Center for Social Innovation

Ocean health scores 60 out of 100, Stanford assessment finds

A new assessment of ocean health gives the world's oceans a score of 60 out of 100. Stanford's Larry Crowder, the science director of the Center for Ocean Solutions, explains why that isn't exactly a failing grade.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Climate Change Could Open Trade Opportunities for Some Vulnerable Nations, Stanford Researchers Say

The study, the most long-range and detailed of its kind to date, forecasts the occurrence of severe dry years during the next nine decades in Tanzania and its key trading partners.

Resource: News Article

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Stanford Scientists Use Microbes to Make 'Clean' Methane

Most methane comes from natural gas, a fossil fuel. Stanford and Penn State scientists are taking a greener approach using microbes that can convert renewable electricity into carbon-neutral methane.

Resource: News Article

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Greening Taiwan's Cities

A key player in creating Taiwan's semiconductor industry explains the role of technology in improving energy efficiency.

Resource: News Article

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Wind Could Meet Many Times World's Total Power Demand by 2030, Stanford Researchers Say

Adapting a sophisticated climate model, researchers show that there is plenty of wind available to supply half to several times the world's total energy needs within the next two decades.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Ocean health scores 60 out of 100, Stanford assessment finds

A new assessment of ocean health gives the world's oceans a score of 60 out of 100. Stanford's Larry Crowder, the science director of the Center for Ocean Solutions, explains why that isn't exactly a failing grade.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Climate Change Could Open Trade Opportunities for Some Vulnerable Nations, Stanford Researchers Say

The study, the most long-range and detailed of its kind to date, forecasts the occurrence of severe dry years during the next nine decades in Tanzania and its key trading partners.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Stanford Scientists Use Microbes to Make 'Clean' Methane

Most methane comes from natural gas, a fossil fuel. Stanford and Penn State scientists are taking a greener approach using microbes that can convert renewable electricity into carbon-neutral methane.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Cause Marketing, Global Issues, Philanthropy, Social Innovations, Socially Responsible Business, Environment

Greening Taiwan's Cities

A key player in creating Taiwan's semiconductor industry explains the role of technology in improving energy efficiency.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Research: Evil Green

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

New research shows that buying green products makes people more likely to cheat and steal.

-Subscription Required

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

Topic :

Business, Global Issues, Socially Responsible Business, Environment

Research: Unsoiled Reputations

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Fall 2010

As it turns out, family values play an important role in the socially and environmentally responsible practices of big businesses. According to recent research, family firms pollute less than nonfamily firms—and experts say that’s due to the family values that these firms were founded upon.

-Subscription Required

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

Topic :

Global Issues, Social Policy, Environment, Government

Climate Soldiers

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Fall 2010

THE CLIMATE WAR: True Believers, Power Brokers, and the Fight to Save the Earth by Eric Pooley

We are honored to bring you the last article written by one of the world’s most prominent climatologists, Stephen H. Schneider, who died of an apparent heart attack while flying from Sweden to London on July 19. The article is a review of the new book, The Climate War, by business journalist Eric Pooley.

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

Topic :

Business, Global Issues, Socially Responsible Business, Environment

Thinking Straight About Sustainability

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

Sustainability is not only the best way to describe how to integrate social, environmental, and economic impacts into all corporate decisions, it is also the best way to manage a business to achieve those same results.

-Subscription Required

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

Topic :

Global Issues, Social Policy, Education, Environment, Government

Q & A: Jeffrey Sachs

Stanford Social Innovation Review: Summer 2010

Jeffrey Sachs, Columbia University professor and director of the Earth Institute, believes that we must lift a billion-plus people out of poverty while simultaneously reducing our impact on the environment.

Resource: Stanford Social Innovation Review Article

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Economic Development, Environment, Social Entrepreneurship

MicroEnergy Credits Corporation: Catalyzing Clean Energy for the BoP

Using existing microfinance institutions and recent developments in the carbon credit markets on the supply side to facilitate the adoption of clean energy for the very poor.

