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Best Practice in Canadian Sustainability Reporting

Stratos Inc., an Ottawa-based consultancy, has released the first report that evaluates the status of sustainability reporting in Canada, “Stepping Forward: Corporate Sustainability Reporting in Canada.”Only 57 companies – 26% of the largest 100 companies – in nine industry sectors prepare reports. This places Canada in between the U.S. and Europe. The issues covered and quality of information provided in Canadian company corporate reports varies substantially across companies. They report well on environmental discharges, community philanthropy and health and safety. They are weaker in reporting on social performance. Many reports side-step tough issues and focus only on good news, reducing their credibility.Contact: Julie Pezzack Download the reportP.S. Interface, Inc., has published its first online sustainability report.

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Eco-Economy: Building an Economy for the Earth

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In 1543, Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus challenged the view that the Sun revolved around the earth, arguing instead that the earth revolved around the Sun. His paper led to a revolution in thinking -to a new worldview. A new book, Eco-Economy, discusses the need today for a similar shift in our worldview. Since 1974, Lester Brown, through the Worldwatch Institute’s annual State of the World reports, has served as a witness to our planet’s deteriorating ecology. Now he’s started a new non-profit, Earth Policy Institute, to help people develop a shared vision of what an environmentally sustainable economy, an eco-economy would look like. This book outlines his vision. “We can see glimpses of the eco-economy emerging in the wind farms of northern Germany, the solar rooftops of Japan, the reforested mountains of South Korea, and the steel recycling mills of the U.S.” The question is, do we join together to build an economy that is sustainable or do we keep at the status quo until its inevitable decline? One way or another the choice will be made by our generation, but it will affect life on earth for countless generations to come. Download the book or order it: www.earth-policy.org

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EcoFilmFest & Expo

If you are in San Diego the first week of February, check out the first EcoFilmFest & Expo at the San Diego Natural History Museum (February 1-3). You will be treated to award-winning films (with speakers and discussions), live performances, and innovative product displays that demonstrate effective individual responses to sustainability issues. The group is looking for volunteers to help them develop future directions such as an ecofilm competition and gaia awards to raise the visibility of sustainability to the American public.http://www.ecofilmfest.org

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Sustainable Design in the Forefront

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Green Building Conference Alongside OlympicsMany of the world’s greatest green buildings will be on display alongside this year’s Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The conference and exhibition, “The Physical Fitness of Cities: Vision and Ethics in City Building” will coincide with the games, February 1-3. Countries from around the world will display their approaches and leading examples of green design. Guess who is the keynote? [sorry this link is no longer available]Royal Institute of British Architects CompetitionThe theme of this year’s competition is urban sustainability. Using the Lochend Butterfly site in Edinburgh, Scotland, students and architects may submit entries that explore issues of environmental, social and economic sustainability. Previous themes have been Ideas for a Holistic Hotel, Ideas for a Sustainable School and Zero CO2 housing. First prize for this international competition is L10,000 (US $14,500). Deadline: February 28, 2002. [sorry this link is no longer available]Green Design SchoolsThe Ecosa Institute in Prescott, Arizona is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to incorporating sustainability into the design professions. Architecture, planning, and landscape design students participate in an intensive semester program that immerses them in ecological design and whole-systems thinking. The first Total Immersion Program In Sustainable Design graduated its first […]

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European Renewable Energy Masters Degree

Nine universities across Europe with a reputation for teaching renewable energy are joining together to offer a Masters degree in Renewable Energy. The one-year course is devised for engineers or equivalent technical background. Predicting the number of people that will be employed as renewable energy expands is difficult, but one thing is certain: there are too few training and education programs around the world for the number of people that will be needed. EWEA (European Wind Energy Association) predicts the current 30,000 wind energy jobs in Europe will increase to 190,000-320,000 new jobs to reach 40 MW of wind power. For PV, about 100,000 employees will be required to reach a production capacity of 3 GWp. The European Biomass Association projects that employment will increase to 100,000 to realize current expansion plans.Currently, most training in the field takes place as part of other coursework. A 1995-6 study of 624 companies, organizations, research centers and universities concluded there are few postgraduate level teaching materials specifically on renewable energy. The Masters course is divided into 3 parts: a Core Module providing a technical foundation in key technologies; Specialization in one technology or implementation aspect; and a Project, during which the student gains […]

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