Tag: 3BL

What separates IP from our competition, isn’t the products we make, it’s the people who make them. It’s not uncommon to meet someone at our company who has more than 25, 30 or even 40 years of service to the company. In celebration of our 125th anniversary, we sat down with two of our most tenured team members to capture their experience and perspective.

Ronnie Lettow, a machinist at the Savannah, Ga., mill has 58 years of service and is IP’s most tenured employee. Cynthia Stone, accounting specialist, at the Laurens, S.C., Box plant has 52 years of service and is our most tenured female employee.

Here’s their story: 
Celebrating Our History: A Tenured Perspective | International Paper

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of planet-friendly packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of North America’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2022 were $21.2 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting InternationalPaper.com.

PHILADELPHIA, December 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), a global leader in hospitality and facilities services, proudly announced it received a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), the premiere benchmarking tool for U.S. businesses in the evolving field of LGBTQ+ equality in the workplace. This is the ninth consecutive year Aramark has been recognized by the HRC.

“Aramark is honored to once again be recognized by the Human Rights Campaign for achieving a score of 100 on the Corporate Equality Index,” said Fenimore Fisher, Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) at Aramark. “We are proud of the options that now exist for our LGBTQ+ employees to self-identify. We maintain our commitment to create equity by increasing access to opportunities for all our employees, inclusive of their sexual/romantic orientation and gender identity. We are enabling a culture of inclusion, where everyone can feel safe to bring their whole self to work.”

“For well over two decades, businesses have played an important role in furthering LGBTQ+ equality by centering employee needs and voices when it comes to workplace inclusion”, said RaShawn “Shawnie” Hawkins, Human Rights Campaign Sr Director of Workplace Equality. “While there is much more work to be done, year-over-year growth in CEI participation is evidence of a business community that recognizes the responsibility and value in upholding equity and inclusion.”

The results of the 2023-2024 CEI showcase how U.S.-based companies are promoting LGBTQ+ friendly workplace policies in the U.S. and abroad. The first year of the CEI included 319 participants, and the 2023-2024 CEI now includes 1,384 participants; further demonstrating the tremendous trajectory of the CEI, a record-breaking 1,340 businesses have non-discrimination protections specific to gender identity, up from just 17 in 2002. These critical non-discrimination protections cover 21 million employees in the U.S. and around the globe. Aramark’s efforts in satisfying all the CEI’s criteria earned a score of 100 and the designation as recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion.

Aramark’s commitment to people is a core part of the company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) platform, Be Well. Do Well., focused on positively impacting people and the planet. Aramark’s DEI-focused workplace goal is to create a culture of community and inclusion through the work and continued global expansion of its employee resource groups and allyship network, capability building, and meaningful management engagement with employees.

In June, Aramark launched its first campaign to encourage all employees to voluntarily self-identify internally. The campaign goals included helping the company better understand its LGBTQ+ population, inform DEI strategy and continue to measure veterans and employees with disabilities in the company’s workforce. Aramark also continues to highlight its “Pronouns Matter” training, to educate employees on inclusive language and its importance in gender identity and expression. To date, more than 2,500 employees have utilized the resources or updated their pronouns in e-signature and business cards. These achievements support the work done year-round by Aramark Pride, the company’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group, that aims to create a more supportive, inclusive, and equitable space for employees, clients, customers, colleagues, friends, and family members.

Aramark’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts have also been recognized by many notable organizations including BLACK ENTERPRISE, CAREERS & the disABLED Magazine, the Civic 50, the Disability Equality Index, Fair360 (formerly known as DiversityInc), FORTUNE, and Newsweek.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 15 countries around the world with food and facilities management. Because of our hospitality culture, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and the planet. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Supplier Diversity,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram.

Originally published on about.bnef.com

Read the full factbook here

NEW YORK, December 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Governments and state-owned companies in the 19 individual G-20 member states provided $1.3 trillion of support for fossil fuels last year, according to a new report produced by research provider BloombergNEF (BNEF) in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies. Much of the increase came as a result of the global energy crisis, with governments stepping in to offer energy price support for consumers, totaling $830 billion. However, such subsidies often benefit wealthier energy users disproportionately. The remaining $446 billion went to fossil-fuel producers, even though many enjoyed record profits. Oil and gas majors [1] saw their net income jump 84% in 2022.

