There's a fascinating article over on Earth Policy Institute detailing significant trends in carbon emissions. Definitely worth a read. Among the most shocking bits in the piece:
"The carbon dioxide that is not absorbed by these natural sinks remains in the atmosphere, where it traps heat. The level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which stood between 260 and 285 parts per million (ppm) from the beginning of agriculture until the Industrial Revolution, has risen rapidly in the last two-and-a-half centuries, to over 387 ppm today. The last time carbon dioxide levels were this high was roughly 15 million years ago, when sea level was 25–40 meters (80–130 feet) higher and global temperatures were 3–6 degrees Celsius (5–11 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer." [emph FT]
Shocking to think about... consider that natural systems are going to face some dramatic changes in the years ahead. How would such a sea rise or temperature shift affect the area where you live?
Jaime Lerner is an architect by trade, who served as the long standing Mayor of Curitiba Brazil. Both in Curitiba, and also as Governor of Paraná State, he lead sweeping changes that helped alleviate poverty, improve the quality of life, and attract some US$20bn in investment to the region. Winner of numerous awards and nominated by Time magazine as one of the top 25 most influential thinkers in the world, the maestro of civic leadership joined us to talk livable cities.
Forward Thinking: At the World Cities Summit (WCS), there was a lot of talk about the important role leadership plays in making a great urban environment. For you, how much did leadership play a role in the transformation of Curitiba?
Jaime Lerner: I think when you want to have change, you must first have political will. You have to have solidarity and strategy. You must know how to build a good equation of core responsibility, one that transforms problems to solutions. This will has to be a commitment from people to the areas that leadership wants to improve. It has to be a team effort. (article continues)
In concert with Eco-business.com, we're pleased to announce the next Forward Thinking Thursday will be held on Thursday 15 of July 2010 at Fou De Fa Fa from 7-9 p.m. The venue boasts a wide range of healthy food and drinks (wine too!) and is just steps off the Tanjong Pagar MRT. Please join us for an evening of making connections, progressing ideas, and being inspired. We try to keep the crowd small and meaningful, so please RSVP if you'd be so kind. (psst Forward clients: If you join us, your food/drink is on us!)
See you there!
Venue details are as follows:
Fou De Fa Fa - 168 Robinson Road - Phone 6327 9418
Restaurant reviews can be found here, in case you're wondering.
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Businesses often associate corporate social responsibility (CSR) with philanthropy. While charitable acts are noble, businesses might not only be missing out on making a bigger positive impact, but also on opportunities to build brand value. Entrepreneur, traveller, and founder of Buy1Give1 (B1G1) Masami Sato shares the logic behind her social enterprise, and the key to unlocking the business benefits of giving.
Forward Thinking: As an entrepreneur running a food manufacturing business, you and your business partner David believed quite strongly in philanthropy and “giving back.” Could you explain what that meant for you running the business, and where your thinking was at the time?Masami Sato: As you know, the way business works in our world continuously evolves and that fascinates me and drives me to become ever more curious. There is no end to what we can learn in business. And I enjoy it the most when I see how a simple business idea can impact our life in a meaningful way.
We first went into the food business 10 years ago. I used to be a chef and I believed that everyone deserves to eat nutritious and wholesome food no matter how our lifestyles change. So running a business that could provide what we believed was one way for us to take an active role in creating a better world.
But there was something more. I traveled a lot when I was in my twenties and saw different realities of life. While there were people who had so much and were still feeling dissatisfied, there were people who had very little yet they were feeling more connected and contented. I’ve come to think that it’s not about how much we have or how much we get that make us feel fulfilled; it’s about how much we care and contribute that really nourishes our life.
By running a company that aimed to do more than just trading commodities and making money, we wanted to be part of creating a new movement – creating a giving culture in business and as a result, in our everyday activities. (article continues)