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World leaders will convene en masse at the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals Summit in a desperate attempt to reunite the global population in its efforts to align with, and reach, the set sustainability targets.

Urgency to confront the climate crisis, boost the economy and secure sustainable development for all is now of paramount importance as the sand timer continues to trickle towards the deadline to transform into a thriving, healthier planet.

The second SDG Summit takes place on 18-19 September during the United Nations (UN) General Assembly high-level week at the UN’s New York headquarters. Here, global leaders will reaffirm their collective commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

What are the 17 SDGs?
1.No Poverty
2.Zero Hunger
3.Good health and well-being
4.Quality Education
5.Gender Equality
6.Clean Water and Sanitation
7.Affordable and Clean Energy
8.Decent Work and Economic Growth
9.Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10.Reduced Inequalities
11.Sustainable Cities and Communities
12.Responsible Consumption and Production
13.Climate Action
14.Life Below Water
15.Life on Land
16.Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
17.Partnerships for the Goals

Why are the SDGs so critical?
With a heavy focus on people and meeting their needs, the objectives of the 17 SDGs and the 2030 Agenda collectively form a global assurance to secure the rights and well-being of everyone on the planet. However, these goals are currently facing enormous challenges and are hindered due to an amalgamation of the climate emergency, Covid-19 impacts and the strain on the economy. According to research just 30 per cent of all countries will achieve the first SDG of No Poverty by 2030, as extreme deprivation is affecting more people than it was in 2019.

António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, said: “The SDG Summit in September must be a moment of unity to provide a renewed impetus and accelerated action for achieving the SDGs.”

What is the key aim of this year’s summit?
While the agenda is not setting a guaranteed successful outcome in stone, the bold promise has solid intentions and rejuvenating solidarity and commitment between world leaders this year is hoped to strengthen shifts in financing and action.

The conference hopes to adopt a succinct, action-focused political declaration as its outcome document in order to thrive and maintain inclusivity for all.

To achieve this, the planet requires a sustainable development path, clearly carved out, and António Guterres is encouraging all global leaders to commit to the SDGs by scaling up measures such as debt relief.

He also recommends countries set clear benchmarks to lower domestic poverty and levels of inequality by both 2027 and 2030, as well as fully engage civil society and the private sector in preparations for the summit.

This year’s conference will be followed by the Summit of the Future in 2024 which will help develop the outcomes of the SDG talks and accelerate the 2030 Agenda objectives.

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.

Southern Company delivers resilient energy solutions that connect customers and communities to opportunity.

Energy companies like Southern Company must stay ahead of customers’ changing needs, which means identifying and supporting innovative concepts that drive decarbonization efforts.

Southern Company’s New Ventures organization is leading the way by playing an active role in by collaborating with emerging clean tech companies that are part of Energy Impact Partners (EIP), a utility-backed investment fund focused on sustainable startups.

For example, New Ventures is collaborating with companies like Moxion Power and Rheaply to explore ways in which they can help advance decarbonization for the customers and communities served by Southern Company subsidiaries.

Moxion provides zero-emission battery solutions for events like the PGA’s recent TOUR Championship in Atlanta, and for industries such as construction and telecommunications that have typically relied on fossil fuels for energy.

“We believe that our products will help support grid resiliency and their end customers in many different applications,” says Alex Meek, cofounder and president of Moxion Power. “This is just the beginning of what is a very exciting partnership with Southern Company.”

Rheaply is a Chicago-based climate technology company focused on reuse and helping large companies find their role in the circular economy.

According to Garry Cooper, cofounder and CEO of Rheaply, reuse is a powerful tool that shouldn’t be underestimated. “The circular economy, at scale, can reduce global carbon emissions by 45%.”

The two companies have different missions, but both efforts create decarbonization opportunities that New Ventures can help scale up.

It’s all part of Southern Company’s goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to customers and communities.

“These clean tech companies serve as a great resource for us to think through opportunities for sustainability within our business,” says Hank Adams, SVP of Customer Solutions for Southern Company.

View original content here.

