HarÂmoÂnizÂing the Rules of BusiÂness with the Laws of Nature
EnviÂronÂmenÂtal Debt: The HidÂden Costs of a ChangÂing Global EconÂomy, writÂten by Amy Larkin and researched by Johanna GoetÂzel, was released by PalÂgrave MacmilÂlan June 25, 2013.
The book conÂnects the finanÂcial and enviÂronÂmenÂtal crises – through both causes and soluÂtions. The book introÂduces the “Nature Means BusiÂness FrameÂwork for the 21st CenÂtury,†which proÂvides a road map for conÂnectÂing the Return On InvestÂment (ROI) of busiÂness with the surÂvival of the natÂural world.
The three pilÂlars of the The Nature Means BusiÂness FrameÂwork aim to empower profÂitable busiÂness that, by nature, coexÂist with the enviÂronÂment. They are as follows:
(1) PolÂluÂtion can no longer be free and can no longer be subsidized
(2) The long view must guide all decision-making and accounting
(3) GovÂernÂment plays a vital role in catÂalyzÂing clean techÂnolÂogy and growth while preÂventÂing enviÂronÂmenÂtal destruction.
Larkin’s “greatÂest hope is that EnviÂronÂmenÂtal Debt proÂmulÂgates new ideas into the culÂture that in turn change our underÂstandÂing of busiÂness.†The book reveals the comÂmon ground between busiÂness, civil sociÂety, sciÂence, reliÂgion, culÂture and  polÂicy reformÂers. The ideas preÂsented in the book take on extended life through an online forum called The TranÂsiÂtion Agenda, hosted by RESOLVE, where indiÂvidÂuÂals from a variÂety of secÂtors can disÂcuss and engage with issues essenÂtial to our surÂvival. No nature, no business.
Reviews of the book have been encourÂagÂing. PubÂlishÂers Weekly writes: “For anyÂone interÂested in enviÂronÂmenÂtal and ecoÂnomic polÂicy, this is a fasÂciÂnatÂing, provocaÂtive book. Brisk, bold, and blunt, Larkin is a devÂasÂtatÂing critic of curÂrent busiÂness pracÂtices, but she wants to inspire, not scold.â€
A New York native, Larkin writes about local and global issues in a clear and direct way.  Her years of work with GreenÂpeace along with her entreÂpreÂneurÂial expeÂriÂence present the short and long term impacts of enviÂronÂmenÂtal debt. The tone is encouraging–action is posÂsiÂble, and the time is now!
Amy Larkin blogs for the HuffÂinÂgÂton Post about these and other issues.
coauthored with Jody Dean–
The Bloomberg adminÂisÂtraÂtion is comÂing to a close and the search for a new mayor is in full swing. In addiÂtion to the usual polÂicy quesÂtions typÂiÂcally raised durÂing a mayÂoral race, the 2013 canÂdiÂdates were offered an unpreceÂdented opporÂtuÂnity to outÂline their platÂforms on food policy.
The need for more resilient and susÂtainÂable food polÂicy and infraÂstrucÂture for New York is well docÂuÂmented, and is the subÂject of a numÂber of food sysÂtems and anti-hunger orgaÂniÂzaÂtions. SpearÂheaded by the BrookÂlyn Food CoaliÂtion, the groundÂbreakÂing “MayÂoral canÂdiÂdate forum on the future of food in New York City†was conÂvened to engage the canÂdiÂdates in a disÂcusÂsion about food polÂicy as an “ecoÂnomic, health, enviÂronÂmenÂtal and labor iniÂtiaÂtive.†Through this forum, the pubÂlic and over 1,000 attenÂdees were able to hear the posiÂtion of each mayÂoral canÂdiÂdate on issues related to food polÂicy, food access, and the future of food in New York. These topÂics, while essenÂtial to the health and staÂbilÂity of the city, are freÂquently left out of mayÂoral debates or tied in with other issues, such as education.
Of the nine declared canÂdiÂdates, six attended the forum, modÂerÂated by MarÂion NesÂtle, ProÂfesÂsor in the DepartÂment of NutriÂtion, Food StudÂies, and PubÂlic Health at New York UniÂverÂsity. The quesÂtions posed to the canÂdiÂdates fall under three banÂners: healthy and susÂtainÂable food for schools, expandÂing access to serÂvices and aid proÂgrams (SNAP and WIC) and labor issues within the indusÂtry. The conÂverÂsaÂtion included a disÂcusÂsion about how best to inteÂgrate a food polÂicy platform.
