Tag: 3BL

CAMDEN, N.J., January 15, 2024 /3BL/ – Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that it has expanded its Subaru Loves to Help® initiative through a new partnership with Operation Warm®, a national nonprofit that provides brand-new, high-quality coats and shoes for children in urgent need.

Millions of children and adults across the country are experiencing homelessness and other urgent need situations on any given night. In the first year of the partnership, Subaru and its retailers nationwide will connect and host donation events with shelters and support agencies in their local communities to provide more than 150,000 children with the essential clothing they need to thrive.

“For too many children, going without a coat, shoes, or even socks can mean the difference between going to school, participating in activities, and feeling confident in themselves,” said Alan Bethke, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Subaru of America, Inc. “By pairing our own commitment to be ‘More Than a Car Company,’ with Operation Warm’s mission of being ‘More Than a Coat’ we’re providing children in urgent need with the opportunity to select and own the brand-new necessities they deserve.”

In partnership with Operation Warm, about 630 Subaru retailers nationwide have been matched with a beneficiary organization in their local community serving children in need. Through gifting and drop-off events, children can personally select their new pieces of clothing. These items are intended to not only help children stay warm and dry, but also to positively impact their mental and emotional well-being.

“Coats, shoes, and socks provide so much more than just physical warmth, and programs like this are giving kids in urgent need the relief and confidence to socialize and succeed,” said Grace Sica, Executive Director of Operation Warm. “Teaming up with Subaru, who clearly shares our values of community connection, allows us to bring warmth and confidence to even more children around the country than ever before.”

Through the partnership, Subaru becomes the largest automotive supporter of Operation Warm. By the end of the campaign, including historical Subaru Loves to Help efforts, Subaru will have helped more than 750,000 children and adults in urgent need so far.

On January 17, the automaker will kick off the 2024 Subaru Loves to Help campaign with one of its largest community-focused donation events held at Subaru of America headquarters in Camden, NJ. Employee volunteers will be serving close to 1,000 children from Camden with brand new clothing items. Working with eight local community organizations and nonprofits that benefit children and families in urgent need, the attendees will also be treated to an evening of fun, food, and games to celebrate the occasion.

To learn more about Operation Warm, visit https://www.operationwarm.org/.

For more information about the Subaru Loves to Help initiative, please visit subaru.com/help and follow #SubaruLovestoHelp.

About Operation Warm 
Operation Warm is a respected national nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering warmth, confidence, and hope among underserved children through essential programs that connect them to vital community resources. For over 25 years, Operation Warm and our esteemed supporters have utilized the powerful gift of brand-new coats and other essential clothing items to empower children and families in need. Our mission reaches beyond providing warmth; we strive to connect underserved kids to community resources needed to thrive. Together, we are transforming lives and making a lasting impact on communities across the nation. To get involved, visit www.operationwarm.org.

About Subaru of America, Inc. 
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts, and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile manufacturing plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA and the SOA Foundation have donated more than $300 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged nearly 88,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do. For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

###

Diane Anton 
Corporate Communications Manager 
(856) 488-5093 
danton@subaru.com

Adam Leiter 
Corporate Communications Specialist 
(856) 488-8668 
aleiter@subaru.com

CHICAGO, January 15, 2024 /3BL/ – The Baker Tilly Foundation announces the 15 recipients of its seventh annual Baker Tilly Wishes — a program where team members nominate their favorite not-for-profit organizations to receive a $10,000 donation.

“Our team members continue to inspire with their genuine care for their communities and dedication to giving back,” Baker Tilly Foundation President and Chairman Jennifer Soltis said. “We can’t wait to see how these grants will have a positive impact in 2024.”