Southern Company delivers resilient energy solutions that connect customers and communities to opportunity.

Energy companies like Southern Company must stay ahead of customers’ changing needs, which means identifying and supporting innovative concepts that drive decarbonization efforts.

Southern Company’s New Ventures organization is leading the way by playing an active role in by collaborating with emerging clean tech companies that are part of Energy Impact Partners (EIP), a utility-backed investment fund focused on sustainable startups.

For example, New Ventures is collaborating with companies like Moxion Power and Rheaply to explore ways in which they can help advance decarbonization for the customers and communities served by Southern Company subsidiaries.

Moxion provides zero-emission battery solutions for events like the PGA’s recent TOUR Championship in Atlanta, and for industries such as construction and telecommunications that have typically relied on fossil fuels for energy.

“We believe that our products will help support grid resiliency and their end customers in many different applications,” says Alex Meek, cofounder and president of Moxion Power. “This is just the beginning of what is a very exciting partnership with Southern Company.”

Rheaply is a Chicago-based climate technology company focused on reuse and helping large companies find their role in the circular economy.

According to Garry Cooper, cofounder and CEO of Rheaply, reuse is a powerful tool that shouldn’t be underestimated. “The circular economy, at scale, can reduce global carbon emissions by 45%.”

The two companies have different missions, but both efforts create decarbonization opportunities that New Ventures can help scale up.

It’s all part of Southern Company’s goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 while providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy to customers and communities.

“These clean tech companies serve as a great resource for us to think through opportunities for sustainability within our business,” says Hank Adams, SVP of Customer Solutions for Southern Company.

View original content here.

The Crop Science Sustainability Progress Report supplements the Bayer AG Sustainability Report and provides a closer look at the many ways the Crop Science division is advancing sustainable agriculture and creating the best possible outcomes for farmers, consumers and our planet.

DOWNLOAD THE CROP SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRESS REPORT (25 MB)

Each year, alongside a broader Integrated Annual Report, Bayer AG publishes a Sustainability Report. The purpose of the report is to show of how we are working to increase the sustainability of our internal operations and make a more positive impact upstream and downstream along the value chain —across all three of our divisions Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health and Crop Science.

Reporting on our Progress in Agriculture

“We are innovating with new solutions to substantially reduce field greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the environmental impact of crop protection in all the major markets we serve.

In this progress report, we want to demonstrate not only how we are working toward achieving these goals, but also how sustainability is already a fundamental driving force behind our business.”

Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Bayer AG, Crop Science Division

As a supplement to the Annual Sustainability Report, this progress report shares additional key information with our ESG Stakeholders, furthermore, the Sustainability Progress report is about transparency and accountability. Our intention is to highlight the areas that we are focusing on to improve our operations and create sustainable solutions in agriculture. But we openly acknowledge there are gaps: ones that we know we need to fill and ones that we still need to identify. It is our hope that readers will explore the links to other resources where they can learn more about many of the topics covered, engage with us directly, and ultimately help hold us accountable as we continue to make progress toward our 2030 commitments – and more importantly, our vision of Health for all, Hunger for none.

“Above all else, this Progress Report underscores our commitment to transparency, partnership and dialogue. We know we’re not alone in the pursuit of a more sustainable future. So much of the impact we cover in this report is a result of collaboration across various groups, including farmers, industry partners, policy makers and other key stakeholders.”

Jessica Christiansen, Head of Sustainability, Crop Science, a Division of Bayer AG

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT: PDF

View original content here.

The Crop Science Sustainability Progress Report supplements the Bayer AG Sustainability Report and provides a closer look at the many ways the Crop Science division is advancing sustainable agriculture and creating the best possible outcomes for farmers, consumers and our planet.

DOWNLOAD THE CROP SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY PROGRESS REPORT (25 MB)

Each year, alongside a broader Integrated Annual Report, Bayer AG publishes a Sustainability Report. The purpose of the report is to show of how we are working to increase the sustainability of our internal operations and make a more positive impact upstream and downstream along the value chain —across all three of our divisions Pharmaceuticals, Consumer Health and Crop Science.

