Sustainability in 2011 - a question of political will

Image via Wikipedia

Last year began with an awful distaste of failed promises arising from the Copenhagen Summit on Climate Change. It seemed that issues surrounding our dependence on fossil fuels and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions were dealt a mortal blow. The tragedy surrounding the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico pushed the questions and issues surronding our fossil fuel dependence back into the spotlight, awakening industry and political leaders to the dangers arising from continued deep water exploration for oil to natural ecosystems and the economy. The public has asked for increased regulation and law makers in the UK and US have delivered with increased environmental regulation in 2010. However 2010 ended with "decision postponement" at the Cancun Summit in Mexico, the world's citizens await political commitment to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for yet another year. All is not lost; the late arrival new ISO 26000 standard  is a welcoming New Years gift. The ISO 26000 standard is a global initiative that provides guidance to industry on social responsibility in attempt to redress the excesses of our capitalist model; its template for sustainable development and social responsibility hopefully is embraced by CEOs and politicians alike as we embark on not only a new year but the beginning of a new decade of sustainability.