Biotech as a winner in a low carbon economy

Had an inspiring meeting in Copenhagen with Novozymes, a very interesting company that have begun to position themselves as a winner in a low carbon economy. According to their own rough calculations their products have reduced global CO2 emissions by about 20 million tons in 2007 alone, mostly because using enzymes saves energy in comparison to traditional processes.

Obviously they should also work with their own emissions (and they do), but they belong to the group of companies that can play a key role in providing society with low carbon solutions and where their impact through their core business (selling enzymes and microorganisms) is much greater than anything they can do with their internal emissions.

Novozymes is also very interesting as they represent the kind of company that often is forgotten. They are not a big emitter and they don’t have any products that are directly visible to end consumers. This is something that must change and I hope that 2009 will the year when companies like Novozymes that are potential winners in a low carbon economy move into the centre of the climate discussion.

There are many similarities between the IT sector and the biotech sector and it is clear that much of the work in the IT area can be used in the biotech area. Some process such as development of new reporting guidelines for “Climate Positive” contributions are almost identical.

I’m sure we will see more from the biotech sector and Novozymes in a not too distant future.

Biotech as a winner in a low carbon economy

Had an inspiring meeting in Copenhagen with Novozymes, a very interesting company that have begun to position themselves as a winner in a low carbon economy. According to their own rough calculations their products have reduced global CO2 emissions by about 20 million tons in 2007 alone, mostly because using enzymes saves energy in comparison to traditional processes.

Obviously they should also work with their own emissions (and they do), but they belong to the group of companies that can play a key role in providing society with low carbon solutions and where their impact through their core business (selling enzymes and microorganisms) is much greater than anything they can do with their internal emissions.

Novozymes is also very interesting as they represent the kind of company that often is forgotten. They are not a big emitter and they don’t have any products that are directly visible to end consumers. This is something that must change and I hope that 2009 will the year when companies like Novozymes that are potential winners in a low carbon economy move into the centre of the climate discussion.

There are many similarities between the IT sector and the biotech sector and it is clear that much of the work in the IT area can be used in the biotech area. Some process such as development of new reporting guidelines for “Climate Positive” contributions are almost identical.

I’m sure we will see more from the biotech sector and Novozymes in a not too distant future.

A new Green IT climate award with focus on innovation

Here is an invitation to a competition where I'm part of the jury. The framework is the one that we developed for "the first billion tonnes of CO2 reductions with low carbon IT solutions"

Call for Innovation
Dear Sir / Madam
Green IT can make a significant contribution toward making future business activities more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. That is why green IT solutions deserve to be given a prize today: the «Green IT Innovation Award». Orbit and its partners 4C business campaigning GmbH, öbu, and WWF are targeting research directors, product managers, innovators, and pioneers with this award.

Anyone who is working on an innovative solution in the field of Green IT, or who can make a contribution of some kind, is encouraged to apply for the «Green IT Innovation Award». The award is aimed at companies based in Switzerland, as well as private individuals who are able to present an innovative solution in any of the following categories:
- Green IT» solutions for IT
- Green IT» solutions for consumers
- Low carbon economy solutions

Numerous studies have shown there is still great potential for IT and telecommunications to become more energy efficient and resource and environmentally friendly. Not only the reduction of the environmental impact of the IT-industry itself, but also the use of IT-technology in other areas promise less C02 emissions (e.g. video conferences instead of air travel). The objective of the Green IT Innovation Award is to put together solutions and climate-friendly technologies, which make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions and environmental pollution.

A group of experts from science, politics, civil society and business will select the most valuable innovations in the three categories. The award ceremony will be held during Orbit 2009 (12-15 May 2009) and will be used to present the innovations to the general public. Subsequently we w want to present a collection of all environmentally and climate-friendly IT solutions to all participants and interested parties.

Read more about this award here

A new Green IT climate award with focus on innovation

Here is an invitation to a competition where I'm part of the jury. The framework is the one that we developed for "the first billion tonnes of CO2 reductions with low carbon IT solutions"

Call for Innovation
Dear Sir / Madam
Green IT can make a significant contribution toward making future business activities more energy efficient and environmentally friendly. That is why green IT solutions deserve to be given a prize today: the «Green IT Innovation Award». Orbit and its partners 4C business campaigning GmbH, öbu, and WWF are targeting research directors, product managers, innovators, and pioneers with this award.

Anyone who is working on an innovative solution in the field of Green IT, or who can make a contribution of some kind, is encouraged to apply for the «Green IT Innovation Award». The award is aimed at companies based in Switzerland, as well as private individuals who are able to present an innovative solution in any of the following categories:
- Green IT» solutions for IT
- Green IT» solutions for consumers
- Low carbon economy solutions

Numerous studies have shown there is still great potential for IT and telecommunications to become more energy efficient and resource and environmentally friendly. Not only the reduction of the environmental impact of the IT-industry itself, but also the use of IT-technology in other areas promise less C02 emissions (e.g. video conferences instead of air travel). The objective of the Green IT Innovation Award is to put together solutions and climate-friendly technologies, which make it possible to reduce CO2 emissions and environmental pollution.

A group of experts from science, politics, civil society and business will select the most valuable innovations in the three categories. The award ceremony will be held during Orbit 2009 (12-15 May 2009) and will be used to present the innovations to the general public. Subsequently we w want to present a collection of all environmentally and climate-friendly IT solutions to all participants and interested parties.

Read more about this award here

CDP launch in China

The first CDP China Report was launched in Beijing International Hotel. With only five replies from 100 companies the presentations and discussions were more interesting than the report. I also remembered how hard Peng Lei had to work to get a 30% response rate on our report about Chinese Companies in the 21st century a few years ago so I was not surprised.

The two key presentations were done by Dongzhi Yu from ICBC and Jennifer Jiang from Merrill Lynch. Both presentations were of very high quality and with focus on the core business of the banks related to a low carbon development and what they are doing. I really hope that we will see more of these kinds of presentations in OECD from people in the finance sector, especially these days.

Then there was a "panel" where I participated together with Allan Zhang, Director, PwC and Richard Shi, Director, China Entrepreneur Club DCE sitting on the chairs on stage. Chairing the session was Feng Jia, Deputy Director, MEP. Our discussions focused mainly on the opportunities mong Chinese companies to become winners in a low carbon economy.

Hopefully the future development of CDP and other instruments that support a low carbon development will focus more on the winners in a low carbon economy and less on today’s big emitters.

UPDATE 29th October: Chinese article with pictures