Reporting on our Progress in Agriculture

“We are innovating with new solutions to substantially reduce field greenhouse gas emissions and minimize the environmental impact of crop protection in all the major markets we serve.

In this progress report, we want to demonstrate not only how we are working toward achieving these goals, but also how sustainability is already a fundamental driving force behind our business.”

Frank Terhorst, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at Bayer AG, Crop Science Division

As a supplement to the Annual Sustainability Report, this progress report shares additional key information with our ESG Stakeholders, furthermore, the Sustainability Progress report is about transparency and accountability. Our intention is to highlight the areas that we are focusing on to improve our operations and create sustainable solutions in agriculture. But we openly acknowledge there are gaps: ones that we know we need to fill and ones that we still need to identify. It is our hope that readers will explore the links to other resources where they can learn more about many of the topics covered, engage with us directly, and ultimately help hold us accountable as we continue to make progress toward our 2030 commitments – and more importantly, our vision of Health for all, Hunger for none.

“Above all else, this Progress Report underscores our commitment to transparency, partnership and dialogue. We know we’re not alone in the pursuit of a more sustainable future. So much of the impact we cover in this report is a result of collaboration across various groups, including farmers, industry partners, policy makers and other key stakeholders.”

Jessica Christiansen, Head of Sustainability, Crop Science, a Division of Bayer AG

DOWNLOAD THE REPORT: PDF

View original content here.

Nasdaq

As companies look to achieve net-zero emissions, carbon markets are evolving into a popular pathway to help them reach their goal. According to research by Morgan Stanley, the voluntary carbon market is expected to grow from $2 billion in 2020 to around $250 billion by 2050. But while carbon markets show a lot of promise, they require scale and regulation to become a global standard in emissions reduction. 

Nasdaq believes in the power of carbon markets. As a leading global exchange and innovative technology company, we are leveraging our marketplace technology to bring these markets to scale, build their integrity across the globe and help innovate the future of carbon removal.

Pressure is mounting on companies to address their carbon footprint. Governments and international regulators, like the European Union are advancing mandatory emissions reductions, while companies in the U.S. strive to meet ambitious climate targets ahead of the highly anticipated Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) climate disclosure ruling. 

Beyond regulation, climate risk is bad for business. According to S&P Global, 4% of annual economic output across the globe could be lost by 2050 due to climate change. The study also found that these effects will be felt disproportionally. In South Asia, for example, the loss is much higher, with 10-18% of their GDP at risk.

To help scale carbon markets for companies looking to reduce emissions, Nasdaq has provided technology to Climate Impact X (CIX), a global marketplace, auctions house and exchange for trusted carbon credits, and acquired a majority stake in the world’s leading crediting platform for engineered carbon removal, Puro.earth.

What are Carbon Markets?

Carbon markets allow companies to offset or reduce their carbon emissions by trading different forms of carbon credits. Each credit represents one gigaton of carbon dioxide (CO2) circumvented or removed from the atmosphere by another company, green project or green technology.

Today, there are two versions of carbon markets, compliance markets and voluntary carbon markets (VCMs). Compliance carbon markets exist mainly in the EU and Australia, where laws dictate the amount of emissions companies can release into the atmosphere. The compliance market allows a company that emits below its allotted levels to sell the remaining allowance to a larger company that goes above its allotted levels. 

But a recent report from the Global Financial Markets Association and Boston Consulting Group, found that nearly 80% of emissions were not covered by compliance markets, providing an opportunity for VCMs.

VCMs allow companies to cut emissions through investment in projects that actively reduce or remove carbon from the atmosphere through natural climate solutions or green technology. For example, Microsoft (MSFT) has committed to achieving net negative emissions by 2030 as well as compensating for all historic emissions dating back to their founding in 1975. One of Microsoft’s pathways to mitigate current emissions, is by removing emissions from the atmosphere by purchasing carbon credits from Puro.earth suppliers. Puro.earth is a carbon removal crediting platform that certifies suppliers who create net-negative carbon emissions.

