Month: August 2024

August 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) have today published a joint interoperability mapping resource that gives a detailed overview of alignment between the TNFD Disclosure Recommendations and metrics and the GRI Standards.

Over the past two years, the TNFD and GRI have worked closely together to support the development of each other’s guidance – notably GRI input into the TNFD Recommendations published in September 2023, and TNFD input into the recently published GRI Biodiversity Standard.

Responding to feedback from market participants, the TNFD and GRI have developed a guidance document and correspondence table to help GRI’s 14,000 reporters globally align with the TNFD Recommendations, and assist TNFD adopters in their sustainability reporting according to GRI Standards.

The mapping underscores the high level of alignment achieved between the TNFD Recommendations and metrics and the GRI Standards reporting requirements and datapoints, including:

The use of consistent nature-related concepts and definitions, including the five direct drivers of nature and biodiversity loss, as defined by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).The reference and incorporation of GRI’s materiality approach focusing on impacts in the TNFD Recommendations and guidance, following the TNFD’s flexible approach to materiality. The TNFD LEAP approach has been designed to help organizations report in line with both impact and financial materiality.All the disclosures in GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 are reflected in the TNFD Recommendations. All of the TNFD Recommendations are reflected in the GRI Standards, except those exclusively covering nature-related risk and opportunity identification and assessment.Strong consistency between the TNFD core global disclosure metrics and the related metrics in the GRI Standards. A first mapping of the TNFD sector metrics and the relevant GRI Sector Standards also highlights consistency at this level.The TNFD LEAP approach – guidance for identifying and assessing nature-related issues – is referenced in GRI 101. It pinpoints where impacts on biodiversity are most likely to be present and significant and provides guidance on measuring changes in the state of nature.GRI 101 uses the TNFD definitions and criteria when considering an organization’s location in or near ecologically sensitive areas.

Bastian Buck, Chief Standards Officer at GRI, said:

“The ongoing collaboration of GRI with the TNFD has resulted in this detailed mapping tool, supporting thousands of organizations worldwide that already report their biodiversity impacts using the GRI Standards. This resource enables them to seamlessly integrate the TNFD recommendations, allowing for simplified, single-source reporting. GRI and the TNFD will continue to cooperate to prevent the need for double reporting and ensure organizations can transparently and accountably disclose their impacts.”

Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of City Developments Limited (CDL), TNFD Taskforce Member and GRI Supervisory Board Member said:

“Nature risks are business risks that should be measured and disclosed in a more robust manner. Having adopted the GRI 304: Biodiversity (2016) since 2017 and as the first Singapore company to publish disclosures aligned with the TNFD Recommendations in 2024, CDL understands the importance of measuring and managing our nature-related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities for long-term resilience. As we look towards adopting the new GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024 in our upcoming sustainability reports, we welcome the interoperability between TNFD and GRI to harmonize the global sustainability reporting landscape.”

Tony Goldner, Executive Director of the TNFD said:

“The release of today’s mapping from GRI and the TNFD will further support market participants needing, or wanting, to report on their nature-related dependencies and impacts leveraging GRI Standards and metrics and in line with the TNFD Recommendations. We look forward to continuing to work with GRI to provide clear, practical support to market participants in their internal assessment and external reporting needs.”

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent not-for-profit organization and standard-setter that is the architect of the common global language used to assess and report on environmental, social, and economic impacts. GRI provides standards, tools and training that enable organizations of all sizes to harness the skills, capabilities and data they need to create sustainable, long-term value and unlock positive change in the world.

In January 2024, the GRI published GRI 101: Biodiversity 2024, a major revision to its earlier Biodiversity Standard, which is aligned to the TNFD Recommendations released in September 2023.

The Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) is a market-led, science-based and government-backed initiative providing organizations with the tools to act on evolving nature-related issues. It was launched in June 2021 with the support of the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group and financial support from a number of governments and philanthropic foundations.

International Olympic Committee news

In a spectacular, star-studded Closing Ceremony, Paris handed over the Olympic flag to Los Angeles as the host of the Olympic Games in 2028. But the LA28 Games are already creating benefits for their host communities, drawing on the legacy of Los Angeles 1984.

Making sport more accessible for young people

The Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 delivered a sporting legacy to the city long before the Games even began, and have kept the local population active for decades since. The LA84 Foundation – founded with the surplus from the 1984 Games operations budget – has upheld this legacy by continuing to engage local youth in sport. Between 1984 and 2017, the foundation reached over 3 million young people, with a strong emphasis on female participation in sport, which has resulted in 42 per cent of participants being girls and women.

The PlayLA programme, funded by the IOC and the LA28 Organising Committee, and developed by the LA City Recreation and Parks Department, funds quality sports activities that are accessible and affordable to young people of all abilities, backgrounds and ages. Since 2018, the programme has supported more than 500,000 young people.

Witnessing firsts in gender equality

The Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 marked a significant milestone in Olympic history for female athletes’ participation, demonstrating to the world that athletic excellence knows no gender. These were the Games that saw the organisation of the inaugural Olympic women’s marathon, as well as exclusively female disciplines – synchronised (now known as artistic) swimming and rhythmic gymnastics. Female athletes also competed for the first time in the 3000m and 400m hurdles, road cycling and shooting. With 23 per cent female participation, the 1984 Games set an Olympic record at the time.

