Author: sHq_LoGiNz

Nasdaq

This year’s Climate Week NYC events centered on the theme “Power On,” highlighting progress across climate, finance, technology, and more. As the days unfolded, the discussions moved from the strategic significance of sustainability to practical approaches and insights that can help organizations manage complexity and foster resilience.

Through participation in the week’s events, the Nasdaq team tuned in as leaders further explored the evolving role of technology and the importance of aligning sustainability and finance teams to create enduring value, and how an impactful sustainability strategy is designed to address the intricate climate landscape. The following key takeaways illustrate these principles and how they can be put into action:

1. Sustainability is a Strategic Imperative for Investors and CFOs

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have,” it’s a core expectation from investors. CFOs are now deeply involved in both sustainability education and reporting, reflecting the growing demand for transparency and measurable impact across stakeholders. The week’s activity highlighted that resilience in the sustainability landscape isn’t going anywhere, and organizations must be prepared to adapt and thrive amid constant changes.

2. Approach Sustainability with Simplicity Over Complexity

While the world is becoming more complex, organizations should resist the urge to respond with more complicated processes. A successful sustainability strategy is often principle-based, seeking modern, innovative solutions that offer simplicity and reduce unnecessary complexity. For example, Nasdaq’s sustainability vision is built on three pillars: capital access and innovation, disclosure and transparency, and market infrastructure solutions. This vision is underpinned by a commitment to long-term, actionable initiatives and the belief that adaptability and partnership are essential in a dynamic sustainability ecosystem.

3. Alignment Between Sustainability and Finance Can Help Yield High Returns

Securing buy-in for sustainability initiatives can be challenging. It is important to nurture alignment between sustainability and finance teams, starting at the leadership level. Synergy between these business functions is crucial not only for maximizing tax incentives, but also for ensuring that investments in sustainability yield high returns. In the long term, better sustainability practices help drive growth, improve efficiency, and reduce costs, freeing up capital for further investment.

4. The Power of Networks and Collaboration

Leaders shared that involvement in leadership networks helps provide unique opportunities for peer learning and collaboration, all in the effort to advance sustainability goals. Organizations should consider prioritizing collaboration, adaptability, and a forward-looking mindset to build resilience amid complexity.

Driving Lasting Value Through Sustainability and Innovation

Ultimately, sustainability should be a strategic priority for corporate leaders and investors alike. Success in this space requires not just robust reporting, but also a culture of innovation, strong alignment between sustainability and finance, and a relentless focus on resilience. As the sustainability and climate landscape continues to evolve, Nasdaq’s approach offers a blueprint for organizations seeking to turn complexity into opportunity and drive lasting value.

Nasdaq’s Sustainability Technology, Innovation, and Resilience

Technology and innovation are at the heart of Nasdaq’s sustainability journey. We are leveraging AI and cloud solutions to drive efficiency, productivity, and resilience. In addition to in-house innovation efforts, we are focused on building scalable solutions that can adapt to regulatory and market changes to best support its clients. By fostering inclusive growth through innovation and collaboration, Nasdaq and its clients are well positioned to create enduring value, no matter how the landscape shifts.

Moreover, Nasdaq Sustainability Solutions empowers organizations to address evolving regulatory demands, unlock investor capital, and accelerate decarbonization with best-in-class technology and trusted advisory expertise. Our tools simplify reporting, enhance data quality, and help teams focus on delivering measurable sustainability outcomes. To learn how we can support your organization throughout its sustainability journey, contact us here.

October 15, 2025 /3BL/ – Founded in 2017 and led by principals Barry Carlson, Brendan Fetter, and Clint Green, Forte Dynamics and Forte Analytical bring deep technical expertise in mine engineering, heap leach design, and metallurgical laboratory services. Operating primarily from Colorado and Utah, Forte serves clients across precious metals, base metals, and critical minerals sectors throughout North America and internationally. 

