Environmental Sustainability →
- 29 Jan 2019
- Research & Ideas
'Green Bonds' May Be Our Best Bet for Environmental Damage Control
The popularity of green bonds as a way to finance environmentally friendly projects is on the upswing, say Malcolm Baker and George Serafeim. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Jan 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
Corporate Sustainability: A Strategy?
Between 2012 and 2017, companies within most industries adopted an increasingly similar set of sustainability practices. This study examines the interplay between common and strategic practices. This dynamic distinction helps for understanding whether and how sustainability practices can help companies establish a competitive advantage over time.
- 03 Jan 2019
- Working Paper Summaries
Financing the Response to Climate Change: The Pricing and Ownership of US Green Bonds
Green bonds are used for environmentally friendly purposes like renewable energy. Complementing previous research, this paper explores the US corporate and municipal green bond and shows that a subset of investors is willing to give up some return to hold green bonds.
- 03 Dec 2018
- Research & Ideas
How Companies Can Increase Market Rewards for Sustainability Efforts
There is a connection between public sentiment about a company and how the market rewards its corporate social performance, according to George Serafeim. Is your company undervalued? Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 30 Nov 2018
- What Do You Think?
What’s the Best Administrative Approach to Climate Change?
SUMMING UP: James Heskett's readers point to examples of complex environmental problems conquered through multinational cooperation. Can those serve as roadmaps for overcoming global warming? Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 06 Nov 2018
- Research & Ideas
8 Ways to Make Olympic Stadiums Useful After the Games End
For many cities that host the Olympic Games, the central stadium is nothing more than a white elephant after the competition ends. Stephen A. Greyser and Isao Okada pinpoint actions cities can take to give them new life. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 29 Oct 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Public Sentiment and the Price of Corporate Sustainability
Public opinions from industry experts are important in the economy but it has not been clear how they affect the valuation of and returns to corporate activities. Using big data and machine learning, this paper analyzes how public sentiment influences the market pricing of firms’ sustainability activities and thereby the future stock returns of portfolios that integrate environmental, social, and governance data.
- 06 Sep 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
Should US Companies Still Care About the Paris Climate Change Agreement?
American President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change one year ago. Vincent Pons discusses what it means for US business leaders in confronting environmental challenges. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Aug 2018
- Working Paper Summaries
Sustainability and Green Business in Latin America During Globalization Waves
Capitalism has created much wealth, but at the cost of massive ecological destruction. This has been particularly severe in Latin America over the past century. Yet the last three decades have also seen a wave of businesses across sectors ranging from beauty to eco-tourism aimed at greater sustainability.
- 19 Jun 2018
- Research Event
Has Environmental Sustainability Lost its Relevance?
Companies have thought for decades about business-focused solutions to fix the deteriorating environment. But judging by continually rising waters and temperatures, we may need a rethink about what sustainability means, suggest participants at a recent conference at Harvard Business School. A report by co-organizer Geoffrey Jones. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 05 Apr 2018
- Cold Call Podcast
How a Coal Polluter Became a Renewable Energy Leader
Enel, Italy’s state-owned power company, was one of Europe’s largest coal users and polluters. Now it is recognized as a leader in renewable energy services. Mark Kramer discusses how CEO Francesco Starace drove the huge strategy shift. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Apr 2018
- Research & Ideas
Smart Cities are Complicated and Costly: Here's How to Build Them
When governments take on a smart city project, it's often the private sector that's left to execute the vision—sometimes at the expense of good public policy. John Macomber proposes a roadmap that considers situation, solution, and sovereignty. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 04 Apr 2018
- Op-Ed
Op-Ed: Why Private Investors Must Fund 'New Nuclear' Power Right Now
Joseph Lassiter has high hopes for “new nuclear” technology, which he believes can meet the world’s urgent demand for power. But its success requires big, immediate investments from the private sector. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 19 Mar 2018
- Sharpening Your Skills
8 Ways To Be An Environmentally Conscious Manager
What does it mean to bring your individual environmental values to work every day? Here's how eco-friendly managers can practice what they preach. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 07 Nov 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Business and Sustainability: New Business History Perspectives
This paper provides a long-term business history perspective on sustainability, arguing that it is now matter of urgency to make sustainability a mainstream topic in business history.
- 28 Aug 2017
- Research & Ideas
Should Industry Competitors Cooperate More to Solve World Problems?
George Serafeim has a theory that if industry competitors collaborated more, big world problems could start to be addressed. Is that even possible in a market economy? Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 22 Aug 2017
- Working Paper Summaries
Investors as Stewards of the Commons?
This paper lays out a framework suggesting that index investors and adequately funded asset owners are a potential mechanism to build and sustain pre-competitive collaborations for addressing environmental and social issues. With long time horizons and significant common ownership of companies within the same industry or supply chain, investors could serve as vehicles for the establishment and/or stability of collaborations between companies.
- 05 Jul 2017
- What Do You Think?
Can Innovation Save Us From Ourselves?
SUMMING UP Can technology save the world from its most pressing problems? James Heskett's readers aren't overly optimistic. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
- 21 Jun 2017
- Book
Meet the Oddball Entrepreneurs Who Invented Green Businesses
Historians have hardly noticed the fringe-of-society entrepreneurs who gave birth to the green business movement starting in the 19th century. In a new book, Profits and Sustainability: A History of Green Entrepreneurship, Geoffrey Jones chronicles the pioneers of healthy food, alternative energy, and alternative living. Open for comment; 0 Comments.
Green Businesses Are Incredibly Difficult to Make Profitable. Try It Anyway
Making a business successful is a challenge in itself, but making a green business profitable is an even harder journey. For society's sake, entrepreneurs must be prepared to make that journey, says Geoffrey Jones. Open for comment; 0 Comments.