mikebarryeco
News
Most news articles can be put into one of three categories:
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Why?
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What?
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How?
See manifesto for more information.
I want this to be a space where you can find up to date articles from each of these different categories. You will be able to learn about the issues our planet faces and how we are finding ways to combat them.
Why?
These are news articles relating to the strategic drivers for sustainable business change.
Almost half of the 2 billion children on the planet at 'extreme risk' from climate change
20th August 2021
A report from UNICEF has highlighted that around a billion children are at 'extreme risk' from the impacts of climate change. Almost every child in the world is at risk from 1 impact, including drought, heatwave, and disease. But across 33 countries there are 1 billion children that will face over 2 of these impacts simultaneously. The report was released on the 3rd anniversary of Greta Thunberg's first school climate strike. The report highlights where and how children are vulnerable to climate change.
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Record breaking heatwave continues across the US
18th June 2021
States in the southwest of the US are facing excessive heat waves that have left doctors warning of the risk of 3rd degree burns. The city of Phoenix has seen 5 days of 46 degrees Celsius. The heatwave and drought is proof of the climate crisis is already wreaking havoc. According to researchers at the Lawerence Berkley National Laboratory the climate crisis has caused rare heatwaves to be 3-5 degrees warmer than usual in the US.
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UK's Marine assets valued at over £211bn
8th April 2021
The UK marine habitats cover over 21.8 million hectares and hold an economic value of over £211 bn. This value includes the renewable energy production, tourism, sustainable fishing and carbon sequestration. The value of carbon sequestration is only an estimate and could be far greater. The value of renewable energy produced in the marine environment has increased 37 times over a 10 year period. It highlights the shear value and potential that our marine resources hold and why it is even more important that they are protected and used in a sustainable manner.
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Are we paying enough attention to biodiversity in our use of green bonds?
18th March 2021
As the world of sustainable corporate finance accelerates, decarbonisation investment has been the main recipient of sustainability bonds and investment. However, scientists warn that not enough of this corporate investment is being used to help nature and biodiversity despite it being an incredibly important area. It has been suggested that this could be due to the perception that investment in biodiversity provides benefits to the public rather than private corporations.
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Google for Startups Accelerator: Climate Change
10th March 2021
After the success of Google's programme last year aimed at supporting Social Impact startups, they are starting a new programmed designed to support climate-focused technology startups. The 10 week programme will provide training, mentorship and technical project guidance. It highlights the importance of investing in technology in order to create a healthier planet. Many climate focused startups struggle to attract the right investors and programmes like this will help companies widen their reach.
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UK government still lacks a coherent path to achieving net-zero
5th March 2021
The Public Accounts Committee has published its latest report on the UK achieving net-zero, and the conclusion is not promising. It does offer praise on the departmental policy frameworks that are being produced but it indicates that these plans are often independent and do not encourage departments to work together. It suggests that some high carbon departments are still unsure on how to proceed and without a sense of unity the UK is likely to fall short of its targets. Additionally, the report said that some policies were not ambitious enough.
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Current climate commitments will only reduce global emissions by 1% this decade
26th February 2021
Analysis by the UNFCCC of 48 national emission reduction pledges has shown that these commitments will only reduce global emissions by 1% in the next decade. This reduction falls far short of the 25% needed to meet the Paris Climate agreement. In addition to this bad news, a 25% reduction is what is needed to achieve 2 degrees of warming. We would need to reduce emissions by 45% to meet 1.5 degree rise. The report highlights that governments and organisations need to be even more ambitious.
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The health benefits of reaching the Paris Climate goals
17th February 2021
The World Health Organisation declared that climate change is the largest global health threat that we face in the 21st century. This is a result of the problems it causes to food security, air quality, flooding and more. This means that achieving the goals to stop climate change are hugely beneficial to the health of humanity. Additionally, it has been shown that portraying the battle against climate change in this way will help better engage the general public.
