Nissan Goes Electric

I found it interesting to read this morning that Nissan Motors has announced their first all-electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf.  Scheduled to be available next year, the company says the car has a range of 100 miles/160 km, while producing zero emissions.  The company chose to skip past producing hybrid vehicles, focusing instead on what they hope will be the first affordable mass market electric car available in US, Europe and Japan starting next year.

What will the cost of the car be? Nissan hasn’t said, but Wired Magazine predicts 25,000 to 30,000 $. Of course those who pay close attention to government policy will already be factoring in relevant alternative energy tax credits that could lower the cost for consumers.  As far as charging time, the report in the LA Times claims: Recharging will take less than a half-hour (to 80% charge) using a high-capacity charger, Nissan says, and about 8 hours using a home charger running at 200 Volts.


Funfact: Nissan just moved its global headquarters back to Yokohama, where it was originally founded in 1933. Yokohama, of course, also the location for TBLI CONFERENCE™ ASIA 2009 and 2010.

August 3, 2009 2009, Climate Change, Impact Investing, Sustainability, TBLI Conference No Comments on Nissan Goes Electric

TBLI CONFERENCE™ ASIA 2009

Our latest conference in Japan, was a huge success. In spite of everything, that made it challenging (Swine Flu, Economic Downturn, Location not in Tokyo),the turnout was not influenced in a negative way. TBLI ASIA 2009 was our largest event and one of the best events we ever held. I want to thank all the speakers, moderators, sponsors, attendees, and staff for making it a wonderful experience.

We will be uploading the conference photos, podcasts, presentations shortly. Hope everyone can join us next year, May 27-28th in Tokyo.

June 9, 2009 2009, Climate Change, Impact Investing, Sustainability, TBLI Conference No Comments on TBLI CONFERENCE™ ASIA 2009

Authenticity

Jack Black in the movie, School of Rock, said “Those who can’t, teach. Those who can’t teach, teach gym.” I think a similar quote can be used for the enormous explosion of coaches that have sprouted up, particularly around sustainability.
Everyone seems to be coaching or wanting to get into coaching, particularly in the field of CSR and sustainabilty. It would seem that in order to be a coach, it means that you are able to transfer knowledge to someone less experienced. Unfortunately, most of the coaches or advisors around sustainability lack two essential ingredients; namely understanding or talent and authenticity.
Sustainability is an essential ingredient to business and personal life, and it is essential for survival. Unfortunately, most are looking at it and CSR, in particular, as a communications public affairs, issue. Not a strategic issue. This approach will fail. The other mistake being made is that those pushing themselves as so called “coaches”, have no authenticity. This phase is just a new way of packaging an old product. In a time, where everyone is clamoring for some minute scrap of reality and authenticity, there is no future to being an unauthentic person selling the idea of sustainabilty to sell more hours (consulting). We need more authenticity and not more coaches, hustling hours.
As Yoda said “Do or do not. There is no try”

June 9, 2009 2009, Climate Change, Impact Investing, Sustainability, TBLI Conference No Comments on Authenticity

Kings of Convenience

You’ll recall a recent post where I wrote about Australia’s carbon emissions trading scheme, not more than 3 weeks ago.  Just when it seemed like Australia had a plan and the world’s largest per-capita carbon emitter was going to take an important step for both the future of the planet, citizens and business, PM Kevin Rudd has now announced a delay of at least a year.  Citing the “worst economic crisis since the great depression”, Mr. Rudd pushed the roll out of the carbon trading plan to 2011, admitting that he has been under great pressure from the resource sector.

Pointing to economic difficulties as a reason to not adopt necessary and potentially revolutionary (for the good of people, planet and how we do business) is a move not unique to Australia. Perhaps the most famous nation to adopt this philosophy was the United States during the Bush administration, which refused to discuss curbing carbon emissions as it would allegedly damage the economy.

So despite the environmental and social platform that helped sweep Kevin Rudd into office, despite the clear evidence from the world’s leading scientists that climate change is real and that it is vital that we launch what many have refferred to as the Green New Deal, we still have leaders and governments who worry that it isn’t a convenient time for their political careers or their national economies.  Nevermind the countless jobs that would be created, the positive environmental impact, and the need to take action sooner rather than later – The Australian government thinks the world can wait.

May 4, 2009 2009, Climate Change, Impact Investing, Sustainability, TBLI Conference No Comments on Kings of Convenience