Leaders for Nature: All Meshwork Content

TEEB conference Tuesday July 13, Excel International Conference Center, London, UK.

Tue, 11 May 2010 10:40:57 +0100

Is anyone planning to join this symposium?

TEEB conference July 13, Excel Int’l Conf. Center, London, UK.

http://www.businessofbiodiversity.co.uk/

The First Global Business of Biodiversity Symposium - the largest and most exciting biodiversity conference-exhibition to take place anywhere in the world to date.
In this Symposium the TEEB report for business will expose the real costs to business of ignoring biodiversity loss, and highlights the new thinking; the new economics; the new perspectives which are leading to new opportunities and ways of doing business.

2 suggestion from Andrew:

Discount code (from GBOB Twitter: #biodiversity)
Eurolines bus leaving Netherlands Monday night, arriving Tuesday, departing Tuesday night, arriving back in the Netherlands Wednesday morning.

Sustainability policy at DHV

Mon, 03 May 2010 10:06:01 +0100

Through the verdict of the jury and discussion in the room, it became apparent that some were under the impression that

- the LFN project was set up without top-management support

- that DHV was underperforming on Sustainability with the proposed LFN project

- that DHV had no SMART targets on sustainability

In order to inform you on the above points, I can refer you to our new website, where we detail our programmes and targets. At the moment, only a Dutch version is available: http://www.dhv.nl/Over-ons/Duurzaam-ondernemen

If you have either questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

best regards

Tobias Stöcker

What is a Meshwork?

Mon, 22 Feb 2010 14:48:52 +0000

Introduction
Millions of us feel driven to implement positive change, whether we are in government, business, NGOs, civil society, science, education or media, we are increasingly called to make a positive difference. The most important and demanding challenges – environmental and social transformation, poverty eradication, local and national development, public health, and Millennium Development Goals (see note#1) – require collaboration across boundaries of organizations, departments, locations and sectors. We feel called to make the change, but none of us can do it alone.

Today’s most important challenges cannot be met by working within the silos of traditional sectors, organizations and locations. We are in this together!
To work together effectively, we need to work together in alignment. It helps to have a shared framework for achieving our shared purpose. Within a shared framework, many people and organizations can work in alignment to achieve synergy and dramatic results. Frameworks work! With the right framework, the efforts and resources of many people can be combined to achieve things that would have been impossible for any of us alone.
Dramatic, tipping point changes can happen when people align on a shared purpose across organization boundaries using a shared framework to collaborate for success.

Meshworks
A meshwork is a structured collaboration community. A meshwork aligns people around a shared purpose within a common framework. A meshwork connects people who have interests in particular locations and particular topics. A meshwork connects people across role, sector and organizational boundaries. A meshwork enables knowledge‐accidents – helping people to find and ‘bump‐into’ the people and resources they need to play their part in achieving the shared purpose.

Markets, knowledge‐based economies and the green dividend
Throughout history, from the renaissance to Silicon Valley, synergy between people with diverse talents and ideas has enabled positive cultural, social and economic change. In a meshwork, people connect to teach, to learn, to buy, to sell, to offer, to request, to give, to receive. A successful meshwork catalyzes innovation, market development and change. Building meshworks for the sharing and development of knowledge builds knowledge‐based economies. Building meshworks mobilizes the people and resources to fast‐track national and regional development. Building meshworks for green and clean products and supply chains catalyzes markets, fast‐tracking green transition. How can the power of meshworks be facilitated in many places to enable large‐scale change?

Gaiaspace
Gaiaspace provides a platform for developing meshwork communities and markets – enabling people to align around a shared purpose and framework, to implement change collaboratively across organization and community boundaries. A Gaiaspace meshwork connects the people and resources to fast‐track collaboration, learning, innovation and change. A Gaiaspace meshwork develops collaborative communities and markets, digital ecosystems which further the purpose of the meshwork.
Gaiaspace supports multiple meshworks. For example, a meshwork for environmental change in cities; a meshwork for improving healthcare; a meshwork of social entrepreneurs – can each exist within a single Gaiaspace web site – allowing intersection, overlap and synergy between meshworks.

Templates for Scale
A meshwork provides a framework for connecting people and resources focused on themes, goals or interest areas that support the meshwork purpose. A meshwork can be developed at national, regional and city levels simultaneously. The template for one city can be used again and again in many cities, to connect local people, provide local resources and stimulate local markets to achieve the same meshwork purpose. One city can pilot, or many can share knowledge and experience to develop the meshwork template and learn together.

Note #1: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that 189 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015. They include reducing extreme poverty, reducing child mortality rates, fighting disease epidemics such as AIDS, and developing a global partnership for development.

Global Eco Efficiency Jam

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:22:25 +0000

v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
p\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
v\:textbox {display:none;}

Slide 1 .O {font-size:149%;}

Invitation for The Global Eco-efficiency Jam

This web-event offers the opportunity to join a worldwide dialog on energy, the environment and sustainability. Do not miss a chance to confer with other leading edge organizations, subject matter experts, industry analysts and environmental thought leaders as we share best practices being leveraged around the world.