BNEF’s Climate Policy Factbook evaluates the G-20 members’ progress in three concrete policy areas: 1) phasing out support for fossil fuels, 2) putting a price on emissions, and 3) implementing climate risk policy. The report aims to increase transparency and inform priorities ahead of the COP28 climate summit, where countries will conclude the first ‘stocktake’ of global progress toward the Paris Agreement and deliver policy recommendations to encourage governments to ratchet up their climate plans.

Michael R. Bloomberg, Special Envoy to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Ambition and Solutions, and founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, said: “While cities and states race ahead on climate action, national governments are falling behind – in part because fossil fuels subsidies are hurting the transition to clean power and raising longer-term energy costs for citizens. To blunt the worst health and economic harms of climate change, the world needs more governments to step up and stick to their pledges – and end fossil fuel subsidies. This new report highlights some of the actions they can take right away.”

Despite increased support for fossil fuels in 2022, the share of G-20 fossil-fuel support allocated to coal is slowly shrinking – from 8% in 2017, to 2% in 2022. But $21 billion was still provided for the most emissions-intensive fossil fuel last year. Oil and gas producers and consumers attracted just over $1 trillion in public support in 2022, with the remaining $250 billion going to fossil-fuel-fired power.

“The G-20’s public fossil-fuel support could have funded 1.9 terawatts of solar power plants last year, based on BNEF’s analysis. That’s 10 times the actual volume of solar capacity built across the G-20 last year and is approximately the same size as the entire power-plant fleet of North and South America combined,” said Victoria Cuming, head of global policy at BNEF and lead author of the factbook. “It’s hard to see how this aligns with the many pledges made by governments at recent G-7 and G-20 summits and COPs.”

The G-20 members are moving at vastly different speeds. Two states – Brazil and South Korea – achieved a substantial reduction in fossil-fuel support over 2017-2021 (the last year for which country-level data is available). In contrast, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa and Turkey all more than their doubled their funding over this period, with momentum especially driven by the expenditure of state-owned companies. China was the biggest contributor to G-20 fossil-fuel support in 2021, accounting for a quarter of the overall sum. But it had the fifth-lowest total on a per-capita basis at $97, compared with $2,309 for Saudi Arabia.

To effectively lead the phase-out of coal and other fossil fuels, G-20 members must introduce a meaningful carbon price so that companies and consumers pay for their greenhouse gas emissions. Thirteen of the G-20 economies have rolled out nationwide carbon taxes or markets, while Brazil, India and Turkey are planning such schemes. However, most of the existing programs are ineffective due to low prices or generous concessions such as free carbon permits or tax exemptions.

The third priority area is to implement policies and regulations to drive companies and financial institutions to assess and mitigate their exposure to climate-related risks. Climate change poses ever-growing risks to banks, investors and insurers, as well as corporations, ultimately threatening the financial stability of economies. While some G-20 policymakers are convinced of these perils, few have taken effective actions to require businesses to reduce their exposure.

BNEF’s report reveals that G-20 member states are at significantly different stages in this process. The European Union and UK are ahead of the curve, but other nations are still building their regulatory frameworks through voluntary guidance and pilot groups. Meanwhile, some countries, like the US, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, are trailing even further behind.

The complete Climate Policy Factbook is available via the following link.

[1] BloombergNEF analysis of BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies.

Contacts
Oktavia Catsaros
BloombergNEF
+1-212-617-9209
ocatsaros@bloomberg.net

Daphne Wang
Bloomberg Philanthropies
+1-212-205-0314
daphne@bloomberg.net

About Bloomberg on Climate
Led by Michael R. Bloomberg, a global climate champion and Special Envoy to the UN Secretary-General on Climate Ambition and Solutions, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Bloomberg L.P. are tackling the climate crisis from every angle. Bloomberg Philanthropies is at the forefront of U.S. and global efforts to fight climate change and protect the environment, bringing together mayors and other government and business leaders, grassroots partners, and environmental advocates and scientists across a key array of issues. These philanthropic efforts are accelerating the transition from coal to clean energy, improving air quality and public health, advancing city and local climate action, protecting and preserving ocean ecosystems, and helping unlock billions of dollars in sustainable finance. At the same time, Bloomberg LP is providing the global financial community with data-driven insights, news, and analysis on climate-related issues. As a company, Bloomberg LP is also leading by example, including committing to 100% renewable energy by 2025 and taking action in the communities where its employees live and work. And through stewardship of the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero, and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, dedicated personnel from Bloomberg L.P. are helping to harness the power of the capital markets to address climate change and support the transition to a net-zero economy.

