Tag: 3BL

Author: Carolina Reid

In the face of a rapidly changing climate, the intersection of housing and climate policy has emerged as a critical area of focus. The policies that impact where and what type of housing and communities are built are inextricably linked to environmental sustainability and resilience. These issues are not separate from the affordability crisis that dominates much of the housing policy discussion. Indeed, the lack of affordable housing has many adverse impacts for the climate, including pushing new housing into the wildland-urban interface and increasing the time people spend in their cars. In turn, climate-related disasters exacerbate the housing crisis by reducing the supply of affordable housing and increasing costs, such as home insurance.

Since its founding, the Terner Center’s mission has been to formulate bold strategies to house families from all walks of life in vibrant, sustainable, and affordable homes and communities. We have pursued this mission by focusing our research on issues such as land use and zoning reforms that unlock new supply, racial gaps in access to homeownership, improving the way we finance and provide affordable housing, and addressing homelessness.

While mitigating and building resilience to climate change was always a part of this original mission, we have done less research on the intersections between housing and climate than we had initially planned. However, the growing threat of climate change is increasing the urgency for solutions, and specifically, solutions that don’t run counter to the urgency of the housing crisis and the ongoing efforts to expand housing supply. We’re excited to share that, with initial support from the Wells Fargo Foundation, we are launching a new focus area that will bring evidence-based research to the intersections between housing and climate policy.

Some of the challenges motivating our work on climate are not far afield from the housing policy failures we have tackled (and will continue to address). For example, the predominance of single-family zoning in the United States has exacerbated both affordability and the climate crises.1 Our goal of pursuing solutions that advance social and racial equity are strongly aligned with a focus on climate: the consequences of both housing and climate policy failures fall disproportionately on people with low incomes and people of color. Not only are these households more vulnerable to climate disasters due to where they live and the conditions of the homes they can afford,2 they are also less likely to receive disaster recovery assistance.3 These households are likewise more vulnerable to chronic stressors exacerbated by climate change, such as heat and air pollution.4

But there is also the real risk that in the effort to respond to climate change, policy makers may make decisions that run counter to housing affordability and equity goals, when in fact what is needed are policies that advance progress on both fronts. Fragmented governance at the local, state, and federal scales contributes to poorly coordinated policies across housing and climate areas,5 which hamper their effectiveness and further pit climate and affordability goals in opposition to one another.

Research is needed to provide policy makers with better evidence to navigate these tensions between climate and housing policies, and to identify complementary solutions at all scales of government. For example:

To what extent does building infill housing in cities contribute to reducing emissions in their corresponding metropolitan regions? Can greater suburban housing density also be part of the solution set?How can the existing housing stock be retrofitted to improve energy efficiency and eliminate reliance on fossil fuels, while at the same time ensuring that these efforts don’t raise energy cost burdens or displace renters of color and low-income renters?How could federal climate disaster assistance programs be better designed to protect renters and people experiencing homelessness, while not losing sight of the need to address long-term housing inequities?

Our new “Housing + Climate” research area explores these topics and contributes to efforts to better align housing and climate policies. We’ve already started: we have launched new research projects that will explore how California’s housing policies can best advance its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. We are working with a coalition of community-based and environmental justice groups to better understand what is needed to advance equitable housing decarbonization strategies. We’re also looking at how federal Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund grants can be leveraged to fund retrofitting and decarbonization of affordable housing. In 2024, our sister nonprofit, Terner Labs, is launching a new Builders Lab initiative, which will provide an opportunity to incubate innovative construction techniques and identify strategies to overcome regulatory and other barriers to implementation.

Neither the climate nor the housing crises are easy challenges to address: both are emblematic of “wicked problems”6—complicated, evolving, and multiscalar—without simple answers but with high stakes if we get the answers wrong. Research can help guide necessary policies, but partnerships and collective action are similarly critical.

We invite your input as we undertake this work. Find our first report in our Housing + Climate research area, which is a review of the research on links between housing and climate in the U.S. on our website here.

