Month: March 2024

This article was originally published in the International Business Times.

As we delve into 2024, a significant transformation in employee engagement is reshaping the workplace. Bureau of Labor Statistics January US Employment Report is a testament to this change, showcasing a continual decline in unemployment and a rise in wages. This trend hints at a more competitive labor market. In this intensifying talent war, business leaders and industry experts are preparing for a notable shift in the aspects of work that employees value most. Continue reading…

March 5, 2024 /3BL/ – More than 60 major companies and investors are convening this week for LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024, a three-day advocacy event where they will champion the local economic benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act and other critical clean energy policies that have unlocked vast private-sector investment while calling for further action to expand U.S. global leadership in building an advanced, clean, and abundant economy.

Organized by Ceres, the sixth annual LEAD (Lawmaker Education and Advocacy Day) event will take place between March 5 and 7. Over the course of 50 meetings with members of Congress from both parties and key officials in the Biden administration, companies, including Advocate Health, Avangrid, Danone, DHL Group, DSM, eBay, Keurig Dr. Pepper, Ford Motor Co., Franklin Energy, Holcim, IKEA, Microsoft, Nucor, REI Co-op, Samsung Electronics, and Siemens, as well as investors, will showcase the continued support of the U.S. business community for robust clean energy policy and investment.

A full list of participating companies, investors, and trade groups is available here. Collectively, the 64 participants generate more than $2.3 trillion in annual revenue, employ more than 3.2 million people, and hold more than $2.1 trillion in assets under management.

“Our data shows increasing demand for green skills and green jobs in many different sectors of the US economy. In 2023, the hiring rate for green talent in the U.S. peaked at 44% above the overall hiring rate. The key question now is how best to ensure the development of green skills across the workforce to meet employer needs at this moment and in the coming years,” said LinkedIn Co-Founder Allen Blue.

“DSM North America is excited to once again join LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 to showcase the significant business support for federal clean energy incentives that are unlocking enormous amounts of private investment to grow our economy,” said Hugh Welsh, president and general counsel, DSM North America. “DSM is proud of its progress to run a thriving, sustainable business, and we call on federal policymakers to build on the momentum of the last few years to ensure the U.S. and its businesses are poised to compete in the clean economy.”

“The risks of climate change mark a threat to both public health and the economy,” said Shelly Schlenker, executive vice president/chief advocacy officer, CommonSpirit Health. “CommonSpirit Health is excited to join LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 to share our strong support for federal clean energy incentives and other climate solutions, which not only cut the pollution that endangers the communities we serve but also bring investment and jobs to empower them.”

“It will take more than just one company, more than one industry to counter the worst effects of climate change – it is time for us all to act. That’s why LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 brings business and government together to identify the necessary investments to grow our economy, protect our communities and drive a just transition to a low-carbon economy. The urgency has never been more evident,” said Liz O’Neill, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Levi Strauss & Co.

“The surge in climate investment opportunities catalyzed by the IRA is propelling us into a new era of American prosperity, with abundant, affordable, and homegrown clean energy at its core,” said Gil Jenkins, vice president of corporate affairs, HASI. “We eagerly anticipate our participation in LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024, where we will showcase the substantial backing from the business community for these forward-thinking energy policies that not only foster significant job creation and economic growth but also accelerate essential decarbonization efforts for a climate-positive future.”

“The Inflation Reduction Act has been a game-changer for Hackensack Meridian Health. The tax credits and incentives have enabled us to invest in cutting-edge technologies, expand our services, and provide more accessible care to our patients. This landmark legislation is a testament to the power of government and industry working together to improve the health and well-being of our communities,” said Kyle Tafuri, vice president of sustainability, Hackensack Meridian Health.

“This is a historic moment in America – one that sets the stage for decarbonizing the economy, boosting U.S. manufacturing, creating jobs, and increasing equity,” said Abby Campbell Singer, head of climate and infrastructure policy, Siemens USA Government Affairs. “Federal funding is providing us with a strong foundation to shape the future we want and the response from industry has been incredible. We are encouraged by these efforts and look forward to our participation in LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 to help advance industry’s ability to innovate while accelerating the deployment of sustainable technologies and infrastructure.”

“At Michelin, we have set clear goals to guide our contribution to the responsible stewardship of the natural world around us,” said Kara Fulcher, director of sustainability for Michelin North America, Inc. “By 2050, Michelin is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions across our business.”

Danone is committed to partnering with farmers in our supply chain to work towards regenerative agriculture and reducing our climate impact,” said Chris Adamo, vice president of public affairs & regenerative Agriculture, Danone North America. “Federal policies from the Farm Bill and Inflation Reduction Act are crucial to helping us accelerate progress and engage more farms to help them provide various solutions across their operations. We look forward to showcasing the many beneficial impacts to farming partners, consumers, and the entire U.S. economy when we meet with policymakers this week at LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024.”