About Bloomberg Philanthropies
Bloomberg Philanthropies invests in 700 cities and 150 countries around the world to ensure better, longer lives for the greatest number of people. The organization focuses on five key areas for creating lasting change: the Arts, Education, Environment, Government Innovation, and Public Health. Bloomberg Philanthropies encompasses all of Michael R. Bloomberg’s giving, including his foundation, corporate, and personal philanthropy as well as Bloomberg Associates, a pro bono consultancy that works in cities around the world. In 2022, Bloomberg Philanthropies distributed US$ 1.7 billion. For more information, please visit  bloomberg.org, sign up for our newsletter, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About BloombergNEF

BloombergNEF (BNEF) is a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and the disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our expert coverage assesses pathways for the power, transport, industry, buildings and agriculture sectors to adapt to the energy transition. We help commodity trading, corporate strategy, finance and policy professionals navigate change and generate opportunities.

Originally published by Beauty Academy Group on PBLMagazine.co.uk

This generous pledge comes as the iconic VIVA GLAM campaign celebrates its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of impactful contributions to HIV/AIDS awareness and support.

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December 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Safeway, the leading banner operated by Albertsons Companies [NYSE: ACI], has partnered with avid philanthropist and top digital creator MrBeast, AKA Jimmy Donaldson, on the latest challenge to hit the popular YouTube channel. Available to watch now, the “Survive in a Grocery Store” video shows MrBeast challenging a contestant to see how many days he can live inside a Safeway grocery store. Every day the man remains in the store, he wins $10,000 but there’s a catch. He must choose $10,000 worth of products to donate to local charities each day as well.

“Safeway has a longstanding history of giving back to the community, so when we learned of this incredibly fun and unique opportunity to partner with MrBeast and help our neighbors in need, we were thrilled,” said Jennifer Saenz, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at Albertsons Cos. “Our collaboration with MrBeast furthers our mission to break the cycle of hunger as part of our Recipe for Change environmental, social and governance framework. We’re also introducing MrBeast’s fanbase to the extensive assortment of popular products they can find in their local Safeway store, including Feastables candy and cookies.”

Thanks to Safeway, MrBeast and brand sponsors, including Shopify, over $450,000 worth of groceries, electronics, paper goods and more were donated to local nonprofit organizations including Feeding America, You Need Help Outreach Ministries, Kinston Teens, Hope Restorations, The Salvation Army Greenville, Boys & Girls Club of Wayne County and Beast Philanthropy.

“Working with MrBeast and Safeway has been a great experience that we will never forget. The quantity of donations was amazing, and we are certain that it made history in our ministry. We appreciate every donation that was given,” said Carl Darden, CEO of You Need Help Outreach Ministries.

Safeway partnered with Copia, a technology company that connects food donations to local not-for-profits in need, to identify and manage donation opportunities from the store to local nonprofit organizations.

“Copia is honored to have connected the generous donations from the MrBeast challenge with local nonprofits including Kinston Teens and Beast Philanthropy and many others who tirelessly serve their local community,” said Kimberly Smith, CEO for Copia. “We applaud MrBeast for shining a spotlight on the very real issue of food insecurity in our country, and we are proud to partner with him and Albertsons Cos., a grocer committed to reducing hunger across the United States.”

Brand sponsors that helped stock the store for this exciting challenge included PepsiCo, Vita Coco, Campbell’s, Red Baron® Pizza, Dude Wipes and Country Crock.

“PepsiCo is thrilled to partner with Albertsons Cos. as the exclusive direct-store-delivery beverage provider for MrBeast’s latest video,” said Shannon Bennett, Vice President, Retail Sales, PepsiCo Beverages North America, West Division. “We proudly provided 20 pallets of assorted PepsiCo products that were donated to the local community, and we are excited for everyone to check out MrBeast’s newest challenge. We think fans will especially love the contestant’s creative use of the Starry lemon lime flavored soda 12-packs!”