Footnotes:

 McCabe, B. (2016). No Place Like Home: Wealth, Community, and the Politics of Homeownership. Oxford University Press; Manville, M., Monkkonen, P., & Lens, M. (2020). “It’s Time to End Single-Family Zoning.” Journal of the American Planning Association 86, no. 1: 106–12, https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2019.1651216; Dougherty, C. (2020). Golden Gates: Fighting for Housing in America. New York: Penguin Press; Trounstine, J. (2018). Segregation by Design: Local Politics and Inequality in American Cities. New York: Cambridge University Press; Volker, J., Lee, A., & Fitch, D. (2019). “Streamlining the Development Approval Process in a Post–Level of Service Los Angeles,” Journal of the American Planning Association 85, no. 2: 114–32, https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2019.1601587. Tonn, B., et al. (2021). “A Futures Perspective of Health, Climate Change and Poverty in the United States.” Futures 131: 102759, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.futures.2021.102759; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2022). “The Role of Housing in Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.” Evidence Matters, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/periodicals/em/Summer22/highlight1.html; Shi, L., et al. (2016).  “Roadmap towards Justice in Urban Climate Adaptation Research.” Nature Climate Change 6, no. 2: 131–37, https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2841. Ma, C. & Culhane, D. (2022). “Addressing Low-Income Household Sheltering Needs after a Disaster: A Needs Assessment among Hurricane Harvey Housing Victims.” Housing Studies 0, no. 0 (2022): 1–16, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673037.2022.2149704; Rivera, D., Jenkins, B., & Randolph, R. (2022). “Procedural Vulnerability and Its Effects on Equitable Post-Disaster Recovery in Low-Income Communities.”  Journal of the American Planning Association 88, no. 2: 220–31, https://doi.org/10.1080/01944363.2021.1929417; Comerio, M. (2014). “Disaster Recovery and Community Renewal: Housing Approaches,” Cityscape 16, no. 2 : 51–68; Martín, C. (2022).  “Housing After Disasters and the Importance of Comprehensive and Equitable Recovery Policies.” Joint Center for Housing Studies, Harvard University. Retrieved from: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/blog/housing-after-disasters-and-importance-comprehensive-and-equitable-recovery-policies. Chu, E.K., et. al. (2023). “Ch. 12. Built environment, urban systems, and cities.” In: Fifth National Climate Assessment. Crimmins, A.R., et. al., Eds. U.S. Global Change Research Program, Washington, DC, U.S.A. https://doi.org/10.7930/NCA5.2023.CH12. Martín, C. (2022). “Exploring Climate Change in U.S. Housing Policy,” Housing Policy Debate 32, no. 1: 1–13, https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2022.2012030. Rittel, H. W., & Webber, M. M. (1973). “Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning.” Policy sciences, 4(2), 155-169. https://www.cc.gatech.edu/fac/ellendo/rittel/rittel-dilemma.pdf.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

When O’Shea Guillory stepped off the elevator at the Egleston campus of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, it was the first time she connected Aflac with her son’s battle against sickle cell disease.

“The butterfly-adorned elevator doors opened to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, and there was a portrait of long-time Aflac Chairman, CEO and President Dan Amos smiling back at me,” O’Shea recalled.

The miraculous story of O’Shea’s twin sons — Sawyer, who was diagnosed with the most common and severe form of sickle cell, hemoglobin SS, and Saxton who was a perfect match for his brother’s lifesaving bone marrow transplant — has touched many.

The journey with an underrepresented disease 

When Sawyer was diagnosed, O’Shea asked the doctor, “Where would you take your child if you were in our position?” The response was Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). The Guillory family cancelled their plans to move from Brunswick, Georgia, to Texas and instead relocated to the Atlanta area.

Through grueling treatments that often required complete isolation, the Guillory family relied on the support and medical expertise found at CHOA and the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. Additionally, Sawyer and Saxton found comfort in My Special Aflac Ducks®. In fact, the family served as advisors as the company adapted its robotic, comforting companion — originally designed for children with cancer — so it could also be used for children with sickle cell.

According to the CDC, sickle cell is a common disease affecting approximately 100,000 Americans and occurring in about 1 in every 365 Black or African American births.1

“I am proud to say Aflac is helping close the gap for sickle cell,” said Buffy Swinehart, senior manager, Corporate Social Responsibility. “In addition to the financial support we’ve given to this underfunded disease through the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, which treats more children with sickle cell than anywhere else in the country,2 we are helping to educate and drive awareness of the disease. As part of Aflac’s continued investment in the My Special Aflac Duck program, we are doubling down on our commitment to families like the Guillorys.”

