ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS

Now that you understand the environmental problems we face

today, it's time to understand the potential environmental
solutions. I say potential solutions, because the cause and effect
from environmental problem to environmental solution is complex.
There's a word for this, it's called dynamic complexity.

The below environmental solutions have the potential to solve

different problems within a complex, dynamic, and interconnected
system. But there is no magic bullet for environmental problems.
So I encourage anyone interested in environmental solutions to
think big-picture. Each solution is simply one piece of a giant
puzzle. Again, look for progress rather than perfection.

UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

The UN Sustainable Development Goals  offer the best possible

framework for dealing with most of the problems listed above.
These are the 17 goals that almost all countries have agreed to.

 No poverty

 Zero hunger

 Good health and well-being

 Quality education

 Gender equality

 Clean water and sanitation

 Affordable and clean energy

  Decent work and economic growth

 Industry, innovation, and infrastructure

 Reduced inequality

 Sustainable cities and communities

 Responsible consumption and production

 Climate action

 Life below water

 Life on Land

 Peace, justice, and strong institutions

 Partnerships and Goals

GREEN INNOVATION

Green innovation  may be the most important environmental

solution. People around the world are working on new
technologies and solutions that could revolutionize the way we
look at energy and waste. We haven't scratched the surface yet on
how humanity will solve these problems. But there's no time to
waste, and we need governments and companies to invest in
research and development.

One step is to lay the foundation for innovation by drastically increasing

government funding for research on clean energy solutions. Right now, the
world spends only a few billion dollars a year on researching early-stage
ideas for zero-carbon energy. It should be investing two or three times that
much."

- Bill Gates
Read: We need clean-energy innovation, and lots of it

AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGY

There are several different forms of clean and renewable energy.

Solar, wind, and hydro energy are considered renewable energy
sources. Nuclear energy, a non-renewable source of energy that
contributes little to climate change, is an example of clean energy.

If you've been thinking of getting a home solar system, check

out EnergySage.com *. They're my number one resource for all
things home solar.
CARBON TAXES

You may have read statements from economists like former

Federal Reserve Chairmen Ben Bernanke, Alan Greenspan, Janet
Yellen, and Paul Volcker have written a letter in support of a
carbon tax. That's because pollution and emissions are
considered negative externalities.

By correcting a well-known market failure, a carbon tax will send a powerful

price signal that harnesses the invisible hand of the marketplace to steer
economic actors towards a low-carbon future.”

- Statement by economists posted in the Wall Street Journal

Read: How carbon pricing could simplify sustainable living

CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Conserving the natural resources we already have is one

important environmental solution. The strategies below help
individuals and companies conserve resources:

 Zero waste - Zero-waste is a way for individuals to reduce

their own environmental impact by contributing less to landfills
by using reusable containers and less plastic.

 Circular economy - "A circular economy is based on the

principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping
products and materials in use, and regenerating natural
systems," according to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

 Sustainable living  - Sustainable living is a general term used

to describe lifestyle choices that contribute less to
environmental problems.

 Recycling

 Upcycling

Read: What is a circular economy and why do we need one?

CARBON CAPTURE AND SEQUESTRATION

Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) removes carbon dioxide

from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil, trees, plants or
underground. CCS is considered one way to mitigate climate
change.

The simplest way to capture carbon is through photosynthesis.

Trees and plants take atmospheric carbon dioxide and store that
carbon in healthy soil and plants using photosynthesis. But there
are more high-tech ways to capture and sequester carbon as well.
One way is through geoengineering.

Geoengineering is the deliberate large-scale intervention in the Earth’s

natural systems to counteract climate change.

- Oxford Geoengineering Program

There are also companies that will sequester carbon for you. I
use Wren's * subscription service to offset my family's carbon
footprint every month. It's inexpensive and easy to get started.
When you're signed up they send a personalized update each
month showing how much CO2 you removed from the atmosphere
that month and in total. If you feel guilty about your carbon
footprint, but driving less or changing your diet seems difficult, a
service like Wren can help your conscience and the environment.