When :January 27-29 2010

The Jam will continues for 50+ hours, so you can come and go as your schedule allows

Organizers: IBM and the Economist

How to register

Please contact GREENBNL@nl.ibm.com.

Who will Jam with us?

The Global Eco-efficiency Jam starts with a webcast moderated by Joel Makower, Executive Editor of GreenBiz.com, with guests Dan Esty, author of Green to Gold, Nick Donofrio, IBM technology and innovation leader from 1997-2008, and James Watson, Managing Editor, Industry and Management Research, Economist Intelligence Unit.

Which topics will be covered:

Green IT - How organizations can apply energy efficient technology and best practices for data centers and other IT assets.

Energy efficient infrastructure — How to measure and manage energy use of in your their buildings, facilities, and other assets.

Sustainable operations — How organizations can improve environmental performance across business operations while driving sustainable growth.

The new workplace — Discuss ways to reduce the environmental impact of workforce while meeting business objectives.

Smarter Industries, Smarter Cities — How eco-efficiency can change how entire industries, cities and societies operate.

Raising the bar — What are the most important eco-efficiency key performance indicators for your organization and how to meet stakeholder and regulatory expectations.

The results:

Participants will be eligible to receive a full report of the findings, analyzed and prepared by IBM's Institute for Business Value.

100 days petitions

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:54:49 +0100

Hello,

Here are some petitions I would like to invite you to sign, as part of the countdown to the Copenhagen Climate Change conference in December (among many others I am sure):

http://tcktcktck.org/

http://www.sealthedeal2009.org/

http://www.planetcall.org/

Cheers,

Andrew

Vote Earth

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:10:31 +0100

THIS SATURDAY 28 MARCH AT 8.30PM YOU CAN VOTE EARTH BY SWITCHING OFF YOUR LIGHTS FOR ONE HOUR - EARTH HOUR

For a video: see below

For more information: http://www.earthhour.org/home/

Open Letter '06 - LFN

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:10:31 +0100

Open letter to the Leaders of the Dutch Political Parties in Parliament

The Hague, 12 December 2006

Plea for a government with a long term vision on nature and climate policy

Dear political leaders,
The elections have been held, and discussions on the formation of the next
government are ongoing. We notice that in the political debate and in the programs of
the political parties there is again little attention for nature, biodiversity and climate.
Ecosystems – the natural elements that form our planet - are disappearing at an
enormous rate around the globe, mainly due to human impacts. Every year more and
more plant and animal species go extinct. Scientists regularly point out this harsh
reality, such as in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment that was published last year
by the United Nations with contributions of more than 1,300 scientists. We, people
working for national and multinational companies and institutions, are deeply
concerned about these issues, and feel that they have received insufficient attention
in the national political debate. Nature is the foundation of our existence and should
therefore be conserved - now and in the future.

This is the time when you are making your plans for the coming four years. We believe
that the protection of our living-environment, here in the Netherlands as well as
worldwide, should be given a higher priority. This is in the interest of our future, our
economy and our well-being. The Dutch corporate sector must be stimulated to show
leadership and contribute to sustainable development, but must also be given the
maneuvering space in which it can prove itself to be responsible. This means that
regulations must implementable, sustainable behavior must be rewarded, and must
not be hampered by allowing unsustainable behavior to prevail.

Within the European Union, the Netherlands needs to develop a strategy that focuses
on innovation for sustainable technologies, knowledge development, and society-wide
commitment to our natural systems. This strategy is needed in order to prevent our
wellbeing to be undermined by the further loss of our foundation: nature.
We expect from the new government, from whatever political party, decisive action
and policies based on a long term global vision for the sustainable management of our
natural systems, as well as clarity on who bears political responsibility for that
agenda.

We invite those that will form the next cabinet, the leaderships of our political parties
and our politicians to join us and non-governmental organizations in developing a longterm
vision and to help each other in the development of an effective and strong
policy.