To complete MrBeast’s latest idea and make sure it was a real experience for the contestant, Albertsons Companies and their Safeway team worked with MrBeast’s team on the cash registers, aisles, signage, placement and merchandising to make sure every aspect of the store was a true functional grocery store—including seasonal areas and specialty sections found only in and around special occasions.

The “Survive in a Grocery Store” video is live now on the MrBeast YouTube channel and has been translated into 14 languages across the globe.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of September 9, 2023, the Company operated 2,272 retail food and drug stores with 1,726 pharmacies, 401 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia with 24 banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci’s Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2022, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $200 million in food and financial support, including more than $40 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat.

About MrBeast

Jimmy Donaldson is a YouTube creator, entrepreneur and philanthropist known as “MrBeast,” who has captured the world’s attention. His content entertains and inspires millions through never-before-seen viral spectacles, highly engaging challenges and massive giveaways, including millions of dollars in food and supplies for those in need. In November 2022, he became the most subscribed YouTube creator worldwide and now has over 215 million subscribers. In September 2023, Donaldson was named #1 on Forbes Top Creators List. He was also featured on the Time 100 list in Spring 2023 and their inaugural Time100 Climate List in November. In January 2022, Jimmy launched his better-for-you snack brand, Feastables, starting with the signature chocolate bar MrBeast Bar and a sweepstakes giveaway of a Chocolate Factory. His environmental fundraising projects are #TeamTrees, which successfully raised over $20 million to plant 20 million trees worldwide. The follow-up #TeamSeas raised over $30 million, which led to 30 million pounds of plastic and trash being removed from oceans, rivers and beaches across the country. In October 2020, he launched Beast Philanthropy, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that focuses solely on his charity efforts and has distributed over 2 million free meals. Projects expanded to building fresh water wells in Cameroon, building houses for tornado victims in Kentucky, building homes for the homeless in Costa Rica and donating over $3 million in humanitarian supplies to Ukraine war refugees. He currently works and resides in Greenville, North Carolina.

Contacts

Albertsons Media Contact
media@albertsons.com

MrBeast Media Contact
Lewis Kay, lewis@kovertcreative.com

Women in Trucking Association, a nonprofit organization, recognized Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) as one of the Top Companies for Women to Work for in Transportation.This is the second year that MPC has made the list for its commitment to gender diversity in the trucking industry.Drivers at MPC have an extensive benefits package that includes tuition reimbursement, four-day work weeks, a 401k employer match, a company pension plan and support from the Women in Trucking partnership.

For the second year in a row, the Women in Trucking (WIT) Association named Marathon Petroleum Corporation (MPC) to its list of 2023 Top Companies for Women to Work for in Transportation.

“It was a proud day to be a Marathon employee,” said Shyanne Mickley, Human Resources Business Partner at Marathon Petroleum. “As employees, we get to experience what a great company Marathon is to work for, but for an external group to see that and recognize us as a great place for women specifically to work was really special.”

MPC was recognized as an exceptional company for women to work in transportation at the WIT Accelerate! Conference & Expo in Dallas in November. WIT selects companies with a corporate culture that fosters gender diversity, competitive compensation and benefits, flexible hours, professional development opportunities and career advancement opportunities.

“This is a celebration of the progress made bringing gender diversity to the trucking industry,” said Dayna Reid, Transport Operations Senior Manager at Marathon Petroleum. “We are working to show women that the trucking industry can offer great career opportunities, and that MPC is a great company to work for.”

The nonprofit organization’s broader mission is to encourage the employment of women in the trucking industry, promote accomplishments and minimize obstacles faced by women working in the industry.

“Our partnership with Women in Trucking has helped us advance our current workplace culture,” said Hubie Bartlett, Operations Support Senior Manager with Marathon Petroleum’s Transport and Rail (T&R) organization. “As an example, we are working to use more gender-neutral pronouns when referring to drivers and mechanics to be more inclusive of all employees.”

