Tag: 3BL

Originally published by Sustainable Brands

By JOHN HANSELMAN

From dining tables to landfills and incinerators

We are no longer facing the question of whether there is climate change; ask any farmer — it’s changed. We are now facing a climate crisis; and the real question is, what are the immediate and practical solutions available to slow the pace of change? With many different strategies being debated, one consensus pathway that has widespread support is attacking methane emissions — the most corrosive greenhouse gas (GHG). Remarkably, recycling food waste is one of the most practical solutions available today to mitigate methane emissions.

The people of the United States send nearly 50 million tons of food waste to our landfills and incinerators each year. That’s equivalent to throwing out 100 billion pints of ice cream and makes food waste the single largest source of methane emissions in the US.

The EPA reported that in 2018, food waste was the most prominent waste stream in US landfills and incinerators — comprising about 24 percent of the 292.4 million tons of waste generated that year. That’s a lot of waste that could be recycled into valuable renewable energy or compost.

Waste is only waste if you waste it. And most who live in the US never see where their waste goes — we put it in the trash and send it to the curb without a second thought. Yet, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, food loss and waste account for 8-10 percent of global GHGs; if food waste were a country, it would be the third-largest carbon emitter after the US and China.

To catalyze change, we need to enhance the public’s understanding of the detrimental effects of food waste on the global climate crisis. We can’t see the emissions coming from the decaying food waste in our landfills or the pollution being caused by incineration. There are solutions to our food waste problem; but we have to act.

Understanding how people think about food waste

Have you ever wondered why in the US, we buy and prepare so much food and then simply throw it out? Do we do it because our food is stamped with “sell by” or “use by”? Do we not eat leftovers because we are ‘one and done’? Or do we do it because we can?

According to ReFED, as much as 35 percent of food available in the US goes uneaten; of that, 7 percent — or 4 million tons annually — is due to consumer confusion over “best before” labels.

It’s not just the average person throwing out food; food and beverage manufacturers around the country generate unavoidable waste in the process of producing food and beverages. Most of these commercial facilities are committed to waste reduction throughout their production process; but some process waste, off-spec batches or contaminated waste is inevitable.

According to the EPA, food waste from the industrial sector was around 103 million tons — which represented organic waste from recalls, contaminated batches and overproduction, to name a few reasons. To put that last number into perspective, 103 million tons of food waste is the equivalent of the weight of 450,000 Statues of Liberty.

The state of food-waste bans in the US

Organics recycling is quickly becoming a topic of discussion in the gilded halls of state houses and city halls across the country with some states and cities already enacting organics-recycling legislation.

California, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have enacted organic-waste bans. The focus of these states’ bans has been on commercial organic-waste producers. Additionally, Austin County in Texas, Boulder County in Colorado, Honolulu in Hawaii, and Western Lake Superior and Hennepin Counties in Minnesota have all enacted commercial organic-waste bans. Washington, DC has followed suit with an organic-waste ban law taking effect on January 1, 2024.

Food and beverage manufacturers, retailers and food users that are not first movers in the organics recycling and decarbonization arenas are now faced with legislative changes that will impact how they must address unavoidable waste. It’s not a matter of if — it’s a matter of when.

The majority of the laws passed in the other states are geared toward food manufacturers and institutions that produce at least 1,000 tons of organic waste a week. States that have organic-waste bans for manufacturers are counting on those industries to look for solutions to repurpose that organic waste instead of sending it to the local landfill or incinerator. Companies are considering this question from more than an economic standpoint and are quickly realizing that this diversion of waste can become a value proposition to communicate to customers that they care about the environment.

In the International Food Information Council’s 2022 Food & Health Survey, 39 percent of all respondents said concerns about sustainability influence their food and beverage purchases — an increase from the 27 percent seen in 2019. 73 percent of Gen Z respondents believe that they are more concerned about the environmental sustainability of their food choices than older generations, followed by 71 percent of millennials.

As food producers consider solutions to their organic-waste problem, many start by donating any edible food to food pantries or to farms for animal feed. If it’s inedible, companies such as Vanguard Renewables work to help food and beverage manufacturers find a circular solution to the manufacturing-waste challenge by taking their inedible organic waste and combining it with manure from US dairy farms to create renewable energy via anaerobic digestion. What could be better than telling your consumer that you are a “Farm Powered” business?

