COP28 ends and the festive season begins – will it be a vegan Christmas?

By Robin Struber, PhD student, Business School COP28 is coming to an end just at the festive season begins. With the climate emergency back in the spotlight, does this mean more of us are opting for a vegan Christmas? It doesn’t look that way. While national institutions are discussing ways to gradually ‘phase out’ emissions, … Continue reading “COP28 ends and the festive season begins – will it be a vegan Christmas?”

Are climate-related financial disclosures making a difference to business behaviour or the climate?

By Dr Mayya Konovalova & Dr Salma Ashour, Department of Accounting In his speech in Dubai, Chair of the IFRS Foundation Trustees, Erkki Liikanen, announced that COP28 marks the official end of the work of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This achievement is hailed as a key milestone in information sharing, potentially … Continue reading “Are climate-related financial disclosures making a difference to business behaviour or the climate?”

How can accountants help to stabilise the climate and drive nature recovery?

By Professor Thomas Cuckston, Professor of Accounting and Ecology – Birmingham Business School Climate change and nature loss are urgent global crises threatening our societies.  Humanity must find a way to transition from a global economy that drives climate change and nature loss to one that stabilises the climate and drives nature recovery.  International initiatives … Continue reading “How can accountants help to stabilise the climate and drive nature recovery?”

What impact does the Which? annual rankings of the greenest supermarkets have on consumer behaviour?

By Dr Jennifer TyreeHageman Lecturer in Responsible Business, University of Birmingham In February, the consumer association Which? released its annual rankings of the greenest supermarkets. The ranking system uses three metrics to measure the environmental sustainability of supermarkets: greenhouse gas emissions, plastic usage and food waste generated by the supermarkets. It was good news for … Continue reading “What impact does the Which? annual rankings of the greenest supermarkets have on consumer behaviour?”

3 New Year’s resolutions your business must make to help achieve net zero

By Professor Ian Thomson Director of Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Business, University of Birmingham 2021 was an important year for climate change, with COP26, Global Citizen and the COVID-19 pandemic cementing it as a priority for governments and the public. But time is running out to reach net zero and limit global warming. … Continue reading “3 New Year’s resolutions your business must make to help achieve net zero”

Why fast fashion’s slavery problem is woven into its business model

By Dr Christoph Biehl Associate of the Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business, Department of Management The textile industry has been rocked by scandals for years. We still remember the pictures of families that were torn apart by the collapse of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh in 2013. Waves of empathy mixed with guilt spread … Continue reading “Why fast fashion’s slavery problem is woven into its business model”

Top tips for improving the inclusivity of fathers in the workplace

By Dr Sarah Forbes and Dr Holly Birkett, co-directors of the Equal Parenting Project Over the past three years, we have been researching how parents navigate the pressures of combining working and parenting. As co-directors of the Equal Parenting Project, our research has identified a pattern of parents who are not entitled to maternity leave … Continue reading “Top tips for improving the inclusivity of fathers in the workplace”

Responsible consumption and the decision over Heathrow’s third runway

By Professor John Bryson Department of Strategy and  International Business, University of Birmingham I have a problem that I need to reconcile. This problem is the tension that exists between being a responsible consumer and being a responsible citizen. This tension should be central to all discussions regarding responsible business. For me, this tension takes … Continue reading “Responsible consumption and the decision over Heathrow’s third runway”

The Curse and the Cure – Facebook’s use of Artificial Intelligence

By Immaculate Motsi-Omoijiade Research Fellow, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Recently, Facebook announced its intention to increase its team of software developers and data scientists in order to develop algorithms that can detect and remove harmful content on its platform more quickly.  Having been issued a record-breaking $5 billion fine by the Federal … Continue reading “The Curse and the Cure – Facebook’s use of Artificial Intelligence”

Is Sustainable Fashion an Oxymoron? A Look at Fashion Week and Beyond

By Dr Charika Channuntapipat, Department of Accounting, Lloyds Banking Group Centre for Responsible Business Dr Solon Magrizos, Department of Marketing Professor Craig Smith, Department of Marketing  Fashion Weeks have been around for more than half a century and set the trend for fashion lovers worldwide. Recently, the term ‘sustainable fashion’ has become more popular and … Continue reading “Is Sustainable Fashion an Oxymoron? A Look at Fashion Week and Beyond”