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February 26, 2008 
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What's Hot in Climate Today
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Calculating Your Company's Carbon Footprint: It's Just Not That Hard
So says Mike Wallace of Trucost, an environmental research organization that focuses on quantifying the impact of business on the environment. In this SLM interview, Mike explains what's holding some companies back, why the U.S. businesses continue to lag behind their European counterparts, and why that might soon be changing - and faster than you think. Read more...
(To listen to our conversation with Mike, click here.) This Week's Top News... United Technologies Cuts Climate Emissions, Boosts Shareholder Returns 
Cutting carbon emissions is perfectly compatible with increasing returns to shareholders, according the just-released 2007 Corporate Responsibility Report from United Technologies Corporation. Last year UTC cut greenhouse gas emissions 5%, while at the same time boosting shareholder return on investment to 24%. Read more...
Climate Concerns Credited with 30% Growth in High-Speed Rail 
The number of travelers using the Eurostar high-speed rail service for travel between London and Paris has jumped by nearly a third over the past two years, and "a significant part of that growth comes from companies wishing to switch to greener modes of transport," according to Eurostar CEO Richard Brown. Read more...
Virgin Atlantic 747 First Biofuel-Powered Commercial Plane 
A Virgin Atlantic 747 flew from London to Amsterdam yesterday powered in part by fuel derived from renewable plant sources. One of the plane's four fuel tanks contained a blend of 80% conventional jet fuel and 20% biofuel composed of coconut and babassu nut oils from the Amazonian rainforest. Read more...
Merck Ups Commitment to GHG Emissions Reduction 
Pharmaceuticals giant Merck has announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its global operations by 12% (from 2004 levels) by the end of 2012. The new target has been set as part of the company's continued participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Climate Leaders program, which Merck joined in 2006. Read more...
Southwest CEO Says Airlines Are Already Very Fuel-Efficient 
A government-imposed cap-and-trade system for greenhouse gas emissions won't improve airline fuel efficiency - because economic pressures have already forced the aviation industry to take highly proactive efficiency measures, according to Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly. Writing in an editorial for CRO Magazine, Kelly outlines a string of fuel-saving initiatives already onboard at Southwest. Read more...
British Columbia Imposes Carbon Tax 
Following in the footsteps of other regional governments, Canada's westernmost province plans to impose a tax on carbon emissions. Over objections by the Canadian national government, which opposes patchwork legislation of carbon emissions, British Columbia will levy the tax to help achieve its goal of reducing emissions 33% by 2020. Read more...
U.K. Introduces Best Practices for Carbon Offsets 
The British government has formalized its recommendations for businesses seeking to offset their carbon footprint with renewable-energy credits. The new Code of Best Practice is limited, however, to carbon offset projects currently registered under the Kyoto Protocol. Read more...
Climate Change Still Low on Boardroom Agenda 
Eighty-five percent of senior executives in the U.K. think that climate change is a significant business issue and more than three-quarters think it will grow in importance, according to a new KPMG survey. Yet despite this, 82% admit they still don’t have a strategy in place to respond to climate change. Read more...
More Climate Management News & Tools... SLM Readers Speak Out! SLM reader KJanowski had this to say in response to Will Sarni's editorial last week on emerging U.S. carbon regulations: "Thankfully, The Climate Registry is well on its way to fulfilling this role. With 39 U.S. states, 2 Mexican states, and 7 Canadian provinces collaborating to develop a common greenhouse gas emissions reporting system, I am hopeful that there will be a single North American program that will link to existing international programs....."Looks like North American businesses will have to band together sooner rather than later; this week the Canadian province of British Columbia passed its own version of a carbon tax. Read more, and post your own comments, here. 
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B Lab's Jay Coen Gilbert on What It Takes to Be a "B Corporation" 
B Lab, a nonprofit organization launched in July, certifies and promotes B Corporations (B for “beneficial”) - companies that meet exacting standards for environmental and social performance. In seven months the program has ballooned to include over 80 certified U.S. companies representing $650 million in revenues. In this SLM interview, B Lab co-founder Jay Coen Gilbert explains what’s in it for companies, employees, communities, and the environment. (And a recent study suggests that shareholders will benefit, too.) Read more...
What Green Marketers Can Learn from Prius' Success 
Hardly a week goes by without Toyota’s Prius making green marketing headlines. Let's take a step back and analyze why this product has been so wildly successful, attracting a broad swath of consumers — and not just deep-green ones — like a powerful magnet, all the while creating a new definition of automotive cool. By Jacquelyn Ottman Read more...
EcoImpact CO2 Calculator 
EcoSynergy’s EcoImpact CO2 Calculator tabulates the carbon emissions associated with many common consumer packaged goods, offering eco-conscious manufacturers and retailers a quick snapshot of a given product category’s average carbon footprint and top emissions contributors. The free calculator can be emailed among web users or embedded in a user's website. For more about EcoSynergy and to use or share the EcoImpact CO2 Calculator, click here.
Top Headlines from Other SLM Channels Coke's New Marketing Campaign Aims to Redefine Corporate Sustainability Cargill, Ford, Boeing Named to Portfolio's 10 Worst Polluters List China Orders Polluting Firms to Disclose Environmental Risks to Investors GM Exec Unapologetic About Calling Climate Change a "Crock" USPS-Approved Reusable Envelopes Cut Mailing Costs for Marketers Honda Tests "Heat-Harnessing" Hybrid Engine Intel Tops CRO's 100 Best Corporate Citizens List New Study Links Sustainability with Higher Share Prices SB'08 Plans Taking Shape! 
A flurry of activity is taking place behind the scenes as plans take shape for SB'08, June 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency, Monterey. Check in for a sneak peek, and save money by registering today!
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