Resource: Blog Post

Video/Audio : All | Audio | Video

Topic:

Social Enterprises, Environment

Bringing Fair Trade to Indigenous Farmers

In Chiapas, Mexico, twelve indigenous communities have joined forces to obtain fair trade prices for their coffee under the auspices of the micro-industry Bats'il Maya. In this audio interview, COO Alberto Irezabal speaks with host Ashkon Jafari about how the co-op works to empower coffee growers, and how it is expanding to include coffee stores in Mexico City, among other innovations.

Resource: Audio

Topic:

Social Innovations, Environment

The Peer Water Exchange: A Platform for Change

The Peer Water Exchange (PWX) demonstrates how new media and peer interaction can help solve the global water and sanitation crisis by empowering communities. A platform that relies on peer review and collaboration, the PWX has managed tens of thousands of grassroots water projects in over 23 countries. Stanford Center for Social Innovation correspondent Sheela Sethuraman talks with Rajesh Shah, 2010 Intel Environmental category Tech Award winner, who conceived this social innovation.

Resource: Audio

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Environmental Sustainability and Development

Environmental sustainability faces a huge challenge in the developing world, as population growth and energy demand continue to cause increases in greenhouse gas emissions. In this university podcast from the 2010 Climate Policy Instruments in the Real World conference, Stanford's Richard Morse discusses carbon offsets as a way to engage the developing world in climate change improvement.

Resource: Audio

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Environmental Sustainability in Electricity

The electricity industry poses both challenges and opportunities for environmental sustainability improvements. In this audio lecture, delivered at the 2010 Climate Policy Instruments in the Real World conference at Stanford University, Stanford Professor Frank Wolak considers how different utility rate structures might accelerate or delay the vision of an intelligent energy supply/demand nexus in the home.

Resource: Audio

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Environment, Government

Carbon Pricing for Environmental Sustainability

What policy tools can the U.S. government use to get companies to reduce their greenhouse emissions and promote environmental sustainability? Carbon pricing, says Harvard professor Robert Stavins. Speaking at the 2010 Climate Policy Instruments in the Real World conference at Stanford University, Stavins explains how two instruments, carbon fees (taxes) and cap and trade, can be used to promote environmental responsibility, even though these mechanisms may be imperfect.

Resource: Audio

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Opportunities in Clean Tech

What is the future of clean tech?

Resource: Video

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Khosla: Green Tech Must First Make Economic Sense

For Vinod Khosla, MBA '80, zero emission buildings and hybrid vehicles have broad appeal, but any climate change solution must first make economic sense in order to be truly effective.

Resource: Video

Topic:

Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing

Opportunities In Environmental Area

How do environmental challenges create growth opportunities, new markets, and innovation? Two Goldman Sachs managers discuss how their investment firm is making the financing of corporate deals contingent upon the incorporation of increasingly stringent environmental criteria.

Resource: Video

Topic:

Fundamentals Are Biggest Challenge

In his 40 years with Chevron, O'Reilly's biggest leadership challenge is communicating the fundamentals of the oil business, that energy is something that has to be produced.

Resource: Video

Topic:

Corporate Social Responsibility, Economic Development, Environment

Stanford's Guatemala Service Learning Trip, 2008-8

Global Management Perspective: According to Tom Mercer, the trip "gets you out of the classroom" and into practical situations. It also "... gives perspective of how to deal with global management."

Resource: Video

Topic:

Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment, Nonprofit Management, Social Entrepreneurship

Sustainable Excellence: The Future of Business in a Fast-Changing World

Businesses are in the business of business. But they are beginning to be in the business of doing social good as well. As companies shift to incorporate environmental, social, and welfare-based themes into business plans and products, Aron Cramer points out a trend of decreasing poverty and improving the environment as corporations look to increase both profit and human development.

