ICIS NeWS
March 2005
in this issue:
Editorial
Spotlight
- The Climes They Are A Changing
Transport
- London Black Cabs go green
- Guilt free driving on the agenda?
- Shell leading way for Hydrogen Fuel Stations
Business
- Kick in the teeth for CSR by Nestle Chief
Design
- Culture Jamming, The Adbuster Anti-Branding Shoe V.2.0
- Ethical Clothing
- Women in Design Initiative
Conservation and Spirituality
- Sacred Sites
Contact ICIS
ICIS CENTRE
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Tel (+45) 49 70 43 64
E-mail address: center@iciscenter.org
Editorial
Welcome to ICIS’ Spring E News! First a brief introduction from me. I’m Trudy Follwell and I joined the ICIS Secretariat in January this year to undertake research as well as ICIS’ communications. This is not my first experience with working with ICIS, as I helped develop the website and early marketing materials in 2002 when the office first opened. In between, I have been working for WWF Denmark on a business-sustainability network, the Nordic Partnership as well as finalising my masters in Environmental Science at Lund University, Sweden. Now I am back on board at ICIS with a little more experience and a renewed zeal for making a difference to our world.
As I write this, we are experiencing a thaw in the snowy weather that we’ve had here in Denmark for what feels like forever. As I look out at the window at the organic farm surrounding ICIS, the sunshine bounces off the lake, birds are beginning to sound optimistic and the warmth permeating the office gives a ‘hygglig’ feeling. And then I recall the articles that I have just been researching for this newsletter and realise that Denmark, as well as my home country England and in fact much of Northern Europe will be a vastly different place in fifty years time. I will be an old lady by then, but our children and grandchildren will have to survive and adapt to a far more hostile environment than the one we live in now.
Climate change has been on the international agenda for a long time now; many governments have agreed to ratify the Kyoto treaty which came into force in January, and most people are aware of the issue, even if only in an abstract way. However, the recent spate of news articles about climate change read like a horror story, and have really brought the issue home to us. This isn't alarmist hype; simply the findings of a recent international scientific conference - read more about that below in our Spotlight on climate change.
In this issue, we also look at some developments in the transport sector, in terms of hydrogen fuel technology and availability as well as the greening of a London taxi company. In business, we look at ethical clothing and Adbusters new ‘anti-branding’ training shoe and find forthcoming events in the Calendar.If you have any questions, comments or suggestions for this e-newsletter, please send them to me at trudy@iciscenter.org.
Peace
Trudy @ the ICIS Secretariat
Spotlight
- The Climes They are A Changing
The event that took place from 1st-3rd February at the UK’s Met Office’s Hadley Center for Climate Prediction and Research was entitled “Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change”; evidently a misnomer, as it seems clear that we cannot avoid it at all. Predictions from the IPCC (International Panel on Climate Change) as well as other organisations suggest an increase in global CO2 emissions by about 63% over 2002 levels by the year 2030. This means that that due to the time lag, we are almost certainly commmited to a temperature rise of between 0.5C and 2C by 2050, unless a portfolio of drastic measures are taken to mitigate this scenario.
A temperature rise of a couple of degrees may actually sound appealing to those of us living in the icy wastes of Scandinavia and northern Europe, but unfortunately it doesn’t quite work like that. Global warming would mean both the melting of ice in the Greenland and Arctic areas as well as movement of ice streams in the Antarctic, leading to significant rises in sea-levels.This change in temperature and sea-levels poses a strong probability of causing the collapse of the warm sea current known as the Gulf stream resulting in surprising and drastic drops in temperature in western Europe and North America, with global repercussions.The chance of this scenario actually happening was previously considered to be remote; now scientists believe it to be a fifty-fifty chance with new evidence of the disintegration of the West Antarctic ice sheet.
The problem is the scale of the situation compared with the parallel scale of the measures that are being taken by governments around the globe; they are not only inequal, they are actually moving apart. The weight of scientific evidence suggests that threat of climate change seems to be significantly more real now than it was only four years ago, when the last IPCC assessment was published. It seems that most countries, even those committed to Kyoto have not really gotten to grips with the issue and struggle to make a 5% cut in CO2 emissions, when perhaps more than 50% is needed to control climate change.
