More specifically, reducing pollution to WHO levels could prevent 17,000 premature deaths every year. Deaths of people of working age.

At the same time, by meeting the WHO’s guidelines, businesses would not lose 3 million working days per annum because of workers becoming ill or taking care of sick children, as a consequence of air pollution.

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

The post Improving air quality could boost the UK economy by £1.6 billion annually appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Editor’s note:

What does this mean for businesses? All Business will have to plan and replace their fleet with electric-powered vehicles before they are left with a huge negative on their balance sheet which can cost them a hefty sum of money. If they rely on external services for their logistics, they have to ensure that they build strong relationships with partners that are taking action (assessment strategy and sustainable supplier selection).

A ban on selling new petrol, diesel or hybrid cars in the UK will be brought forward from 2040 to 2035 at the latest, under government plans.  Tweet This!

Boris Johnson unveiled the policy in November, and said 2020 would be a “defining year of climate action” for the planet.

In another statement, Mr Johnson said the ban on selling new petrol and diesel cars would come even earlier than 2035, if possible.

Once the ban comes into effect, people will only be able to buy electric or hydrogen cars and vans.

The change in plans comes after experts warned the previous target date of 2040 would still leave old conventional cars on the roads.

Friends of the Earth’s Mike Childs said the government was “right” to bring forward the ban, but that 2030 would be better than 2035. He said: “A new 2035 target will still leave the UK in the slow-lane of the electric car revolution and meantime allow more greenhouse gases to spew into the atmosphere.”

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

Most importantly, you will gain the knowledge to use the GRI Standards, project manage your own first-class sustainability report and:

• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and Society
• Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP

References:

This article is based on published information by the BBC. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51366123

The post Petrol and diesel car sales ban brought forward to 2035 appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

Transport for London (TfL) is one of UK’s largest electricity consumers, using 1.6TWh every year. The Tube alone consumes 1.2TWh every year.

According to a recent study by British Business Energy, 200 wind turbines or 5.6 million solar panels would be needed to power the network completely on renewables for one year.

A city powered by renewable energy 

Toady, 16 per cent of the electricity used to power the Underground’s operation comes from renewable sources.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “As one of the single biggest purchasers of energy in London, it is important that TfL leads the way on green energy.” “This is a vital step towards my ambitions for TfL – and London – to be zero-carbon by 2030.”

Environmental organisations welcomed the London Mayor’s decision.

“This work to secure cost-effective and renewable energy for the rail network, with ambitions to include the wider [Greater London Authority] group and beyond, will play a key role in London’s green recovery and accelerating action on the climate emergency,” Khan added.

How about reducing electricity use altogether?

With almost half of UK businesses working remotely due to COVID-19, commuting may never be the same again. People have got used to more flexible working hours and 45 per cent of them expect more flexibility in their work hours after lockdown ends.

If 45 per cent of London’s commuters work remotely in the future, it would save more than 460 thousand kWh of electricity.

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

Most importantly, you will gain the knowledge to use the GRI Standards, project manage your own first-class sustainability report and:

• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and Society
• Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP

References:

This article is based on published information by Euronews. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.euronews.com/living/2020/07/17/the-london-underground-could-soon-run-on-100-renewable-energy

The post London Underground could soon run on 100% renewable energy appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

The Eurobarometer survey showed that citizens want more to be done to protect the environment, including by big companies and industry, national governments and the EU, as well as citizens themselves. According to the citizens interviewed, the most effective ways of tackling environmental problems are ‘changing the way we consume’ and ‘changing the way we produce and trade’.

Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries Virginijus Sinkevičius said: “The results of this survey are no surprise to us. With the European Green Deal these are exactly the citizens’ concerns that we want to address. I am encouraged to see that there is support for the fundamental changes we are going to make in our society and economy, and that people want to play an active role in this change.”

According to the survey, climate change, air pollution, and waste are the three most important environmental issues. More than three-quarters (78%) of respondents said that environmental issues directly impacted their daily life and health, while over eight in ten citizens were worried about the impact of chemicals present in everyday products.

There is widespread acknowledgement that fundamental changes may be needed. Amongst the more than 27,000 people interviewed, there is solid support for policy measures aimed at reducing plastic waste and littering. The survey also revealed that citizens believe products should be designed in a way that facilitates recycling of plastic. Accordingly, industry and retailers should make an effort to reduce plastic packaging, and people should be educated on how to reduce their plastic waste. Local authorities should also provide more and better collection facilities for plastic waste.

The survey also examined attitudes towards the clothing industry, and found high levels of concern regarding environmental issues and working conditions. Respondents expressed a desire for clothing that lasted longer, made of materials that could be recycled.

Finally, support was expressed for other measures, including investment in research and development, more information and education, encouraging businesses to engage in sustainable activities and stricter legislative control.

