Video: Special Envoy Stern Discusses COP-17

Todd Stern, Special Envoy for Climate Change, discusses COP 16 and COP 17 at the Foreign Press Center in Washington, D.C. on November 22, 2011. Stern reviews the agreement reached at COP 16 and the fate of the Kyoto Protocol.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: One South African Asks Why Canada is Silent on Climate Change

In this video, a women from South Africa discusses how the climate has changed effecting agriculture in South Africa. She also asks questions about Canada's conspicuous silence on the issue of climate change and the importance of reaching a binding international agreement.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: COP 17 & CMOP 7 Opening Remarks

The opening remarks at COP 17 focus on the soon to expire Kyoto Protocol and operationalizing the agreements at COP 16 including the Green Carbon Fund. This speaker emphasizes the urgency of acting now.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Who is to Blame for the Failure of COP 17?

As COP 17 comes to a close, European Union Climate Commissioner Connie Hedegaard blamed China and India for resisting the EU-designed “road map” designed to succeed the Kyoto Protocol which is set to expire in 2012.

Although support has grown for the EU plan, it may not be enough. African nations, 43 island states and 48 of the world’s least developed countries have said that they back the EU plan for binding targets by 2015. Even Canadian Environment Minister Peter Kent said Ottawa had forged a partnership with small island states

The EU roadmap calls for UN talks to agree on a mandate to negotiate by 2015, a new climate deal covering all major economies, in return for the bloc signing up to a second period of emissions cuts under the existing Kyoto treaty.

The EU wants action from other countries as the Kyoto Protocol, which was never ratified by the US and does not cover major economies such as China, accounts for just 15% of world greenhouse gas emissions.

US agreement is difficult due to opposition from Congress, which must ratify any treaty. Nonetheless, climate change envoy Todd Stern said Washington supports an EU roadmap to a new treaty. Stern told reporters. “The EU has called for a roadmap (to a future deal). We support that.” However, last night the US said it would not agree to talks for a legally binding deal.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Hope Remains Despite a Dissapointing Outcome at COP 17

The COP 17 climate negotiations wrap up today in Durban, South Africa. Although there are very low expectations, some optimism remains. However unlikely, it is not impossible for developed and developing countries to compromise and reach an agreement on equitable and enforceable targets to reduce CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions.

The UN’s climate change chief Christina Figueres stated that “future commitments by industrial countries to slash greenhouse gas emissions is the defining issue of this conference."

"We are in Durban with one purpose: to find a common solution that will secure a future to generations to come," said Maite Nkoana-Mashabane, South Africa’s international relations minister who is chairing the summit.

As though to reinforce the urgency of a solution, an unusual torrential storm hit Durban on the eve of the conference. The storm prompted Figueres to say “Although the unseasonable storm cannot be directly linked to climate change, it is the kind of extreme weather that scientists say is happening more often.”

Even if we do not see the groundbreaking progress we need, the negotiations will proceed beyond the end of COP 17. Although the situation may look bleak, we must continue to hope because when it comes to managing climate change failure is not an option.

Figueres, quoting Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it is done."

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

China an Unlikely Hero at Cop 17

China is often criticized for being the world’s biggest carbon emitter, but at COP 17 the country has emerged as an unlikely hero. China is in the process of reinventing itself and it is looking increasingly towards the green economy to do so. Chinese delegation head Xie Zhenhua said China might be willing to sign a legally binding agreement for reducing emissions.


If certain preconditions are met China would consider signing a binding agreement. “China is open,” Xie told reporters at COP 17.

According to booklet at the country’s official pavilion China is interested in “Working hard to tackle climate change.”

These claims as more than just hot air as China's new five-year government plan makes the country a global leader with its green growth and low-carbon initiatives.

However, China has repeatedly stated that as a developing nation, with no historical responsibility for carbon emissions, it cannot be held to the same standards as industrialized countries.
“China will shoulder the responsibility that is appropriate to its development,” Xie reiterated Monday.

South African international relations minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said "China is laying its cards on the table. Other negotiators will be laying the cards on the table and work then gets escalated. And that is what makes us hopeful we are moving in the right direction,” she said.

Despite a steller communications initiative China is unlikely to consider signing an internationally binding deal until after 2015, when a scientific assessment ends, and it wouldn’t take effect until 2020 at the earliest.

Until then China will focus on its domestic policies related to climate change, and the particularly tough task of implementing emissions controls in a country with runaway growth and the world’s biggest population.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The Costs of Global Warming

The costs of reducing emissions are frequently cited as reasons for inaction, however these assessments fail to factor the much greater costs of unchecked climate change. Already we are seeing massive costs from drought, famine, flooding and extreme weather.  Global warming causing greenhouse gas emissions continue to escalate increasing beyond the worst predictions of the UN’s climate experts. These costs will only increase as global warming worsens.

The World Meteorological Organisation has reported that heat-trapping carbon dioxide concentrations in the air have increased by 39 per cent to 389 parts per million. These are the highest concentrations since the start of the industrial era in 1750.

The costs of climate change are more than just financial. Emission increases are causing global temperature rises and when the growing population is factored into the equation the earth's carrying capacity is being exceeded by growing demand.

Agricultural yields are amongst the areas hardest hit by global warming and this will lead to skyrocketing food costs and mass starvation.

There is more than enough scientific evidence for concerted global action now. The costs of doing nothing to manage climate change are too great to bear.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

A Binding Agreement on Climate Change is a Matter of Life and Death

Many of the participants at COP 17 do not appear to acknowledge that a binding agreement on climate change is a matter of life and death. Failure to address climate change will cause mass starvation and completely inundate some island nations.

Climate change will also seriously impede the earth's ability to provide the basic requirements of life like food and potable water.

"For most people in the developing countries and Africa, climate change is a matter of life and death,” South African President Jacob Zuma said at the opening of the COP 17 conference.

“Africa has contributed least to the buildup of greenhouse gases globally, but will be in the frontline of the adverse effects of climate change,” said Edna Molewa, South Africa’s minister of environmental affairs at the start of the summit. "Many Africans unfortunately already have firsthand experience of the suffering that climate change can cause,” she said, adding: "Finding a workable way forward is the defining issue of this conference.”

In the Arctic, climate change is already making life very difficult for the Inuit. Climate change is making it nearly impossible for hunters to forecast the weather from signs in nature. Climate change is also causing ice to melt unexpectedly and the snows to come late. The thinning ice has already almost killed one man from Arviat when his snowmobile broke through the ice and he fell into the frigid waters below.

