In This Issue
Editor's Note
Is Innovation the Answer?
As we gear up for the BSR Conference 2009, our hallway discussions revolve around what it takes for business to succeed in a reset world—a theme we will continue to explore in the Insight until our Conference (October 20 to 23 in San Francisco).
This week, we're examining innovation.
The information and communications technology (ICT) sector solved the problem of email-on-the-go and found ways to harness collective intelligence through social media. It also has a significant role to play in sustainability solutions, as Dunstan Hope, the Managing Director of BSR's ICT Practice, reports in his feature article.
Not only can innovation help solve social and environmental problems, it can contribute to a growing economy—which is exactly what we need now. As Denmark prepares to host the climate talks, we look at how that country invested in clean-tech to rebound after the 1973 oil crisis.
Finally, it's interesting to note that the technology industry currently ranks higher than other sectors when it comes to the public’s trust in business—which dropped significantly following the financial crisis. Is innovation the answer to winning back the public's trust, or will other measures be more effective? We’d like to hear from you in this week's poll.
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In Depth
ICT as a Sustainability Solution: Moving from Theory to Practice
By Dunstan Allison Hope, Managing Director, Advisory Services, BSR
The information and communications technology (ICT) industry has a significant role to play in addressing our two current challenges: recovering from the economic crisis, and re-orientating growth to deliver environmental sustainability and tackle social problems. But to achieve its maximum potential, the industry needs to think big and increase the depth and scope of its engagement with large enterprises and government customers.
Read more →
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Spotlight
Sustainability the Danish Way
As Denmark prepares to host the COP15 climate change talks this December, it’s a good time to look at the country’s sustainability progress.
In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, Denmark switched from a program relying solely on fossil fuels to one that tapped more diverse energy sources. The country also established energy-efficiency measures and all major sectors adopted environmental policies. During this two-decade span, even as Denmark’s economy grew by 45 percent, carbon emissions fell by 13 percent.
Now, Denmark is expanding its commitment to sustainability with the formation of its Council on Corporate Responsibility. This 15-member council—which includes BSR's European Managing Director Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen—seeks to strengthen the dialogue between government and the private sector, support Danish companies' competitiveness by mainstreaming corporate responsibility, and promote the public debate on sustainability.
Contact Peder Michael Pruzan-Jorgensen to learn more.
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