Report: Companies Are Pursuing Sustainability

The Wall Street Journal is discussing a new study out from the Carbon Disclosure Project. The report finds that more than half of American companies in the S&P 500 have targets for reducing their emissions. That's up from the 32 percent last year who had such plans. In addition, more companies are setting ambitious goals for themselves -- not just reducing their emissions, but reducing them significantly. That signals that American companies are making sustainability a priority. As the report says, "Emissions strategies are clearly moving from a nice-to-have to a need-to-do."

The Washington Post has more:

"Climate is top of mind for our customers right now," said Jim Hanna, Starbucks's director of environmental impact, who added that the company is aware that its workers are also eyeing its business practices and public policy positions. [Starbucks is a patron of the National Energy Summit.] "For us to attract the best talent coming out of college, and for us to retain that talent over time, we've got to operate that way."

Hanna's point -- that people want to work for sustainable companies -- offers another reason for firms to examine how they can improve their practices. By embracing sustainability, companies put themselves ahead of their competitors and take the lead in facing the challenges we face.

Remember to keep checking our blog this week -- we'll be live-blogging the Summit all day Wednesday and Thursday.

— Matthew Faraci

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