Tag: sustainability

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Profit-driven plastic industry’s toxic pollution, turning a systemic problem to a personal one

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A compelling exposé of the industry flooding our world with plastic, the fundamental material for modern consumerism, spanning our daily lives. Although the oil and petrochemical companies making it are hiding in plain sight. Because for all the vivid coverage of where plastic ends up, there is remarkably little discussion of where it comes from. Today, industry is pouring billions of dollars into plans to double, or even triple, the amount it churns out, even as individuals concerned about plastic’s out-of-control proliferation try to use less. As Big Oil shares down a future of diminishing demand for fossil fuels, plastic … Continue reading Profit-driven plastic industry’s toxic pollution, turning a systemic problem to a personal one

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Global push to power EVs, Smartphones and energy transition amid human and environmental costs

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Niarchos in The Elements of Power produces a tale of rapacious colonialism, cold war spy games and extractive capitalism”. Congo the war-torn African country lack basic infrastructure and after many decades of colonial occupation, its people are officially among the poorest in the world. But Congo is rich and hidden beneath the soil are vast quantities of cobalt, lithium, copper, tin, tantalum, tungsten and other treasures essential for the global energy transition- the plan for wealthy nations to wean themselves off fossil fuels by shifting to sustainable forms of energy such as solar and wind. The race to electrify the … Continue reading Global push to power EVs, Smartphones and energy transition amid human and environmental costs

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Supply of battery metals amid big business rivalry and geopolitics

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The Elements of Power is a tale of rapacious colonialism, Cold War spy games, dazzling technical innovation, big business rivalry, big power geopolitics. Nicholas Niarchos’s epic shocking story of the war for the global supply of battery metals- essential for the decarbonization of our economies- and the terrible, bloody human cost of this badly misunderstood industry. Swaths of war-torn Congo, the African country is rich but lack basic infrastructure, and after many decades of colonial occupation, its people are officially among the poorest in the world. But hidden beneath the soil are vast quantities of cobalt, lithium, copper, tin, tantalum, … Continue reading Supply of battery metals amid big business rivalry and geopolitics

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Accidental billionaire

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Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia, one of the most extraordinary brands in the corporate world, the rare company that is driven by environmental activism instead of cutthroat capitalism. Patagonia founded in 1973, a US clothing company trailing associations of rugged outdoor pursuits, posting sales of more than $1billion a year. Chouinard distrustful of capitalism, even as he engaged in it, investment bankers co-opted the garments into their uniforms, sometime wearing under their suit jackets or blazers. The company has distinguished itself as a singular beacon for socially responsible business, the rare company that can legitimately claim to be doing its … Continue reading Accidental billionaire

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Chasing peak sugar

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Next time spare a thought when you are adding sugar to your morning English Breakfast Tea or coffee, the challenges faced by sugarcane farming. Inside the world of green sugarcane crops, world’s largest sugar farmers of Kolhapur district in Maharashtra spanning several thousand acres owned by the Maharashtra State Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation and Uttar Pradesh (India) are seeking the help of Artificial Intelligence aided by scientists from the Agricultural Development Trust of Baramati using Microsoft AI technology. Weather station is a tall metal structure with gauges for wind, solar, temperature and humidity are on the top and at the … Continue reading Chasing peak sugar

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Harnessing business power for sustainability

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How pioneering business billionaires are resetting their companies’ relationship to nature, society, and our common future creating sustainable prosperity and reveals us how to balance business needs with impact on nature, shareholders with stockholders, and short-term vs Long-term profits. Strategies for addressing the negative externalities and trade-offs  that arise from doing business, identifying the right metrics and targets to deliver on your purpose, and accounting for human, social and natural capital, alongside financial capital. A must-read book for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers at companies around the world. Luc Hoffman, heir to the Roche Pharmaceutical group shows us how business … Continue reading Harnessing business power for sustainability

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Death by reckless cycling is to become an offence

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Cycling death or serious injury by dangerous or careless cycling is set to become an offence, after the British government agreed to a change in the law. Under the change, dangerous cyclists could face up to 14 years in prison. Rigorous campaigning by Tory MP and former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith had proposed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill, which is currently going through Parliament. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir iain  Duncan Smith said his proposal was not anti-cycling, it is about making sure this takes place in a safe and reasonable manner, but cyclists … Continue reading Death by reckless cycling is to become an offence

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Growth & innovation allowed people to escape cycles of boom and bust

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Economic growth has freed billions from poverty in the past two decades and made our lives far healthier and longer, resulting in the unfettered pursuit of growth  defining economic life around the world. However, this prosperity has come at an enormous price: deepening inequalities, destabilizing technologies, environmental destruction and climate change. Daniel Susskind, economist, argues that too few people understand growth and many in our era of sluggish productivity, the worry is slowing growth – in the UK, Europe, China and elsewhere – and reversing this stagnation is the goal of every politician. Some eco-warriors think there’s too much of … Continue reading Growth & innovation allowed people to escape cycles of boom and bust

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Barclays regains ownership of Telegraph

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Barclays family regains ownership of Daily Telegraph after they used £1.1bn, part cash paid by prospective buyer RedBird LMI  and rest covered by International Media Investments, to pay off bad loans, although the family will not have any control over its operations as a independent board will oversee the newspaper, and its sister the Spectator magazine. Ofcom is vetting a takeover by the Abu Dhabi-backed group. The media group emerged from receivership after six months in the hands of its lender Lloyds Banking Group after the family used cash provided by RedBird LMI who will swap partial control of the … Continue reading Barclays regains ownership of Telegraph