Tag: 3BL

With many locations close to our national parks, Travelodge has long provided a basecamp for park explorers while driving awareness for the preservation of our favorite places, including Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park. No matter which park you decide to visit, check the National Park Service site for the park in advance to learn of closures and other important details.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee & North Carolina

Breathtaking mountain scenery, panoramic views of forested land and rushing mountain streams are beautiful on their own – now, imagine them when the leaves change! Fall foliage has long drawn visitors to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Every year, from about late September to early November, the park’s fall colors are on display; of course, this timing depends on many variables (including elevation and temperature), and it’s impossible to predict just when exactly “peak” season will occur. Taking a drive along the Clingmans Dome Road, the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Foothills Parkway will afford visitors spectacular displays of colorful sugar maple, scarlet oak, sweetgum, red maple and hickories – just some of the 100 native tree species in the park.

Looking for another way to take in the sights and cooler weather? Guided horseback rides are available at stables in the park from mid-March through late November and are an engaging way to explore some of the 550 miles of hiking trails that are open to horses while trying something that might be new. Visitors interested in horse riding in the park can learn more on Great Smoky Mountains’ NPS site here.

Because of the park’s varied elevation and geographic location, it’s possible to visit and explore in the winter as well. Adventurous visitors – with the right gear and preparation – can tackle snowy peaks, while others can often enjoy snow-free trails by sticking to the foothills and paths in the valley. As is the case in the fall, many roads and parkways through the park boast stunning views once snow has fallen – just be sure, regardless of when you visit, to check the NPS site to be sure there aren’t any closures on the roads or trails.

Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah

While you might not be able to completely beat the heat in this desert park during the fall, the onset of autumn and shift into winter means the beginning of cooler temperatures! Bryce Canyon National Park, located in Utah, is perhaps best known for its hoodoos – irregular columns of rock found throughout the park. It’s home to the largest concentration of them on Earth! The cooler months of the year offer visitors the opportunity to visit when snow blankets the park’s famed red rocks, pink cliffs and evergreens.

With snow on the ground, visitors can explore the park by snowshoeing or cross-country skiing in addition to winter hiking – NPCA staff recommend checking conditions in advance as well as packing seasonally appropriate clothing and gear, such as traction devices for boots. The park also hosts annual winter events that are popular with visitors, like the annual Christmas Bird Count. Bird enthusiasts and casual observers alike are welcome to join the event, held each December. It’s one of the longest-running citizen science surveys in the world, where visitors and rangers alike gather data about birds in a 15-mile diameter to help researchers. Whether you come with friends or family or travel solo, you’ll be able to join up with teams at the visitor center and choose from several routes, from strenuous hikes to easy drives. Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count.

If stargazing is more your speed, you’re in luck; cool, clear night skies can make for spectacular views. Visitors who come to the park during a full moon can take part in special nighttime hikes. Offered as weather permits, the hikes last 60-120 minutes, during which visitors explore the parks hoodoos on a 1-2-mile-long moonlit hike. Reservations for the hike – as well as other hikes hosted by the park – are required; learn more.

Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, DC & Maryland

Biking, hiking, ice skating and more – there’s plenty of fun to be had in the fall and winter at Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park! The park features a 184.5-mile towpath along the Potomac River where visitors can take in the fall foliage. Visitors can explore the towpath by foot, and with a bit of advanced planning, they can also ride aboard an 1870s replica pack boat, the Charles F. Mercer; tickets are available first come, first served one hour before the program at the Great Falls Visitor Center. Once aboard, visitors will learn more about the people who lived and worked along the canal, including Charles Fenton Mercer, the boat’s namesake, who spearheaded the construction of C&O Canal in 1823.