Resource: Audio

Topic:

Environment, Government

Environmental Sustainability and Energy Policy

New Obama administration goals are making this an excellent time for professionals interested in environmental sustainability. So say senior government energy and technology officials in this panel discussion convened by the Stanford's Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance. Pointing to the challenges ahead, they outline where the opportunities will lie for energy-focused entrepreneurs.

Resource: Audio

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Environmental Sustainability with World Water

World demand for water is likely to continue to outpace population. In this panel discussion, experts talk about how this troubling environmental sustainability issue offers a rare opportunity for cleantech entrepreneurs. Our search for sustainable water offers lessons that may help others facing similar large-scale challenges such as world demand for energy. The event was part of the MIT-Stanford Venture Lab Series.

Resource: Audio

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Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability

The environmental sustainability movement has long been pushing for the development of renewable energy resources. Yet to have a significant impact in the energy market, any renewable alternative must be scalable, argues Haas School professor Severin Borenstein in this audio lecture. Speaking at the 2010 Climate Policy Instruments in the Real World conference at Stanford, he suggests where policy interventions should be focused so as to pave the way for the greater appeal of renewable technologies.

Resource: Audio

Topic:

Environment, Leadership

Gulf Oil Spill and Environmental Sustainability

The 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill was one of the most disastrous and costly environmental sustainability crises on the planet. How were cultures affected, how were decisions made to address the situation, and what leadership lessons can be drawn from this unprecedented event? In this university podcast, expert Marcia McNutt offers her insights. The event, part of the Von Gugelberg Memorial Lecture on the Environment, was hosted by the Center for Social Innovation at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Resource: Audio

Case Studies : All | Academic Cases

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TerraMai: Reclaimed Woods from Around the World

Silicon Valley entrepreneur Ken Westrick became a partner in TerraMai, a company that reclaims discarded wood and sells it to consumers. In 2003, the partners embark on an ambitious growth plan.

Resource: Academic Case

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Anatomy of a Corporate Campaign: Rainforest Action Network and Citigroup (C)

In 2000, the Rainforest Action Network launched a campaign to get Citigroup to stop financing destructive activities in endangered ecosystems. This third case describes how activists try to gain access to Citigroup's top management.

Resource: Academic Case

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Anatomy of a Corporate Campaign: Rainforest Action Network and Citigroup (B)

In 2000, the Rainforest Action Network launched a campaign to get Citigroup to stop financing destructive activities in endangered ecosystems. This second case relates the opportunistic revival of the campaign two years after it started.

Resource: Academic Case

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Anatomy of a Corporate Campaign: Rainforest Action Network and Citigroup (A)

In 2000, the Rainforest Action Network launched a campaign to get Citigroup to stop financing destructive activities in endangered ecosystems. Three cases trace the development of that campaign starting with the initial launch and tentative negotiations.

Resource: Academic Case

Topics:

Environment, Nonprofit Management

Strategic Activism: The Rainforest Action Network

The Rainforest Action Network works to protect the Earth’s rainforests and support the rights of their inhabitants. In April 2003, a new executive director began a review of the organization’s strategy and mission.

Resource: Academic Case

Topics:

Environment, Nonprofit Management

Bozeman, Montana, and the Yellowstone Business Partnership

The economy of Bozeman, Mont., has grown rapidly, but concerns have arisen over the development of environmentally sensitive areas, impact on local businesses, and affordability. The Yellowstone Business Partnership could have a role in directing the city’s future.

Resource: Academic Case

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A Smart Supply Chain for a Smart Product: Micro Compact Car Smart GmbH

With increasing pollution and congestion, European car manufacturers were concerned that governments might eventually ban cars from city centers. The producer of Swatch watches came up with the novel idea of an environmentally friendly, but stylish, super-compact car.

