Tag: 3BL

Demonstrates company alignment with the latest climate scienceKeysight commits to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions 42% by fiscal year 2030 from a fiscal year 2021 base year

SANTA ROSA, Calif., November 29, 2023 /3BL/ – Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) announced that its near-term science-based targets (SBTs) have been approved by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). The targets provide a clear objective for the company’s strategy to reduce operational greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with a 1.5°C trajectory and to engage customers in setting their own SBTs.

An increased global temperature presents significant economic, social, and environmental challenges. Rapid emissions reductions are necessary to mitigate the worst impacts of climate change and limit global warming to 1.5°C.

Keysight commits to reducing absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions 42% by fiscal year 2030 from a fiscal year 2021 base year. Keysight also commits that 73% of its customers by emissions covering use of sold products, will have science-based targets by fiscal year 2028.

Keysight’s scope 1 and 2 operational emissions reduction strategy includes energy reduction through efficiency and conservation measures, decarbonization of industrial processes, and sourcing renewable electricity worldwide. In 2022, the company completed the first comprehensive calculation of its scope 3 indirect emissions and identified the use of sold products category as the most significant. Keysight will work with its customers to provide guidance and support on setting SBTs to reduce emissions.

In addition to the approved near-term SBTs, Keysight remains committed to achieving net zero GHG emissions in scopes 1 and 2 by the end of fiscal year 2040. Keysight reports on its progress towards net zero emissions in the company’s annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report and plans to include future progress on its approved near-term SBTs. Keysight’s near-term targets are listed on the SBTi website.

Ingrid Estrada, Chief Administrative Officer and Chief of Staff, Keysight said: “The private sector must take meaningful action to do its part in limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C. By validating targets through the SBTi we are demonstrating our alignment with the latest climate science, meeting stakeholder expectations, strengthening business continuity and resilience, and engaging our value chain.”

Resources

Keysight’s CSR ReportKeysight’s Response to Climate ChangeKeysight CSR Website

About Keysight Technologies

At Keysight (NYSE: KEYS), we inspire and empower innovators to bring world-changing technologies to life. As an S&P 500 company, we’re delivering market-leading design, emulation, and test solutions to help engineers develop and deploy faster, with less risk, throughout the entire product lifecycle. We’re a global innovation partner enabling customers in communications, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, automotive, semiconductor, and general electronics markets to accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world. Learn more at Keysight Newsroom and www.keysight.com. 

November 29, 2023 /3BL/ – The Legacy Cellar Foundation, which works with some of the world’s most passionate wine aficionados to transition their collections into transformative gifts for charities, is donating 15,000 cases of premium red, white, and sparkling wine to nonprofit organizations just in time for the holidays.

Retailing for more than $5 million (or $360/case), The Legacy Cellar Foundation, which collects, authenticates, and liquidates wine collections for charitable purposes, is offering The Great Wine Gift-Away as an opportunity for non-profits to acquire high-quality wines in quantities large and small for fundraisers, galas, golf tournaments, auctions, or however they choose.

Enough to fill 10 semi-trailer trucks, the wines are available in any combination with a minimum of 20 cases per order (12 bottles per case) required. Organizations need only cover the cost of shipping and handling ($39/case).

“The ability to donate these outstanding wines to organizations for their fundraising endeavors is what The Legacy Cellar’s mission is all about,” said Garth Hodgdon, Managing Director, Legacy Cellar Foundation, leading wine expert and Advanced Sommelier. “To convert wine collections and surplus inventories into charitable donations, brings a previously untapped source of funding to the philanthropic sector, enabling greater positive impact for them, and access to curated wine collections to enthusiasts.”

The Great Wine Gift-Away includes red, white, and sparkling wines of the highest quality. These wines will elevate any event as well as pair nicely with a wide variety of cuisines and concepts. The offer is good while supplies last. When requesting, organizations must include their tax ID information confirming 501c3 status. Shipping currently available to the following states only: Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.

To receive, non-profits can visit The Legacy Cellar at https://legacycellar.org/wine-giftaway/ and complete the online form. Estimated shipping is 7-14 business days allowing plenty of time for shipments to be received ahead of the busy holiday season.