Background

This survey was conducted between 6 and 19 December 2019 in the then 28 EU Member States. Some 27,498 respondents from different social and demographic groups were interviewed, face-to-face at home in their mother tongue.

This Special Eurobarometer survey was the follow-up of a Special Eurobarometer survey conducted in October 2017, on the same topic. Many of the questions were repeated in this Special Eurobarometer.

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

References:

This article is based on published information by the European Commission. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_331

The post New Eurobarometer Survey: Environmental protection and climate important for over 90% of European citizens appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

The regulations will apply to a range of everyday items including mobile phones, textiles, electronics, batteries, construction and packaging, making sure products are designed and manufactured to last – and that they are repairable if they go wrong.

It should mean that your phone lasts longer and proves easier to fix, especially if the display or the battery needs changing.

It’s all part of a worldwide movement called the Right to Repair, which led to the emergence of citizens’ repair workshops in various UK cities.

The plan is being presented by the European Commission and is expected to create standards for the UK too, even after Brexit, because it probably won’t be worthwhile for manufacturers to make lower-grade models only to be sold in Britain.

An ‘ambitious’ proposal

It’s all part of what one green group is calling the most ambitious and complete proposal ever put forward to reduce the environmental and climate impact of the things consumers use and wear. The aim is to make environmentally-friendly products the norm. It could mean manufacturers using screws to hold parts in place, instead of glue.

The rules will also fight “premature obsolescence”, the syndrome in which manufacturers make goods with deliberately low lifespan, to force consumers into buying a newer model.

According to one green group, the European Environment Bureau (EEB): “The strategy is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the way we manufacture, use and dispose of our products in a way that benefits people and the planet.” It urges Europe’s politicians to turn the plans into reality.

Recycled material

The EU also seeks to set a food waste reduction target, end over-packaging, and minimise microplastic pollution. Other recommendations under the proposals, known as the Circular Economy Action Plan, include the following:

• increasing recycled content in products
• reducing products’ impact on the climate and environment
• providing incentives for a new type of consumer use, where producers keep the ownership of the product or the responsibility for its performance throughout the product’s lifecycle – similar to car leasing

The idea is to encourage manufacturers to make sure things don’t break , as they will have to pick up the bill for their repair or replacement. The new rules go further than previous narrower regulations aimed at securing the repair-ability of “white goods” such as fridges and washing machines. However, the EEB complains that the package should go even further, setting waste prevention targets for businesses and industries, along with goals for reducing resource use overall across Europe.

The new EU package may restore some of the block’s reputation for environmental leadership, following condemnation of last week’s climate package. The tone of the document definitely strikes a green note. It begins: “There is only one planet Earth, yet by 2050, the world will be consuming as if there were three” and notes that “many products break down too quickly, cannot be easily reused, repaired or recycled, and many are made for single-use only.”

According to the report, global consumption of materials such as biomass (plant material), fossil fuels, metals and minerals is expected to double in the next 40 years. And it stresses that half of total greenhouse gas emissions and over 90% of biodiversity loss and water stress come from resource extraction and processing. The measures will need to be agreed by member states and MEPs, who are likely to be under pressure to act from their own citizens, who don’t seem to appreciate the throwaway society.

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI Standards Certified & ISEP recognised course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

References:

This article is based on published information by the BBC. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51825089

The post Climate change: New EU rules could mean the end of ‘throwaway culture’ appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

She joins with a dynamic track record of leading and developing effective strategy, policy and communications across both the water industry, as previous Director of Environment of Water UK, and crop protection and environmental science in her role at the CPA.

Professor Paul Leinster CBE, Chair of ISEP’s Board, said of the appointment;

“We are delighted to welcome Sarah to ISEP – she is joining at a critical time for both the organisation and the profession as a whole. As the leading professional body in this space, we are proud to be on a mission to help businesses and other organisations transform the world to sustainability and it is imperative we have an influential leader at the helm, at this time, to help us achieve this. I believe Sarah will provide visible leadership and will represent and continue to grow ISEP’s significant membership of 15,500 professionals, who are the specialists and change-makers at the forefront of tackling key issues of our time, such as the climate and environmental emergency and transitioning to Net Zero and net environment gain.”

Sarah Mukherjee said; “I have enjoyed my time at the CPA enormously and it has been my privilege to lead such a fantastic team. I am proud of the work we have done in the last three years; the Association is well-placed to make the case for safe, affordable food and for agri-science in the post Brexit world. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the CPA’s members for their support and the staff team members for their dedication and energy.

I am delighted to be joining ISEP at such a crucial time for sustainability management in the UK and globally. In the year that the COP comes to the UK, it’s clear that our members are walking the walk when it comes to delivering a low carbon future and I am very much looking forward to leading ISEP’s dynamic team.”