For those ready for a winter adventure, C&O Canal offers a variety of cold weather activities. Sledding, ice skating, ice fishing and cross-country skiing can all be enjoyed in the park, though visitors must comply with the park’s rules and regulations to ensure they’re avoiding prohibited areas and practicing responsible visitation. For visitors looking to stay out of the cold, the park boasts a variety of indoor interactive exhibits and historic buildings. The Cumberland Visitor Center in the Western Maryland Railway station features a spacious exhibit area full of interactive displays about the history of the canal and the Cumberland, as well as a model of the Paw Paw Tunnel and a life-size section of a canal boat.

Whether you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park or Chesapeake and Ohio National Historical Park, NPCA and Travelodge encourage to you be responsible park visitors – for 10 ways to adventure responsibly, click here!

Travelodge is energizing adventure with the National Parks Conservation Association. With a large footprint close to national parks, Travelodge is driving awareness for the preservation of our nation’s favorite places while providing a basecamp for adventurers to refuel for the day to come. Between February 21, 2023 and June 22, 2024, NPCA members receive up to 20% off their stay at any Travelodge and 5% is donated to NPCA! Click here to learn more.

November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – With escalating risks from the world’s climate and nature crises and enhanced European regulatory risks, Ceres released a new scorecard today that reveals few of the largest global companies are taking ambitious action to tackle commodity-driven deforestation and drive progress toward a net zero economy.

The Ceres’ Deforestation Scorecard: Assessing Corporate Action on Deforestation Amid Growing Regulatory Risk assesses 53 major companies across 15 industries, including adidas AG, Cargill, Restaurant Brands International, and Procter & Gamble Co. These companies face the greatest risks from sourcing deforestation-linked commodities like soy, timber, and palm oil and most of them lack robust no-deforestation policies, despite recognizing the importance of deforestation action.

Robust no-deforestation policies are a critical first step in companies removing deforestation from their supply chains, which the scientific community agrees companies need to do by 2025 to support a 1.5°C future and halting nature and biodiversity loss globally. Investors also are looking for companies to mitigate risks by incorporating comprehensive, time-bound no-deforestation policies in their transition plans. Earlier this year, the Founding Partners of the Investor Agenda added specific deforestation guidance to its Expectations Ladder for Investor Climate Action Plans or ICAPs.

Ceres analysis comes as world leaders are set to convene for the 2023 United Nations Conference of Parties (COP28), where collective progress on ending deforestation by 2030 will be a focus of the international negotiations. In addition, the European Union is implementing new rules for commodities that are linked to deforestation, increasing regulatory risk for any company that operates in the region. The Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) compels companies to eliminate deforestation and forest degradation from their EU-bound products starting in 2024. Meanwhile, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, which are both still under development, will require corporate disclosure of deforestation impacts and mitigation plans.

“Given the urgency of the dual climate and nature crises and the enhanced regulatory risks, Ceres’ Deforestation Scorecard provides important and timely insights into how much deforestation action is needed from the largest companies across multiple sectors worldwide,” said Meryl Richards, Program Director, Food and Forests at Ceres who authored the report. “If companies lack a comprehensive no-deforestation policy, they will likely not be prepared to comply with existing and emerging regulations nor meet investor expectations on deforestation actions and deliver upon their no-deforestation commitments.”

To determine scores, Ceres conducted a rigorous analysis of publicly available information on each company’s deforestation policy, including company websites and sustainability reports, as well as other corporate disclosures, such as CDP questionnaires. Companies were assessed against four key indicators, all of which align with the Accountability Framework Initiative’s guidance on robust no-deforestation policies.

Does the company have a multi/cross-commodity no-deforestation policy that covers all relevant commodities (such as soy, beef, palm oil, wood, cocoa, coffee, rubber or derived products) that the company sources?Does the company’s policy cover all segments of the supply chain across all geographies?Does the policy include a time-bound, quantifiable commitment to achieve a deforestation-free supply chain by 2025?Does the policy include cutoff targets of 2020 or earlier?