“The amount of care, love and compassion our family received at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center was life-changing,” said O’Shea. “My son was cured, and I knew I wanted to do whatever I could to give back.”

And she did just that, starting with a fundraiser for Sawyer’s birthday, where O’Shea raised $5,000. She still wanted to do more, so she connected with Aflac, and her life began to pivot.

Joining the Aflac flock

“I worked in technology for years and was very happy with my job and career, but I wanted to put my skills to use in the area that tugged at my heart,” said O’Shea. “I knew there were other families going through the same thing we experienced, and I prayed for them to be okay mentally and physically. I didn’t want them to have to worry about financial burdens.”

O’Shea wrote down her vision and plan to offer her skillset to CHOA and Aflac and, in 2021, was invited to attend Aflac’s annual meeting of leading sales agents and brokers. Her goal was to get in front of Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos, tell him how Aflac had touched her heart and explain some product ideas she thought the company should create that would help families facing diseases like sickle cell.

As she waited to be taken backstage, she heard a big voice coming from the podium. She peeked inside the conference room doors, and it was then Aflac U.S. President Teresa White going over successful sales numbers and other accomplishments from the year. Serendipitously, O’Shea was ushered backstage as Teresa was coming off the stage.

“Meeting her was such a magical moment. I told her what an honor it was, and she spoke life into me,” said O’Shea. “She gave me the courage to speak up, state my case and apply for a position at the company. And that’s what I did.”

O’Shea joined Aflac in 2023 and today, she is an Associate Product Manager for Aflac, where she uses her talents and experience to develop group products that will directly help the families who need it most.

“I am so happy to officially be an Aflac employee. It’s been almost a full year now, but I knew on day one that this is where I am supposed to be,” said O’Shea. “I am so excited for the future. Sawyer has been cured, both my sons are healthy, and I work for a company that does all it can to help others without even being asked.”

Now, when O’Shea steps off an elevator and sees Dan Amos’s smiling face, it’s because she is at Aflac headquarters, following her heart and working hard to help families like her own.

1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Data & Statistics on Sickle Cell Disease.” Accessed on Feb. 1, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/sicklecell/data.html.

2Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, “About Our Sickle Cell Disease Program.” Accessed on Feb. 23, 2024. https://www.choa.org/medical-services/cancer-and-blood-disorders/blood-disorders/sickle-cell-disease.

Coverage is underwritten by Aflac. In New York, coverage is underwritten by Aflac New York.

WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

Z2400130

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Wells Fargo, together with Elemental Excelerator, a leading nonprofit climate technology investor, and the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC), a leading nonprofit green bank, have joined forces to launch a new debt financing program, called the Capital Access for Climate Innovators. The Capital Access Program was created to pilot innovative lending and co-investing vehicles to catalyze climate technology projects with significant community benefits.

This collaboration aims to address funding gaps faced by climate technology companies, and particularly those led by traditionally excluded founders. Elemental and NYCEEC are partnering to identify and provide capital to Elemental portfolio companies who face finance gaps on their path toward commercialization and where debt capital can catalyze scale. To support this effort, Wells Fargo has provided a $400,000 grant, which will allow Elemental and NYCEEC to identify and share best practices and build financing tools and resources for climate technology companies, community lenders, credit enhancement providers and other project investors.

“There’s an acute need for new kinds of financing and collaborations to support technology companies that are working to reduce GHG emissions,” said Curtis Probst, CEO of NYCEEC. “This partnership will help us create greener, cleaner and more affordable communities. We are excited to partner with Elemental to bring NYCEEC’s green lending to Elemental’s portfolio of climate tech innovators.”

“At Elemental, we are profoundly aware of a $150 billion financing gap for climate technology projects scaling from early stage to widespread commercial adoption. With this partnership designed to reduce friction in accessing capital, we take an important step to bridge this gap and accelerate the deployment of climate projects with strong community benefits, like reduced utility bills, cleaner air, and more accessible transportation,” said Dawn Lippert, Founder and CEO of Elemental Excelerator.