If left unchecked, global warming will lead to the extinction of polar bears and in the absence of action on emissions reductions, humans are sure to follow.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Canada is a Pariah at COP 17

Canada is being heavily criticized at the UN climate summit in Durban for failing to work on global climate change issues. With next to no delegation at the summit, Canada is rightly being accused of not being serious about efforts to manage climate change.

Archbishop Tutu and other prominent Africans signed a petition against Canada, published as an ad in ECO, a daily newsletter at the conference, urging Canada to take action on climate change. "Now is the time for Canada to tackle climate change, which will impact millions of people, instead of supporting multinational oil companies," the ad said.

"Canada, you were once considered a leader on global issues like human rights and environmental protection. Today you’re home to polluting tar sands oil, speeding the dangerous effects of climate change. For us in Africa, climate change is a life and death issue," it said.

China's official Xinhua news agency said Canada is "setting a bad example" to other developed countries, following reports that Ottawa is planning to pull out of the Kyoto Protocol. If Canada withdraws from the Kyoto Protocol "it will further hurt the international community's endeavor to cope with climate change" and "will definitely add to the obstacles in our negotiation," said the Xinhua report.

South Africa's Eyewitness News said Canada has "moved from hero in defending human rights to zero on environmental protection."

Canada also has the dubious distinction of being awarded the "Fossil of the Day." The award is given by the group Climate Action Network to countries said to be blocking progress on negotiations.

On an index released Tuesday by a German nonprofit group Canada ranked a dismal 54th, two spots below the US, for failing to do enough to prevent climate change.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

US Demands Emissions Reductions from China and India

The United States, the world's second-largest polluter after China, made it clear that as a condition for a binding agreement on emissions reductions, major developing country emitters like China and India must be part of any legally binding agreement.

At a COP 17 press briefing, Todd Stern, the US chief envoy in Durban, said at that any future global deal on climate change would have to be equally binding on all countries, including China, with “no trap doors, no Swiss cheese.”

“In order for there to be a legally binding agreement that makes sense, all the major players are going to have to be in,” Stern said.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

COP 17 a Premeditated Failure

In her speech opening COP 17, Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, highlighted the importance of industrialized countries committing to cut greenhouse gas emissions, pointing to the devastating effects of climate change in developing countries.

Wealthier nations also have an important role to play financing the Green Climate Fund. However, the global economic crisis is causing wealthier nations to shy away from the Green Climate Fund intended to help poorer nations that are badly affected by climate change, and yet least responsible for it.

The US is taking heat for its resistance to the Green Climate Fund. The US delegates are reportedly pushing for “cooptation of climate financing mechanisms,” which seeks funding from corporations and international financing institutions.

The US has joined Russia, Japan and Canada which have all refused to sign up to a second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

"Shame on you, Barack Obama, and the delegations from the US, Russia and Canada," Zwelinzima Vavi, president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions said.

The Durban talks are being impeded by the continuing refusal of key industrialized countries to commit to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, to keep global warming below the internationally agreed upon guardrail of 2 degrees Celsius.

"Durban is a crime scene, KwaZulu-Natal is a crime scene, the African continent is a crime scene, the whole world is a crime scene," said Mr Vavi, referring to the effects of pollution and the release into the atmosphere of greenhouse gases.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Protests Around the World Call for Climate Justice at COP 17

People are coming together around the world to demand climate justice. Climate change activists continue their protests at COP 17 in Durban, South Africa and some of the protestors at the Occupy movement are also calling for "climate justice." While the occupy protests may lack the focus to auger meaningful change, they represent a mass-movement of people seeking social change.

On Saturday December 3, on what was called the "Global Day of Action", about 20,000 people from all over the world took to the streets to protest inaction in Durban. One of the protestors demands is the renewal of the soon to expire Kyoto Protocol, the world’s only legally binding agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Today will be the beginning of a strong movement that is going to challenge the rich nations of the world," said Global Day of Action subcommittee convenor Desmond D’Sa.

"We march today to show our outrage. We want to give the ministers, who will arrive next week, a clear message: You cannot continue to make excuses." Action Aid international climate justice coordinator Harjeet Singh

Protests in Manilla were one of scores of marches and rallies around the world on Saturday that demanded “climate justice.”

Nanay Leleng and other leaders of progressive organizations who marched toward the US Embassy last Saturday, in a parallel protest action with other environmentalists of the rest of the world, called on the public to help put pressure on these rich nations’ leaders as they confer in Durban, South Africa.

The poor are in fact the hardest hit by this climate change, said Nanay Leleng national president of Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay), as she led protesters who marched to the US Embassy in Manila.

The ILPS, through the office of its chairperson, said in a statement, “those who pay lip service to environmental concerns deliberately refuse to come up with a binding international agreement on climate change, the monopoly capitalists wantonly continue its control, exploitation and consumption of world resources at the expense of the impoverished people and ravaged environments of the world.”

Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change told protesters in Durban: "You know where we stand, here with you." To make this more than a hollow statement, member states must also stand with protestors and make a consorted effort to make progress before the end of COP 17 on December 9.

A critical mass of the general population can help to push political leaderships to seriously engage efforts to address climate change. The world is increasingly united in its demand that leaders reach an agreement on environmental issues.

"We demand urgent and strong action on climate change. We can’t just keep talking and keep wasting time," Singh said.

As Greenpeace has said, it is time to listen to the voices of ordinary people not polluters.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

UN Chief Warns that the Future of the Planet is at Stake at COP 17

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is warning deadlocked climate talks in Durban about the importance of finding solutions. "It would be difficult to overstate the gravity of this moment," Ban said "Without exaggeration, we can say: the future of our planet is at stake - people's lives, the health of the global economy, the very survival of some nations."

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) talks have been thwarted by disagreements about the future of the Kyoto Protocol. Contradictory views on the fate of Kyoto, must not be allowed to kill the world's only legally-binding treaty for curbing greenhouses gases.

"I urge you to carefully consider a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol," Ban said.

There are also concerns that economic problems make signing a binding agreement that much more difficult. However, these costs will pay lucrative dividends and the costs of inaction are unthinkable.

The UN chief said everyone had to be "realistic" about the chances of a breakthrough in Durban. "It may be true, as many say: the ultimate goal of a comprehensive and binding climate-change agreement may be beyond our reach, for now," Ban said.

"Yet let me emphasise: None of these uncertainties should prevent us from making real progress here in Durban."

