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1) Title: Global businesses must lead the way on climate action

Source: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/19/global-businesses-must-leadthe-way-on-climate-action
Major business leaders will gather in Paris this week for the Business and Climate
Summit. It comes six months before the Paris climate conference, COP21, the aim of which is
well known: to reach a universal agreement limiting the rise in global average temperature to
2C above pre-industrial levels.
Until recently, action against climate change was trapped in a sort of vicious circle:
many businesses were waiting for political decisions before taking action, while governments,
for their part, were waiting for a mobilisation of the private sector.
Now the situation is changing. Firstly, most governments are committing themselves.
To date, nearly 40 countries including the 28 member states of the European Union,
the US, Mexico, Gabon, etc have submitted their national contributions that is, their
commitments in terms of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and adaptation to climate
change. We are counting on all countries to join this collective effort and submit their
contributions before the deadline of 30 October.
Secondly, many businesses now include climate action in their long-term strategy and
their daily activities. General Motors, Google, Amazon, Apple have signed major agreements
on renewable energy use. A few weeks ago, 43 business leaders from companies in over 150
countries, declared their responsibility to support sustainable development.
Ikea, Toshiba Corporation, AkzoNobel, Enel, Hindustan Construction Company, ING
Group, Marks & Spencer, Suez Environnement and other large and medium-sized enterprises
have undertaken to reduce their environmental impact by setting goals to lower their
emissions and their energy consumption. They have also committed to promoting innovative
technologies and incorporating climate risks into their decision-making processes.
These positive developments can be explained by a general increase in awareness and
by business interests.One thing is gradually becoming clear: investing in green growth, which
is the growth of the future, can be a source of profit and employment. A report by the Carbon

Disclosure Project shows that businesses which actively take into account the issue of climate
enjoy 18% higher returns on investment than those that do not.
For a long time, climate action was seen as a cost rather than an opportunity, whereas
today, the debate centres on the cost of taking no action. According to some estimates,
inaction to combat climate change could cost $28tn (18tn) globally by 2050.
As we head towards COP21, we expect business leaders from around the world to call
for ambitious policies and to join this collective effort themselves by taking concrete steps, for
example by setting themselves a target of 100% renewable energy use, or progressive
emission reduction targets.
The efforts made by businesses along with those made by cities, regions and civil
society are obviously no replacement for the crucial measures that must be taken by states,
whose action is decisive, but they will strengthen these measures. The central and fair idea
is that governments should not be the only ones combating climate change.
The Paris climate agreement that we are working actively towards will not provide an
immediate solution to the problem of climate change, but it can and should provide a way
forward.
Today, we are convinced that a large number of public and private stakeholders are
ready to commit, in specific ways, to building a more sustainable world. The time for climate
action has therefore come, and businesses need to play their full part.

2) Title: Peabody Energy exploited Ebola crisis for corporate gain,


say health experts
Source: The Guardian

Public health experts involved in the response to the Ebola crisis have condemned
what they described as a ludicrous, insulting and opportunistic attempt to exploit the disease
for corporate gain by the worlds largest privately-held coal company.
As part of a PR offensive to rebrand coal as a 21st-century fuel that can help solve
global poverty, it has emerged that at the height of Ebolas impact in Africa,
Peabody Energy promoted its product as an answer to Africas devastating public health
crisis.
Greg Boyce, the chief executive of Peabody, a US-based multinational with mining
interests around the world, included a slide on Ebola and energy in a presentation to a coal
industry conference in September last year. The slide suggested that more energy would have
spurred the distribution of a hypothetical Ebola vaccine citing as supporting evidence a
University of Pennsylvania infectious disease expert.
The World Health Organisation believes nearly 27,000 people contracted Ebola in an
outbreak of the virus in WestAfrica last year, and more than 11,000 died although the
international agency believes that is probably an underestimate.
Public health experts who were involved in fighting the spread of Ebola were outraged
at Peabodys suggestion that expanding energy access with coal generation could have
hindered the spread of Ebola and helped with the distribution of a vaccine especially as
there is no approved vaccine against the disease.
Meanwhile, the medical expert cited by Peabody to support its claims told the
Guardian he had never heard of the company and that it had got his name wrong.
There is no apparent merit or evidence to support such a thesis, said Irwin Redlener,
director of Columbia Universitys National Centre for Disaster Preparedness, and an advisor
to the White House on the US response to Ebola. Peabody has very specific and explicit

