Sustainability Matters

The primary purposes of Sustainability Matters are to improve the performance of New Zealand organisations from a sustainability, or "triple bottom" line perspective, and to advocate sustainability thinking and action.

Frequently this requires a change from "business as usual" to a different approach which not only reduces costs and improves financial performance but also results in much needed improved outcomes for people and our planet. We owe this to our children and to at least the next six generations i.e. seven generations.

The traditional measure of organisation success - financial outcomes - is an incomplete method of measurement and excludes key elements.    These exclusions result in an "unbalanced scorecard".

Is this thinking new?    No, far from it.    Rachel Carson via her 1962 book "Silent Spring" was perhaps the person who more than any other alerted us to the need for changed thinking.

The thinking can be applied to entities of any size, in any sector, located anywhere.

Newsletters
As part of what we do a newsletter is published (usually) once very two weeks.    It is four pages and is intended especially for chartered accountants** and those who use their services.    It is distributed to subscribers by opt-in eMail.    There is no ($) charge; donations are always welcome!    By coincidence the newsletter is called Sustainability Matters.

** Because they have immense potential to influence others and to make huge positive differences to our world.

Sustainability Matters 15^th September 2016

In this “super-sized” edition;

•    Sustainability Group Events
•    National Strategy for Environmental Education for Sustainability
•    Government Seeking Views
•    Accounting Body CEO’s Call for Low Carbon Future
•    Ever Thought of Working for UNPRI?
•    Smart Water Networks Not a Pipe Dream
•    Bougainville – Owners Walk Away
•    Beating Weeds Saves Our Biodiversity
•    Finalists Announced for 2016 NZI Sustainable Business Network Awards
•    Supporting Credibility and Trust in Emerging Forms of External Reporting: Ten Key Challenges for Assurance Engagements
•    Banks Pump Billions into Deforestation-linked Firms in Southeast Asia: Study
•    Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development Goals
•    River Conference Planning Underway
•    Reporting as a Strategic Initiative
•    Dow Jones Sustainability Indices Additions, Cuts Announced
•    New Integrated Human Governance Report
•    New Zealand Green Building Council Announces New Chief Executive
•    The Hysteresis Effect and what It Means to Politics
•    Exploring How and Why Trees ‘Talk’ to Each Other
•    Total Plastic Ban in Karnataka
•    Global Initiatives and UNDP Launch the Responsible Business SDG Centre
•    Sick Oceans, Disease for Humans, Animals that’s Global Warming
•    Named and Shamed: The Top Funds Blocking Climate Action
•    The Rodale Institute’s 30-Year Farming Systems Trial Report
•    167 Tiny Maps Tell Major Change Story
•    California Passes Toughest US Greenhouse Gas Laws
•    Soil & Health and BioGro Merge: New Era
•    A Preference for Permaculture
•    Revolutionising Reporting: Why Care?
•    Fossil Fuel Investments Out at Otago Uni