The combined capabilities strengthen SLR’s position in the expanding critical minerals and battery metals sectors, enhancing our comprehensive service offering to mining clients globally.

Marco Maestri, Global Mining Sector Director, commented: “This strategic US acquisition strengthens SLR’s mining capabilities in North America while reinforcing SLR’s position as one of the few consultancies globally that can successfully deliver integrated technical, advisory, and sustainability services across the complete mining lifecycle.”

We look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring for our clients, our teams, and the communities we serve. 

For more information on SLR, our mining capabilities and project case studies, please visit www.slrconsulting.com 

Covia is committed to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing energy efficiency across our operations. In recent years, we integrated data-driven analysis into our strategy, utilizing comprehensive GHG emissions assessments to pinpoint significant climate-related opportunities and risks.

Since 2021, we have implemented several solutions and undertaken initiatives to reduce emissions, including:

• Piloting high-efficiency burners and installing new dryers
• Participating in voluntary curtailment programs
• Housing equipment in heated areas to limit fuel usage by minimizing temperature fluctuations
• Upgrading lighting to high-efficiency LED bulbs that run on timers
• Replacing aging and inefficient compressors
• Insulating maintenance buildings to reduce the amount of energy required for heating and cooling
• Participating in power purchase agreements and using renewable energy, where possible

In addition to these initiatives, we engaged a consultant to help us establish a decarbonization roadmap. We are implementing the highest-potential strategies to meet our emissions reduction goals.

As a result of this assessment, identified strategies we are pursuing include:

• Building carbon integration into capital planning to activate site-level decarbonization activities
• Considering on-site renewable energy at strategic sites
• Evaluating fuel switching for lower-carbon alternatives at key sites
• Leveraging advanced process-control systems to maximize efficiency in each phase of the mining process
• Upgrading and replacing energy-intensive equipment with low-carbon alternatives
• Improving transportation efficiencies for raw materials and finished goods

For more information on our approach, roadmap, and governance of energy efficiency, please visit our Energy Efficiency & Emissions Statement. Our Climate Risk and Opportunities Report is also available on our website.

The FedEx Global Citizenship team recently hosted a dynamic virtual roundtable, bringing together disaster relief NGOs from around the country. The primary goal of this engaging session was to foster collaboration and share best practices to enhance humanitarian efforts, particularly through the effective use of FedEx charitable shipping accounts.

The roundtable was a vibrant exchange of ideas and strategies. Participants discussed innovative approaches to planning and dispatching humanitarian shipments, emphasizing the importance of meticulous coordination to ensure aid reaches those in need promptly. Effective resource management was another key topic, with NGOs sharing strategies to maximize the impact of their charitable allocations.

A significant highlight of the forum was the exploration of new opportunities for enhanced collaboration. Representatives from various organizations discussed ways to engage more meaningfully with each other, aiming to elevate their collective impact on disaster relief efforts. This spirit of unity and shared purpose was evident as participants shared their experiences and learned from one another.

The discussions also touched on the challenges of logistics, the use of AI technology, and the importance of measuring the success of disaster response efforts. Organizations emphasized the value of building long-term relationships with communities and ensuring transparency and accountability in resource utilization.

Throughout the session, there was a strong emphasis on the power of partnerships. NGOs explored how leveraging the FedEx network could connect partners and facilitate more efficient aid delivery. The collaborative spirit was further highlighted by discussions on innovative strategies like using volunteers to lower costs, leveraging partnerships, and employing drone technology for situational awareness and aid delivery.

Overall, the virtual roundtable underscored the importance of collaboration and innovation in disaster relief. By coming together and sharing their knowledge and experiences, these NGOs are better equipped to respond to future disasters, ultimately making a greater difference in the lives of those affected. The forum was a testament to the power of collective effort and the positive impact that can be achieved when organizations work together towards a common goal.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

World Wildlife Fund effort to protect wildlife habitats from agricultural expansion takes root as the Delta Ag Alliance—a group of innovative farmers, startups, retailers, and investors working together to transition existing farmland from commodity row crops to specialty food crops.

