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The beef industry is seeking to spread the word about its sustainability efforts, especially to young, eco-conscious diners, experts say. "Our long-term sustainability is predicated on transparency and providing consumers with the information they need to make the decision to purchase beef," says tom McDonald of JBS Five Rivers Cattle Feeding

Clean-energy investments of up to $1 trillion a year are needed to avoid climate change, and that will require new commitments by major institutional investors, according to a Ceres report. The usual energy investors -- banks and utilities -- won't be able to raise that amount, the report warns.

Laws, oversight and guidelines are necessary to ensure we provide solutions to pressing environmental issues. From fracking regulations to carbon-pollution rules to a toxic chemicals act, here are three business policy items the American Sustainable Business Council is working on in conjunction with many other organizations - and information on how you can join the cause.

Green cleaning products are no longer a niche interest, with many consumers willing to pay a little extra to pick up chemical-free or otherwise eco-friendly cleaning products, writes Stephen Ashkin. That shift is partly due to the rise of eco-labels and certification programs, which helped cleaning companies slice through the complexities of green chemistry. "With the advent of certification, standards and ecolabels, buyers have been given more tools to choose appropriate products," Ashkin explains.

Chines courts are allowed to hand down the death penalty for serisous cases of pollution

From the industrial cities of Britain to the forests of Sweden, from the plains of Spain to the shores of the Black Sea, Europe is restoring its rivers to their natural glory. The most densely populated continent on earth is finding space for nature to return along its river banks. 

The goal of President Barack Obama's newly signed executive order related to climate change is to improve disaster-management efforts during severe weather events and other disasters, according to these articles. It establishes a task force that will look at how federal funds are allocated for building projects and suggest ways to make infrastructure more resilient

As a punishing drought continues to grip California and other areas, scientists are exploring hardy succulents as a pathway to genetically engineer plants to use less water. Agave and other succulents such as the prickly pear, pineapple and vanilla have evolved to perform a different kind of photosynthesis that enable their survival in semiarid environments. These species absorb most of their carbon dioxide at night rather than during the day, as most plants do, meaning less water evaporates off the leaves through transpiration. 

nvestors are expected to put at least $15 billion into India's wind industry by 2020, according to research firm CRISIL. The country is expected to add 4 gigawatts of installed wind energy capacity annually through 2020, said the report. The government has set a goal to increase its capacity by 60 GW by 2022

McDonald's announcement that it would transition to using cage-free eggs in its food was designed to appeal to socially conscious consumers -- but the fast-food giant will need a more holistic approach to succeed, writes Phil Lempert. "Just using cage-free eggs in an Egg McMuffin ... really doesn't change much about the sandwich," he notes. 

The UK brewing industry has met its 2020 carbon target - to reduce carbon emissions by 67 percent compared to 1990 levels - eight years early and is on track to achieve its 2020 target for improved water efficiency, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) says.

The UK brewing industry has met its 2020 carbon target - to reduce carbon emissions by 67 percent compared to 1990 levels - eight years early and is on track to achieve its 2020 target for improved water efficiency, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) says.

The travel and tourism industry needs to put sustainability at the forefront of everything it does and businesses need to lead by example - that's the message from David Scowsill, CEO & president of the World Travel & tourism Council. Scowsill asked leading sustainable tourism businesses to play their part in ensuring that the industry's ethics are raised to the highest order.

Institutional investors representing over half a trillion dollars in assets under management are calling on four major palm oil producers to adopt an immediate moratorium on deforestation and join the growing effort within the industry to establish traceable, deforestation-free palm oil supply chains. Led by Green Century Capital Management, investors called on the companies to cease their efforts to weaken the existing threshold for no-deforestation.

Local farmers are stepping up to help conserve Kenya's upland forests, which serve as critical watersheds for the rest of the country. After years of corrupt government administration, control of the forests is being handed over to community forest associations that give farmers incentive to use forest resources responsibly. "People who used to be poachers and illegal loggers are now defending the forests," said Simon Gitau, warden of Mount Kenya National Park. Yale Environment 360 (2/26)

PepsiCo is committed to working to increase the U.S. beverage recycling rate, with a goal of reaching 50 percent by 2018. Such a shift would capture billions of containers that otherwise would end up in landfill, streets, parks and waterways. PepsiCo and The Nature Conservancy forged a new initiative to "Recycle for Nature." By recycling any plastic bottle or aluminum can, consumers are directly helping support The Nature Conservancy's efforts to save and restore 1 billion gallons of water over the next five years.

Apple frequently uses debt rather than its flush cash coffers to finance corporate initiatives, such as stock repurchase programs - it makes sense to do so for tax reasons. But, the company's latest appeal to the public debt markets includes another "first" for Apple and the tech industry at large: Apple is issuing $1.5 billion in green bonds to pay for a wide range of environmental initiatives.

An international team of scientists has proposed a series of deadlines by which humanity must take serious action to combat climate change if it is to meet the ambitious goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement, and stave off potential disaster. The team behind the study hopes that these points of no return will help inform debate, and spur leaders to take action to mitigate the threat of climate change while there is still time.

C&A is the world's first retailer to offer jeans that are completely Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM at the Gold level. Designed in partnership with Fashion for Good, a global platform that aims to make all fashion good, the jeans were made with completely sustainable materials and were produced in compliance with the high Cradle to Cradle CertifiedTM Gold level.

This city known for its Hollywood glamour is set to become the latest to say fur doesn't fly. Without dissent, Los Angeles put itself on track to become the largest U.S. city to ban the sale of fur clothing and accessories after a unanimous vote of the city council Tuesday.

According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), an industry group that supports research and development of wine and other grape-based products, 2017 will prove to be a rough year for vinters worldwide. The worst harvest since 1961, largely due to extremes in hot and cold temperatures in leading wine-producing countries such as France and Italy, have led to lower yields at harvest time.