Month: July 2023

Water availability and water quality are declining globally. The UN University estimates that by 2030, there will be a 40% gap between water demand and availability. In the meantime, 80% of the world’s wastewater is returned to the environment untreated (UNEP, 2016). Furthermore, climate change is intensifying the water cycle – more intense rainfall and associated flooding, as well as more intense drought (IPCC, 2021) are causing certain locations to have too much water, not enough water, or both at different times of the year. Finally, the CDP has estimated that the cost of inaction on water risks is up to five times the cost of action. Our clients are aware of these challenges, and understand that the global water crisis directly translates to business risks.

In order to understand and mitigate water risks in critical operations, we recommend that our clients perform Source Water Vulnerability Assessments (SVAs) at facilities where water is essential to business continuity. Securing access to water of sufficient quantity and quality is critical to operations where water is a primary ingredient, and has been historically prioritized by food & beverage producers for that reason. However, it is important to remember that water is integral to most operations – whether for employee needs, cleaning, climate control, or as part of the production process.

What is a Source Water Vulnerability Assessment (SVA)?

An SVA is a study that assesses environmental, reputational, and regulatory risks of water source for processes. Antea Group’s Source Water Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) service offers clients a comprehensive view of a specific watershed that focuses on the impacts and dependencies on the watershed. The report:

Describes the vulnerabilities related to the reliability, quality, transmission, treatment and distribution of water;Evaluates the stakeholders represented in the watershed, the regulatory and water management watch points, and the risks posed to the surrounding community that is dependent on that source water; andPresents mitigation strategies to support the advancement of water stewardship within the watershed.

Through the SVA, we aim to ensure that the water source is managed to protect the quality of the product and ensure the sustainability and continuity of the water supply for facility operations. The SVA also considers whether the water quality and quantity are sufficient to support both the current and future operations.

How SVA fits into the AWS Standard 

Antea Group has aligned our SVA approach to Step 1 of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard, “Gather and Understand”, which focuses on collecting reliable data on shared water challenges in the catchments in which the company operates. The AWS Standard is a globally applicable, voluntary sustainability standard that takes users through a process to identify and understand site and catchment water risks, and then act. The AWS Standard was developed through a four-year global, multi-stakeholder consultation seeking a framework that could be implemented by any site, in any sector, in any catchment around the world. As an ISEAL Community Member, the Alliance for Water Stewardship is working to continually improve its system, and is the only framework focused on water that is fully ISEAL Code Compliant. The Standard guides water users to work collaboratively and transparently towards sustainable water management within a catchment context, and is intended to drive social, environmental, and economic benefits at the scale of a catchment.

Inogen Alliance recently sponsored the AWS Forum which brings together global experts for presentations and discussion on water stewardship.

It is our responsibility to help our clients approach water risks strategically, and help them identify and mitigate those risks, both to safeguard their business continuity and the communities that they operate in.

“Water is the ultimate shared resource and we can only manage it sustainably if all water users in a river basin work together” – WWF

Learn more about our global water stewardship services here.

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

Originally published by Forbes.com on Jul 17, 2023

The first Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 brought together political leaders, scientists, journalists and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 179 countries to examine the impact of human activities on the environment.

“Only a handful of business leaders were invited, and when one of them was making a speech in the plenary room, he was booed off the stage after 90 seconds,” said Peter Bakker, CEO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). “In those days, business was considered the source of environmental problems and had no place at this type of meeting.”

When Bakker was invited on stage at SAP SAPPHIRE in Barcelona by Sebastian Steinhaeuser, SAP Chief Strategy Officer, he was received with rapt attention from the audience. He was there to highlight the impact of business on the road to net-zero.

Continue reading here.

Originally published on GoDaddy Resource Library

By Zoe Ashbridge

Everyone needs to develop a support system for better mental health. We’re wired for connection and community. And we may need different communities – or support systems – for different parts of our life.

For entrepreneurs, building a business might feel less isolating and overwhelming, but if you develop a support system of like-minded individuals, you can count on people having your back. It turns out that a good support system will benefit your mental health, too.

In this article, we’re exploring what a support system is, the benefits of having a strong support system, and how to develop your own support network to let your mental health thrive.

What is a support system?

A support system is a network of people who provide emotional, social, and even professional support.

