Sat.Aug 01, 2020 - Fri.Aug 07, 2020

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Behind Microsoft's bold plan to build social equity into clean energy buying

GreenBiz

Behind Microsoft's bold plan to build social equity into clean energy buying. Heather Clancy. Thu, 08/06/2020 - 00:45. There were plenty of juicy news tidbits in Microsoft’s recent progress report about its goal to become carbon negative over the next decade. But its new goal to link at least 500 megawatts of forthcoming solar energy contracts to environmental justice considerations is bold for many reasons. .

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Failing Is Learning; Fail Fast to Learn Faster

Daniel Burrus

It was Thomas Edison, inventor of the lightbulb and other mainstays of the modern world, who said, “I haven’t failed, I’ve just found ten thousand ways that don’t work.”. This concept is lost on many in the information age, unfortunately. Because of the immediacy with which we receive both positive and negative feedback from our peers now, when we innovate and put something into the world and promptly receive less than desirable results, or it doesn’t work the way we wanted it to, we are more ea

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Waste-heat-to-electricity business picks up Institute of Physics award

Envirotec Magazine

The team at FeTu (with founder Jon Fenton, centre). An Elland-based firm whose turbine-based device has global potential to slash CO2 emissions by converting waste heat into electricity, has been awarded the Institute of Physics (IOP) Business Start-up Award. Established in 2016 by engineering entrepreneur Jon Fenton, FeTu’s seemingly “simple but revolutionary” device is a two-stage turbine designed to “reduce both energy consumption and emissions by unprecedented levels”

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New Global Storytelling Competition Encourages Public Involvement in Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development Network

Esri and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) launch global competition to increase data-driven storytelling and the use of timely geospatial data and GIS tools to address global challenges. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE AR-SA August 6, 2020 – Esri , the global leader in location intelligence, and the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), a leading NGO working to mobilize global scientific and technological expertise for sustainable development, today

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Planting tiny urban forests can boost biodiversity and fight climate change

GreenBiz

Planting tiny urban forests can boost biodiversity and fight climate change. Alex Thornton. Fri, 08/07/2020 - 00:30. How much space do you think you need to grow a forest? If your answer is bigger than a couple of tennis courts, think again. Miniature forests are springing up on patches of land in urban areas around the world, often planted by local community groups using a method inspired by Japanese temples.

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The Coronavirus Crisis was Already Bad. Extreme Heat Waves are Making It Worse.

Sense and Sustainability

Editor’s Note: This article was first published by the Environmental Defense Fund, an organization focusing on creating economical policies to support clean air and water; abundant fish and wildlife; and a stable climate. The article was authored by Ilissa Ocko and originally appeared here. Climate pollution is making heat waves longer, hotter and more frequent.

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Parliamentarians Examine COVID-19, Building Back Better, and Climate Change

Sustainable Development Network

AUGUST 4, 2020, NEW YORK – Today the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and Parliamentarians for the Global Goals (PFGG) organized a high-level dialogue on climate change and COVID-19. Participants included parliamentarians and their staff from over 60 countries, as well as experts on climate policy.

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The perfect pair? Custom-fit jeans startup challenges fast fashion mindset

GreenBiz

The perfect pair? Custom-fit jeans startup challenges fast fashion mindset. Lauren Phipps. Mon, 08/03/2020 - 02:12. Canceled orders, excess stock, disrupted supply chains: The pandemic has laid bare some fundamental challenges with the way our clothes are designed, ordered, manufactured and sold — or landfilled, incinerated or sold on secondary markets.

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Tending the Soil

Sense and Sustainability

In the race not just to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but find ways to remove carbon from the atmosphere, soil has taken central stage. And hence, so has agriculture ; not just because of the industry’s carbon footprint, but because, if managed properly, soil may hold the potential to reverse climate change. However, a narrow fixation with greenhouse gas emissions has brought a host of solutions that seem to be perpetuating the industrial, high-input, export-oriented agriculture that favors the

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Innovative solutions found for offshore wind workforce during pandemic

Envirotec Magazine

As the offshore wind sector adjusts to working with increased physical separation during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, G+ Global Offshore Wind Health & Safety Organisation, in partnership with ORE Catapult, KTN and the Workboat Association, has recognised five organisations for initiatives to improve operational safety. With social distancing severely reducing the number of offshore wind turbine technicians permitted to undertake wind farm inspections, maintenance and repairs, a cross-secto

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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KPI for sustainable economy: appropriate indicators & accurate monitoring of resources

EMG CSR

KPI for sustainable economy: Measurability of appropriate indicators and accurate monitoring of resources is a key for countries to move towards a more sustainable, greener economy. The green economy approach seeks to redirect economic investments to support growth through policy responses, while taking into account the social implications and the related environmental issues.