Purchasing credits from Puro.earth suppliers adds negative carbon emissions to neutralize Microsoft’s unavoidable and legacy emissions. Using Puro.earth in combination with current emissions mitigation measures helps Microsoft fulfill its promise to stakeholders to become net negative by 2030.

Innovating Pathways to Net Zero, CIX + Puro.earth

CIX Marketplace offers carbon credits sourced from a broad range of nature and technology-based projects. Estimates from the Natural Climate Solution Alliance suggest the nature-based carbon credits can support up to 30% of required climate change mitigation for a below-2°C pathway by 2030.

Meanwhile, Puro.earth is a standard and registry for carbon removal, allowing companies to neutralize their emissions with CO2 Removal Certificates (CORCs), the first credits for engineered carbon removal. They are based on net-negative products and processes, meaning the process removes more CO2 from the atmosphere than it produces.

“While reducing carbon emissions remains the most critical action, we also need carbon removal technologies that physically capture carbon from the atmosphere, stabilize it, and place it in durable storage for thousands of years, said Fredrik Ekström, Chair of Puro.earth and Head of Nasdaq Stockholm.

Currently, Puro.earth has five innovative and scalable methods of carbon removal available through various suppliers:

Biochar: produced from biomass through pyrolysis (heated in the absence of oxygen), Biochar is a stable form of carbon that can endure in soil for hundreds of years, making it an ideal technology for scalable carbon removal.Geologically Removed Carbon: the process of capturing and storing CO2 in underground geologic formations.Carbonated Materials: Manufactured carbonated materials that remove more CO2 than the production emits. This process offers the potential for the utilization of industrial byproducts and waste materials such as steel slag, mine tailings and alkaline wastes, reducing their environmental impact while creating value through carbon removal.Enhanced Rock Weathering: Using technology to fast-track the natural process of carbon removal when silicate rocks weather, capturing carbon from the atmosphere permanently.Terrestrial Storage of Biomass: Buried or covered biomass can be preserved over time for thousands of years. This engineered method offers a large scale, affordable and fully additional carbon removal solution. 

Since Nasdaq acquired a majority stake in the business, Puro.earth has issued 250,000 CORCs, removing 250,000 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere, the equivalent of one year of greenhouse gas emissions from 55,633 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles.

Nasdaq’s partnership has also led to new and exciting developments in the coming years from both Puro.earth and CIX. Recently, the two teamed up to spur innovation in VCMs. Together, the partners will help to address growing imbalances in demand and supply in VCMs by making it easier for businesses and financial institutions globally to access high-quality credit types which remove carbon from the atmosphere. 

Scaling Carbon Markets with Nasdaq Technology

At a recent roundtable discussion hosted by UBS Investment Bank, experts noted that improvements are needed to scale carbon markets to be impactful emissions reducers. According to participants, carbon markets require improvements across data, analytics and market-wide governance and regulations.

Director of CIX Exchange, Ellery Sutanto, recognizes the need for more transparency and integrity in VCMs. “It is crucial for exchanges like ours to reduce uncertainties and lower barriers to entry in transacting carbon credits. Collectively, we can build the foundations of trust and establish the right kind of environment for efficient price discovery and trading,” Sutanto said.

In 2022, CIX chose Nasdaq to bring its exchange to scale, increasing integrity and transparency across the marketplace.

“Nasdaq’s technology is built on rigorous regulatory, reliability and security standards proven in the financial industry, which in turn enables CIX to bring exchange-grade trading functionalities to VCMs,” said Sutanto.

CIX aims to help improve integrity, liquidity and transparency in carbon markets through its core venues and solutions:

CIX Marketplace: Supports corporate sustainability goals by simplifying the work businesses need to undertake before procuring carbon credits through the curation of quality projects.CIX Auctions: Enables buyers and suppliers to understand the competitive market value of unique and desirable projects through customizable auctions that facilitate price discovery.CIX Exchange: Concentrates carbon market liquidity, facilitates price transparency and helps to de-risk investments. Leveraging Nasdaq’s cloud-based trading technology, CIX can match buyers and sellers of unique carbon credit assets based on specific parameters.CIX Intelligence: A suite of data and analytics that aims to elevate price transparency with unique market information and insights, bringing greater certainty to decision-making.

