Tag Archives: green
Philanthropy needs audacious thinking
Philanthropy needs audacious thinking (Wam) / 24 July 2013 Philanthropists should tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges such as poverty, endemic diseases and illiteracy through audacious and innovative thinking without fear of failure, a leading global expert on philanthropy has said. “What we need to do more in philanthropy is think and talk about failure,” Michael Green, London-based economist and writer, said in a lecture attended by General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, here on Monday. “Failure has a very potent part in our lives, in our learning processes, but it seems to be an alien concept in the world of philanthropy. Failure is a chance to learn things. You learn more from failure than from success.” Green made it clear that failure was a result of putting new ideas into action as well as a product of taking bold and innovative decisions. “Fail often, but move on and learn from the failure,” Green, who is the executive director of the Social Progress Imperative (SPI), said. The SPI runs the Social Progress Index, which ranks a group of 50 countries by their social and environmental performance. The UAE topped the list in the Middle East and North Africa states that have been ranked in this year’s index. Green’s lecture was part of a series of lectures organised by Gen. Shaikh Mohammed’s Majlis at Al Bateen Palace in Abu Dhabi. The lecture series is held every year during the holy month of Ramadan and speakers include renowned scholars, scientists, experts and decision-makers in different areas of interest. Green has written a number of books, including ‘The Economist of Philanthrocapitalism: How Giving Can Save the World’, which he co-authored with Matthew Bishop. He has also written ‘The Road from Ruin: A new capitalism for the big society’. In his lecture, the philanthropy expert gave a number of examples of world-renowned philanthropists, including Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, and British-Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim. He said ambition and leadership were key traits of Gates’ philanthropic work, which includes a drive to eliminate death from Malaria in Africa. “Bill Gates stuck his head out and took a leadership role in eradicating malaria. He’s pushing for ending deaths from malaria by the end of this decade perhaps,” Green said. “Ambitious leadership, taking a risk, standing out and saying let’s go for it, let’s do it. He’s doing this not only on malaria but also in school reforms in America,” said Green. He argued that philanthropists, unlike major corporations or governments, have more freedom to take risks and test new ideas. “If governments are having to do the conventional things, then shouldn’t philanthropy be trying the crazy things? Trying things that no one can try?” he asked. Green ended his lecture by striking a note on the importance of educating the public about the values of philanthropy and the government’s role in this process. “Governments should define the role of philanthropy in society and explain to people why they should give,” he said. The lecture was attended by a number of Shaikhs and senior officials, including Shaikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Western Region; Shaikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in the Eastern Region; Shaikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; Shaikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; Lt-General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister. Continue reading
California’s Next Innovation: Performance-Based Rainforest Conservation (Commentary)
Guest commentary by David Rothschild and Karin Burns July 22, 2013 Often misunderstood, REDD+ forest carbon offsets are a “must have” for any realistic climate-change mitigation strategy. Californians are known as innovation leaders, and once again, we are on the verge of demonstrating critical leadership. Only this time it isn’t about the Internet, social networking, reality television, venture capital or electric cars. It is about stopping tropical deforestation and supporting local communities. ‘What!?’ you say? How is the great state of California, home of bankrupt and massive, thirsty desert cities and Silicon Valley, a place that elected such juggernauts of history as Ronald Reagan and Arnold Schwarzenegger, about to lead in avoiding tropical deforestation? Thanks to the people of California, and Arnold, in 2006 we passed the California Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32). As a result, this January the state launched its own cap-and-trade carbon market, demonstrating global leadership on climate change as well as opening doors to further innovation in green technologies and job creation. California now has an opportunity to again be an early adopter, offering polluting companies the chance to offset a small percentage of their carbon emissions by supporting reductions in tropical deforestation through a mechanism called jurisdictional REDD+ – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation. Since deforestation accounts for some 15% of global carbon emissions, reducing deforestation plays an essential role in addressing climate change. Trees perform vital functions for our climate such as absorbing and storing carbon. But they are currently not valued for these services – and it is this shortcoming that REDD+ forest carbon offsets aim to address. Entities regulated under AB32 