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Dependency on coal must stop, says IEA head, to help kickstart green recovery
1st February 2021
Around the world there are still many countries, such as China, that rely heavily on coal for their energy production. It is still relied on for being cheap and a large employer in many countries. The continuation of investment in coal is a bad sign and countries need to include a green energy in their recovery plans otherwise it may be too late for a global green revolution.
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President Biden places the climate crisis as a top priority
20th January 2021
After the Trump administration dismissed the science behind the climate crisis as being wrong, Biden has already untaken a number of executive orders to rectify the situation. Among these was informing the UN that the US would be rejoining the Paris climate agreement as well as blocking a number of controversial oil pipelines.
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WEF post-covid risk assessment
19th January 2021
As part of the 2021 Davos Agenda this article highlights the greatest risks that businesses face in a post-covid world. Companies need to be prepared for stimulus packages that may not help certain industries whilst preparing for increased protectionist policies from governments. Additionally they will have to cope with a different workplace dynamic- one that includes flexible hours, flexible spaces, and working from home. A key message is that this will not be the only global challenge we face and companies must use this time to put in changes that will prepare them for a range of scenarios.
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World has already passed ‘peak oil’, BP figures reveal
15th September 2020
According to analysis by Carbon brief of BP's global energy outlook, the world has already reached the "peak" demand for oil. It shows that we will not see levels of oil demand as seen last year again. This will be lead by the growth in renewable energy. But this change in forecast from BP, who had previously predicted a continued rise in oil demand, may be due to their new assumption that energy demand will begin to grow at a slower rate.
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395 Million New Jobs by 2030 if Businesses Prioritize Nature, Says World Economic Forum
14th July 2020
The Future of Nature and Business report has offered a plan for how businesses can access $10 trillion in business opportunity. The report showcases real world examples of how businesses have already benefitted by utilising nature in their business. It looks at three different areas: 'Food, Land, and ocean use'; 'Infrastructure and the built environment'; and 'Energy and Extractives'.
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More than £1bn wiped off Boohoo value as it investigates Leicester factory
6th July 2020
Despite national minimum wage in the UK being £8.72, it has been found that a BooHoo clothes factory has been paying £3.50 an hour. Along with this an undercover report by the Sunday Times found that working conditions in the factory were completely unacceptable. Consequently, BooHoo shares slumped over night and lead to £1.1 billion being wiped off its value.
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‘An alarm bell we must not ignore’: Major report calls for huge pesticide reductions to halt collapse in vital insect populations
8th July 2020
Insects are a vital part of the global ecosystem, yet we are still rapidly killing them off. A huge cause of this are the toxic chemicals- pesticides- that we applying to our countryside. As part of a report by the Wildlife Trusts farmers have been urged to adopt insect-friendly farming practices. It also called for the government to ensure that future trade deals do not erode pesticide standards.
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What’s At Risk: An 18-Month View of a Post-COVID World
24th June 2020
The WEF completed a survey of over 300 risk analysts where they asked them how they would rank the likelihood of major risks we face due to Covid-19. The article looks at the greatest risks and it demonstrates how businesses are going to have adapt to a 'new normal', where they balance the needs of the economy, nature, and society.
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We are not ready: Policymaking in the age of environmental breakdown – Final report
24th June 2020
In the midst of a global pandemic and a heatwave the IPPR have chosen a prime time to release their final report from a major research project. It investigates the threats we face from 'Environmental Breakdown' and lays out how badly the UK is prepared for these threats. It sets out policies that could help produce a healthier world.
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How 2020 is Impacting Gen Z's Worldview
Morning Consult has been tracking how 2020 has changed the way Americans, between the age of 13-23, spend, think and value things. The research includes their politics, consumer habits, trust in institutions, career expectations and more.
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Verizon, Infosys, Reckitt Benckiser join Amazon's Climate Pledge initiative
18th June 2020
Three major global companies have become the first to join Amazon's climate initiative. The y have joined Amazon's pledge of making their companies carbon neutral by 2040. The Climate Pledge was designed to encourage companies to use their size and scale to fight climate change.
