As this article states, the ISSB has published new rules that are intended to put more pressure on companies to disclose how climate change is impacting their operation.  This will also help curb greenwashing.

• Canada, Britain, Japan, Singapore, Nigeria, Chile, Malaysia, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa are already considering adoption. Other countries will follow.

As these rules are adopted, the trickle-down from listed companies to their suppliers will occur.  Those suppliers that are prepared, will take market share.

NYU/Stern aggregated 1,000+ studies from 2015 – 2020 into this monster report.  Some of it is targeted for investors, some for operators, some discusses pure sustainability and some ESG.

There is nothing new or surprising in the findings.  The quantity of data studied, however, is quite impressive.

Key points for sustainability at the operational level:

• Sustainability initiatives drive better financial performance
• Managing for a low carbon future improves financial performance

This audio interview was given in response to the question – “What is the best sustainability program for real estate assets?”

Here is a quick flyer on the value of the Edenark Group ISO 14001 program.

As all of us remember, and as this article states, not many years ago, producers of products would say, “Consumers don’t care about sustainability or deforestation – they just want cheap products.”

Then, three years ago, the climate crisis and environmental issues caught more of our attention as we were all feeling vulnerable (ie, COVID).

As of the time of this article, which was two years ago, a study showed a 71% increase in online searches for sustainable goods globally and 66% of all respondents and 75% of millennials considered sustainability when making a purchase.

As recently as a year ago, studies which we have shown, put the percentage considering sustainability up to 88%, those willing to change brands specifically for sustainability at 70%, and 25% of consumers having already changed brands due to sustainability. 

This year, we are seeing the wave of consumer demand drive governments to put teeth into their sustainability and carbon policies.

To those of you who see how fast things are evolving, contact us.  We are happy to help you be part of the future.

To those who say, “Consumers still want cheap product”, we say, “Yep, they sure do; but made by a certified sustainable company.”

Balanced against some of the climate data we have been seeing, this chart, which shows how fast global solar capacity is rising, is a welcome sight. 

Solar is far less expensive than fossil fuels, so most new energy creation projects consider solar and the other alternative energy solutions before considering the more costly (in multiple ways) fossil fuel option.

Edenark Group leadership has been responsible for over $1b in active/operating solar around the world and helps its clients make smart financial decisions regarding energy needs. 

This article presents four charts and a discussion of each.

In summary:

• Global air temperature is the highest on record

• Ocean surface temperature is the highest on record

• Antarctic sea ice is at the lowest on record

• Carbon dioxide is at the highest on record

Bottom line, it is hot and it is going to get a lot hotter.

Contact us and join the thousands of organizations around the world that are choosing to be part of the solution. 

The purpose of this post is to refresh/restate to all small to mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) the opportunity that Net Zero / Scope 3 presents for you.

Refresh on Scope 1, 2 and 3 Definitions: 

• Scope 1 – The direct carbon emissions from owned or controlled sources (ie, the business operation)
• Scope 2 – Indirect emissions from generation of purchased energy (ie, the carbon produced by your local utility to provide your electricity)
• Scope 3 – Indirect emissions that occur in the value chain of the reporting company (15 different categories including vendors, distribution, leased assets, business travel, et cetera)

Refresh on Carbon Neutrality v Net Zero

• Carbon Neutrality includes Scope 1 and 2
• Net Zero includes Scope 1, 2 and 3

Restating the opportunity:

• All public companies have either stated their Net Zero plans, or will be forced by government regulations to do so
• Every company that has a Net Zero plan is going to need its Scope 3 providers (ie, its vendors) to have a sustainability / carbon program
• As the video in this article discusses, Scope 3 is VERY hard to quantify. Companies are struggling with getting their value chain, including their vendors, to develop programs and provide the needed information
• If your SME is looking to sell to larger companies….and if you were certified sustainable, including having a carbon reporting program….your ability to take market share would be materially enhanced

If you want to get ahead of this and take market share, contact us.

A study discussed in this article reports

• 98% of CEOs believe they need to make their businesses more sustainable
• But 58% believe sustainability is in conflict with growth

Response:  If you believe, as the 58% do, that sustainability is in conflict with growth, you are talking to the wrong sustainability advisors.

The study then asked Next-gen leaders for advice and was told to

• Make sustainability more human, then determine how to do so profitably
• Think long-term and allow sustainability initiatives time to scale
• Broaden the definition of success and collaborate across your ecosystem

Response:  Not sure how many of those next-gen leaders are sitting in the CEO chair.  All three of those solutions suggest reducing or diluting the focus on profit which is not an appealing option for most CEOs.  We suggest the opposite – use sustainability as a profit-driver and prioritize sustainability projects that have the highest ROI.

Simple fact:  For-profit companies are for profit.  Their advisor should build their sustainability program to support that.  This webinar speaks to that point.

Per this article, family businesses are serving as ambassadors for sustainability. 

The article further states that, besides being the ‘right thing to do’ and a driver of growth, family businesses often pursue sustainability to enhance the family’s legacy.

Obviously, given what we do, we support any organization that pursues and champions sustainability.

That said, given the rise of Greenwashing and the fact that the vast majority of consumers disbelieve sustainability claims that are not supported by 3^rd party validations/certifications, we suggest family businesses that are justifiably protective of their legacy to consider becoming certified sustainable in order to ensure their sustainability claims are believed and their legacy secure. 

We welcome family businesses review this flyer and/or this webinar, and contact us.

Edenark Group has a relationship with OneBlueOcean and the CEOs of the two companies are friends.

OneBlueOcean is pursuing a noble cause and is doing wonderful work. 

If you have a passion for our oceans, they are an organization you should know.

We occasionally share some of the videos produced by OneBlueOcean.

Here is Episode 5 of the In Search of Sunrise series.

Enjoy!