Deforestation

Another blow has been delivered to the credibility of Asia Pulp and Paper (APP), thanks to some excellent work by WWF. In a survey of the certification bodies that APP regularly references to prop up its flimsy claims of sustainability, none of them would support APP's assertions about its environmental performance.

It seems the bad influence of McKinsey has diminished somewhat recently. The consultancy firm has been kicked out of Papua New Guinea (PNG), where it had been advising the government on how best to protect its rainforests and reduce emissions from deforestation. It seems the new (if controversial) administration has decided to cease doing business with McKinsey.

The big question that currently hangs over climate talks in Durban is whether or not the politicians will agree to sign a legally binding treaty by 2015 with mandatory emissions cuts. But the devil will be in the details, and management consultants pushing bad advice could have a big impact on our climate and rainforests.