@simon_bergbom
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Head of US Communications,
We Don't Have Time •
Simon Bergbom
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Unilever is raising the bar for corporate responsibility. In a bold move, the company is threatening to cut ties with trade associations that don't align with the Paris Agreement's critical climate goals. 🌐🍃 🔍 After a thorough assessment, Unilever identified organizations hindering progress on climate policy. 💬 Rebecca Marmot, Unilever's CSO, emphasized the importance of these associations being catalysts for change. "We know that becoming fully aligned will not be straightforward, but over the next 12 months we will focus our attention on the practical and realistic actions associations can take. We want our associations to be catalysts for positive policy change, and if they can’t, then we reserve the right to withdraw our membership fees." What's especially promising about this is that it isn't an empty warning. Years ago, the company quietly exited the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest business trade group globally, due to its long-standing opposition to environmental policies. Read more here: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/unilever-threatens-quit-trade-associations-block-climate-policy#:~:text=The%20company%20says%20it%20will,Paris%20Agreement%20net%2Dzero%20goals.&text=Unilever%20is%20threatening%20to%20walk,increases%20below%201.5%20degrees%20Celsius.
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Varsa Mahananda
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It was May 2020 and I was traveling to New Delhi after a long gap. This smog-capital of India had been my home for 6 years before I relocated to Bangalore (a city in Southern India) in 2019. Then Covid struck, and I was not able to visit for a long time. Anyway, when my plane landed in New Delhi, it was about 10 in the morning. Delhi summers are quite hot and bright, so imagine my surprise when instead of the bright sun, I saw an overcast day outside adorned with fog. So much so that I could not even see the sign that says New Delhi Airport right outside the plane window. It took me a while to realize what I thought was fog, was actually nothing but deadly smog! Also, did I tell you how I could literally smell the smoggy dust in the air even before the plane doors opened? The deteriorating air quality index in New Delhi is a rising cause for alarm. Yet nobody seems to be talking about it. Covid has come and gone, but for the people of Delhi, a mask is still very much a part of their lives, an N95 no less. (N95 masks are made of electrostatic non-woven polypropylene fiber and they fit quite close to the facial shape. This makes them more effective than normal masks). Reason? The deadly smog that is always lurking in the air. It is well nigh impossible to imagine Delhi as a smog-free city anymore. But if you speak to the residents of Delhi, they seem unperturbed. It is as if they have made peace with it. They will tell you, ‘Yeah, Delhi has a lot of pollution, so what? That's just how it is.’ So much so that it is hard to convince even my mother (who lives in Delhi), to get an air purifier on the same grounds. I was discussing the horrible air pollution levels with my European friend and the seemingly careless stance of the people pertaining to it. He asked me whether this was because Indians believe in karma and go with the attitude: what has to happen, will happen. I tried my best to explain to him that this attitude mostly rears its head in terms of astrology and one’s personal destiny, not the atmosphere in general. He did not seem convinced. But honestly, who can blame him? To think of it, I wasn’t very convinced either! While a standard and healthy AQI (air quality index) would stay between 0 and 50, the AQI in New Delhi has recorded 457 recently. (Anything over 300 counts as hazardous). Such a number in a developed country would have led to a State of Emergency, but for the people of New Delhi, it’s just another normal day. Schools ordered shut owing to the rising levels in hazardous smog https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ya-NNs931g The situation has become so bad that schools have to be shut for a week or two every year around this time and people are requested to keep their children indoors and away from the pollution. Such a decision was taken for the first time in 2018 when the smog situation got so crazy that it became impossible to see each other when outdoors, even in close proximity. After 2018, this trend has continued every year, exactly like a family ritual. The situation has gone from bad to worse in just a few years. A recent study called the Air Quality Life Index published by Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago in August 2023 states that New Delhi is the most polluted city in the world, and that people are losing a significant portion of their lifespan due to such hazardous living conditions. Every year after the Diwali celebrations (an important Indian festival in October that involves lighting diyas and bursting firecrackers), the score on the AQI index records dreadfully high. It stays that way for weeks on end. Also, October is the time when winter starts to set in, and all the fog in the air mixes with the dust and pollution to give the city an extremely clouded look (not in a healthy way at all), so much so that you might not even be able to see the person next to you while taking a walk together. However, Diwali is not the only reason behind the egregiously high pollution levels. Another major reason behind it is the agricultural stubble burnings by farmers in Punjab and Haryana. Reason behind the stubble burnings: Earlier, farmers used to manually harvest their crop, stalk by stalk, right from the roots. It was only during the 1990s that they got access to machines that could do the work for them, thus decreasing the time and energy involved in the harvesting process. Great solution! However, automatic crop harvesting machines had one problem. While harvesting, they would leave about two feet of the stalk from the ground, which is what we call the stubble. Farmers found it cheaper and easier to burn down the stubble before the next harvest instead of taking it out manually. Also, there was no strong enough initiative from the government to resolve this issue. Another reason behind stubble burnings was implementation of the water law in Punjab. To resolve the water issue in the state, the Punjab government prohibited the farmers to plant rice before June. This led to delayed plantation, which in turn led to a delayed harvest. There was hardly any time left between the harvesting and replanting for the next season. To overcome this short window problem, farmers found it easier to burn the agricultural residue that was left behind after the last harvest, instead of removing them by other, considerably slower and more expensive means. This, of course, resolved the water issue, bringing timely monsoons and replenishing the aquifers. When the governments realized how the stubble burnings were affecting New Delhi and the nearby areas, they tried to implement fines on the farmers in order to curb the burnings. But the farmers still found that paying a fine was much cheaper than implementing any other method to remove the stubble from their land. What ISRO’s Ocean Colour Monitor says about pollution levels in New Delhi Right after the Diwali celebrations in New Delhi in October 2023 (when the AQI is at its highest because of the rising pollution levels caused majorly from burning firecrackers), ISRO’s Ocean Colour Monitor conducted an analysis of aerosol optical depth (AOD) levels in the area. Not surprisingly, the pollution levels noted a marked spike, especially since New Delhi falls in the Indo-Gangetic plain area. How New Delhi’s geographical location makes it more prone to heavy pollution New Delhi is located on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, or the North Indian River Plain, covering 700 square kilometers of fertile plain that is landlocked by mountains on all sides. So all the dust and wind from the mountains of nearby areas including Pakistan and Afghanistan sort of falls into New Delhi, and stays locked. This is a major reason why the pollution situation in New Delhi never seems to go away. So much so that in winters vehicles collide with each other even in broad daylight due to the impossibly dense smog! Vehicles have to have their headlights on all throughout the day to avoid an accident. This makes driving in New Delhi during winters (when the smog is at its peak) all the more dangerous. New Delhi and it’s famous odd-even rule To control the increasing pollution levels, the Chief Minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, came up with the odd-even rule for the first time in 2016. According to this rule, people could only drive vehicles with license plates ending with odd numbers on odd dates, and vehicles wth plates ending with even numbers on even dates. The implementation of this rule has been recurring time and again. It was last implemented in November 2023. The New Delhi roads seemed to have lesser traffic, and implementing this rule brought the AQI level down quite a bit. The state government keeps implementing the rule for short periods whenever the AQI rises too high. Although this is a good attempt, it is not a permanent solution. Also, people try to find their way around this rule: either borrowing a car, or buying a new one. However, the rule comes back to life as and when needed, like a temporary resolution to the pollution levels. The strange thing to note is the fact that Delhi prides itself on its strong and well-placed public transportation system: The Delhi Metro. Despite great connectivity of this metro transport system across all of Delhi, a lot of people still prefer to use their own cars to work. Sometimes you can even see a single person driving a 7-seater SUV. People also look down upon carpooling, thus exploiting unnecessary fuel usage (most cars are either petrol, diesel or CNG-based). No wonder the traffic and pollution levels are spiking way beyond the norm. Cab services like Uber and Ola did have sharing options, but that stopped after Covid struck. What celebrities are doing to curb the issue A few celebrities have recently begun trying to raise awareness of the situation and provide solutions to the problem. One of them is Indian cricketer Virat Kohli who is reported to have partnered with Ola (an Indian cab booking app similar to Uber) for a campaign called #FarakPadtaHai (it makes a difference) to raise awareness about the rising pollution levels in New Delhi. As part of the campaign, Kohli was seen urging people to take public and shared commutes like the metro, buses, and Shared Ola (apparently, the shared cab services are being reintroduced), etc. This initiative is an attempt to bring down the pollution levels by a good amount. Another Attempt at Resolving the Pollution Issue: Last year, a new bill was passed by the government to mitigate the pollution levels: Draft Delhi Motor Vehicle Aggregator and Delivery Service Provider Scheme 2023. Under this scheme, commercial vehicle owners are required to transition towards electric vehicles by 2030. At the same time, service quality standards for vehicle maintenance have to be met as well. While this ambitious goal looks good on paper, it will be hard to implement, as India still lacks the proper infrastructure to support electric vehicles. So, unless huge investments in such infrastructure is part of the scheme, a big change seems unlikely. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItE9S2FZe44 Is change even possible? Currently, there are other cities in the world like Bogota, Warsaw, Bangkok, Seoul and Accra that are working hard to keep their pollution levels in check. Maybe it is high time for India to take a leaf out of their book to adapt to a more durable solution. While Bogota is working towards a completely electrified public transportation system, Warsaw has installed 165 air sensors in places and plans to phase out coal-based energy out of the country by 2024. At the same time, Seoul has banned diesel cars and signed a deal with UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) to understand and improve air quality. Accra (Ghana) was the first to join the BreatheLife Campaign to tackle air pollution. Lastly, Bangkok has launched the Green Bangkok 2030 project in 2019 and plans to increase its green space to 10 sq.m. per person by 2030. It is true that given the geography of Delhi, with it being landlocked from all sides, it is extremely difficult to keep the city free of pollution. Hence it becomes increasingly important for more stringent measures to be implemented in order to keep the hazardous pollution levels in check. We don’t have time to ignore this problem anymore. But big improvements for our health and climate would indeed be possible if we actually put our heart to it. To learn more about the rising need for climate action, pollution control and clean air, watch this broadcast: https://www.wedonthavetime.org/events/climateandcleanair
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Air pollution in delhi is a serious health crisis. Delhi needs to invest in clean energy and public transport
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This is awful! Air pollution in Delhi is a serious public health crisis. People shouldn't have to wear masks just to breathe, Delhi needs to invest in clean energy & public transport to reduce traffic & emissions.