Resource: Academic Case

Topics:

Environment, Nonprofit Management, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing

Trust for Public Land

In April 1999 the leaders of a nonprofit that acquired private land for transfer to public use met to discuss their latest internal auditors’ report. They wanted to decide how best to analyze the findings in order to explain to the board why the results did not appear as good as they actually were.

Resource: Academic Case

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Abercrombie & Kent: Pioneering Global Ecotourism

Abercrombie & Kent, a safari company, develops an ecotourism business in Kenya. The company must assess its challenges and future directions.

Resource: Academic Case

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Belize's Community Baboon Sanctuary

A sanctuary for baboons in Belize has been reformulated to support ecotourism. Numerous management, social, and political issues continue to limit the sanctuary’s growth.

Resource: Academic Case

Topic :

Environment, Healthcare, Social Entrepreneurship

IDEAAS and PSA: Replication in the Amazon

Two social ventures collaborated with each other to help expand one’s solar energy services from southern Brazil into the Amazon region. The case highlights the core factors that led to the project’s ultimate outcome.

Resource: Academic Case

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Khosla Ventures: Investing in Ethanol

Where in the ethanol value chain should Khosla Ventures consider investing? How should it get involved in strategic innovations? How should it leverage the non-market environment surrounding the ethanol value chain?

Resource: Academic Case

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Wal-Mart's Sustainability Strategy

Senior executives at Wal-Mart launched the company’s new sustainability strategy in 2005. The case describes their efforts to keep environmental improvement tightly coupled with business values and profitability.

Resource: Academic Case

Topic :

Economic Development, Environment, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing

Acumen Fund and WaterHealth International: The Role of Venture Philanthropy

The Acumen Fund provides modest amounts of capital, combined with business expertise, to help build enterprises that would serve the poor. The case describes the fund’s approach to helping address water resource problems in developing countries.

Resource: Academic Case

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A Technical Note on Ethanol as a Motor Fuel

This case provides background on the technology, economic forces, and nonmarket issues that affect ethanol’s supply, distribution, and demand. It also discusses emerging innovations.

Resource: Academic Case

Research Papers : All

Topics:

Business, Socially Responsible Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment

Don't Tweak your Supply Chain - Rethink It End to End

The article examines environmental issues related to supply chains and supply chain management. Attempts to introduce sustainable practices into supply chains often meet with unexpected financial or environmental costs.

Resource: Research Paper

Topics:

Socially Responsible Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment

Modern Management: Good for the Environment or Just Hot Air?

Establishments in better managed firms are significantly less energy intensive. Better managed firms are also significantly more productive. These results suggest that management practices that are associated with improved productivity are also linked to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Resource: Research Paper

Topics:

Environment, Government, Leadership

Would Boycotting BP Do Any Good?

[photo - gulf_oil_spill_source_la_times]

Consumer and environmental groups, angry over the spreading oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, are calling for a boycott of BP, the oil giant that owns the well gushing oil onto beaches and marshes. According to research by Phillip Leslie and Larry Chavis, boycotts do in fact work and they're something businesses should be concerned about.

Resource: Research Paper

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A Room with a Viewpoint

Managers and marketers can motivate consumers to participate in environmental conservation programs by telling them how the majority of other people behaved in the same situation. Researchers specifically studied how to ask hotel guests whether or not they wanted to reuse their towels during the course of a stay. The study highlights the benefits of employing social science research and theory—rather than business communicators’ hunches, lay theories, or best guesses—in crafting persuasive messages. Guests given a description : "the majority guests in this hotel asked to reuse their towels," were 9% more likely to make the same decision than guests who were simply asked to "help save the environment" with no information on comparative behavior. Guests were motivated even further when the description matched their social demographic even more closely. They were even more likely to reuse their towels when told the majority of people staying in their room in the past had done so.

Resource: Research Paper

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Slowing Introductions of New Electronic Products Reduces E-Waste

Some types of regulations governing disposal of electronic waste can reduce the world's mountains of devices waiting to be recycled, and also slow the rate of new product introductions says Stanford Graduate School of Business Professor Erica Plambeck.