Faced with these facts, the whole scenario seems rather doomed. In a recent article in the British newspaper, The Independent, Michael Mathres suggests that something more like a global scale war-time command economy is necessary to effect that necessary change, with all human ingenuity and resources directed to one end – the replacement of carbon as an energy source. His example is the Manhattan Project; the American programme to build the atom bomb during WW2, “the greatest harnassing of the knowledge and productive resources of any country towards a single, immensely difficult scientific end; and it worked.” However, the world is a fragmented, geo-political reality and the USA itself is in denial about the climate change issue, so what real chance do we have?
Yes, we do feel a bit gloomy about the situation. The fact, however, that climate change is no longer hypothetical but an actuality, may mean that governments and individuals will wake up, smell the bacon and start to start to consider ways to ameliorate the effects of global warming when they happen. These must include schemes such as carbon-trading and sequestration, energy efficiency, new technology, and multi-gas strategies. However, there is now getting away from it; a radical change in behaviour from consumers and government leadership is a fundamental necessity.
Sources:
“Dramatic change in west antarctic ice could produce 16ft rise in sea levels”. The Independent Feb 2nd 2005
“Global Warming: scientists reveal timetable”. The Independent, Feb 3rd 2005
“Hotter world may freeze Britain”. The Guardian Feb 2nd 2005
“Burying Carbon”.The Guardian, Feb 3rd 2005
“International symposium on the stabilisation of greenhouse gases - Report of the Steering Committee”. Hadley Center, Met Office UK. 3rd Feb 2005 www.stabilisation2005.com
“Hotting Up” The Economist Feb 5th 2005
“First concrete global warming proof emerges from ocean” www.edie.net. 18th Feb 2005
“Needed: a new Manhattan Project”. The Independent 10th March 2005
“Ocean waters colder than a decade ago” www.edie.net 4th March 2005
Transport
- London Black cabs go green
The Radio Taxis Group, one of the largest fleets of London’s iconic black cabs has announced plans to be the world’s first carbon neutral taxi company. It will embark on a programme to measure and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its fleet of 3,000 cabs with a number of projects to offset the remaining unavoidable emissions through renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka and Bulgaria and sustainable forestry projects in the UK and Germany.
In total 24,000 tonnes of CO2 at a cost of £100,000 per annum will be offset and absorbed elsewhere in order to equal the tonnage emitted by the company and ensure that it is carbon neutral. In doing this, the group is taking on the responsibilities of the 3.8 million passengers who use the taxis, as well as the emissions caused by their own activities and offices.
The initiative is being led by Future Forests Ltd, a climate change business that aims to help companies and the public to understand their contribution to global warming and take action to offset CO2 emissions through carbon credits in a process that is verified annually through an independent auditor.
Sources:
www.edie.net
www.radiotaxis.co.uk
www.futureforests.com
ICIS View
Its easy to be cynical about the amount of greenwash in the corporate world, however, this appears to be a real commitment on behalf of a company that is taking responsibility for some of the environmental impact it has. We only hope that other transport organizations in major capital cities around the world follow suit.
- Guilt free driving on the agenda?
Honda’s chief engineer at its research and development department estimates that it will take at least 15 to 20 years before zero emission fuel cells will power us off the forecourt. However, its not all bad news as they have solved a fundamental problem of fuel-cells not working in colder climates. Fuel cell batteries usually don’t work at temperatures lower than zero, but Honda’s work has succeeded in creating fuel cells that work as low as –200C. Good news for Nordic people, but since Honda’s new hydrogen-powered supermini, the FCX, costs as much as 100 Civics, ownership is currently out of the equation. The other problem is that the FCX does 430km on a full tank; not bad for this type of energy cell but since hydrogen stations are still few and far between, not practical for everyday motoring. Perhaps by the time motors like the FCX are on the road, the question of safe storage of hydrogen will be solved and filling stations will be commonplace.
Source: The Irish Times and WBCSD www.wbcsd.org
Shell leading way for Hydrogen Fuel Stations
Shell Hydrogen, on the other hand, is very optimistic about hydrogen’s potential to become tomorrow’s fuel solution. The company has opened its first combined hydrogen/gasoline station in Washington DC, making its point in full view of the US’s policy-makers. The station which opened last November can supply both liquid and compressed hydrogen to a General Motors demonstration fleet of six fuel cell vehicles. Shell aims to become a market leader in the alternative fuels industry by plans to create mini-networks of fuelling stations with hydrogen facilities in public-private partnerships involving government, city councils, auto companies and energy providers. Next on the map is New York City’s metropolitan area in 2006, which will join up with DC’s station into an “East Coast Corridor”.