The findings reveal that only 18 of the assessed companies have a policy that covers all the commodities subject to the EUDR, and only four companies (Amaggi, Kering SA, Mondi Group, and Suzano) have a no-deforestation policy that covers all segments and sourcing regions of their supply chain.

While most companies have specified a target date for fully implementing their no-deforestation policies, only eight of these policies are ambitious enough to meet the recommended 2025 no-deforestation target date. And, just a handful of companies include a cutoff date that bans commodities from being produced on land that was deforested after 2020, as the EUDR requires.

“The gaps exposed in Ceres’ Deforestation Scorecard create material risks for companies and their investors, while exacerbating the systemic risks of climate change and nature loss,” added Richards. “As part of transition planning, we need to see companies develop and implement comprehensive, time-bound no-deforestation policies that cover all commodities across all supply chains and sourcing regions which includes ambitious targets and cutoff dates.”

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit organization working with the most influential capital market leaders to solve the world’s greatest sustainability challenges. Through our powerful networks and global collaborations of investors, companies, and nonprofits, we drive action and inspire equitable market-based and policy solutions throughout the economy to build a just and sustainable future. For more information, visit ceres.org and follow @CeresNews.

Media Contact: Bridget Vis, vis@ceres.org

“At Gilead, we have a bold ambition: We’d like to help end the HIV epidemic for everyone, everywhere and we know you cannot do that alone,” shared Janet Dorling, Senior Vice President, Intercontinental Region and Global Patient Solutions.

Through our community partnerships in low-and-middle-income countries, we are working together to expand access and reduce barriers to care while embracing innovation.

The panel discussion at the recent World Health Summit also featured leaders from The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+), UNAIDS and PEPFAR.

Gilead Sciences

Gilead Sciences, Inc. is a research-based biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops and commercializes innovative medicines in areas of unmet medical need. The company strives to transform and simplify care for people with life-threatening illnesses around the world. Gilead has operations in more than 35 countries worldwide, with headquarters in Foster City, California.

Originally published by Gilead Sciences

Originally published in Crown Holding’s 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report

In addition to getting out into the field and rolling up our sleeves for volunteer efforts, our teams stay connected with the organizations aiming to do good in their areas and that can benefit from additional support. To help move their missions forward, we created our Twentyby30TM Charitable Giving program, which provides funding for specific philanthropic projects, resources or initiatives. Each year, the program aims to donate a total of $1 million across several employee-nominated organizations.

Recent recipients of Twentyby30TM Charitable Giving donations include:

Ashlie’s Embrace, a non-profit organization that provides Cuddle CotTM cooling units to medical facilities across the U.S. to help support families experiencing stillbirth or infant loss. As a corporate donor, we helped ensure more Cuddle CotTM systems are placed in hospitals around the country.

Albergue Del Padre Pío, A.C., a non-profit civil association located in El Salto, Jalisco, Mexico that works to defend the rights of children experiencing physical and emotional violence. Our contribution will help improve the facilities and provide supplies for the children to enhance their quality of life.

Pertubuhan Kebajikan Nur Ain Bangi Selangor, a shelter located in Bangi, Malaysia that provides accommodations and education for orphaned children. Our donation allowed the shelter to renovate its leisure area with a playground and sunshield awning, as well as to purchase basic amenities such as beds, air conditioners, lockers and adequate refrigeration equipment for food storage.

Canine Companions, a national non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs and ongoing support. Our donation supported the purchase of a vehicle that allows instructors to safely transport dogs to public spaces for behavioral assessment. It will also be used by the development department and graduate services for community awareness, fundraising events and in-person graduate follow-up services.

CliniClowns, a charity organization based in the Netherlands that provides hospital visits with contact and full attention to children who are sick, children with disabilities and people living with dementia. Our support has helped propel CliniClowns’ mission to provide moments that make children and people with dementia feel more positive and experience a decrease in anxiety.

