It's getting Hot in here

Corporate sustainability is an approach to business that creates long-term shareholder value by managing the risks and finding the opportunities in economic, environmental and social realities.

As an energy consultant located in Houston, Texas, I find myself uniquely situated in the conversation of corporate sustainability consulting and the complex and sometimes heated discussions of oil independence. The views on how to reduce our dependence on foreign oil are many. Some argue energy companies talk about producing more energy rather than solutions to cut energy use. While others argue it takes exploring both: energy reduction and investing in alternative sources.

Consider just recently, SocialFunds.com -- In conjunction with a speech by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland - the UN Global Compact issued a paper entitled Global Sustainability in the 21st Century: An Action Plan for Business. The Global Compact is a strategic policy initiative for businesses committed to the adoption of sustainable and socially responsible policies.

British Petroleum's CEO Tony Hayward spoke out about the need for global carbon pricing. Again today, BP committed to investing about $6 billion annually in the U.S. during the next decade to find new hydrocarbon sources, expand wind and solar businesses and develop new, low-carbon technologies. If you consider BP as part of the Big Oil camp, then consider T. Boone Pickens Statement on Passage of U.S. Senate Version of Economic Stimulus Plan.

Although we may not have all of the answers to the energy debate, as an energy consultant committed to business sustainability, I find it encouraging that not only are these topics being discussed, but the discussion is heating up.