Resource: Research Paper

Courses : All

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Environmental Science for Managers and Policy Makers - advanced: OIT 339

Designed for students with strong modeling/optimization/simulation skills, this course allocates more time to environmental and energy science and its implications for management and policy, and less time to the basics of modeling/optimization/simulation. Students apply spreadsheet modeling, optimization, and Monte Carlo simulation to resource management and environmental policy.

Resource: MBA Course

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Environmental Science for Managers and Policy Makers: OIT 338

This course explores the fundamental science of ecosystems, climate, and energy. Students learn to apply spreadsheet modeling, optimization, and Monte Carlo simulation to resource management and environmental policy.

Resource: MBA Course

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Initiating, Sustaining, and Monetizing Green Marketing: MKTG 551

This course addresses numerous questions about how to initiate and sustain green marketing. It also explores what technological and marketing innovations are likely to arise in the future.

Resource: MBA Course

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Business and Environmental Issues: GSBGEN 547

This speaker seminar examines the overlap and synergies between the business and environmental fields. Weekly speakers include leaders from both the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Resource: MBA Course

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Environmental Entrepreneurship: GSBGEN 339

Markets have tremendous potential for solving environmental problems. Through case analysis, guest speakers, and the creation of business plans in environmental entrepreneurship, students will learn to apply core business principles of finance, marketing, economics, operations, accounting, and more to the provision of environmental goods and services.

Resource: MBA Course

Innovators : All

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Board Governance, Business, Cause Marketing, Nonprofits, Social Enterprises, Socially Responsible Business, Environment, Leadership, Nonprofit Management

An interview with Michael DeLapa (MBA '85)

Michael DeLapa is heavily involved in environmental, land use, and energy issues. He has launched several non-profits in the Bay Area as well as the California Fisheries Fund.

Resource: Alumni

Topic :

Corporate Social Responsibility, Economic Development, Environment, Government, Nonprofit Management, Social Entrepreneurship

An interview with Court Gould (EPNL '06)

Court Gould is pushing for Pittsburgh to grow sustainably. He's working hard to inform decision makers about to accomplish that most effectively.

Resource: CSI Affiliates

Topic :

Arts, Culture, and Religion, Philanthropy & Responsible Investing, Corporate Social Responsibility, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Government, Healthcare, Nonprofit Management, Social Entrepreneurship

An interview with Ruth Bolan (EPNL '06)

Ruth Bolan is giving voice to indigenous peoples of the Pacific Island. She funds documentaries that bring their culture and challenges to millions of viewers.

Resource: CSI Affiliates

Topic :

Economic Development, Education, Environment, Nonprofit Management

An interview with Mary Margaret Sloan (EPNL '04)

Mary Margaret Sloan fires up young people by placing them in environmental service jobs around the country. Her goal is to train the next generation of conservation leaders.

Resource: Alumni

Topic :

Environment, Philanthropy, Responsible Investing, Social Entrepreneurship

An interview with Robert Keith (MBA '03), Carl Palmer (MBA '03)

Robert Keith and Carl Palmer are restoring and protecting ecologically important properties in the West. They're earning market-rate returns for their effort.

Resource: Alumni

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Making Solar Easy

SunRun's Ed Fenster discusses his business and the economics of solar power.

Resource: News Article

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How Growth Can Be Green

A Stanford GSB student looks at the value of renewable energy in the developing world.

Resource: Innovators

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The End of Cheap Oil Calls for a Balanced Approach to Energy Production, Stanford Scientists Say

Weaning America off fossil fuels and investing in renewable energy is the best path for the future, say Stanford researchers.

Resource: News Article

Topic :

Offshore wind energy could power entire U.S. East Coast, Stanford scientists say

Adapting a sophisticated climate model, researchers show that there is plenty of wind available to supply half to several times the world's total energy needs within the next two decades.

Resource: News Article

Topic :