About The Legacy Cellar Foundation Today, there are millions of bottles of wine being stored in personal cellars and storage facilities. Often these collections are not considered during estate planning. Working with donors to identify causes or charities for support, it is Legacy Wine Cellar’s mission to help collectors maximize their giving potential and create a philanthropic legacy through their wine collection. With a team of leading experts, The Legacy Cellar Foundation will conduct a comprehensive wine inventory, authentication, and liquidation of the cellar donation to generate maximum donation value, ensuring every dollar of the donor’s liquidated cellar goes directly to their pre-selected cause.

About The Benz Foundation The Legacy Cellar Foundation was funded and co-created by The Benz Foundation, whose philanthropic mission is to use innovation and leverage to improve lives and help solve some of the more vexing problems facing our society. They believe in the power of all human beings to learn, grow, heal, contribute, and ultimately, flourish, and seek opportunities where resources can unlock vast impact many times the investment.

Originally published on HARMAN Newsroom

STAMFORD, Ct., November 27, 2023 /3BL/ – HARMAN, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. focused on connected technologies for automotive, consumer, and enterprise markets, today announced the acquisition of Roon, the music management, discovery, and streaming platform for music enthusiasts.

Roon is a music player platform for music enthusiasts, which features a rich interface for browsing and discovering music, compatibility with almost any audio device, and a playback engine designed to deliver the best possible sound. Roon is available for all popular operating systems and manufactures a line of hardware server appliances called Nucleus.

“At HARMAN we take great pride in our ability to create exceptional audio experiences for our partners and consumers around the world,” said Dave Rogers, President, Lifestyle Division, HARMAN. “The team at Roon shares our passion in bringing exceptional sound and connectivity to music lovers as they browse, discover, and listen at home and on the go. We are looking forward to welcoming Roon, whose impressive talent will join the HARMAN family and bolster our already robust engineering capabilities.”

Roon will operate as a standalone Harman business with its existing team. All Roon operations will stay in place and continue to be dedicated to serving and growing Roon’s community of device partners and customers, under a joint mission to deliver engaging and personalized audio experiences across a universe of products and platforms.

Aligned with its ‘work with all’ strategy, HARMAN is committed to growing Roon’s open device ecosystem which includes collaborating with more than 160 other audio brands, delivering audio to more than 1000 high-performance devices. Roon’s dedication to its loyal community and its exceptional UI/UX design expertise will continue to expand and flourish with the acquisition.

“Our team is ecstatic to join HARMAN, a visionary company that has been leading the audio industry forward for decades,” said Enno Vandermeer, CEO of Roon. “By combining forces with HARMAN, Roon gains the incredible scale, resources, and reach of a global technology leader, while maintaining our independence to invest in the business’s growth and future. We look forward to continuing to bring our advanced data management, SaaS expertise, and consumer engagement capabilities to our broad ecosystem of partners, as we join forces with HARMAN to deliver even greater audio experiences to our customers.”

ABOUT HARMAN

HARMAN (harman.com) designs and engineers connected products and solutions for automakers, consumers, and enterprises worldwide, including connected car systems, audio and visual products, enterprise automation solutions; and services supporting the Internet of Things. With leading brands including AKG®, Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson® and Revel®, HARMAN is admired by audiophiles, musicians and the entertainment venues where they perform around the world. More than 50 million automobiles on the road today are equipped with HARMAN audio and connected car systems. Our software services power billions of mobile devices and systems that are connected, integrated and secure across all platforms, from work and home to car and mobile. HARMAN has a workforce of approximately 30,000 people across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. In March 2017, HARMAN became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Samsung Electronics.

Published by Las Vegas Sands on November 22, 2023

Sands China hosted 16 youth from the Macau Junior Golf Association in late October to participate in a skills challenge with four of the sport’s most elite champions: Minjee Lee, Lydia Ko, Minwoo Lee and Collin Morikawa.

The Sands Golf Day gave participating youth a unique opportunity to learn from four accomplished professional athletes with multiple golf championships:

Minjee Lee is a 10-time LPGA Tour winner, including two majors: the Evian Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open. An Australian of Korean heritage, she also is Sands’ first female brand ambassador.Lydia Ko was formerly the world’s number-one ranked female golfer and the youngest player to reach that milestone. The Korean-born New Zealander is a 19-time LPGA Tour winner, including two majors.Minwoo Lee is the 2023 Macao Open champion and set a new tournament record with a four-round aggregate of 30 under par. The brother of Minjee Lee, he is a leading player in the European Tour and the Asian Tour.Collin Morikawa is a two-time U.S. Ryder Cup player, a six-time PGA Tour winner and a two-time major champion. An American of Chinese and Japanese descent, he became the first player in history to win two major championship debuts.