Meanwhile, Puro.earth has leveraged Nasdaq’s expertise over the past year to scale its business to meet the expected rapid growth from corporates seeking to neutralize emissions by:

The launch of the Puro Accelerate programListing AspiraDAC, the first project for CORCs based on Direct Air Capture (DAC), on Puro.earth.Accrediting the world’s first gigaton-capable carbon removal methodology with 10,000+ durability, Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW).  

The Future of Carbon Markets

Puro.earth continues to expand its reach, announcing a new partnership with Xpansiv to make CORCs available on its spot marketplace CBL, the largest spot exchange for trading voluntary carbon credits and other environmental commodities. In addition, the carbon removal crediting platform is scaling up durable carbon removal by partnering with Carbonfuture and raising capital for VGrid to scale its biochar carbon removal work.

Puro.earth is also looking into a new carbon capture technology, Aquatic Storage of Biomass.

Meanwhile, Nasdaq remains committed to supporting these platforms in their mission to help companies reach their climate goals, “All of us together need to work with a very clear target that the ultimate goal now is to scale this platform and create maximum climate impact,” said Ekström.

November 2, 2023 /3BL/ – With capital pouring into electric vehicle manufacturing, decarbonizing buildings, greening the grid, and advanced manufacturing, the shift to a clean economy isn’t hypothetical anymore.

Last year, for the first time ever, global investment in low-carbon technologies reached parity with investment in fossil fuel projects, hitting $1.1 trillion. In the U.S., ambitious federal and state policies—full of incentives and rules encouraging homegrown green tech and climate resiliency – have unlocked hundreds of billions in private investments.

This flood of investment isn’t just reshaping industries, it’s dramatically changing American jobs and communities. This is why, as the clean energy transition accelerates, banks must get serious about assessing the impacts of how and where they choose to invest and lend money.

The success of the clean economy—and banks’ net zero ambitions—lies in this transition being just and equitable. Getting it wrong could exacerbate inequality, as the pollution and other devastating impacts of the climate crisis, from record flooding to punishing droughts, would fall disproportionately on vulnerable communities, and leave displaced workers without a viable future. All of this could lead to banks facing new regulatory, reputational, market, and business risks, and an increase in public distrust.

Why banks need to act 

Banks have a key role to play in helping their clients move through the clean energy transition and they must understand the social impacts of that work. Potential negative impacts that need to be considered range from job losses (due to changes in how energy is produced and consumed), to exposure to pollutants (from the opening of new mines for critical minerals), to the slowing of development in any parts of the developing world that are prevented from accessing clean, affordable energy.

Ensuring that the rapidly accelerating transition is just and equitable is a forward-looking endeavor, but this work can also help banks address the impacts of past lending and investment practices, such as redlining, that have exacerbated racial inequities while also disproportionately exposing communities of color to extreme heat, higher flood risk, and poor air quality.

And banks need to avoid the very real pitfalls that new approaches may create. Some banks may have inadvertently participated in ‘blue-lining’— reducing risk exposure to low-income neighborhoods based on their susceptibility to climate-related disasters. These are often the communities that already have the least access to disaster insurance and the funds necessary to adapt to the effects of climate change.

The expectations of investors, regulators, and industry groups are growing in step with these risks. And stakeholders have a term for the broad-based effort to prevent them: they’re calling for a “just transition,” and it has been cited as a priority through many significant climate finance initiatives, such as Ceres’ Ambition 2030, the Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC), the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ), the Net Zero Banking Alliance, the International Labor Organization (ILO), and Climate Action 100+.

Furthermore, U.S. regulators are including environmental justice and just transition issues in new or existing policies, including the proposed revisions to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), the Inflation Reduction Act, and state policies, such as Illinois’ Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) 2021. The recent rulemaking to modernize the CRA, for instance, would allow banks to fulfill their CRA obligations by helping low- and moderate-income communities build resilience to climate-related events.

