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The Latin-derived word “ides” refers to the midpoint of a month. The Ides of March – March 15 – is famous for an act of rebellion on that day in 44 BC when a group of senators assassinated the Roman dictator Julius Caesar. The day marked a turning point in Roman history; for Caesar, of course, it was the ultimate turning point. The Ides of March now signals foreboding – in Shakespeare’s words “Beware the Ides of March” – but a turning point is often what’s needed to improve how people are governed.

Throughout history, people have taken action on March 15 – from the 1917 abdication of the Russian throne by Tsar Nicholas II, to a global strike by 1.4 million students to protest inaction around climate change in 2019, to an 1848 revolution in Hungary that brought reforms by the Habsburg rulers. This year on the Ides of March, 50,000 members of the Hungarian public revisited that successful uprising to protest the autocratic leadership of Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

What turning points might be upon us in the journey to a sustainable, just world? In the U.S., we are seeing signs that action at the local level could counteract anti-environmental policies by the recently inaugurated federal government.

Our top story this week is an analysis from Reuters about the growing importance of such action and the power of sub-national actors to bring about real change. In recent years, state-level leadership has come prominently from California (CA), where certain large businesses are required to publicly disclose their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and climate-related risks beginning in 2026. Given the size of California’s economy, this legislation will have impacts that are nearly national in scale.

Building on this legislative precedent, CA State Senator Catherine Blakespear introduced in February a first-of-its-kind state bill, SB 755, to require the largest state contractors to report their GHG emissions and climate-related financial risks starting in 2027. The increase in transparency is aimed at enabling the state to reduce the emissions within its supply chain, supporting the state’s goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

“At G&A, we know that transparency ultimately drives action. The introduction of SB 755 is an important first step towards spotlighting the climate-related risks present in California’s supply chain, and it will encourage suppliers to take ownership of measuring and managing their GHG emissions.” – Annie Roberts, Senior Vice President, Climate Consulting, G&A Institute

In other areas of legislation like electric transport and clean air, California is joined by ten other U.S. states in banning the sale of gas-only vehicles by 2035. And Vermont, New York, and California have linked corporate polluters to environmental and health impacts by requiring fossil fuel companies to fund projects that build communities’ climate resilience – a state-level version of the U.S. Superfund act of 1980.

The authors argue that even without federal action, cities and states could cut U.S. emissions by 54-62%, which is needed to achieve the U.S.’ nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. This is “a lot of heavy lifting” for sub-national actors, but according to Nate Hultman, Centre for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, it is possible and indeed was what the Biden administration planned for in the absence of national leadership.

The Reuters story highlights an alliance of 24 state governments that have committed to continue taking climate action. It also notes an 11-state Regional Greenhouse Gas initiative (RGGI, pronounced “Reggie”), a cap-and-trade system for the power sector.

From a business perspective, a strong case remains for states to enact ambitious climate policies – from operational continuity for businesses in each state facing climate impacts, to controlling climate-related financial risk as a good business model.

At G&A, we are ready to support companies in responding to climate and sustainability requirements in the states and local municipalities where they do business, such as California’s nation-leading climate disclosure rules. We can also support municipalities in developing or updating climate action plans and reaching their targets. Find us here.

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

Originally posted by Action Against Hunger.

After three years of conflict, loss of livelihood and rising prices are increasingly exposing the Ukrainian population to the risk of impoverishment. Currently, 15% of the population suffers from food insecurity, and women and girls are particularly at risk. In regions close to the front line such as Kherson, Kharkiv, and Mykolaiv, unemployment has reached record levels, leaving many families without resources.

Women-headed households have multiplied due to the military mobilization of men in Ukraine. Facing obstacles in accessing all kinds of services from health services to financial and economic resources, these women are particularly vulnerable to impoverishment. In addition, economic instability, displacement, and conflict all impact mental health, increasing the risk of gender-based violence. Around 2.5 million people in Ukraine are at high risk of such types of violence, including intimate partner violence, conflict-related sexual violence, sexual exploitation and abuse, trafficking, and harassment.

To support women’s economic activities and promote their financial independence, Action Against Hunger and the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC) are supporting the Center for Economic Recovery and Business Support in Mykolaiv. The project is led by a Ukranian organization called Perspektyva, and in it, women-led businesses rebuild the local economy in their conflict-affected area by providing essential goods and services. Maria, Iryna, Victoria, and Olena are among the 45 women who have received training and subsidies to develop their businesses in Mykolaiv near the front line.