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New Delhi is the bloody example of our future world. If we don't react fast, wherever we are living, it will be part of our daily life.
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Assaad Razzouk
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Good climate news this week 1. CATL EV battery prices in 2024 to drop 50% 2. Belgium makes ecocide an international crime 3. California to phaseout fracking 4. India boosts rooftop solar 5. UK exits energy charter treaty 6. China unveils new ESG rules 7. Chicago sues Big Oil on climate Climate anxiety is real and widespread. This thread ⬆️, which has run weekly for 4 years, aggregates good climate news to show that climate action and climate justice are widespread - and have momentum. Just keep on clicking for a big dose of good climate news! Follow me on LinkedIn and X to see the full thread of good climate news.
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Salute to countries backing ecocide. A great development is achieved. More activities like this should keep on foraging each week from all corners of the globe.
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More countries backing ecocide is always a great development!!
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Thanks for update. May more activities for better keep on cropping each week from different parts of the world. Hope this week something positive will come out from UNEA-6 sessions going on in Nairobi.
Simon Bergbom
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Big oil & gas spend millions annually lobbying against electrification and supporting anti-EV lawmakers. Now, EV Battery PAC is trying to level the playing field. EV Battery PAC was started to address the widening gap between the EV industry’s nascent political activity and that of their antagonists - primarily incumbent oil & gas producers and refiners, and the proxy groups they fund to keep the world locked in a carbon-intensive transportation sector. Not only do these individual companies spend $5-8 million a year directly lobbying Congress, they each have PACs that send millions directly to the campaigns of EV critics in Congress. In the 2020 election cycle, they gave away $65 million to conservative lawmakers eager to stymie the transition to electrification. Already in this election cycle, the oil & gas industry has sent $30 million to conservative groups with the charter of criticizing EVs. EV Battery PAC is the only federal PAC dedicated to hastening the transition to a zero emission transportation sector and is now working to organize grassroots support, individual donors and institutional resources to fund candidates and advocacy to drive electrification. Learn more about EV Battery PAC here: https://evbatterypac.com/
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A much-needed initiative to fight the oil and gas lobby in the US 💪 it will be interesting to follow
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It's so encouraging to see Ev battery Pac influencing big oil and gas in the United States.
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Encouraging UPTAKE of EVS is the way to go
Simon Bergbom
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🌊 Big news! Coastal residents are making waves with their support for offshore wind development! 🌬️ According to a recent poll by Climate Nexus and Turn Forward, there's overwhelming enthusiasm from both sides of the political spectrum and all along the East, West, and Gulf coasts. With about two-thirds of coastal dwellers giving the green light to offshore wind projects, it's clear we're ready to embrace turbines on the horizon. Why? Because offshore wind means cleaner energy, more job opportunities, and a boost for our local economies. Let's keep riding this renewable energy wave and work towards a brighter, greener future! 💪🌎 Read more here: https://electrek.co/2024/02/06/coastal-residents-support-offshore-wind-farm-construction-poll/?utm_campaign=Hot%20News&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=293296284&utm_content=293296284&utm_source=hs_email
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Dear Simon Bergbom Your climate love has received over 50 agrees! We have reached out to Climate Nexus by email and requested a response. I will keep you updated on any progress! To reach more people and increase the chance of a response, click the Share button above to share the review on your social accounts. For every new member that joins We Don't Have Time from your network, we will plant a tree and attribute it to you! /Adam, We Don't Have Time
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It is usually very good when nations turn to Renewable energy .Hope to see the whole world committing themselves in clean energy
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Renewable energy is the future, happy to see more commitment to invest in clean energy.
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BT
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- Pilots aim to extend usefulness of near end-of-life green street cabinets as EV charge points - Up to 60,000 street cabinets could be used in this way, tackling the current national shortfall in EV charging infrastructure - Pilot rollout to take place as almost two-thirds of people in the UK (60%) say they think that EV charging infrastructure is inadequate - First charger set to be installed in Scotland in the coming weeks United Kingdom. Monday 8th January 2024 - Etc., the startup and digital incubation arm at BT Group, announced that it will power up its first EV charging unit built from a street cabinet traditionally used to store broadband and phone cabling. The announcement marks the first step in the rollout of new technical trials, exploring the potential to upgrade up to 60,000 cabinets to help meet government sustainability targets and decarbonise the transport system in the UK. Developed to help solve EV charging infrastructure needs by repurposing existing street furniture, the pilots will explore how this solution could be scaled to address the lack of chargers on UK roads. With new BT Group research showing that more than a third (38%) would have an EV already if charging were less of an issue, and with only 53,000 public EV charge points currently on UK roads. the pilot marks an important step in the journey to net-zero. Etc. has announced its first installation location in East Lothian, Scotland, with further pilots to roll out across the UK in the coming months. Whilst the UK Government's ambitions are to increase the number of charge points from 53,000 today to 300,000 by 2030, access to charging is already creating a significant barrier to EV purchase for many. BT Group’s recent research found that 60% of people think the UK’s EV charging infrastructure is inadequate, with 78% of petrol and diesel drivers saying not being able to conveniently charge an EV is a barrier to getting one. Through the trials, Etc. will scope a range of different technical, commercial and operational considerations with bringing this EV charge point network online, including: - Technical – cabinet location, power availability, customer accessibility, digital customer experience and engineering considerations - Civil planning – location, local council engagement, permissions and physical accessibility - Commercial – public funding options, private investment, partnership, and wider financial modelling to establish a route to commercial benefit for the Group - Operational – as a dedicated BT Group venture or in partnership with others While in its early development stages, the initiative has already been celebrated on the global stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), after being awarded an Innovation Honoree for 2024 for outstanding design and engineering. The charging solution works by retrofitting the cabinets with a device that enables renewable energy to be shared to a charge point alongside the existing broadband service with no need to create a new power connection. EV charging can be deployed to cabinets that are in-use for current copper broadband services, or in those due for retirement, depending on the space and power available to the unit. Once the cabinet is no longer needed for broadband, as nationwide full fibre rollout progresses, the broadband equipment is recycled, and additional EV charge points can be added. This allows re-use of existing infrastructure while deploying more charge points at pace. Whilst the pilot is being rolled out in the UK, EV charging infrastructure is a global challenge. The US, for example, has only 160,000 public EV chargers currently installed to serve over 2.4 million electric vehicles. Tom Guy, Managing Director, Etc. at BT Group says “Our new charging solution is a huge step in bringing EV charging kerbside and exploring how we can address key barriers customers are currently facing. Working closely with local councils in Scotland and more widely across the UK, we are at a critical stage of our journey in tackling a very real customer problem that sits at the heart of our wider purpose to connect for good.” “This is a key step in our mission to build products and services right now that work for the future, with positive transformation at the heart.” Learn more from the full press release on our website.
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This is a great impact toward green energy.Nonetheless,I love the idea.
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Oh very interesting. I love innovative solutions like these. Have you heard of Voltpost? They have a pretty similar product.
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I really love the idea of EV charges that are made from circular economy products. This is great
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First, some bad news: The power sector is currently producing more carbon emissions than any other in the global economy – and the increasing electricity demand is expected to speed up over the next few years. Now the good news: The whole increase in electricity demand will be covered by clean energy sources – and emissions are going down. After a brief period of slower increase, global electricity demand is expected to grow faster over the next three years. The fossil fuel lobby is eager to use this as an argument to expand fossil fuels. In its new Lights on Energy campaign, the American Petroleum Institute argues that as demand for energy is growing, ”so is demand for American gas and oil.” https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/0e876521-91aa-4598-9685-5f21566b0f61 But that’s not true. According to the new ”Electricity 2024” report by the IEA, record-breaking electricity generation from renewables and nuclear power is set to cover all of the world’s electricity demand over the next three years. Already next year, in 2025, renewables are expected to make up more than one-third of total electricity generation, thereby overtaking coal. In the same year, fossil fuels are expected to reach an all-time low, accounting for less than 60% of the global electricity generation. “The power sector currently produces more CO2 emissions than any other in the world economy, so it’s encouraging that the rapid growth of renewables and a steady expansion of nuclear power are together on course to match all the increase in global electricity demand over the next three years. This is largely thanks to the huge momentum behind renewables, with ever cheaper solar leading the way,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol in a statement at the release of the report. This shift is also creating loads of new jobs. Clean-energy sectors – such as low-carbon power, grids, energy storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and railways – contributed 11.4tn yuan ($1.6tn) to China’s economy in 2023, according to a new analysis for Carbon Brief. This accounted for “all of the growth in Chinese investment and a larger share of economic growth than any other part of the economy”. This was driven, in particular, by the “new three” industries of solar power, EVs and batteries. Here are some of the most interesting findings in the IEA report ”Electricity 2024”: • The global growth in electricity demand is projected to accelerate to an average of 3.4% from 2024 through 2026. • About 85% of this increase is expected to come from outside advanced economies – most notably China, India and Southeast Asian countries. • Electricity consumption from data centres, artificial intelligence (AI) and the cryptocurrency sector could double by 2026. If it happens, the electricity consumption of data centers alone will be roughly equivalent to the electricity consumption of Japan. • Despite this increase, the dependence on fossil fuel is expected to be reduced. As clean electricity supply continues to expand rapidly, the share of fossil fuels in global generation is forecast to decline from 61% in 2023 to 54% in 2026, falling below 60% for the first time in IEA records dating back to 1971. • Low-emissions sources are expected to account for almost half of the world’s electricity generation by 2026, up from a share of just under 40% in 2023. • Renewables are set to make up more than one-third of total electricity generation by early 2025, overtaking coal. • Renewables are set to more than offset demand growth in advanced economies such as the United States and the European Union, displacing fossil-fired supply. In China, the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources is expected to meet all additional electricity demand. However, the weather and the extent to which the country’s demand growth eases remain key sources of uncertainty for the outlook. • The strong expansion in renewable power capacity must also be accompanied by accelerated investment in grids and system flexibility to ensure its smooth integration. • By 2025, nuclear power generation is forecast to reach an all-time high globally as output from France climbs, several plants in Japan come back online, and new reactors begin commercial operations in many markets, including in China, India, Korea and Europe. • Global emissions from electricity generation are expected to decrease by 2.4% in 2024, followed by smaller declines in 2025 and 2026. • Africa remains an outlier in electricity demand trends. While electricity use per capita in India and Southeast Asia has risen rapidly, it has been effectively stagnant in Africa for over three decades. What is your view on these findings and predictions? Voice your opinion in the comments section below. Read the full report: https://www.iea.org/reports/electricity-2024
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Information is power!