corporate goals. I think this is a pretty far fetched leap from a global crisis to try to justify the
existence of a company that is interested in producing and selling coal.
Redlener added: I think its an opportunistic attempt and somewhat desperate to relate
corporate self-interest to a massive public health crisis.
Skip Burkle, a senior fellow of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative at the universitys
school of public health, said Peabodys claims were absolutely ludicrous. We are talking
about public health infrastructure, he said. Energy is just one piece of it. There are so many
other factors that have to come together.
He went on: The coal industry is going down but there are other answers to this and it
is not to dump it in Africa. It is just an insult to the population.
Peabody denied it was using the Ebola crisis for its own gain. Mr Boyce was simply
noting that a lack of electricity dramatically impaired the ability to fight Ebola in key nations
that have little energy access and where hospitals rely on generators for power, Vic Svec, the
companys senior vice-president for global investor and corporate relations told the Guardian.
The doctor whose comments were used to justify Peabodys claims was relatively
sanguine. I know nothing about the coal industry, Harvey Rubin, an infectious disease
specialist at the University of Pennsylvania said.
He did say he intended to contact the company to correct his name which was wrong
on the power point.
Boyce had claimed in the power point that electricity shortages had hampered the fight
against Ebola.
Lack of electricity impairs ability to fight crises like Ebola, the headline to Boyces
powerpoint said.
It went on to quote Rubin misidentified as Harry not Harvey - on the importance to
public vaccination efforts of a reliable electricity supply.
Lets say someone does develop an Ebola vaccine. Distributing a vaccine would
require continuous chain refrigeration, Rubin said.

But he told the Guardian he was agnostic on the issue of power sources. He said
there were already sufficient supplies of electricity in Africa for effective distribution of
vaccines by using existing cell phone towers. We can piggyback on those towers, he said.
The Ebola claims surfaced amid growing pressure on Peabody Energy from the
downturn in coal and a global anti-apartheid style fossil fuel divestment campaign.
Over the last two years, over 200 institutions and major investors have committed to
selling off their stocks of oil, coal and gas, on the grounds that much of the worlds reserves
of fossil fuels must stay in the ground to avoid dangerous climate change. Some institutions
such as Stanford University have committed only to dumping coal, while hanging on to oil
and gas holdings.
The Guardian supports the fossil fuel divestment movement, and through itsKeep it in
the Ground campaign has called on two of the worlds biggest charities, the Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust to divest from fossil fuels. The Gates Foundationss
Asset Trust has a $1.6m holding in Peabody according to the most recently available
information. The Wellcome Trust does not appear to have a direct investment in the company.
Peabody views the fossil fuel divestment campaign as misguided and symbolic. But
in the past it has suggested that divestment could have an impact on the business. The impact
of such efforts [fossil fuel divestment campaigns] may adversely affect the demand for and
price of securities issued by us, and impact our access to the capital and financial
markets, wrote Peabody in its 2014 annual filing with the US Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Svec though, denied that the campaign represented a threat to the companys bottom
line. Fossil fuels comprise more than 80% of all energy use globally, and these fuels will
continue to be with us for centuries.
But the fossil fuel divestment movement has intensified Peabodys campaign to
rebrand coal. It is the dirtiest of fossil fuels which contributes heavily to climate change and
causes large numbers of deaths because of pollution produced when burning it.

But in a power point presentation, prepared for the managers of the worlds richest
sovereign wealth fund, the Norwegian government pension fund in June last year, Peabody
executives argued that coal was positioned to be the fastest-growing fuel of the 21st century.
At the time, the fund had 64m NOK (5.5m) in Peabody, down from 1.2bn NOK in
2010.
In the meeting, Peabody argued that 21st-century coal was positioned to be the main
driver of digital expansion, and of urbanisation of developing countries. It also said access to
coal was the cure for global poverty.
The effort did not work. As of 31 December, the Norwegian government pension fund
had dumped all shares of Peabody and other US coal companies, according to Urgewald, a
German NGO which monitors the fossil fuel divestment campaign.
So they were obviously not convinced by Peabodys presentation, said Heffa
Schuecking, a campaigner for Urgewald.