Over the past decade, Elemental has supported over 150+ innovative climate technology companies through technical support and equity investments, while NYCEEC has provided debt financing to assist building owners, contractors, and developers in funding clean energy projects throughout NYC and the surrounding region. Through coordinated efforts, this partnership aims to supercharge the growth of climate technology companies and rapidly scale the number of projects they are able to deploy in communities throughout the country.

“We are proud to work together with Elemental Excelerator and NYCEEC to help strengthen the pipeline that can deploy capital for climate resilience,” said Robyn Luhning, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wells Fargo. “Across the communities we serve, we seek to accelerate solutions that support access to clean, affordable energy technologies and economic opportunity.”

The announcement comes in the lead up to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other important Inflation Reduction Act programs that will activate investors, from state and local green banks to community development finance institutions, to make climate solutions more affordable and accessible to low-income and other underserved communities across the country. Through this initiative, Elemental and NYCEEC will establish resources and frameworks that can be used across the climate tech investing ecosystem to support expanded funding opportunities that will be made available through the GGRF.

About Elemental Excelerator

Elemental is a nonprofit investor in climate technologies with deep community impact. We bring more than a decade of experience across the climate sector, with an active and maturing portfolio of 150+ companies. Elemental fills two gaps fundamental to addressing climate change: funding projects for climate technologies in communities, and embedding equity and access into climate solutions. We invest in transformative technologies to create a systems change for a more resilient, equitable future. To learn more about Elemental’s team and our work in scaling climate technology with community impact, visit www.elementalexcelerator.com.

About the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC) 

NYCEEC is a nonprofit green bank sourcing funds from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to support community clean energy projects through debt financing. Launched in 2010 by the New York City Mayor’s Office, NYCEEC has since expanded its geographical reach throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. NYCEEC’s mission is to deliver financing solutions and advance markets for energy efficiency and clean energy in communities. To date, NYCEEC has mobilized over $480 million to fund projects that are expected to eliminate over 1 million tons of CO2e, with nearly 85% of those projects serving low-to-moderate income communities. To learn more about NYCEEC’s team and its Board of Directors, visit their website.

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Wells Fargo, together with Elemental Excelerator, a leading nonprofit climate technology investor, and the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC), a leading nonprofit green bank, have joined forces to launch a new debt financing program, called the Capital Access for Climate Innovators. The Capital Access Program was created to pilot innovative lending and co-investing vehicles to catalyze climate technology projects with significant community benefits.

This collaboration aims to address funding gaps faced by climate technology companies, and particularly those led by traditionally excluded founders. Elemental and NYCEEC are partnering to identify and provide capital to Elemental portfolio companies who face finance gaps on their path toward commercialization and where debt capital can catalyze scale. To support this effort, Wells Fargo has provided a $400,000 grant, which will allow Elemental and NYCEEC to identify and share best practices and build financing tools and resources for climate technology companies, community lenders, credit enhancement providers and other project investors.

“There’s an acute need for new kinds of financing and collaborations to support technology companies that are working to reduce GHG emissions,” said Curtis Probst, CEO of NYCEEC. “This partnership will help us create greener, cleaner and more affordable communities. We are excited to partner with Elemental to bring NYCEEC’s green lending to Elemental’s portfolio of climate tech innovators.”

“At Elemental, we are profoundly aware of a $150 billion financing gap for climate technology projects scaling from early stage to widespread commercial adoption. With this partnership designed to reduce friction in accessing capital, we take an important step to bridge this gap and accelerate the deployment of climate projects with strong community benefits, like reduced utility bills, cleaner air, and more accessible transportation,” said Dawn Lippert, Founder and CEO of Elemental Excelerator.

Over the past decade, Elemental has supported over 150+ innovative climate technology companies through technical support and equity investments, while NYCEEC has provided debt financing to assist building owners, contractors, and developers in funding clean energy projects throughout NYC and the surrounding region. Through coordinated efforts, this partnership aims to supercharge the growth of climate technology companies and rapidly scale the number of projects they are able to deploy in communities throughout the country.

“We are proud to work together with Elemental Excelerator and NYCEEC to help strengthen the pipeline that can deploy capital for climate resilience,” said Robyn Luhning, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wells Fargo. “Across the communities we serve, we seek to accelerate solutions that support access to clean, affordable energy technologies and economic opportunity.”

