environment, society, and capitalism
i. Be able to discuss the keys of Mainstream Appeal: "From Eco Friendly to Male Ego Friendly," "Lose the Crunch," "Kill the Sustainability Tax," "Overcoming Cynicism"
Male ego friendly: environmental sustainability was seen as feminine, so had to appeal to male consumers by making product better not just greener -Lose the Crunch: too much hemp and inferior quality, so market product as less granola -Kill the sustainability tax: communicate more to value of green products than price, since many used to be turned off by green products because more expensive (ex: fast food is cheaper but it costs more to your health) -Overcoming cynicism: communicating actions as green not just advertising to win trust of consumers
what is the MCCNO? what is the vision of the organizatio?
Moral convention center of New orleans vision - To be a leader in the convention industry in sustainability and a model to the New Orleans market.
what is meant by the term "Proactive Compliance?
Proactive compliance means quick response to any environmental regulations enacted by the government. For utility companies, like Entergy, it's vital to stay in the good graces of government, so proactively complying when told to make a change is essential to the sustainability of the company.
what is a benefit corporation?
a traditional corporation with modified obligations committing it to higher standards of purpose, accountability, and transparency --> Benefit corporations commit to creating public benefit and sustainable value in addition to generating profit.
what are some of the initiatives that we can take in New Orleans to learn to "live with the water"? what is the imperative if we do not do this?
ain gardens and bioswales, Rain barrels and storage tanks, French drains, Green and blue roofs, Neutral ground canals, Removal of excess concrete, Permeable pavement for roads, sidewalks, and parking lots the imperative - if we cannot reduce flood risk, flooding damages infrastructure and would cost city $10bn over next 50 years, loss of life, higher insurance rates
what is biomimicry? (circular economy?)
an approach to innovation that seeks sustainable solutions to human challenges by emulating nature's time-tested patterns and strategies. The goal is to create products, processes, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul
what is regenerative design? (circular economy?)
closed loop system of processes that restore, renew or revitalize their own sources of energy and materials, creating sustainable systems that integrate the needs of society with the integrity of nature
What are the major causes of Louisianas biggest environmental issue? what is the issue?
coastal wetland lost caused by: - Levee system: The largest cause of loss arises from the leveeing of the Mississippi River which historically brought sediment, nutrients, and freshwater to Louisiana's coastal wetlands. - Oil and gas exploration: involves direct wetland loss through canal dredging and indirect loss via construction of "spoil banks" that impound wetlands. - Canals: also enable salt water from the Gulf of Mexico to move inland and poison salt-intolerant plant species. Wetlands loss can occur through natural processes such as - large storms - erosion of barrier islands. - subsidence: land sinking - Sediment reduction - the Mississippi river does not have the amount of mud it used to have
what are the 7 components/markers of a circular economy?
cradle to cradle, performance economy, biomimicry, natural capital, industrial ecology, blue economy, regenerative design
what are the two kinds of b-corps?
1.A certified B-corp - can be any business structure (LLC, non-profit), pay bi-annually based on revenue for re-certification, recertification every 3 years, no tax breaks, available in all states 2.Benefit-corporation (legal structure either S or C corp), no tax breaks, self-reported annual report, only available in 38 states + D.C.
what is the economic impact of the MCCNO?
250 full time 250 part time staff. 6th largest convention center with over 2 million visits in 2019, $2.4B economic impact in 2018, $90b 34 year impact, 11% of local NOLA revenue, 24,250 jobs
what is blue economy? (circular economy?)