3) Title Japan's economy grows faster than expected


Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/business-32791729

Japan's economy grew faster than expected between January and March, boosting
hopes that the economy is recovering from last year's recession.
The economy expanded 0.6% in the period compared to the previous quarter, marking its
second consecutive quarter of growth.
The result was far better than the 0.4% analysts had expected.
On an annualised basis, the economy grew 2.4% in the period against forecasts of 1.5%.
Analysts said the first quarter growth rate was "very positive".
"The recovery seems to be well on track," Tony Nash, chief economist at Complete
Intelligence, told the BBC.
"This must bring a smile to Prime Minister Abe's face and is a vindication that his economic
policies are moving things in the right direction."
The country came out of recession in the fourth quarter of last year.
Headwinds
Japan relies on domestic consumption for about 60% of its economy, but it has been
recovering from a sales tax hike which has dampened spending.
Private consumption and capital spending were both up 0.4% in the quarter, but capital
spending was expected to rise by 0.8%.
Capital Economics analyst Marcel Thieliant said in a note that the acceleration in economic
growth for the period "was mostly due to a jump in inventories".
"And a range of indicators point to a slowdown in the second quarter.
"Industrial production in March was 4% below its January peak, and the drop in the
manufacturing PMI (Purchasing Manager's Index) to a multi-month low in April suggests that
conditions are unlikely to improve quickly," he added.
Other headwinds Japan's economy has been facing include wages, which have remained
stagnant for several years, together with a weaker yen, which makes imported goods more
expensive for consumers on the home front.

On the upside however, the weaker yen does give a boost to the country's big exporters, like
Toyota, because it makes their goods cheaper to buy overseas. It also helps their bottom line
when they repatriate money made from overseas operations.
Why Japan's inventories matter - By Martin Schulz, Fujitsu Research Institute
Corporate decisions about their inventory levels have been the main driver of growth, or
disappointment, for the year. It is an important indicator for growth during a recovery because
companies will only increase inventories when they expect increasing demand.
Inventories have become more important than usual in Japan because the sales tax hike
disrupted demand patterns so much, and because Japanese companies are coming out of a
long phase - almost 20 years - of cutting costs and downsizing in Japan's ageing economy.
In such an environment, corporate optimism does not lead to more investment immediately;
companies will first boost their existing capacities until they become insufficient - that is,
until inventories first build up and then get sold.
The first step is what we are seeing. The next step is selling production through exports and to
consumers, producing higher incomes on the way. If that works - we would finally see a
sustainable recovery, driven by the private - not government - sector.
Further easing?
The Bank of Japan's current easing programme is designed to stimulate the country's economy
by encouraging more lending, which in turn should see increased consumer spending.
It also hopes to drive greater investment activity and boost inflation.
The latest growth figures meant the chances of further near-term easing had diminished, said
Mr Thieliant, but "with price pressures likely to remain subdued, more stimulus will be
needed before too long, with the October meeting now the most likely venue."

DICTIONARY:

gather= a colecta, a strange

verb
1
1
1
1
1

to assemble or cause to assemble


to collect or be collected gradually; muster
(transitive) to learn from information given; conclude or assume
(transitive) to pick or harvest (flowers, fruit, etc)
(transitive; followed by to or into) to clasp or embrace the mother gathered the child
into her arms
(transitive) to bring close (to) or wrap (around) she gathered her shawl about her
shoulders
to increase or cause to increase gradually, as in force, speed, intensity, etc
to contract (the brow) or (of the brow) to become contracted into wrinkles; knit
(transitive) to assemble (sections of a book) in the correct sequence for binding
(transitive) to collect by making a selection
(transitive) to prepare or make ready to gather one's wits
to draw (material) into a series of small tucks or folds by passing a thread through it and
then pulling it tight
(intransitive) (of a boil or other sore) to come to a head; form pus

trapped= a prinde;