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Wow! Talk about exponential change. It’s just becoming more and more obvious that we have the solutions we need. We’re just lacking the political will. Hoping that will change in 2024.
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This is if and when we make the right moves in funding clean energy
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Dana R Fisher
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We've known for decades that climate change is an existential crisis. For just as long, we've seen the complete failure of our institutions to rise to the challenge. Governments have struggled to meet even modest goals. Fossil fuel interests maintain a stranglehold on political and economic power. Even though we have seen growing concern from everyday people, civil society has succeeded only in pressuring decision makers to adopt watered-down policies. All the while, the climate crisis worsens. Is there any hope of achieving the systemic change we need? My new book, Saving Ourselves: from Climate Shocks to Climate Action, presents a deep-dive into how we got into this mess and what it will take to get to the other side. In short, it focuses on how people power is our most likely way through the climate crisis and concludes with advice (based on years of research in the trenches) about how we can take back power and save ourselves. My book tour (now edited to include new dates in Oxford, Copenhagen, Philadelphia, and at the 92nd Street Y in NYC) kicks off in February--for details, registration, and tickets go here.
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Congratulations on your new book 👏.
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I truly want to read it but I also guess not everybody will get it at the release date. Maybe you could share a short snippet or two from the book once in a while here at We Don't Have Time for everybody to dig into - and maybe you'll get to sell more copies too!
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I've been lucky enough to get a preview of the book, and it's really interesting. Thanks for sharing, Dr Fisher!
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Tradewater
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In climate conferences like COP28, more and more attention is being paid to non-CO2 greenhouse gases like methane and refrigerants. At Tradewater, we welcome this attention to a problem that is having a significant impact on the climate. Our CEO Tim Brown joined the COP28 Climate Hub to explain more about the problem and our solution. At COP28, addressing methane and other non-CO2 gases was highlighted as a critical action and key outcome. More than ever, global leaders are recognizing that this work is critical. The question now is how they will execute solutions at the necessary scale. When it comes to addressing global environmental challenges, the Montreal Protocol is often regarded as a model of a successful agreement that should be emulated in processes such as the COPs. However, the agreement is missing a crucial component: it mandated a ban on the production of environmentally harmful refrigerants like chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) but did not address the use of already existing caches of these refrigerants. This is one of the problems that Tradewater is working to solve, and we are encouraged by the increased attention that these gases are getting. Tim Brown, CEO of Tradewater, joined the COP28 Climate Hub in Dubai to delve deeper into this subject: “Estimates are that there are about 9 billion tons of CO2 equivalent represented by [CFC] gases that are still out there in stockpiles or distributed in appliances that are at risk of being released into the atmosphere.” These gases have been banned from production but are still around in old appliances or stockpiles, at risk of leaking into the atmosphere and causing harm to both the ozone layer and the climate. Even though the quantities are low, the gases’ potency means that their impact is significant. For example, R12 refrigerants are over 10,000 times as potent as CO2 in terms of global warming potential. Tradewater’s climate solution Tradewater creates an end-of-life scenario where these gases are aggregated and destroyed, ensuring that they are never released into the atmosphere. “The idea is to find them and create value by destroying them. There’s a really strong climate benefit that comes from this work,” said Brown in the interview. Similarly, there’s a lot of value in preventing methane from reaching the atmosphere. By finding orphaned oil and gas wells that no one is responsible for and plugging them, we prevent methane – another potent greenhouse gas that accelerates climate change in the short term – from reaching the atmosphere. “If you can find and effectively plug those wells, then in the aggregate, it ends up being a pretty strong impact.” As no one is responsible for the stockpiles and wells that Tradewater addresses, the polluter pays principle (meaning that the actor who built the oil or gas well should be responsible for plugging it) is not applicable. We need to fund our operations in other ways. Currently, Tradewater relies on climate financing in the form of carbon credits from the compliance and voluntary markets, allowing companies to buy credits to offset their emissions while working to meet their sustainability goals. So far we have achieved an equivalent of 6.9 million tons of CO2 in impact, and we are on track to reach 22 million tonnes of impact in the next few years by removing more caches of harmful gases in the US and the rest of the world. To learn more, watch the full interview below: https://youtu.be/9BpV6Vz7Zic?t=8832 About the COP28 Climate Hub We Don’t Have Time hosted the COP28 Climate Hub, in partnership with Race To Zero, UNDP, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, and the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, amplifying the important high-level discussions at COP28 to a global audience. The live broadcast spanned over 10 days and covered a variety of climate-related topics. Rewatch the COP28 Climate Hub anytime on We Don’t Have Time Play.
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I'm thrilled up by this conversation! it is encouraging to see this fellow working tirelessly to ensure that the environment is saved.
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We're pleased with the progress we're making in emission control and these figures show a monumental step in the right direction
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This achievement is an essential contribution to the global effort to tackle climate change & reflects increasing awareness and responsibility among businesses towards protecting our planet.💚
Shared by Simon Bergbom
This op-ed was originally published in Aktuell Hållbarhet, Sweden’s leading media platform for climate and sustainability reporting. Re-published with permission. Saudi Aramco's expansion plans for fossil oil extraction are the largest in the world. These plans alone have the potential to undermine the goals of the Paris Agreement. It goes without saying that Sweden’s state-owned pension fund should not have extensive, uncertain funds tied to the worst kinds of fossil dictatorships, writes Mattias Goldmann, founder of the Swedish 2030-secretariat, Ingmar Rentzhog, CEO of We Don’t Have Time, and eight other contributors ahead of the parliamentary hearing on the Seventh AP Fund's holdings in Saudi Aramco. Today, on January 25th, the Seventh AP Fund appears before the Swedish parliament to explain its investment in Saudi Aramco. They seem to reason like someone opening a window in winter to let out heat – perhaps it has some effect. "Can a Swedish pension fund influence the world's largest oil company?" wonders the Seventh AP Fund, and then answers, "No one can know for sure until afterward, but so far, we believe the possibility cannot be ruled out." But a vague possibility of influence cannot justify investments in the world's largest oil company, operating in a harsh dictatorship that exacerbates the climate crisis. "The fundamental question is whether one believes that investors can influence the companies they own," AP7 reflects. The answer is presumably no when the company in question is 98 percent owned by the Saudi Arabian government – or as AP7 puts it, "Saudi Aramco is not dependent on the private capital market." Additionally, with its broad ownership, AP7 cannot reasonably dedicate even one employee to influencing Aramco, which has 70,000 employees and an annual turnover of over 5 trillion SEK. Saudi Arabia's and Aramco's aggressive expansion plans for fossil oil extraction are the world's largest, alone sufficient to jeopardize the goals of the Paris Agreement. This is the reason why Norway's largest pension fund, KLP, recently excluded Aramco from its portfolio, why the Oil Fund and many other funds avoid them, and why the UN has identified Aramco as an obstacle to climate progress. Protesting against expansion plans is not possible in Saudi Arabia, a harsh dictatorship with no freedom of speech, no opportunity for environmental organizations to operate, and with at least 1,257 executions since 2015. Owning the wrong books, writing a critical tweet, talking to a journalist, or disagreeing with the crown prince can result in a death sentence, according to the human rights organization Reprieve. At the recent COP28 climate meeting, Saudi Arabia prevented the world from agreeing to "phase out" fossil fuels. The agreement to "transition away from" is so vague that the oil industry announced after the meeting that business would continue as usual, while the world moves closer to the edge of the abyss. Sweden’s Climate Minister Romina Pourmokthari rightly refers to Saudi Arabia as a "roadblock." Five million Swedes have pension savings in the Seventh AP Fund, which serves as the default setting in the premium pension system. The fund’s mission, therefore, is to provide "a secure pension." Many financial experts assess that investments in renewable energy are safer than in fossil fuels. As the world gradually phases out fossil fuels, despite Saudi Arabia's resistance, these assets become less valuable. This is hardly security. It also does not feel safe to have one's money contributing to undermining our common future, especially in a state where human rights seem to be an unknown concept. AP7's latest blacklist is four pages long, including companies that do not meet minimum standards for human rights, working conditions, the environment, and anti-corruption. Among others, Airbus and Shell are excluded; certainly not paragons of sustainability – but the logic behind their exclusion and Saudi Aramco's acquittal is unclear. When Pål Bergström, the CEO of the Seventh AP Fund, explains himself to the parliamentary Committee on Finance today, his mission must be to backtrack and admit that a mistake has been made. Naturally, a state-owned pension fund should not have extensive, uncertain funds tied to the worst kinds of fossil dictatorships. The blacklist needs updating, and Saudi Aramco should be at the top. If this does not happen, the Swedish government must tighten control over state pension savings, and we all must vote with our wallets and palace our pension savings elsewhere. The SEK 500 million that Pål Bergström has invested in Aramco Oil will pale in comparison to the combined amounts that will be withdrawn when pension savers decide to move their savings to more secure investments that do not threaten our common future. Mattias Goldmann, Founder, 2030-sekretariatet Ingmar Rentzhog, Founder, We Don’t Have Time Joakim Jansson, Initiator, Klimatbytet Jakob König, Expert on sustainable finance, Fair Finance Guide Emma Max, Operations Manager, Our Kids Climate Per Ribbing, Sustainability Consultant Åse Togerö, PhD, Senior Sustainability Expert Bosse Westermark, Organizational developer, Ledarskap & Förnyelse Eva Karlsson, CEO, Houdini Sportswear Carl Bärstad, Founder, KidsHackDay.com
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This is why we have to take action and push the social society tipping point. When we can give alternative fuels like Hydrogen and build infrastructure needed to make the change. Then the oil will stay in the ground. It starts with one person. @ingmar Rentzhog . Let us move the needle for change. Everyday is one won if we take action.