Commercial food recycling first movers

Berkshire Brewing Company in South Deerfield, MA is going all in on recycling its organic waste. The brewery sends its spent grains and other organic waste to a local family dairy farm, where it’s combined with cow manure to make renewable energy. Head Brewer Noah Bogoff said: “Our family brewery is committed to sustainability, and recycling our waste to create renewable energy is one way that we reach that goal. It’s also a great way for us to help our local dairy farmers in the process.”

Companies including Berkshire Brewing, Unilever, Cabot Creamery and Dairy Farmers of America have been working with Vanguard Renewables to recycle their organic waste. Doing so, not because they have to — there are other options — but because they understand that their inedible waste can be harnessed to create renewable energy that powers businesses, communities, homes and even colleges. Their choice to partner with Vanguard to recycle their organic waste is not only working to lessen their GHGs but helping to sustain US dairy farms.

Closing thoughts

Most organic-waste bans originated at the local level, with cities such as Boston paving the way for Massachusetts. With landfills reaching capacity so quickly and incinerators being notorious polluters, we can hope that other state and municipal leaders will challenge themselves and their colleagues to find solutions to removing food waste from their garbage streams and showing state leaders that this can be done effectively.

Landfills are closing across the country; and incinerators are unpopular with communities due to the pollution they cause. In order to reach President Biden’s aggressive emission-reduction goals by 2030, municipalities, counties and states will be introducing or expanding legislation to divert large-scale organic waste from landfills and incinerators.

There are many potential solutions to this challenge and lots of great minds working on this problem. In the case of Vanguard Renewables’ Farm Powered® program, food waste is transported to a dairy farm, combined with farm waste and recycled into renewable energy. The byproducts from the anaerobic-digestion process include liquid fertilizer — which is nearly odorless, low-carbon and nutrient-dense — leading to improved crop yields and drastically reducing the farmer’s expense for chemical fertilizers. The solids that come from the process are converted into bedding for the herd, which leads to healthier and happier cows since it is rich with their own biometric makeup.

It will take a culture change for consumers to join the food-waste recycling movement; but the good news is, it’s underway. The more we bring the issue to the forefront, the further along we will be.

Because we can’t wait any longer — landfills are nearly full and incinerators are polluting our neighborhoods. We can and will do better.

As we celebrate World Water Week August 20-24, we are proud to come alongside nonprofit organizations like Water Mission who work to bring safe water solutions to those in need around the world.

According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2 billion people around the world lack access to safe water. This global water crisis significantly affects those in remote areas of developing countries, like 12-year-old Mussa who lives in Igamba, Tanzania (pictured above).

Mussa is very familiar with the water challenges his community faces. Like most children, he spent his childhood days walking to the lake and waiting in long lines to gather water. This contaminated water made many in the community, including Mussa, sick from water-related illnesses.

With support from FedEx, Water Mission (a Christian engineering nonprofit that builds safe water, sanitation, and hygiene solutions) completed a safe water project in Igamba serving nearly 4,000 people.

When Mussa learned Water Mission was starting a safe water project in Igamba, he got excited and hopeful for the future. “I will be happy and the whole community will be happy because Igamba’s major problem will be solved,” Mussa shared.

With the project’s completion, water from a drilled well is treated, pumped to a storage tank using solar power, and made available at tap stands throughout the community. Safe water is now easily accessible, improving people’s health and giving the community hope for the future.

“With the aid of FedEx’s shipping solutions, we can get supplies like solar panels and water treatment systems to some of the neediest areas of the world,” said Water Mission President and CEO George C. Greene IV, PE. “We are grateful for our long-standing relationship and the commitment of FedEx to help us fight the global water crisis.”

To learn more about how Water Mission is serving men, women, and children around the world, you may visit watermission.org.

Photo credit: Water Mission

Over the past few months, producers and talent from across NBCU Entertainment and Peacock participated in the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and EssenceFest.

Every year, the Black community converges on both festivals to gather and celebrate Black content.

American Black Film Festival

At ABFF, NBCU held the first public screening of the upcoming NBC fall drama “Found.” This twisty and timely drama follows PR specialist Gabi Mosely (Shanola Hampton) and her crisis management team as they search for missing people from marginalized groups who do not typically receive widespread media attention, as she was once one of the forgotten ones. But unbeknownst to anyone, this everyday hero is hiding a chilling secret of her own.