The Sands Golf Day featured two activities for youth to receive mentoring and instruction from the pros. In one session, the pro golfers teamed with youth to demonstrate their accuracy in long-distance shots aimed at designated targets.

In a long-putt skills challenge, four groups of youth were paired with each pro golfer to compete for either the Macau Deaf Association or Orbis Macau. Sands China donated nearly $12,500 to the two organizations, based on results of the group competition.

The Sands Golf Day marked Minjee Lee’s first official event as a Sands brand ambassador. Earlier this year, Sands announced the partnership, which is aimed at showcasing the success of female champions as role models for young athletes and young women.

“I am thrilled to be part of this event to inspire young people and ignite their passion for sports, while supporting two local charities,” Lee said. “The opportunity to demonstrate and share my love for golf with junior players in Macao is a privilege on its own; seeing their enthusiasm and potential is doubly rewarding. I am grateful to Sands China for giving me this opportunity to spread joy through golf and make a positive impact on people’s lives in the Macao community.”

Morikawa also has participated in other Sands youth events. In September, Sands and First Tee hosted 60 students to meet and learn from him as part of the Sands Cares Youth Empowerment Initiative, a Long Island-focused program that brings unique opportunities and uplifting experiences to local youth. The Long Island golf clinic mirrored Sands China’s golf day and the company’s other youth golf events. Previously, Sands China hosted a youth golf clinic with PGA Tour champion Phil Mickelson and Chinese pro golfer Li Haotong.

“We’re committed to supporting the development of local sports talent and nurturing the growth of young athletes,” said Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China. “Through these types of community events, we unite accomplished sports professionals and aspiring athletes in a unique platform for interaction and mentorship, motivating young athletes to pursue their goals with determination. We aim to help them realize their potential and contribute to the rich sporting legacy of our city.”

To learn more about Sands’ focus on youth mentorship and development, read the company’s latest environmental, social and governance report: https://www.sands.com/2022-environmental-social-and-governance-report/.

Qualifying Duke Energy customers can receive up to a $300 account credit annuallyOver the last year, Duke Energy has supported more than 2,500 Indiana households with more than $300,000 in energy bill assistance

PLAINFIELD, Ind., November 21, 2023 /3BL/ – To help lower energy costs for low-income families this winter, Duke Energy Indiana is making more than $425,000 in financial aid available to eligible customers through the company’s Share the Light Fund®.

“The assistance we offer through the Share the Light Fund will help community members who may struggle to pay their electric bills as the temperatures dip,” said Stan Pinegar, president of Duke Energy Indiana. “Customers with past-due utility bills or in need of ongoing assistance can take advantage of these funds to get the help they need.”

Duke Energy works in partnership with the Indiana Community Action Association to distribute funds to qualifying customers to pay energy bills, deposits and reconnection/connection charges.

“As the weather gets colder, the cost of heating a home and keeping the lights on can become a significant burden for families who are already struggling to make ends meet,” said Ed Gerardot, executive director of the Indiana Community Action Agency. “These funds can provide much-needed relief for our neighbors in need, helping ensure they can stay warm through the winter.”

Eligibility for the Share the Light Fund is based on income, family size and the availability of resources. Customers can receive up to a $300 credit annually on their account. Individuals should contact their local community action agency to see if they are eligible. Click here to find a listing of service providers by county.

Duke Energy offers a number of other tools and resources to help customers take control of their energy use and save money. To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp. 

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $2 million annually in charitable gifts to Indiana and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at duke-energy.com/Foundation.

Duke Energy Indiana

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,300 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 890,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.

Contact: McKenzie Barbknecht 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

How do you create a workplace where people want to work and stay? Baker Tilly conducted a survey with public sector leaders around the topic of recruitment and retention, two ongoing challenges faced by human resource teams across industries. With unemployment rates low, organizations need to reimagine how, where, when and by whom work is getting done.

Recruitment strategies

Winning employees over in a competitive market 
When prospective employees have a plethora of options, it’s difficult to set your organization apart. While working to recruit new team members, employers are relying heavily on employee compensation with a combination of non-monetary benefits, like flexibility and increased emphasis on community culture.

When inquired about how organizations are adapting executive-level recruitment requirements to meet the challenges of the labor market, the prevailing response highlighted a focus on flexibility, particularly in terms of candidate experience and location.

A significant portion of their workforce is nearing retirement eligibility, underscoring a compelling necessity to incorporate inventive recruitment solutions as an integral component of their broader workforce planning strategy.

See full recruitment findings

81% of those surveyed increased minimum starting salaries to attract talent.

Retention strategies

Keeping employees engaged in your organization 
Recruiting employees is the first step but keeping them engaged with the organization and the work they are doing, is equally as important. Survey respondents prioritized three major areas of focus when driving retention in their organization; compensation strategy, workforce engagement and workforce flexibility. How can employers entice prospects to choose their organization over another when it comes to compensation?

The survey found that employers with fully engaged employees are the same organizations who prioritize continued training and development. Employees stay where they see opportunities.

2/3 of employers have added flexibility for when or where employees can work while 1/3 require 100% return to the office. The primary cause for not implementing work location or hour flexibility was a lack of leadership or council support.

See full retention findings

Almost 90% of respondents utilize consistent pay increases, one-time bonuses, or compensation market strategies.

As the number of retirees increases and the competitive workforce, organizations must continue to pursue and adopt creative ways to attract and retain employees to reach their company’s goals.

For more information, or to learn how Baker Tilly’s public sector talent management specialists can help your organization, contact our team.

Connect with Baker Tilly

Originally published on bloomberg.com

BI’s inaugural auto-buying intentions survey found that one in five (19%) respondents in Dubai planning to buy a car in the next 12 months will opt for a BEV – compared to European buyers (16%)

Tesla topped the list for buyers (21%), followed by Mercedes (15%) and BMW (12%)

Policymakers at COP28 UAE may provide a further boost to electrification in the region by updating transition targets

Though ICE vehicles were favored by the majority of respondents (54%), hybrids are the most popular choice of electrified vehicle (34%)

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, November 29, 2023 /3BL/ – Despite Middle East consumers continuing to favor internal combustion engines (ICE) when buying new passenger vehicles, a new survey conducted by Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) has found that battery-electric vehicle (BEV) ownership is set to accelerate in this key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) city. BI’s inaugural auto-buying intentions survey, which canvassed consumers in Dubai ahead of COP28, saw a growing appetite for BEV’s with consumers, more so than European buyers.

According to the results, of those respondents intending to buy a brand-new car in the next 12 months, 19% will opt for a BEV accelerating from a base market share of 2%. This compares to 16% of consumers in Europe, from a 15% base indicating slower growth. Tesla topped the most wanted brand list (21%), followed by Mercedes (15%) and BMW (12%). In Europe, these brands were equally favored.

Reinforced policymaking, that would help drive transition targets amid COP28 could further boost BEVs’ market share, presenting opportunities for specifically designed GCC brands, such as Ceer, to establish themselves. Ceer targets a 150,000-unit production capacity in Saudi Arabia as part of Vision 2030. Qatar’s state transport company, Ecotranzit, has also launched a BEV brand (VIM).

Similar to European owners, brand loyalty among Dubai auto owners also appears strong, with 67% of respondents likely to purchase the same marque again. Among major brands, BMW and Mercedes enjoy the highest loyalty, while Toyota and Ford lag.

Mike Dean, BI Senior Industry Analyst – Autos, said: “When asked about their concerns over owning a BEV, respondents highlighted high prices and battery degradation in contrast to European consumers who took issue with a lack of charging infrastructure and range anxiety. Concerns over long waiting times for delivery are likely to lessen as supply constraints ease though remain an issue. For Tesla buyers, charging infrastructure becomes a secondary concern given they can enjoy 15 supercharger stations throughout the UAE. In Dubai, there were 370 public charging stations in 1H with 1,000 targeted by 2026.”

Though ICE vehicles were favored by most respondents (54%), BI’s survey found that hybrids are the most popular choice of electrified vehicle (34%), which may ease concerns over effective ranges and a general lack of public charging networks. In terms of brands, hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) are dominated by Toyota, which has a notable cost advantage due to economies of scale, while the likes of Mercedes, BMW and Porsche are expected to benefit from plug-in-hybrid PHEV demand.

