has been re-structured, based upon experiences from the previous three sets of Guidelines. The standard is modular in format, making it easier to update various components without having to re-issue the complete standard.
Pulverized Fuel Ash And Mse Walls Used For Bridge Approach Embankment
A new major road construction (the Tinsley Link) in the North of England, has used pulverized fuel ash for a bridge approach embankment. The embankment, a 500m-long mechanically stabilized earth (MSE) wall on piled foundations, was constructed utilizing a geogrid reinforcement and enabling the beneficial use of pulverized fuel ash (PFA). The PFA, a waste
Sustainability SWOT Guide
The World Resources Institute (WRI) have developed a free, downloadable, sustainability Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (sSWOT) Guide which has been designed to help drive action on environmental challenges that are creating real business risk and opportunities. The Guide is not new (it was launched in 2012) but has been “road tested” by various companies ranging
ASSA Pre-Publishes South African Fracking Report
The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSA), in collaboration with the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE), has pre-published a report on its investigations into the readiness of South Africa to support the shale gas industry. The 144 page report entitled, “South Africa’s Technical Readiness to support the Shale Gas Industry”, is very cautious
NEW GRI SUSTAINABILITY REPORTING STANDARDS LAUNCHED
On 19th October 2016, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) launched a set of GRI Standards, based upon the GRI G4 Guidelines. The GRI Standards are the latest evolution of GRI’s reporting disclosures which have developed through more than 15 years of a robust multi-stakeholder process. The Standards feature an improved format with new modular structures.
PATHWAYS TO GREEN INDIA – INNOVATIVE IDEAS FROM STUDENTS
To honour World Students Day (October 15th), Earth Day Network India has launched an e-book, “Pathways to Green India, Innovative Ideas for Students.” Featuring 22 case studies from across the country, this ambitious learning tool aims to inspire youth of all ages and backgrounds to take a leadership role in solving pressing environmental challenges, while
IISD LAUNCHES NEW SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL ON-LINE KNOWLEDGE HUB
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) has launched a new, searchable, SDG Knowledge Hub to provide information and articles on national and internal efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Hub consolidates IISD’s nine Policy & Practice knowledge bases, and the tens of thousands of articles
Environmental Ponderings No 9: Does “Environment” Have Anything to do With “Real Life”?
I still periodically encounter people who will tell me that “environment” has nothing to do with “real” life and is only in the minds of “bunny huggers” and eco-freaks. Sadly, there are many people who judge environmental management and sustainability thinking as a luxury practiced only by, “…the rich, the feeble-minded and those with nothing
Environmental Ponderings No 8: Can I Help You to Save the Environment?
As a professional environmental advisor, I stopped using the opening line, “Can I help you to save the environment?” about 20 years ago. Why? Mostly because very few people are altruistic enough or rich enough to magnanimously be able to “save the environment”. Even more people counter that request with the question, “What’s in it
USA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY – SUSTAINABILITY IN ACTION VIDEO SERIES
The EPA Sustainability In Action Video Series is a page of links to short videos focusing upon US sustainability case studies. The videos can all be found on the EPA’s You Tube page. The You Tube Channel is inspiring but a casual visit may result in many distractions ans it has many topics and directions
USA ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY – LEARN ABOUT GREENER LIVING
Sometimes it make sense to go back to basics and revisit issues and concepts from a base level. The Learn about Greener Living page is simple in design and layout and is a useful memory jog. It has an American target audience in mind but many of the principles apply in any context. Worth a
EPA Practical Guide To Environmental Management for Small Business
The US Environmental Protection Agency’s Small Business Division produced its Practical Guide To Environmental Management For Small Business in 2002. The Guide, though dated and focussing upon US legislation, is still a useful introduction to the small businessperson who is new to environment and business and needs some guidance on practicalities. The process map on
JUDGING THE QUALITY OF RISK ASSESSMENTS
Risk Assessments form an important part of business activities, particularly where there are different tasks to be undertaken which may have safety, health and environmental risks of varying degrees of significance. One of the weaknesses of the risk assessment process is that it is only as good as the knowledge, skills, training and experience of
REFLECTIONS ON LIFE – IS THINKING A DYING ART?
“Thought makes every thing fit for use” – Emerson (1844) “If a man sits down to think, he is immediately asked if he has a headache” Emerson (1833) Does anyone think these days? No, I mean really THINK about things…. When facing an important decision, do we still ponder on the options and the pros
ICMM – Demonstrating Value – A Guide to Responsible Sourcing
The guide, produced in 2015, examines the context and drivers for responsible sourcing and provides practical guidance and examples on approaches that companies can take to demonstrate that they are producing materials responsibly. Examples of drivers include: climate change, increasing social responsibility expectations of business, and more stringent environmental, health and safety standards and regulations.