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IEA: ‘Green’ coronavirus recovery would keep global emissions below 2019 peak
18th June 2020
The International Energy Agency has written an extensive report on a sustainable recovery plan for out post Covid-19 world. They estimate the plan would cost in excess of $9trn and the strategy would help create energy related jobs, boost economic growth, increase sustainability, and put emissions on a faster downward track.
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Coronavirus: Tracking how the world’s ‘green recovery’ plans aim to cut emissions
16th June 2020
In the wake of the global Covid-19 pandemic, many countries and trade bodies have been announcing 'green recovery' plans to produce a more sustainable future. Carbon brief have put together a tracker so you can find all of the announced plans in one place.
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Commit to nature restoration in your green Covid-19 recovery plans, businesses urged
15th June 2020
In an open letter coordinated by Business for Nature, there have been calls for green recovery plans. It highlights a previous study proving that half of global GDP is exposed to risks from nature loss. This could be even higher now as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
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What?
Stories exploring the commitments business needs to make to become sustainable and the supporting governance and transparency to provide credibility.
DHL Express confirms purchase of 12 fully-electric aircraft
10th August 2021
DHL Express announced it has ordered 12 electric cargo planes from the Seattle- based electric aircraft producer, Eviation. The company aims to deliver the planes in 2024. The planes themselves will be able to carry 2600 pounds of cargo and fly just over 500 miles. The order demonstrates a major vote of confidence in the zero-emission aviation sector.
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Government provides £91m to ultra fast charging projects and extended range EVs
18th August 2021
The government has awarded £91m in funding to four projects designed to help decarbonise the automotive industry. The four projects include one at BMW which aims to produce cars with ranges similar to that of non-electric cars. Additionally, Project CELERITAS has been awarded around £10m to help them develop ultra-fast charging batteries for electric cars. The government claims these projects combined with a further two projects could help save 32 million tonnes of carbon emissions as well creating of 2500 jobs.
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Target pledges net zero by 2040
23rd June 2021
The eight-largest retailer in the US, Target, has released its latest sustainability plan named 'Target Forward'. The updated plan includes a commitment to halve scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030 and reduce scope 3 by 30% as well. The company aims to be a circular business by 2040 and has already trained 2000 staff members on the principles of circular design. It has committed to reach 'zero-waste-to-landfill' by improving product durability and ensuring product materials are recyclable or "easily repaired".
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The Net-zero backlash
22nd June 2021
According to research by the University of Oxford 80% of the world's 2000 largest companies have made climate commitments- including net zero commitments. For many this is viewed as a free pass and scrutiny falls on those who have not made commitments. But pressure is building from activists and scientists and policymakers to further analyse and criticise the net zero policies from these firms. We need to be asking whether these commitments are enough? Do they rely too heavily on carbon offsetting? It is important to breakdown the popular solutions firms are choosing.
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Taskforce on Nature-related Financial disclosures endorsed by G7 leaders
5th June 2021
The new Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) has been backed by G7 leaders and some of the world's major financial institutions. The Taskforce will aim to support businesses assess emerging nature-related risks and to help increase the shift in financial flows away from nature-negative outcomes. The value of the world's economic output has reached a staggering $44tn and over half of this output is moderately or highly dependent on nature.
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Over 100 Apple suppliers commit to switching to 100% renewable energy
7th April 2021
Apple are aiming to help their suppliers meet Apple's goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030. More than 110 of its manufacturing suppliers are moving to 100% renewable energy which will help save 15 million metric tonnes of CO2e each year. Apple is supporting them in achieving this goal by providing education, clean energy funds and more opportunities to access green resources.