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Great piece. I am very much in favor of investors using their influence to try to push for change from the inside, but only when they have a chance to succeed. This is clearly NOT the case here.
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Thanks for sharing this. I really hope that AP7 will reverse their decision.
Simon Bergbom
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The historic exchange of carbon credits between Switzerland and Thailand, the first-ever under the Paris Agreement's Article 6.2, is shrouded in controversy. Switzerland's acquisition of carbon offsets from Thailand, aimed at transitioning from petrol-fueled to electric buses in Bangkok, and celebrated as a great climate action, is now being questioned by civil society groups who argues that the claimed emission reductions would have naturally transpired without the offsets. Switzerland, a proponent of bilateral credit trading, plans to use the purchased credits to meet its emissions reduction goals. If the concerns about the offset integrity are valid, this raises the disconcerting possibility of Switzerland obtaining a license to pollute without contributing to real climate action. The controversy also highlights the absence of centralized oversight for the credits traded under this system. Efforts to introduce stricter controls during Cop28 failed, leaving questions about the regulatory framework for offset transactions.
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The conversation around carbon offsets is complex and evolving.
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This is very concerning, and if it is true, it'd make me lose even more faith in the carbon offset markets...
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This situation casts a shadow on the effectiveness and transparency of such bilateral trading agreements.
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Ingmar Rentzhog
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Sweden's largest government pension fund, the Sjunde AP-fonden, AP7 thinks it's a good idea to invest half a billion SEK in Saudi Aramco Oil. This is one of the world's dirtiest oil companies, controlled by the Saudi state, the very country that strongly opposed the COP28 agreement to transition away from fossil fuels. The justification of the AP7 is astonishing. They groundlessly claim that Aramco Oil doesn't share the same agenda as the Saudi state, and they audaciously assert that they believe they can influence Aramco Oil through their minority stake in the company. I would love to know what kind of influence work the AP7 Fund is undertaking with Aramco Oil. Are they attending shareholder meetings and voting against new oil extraction, thereby diminishing the value of their own investment? Finally, is the AP7 Fund management completely incompetent? Every country in the world has agreed to transition away from fossil fuels. And yet, the AP7 thinks it's a smart move to invest long-term in Aramco Oil shares. Have they ever heard of stranded assets? Do they not realize the risk of placing long-term investments in oil? Oh, that's right. The AP7 Fund is anything but long-term oriented. Investing in oil can never be sustainable. I wonder how the CEO of the Seventh AP Fund lives with this decision, and what about all those working in sustainability or risk assessment within the Fund? Can they look themselves in the mirror? Read more and agree to my Climate Warning. I want more people behind my review. I am reaching out to the AP7 CEO Pål Bergström for an interview. I want to ask them questions about their thinking. AP7 manages the pension capital for half of Sweden's population, amounting to 5 million savers. Do they genuinely believe that their clients consider investing in one of the world's most notorious oil companies, which is under the control of a dictatorship, to be in their best interest? I am eager to hear their response to this question. See more in this segment on TV4 (in Swedish).: https://www.tv4play.se/klipp/ab318227f7ac6683ffe6/kritik-mot-sjunde-ap-fondens-oljeinvestering-kan-inte-bli-mer-ohallbart-an-sa-har Even more uppsetting. The postion AP7 has in Aramco Oil is not minor. In fact AP7 is the 12th largest investor in shares according to Investingclimatechaous.org Sweden has a total of 7 AP funds (state-owned pension funds). Interestingly, AP1 does not allow any investments in fossil fuels at all. If they can make the right decision, why can't AP7 do the same? Read more: https://app.wedonthavetime.org/posts/5b0091c5-a924-4d48-9f00-193541326eba?utm_source=url-copy&utm_medium=wdht-web-app-share&utm_campaign=Rentzhog AP7 has responded to this review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXZS6K7p5Cc
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Pinned by Ingmar Rentzhog
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Thank you to everyone who has pressed Agree on this Climate ⚠️. We have now been promised an interview with Johan Florén, Chief ESG & Communication Officer at AP7. Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXZS6K7p5Cc
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As always some countries are very hard on latin america pushing Amazon protection...but then in their countries...the so what they want to make money
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Such news are heartbreaking! And we believe Sweden is in front side fighting for climate crisis...someone somewhere is misleading and overlooking profit over people and state, am sure majority of Swedish couldn't wish their pension to be invested on fossil fuel companies. A new method or formula should change soonest to safeguard peoples funds.
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This is concerning given the environmental impact associated with fossil fuels.
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Brita Staal
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Just as the flight taxies out on the strip my phone gets an emergency warning; the evacuation has started from the neighbouring areas of the rapidly increasing forestfire. A quick look out the window can confirm the situation; huge clouds of dark smoke are welling out of the nearby mountain side. The darkness fades out to lighter brownish grey further up in the sky, and slowly colours the entire horizon. The look of doom, from spectator flight seats. I went to Athens for work, but is of course sharing this plane with hundreds of tourist pouring in from Scandinavia, USA and Northern Europe. They all came for the sun and warmth, but some are now admittedly escaping the heat by moving their departure date. After five days of 40 degrees celcius, many felt they did not get the pleasant Greek holiday experience they were looking for. And wealthy as they are, tickets can be changed and new plans can be made. A world in crisis, and the way we react to it Talking to fellow passengers gives me a strange feeling that we are all fleeing. Back to our comfortable homes, in our cold countries. Fleeing on a combustion engine gigamachine throwing out more of the problem that made us all get to this point. Accompanied by jokes referencing to the last days of heat, people are smiling and noting the welling smoke. They are sighing and looking forward to the cold, fresh air of the north. With lightness they move on, happy to “get out in time” as one passenger says. A lightness that is almost unbearable, and definitely disgusting. Those who can’t escape There are over a million people in central Athens, many of them with nowhere to flee; like the many in housing with poor ventilation and definitely no air-con. The elderly of these. The animals in the burning forests. The over 120 000 Greeks and many of them Athenians living directly in the streets, scolding in direct sunshine with nowhere else to go. Walking the streets of Athens during a heatwave is a walk of shame. A walk from where the addicts set their first shots in bright daylight, to the wealthy drinking their frozen margaritas before noon is literary 5 minutes long. The path from the cold, damp shopping streets with air welling out of the air-conditioned stores, to the urine-smelling, dusty sidewalks occupied by the many people living in the streets, is lined by careless tourists. Shame, anger & action I am struck by shame and anger, being in this situation - being on this flight.With front row seats to another climate disaster, we zip our coffees and move on. Or, should we say driving seats to the disaster? The only refuge I can find for my own shame is that I was there for work. The difficult, delayed, and increasingly digitally distributed train-lines of Europe has been my way of dealing with the shame for many years. The systems that, at least in the nordics, used to be quite good, is sadly slowly becoming worse do to privatisation of the trainlines. When the market economy is driving our developments, the commons never wins. And lines of iron stretched across the distant areas of the north where people actually live, is never going to be profitable. Politicians are our only hope. But I cannot speak for the others; Would I feel less ashamed if my fellow passengers all noted the welling clouds in the horizon with guilt in their eyes? Would it feel better if we all did not have this lightness? And what can one really do? Give up on advocacy for mobilisation - tax the behaviour After many years in climate advocacy, climate tech and climate finance, I have given up on mobilisation. People will never change their behaviour, even when fleeing from countries stricken by climate crisis, they just book a new flight to another destination. Our only hope is to push policy changes at the European and national levels, through a just price on carbon and end to fossil fuel subsidies — specifically, an end to the tax exemption on kerosene. The kerosene tax was on the way from the EU right before covid, but placed in a drawer to protect the airline companies from bankruptcy. The current tax exemption on flight fuel is in effect a fossil fuel subsidy that disincentivizes a shift to lower carbon modes of transport, especially rail. And is currently one of the reasons our rail lines are falling behind, while flights are increasing by the hour. Our future is in the hands of politicians Their current weakness is the inability to tax the behaviours that is driving the climate crisis, and inability to use their powers to make the fossil fuel companies move towards renewables. Both could be easy if they had followed the polluter-pay principle from the start. Or used the current opportunity for the windfall principle to reallocate funds from record profiting fossil fuel companies in the light of the energy crisis, to the industries that are now struggling to ramp up the immense possibilities of harvesting sun and wind. When people don’t feel shame, even after experiencing the crisis first hand, we have to rely on our politicians to lead us away from the increasing climate chaos. May they be daring, decisive and direct - cause we don’t have time to combat indifference. _______ About Brita: Experienced climate reality leader, European NGO builder and entrepreneur within climate risk tech and climate impact investment. Published in Forbes and columnist in the Norwegian Technical Weekly Magazine.
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Thank you so much for sharing this! It's disheartening to see how poeple are shrugging this off back at home England, so I can't imagine how you must have felt on that plane. Taxation is a huge part of the solution and I agree that can't happen without political change.