Hunger is a comÂplex probÂlem and it is essenÂtial that it is addressed on mulÂtiÂple levÂels. Food availÂabilÂity, one imporÂtant piece of comÂbatÂting hunger, is an issue that impacts the entire ecoÂnomic and social sysÂtem. Food access and utiÂlizaÂtions are facÂtors cenÂtral to strengthÂenÂing the links between food, comÂmuÂnity, health and ecoÂnomÂics under the purview of the mayor. CanÂdiÂdates must think about the underÂlyÂing facÂtors includÂing socio-economic staÂtus that limit food accesÂsiÂbilÂity, availÂabilÂity of resources, and alloÂcate more fundÂing for social safety nets.
AccordÂing to FeedÂing AmerÂica, 2011 cenÂsus data shows that the State of New York is 14.7% food inseÂcure. Rate of food inseÂcuÂrity are higher, on averÂage, in the five borÂoughs: in Queens, 14% of  the popÂuÂlaÂtion is food inseÂcure.  In ManÂhatÂtan (Kings county) 20.4% and in Bronx, 23.3%.
All parÂticÂiÂpatÂing canÂdiÂdates spoke about the SNAP proÂgram and noted the overÂall posÂiÂtive impact for parÂticÂiÂpants, though canÂdiÂdate John CasÂtiÂmaÂtidis menÂtioned that he preÂferred the WIC proÂgram, which he believed was less prone to fraud.
SugÂgesÂtions to improve SNAP in the folÂlowÂing ways were discussed:
1. DesÂtigÂmaÂtize assisted food aid programs
2. Extend free meals  through the sumÂmer and maxÂiÂmize parÂticÂiÂpaÂtion (a posiÂtion advoÂcated for by the Food Bank of New York)
3. Offer more opporÂtuÂniÂties for enrollÂment (and locations)
4. Increase the numÂber of venÂdors who can process SNAP (improve techÂnolÂogy in stores and bodegas)
Another area ripe for expanÂsion is increased partÂnerÂships with farmÂers marÂkets and CSAs to proÂmote conÂsumpÂtion of fresh and seaÂsonal fruits and vegÂetaÂbles.  FurÂther, proÂgrams like the DouÂble Up Food Bucks (DUFB) proÂgram that matches money spent by SNAP parÂticÂiÂpants up to $20 per transÂacÂtion for the purÂchase of state-grown proÂduce. The proÂgram, already in place in MichiÂgan, could be impleÂmented in New York stores and farmÂers marÂkets. Many green marÂkets already accept EBT in New York and perÂhaps green carts can also be outÂfitÂted with the techÂnolÂogy to do so.
SevÂeral canÂdiÂdates, includÂing Anthony Weiner and Bill De BlaÂsio, spoke of appointÂing food czars or deputy direcÂtors of food proÂgrams who work cross-sectorally to develop proÂgrams and then partÂner with local groups like JustÂfood to monÂiÂtor and evalÂuÂate progress.
The food serÂvice indusÂtry is an essenÂtial piece of the food econÂomy in New York and as such, the milÂlions of parÂticÂiÂpants must be respected and proÂtected to ensure safety of food and workÂers and fosÂter an incluÂsive comÂmuÂnity where food brings us together instead of magÂniÂfies the socioeÂcoÂnomic divide. AÂ large porÂtion of the food serÂvice popÂuÂlaÂtion canÂnot curÂrently afford sufÂfiÂcient food for themÂselves or families.
Those seekÂing to improve the wages and wellÂbeÂing of food workÂers must also acknowlÂedge that a large proÂporÂtion of food-service workÂers comÂmute long disÂtances to work. The Gothamist illusÂtrates this fact with a map with cenÂsus data to show just how long comÂmutes to jobs in the City are for many workÂers. They reported that in ManÂhatÂtan, twice as many workÂers comÂmute from another county (1.6 milÂlion) as live there (830,000). Time spent in tranÂsit is time lost for wage earnÂings. The ecoÂnomÂiÂcally stratÂiÂfied city means that there are a very few peoÂple who work where they live.
CanÂdiÂdates spoke of real estate changes that could help reduce the proÂporÂtion of sales that go toward rent (John CatÂsiÂmaÂtidis said that in New York it is close to 10 perÂcent while in New JerÂsey it is merely 1.5 perÂcent). ChangÂing this by increasÂing 80–20 housÂing and mixed use real estate could radÂiÂcally change the goods and serÂvices econÂomy. Other interÂvenÂtions includÂing the folÂlowÂing can help in the short term:
1. Increase the minÂiÂmum wage. The GenÂeral IndusÂtry MinÂiÂmum Wage Act has set a $7.25 wage in many states, includÂing New York. AccordÂing to canÂdiÂdate Sal Albanese, that is not livÂable wage.