Yours sincerely,

Yoeri Albrecht, Sigrid van Aken, Peter Bakker, Jan Theo Bautz, Jan Bennink, Peter
Berdowski, Matthijs Bierman, Cees Boer, Jan Boersema, Wim Boonstra, Pieter
Borkent, Else Bos, Onno van den Brink, Herman Bruggink, Antony Burgmans, Theo
Camps, Gerlach Cerfontaine, Eric Coorens, Joppe Cramwinckel, Ellen Damsma, Wout
Dekker, Hans van Dord, Leendert van Driel, Bas van Duinen, Peter Elverding, Ewoud
Goudswaard, Menno Groeneveld, Rijkman Groenink, Bert Heemskerk, Sietze Hepkema,
Jan-Michiel Hessels, Steven van der Heijden, Gerard Hoetmer, Jan Hommen, Reindert
Houben, Charlotte Insinger, Rokus van Iperen, Michiel Jaski, Auke van Keulen, Theodor
Kockelkoren, Rutger Koopmans, Ruud Koornstra, Peter Kortenhorst, Arwin van Laanen,
Hendrik Jan Laseur, René Leegte, Kees van Lede, Max Ter Linden, Maurice Lippens,
Bert Meerstadt, Aloys Meinema, Roderick Munsters, Jan Harm Musters, Lucas Noldus,
Erwin Nijsse, Robert-Jan van Ogtrop, Boudewijn Poelmann, Kim Potters, Jurgen
Pullens, Alexander Rinnooy Kan, Robert Reibestein, Yvonne van Rooij, David
Rosenberg, Bas Rüter, Margot Scheltema, Hans Schut, Naomi Sedney, Regien van der
Sijp, Hans Smits, Allerd Stikker, Wim Tjaberinga, Harry Verhaar, Louise Vet, Karel
Vuursteen, Johan van der Werf, Rein Willems, Reinoud Wolff, Herman Wijffels, Leo
van Wijk, Marcel Zegger, Jan Zuidam

Contact:
Leaders for Nature
c/o IUCN National Committee of the Netherlands (IUCN NL)
Plantage Middenlaan 2K
1018 DD Amsterdam
The Netherlands
www.iucn.nl/LFN

Cc: Mr. Hoekstra
Ministers and Secretaries of State of Finance; Economic Affairs; Housing, Spatial
Planning and the Environment; Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality; Education,
Culture and Science; Transport, Public Works and Water Management; and Foreign
Affairs.

Boeing and Bio Fuels

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:10:30 +0100

Please let me know what you think of below Article. Is it just me or is this a questionable idea? The growing of this Jatropha nut will take up land on which food for locals are produced. In addition, rainforest will be more likely to be destroyed (as is the case already for corn and soya) in order to have these types of biofuels. Causing food prices to rise etc etc...

So. My question; you think this solution is a sustainable one? If yes please explain to me, perhaps I am missing the clue? Because wouldn't it be better when money used for this research was spend on third generation fuels?

Anybody of KLM knowing more about this issue?

Within a few years Boeing can go into the air on bio fuels

Aircraft builder Boeing expects to have planes that fly on bio fuels in about 3 to 5 years. From own research it shows that oil made out of the nut of the Jatrophaplant is even better then the kerosene which is used today. This because there is more energy in the new oil and it is also better resistant against freezing. Boeing expects that this clean fuel will be commercially attractive when the oil will cost around 70 to 80 dollars per barrel. They expect flying on bio fuels made out of algae can be successful, however, due to high development costs it can take another 10 years.

If this development continues and eventually thousands of airplanes will use the clean fuel, it means that especially in Africa and Latin America a new industry will flourish. All ingredients seem to be present to create more prosperity in those regions.

Processing at the source
A first requirement is that processing of the Jatropha nuts has to take place in the country of origin and it creates new jobs locally. With corn, soya and cocoa this does not happen because they are mostly processed in the Western world. The simple reason for this is that on unprocessed agricultural products no import tariffs are put. Through the WTO a new treaty has to be developed, so that poorer countries can benefit of their own raw materials.

Source: http://www.duurzaamnieuws.nl/bericht.rxml?id=42325 - Gerard Ringenaldus

Minister Verhagen zoekt reisgenoten naar de Golf

Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:10:29 +0100

Ben jij een Young Professional die over grenzen heen durft te kijken? Werk je in een financieel-economische sector, energie sector of de wetenschap? Dan is dit iets voor jou!

Een werkbezoek samen met Minister Verhagen in de Golf-regio. Het bezoek vindt plaats in mei en voert langs Saudi-Arabië, Qatar en de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten. Onderweg voert Verhagen officiële besprekingen over economische samenwerking, energie, mensenrechten en het vredesproces in het Midden-Oosten.

De Young Professionals zullen tijdens de reis bij sommige van de officiële gesprekken aanwezig zijn. Daarnaast zullen ze bezoeken afleggen aan lokale organisaties en bedrijven, en van gedachten wisselen met jonge professionals uit de Golfregio.

Voor meer info klik hier.

Small personal actions vs. a bigger plan on sustainability

Fri, 29 May 2009 11:03:03 +0100

Nowadays I see a mix of small personal actions and a bigger plan on sustainability. If it is up to me, I would prefer to split those. Of course everyone needs to take personal actions as well, but for a major change we need to think bigger and differently. What I meant by this is that we have to rethink the things we are doing today and not only focussing on reducing our usages of natural resources. Be creative and innovative, because otherwise we sure find ourselves stuck in discussion rather if it's more environmental friendlier to use a mug or a paper/plastic cup. And believe me on this, there is already way too much energy and money spend on those discussions...

Nonetheless the ideas I have read about making successes measureable and share them is something I would like to support. Furthermore the idea of launching a 'friendly' sustainability competition could be an option to stimulate acceleration on the development of sustainability initiatives.