Large global banks have started taking the first steps 

Some of the biggest banks have acknowledged the need to include just transition considerations as part of their climate-related planning, though concerted action on the topic is yet to materialize. With banks at various stages of their planning on just transition, a few good early examples have emerged.

In its latest Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) report, Bank of America committed to supporting clients as part of a just transition to a low-carbon economy by mobilizing and deploying $1 trillion, part of its $1.5 trillion by 2030 Sustainable Finance goal. Citi’s 2021 TCFD report stressed balancing just transition and appropriate decarbonization. Barclays is a member of the Financing a Just Transition Alliance, which is looking to find ways to facilitate and support just transition activities.

What U.S. banks can do 

While recognizing that this is a complex topic and that priorities for banks are rapidly shifting due to political and market factors, there are a few key areas banks need to focus on:

Governance: Just transition needs to be a long-term commitment on the part of banks’ leadership, and oversight at the C-suite level is critical for banks to commit in a long-term and meaningful way and avoid accusations of “blue-washing.”Client Engagement Strategy: Banks should include just transition in their client engagement strategies, and aid clients in establishing net zero transition plans that consider it. A successful energy transition would require re-skilling affected workers for new jobs and simultaneously supporting their communities, something that banks can and should support.Due Diligence Systems and Products and Services: Banks can consider re-evaluating their environmental and social risk management due diligence policies to incorporate just transition. Banks also have opportunities to incorporate just transition elements into financial products and services and can work directly with local organizations by forming Community Benefits Agreements.External Partnerships and Collaborations: Banks should partner with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to ensure communities benefit from efforts initiated by banks. DFIs work directly with communities and can provide beneficial partnership and investment opportunities for commercial banks to support communities impacted by the energy transition.Positive Policy Advocacy: Banks should proactively promote more policy action on just transition and clarify their stance on this topic through their industry associations or on their own.

By Amit Bando, Ceres chief economist and senior advisor for Just and Inclusive Economies, and Richa Agarwal, Ceres manager, Company Network, financial services

Henkel, a leading manufacturer of well-known consumer and industrial brands, such as Dial® soap, all® laundry detergent, and Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives, sealants, and functional coatings, held events throughout the month of October to promote careers in manufacturing with high school students in recognition of Manufacturing Day. Events on-site at Henkel facilities in Bowling Green, KY; Delaware, OH; Greenville, SC; Richmond, MO; and Salisbury, NC provided an opportunity to highlight manufacturing work and energize a future pipeline of skilled workers. 

Attendees learned about Henkel’s innovative technologies, production processes and career opportunities through guided site tours and discussions with site leaders.  Manufacturing Day visits are a part of the company’s commitment to education and continued investment in opportunities that provide students of all ages access to Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) resources and STEM-related career information. This initiative is sponsored by the Manufacturing Institute, the workforce development and education affiliate of the National Association of Manufacturers.

“Henkel is passionate about introducing students to the dynamic world of manufacturing and showcasing our innovative operations, technologies, and products,” said Christof Becker, Senior Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain Americas, Adhesive Technologies, Henkel. “I am honored to serve on the Board of Directors at the National Association of Manufacturers and to assist in achieving the goal for Manufacturing Day to spread awareness about the wide range of opportunities within the manufacturing sector and inspire the next generation. We have enjoyed hosting these events at a growing group of facilities across the region to reinforce the rewarding and highly specified careers that today’s manufacturing environment has to offer.” 

“Manufacturers will need to fill 4 million jobs by the end of the decade. Manufacturing Day 2023 has been a great opportunity to build excitement and bring the possibilities and rewards of a career in modern manufacturing to more students and people nationwide,” said Carolyn Lee, President and Executive Director of the Manufacturing Institute. “We thank Henkel for their steadfast support in educating the future workforce through Manufacturing Day and other programs.” 

