Fifty People And A Dog At First Green Drinks Brussels

The first Green Drinks Brussels organised by Sustainability Consult was held last night at the Aloft Brussels Schuman bar.  We weren’t sure how many people would come to the first Green Drink Brussels but they started arriving early and just kept coming.

CEO Blog: The (Amazing) Week That Was

With a number of great initiatives coming to fruition around the same time, the last week has been truly amazing for us.  We have lots of news to share with our friends and clients.  Here are the highlights.

CO2 Tops 400 ppm for First Time in Human History

Source: The Guardian

On 2 May 2013, carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels in the atmosphere reached 400 parts-per-million (ppm) for the first time in human history.  This record was measured by the NOAA/ESRL's Global Monitoring Division in Mauna Loa, Hawaii.  The daily average for 9 May 2013 was an alarming 400.03 ppm.  When measurements started in 1958, the daily average was around 315 ppm, already a much higher level than the pre-industrial average of 280 ppm. 

The Problematic Definition of 'Green Jobs'

Source: earthtechling.com

Last week, the Permanent Representation of Austria to the EU hosted an event ‘Green Jobs: Growth Engine for the European Union or more Hype than Substance?’, where much of the discussion focused on how difficult it is to establish what a green job is – and isn’t. 

World Fair Trade Day Coming Up This Week

Source: globaldimension.org.uk

This Saturday (11 May 2013) is World Fair Trade Day, an initiative of the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).  Events will be taking place worldwide, aiming to raise awareness of the fair trade movement which began over five decades ago.

Sustainability Consult And Natuurpunt Announce 1% for the Planet Partnership

Steentjesbos in Autumn

(Source: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/HEYL.html)

Sustainability Consult, as a 1% for the Planet member, is committed to giving 1% of its sales to an environmental non-profit.  We chose local NGO Natuurpunt as it works with nature preservation around Brussels and the Flanders region.

How Feasible is 100% Renewable Energy?

Source: cleantechnica.com

Scotland by 2020, Australia by 2030, Denmark by 2050 – these countries are all aiming to produce 100% of their energy from entirely renewable sources.  Smaller countries such as Iceland and Lesotho are practically doing so already.  This year saw the first international conference focused on 100% renewable energy targets – so can the rest of the world catch up?