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Green (Sustainable) Resources: Reference Sources

 

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Reference Sources

Additional Titles

Green (Sustainable) Journals

Selected Websites

News Services

  • CSRWire
    The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire: “ . . . an interactive forum to share articles, video, audio, and commentary relating to corporate citizenship, sustainability, and socially responsible initiatives.” They also list relevant books, and include a directory.

  • Environmental News Network
    A news service focusing on environmental issues with a global perspective

  • Greener World Media Inc.
    News and information on business and the environment through its media network which includes its daily news source, Greenbiz.com, as well as GreenerBuildings, Climatebiz and GreenerComputing.

  • SustainableBusiness.com
    Provides global news and networking services for the green business community.

 

Standards, Indexes

  • Global Reporting Initiative (on Sustainability)
    "GRI is a network-based organization that has pioneered the development of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework . . . which sets out the principles and indicators that organizations can use to measure and report their economic, environmental, and social performance." Includes a history of the framework, sustainability reports, a link to the G3 Guidelines for making a GRI Sustainability Report, and opportunities for scholarship.

  • Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes
    "These indexes track the financial performance of the leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide."

  • FTSE4GoodIndexes
    "FTSE works in association with EIRIS, the Ethical Investment Research Service, to research company corporate responsibility performance."

  • Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria
    Worldwide benchmarking and certification program for the travel and tourism industry. The criteria are a set of voluntary standards "representing the minimum that any tourism business should aspire to reach in order to protect and sustain the world’s natural and cultural resources while ensuring tourism meets its potential as a tool for poverty alleviation." The criteria were developed as part of an initiative led by the Rainforest Alliance, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Foundation, and the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

  • ISO 26000: Social Responsibility
    Website for Standard, ISO 26000:2010, Guidance for social responsibility. This international standard is voluntary, aiming "to be a first step in helping all types of organization in both the public and private sectors to consider implementing ISO 26000 as a way to achieve the benefits of operating in a socially responsible manner."

  • ISO 26000 Archive
    This was the website used during the development of ISO 26000 which is no longer being updated/maintained but is being retained as an archive/reference source "because of the wealth of background . . . material it contains."

  • Greendex: Survey of Sustainable Consumption
    A worldwide tracking survey of sustainable practices developed by National Geographic.

 

Ratings, Rankings

  • Newsweek Green Rankings for US Companies
    Newsweek's environmental ranking of America's 500 largest corporations.

  • State of Green Business
    Special report produced yearly by greenbiz.com. This report measures whether and how companies are reducing their environmental impacts.

  • The College Sustainability Report Card
    "Provides in-depth sustainability profiles for more than 300 colleges in all 50 U.S. states and eight Canadian provinces." Schools are listed alphabetically and are rated on over 60 factors under headings including administration, climate change and energy, food and recycling, green buildings, student involvement and transportation. Report card tab links to Methodology.

 

Reports, Analysis

  • Greentechmedia
    News, research and analysis, case studies and more, about environmental resources and infrastructure, and enterprises.

  • ReportAlert.com
    Corporate responsibility report releases

  • World Bank e-Library
    Collection of over 4,000 World Bank publications, policy Research Working Papers and The World Bank Economic Review. Search Keyword sustainability

  • McKinsey & Company: McKinsey Quarterly Report; McKinsey Global Institute
    Studies and analysis on a range of subjects. Search: sustainability, CSR

  • Greenbiz.com
    "Business voice of the green economy" has news, opinion, best practices, and an annual report on the State of Green Business. Includes job listings, directories, professional events.

  • World Business Council for Sustainable Development
    "A CEO-led, global association of some 200 companies dealing exclusively with business and sustainable development." Focuses mainly on energy and climate, development, business roles and ecosystems. Member companies include 3M, Deloitte Touché, Ernst & Young, GE, IBM, Price Waterhouse. Site also includes case studies.

  • Green Money Journal
    Published since 1992, includes an archive of issues from 2000 and keyword search.

  • Ceres
    Founded in 1989 as the Coalition for Environmentally Responsible Economies " . . . national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges." Has a list of reports on environment and sustainability dating back to 2002 and search capability.

  • Business for Social Responsibility (BSR)
    Research reports and publications on a range of topics including corporate social responsibility (CSR). "BSR works with its global network of more than 250 member companies to develop sustainable business strategies and solutions through consulting, research, and cross-sector collaboration."

  • Article 13
    Provides articles, analysis and case studies on corporate social responsibility, governance and sustainable development. (a consulting company)

  • Grant Thornton Report on Corporate Social Responsibility
    A 2008 report on what is driving privately held businesses to adopt CSR related practices and an examination of what initiatives are being adopted.

 

Blogs

  • Best Green Blogs
    A directory of international blogs focusing on green and sustainable themes: the above url will connect you with blogs about green business. Other blogs relate to finance, economics, marketing, media.

  • Green Business

 

Government Sites

  • Green Business Guide
    Resources to help small businesses expand their businesses while saving energy costs. “Helps small businesses understand their legal requirements and locate government services from federal, state and local agencies.” Includes case studies.

  • National Renewable Energy Laboratory
    Part of the U.S. Department of Energy, the NREL is the US’ primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. Includes market and policy analysis.

  • Pennsylvania Governor’s Green Government Council
    Mission to help state government introduce environmental sustainability into all planning, policymaking and regulatory processes.

  • Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
    Administered by the NREL (see above), lists financial incentives, regulations and policies and related programs that each state has in place regarding energy efficiency and development.

 

Business-led Websites

 

Penn State Site

  • Green.psu.edu
    "Penn State’s portal to energy and environmental sustainability." The website has links to campus and other commonwealth initiatives, academic, research and training programs, opportunities to intern, volunteer, and join student clubs that focus on green, a calendar of events and more.