CSR Links and Resources
1. Institute for Research and Innovation in Sustainability
This institute at York University was commissioned by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) to complete a comprehensive survey of current activities, publications and research relating to the role of the private sector in sustainable development.
Context of the Research
For most of the second half of the last century, international development policy was driven by two world views. On one hand the development community, led by the United Nations, pursued a path toward global equity and social justice. On the other the Bretton Woods institutions pursued pro-market, private sector-oriented approaches to development.
Although there has been a long history of misunderstanding and conflict between these two approaches, a period of rapprochement began in the mid-1990s with each view beginning to discover value in the other.
The launch of the UN Global Compact by then Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2000 and the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002 marked significant milestones in recognizing the important role that the private sector can play in contributing to sustainable development and achieving the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. The 2004 Report of the UN Commission on the Private Sector and Development, Unleashing Entrepreneurship, emphasized the essential role that local private sector entrepreneurs play in growing dynamic, sustainable and competitive economies that create sustainable livelihoods, put people to work and raise standards of living.
Full report:
http://www.yorku.ca/irisinfo/wp/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/privatesector-fullreport.pdf
2. Climate Change and Sustainable Development: Realizing the Opportunity
Manifold linkages exist between climate change and sustainable development. Although these are starting to receive attention in the climate exchange literature, the focus has typically been on examining sustainable development through a climate change lens, rather than vice versa. And there has been little systematic examination of how these linkages may be fostered in practice.
This paper examines climate change through a sustainable development lens. To illustrate how this might change the approach to climate change issues, it reports on the findings of a panel of business, local government and academic representatives in British Columbia, Canada, who were appointed to advise the provincial government there on climate change policy. The panel found that sustainable development may offer a significantly more fruitful way to pursue climate policy goals than climate policy itself. The paper discusses subsequent climate change developments in the province and makes suggestions on how best to pursue such a sustainability approach in British Columbia and other jurisdictions.
Full article:
http://www.cirs.ubc.ca/assets/pdf/media/Robinson_Ambio_2006.pdf
3. Sustainability within a Generation: A New Vision for Canada
This report by the David Suzuki Foundation outlines how a long-term national plan with clear targets and timelines would generate less pollution and waste and improve the quality of life for all Canadians.
The policy changes in Sustainability within a Generation are simple and involve a common theme: making the market work better. For example, Canada still subsidizes polluting industries such as mining and oil exploration. Instead, Canada should use a preventative approach, which is less expensive than cleaning up after environmental degradation occurs. Our recommended legislative changes would make polluters pay and benefit good environmental performers, which would put Canada ahead both environmentally and economically.
Full report:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/files/WOL/DSF-GG-En-Final.pdf
4. What You Can Do to Stop Climate Change
A handy list of links for simple changes that can be made every day.
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate_Change/
What_You_Can_Do/?source=WhatYouCanDo
5. A Graphic Representation of Climate Solutions
Suggestions from the Alliance for Climate Change (Al Gore is chairman of this organization).
http://www.climateprotect.org/explore
6. Speech by Al Gore
On acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 2007 in Oslo, Norway.
http://blog.algore.com/2007/12/nobel_prize_acceptance_speech.html