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The Costs of Canada's Failure to Act on Climate Change

In addition to degrading the Canadian and global environment, Canada's ruling Conservatives are imposing huge costs on Canadians. Rather than push for a binding global treaty on climate change in Durban South Africa, Canada is expected to withdraw from the Kyoto accord. Climate change will cost Canadians about $5 billion a year by 2020 and according to a new report, those cost could rise to as much as $91 billion a year by the 2050s.

"Climate change will be expensive for Canada and Canadians," says the September 2011 report from the National Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. "Increasing greenhouse-gas emissions worldwide will exert a growing economic impact on our own country, exacting a rising price from Canadians as climate change impacts occur here at home," the report concludes.

The roundtable is a group of business leaders, academics and researchers chosen by the federal government to advise Ottawa on how to deal simultaneously with challenges in the economy and the environment.

The research reveals that the longer the effects of climate change are ignored, the costlier they become. "Our modelling ... shows there is a risk those costs could not be just higher, but much higher," the report adds. "Getting global emissions down is both in Canada's economic and environmental interest," said David McLaughlin, president of the roundtable.

It is somewhat ironic that the Conservative party derives considerable support from the west and the destructive impacts of climate change will be most dramatic in that part of the country. As the country with the largest coastline, Canada will also suffer heavy costs due to flooding.

In addition to increased health costs, the report estimates that global warming will lead to between five and 10 additional deaths per 100,000 people per year by 2050.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

India is Leading Resistance to a Binding Treaty at COP 17

India has emerged as the leading opponent to a binding treaty at the UN Climate Conference in Durban, South Africa (COP 17). India is the world's third largest carbon emitter and the country's C02 emissions are now growing at a rate of more than 9 percent a year. At COP 17, India has made it clear that it is choosing economic growth over efforts to reduce emissions.

India has joined with other emerging economies in advocating a renewal of the Kyoto Protocol. Under this treaty, developing nations like India and China have no obligations to make cuts to emissions and all the onus is put on Western industrialized countries.

However, Japan, Russia and Canada donot want to renew the protocol. The US has also withdrawn from Kyoto but it may be willing to sign on to the treaty if all nations (including India and China) participate in emissions reductions. Britain and the EU are trying to broker a compromise which would renew the protocol with a legally binding framework by which each country would be committed to take action over its CO2 emissions.

Failure to slow and reduce emissions will result in ongoing temperature increases which will prove disastrous for the planet and its inhabitants.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Polluters Dominate the Agenda at COP 17 in Durban

At the 17th Conference of the Parties (COP 17), 20,000 negotiators and stakeholders from nearly 200 countries are meeting in Durban, South Africa. Although many countries are taking steps to curb GHG emissions as part of the global fight against climate change, there is little hope of a binding international agreement this year. After COP 15 in Copenhagen, there was considerable well warranted pessimism, and after COP16 in Cancun, heightened expectations appear to have vanished.

Review of Last Year’s Conference of the Parties

Although there were serious difficulties and disagreements at COP16, there were some minor achievements. The COP16 Conference adopted the Cancun Agreements which offered a glimmer of hope that we could move towards a low-emissions future and support enhanced action on climate change in the developing world.

The text on emission cuts called for “urgent action” to cap temperature rises at no more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, although it did not establish a clear mechanism for achieving the pledges made by the parties.

The parties also agreed to curb emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries. Perhaps the most significant achievement of COP16 concerns pledges of financial assistance for the developing world, especially those in Africa. The parties agreed to set up the Green Climate Fund, which was intended to raise and disburse $100bn a year by 2020 to protect developing countries against climate impacts and assist them with low-carbon development. Sadly, the fate of the fund is in jeopardy as the U.S. is now rejecting the current concept of the Green Climate Fund.

Killing the Kyoto Protocol

Most disturbingly, COP 17 will likely see the end of the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol contains key rules to quantify and monitor efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and important market-based mechanisms that enable cost-effective mitigation. The Protocol is set to expire in 2012 and the U.S., Canada, Russia and Japan have indicated that they will not support an extension of the international agreement.

The U.S. team participating in UN climate change talks in Durban is resisting a proposed legally binding GHG emissions reduction treaty that would come into effect in 2020 and succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

Issues Impeding Progress

Despite the overarching dangers associated with climate change, the head of the U.N. climate panel, Rajendra Pachauri, warned the latest round of talks risk being bogged down by “short-term and narrow political considerations.”

The United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) said the “rather large elephant in the room” at the COP-17 was the ever-widening gap between the action needed to stem global warming and what is on the table this year.

UNEP says developed countries are “stuck on weaker, conditional pledges” and that the greenhouse gas emissions targets they have set themselves are “riddled with loopholes”. UNEP said in a newsletter distributed at the Durban talks that developed countries needed to “raise their game dramatically”.

To make matters worse, there is a profound lack of trust between the parties in Durban. As with previous meetings, the COP negotiations are breaking down over disagreements between rich and poor nations on GHG reductions. Developed countries want developing countries to restrict GHG emissions, but developing nations want the opportunity to grow and adapt with increased funding from developed countries.

African countries are already suffering from the effects of rising temperatures, even though their combined share of carbon emissions is negligible. However, the concerns of developing nations are being ignored by rich nations. Speaking at COP 17, South African President Jacob Zuma said, “For most people in the developing world and Africa, climate change is a matter of life and death.” He indicated that the failure to address climate change will decrease agricultural output in many African countries by about 50 percent by the year 2050, leading to food insecurity and a loss of livelihoods.

Rich Countries are Bullying the Developing World

According to a new report published by the World Development Movement, rich nations are employing divide-and-rule tactics and threatening to withhold much needed funds if developed nations dare to disagree. EU commissioner Connie Hedegaard apparently suggested island states could be coerced because they were desperate for money and other leading figures in western governments have been accused of using bullying tactics with developing countries.

Wealthy nations hold secret meetings, and then push poorer countries to accept their decisions. Countries like the U.S. are using unfair, undemocratic and even deceitful means to skew the climate change negotiations in their favor.

Devious tactics are also being employed to marginalize developing nations, which lack the resources of rich countries. One diplomat told the report’s authors:

“At one point in Copenhagen there were 26 meetings taking place simultaneously. How can a developing country delegation of two people possibly hope to cope? Developed countries sit down and delay, and just repeat inanities, and then they go out and tell the media that the developing countries are blocking the negotiations, and all the world believes it, even developing countries!”

A diplomat from the tiny Polynesian island of Tuvalu said: “Can I suggest that it looks like we are being offered 30 pieces of silver to betray our people and our future?”