Over the past four decades, progress toward gender equality in sport has accelerated both on and off the field of play. For Paris 2024, the IOC ensured gender equality by establishing an equal 50:50 quota for female and male athletes.

Venue legacy

LA28 organisers are taking full advantage of the flexibility provided by the IOC to create Games that fit the city. In line with the IOC’s requirement to prioritise existing and temporary infrastructure, LA28 has adopted a “radical reuse” approach, by not building a single permanent venue.

Of the 26 venues used for Los Angeles 1984, 21 are still active, hosting diverse sporting, cultural and leisure events accessible to all athletes. Among these, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum stands out as a true Olympic landmark, having hosted the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 1932 and 1984 Games, as well as track and field events.

Other initiatives

The social, economic and environmental legacies of the Olympic Games Los Angeles 1984 are wide ranging and diverse. The Games pioneered a financial model through sponsor partnerships that became a model for future Games editions; cultivated a youth movement to educate young people on the Olympic values and involve them in Games-related activities; facilitated neighbourhood engagement on a volunteer basis; and implemented clean-up projects across Los Angeles; as well as planting more than 20,000 trees and bushes.

When most people think about the living legacy of the 1984 Summer Olympics, they point to the LA84 Foundation and our work to remove barriers so that all youth have access to the benefits of sports and play.

Renata Simril
President and CEO of the LA84 Foundation

“But this is just one of the many economic and social legacies left by those Games. Technology, innovation in the sponsorship model, lifting Los Angeles as a world class cultural centre following the Arts Festival, youth sports and play equity are all gifts from those Games that still endure to this day. My hope for LA28, would be that we build off of this legacy and align around the Olympic Movement’s core vision of building a better world through sports.”

Los Angeles 1984: an influential legacy

A new financial model which became a template for future editions of the Olympic Games and a turning point for women in sport are two of the key legacies of Los Angeles 1984 – an edition which inspired a cultural step-change for the Olympic Games that can still be felt decades later.

Legacy overview

August 26, 2024 /3BL/ – My Green Lab is thrilled to announce the launch of its Accelerator Partner Program, a new initiative designed to recognize and support sustainability consulting services and organizations within the health sector. Understanding the importance of industry collaboration for achieving climate targets and creating a resilient, net-zero world, the Accelerator Partner Program will provide participating organizations with the essential resources and recognition needed to advance their sustainability efforts.

The program offers a variety of benefits for participating organizations to enhance their knowledge of green lab best practices while supporting clients in achieving their lab sustainability goals. Benefits include access to My Green Lab education and training programs, market endorsement from My Green Lab, certification program discounts, privileged access to My Green Lab’s training materials, and the right to use the Accelerator Partner designation as part of business development and outreach.

“The Accelerator Partner Program is a great resource for organizations seeking to solidify their commitment to lab sustainability,” said Ryan Arnold, VP of Investments and Partnerships at My Green Lab. “Our program not only equips organizations with invaluable resources to build their knowledge and skills, but it also grants industry recognition for their proficiency in green lab practices.”

Acknowledging their expertise in green lab principles, this initiative allows partners to offer consulting and implementation services that align with the My Green Lab Certification program and its recommendations. Recognized by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign as a key measure of progress towards a zero-carbon future, My Green Lab Certification is globally recognized as the gold standard for sustainability best practices in laboratories.

“We’ve already seen tremendous value from being part of the Accelerator Partner Program,” said Dr. Samantha Gordine, Sustainability Solutions Lead at Arcondis. “Access to My Green Lab’s vast educational resources and their endorsement of our green lab expertise has enhanced our efforts in helping our clients achieve their sustainability goals. We have been able to help implement more effective green lab practices, leading to improved efficiencies, cost savings, and a stronger commitment to environmental stewardship across our client base.”

The Accelerator Partner Program offers four levels of partnership to accommodate organizations of various sizes and budgets: Bronze (nonprofits and small organizations with fewer than five full-time employees), Silver (ideal for small or local organizations), Gold (suitable for national organizations), and Platinum (designed for global organizations). Initial Accelerator Partners include Arcondis and Triumvirate Environmental.

My Green Lab believes this program will foster robust partnerships that will help move the health sector toward a greener, more sustainable future. “The Accelerator Partner Program will allow us to amplify our collective impact, drive significant improvements in lab sustainability, and expedite the transition to greener practices across the industry,” continues Arnold.

For more information about the Accelerator Partner Program, contact sponsorship@mygreenlab.org.

About My Green Lab

My Green Lab® is a nonprofit environmental organization with a mission to build a global culture of sustainability in science. The organization is the world leader in developing internationally recognized sustainability standards for laboratories and laboratory products—bringing sustainability to the community responsible for the world’s life-changing medical and technical innovations. Laboratories are some of the most resource-intensive spaces in any industry, but they don’t have to be. By introducing a new perspective and proven best practices within a carefully crafted framework, My Green Lab has inspired tens of thousands of scientists and lab professionals to make positive changes in their labs by reducing the environmental impact of their work.

For media requests, contact Namrata Jain at namrata@mygreenlab.org.

For more information about My Green Lab, visit mygreenlab.org.