October 15, 2025 /3BL/ – If just 3% of existing farmland in the mid-Mississippi Delta (eastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, and northwestern Mississippi) could be converted from commodity crops to specialty food crops by 2034, it would result in an extra $3.2 billion in annual farmgate revenue across the region. According to a new report from World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Markets Institute, this transformation would not only boost an economically distressed area; it would strengthen US food security and protect wildlife habitat.

“Right now, most of America’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts come from one place—California. But as droughts and fires intensify, relying on one state to produce most of our food is a gamble we can no longer afford. If we don’t plan ahead, the fallback will be plowing over more land, threatening critical wildlife habitat,” said Julia Kurnik, Senior Director of Innovation Startups at World Wildlife Fund. “Or we have the option to act now to support and invest in a too-long-neglected region with plenty of existing farmland and generations of agriculture experience, knowledge, and innovation. The mid-Mississippi Delta is ready, willing, and able to step up to secure our food supply; it’s time for the rest of the country to take notice.”

Over the past six years, WWF’s Markets Institute and AgLaunch, a farmer-centric innovation platform, have convened experts, facilitated connections with buyers and retailers, and researched the viability of shifting specialty crop production to the mid-Delta region as part of its Next California project. The next phase of the project will be led by AgLaunch, working in partnership with the Center for MS Food Systems. The newly branded Delta Ag Alliance will provide a regional framework for policies, alignment, and funding to expand the AgLaunch farmer network, launch new investment models, accelerate development of new companies, and support farmers in the transition. WWF will stay involved in a supporting role.

“Our work right now in the Delta is ground-zero for transforming the global food system in an equitable way through innovation and new business models that start with the farmers,” said Pete Nelson, president of AgLaunch. “What makes this region uniquely powerful isn’t just our water, land, and logistics—it’s the growing network of innovative farmers, the development of robotics and cutting-edge agtech, and a proactive investment ecosystem that fuels bold experimentation. The Delta Ag Alliance is showing how regions can build on their strengths, empower farmers, and create models for thriving, equitable rural economies.”

WWF’s Next California Phase III report details the success of the first pilot project with Delta Harvest to test out an easier-to-transition specialty rice crop that uses existing equipment but yields a higher premium. Three farmers planted more than 20 varieties of specialty rice in 2024, delivering 3.56 million pounds of rice to the first buyer. Farmers earned an average revenue of $1,250 per acre from the specialty rice, making an average $100 per acre profit. This compares to a loss on generic medium-grain white rice in the same year. This first pilot expanded from 750 acres in 2024 to 1,500 acres in 2025.

“Small farmers in our region are barely able to make ends meet or even losing money growing commodity crops. No matter how dedicated a person is, this is not sustainable,” said Noel Didla, co-steward of the Center for MS Food Systems. “Specialty crops have the potential to turn that around, but it requires initial risk and investment that we can’t ask farmers to take on alone. The role of the Delta Ag Alliance is to de-risk: connect with buyers, build the infrastructure, and ensure farmers have access to the latest research and innovation. This is something we have to do together.”

The report also showcases the stories of innovative farmer-entrepreneurs who are finding success in the transition to specialty crops and includes details of the Delta Ag Alliance’s 10-year roadmap. Achieving this scale of transition will depend on building a supportive business environment that stimulates new agtech startups, fosters farmer-driven innovation, and creates the infrastructure and investment networks needed to make specialty crop production both profitable and scalable. Previous reports are available here: Next California Phase I: Investigating Potential in the mid-Mississippi Delta River region (2020) | Next California Phase II: Preparing for Action (2024).

Media Contact

Lorin Hancock | Lorin.Hancock@wwfus.org

About World Wildlife Fund

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working for 60 years in nearly 100 countries to help people and nature thrive. With the support of 1.3 million members in the United States and more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment, and combat the climate crisis. Visit worldwildlife.org to learn more; follow @WWFNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to keep up with the latest conservation news; and sign up for our newsletter and news alerts here.