Benefits of Driving for MPC

Transport drivers at Marathon have an extensive benefits package, including:

Four-day work weeks and the opportunity to be home every nightEight weeks of fully paid maternity leaveFour weeks of fully paid paternity leaveAdoption assistanceTuition reimbursement401k employer matchCompany pension planSupport from the Women in Trucking partnership

Interested candidates should visit driveformpc.com.

CALGARY, Alberta, December 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Greg Ebel, President & Chief Executive Officer of Enbridge Inc. (Enbridge or the Company) (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) called on Canada to show leadership to the world in lowering global emissions, reducing energy poverty and supporting the progress of Indigenous communities in the country.

In a keynote address to the Toronto Region Board of Trade, Ebel made a case for Canada to play an outsized and important role on the world stage, as it has at pivotal moments throughout history. From heroic efforts in world wars to standing up to apartheid, Ebel said Canada rose to the challenge.

Today, climate change is another such pivotal moment and Canada has an opportunity to show leadership – that opportunity is natural gas, stated Ebel.

“The world recognizes the value of Canada’s vast natural resources and the impact those resources can have for energy security, reliability – and importantly – reducing global emissions,” said Ebel. “Our goal as individuals, as a nation, and as a global community must be to reduce emissions across our planet as a whole. And LNG (liquified natural gas) helps get us there.”

Ebel called on government to champion the sustainable production of natural gas and to reduce barriers to the responsible development of LNG. He urged governments to create the conditions for investment in LNG exports to help global nations switch from coal power generation to lower-carbon natural gas.

“As a country, we have punched above our weight in the past. We’ve done it on an economic level – with the creation of the G20 and our leadership in the face of financial crises. We’ve done it on a global level – from our heroic efforts in world wars to Prime Ministers Pearson and Mulroney defining a role for international peacekeeping and fighting the scourge of apartheid. We’ve never been afraid to look beyond our borders to make a positive difference,” said Ebel.

“We can still be a global leader, a role model for responsible energy production, and a positive force in creating a better future across Canada and throughout the world. We can, yet again as a country, answer the call and make a historical contribution to the world’s progress. It’s time for our leaders in government and industry to rise to the challenge,” said Ebel.

Ebel also emphasized the need for a national Indigenous loan-guarantee program to ensure that Indigenous communities have a seat at the table and a chance to benefit from Canada’s natural resources.

“Many Indigenous groups have natural resources that they want to develop. They want to build a better future for themselves – and for the generations to come. The energy industry has an opportunity – in fact, I would argue it has an obligation – to help them become full economic partners,” he said.

See the full speech here

About Enbridge Inc.

At Enbridge, we safely connect millions of people to the energy they rely on every day, fueling quality of life through our North American natural gas, oil or renewable power networks and our growing European offshore wind portfolio. We’re investing in modern energy delivery infrastructure to sustain access to secure, affordable energy and building on two decades of experience in renewable energy to advance new technologies including wind and solar power, hydrogen, renewable natural gas and carbon capture and storage. We’re committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the energy we deliver, and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Enbridge’s common shares trade under the symbol ENB on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges. To learn more, visit us at enbridge.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Media 
Toll Free: (888) 992-0997 
Email: media@enbridge.com 

Investment Community 
Toll Free: (800) 481-2804 
Email: investor.relations@enbridge.com

SOURCE Enbridge Inc.

​As the global community steps up to accelerate urgent action against climate change, a multitude of sustainability events are taking place over the next few months to make critical progress towards a healthier planet. 

From the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit and Climate Week NYC to the UN’s climate change conference COP 28, the collective goal is to unite people worldwide to steer passion and innovation into tangible climate action solutions. 

The 8th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation (APAN) Forum kicks off on August 30 in the Republic of Korea to support climate solutions in Asia-Pacific (APAC). 

What is the 8th Asia-Pacific Climate Change Adaptation (APAN) Forum? 
The event is considered Asia-Pacific’s largest and longest-standing gathering of adaptation practitioners who will convene in Incheon City to share knowledge, best practice and solutions on adaptation and resilience-building to address climate change challenges. 

The forum acts as a key regional platform for collaboration between adaptation practitioners and is the biennial flagship event of the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network (APAN) secretariat. 

The in-person event, hosted within the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Regional Office for Asia-Pacific, runs from August 30 to September 1, during the Korea Global Adaptation Week (KGAW) 2023, one of the most notable adaptation events of the year, aiming to promote actions and practices to adapt to the negative impacts of climate change.  

