Global Sustainability Challenge - The rapid rise of the big emerging economies (China, India, Brazil etc.) is placing unprecedented demands on the natural and human resources on which the global economy depends. This is beginning to manifest itself in severe environmental degradation in parts of the world, shortages of critical resources like energy and water, rising prices across a wide range of commodities, and unacceptable pressure on the quality of life of large segments of the world’s population. Depending on whether or not you believe the science, these same demands may be creating a dangerous warming of the Earth’s atmosphere. Finding ways to use our resources more efficiently such that they will be available for use by future generations of humans is the Global Sustainabilty Challenge.

Global Sustainability Opportunity –  The global business community has the resources and imagination to address the Global Sustainability Challenge and is beginning to do so. In fact, sustainability-based thinking is fast becoming central to the corporate strategies of leading companies because they see it as a key driver of innovation, competitive advantage and improved financial performance. This is the Global Sustainability Opportunity.

Sustainability-Based Thinking – Consciously thinking about the way your company operates with the goals of increasing the efficiency with which it uses resources; minimizing negative environmental and human impacts; all while improving financial performance. Sometimes referred to as: Looking at a company’s activities through a sustainability lens.

Sustainable Business Practices – Business practices and initiatives arising out of sustainability-based thinking. Practices that reduce costs through improved resource utilization, mitigate environmentl (and other) risk, and seek to create new products and services that address the world’s environmental and social challenges. These practices also focus on reserving the human resources on which the company depends, both inside the company (employees) and outside (the communities in which the company operates).

Greening a Business - typically refers only to the environmental aspects of sustainable business such as energy and otehr resource efficiency improvements, reducing environmental footprint. It typically does not address the human resource aspects of sustainability.

Cleantech –  technologies that support sustainable business practices. The include energy efficiency, technologies; technologies that reduce or eliminate waste or transform it into a useful product; water treatment and conservation technologies; clean and renewable energy technologies; technologies that improve agricultural productivity and reduce its environmental footprint.