Published by Action Against Hunger.

CONTACT:

Meredith Whitefield

mwhitefield@actionagainsthunger.org

917-771-0519

NEW YORK, October 15, 2025 /3BL/ – As the world marks World Food Day tomorrow, a new national U.S. poll from Action Against Hunger, conducted by The Harris Poll among over 2,000 U.S. adults, reveals that nearly three in four Americans (72%) believe the U.S. should spend at least 1% of the federal budget on international aid, helping to end hunger. This overwhelming support comes at a critical moment, as U.S. spending on international aid has fallen dramatically following the shuttering of USAID in 2025, further reducing the U.S. spending on this area.

The Action Against Hunger 2025 Hunger Perception Poll shows that American support for addressing global hunger extends across party lines, with 61% of Republicans, 70% of Independents, and 87% of Democrats agreeing that the U.S. should achieve this minimum 1% spending threshold.

“Americans understand that investing in solutions to global hunger is not just the right thing to do – it’s essential for our collective future,” said Dr. Charles E. Owubah, CEO, Action Against Hunger. “Even as official aid budgets shrink, the American people are sending a clear message that they want their government to do more, not less, to address one of the world’s most solvable problems.”

Key findings from the 2025 poll include:

• Food security as national security: 59% of Americans view extreme hunger in poor countries as a risk to U.S. security, likely recognizing that hunger and instability are deeply linked globally.
• Climate concerns drive food insecurity worries: Nearly 7 in 10 Americans (69%) worry that changing weather patterns could create global food shortages.
• Call for better food systems: More than three in four Americans (77%) agree the U.S. government should do more to create a better global food system.
• Support for climate adaptation: Three in five Americans (60%) believe richer countries like the U.S. should help low-income countries pay for the costs of adapting to climate change – a 9% increase from 55% in 2024.

A Generational Shift

The poll reveals particularly strong support among younger Americans for action on hunger-related issues, with 80% of Millennials (ages 29-44) and 74% of Gen Z (ages 18-28) backing the 1% spending threshold for international aid, compared to 66% of Boomers (ages 61-79). This generational divide may signal a long-term shift in how Americans prioritize global hunger and climate adaptation.

“Younger generations are leading the way in recognizing the interconnected nature of global challenges,” added Dr. Owubah. “They understand that food security, climate change, and global stability are not isolated issues, but deeply intertwined.”

The Reality on the Ground

Nearly one in 12 people around the world currently face hunger, a number rising due to ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond. Despite these growing needs, the world currently produces more than enough food for everyone. Over the past 45 years, there has been a 60% drop in the number of children dying from hunger’s deadly effects, demonstrating that progress is possible with adequate resources and political will.

On this World Food Day, Action Against Hunger calls on U.S. policymakers to heed the voices of American voters and renew the nation’s commitment to ending global hunger through sustained investment in international aid and climate adaptation.

The full report is available here.

About the survey

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Action Against Hunger from October 2-6, 2025, among 2,052 adults ages 18 and older. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.5 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

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About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is a global leader creating a future where every life is well nourished. We innovate to prevent malnutrition and respond to hunger hotspots, working in 59 countries and reaching more than 21 million people each year. With 8,990 staff members worldwide—95% hired locally—we ensure culturally relevant solutions and empower communities with long-term resilience. For 18 consecutive years, we’ve earned top ratings from charity evaluators—a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of nonprofits. Together, we are promoting resilience and working to end hunger for everyone, for good.

About The Harris Poll

The Harris Poll is a global consulting and market research firm that strives to reveal the authentic values of modern society to inspire leaders to create a better tomorrow. It works with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. One of the longest-running surveys in the U.S., The Harris Poll has tracked public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963, and is now part of Stagwell, the challenger holding company built to transform marketing.