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Thank you for sharing this eye opening article. It's true that most people don't feel guilty for their contributions to the climate crisis. If everyone was to feel a pinch of a guilt ,l think they will start thinking about how to solve the crisis or rather how to reduce their carbon emissions. I pray that this article opens our eyes and inspires us to take prompt action
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Thanks for sharing this positive insight
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Mercer Investments
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Cara Williams, global ESG strategy leader, Mercer Impact investing differs from ESG by being particularly focused on measured outcomes. It can be adopted by a much broader audience if we can unlock the opportunity for smaller investors. ‘Investing in Earth’ is the goal of Earth Day 2023, but investing with intent – and with ESG outcomes in mind – has been on investors’ minds for several years already. The challenge for everyone in the market is how we can find ways to connect this investment ambition with effective opportunities to do actually do so. ESG has become one of the investment industry’s most significant trends in recent years, as investors, governments and the public alike have recognized the potential for investment value when incorporating non-financial performance measures around environmental, social and governance challenges. But while ESG as a term is seeing broader uptake by all parts of the investments space, in some instances, the nuances of sustainable investing have been lost amid buzzwords, unclear outcomes and in some cases, box-ticking exercises. For asset owners with wide-ranging responsibilities for their members, it is critical to remain focused on financial returns, as well as measurable outcomes around carbon, social responsibility or other non-financial focuses. ESG is not the same as impact At Mercer, we oversee more than $16trn in assets under management and we have assessed asset managers on their ESG factor integration for around 20 years. Incorporating ESG factors is a question of investment acumen and how well you integrate all the information available to you when you make decisions as a portfolio manager, which is quite different from trying to ‘do good with your money.’ It is particularly about asking if the thing you are investing in is doing well enough to produce the sustainable revenue necessary to thrive in the future. That means treating people well, treating communities well, treating the environment well, responding effectively to current and future regulations that could hurt or potentially benefit that organization or market. These are typical indicators of course, of most well-run businesses. We actually consider impact investing to be quite different. In impact investing you are investing with specific intent, within areas where you want to make a specific impact. The challenge here is that the potential choices on where to focus are so wide that investors or asset managers need a very clear aspiration of what they want to impact, and can build their portfolio around that – for instance clean water. Where? In developing markets. Specifically? In the global south. Greater granularity allows more precise measurement of outcomes. We find that only the most sophisticated asset owners can currently go to the ground and see if their investments will have the impact they are hoping for. Smaller investors don’t have the breadth of expertise or resources to have a well-diversified impact portfolio that still delivers returns. But what if they could? An opportunity for smaller and larger investors There is about $1.2 trillion in assets under management in the broad impact space right now (according to the Global Impact Investing Network or GIIN) – more if you took a wider view. Pitchbook data suggests that about 34% of that is in Private Equity and around 39% is in Infrastructure, so you are seeing most of the money in these areas in private markets or less liquid markets. The challenge is making it accessible for the broader public. Frankly, a major constraint around investing with intent is accessibility. Private equity offers access to the exciting unlisted emerging companies that are dedicated to tackling some of the biggest social and environmental issues today, while infrastructure investing is helping entire countries move towards a more sustainable future. We know that more retail investors, particularly younger ones, want their investments to have a positive impact. But for the average investor, private markets are inaccessible because of their illiquidity, longer lock-up periods, and higher fees. Private markets may open as new fund structures emerge, and understanding of the asset class deepens. New technologies, such as tokenization, which has helped contribute to the growing range of digital assets, may help democratize what has been a restricted asset class for the mass market. Perhaps, as we all consider how we can deliver results for ourselves, our clients and the planet, having an impact on accessibility might be the next area to make meaningful change. Mercer was proud to be part of the panel Investing with Intent at Stockholm Climate Week 2023.
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this is a major step
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A very important step
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Thank you, Cara Williams, for elevating the importance of impact investing. It seems that #ESG is becoming more bogged down with politicization in the USA...
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Mercer Investments
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How you invest matters. Social and environmental issues are deeply connected with economic and financial outcomes, which means investors have a unique power to create change. When executed well, impact investing can not only deliver the financial benefits you were expecting, but also create the change you are looking for. On Earth Day, Mercer joined Stockholm Climate Week for the session Investing with Intent: the Case for Impact. Mercer was represented by Cara Williams, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability, Silva Hanell, Wealth Leader for Investment Solutions in Sweden, and Max Messervy, Head of Sustainable Investment, Americas. Also joining the session was Dr. Christin ter Braak-Forstinger, Co-founder & CEO of Chi Impact Capital, and Pia Irell, Impact Partner of Trill Impact. Every dollar you invest could actively deliver a certain kind of good Many investors already focus on environmental, social, and governance factors to better understand the potential investment risks and identify opportunities. But if you want to go beyond understanding ESG impacts, positive and negative, and invest with intent, you need impact investing. Impact investing proactively helps dynamic businesses deliver a specific social and environmental benefit, alongside financial outcomes. Or, as Cara Williams put it, “impact investing begins where ESG stops.” Impact investors connect the pursuit of risk-adjusted returns with the delivery of positive real-world outcomes, often related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each SDG provides a range of impact investment targets. For example, climate action is a key target that motivates allocations to renewable energy or green buildings. However, investing with intent and knowing where to start your impact investment journey can also be challenging. “The biggest challenge in the impact space is the fact that the choices out there are so wide that where you [determine to] actually focus has proven to be quite challenging for asset owners. To ensure that asset owners achieve their intended impact, we recommend that they first define what they want their impact to look like. Once this impact is defined, the question arises of how asset owners look to continue developing their portfolio while aligning with their impact objectives,” said Cara Williams, Global Head of ESG and Sustainability at Mercer. “For example, if you choose to invest in clean water, are you going for it globally? Even in developed markets, such as the United States, we have challenges providing clean water. Or are you going to choose specific markets like in the global south where you feel like that’s a bigger issue?” Impact investors come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from institutional investors and fund managers to development finance institutions, foundations, pension funds, and individual investors. Additionally, when it comes to their approaches to impact investing, their strategies can be just as varied – whether it's chasing market rate returns or investing in long-term capital. Regardless of differing investor profiles and approaches, collectively, impact investing can concentrate efforts towards many specific outcomes into broader, unified goals – using the individual outcomes to drive collected outcomes no investor could achieve alone. “Investing with intent is very important,” said Silva Hanell. “It starts with including climate in strategic decisions and explaining to the trustees and the people the importance of having an intent. It’s not only about managing an equity risk or credit risk, but also a climate risk. “We need to stabilize global temperatures on Earth. We are in emergency mode. Everyone needs to invest with intent. Impact investing should be our normal, everyday way of thinking.” Impact investing: Investing in a sustainable and inclusive future Climate change is both a pressing issue and an opportunity for the investment community. Institutional investors, such as pension funds, financial institutions, insurers, wealth managers, endowments and foundations, hold trillions of dollars in assets in their portfolios that can be applied towards investment into climate initiatives. By managing these portfolios to avoid climate transition risks, asset owners can reap various benefits, including market, technological, and reputational advantages. When applying impact investing to address global challenges like climate change, it can expedite the just transition and unlock economic opportunities in a decarbonized economy. However, it is critical that impact investments toward climate solutions also take a holistic approach to ensure that communities reliant on carbon-heavy industries are given the support they need to transition to a decarbonized economy. As Max Messervy, Mercer’s Head of Sustainable Investment, Americas explained, “It becomes a question of how to help all these different communities, and it's not just those who are directly employed but also thinking about their families. How can they have access to a secure pension if they have to change jobs or retire early? “I believe that the private sector has a role to play in facilitating that retraining for workers who’d like to be retrained into different economic sectors and facilitating finding roles for them as well. There could be intentional hiring by, for example, new renewable energy companies or offshore wind developers.” To learn more about Mercer’s work with impact investing, click here. https://youtu.be/CpRtb1Lz3oU?t=21397 Rewatch Stockholm Climate Week anytime on We Don’t Have Time Play.
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Very insightful on the impact of investing, a good reminder of the power of money
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True climate leadership in investing
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Great to see the issue of climate justice being raised as critical in this context.
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Neutral
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Neutral launched a social media campaign on Earth Day to ask the simple but profound question: “Why is our planet worth saving?” Since then, we’ve received an outpouring of responses, including investors John Legend and Mark Cuban, and celebrities, Heather Morris, Jake Johnson, and Genevieve Padalecki, talking about why they think the planet is worth saving. While we received plenty of responses from the social media campaign, we also decided to dive deeper into why the planet is worth saving by commissioning a survey with YouGov to better understand how Americans view the climate crisis. It’s easy for us to express how we feel about the climate crisis because Neutral has been built on the belief that the world is worth protecting and that together, people can make a real impact with daily food choices. Our mission is to radically reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture, starting with dairy. Neutral has a carbon reduction team that works with farmers on realizing new emission reduction projects. When it comes to how Americans feel about the climate crisis, we wanted to learn more. Do people feel empowered to take climate action? Do they think the planet is worth saving? The YouGov survey gave us a better glimpse of how Americans feel about the climate crisis, and here are the results. YouGov Survey results The survey provided the following insights: - 73% of US adults feel that fighting climate change is important, and of those, 92% agree with the statement that “our planet is worth saving.” - 62% of Americans agree that food choices impact the planet, and 52% would switch to a different food brand if it could impact climate change. - 86% of Americans feel our planet is worth protecting, but more than half don’t know how they can personally help. As the first carbon neutral food company in the United States, we are glad that 62% of Americans agree that food choices impact the planet and that 52% would switch to a different food brand if it could impact climate change daily food choices will make an impact. When asked about the survey results, the CEO of Neutral, Marcus Lovell Smith, said, “There is a very, very real urgency surrounding climate change and this new survey data validates that consumers are ready and willing to help make a difference.” Climate action begins with your daily decisions Notably, the survey also reported that 86% of Americans feel our planet is worth protecting, but more than half don’t know how they can personally help. Neutral products allow Americans to make daily choices that positively impact the climate. It’s as simple as swapping the milk you add to your coffee or cereal every morning – to Neutral. Our milk is creamy and delicious, produced by happy cows on family farms. We have been carbon neutral since the beginning and envision a future with entire grocery aisles dedicated to carbon neutral foods. Empowering the next wave of American climate action can be as simple as switching to Neutral in your fridge. Read here to learn how the survey was conducted. Neutral’s climate journey Stay in the loop with Neutral by following us on We Don’t Have Time, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram. Receive daily updates by subscribing to our newsletter. What surprised you the most about the survey? Let us know in the comments!
