Posts Tagged ‘business’
BSRT Post-Copenhagen Lunch
Posted in Events by fkotsiaris on February 17th, 2010
After months of preliminary work and 2 weeks negotiations, world leaders produced a three-page non-binding political declaration in the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ that does not provide a successor to the Kyoto Protocol and failed to clarify the means by which we are to achieve the nebulous aim that global emissions must be reduced ‘to hold the increase in global temperature below 2°C’.
While I am satisfied that we sealed a deal, I am aware that the outcome of the Copenhagen conference, including the Copenhagen Accord, did not go as far as many would have hoped. Nonetheless they represent a beginning – an essential beginning. We have taken an important step in the right direction.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, UNHQ – 21 December 2009
How should we respond? What can we do at the local level to mitigate the risks to businesses posed by political and climate uncertainty? What were the major lessons learned from COP15? These questions and others specific to your business interests will be answered at the Business Sustainability Round Table (BSRT ) luncheon by a specially selected panel of experts who attended the COP15.
Tags: business, copenhagen, networks
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Carbon 101 Briefing: Low-Carbon Economy & Business
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on February 9th, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Image: larryvincent via flickr CC
Keeping track of current national and international developments towards a low-carbon economy can be challenging. Businesses that understand how the transition to a carbon-constrained economy will impact upon their business operations will not only save money, they will also be better placed to capitalise on new business opportunities. The Carbon 101 information session was developed in response to the requirements of small and medium-sized businesses. The briefing will help you cut through the ‘carbon jargon’. Carbon 101 is an essential guide to measuring and managing your business’s carbon footprint, and identifying opportunities for making environmental and financial savings.
What will be covered:
* Navigating the labyrinth of terms, research, facts and figures.
* An outline of new government regulation and legislation.
* Identifying steps to start reducing carbon emissions immediately.
* An explanation of the effects of a low-carbon economy on small and medium-sized businesses.
* Energy-efficiency information specifically tailored to small and medium-sized enterprises.
2-hour sessions running on: 11/02, 22/03, 16/04, 3/05, 17/05
Venue: 486 Albert Street East Melbourne
Cost: $99/ $82.50 for VECCI Members
Contact: VECCI on 8662 5333, kschnekenburger@vecci.org.au or visit the website for more information.
Tags: business, education, low-carbon
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Resource Efficiency Training: VECCI Course
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on January 21st, 2010
Source: Climate Action Calendar
Environmentally-friendly businesses are those that make a conscious decision to choose sustainable practices. Customers, staff and suppliers increasingly want to work with and for these businesses. Sustainability in the workplace is fast becoming essential to give businesses the competitive edge. This workshop is being run by the Victorian Employers’ Chamber of Commerce & Industry (VECCI) for small and medium-sized businesses that wish to adopt more sustainable practices.
What will be covered:
* A brief overview of relevant environmental legislation.
* Opportunities that can lead to reduced resource use, cost savings and reputational gains.
* An introduction to easy-to-use tools to help you successfully measure water, energy use and waste disposal.
* Communicating your business’s environmental goals to staff and customers.
* Expert assistance with the development of a draft Action Plan to reduce your water, waste and energy use.
Handout: A resource pack that includes case studies, information on grants and funding, and useful contacts for future assistance
This one-day course is on offer during February, March & April. Visit the website for more details.
Tags: business, consumption, education, energy efficiency
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If this product could talk: Product Roadmaps
Posted in Models by Kate Archdeacon on November 6th, 2009
Source: the Hub
Image: Potato Roadmap, Net Balance Foundation
A series of tools and resources have been developed to expand responsible business practice in Australia across a wide range of companies including small and medium enterprises. Product Roadmaps, available on the Hub, identify the social and environmental impacts of a specific sector/product throughout the supply chain and then identify areas for improvement, cross-participant opportunities, government responses and tools that can assist to increase responsible business practices. The product road mapping concept provides a common ground for participants along a supply chain (from primary producer through to consumers) to engage in meaningful dialogue about broader social and environmental issues that are typically harder to address in their entirety.
Roadmapping allows:
* end consumers and businesses along the product roadmap to be better informed of where their product comes from and the related sustainability issues associated with their supply chain
* supply chain participants including business, government regulators and industry bodies to assess and address the processes, costs and issues involved across the whole roadmap within which they participate.
Product Roadmaps are part of a national project housed at St James Ethics Centre and funded by the Federal Government (through Treasury).
Tags: behaviour change, business, consumption, education, governance
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New Agencies, New Business: Alfred Deakin Eco-Innovation Lectures
Posted in Events by Kate Archdeacon on November 5th, 2009
The Alfred Deakin Eco-Innovation Lectures presents leading global innovators who are rethinking the future by embracing the challenge of climate change. The 2009 theme – ‘Climate and Innovation – Building the Low Carbon Economy Now’ – links the inescapable challenge of climate change to the spirit of creativity and innovation.
