Financing Change

For those at all interested in a viewpoint from the green side of the business world -- "eco-efficiency" -- this book is a great read. I can't be sure whether all that was said is genuine, but this book sure does make you think hard about the subject matter.

This work asks the question if the world's financial markets and those who work in and around them are a force for sustainable human progress, or if they are against it. Related to this question two more further, fundamental questions are asked : Do the financial markets encourage a short-termist,profits-only mentality that ignores much human and environmental reality ? Or are they simply tools that reflect human concerns, and so will eventually reflect disquiet over poverty and the degradation of nature by rewarding companies that treat people and the environment in a responsible manner ?In an attempt to find answers, the authors examined both the working of financial markets (established and emerging) and the roles of different key players in the financial community.The findings are mixed but overall encouraging. For each player the present situation is explained in detail, showing clearly the limitations, the potential risks and potentials each player has related to creating sustainable development. Overall a difficult topic in which the authors did very well to give a detailed present situation. Highly recommended as a first but good introduction to this topic.Contents : I The Game 1. Eco-efficiency and the Financial Markets 2. Financial Markets and the Development Process II The Players (includes recommendations for each player) 3. The Company Leaders 4. The Investors and Analysts 5. The Bankers 6. The Insurers 7. The Accountants 8. The Raters III The Scorecard Appendix : Statement by Banks on the Environment and Sustainable DevelopmentThis work is linked with The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (wbcsd).