Stories: Markets & Enterprise

In a speech at Davos today, Bill Gates called for a more inclusive capitalism that “would have a twin mission: making profits and also improving lives for those who don’t fully benefit from market forces.” That is a major milestone in the evolving thinking of perhaps the most influential philanthropist of our time.

Border security is not typically recognized as being tied to environmental changes, but in this recent article by The New York Times, the links are clear. It details how declining fish catches in northwest Africa are fueling immigration to Europe.

Beijing Shenwu Thermal Energy Company, a once struggling small enterprise, is revolutionizing China’s industrial energy consumption by making it more efficient and cleaner.

Trends to Watch is WRI’s annual forecast of emerging issues that will have major impacts on environmental coverage in 2008. On climate change: what will happen between COP-13 in Bali, and COP-14 in Poznan? What role will China play? Will we see new legislation and regulations from Congress or the EPA? Where will biofuels and technology go? Where will the water come from? WRI President Jonathan Lash makes his predictions at the National Press Club.

At first glance, the lineup of products and services on display at this year’s New Ventures India Investor Forum seemed to reflect traditional Indian knowledges and practices. Banana-leaf materials, light posts, and packaged Indian foods were some of the offerings on display by entrepreneur finalists.

WRI President Jonathan Lash has been named to the 100 Most Influential People in Business Ethics listing by Ethisphere Magazine, a new “global publication dedicated to illuminating the important correlation between ethics and profit.” The list, which will appear in the Q4 issue available in December, recognized individuals for “inspiring change in business ethics.”

Last week, our New Ventures Mexico team announced the creation of Las Páginas Verdes (“Green Pages”), the country’s first sustainable products and services guide aimed at helping consumers make sustainable decisions about their purchases.

New Ventures entrepreneur Ben Ripple had plenty to say at the Triple Bottom Line Conference in Paris last week, where he participated in a WRI-organized panel on monitoring and evaluating non-financial impacts.