British Council: New resource Climate4Classrooms.org launched

We were delighted with the launch of Climate4classrooms, a project we have been working on for over a year with The British Council, providing resources for schools in UK, China, Mexico and Indonesia,  as reported in The FINANCIAL below.

What is climate change?  How is it caused?  What could our future look like?  These questions and more are explored on a new website designed for teachers and students by three leading organisations due to be launched formally on 23 March to coincide with Climate Week. 

The Royal Meteorological Society, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) and British Council have worked in partnership to provide schools, whether in the UK or internationally, with up-to-date scientific data about the world’s climatic system and projections that explore the potential impact of climate change at the national scale.

The free resource, piloted in the UK, China, Mexico and Indonesia, is the first website to use national level climate projections tailored to individual countries.  This allows teachers and students to see how their nations and others around the world might be affected by climate change and how they might adapt to and mitigate these changes.

Dr Rita Gardner, Director of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), said the website will help teachers be more confident in teaching the science and geography of climate change and its potential impact. “Many people are uncertain about climate change or see it as controversial, but it is vitally important that young people and their teachers have access to the most up-to-date and reliable climate science available.  A generation properly informed is a generation equipped to tackle the challenges of the future,” she said.

In the teaching resources, each module has clear learning outcomes, activity plans and student activity sheets.  Meanwhile, a ‘My Climate’ section allows schools to log in and upload their own case studies.
 Professor Paul Hardaker, Chief Executive of the Royal Meteorological Society, said Climate4Classrooms was a welcome addition for teaching resources. “I know of nowhere else that brings together for schools the science of climate change, the ability to examine what it might mean for national climates and helps explore the challenges of finding both global and local solutions,” he said.  “Not only will it be valuable for any classroom in any country to make use of, but it also offers an exciting opportunity to promote greater exchange and dialogue between students and classrooms across the globe on a topic that is of importance to all of us.”

Schools in more than 50 countries across the world including Hong Kong, Colombia, Russia and Ireland, have already accessed the website and investigated national and global future environmental scenarios as well as possible solutions.

Posted 18 April 2011 | 3 comments

The greenest ever government puts the planet at the bottom of its list

It’s a crying shame that yesterday’s budget did nothing to help build the UK’s global position on sustainability.  Let’s think of the missed opportunities, the 18,000 miles of shoreline we have here, our thriving innovation sector (according to NESTA’s Innovation Report the spend is £15.5bn representing 1.1% of UK GDP) and the growing number of people travelling by bus, train and bike.  If you combine this with the sizeable group who are out of work (1.45 million) and looking to get back into the work place, in the words of Ann Pettifor, an alternative economist, and brilliant Founder of Jubilee 2000 there is a solution, “we have the highest youth unemployment in history. How foolish to suggest we can’t afford to use the energy, talents and skills of young people to tackle climate change.”

The announcement of an additional 80,000 work experience places for young people and an additional 50,000 apprenticeship places in the words of Ann Pettifor it is ‘foolish’ that we are not harnessing their energy and skills to be part of a new economy less reliant on oil.

Although the Chancellor made much of “start-up Britain”, he did little to encourage green enterprise; the Green Investment Bank, which is a great idea, will not be lending until 2015, which is not good news if you are a fledgling clean technology company getting off the ground.  Some of the measures eased the pain on consumers of the high price of fuel and will be popular (and headline grabbing) but the reality is we’ll save about 50 pence for every fill up. It’s head in the sand stuff and will do nothing to wean the UK off our dangerous reliance on oil.

We need a long-term strategy for an efficient, low-carbon transport system.  Investing £200 million for the funding of new rail projects is a drop in the ocean. Tax breaks and incentives could have been offered for companies investing in new energy technologies that would attract city funding, turning this new economy into reality. But given that the new Green Investment Bank won’t start lending until 2015, we may have to wait for the next Greenest Government.

Posted 24 March 2011 | No comments

Engaging people in sustainability (over a cup of Yorkshire)

I have always thought that ‘seeing is believing’ when it comes to comprehending man’s impact on the environment and understanding what can be done to make a difference. Museums such as the Natural History Museum, Science Museum and At Bristol have effectively used this approach for many years. People like to see things for themselves and to make their own connections from the facts. With this in mind, you often see an increased interest in man’s likely impact on our planet after big natural disasters such as New Orleans and the recent floods in Queensland. However, it is often less easy to see the impact of man’s degradation on the natural environment until it is too late. Now and again we have a wake up call with a species becoming extinct like the Golden Toad in Costa Rica.

