Antinuclear

Environment holds business risk: UN Herald Sun AAP JUNE 21, 2013  RISING temperatures, storms linked to climate change and growing competition for water and land point to tough times ahead for the business sector, but also a chance for profitable innovation, the United Nations says.

Citing the ravages of floods in Australia in 2010-11 which cost insurer Munich Re $US350 million ($A382 million) and mining group Rio Tinto another $US245 million, the report on Friday said companies had no choice but to adapt.

“From extreme weather events, to rising pressures on finite natural resources, changes in the global environment will increasingly impact operating costs, markets for products, the availability of raw materials, and the reputation of businesses, from finance and tourism, to healthcare and transport,” said the UN Environment Program document.

“The future of the private sector will increasingly hinge on the ability of businesses to adapt to the world’s rapidly changing environment and to develop goods and services that can reduce the impacts of climate change, water scarcity, emissions of harmful chemicals, and other environmental concerns.”…..  HTTP://WWW.HERALDSUN.COM.AU/NEWS/BREAKING-NEWS/ENVIRONMENT-HOLDS-BUSINESS-RISK-UN/STORY-FNI0XQLL-1226667796488