1
1
1
1
1
1
1

verb
Word forms: traps, trapping, trapped
1
1
1
1

(transitive) to catch, take, or pen in or as if in a trap; entrap


(transitive) to ensnare by trickery; trick
(transitive) to provide (a pipe) with a trap
to set traps in (a place), esp for animals

renewable= adj, regenerabil

verb (mainly transitive)


1 to take up again
1 (also intransitive) to begin (an activity) again; recommence to renew an attempt
1 to restate or reaffirm (a promise, etc)
1 (also intransitive) to make (a lease, licence, or contract) valid or effective for a further
period
1 to extend the period of loan of (a library book)
1 to regain or recover (vigour, strength, activity, etc)
1 to restore to a new or fresh condition
1 to replace (an old or worn-out part or piece)
1 to replenish (a supply, etc)
awareness= constinentizare

substantiv
knowledge or perception of a situation or fact.
we need to raise public awareness of the issue
sinonime: consciousness, recognition, realization, understanding, grasp, appreciatio
n, knowledge,insight, familiarity, light-bulb moment, cognizance
head= cap

noun
1 the upper or front part of the body in vertebrates, including man, that contains and
protects the brain, eyes, mouth, and nose and ears when present related adjective cephalic
1 the corresponding part of an invertebrate animal
1 something resembling a head in form or function, such as the top of a tool

targets= obiective;

noun
1
1
1

an object or area at which an archer or marksman aims, usually a round flat surface
marked with concentric rings
(as modifier) target practice

1 any point or area aimed at; the object of an attack or a takeover bid
1 (as modifier) target area, target company
a fixed goal or objective the target for the appeal is 10 000
a person or thing at which an action or remark is directed or the object of a person's
feelings a target for the teacher's sarcasm
a joint of lamb consisting of the breast and neck
(surveying) a marker on which sights are taken, such as the sliding marker on a levelling
staff
(formerly) a small round shield

Strengthen= a consolida;

1
1
1
1

verb
1.

to make or become stronger

stakeholders= parti interesate/implicate

noun
1 a person or group owning a significant percentage of a company's shares
1 a person or group not owning shares in an enterprise but affected by or having an interest
in its operations, such as the employees, customers, local community, etc

ludicrous= ridicol

adjective
1.
absurd or incongruous to the point of provoking ridicule or laughter

rebrand=a schimba imaginea

verb
1.

(transitive) to change or update the image of (an organization or product)

Coal= carbune

noun
1
1

a combustible compact black or dark-brown carbonaceous rock formed from


compaction of layers of partially decomposed vegetation: a fuel and a source of coke,
coal gas, and coal tar See alsoanthracite, bituminous coal, lignite, peat1
1 (as modifier) coal cellar, coal merchant, coal mine, coal dust
one or more lumps of coal

mining= minerit

noun
1 the act, process, or industry of extracting coal, ores, etc, from the earth
1 (military) the process of laying mines

Spurred= a stimula

verb
Word forms: spurs, spurring, spurred
1
1
1
1

(transitive) to goad or urge with or as if with spurs


(intransitive) to go or ride quickly; press on
(transitive) to injure or strike with a spur
(transitive) to provide with a spur or spurs

Fetched= a aduce

verb (mainly transitive)


1 to go after and bring back; get to fetch help
1 to cause to come; bring or draw forth the noise fetched him from the cellar