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Electric truck fleets will need a lot of power, but utilities aren't planning for it

GreenBiz

Electric truck fleets will need a lot of power, but utilities aren't planning for it. Stephen Nadel. Tue, 08/04/2020 - 01:11. As more electric buses and trucks enter the market, future fleets will require a lot of electricity for charging. While some utilities in California and elsewhere are planning for an increase in power demand, many have yet to do so and need to get started.

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Oil giant BP to slash oil and gas production, boost renewables capacity 20-fold by 2030

Eco-Business

Analysts welcomed the timeframe and said the Covid-19 pandemic and plunge in oil demand were contributing factors. Earlier this year, BP had pledged to achieve net zero by 2050.

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Gas sensor technology heads to Mars on board NASA’s Perseverance rover

Envirotec Magazine

The Perseverance rover vehicle will take about 7 months to travel to the red planet. An international collaboration is taking technology from gas measurement expert Vaisala and the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI) to Mars onboard NASA’s Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. The rover was launched on 30 July 2020. Vaisala’s sensor technology combined with FMI’s measurement instrumentation are being used to obtain pressure and humidity data from the surface of the red planet.

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Are Your Impact Comms Resonating With Stakeholders?

Whether your organization is at the start of its sustainability and impact journey or years into it, many brands share a common concern: the uncertainty of whether they are sending stakeholders mixed messages. Creating content that speaks to your audience's “love language” can be a tricky dance. But, worry not! 3BL has put together tips to ensure that your content not only finds its rhythm but also resonates with your target audiences.

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AAA Adds 55 Electric Vehicles As Part Of Sacramento’s Green City Initiative

CleanTechnica

AAA is adding 55 VW eGolf electric vehicles to its vehicle subscription service in Sacramento, California this week, in support of Electrify America's Green City Initiative.

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Digital technology, green finance in vogue among fashion’s sustainability trendsetters

GreenBiz

Digital technology, green finance in vogue among fashion’s sustainability trendsetters. Phylicia Wu. Wed, 08/05/2020 - 01:00. The key to long-term success in the fashion industry is to start trends and continually push the envelope — a philosophy that also applies to its ESG priorities. The $2.5 trillion industry accounts for about 8 percent of the world’s carbon emissions when considering the entire value chain — higher than the entire iron and steel manufacturing industry combined, for compari

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Vietnam approves US$9 billion project within mangrove reserve

Eco-Business

Environmentalists and activists have petitioned the government to reconsider the development by Vingroup, Vietnam’s largest private company, as it will require the reclamation of a huge amount of land along Can Gio’s coast.

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UK Government appoints Arup as sustainability consultant for COP26

Envirotec Magazine

COP26 is to be held at the SEC, Glasgow, in November 2021. The UK Government, as hosts of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), has selected engineering, design and consultancy firm Arup to help it achieve its ambition of delivering a sustainable summit. Arup, together with partners Crowberry Consulting, will work with the Government to prepare for the November 2021 COP26 event in Glasgow by advising on all aspects of sustainability.

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Mastering Supply Chain Sustainability: Where Does ESG Fit In?

Speaker: Hortense Grouvel

In this new webinar, you will learn firsthand how to set up a sustainable supply chain program that will help meet increasing ESG requirements stemming from regulators, customers, consumers, and investors alike. Hortense Grouvel, ESG expert at IntegrityNext, and Sean Whelan, Global Senior Manager at Halliburton, will look at how ensuring compliance will also help you increase sustainability performance, resilience, and innovation, allowing you to unlock the full potential of your supply chain op

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Swarm Of Tiny Robots Could Help Eliminate Pesticides

CleanTechnica

Imagine a future of foods free of harmful chemicals -- a future where crops still grow strong and dense in the absence of choking weeds, but bees and other pollinators buzz and frolic among the crops. Over at Clint Brauer's farm outside of Cheney, Kansas, that future is very nearly a reality, thanks to a swarm of autonomous robots.

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New local campaigns can bring cheaper and cleaner rooftop solar to communities of color

GreenBiz

New local campaigns can bring cheaper and cleaner rooftop solar to communities of color. Lacey Shaver. Thu, 08/06/2020 - 00:20. There is a new urgency across the United States to address structural and systemic racial inequities in criminal justice , wealth and housing , employment , health care and education. These disparities are also pervasive in energy.

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Pressure on FSC to address transparency and conflict of interest concerns

Eco-Business

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), a scheme for certifying sustainable forestry products, needs to raise its game to address flaws in its system that allow deforesters to sell products using the FSC label, environmentalists say.

