Here are 12 things in the sustainability space which inspired me this year:
- China becoming No 1 in the world for wind power capacity and dominating in PV production and solar hot water installation
- California’s Proposition 23 vote where the new (technology) industry out lobbied the old (fossil fuel) industry and Californian’s voted to go forward on their climate change policy
- New Zealand launching its emissions trading scheme
- The City of Sydney bringing alive its Sustainable Sydney 2030 vision with projects around the city and a real sense of purpose
- Norway pledging a billion dollars to Indonesia for a two year halt to rainforest clearance
- BHP helping set higher minimum expectations around carbon management in Australia by demanding a price on carbon
- The Australian Commercial Property Sector rating top in the world for environmental performance in a study commissioned by major European super funds
- Lend Lease not just reacting to markets but creating new ones with the Lend Lease Ventures clean-tech fund and Lend Lease Solar
- UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) growing through the GFC from 362 signatory companies in April 08 to 538 in May 09
- Four Years. Go, for producing a campaign video that is a highly integrated, inspiring and empowering view of our sustainability challenge
- Bill Gates and Warren Buffett’s Giving Pledge where many of the US’ billionaires are pledging to give away the majority of their wealth
- Audi marketing green in the middle of the Super Bowl!!
Let me also throw in Bush’s Eco-war on Iraq by The Onion – probably the funniest green spoof I saw all year…
Simon Carter is director of Morphosis, sustainability vision and strategy