Debunking the Economic Arguments

The most common reason cited for resistance to a binding climate change treaty is the economic costs. However, the success of many environmentally sustainable businesses refutes the cost argument and makes the case for the transition to a low carbon economy. In addition to being profitable, sustainable businesses create jobs and minimize their impact on the environment.

Although some try to make the case that environmental sustainability is bad for business, the truth is a strong business case can be made for sustainability. There are sustainable solutions to the economic crisis we are facing that can both provide jobs and hasten the adoption of a low-carbon economy.

In an interview with the Financial Times, former US President, Bill Clinton, made the point this way:

“For $ 1 billion invested in a new coal plant, you get fewer than 900 jobs; for solar you got 1,900 jobs, for wind turbines 3,300 jobs and (for) retrofitting buildings 7,000 – 8,000 jobs… Here are the jobs, here is the investment. Are you really against it?’”

The success of low carbon enterprises offers compelling evidence for the belief that market forces can help auger the transition towards a low carbon economy.

It may be hard to push climate change to the top of the global agenda with the economic difficulties in Europe and elsewhere, but as stated by China’s top climate official, economic problems should not get in the way of a new pact to fight global warming.

Focus on Science

Global climate talks need to focus on the growing threat from climate change. ”It is absolutely essential that the negotiators get a continuous and repeated exposure to the science of climate change,” Pachauri told Reuters.

A report from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicated that an increase in extreme weather can be expected this century. Extreme weather events in 2011 included recent floods in Thailand and multi-billion dollar disasters in the U.S. and the previous year saw similar climate catastrophes.

The UN World Meteorological Organization’s latest report showed that the warming effect of greenhouse gases on climate, known as radiative forcing, has increased 29% from 1990 to 2010. 2011 has been a year of extreme weather, the WMO reported. Drought in East Africa has left tens of thousands dead; lethal floods submerged large areas of Asia; the US suffered 14 separate weather catastrophes with damage topping $1bn each, including severe drought in Texas and the southwest, heavy floods in the northeast and the Mississippi Valley, and the most active tornado season ever known.

“The science is solid and proves unequivocally that the world is warming,” said RDJ Lengoasa, the WMO’s deputy director, and human activity is a significant contributor.

It is Possible to Reduce GHGs to Manageable Levels

Despite serious obstacles, it is not impossible to bridge the gap between where GHG emissions are headed and where they need to be. According to a new U.N. report titled Bridging the Emissions Gap, if sectors such as energy, farming, forestry and transport all cut emissions by feasible amounts, global warming can be kept below 2ºC.

The report also says that countries will need to pledge bigger cuts to meet the 2ºC target. The United Nations Environment Programme says that nothing revolutionary is needed, if every sector makes its appropriate cuts, the cost would be small.

More Waiting

Some wealthy nations have indicated that a legally-binding climate pact can wait until the end of this decade. Joseph Gilbert, Grenada’s environment minister, called such proposals, “both environmentally reckless and politically irresponsible.”

As GHG levels continue to rise, it becomes ever more obvious that we cannot wait for 2020 to get an international agreement to stabilize GHG levels. With island states facing extinction in the coming decades, action on climate change cannot be delayed any further.

Conclusion

The fact that COP 17 is taking place in Durban is an opportunity to emphasize African issues. At best, COP 17 will produce modest steps toward a deal to lower emissions from factories, power stations and transport.

While the private sector can play a significant role in helping to resolve the problem of climate change, we cannot adequately address the problem without the involvement of governments.

Given the absence of government leadership, the meeting in Durban is likely to produce little more than a lot of hot air.

Source: Global Warming is Real

The Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP) in BC

Treatment of waste hydrogen is being recylced for use in vehicular and stationary power applications in British Columbia, Canada. Captured waste hydrogen gas from places like sodium chlorate plants is being recycled into compressed hydrogen. It is known as the Waste Hydrogen Utilization Project (IWHUP). In the IWHUP project waste hydrogen that is normally burned off is being captured and recycled so that it can be used as fuel. The project in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where they are building the world’s first small scale liquid hydrogen plant.

This contribution agreement aims to showcase an integrated use of hydrogen in a real-world setting. During the first stage, waste hydrogen from a sodium chlorate manufacturing plant is captured and processed for use as a source of clean power. It is then distributed for use among many applications: passenger buses; cargo trucks; utility vehicles (pick-up trucks) and; stationary power for a car wash facility.

This project represents a comprehensive consortium approach to demonstrating innovative technology through several funding partners and project participants. Together with Sustainable Development Technology Canada, and Natural Resources Canada (through the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance), this project's total costs exceed $18 million. This project allows several stakeholders to contribute to developing solutions for clean energy, while many end-users receive an opportunity to learn new technology applications in their key responsibility areas.

It is expected that new knowledge, solutions, and practices in the use of various hydrogen technologies will be acquired through the operations of the IWHUP project. In addition to the anticipated reduction in harmful emissions, this project's integrated approach will also allow for an examination of the real-world functionality of the Hydrogen Highway. Eventually, this project's approach may lead to a significant number of vehicles in the Greater Vancouver Area running on clean power.

This is the type of collaborative project that makes sense both as a model of public-private cooperation and as a practical means of reducing our footprint.

The UWHUP project employs several of the basic building blocks of environmentally sustainable businesses. Its use of recycling, efficiency and alternative energy is be a model that others can follow.

These types of innovative approaches not only demonstrate entirely new strategies, they also show how we can work with existing industrial processes to make them more efficient and better for the environment.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The BC Hydrogen Highway

The Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) built a hydrogen highway system for the 2010 Olympics. The BC hydrogen highway runs between the cities of Vancouver and Whistler. It was designed to showcase zero-emissions hydrogen technology.

There are hydrogen refueling stations near Victoria and on the University of British Columbia campus in Vancouver. In Surrey, hydrogen refueling station was opened in March 2002. As of late 2006, hydrogen fueling stations were built in Victoria, Vancouver and Surrey.

The province of British Columbia and BC Transit have also built hydrogen powered buses which were used as transport along the hydrogen highway during the Olympics.

Companies like Ford test drove its Focus FCV cars along the hydrogen corridor gathering information about operating hydrogen cars in cold weather conditions.

In addition to the British Columbia Hydrogen Highway Initiative, Canada also has invested in three other hydrogen initiatives as well. The Vancouver Fuel Cell Vehicle Project, Hydrogen-Powered Delivery Van Project and the Hydrogen High-Pressure Valve Development Project.

