Sustainable Business Practices and eco2sys this week merged to be now known collectively as Business Shaper. Continuing to deliver sustainable business practices to business, government and not for profit organisations the merger represents a collaboration of some of Australia's leading knowledge and experience in sustainability, CSR and climate change. Read full story

Australian superannuation funds are warning they could pull out of investments in companies that do not adequately consider the implications of the introduction of an emissions trading scheme. Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST), CEO Fiona Reynolds has advised company board members that super funds may not invest in companies that fail to disclose the environmental risks they are exposed to, or do not increase their efforts to manage them. Read full story

Research commissioned by the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees (AIST) has revealed that climate change presents "one of the greatest of all" long-term risks to super funds in Australia. The recent AIST report titled "Carbon Counts 2008, The Carbon Footprints of Australian Superannuation Investment Managers" analysed 14 of Australia's largest superannuation funds, finding a 36 percent difference in the size of carbon footprints between funds and an eightfold difference amongst their equity portfolios. According to the report, "Sustainability and Growth portfolios were the most carbon efficient, while the Enhanced Index portfolios - with their tendency to select more Basic Resources, Construction and Materials, Oil & Gas and Utilities stocks - had the greatest carbon intensity." Read full story

An ambitious plan to create millions of jobs and rejuvenate the global economy has been hatched by the United Nations. Originally suggested by the New Economic Foundation the "Green New Deal" calls for a reinvestment in job creating programmes fostering the environment, rather than ones of speculation, that have been the cause of current financial woes. Read full story

Recent modelling, commissioned by the Climate Institute shows that if an emissions trading scheme was introduced without energy efficiency measures or the renewable energy targets (RET) it could cost the country's electricity sector more than $40billion. Read full story

While just over 50 percent of employees say their organisation contributes positively to the community, only 39 percent believe there are effective processes in place to avoid non-sanctioned actions. According to the latest report by Insync Surveys, Asia Pacific's leading provider of benchmark surveys, these findings put many organisations at risk of facing "legislative action, reduced employee morale and customer complaints". Read full story

Melbourne Sustainability Drinks
5 November 2008
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Adelaide Sustainability Drinks
19 November 2008
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100 Mile Trial
A group of us are endeavoring to eat more locally - from within 160 kms - for the first week of December. From Sunday 30th November – Saturday 6th December.
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One Just World
29 October 2008
One Just World is a series of free after-work public forums, with outstanding speakers tackling some of the big issues in international development.
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