This year’s 15 recipients include the following not-for-profit organizations from coast to coast:

29 Acres – Cross Roads, Texas

Adalyn Rose Foundation – Reading, Pennsylvania

Circles Salt Lake – Salt Lake City, Utah

General Needs Organization – East Northport, New York

Hearts for Sight Foundation – Temple City, California

Hope Street Ministries, Inc. – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

House of Hope Green Bay, Inc. – Green Bay, Wisconsin

Kansas City Autism Training Center, Inc. – Kansas City, Missouri

McGlynn Learning Center – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Mission West Virginia, Inc. – Hurricane, West Virginia

Nuestro Mundo, Inc. – Monona, Wisconsin

Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation – Portland, Oregon

Rebuild Yourself, Inc. – Orlando, Florida

Red Oak Hope – Austin, Texas

Runnemede VFW: Post 3324 – Kansas City, Missouri

Baker Tilly Wishes focuses on the three pillars of the Baker Tilly Foundation: education, health and wellness, and human services. The program is part of the firm’s broader annual holiday giving, which embraces causes supported by team members in their communities and includes many local office efforts, such as drives for food, toys and gifts for families in need. Additionally, the firm provides each team member with a charitable gift credit to bestow on a not-for-profit organization of their choice.

# # #

About the Baker Tilly Foundation 

The Baker Tilly Foundation is Baker Tilly’s not-for-profit, private foundation to drive greater impact in three philanthropic areas of education, health and wellness and human services. Visit bakertillyfoundation.org to learn more about the Baker Tilly Foundation.

About Baker Tilly US, LLP (bakertilly.com)

Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) is a leading advisory CPA firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 145 territories, with 41,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $4.7 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Contacts:
Nicole Berkeland
nicole.berkeland@bakertilly.com
612 876 4891

Baker Tilly Media Relations
press@bakertilly.com 

CHICAGO, January 15, 2024 /3BL/ – The Baker Tilly Foundation announces the 15 recipients of its seventh annual Baker Tilly Wishes — a program where team members nominate their favorite not-for-profit organizations to receive a $10,000 donation.

“Our team members continue to inspire with their genuine care for their communities and dedication to giving back,” Baker Tilly Foundation President and Chairman Jennifer Soltis said. “We can’t wait to see how these grants will have a positive impact in 2024.”

This year’s 15 recipients include the following not-for-profit organizations from coast to coast:

29 Acres – Cross Roads, Texas

Adalyn Rose Foundation – Reading, Pennsylvania

Circles Salt Lake – Salt Lake City, Utah

General Needs Organization – East Northport, New York

Hearts for Sight Foundation – Temple City, California

Hope Street Ministries, Inc. – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

House of Hope Green Bay, Inc. – Green Bay, Wisconsin

Kansas City Autism Training Center, Inc. – Kansas City, Missouri

McGlynn Learning Center – Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Mission West Virginia, Inc. – Hurricane, West Virginia

Nuestro Mundo, Inc. – Monona, Wisconsin

Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation – Portland, Oregon

Rebuild Yourself, Inc. – Orlando, Florida

Red Oak Hope – Austin, Texas

Runnemede VFW: Post 3324 – Kansas City, Missouri

Baker Tilly Wishes focuses on the three pillars of the Baker Tilly Foundation: education, health and wellness, and human services. The program is part of the firm’s broader annual holiday giving, which embraces causes supported by team members in their communities and includes many local office efforts, such as drives for food, toys and gifts for families in need. Additionally, the firm provides each team member with a charitable gift credit to bestow on a not-for-profit organization of their choice.

# # #

About the Baker Tilly Foundation 

The Baker Tilly Foundation is Baker Tilly’s not-for-profit, private foundation to drive greater impact in three philanthropic areas of education, health and wellness and human services. Visit bakertillyfoundation.org to learn more about the Baker Tilly Foundation.

About Baker Tilly US, LLP (bakertilly.com)

Baker Tilly US, LLP (Baker Tilly) is a leading advisory CPA firm, providing clients with a genuine coast-to-coast and global advantage in major regions of the U.S. and in many of the world’s leading financial centers – New York, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Chicago. Baker Tilly is an independent member of Baker Tilly International, a worldwide network of independent accounting and business advisory firms in 145 territories, with 41,000 professionals and a combined worldwide revenue of $4.7 billion. Visit bakertilly.com or join the conversation on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Contacts:
Nicole Berkeland
nicole.berkeland@bakertilly.com
612 876 4891

Baker Tilly Media Relations
press@bakertilly.com 

If you take a walk around the wetland at the Victoria, Texas INVISTA facility, you’ll see and hear all kinds of birds, reptiles and, during the school year, children laughing and learning. In the 25 years since the wetland was first constructed, more than 82,000 students and teachers have visited the education center to gain hands-on learning experiences about the wetland ecosystem and the wildlife that call it home.