Prices of new cars are seen as being “too high” in Dubai by 81% of survey respondents, while delivery waiting times are also a major concern for Dubai consumers – 42% indicated they would switch brand if they had to wait longer than three months for delivery, and 74% for over six months. Separately, brand loyalty is key as automakers look to shield market shares against entrants such as Tesla and lower-cost Chinese BEVs.

Mike Dean concluded: “Automakers MG, Changan and Geely have already gained a foothold in the regions but may see their UAE BEV growth tempered given 75% of respondents to our survey expressed some concern over owning a Chinese brand, mainly about quality and safety. This bodes well for Tesla given it is enjoying strong brand recognition following Dubai’s decision to add 269 Model 3s to the taxi fleet earlier this year and tops the most wanted brand list from our poll.”

Notes to Editors
Methodology: Our survey on auto-buying intentions focuses on consumers living in or close to Dubai and took place over October 24 to November 3, using the Attest platform. The target audience of 150 adult respondents was selected using criteria specified by Bloomberg Intelligence to reflect a nationally representative sample for age and gender. Respondents qualified if they were planning to buy a brand-new car in the next 12 months. The survey’s confidence interval is 99% and margin of error 5%. Dubai accounts for about one-third of the UAE’s 9.4 million population, with the region accounting for 20% of GCC light-vehicle sales behind Saudi Arabia’s almost 60%.

Contact
Oktavia Catsaros
Bloomberg Intelligence
ocatsaros@bloomberg.net

About Bloomberg Intelligence
Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) research delivers an independent perspective providing interactive data and investment research on over 2,000 companies, 135 industries and all global markets. Our team of over 400 research professionals help our clients make decisions with confidence in the rapidly moving investment landscape. BI analysis is backed by live, transparent data from Bloomberg and more than 600 third-party data contributors that clients can use to refine and support their ideas. Bloomberg Intelligence is available exclusively on the Bloomberg Terminal and the Bloomberg Professional App. Visit us at https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/product/bloomberg-intelligence/ or request a demo.

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Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

COLUMBUS, Ga., November 29, 2023 /3BL/ — Aflac, a leading provider of supplemental health insurance products in the U.S. and a steadfast supporter of families dealing with pediatric cancer and blood disorders, delivered its acclaimed My Special Aflac Duck to children at University Hospital in San Antonio. This event marks a significant moment in Aflac’s ongoing commitment to bringing comfort and joy to young patients on their journeys.

The My Special Aflac Duck, an innovative robotic companion, utilizes medical play, realistic motions and emotional emulation to interact with and provide comfort to children undergoing treatment. Created in collaboration with over 100 children, families and health care professionals over 18 months, this animatronic duck serves as a crucial tool to help children manage the emotional aspects of their treatments. To date, more than 25,000 My Special Aflac Ducks have been delivered to children with cancer and sickle cell disease completely free of charge.

“At Aflac, our purpose is deeply rooted in being there for our policyholders during life’s most trying moments. My Special Aflac Duck stands as a tangible symbol of that dedication,” said Ines Rodriguez Gutzmer, senior vice president, Communications. Aflac Incorporated. “Witnessing the authentic smiles of children as they embrace a new companion on their journey fills our hearts, and we are thrilled to deliver this award-winning resource to the children at University Health who are navigating the path of pediatric cancer or blood disorders like sickle cell disease.”

Children at University Health participated in a My Special Aflac Duck demonstration and engaged in challenges before receiving their very own robotic companion. The patients and their families were invited to stay for the duck reveal party, enjoying various activities such as creating birth certificates and beaded necklaces for their ducks, coloring and more.

“University Health and our partners at UT Health San Antonio are committed to improving outcomes for children facing cancer and sickle cell disease. Our efforts include not just comprehensive medical care but therapeutic activities and emotional support,” said Irene Sandate, chief nursing officer, University Health Women’s and Children’s Hospital. “Our team of child life specialists help children and their families understand and cope with challenging health care events. Specially adapted toys like My Special Aflac Duck provide a comforting presence and a way for children to understand and respond to their treatments.”

My Special Aflac Duck includes an interactive mobile app for virtual care, customizable soundscapes for soothing visuals and sounds, smart sensors for touch and awareness, a calming heartbeat, and breathing vibrations. Named Best in Show at CES in Las Vegas and featured on Time Magazine’s list of Best Inventions, the duck has garnered acclaim for its innovative approach to pediatric care.