Your support system can include family members, friends, coworkers, and mentors. You may even develop a team of professionals as a separate support system — for example, therapists and support groups.

In business, your support system might even be an online community. As part of my support system, I have a small group who chat predominately on LinkedIn Messenger. Even this group of online friends who I’ve never met in real life is incredible for my mental health and, in turn, my business. Other online support systems live in Facebook groups, Slack, Discord, and more.

Benefits of a strong support system

Your support system is a crucial component of your mental health. Your community provides a sense of security, belonging, and validation. Having a strong support system benefits mental health, but also, other areas of life can thrive with the right support.

A good support system can:

1. Reduce stress

Sharing problems in a safe space helps us to feel heard and validated, our stress levels decrease, and we can approach challenges with a clearer mind. I’m sure we can all relate to a good rant with a friend, only to feel infinitely better after.

Reducing stress through support doesn’t need to be official or feel stuffy. A simple talk with friends or family can help us identify and label emotions allowing us to process them and become less reactive, and more mindful.

So, next time you feel in over your head, give a friend a call.

2. Improve self-esteem

When we have a support system that believes in us, we are more likely to believe in ourselves. This can lead to increased self-esteem and confidence. Your sense of confidence will give you the courage to pursue your goals and dreams. And, with a better mental state, you’re more likely to seize the opportunities as they arise.

3. Beat impostor syndrome

Most entrepreneurs are well-versed in the term impostor syndrome. Jessica Vanderlan, PhD, is quoted sharing that the benefits of sharing your impostor feelings with trusted support systems can help reduce loneliness and give others an option to share how they see you.

This can help your perspective on a situation. Vanderlan does express the importance of sharing with trusted individuals and avoiding sharing imposter syndrome feelings with those who are likely to compete.

It is a good support system that will reap the most benefits for you mentally.

4. Enhance coping skills

Difficult times are inevitable, but when you develop a support system, it can improve our ability to cope. We can learn from others’ experiences and gain perspective on our own challenges, allowing us to approach them with greater resilience.

Managing conflict and coping with situations as they arise means we’re better prepared for the future, too. Harvard Business Review found that, ‘resilience is not purely an individual characteristic, but is also heavily enabled by strong relationships and networks’. Also, that, ‘The ability to bounce back from setbacks is often described as the difference between successful and unsuccessful people.’

So, your support network could be the difference to you reaching your goals.

How to develop your support network & let your mental health thrive

There’s an art to building a support system, and it may take some time to identify those who truly want to be vulnerable with you, listen to you, and support you in thriving.

Here are some strategies for developing your own trusted support network:

1. Actively work on your self-esteem

It all starts with your own self-esteem. Research shows that a better self-esteem leads to better relations, but the reverse can be true, too. So, if you’re struggling with self-esteem you can look for good networks of people to build this.

Better self-esteem means you’re more likely to engage with people who are healthy for you.

To improve your own self-esteem you can try practicing daily affirmations, engaging in activities that bring you joy, and prioritizing your physical and emotional health. Try and get outside every day, step away from your work and indulge in whatever it is that brings you peace.

2. Strengthen connections with family members & friends

Family members and friends can be some of the most critical members of your support system. To strengthen these connections, make time for regular phone calls, text messages, or video chats. Plan outings or activities that you can enjoy together, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it.

Your family and friends may be some of the most underrated support groups, since good friends and family are always there. Still, the act of being together, and chatting through problems — even casually — is going to reap the benefits for your mental health.

3. Consider joining a support group for people like yourself

There will be more support groups in your local area than you don’t know about yet. And when we consider that there are online support groups, you are guaranteed to find a place where you fit in and can benefit from solid support networks.

Support groups can be a great way to connect with others who are going through similar experiences.

You can also find groups based on interests through sites like Meetup.com. Or, you could search Facebook Groups as well as local newspapers.

4. Make time for your own hobbies & interests

Making time for yourself and your own hobbies feels like a no-brainer, but in the world of entrepreneurship, two things can happen: either you find yourself grinding away at your business, promising to take that all-important self-care, later, but, of course, later never arrives. Or, you make the error of monetizing too many hobbies and interests.

Keep some hobbies profit-free and just for fun. You need to give your brain time to relax in order to be in the best place to develop good support networks and you don’t want everything tied into work somehow .