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Plant-Ag, a $9 billion startup aiming to give consumers a better and safer fresh food supply chain
15th March 2021
Fresh food in the American supply chain has been genetically engineered and modified in order to survive long transport times and provide year round produce. Product delivery can take up to a month in some cases- somewhat undermining the term 'fresh'. Plant-Ag is aiming to fix this inefficient system and get this farm to plate delivery time down to 72 hours. It plans to create the world's largest food infrastructure network using high tech greenhouses and an efficient blockchain system to track the produce.
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Goldman Sachs joins fellow large U.S. banks in climate change commitments
4th March 2021
Goldman Sachs as committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions in its operations and supply chain by 2030. Additionally, it will aim for its portfolio to be net zero carbon by 2050. They are fifth of the "big six" US banks, leaving only Wells Fargo, to commit to big climate targets. U.S firms are the largest financial backers of fossil fuel companies and still have a lot to do to keep up with European rival in terms of climate change.
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How the EU, the US and China can improve cooperation on climate issues
10th February 2021
As Biden begins to put America back on the path towards carbon neutrality they join fellow super powers, the EU and China. In order to make the most difference these three entities will have to realise that international cooperation holds the key to achieving this. The article discusses the three main areas- Green finance, Climate compatible diplomacy, and a 'Carbon club'- that they should work together on in 2021.
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Jaguar to become fully electric car brand by 2025
15th February 2021
The luxury automobile manufacturer has said that it will be an All Electric brand by 2025. Additionally, the Land Rover part of the TATA owned car family will release its first EV in 2024 and will release five more in the following two years. JLR have also said that zero emissions is the plan for the company as a whole rather than just the vehicles and plans to achieve this by 2039.
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Wind turbine firm, Vestas, invests in Wood Technology Company Modvion
18th February 2021
One of the world's leading wind turbines manufacturers, Vestas Ventures, has invested in the Swedish firm, Modvion. The move is to help them adopt the wooden tower structure produced by Modvion. It will bring benefits such as reducing the weight of the towers. This will help reduce dependency on steel, making manufacturing cheaper and lower in carbon emissions.
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Grid firms in China will have to purchase at leat 40% of power from renewable sources by 2030
10th February 2021
In order to reach their climate goals, the Chinese government will force regional grid firms to purchase 40% of energy from non-fossil fuel sources. This is a rise from 20% in 2020. China have committed to being carbon neutral by 2060. In recent years China has focused on investment in hydropower but the documents from the National Energy administration suggest they will move away from this and focus on solar and wind.
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Scottish Whiskey industry commits to net zero emissions by 2040
25th January 2021
The industry has announced a new Sustainability Strategy. As mentioned in the article below, they will be switching from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Additionally, the industry accounts for 1% of all peat extraction in the UK and they will be laying out a new Peat action Plan later this year. This is an important part of their plan because they are still researching how the changes in peat use will impact the flavours of their drinks.
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Scottish Whiskey distilleries make the move to renewable energy
4th February 2021
Nova Innovation, a tidal energy firm, is planning to install underwater turbines between the islands of Islay and Jura. The islands are home to a combined 10 whiskey distilleries. The decarbonisation of the whiskey industry is an essential part of Scotland's ambition to reach net zero emissions in 2045.
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Sainsbury's commits to ambitious Science-based targets
3rd February 2021
In order to align with the 1.5C Paris agreement target Sainsbury's has committed to reducing Scope 3 GHG emissions by 30% by 2030. Additionally, they will achieve net zero target for its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2040. To achieve these requirements they plan to embrace new technology within refrigeration and lighting.
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General Motors pledges to achieve carbon neutrality by 2040
28th January 2021
In an ambitious set from its previous "zero-emissions' by 2050, the largest U.S automaker has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2040. The carbon neutral commitment will include Scope 3 emissions, thus including the emissions from its vehicles. The company plan to invest $27 billion in the process of electrifying its products.
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Mastercard plans to achieve net-zero carbon by 2050
27th January 2021
The financial services company has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. It plans to tackle emissions in its supply chain which account for over 70% of their total carbon footprint. The company will continue its expansion of solar panels on all its offices around the globe. Mastercard already promotes credit cards produced from recycled plastics.