Seal Rescue Ireland (SRI), the only seal rescue center within the Republic of Ireland that works around the clock to rescue, rehabilitate and release native seals found sick, injured or orphaned. Our funding enabled the implementation of a rehabilitation pool for SRI’s continued conservation efforts.

To learn more about Crown Holdings’s commitment to corporate responsibility, visit our sustainability webpage: https://www.crowncork.com/sustainability

For full details about Crown Holdings’s 2022 Sustainability Report, visit here: https://www.crowncork.com/sites/files/2023-06/2022-Crown-Holdings-Sustainability-Report.pdf

November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index evaluates the sustainability AND competitiveness of countries based on 190 quantitative performance indicators. First published in 2012, the GSCI serves as inclusive alternative to the GDP, to assess country-specific and issue-specific risks for businesses and investors, and to verify policy progress for countries. The GSCI is now officially used by four governments to benchmark their progress on the path to sustainability & competitiveness. The 190 quantitative indicators are derived from international organisations (World Bank, IMF, various UN Agencies), and are grouped into six dimensions that define the competitiveness of a nation-economy:

Natural Capital Index The given natural environmentResource Efficiency Index Resource usage per capita and per economic outputSocial Capital Index: Social cohesion, health, freedom, security, equalityIntellectual Capital & Innovation Index: Education and innovation indicatorsEconomic Sustainability: business and economic frameworks & performanceGovernance Performance Index: Infrastructure, resource allocation, corruption, and fiscal considerations

All indicators are evaluated as-is and analysed for trends. The outcome is a comprehensive view of strengths and weaknesses for each country, as well as indication of the future direction and potential.

Key take-aways form the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2023 include

Scandinavia keeps dominating the Sustainable Competitiveness Index, Sweden topsChina, ranked 30, overtakes the US (32) for the first time – China is strong in Intellectual Capital, but low in Natural Capital and Resource Intensity/EfficiencyThe USA is ranked 32, is scoring particularly low in resource efficiency and social capitalJapan is ranked 12, Germany 15, the UK 16, France 18Asian nations (Korea, Japan, China, Singapore) are leading the Intellectual Capital Index – maybe Europe and US should take noteCountries in North-Western Europe are topping the Social Capital IndexA comparison of GSCI-based rating and conventional sovereign bond ratings suggests that commonly used country credit rating fail to fully incorporate all risks and opportunities

For details, download the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Report 2023 and country-level data from the GSCI downloads section.

Global observations

The highest score in 2023 is 60 (Sweden), the global average is 43.4 out of a possible 100: the World as a whole is far from being truly sustainable competitive. A small majority (52%) of all trends across all countries are showing positive developments, indicating that we can expect small but positive improvements in the future. However, a majority of trends in Natural Capital are deteriorating: unfortunately, we have to expect a further decline in the natural environment.

Sustainable Competitiveness

What is not competitive is not sustainable, and what is not sustainable is not competitive.

Sustainable competitiveness is the ability to generate and sustain inclusive wealth without diminishing the future capability of sustaining or increasing current wealth levels. Read more on the concept of sustainable competitiveness here.

November 28, 2023 /3BL/ – Today, LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, launched a global product giveaway valued at a total of $23.7M for Giving Tuesday. Up to 20,000 eligible nonprofit professionals will receive a free 1-year Sales Navigator Core subscription through the LinkedIn for Nonprofits program. Applications are now live at https://nonprofit.linkedin.com/givingtuesday

With Sales Navigator Core, nonprofit professionals can identify high-potential prospects with advanced search filters, establish an authentic connection through InMail messages, keep track of existing and potential donors’ activity to spot the optimal time to reach out, and much more.