5. Expand your network of people by making new friends

While it can be challenging to make new friends, putting yourself out there can pay off in the long run. Attend social events, join clubs or groups that align with your interests, or volunteer for a cause you care about. This can help you to expand your network of people and build new connections.

I’ve joined running clubs in the past and triathlon groups. These types of activities are amazing for mental health anyway and you get the side benefit of making new friends who will love you!

Conclusion: A healthy support system is key to emotional health

It becomes clear that a strong support system is a crucial component of mental health and more. By looking after your mental health and staying true to your most basic needs, the need for community and validation, you can thrive in many areas of life

Whether it’s emotional, social, or professional support, having a network of people who believe in you and support you can make all the difference.

Take the time to develop your support system, and don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it. Your mental health will thank you.

I began in the role of Chair of the Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) just over three months ago – a relatively short space of time yet much has happened already. We often refer to the GRI Standards as being ‘continuously updated’ and, with an expanding team, that certainly rings true. All the more reason to regularly share with our stakeholders updates about the work and priorities of the GSSB.

It’s worth starting with a reminder of who and what the GSSB is. Formed in 2016 when GRI transitioned from creating sustainability reporting guidelines to setting global standards, we are an independent group of 15 multi-stakeholder experts, drawn from different geographical areas, with sole responsibility for setting the GRI Standards.

We oversee the work of GRI Standards Division in the delivery of our work program, which highlights the standard setting activities prioritized for 2023-2025. We meet every month, including public live-streamed sessions, to review and decide standard setting progress and priorities.

At our last monthly meeting, we discussed the following standards projects, currently in progress:

StandardStatusMining Sector StandardPublic comment period closed at end of April, with 93 submissions received, which are now being assessed ahead of the Standard being finalized.Biodiversity Topic StandardPublic comment period concluded in April and next stage revisions now underway, with final Standard expected in Q1 next year.Textiles and Apparel Sector StandardTo cover textile production, manufacturing and retail, with Working Group recruitment process concluded and next steps to be announced soon.Financial Services Sector StandardsNew project covering standards for banking, insurance and capital markets, with a Technical Committee to be appointed in July.Climate Change Topic StandardsMajor update process to update for all climate related standards, with disclosure drafts for six standards under development.Labor Topic StandardsDrafting process for the first set of four revised labor-related standards is taking place.Economic Impact Topic StandardsApproval granted for a project proposal, and preparatory work has now started.

The GSSB fully appreciates that our work does not take place in isolation, and we regularly cooperate and collaborate with other standard setters and transparency initiatives, to further our purpose of providing the world’s leading and most comprehensive sustainability reporting standards, driving accountability for corporate impacts and their management. At present, that includes two significant developments that I’m sure you heard about: the IFRS Sustainability Disclosures Standards, and the new European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS). Together with the Chief Standards Officer, Bastian Buck, I have also been talking with national standard setters and regulators interested in understanding more about our Standards and how to increase the level of GRI reporting in their countries.

As part of the GRI-IFRS MoU, the GSSB and the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) are working together so that disclosed corporate sustainability information covers impacts, risks and opportunities. Impacts reported under GRI Standards are important to investors as well as all other stakeholders. Organizations that apply GRI for determining and reporting their impacts are well placed to determine the risks and opportunities to their organization arising from those impacts when using IFRS standards. Other activities in the MoU are focused on capacity building and are planned for later this year and early next year.

Similarly, we have provided input to EFRAG for the development of the ESRS, the latest versions of which are as closely aligned as possible with the GRI Standards. What this means is that companies that use GRI Standards are well placed to comply with existing ESRS and will be better prepared for future European reporting requirements.

The GSSB is seeking to ensure that organizations can easily understand how GRI reporting relates to emerging disclosure needs. To that end, we are working with the ISSB, ESRS and national standard setters on projects such as technical mapping, creating XBRL taxonomies and reviewing draft standards. We are also clarifying our position on how the GRI Standards relate to ISSB and ESRS, through a proposed change in GRI 1.

While standard setting may never stop, pausing to consider the views and needs of others is always a good idea. It’s central to our multi-stakeholder ethos. We are particularly keen to hear from organisations that have developed their sustainability reporting through ‘with reference to’ GRI Standards (as in GRI 1), and we are also looking for good practice reporting by public sector organisations. Please get in touch to share such examples with the GSSB, as well as any other feedback you may have. We really do value your input.