2. Hire locally when posÂsiÂble, develop neighÂborÂhood economies to supÂport food systems.
3. Increase eduÂcaÂtional opporÂtuÂniÂties for indusÂtry workers.
While a food polÂicy platÂform was ostenÂsiÂbly the focus on the forum, not all of the canÂdiÂdates address this issue directly within their camÂpaigns. Rather than answerÂing the quesÂtions about hunger, school food and the food econÂomy, many instead rolled these issues into other secÂtors of their camÂpaign platÂforms, such as disÂpleaÂsure with Mayor Bloomberg’s polÂicy iniÂtiaÂtives or reducÂing the amount of money spent on healthcare.
This seems to indiÂcate that despite the focus on food sysÂtems proÂvided by the forum, the future of food in New York City may not yet be at the foreÂfront of the city’s politÂiÂcal conÂsciousÂness.  HisÂtorÂiÂcally, the work around these issues has been carÂried by non-profits and comÂmuÂnity groups, and that trend is likely to conÂtinue until city govÂernÂment embraces the idea of develÂopÂing a more susÂtainÂable and resilient food system.
On sevÂeral occaÂsions the canÂdiÂdates spoke of the need for colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion between govÂernÂment, busiÂness and civil sociÂety. Food sysÂtem govÂerÂnance effiÂciency can be increased through havÂing an open colÂlabÂoÂraÂtion. Some canÂdiÂdates spoke from perÂsonal expeÂriÂence, includÂing John CatÂsiÂmaÂtidis, who is the owner of GristÂedes, about the advanÂtages of larger stores and chains. OthÂers advoÂcated for bodeÂgas and fresh carts to receive greater subÂsiÂdies and sup​port​.In all cases, it is imporÂtant to supÂport the equiÂtable operÂaÂtions of  a comÂbiÂnaÂtion of small marÂkets (and incuÂbaÂtor spaces, like  La MarÂqueta  menÂtioned by ChrisÂtine Quinn) and larger chains where supÂply chains are clearly stated (i.e. Whole Foods).
StrateÂgies for buildÂing a more inteÂgrated and resilient food sysÂtems will likely emerge when canÂdiÂdates are pushed and held accountÂable. MarÂion NesÂtle noted her “astonÂishÂment†that food was a takÂing a priÂmary focus in the race, howÂever there is still a lot of work to be done in addressÂing the underÂlyÂing issues of access, healthÂfulÂness and expandÂing SNAP and WIC. The forum was a great occaÂsion for diaÂlogue. More opporÂtuÂniÂties for disÂcusÂsion about food econÂomy, ecolÂogy, and politÂiÂcal sysÂtems are essenÂtial for New York’s susÂtained health.
Links to each candidate’s camÂpaign issues are available:
coauthored with Jody Dean–
[Over comÂing weeks, the staff of City Atlas will be preÂsentÂing sumÂmaries, analyÂsis, and pubÂlic feedÂback on the city’s monÂuÂmenÂtalSIRR report about rebuildÂing and resilience, which includes lessons learned from HurÂriÂcane Sandy and plans for the city in the face of new chalÂlenges from a changÂing climate.]
The cliÂmate analyÂsis secÂtion includes this photo, a reminder that NYC has flooded in the past. (Photo NYT)
Extreme events often prompt quesÂtions that begin with “why?â€Â Why now? Why me? Why here? Due to the chaotic nature of the cliÂmate sysÂtem, there is no simÂple answer to these quesÂtions. Part of the answer, though, can be found by examÂinÂing past cliÂmate trends and proÂjecÂtions for the future. Extreme events like Sandy cause huge impacts, the most jarÂring being the loss of lives and the disÂplaceÂment of peoÂple from their homes. There are also masÂsive monÂeÂtary costs assoÂciÂated with rebuildÂing. We will all bear the burÂden of these costs, through taxes and resource reallocation.
The SpeÂcial IniÂtiaÂtive for RebuildÂing and Resiliency (SIRR) report offers tarÂgeted sugÂgesÂtions for polÂiÂcyÂmakÂers regardÂing the develÂopÂment of more resilient sysÂtems for New York, in order to make the impacts of extreme events and cliÂmate change manÂageÂable rather than catastrophic.
In time and with the increased politÂiÂcal gravÂiÂtas delivÂered by this extenÂsive report and ongoÂing disÂcusÂsion around it, the conÂverÂsaÂtion can shift from “why did this hapÂpen to us?†to “how can we adapt and rebuild responÂsiÂblyâ€? This refoÂcused quesÂtion allows us to move forÂward and is made posÂsiÂble by underÂstandÂing the chronic hazÂards faced by the city and the potenÂtial impacts of extreme events, whose freÂquency and severÂity are likely to increase with the changÂing climate.