Shaping the Low Carbon Economy – New Agencies, New Business
Peter Madden – CEO Forum For The Future (UK)
BMW Edge at Federation Square Melbourne
Monday 9 November 2009, 12-1pm
Cost: Free (register)
“A sustainable future won’t happen by itself. To achieve it, we need to set out clear, compelling visions of what it can look like, and draw up a route map for getting there. And we need to reframe our economy so that it can drive that transition. Over the last few years, Forum For The Future (FFF) has set the pace for futures thinking on sustainability. In doing so, it’s become clear that we need to focus on the positive and compelling visions of what a low-carbon future would look like.”
- Peter Madden, CEO, Forum For The Future (UK)
Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: business, deakins, innovation, new systems/services
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National Water Week: October 18 -24
Posted in Movements by Kate Archdeacon on October 12th, 2009
National Water Week 2009 is hosted by the Australian Water Association, in partnership with the National Water Commission. First held in 1993, the event aims to increase community awareness of, and participation in the protection and conservation of water resources and habitats. National Water Week is the only event in Australia that provides a national focus for the achievement of improved water management, awareness and conservation. The program provides an opportunity for the water sector to engage with the community and promote water education and literacy. This year’s theme, ‘Securing Our Water Future’, provides an opportunity to engage with the complex issues surrounding long-term water security and diversified water supplies. Community events are scheduled all around Australia, and there’s still time to organise one. Also check out the education resource section, with songs like Nick Vall’s “Putrid and Pongy“!
Tags: business, community, education, networks, water
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Hungry Jacks Dining Room Composting
Posted in Research by Kate Archdeacon on September 14th, 2009
Source: EcoVoice
Hungry Jack’s, a long term supporter of Keep Australia Beautiful ran a week-long trial of dining room composting and co-mingled recycling in its Fulham metropolitan restaurant during KAB Week.
The trial, which is an Australian first, will provide a benchmark study for the Australian fast food industry on ways to divert organic food and other compostable waste from landfill. It will also demonstrate the level of consumer awareness about co-mingled recycling, in terms of avoiding contamination, which could also provide further insight into current kerbside recycling practices and knowledge.
Tags: behaviour change, business, education
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Sustainability Roundtable for Industry
Posted in Seeking, Uncategorized by jalcorn on September 11th, 2009
There is an opportunity to join a new SIRF Sustainability Roundtable for Industry in Victoria.
You may wish to join if you have an interest in sharing and learning and sustainability. Members present to the group on their areas of expertise, host site visits, share tools and knowledge and participate in common interest working groups on issues of mutual interest.
SIRF (Strategic Industry Research Foundation) Roundtables are shared learning networks for operational excellence, which were initiated in 1994. SIRF has established Sustainability Roundtables because of the many requests from existing members about the need to focus on business sustainability.
SIRF was originally an initiative of the Victorian State Government but is now self-sustaining through member support. The networks are established throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Each Roundtable collaboratively explores important issues to the members so that each organisation can more rapidly learn successful approaches to common problems.
Contact Judith for further details: judith.alcorn@sirfrt.com.a
Tags: business, networks, sustainability
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Sustainability in Business and Government: An introduction to Energy, Water and Waste Management Short Course
Posted in Events by panayiota on June 10th, 2009
RMIT University, in collaboration with the Moreland Energy Foundation Ltd and Sustainability Victoria, wish to offer sustainability practitioners the opportunity to attend a 4 day short course on sustainability. The course aims to inform participants as to the most effective ways to
- Reduce energy and water use and waste production in a typical business or industry
- Meet requirements for assessment and compliance, and
- Communicate within the organisation including explaining the findings to management, staff and external stakeholders
It will also build participants skills to set up an environment/sustainability program in their organisation, including the implementation of recommendations and access to networks and resources for implementation
Dates: 30 June 2009 & 1st July 2009, 14th July 2009 & 15th July 2009
Venue: Melbourne CBD
For more information, registration and contact details please visit the RMIT website: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=cqgc6310nasx
Tags: assessment, business, compliance, course, energy, rmit, sustainability, waste management, water
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Ethical Investor Green Marketing Forum
Posted in Events by Devin Maeztri on May 20th, 2009
What: 2nd Annual Green Marketing Forum by Ethical Investor
When: Wednesday – Thursday, July 1 – 2, 2009
Where: Mercure Hotel, 13 Spring Street
Marketing to the ‘green’ consumer is extremely challenging, especially so in times of worsening economic conditions and continued uncertainty over climate change and the government’s response to global warming. This conference and workshop explores strategies for successfully marketing green products and services, profiling current campaigns by a range of leading companies (corporate and SMEs). (Green Marketing Forum)
Tags: Annual Meeting, business, Ethical investor, green marketing, sustainable business
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