Paul Leinster adds; “We look forward to Sarah taking up her post at ISEP in June. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Toby Robins for the way he continues to lead and manage ISEP in the interim.”

Sarah Mukherjee studied law at St Hilda’s College Oxford and completed her MBA at the University of Warwick. She also holds qualifications in French and journalism. After working as a research for MPs, she spent just over 22 years working for the BBC, becoming the BBC’s Environment Correspondent from 2001-2010.

In 2010 Sarah was appointed as Director of Environment at Water UK and in 2017 took up the role of Chief Executive of the Crop Protection Association.  In 2019 Sarah was appointed to the UK Government’s Review of National Parks.

In addition to her communication skills, Sarah’s expertise includes agricultural and environmental policy, promoting good science and better regulation, carbon management and ecosystems.  She is also passionate about promoting and delivering change in relation to social inclusion including equality and diversity.

Key facts – Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISEP)

• Is the largest professional body for environmental practitioners in the United Kingdom and worldwide, with more than 14,000 members in over 100 countries, working together to make businesses and organisations future-proof
• Approves training course providers to deliver environmental training
• Is in the process of applying for a Royal Charter. As a chartered body, ISEP would be formally recognised by the UK Government to develop and regulate the profession (corporate sustainability, environmental management, and impact assessment). If ISEP achieves a Royal Charter it will become CISEP – the Chartered Institute of Environmental Management & Assessment.
• CPD – Continuing Professional Development is a mandatory requirement to maintain membership
• ISEP Training Partners: ISEP works with training partners to share environmental and sustainability training solutions

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

7 GRI sustainability disclosures get you started

Any size business can start taking sustainability action

GRI, ISEP, CPD Certified Sustainability courses (2-5 days): Live Online or Classroom  (venue: London School of Economics)

• Exclusive FBRH template to begin reporting from day one
• Identify your most important impacts on the Environment, Economy and People
• Formulate in group exercises your plan for action. Begin taking solid, focused, all-round sustainability action ASAP. 
• Benchmarking methodology to set you on a path of continuous improvement

See upcoming training dates.

References:

This article is based on published information by ISEP. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following links:

https://www.iema.net/

https://www.harper-adams.ac.uk/general/staff/profile/202640/Sarah-Mukherjee/

The post IEMA appoints new CEO appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

This case study is based on the 2018 Sustainability Report by Mazda published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Mazda is making efforts to reduce environmental impact throughout the entire product life cycle  Tweet This! and has achieved, in FY March 2018, a 41% reduction in transportation CO2 emissions per ton-kilometre (compared with FY March 1991 levels). In order to reduce logistics emissions Mazda took action to:

• reform transportation by consolidating logistics centres
• improve the ratio of modal shift for the transportation of service parts
• promote “straight” logistics without distribution centres
• reduce the transportation distance for procured parts for overseas production
• reduce the transportation distance for repair parts
• improve transportation efficiency for procured parts

The post Case study: How Mazda reduces logistics emissions appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

This case study is based on the 2017/18 Sustainability Report by Ford published on the Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability Disclosure Database that can be found at this link. Through all case studies we aim to demonstrate what CSR/ ESG/ sustainability reporting done responsibly means. Essentially, it means: a) identifying a company’s most important impacts on the environment, economy and society, and b) measuring, managing and changing.

Abstract

Automobiles are some of the most highly recycled consumer products in the world, and most of the materials they contain can be recovered at the end of their useful lives. Ford tries to achieve the highest level of economically and environmentally viable recovery of vehicles  Tweet This! through the careful selection of materials, and by sharing information about the materials its vehicles contain with dismantlers. In order to reduce vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts Ford took action to:

• implement take-back schemes
• apply alternative end-of-life treatments
• promote recycling

The post Case study: How Ford reduces vehicles’ end-of-life environmental impacts appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

The Norwegian oil fund is the world’s largest sovereign investor, owning $37bn of shares in oil companies such as BP, Shell and France’s Total, and is expected to dispose of approximately $7.5bn of oil and gas companies focused only on exploration and production. The fund has also reduced the proportion of its $1 trillion fortune invested in the highest greenhouse gas emitting companies.

Environmental campaigners welcomed this move by the world’s biggest state-owned investment fund, hoping it signals the beginning of a trend for investors shifting their money away from activities blamed for climate change. It certainly increases the pressure on large energy companies to do more to embrace and adapt to the energy transition towards less polluting fuels.

The Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), representing investors with over 21 trillion euros ($26 trillion) in assets under management, welcomed the move. “The fund … reducing its stake in major emitters is a strong signal that investors are increasingly focused on aligning their portfolios with the rapidly progressing energy transition,” said Stephanie Pfeifer, IIGCC chief executive.