Maria: “Finding clientele wasn’t easy, but today my schedule is full” 

Maria has been a manicurist for 8 years. Originally from Kherson, she had to leave her home and take her three children 37 miles north to Mykolaiv as Kherson was, and continues to be, targeted almost every day by airstrikes. Alone with her three little girls, she had to start all over again.

After a year of hard work, her nail salon is now going strong. “I arrived in a new town without knowing anyone. Finding a clientele wasn’t easy, but now my schedule is full,” Maria explains with pride.

Today, Maria wants to expand her business and take up training, so that she can pass on her knowledge to others. Using a grant from Action Against Hunger, Maria has designed her own training modules and purchased some of the equipment needed to train future manicurists.

“Thanks to the knowledge I gained from the project, I’m now able to calculate my expenses more accurately and plan my purchases, as my business requires constant investment. I also know how to better showcase my services in external communication media, especially on social networks,” explains Maria.

Having been displaced by the conflict herself, Maria is well aware of the difficulties faced by others who have had to flee violence. She therefore wants her services to be accessible to all and adjusts her rates for displaced people.

Iryna: “People heal their souls when they come into contact with creativity” 

Iryna worked in the maritime sector for 30 years. When the war started, she found herself widowed and alone with her two children. Iryna decided to change careers and tap into the desire for creativity that had been with her since childhood.

“I became interested in trashwork, where works are made from garbage, plastic bottles, and natural materials like tree branches. I practiced this type of art for about three years and took part in various fairs, traveling around Ukraine,” says Iryna.

Iryna joined the Ukrainian organization Perspektyva as a volunteer. She organized self-help events based on the principles of art therapy. “I saw that people found it more interesting than just talking; they opened up more. And, as the saying goes, people heal their souls when they do something, when they get in touch with creativity,” she explains.

It was then that Iryna discovered the Center for Economic Recovery and Business Support project and decided to join. In addition to business training to draw up a business plan, Iryna has taken a painting course and is working on cutting and the various trashwork techniques. The grant she received from the project enabled her to buy a laptop and furniture for her creative workshop. Soon, she will buy a printer and jewelry-making tools.

Iryna would like to collaborate with other Mykolaiv-based artists by inviting them to her studio to give classes. She would also like to continue participating in exhibitions and fairs, as well as sell her products on online sales platforms.

Victoria: “I started my business with a mixer that was lent to me” 

Born in Mykolaiv, Victoria worked almost all her life in the civil service. When she went on maternity leave, however, she developed a passion for baking. Victoria had to juggle raising her children with her professional activity for many years. “My children took up a lot of my time, so sometimes I would make my desserts at night. I once spent six hours sculpting Mickey Mouse. It was very beautiful,” she says with amusement.

When she started out as a pastry chef, Victoria studied production techniques and recipes on her own. She wasn’t able to take part in pastry classes because her children could not be alone for long. “In the beginning I had no equipment at all. I started my business with a mixer that someone lent me,” explains Victoria.

Rather than compete with cafés for customers, Victoria offered her services directly to them. She now receives numerous orders and supplies desserts to several Mykolaiv cafés. In 2023, she rented a space to manufacture her products. “This premises is close to my home because I want to be near my children at all times in case of air raids”.

As part of the support offered by Perspektyva, Action Against Hunger, and DEC, Victoria has benefited from sales training to better manage her business. She bought more equipment to replace the old one, increase her productivity, and become more competitive on the market.

Olena: “I was able to purchase cosmetic equipment that will allow me to expand my range of services” 

Olena was born in Krasnodon, in the Luhansk region. In 1993, she decided to move to Mykolaiv, where she studied, married and held positions as financial manager and sales director. 7 years ago, Olena decided to retrain and entered the field of aesthetic cosmetology.

The building Olena used to work at was destroyed by a missile. “Fortunately, my cosmetics and furniture were not damaged,” she says. To escape the bombs, Olena went to Bulgaria for two months, then lived in Kyiv for almost 9 months before returning to Mykolaiv at the request of her customers. She rented a studio and resumed her business.

She went to the Center for Economic Recovery and Business Support to learn more about business practices. “I’d like to thank the instructors who accompanied us during the training for their clarity and responsiveness. This new knowledge enabled me to write a business plan and adjust it. I was also able to purchase special cosmetic equipment that will allow me to expand my range of services,” explains Olena.

In the future, Olena hopes to open a new studio and hire employees. She dreams of creating her own chain of cosmetics studios.

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Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 21 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 59 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.