Green Marketing in the Age of Transparency

California’s Global Warming Law Under Attack

HUD Promotes Obama’s Pitch for Sustainable Communities

Coming Together on Climate Bill

US Government to Cut GHGs by 28 Percent

US Recommits to Climate Goals

The Essential CSR Best Practices

Concern About Global Warming Continues to Drop in the US

As we reported in our Top 5 Sustainability Communications Trends for 2010, companies will continue realigning their core business values to adhere to new demands for greater transparency from stakeholders, competitors, regulators, and consumers.

Today’s Forbes/Corporate Knights ranking of the world’s 100 most sustainable companies is a key proof point for this trend, as the list shows more of the world’s largest companies are communicating sustainability proactively, transparently, and as a core business value.

The list is dominated by companies in Europe and the US that have succeeded in communicating the link between their sustainability initiatives and core strengths and values. Congratulations to to GE and PG&E for breaking the mold and achieving the number one and two rankings respectively.

Over the next 11 months, there will be more opportunities for US companies to show their wares. New 2010 sustainability rankings will be released by the Dow Jones Sustainability and FTSE4Good indices, Newsweek’s Green Rankings of the S&P 500, the Carbon Disclosure Project Leadership Index, and many others. Given the market volatility throughout 2009, noting which companies rose and fell in the rankings this past year tells us much about how sustainability factored into companies’ responses to the economic downturn.

 Submitted by Grant Draper, FD Element

New Report is a Primer on Top Sustainability Strategies

Coke Introduces Plant-Based Bottles

Carbon Traders Quit Emissions Market Amid Drop in Demand

If Poll Says ‘Yes’ to Climate Bill, Why Do Lawmakers Say ‘Maybe’?

Official Data Confirms 3.3 Percent in Car Emissions

Nike Shrinks GHG Footprint to 2007 Levels and Dumps Offsets

Health or Climate Spending: Can We Have Both?

NASA: 2009 Second Warmest Year on Record

Targeting Energy Efficiency

Electricity Sector Could Reduce Emissions 18% by 2020: Study

Sixty Corporations Begin Measuring Emissions from Products and Supply Chains

Tech Companies to Mine for Sustainability Data

How a Kindergarten Mentality Can Drive Widespread Energy Efficiency

Morocco Hopes to Shine in Mega Solar Project

Golden State Warriors Going Green

Sinking Islands and their Consequences

Canadian Tar Sands are Target of Shareowner Resolution at Shell

Financing our Cleantech Future

Portland General Electric Hopes to Eliminate Coal from Power Plant

Why Go Green?

A Blueprint for Greening New York City’s Buildings

Biodiversity: A Tipping Point on Species Loss?

Settlement Reached in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Lawsuit

Investors Urge Governments to Take Immediate Action on Climate Change

“It’s a horrible idea,” said Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), the lead author behind the main piece of climate and energy legislation to be taken up in the Senate later this year.

But, as NYT reported today, Senate Democrats like Energy and Natural Resources Chair Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico, Agriculture Chair Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Policy Chairman Byron Dorgan of North Dakota (among others) believe an energy-only bill (read: a bill that includes investments in renewables, offshore drilling, nuclear, and clean coal, but omits measures such as a renewable energy standard (RES) and cap-and-trade) is the most viable option in what promises to be a difficult election year for Democrats.

The official White House policy, according to Carol Browner, is that a “comprehensive bill” that packages energy investments with climate change measures is still the preferred approach. In an online video chat yesterday, Browner stressed the importance of a comprehensive bill.

With jobs legislation being pushed to the fore and the health care debate far from over, it’s very difficult to imagine a comprehensive bill being taken up for a vote (much less obtaining the required 60 votes) this year. But with the Copenhagen Accord in the books and increasing momentum toward achieving a global treaty, the pressure is on the US to put walk the talk on climate.

Also factoring into the mix is the EPA, which finalized its endangerment finding and is now fully authorized to move forward on its own track to regulate greenhouse gases.

It will be interesting to see if/how EPA leverages this authority to catalyze action in the Senate. EPA has so far been mum on its plans to implement regulation, but this is a development worth keeping an eye on in 2010.

Submitted by Grant Draper, President of FD Element

US Eyes Nuclear Plants in Climate Battle

Green China: Friend or Foe?

EPA to Improve Ozone Standards

Survey: Canadians Say Climate Change is Larger Threat than Terrorism in New Decade

Can China Turn Cotton Green?

Why Triple  Bottom Line Matters More Than Ever

US Awards $2.3 Billion for Green Jobs

Largest US Farm Group Rallies Against Farm Bill

The Green Business Decade in Review

Washington Slaps Fee on Plastic Shopping Bags

Pope Urges Lifestyle Changes to Save Environment

Sustainability Executives Gaining Corporate Prominence

VC Investment in Greentech Approaches $5B in 2009

Arctic Pipeline Conditionally Improved

Brazil Announces National Policy on Climate Change

Eco-Officers Moving into Executive Suites