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Unilever will demand workers in their supply chain are paid a 'living wage'
21st January 2021
Unilever has unveiled numerous new social commitments in order to promote a fairer and more inclusive society. Among these was the decision that they will refuse to do business with any company that does not pay a living wage. In addition, it plans to teach 10 million young people more productive skills to equip them for the workplace. The commitments follow a year that has intensified the divide between members of our society.
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Carbon removal
18th January 2021
Companies such as United Airlines and Occidental are among those investing large sums of money in direct air capture plants. These involve using fans to capture carbon dioxide and trap it. Whilst this technology is still incredibly expensive there is a growing consensus that we must still explore this as an option. However, many believe that this route of investment will allow companies to focus less on reducing there carbon footprint now with the promise of removing carbon in the future. By which time it will be too late.
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Five-minute charge electric car batteries
19th January 2021
The Guardian reports on a new battery produced by Israeli company, StoreDot, in partnership with manufacturer EveEnergy in China. The batteries can reach a full charge within 5 minutes. The article goes on to discuss whether this is completely possible with a current charging infrastructure and the general changes need to meet electric car demand.
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Arup sets ambitious Science Based Target
17th September 2020
The engineering firm, Arup have revealed their new net-zero targets. Their goal is to achieve net zero by 2030 across their operations, from the energy used in their offices to the goods and services it purchases. They will place a carbon levy of $40 per tonne which will be played on flights taken by employees. The aim is promote virtual meetings.
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Apple targets net-zero emissions across operations, value chain and products
21st July 2020
In a new net zero target, Apple have pledged to make its whole business, supply chain and product life cycle net zero by 2030. It aims to achieve this by reducing emissions by 75% and the remaining 25% will be achieved using carbon removal technology.
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Diageo announces creation of world's first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle
13th July 2020
In a new venture Diageo have form the company Pulpex Limited which has developed a 100% plastic free paper bottle that is fully recyclable. They wanted to allow businesses to rethink their packaging without having to compromise on the design and quality of their product. It is made from sustainably sourced pulp and will meet all food safety criteria.
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UK launches first online service for groceries in reusable packing
15th July 2020
Loop is the UK's first online shopping service to offer reusable packaging on all its food and drink deliveries. They offer a grocery delivery service to your front door that only uses durable and reusable packaging. Once you are done with it it can be collected to be cleaned and then refilled.
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Measuring the world's 50 most influential electric utilities companies
The World Benchmarking alliance has ranked the world's 50 most influential electric utility companies based on their transition towards a low carbon economy. They found that they still have a large dependence on fossil fuels and only four of the fifty have emission reduction targets that conform with the Paris Climate agreement. Despite being an industry with so much influence on our path towards a cleaner future, so much more needs to be done to grow the capacity of renewable energy.
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How does your supermarket check out on human rights?
OXFAM have gone 'Behind the Barcodes' and analysed the supermarkets' policies and practices towards human rights in their supply chains. They then looked at behaviour towards four different aspects of protecting workers and ranked them based on an overall percentage. It allows consumers to see what their favourite supermarkets is doing for human rights and sets a benchmark for supermarkets to improve from.
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Point of No Returns
Share action have ranked 75 of the largest asset managers, from across the world, based on their commitments to responsible investment. Businesses and financial organisations still seek to maximise short term goals and profits without looking at the long term impact, socially and environmentally. The rankings show that over 50% of the asset managers still have very limited programmes and initiatives to manage ESG risks.
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Kering: Biodiversity strategy
30th June 2020
Kering have announced a number of initiatives to help protect the planets and its resources. In the strategy they lay out the four stages they will follow: Avoid, Reduce, Restore and Regenerate; and Transform. They are also aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% before 2025.
