Annually, BP produces an informative and broad-based review and prediction of energy production and usage. There is a 6½ minute video presentation by BP Group Chief Economist, Spencer Dale, which summarises the contents of the report. On the same page as the video presentation, there is a link to the Energy Outlook launch webcast hosted by BP Chief Executive, Bob Dudley, assisted by Spencer Dale, held on 25^th January 2017.

Spencer Dale commented, “…The main story in this year’s Energy Outlook is about energy transition that is taking place and is likely to continue to take place over the next 20 years. On the demand side, there’s a shift in the pattern of demand, away from the US and Europe to the fast growing Asian markets. On the supply side, the story is one of a continuing shift in the fuel mix towards lower carbon fuels…”

The UNEP publication, “The Business Case for the Green Economy – Sustainable Return on Investment”, although published in 2012, is still a relevant and valuable document, particularly when preparing motivations for sceptical directors and reluctant managers.

This 40 page document is right-sized to provide the basic facts and these are well supported by nine, one page, company case studies. The full Technical Report is available for those who wish to delve deeper into the facts.

For those who need to understand the emerging issues that may affect corporate risk management programmes, there is a very useful table on page 8 which describes material issues in various industry sectors and the implications for transition to a Green Economy. Of course, these implications also highlight the issues that are developing for those sectors which have not yet decided to consider the transition to a green economy focus.

Another useful table, on page 22, describes how brand reputation is often seen as an important reason for organisational responses to calls for increased sustainability. The thought provoker here is the list of business benefits along the bottom access of the table.

The Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC) has launched its flagship Better Business, Better World report. The report sets out to map the economic prize that could be available to business if the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are achieved. Following extensive research, it has identified 60 sustainable and inclusive market “hotspots” across four key areas (energy; cities; food and agriculture; health and wellbeing) that could create at least US$12 trillion in business value by 2030 and generate up to 380 million jobs. The report was produced by three dozen leaders from the private sector and civil society (including CEOs from four WBCSD member companies and our President and CEO, Peter Bakker).

The Better Business, Better World report was supported by: the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF), the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the UK Department for International Development (DFID).

The Business and Sustainable Development Commission was launched in Davos in January 2016. It brings together leaders from business, finance, civil society, labour, and international organisations, with the twin aims of mapping the economic prize that could be available to business if the UN Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, and describing how business can contribute to delivering these goals.

Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) is a monthly, peer-reviewed journal of research and news, published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. EHP‘s news content is prepared by science journalists and reviewed by subject matter experts. Published since 1972, EHP has been online-only since January 2013. EHP is open access, and all content is available for free online. Articles can be downloaded as PDF files.

The environmental health sciences include many fields of study and increasingly comprise a multidisciplinary research area. EHP publishes articles from a wide range of scientific disciplines encompassing basic research; epidemiologic studies; risk assessment; relevant ethical, legal, social, environmental justice, and policy topics; longitudinal human studies; and in vitro and in vivo animal research with a clear relationship to human health. Children are uniquely sensitive to their environments, and thus EHP devotes a research section specifically to issues surrounding children’s environmental health.

As an example of the diversity of topics published in the journal, the January 2017 issue contains papers on: an estimation of premature deaths attributable to vegetation smoke, the global food system as a transport pathway for hazardous chemicals,  Colorectal Cancer and Long-Term Exposure to Trihalomethanes in Drinking Water, Urban and Transport Planning Related Exposures and Mortality: A Health Impact Assessment for Cities, and Placental Pathology Associated with Household Air Pollution in a Cohort of Pregnant Women from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) report, “Quantification Matters – How To Mobilize Finance For Social Impact”, first released in September 2016, demonstrates how impact and financial value go hand in hand. The private sector can be a central actor for positive social impact, transforming global problems into opportunities. The report suggests that more clearly communicating the business case of these opportunities is the key to mobilizing finance.

Key findings suggest that:- mainstream finance mechanisms are more powerful in creating social impact at scale than a separate asset class (for example, social impact bonds); it is a myth that social impact bonds are a panacea in that their risk/return profile makes them unviable for traditional investors; and to achieve viable and scalable social impact, companies need to mobilize support from institutional investors.

Freshwater Governance for the 21st Century is a free book published by Springer Open and the South African Water Research Council.

The stated purpose of the book is to illustrate, in broad terms, the general matters of freshwater governance, mapping the spectrum of decision-making. The book aspires to contribute to the transitioning between techno-centric and eco-centric approaches, or a hybrid concept, to people-centric approaches. The set of book chapters presented in the volume are based on the existing current knowledge as well as the authors’ experience working in the water sector, using nontechnical jargon in order to reach a wider audience. The target audience of this volume will range from academics, technicians, decision-makers, and managers to students; the aim is to target not just academia but also policy-makers and deep thinkers.

The book was contemplated in late 2012 after the International Conference on Fresh Water Governance which was held in South Africa. It was actively pursued after the then newly appointed WRC CEO, Mr. Dhesigen Naidoo, led the initial authors’ workshop in Madrid. The premise was that freshwater governance needed some serious reflection and collective wisdom to chart its way forward.

The Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSA), in collaboration with the South African Academy of Engineering (SAAE), has pre-published a report on its investigations into the readiness of South Africa to support the shale gas industry. The 144 page report entitled, “South Africa’s Technical Readiness to support the Shale Gas Industry”, is very cautious and recommends further studies, feasibility and development of control structures.

It does seem to imply that a shale gas industry in South Africa is inevitable, although it does also recommend that an assessment of the economic implications of shale gas development in South Africa must be undertaken to critically assess the supply-demand situation, with further emphasis on comprehensive public consultation and engagement processes with local communities in the Karoo. It also states that the decision-making process on whether or not to proceed with the development of a shale gas industry must be based upon, “…robust and peer-reviewed evidence…”

The Report was commissioned in 2014 by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) to assess current available information and technologies in the country should shale gas exploitation be implemented to counter energy challenges. The Report was considered by the South Africa Cabinet on 28^th September 2016.

Shale gas development has been in the news recently and a great deal of hot air has been expended upon the virtues and disadvantages of the initiatives. It is clear that many folk have no idea of the actual process involved and its varying risks. The Worldwatch Institute has produced a plain language briefing document called “Beneath the Surface: A Survey of Environmental Risks from Shale Gas Development.” This informative document is very useful and easy to understand and will help the lay person to understand the fundamentals of the debate that needs to be had on the extraction of shale gas. The publication can be downloaded by going to:-  http://www.worldwatch.org/system/files/BP1.pdf

AJH

The ICMM has released a guidance booklet called “Working together” which tackles the difficult task of mining companies engaging with the artisanal and small scale mining sector. Estimates suggest that as many as 100 million people (mostly in the developing world) are dependent upon the fruits of small scale mining. Encounters between mining companies and small scale miners are increasing and common issues such as security, human rights, historical and cultural conditions, environmental management, pollution, and relocation programs require careful and sensitive management. The booklet includes background information, suggested approaches and strategies and tools for engaging with small scale miners. The publication can be freely downloaded at:- http://www.icmm.com/document/789