Dr Carol Adams

Chair of the GSSB

Across the country, LGBTQ+ youth face challenges that are negatively affecting their mental health. Some find themselves not feeling accepted by their family or friends, or being verbally harassed at school. Many are affected by a slew of new bills that regulate everything from what bathrooms individuals can use to whether people have access to gender-affirming healthcare.

“The current social environment and political landscape are taking a toll on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people,” says Dr. Myeshia Price (she/they), Director of Research Science at The Trevor Project. “This is a serious cause for concern, and these issues aren’t going anywhere until we actively take steps to identify and address them.”

But just how difficult things are for LGBTQ+ youth isn’t always easy to quantify. The Trevor Project, the leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ young people in the United States and a Gilead Foundation grantee, has led the charge in identifying exactly where young people need help. In the organization’s thorough and widely distributed national surveys, tens of thousands of young people across the United States are asked up to 150 questions about their mental health and lived experiences.

The Trevor Project Data 
This year, The Trevor Project surveyed more than 28,000 people ages 13-24 for its 2023 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Young People, and uncovered some difficult truths: 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, 56% stated they couldn’t access mental healthcare and more than 60% said their homes weren’t affirming of their gender and sexuality.

There are nuances to the data as well. For example, youth who are transgender or nonbinary and/or people of color reported higher rates of suicidal ideation. Capturing the complexities of this information is something Myeshia sees as a personal mission.

“As a Black queer person, I’ve always been interested in conducting research that illustrates and uplifts intersectionality, and really examining people’s experiences in relation to the multiple identities that they hold,” explains Myeshia. “Our experiences and needs can vary dramatically depending on our sexual orientation, gender identity, race/ethnicity, ability and a combination of all of these intersecting identities.”

Accurately capturing the experiences of LGBTQ+ people is one challenge, but addressing them is another. The Trevor Project offers free, 24/7 crisis services via phone, chat and text, and runs TrevorSpace, a safe space social networking site where LGBTQ+ youth can find peer-to-peer support. The latter is particularly important. “Our research over the years has consistently found that when LGBTQ+ young people have access to affirming spaces, their odds of suicide risk can lower significantly,” says Myeshia. With the rise in social media, online resources can be particularly helpful for those living in places without a safe in-person community.

Born This Way Foundation Kindness Efforts 
The Trevor Project isn’t alone in addressing the urgent and unmet mental health needs of youth. Among the organizations doing work in this area for young people and LGBTQ+ youth specifically is Born This Way Foundation, a Gilead grantee launched by Lady Gaga and her mom, Cynthia Germanotta. Through its recently published research study, Kind Communities: Perspectives from LGBTQ+ Young People, the organization shares direct insights from LGBTQ+ youth and assesses how communities have been perceiving and experiencing kindness, taking into account the specific challenges LGBTQ+ youth currently face across the United States.

“Throughout our parenting journey, my husband and I always made an effort to listen and engage in conversations about our daughters’ emotions. However, we realized that at times, we struggled to provide the best support or direct them to the right resources,” says Cynthia. “Driven by our dedication to supporting young individuals, our foundation strives to make kindness cool, validate emotions and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health.”

Born This Way Foundation uses its research and mission to produce a number of programs, including Channel Kindness, a digital platform where young people can find and share stories, take action and bring kindness into their daily lives; the Be There Certificate, a free, online course to help young people learn how to support one another’s’ mental health; and #BeKind365, a daily pledge encouraging acts of kindness to oneself, loved ones, community and planet every day from any location.

Despite the many challenges young people face, the worrying mental health statistics, and the rise of anti-trans legislation, Cynthia is hopeful for the future.

“I’m constantly in awe of this generation of young people we work with every day who motivate us to work toward the kinder and braver world they envision and deserve,” says Cynthia. “With each step forward, we’re acutely aware that we are shaping a movement that will leave a lasting legacy.”

Myeshia also notes that the work is tough, but like Cynthia, she draws motivation from those she works to protect. “I continue to be inspired by the ways that LGBTQ+ young people fight back. Their fight gives me a lot of hope, even in these challenging times. Our mission to end suicide among LGBTQ+ young people is a daunting one, and we can’t do it alone.”

Originally published by Gilead Sciences.