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Fries with that? McDonald's to roll out EV chargers at drive-through restaurants
30th June 2020
McDonalds have announced that InstaVolt will be installing EV chargers at hundreds of their restaurants and drive-thru restaurants. A large factor in the purchase of an electric car for any owner is the knowledge of how far they will be from an EV charger. McDonalds already have over 1300 locations across the UK and their aim is to reassure owners that they are never from one.
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Amazon to acquire autonomous driving startup Zoox
26th June 2020
Zoox, a self-driving startup company, is set to be acquired by Amazon in order for Amazon to pursue its vision of autonomous ride hailing. It is believed to be Amazon's largest investment in self driving technology and it will primarily be used for ride hailing rather than deliveries, like some journalists speculated.
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Extra £14bn needed a year for climate, report says
29th June 2020
A report by Green Alliance has found that £14 billion of cash funding is required for the UK to meet its Climate Commitments. It suggests that the government is still increasing funding to projects that increase CO2 emissions, such as roads. The report supports findings by the Trades Union Congress about the best value projects and the worst value ones.
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How?
Here we explore best practice integrating sustainability into business practice, engagement and partnership.
European supermarkets are leading in terms of sustainability
18th June 2021
From the Co-op's pledge and investment in reducing the "unfair" price of plant based foods to the competition between Waitrose and ASDA on their plastic free ranges, this article looks at the small things supermarkets are trying in order to engage consumers. In Belgium the Delhaize brand has an app that encourages consumers to swap products for healthier options and offers them a 5% discount on it. There seems to be greater pressure, for retailers to change, from consumers in Europe compared to those in the US.
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Unilever and Google among the major companies to form the Business Alliance to Scale Climate Solutions
4th June 2021
Businesses such as Google, Unilever, Microsoft, Amazon and Netflix are among those to form BASCS which will aim to bring together funding for scalable climate solutions. The alliance will create a central platform from which businesses can combine and collaborate on climate based investments. By providing a platform it will help engage all businesses to scale and improve climate solutions.
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Nomad Foods unveils a new sustainability partnership with WWF
18th March 2021
Nomad Foods, which owns brands such as Birds Eye and Green Cuisine, has announced a nature positive alliance with WWF. The alliance will aim to produce a blueprint for areas that are suitable for sustainable farming methods. With an ever growing population and the challenges of climate change it is important that food production is sustainable and helps to increase biodiversity. The two organisations want to be able to provide widespread access to healthy and sustainable food.
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600 major businesses form new network on climate resilience and adaptation
25th February 2021
Think tank The Resilience Shift and the business group Resilience First have brought together some of the world's largest businesses to help the private sector work together with governments. The network has said they want to create a global hub to offer advice and solutions to climate issues. The businesses have a combined annual revenue of over $3trn and the network aims to use their size to lobbying governments for stronger climate . policies
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£10 million fund for nature-based climate solutions unveiled by DEFRA
10th February 2021
The Environment agency, on behalf of the government department, has created a £10 million fund which offers grants to environmental projects. These projects have to be designed to create and restore natural habitats. Whilst the fund will help private sector projects, local authorities and eNGOS it has been designed to be guide on green funding models.
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Businesses sign up to new ESG stakeholder metric system
29th January 2021
The WEF, International Business Council and the Big four accounting firms have produced a new 'stakeholder capitalism metrics' system. The initiative is designed to unify the process of reporting of ESG and ESG standards. The metrics consist of 21 core, and 34 expanded, disclosures that are based on four areas: people, planet, prosperity, and principles of governance. The system is designed to increase transparency, comparability and accountability between companies.
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Study finds many corporate boards lack ESG expertise
21st January 2021
An NYU Stern Centre for Sustainable Business study has found that across the boardrooms of large US companies there is not enough knowledge of ESG. Only 3 of the 1188 Directors in the study had specific climate experience. Many of the firms that face the greatest environmental challenges have no directors with the required knowledge.
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Heavy industry companies come together to help decarbonise
27th January 2021
Heavy industry such as shipping, airlines, cement it is much harder to achieve net zero emissions compared to other industries. A new group called Mission Possible Partnership is bringing together companies from these industries to help pool their ideas, funding and new technology in an attempt to accelerate their process of decarbonisation.
