Tag: Businesses

Global risks 2013

The World Economic Forum has recently published “Global Risks 2013” – a report on how various factors affect the development of the world.

The report analyzes 50 global risks concerning their influence and interconnection, and the likelihood of them happening. The report is based on surveys of more than 1,000 experts in industry, government and academia.

The results show that the world is exposed to greater risks during economic crises, as these reduce our ability to deal with environmental issues. Income Gaps and economic deficits are factors that pose the greatest risks to the world. In third place was increased greenhouse gases.

http://www.weforum.org/reports/global-risks-2013-eighth-edition

Is this what we can expect from a four degree increase in temperature by 2050?

It this what we can expect from a four degree increase in temperature by 2050?

  • The sea rises, and at least 1.5 million people are homeless only in Egypt.
  • Bangladesh loses over 30% of their lands, tens of millions of people become homeless.
  • Antarctic ice may melt quickly and sea levels rise by five meters.
  • Agricultural production is decreasing globally.
  • Most of the Indian subcontinent becomes dehydrated.
  • Drought affects especially south-western North America, Central America, the Mediterranean and South Africa.
  • In Southern Europe disappear 70% of the summer rains, heat waves lasting an average of 65 days longer.
  • Forest fires in the Alps.
  • British summer temperatures are likely to reach 45? C
  • Europe receives 80% less snowfall, creating water shortages.
  • A little better harvests in Canada and Russia.
  • Greenland ice melts rapidly, as the Antarctic ice. It can create an “Atlantic circulation,” which can temporarily cool Western Europe and lead to severe storms.
  • Permafrost in Siberia melts; large amounts of methane are released. Since methane is 23 times stronger than carbon dioxide, this could at a stroke increase greenhouse gas emissions by 700%.

Reading can become a Climate Change leader with your support,
– What are you waiting for?

Are you responsible for planing your Eco-friendly business, if so, please take part in our 10+10 Climate Change poll

Here are the links to the survey, thank you (closes 4th February)

TVB_ClimateChallenge Climate Change Business Poll A
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/55TQ8Y5

TVB_ClimateChallenge Climate Change Business Poll B
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KWTLW9Q

/Team TVB_ClimateChallenge

 

 

How is our very own Local Climate Change programme going on?

As you may know the consultation deadline for the Climate Change Strategy has been extended to the end of January to allow for greater engagement with local business ensuring that the final version reflects the range of views received.

You can also get involved by visiting http://www.reading.gov.uk/climatesurvey  The consultation ends 31/01/13

The consultation is an excellent opportunity for the business community to embrace knowledge and bring value to the region by presenting wise green solutions / advise in companion ship with the local council regarding Readings new ‘green’ legislation programme that will have impact on investments and taxes.

How do we attract business to invest in a Sustainable TVB Reading raising awareness on the Climate Change Programme?

This is really a unique chance to feedback your climate business views back to the council

A vision for us all
Reading is a vibrant environment with compact, functional developed areas. There are good communications to shopping and services, workplaces and the surrounding nature. Buildings and infrastructure are characterised by sustainable energy solutions and smart environmental design, and are adapted to future climate change. The city has clean rivers and watercourses, and plenty of parks that are both beautiful and safe..

Keep us updated, do you have a local business case to share, join us in the group TVB_ClimateChallenge – http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4704185 The conference group will be open until February 1st.
Please send invites to your connections or ANY INTERESTED PARTIES E.G.THE SUST. MANAGER

Businesses, you can’t do it alone, together we can achieve so much
Welcome

/Team TVB_ClimateChallenge

How changing car buyers’ behaviour can help cut CO2 from road transport

easit

easitNETWORK is a powerful working partnership designed to support
and encourage the most influential businesses in a local area to adopt
alternative and sustainable transport behaviours to reduce pollution,
ease congestion and increase satisfaction within its staff base.

By bringing together the major employers in an area, easitNETWORK
generates a critical mass, enabling the introduction and use of far more initiatives
that could not necessarily be taken up by one of the organisations alone. The benefits of this approach are in establishing a working partnership and a sizeable group that is more effective in lobbying for changes to public transport provision, generating funding for new initiatives and creating a better sense of community. Since launching in 2005, easitNETWORK has grown to represent over 60 businesses employing over
200,000 staff in the South East!

http://www.easit.org.uk/easitthamesvalley.php

 

BROCHURE: MAKING THE BOAT GO FASTER (Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership)

Local growth 2013
Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (TVBLEP)

This outline strategy for local growth has been developed by the LEP Forum and
Executive during 2012 and provides a starting point for the eventual production
of a full ‘Strategic Plan’, as set out in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement of
December 2012. The process of reviewing the strategic priorities set out here will
commence in January 2013.

Thames Valley Bershire Local Enterprise Partnership

Download TVBLEP´s MAKNIG THE BOAT GO FASTER brochure 2012/13 via the link;
http://thamesvalleyberkshire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2012/12/TVB-LEP-Outline-Growth-Strategy.pdf

 

New eco-car definition nailed for 2013

FUTURE CLIMATE CHANGE NEWS

The government’s autumn budget confirmed the earlier proposals for green car definition in 2013 is now a reality. The most important news is that the emission limits are tightened, while also taking into account the vehicle’s weight. This means that the requirements are tightened on small cars but also some larger, not currently approved green cars, can qualify as a green car.

The new rich limit is 95 g CO2 / km for fossils cars and 150 g / km for vehicles that run on for example ethanol, but practically clean car limit lower for vehicles lighter than 1372 kg and higher for cars that are heavier according to a formula.

Cars that meet the new limits are exempt from vehicle tax for five years. Right now there are about 120 model variants of passenger cars and 13 light trucks that meet the new rules.

The government does not change the benefit taxation of green cars despite criticism of short-termism from many directions. The rule for a special tax credit of 40 percent for gas and electric cars and plug-in hybrids only applies until the end of 2013. However, any alternative fuel cars will continue to permanent impairment of the benefit to the nearest comparable car.

Dear CO2 businesses of the Thames Valley Berkshire

We offer to you a channel where members of TVBLEP, The Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Group and enterprises can discuss and take part in a Business lead and driven agenda to adapt Climate Change Strategy for the Reading area.

With only 4 weeks until ending of the RBC consultations we decided to set up a LinkedIn conference group based on to provide an arena for feedback of views to the new Reading Climate Change Partnership Strategy.

We have set up this LinkedIn conference group TVB_ClimateChallenge piggy backing RCCP:s Draft Climate Change Strategy for Reading 2013-2020 to assess “best practices” initiatives for carbon footprint reduction, meeting local needs in the Thames Valley. This not only represents excellent opportunities for business – but also a chance for the Thames Valley to lead the field and influence in national sustainable policies. We invite your invitation and participation and wish for your support of the TVB_ClimateChallenge.

We see the importance of a business forum for input from all members of businesses and SME: s in the Thames Valley Berkshire since the Climate Change Strategy will affect us all for coming generations, which is one good reason why we suggest that TVB should have this green agenda as well, – Green business networking in the Clean-tech area with feedback of views to the new Climate Change Strategy for Reading and Berkshire, 2013 to 2020.

It’s an excellent opportunity for the businesses to embrace knowledge and bring value to the region by presenting wise green solutions / advise in companion ship with the local council regarding investments and taxes. Maybe also Reading / Thames Valley Berkshire Climate Development can become an EcoGameMaker for green jobs.

Rather than waiting for legislation. Think about what impact businesses and local government can make together meeting and exceeding set carbon targets.

/CO2-VisionNilEmission

Team TVB_ClimateChallenge
Carl & David