The full report includes a cliÂmate analyÂsis secÂtion (hi res pdf) that docÂuÂments the impact of hisÂtoric extreme weather events and proÂvides a conÂtext for future cliÂmate sceÂnarÂios, along with the proÂjected costs. The SIRR utiÂlizes cliÂmate modÂels develÂoped for the forthÂcomÂing InterÂgovÂernÂmenÂtal Panel on CliÂmate Change Fifth AssessÂment Report (IPCC AR5). The AR5 conÂcludes that “long-term changes in cliÂmate mean that when extreme weather events strike, they are likely to be increasÂingly severe and damÂagÂing.†Despite the extreme and hisÂtoric nature of the event, Sandy was not the first storm to cause sigÂnifÂiÂcant damÂage. The timeÂline below illusÂtrates other coastal storm events with major impacts on New York City. As with Sandy, the effects of these storms were expeÂriÂenced all along the EastÂern Seaboard.
The vulÂnerÂaÂbilÂity of the city to coastal storms is nothÂing new, but as preÂviÂously noted, cliÂmate change will exacÂerÂbate the sitÂuÂaÂtion by worsÂenÂing extreme events and chronic conÂdiÂtions. As indiÂcated in the IPCC AR5, over the past cenÂtury sea levÂels in New York City have risen over a foot, while simulÂtaÂneÂously temÂperÂaÂtures are increasÂing. The sciÂenÂtific conÂsenÂsus is that these trends will accelÂerÂate and this is highÂlighted in the New York City Panel on CliÂmate Change (NPCC) 2013 cliÂmate proÂjecÂtions, which were included in the SIRR report.
Source: NPCC
In addiÂtion to these chronic hazÂards, another vulÂnerÂaÂbilÂity highÂlighted in the SIRR is the city’s use of outÂdated Flood InsurÂance Rate Maps (FIRM’s), which show the perÂcentÂage of land that lies within the so-called “100-year†and “500-year†floodÂplains. At the time that Sandy hit, the FIRM’s had not been updated since 1983, though in 2007 the City forÂmally requested that FEMA update the maps to include the last 30 years of data. The lack of updated maps left the city with an inacÂcuÂrate view of the perÂcentÂage of land at risk for floodÂing and the areas that flooded durÂing Sandy were sevÂeral times larger than the floodÂplains outÂlined in the 1983 FIRM’s. The SIRR emphaÂsized the imporÂtance of regÂuÂlarly updated maps to assist with adapÂtaÂtion and mitÂiÂgaÂtion strateÂgies for coastal flooding.
The cliÂmate analyÂsis secÂtion also explained the freÂquently misÂunÂderÂstood clasÂsiÂfiÂcaÂtion of a “100-year†or “500-year†event. ClasÂsiÂfyÂing an area as part of a “100-year floodÂplainâ€Â indiÂcates that there is a 1 perÂcent chance of a flood occurÂring in the area in a given year and that expeÂriÂencÂing a 100-year flood does not decrease the chance of a secÂond 100-year flood occurÂring that same year or any year that folÂlows. FolÂlowÂing these calÂcuÂlaÂtions, Klaus Jacob writes in the June issue of SciÂenÂtific AmerÂiÂcan that, “the chance of what had been a one-in-100-year storm surge occurÂring in New York City will be one in 50 durÂing any year in the 2020s, one in 15 durÂing the 2050s and one in two by the 2080s.†The city is now workÂing again with the NPCC to develop more accuÂrate “future flood maps†to assist with the rebuildÂing, planÂning and adapÂtaÂtion efforts.
The cliÂmate analyÂsis secÂtion conÂcludes with speÂcific, forward-looking iniÂtiaÂtives for planÂning along New York City’s 520 miles of coastÂline, includÂing a netÂwork of floodÂwalls, levÂees and bulkÂheads to proÂtect buildÂings and inhabÂiÂtants. More than encourÂagÂing “emerÂgency preÂparedÂness,†longer-term sceÂnario planÂning will be necÂesÂsary in order to adeÂquately safeÂguard New York and its growÂing popÂuÂlaÂtion. FurÂther, cliÂmate projects need to be regÂuÂlarly updated in order to adeÂquately inform deciÂsion making.