Health care providers, support organizations and families can order My Special Aflac Duck free of charge for children ages 3 and older who are diagnosed with cancer or sickle cell disease at https://myduck.sproutel.com/family/request.

ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in 2023 in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 17 consecutive years, Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 22 years and Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year. In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2022) for nine years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”

ABOUT UNIVERSITY HEALTH
University Health is the only locally owned health system in San Antonio. For more than 100 years, University Health has been here to heal, improve health, train the next generation of medical professionals and ensure the people of San Antonio, Bexar County and South Texas have access to primary and advanced specialty care close to home. Specialized services include the region’s only Level I trauma center for both adults and children, and maternal and neonatal intensive care centers designated at the highest levels by the State of Texas. As the region’s only academic health system, University Health is a hub of innovation and discovery, committed to delivering patient-centered, culturally competent, high-quality and compassionate care, based on a strong foundation of outcomes‐based research and innovative teaching. Learn more at UniversityHealth.com.

1 LIMRA 2022 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report

Media contact for Aflac: Jon Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com

Media contact for University Health: Shelley Kofler, 512-294-5224 or shelley.kofler@uhtx.com 

Analyst and investor contact for Aflac: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com

SOURCE Aflac

KeyBank, Operation HOPE and CAO of WNY will take part in an event for first-time homebuyers in Buffalo, NY. The event will take place on Monday December 11, 2023 from 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. at the CAO Edward Saunders Unity Center located at 2777 Bailey Avenue in Buffalo.

The event will focus on:

How first-time homeowners can create a budgetEstablishing and increasing your credit scoreReading and understanding your credit reportCorrecting errors on your credit reportExercising your rights as a consumer and potential homeowner

Please RSVP by calling (716) 332-4380.

Get tips on homeownership from KeyBank

KeyBank Member FDIC. NMLS #399797. Mortgage and Home Equity Lending products offered by KeyBank are not FDIC insured or guaranteed. KeyBank extends credit secured by residential real estate without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or familial status. All credit products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval. Terms, conditions, and availability are subject to change.

CFMA #231121-2343183

Jeremy Lardeau, vice president Higg Index at the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), joined the “Net Zero and Well-Being in Life” virtual workshop jointly organized by the G20 Presidency of India and the G7 Presidency of Japan, and hosted by Boston Consulting Group. The objective of the workshop was to share good practices on demand-side politics and business initiatives, fostering efforts to accelerate changes in consumer lifestyles and behaviors related to climate change and the environment. Attendees included governments, businesses, and organizations from G7/G20 countries and the European Union.

The panel was moderated by Makoto Morihara, Managing Director & Partner at Boston Consulting Group. In addition to Lardeau, it included Kawamata Kotaro, Director, International Strategy Division, Global Environment Bureau, MoE Japan; Nameeta Prasad, Joint Secretary to the Govt of India, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change, India; Seema Arora, Deputy Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry; Nicolina Lamhauge, Coordinator, Environmental Policies, Social and Distributional Outcomes, OECD Environment Directorate; Kiwamu Inoue, Assistant Manager, External Relations Department, Tokyo office, DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD; Valérie TO, Project manager at the sustainable agriculture and food office, Department of the Commissioner General for sustainable development, Ministry for an Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesion, France; Frederico Akira Campos, Country Manager, Braskem Japan, Braskem; Claire Poole, CEO, Sport Positive; And Rohan Sheth, Chief of Staff, Olio Exchange Limited.

Lardeau presented an overview of the SAC’s Higg Index tools as a common sustainability performance language, then dove into the use of environmental footprint data for on-product claims and labels. He noted that environmental footprint labels may not be as effective to drive positive change up the supply chain, and referenced a 2020 Compare Ethics study which found that only 20 percent of consumers trust eco labels. Lardeau shared that beyond footprint data, consumer education and engagement is key to better environmental outcomes in the apparel industry. “We believe that over the long term, some well-intentioned design decisions and efforts not to overburden consumers with heavy or scientific terminology have resulted in communications which are not radically transparent or have allowed for lower levels of consumer literacy on important issues in product design or manufacturing,” Lardeau said. Finally, he warned that an unregulated space breeds potential for greenwashing, but also greenhushing, so it is paramount that effective and harmonized regulation provide certainty and credibility to product environmental claims.