Center for Social Innovation (CSI): Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.

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Environment

The need for environmental sustainability in everything we do and produce has become one of the most critical issues on the planet today. How we create, use and recycle various forms of energy is an important factor in that equation. In these Social Innovation Conversations educational podcasts, we present you with the latest thinking on global warming and climate change. Learn about breakthrough efforts on clean energy, biofuels, and energy efficiency. Hear what activists and entrepreneurs are doing to preserve endangered areas and ecospheres. Find out what you can do to adopt a green lifestyle and enhance environmental sustainability.

What California Can Teach Washington

Mary Nichols, Chairman of the California Air Resources Board, discusses the California cap-and-trade program and the current thinking around regional and federal carbon policy. In 2009, the house Waxman-Markey bill attempted to establish a federal cap-and-trade system in the US, but it failed in the Senate. Nonetheless, California launched its own cap-and-trade program to implement greenhouse gas emissions reductions mandated by AB32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. The story of California’s program is told by Nichols at the Stanford Center for Social Innovation’s 2013 Conradin Von Gugelberg Memorial Lecture.

Leveraging Social Innovation

Social innovations in the supply chain have the potential for making an impact on a large scale. In this panel discussion, experts describe innovations that are benefiting society and delivering economic value, including responsible e-waste recycling efforts that generate revenue, innovative methods to end child labor in the carpet industry, and more.

Environmental Sustainability in China Advanced Through Supply Chain Transparency

Environmental sustainability is advanced in China by publishing pollution violations in an online open source database. In this audio lecture, Ma Jun, Director of the Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs, describes the positive results achieved through the China Water Pollution Map, which provides each supplier’s detailed pollution data. At the Stanford Global Supply Chain Management Forum, Jun describes how a group of NGOs made tangible gains toward environmental sustainability by motivating corporate social responsibility.

Environmental Sustainability through “Waste to Worth” Vision

A proven way to environmental sustainability is demonstrated through the “Waste to Worth” program at Procter & Gamble (P&G). In this audio lecture, Jill Boughton, Associate Research and Development Director at P&G, shares P&G’s long term vision of getting to zero waste in landfills in emerging markets. At the Stanford Global Supply Chain Management Forum, Boughton describes practical steps toward eliminating waste going to landfills, bringing us closer to achieving environmental sustainability through corporate social responsibility.

Supply Chain Environmental Sustainability, Responsible Corporate Citizenship

Environmental sustainability is essential to business today. In this audio lecture, Alex Cummings of Coca Cola relates how his company aims to double its business in a decade by improving packaging and supply chain logistics through social entrepreneurship. Cummings relates stories of using organic material in plastic bottles and empowering one-woman distribution companies in rural Africa. He describes strategic partnerships to strengthen corporate citizenship in local communities, using renewable resources and recycling projects to enhance international development.

Redefining Consumerism: Innovations in Product Sustainability

The production and consumption of consumer products carries implications for environmental sustainability, efficient use of inputs, and corporate social responsibility in today’s markets. In this talk, social entrepreneur and sustainability expert Andy Ruben shares his vision for supply chain innovation and sustainable consumerism, through the lens of both individual products and system-wide change.

Corporate Social Responsibility is Essential to Environmental Sustainability

Former Vice President Al Gore describes how Corporate Social Responsibility is essential to Environmental Sustainability, as he shares his insights in the View from the Top series at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. In this audio lecture, Gore addresses leadership and climate crisis solutions, providing data on population fertility management and the effects of current technology. Gore details how hyper-inequality is threatening to both Capitalism and Democracy, before suggesting alternatives for Sustainable Capitalism.

Environmental Sustainability Through Recycling

Messaging that makes meanings easier to understand leads people to recycle more. That's the conclusion of a study reported on by Canadian Scholar Kate White in this University podcast. White says that negative messages about the dangers of not recycling work best when paired with concrete action steps, showing how to recycle. White spoke at the Stanford Prosocial Briefing.

Food, Water, and Energy

Our planet will reach nine billion people by 2050. Are we anywhere near ready to feed that many people? In this audio lecture, Dr. Ann Bartuska of the U.S. Department of Agriculture discussed the need to connect food, water, and energy technologies to address our need for sustainable agriculture. Dr. Bartuska spoke as part of the panel "Framing the Challenges: How Can Connection Technologies Support Sustainable Development?" at the USRio+2.0 Conference at Stanford University.

Sustainable Water Treatment

How can a young nonprofit organization make a tangible improvement in people's health through clean water using only the power of gravity? This was the challenge for Daniel Smith and the AguaClara team when they began work to introduce community-level drinking water treatment plants in Honduras. In this audio interview, Sheela Sethuraman learns from the 2011 Intel Environment Award winners about the importance of using local resources and experts to encourage horizontal learning.

EDF Future of Green Calls

Could it be that Defense takes the lead on climate change initiatives? An important DoD report cited climate change as a top national security concern. On this Future of Green Call, Daniel Kreeger explains how Defense is planning ways to avoid conflict over essential supplies such as clean water, resource consumption and keeping bases safe from predicted coastal flooding. Discussion also includes lessons learned from climate catastrophes and how to respond more quickly and efficiently to crisis.

Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World

Businesses are in the business of business. But they are beginning to be in the business of doing social good as well. As companies shift to incorporate environmental, social, and welfare-based themes into business plans and products, Aron Cramer points out a trend of decreasing poverty and improving the environment as corporations look to increase both profit and human development.

Environmental Sustainability and Energy Policy

New Obama administration goals are making this an excellent time for professionals interested in environmental sustainability. So say senior government energy and technology officials in this panel discussion convened by the Stanford's Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. Pointing to the challenges ahead, they outline where the opportunities will lie for energy-focused entrepreneurs.

Environmental Sustainability with World Water

World demand for water is likely to continue to outpace population. In this panel discussion, experts talk about how this troubling environmental sustainability issue offers a rare opportunity for cleantech entrepreneurs. Our search for sustainable water offers lessons that may help others facing similar large-scale challenges such as world demand for energy. The event was part of the MIT-Stanford Venture Lab Series.

Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability

The environmental sustainability movement has long been pushing for the development of renewable energy resources. Yet to have a significant impact in the energy market, any renewable alternative must be scalable, argues Haas School professor Severin Borenstein in this audio lecture. Speaking at the 2010 Climate Policy Instruments in the Real World conference at Stanford, he suggests where policy interventions should be focused so as to pave the way for the greater appeal of renewable technologies.

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