The Best -- and Worst -- of Times

This issue's stories feature both the highs and lows of where we are in addressing the greatest challenge of our times.

On the one hand, it is hard to disagree with Tom Savage's concern that our "handling" of the current financial crisis -- which offers a relatively clean and clear picture of villains vs. victims -- bodes ill for the prospects of dealing with the much larger and diffuse challenge of global climate change.

On the other hand, it may be that the lack of clear victims and villains in the climate change equation holds our best chance for success. Any self-respecting would-be villain will expend a great deal of energy defending themselves against attack and incrimination rather than seek a solution, and get a good lawyer (especially in the U.S.).

It is different with climate change.

As it becomes clearer that we are all in this together, with shared responsibility for both the problem and possible solutions, the space for meaningful and durable solutions becomes greater. Our feature story makes the point directly: Climate change matters to every company, not just the so-called heavy emitters. Similarly, Joel Makower's piece on the rise of "lifecycle thinking"  describes a hopeful trend in understanding our collective responsibility and the opportunity to meet the challenge head-on.

Eric Olson is senior vice president of advisory services at BSR.

Translates GHG reductions from units that are typically used to report reductions into terms that are easier to conceptualize.

This report by research firm EIRIS assesses the current state of corporate responses to climate change by looking at disclosures from the 300 companies on the FTSE All World Index.

 This workshop will focus on two concepts and sets of tools related to climate change: (1) measuring your organization’s “carbon footprint” or greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory, and (2) understanding and defining “climate risk” for your organization. Participants will receive a broad overview of the two main concepts, and will leave with tools and guidance for leading change in their organizations.