The experiences of the largest corporation in the world and those of a start-up company show how companies can profitably reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their supply chains. The operations management literature suggests additional opportunities to profitably reduce emissions in existing supply chains, and provides guidance for expanding the capacity of new “zero emission” supply chains. The potential for companies to profitably reduce emissions is substantial but (without effective climate policy) likely insufficient to avert dangerous climate change.
This article appeared in the Energy Economics Supplemental Issue: Green Perspectives.
This publication is a takes stock of existing initiatives and applications relevant for valuing natural capital. A baseline of existing initiatives is provided in order to inform the Natural Capital Protocol project. It is also intended to be a useful resource to demystify the growing volume of natural capital relevant initiatives emerging from the private and public sectors. The following existing initiatives have been reviewed and are summarised:
- Business engagement initiatives.
- Methodologies, tools and initiatives relevant to measuring, managing and valuing natural capital in business and investor decision making.
- Initiatives relevant to using natural capital valuation in business applications eg, strategy, management (at organisation or supply chain levels), reporting and disclosure.
- Policy initiatives that define natural capital accounting classifications, metrics and indicators that can inform future target setting and new market initiatives relevant to business.
Businesses and government leaders from around the world are increasingly sounding the alarm about the need for effective management of business dependencies and impacts on ecosystems. Though various frameworks and standards have been developed and implemented to improve extra-financial accountability to stakeholders, current sustainability reporting falls short in providing the information needed for accurate investment decision-making. The recent releases of Integrated Reporting (IR) guidelines have been presented as a significant step in the right direction by professionals and academics.
This report, part of a new series by IRENA, explores how renewable energy is financed, produced, distributed and consumed, and will chart the changing relationships it is bringing about between states, corporations and individuals.
This first volume focuses upon the power sector. It tells a story – about the trends driving this change, how the technology is evolving, who is financing it, and the wider benefits it will bring. Finally, it examines what an energy system powered by renewables might look like and how policy makers can further support the transformation.