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS AND INVESTING

Some businesses, like Patagonia, Interface, and IKEA, have built
sustainability and resilience into the core of their companies.
Others have fought against sustainability by lawyering-up, using
loopholes, and lying about the damage their businesses create. If
we want environmental solutions, we need to support companies
with sustainable business models that support progress. If you're
interested in learning more about what businesses and consumers
can do, here are a few places to start:

 Doughnut Economics *: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-

Century Economist

 Genuine progress indicator

 Socially responsible investing

 Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Read: Reinventing Fire: Bold Business Solutions for the New

Energy Era *

IMPROVED FOOD PRODUCTION

The environmental problems associated with food production get a
lot of attention in the media. Some environmentalists and
journalists advocate for plant-based diets and veganism as a
solution to the problems associated with food. Changing our
eating habits may have a small impact on the environment, but
there's a much larger movement underfoot lead by farmers and
entrepreneurs. Below is a short list of potential environmental
solutions to problems associated with food production and water
shortages:

 Regenerative agriculture

 Lab-grown meat
  Plant-based meat

 Verticle farms

 Precision agriculture

 Anaerobic digestion

 Water desalination

SUSTAINABLE HOMES

Our homes use a lot of energy to run our dishwashers, washer

and dryers and HVAC systems. And let's not forget about all the
energy we use charging our computers and watching TV. It adds
up. But instead of turning off our devices, it's possible to build
more efficient homes that waste less energy, and use cleaner
energy sources. Although we have a long way toward making
most homes sustainable, here are a few environmental solutions
related to homes.

 Net Zero homes

 Home electrification

 Living Buildings

 LEED-certified buildings

 Energy star appliances

Read: Home electrification: Why cities are phasing out natural gas

ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORKS AND
CERTIFICATIONS

As mentioned earlier, the UN Sustainable Development Goals

offer a framework for solving most environmental problems. If
you're interested in learning more about the environmental
movement, here are a few places to start.

 UN Sustainable Development Goals

 Future Fit Business  - Free tools to help businesses and

investors make better decisions.
  The Natural Step (TNS)

If you're interested in buying better products, consider looking for

products with these certifications.

 B Corporation

 Cradle to Cradle certified

 Design for the environment

 EWG verified

Csr to customer:
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities have the potential to create several distinct forms of value
for customers. It is the customer perception of this value that mediates the relationship between CSR
activities and subsequent financial performance. By categorizing major CSR activities and the different
types of value each can create, this report offers a number of practical recommendations to business
leaders embarking in CSR programs for their companies.

Investments in CSR activities are under scrutiny. Boards and shareholders are increasingly demanding
that outcomes from these investments be measured to understand if and how they positively impact the
profitability of the firm. Not surprisingly, a significant amount of research has been undertaken to
understand the relationship between CSR and profitability.

Due to the importance of customers among business stakeholders, marketing research that examines the
effects of CSR on profitability is particularly informative. In particular, this research shows that CSR leads
to outcomes such as increased customer loyalty, willingness to pay premium prices, and lower
reputational risks in times of crisis. [1,2,3] Each of these marketing outcomes in turn has the potential to
support increased profitability.

However, the research findings in question are often equivocal and offer business leaders limited
guidance when it comes to choosing and implementing specific CSR activities. In fact:
  1. the relationship between CSR activities and financial performance is typically affected by many
other mediating variables, which are not always thoroughly considered by researchers; and

 2. the metrics used to define CSR vary widely among researchers.

To understand how CSR can impact profitability, this report focuses on customer value as a variable
linking CSR activities and firm financial performance. This report argues that CSR activities have the
potential to create several distinct forms of value for customers. It is the customer perception of (and
subsequent response to) this value that mediates the relationship between CSR activities, positive
marketing outcomes, and subsequent financial performance.

CSR to investor:

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been touted as an effective

management tool to strengthen the organizations’ performance through a
better image in stakeholder's mind and also because of their responsible
behavior toward society and environment.1, 2 Although CSR has been more
prevalent in those organizations that are more exposed to environment and
are more prone toward creating contamination, the interest in using CSR as a
strategy is increasing in every type of business. Since the 1980s, there has been
a series of reforms taking shape in the business, resulting from the increased
awareness on the importance of quality management and business role toward
society.

CSR as an area of practice is moving toward responsible competition, and the

movement of CSR has been through many transitions in its concept and
application because of the environmental activism and government
regulations, whereas the legal requirements by government are becoming
more and more stringent for compliance.

In Asia Pacific, most of the companies are focusing on their markets in order
to build efficient outcomes. In Pakistan, it is in the recent times that CSR is
coming into the mainstream of business applications and in academia.
Although corporate philanthropy is yet in initial stages (largely confined to
legal compliance), some companies have now started to use their CSR related
activities for their corporate branding as well.

In today's highly competitive global business market, the Business in Pakistan

is facing acute problems in almost every industry in terms of acquisition of
resources and also profitability. This is also destabilizing the economic
situation of the country. The present study focuses on an industry and society
relationship from a CSR perspective. The researcher aims to find out how
companies’ social responsibility activities can reap benefits for the
organization by creating smooth relationships between different groups of
stakeholders of a company.