“I’ve seen just about every single student in Victoria,” says John Snyder, the Victoria Independent School District environmental science specialist who’s been at the education center since the beginning. “I often hear it’s the best field trip they’ve ever been on.”

John’s been showing people around the wetland for so long that the children he saw when it first opened are now bringing their kids. Building those connections and shared memories has made the wetland a meaningful part of the community – demonstrating INVISTA’s long-term commitment to environmental stewardship while offering tens of thousands of children the opportunity to experience nature firsthand.

The students who visit the wetland have several opportunities to learn about and experience the wetland ecosystem. On a typical visit, John gives a brief history of the wetland and talks about some of the plants and animals that call it home. Then, they’ll usually do an activity, such as creating a plaster casting of an animal print or gathering water samples to test its chemical makeup. Trips also include a 1.8-mile nature walk that allows students and teachers to learn how to observe plants and animals properly, what the food chain is and how predator-prey relationships keep it all in balance.

“I love it when the students start to ask questions,” John says. “I want to see their eyes light up, and I want them to learn and really learn to love what they’re seeing.”

A lot of the kids that visit the wetland, he says, don’t have many other opportunities to experience nature. He tries to help them develop a love and connection with the environment. He says when people fall in love with nature, they tend to take better care of it.

The wetland is home to hundreds of species of animals, including more than 200 species of birds, 25 different species of reptiles, and nine species of fish. John has seen everything, from large mammals such as deer and bobcats to the tiniest frogs and spiders.

“A lot of this wildlife wouldn’t exist without the wetland,” he says.

More than 1 billion gallons of treated water from INVISTA’s onsite biological treatment plant flow through the wetland every year. The wetland provides additional natural filtration and biological processes that further clean the water before it is returned back into the Guadalupe River. The process allows INVISTA to return roughly 80% of the water it takes out.

“The wetland is a public demonstration of what our treatment system is capable of,” says Jason Leigh, INVISTA’s Victoria technical manager. “Birds, alligators, fish, you name it, they all thrive here.”

The Victoria wetland is especially important to wildlife during times of drought. Because it’s fed by water from the facility’s biological treatment plant, it’s always full, even when other natural wetlands in the area dry up.

INVISTA continues to invest in the project, including a multi-million-dollar overhaul in 2019 and plans to enhance the visitor experience to ensure it remains a valuable part of the community and home for wildlife for many years to come.

“People come out here and they’re like, ‘How can you have this right next to an industrial site?’” John says. “It’s because they nurture it and have done a phenomenal job caring for it.”

If you take a walk around the wetland at the Victoria, Texas INVISTA facility, you’ll see and hear all kinds of birds, reptiles and, during the school year, children laughing and learning. In the 25 years since the wetland was first constructed, more than 82,000 students and teachers have visited the education center to gain hands-on learning experiences about the wetland ecosystem and the wildlife that call it home.

“I’ve seen just about every single student in Victoria,” says John Snyder, the Victoria Independent School District environmental science specialist who’s been at the education center since the beginning. “I often hear it’s the best field trip they’ve ever been on.”

John’s been showing people around the wetland for so long that the children he saw when it first opened are now bringing their kids. Building those connections and shared memories has made the wetland a meaningful part of the community – demonstrating INVISTA’s long-term commitment to environmental stewardship while offering tens of thousands of children the opportunity to experience nature firsthand.

The students who visit the wetland have several opportunities to learn about and experience the wetland ecosystem. On a typical visit, John gives a brief history of the wetland and talks about some of the plants and animals that call it home. Then, they’ll usually do an activity, such as creating a plaster casting of an animal print or gathering water samples to test its chemical makeup. Trips also include a 1.8-mile nature walk that allows students and teachers to learn how to observe plants and animals properly, what the food chain is and how predator-prey relationships keep it all in balance.

“I love it when the students start to ask questions,” John says. “I want to see their eyes light up, and I want them to learn and really learn to love what they’re seeing.”

A lot of the kids that visit the wetland, he says, don’t have many other opportunities to experience nature. He tries to help them develop a love and connection with the environment. He says when people fall in love with nature, they tend to take better care of it.

The wetland is home to hundreds of species of animals, including more than 200 species of birds, 25 different species of reptiles, and nine species of fish. John has seen everything, from large mammals such as deer and bobcats to the tiniest frogs and spiders.