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Government says beavers can stay in their Devon home

Envirotec Magazine

(Photo credit: © Mike Symes Devon Wildlife Trust). Defra announces ‘pioneering’ wildlife decision. Secures a future for the first ever reintroduction of an extinct native mammal to England. Stamp of approval for five years’ of ground-breaking work by Devon Wildlife Trust. After years of uncertainty, England’s first wild breeding population of beavers for 400 years has been given the permanent right to remain in their East Devon river home.

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What Regulations Will Impact Sustainability Comms in 2024?

Navigating the waters of sustainability reporting disclosures and regulations can be intimidating, to say the least. With various measures set in motion in 2023 to keep companies accountable, there is a lot in store for brands’ impact communication in the upcoming year. 3BL is kicking off this January with our Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Capricorn Edition by highlighting the impact of: The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Climate disclosure rules The European Commission

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The Costs Of Owning A Conventional Car Are Far Higher Than People Think

CleanTechnica

Researchers in Germany say if people knew how much their cars actually cost to own, that knowledge would reduce the number of cars on the road and help boost sales of electric cars.

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The digital divide worsens the inequitable impacts of the climate crisis

GreenBiz

The digital divide worsens the inequitable impacts of the climate crisis. Maddie Stone. Mon, 08/03/2020 - 01:00. This story originally appeared in Grist and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalistic collaboration to strengthen coverage of the climate story. One of the starkest inequalities exposed by the coronavirus pandemic is the difference between the digital haves and have-nots.

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Sliding walls, hideable offices: How pandemic could change home design

Eco-Business

When Spain's coronavirus lockdown ended in late June, one thing was at the top of Teresa Silvi's priority list - to sell her apartment and find somewhere more suitable for her family to live now they were spending far more time at home.

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Air and noise quality study will help inform Oxford City’s future environmental policy approach

Envirotec Magazine

Researchers at the University of Birmingham and University of Oxford have secured £207,000 funding from the Natural Environment Research Council to investigate the impacts of COVID-19 related public health measures upon air and noise quality in Oxford. The new ‘OxAria’ study started on 1st July, extending an existing collaboration which has enabled five low-cost air pollution sensors to be installed at city centre locations, generating real-time information on key air pollutants, including nitro

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What Questions Are Brands Asking About Their ESG Initiatives Ahead of 2024?

Temperatures are rising (and not just metaphorically) as key stakeholders anxiously anticipate the outcomes of COP28. While companies reconsider their 2024 environmental sustainability strategies, there is another aspect of ESG that deserves exploring, the social sector. In the latest edition of "Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Sagittarius Edition", 3BL hones in on this sign’s bold quality of asking questions others are burning to know the answers to.

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Africa’s Low Motorization Levels Present An Opportunity For Another Leapfrog Event

CleanTechnica

Even counting used vehicles, the majority of African countries still have very low levels of motorization compared to countries in the developed world. Only a handful of countries have motorization rates above 100 vehicles per 1,000 people.

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Global e-waste has risen 21% in five years, says UN

Envirotec Magazine

A record 53.6 million tonnes (Mt) of e-waste was produced globally in 2019, the weight of 350 cruise ships the size of the Queen Mary 2; $57 billion in gold and other components discarded – mostly dumped or burned. A record 53.6 million metric tonnes (Mt) of electronic waste was generated worldwide in 2019, up 21 per cent in just five years, according to the UN’s Global E-waste Monitor 2020.

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Firms target hard to recycle plastic packaging reduction with biodegradable alternative

Envirotec Magazine

Hydropol resin pellets. Packaging firm DS Smithand and Aquapak, a developer of biodegradable polymer, are teaming up to develop sustainable fibre based packaging solutions that they say will replace hard to recycle packaging made from combined materials such as cardboard and plastic. After a period of pilot trials with the combined materials, focusing on both performance and recyclability, the partnership will now begin developing practical applications.

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Efficient and mobile separation technology fills a small gap

Envirotec Magazine

The processing involved in breaking materials down to RC material is part of the everyday business of the construction and material handling industry. A new product has been developed to service businesses in these sectors through a seemingly highly efficient technology for separating lightweight materials from building rubble. According to the supplier, Orba Group, the wash-bear® works according to the proven floating-sinking principle and reliably and cleanly separates light materials such as

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The Silver Lining to Corporate DEI Challenges

In our latest edition of Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Scorpio Edition, 3BL embraces the perspective of one of the zodiac's most misunderstood signs: Scorpio. While this sign often has a darker view of the world, they do not shy away from shining a light on controversial topics. This month we take a deep dive into corporate pullback of DEI and how companies can utilize astrological advice to reinvent its social impact communication.