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Bill Gates-Led green energy investment fund raises another $1 billion
19th January 2021
Breakthrough energy Ventures has doubled the size of its fund after its first billion was invested in 45 green startups. the Bloomberg green article looks at how the original green investment boom of 2006 was a failure and how the latest boom is different. BEV is investing on a wide range of technologies in different industries, highlighting the fact that our journey to net zero is not just controlled by industries such as the automotive, aviation and green energy.
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UK Green Building Council #JustTransition
20th January 2021
The GBC has coined the hashtag #JustTransition to highlight the importance of a just and fair shift as we talk climate change. It focuses on the idea that climate change must be viewed through the eyes of human rights and that the detriment caused by climate change is unfairly burdened on the most vulnerable people. The blog and associated graphics indicate the importance of a socially responsible transition that helps to reduce inequality and poverty as well.
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Amazon launches new logo on its website to help customers identify 25,000 independently certified sustainable products
15th September 2020
Amazon their "climate pledge friendly" logo which will help customers find more sustainable products. This could include products under their own certification of "compact by design" which are products that are packaged more efficiently to reduce packaging and air which reduce product size and weight. This reduces the carbon emissions from their transportation.
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AA launches EV Support Service
15th September 2020
The AA has launched a new dedicated electric vehicle support service. This could range from the contact support centre where users can seek help, over the phone, whilst using electric charging stations or the first electric forecourt to roadside support specialists.
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Retailers collaborate to combat climate change
2nd July 2020
A declaration lead by the British Retail Consortium has been signed by 20 major retailers. The declaration is to develop a roadmap that offers support and guidance for retailers to help decarbonise their operations.
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L'Oréal unveils 2030 sustainability strategy with environmental labelling
29th June 2020
Last week L'Oréal published its sustainability strategy, which included targets for the end of this decade. It plans to have environmental and social impact labelling on its products and it plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. It follows their $112 million pledge to be spent on environmental causes.
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'Fertilise the Future': Ecover directs coronavirus windfall to catalyse climate action
11th June 2020
The coronavirus as seen many losers across the globe but also some winners. Ecover, being a cleaning brand, have prospered from this crisis. Consequently, they have launched a £500,000 fund, nicknamed 'Fertilise the future', designed to support new projects that can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Ecover have set up page where entrepreneurs can apply for a grant.
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Amazon announces $2 billion Climate Pledge fund
23rd June 2020
The fund is going to be used to invest in new, sustainable technologies and services. It is there to help them achieve their goal of being a net-zero company in operations by 2040. They have committed to looking at companies around the world, from start ups to conglomerates, that can offer them products and services that will help them accelerate their journey to net zero.
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World Rainforest Day: Dozens of retailers commit to deforestation-free fashion supply chains
22nd June 2020
A coalition of 45 businesses have jointly pledged to abolish deforestation from their supply chains. It was an initiative started by a non-profit called Canopy. Canopy believe that by acting together and using their combined purchasing power, companies can make a much bigger difference.
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Sustainability skills 'should be a pre-requisite for more executive positions'
17th June 2020
It is hugely important to identify the skills to teach to leader to make them sustainability leader but it is even more important that these leaders already have the skills and experience in sustainability. Only 4% of jobs for non-executive and senior-executive appointments in 2019 had a requirement for these skills.
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The 2020 GreenBiz 30 Under 30
22nd June 2020
The 2020 list of sustainability leaders under the age of 20. Collated by Green Biz, the list includes a cohort of highly talented and influential people from a diverse range of backgrounds.
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United Nations Global Compact and Russell Reynolds Associates Study identifies characteristics of sustainable business leaders
15th June 2020
It is essential that business leaders look beyond short term profit and growth goals to make longer term, more sustainable goals. The report looks at the critical skills and mindset that leaders need to have in order to have a sustainable future.
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