According to data by Classy, nonprofit organizations generate +30% of their annual income between mid-Nov and Dec. 31, posing a perfect opportunity for LinkedIn for Nonprofits to offer additional support to global nonprofit professionals. Other supporting data:

Global survey data from LinkedIn’s Impact Insight: Nonprofit Fundraising and Donor Generosity report reveals that:64% of surveyed nonprofit professionals say they have successfully used LinkedIn to connect with a potential donor.LinkedIn members are more likely than the average internet user to donate to nonprofit organizations (87% vs. 75%).67% of surveyed global nonprofit professionals agree that LinkedIn is a valuable tool for fundraising.According to Classy’s State of Modern Philanthropy 2023, LinkedIn has the highest conversation rate (33%) of any social media platform.

The Sales Navigator Core giveaway was launched to boost the impact and capacity of nonprofit organizations by helping them better cultivate potential donors and build strong relationships in a trusted, professional environment throughout the end-of-year giving season and into 2024. Nonprofit professionals must apply and complete an eligibility verification process to receive this promotion. Nonprofit professionals can apply here at https://nonprofit.linkedin.com/givingtuesday

About the campaign 
This product giveaway is part of LinkedIn’s larger giving season campaign, which encourages members, LinkedIn employees, and nonprofits to embody the act of giving in support of the nonprofit community before, during, and after the busy year-end giving season. In addition to the giveaway, LinkedIn is inviting members to share on platform how the act of giving has impacted their professional or personal lives; encouraging global LinkedIn employees to volunteer and donate to nonprofits throughout the remainder of the year; and sharing a cascade of free resources to support nonprofits to drive impact during giving season and beyond, shared via the LinkedIn for Nonprofits channels from Dec – mid. Jan.

About LinkedIn 
LinkedIn connects the world’s professionals to make them more productive and successful, and transforms the way companies hire, market, sell, and learn. Our vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce. LinkedIn has 1 billion members and has offices around the globe.

About LinkedIn for Nonprofits 
LinkedIn for Nonprofits offers nonprofit organizations access to free online resources, ways to connect with the nonprofit community, and the ability to purchase discounted LinkedIn products so they can drive their missions forward. This is done by 1) educating nonprofit professionals on LinkedIn and its products through free resources, educational events, and a dedicated support team, 2) offering a significant discount on LinkedIn Talent, Learning, and Fundraising products to eligible organizations, and 3) nurturing the global nonprofit community on LinkedIn through nonprofit-specific content, Groups, and LinkedIn Live events. Learn more: https://nonprofit.linkedin.com/

Read More

FISHERS, Ind., November 27, 2023 /3BL/ – Land Betterment Corporation, a Certified B Corp and environmental solutions company fostering positive impact through up-cycling former coal mining and industrial sites to create sustainable community development and job creation is pleased to share Think Realty’s Podcast #293 featuring Kirk Taylor.

Think Realty’s Founder, Eddie Wilson, recently met with Kirk Taylor to discuss how Land Betterment is expanding the way we look at alternative real estate investing. Highlights of Podcast #293 titled “Do Better, Invest Better with Land Betterment Corporation” include:

How Land Betterment is reclaiming negatively impacted land and fostering positive outcomes;How Land Betterment is creating both social and environmental outcomes;Land Betterment’s housing division, ekō Solutions, is creating high quality up-cycled shipping container homes and bringing real solutions to communities in need;Expanding the horizon on alternative real estate investing;ekō Solutions’ expansive line of shipping container dwellings – Airbnb RV shipping container dwellings, Permanent, Transitional, Crisis Recovery and Rescue Solution housing

VIEW THE POST CAST HERE 

About Think Realty 
Think Realty Magazine is a monthly publication that provides real estate investing insight, strategies, success stories, and best practices from industry leaders. At Think Realty, they believe in the positive, life-changing impact of real estate investing. Their mission is to help investors achieve their goals of building wealth, better managing time and living a life full of purpose. They are dedicated to being the central source for connecting investors with all the resources you need to succeed. By offering account choices, you can determine what option is right for you and your investment strategy. From access to insights, articles and industry tips and trends to comprehensive educational tools, including video courses from Think Realty Resident experts and access to events nationwide, Think Realty is your go-to partner for success. To learn more about Think Realty, visit their website thinkrealty.com and connect on social media – LinkedIn Facebook X Instagram.

About ekō Solutions 
ekō Solutions, a Land Betterment Company, is a sustainable development company utilizing innovative, low-cost, up-cycled shipping container structures to provide durable, high-end solutions to the building marketplace while also maintaining the ability to be utilized in a mobile environment. ekō Solutions uses innovative ecological structures to replace legacy inefficient and ineffective methods of living, growing and working. The sustainable craftsmanship of our up-cycled shipping container structures is what separates us from the alternatives. Our structures are suitable for residential, crisis recovery, commercial and recreation use. For more information visit ekosolutionsllc.com and connect with ekō Solutions on Facebook LinkedIn and X.

About Land Betterment Corporation 
Land Betterment Corporation, an Indiana Benefit Corporation and Certified B Corp, is an environmental solutions company focused on fostering a positive impact through upcycling former coal mining and industrial sites to create sustainable community development and job creation. The Company utilizes a complete solution-based lifecycle program to restore and rehabilitate the environment and revitalize communities in need of change and opportunity. Land Betterment accomplishes this by identifying un-reclaimed, run-down and neglected coal mining sites, fixing the environment through reclamation and remediation, and then repurposing the land to support a sustainable business that serves the community. Land Betterment firmly believes that with real solutions it is possible for restoration of impacted areas to live side-by-side long term employment, while building sustainable and safe surroundings for communities and our planet. For more information visit landbetterment.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, X and LinkedIn.

Contacts: 
Mark LaVerghetta 
317.537.0492 ext. 0 
Chief Governance Officer, Corporate Finance 
info@landbetterment.com

Stephanie Conzelman 
207.205.0790 
Stakeholder Engagement Director 
info@landbetterment.com

Zak Owens 
Fleur de Lis Communications 
502.386.5704 
zak@fdlcomms.com

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Land Betterment Corporation’s control. The words “believes”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “continue”, “seeks”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.

The Summit host, Out Leadership, releases its Return on Equality™ ESG Report, which highlights LGBTQ+ representation in the workplace

Influenced by market forces and increasingly pulled by regulatory bodies, organizations of all kinds are leaning into more comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability reporting. Nearly all large global companies disclose ESG efforts, and 86 percent of the companies reviewed in this study used multiple ESG-related standards and frameworks to present sustainability information.

Regardless of the nomenclature, investors, consumers, employees, and the policymaking bodies that oversee these companies want to understand what organizations are doing to manage risks and support their people and the planet in the work that they undertake. That’s unlikely to change. Even when concepts like equity and inclusion are criticized as ‘woke’ to fit a political narrative, employees link their job satisfaction to their companies’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In fact, according to IWBI’s 2023 State of Workforce Well-Being Poll, conducted early this year, 78 percent of employees say that their company’s commitment to DEI is an important part of their job satisfaction. As more stakeholders demand accountability from employers, measuring the impact on often underrepresented and marginalized communities is a must.

Despite the increase of frameworks designed to support organizations with building transparency and disclosure and supporting resources for companies to use in disclosures, there are many variances in how companies should address support for equality in their disclosures. In fact, only 14 percent of Fortune 100 companies and 10 percent of FTSE 100 companies disclose the size of their LGBTQ+ workforce.

This is according to Out Leadership’s Return on Equality™ ESG Report, which found that while 91 percent of Fortune 100 companies report on their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts through their ESG and DEI reports, many employers still have work to do in the space of self-identification to ensure that this work translates to representation within their own employment base. It features personal context from IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon, as well as a section dedicated to the 12 Competencies for Measuring Health & Well-being, detailing how they help organizations meaningfully measure and report on leading DEI metrics.