“A lot of this wildlife wouldn’t exist without the wetland,” he says.

More than 1 billion gallons of treated water from INVISTA’s onsite biological treatment plant flow through the wetland every year. The wetland provides additional natural filtration and biological processes that further clean the water before it is returned back into the Guadalupe River. The process allows INVISTA to return roughly 80% of the water it takes out.

“The wetland is a public demonstration of what our treatment system is capable of,” says Jason Leigh, INVISTA’s Victoria technical manager. “Birds, alligators, fish, you name it, they all thrive here.”

The Victoria wetland is especially important to wildlife during times of drought. Because it’s fed by water from the facility’s biological treatment plant, it’s always full, even when other natural wetlands in the area dry up.

INVISTA continues to invest in the project, including a multi-million-dollar overhaul in 2019 and plans to enhance the visitor experience to ensure it remains a valuable part of the community and home for wildlife for many years to come.

“People come out here and they’re like, ‘How can you have this right next to an industrial site?’” John says. “It’s because they nurture it and have done a phenomenal job caring for it.”

Las Vegas Sands

Sands has again been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024. The company ranked 259th out of 600 total companies on the list, the highest among integrated resort companies, and fifth among the 19 companies included in the Hotels, Dining & Leisure category.

“We deeply value this recognition as endorsement for our most recent accomplishments and ongoing work, which is indicative of our longstanding commitment to being a responsible company,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives for the company. “Our initiatives are centered around ensuring a people-centered culture with advancement opportunities for all, investing in and collaborating with our host regions to keep them strong, and continuing to advance environmental initiatives that drive ongoing progress in sustainability.”

Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 ranking focuses on a holistic view of corporate social responsibility that considers three pillars: environment, social and corporate governance. The media outlet’s partner for the ranking reviewed the top 2,000 public companies by revenue and based its analysis on two metrics: quantitative data from more than 30 key performance indicators for those three pillars and each company’s CSR reputation from an extensive survey of 17,000 U.S. residents that asked respondents to select companies familiar to them and evaluate their CSR performance generally and in ESG areas.

Sands’ environmental score of 87.47 out of 100 on America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 was the company’s highest rating, demonstrating its leadership in environmental responsibility. Led by the Sands ECO360 global sustainability program, Sands’ environmental priorities are to address low-carbon transition, water stewardship, waste, plastic and packaging, responsible sourcing and biodiversity.

The company’s primary ambition under the Planet pillar of its corporate responsibility platform is to achieve a 17.5% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. As of 2022, Sands had achieved a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from its 2018 baseline; however, the cumulative decrease reflected continued pandemic-related impact on property visitation. As business returns to more normal levels in 2023, Sands is continuing to aggressively pursue its low-carbon transition initiatives in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and transportation, and will update on its progress in the 2023 ESG report scheduled for release in spring 2024.

The company also scored above 80 in the social category on Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 listing, reflecting its commitment to supporting people and making its local communities great places to live, work and visit. The global Sands Cares community engagement program leads Sands’ Community pillar and drives efforts to address hardship relief; promote educational opportunities, especially for underserved groups; advance local business and nonprofit partners; provide disaster relief and preparedness support; and preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the company’s host regions.

Under its Communities pillar, Sands set a target to contribute 150,000 Team Member volunteer hours by 2025 to accelerate impact in local regions. By the end of 2022, however, the company had surpassed this goal because of extensive Team Member support for pandemic-related initiatives in its communities, along with core Sands Cares volunteer efforts. While the new 2025 target will be announced in 2024, Sands Team Members continue to contribute thousands of hours to local nonprofits and community issues.

Under its People pillar, Sands aims to build the workforce of the future, through its priority on professional growth and advancement for Team Members as well as the local labor pool. The company also is dedicated to helping local businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, succeed. Other core People pillar priorities include advancing diversity, equity and inclusion; ensuring health, safety and well-being; and protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms for its Team Members, suppliers, partners and guests. Finally, responsible gaming and business practices are a cornerstone of the company’s efforts to safeguard its people.

Sands’ target ambition under the People pillar is to invest $200 million in workforce development by 2025. As of the end of 2022, Sands had invested $56 million in workforce development initiatives, bringing the company’s cumulative investment to $113 million since 2021, well past the halfway point. Sands will next update on its progress in the 2023 ESG Report published next spring.