About Henkel in North America 

Henkel’s portfolio of well-known brands in North America includes Schwarzkopf® hair care, Dial® soaps, Persil®, Purex®, and all® laundry detergents, Snuggle® fabric softeners as well as Loctite®, Technomelt® and Bonderite® adhesives. With sales close to 6.5 billion US dollars (6 billion euros) in 2022, North America accounts for 27 percent of the company’s global sales. Henkel employs over 8,000 people across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For more information, please visit www.henkel-northamerica.com and on Twitter @Henkel_NA.

About the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

The National Association of Manufacturers is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Manufacturing employs more than 12.8 million men and women, contributes $2.77 trillion to the U.S. economy annually and accounts for 58% of private-sector research and development. The NAM is the powerful voice of the manufacturing community and the leading advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across the United States. For more information about the NAM or to follow us on Twitter and Facebook, please visit www.nam.org

Photo material is available at www.henkel-northamerica.com/press

Henkel Contact: Erica Cooper
Phone: 475-232-4973 
Email: erica.cooper@henkel.com

In collaboration with FedEx, Direct Relief delivered 40 Emergency Medical Backpacks to support COPAC (Operational Center for Contingency Attention), Mexico’s Federal Health Secretariat, which is responsible for responding to health emergencies throughout the country.

These specialized backpacks that contain supplies and equipment to meet a variety of prevalent disaster related health needs, including infection control, diagnostics, trauma care, and PPE, will better equip the COPAC team as they deploy in response to a dengue outbreak in the states of Yucatan, Veracruz, Quintana Roo, Morelos, and Puebla, where thousands of cases have recently been confirmed. Additionally, the requested backpacks will aid COPAC as they respond to other current and future disasters across Mexico.

The UN-Convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA), formed in 2019, is a member-led initiative of institutional investors committed to transitioning their investment portfolios to net-zero GHG emissions by year 2050 – a tall order. The Alliance members’ near-term targets for carbon reductions are 20-32% reduction by 2025 and then 40-60% by 2030.

In advance of the upcoming COP28 summit in the United Arab Emirates next month, the Alliance released its third annual Progress Report. Institutional membership grew from 12 to 86 over the past year, boasting a total US$9.5 trillion AUM committed to the goals. Member organizations of the Alliance include signatories of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking (UN PRI), which has 300 signatory banks representing about half of the world’s banking industry.

Günther Thallinger, a Board Member of Allianz SE and Chair of the Alliance, said: “Alliance members are making solid progress towards achieving their 2025 emissions targets, showing that step-by-step, the crucial long-term transition to 1.5°C can be implemented.”

In its Progress Report, the Alliance calls on global policymakers to urgently implement several actions:

Scale up reforms of finance and investment policy frameworksImplement overarching policies that integrate transition planning across all government entitiesContinue efforts to reform the current multilateral financial architectureEnable the just transition toward net zero

How are retail banks doing in setting sustainability strategies? Omdia, a global technology research and advisory group that tracks more than 11,000 companies, analyzed the scope of the retail banking industry’s sustainability strategies. Highlights of the research report, “Market Landscape State of Sustainability in Retail Banking,” include:

The “vast majority” of banks (85%) do not have a well-defined sustainability strategy that includes their supply chain45% of banks said keeping up with regulatory actions is challenging and is one of their top three prioritiesBecause so many businesses are still creating sustainability strategies, a key concern is that lack of a clear definition of “sustainability” is hampering retail banks’ efforts to implement it into their strategic objectives

While the progress of the Alliance is welcomed, how many of the claims made by members might be assured for accuracy by third parties to overcome natural skepticism by some critics? Citing the RepRisk firm’s tracking and research, Reuters reported that banks are behind a 70% jump in greenwashing incidents in 2023. European banks accounted for most of the greenwashing, and much of the claims were about fossil fuel. RepRisk cited misleading claims (greenwashing) vs. verified claims, with institutions making claims to boost their reputation and bottom line.

Our Top Stories include the third annual Progress Report of the UN-Convened NZAOA and the Omdia research results on sustainability in retail banking. The G&A team looks forward to keeping you updated on news and trends ahead of the important COP28 summit in November.

This is just the introduction of G&A’s Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.