would be able to contribute to this solution by reducing a small portion of their emissions by purchasing forest carbon offsets as part of their strategies to reduce their carbon emissions. Companies and other institutions can contribute to this effort by signing Code REDD’s Letter of Support for inclusion of REDD+ in CA’s climate policy. Carbon offsets are often misunderstood. Some claim they amount to “permits to pollute,” but this is not accurate. Offsets are necessary to achieving emission reduction goals as we transition to a low-carbon economy since they are one of the only ways to address unavoidable emissions. They are part of, and do not replace, companies’ emissions reductions efforts. To be clear, we aren’t talking a huge amount. If approved, California polluters would be allowed to offset just 2% to 4% of their compliance obligations with REDD+ offsets (only 8% can be offset in total). This means that 92% of a regulated entity’s carbon emissions must still be addressed at source. Yet this 2% to 4% would play a hugely important role—demonstrating to the world that REDD+ is a viable climate solution, and empowering local communities, protecting wildlife and slowing deforestation. And since the planet does not differentiate between CO2 molecules – no matter where they originate – reducing carbon emission from tropical deforestation is still reducing carbon emissions – even here in California. Furthermore, California’s leadership in REDD+ is already catalyzing innovation, growth in California’s green jobs, technology development, and public-private partnerships – right here in California. It is not enough anymore for businesses to simply change light bulbs and make their buildings more energy efficient. We need corporate leaders to understand that sustainability and addressing climate change means taking that extra step needed to meet our 2020 emissions goals. It is time for more companies to recognize and adopt offset policies as an integral part of carbon emission reduction plans. REDD+ allows responsible companies to go beyond the reductions achievable in their direct operations and offset their unavoidable emissions by reducing deforestation. In addition to jurisdictional REDD offsets under AB32, through the voluntary market companies and philanthropists today can directly support high-quality, high impact REDD+ projects. REDD+ projects “done right” are transforming the economic incentives that lead to deforestation, protecting endangered wildlife and improving the lives of local communities. These projects demonstrate that REDD+ can bring greater value to forests while supporting the rights of forest peoples. To help stop climate change, we must greatly reduce tropical deforestation. And there has been significant progress. But to succeed, we need to find ways to bring greater value to living forests. REDD+ forest carbon offsets are one step in the right direction. Let’s voice our support and help the great state of California make an important and vital contribution. About the authors: David Rothschild (left) serves as a Principal of the Portfolio Team at the Skoll Foundation and manages a variety of key relationships with funded social entrepreneurs, domain experts, policy makers, corporate partners and co-funders. Karin Burns (right) serves as Executive Director of Code REDD and advocates for corporate leaders to address climate change by catalyzing the market for REDD verified emissions reductions through both voluntary and compliance carbon markets. Editor’s note: Mongabay Founder and President Rhett Butler served as an advisor to the Skoll Foundation on deforestation-related issues from 2010-2012. Rhett was not involved with this commentary, other than posting it on the site. Read more at http://news.mongabay…A6vpj8ycicpP.99 Continue reading
Cushman Says Asia Is Best Destination for Property Investments
By Kathleen Chu – Jul 18, 2013 Cushman & Wakefield Inc., the largest closely held commercial broker, said Asia is the place to be for investment opportunities amid growing interest in the region’s property market. “Interest in real estate is absolutely as high as we have ever seen,” Executive Chairman Carlo Sant’Albano, 49, said in an interview in Tokyo. “When you look at the growth profile of the world in the next several years, Asia remains absolutely critical path for growth.” Carlo Barel Di Sant’Albano, executive chairman and chief executive officer of Cushman & Wakefield Inc. Photographer: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg Asia accounted for 47 percent of global real estate transactions last year, according to data compiled by the New York-based broker. Global property investment volume will probably exceed $1 trillion this year, the highest level since 2007, according to the data. China, Japan and Hong Kong were the top investment targets in 2012 from Asia, according to Cushman. The company, run by Italy’s Agnelli family that also controls Fiat SpA (F) , expanded its operations into Taiwan and the Philippines this year to capture the opportunities in the region. “If you want growth, Asia is the place you want to come,” said Sant’Albano. “If you want a very solid core investment, maybe more yield related rather than capital gain, you would look at Japan, London and Australia, and some of the major cities around the world.” To contact the reporter on this story: Kathleen Chu in Tokyo at kchu2@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story: Andreea Papuc at apapuc1@bloomberg.net Continue reading
