Sustainability: business, life, environment

As the world awaits the UN climate conference set to meet in Copenhagen later this month, many companies, including our own sustainability consulting firm, ponder the long-term impacts to business.  While the details of a global climate action plan are not likely to result, hopefully the meeting will conclude with greater definition on a path forward.

According to Yvo de Boer, executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the four essentials areas of international clarity and agreement hoped to be reached in Copenhagen this month are:

•    How much are the industrialized countries willing to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases?

•    How much are major developing countries such as China and India willing to do to limit the growth of their emissions?

•    How is the help needed by developing countries to engage in reducing their emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change going to be financed?

•    How is that money going to be managed?

As a sustainability consultant, I am personally focused on the first of the four topics of discussion.  With the United States having thus far opting out of the Kyoto Protocol, emission reduction targets have yet to be defined within the US.  If an agreement were to be reached in Copenhagen on reduction targets, this clear definition and direction would enable companies to begin evaluating business sustainability strategies to address business exposure and risk.

At Taiga Company, our professional consulting is already providing resources to companies implementing business sustainability programs to address emissions.  Many of these organizations are focusing on more than just risk management.  By taking proactive measures, these organizations are addressing the affects that will directly impact company profitability.