AdvoÂcatÂing that we “plan ambiÂtiously,†the SIRR report sugÂgests that mitÂiÂgaÂtion efforts require buy-in from polÂicy makÂers, planÂners and insurÂers and civil sociÂety. CynÂthia RosenÂzweig, NPCC co-chair, makes the salient point that adapÂtaÂtion plans canÂnot sucÂceed “withÂout takÂing the voices of neighÂborÂhoods into account.†In order to best address quesÂtions of “why me,†vulÂnerÂaÂbilÂity must be anaÂlyzed at mulÂtiÂple levÂels and the resultÂing plans backed by finanÂcial investÂment for addressÂing the conÂtinÂued threat of cliÂmate change. Above all, the SIRR report emphaÂsizes that buildÂing capacÂity for resilience requires accuÂrate data to assess the potenÂtial impacts and the tools and finanÂcial resources availÂable to impleÂment solutions.
The full report can be found here, and is a marÂvel of lucid explaÂnaÂtion: it’s a self-contained, benchÂmark work that inteÂgrates cliÂmate and urban planÂning for the most popÂuÂlous city in the world’s largest economy.
AddiÂtional Reading:
–Coastal subÂsiÂdence also plays a role in NYC coastal vulÂnerÂaÂbilÂity. ProÂvidÂing hisÂtorÂiÂcal analyÂsis and vivid maps, Mark Fischetti’s SciÂenÂtific AmerÂiÂcan artiÂcle explains how North AmerÂiÂcan glacÂier retreat began over 20,000 years ago and litÂtle by litÂtle, has resulted in the eastÂern U.S. landÂmass sinkÂing as the crust adjusts to the unloading.
–The quesÂtion of whether or not rebuildÂing after natÂural disÂasÂter has been hotly debated since Sandy. Tom AshÂbrook tackÂled this quesÂtion in a FebÂruÂary 2013 On Point PodÂcast.
– Our interÂview with Klaus Jacob, who also raises the quesÂtion of rebuildÂing in areas that will become increasÂingly endanÂgered over time.
Interview with Joe Aldy who was special assistant to President Barack Obama for energy and environment, and represented the White House during climate negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009 and in Cancún, Mexico, in 2010. He stepped down last December and now teaches public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School.
Q: Kyoto Protocol commitments by industrialized nations will run out next year. Does Kyoto have a future?
A: Kyoto doesn't necessarily disappear, but the idea of splitting the world into developed and developing economies on this issue seems destined to disappear. More than half of emissions are coming from the developing world. If we don't adjust to that, then everything we are negotiating and all of the actions that will be driven by these negotiations will be inadequate to the challenge of climate change.
The solipsism of business and the Théâtre de l'Absurde of governments are exacerbating this divide. Both business and governments need to be held accountable for their actions. This means commending the progress of leaders and calling out laggards who disrespect nature and disadvantage people. Adjusting to the changing environment means that every decision must be a mindful one because the planet cannot sustain ignorance and we cannot suffer fools.
"We're continually looking at just about any opportunity for someone to buy a sandwich, wherever that might be. The closer we can get to the customer, the better," Mr. Fertman says, explaining that it now has almost 8,000 Subways in unusual locations. "The non-traditional is becoming traditional."
But how do you get there? The road to 100 percent renewable begins with establishing the goal for your organization, measuring your current mix of electricity sources (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas, solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric), and assessing the potential for generating renewable energy on-site or nearby. The next steps include implementing energy efficiency projects and investing the financial savings to develop your renewable energy program. Along the way, consider purchasing Green-e certified RECs to mitigate your existing carbon footprint and continuously monitor for new local or remote opportunities for directly harnessing renewable energy.
I’m excited that you’re here!
I encourage you to look around, make suggestions and by all means contribute. I plan to share my musing on how our actions effect the natural world and examine leverage points for change.
My blog is called “Johanna’s Hot Spots” and it is about climate change, your life and other things that get me hot and bothered.
Thank you.
Twenty US companies have agreed to take more account of environmental issues, such as water use and greenhouse gas emissions, as a result of investor resolutions, in a sign of increased pressure on industries such as power generation and oil and gas production.
Of those resolutions - which included calls for actions such as investigating the threat of the loss of water supplies or aligning executive pay to environmental performance - 20 have now been withdrawn because the companies satisfied the investors' demands.
Mumbai-based Alok is selling its textiles to clients with contracts based on cotton prices in the range of $1.80 to $1.90, Agarwal said. The retail price of a towel may rise by as much as 40 percent because of cotton jumping to above $2 from $1 in September, he said.
Higher cotton prices are also prompting several companies to use more man-made fabrics, Agarwal said. The commodity's share of the global textile market will shrink to 20 percent by 2020 as mills switch to polyester and other chemical fibers to remain profitable, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee.