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ainforest Action Network (RAN) claims it has found many Japanese companies are either 'systematically misreporting compliance' under Japan's Corporate Governance Code, or have a 'fundamental lack of understanding as to what constitutes meaningful sustainability reporting.' RAN evaluated ten major Japanese companies' Code reports and asserts that none of the companies are sufficiently disclosing their risks. The NGO advises shareholders take heed.

"As long as you have a good message you can create a great movie," Sharp advised, reminding the audience of the power of social media to raise awareness. The young filmmaker is certain that climate change is a matter that interests and concerns youth around the world. He also explained that he filmed 'Three Seconds' in order to create a motivational video focused on the impacts of global warming.

Family-owned firms are helping to drive sustainability forward in Asia, experts say, in part because family ownership allows younger generations to influence a company's values and to drive change. "In the face of mounting resource and climate-related business challenges, there is a real opportunity right now to groom a pool of environmentally aware next-generation leaders," says Jie Hui Kia, a Singapore futures adviser.

Costa Rica's left-wing opposition looks set to win next month's national elections, and party leaders say one of their first moves would be to cancel the country's pledge to achieve carbon neutrality by 2021. That goal, which is markedly more ambitious than any other country's carbon-reduction target, is no longer attainable, officials say. "We don't think it would be possible to reach carbon neutrality by 2021, because the most important tasks to reduce emissions in the country are yet to be done," said opposition environmental adviser Patricia Madrigal.

White House officials told lawmakers this week that while President Barack Obama's climate initiatives will not, in themselves, halt climate change, they nonetheless constitute an important first step towards more sweeping solutions. "The carbon-action plan is a start, and if we do not make a start, we will never get there," says White House science adviser John Holdren.

Microsoft's internal carbon pricing has helped the company recoup $10 million a year in energy savings and has reduced companywide emissions by the equivalent of 7.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide. "Microsoft has been a pioneer in facing the facts, which are that climate change is happening and is going to mean a certain amount of change in the economy," said Paula DiPerna, a special adviser to the Carbon Disclosure Project. "Companies need to know what the hidden costs are."

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has something to say about what you wear. While not a fashion arbiter and unable to advise on attire for family gatherings, the FTC oversees what appears on the labels inside your clothes.

The U.S. Senate rejected by a one-vote margin a bill passed by the House to allow construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to Gulf of Mexico refineries. The measure needed 60 votes to go forward but received 59. White House advisers have suggested that President Barack Obama might eventually let the project proceed.

President Barack Obama will today order government agencies to reduce their carbon emissions by 40% over the next decade. That won't put a big dent in total U.S. emissions, but could give clean-tech startups and energy providers an important boost. "We can drive substantial reductions across the entire federal footprint and ... leverage both innovation and investment in the private sector," said White House senior adviser Brian Deese.

Green roofs can save lots of money for building owners thanks to energy cost savings of up to 50%, longer life spans and financial incentives in various cities. However, a lack of awareness of green roofs' benefits may be limiting their market reach, experts say. "And I think there's been some negative information out there about the difficulty of maintaining, the cost of maintaining and the cost of installing them," said environmental adviser John-Patrick Curran. 

Canada is one of the world's largest beef producers, with its 60,000 ranches and feedlots contributing CAD $33 billion (US$26.2 billion) to the country's economy. But that is not stopping the federal government in Ottawa from issuing new dietary guidelines in an effort to promote healthy eating. Gone are the recommendations to eat a certain amount from various "food groups." Also eliminated, period, is any suggestion to consume dairy products. "Regular intake of water," is what a summary of the eating guidelines advise Canadians.