The announcement comes in the lead up to the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and other important Inflation Reduction Act programs that will activate investors, from state and local green banks to community development finance institutions, to make climate solutions more affordable and accessible to low-income and other underserved communities across the country. Through this initiative, Elemental and NYCEEC will establish resources and frameworks that can be used across the climate tech investing ecosystem to support expanded funding opportunities that will be made available through the GGRF.

About Elemental Excelerator

Elemental is a nonprofit investor in climate technologies with deep community impact. We bring more than a decade of experience across the climate sector, with an active and maturing portfolio of 150+ companies. Elemental fills two gaps fundamental to addressing climate change: funding projects for climate technologies in communities, and embedding equity and access into climate solutions. We invest in transformative technologies to create a systems change for a more resilient, equitable future. To learn more about Elemental’s team and our work in scaling climate technology with community impact, visit www.elementalexcelerator.com.

About the New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC) 

NYCEEC is a nonprofit green bank sourcing funds from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors to support community clean energy projects through debt financing. Launched in 2010 by the New York City Mayor’s Office, NYCEEC has since expanded its geographical reach throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. NYCEEC’s mission is to deliver financing solutions and advance markets for energy efficiency and clean energy in communities. To date, NYCEEC has mobilized over $480 million to fund projects that are expected to eliminate over 1 million tons of CO2e, with nearly 85% of those projects serving low-to-moderate income communities. To learn more about NYCEEC’s team and its Board of Directors, visit their website.

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres welcomes the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) adoption of the first-ever federal rule mandating the disclosure of climate-related risks from all U.S. public companies. In a 3-2 vote, the Commissioners adopted the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors, which will require climate disclosures in companies’ registration statements and annual reports.

“We congratulate the SEC on this important step forward to bring the U.S. closer in line with its global counterparts. Although this final rule does not go far enough compared to international standards and the SEC’s 2022 proposal, it will start to meet the demand for transparency that investors and companies have long sought. Consistent, comparable information on physical and transition climate-related risks is vital to decision-making around strategy and investments,” said Ceres President and CEO Mindy Lubber. “The SEC’s new rule will now mandate the disclosure of that information, giving investors much-needed insight on how companies are managing the material financial risks and opportunities presented by climate change.”

“For most companies and financial institutions, indirect emissions throughout a company’s value chain represent the largest source of a company’s transition risk. While we are disappointed the rule does not include key provisions from their 2022 proposal, including the mandate of the disclosure of Scope 3 emissions, investor demand for the disclosure of Scope 3 emissions continues to grow and many companies will be required to disclose this data in other jurisdictions,” Lubber added.

Ceres and investors have long advocated for mandatory corporate climate disclosure, resulting in the SEC issuing interpretive guidance in 2010 and adopting today’s mandatory rule. More recently, the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets released an analysis, Addressing Climate as a Systemic Risk: A call to action for U.S. financial regulators, outlining the systemic, financially material risks of climate change and the urgent need for a mandatory disclosure rule. In 2022, the Global Investor Statement to Governments on the Climate Crisis, backed by more than 500 investors with over $40 trillion in assets under management, called on governments around the world to commit to implementing mandatory disclosure requirements aligned with the Taskforce on Climate-Related Disclosures (TCFD).

Since the proposed rule was released in March 2022, Ceres has actively engaged with investors and companies to educate and prepare them as they align their businesses with the new disclosure requirements. This included a public briefing in April 2022 on the proposed rule with Chair Gensler. Ceres responded to SEC’s public comment process and sent additional submissions including: a compilation of articles demonstrating that businesses are already disclosing Scope 3 emissions, data on business support for a climate disclosure rule, investor use case studies, issuers’ support for Scope 1 and Scope 2 disclosure, as well as evidence of increased disclosures of emissions data and TCFD-aligned information.

“We urge companies to disclose this vital information in their 10-Ks as they earnestly work to align their business strategies with the transition to a net zero emissions economy,” said Steven Rothstein, managing director for the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets at Ceres. “We commend SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC Commissioners, and the SEC staff for their leadership on this issue and for fulfilling their responsibility to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.”