These three programs are part of the Canadian Transportation Fuel Cell Alliance's goal of moving Canada towards expanded use of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Video: Putting a Price on Carbon in Australia

This short video reviews the importance of putting a price on carbon. It also reviews how Australia's carbon pricing scheme will work.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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World's First Small-Scale Hydrogen Liquefaction Plant to be Built in BC

British Columbia announced $870,000 in provincial funding for the development of the world's first small-scale hydrogen liquefaction plant. The plant will be built in North Vancouver and it will supply clean hydrogen throughout the Pacific Northwest. It will produce 1200 kg/day of liquid hydrogen which is enough to fuel a fleet of over 1,500 passenger fuel cell vehicles or 50 transit busses.

“Innovation like this by B.C. companies shows why the province is and will remain a world-centre for hydrogen and fuel cell technology,” said Premier Christy Clark. “We will continue to champion made-in-B.C. hydrogen, electricity, and natural gas as clean, green fuels of the future for B.C. families.”

B.C.-based Hydrogen Technology & Energy Corporation (HTEC), and Sacré-Davey Engineering, along with international partner Air Liquide, are building this innovative, high-tech plant.

“HTEC is excited to lead this innovative project that is enabled by progressive government support, leading-edge hydrogen technologies and the availability of clean hydro power. It demonstrates that solid opportunities are beginning to emerge for businesses and investors in hydrogen energy,” said Colin Armstrong, HTEC Vice President.

The plant plans to use proprietary technology and processes developed by HTEC for purification and Air Liquide’s Advanced Technical Group from France for liquefaction. In addition to making cleaner fuel the plant will also provide about 18 local high tech jobs.

To learn more about B.C.’s hydrogen and fuel cell innovation click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Hydrogen Powered Vehicles and Infrastructure in the Province of BC

British Columbia (BC) has announced incentives to increase their support for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and infrastructure. These programs will help create Canada's first publicly accessible hydrogen refueling station. The initiatives were announced by the Government of BC as a part of its clean energy strategy.

A hydrogen fuel cell does not need to be recharged as it converts the chemical energy of fuel (hydrogen, natural gas, methanol, gasoline, etc.) and an oxidant (air or oxygen) into electricity. It produces almost no emissions.

BC already has the largest number of hydrogen fueling stations in Canada. More than $6 million in provincial funding has been earmarked for new charging stations and upgrades to hydrogen fueling stations at existing facilities.

The news was welcomed by the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association(CHFCA). The announcements from the province led Eric Denhoff, President and CEO of the CHFCA to say:

"These two initiatives are further evidence of the strong commitment the Government of BC has made to supporting British Columbia's world-leading hydrogen infrastructure, and the organizations involved in the province's hydrogen and fuel cell sector."

British Columbia is a world leader in hydrogen fuel cell transportation solutions. An estimated 75 per cent of Canadian fuel cell and hydrogen-based research and development expenditures have been invested in British Columbia.

The government of BC's investments in hydrogen are also creating green energy jobs in the province. The province is home to 35 hydrogen and fuel cell technology companies that employ 1,200 people. These companies include Ballard Power Systems, Angstrom Power, the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation, Powertech Labs, HTEC and Sacre-Davey Engineering.

The Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation in Burnaby is a company that employs more than 200 people. The province also attracted Mercedes-Benz to build a fuel cell manufacturing facility in Burnaby. In March 2011, Mercedes-Benz Canada announced plans to build the new facility.

By 2016, global sales for the hydrogen and fuel cell sector are estimated to be $8.5 billion, creating an estimated 14,000 jobs in Canada. BC Transit already has fleet of 20 hydrogen-powered fuel cell buses in Whistler which is the largest deployment of its kind in the world.

"These announcements by the Government of BC create tremendous momentum for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry," said Mr. Denhoff. "We have world-class research and development at the NRC Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation and UBC's Clean Energy centre; world-leading manufacturing at Ballard and the Automotive Fuel Cell Cooperation; and a host of innovative small and medium enterprises supporting the research and development efforts in the province."

For more information about BC's hydrogen initiatives including which vehicles qualify under the new program click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

The B.C. Government's Greener Transportation Incentives

The Canadian province of British Columbia's SCRAP-IT® program provides financial remuneration for vehicles with poor fuel efficiency and incentives for greener forms of transportation. Reducing (inefficient) vehicular traffic improves air quality and reduces emissions.

The BC SCRAP-IT Society fund is already in operation and with new funding it will expand the program and remove even more high-polluting vehicles from B.C. roads. The SCRAP-IT Society has already removed over 30,000 vehicles from B.C. roads, resulting in a reduction of over 200,000 tonnes of GHGs. The program has a $2.5-million budget.

The success of the program has prompted Dennis Rogoza, CEO of the BC Scrap-It Society to say:

"We're excited about moving more power polluters off of B.C. roads. It's clear with programs like these, British Columbia is committed to providing greener options for a cleaner future. These older vehicles scrapped by our program represent emissions that are up to 60 times greater than that of newer vehicles"

The government of B.C. offers a total of seven programs that provide incentives to encourage greener transportation.

HERE ARE SEVEN INCENTIVE PROGRAMS:

Option #1
Replacement Vehicle - $300, $600 or $1,000*
(*based on CO2 emission reduction), PLUS a $250 discount at the point of sale

$300 for a reduction of up to 5 tonnes.

$600 for a reduction of 5.1 to 10 tonnes.

$1,000 for a reduction of 10.1 tonnes, or more.

Plus a $250 discount, before taxes, at the point of sale. Note: You must purchase or lease a 2004* or newer vehicle from a Participating Dealership in order to receive the discount.

Option #2
TransLink 3 Zone MultiPass - Lower Mainland
A 9 month 3 zone MultiPass

BC Transit ECOPASS - Victoria
A 1 year ECOPASS valid on the Victoria Regional Transit System.

Option #3
New Bike
Up to $500 off the purchase of a new bike. A 10% discount, up to $100 at the point of sale and the remainder, 40%, up to $400 directly from SCRAP-IT when you purchase your new bike from a Participating Bicycle Retailer.

