Ten Sustainability Predictions for 2010

Friends of Greenomics were asked to provide their sustainability predictions for 2010. We captured their comments and thoughts and present them here. You’ll find some optimism and some pessimism, but they are all interesting tidbits.

1. Cap and Trade in North America

A federal-level cap-and-trade system will be implemented in the U.S. and Canada. It will be watered down, not nearly aggressive enough, and not enough credits will be auctioned off, but it will be a start.

Bob Willard, Speaker and Author

2. Commitment to Action

Companies will start moving from “sustainability commitment” to “sustainability action” with a focus on how to integrate sustainability considerations into their governance, products, services, operations, and day-to-day decision making. This means that finance becomes sustainable finance, insurance becomes sustainable insurance, retail becomes sustainable retail and transportation becomes sustainable transportation.

Coro Strandberg, Principle, Strandberg Consulting

3. Finding Sustainable “Sweet Spots”

This will be the year when we begin to understand and focus on sustainability “sweet spots” … those opportunities where fiscal, environmental and social/culture components of sustainability intersect.

Dave Butler, Director of Sustainability, Canadian Mountain Holidays

4. Oil Prices to Drive Local Demand

Crude oil prices will nudge the $100/barrel mark and, given the barely-recovered economy, food prices will soar almost immediately. Investments will be made to ‘re-localize’ food production and distribution and we’ll hit the magic economic (and sustainable) equation that results in more bellies being filled with tasty local treats, while bottom lines are sated.

André LaRivière, Executive Director, Green Table

5. Scientific Credibility Questioned

As governments continue to develop regulations related to Green House Gasses, there will be increased efforts to discredit the science associated with climate change. This will become progressively better organized and focused, and will target individual researchers to discredit them personally and professionally. Ill goten information will be released out of context to the press.

Erich Schwartz, President, Greenomics

6. Greater Dependence on Non-conventional Oil

The demand for oil will continue and to meet this we will need to tap further into non-conventional oil sources such as tar sands. This will lead to significantly higher costs for oil, and more environmental degradation because of the techniques used to extract it.

Erich Schwartz, President, Greenomics

7. Government Conflict of Interest Becomes Evident

Canada will be pressured by the International Community to align with International standards in addressing Climate Change. However, a significant amount of government revenue is derived from oil production. Accordingly, Canada will continue to be a laggard in addressing climate change as the government grapples with its deficit.

Erich Schwartz, President, Greenomics

8. Consumers Driving Change

There will be a significant increase in consumer demand for sustainable products and services. This will drive companies to change their business practices and increase government regulations. These changes will further support the efforts of moving toward greater sustainability.

Judy Adams, Managing Director, Ethos

9. Go Sustainable or Go Broke

More companies will file for bankruptcy or be bought out through mergers and acquisitions primarily because they did not see the need to become sustainable. Most vulnerable will be those companies that consider sustainability a passing fad, or do not have the tools, leadership, or emotional intelligence in the organization to change.

Judy Adams, Managing Director, Ethos

10. Sustainability Sounds Good, but … More Regulations Coming

While most people are aware of the need to develop sustainable practices, many are not keen to pay or to change their behaviors. Given the seriousness of the situation, governments will develop more regulations to effect change as voluntary compliance proves insufficient. This also means governments will have to risk being unpopular to “do the right thing”.

Richard Wozny, Principle, Site Economics