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Useful information for me. Keep it up https://blossomword-game.com
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Awesome campaign! Love the video with John Legend 🌟
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This is an impactful campaign! And great to see some famous people joining it, it always helps
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Salesforce
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ESG reporting is coming, but it shouldn't be the reason behind your strategy. ESG, which stands for environmental, social, and governance, isn't just a trendy acronym. It's a means to navigate external forces, mitigate risks, capitalize on opportunities and provide clear transparency to your stakeholders on the value to your business and to the environment and society. Today, many organizations understand why sustainable transformation is important for our planet, but they often don’t recognize the business benefits, which include cost savings, employee engagement, risk mitigation, and improved brand perception. In this new report, Salesforce breaks down seven ways an effective ESG & sustainability strategy delivers measurable business value for your organization. The report also addresses how you can harness this potential to create your own ESG strategy that drives success for your business now. https://www.salesforce.com/resources/customer-stories/the-business-case-for-esg-strategy-article/ To highlight the advantages of businesses taking early action to develop their ESG strategy and reporting, let’s consider a few figures illustrating the significant benefits of being proactive and the considerable costs of waiting for ESG requirements. - On average, the potential business value of climate-related opportunities ($2.1 trillion) is seven times the cost of realizing them ($311 billion). - According to McKinsey & Company research, 70% of consumers across various industries, such as automotive, building, electronics, and packaging, would be willing to pay an additional 5% for a green product if it performs the same as a non-green alternative. - The largest 215 companies alone report over $1 trillion in climate-related risks. - Brands that scored highest on sustainability generated five times the revenue growth of companies scoring lowest, according to a Bain & Company survey of more than 8,000 European consumers and over 60 brands across eight consumer goods categories. By embedding sustainability as a core value of your business, you benefit all stakeholders: shareholders, customers, employees, partners, our communities, and our planet. Whether you're part of a small business or a multinational corporation, sustainable transformation can both drive value and reduce costs for your organization. Executing an ESG strategy and accurately reporting ESG metrics while simultaneously cutting costs and improving business efficiency can be difficult. But with the right tools, your business can manage ESG data in real time, streamline the reporting process, and become more efficient as a result. Companies don’t need to wait for disclosure regulations in order to take climate action. Businesses that embrace ESG strategies and transparent disclosure can transform sustainability challenges into opportunities, driving positive change, and creating value for all stakeholders. The business case for ESG is crystal clear: Do good for the world and your bottom line. https://www.salesforce.com/products/net-zero/esg-reporting/
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Great
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Good news
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great information
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Dream.Org
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The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) signed by the U.S. government in 2022 provides a historic climate investment of $369 billion aimed at reducing emissions by 40% by 2030. This is a huge step forward in U.S. climate policy and a massive opportunity to promote climate equity in communities across the country that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Dream.Org’s Live Green or Die Tryin’ campaign aims to accomplish just that. The unprecedented climate investment introduced in the IRA supports climate action through tax incentives, infrastructure improvements, and increased access to clean energy. As we implement these investments, we need to make sure that we don’t repeat the same mistakes that put us into this mess. The green economy that we are building needs to be inclusive, and to accomplish that, we need to make sure that the economic opportunities presented benefit and support communities that are suffering from the climate crisis. It was reported in 2021 that over 250,000 Americans live in “sacrifice zones”, areas primarily inhabited by poor or minority communities where the level of environmental pollution is high enough to become a hazard. These zones are a testament to how decision making – whether vertently or inadvertently – has protected some communities from environmental harm while sacrificing others. Dream.Org's Green For All team is working to transform communities that have historically been sacrifice zones into places of economic prosperity. Rather than letting money and jobs flow to the same places, it’s time to make sure everyone has affordable access to clean energy, clean water, and clean air, as well as to the green job opportunities that the new green economy entails. The IRA presents a huge opportunity to do this, and we don’t want to leave anything on the table. The team will work with 25 priority communities over the next 10 years to help access the federal funds needed to meet their unique needs. How can your community benefit from $369 billion in climate funding? Tell us via the link below! https://dream.org/transformative-communities/
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Great step
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The best campaign.
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Lightbridge
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Meet Sherri Goodman, the new independent member of the Board of Directors of Lightbridge Corporation (NASDAQ: LTBR). She chairs our Energy Security and National Security Committee, and has formerly served as the first Deputy Undersecretary of Defense, where she focused on environmental security. We sat down with Sherri to ask about the role of nuclear energy in ensuring energy security and meeting global climate goals. Sherri Goodman was the first US Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security from 1993 to 2001. Looking back, she sees those years as the US military’s first era of environmental awakening. ”This was when the military closed bases after the cold war and we cleaned them up. The military started protecting endangered species, complied with environmental laws, engaged with other militaries around the world to exchange best practices in environmental protection, and used military-to-military cooperation as a way to build trust and promote democracy and civilian control over the military,” she says. ”That era then opened up the era of climate awakening, in understanding both the international security impacts of climate change as a ‘threat multiplier’, a phrase that I coined for the CNA military advisory board in 2007, and then also enabling the Department of Defense to be a clean energy leader on its way to transform how we use energy for defense purposes.” As the climate crisis has worsened, have you noticed that security threats have changed? ”Security threats have certainly accelerated since we wrote our first report in 2007. Back then we were talking about projected and potential climate change. Today we live with daily evidence of climate risks. Rising temperatures, rising sea levels, extreme weather events on a regular basis, and terms that we didn’t even have in the lexicon back 15 years ago, like bomb cyclone and derecho. The head of the National Guard Bureau has even said ‘It's not a wildfire season anymore. It’s year-round we’re deploying firefighters and often military backup to those firefighters. We have the prolonged drought that has sent millions into food and water insecurity much across the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia. And we have the permafrost melt, which along with sea ice retreat and rising temperatures in the Arctic has transformed that whole region into an ocean that is open for navigation and increasingly a source of conflict and tension instead of a source of cooperation as it used to be. So much has changed.” What does energy security mean, and how does it tie into climate change? ”Energy security at its most basic level means having reliable sources of power for various needs. It means being protected against risks that threaten you. One of the major risks today is climate change. Energy is also at risk from cyber-attacks and deliberate attacks. So when we think about having more secure energy we want it to be secure against all those risks. Trucking fuel to the front for combat put thousands of American soldiers' and marines’ lives at risk in Iraq and Afghanistan. Eight out of ten of our military convoys in the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts were about logistics: ammunition, fuel and water. We learned the hard way that we need to have more distributed, in theatre sources of energy and water, not transporting it at great economic cost and putting lives at risk. This means being able to fuel the fight, or power the fight, more locally. Renewables can do some of that job today. Better batteries, solar, microgrids, potentially even microreactors can help form some of that function.” How should everyday people think about nuclear energy in the concept of climate goals and energy security? ”Nuclear energy traditionally in the US has been about 20 percent of baseload power, and unfortunately the US hasn’t built many nuclear plants in recent decades. One reason is that we haven’t fully solved the waste storage issue. It’s a solvable problem, but the politics are more intractable than the technology. And we haven’t invested a lot in innovating in this area, so other countries, particularly Russia and China, have taken a global beat on the US in the global nuclear power market. This is a serious risk for American national security and global security, because right now we are not producing enough of our own nuclear fuel for our own reactors. We’re importing uranium from Russia, and that’s a bad situation. The US is finally working to restore that, but none of this happens overnight. We’ve got to reset our own nuclear energy industry and have American nuclear energy leadership that is based on advanced reactor technologies that are both safer and cheaper, while simultaneously providing the energy that will meet the needs of the future.” How do you respond to people that say nuclear energy is a security risk, rather than a security reward? ”The greater security risk is if we don’t bend the curve on fossil fuels. The mounting CO2 in the atmosphere is fueling the climate crisis that we face, and this will make large areas and some of our cities unlivable and lead to further waves of climate migration. We’ve got to bend that curve. We’ve seen historical transitions in energy use from fire, steam and coal, to oil, to the nuclear age, which occurred during and after World War II. We are now into new forms of renewables, but we also have an opportunity with the new era of nuclear energy - fission energy. At some point we’ll hit fusion, which is sort of just coming into focus right now. It is not yet a scalable source of energy, but maybe it will be in your lifetime. I’m a technology optimist. We have made the world better for millions more. I still remember the days before there were any cellphones. When I was in college, there weren’t even desktop computers, let alone mobile phones. Advances can be made, and we have to keep moving forward.” How does military spending on fossil fuels, rather than clean energy, affect security? ”Today's focus is on having energy supportability in contested logistics environments. Now that’s a mouthful, but let me break that down. In a perfect world, you might have tanks that run only on batteries and aircraft powered by sustainable aviation fuels. But also in a perfect world, you wouldn’t have any combat or war. We haven’t achieved that level of perfection, and I don’t think we will be able to achieve that in my lifetime. What we can do is reduce the fuel burden by looking at alternatives and more sustainable sources of the existing liquid fuels – that’s all possible. Until about a decade ago, the military assumed it would always have enough energy to get to whatever combat situation was called upon for our troops. Once you recognize that there could be shortages in those energy supplies or that you are putting lives at risk, it becomes clearer that we need to innovate to better power our armed forces. So that’s what’s happening today. The other Gordian knot that’s finally been broken is the concept that for a better-performing weapon system, you have to have more fuel. Now there are better propulsion systems, better batteries, and different types of fuels for aircraft and ships. And nuclear is part of the equation as well. We have had a nuclear navy since just after the cold war, it’s operated safely and very effectively, and we have nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, so we know how to use nuclear technology safely and now that we are on the cusp of a new generation of nuclear technology. We have the opportunity to make that a part of the decarbonized future.” A recent peer-reviewed article found that the design of Lightbridge fuel rods consumes 5.5 times more weapons-grade plutonium than traditional fuel, and also that would-be proliferators cannot use Lightbridge's spent fuel. How do you view the role of Lightbridge Fuel in fostering peace and stability? ”You’ve got nuclear energy for civilian purposes, which has to be part of the clean energy transition. Then you’ve got nuclear weapons and all the fissile materials that are used to build nuclear weapons, which is the continuing legacy of the cold war. We’re not going to get rid of those, and we have more plutonium on the planet than we need. The risk with plutonium and other certain nuclear fuels is that they can be converted into weapons-grade material. Lightbridge has technology that will enable weapons-grade plutonium to be converted and used for peaceful purposes. This solves two problems at once. It helps get rid of that weapons-grade plutonium material, and at the same time, it provides clean power. That’s the goal. I hope we can get there. That’s a win-win situation.”