The new report was released in concert with Out Leadership’s inaugural Return on Equality™ Summit, an LGBTQ+ inclusive ESG event hosted at Nasdaq MarketSite on October 4.

Ken Janssens, a Senior Advisor with Out Leadership, kicked off the first session of the summit by delving into an analysis of the report, which also outlines six leading reporting practices and four next-level reporting practices that effectively support LGBTQ+ inclusiveness in ESG reporting.

For the second session, IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon moderated a panel with John Adler, Chief ESG Officer, Office of New York City Comptroller, and Karl Racine, Partner, Hogan Lovells, and former Attorney General of Washington, D.C.

The panel, entitled “The Nationwide Status of ESG Laws, Corporate Support and the Economic Impact,” explored corporate attitudes towards LGBTQ+ equality – and the wider climate around ESG disclosure. Responses from both Racine and Adler were split. When both were asked their thoughts (in one word only) on the state of ESG globally, Racine remarked “fractured” to Adler’s “improving.”

Adler noted that there was still “an increasing number of asset-owner offices with heads of sustainability, ESG, etc… It’s still growing, especially internationally.”

However, Racine’s point should not be interpreted pessimistically. He said it was “important to respond forcefully to the anti-ESG folks. Investing in your talent is incredibly important,” a clear endorsement for the “S”in ESG, and ended the session with “keep up the fight.”

Two more sessions closed out the day, “Why ESG should be more LGBTQ+ Inclusive from the Standpoint of Different Stakeholders (investors, regulators, workers/customers),” and a fireside chat, “Nasdaq Metrics that Matter: Navigating the ESG Investment Landscape.”

While backgrounds and viewpoints varied throughout the day’s programming, one narrative was shared by nearly all who took to the stage: ESG helps inform risk and speaks to financial materiality, and therefore ESG disclosure, is here to stay. Furthermore, the data shows that less diverse businesses are less resilient businesses, meaning they pose riskier investments in the future.

View original content here.

The Summit host, Out Leadership, releases its Return on Equality™ ESG Report, which highlights LGBTQ+ representation in the workplace

Influenced by market forces and increasingly pulled by regulatory bodies, organizations of all kinds are leaning into more comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability reporting. Nearly all large global companies disclose ESG efforts, and 86 percent of the companies reviewed in this study used multiple ESG-related standards and frameworks to present sustainability information.

Regardless of the nomenclature, investors, consumers, employees, and the policymaking bodies that oversee these companies want to understand what organizations are doing to manage risks and support their people and the planet in the work that they undertake. That’s unlikely to change. Even when concepts like equity and inclusion are criticized as ‘woke’ to fit a political narrative, employees link their job satisfaction to their companies’ commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). In fact, according to IWBI’s 2023 State of Workforce Well-Being Poll, conducted early this year, 78 percent of employees say that their company’s commitment to DEI is an important part of their job satisfaction. As more stakeholders demand accountability from employers, measuring the impact on often underrepresented and marginalized communities is a must.

Despite the increase of frameworks designed to support organizations with building transparency and disclosure and supporting resources for companies to use in disclosures, there are many variances in how companies should address support for equality in their disclosures. In fact, only 14 percent of Fortune 100 companies and 10 percent of FTSE 100 companies disclose the size of their LGBTQ+ workforce.

This is according to Out Leadership’s Return on Equality™ ESG Report, which found that while 91 percent of Fortune 100 companies report on their LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts through their ESG and DEI reports, many employers still have work to do in the space of self-identification to ensure that this work translates to representation within their own employment base. It features personal context from IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon, as well as a section dedicated to the 12 Competencies for Measuring Health & Well-being, detailing how they help organizations meaningfully measure and report on leading DEI metrics.

The new report was released in concert with Out Leadership’s inaugural Return on Equality™ Summit, an LGBTQ+ inclusive ESG event hosted at Nasdaq MarketSite on October 4.