Source: Green Futures Jan/Feb 2005
www.shell.com/hydrogen for more information.
Business
- Kick in the teeth for CSR by Nestle Chief
When the CEO of a major global company rejects the need to ‘give back’ to communities, it deals a stunning blow to the rise of CSR and sustainability within the business community. In an address to Boston executives at a Boston College’s Chief Executives Club on 8th March, Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, head of the world’s largest food company, Nestle stated that a company’s obligation to the community is to create jobs and make products. His belief is that companies should only pursue charitable endeavours with an underlying intention of making money for investors. “What the hell have we taken away from society by being a successful company that employs people?” he said.
Nestle employs about 250,000 people directly worldwide and a total of 1 million indirectly, producing a wide range of products including confectionary, coffee, bottled water and baby formula. The company has been subjected to an ongoing boycott of its products, due to alleged non-compliance with the WHO code for promotion of milk substitutes. Campaigners argue that the company pushes the sale of powdered baby milk sales in developing countries with often polluted water supplies. Whether or not you choose to boycott Nestle is a personal issue, however, the fact that Nestle’s corporate leader feels no moral responsibility to reach out to the community, brings corporate America to a new low.
Source: Boston Herald and WBCSD www.wbcsd.org
Design
- Culture Jamming – The Adbusters Anti-branding shoe V.2.0
Canadian ‘culture-jammers’ Adbusters have developed a prototype second version of their Blackspot sneaker, an anti-branding sports shoe. The original Blackspot looks very much like the classic Converse All Stars but feature a hand-drawn white spot where the logo would be, as a stance against the pervasiveness of megacorporate brands such as Nike.
The shoes are made from organic hemp in a chemical-free process and uses 70% biodegradable rubber in the sole and toe cap. Manufactured in a worker-friendly factory in Portugal, the shoes are sold for only $7.25 profit, which will be used to finance Adbusters future social campaigns. Purchase of a pair from selected independent retail stores worldwide also gives you one vote as a shareholder in the Blackspot Anticorporation.
The new version has a high-top shape and recycled tire sole as well as the white ‘anti-logo’ and is also designed to revolutionize the notoriously non-sustainable sneaker industry. At the moment, it is featured on the Adbusters website (www.adbusters.org) for comment, before further development and the production line.
The sneaker is part of Adbusters ‘Anti-preneur’ movement which marries social activism with grass-roots capitalism in the form of enterprises that promote ethics over profit, values over image and idealism over hype. If they can harness serious consumer support, they plan to blackspot other industries such as music, restaurants, bio-diesel stations and more.
Source: www.adbusters.org
- Ethical clothing
The global fashion and textile industries have significant inpacts in terms of social, environmental, economic and ethical issues. Clothing that is produced in an organic and socially responsible way is not exactly new on the agenda. However, it has never really been associated with fashion as we know it, due to its hippy-granola image of frumpy, beige-coloured hemp clothing. But things are changing, with second-hand, or rather ‘vintage’ clothing now a valid choice for celebrities and fashionistas, while a spate of new organizations is bringing trendy garments to those who want fashionable but sustainably-produced clothes.
People Tree (www.ptree.co.uk) is an UK based online mail order catalogue of sustainable clothing, accessories and homewares beloved of current style icon, Sienna Miller. Howies (www.howies.co.uk) also has a new range of trendy organic jeans. And the trend seems to be catching on in the higher end of the fashion world, with designer Rogan Gregory launching a label of covetable organic denim, Loomstate (www.loomstate.org) as well as new socially responsible fashion label, Edun, featured in March’s American Vogue. Katherine Hamnett has long been a proponent of responsibility in the fashion industry and launches her chemical-free collection, Katherine E Hamnett (“e” for environmental and ethical) this fall. These designers are keen to differentiate themselves from the old hippy image, and compete with other high-fashion labels; the emphasis now is on desirable clothes and not a do-good “spinach” message.
Last month, a social and environmental organisation, Anti-Apathy conducted an experiment in which 12 fashion-obsessives and fashion-phobics attempted to survive in the world of sustainable fashion by using only recycled, reconditioned or organic clothes for a month and recording their experiences in an online blog.
Read more about the Fashion Addict experiment on www.antiapathy.org.