Shared by Simon Bergbom
NCX
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The way carbon buyers have traditionally approached carbon markets needs to change. The notion that “every carbon project is automatically good for biodiversity” simply isn’t true. In reality, each carbon project and species has a unique impact and there are a lot of nuances involved. To claim biodiversity benefits, carbon project developers need to provide the relevant quantitative data that carbon buyers can refer to. Without quantitative data to substantiate claims of biodiversity in the carbon market, how can we ever understand the real impact? The carbon credit market has been expanding quickly in recent years, offering financial incentives for individuals, organizations, and governments to participate in reducing carbon emissions and combating the climate crisis. We have a biodiversity crisis and carbon projects offer an opportunity to address some of that, but without clear, accurate measurements on biodiversity, we’ll never know whether it’s working. As the Senior Lead of Natural Capital Development for NCX, Dr. Sophie Gilbert works to expand ecosystem service credits that go beyond carbon credits — and she knows the carbon market needs to do a better job of incorporating biodiversity. In her article, Why Measuring Biodiversity Co-Benefits in Carbon Credits Matters, she paints a transparent picture of the need for biodiversity measurement in carbon credit issuance, what’s at stake if biodiversity isn’t included, and how NCX is doing its part to develop biodiversity in the carbon market. Where is biodiversity in carbon projects? Nature-based carbon projects may tout biodiversity, and biodiversity may play a part in those projects, but existing quantitative data isn't available to back up the claims because only a few rigorous quantitative studies have been conducted. Dr. Gilbert is quick to point out that the lack of quantitative data represents an issue for biodiversity within carbon projects as well as for the effectiveness of the carbon market as a whole. The inability to provide quantitative data on biodiversity in carbon projects leaves carbon buyers in the dark about how effective carbon projects are at delivering benefits to any particular species and it leaves them unable to support projects benefiting biodiversity they may have preferences for. The transparency over biodiversity data through quantitative measurements (both good and bad) will help the carbon market and our planet. Why is biodiversity important and what does it mean for carbon markets? Ecosystems are enormously complex and interconnected. Without a wide range of animals, plants and microorganisms, ecosystems grow unstable and may collapse. Yet, under the current voluntary carbon market, almost no carbon projects deliver credits with the quantified biodiversity impacts reported. For carbon markets to incorporate biodiversity, carbon developers would need to hire biodiversity experts, acquire data, and generally invest in these metrics as a component of their credits. Without the appetite from developers to self-fund these endeavors, and until buyers are willing to pay a premium for credits with biodiversity quantification, it will simply be a checkbox. This “check-box” mentality may seem harmless, but it actually leads to negative long-term effects. For example, when carbon projects are trying to maximize carbon sequestration but ignoring biodiversity, it can lead to negative outcomes like planting non-native species in ecosystems and planting the same species of plants through monocultures. Ecosystems that lack biodiversity are at risk of being overwhelmed by diseases, fires, and other disturbances, which could harm their ability to store carbon in the long term. The carbon market needs to do more due diligence to prove the impact on biodiversity from carbon credits. Dr. Gilbert says we live in a golden age for measuring and modeling biodiversity. She says, “Rapid progress is happening in field-based data collection tools, remote sensing of habitat attributes, and computing power and modeling approaches. This means we can move toward quantitative models of biodiversity additionality for carbon credits.” What we’re doing to develop the biodiverse carbon market At NCX, we are evaluating how our forest carbon program affects biodiversity. Currently, we are developing multi-species models that assess the habitat quality of bird communities across the Southern United States. We can improve our forest carbon programs and learn how forest carbon programs affect biodiversity through these models. By mapping and addressing how one species creates its habitats in forests, we can better understand the interconnectedness of nature-based carbon capture and the species that facilitate these carbon sinks. In taking this action, we are also making sure that our carbon sinks are a part of healthy ecosystems. While we are developing a habitat quality model for birds, we know that birds aren’t the only creature to make up the forest. These models will help us develop expertise in modeling other indispensable forest species like bats, and terrestrial mammals, among many others. But we need your help to create the multi-species model. If you're interested in contributing to data sharing, method development, certification approaches, or investing in biodiversity, please email [email protected]. Want to learn more? We recently hosted our own webinar on Why Biodiversity Matters in the Carbon Credit Market, which you can view here. It explains in-depth the long-term value of biodiversity for landowners, communities, and projects like ours. You’ll also learn about the systems we’re putting in place to track, measure, and reward a more biodiverse carbon credit market.
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I agree with NCX, Biodiversity should be at the forefront of carbon credits.
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It's great to read that NCX is developing multi-species models that assess the habitat quality of bird communities across the Southern United States! I recently read in a Pachama We Don't Have Time article that nearly 60% of all North American birds call Louisiana their home at some point.
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I really support it because carbon contains some harmful particles which are responsible for global warming hence should be used in small quantities and eventually abandoned
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Tradewater
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By Tim Brown, CEO and co-founder, Tradewater (Originally published at tradewater.us) I have had a long career working in the environmental field, focusing on a wide range of problems and their potential solutions. Those of us who have been fighting for the planet for a long time know how easy it is to lose hope and feel we are always in an uphill battle. The climate crisis is certainly one of those uphill battles, but I am pleased to have identified a path to meaningful impact—the collection, control, and destruction of potent greenhouse gases. Let me tell you more. We all know that the main culprit of climate change is carbon dioxide (CO2). Most global policy efforts are appropriately focused on reducing CO2 emissions, and there is a lot of important work being done by dedicated individuals to address this. However, what many people are not aware of is that there are other potent greenhouse gases aside from CO2 out there. These non-CO2 gases also pose an extremely urgent threat, accounting for about half of the warming the planet has experienced since 1970—but alarmingly, very few people are focused on these potent non-CO2 gases. Which is where we come in. Tradewater is a mission-based company dedicated to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Last year we became a certified B-Corp to further express our values and intentions. There is no question about it — we are committed. And our commitment is to fight climate change by preventing non-CO2 gases from being released into the atmosphere, as much as possible, and as soon as possible. This is why we are finding, collecting, and destroying refrigerant gases that are over 10,000 times as potent as carbon dioxide, and why we are plugging uncontrolled sources of leaking methane, which is a powerful short-lived climate pollutant 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Methane also accounts for 25% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions from human activity and is the second leading cause of climate change after CO2. Here are a few facts that anyone who cares about climate change should know: - There is no pathway to prevent 1.5o C of warming without addressing non-CO2 gases. - Non-CO2 gases like refrigerants and methane cannot be removed from the atmosphere once they are released. The only option is to prevent their release in the first place. - Whereas the Montreal Protocol banned the production of old refrigerants that are ozone depleting substances (e.g., chlorofluorocarbon [CFC], and hydrochlorofluorocarbon [HCFC]), over 16 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in the form of old refrigerants are distributed around the world and in need of collection and destruction. - Methane accounts for 25% of the global warming we are experiencing today. - If we reduce methane emissions by 40% over the next ten years, we can prevent .3 celsius of warming by 2040. Scaled-up efforts to collect, control, and destroy non-CO2 gases will make a significant difference in the short term and buy more time for the global implementation of long-term and essential CO2-based reduction strategies. To achieve this impact, two things must happen: we must collect, control, and destroy as many non-CO2 gases as we possibly can, and we must find partners who value these climate benefits. It is through climate finance – the sale of high quality, additional, and permanent carbon offset credits – that meaningful scale will be achieved. Since we started this work in 2012, we have collected and destroyed gases that are the equivalent of over 6 million tons of CO2. We're set to prevent 3.5 million tons of CO2e emissions in 2023, and our work is expected to prevent 22 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from entering the atmosphere by 2027. We do not have much time to avert catastrophic climate change, so it is important for everyone to define their path to the greatest impact and get to work. This work really matters. And it matters right now. Learn more about why our work matters.
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Thank you for your commitment, keep it up. Your impact is very impressive.
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Since 2012, i wish this solution was/would be scaled up for the love of lives on planet earth.
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Great article! The call to action was compelling to read — This work really matters. And it matters right now.
