@Risk

President Obama has signed a memorandum ordering federal agencies to prepare plans for the first fuel efficiency standards ever established for big-rig trucks.

Specifically, the memorandum orders the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to establish greenhouse gas emissions standards for commercial medium- and heavy-duty vehicles beginning with model year 2014. The goal is to issue a final rule by July 30, 2011. (more…)

As I have posted about before, water scarcity is becoming an increasingly imperative strategic issue for global businesses. In fact, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development forecasts that 47 percent of the world’s population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030 unless new water stewardship policies are adopted.

This week, Ford Motor Company became a notable corporate leader in this important sustainability and risk arena with the announcement that it has become the first automaker to join the CDP Water Disclosure initiative. (more…)

Water. We take it for granted. But, according to a new global opinion poll conducted by GlobeScan and SustainAbility, over the next decade, virtually every industry in the world will need to adjust strategic planning, production practices and business models because of increasing competition for this essential resource.

More than 1,200 sustainability experts from more than 80 countries participated in the Sustainability Survey Poll on Water, and the results show that these leaders think multi-faceted engagement with water will be required to effectively manage businesses and communities in the future. For instance, in an era of water scarcity, new business practices will need to stress water conservation and efficiency, ecosystem protection, public education and engagement. Companies also will need to anticipate market pressure to appropriately price water. (more…)

Doug Cornelius writes a blog called “Compliance Building,” and he has done a fantastic job of summarizing sessions from this week’s Global Ethics Summit 2010, hosted by Dow Jones and Ethisphere.

In today’s increasingly complex and often unpredictable business environment, corporations are taking a long, hard look at their compliance practices. After all, effective compliance is a fundamental component of any supplier risk management program.  It reduces the likelihood of an offense.  And in some cases, it also can mitigate penalties (and negative perception) if noncompliance does occur. The conference was designed to help companies learn about current trends and best practices so that they can conduct business both successfully and ethically. (more…)

Yesterday, the Department of Defense released its Quadrennial Defense Review, and for the first time, this document –prepared periodically by the Pentagon to update Congress –addressed the threat of global warming, stating that climate change will accelerate instability and conflict around the world.

Specifically, the QDR identifies “crafting a strategic approach to climate and energy” as a key issue requiring attention:

Climate change and energy will play significant roles in the future security environment. The Department is developing policies and plans to manage the effects of climate change on its operating environment, missions, and facilities. The Department already performs environmental stewardship at hundreds of DoD installations throughout the United States, working to meet resource efficiency and sustainability goals. We must continue incorporating geostrategic and operational energy considerations into force planning, requirements development, and acquisition processes. (more…)