A group of organisations are hosting the forum: the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Korea, the Korea Environment Institute – Korea Adaptation Center for Climate Change and Incheon Metropolitan City. It is co-organised by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the UNEP through the APAN secretariat. 

The forum will unite representatives from a plethora of organisations, including governments, financial institutions, UN agencies, academia, research, international organisations and the private sector, as well as youth and civil society organisations to work collectively across sectors. 

What does this event aim to achieve from a longer-term perspective? 
It is vital that the issues surrounding climate change adaptation, approaches and planning policies are more comprehensible. There will be knowledge and funding gaps since the last forum and so this event aims to provide a clear report of actions and progress to date. 

Communities, practitioners, and policymakers will be offered guidelines and the forum will act as a platform for implementing adaptation knowledge and accelerating action. Through such knowledge sharing and collaboration, adaptation and resilience to climate change will be promoted and raised from a local to a global level. 

What is the forum theme this year? 
The theme is Resilience for All: Enabling transformative implementation. Resilience has been a key forum focus over the past two decades but as the climate crisis remains a critical challenge, time is running out to meet the Paris Agreement goals. 

The current climate change impacts are disrupting sectors such as agriculture, ecosystems, human health, urban settlements and infrastructure, hence resilience is ever more urgent to protect communities to prepare for and withstand the worst-case climate scenarios. This is in conjunction with the key outcomes of COP 27, which focused on adaptation as a priority. 

The outcomes of COP 27 will be reflected on at the APAN forum, and will focus on lessons learned regionally, to prepare for future discussions at COP 28 in November.

About Acre

At Acre, we work with the most aspirational businesses with potential to make real change; from those who are just starting out to those who are well on the journey to crafting a legacy.

Our 18 years’ experience in sustainability recruitment, combined with our extensive global network, enables us to provide talent solutions that are designed to deliver this change.

Through our unique behavioural assessment technology, we understand the types of people, skills and behaviours required to create impact. We can develop these qualities within your existing teams too.

We find talented people and develop their skills to ensure they make a true impact in ambitious, progressive organisations.

Acre. Making companies ready for tomorrow.

Selected projects are part of the company’s Business Impact Fund programSince 2016, the Impact Fund has supported 58 projects in 22 countries

MIDLAND, Mich., December 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Dow (NYSE: DOW) announced its 2023 Business Impact Fund selections: seven projects that will help drive social impact and advance sustainability through collaboration. The annual fund brings together NGOs, nonprofit organizations and Dow customers to help solve global issues using Dow technology and employees’ expertise.

“Our Impact Fund is about helping to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges while using our products for good and unlocking innovative business opportunities with our customers,” said Bob Plishka, global director of Strategic Corporate Partnerships and Dow Company Foundation president. “This year’s projects focus on addressing circularity and waste transformation initiatives while seeking to support society’s most vulnerable populations.”