Option #4
West Coast Express Passes
One of the following West Coast Express options:

MISSION AREA (Three 28 day passes)
MAPLE RIDGE AREA (Four 28 day passes)
TRI-CITIES AREA (Five 28 day passes)
INTER-SUBURBAN AREA (Seven 28 day passes)
or, if you are not a regular rider, a GO2 Card

Option #5
Car Sharing Credit
A $750 credit with one of the 3 following organizations:

• Modo The Car Co-op
• Zipcar
• The Victoria Car Share Co-Op

Option #6
Ride Sharing Credit
A $750 credit with RideShare, The Jack Bell Foundation

Option #7
$200 "Cash"

Approved applicants will receive an email approval letter with more details about each incentive offered.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

BC's Electric Vehicle Incentive Program

British Columbia’s provincial incentives for electric vehicles and home charging systems begin to take effect On December 1, 2011. B.C.'s new clean vehicle incentive program hopes to grow the sales of clean tech vehicles in the province with point of purchase incentives and supplementary incentive offerings to help build the required charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs).

Environment Minister Terry Lake and Energy and Energy and Mines Minister Rich Coleman announced the 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan.' The government is supporting EVs and the green-tech sector with a fund valued at $17 million for that province.

Purchases of EVs can get rebates up to $5000 depending on battery size. Compressed natural gas vehicles will also qualify for a rebate. These financial incentives will help with early adopter uptake in the short-term and ensure a quicker payback period on the price premium for plug-in electric vehicles. These incentives are designed to help build the critical mass and production capacity required by OEMs to bring the costs of these vehicles down in the longer-term.

In other provinces full-functioning electrics qualify for slightly higher rebates than the hybrid options but in B.C. purchasing the fully electric Nissan LEAF qualifies for the same rebate as the Chevrolet Volt.

These investments have prompted Blair Qualey, CEO, New Car Dealers Association of B.C. to say:

"The point-of-sale rebate program is key to attracting new clean energy vehicles to the B.C. market. Manufacturers are eager to launch their new electric, plug-in hybrid electric and fuel cell cars in markets that demonstrate both high demand and with infrastructure in place - B.C. is now one of those markets."

According to Environment Canada, the British Columbia electrical grid is the third cleanest in the country with an electricity intensity of only 20 grams of CO2 equivalent emitted for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) produced.

Homeowners in B.C. that install a dedicated EV charging station in their homes will also qualify for an additional $500 rebate. Battery-powered electric vehicles should cost as little as $300 per year in electricity bills compared to upwards of $1,500 per year to fuel a gas-powered car.

For more information on B.C.'s cleaner vehicle programs click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Canadian Electric Vehicle Incentive Programs

Three Canadian provinces offer incentives for the purchase of an electric vehicle (EV). Ontario was the first province to offer EV incentives followed by B.C. and Quebec.

A battery electric vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that is powered by electricity and contains a battery to store energy. There are two main types of EVs: conventional hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and grid-connected vehicles that include plug-in hybrid battery electric vehicles (PHEVs) and battery electric vehicles (BEVs)Unlike HEVs, PHEVs and BEVs have larger capacity batteries that can be recharged by plugging in to the electricity grid. Only new PHEVs and BEVs are eligible for the incentive program.

Although the incentives for EVs differ from province to province, the maximum goes as high as $8,500.

Ontario's program commenced in July 2010, B.C.'s program went into effect in December 2011 and Quebec's program will come online in January 2012.

Canada is a large country with vast expanses of uninhabited land. For EVs to make significant inroads they will have to be more practical (ie: get better mileage on a single charge).

It is no coincidence that the three provinces offering EV incentives are also the wealthiest non-oil producing provinces with the greatest population densities.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Corporate America is Benefiting from Taking Action on Climate Change

As reflected by the results of the Carbon Disclosure Project, even in the absence of a regulatory framework there is increasing interest from corporate America to managing climate change for commercial benefit,
strategic advantage, investor engagement, mitigation of fiduciary and reputational risk. Even more interesting is the fact that payback times for their investments to manage climate change average three years which is much shorter than conventional wisdom would suggest.

The Carbon Disclosure Project led to the creation of the CDP S&P 500 Report which analyzed the disclosures of 339 of the largest US companies as measured by market capitalization. The report includes Carbon Performance Leadership Index (CPLI) and Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index (CDLI) which ranks leaders of the S&P 500 based on company submissions to CDP.

What makes this report so interesting is the fact that we are seeing clear action from corporate America even in the absence of a comprehensive regulatory framework in the US. Companies across America are acting to engage climate change throughout their activities. In addition to incorporating climate change in operational planning to reduce energy costs and business planning for the development and marketing of low-carbon related products, it is also being included as a function of strategic planning.

This year CDP sent its annual questionnaire to the S&P 500 companies on behalf of 551 signatory institutional investors representing $71 trillion of assets, asking them to measure and report what climate change means for their business.

This report provides the latest insight from these company responses into how major US corporations are recognizing the opportunity to gain strategic advantage from acting to address climate change. It shows that the majority of US companies are taking climate change action, despite an absence of mandatory rules and reveals this year’s leaders in both disclosure and performance.

UPS, Consolidated Edison and Dow Chemical were among the top-ranked US companies in the CDP S&P 500 Report 2011. Combining the measures of performance and disclosure, UPS is the top S&P company at 99 points, followed by Cisco (98), Bank of America (97), Consolidated Edison and Sempra Energy (both at 96), and Dow Chemical and Gilead Sciences (both at 95).

The companies with the best carbon performance were (in alphabetical order) Air Products & Chemicals, Alcoa, Bank of America, Cisco Systems, Clorox, Consolidated Edison, CSX, Ecolab, Lockheed Martin, Molson Coors Brewing and Morgan Stanley.

The report found that the proportion of companies that have senior executive or board members overseeing their climate change programs jumped from 68 percent in 2010 to 87 percent this in 2011.

There was also a doubling of companies reporting climate change policies as an integral part of corporate business strategy, up from 35 percent of respondents in 2010 to 65 percent in 2011. The report reveals that for the majority of disclosing companies climate change is now being integrated into the core business strategy.

There is a clear and increasing trend towards greater environmental action on the part of US companies. This is evidenced by the fact that 64 percent of respondents are setting greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets, up from 51 percent in 2010 and 32 percent in 2008. Among the Global 500, 74 percent disclose absolute or intensity emission reduction targets.

Companies are reporting that greater environmental action is contributing to their bottom line. As indicated in the report, respondents are seeing significant commercial benefits from emissions reduction and energy efficiency programs, with over 60 percent of projects offering payback in three years or less.

The most common projects disclosed by corporations were improvements to energy efficiency in their facilities, to business processes and to transportation networks, supported both by capital investments and changes in employee behavior. CDP found that 54 percent of companies now offer financial incentives to staff for managing climate change issues, up from 35 percent in 2010, and compared to 65 percent for the Global 500.