The new mandatory rule complements the global standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board and the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. The adoption of this rule follows California’s two corporate climate disclosure laws, which apply to both public and private companies that exceed certain revenue thresholds.

“We see California’s corporate climate disclosure laws as critical measures to ensure that companies are transparent about the climate-related risks they face and the measures they take to manage those risks,” said Lubber. “The laws serve as an important complement to the SEC’s climate disclosure rule. The disclosures from companies doing business in California and publicly traded companies under the jurisdiction of the SEC will give the public consistent and reliable information to inform investment selection and other key decision-making.”

Extreme weather now costs the U.S. $150 billion a year. 2023 set a record for events that cost more than $1 billion each, with costly floods, fires and storms occurring roughly every three weeks. The U.S. has sustained hundreds of weather disasters with the cumulative cost for these exceeding $2.7 trillion over the last four decades.

Lubber added, “With record high temperatures and billion-dollar catastrophic weather events happening more frequently and with greater intensity, today’s regulatory action is crucial for long-term financial stability. As the adage goes, you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

About Ceres 

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: Diane May, dmay@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 220

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres welcomes the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) adoption of the first-ever federal rule mandating the disclosure of climate-related risks from all U.S. public companies. In a 3-2 vote, the Commissioners adopted the Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors, which will require climate disclosures in companies’ registration statements and annual reports.

“We congratulate the SEC on this important step forward to bring the U.S. closer in line with its global counterparts. Although this final rule does not go far enough compared to international standards and the SEC’s 2022 proposal, it will start to meet the demand for transparency that investors and companies have long sought. Consistent, comparable information on physical and transition climate-related risks is vital to decision-making around strategy and investments,” said Ceres President and CEO Mindy Lubber. “The SEC’s new rule will now mandate the disclosure of that information, giving investors much-needed insight on how companies are managing the material financial risks and opportunities presented by climate change.”

“For most companies and financial institutions, indirect emissions throughout a company’s value chain represent the largest source of a company’s transition risk. While we are disappointed the rule does not include key provisions from their 2022 proposal, including the mandate of the disclosure of Scope 3 emissions, investor demand for the disclosure of Scope 3 emissions continues to grow and many companies will be required to disclose this data in other jurisdictions,” Lubber added.

Ceres and investors have long advocated for mandatory corporate climate disclosure, resulting in the SEC issuing interpretive guidance in 2010 and adopting today’s mandatory rule. More recently, the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets released an analysis, Addressing Climate as a Systemic Risk: A call to action for U.S. financial regulators, outlining the systemic, financially material risks of climate change and the urgent need for a mandatory disclosure rule. In 2022, the Global Investor Statement to Governments on the Climate Crisis, backed by more than 500 investors with over $40 trillion in assets under management, called on governments around the world to commit to implementing mandatory disclosure requirements aligned with the Taskforce on Climate-Related Disclosures (TCFD).

Since the proposed rule was released in March 2022, Ceres has actively engaged with investors and companies to educate and prepare them as they align their businesses with the new disclosure requirements. This included a public briefing in April 2022 on the proposed rule with Chair Gensler. Ceres responded to SEC’s public comment process and sent additional submissions including: a compilation of articles demonstrating that businesses are already disclosing Scope 3 emissions, data on business support for a climate disclosure rule, investor use case studies, issuers’ support for Scope 1 and Scope 2 disclosure, as well as evidence of increased disclosures of emissions data and TCFD-aligned information.

“We urge companies to disclose this vital information in their 10-Ks as they earnestly work to align their business strategies with the transition to a net zero emissions economy,” said Steven Rothstein, managing director for the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets at Ceres. “We commend SEC Chair Gary Gensler, the SEC Commissioners, and the SEC staff for their leadership on this issue and for fulfilling their responsibility to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation.”

The new mandatory rule complements the global standards issued by the International Sustainability Standards Board and the European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive. The adoption of this rule follows California’s two corporate climate disclosure laws, which apply to both public and private companies that exceed certain revenue thresholds.