2023 Business Impact Fund projects

Argentina: Driving Change for Waste Traceability and Recycling Rates – Dow and Delterra are collaborating to improve the impact and transparency of waste management and recycling systems. Through an innovative material traceability tool using blockchain technology, recycled plastic can now be tracked from collection to new products and packaging. Tracking plastic allows companies to know exactly where their recycled materials are coming from. Dow also supports Delterra’s Rethinking Recycling program in Bahía Blanca, intending to triple recycling rates by 2025. The project will help improve behaviors surrounding waste separation, recycling, and collection of materials. The project will increase recycling center capacity, help find material buyers and create jobs for cooperative waste workers. 
 Brazil: Project REUSE (Fridge Recycling Expansion) – The next phase of Project REUSE, which focuses on enabling a circular economy for polyurethanes, will expand to the Southeast and Northeast regions of Brazil, combining efforts with an important value chain partner. The project’s initial phase successfully focused on recycling mattresses and sofas in one city in Brazil. The second phase explored refrigerator recycling in multiple cities in Brazil. Now, the expanded program will focus on a larger area in Brazil, providing recycling services to more consumers and helping the industry to achieve the 2024 Brazilian Extended Producer Responsibility goal to recollect and recycle 12% of total production. The project will continue to reduce improperly disposed waste, better manage refrigerant gases and help increase the amount of polyurethane recovered from equipment. 
 Mexico: Project Eztli – Eztli (an Indigenous word related to blood, life and vitality) is a shared value project focused on advancing inclusion by fostering awareness about menstrual hygiene needs, connecting Dow’s silicone innovation in menstrual cups, educational campaigns, and health information initiatives. In collaboration with for-profit and nonprofit organizations such as MEXFAM and United Way Mexico, the project will donate 80,000 menstrual cups to people in need in Mexico City, the State of Mexico and Queretaro City. The project also creates a strategic business opportunity for consumer rubber in the Mexican market. 
 South Africa: Soap for Hope – Through a collaboration with Diversey – A Solenis Company, a leader in cleaning and hygiene solutions for industrial and institutional markets, and the Pebbles Project, a local NGO with decades of experience in education and health work services, this project aims to give a second life to soap bar waste from local hotels to the benefit of underserved communities in South Africa. Soap For Hope will engage, train and empower unemployed young adults and women to establish a collection network and recycling facility for used soap bars. In addition, a distribution network for the upcycled soap bars will be set up to promote sustainable sanitation and create a positive impact on local communities. 
 Thailand: Small Scale Pyrolysis Unit – Dow will partner with the Plastics Institute of Thailand to support a small enterprise that developed low-temperature heat induction-based pyrolysis technology to convert low-value used flexible plastic packaging into pyrolysis oil and further process into circular feedstock for the Dow-affiliated cracker in Map Ta Phut, Thailand. Reintroducing post-consumer flexible plastic film into the value chain is an opportunity to increase circularity in Thailand’s community waste management system. 
 Ukraine: Recyclable Grain Bags – This project aims to support small and medium-sized farms and local industry by introducing a recyclable grain bag (sleeve) storage technology. With this technology, farmers impacted by the destruction of agricultural equipment have an opportunity to store their harvest in an easy and accessible way and preserve it until the point of usage or export, which helps prevent food waste. Dow is working with the Ukrainian Agrarian Council NGO and local business partners to simultaneously integrate a recycling concept for the bags to help close the loop and reduce plastic waste. 
 United States: Taking Care of our Home – This project assesses the current recycling landscape and identifies strategies to improve recycling rates in key U.S. Gulf Coast communities where Dow operates. By uniting with our NGO partner, The Recycling Partnership, our goal is to boost residential and commercial recycling rates in these communities, which contain most of Dow’s manufacturing footprint in North America.

Since launching in 2016, the Impact Fund has supported 58 projects in 22 countries totaling nearly $12 million in investments. To date, the Fund’s projects have achieved the following outcomes:

>2,000 jobs created>13,400 MT materials recycled>9,500 MT of plastic diverted from a landfill or environment46,000 acres of land protected

Dow employees worldwide nominate potential projects, and a diverse committee representing business and functional leadership across the Company selects the winners. Projects must meet the following criteria:

Have the potential to address critical social issues or advance sustainability initiativesBe scalable in their design and impactEngage Dow customers and value chain partnersAnd create new business opportunities for Dow

About Dow

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, December 4, 2023 /3BL/ – Fourteen government leaders representing regions in Africa, Australia, Europe, and North and South America have signed a Statement of Commitment to establish the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership (MCAP). In forming this new initiative, these governors, premiers, and secretaries mutually recognize their common need to share knowledge and support one another to act in the face of climate change.

This groundbreaking collaboration, launched at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 28) in Dubai, reflects a growing understanding of the worldwide effects of climate change, and the need for global collaboration to address rising threats to humans and the environment by building the resilience of social and natural systems.

Regions around the world with a mediterranean climate – cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers – are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis. While development and economic conditions vary between countries, increasing temperatures and sea level rise are ubiquitous and will only magnify in impact throughout the 21st Century. Drought, wildfire, and extreme heat will increase in both severity and frequency, affecting the resilience of communities and ecosystems. Traditionally, mediterranean climates are located between about 30° and 45° latitude north and south of the Equator and on the western side of continents. Due to global and regional trends, impacts will be exacerbated in the coming decades, especially if global warming exceeds 1.5 to 2°C above the pre-industrial level.