ICMM – Land Acquisition and Resettlement
Land acquisition and resettlement is a sometime painful and emotionally charged component that often accompanies new development. Mining companies are frequently in the forefront of this component and it is for this reason that the ICMM released, in 2015, its publication, Land Acquisition and Resettlement, which outlines the lessons learned from a benchmarking study into
Assessing Water Usage, Risk, Comparisons and Footprints
Water is a strategic resource for most businesses. However, there is still a reluctance to take water management seriously, despite the fact that water availability has become a serious factor in business risk assessments. There are many different tools and techniques available to assist business managers and directors to understand and quantify that water risk.
GRI Transition To Standards (“G4”) Available For Public Comment
The first set of exposure drafts of GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards is now available for public comment. Individuals or organisations wishing to comment on the latest standards should log on to the GRI Consultation Platform and register. Thereafter, they can access the drafts page and select which documents they wish to review. The drafts are
Water Risk Assessment Tools E-Learning Course Launch
IPIECA (the global oil and gas industry association for environmental and social issues), who supported the development of the IPIECA Global Water Tool for Oil and Gas (a customised version of the WBCSD Global Water Tool) (GWT) and the GEMI® Local Water Tool for Oil and Gas™ (LWT), have developed an online e-learning course for
Environmental Ponderings No 7: The Practicalities of “Stuff”
We all collect “stuff”. Some of us take this to extremes and become hoarders. If you think carefully about your various friends, I am sure that amongst the list, somewhere, there is at least one serial hoarder. That is often one of those people that uses that magic phrase, “I’ll keep it because you never
Environmental Ponderings – No 2: The Seven Sins of Greenwashing
As an environmental auditor, I have been privileged over the years to see both sides of the proverbial environmental coin: that is, what the industrialists perceive as environmentally friendly products and what the consumer expects as “eco-friendly/environmentally friendly” products. As you might imagine, the two perceptions are often poles apart and at times, incomparable. As
Environmental Ponderings No. 6: Preferences in “Environment”, “Conservation” and “Development”
“Environment”, “conservation”, and “development” can be touchy subjects, usually because in any group of individuals, one can get a diverse, wide and emotionally sensitive range of views, opinions, beliefs and doctrines emerging which can be quite polarised. As humans, we are, by nature, diverse and competitive and often struggle to agree or achieve consensus. It
Environmental Ponderings No. 5: Why Should I Care About the Environment?
“Why should I care about the environment?” How many times has that question been asked?, I wonder. It comes up frequently at talks and discussions that I am involved in and it is not an easy question to answer. (Try googling the question and see the range of answers that come up…). Asking the question
Special Feature On Global Warming : Emerging Perspectives On Loss And Damage
A special issue (Vol. 8 No. 2, 2015) of the International Journal of Global Warming is available as open access. The theme of the open issue is “Emerging perspectives on loss and damage”. There are some useful articles covering:- loss and damage in negotiations under the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and the role
Environmental Ponderings No. 4: The Journey of Materials Efficiency and Energy and Water Optimisation
Over the Festive Season, there are always many lists being generated in various printed and broadcast media, urging folk to follow 10 Green Resolutions, or 5 Recycling Tips or 10 Green Christmas Hints or some similar set of suggested behaviour changes. Most people tend to be a little irritated by them because they are ready-made
Environmental Risks from Shale Gas Development
Shale gas development has been in the news recently and a great deal of hot air has been expended upon the virtues and disadvantages of the initiatives. It is clear that many folk have no idea of the actual process involved and its varying risks. The Worldwatch Institute has produced a plain language briefing document
Working Together – Engaging with the Artisanal & Small Scale Miners
The ICMM has released a guidance booklet called “Working together” which tackles the difficult task of mining companies engaging with the artisanal and small scale mining sector. Estimates suggest that as many as 100 million people (mostly in the developing world) are dependent upon the fruits of small scale mining. Encounters between mining companies and
Blue Carbon Report
Cycling of carbon back into the biosphere is described as “green carbon” which is absorbed by land based organisms, and carbon absorbed by marine living organisms (55%) is called “blue carbon”. The Blue Carbon Report, produced by GRID-Arendal and UNEP, in collaboration with the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation, and UNESCO International and Oceanographic Commissions,
Practical Sustainability – A View from UPS
Kurt Kuehn and Lynette McIntire wrote an article called “Sustainability a CFO Can Love” in the April 2014 issue of Harvard Business Review. The article addresses the long standing problems of acceptance by financial professionals of sustainability as producing acceptable returns on investment. I normally find that many of the articles on sustainability that I
Wind Turbines – A Different Breed of Noise?
This article appeared in Environmental Health Perspectives, Volume 122, No 1, January 2014. It talks, initially, about a case where a family built a house just under 5,000 metres from a wind turbine. One of the family members began to experience headaches, dizziness, insomnia and a ringing in her ears. Two years later, the family