1
1
1
1
1
1

(also intransitive) to cost or sell for (a certain price) the table fetched six hundred
pounds
to utter (a sigh, groan, etc)
(informal) to deal (a blow, slap, etc)
(also intransitive) (nautical) to arrive at or proceed by sailing
(informal) to attract to be fetched by an idea
(used esp as a command to dogs) to retrieve (shot game, an object thrown, etc)
(rare) to draw in (a breath, gasp, etc), esp with difficulty

chain = lant

noun
1 a flexible length of metal links, used for confining, connecting, pulling, etc, or in
jewellery

refrigeration= racire
agnostic= agnostic

noun
1 a person who holds that knowledge of a Supreme Being, ultimate cause, etc, is
impossible Compareatheist, theist
1 a person who claims, with respect to any particular question, that the answer cannot be
known with certainty
adjective
1 of or relating to agnostics

piggyback= a cara in spate

verb (transitive)
1. to give (a person) a piggyback on one's back and shoulders
2.to transport (one vehicle) on another

anti-apartheid

adjective
1.
opposed to apartheid the anti-apartheid movement

fossil fuel = combustibil fosil

noun

a natural fuel such as coal or gas, formed in the geological past from the remains of living
organisms.

*misguided= gresit
adjective
1.
foolish or unreasonable, esp in action or behaviour

boosting= a stimula

verb (transitive)
1 to encourage, assist, or improve to boost morale
1 to lift by giving a push from below or behind
1 to increase or raise to boost the voltage in an electrical circuit
1 to cause to rise; increase to boost sales
1 to advertise on a big scale
1 to increase the induction pressure of (an internal-combustion engine) above that of the
ambient pressure; supercharge

forecasts= previziuni;

noun
1 a statement of probable future weather conditions calculated from meteorological data
1 a prophecy or prediction
1 the practice or power of forecasting

tax hike= majorare de impozit


slowdown= a incetini;

noun
1 the usual US and Canadian word for go-slow
1 any slackening of pace

peak= varf

noun
1 a pointed end, edge, or projection the peak of a roof
1 the pointed summit of a mountain
1 a mountain with a pointed summit

1
1

the point of greatest development, strength, etc the peak of his career
a sharp increase in a physical quantity followed by a sharp decrease a voltage
peak
1 the maximum value of this quantity
a.
(as modifier) peak voltage
1

Drop= picatura

noun
1 a small quantity of liquid that forms or falls in a spherical or pear-shaped mass; globule
1 a very small quantity of liquid
1 a very small quantity of anything
1 something resembling a drop in shape or size, such as a decorative pendant or small sweet
1 the act or an instance of falling; descent
1 a decrease in amount or value; slump a drop in prices
1 the vertical distance that anything may fall
1 a steep or sheer incline or slope

yen= mondea Japoniei

noun
Word forms: plural yen
1.

the standard monetary unit of Japan, (notionally) divided into 100 sen

disrupted = a distruge

verb
1 (transitive) to throw into turmoil or disorder
1 (transitive) to interrupt the progress of (a movement, meeting, etc)
1 to break or split (something) apart

patterns= modele

noun
1 an arrangement of repeated or corresponding parts, decorative motifs, etc although the
notes seemed random, a careful listener could detect a pattern
1 a decorative design a paisley pattern
1 a style various patterns of cutlery
1 a plan or diagram used as a guide in making something a paper pattern for a dress
1 a standard way of moving, acting, etc traffic patterns
1 a model worthy of imitation a pattern of kindness

1
1
1

a representative sample
a wooden or metal shape or model used in a foundry to make a mould
1
1

the arrangement of marks made in a target by bullets


a diagram displaying such an arrangement

downsizing= reducere

noun
1 a reduction of the number of people that a company employs a trend towards
downsizing in the personal-computer market
1 a reduction in size

boost= impuls;

noun
1 encouragement, improvement, or help a boost to morale
1 an upward thrust or push he gave him a boost over the wall
1 an increase or rise a boost in salary
1 a publicity campaign; promotion
1 the amount by which the induction pressure of a supercharged internal-combustion engine
exceeds that of the ambient pressure

subdued= delicat;

adjective
1 cowed, passive, or shy
1 gentle or quiet a subdued whisper
1 (of colours, etc) not harsh or bright subdued lighting

Venue= loc de intalnire

noun
1 (law)
1 the place in which a cause of action arises
1 the place fixed for the trial of a cause
a.
the locality from which the jurors must be summoned to try a particular cause
1 a meeting place
1 any place where an organized gathering, such as a rock concert or public meeting, is held

(mainly US) a position in an argument

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