“New Belgium Brewing is already witnessing the on-the-ground benefits of the surge in clean energy investment across the U.S., and we know it has the potential to deliver so much more for businesses and the economy. We look forward to meeting with policymakers at LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 to highlight the ways these investments are helping us to strengthen our business, while strengthening the nation’s economy,” said Dana Villeneuve, government affairs program manager at New Belgium Brewing.

“Nucor is North Americas largest steel and steel products producer using a circular scrap-based steelmaking process to make low embodied carbon American made steel. We are making purposeful investments to increase the availability of carbon-free electricity, and to support other emerging technologies that will help lead the way to a clean industrial future as well as reach our goal of net zero by 2050,” said Dave Miracle, environmental general manager, Nucor. “We are excited to join LEAD at Clean Economy 2024 to showcase the significant business support for federal clean energy investments that are growing our economy and helping companies and the nation compete globally.”

LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 comes 1.5 years after passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which along with the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 and the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 has unleashed a groundswell of private-sector investment in U.S. clean energy solutions and advanced manufacturing. Since the Inflation Reduction Act passed into law, clean energy investments in the U.S. have increased by 38%, creating more than 270,000 new jobs — including more than 85,000 new manufacturing jobs, with 524 new clean energy project announcements worth $352 billion across 47 states and Puerto Rico. Lawmakers from both parties have celebrated this progress.

Many of LEAD’s 2024 participating companies and investors were among the nearly 3,000 U.S. businesses that supported the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, have provided input to help guide its effective implementation, and have already begun to realize its benefits toward meeting their climate and business goals. These leading businesses have also continued to push for additional policies at the state and federal levels to build on the momentum and ensure the investments achieve their maximum potential for the planet and the economy.

“Ceres is excited to bring some of nation’s leading businesses, investors, and trade groups back to Washington to make the robust financial and economic case for clean energy action,” said Anne Kelly, vice president of government relations, Ceres. “The U.S. economy is already experiencing the many benefits of clean energy investments, and the businesses coming to Capitol Hill this week know that strong federal policy has been essential to guiding these investments into communities across the U.S. That’s why they’re here to show how these policies help them achieve their business goals and call for further action to ensure the public and private sectors maximize investment in America.”

Editor’s Notes:

The week’s activities will include an event hosted by Axios at 9:00 a.m. ET on March 7 highlighting business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs about the climate, economic, and security benefits of U.S. clean energy momentum. “State of Play: Clean Energy’s Investment Boom” will feature discussions about the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on clean energy industry growth and how it will influence future investment. Speakers include U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, senior advisor to the President for international climate policy John Podesta, and LinkedIn co-founder Allen Blue. This event is open to the media. Register here: stateofplaycleanenergy.splashthat.com

For more information about LEAD on a Clean Economy 2024 and a list of participating companies and investors, visit our website: ceres.org/LEAD

See what companies and investors are saying about the Inflation Reduction Act: ceres.org/IRA

Ceres, a nonprofit advocacy organization that works with companies and investors to advance responsible business practices and policies, has organized hundreds of meetings with lawmakers at LEAD events since 2019. Corporate advocacy for robust climate and clean energy policies are of growing importance to investors, who see the climate crisis as a major financial risk and clean energy as a massive economic opportunity, and they have pushed companies to make these issues central to their public policy engagement practices. Research conducted by Ceres has shown that America’s largest companies are increasingly lobbying in support of strong climate policies that align with national climate goals. LEAD provides companies with an opportunity to hone and expand their climate leadership and advocacy as they look to strengthen their own policy engagement practices.

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 214

According to a recent Bloomberg report, BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager with over US $9 trillion in AUM, has been “expanding its dominance” in ESG investing, with net ESG investment inflows in every quarter of the last two years. This is good news, since this time period coincides with ever-rising anti-ESG commentary and some actions to slow sustainable investing on the part of Republican and conservative forces in various states, and in the U.S. Congress.

The term “anti-ESG” has joined the ranks of the “antis” of the right – along with “anti-woke”, “anti-CRT”, “anti-DEI”, and other initials that serve as shorthand for attacking progressive societal ideas and concepts. Where the damage could be done to asset managers is the ending of relationships in Red states with managers of public employee pension funds, state treasurers, and others in positions of decision-making regarding state monies.

So far, the slings and arrows of the right have for the most part missed their mark. As reported by Bloomberg, Morningstar estimated that BlackRock’s ESG-designated funds grew by more than 50 percent in 2022 and 2023, to roughly US $320 billion. Forced by the anti-ESG political players to drop positive public references to ESG, BlackRock’s CEO Larry Fink has moved away from public use of the term. But that did not slow the dramatic inflow of funds to ESG-designated investments managed by BlackRock.

On the other side of the front lines: the anti-ESG forces continue their attacks. Writing in the Harvard Business Review, an important publication for tens of thousands of corporate managers, author Andrew Winston (“Green to Gold”) suggests that managers should stay the course, and do what is right for their business, and for society. “Build a better, more resilient business that profits by helping to solve challenges and contributes to a thriving world,” he advises in his HBR article.