Increased weather disasters and the depletion of natural resources are part of this changing world we inhabit. We can’t keep taking from our planet in the way that we have become accustomed – there just aren’t enough fish left in the sea (or oil left in the ground) to meet our demand. The break point could be as near as 2050 when the main global oil reserves become depleted. Innovation, it is hoped, will increase as ‘stocks’ dwindle. We know that when commodities are scarce people become more resourceful. Therefore innovation should pique with new solutions to help us lead lives that are more in harmony with the planet in the next decade. Today I found inspiration in the most unlikeliest of places- from Yorkshire tea, yes that’s right the great British cuppa. They’ve decided to go out to people where tea is scarce in a US style road trip. Expat communities around the world can prepare themselves for the great Yorkshire tea ice-cream van – ‘little urn’. It’s not a bad idea for us environmentalists, why not have pop-up top ten tips stores and drive through Eco centres around the big cities to explain the simple changes you can make in your daily lives (and how these can impact on our planet). You might even get a free ‘seeing is believing’ cuppa!

Posted 31 January 2011 | No comments

Environmental change driven by charities or companies?

This has been on mind with the ‘Big Society’ (BS), using local leaders, who ever they are? “We are at the foothills of dealing with the challenge of climate change and need business to take the lead” said the then Secretary for the Environment, Margaret Becket, six years ago in her quest to accelerate emissions cuts from corporates. Like the BS she tried to take the very best and hoped that others would follow, but it didn’t quite work out.  Businesses need frameworks and incentives to innovate. If they can make a difference that is distinctive, competitive and generates income then they’re in.  We’ve seen M&S Plan A, Wall Mart’s commitment to sustainable fish, The Co-Op’s ethical services and Cadbury’s commitment to Fairtrade cocoa from Ghana.  These are having impact but alongside the others, who are doing less, are tiny. Environmental charities only have one agenda and that is to achieve change. They have passionate supporters, about 6.5 million of the main ones, who believe in what the charities are doing. Charities are not afraid to campaign against environmental injustices like dangerous chemicals, drive real change with initiatives like the Marine Stewardship Council, force new legislation like the Marine Bill and the Wildlife Trade Act. But perhaps more importantly 7% of England (or 22,556,352 acres) is made up of charity run land, managed by the National Trust, RSPB, Wildfowl and Wetlands and the Church of England. Collectively these spaces have inspired and changed many people’s views.  You won’t hear about a Fizzy Drink Company stopping one of it’s Fizzy drinks to enable it to fund a local beach clean up or to support a local wood. That’s because most company environmental policies are internally focused, short-term and about sorting out their own mess, rather than helping others. Therefore the real powerhouse of environmental change has come from environmental charities, focused on long-term change, rather than the corporate big boys.

Posted 24 November 2010 | No comments

The changing face of Development: the role of the private sector


Care International hosted this debate about the private sector’s role in development, testament to their ‘sleeves up’ approach to fighting poverty in over 70 countries. Early on in this discussion, chaired by Alistair Stewart from ITN, we heard that things have changed; no longer do committed companies trot out a CSR report with a yearly update to the board. Kraft’s Associate Director Cadbury Cocoa Partnership said that this approach was no longer enough –support needed to be about deep partnerships with the locals.  Moving beyond the ‘extract and sell’ philosophy dominant in the past, innovation is rife including Vodafone’s work in Tanzania, mobile phone banking and local micro finance schemes. But few people have heard about these schemes. People are inspired by ideas and stories which represents a much-needed new face to development.  Africa is often portrayed in one dimension and addressing people’s perceptions was seen as key. Communicating entrepreneurial schemes is surely the gateway to mobilising more private support. There is little collaboration and sharing of experiences between corporations and NGOs. The evening also touched on some of the other challenges of private sector investment in countries like Rwanda, such as the increased violence against women who gain an increased income, the environmental balance between local product sourcing and assisting development needs, and being realistic about what the private sector can deliver – it’s unlikely to take over the social services. Craig Hardie, who set up Malawi Mangoes three and half years ago after a senior career in Marketing, believes that by looking after the smallhoder farms (with profits fed back into the community, improving their provisions), you also maintain the quality of the fruit.  From Mangoes to cocoa – new models like this are addressing development issues and with over 2.6 billion people living on less than two dollars a day, let’s hope others follow.