- Women in Design Initiative ICSID/Icograda
In the light of March’s International Women’s Day (ICSID), the International Council of Graphic Design Association (ICOGRADA) are undertaking a survey of “Women in Design” this project creates a platform for professional women throughout the global market to promote policies and strategies to elevate women in design. The survey will be sent to all members in March and its hoped that the results will add value to the member base as well as the Women in Design Initiative itself. The results will be published on www.icsid.org on completion.
Conservation and Spirituality
- Sacred Sites
Whether you take the view that sustainability is connected to spirituality or not, its certainly true that many religions and spiritual traditions have a reverence for nature that is absent from the secular Western societies that are responsible for global environmental degradation. Perhaps the kind of transformation that sustainability requires is connected to a sense of sacredness and spirituality that needs to be re-emphasised and nurtured in westernized society.WWF, the global conservation organization has long recognized the links between faith and the earth with their Sacred Gifts initiative, which publicly celebrates the globally significant conservation efforts of religious communities world-wide. Their website has a list of the contributions made from various of the world’s religions. http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/how_we_work/gifts_to_the_earth/about_sacred.cfm
The London-based International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) has been involved in Peru’s first official recognition of a natural sacred site in the Vilcanota region of the Andes. With its snow-capped mountains, Vilcanota is a prime tourist area as well as an important ecosystem and one of the main centres of genetic diversity of important Andean crops.
The ancient spiritual values of the local Q’ero people are used in the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in the area. For them, the mountains are considered to be sacred beings representing the most important expression of human aspirations.
The Vicanota Spiritual Park is based on the integration of traditional models of landscape management with modern ones and could serve as a model for the establishment of other special conservation areas in the Andes.www.iied.org
Despite what seem like insurmountable differences, many faiths share a common value system based on harmony with the Earth and reation. The Harvard Forum on Religion and Ecology has a website with introductory essays on each of the world’s religions traditions including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto and Indigenous religions and their environmental contributions. It also highlights statements of each faith’s environmental concerns as well as examples of some of their grassroots religiously-inspired projects globally.
See more on http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/main.html
ICIS Calendar
- Era 2005 World Design Congress 26th-28th September Copenhagen
This autumn, over 1,400 participants from around the globe are expected at a Pan-Nordic event, The Era 05 World Design Congress. The congress was jointly commissioned by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design (ICSID), the International Council of Graphic Design Associations (ICOGRADA) and the International Federation of Interior Architects/Designers (IFI). The conference aims to provide a forum in which designers and decision-makers within the industry and the political environment can discuss and define the challenges of the future. Topic areas will include multicultural global concerns, cost-benefit based solutions, sustainability, community problem-solving and many others.
www.era05.com
- INDEX 2005 Summit for Creative Leaders – 25th-28th September, Copenhagen
The Index Summit will bring together 25 of the world’s creative leaders as well as business leaders from the Øresund Region to develop solutions to five pressing global issues related to: Body, Home, Work, Play and Community.
www.index2005.dk
- SBO5 Tokyo World Sustainable Building Conference, 27-29th September 2005, Tokyo
A large number of building researchers, practitioners, officials, industry representatives and students from all over the world will gather at this conference to exchange the latest knowledge and experience regarding "Sustainable Buildings".
www.sb05.com
- Sustainable Innovation ’05 10th International Conference, 24th – 25th October 2005. Farnham Castle International Briefing and Conference Centre, UK
The focus of the event is on the global 'state of the art' in sustainable product/service development and design. In addition to providing an update on worldwide developments in the field, the event will analyse the obstacles and opportunities for progress. An interesting feature of the event will be the Living Laboratory, showcasing new sustainable product/service concepts.Sustainable Innovation 05 is being organised by the UK’s Centre for Sustainable Design in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and O2, a global network of sustainable designers.
www.cfsd.org.uk
Books/DVDS
- Earthprint UNEP Book
The United Nations Environment Programme GEO Yearbook 2004-5 is a flagship report that provides a comprehensive update on the state of the global environment, in a clear, easily referenced format.
Available on www.earthprint.com
- Giant Leap
An album and audio-visual DVD created by two young musicians/DJ’s based in London, Jamie Catto and Duncan Bridgeman, who have travelled around the world and collected words of wisdom and fantastic music from ethnic groups. Inspirational, wonderful.
www.1giantleap.tv (2002).
Contact ICIS
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ICIS news editors:
Karen Blincoe & Trudy Follwell