The business case for valuing natural resources

Great news if it works. A new framework hopes to evaluate the ecosystem effects of business decisions, and drive business decisions into the green.

(The) World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) created the Guide to Corporate Ecosystem Valuation (CEV), an innovative framework designed to enhance understanding of ecosystem services like freshwater, food, fibre and natural hazard protection.

This first-of-its-kind framework helps companies to consider the benefits and values of these services, providing new information and insights to include in planning and financial analysis. It supports decision-making by better aligning the financial, ecological and societal objectives of companies, and links ecosystem service opportunities and risks more directly to a business's core operations, supply chain and financial bottom line.

The CEV also provides clarity, consistency and guidance in approaches and techniques. It was developed through an 18 month process of close collaboration with business and four partner organisations – Environmental Resources Management (ERM), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the World Resources Institute (WRI). 14 WBCSD member companies road tested the CEV Guide and were able to produce key examples of the opportunities and risks associated with ecosystems.

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There's big money in ocean waves

And it's not just in ocean energy. Protecting a high-quality surfing wave makes good business sense.

Here's a study of a surfing spot in Spain and it's value to the local economy. Once people read this, we'll probably see a rush of projects to make new surfing waves in small coastal towns around the world.

Thanks to the Save the Waves Coalition, we now know that saving the wave pictured above, in Mundaka, Spain, is good business. Surfing adds $4.5 million to the local economy and supports 95 jobs in a town of 1900 people.

Oh yeah, let's not forget that surfing is good clean fun.

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Green is the new gold

Business leaders are preaching a new gospel: going green is a business opportunity.

And it's not just hippies in birkenstocks, it includes biggies like Wal-mart, Weyerhauser, and Boeing.

As reported in Crosscut.com, business leaders were talking up business opportunities in building global warming solutions at Greater Seattle Area Chamber of Commerce meeting in Victoria, BC last month. It almost sounds like a "beat global warming" rally broke out amongst the suits.

The take home message is that if the Government won't lead, then business leaders will. Now that's an optimistic story on a gloomy nortwest November day.

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Talking sustainability-the workshop will be blogged

Hey all, wanna join me at a sustainability workshop/class? It's Sep 16-22, and it will be blogged.

Blogfish has the great pleasure of attending a week-long Stanford Business School program, Business Strategies for Environmental Sustainability. Not knowing what I'd do without my people, I hereby invite you to attend with me. The format is readings, presentations, discussions, and you too can be a part of it.

Here's my thought...I'll post the schedule and see if I can get permission to post a link to the readings (available online). Then, I'll bring questions/comments into the discussions from YOU, the friends of Blogfish. I'll also try to post on each day's doings (Uplink willing!)

It's a bit of an experiment for me, and I have no idea how the program organizers will feel about this idea, but we'll at least do something. My challenge to you is that I'll be deeply disappointed if I don't get at least one great piece of input to the class from the blogosphere. It just occurs to me, wonder if anyone else who will be there is planning to blog the program. That's my first question when I get there Sunday afternoon.

Now quick, get to thinking, what would you just love to ask business school types about oceans and sustainability?!

One program note, we have a fishing simulation segment, where we form teams and run fishing fleets into near and distant waters, buy and sell boats etc., and strive to maximize profits. Any suggestions on optimal strategies for fleet management? Most importantly, any sugesstions on how to have teams work together to avoid fishery crashes and overfishing, when the goal is maximizing profit? Co-op formation? Don't leave me high and dry without your input, please.

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