Over the past year, the Government of Catalonia, in northeastern Spain, and the State of California have already begun work to convene an inaugural set of regional partners, leading to the creation of the MCAP. The fourteen government officials, all from communities with mediterranean climates, jointly recognize that building resilience to these increasingly disruptive impacts from climate change requires innovative solutions and new partnerships.

“Today’s signing is another huge step for climate action and declares the need for all nations to think globally and act locally,” said California Natural Resources Secretary Wade Crowfoot. “California is no stranger to the impacts of wildfires, drought, extreme heat, and sea level rise, and through this historic partnership, we’re proud to share our knowledge with nations facing similar challenges. Together, our similarities can drive change and create a more resilient future.”

“Catalonia is already adapting to climate impacts, including explosive and unforeseen weather and a three year drought,” said Catalonia’s Minister of Climate Action, Food and Rural Agenda David Mascort. “We are working to guarantee the supply of all water uses, while creating a more responsible demand of tomorrow, and we are ensuring a social shield for those affected by storms and extreme heat. We led the formation of the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership because we believe that exchanging practice and generating new knowledge is key to responding to climate change.”

The fourteen inaugural members of MCAP are listed below.

Baja California Sur, MexicoBiobio, ChileCalifornia, USACatalonia, SpainEmilia-Romagna, ItalyMarroc Oriental, MoroccoNew South Wales, AustraliaOccitanie, FranceRabat-Salé-Kenitra, MoroccoRegion of Central Greece, GreeceSantiago, ChileTanger-Tetuán-Al Hoceïma, MoroccoVictoria, AustraliaWestern Cape, South Africa

“The challenges of climate change require a coordinated response from everyone,” said Claudio Orrego, Governor of the Metropolitan Regional Government of Santiago, Chile. “The Partnership aims to do just that: in the face of common challenges of mediterranean climates, we respond with organization and joint work.”

“From the outset, we joined the efforts to launch the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership because we are convinced that this dynamic of the five continents represents an ideal space for co-define policies and accelerate climate action and address challenges in a common way,” said His Excellency Omar Moro, President of Tanger-Tetuán-Al Hoceïma.

Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, said, “Like many regions worldwide, the Western Cape is vulnerable to the impact of climate change. And so as the Western Cape Government, all our future planning is geared toward being more mindful of climate change. Forming partnerships with other regions will help strengthen the global push to cut harmful carbon emissions and protect our natural environment. Our government and province support all measures and partnerships to reverse the harms of climate change.”

“NSW has seen and felt the impacts of climate change in our communities, environment and economy, said Andrew Lewis, Acting Deputy Secretary for Energy, Climate Change & Sustainability at the New South Wales Office of Energy and Climate Change. “As we move into an El Niño summer, we are particularly aware of the urgent need to build resilience against extreme heat, droughts and bushfires. This partnership provides an exciting opportunity to share our knowledge and learn from our global neighbours so that we can develop innovative solutions and accelerate climate resilience together.”

Notably, two generous philanthropies have stepped forward in support of this effort. The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has committed $250,000, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation intends to grant $100,000.

“The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is excited to support the development and launch of the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership,” said Sarah Smith, Director for Legacy Initiatives. “This initiative highlights the critical role of regional leadership in combating the escalating impacts of climate change. Our involvement underscores our commitment to proactive strategies that enhance the resilience and safety of our most vulnerable communities against the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related disasters.”

“The Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership brings the kind of leadership that we all need to strengthen and expand regional projects and collaboration,” said Genny Biggs, Program Director for the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation’s Wildfire Resilience Initiative. “We’re supporting novel solutions, creative models, and aligned research to achieve enduring resilience for communities and ecosystems vulnerable to severe wildfire in Western North America; MCAP can help focus efforts to accelerate their pace and extend their impact, from regional to global.”

MCAP will be supported by an administrative office led by Resilient Cities Catalyst, an international nonprofit organization with offices in New York, USA and Athens, Greece.

“Resilient Cities Catalyst is proud to partner with regions across the globe and serve as the secretariat for the Mediterranean Climate Action Partnership,” said Founding Principal Samuel Carter. “We are excited to help circulate knowledge and practice with leaders and communities through this new important initiative.”