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Neutral
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Cory Carman is a 4th generation rancher based in Wallowa, Oregon, USA, who teamed up with Neutral to reduce the climate footprint of her farm. Now she is implementing a solution that could reduce the methane emissions from her livestock by up to 80%. At Neutral, we are all about radically reducing methane emissions. We want to help climate-conscious ranchers and farmers who want what's best for their farms and the environment. With the climate crisis in full swing, the cost of making climate-friendly investments can be steep for farmers and ranchers, but there is also a rise in market trends for environmentally friendly products. At Neutral, we are witnessing with our own eyes how more and more people, families, farmers, and corporations, are showing their interest in doing what’s right for the planet. Ranchers like Cory Carman of Carman Ranch and Carman Ranch Provisions have recognized the emerging green market trends and sought solutions on how to best reduce emissions on Carman Ranch. In Eastern Oregon, Cory has been raising her herd on a grass diet, a practice that has existed for millennia. While methane emissions resulting from cows' digestion on this grass diet have remained a constant issue over time, the climate crisis is new and it demands immediate attention and solutions. The Neutral team and Cory Carman were searching for solutions to reduce enteric methane emissions on her ranch in Eastern Oregon when Symbrosia emerged as a game changer. Symbroisa is the maker of SeaGraze™, a supplement made from red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) that has been shown to reduce enteric methane emissions by over 80% when added to livestock feed. This month, Neutral, Carman Ranch and Symbrosia are launching a trial designed to (1) demonstrate the efficacy of enteric methane reduction with SeaGraze™ on Carman Ranch and (2) answer outstanding operational and logistical questions that Cory and other producers have about giving her herd this new climate-friendly diet. During this trial, we will collaborate with Cory to monitor the weight of her herd to ensure that expected gains are achieved. We will also assist Cory in testing the meat to ensure its safety for consumers and that it meets the high standards of quality that consumers have come to expect and love from Carman Ranch products. It's essential to work with farmers and ranchers to implement long-term climate solutions on agricultural lands. It will ensure that new technologies are practical, effective, and profitable, while farmers are able to retain the taste and quality of their products. We are excited to be embarking on this partnership with Symbrosia and Carman Ranch, which represents a meaningful step towards addressing the urgent need to support climate-friendly agricultural practices. The growing demand from consumers for environmentally-friendly products is a clear indication to stakeholders that projects like these are worth pursuing. To learn more about this partnership and our combined impact, join Ann Radil, Head of Carbon Reduction at Neutral, Alexia Akbay, founder and CEO of Symbrosia, and Cory Carman, owner of Carman Ranch, at SXSW for the panel, ‘Carbon Neutral Beef? Too Good to be True?’
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Brilliant idea in reducing emissions
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Incredible climate solution! I hope this solution can be adopted across farms worldwide!
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is there enough red seaweed for all the cows?
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Salesforce
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Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) regulations are rapidly gaining momentum around the world. Regardless of what sector or industry you work in, effective ESG reporting is becoming a critical element of an organization’s core business activities. Companies that are proactive in ESG reporting can seize the moment and get ahead now. What exactly is ESG? ESG is a self-regulating model that helps an organization be accountable to both itself and its key stakeholders, including investors, customers, and employees. The three components of ESG represent the risks and opportunities that impact a company’s ability to create long-term enterprise value. - Environmental – encompasses such issues as climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity loss, natural resource scarcity, water management, waste management, and energy usage. - Social – pertains to diversity, equity, inclusion, human rights, labor practices, supply chain management, political movements, culture, safety, training, product safety, and data security. - Governance – refers to how companies conduct their business, staff and govern their boards, compensate executive management, hold executives accountable, deploy and enforce policies, and publicly disclose relevant company data. https://www.salesforce.com/blog/sustainability-reporting/ As ESG regulations and disclosure rules increase globally, companies have a unique opportunity to do good for society and the environment, while also positioning themselves for long-term success. In fact, according to PwC’s 2021 Global Investors Survey, 79% of investors consider ESG risks and opportunities an important factor in investment decision-making. As disclosed in the same report, only one-third of investors believe that the quality of current ESG reporting, on average, is good. So, where do we go from here? Navigating the complexities of ESG can be challenging. Here are some guiding principles as you work to build a successful ESG strategy at your company. 1. Understand where you’re starting The first step is to identify which topics are most important to your company and assess what data your organization is already tracking. Companies should ensure they’re aligned with three types of ESG metrics: - Universal metrics — all companies, no matter their size or country of origin, should be measuring and reporting on topics such as governance, climate, and diversity. - Industry-specific metrics — data privacy, water use, and fair labor, among others. - Company-specific metrics — the topics most material to your specific business. 2. Set targets and make a plan Publishing a comprehensive ESG report isn’t something that can be achieved without invested time. You can break down what you believe by being consistent, starting small, setting targets, and listening to your stakeholders. Transparency gains trust. 3. Leverage Technology The effective use of technology can help you manage ESG data in real time, streamline the reporting process, and increase efficiency. Improving your technology allows you to expand your capabilities and align to global standards. https://www.salesforce.com/blog/technology-can-solve-climate-crisis/ Businesses need to read the room ESG is rapidly becoming a priority for both investors and consumers, making now the perfect time for businesses to act. By prioritizing ESG compliance, companies can meet the expectations of their stakeholders, gain a competitive advantage, and make a positive impact that will last for generations to come. https://www.salesforce.com/resources/sustainability/tools-for-sustainable-future/?d=cta-header-1
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Intriguing indeed
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I love how this article focuses on how sharpening up on ESG is actually a great business opportunity.
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Very interesting, all companies have to get onboard or they will be left on the side of the road!
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Pachama
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Pachama’s goal as a company is to restore 100 million hectares of deforested and degraded land to harness the earth’s natural systems to sequester carbon dioxide. To achieve gigaton carbon removal, the world needs to accelerate the development of high-quality forest carbon projects. In October 2022, we launched Pachama Originals, a new generation of forest carbon projects designed and developed with Pachama’s proprietary remote-sensing and artificial intelligence technology suite. We’re excited to tell the world about the first US-based Pachama Originals, the Avoula Climate Action Project. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HxyWKXsvrU Located in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley in Western Lousiana, the Avahoula Climate Action Project will restore a 7,200-acre property (2,913 hectares, or 5400 football fields) by planting over three million native bottomland hardwood trees, protected from future deforestation through permanent easement. The project will sequester more than 840k metric tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2e) throughout its lifetime. The Mississippi Alluvial Valley is an ideal location for what promises to be one of the largest US-based reforestation efforts to date. The area is home to 60% of US bird species and 40% of North America’s waterfowl. The project will assist in decreasing the runoff contributing to the Gulf of Mexico’s dead zone. In addition to improving water quality for local communities, the Avahoula Climate Action Project will represent tens of millions in local investment, including through tree planting, nurseries, and the project’s logistical operations. Pachama is developing Avahoula in partnership with Delta Land Services, a Louisiana-based company specializing in large-scale restoration and mitigation projects across the Gulf Coast states. Throughout its lifetime, Delta Land Services has planted over eleven million trees across forty-six thousand acres. Pachama is offering companies the opportunity to invest in developing the Avahoula Climate Action Project in exchange for locking in the supply of high-quality carbon removal credits at a fixed price. If you’re interested in learning more about Avahoula, please contact us.
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Economic incentive to re-build forests is a powerful tool in the climate fight.
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Amazing news
Shared by Simon Bergbom
Lightbridge
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Did you know that government partnerships and funding have given rise to everyday technology like GPS or SIRI? The scaling of private sector technology into the commercial mainstream can often be traced back to public sector resources. It may surprise you to learn that nuclear energy companies face the same financial hurdles as other private businesses. However, nuclear energy companies need support from the government in order to have breakthroughs in innovation. To build, operate, and maintain nuclear energy facilities, steady financial investments are required. Public sector oversight, financial investments, and access to government-owned and operated facilities can reduce costs for nuclear energy companies. During the 2023 World Economic Forum, held at Davos, Switzerland, Lightbridge CEO, Seth Grae, sat down with We Don’t Have Time’s North America CEO, Sweta Chakraborty, to discuss how public and private partnerships have accelerated nuclear energy as a respected fossil-free fuel source of the future. Private-Public Partnerships move technologies forward Lightbridge (NASDAQ: LTBR) has been advancing its progress to make its patented nuclear fuel, Lightbridge Fuel, commercially viable and accessible. What makes Lightbridge Fuel unique from other nuclear fuels is that it works within existing and future reactors, and, “it is designed to dramatically enhance the safety, the non-proliferation and the economics of nuclear fuel as well as allowing reactors to load-follow with renewables on a zero carbon grid,” says Seth. A recent major milestone in Lightbridge Fuel’s commercialization has been the long-term strategic partnership with Idaho National Laboratory and the US Department of Energy. The Idaho National Laboratory is an US Department of Energy national laboratory, and the Idaho National Laboratory is the United States’ leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Also, located on the premises of the Idaho National Laboratory is the forefront of nuclear technology — the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) and the Transient Reactor Test Facility (TREAT). The US Government supports and supervises Lightbridge, enabling it to take its innovative Lightbridge Fuel to the next level. When building a private-public partnership, Seth says, “to help bring further private sector interest, it’s also important to see the government evaluating a technology and putting some of its own resources into it.” With the journey into commercialization proceeding, Lightbridge is well-positioned to advance the nuclear industry into a safer and cheaper future. However, other businesses and ambitious projects have not been so fortunate. Other companies’ inability to engage in a private-public partnership leaves them unable to test, improve, and prove the concept of their new innovations. That’s why it's crucial for the public and private sectors to join forces. The collaboration between the public and private sectors opens the market for new opportunities that were previously out of reach for industry innovators. It also hints at the potential for more government funding and endorsement of alternative energy solutions that would otherwise stay shelved. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyacnVLZ1pg “Other U.S. national labs and other labs and institutes around the world can start to be made more available to industry, not just for government use, and the innovation that is coming out of industry really can pick up if they know they can quickly get into testing, prototyping, and demonstrating the product in these facilities.” Leveraging private-public partnerships toward fossil-free energy will be crucial in paving a more sustainable future for all. As Seth Grae shared, “Nuclear, as a growing part of a diversified energy mix, will be essential to meet climate goals, and Lightbridge will be an important part of that.”
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Thank you for sharing. If you had to explain to 8 year old how Lihtbridge fuel is functioning and why it is good news for the planet, what would you say? I still find it hard to grasp
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The development of generation 4 reactors is very interesting from a sustainability perspective, since these can recycle today’s nuclear waste and re-use it as ”fresh” fuel, while at the same time greatly reducing long-term radioactivity. Would it be possible for @Lightbridge to produce recycled nuclear fuel for those kinds of reactors?
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I didn't know that SIRI was a part of a public-private partnership! It will be essential to support fossil-free energy like nuclear through public-private partnerships to progress on our global climate goals.
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Wonderful!
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I LOVE Unilever!
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Very promising!! All industrial sectors should shun-away from any association practices that hinders the net zero emission objectives.