Is where the best for health and the environment is cheapest and the necessities for life are free thanks to a local system of production and consumption that works with what you have. Based on the Zero Emissions Research Initiative (ZERI)
Entergy of course focuses on lots of very important issues in its operations, including compliance with laws and regulations, technology, efficiency, sustainability, climate, and politics, just to mention a few? Which is the single most important one----head and shoulders above the rest---and why
first of all the company has to comply with all of the laws (all of the other things are important but if Entergy is not first and foremost compliant with all of the laws and regulations then nothing else really matters) proactive compliance is the single most important focus of his job
what is cradle to cradle? (circular economy?)
idea that all natural resources used in the human economy process are used over and over again as continual inputs (or feedstocks) and never wasted (never put into landfills).
what is performance economy? (circular economy?)
insists on the importance of selling services rather than products.
i. Know the 7 principles of Mainstream Appeal (make it personal, etc)
make it personal, behaviors first, attitudes second, guilt doesn't sell, make it easy, make it normal, lose the labels, make it modern
Define Environmental Justice
not having individuals or groups of individuals be disproportionately impacted (in a negative way) from and environmental standpoint Example: not having access to clean air, clean water
What are the tax implications of being a "b-corp" in Louisiana and other states? what are the other reasons that would encourage someone to form a b-corp?
not much, no tax cuts but there are other important reasons to be one. --> increased autonomy (Do not have to listen to shareholders (they want profit but you do not have to do that), accountability and trustworthiness for customers, you can connect with others like you
what type of business entity is Entergy? In Louisiana who is "in charge" of regulating Entergy? How about in New Orleans? Are they guaranteed a ROE (return on equity)?
regulated monopoly, consumers only have one option for utility companies. The LDEQ (Louisiana dep of env quality regulates them, Port of New Orleans Environmental Policy. ROE is guaranteed because of regulated profits: ROE has been 8.85-9.85% in NOLA (Rick said 9-11% in lecture)
what is industrial ecology? (circular economy?)
the study of material resource and energy flows through the human industrial/economic systems, with the goal of becoming more efficient and waste preventative. (see multiple sites on the subject).
what is natural capital? (circular economy?)
the world's ecosystem services and natural and environmental resources, all of which are used by the human economy in production processes, and many of which no cost is internalized.
List a few of the many benefits our coastal wetlands in Louisiana provide, including socio- economic benefits.
Habitat for mammals, birds and nursery for marine organisms, storm protection, oil and gas industry infrastructure protection, port and navigation protection, and cultural benefits. LA's wetlands provide 25-40% of U.S seafood.
are benefit corporations unique?
There are currently 3,500 Certified B-Corporations in more than 70 countries (all different ypes of businesses (retail, manufacturing, tech, service, private education, food production) and they come in all sizes (1-person companies, to larger companies (Patagonia, ben and jerry's)
Define Environmental Communication
Transfer of knowledge and information between the business community and the local citizenry regarding environmental risks, costs, benefits related to individual businesses and their potential impacts on the local community
What is the #1 reason CEO's and CFO's care about environmental issues like pollution emissions (i.e., what does it tell them about their operations)?
a measure of efficiency - the more pollution you have, the less efficient your business process is
Who are the 4 key stakeholders of Entergy? who can entergy try and compete for?
Customers, employees, communities, owners. Trying to compete for employees and investors (their customers and communities are already given because they are a monopoly)
What is an EMS?
Environmental management system: formalized management of a company's internal environmental protocols, comprehensive and systematic tool for oversight and management
what are some of the approaches/initiatives that the MCCNO has taken to limit their environmental impact on energy/water/waste?
Recycling program, composting, food donation, bottle fill stations, planned energy reductions, planned capital projects. Cooling tower and chillers upgrade. LED lighting, recycling mercury bulbs, pedestrian park
what is wrong with the current approach that New Orleans takes to handle water? what does Robin Barnes suggest we do instead?
The city's existing solutions for managing stormwater are insufficient, and will grow even more so due to increased rainfall. Our current approach involves reliance on a resource-intensive, outdated, and overburdened drainage system --> replace the current and entrenched mentality of "pave, pipe, and pump" with the idea of "slow, store, and use". This method requires that we hold water where it falls, slow the flow into our drainage system, and store large volumes for infiltration into the ground
How did our wetlands develop in the first place (i.e, what natural forces helped create them)?
The coastland was built by the Mississippi River. Every year it would flood and then the water would spread out. When the water would leave sediments were left (sediment accretion?). The river was creating land-too much land. The water would start hitting against itself, it would flop over and start creating more land.
