Newsletter // GreenBuzz Sept. 21, 2009 :: Inside Newsweek's Green Rankings, SIGG's CEO Apologizes, and More...

I couldn't be more excited about this week's webcast: Getting Ready for the Sustainability Index, an exclusive 90-minute conversation with Rand Waddoups, Walmart’s Senior Director for Sustainability. It will likely be a lively and information-packed event, a chance to hear the latest details on the retail giant's Sustainability Index, Walmart's plans for it, and how it may affect your company (whether you're a Walmart supplier or not). And the extended format will allow ample time for Q&A, so bring your questions. Already, nearly 400 companies have signed up, including producers of some of the world's biggest brands. The event is September 24 at noon Eastern Time, 9 am Pacific Time. Don't miss out.

Our fall schedule of webcasts continues next week, with The Greening of the CIO — Raising the ROI of IT, September 30 at 1 pm Eastern, 10 am Pacific. I'll be in conversation with Steven Sams, Vice President of Site and Facilities Services in IBM Global Technology Services. We'll discuss the growing number of ways chief information officers are poised to help their companies become greener — not just through more efficient computers and data centers, but also a range of other operational efficiencies. You can register for that free event here.

This is a big week in other ways. Today, Newsweek launches its first-ever green rankings of the S&P 500, an unprecedented attempt to methodically assess the largest U.S. companies. It took a team of experts a year and a half to get the job done. You can read the inside story here.

Another landmark report is being released today, part of Climate Week in New York, a gathering of the world's climate leaders and activists 10 weeks before the opening of December's Copenhagen climate summit: the Carbon Disclosure Project's annual assessment of corporate climate practices. All last week, we've been running sneak previews of the CDP report. Stay tuned for continued coverage of the report's contents, as well as other news on the business of climate change, here and our sister site, ClimateBiz.com.

The DSIRE web site provides information about renewable energy and energy efficiency incentives and policies in effect in the United States. Relevant incentives and policies established by the federal government, state governments, local governments, electric utilities and non-profit organizations are included in DSIRE.

This report provides an overview of the key trends and business drivers for fostering the CSR-HR connection, followed by a proposed roadmap or pathway for human resource leaders seeking to make a substantial contribution to sustainability, CSR and their firm's business goals.

This webcast brings together a panel of experts on business law and environmental management to discuss Walmart's bold plans for its Sustainability Index, as well as to answer your questions and help you prepare for complying with the sustainability goals of the world's largest retailer.