Blog
Glasgow Moves the Needle on Climate Crisis and Creates Pathways for Ambition and Optimism
The final gavel struck on Saturday night in a large plenary hall marking the end of the COP26 negotiations. These negotiations will be remembered as an important step in addressing the climate crisis, however, last minute changes to the text tampered its effectiveness. Even with this new round of agreements and announcements, much more action is surely needed to get the world on a safe pathway towards a stable and just planet.
Glasgow Agreement Text Released and a Surprise Announcement
During the high-level announcements earlier this week, COP 26 President Alok Sharma (UK) called for turning high-level rhetoric into action, urging a “change in gear” in the negotiations to reach an ambitious outcome. Several parts of a recently released draft text step up to the moment while there is still much to be finalized in the remaining hours here in Glasgow.
Week Two @COP 26 Progresses, Slowly but Surely
COP 26 is now well into its second week at the Scottish Event Campus on the River Clyde in downtown Glasgow. We have had surprisingly great weather outside of the COP, however, it is unclear if things are as sunny inside. It has been two years since delegates of the UNFCCC have met together and they are starting to feel the pressure to have something to show for the time off.
Obama and House Republicans Visit COP Negotiations in Glasgow
Monday marked the official launch of week two of the Negotiations here in Glasgow. Just like the first week of negotiations, week two also started with some special guests. It was announced over the weekend that President Obama would be making several speeches to delegates and negotiators at COP 26. While the former President brought a message of urgency and ambition, the climate talks were also joined by Congressman Crenshaw of Texas (more on that below).
COP26 Glasgow Update: Biden Administration Announces Global Commitment for Cutting Methane Emissions
Wednesday November 3 marked day three of COP 26 in Glasgow, Scotland. During our first two days we were greeted with featured presentations from Heads of State and world leaders as they traveled to here to announce their countries’ progress towards their national commitments and make new commitments to the climate crisis.
COP26 Updates from Michael Green, ASBC’s Climate and Energy Working Group Chair
Over the coming two weeks the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC) will be providing live updates from the UN Climate Negotiations in Glasgow, Scotland, often referred to as COP 26, short for “Conference of Parties.” These pivotal talks come at a moment in history where bold leadership must not only be promised but carried through.
America’s Hidden Need for Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework
The 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) is an opportunity to begin to turn a century old built environment into a new one with a bold vision for the next economy that empowers the future of innovation that we have not even yet dreamed of - one that includes a significant part of the US population that could be the inspiration for much of that innovation.
The Circular Economy and Circularity: Unpacking Furniture and Beyond
ASBN hosted on Wednesday, June 2 at 1pm ET The Circular Economy and Circularity: Unpacking Furniture and Beyond, a panel discussion with L. Christina Cobb (UrbisEco) and Sustainability Consultant; Simonil Rustomji (mebl | Transforming Furniture), and Tone Søndergaard (Circular City Week New York and Danish Cleantech Hub).
Build It and They Will Come? Compost Infrastructure Challenges Circular Economy
Like an avalanche gaining speed, we in the compost industry began to see the interest in composting as a key part of the circular economy begin to build momentum in 2016-17. What was normally a handful of compost-related bills in state legislatures began to surge to a dozen, then dozens, as the traditional recycling industry faltered.
Lowering Drug Prices Protects Patients and Profits
Solving our nation’s problem of high prescription drug prices will protect patients and profits, a noble goal in line with the ethos of the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC)!
Why Your Business Sustainability Depends on Empowering Voters:
A Look at Seventh Generation’s Voter Strategy
As the 2020 election nears, many responsible business leaders worry how voter turnout will impact the progress of our sustainability goals. Voter turnout appears to be crucial, as long-term sustainability in its broadest definition requires inclusivity to be viable. Companies committed to increasing sustainability are already engaged in meeting the life-supporting needs of all their stakeholders. But even the best companies can’t do it alone. Public policy must be working toward those same objectives.
ASBC National Conversation on Racism in America
Remarks by MaryAnne Howland
With her permission, we are sharing the opening remarks MaryAnne Howland gave at the launch of the American Sustainable Business Council’s (ASBC) National Conversation on Racism in America on June 10, 2020:
WIN: Governor Cuomo Signs Child Safe Products Act Into Law
Governor Cuomo signed the Child Safe Products Act (S.501-B Kaminsky / A. 6296-A Englebright) into law. The move marks the fulfillment of a decade-long campaign by a broad, diverse coalition of environmental health advocates, health-impacted groups, sustainable businesses, environmental justice leaders, health care providers, child care providers, parent groups and many others. The law will require manufacturers to disclose chemicals of concern in children’s products and restrict the most toxic, while authorizing the State to add chemicals to disclose and restrict by regulation. The bill passed 53-9 in the Senate and 100-23 in the Assembly on April 30, 2019 as part of a first-ever bicameral Earth Day package.
Full, Fair Elections: What’s in it for business?
High-road, sustainably-minded companies have a lot to contend with, including competitors who don’t live by the same standards. The best companies are also busy supporting environmental, justice, and human needs campaigns. So why should they make pushing for fair elections their top priority?
Because everything they value depends on it.
No hype. Every American company is affected to some degree by lawmakers’ decision-making, otherwise known as politics. Ask the coastal restaurants and shops how repeated flooding from climate change dampens profits. Or ask any company how deteriorated infrastructure impedes reliable supply lines or how metastasizing health care cost can cripple bottom lines.
Urgent Action Needed on NY’s Child Safe Products Act
The Child Safe Products Act (CSPA) is sitting on Governor Cuomo’s desk and we need your help to get it signed into law. The Governor has between now and February 7th to decide whether to sign or veto this bill, which has been a decade in the making.
ASBC Sustainable Business & Advocacy Summit: “Making Capitalism Work for All”
Plenary Sessions
1. Our Economic Future: Can Capitalism be
Saved?
Among the ranks of top CEOs, alarm is spreading about the future
of capitalism. These concerns are driven by rising income
inequality, the depth of the Great Recession, a sense that
capitalism excessively focuses on individual rather than
community success and tax cuts which boosted corporate profits
over more productive investments in Main Street. Others worry
about industry consolidation and regulations and laws that stifle
innovation and competition. A raft of anxieties exists side by
side with unprecedented wealth.
Making Capitalism Work For All Summit Overview
It’s not all bad in Washington D.C…Executive Director John Imes just attended the two-day American Sustainable Business & Advocacy Summit – Making Capitalism Work for All. The National Summit brings together a unique cross-section of thinkers and doers, including business leaders, activists, economists,
CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Business Support for the Climate Strikes
Our campaign to support the youth-led climate strikes was a great success. In total, over 200 businesses and business organizations signed to show their support. Not bad for a campaign that came together very quickly and was a completely new idea. Most important, it gives us a strong foundation for a much larger effort in the future.
September 20 Climate Demonstration Firsthand Accounts
ASBC vice president Ali-Reza Vahabzadeh joined the climate march in New York City. He says, “You could tell something big was happening in the City that day. From the moment I stepped onto the subway, I could feel the buzz of anticipation. When I got out at Brooklyn Bridge station, I was part of a great mass of people getting off trains, climbing up the stairs, all getting ready to have their voices heard. It wasn’t the usual jostling crowd, it was a gathering of people with a shared purpose.
White-Hat Lobbyist Fights the Good Fight
Business values stable conditions, but today’s economic, social and environmental conditions are neither stable nor sustainable. How do you make progress on a large scale when enormously powerful decision-makers block the way? That’s an urgent question.