“We see California’s corporate climate disclosure laws as critical measures to ensure that companies are transparent about the climate-related risks they face and the measures they take to manage those risks,” said Lubber. “The laws serve as an important complement to the SEC’s climate disclosure rule. The disclosures from companies doing business in California and publicly traded companies under the jurisdiction of the SEC will give the public consistent and reliable information to inform investment selection and other key decision-making.”

Extreme weather now costs the U.S. $150 billion a year. 2023 set a record for events that cost more than $1 billion each, with costly floods, fires and storms occurring roughly every three weeks. The U.S. has sustained hundreds of weather disasters with the cumulative cost for these exceeding $2.7 trillion over the last four decades.

Lubber added, “With record high temperatures and billion-dollar catastrophic weather events happening more frequently and with greater intensity, today’s regulatory action is crucial for long-term financial stability. As the adage goes, you can’t manage what you don’t measure.”

About Ceres 

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: Diane May, dmay@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 220

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Get ready to redefine your policy communication approach and build powerful, result-oriented advocacy communication campaigns.

Register now and be sure you don’t miss our next Impact Council on Thurs, Mar 14, at 12pm ET / 9am PT! We’ll be joined by an expert in crafting public affairs and media relations outreach strategies for governmental and non-profit programs: Carmen Boon, VP of Public Affairs at Food Bank For NYC.

In today’s world, traditional methods of policy communication, such as lengthy press releases crammed with facts and data, may lose people’s interest, resulting in ineffective outreach and a low level of participation or compliance with the policy being advocated for. Understanding that today’s citizens are emotionally driven, our communication must adapt to stay persuasive and impactful. This means stepping away from the age-old norms and adopting more compelling methods of sharing information about policies and advocacies. 

The Impact Communications Institute, in partnership with 3BL Media, will host a conversation where Carmen will guide you through this complex landscape, providing you with practical tips and presenting case studies from diverse sectors to shed light on the challenges and strategies of policy communication. 

Note: This presentation is intended for nonprofit communication professionals, but anyone interested in understanding and improving policy communication is welcome. Prior experience in public policy communication is helpful but not mandatory.

Register here to secure your spot

Meet your speaker: 

Carmen Boon 
Vice President for Public Affairs, Food Bank For NYC 

Carmen currently serves as the Vice President for Public Affairs at the largest hunger relief organization in New York City. She leverages her expertise to empower individuals towards achieving sustainable food security. With over 20 years of experience, Carmen’s skills in crafting public affairs and media relations outreach strategies, as well as integrated media campaigns, have heightened awareness for numerous governmental and non-profit programs. As a strategist specializing in strategic, crisis, and advocacy communications, Carmen leads large-scale, issue-based, multi-platform, multicultural, and multilingual public awareness campaigns to impact policy and public opinion. 

Prior to her current role, Carmen served for 15 years in the New York City government. In her last public sector job as the Senior Director for Strategic Communications at NYC Health + Hospitals, she led strategic external affairs and communications for NYC Care, the largest healthcare access municipal program in the U.S for individuals without health insurance. 

Meet your moderator: 

Michael Kaye 
Director of Brand Marketing and Communications, Match Group’s ARCHER and OkCupid 

During Michael’s tenure, he’s been named Business Insider’s Top Technology PR Pro, PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25, PRWeek 40 Under 40, and The PR Net Marcomms’ Most Influential. He is an Adjunct Instructor at New York University in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication. He has also taught at Mercy College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Michael graduated from the University at Albany with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Sociology and earned his Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication from American University.

Not able to attend the session? Make sure to register here to receive the link to the session afterward. 

What else would you like to learn during these sessions? Email your request to hello@impactcommsinstitute.org 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming sessions!

Impact Communications Institute 
www.impactcommsinstitute.org 

We publish a powerful newsletter that explores the intersection of communications + social impact called The Agenda. Sign up!

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Get ready to redefine your policy communication approach and build powerful, result-oriented advocacy communication campaigns.

Register now and be sure you don’t miss our next Impact Council on Thurs, Mar 14, at 12pm ET / 9am PT! We’ll be joined by an expert in crafting public affairs and media relations outreach strategies for governmental and non-profit programs: Carmen Boon, VP of Public Affairs at Food Bank For NYC.