Corporate environmental action is not only a bottom line issue, it is also a matter of risk management. The report indicates that companies are acting on climate change as a function of strategic planning to mitigate fiduciary and reputational risk.

Engaging environmental concerns like carbon reduction is also an important strategic opportunity to address an increasing investor focus on environmental efficiency.

The largest non-responding companies, by 2011 market capitalization, were Apple, Amazon and Berkshire Hathaway, Comcast, Honeywell, DirecTV, Express Scripts, National Oilwell Varco, EOG Resources and General Dynamics.

For more information see the CDP S&P 500 Report 2011

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

UPS and Live Nation Environmentally Friendly Alliance

UPS and Live Nation Entertainment have developed a partnership to offset the carbon emissions from ticket shipping and musician travel. This sponsorship alliance is intended to promote UPS’s environmentally friendly logistics solutions to the millions of Live Nation Entertainment music fans across North America as well as recording artists committed to reducing the environmental impact of their concert tours.

The alliance will make UPS the exclusive global package, shipping and logistics provider for Live Nation Entertainment and for certain Live Nation Entertainment tours and venues.

According to Live Nation Entertainment’s Investor website, the Beverly Hills, CA-based company promotes or produces approximately 22,000 annual events, including music concerts, with total attendance exceeding 50 million.

UPS began utilizing hybrid vehicles for local delivery in May 2007 and was awarded a Clean Air Excellence Award from the EPA because of their alternative fuel program.

UPS will provide carbon neutral shipping for music fans across the U.S. Through UPS, Live Nation Entertainment will purchase certified carbon CO2 offsets to mitigate the emissions produced by the transportation of ticket orders for events at Live Nation owned and operated venues and merchandise purchased from the Live Nation Entertainment store.

As part of the environmentally friendly alliance, UPS will be launching an innovative new sustainability program created exclusively for live events.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Economic and Environmental Forces Can Work in Harmony

The success of many environmentally sustainable businesses makes the case for the transition to a low carbon economy. These businesses are profitable and sustainable, they create jobs and minimize their impact on the environment.

Although some try to make the case that environmental sustainability is bad for business, the truth is a strong business case can be made for sustainability. The transition to a low carbon economy offers an unprecedented stimulus that creates jobs. There are sustainable solutions that can both speed up activity in the low-carbon economy and mitigate the economic crisis.

In an interview with the Financial Times, former US President, Bill Clinton, said: “For $ 1 billion invested in a new coal plant, you get fewer than 900 jobs; for solar you got 1,900 jobs, for wind turbines 3,300 jobs and (for) retrofitting buildings 7,000 – 8,000 jobs… Here are the jobs, here is the investment. Are you really against it?’”

Environmentally sustainable solutions have proven to be hugely profitable while simultaneously protecting economies from the volatility of markets reliant on oil and other finite resources.

The success of low-carbon enterprise in the private sector offers compelling evidence for this stance.

California’s Tesla motors raised $ 226 million dollars for investors when it went public in 2010. Tesla’s goal is to accelerate the world’s transition to electric mobility with a full range of increasingly affordable electric cars. The company has delivered more than 2,000 Roadsters, the world’s first electric sports car, to customers worldwide. Model S, the first premium sedan to be built from the ground up as an electric vehicle, goes on the market in mid-2012.

Market forces can auger the transition towards a low-carbon economy. What is lacking is political leadership. Governments must do more to encourage investment in sustainable ventures.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

Greener Gifts

Here is a holiday gift guide composed of items that take care of our planet and the people on it. This is the type of commerce that is helping to forge a better world. Some of these items are also featured on Made For Good which is a “catalyst of collaboration”. They are paying forward their decade-old embedded generosity business concept. They do this through Made for Good sponsored events and resources, their wholly owned brands and their consortium of partnerships with powerful nonprofit organizations. They create new revenue streams for their partners through like-minded consumer product goods created to augment their endowment efforts and assist them with fundraising in their mission of giving – hence their tagline …… “a recurring model of giving”.

Elle Communications work with a host of companies who are giving back through sales this holiday season. Here is a greener more socially responsible holiday gift guide from Elle Communications:

The Paradigm Project: Purchase a Christmas Tree ornament and a stove will be given to a family in Africa, saving $280 of local income, 1,300 hours of time, 33 trees and a 60% reduction of toxic smoke.

Rain Tees: Purchase a T-shirt and plant a tree in an area of deforestation

Future:Standard: Shop from this online women’s apparel retail shop that features solely humanitarian and environmentally-friendly brands and give back to 1% for the Planet.

Given: Purchase a T-shirt and help eliminate famine in the Horn of Africa. Men’s and women’s available.

The Intersection Event: Finally, for the budding social entrepreneur on your list – or for the busy executive who wants to learn how to use their business success to give back – opt for tickets to The Intersection Event at Pixar Headquarters in January, feature speakers such as: actress and UNICEF ambassador, Susan Sarandon, technology expert and CTO of Walt Disney, Greg Brandeau; design connoisseur and CEO of IDEO, Tim Brown; the entrepreneurial founder of AOL, Steve Case; passionate leader and VP of Google, Marissa Mayer; social activist and SVP of Word Vision International, Dr. Chris Pitt; computer scientist and President of Pixar Animation Studios, Dr. Ed Catmull and more.

For more information on these items click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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All Indications Suggest a Banner Year for Cyber Monday Shopping

By all indications, Cyber Monday is likely to set records this year. Buying online is a greener form of consumption because it reduces the amount of fuel used to find, price and purchase an item. Online shopping is also a greener way to shop due to the fact that trucks can deliver goods more efficiently and it takes a lot less energy to run a warehouse for boxes of goods than a mall. Online shopping can be a more beneficial option for the planet particularly when it is paired with more responsible purchasing (ie: purchasing items with smaller footprints).

Online commerce has played a bigger role in the holiday shopping season virtually every year since its inception. This is largely due to the increased sophistication of Internet marketing and consumers who are becoming more web-savvy.

Black Friday saw a 6.6 percent increase in buying over last year and according to IBM, online shopping was even stronger with a 24.3 percent increase for the day.

According to a annual holiday spending survey by Robert Passikoff, president of Brand Keys, a retail marketing company, 60% of shoppers said they will use online shopping and price-comparison applications before making any purchases.

Online sellers and shoppers are both optimistic about the holiday season. According to Shop.org’s eHoliday survey 68% of online retailers say they expect to see growth of at least 15% over last year.