The divestment also aims to reduce Norway’s dependence on an industry facing questions regarding its long-term future. Global climate goals are accelerating efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and this decision will send shockwaves through an industry trying hard to improve its green credentials, under increasing pressure from investors. Large oil and gas companies expected by Norway to invest in renewable energy in the future, were spared.

“This partial divestment from oil and gas is welcome, but not enough to mitigate Norway’s exposure to both global oil and gas prices and the wider financial ramifications of climate change. However, it does send a clear signal that companies betting on the expansion of their oil and gas businesses present an unacceptable risk, not only to the climate but also to investors,” said Charlie Kronick, oil campaigner at Greenpeace UK.

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

References:

This article is based on published information by the Financial Times. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following links:

https://www.ft.com/content/d32142a8-418f-11e9-b896-fe36ec32aece

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-47494239

https://www.reuters.com/article/norway-swf/norways-1-trillion-fund-curbs-holdings-in-biggest-co2-emitters-idUSL8N1PC40N

The post Norway’s $1tn wealth fund cuts oil and gas stocks appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.

According to Mark van Baal, founder of the activist group Follow This, big investors, including the Church of England Pensions Board, are responsible for this change in an industry that has, until now, been unwilling to take responsibility for its contribution to global warming.

After decades of campaigning by environmentalists and NGO, spreadsheet-analysing investors pushing the biggest corporate polluters to tackle climate change and leading campaigns to cut carbon emissions, are forming a new generation of climate activists – backed by trillions of dollars.

The economic costs of climate change

A key factor that motivated investors to hold companies to account is the financial risk brought about by climate change. Accordingly, oil and gas companies and the energy industry as a whole, whose activities could accelerate global warming, are under scrutiny.

In addition, there is a worry that a continuous push by governments to cut emissions in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement will make a huge number of oil and gas projects uneconomic, reducing the value of related assets and shareholdings. As regards the value of the global total stock of manageable assets at risk due to climate change, it is estimated that losses could range from $4.2tn to $43tn between now and the end of the century.

Increasing anxiety over these costs has resulted in a wave of climate activism at the highest levels of the financial world. Large energy companies are urged to cut emissions from fossil fuel extraction and processing, switch to producing low-carbon fuels, improve efficiency in transmission and distribution along with their presence in renewables, and invest in technologies such as carbon capture and storage.

Investors are urging companies to disclose climate-related information  Tweet This!

Mark Carney, the governor of the Bank of England, has led an initiative to push energy companies and others to disclose climate risks. Although the debate is still mostly focused on making pledges instead of forcing action, the number of investor resolutions focusing on climate change across all sectors doubled to 42 between the 2013-14 and 2016-17 voting seasons. A number of fossil fuel producers are increasingly affected and, during Exxon’s 2017 annual meeting, over 60% of shareholders, including BlackRock, revolted and voted against the board, forcing Exxon to subsequently improve its disclosure of information on climate change.

Investors expected to file more resolutions to hold individual board members to account include Legal and General Investment Management, the £1tn asset manager. In addition, investors are turning their attention to polluting companies that publicly commit to cut their emissions while privately backing lobbying by trade bodies to undermine global climate efforts. Accordingly, in October 2018, a coalition of big investors wrote to 55 European companies, from BP to BMW, asking them to review the positions adopted by their trade associations. Another group of investors called Climate Action 100+, which has a combined $32tn under management, calls on companies to increase climate-related financial disclosures.

Divesting from fossil fuels

According to lobby group Go Fossil Free, approximately 1,000 investors, with $7.18tn in assets, have committed to divest from at least some type of fossil fuels. They include PKA, the Danish pension fund, which has pulled its investments in several oil producers and coal companies. Additionally, the Church of England Pensions Board voted to sell holdings in fossil fuel companies not taking action to fight global warming from 2023.

78% of the world’s 250 largest companies report in accordance with the GRI Standards

SustainCase was primarily created to demonstrate, through case studies, the importance of dealing with a company’s most important impacts in a structured way, with use of the GRI Standards. To show how today’s best-run companies are achieving economic, social and environmental success – and how you can too.

Research by well-recognised institutions is clearly proving that responsible companies can look to the future with optimism.

FBRH GRI Standards Certified and ISEP approved Sustainability Course | Venue: London LSE

By registering for the next 2-day FBRH GRI-Standards Certified and ISEP approved Course you will be taking the first step in gaining the many benefits of sustainability reporting.

References:

This article is based on published information by the Financial Times. For the sake of readability, we did not use brackets or ellipses. However, we made sure that the extra or missing words did not change the publication’s meaning. If you would like to quote these written sources from the original please revert to the following link:

https://www.ft.com/content/c245af4a-f875-11e8-af46-2022a0b02a6c

The post Spreadsheet-analysing money managers in control of trillion-dollar funds force polluters to change appeared first on SustainCase - Sustainability Magazine.