To learn more about Sands’ ESG initiatives, read its latest ESG report here: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

Las Vegas Sands

Sands has again been recognized by Newsweek as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024. The company ranked 259th out of 600 total companies on the list, the highest among integrated resort companies, and fifth among the 19 companies included in the Hotels, Dining & Leisure category.

“We deeply value this recognition as endorsement for our most recent accomplishments and ongoing work, which is indicative of our longstanding commitment to being a responsible company,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs, who spearheads corporate responsibility initiatives for the company. “Our initiatives are centered around ensuring a people-centered culture with advancement opportunities for all, investing in and collaborating with our host regions to keep them strong, and continuing to advance environmental initiatives that drive ongoing progress in sustainability.”

Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 ranking focuses on a holistic view of corporate social responsibility that considers three pillars: environment, social and corporate governance. The media outlet’s partner for the ranking reviewed the top 2,000 public companies by revenue and based its analysis on two metrics: quantitative data from more than 30 key performance indicators for those three pillars and each company’s CSR reputation from an extensive survey of 17,000 U.S. residents that asked respondents to select companies familiar to them and evaluate their CSR performance generally and in ESG areas.

Sands’ environmental score of 87.47 out of 100 on America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 was the company’s highest rating, demonstrating its leadership in environmental responsibility. Led by the Sands ECO360 global sustainability program, Sands’ environmental priorities are to address low-carbon transition, water stewardship, waste, plastic and packaging, responsible sourcing and biodiversity.

The company’s primary ambition under the Planet pillar of its corporate responsibility platform is to achieve a 17.5% reduction in carbon emissions by 2025. As of 2022, Sands had achieved a 50% reduction in carbon emissions from its 2018 baseline; however, the cumulative decrease reflected continued pandemic-related impact on property visitation. As business returns to more normal levels in 2023, Sands is continuing to aggressively pursue its low-carbon transition initiatives in the areas of energy efficiency, renewable energy and transportation, and will update on its progress in the 2023 ESG report scheduled for release in spring 2024.

The company also scored above 80 in the social category on Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2024 listing, reflecting its commitment to supporting people and making its local communities great places to live, work and visit. The global Sands Cares community engagement program leads Sands’ Community pillar and drives efforts to address hardship relief; promote educational opportunities, especially for underserved groups; advance local business and nonprofit partners; provide disaster relief and preparedness support; and preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the company’s host regions.

Under its Communities pillar, Sands set a target to contribute 150,000 Team Member volunteer hours by 2025 to accelerate impact in local regions. By the end of 2022, however, the company had surpassed this goal because of extensive Team Member support for pandemic-related initiatives in its communities, along with core Sands Cares volunteer efforts. While the new 2025 target will be announced in 2024, Sands Team Members continue to contribute thousands of hours to local nonprofits and community issues.

Under its People pillar, Sands aims to build the workforce of the future, through its priority on professional growth and advancement for Team Members as well as the local labor pool. The company also is dedicated to helping local businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, succeed. Other core People pillar priorities include advancing diversity, equity and inclusion; ensuring health, safety and well-being; and protecting fundamental human rights and freedoms for its Team Members, suppliers, partners and guests. Finally, responsible gaming and business practices are a cornerstone of the company’s efforts to safeguard its people.

Sands’ target ambition under the People pillar is to invest $200 million in workforce development by 2025. As of the end of 2022, Sands had invested $56 million in workforce development initiatives, bringing the company’s cumulative investment to $113 million since 2021, well past the halfway point. Sands will next update on its progress in the 2023 ESG Report published next spring.

To learn more about Sands’ ESG initiatives, read its latest ESG report here: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/

Last month in the United Arab Emirates, the global community gathered for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), resulting in an important agreement signed on commitments and actions that seek to mitigate climate change.