On the consumer side, data from the National Retail Federation, shows that consumers plan to do 36% of their holiday shopping online. This is an increase from 32.7% in 2010.

This holiday season, mobile shopping will be even more important with 51% of retailers say they’ve “significantly invested” in mobile-optimized websites. Only 19.6% have invested in tablet apps, but 35.3% are using QR codes to bring in customers.

Social is also important with 72.5% of retailers building up their Facebook presence and 41.2% using Twitter. 29.2% of consumers said they would check a company’s Facebook page for holiday shopping information. 65.1% said they read customer reviews on the company website.

Consumers want to shop online because of convenience (43.2% said it was 24-hour convenience). Consumers also said online was a great way to avoid the crowds and it was easy to compare prices, so they knew they were getting the best deal.

According to a Deloitte Holiday Survey titled "Digital Shopping Will Keep the Grinch at Bay this Holiday Season," the Internet has tied discounters as top destination for gift shopping. Online shopping, once the preferred option of younger shoppers, is now prevalent across generations and mobile tools are assisting holiday shoppers more than ever.

Almost half of consumers surveyed (48 percent) say they most likely will shop for gifts online this holiday season – a double digit (13 percent) increase from last year. This makes the Internet the No.1 shopping destination, (tied with discount stores), for the first time since adding the channel to Deloitte’s annual study.

Social media sites are helping shoppers as 44 percent of consumers plan to use them while holiday shopping. While social media use cuts across all income groups evenly, high-end shoppers will be the most active online and on their phones this holiday season.

Smartphones are also key to the online buying experience. Among smartphone owners surveyed (42 percent) who plan to use their phones for holiday shopping (27 percent), nearly six out of 10 (56 percent) will check or compare prices specifically while in a store, and 38 percent will scan barcodes to locate product information.

For more information about Deloitte’s Annual Holiday Survey, including additional statistics, historical data and useful links, click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Greenpeace Green Electronics Guide November 2011

Greenpeace does a great deal of good work for the environment and just in time for the holiday season they have released Their seventeenth edition of the Guide to Greener Electronics. It is the perfect guide to help consumers make the most environmentally responsible buying decisions for electronics.

This guide is ideal for anyone considering purchasing electronics. Greenpeace has rated the greenest electronics available in the marketplace today. Companies were rated on a scale of 1 to 10 which places them in either a green, yellow or red zone contingent on their performance.

“HP, Dell, Nokia, Apple lead the way by innovative cradle-to-cradle design, use of less toxics as well as use of eco-friendly material in their products.” HP stole the top spot from Nokia because of their high score “when it came to measuring and reducing carbon emissions from its supply chain.”

Here are the top 10 greenest electronics companies:

1. HP 5.9/10
2. Dell 5.1/10
3. Nokia 4.9/10
4. Apple 4.6/10
5. Philips 4.5/10
6. Sony Ericsson 4.2/10
7. Samsung 4.1/10
8. Lenovo 3.8/10
9. Panasonic 3.6/10
10. Sony 3.6/10

To download the score card for each company click here.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Patagonia Shows the Way with Responsible Business Leadership

Patagonia is an outdoor clothing company that is showing real leadership by asking consumers to think twice about whether they really need to buy a new jacket. They offer services to fix the jacket you have rather than buy a new one. They will even help you sell it without charge. If it is really beyond repair, they will recycle it.

Patagonia is a business and like many businesses they exist to make and sell things. But Patagonia only wants to sell things to people that really have a need.

Although the health of their business and the livelihoods of their employees depends on people buying their wares, they realize that there is no business on a dead planet.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Black Friday 2011 Saw a Big Year-Over-Year Spending Increase

Early reports indicate that the 2011 Black Friday spend saw a huge year-over-year increase. According to the data group ShopperTrak, retail sales on Black Friday grew 6.6 percent this year compared to just 0.3% in 2010, raking in an estimated $11.4 billion dollars compared to last year's $10.7 billion of annual sales. This is the most total sales in the history of Black Friday.

"This is the largest year-over-year gain in ShopperTrak's National Retail Sales Estimate for Black Friday since the 8.3 percent increase we saw between 2007 and 2006," said ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin in a statement to CNN Money.

Despite the sluggish economy, shoppers proved that they are ready to buy. With preliminary reports for Black Friday indicating that retailers may have seen their strongest sales ever, American consumers appear to be eschewing expectations of frugal spending.

The US is well known for its domestic spending powered economy, however, given the implications for the earth, this kind of spending is environmentally unsustainable.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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Retailers Incorrectly Expected Frugal Holiday Buying on Black Friday 2011

Frugal buying would make the holiday spend less than some had hoped for. But what is bad for retailers would have been beneficial for the Earth. Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau indicated that US retail and food services sales for October were up 0.5 percent from the previous month (economists expected a 0.3 percent rise) and 7.2 percent above October 2010. Excluding gasoline, retail sales rose 0.7 percent.

Holiday buying estimates from the National Retail Federation (NRF) expected sales of around $465.6 billion, represent a 2.8% increase over last year’s robust results which were 5.2% above 2009 results.

On a per-person basis, the NRF surveys found that consumers say they will spend about $516 on gifts, down 4.6% from last year.

The global port tracker, a monthly report about import-cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports, is forecast to fall 1.9% in November.

Concerns about the prevailing economic climate is causing retailers to be cautious. “Retailers are being very strategic with their supply chains,” said Jonathan Gold, NRF’s vice president for supply chain and customs policy. “Although sales are expected to be in line with the 10-year average, retailers are keeping inventory levels extremely lean and filling their stores wall-to-wall with discounts and promotions. Unlike in 2008, when the financial crisis caught everyone off-guard, retailers have a strong understanding of the consumer mind set this Christmas,” he added.

Many retailers were expecting what can only be described as frugal spending. Consumer sentiment as measured by the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s preliminary reading on the overall index edged up in October, but the ratings are about the same as they were in 2008, the worst holiday-shopping season in 35 years.

The industry feared what they were calling “mission shoppers,” who only purchase what they came for, meaning less unplanned buying. They were expecting consumers to embrace the “new normal” by spending less and looking for savings wherever they can.

While this would have been bad news for some retailers, less buying translates to less manufacturing, which implies less resource and energy use and ultimately less waste.

While many were predicting less not more holiday spending, these predictions have proven inaccurate as early indications suggest Black Friday's retail spend represented a big year-over-year increase.

© 2011, Richard Matthews. All rights reserved.

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