The report states that Greenhouse gas emissions grew 1.4 percent in 2007 over 2006 but shrank 0.6 percent per unit of GDP — the smallest annual decrease since 2002. The report also discusses electronic waste: Despite widespread discussions in boardrooms and legislatures about the dangers of e-waste, we recycled only a tiny fraction more e-waste in 2007 than the year before, even as the amount of e-waste entering the waste stream grew substantially.

In spite of the somewhat discouraging stats, there are plenty of reasons for optimism for the the future of green businesses. Green building is on the rise, spurring new technologies that save energy and money while creating more healthful workplaces. There is a green race taking place in the auto industry, with every single major manufacturer planning to introduce electric vehicles in the near future. The leading consumer product makers and retailers are starting to assess the environmental impact of their products using sophisticated measurements, sending signals up the supply chain that tomorrow’s products will need to hew to higher levels of environmental responsibility.

The report is extremely informative and is a great read! You can download the full report by clicking here.