The Sustainability Learning Forum

A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility

Prof. Adam Lindgreen, University of Cardiff

A Stakeholder Approach to Corporate Social Responsibility provides a comprehensive collection of cutting-edge theories and research that can lead to a more multifaceted understanding of corporate social responsibility in its various forms, the pressures and conflicts that result from these different understandings, and some potential solutions for reconciling them. more[...] login_required

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Make Rio+20 Count

The UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) provides an exceptional opportunity for swift policy action to accelerate and scale business solutions so 9 billion people can live well and within the limits of one planet by 2050. The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today pressed governments to overcome their differences and to take decisive action now. more[...] login_required

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Building an Inclusive Green Economy for All

Poverty-Environment Partnership (PEP)

This joint Poverty-Environment Partnership paper aims to stimulate a dialogue among developing country policymakers, development partners and other stakeholders on how best to support country-led efforts to build inclusive green economies. more[...] login_required

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Rio+20: Forests form important foundation for a green economy

Duncan Macqueen, International Institute for Environment and Development

Forests constitute the vast majority of what is green on planet earth. The quest for a green economy at Rio+20 excited the full spectrum of the forest community – from forest industries to local forest rights-holder groups. Both groups have something to offer – although it may be necessary to invest more in locally-controlled forestry if a fair green economy is to be achieved. more[...] login_required

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Rio+20 Summit

At the Rio+20 Conference, world leaders, along with thousands of participants from governments, the private sector, NGOs and other groups, will come together to shape how we can reduce poverty, advance social equity and ensure environmental protection on an ever more crowded planet to get to the future we want. more[...]

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Five things we’ve learnt from Rio+20

Tom Bigg, International Institute for Environment and Development

While the outcomes from Rio +20 may not currently give grounds for much optimism, its value is likely to be in longer-term changes in attitudes and understanding. more[...]

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Rio+ 20: A mirror of the new direction to global governance?

Karen Rieckmann

When you look at global media coverage or talk to NGOs, all seem to agree: The Rio+20 summit was a failure and a setback on the road to sustainable development. But was it really a failure? And do all agree? Karen Rieckmann analyses the feedback in the BRIC countries and comes to a more differentiated view of the summit outcomes. more[...]

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Patil, Sujit

Editorial Team

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Economy leaders need sustainability standards

Dr. Sahsa Courville, ISEAL Alliance

Sustainability Standards Systems – such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels, or Social Accountability International with its SA 8000 standard – represent the practical, hands-on dimension of the CSR landscape. With consensus-based voluntary standards defined through global multistakeholder processes, and with enterprise compliance assessed through independent third-party certification, these market-based tools provide clear pathways for producers to improve sustainability practices. more[...] login_required

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Eco-labels: Signed, Sealed… Delivered?

Mark Lee, SustainAbility
Patrin Watanatada, SustainAbility

Today’s supply chains span the globe. While a century ago we might have known where, how, and who produced the things we consume, today we rely on what we are told. And how can we be sure that what we are told can be trusted? Enter the eco-label: the independently verified, on-pack label that tells the consumer how a product was produced (think Fairtrade or organic) or how it might be consumed (think nutritional labels or Energy Star) in a more sustainable way. It is a powerful idea that combines sustainability standards-setting and branding, underpinned by the credibility of an independent body. more[...] login_required

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The First Global Consumer Label for Companies Using Wind Energy

Dr. Sahsa Courville, ISEAL Alliance

In 2010 Vestas decided to embark upon a challenging journey: to build a global partnership and create an organization that would produce the world’s first consumer label for wind energy. WindMade™ was created to drive the global adoption of wind energy by convincing the world’s largest consumer brands to put a renewable energy label on their products. This label would inform consumers about the source of energy used to make the product, thereby empowering them to consciously choose products originating from a clean source of energy. more[...] login_required

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Institutional Challenges for a Green Economy

Prof. Dr. Adil Najam, Lahore University of Management Sciences - LUMS
Dr Henrik Selin, Boston University

What if the world could actualize its finest visions of a “green economy”? What sorts of institutions would we need to manage it? What sorts of institutional innovations will lead us to such a destination? Those are some of the questions that should be at the forefront of our thinking as we think about what Rio+20 can achieve. more[...] login_required

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Securing Yields through Sustainability

Editorial Team

How do we respond to the world’s increasing demand for food while protecting the environment and biodiversity for future generations? BASF’s sustainable agricultural work helps to address these global challenges. Our business is well-positioned to help customers become more sustainable. We provide farmers with reliable and innovative products, but also support them with our know-how. more[...]

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Green Economy – the Next Oxymoron?

Prof. Ulrich Brand, Vienna University

The concept of a green economy has become the new buzz word in sustainability discourses, particularly in light of the Rio+20 Conference. Because of the current economic crisis and the perception that sustainability politics cannot be implemented efficiently, politicians have set their hopes on greening the economy. However, there are major problems with the aims and strategies linked to this concept. Specifically, if political, economical, and cultural constraints are not consid ered, green economy strategies will not be successful in their goals to end environmental degradation and reducing poverty. more[...] login_required

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A Green Building Inspired by the Future

Editorial Team

The recent Sonae Maia Business Center, located at Sonae's Business Park in Maia (Portugal), is the first building on the Iberian Peninsula to be awarded Leed Gold Certification. Built with the most environmental efficiency advanced technologies existing in the world, this eco-friendly building, with an area of 16.000 m2, allows a considerable reduction of environmental impacts, giving their occupants an indoor environment of excellence, quality and comfort. more[...] login_required

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