Brighton Networking – Wednesday 23rd July…Just a little reminder that the Brighton Networking opportunity ‘down the pub’ is Tonight! Ethical Junction have joined together with Our Ethical Network, to offer a networking opportunity in The Lord Nelson, 26 Trafalgar Street, Brighton for chance to get together for a chinwag, to spread ethical love and maybe stumble across some mutually beneficial business opportunities at the same time…

For more info go to:  http://www.ethical-junction.org/ethicalpulse/index.php?/archives/841-Our-Ethical-Network-Brighton.html

Summer Networking Party – London 29th July…Ethical Junction have partnered with members Striding Out to bring you a Summer Networking Party. The summer party is being held at the new eco-bar Surya, launched by Club4Climate – 156 Pentonville Road, London, N1 9JL on Tuesday 29th July, between 6.30-9.30pm. Come along to network with potential clients, partners, team members, suppliers, and friends over a glass of Pimms.

For more info go to: http://www.ethical-junction.org/ethicalpulse/index.php?/archives/937-Striding-Outs-Summer-Networking-Party-London.html

Renewable energy company, Cornwall Light & Power, today submitted a scoping request to the Isle of Wight Council for three wind turbines at Cheverton Down in Shorwell.

The scoping document sets out the technical and environmental investigations which will be undertaken as part of the environmental assessment. When submitted, the planning application will be accompanied by a full environmental assessment which will help the local planning authority to make an informed decision.

It is proposed that the planning application will be made as a joint submission between Cornwall Light & Power Ltd and Vestas once the scope of the environmental assessment is agreed. Vestas is Cornwall Light & Power’s turbine supply partner and will therefore be a joint applicant for the Cheverton Down proposal. However, it will be Cornwall Light & Power who will be managing the development process.

Development Manager at Cornwall Light & Power, Steve Allen, said: "The scoping request submission is a key milestone for us as we work towards our goal of securing a clean energy supply for the Isle of Wight. The next step will be to undertake environmental assessments to ensure that the proposed turbines will not have any adverse effects on their environment and those surveys will form the basis of our planning application which we hope to submit in the autumn."

Planning permission for a small wind farm comprising three turbines was granted for the site at Cheverton Down in 1993 and could still be built. However, the technology specified is no longer available to buy as new, which would mean importing second-hand turbines from the mainland and limiting the amount of clean electricity generated.

Instead, Cornwall Light & Power and Vestas intend to submit a revised planning application for three modern machines which would produce ten times more electricity than the consented turbines and provide a base for research & development by Vestas, helping to make the Island a world leader in renewable energy technology.

Rob Sauven, Managing Director at Vestas, said: "Vestas employs over 500 people on the Island in both manufacturing and technology. The Council’s recent commitment to supporting the installation of 20MW of on-shore wind power on the Island is a major factor in helping Vestas to see the Isle of Wight as the right base in the UK.

"It is not the volume itself that is important but the fact that we need each UK region to be saying yes to appropriate levels of on-shore wind. The Isle of Wight is showing leadership in this area and Vestas hopes that the Cheverton Down project can be the first step to delivering on the 20MW target."

Steve Allen added: "Cornwall Light & Power recently exhibited at the Big Green Picnic and saw overwhelming public support for our proposals, which would make a significant contribution towards the renewable energy targets outlined in the Council’s Eco Island strategy. Of the 155 people we surveyed, 96% supported plans to generate wind power on the Island, and 90% said they would support a planning application to install modern turbines at Cheverton Down, to maximise the output of the site.

"We are committed to working in partnership with the local community to develop a renewable energy scheme that everyone can take pride in and we will endeavour to keep people updated at every stage of the development process."

A copy of the scoping document can be viewed at the Isle of Wight Council’s planning department on Fairlee Road in Newport.

Latest research examines climate change risks and opportunities

Global responsible investment specialists EIRIS today released research into some of the world’s largest 300 companies to examine how well they are responding to climate change challenges.

Focussing on the 300 largest cap global companies listed on the FTSE All World Index, The state we’re in: global corporate response to climate change and the implications for investors analyses the current state of corporate response to climate change, highlights the key challenges this presents and examines the implications for investors.

Key findings include:

§       Many large cap companies at risk - Over a third (35.6%) of companies in the global 300 are assessed as high or very high impact for climate change – representing over USD 6.8 trillion market cap (climate change impact includes both direct and indirect carbon emissions). 

§       High risk companies have taken initial steps – but translation into coherent climate change strategy is less apparent. 84% of high risk companies have a corporate-wide commitment to climate change. But only 14% link board remuneration to climate change strategies. And only 25% publish a long-term strategic target to reduce emissions. Targets are an important indicator of a company’s true commitment to reducing its  climate change impact.

§       Unreliable emissions disclosure  - 81% disclose either absolute or normalised data, but only 9% disclose the scope of their emissions against the Green House Gas Protocol *. A lack of consistent and comparable emissions data presents challenges to investors.

In support of EIRIS’ research on Climate Change, Phil Woolas MP, Minister of State for the Environment, said: "The transition to a low-carbon economy will require the biggest restructuring in how we live and work since the industrial revolution. It is an immense challenge and all of us; government, business, investors, civil society, and individuals have a major part to play. The City has a powerful role in meeting this challenge – as investors and analysts, Climate Change is  arguably the biggest environmental risk management challenge facing many of the corporations in which  you invest".

Stephanie Maier, Head of research at EIRIS said: "Climate change poses considerable financial risks and opportunities for investors. To protect shareholder value, investors should identify the risks in their portfolio, factor in the impacts of carbon and engage with companies and the wider policy debate to achieve the step change and robust policy framework that’s required".

 Click here (http://www.eiris.org/files/research%20publications/climatechange08.pdf) to download a copy of the research.

Panorama puts Primark’s claims that it can deliver cheap, fast fashion without breaking ethical guidelines to the test. Posing as industry buyers in India, the programme’s reporter Tom Heap and his team find some of India’s poorest people working long, gruelling hours on Primark clothes in slum workshops and refugee camps far away from the Primark approved and inspected factories; breaking promises on child labour, working hours and wages. When presented with the results of the investigation Primark sacked 3 suppliers and announced it was setting up a children’s foundation.
Primark said it was unaware of the actions of its suppliers. They say they represent a tiny proportion of their supply chain and that its reinforcing its stringent ethical standards in meetings with suppliers. Primark statement released June 16th 2008 below:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/18_06_08_primark.pdf

Their direct response to the Panorama programme will be on the Panorama
website after the programme airs on BBC1: http://www.bbc.co.uk/panorama

Our Ethical Network has been set up by EJ member Ethical Weddings to give ethical businesses in the Brighton & Hove area (and a bit beyond!) the chance to get together for a chinwag, to spread ethical love and maybe stumble across some mutually beneficial business opportunities at the same time…

Ethical Junction have joined together with Our Ethical Network to create the most inspiring, useful, informative and active network for you that we possibly can.  The next event planned is at The Lord Nelson, 26 Trafalgar Street, Brighton on Wednesday 23 July and will be an informal get-together, a chance to meet some new and old faces, share ideas and advice, and generally support each other in developing a more ethical way of doing business.  

Come and join us for an evening of ethical business networking… and general mingling with some good local Harveys ales to wash it all down!  All you need to do is confirm that you can make the event and turn up on the night!  To register go to – www.ethicalnetwork.eventbrite.com  or email katie@ethicalweddings.com.