Summary
Far from being a threat, the low-carbon economy could provide small and medium-sized companies with new business opportunities. Larger companies have already begun to adapt to this new economy, and the global market for climate-change related products and services is now worth over $530 billion, larger than the defence and aerospace industries combined.

To make sure these organisations are in a position to take maximum advantage, Tomorrow’s Company is developing a leader’s Business Guide to the Low-Carbon Economy, as part of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) Low Carbon Strategy, and would like your help in making it happen.

Tomorrow’s Company is producing the guide in partnership with HSBC, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Ogilvy & Mather and Halcrow. The world is undergoing massive economic, social and environmental transformations but evidence suggests that companies are not adapting effectively and becoming as sustainable as they could be. The majority of companies are not sufficiently aware of the roles these changes are playing in the evolving nature of business.

This guide, aimed particularly at small to medium companies, strives to help businesses understand what this low-carbon economy means for them, how they can make the low-carbon transition and take advantages of the new opportunities this brings, and where they can go for further assistance.

The guide, which  will be available to download free in January 2010, will advise companies how to reduce costs, improve efficiency and take advantages of new opportunities, aimed at creating resilience to facing future threats such as rising energy prices, new regulations and changing consumer demand. With the leader’s Business Guide to the Low-Carbon Economy, companies can adapt more effectively so that they can survive and thrive in these challenging times.
 

Issues

Tags

Sustainability Climate change Stewardship leadership Governance ClimateChange Investment Talent Values CSR Carbon ShoreBank Copenhagen ClimateChangeBrie... Trust
View More»

Related Content
Subscribe to RSS

  Sort by : Title Sort  Date 

ratingratingratingratingrating
posted by Admin  on June 9, 2010

Air PollutionYou probably experienced pollution – it’s the smogand other contaminants that float in the air webreatheIn some cities around the world, such as LosAngeles, Mexico City and China, you can hear radioor TV alerts like the following :- Alert, today the level of pollution in the air is high- Children and the elderly should not go outside- Those who practice an outdoor sport should not do so- People with asthma should carry their inhalers at all times- The rest should avoid going out, or wear a mask when doingsoParallel crises- Financial crisis, spilling over into theeconomy- Climate crisis- Ecosystem/natural resources crisis –two thirds of our most importantecosystems – like tropical forests, farmland, fresh water and marine
     
ratingratingratingratingrating
posted by Admin  on November 18, 2011

The conference explored how companies can inspire themselves by and through nature, by developing and implementing 'natural business strategies' into their business models. This helps businesses become both sustainable and successful in an increasingly challenging and uncertain global climate. You can download Michael Bremans' slides here. Michael, who is chairman of Ecover International, was a keynote speaker on the day.
     
ratingratingratingratingrating
posted by Admin  on November 14, 2011

The conference explored how companies can inspire themselves by and through nature, by developing and implementing 'natural business strategies' into their business models. This helps businesses become both sustainable and successful in an increasingly challenging and uncertain global climate. Keynote addresses and contributions from: L. Hunter Lovins - founder and president of Natural CapitalismDianne Dillon-Ridgley - director of InterfaceMichael Bremans - chairman of Ecover InternationalAndy Wood - CEO of AdnamsJane Davidson - director of InspireGiles Hutchins - global director of sustainability of AtosDiane Gilpin - director of B9 ShippingJo Fox - director of 'bigger picture' BSkyBMelissa Sterry - futurologist and Earth 2.0Denise DeLuca - founder of BCIAndy Middleton - founder of TYFNigel Stansfield - senior and vice president of product and innovation at InferfaceFLORAnthony Hilton - financial editor of the London Evening Standard You can download the slide deck from the day...
     
ratingratingratingratingrating
posted by Admin  on July 9, 2010

This briefing summarises projected growth patterns of the Global Green Economy, which in turn provides a case for businesses to invest in the emerging green industry which is predicted to be a dominant economic force. This paper does not focus on the pragmatic details of “greening an individual business” but rather provides an overview of the Green Economy as a whole entity.
     
ratingratingratingratingrating
posted by Admin  on November 9, 2009

Business leader Ray Anderson asks: when you meet your Maker, what will you talk about?Will you proudly discuss your rate of return? Or how you enhanced shareholder value?What will your legacy be?The way most companies do business, most communities operate, and most of us live will leave a legacy of an environmentally and financially impoverished planet. We can, we must do better. This paper will describe how climate protection is good for business.  The market can solve the climate crisis not at a cost but as an investment in a far better future for all of the world’s people.  It will describe how this future is already emerging remarkably rapidly despite restrictions at every turn.  
     

  Showing 1-5 of 19

CommentsPost New Comment
"ENERGY AND INDUSTRIAL SUSTAINIBILITY" - ISBS,Pune
A low carbon economy is a concept that refers to an economy with minimal emissions of greenhouse gases. It's a precursor to a more advanced, zero carbon society based on renewable-energy.
The development of low carbon economy is fully coherent to the national aim of constructing a ‘resource saving and environmental friendly’ society, and is also consistent with the strategic plan to transform future economic growth. The economic repercussions of a climate agreement can lead to faster economic growth and the protection of things that are very important, including water, food, and the development of emerging economies.
The climate is changing and the best collective bet to avoid the risk of devastating consequences is a deep, worldwide reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It is a massive undertaking. A low carbon economy is attainable, and business is a critical part of the solution. Neglecting climate risk could present a worse case scenario similar to ignoring the risks that resulted in the current economic and financial crisis.
The concept of a Low Carbon Economy has recently gained greater prominence internationally as a result of the impacts of climate change on the environment, economic development and social stability. Therefore, the development of a low carbon economy not only has implications for policy and technology, it can also lead to deeper structural economic and industrial changes and transformation of consumption patterns.
The concept of a low carbon economy has been gaining popularity in most of the developed and developing countries like China, Britain, Europe, US, UK etc.
It is important that we consider the social and opportunity side of this that we have a fair distribution of the costs and benefits that we talk through the employment implications and new employment opportunities. Champions of the low carbon economy view a global climate change agreement as an immense opportunity in terms of revenue, job creation, and investments.
We have enough technology not only to beat the targets for 2020 and 2050, but to beat them by a material amount. The technology is there; the only thing preventing us from solving this is ourselves. If we wait another 5-10 years, we have lost it.
SHASHANK S AGARWAL, INDIRA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS STUDIES,PUNE PGDM 2008-10
Posted By : Shashank shekhar Agarwal
Posted on : November 19, 2009

  Showing 1-1 of 1