Posted 15 October 2010 | No comments

Ants, bees, BP and eels

The planet is amazing with a precise order about things- everything knows what it is doing, like ants marching to their nest.  Watching six workmen in Kennington peer into their massive trench, scratching their heads and looking confused about what to do next, reminded me that we haven’t got a clue what we are doing to the planet.  We are out of control. We dabble with things, break them and upset the natural rules.  Like performing open heart surgery fifteen hundred metres below sea level, BP are trying to mend what they have already broken in the middle of the deep sea.  Eleven men have died and scores of animals are gulping in the peculiar blood coloured surface water, and the Vice President of BP said they were capturing a hundred thousand barrels a day – any more would risk contamination with water.  This must represent a turning point for US energy policies and our over-reliance on fossil fuels.  There may even be a revolt over BP’s massive error, experimenting with our planet.  A black mark the size of Luxembourg in the Gulf of Mexico has led to one group clamouring for the ‘death penalty’ for BP.  The natural order of the planet has a harmony that is impossible to replicate. We must learn from this and know that we lose this at our peril. Ants have been marching their path, bees have been dancing their dance and European Eels swimming their miraculous life swim from the Sargasso Sea for millions of years, and yet the precarious technique of deep sea oil drilling has only been going for fifty years.

Posted 28 May 2010 | 2 comments

Iceland cloud signals change

Intriguing global events over the last week – from volcanoes to X factor style leaders’ debates. I’ve been disappointed at the lack of response from environmental groups over the knock-on effects of the volcanic activity. The cloud and its devastating effects on travel and business is a potent symbol of things to come. We all know our oil is running out.  And it might be that the air industry are losing £130 million a day because of the volcano, but the truth is we need to look at the very real impacts our lifestyles are having on the planet. I’m not underestimating the unpleasantness of those 150,000 or so stuck in some far away airport ‘lounge’, but once everybody is safely home there are some lessons to reflect on. First, it’s proof that we can accommodate massive change when we need to. As the ash cloud continues its path, we will be reminded of the ridiculous lengths we go to for certain exotic food items, as they begin to run out. What cost are we prepared to pay for exotic air freighted flowers? Perhaps ‘One Planet’ shopping is worth a go- seasonally available foods and enjoying our country’s produce (also encouraging beautiful countryside at the same time). Anecdotal evidence would suggest that the air quality is currently much better in and around Heathrow and Stanstead. The heavenly silence is also a blessing – you can hear nature in new ways; it just feels better not having planes droning overhead every minute. Some people have actually managed to have a full night’s sleep for the first time in years. But the most important lesson here is who is really in control of this globe. The Planet has reminded us who is in charge with a most unlikely of signals which we need to heed.

Posted 21 April 2010 | 1 comment

A night with Howard Schultz, Chairman and CEO Starbucks

I haven’t been in a Starbucks for years – but clearly 15 million people a week do. Howard Shultz, the 56 year old New Yorker seemed relaxed to tell his story about how Starbucks has grown to 16,000 stores globally. He grew up in a tough neighborhood in Brooklyn, in the equivalent of a council house. And regrets going public with the company in 1992, to pay back early investors. He is man who loves what he does and is on a mission to reengage staff with the customer.

In front of an audience of some 500 top UK marketers at a Marketing Society event, he said he knew nothing about traditional business or marketing when he began in 1982.  He failed to inspire the then owners to sell a ‘Milan style’ coffee experience, unheard of in the US at that time, alongside selling their staple of coffee beans. He left and started his own café called Il Giornale and a few years later took over Starbucks. He has strived to create a company with a soul. There have been detractors along the way; a constant target for anti-globalists and 16,000 employees started a campaign to get union rights in the US.  More recently in the UK there was ‘dipper wellsgate’ in 2008, were stores were exposed for using continuous fresh-running water to clean utensils (although they’ve stopped now). Howard isn’t afraid to speak his mind, upsetting Lord Mandelson with recent remarks about the UK being in an economic “spiral” down.