A team from GRI was on the ground in Dubai, making the case for organizations to be accountable for their impacts as enabled by sustainability reporting. That included Margherita Barbieri, who has written on Medium about the growing recognition that safeguards for the natural environment underpin efforts to address global temperature rises:

The crucial intersection of climate and biodiversity: a look back on COP28

As Margherita addresses, nature is much more than just a ‘mitigation tool’ in the climate change debate, with important steps reached during COP28:

Consensus on the urgency of more protections for biodiversity – from the oceans depths to the mountain topsLaunch of the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate ActionThe role of nature and biodiversity reflected in the final COP28 Global Stocktake

Margherita Barbieri, Standards Manager, said:

The global temperature is racing towards an anomaly of +1.5 degrees too quickly and it is critical to rely on nature to slow down this dangerous escalation. In fact, it will not be possible to reach the Paris Agreement and keep temperatures below this threshold without the absorption of CO2 that comes from the ecosystem services provided by nature. With the ink barely dry on the COP28 declaration, we need to remember that safeguarding nature, with transparency achieved for the impacts of organizations around the world, is absolutely non-optional if we are to stand any chance of turning the commitments signed last month in the concrete jungle of Dubai into reality.

GRI is currently consulting on new Climate Change and Energy Standards, open for public comment until 28 February. A revised GRI Biodiversity Standard is set to launch in the coming weeks.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards are the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards, which are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.

Last month in the United Arab Emirates, the global community gathered for the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), resulting in an important agreement signed on commitments and actions that seek to mitigate climate change.

A team from GRI was on the ground in Dubai, making the case for organizations to be accountable for their impacts as enabled by sustainability reporting. That included Margherita Barbieri, who has written on Medium about the growing recognition that safeguards for the natural environment underpin efforts to address global temperature rises:

The crucial intersection of climate and biodiversity: a look back on COP28

As Margherita addresses, nature is much more than just a ‘mitigation tool’ in the climate change debate, with important steps reached during COP28:

Consensus on the urgency of more protections for biodiversity – from the oceans depths to the mountain topsLaunch of the Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate ActionThe role of nature and biodiversity reflected in the final COP28 Global Stocktake

Margherita Barbieri, Standards Manager, said:

The global temperature is racing towards an anomaly of +1.5 degrees too quickly and it is critical to rely on nature to slow down this dangerous escalation. In fact, it will not be possible to reach the Paris Agreement and keep temperatures below this threshold without the absorption of CO2 that comes from the ecosystem services provided by nature. With the ink barely dry on the COP28 declaration, we need to remember that safeguarding nature, with transparency achieved for the impacts of organizations around the world, is absolutely non-optional if we are to stand any chance of turning the commitments signed last month in the concrete jungle of Dubai into reality.

GRI is currently consulting on new Climate Change and Energy Standards, open for public comment until 28 February. A revised GRI Biodiversity Standard is set to launch in the coming weeks.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards are the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards, which are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.

January 15, 2024 /3BL/ – GreenBiz 24 – the premier conference for sustainable business leaders seeking hands-on, tangible solutions – is taking place February 12-14, 2024 in Phoenix, AZ. Join this growing community to recharge and learn what’s next in decarbonization, biodiversity, supply chains, strategic communications and much more – so you can continue to accelerate your impact and your career. 

As companies continue to set increasingly ambitious decarbonization targets in an unpredictable social, regulatory and economic climate. The stakes are higher than ever, and more than ever, sustainability professionals need to create meaningful connections with an unparalleled community to offer fresh perspectives and insights.

Dylan Siegler, Senior Vice President of Sustainability at GreenBiz Group, emphasizes that “GreenBiz is your annual reminder that we have the numbers, the might, the tools, and the mass market support to address the existential crisis we’re facing. It’s a thrill to bring together the change makers in business who are solving wicked, systemic problems, and to create the means for them to learn from each other’s approaches.” 

This year’s program introduces a new perspective through seven program tracks — offering breakouts, roundtable discussions and keynote sessions focused on decarbonization, finance and ESG, regenerative nature, leading change and more. The program focuses on future-oriented content with cross-cutting themes of social impact, justice and DE&I.

GreenBiz 24 participants will gain access to unparalleled networking opportunities with more than 2,500 professionals, organized by topics to facilitate deeper, more meaningful connections with fellow sustainability trailblazers. GreenBiz 24 is not just an event – it is a platform to ignite collaboration and innovation, paving the way for a more just and sustainable future.

To participate in GreenBiz 24, register now using the code GB243BL at registration to receive 10% off the All-Access Pass: https://buff.ly/3Q18aXT