In today’s world, traditional methods of policy communication, such as lengthy press releases crammed with facts and data, may lose people’s interest, resulting in ineffective outreach and a low level of participation or compliance with the policy being advocated for. Understanding that today’s citizens are emotionally driven, our communication must adapt to stay persuasive and impactful. This means stepping away from the age-old norms and adopting more compelling methods of sharing information about policies and advocacies. 

The Impact Communications Institute, in partnership with 3BL Media, will host a conversation where Carmen will guide you through this complex landscape, providing you with practical tips and presenting case studies from diverse sectors to shed light on the challenges and strategies of policy communication. 

Note: This presentation is intended for nonprofit communication professionals, but anyone interested in understanding and improving policy communication is welcome. Prior experience in public policy communication is helpful but not mandatory.

Register here to secure your spot

Meet your speaker: 

Carmen Boon 
Vice President for Public Affairs, Food Bank For NYC 

Carmen currently serves as the Vice President for Public Affairs at the largest hunger relief organization in New York City. She leverages her expertise to empower individuals towards achieving sustainable food security. With over 20 years of experience, Carmen’s skills in crafting public affairs and media relations outreach strategies, as well as integrated media campaigns, have heightened awareness for numerous governmental and non-profit programs. As a strategist specializing in strategic, crisis, and advocacy communications, Carmen leads large-scale, issue-based, multi-platform, multicultural, and multilingual public awareness campaigns to impact policy and public opinion. 

Prior to her current role, Carmen served for 15 years in the New York City government. In her last public sector job as the Senior Director for Strategic Communications at NYC Health + Hospitals, she led strategic external affairs and communications for NYC Care, the largest healthcare access municipal program in the U.S for individuals without health insurance. 

Meet your moderator: 

Michael Kaye 
Director of Brand Marketing and Communications, Match Group’s ARCHER and OkCupid 

During Michael’s tenure, he’s been named Business Insider’s Top Technology PR Pro, PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25, PRWeek 40 Under 40, and The PR Net Marcomms’ Most Influential. He is an Adjunct Instructor at New York University in the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication. He has also taught at Mercy College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Michael graduated from the University at Albany with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Sociology and earned his Master’s Degree in Strategic Communication from American University.

Not able to attend the session? Make sure to register here to receive the link to the session afterward. 

What else would you like to learn during these sessions? Email your request to hello@impactcommsinstitute.org 

We look forward to seeing you at our upcoming sessions!

Impact Communications Institute 
www.impactcommsinstitute.org 

We publish a powerful newsletter that explores the intersection of communications + social impact called The Agenda. Sign up!

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Lenovo has once again been recognized in Fortune’s annual World’s Most Admired Companies list, continuing to be one of the most admired companies in the ‘Computers and Communication’ industry category.

To determine the most-admired companies globally across 52 industries, executives, directors and analysts are asked to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. Companies on the list must come with a score rank in the top half of its industry survey.

More information on Fortune’s 2024 World’s Most Admired Companies can be found here.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of ‘New IT’ technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992)(ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.

March 6, 2024 /3BL/ – Lenovo has once again been recognized in Fortune’s annual World’s Most Admired Companies list, continuing to be one of the most admired companies in the ‘Computers and Communication’ industry category.

To determine the most-admired companies globally across 52 industries, executives, directors and analysts are asked to rate enterprises in their own industry on nine criteria, from investment value and quality of management and products to social responsibility and ability to attract talent. Companies on the list must come with a score rank in the top half of its industry survey.

More information on Fortune’s 2024 World’s Most Admired Companies can be found here.

About Lenovo

Lenovo is a US$62 billion revenue global technology powerhouse, ranked #217 in the Fortune Global 500, employing 77,000 people around the world, and serving millions of customers every day in 180 markets. Focused on a bold vision to deliver Smarter Technology for All, Lenovo has built on its success as the world’s largest PC company by further expanding into growth areas that fuel the advancement of ‘New IT’ technologies (client, edge, cloud, network, and intelligence) including server, storage, mobile, software, solutions, and services. This transformation together with Lenovo’s world-changing innovation is building a more inclusive, trustworthy, and smarter future for everyone, everywhere. Lenovo is listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange under Lenovo Group Limited (HKSE: 992)(ADR: LNVGY). To find out more visit https://www.lenovo.com, and read about the latest news via our StoryHub.