He is experimenting to recreate ‘the community’ (very much the early focus) that many feel has been lost; the new London store in Conduit Street has second hand furniture.  And stores have even gone unbranded in NY trials, selling alcohol and opening late. A challenging job when you are in 44 countries with a US centric view. Consultants said it would fail in Japan where they have just opened their 1,000th store. Howard was quick to defend his CSR – not as marketing, but as the heart of the company.  He was surprised by a question from Café Direct about how they were supporting African workers and their plans for Fairtrade tea.  Tea is 1.5% of total sales and he explained their conversion to Fairtrade coffee  last year.  RED featured heavily in how the company is ‘bigger than coffee’. As did the campaign to encourage young Americans to use their vote last January.  And Weyclef’s film asked people to get behind the Haiti campaign.   Our host said ‘London was the world capital of cynicism’.  I was surprised he didn’t feel the need to explain the inter related elements of all the good work they are doing. He mentioned micro lending, water projects and that the ‘coffee for a votes’ scheme would run during our general election. I hope these are the bedrock of their business and not just new fads.  Starbucks could mean much more. Ethical Consumer ranked them at the bottom of the café survey in 2005, which demonstrates how much still has to be told about the Starbuck story.  Particularly in the UK.

Posted 27 January 2010 | No comments

What to do to help the environment

Happy New Year. Why not start 2010 by making the following positive changes:
1.    Reduce eating meat. BBC Bloom say giving up meat could save 15 times as much CO2 as switching electricity tariffs! Approximately 17-30 % of global CO2 (growing, producing, importing – rising if you include deforestation) comes from meat production
2.    Design your living and work around the most beneficial natural lighting / heating; which could mean using 75% less energy
3.    Get a green tariff like Good Energy (which sells 100% renewable). Even better, club together with neighbours and micro-generate from the wind and sun, reducing reliance on dirty power
4.    Turn off power when not needed: appliances on stand-by need 20% of their full power
5.    Install meters to measure your water and energy: monitor the ‘bandwidth’ you want to be in and try and reduce how much you use
6.    Buy FSC certified paper and MSC certified fish: both guarantee sourcing from well-managed, sustainable stocks
7.    ‘Buycott’ – being the opposite of boycott – support products which are making a difference environmentally and socially such as Fairtrade products: particularly where tea, coffee, sugar and chocolate are concerned, benefiting workers in the global South
8.    Eat and drink the view. Eating locally produced organic foods not only limits how far your food has travelled but also protects our rolling green countryside. Riverford deliver the best boxes fresh to your door with recipe ideas
9.    Stop washing your clothes so much – do all those shirts need to be washed and ironed every day?  Those towels could be used for one more day? Then save energy and wash them at 30°C rather than 40°C, reducing the electricity by around 40%

Posted 6 January 2010 | 4 comments

UK charities must learn for the next recession

It’s been a tough year for most of the 170,000 UK charities.  Increased financial pressures and for some, mergers and closures. Cash struck charities are experiencing a downturn like no other. Redundancies have been up to 35% and Oxfam, NSPCC, Christian Aid and CAFOD are the latest to announce staff cut backs. Legacy giving has dropped like a cold stone, with reduced property value directly hitting charities’ income. And we now know that individual donations declined as much as 11 per cent last year.

But there is some good news; supporters with strong relationships to their chosen charity are continuing their support – good old brand values are still key to maintaining engaged and happy people.  Similarly, corporate partnerships have gone from strength to strength where close and meaningful relationships exist with the given charity.  Although, it has to be said, times are much tougher for corporate events.

Also, where there have been a few new hirings, a couple of forward looking charities have specifically targeted recruitment materials to attract new blood from outside the sector.   This is by no means a new trend, but it is interesting to see a more active approach to attracting new people.

Finally, good news for media costs which have plummeted affording many the opportunity to leverage some nifty marketing for less money.  There is also a trend for more charities to do their own design and digital work internally.

So what are the lessons for the next recession? To develop deep and meaningful relationships with all your current supporters, demonstrating the value and difference their support brings. It is also wise not be too reliant on any one income source, allowing a diverse income portfolio to protect you during the less good periods. Finally, having a clear and robust talent strategy will help with any changes needed to the work force; ask yourself who are the rising stars you would like to keep and where do you need fresh talent from outside the sector?

Posted 14 November 2009 | 4 comments