There are pro and con statements on both side of ESG, Winston tells readers. There is no single “ESG movement,” and a more nuanced approach is needed to address ESG critics. A possible model for corporate (and investor) response to critics could be a simple framework to map voices on both sides of the issue, such as a 2×2 grid. One side could assess the criticisms of ESG, and the other is for evaluating the critics – are they arguing in good faith, interested in solving issues and improving society?

For some critics, the steadily rising embrace of ESG by investors is a threat to the status quo; oil and gas producers, for example are being screened out of ESG funds, a threat to be addressed by the industry. For short-term investors, ESG may not make sense. While the impacts of climate change will continue to affect planet, profit, and people over the longer term, we’re reminded of other initials as we witness the anti-ESG combat – “IBG” and “YBG”. I’ll be gone / you’ll be gone, so climate change over the long term does not matter to short-term thinkers.

The HBR essay (“Why Business Leader Must Resist the Anti-ESG Movement”) and related commentary are in our Top Stories below and are definitely worth your time to read. The G&A Institute team continues to monitor the ESG and sustainability landscapes and will bring you news from the front lines of the pro/con debate. Can we help your company in positioning your ESG policies, actions, programs, as the anti-ESG players continue their attacks? Let’s talk if you are looking for strategies and guidance from our experienced team.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

Elanco Animal Health CEO, Jeff Simmons joins Jim Cramer on Mad Money to discuss the company’s commitment to create solutions for farmers and ranchers that can reduce, measure, and monetize greenhouse gas emissions, including methane, which can help create new value to farmers and the food chain, as well as climate-neutral farms.

For nearly 70 years, Elanco has pioneered ways to keep animals healthier. Now we’re focused on making them more sustainable too. As we continue to expand and innovate in this space and introduce new solutions, Elanco aims to build a portfolio that reduces cattle emissions by 40-50%. Our initial focus is on methane as the opportunity.

Why methane? Through enteric fermentation, cows generate methane that is released through burps. Methane lasts about a decade in the atmosphere while carbon dioxide persists for up to 1,000 years. Methane is also 25x more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat – so small reductions can create an impact on temperature. If we can reduce methane emissions just 20-30%, we can make a real impact to reduce climate warming while making climate-neutral farms a possibility this decade.

Ultimately, it’s all about creating value. Elanco helps farmers benchmark and track their footprint, while providing new innovations that help reduce emissions. Once those reductions are certified, they can be sold as carbon credits in a new livestock carbon inset marketplace, creating a new and much needed value stream for farmers, as farm incomes are predicted to decline in 2024. As an inset market, CPG companies are able to buy the credits to both meet scope 3 emissions goals and create brand value for next generation of consumers that want more environmentally friendly products. 

To learn more about Livestock Sustainability at Elanco, visit Livestock Sustainability (elanco.com).

Individual investors in the U.S., often referred to as “retail” investors, are important factors in the capital markets. Statista.com estimates that 61% of all adults in the U.S. are invested in the stock market, while the latest Gallup poll says that up to 84% of households with $100,000 annual income are invested in the stock market. The equity investments of individual investors can be held in individual trading accounts, stock or bond mutual funds, ETFs, or self-directed IRA or 401(k) accounts.

Given the influence that individual investors have through the large percentage of trading volume and the influence this has on domestic capital markets, we are thinking about what do individual investors think of sustainable or ESG investments.

According to a new report from Morgan Stanley, examining a survey of approximately 3,000 active individual investors across the U.S., Europe, and Japan, “close to 80% of individual investors believe that it is possible to balance market rate returns with a focus on sustainability,” notes Jessica Alford, chief sustainability officer of the company.

The survey was conducted by Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and the Institute for Sustainable Investing. The majority of participants expressed the desire to have their investments help to advance positive environmental and social impact.

For those surveyed in the U.S., 84% of individual investors “are keen on sustainable investing.” Breaking this down:

Millennials, Gen Xers, and Hispanic are the most enthusiastic at 91%.

LGBTQ+ are just behind at 89%.

Female investors are at 87%.

One of the most important findings of the survey is that U.S. investors allocate a larger percentage of their portfolios to sustainable investing compared to global peers in Japan and Europe. Climate change is the top consideration for sustainable investing, followed by healthcare, water solutions, and circular economy.

While the survey results are good news for capital markets professionals focused on sustainable investments, survey participants also expressed concerns over transparency and trust in corporate sustainability reporting. Morgan Stanley’s research findings included fears of greenwashing and uncertainty for individual investors on how to invest with ESG themes.

As our Top Story, G&A Institute is sharing details of the Morgan Stanley/Institute for Sustainable Investing survey as reported by Leo Almazora of Investment News. The G&A Institute team is available to help publicly-traded companies with their sustainability / ESG disclosures to attract both institutional and individual investors. 

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.