Ken Janssens, a Senior Advisor with Out Leadership, kicked off the first session of the summit by delving into an analysis of the report, which also outlines six leading reporting practices and four next-level reporting practices that effectively support LGBTQ+ inclusiveness in ESG reporting.

For the second session, IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon moderated a panel with John Adler, Chief ESG Officer, Office of New York City Comptroller, and Karl Racine, Partner, Hogan Lovells, and former Attorney General of Washington, D.C.

The panel, entitled “The Nationwide Status of ESG Laws, Corporate Support and the Economic Impact,” explored corporate attitudes towards LGBTQ+ equality – and the wider climate around ESG disclosure. Responses from both Racine and Adler were split. When both were asked their thoughts (in one word only) on the state of ESG globally, Racine remarked “fractured” to Adler’s “improving.”

Adler noted that there was still “an increasing number of asset-owner offices with heads of sustainability, ESG, etc… It’s still growing, especially internationally.”

However, Racine’s point should not be interpreted pessimistically. He said it was “important to respond forcefully to the anti-ESG folks. Investing in your talent is incredibly important,” a clear endorsement for the “S”in ESG, and ended the session with “keep up the fight.”

Two more sessions closed out the day, “Why ESG should be more LGBTQ+ Inclusive from the Standpoint of Different Stakeholders (investors, regulators, workers/customers),” and a fireside chat, “Nasdaq Metrics that Matter: Navigating the ESG Investment Landscape.”

While backgrounds and viewpoints varied throughout the day’s programming, one narrative was shared by nearly all who took to the stage: ESG helps inform risk and speaks to financial materiality, and therefore ESG disclosure, is here to stay. Furthermore, the data shows that less diverse businesses are less resilient businesses, meaning they pose riskier investments in the future.

View original content here.

National Grid has completed renovations at the former Niagara Falls Power Transfer Station, an historic landmark that now includes a pedestrian walkway and interactive, educational information about the building, which links to the earliest days of pioneering electricity engineering technology.

In the 1890s, Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse worked together to build the world’s first hydro-electric power plant, in Niagara Falls. It was Tesla’s theory, technology and inventions that made the idea of alternating current a reality in Western New York, in America and eventually, the world.

The building dates to 1895 and is also referred to as the North Tonawanda Transformer Building. Located at 521 Robinson St., it was one of many important components in Tesla’s plan to capture the power of Niagara Falls to produce electricity and send it over long distances. On Nov. 15, 1896 the transmission of alternating current from Niagara Falls traveled 23 miles to Buffalo, passing through the transformer building along the way.

In recent years National Grid staff began discussing the then-vacant transformer building, and how it could be used to better serve customers. That’s because it seemed an ideal location to store equipment and serve as a hub for work crews, who could be deployed across parts of Niagara and Erie counties.

But first, it needed some renovations.

“We replaced some roof tiles, and a lot of brick on the building that had broken off and cracked,” said National Grid Regional Director Ken Kujawa. “And as we were considering the level of physical work that the building required we asked ourselves, ‘How can we honor its history?”

So, as the company decided to pay homage to Tesla and Westinghouse. Images of both men are now included among graphic window panels that in 2022 adorned the outside walls. Additional discussions resulted in decisions to landscape and pave an area that allows pedestrians to get closer to see the building’s new artwork and a plaque that commemorates the work done by Tesla and Westinghouse. The plaque includes a QR code that points visitors to this web page, where they can learn more.

More information about the building’s history and the work performed in the region by Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse is available here:

* WGRZ-TV story transformer building history

* Niagara Parks Power Station – Tesla patents

* Tesla Memorial Society of New York

* Visit Buffalo Niagara – honoring Tesla’s work

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a smarter, stronger, cleaner energy future — transforming our networks with more reliable and resilient energy solutions to meet state climate goals and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information, please visit our website, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find us on Instagram.

Media Contacts

Dave Bertola

Buffalo (Western NY)

(716) 831-7136

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