The premise of “Found” shines a spotlight on the harrowing statistic that in any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. Of these reported cases, more than half of the missing people are people of color, too easily neglected by the system.

Following the screening, “Found,” stars Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Gabrielle Walsh sat down with Kathleen Newman-Bremang from Refinery29 Unbothered for a riveting conversation about the twists and turns in the series as well as the importance of using media to find missing people from underrepresented communities.

In a Refinery29 Unbothered article about the panel, Shanola Hampton expressed: “[I loved] being able to play a complex character who you think has it all together and she’s a boss and then you see that she too has trauma. That’s our theme. Trauma has no look to it. It does not discriminate. How each person deals with trauma is different. You get to see that in Gabi Mosely.”

The Peacock comedy “Killing It” also had a presence at the festival. Leads Craig Robinson and Rell Battle spoke about their series in an in-depth discussion moderated by Associated Press entertainment writer Gary Gerard Hamilton. They broke down the first season in a clips-and-conversations style panel and discussed the show’s central theme about how achieving the American Dream is highly dependent on the socio-economic background of the individuals pursuing it. They also previewed an exclusive new clip from the upcoming second season.

Jeanne Mau, Senior Vice President of TV Programming Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at NBCU, introduced both panels as well as presented the Best Series Award to “I Was a Soul Train Dancer” at the Best of ABFF Awards alongside Comcast’s Keesha Boyd.

EssenceFest

NBCUniversal returned to EssenceFest, one of the world’s largest celebrations of Black culture and the largest festival in the country per daily attendance.

Talent from across our entertainment networks participated in five panels at the Essence Film Festival representing Peacock’s “Bel-Air,” NBC’s “Found” and hit Bravo series, “Married to Medicine,” “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.”

“Bel-Air” breakout star Jabari Banks spoke on the “Leaders of the New School” panel alongside fellow actors Dominique Fishback (“Swarm”), Jacob Latimore (“The Chi”), Joseph Sikora (“Power” franchise)Amber Stevens West (“Run the World”). They shared how they navigate relationships on set as leads of their respective series.

Later, Shanola Hampton (“Found”) and Cassandra Freeman (“Bel-Air”) participated in Essence Film Festival’s signature panel about the movers and shakers in the industry which provides space for top TV and film talent to explain how they adapt to the ever-changing entertainment business.

Jimmy Akingbola (“Bel-Air”) sat on the “International Focus: Lords of the Underground” panel alongside fellow Brits, Daniel Ezra (“All American”) and Aml Ameen (“Boxing Day”) where he spoke about the challenges and opportunities of transitioning his career from the UK to the US.

“Found” showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll joined comedian Gina Yashere (“Bob Hearts Abishola”) for a special Nigeria Day panel. They shared their respective journeys of how they broke into television as well as their desire to continue building relationships with Nollywood talent. The conversation was moderated by Toyosi Etim Effiong.

On the last day of the festival, three showrunners from unscripted and scripted shows participated in an insightful panel called “The Nuts and Bolts of Running the Show.” James Knox (“Married to Medicine”), Lorraine Haughton-Lawson (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard”) and Nkechi Okoro Carroll (“Found”) broke down their day-to-day responsibilities on a show including budgeting, story-shaping, and other skills necessary as a contemporary showrunner.

Over the past few months, producers and talent from across NBCU Entertainment and Peacock participated in the American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and EssenceFest.

Every year, the Black community converges on both festivals to gather and celebrate Black content.

American Black Film Festival

At ABFF, NBCU held the first public screening of the upcoming NBC fall drama “Found.” This twisty and timely drama follows PR specialist Gabi Mosely (Shanola Hampton) and her crisis management team as they search for missing people from marginalized groups who do not typically receive widespread media attention, as she was once one of the forgotten ones. But unbeknownst to anyone, this everyday hero is hiding a chilling secret of her own.

The premise of “Found” shines a spotlight on the harrowing statistic that in any given year, more than 600,000 people are reported missing in the U.S. Of these reported cases, more than half of the missing people are people of color, too easily neglected by the system.

Following the screening, “Found,” stars Shanola Hampton, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Gabrielle Walsh sat down with Kathleen Newman-Bremang from Refinery29 Unbothered for a riveting conversation about the twists and turns in the series as well as the importance of using media to find missing people from underrepresented communities.

In a Refinery29 Unbothered article about the panel, Shanola Hampton expressed: “[I loved] being able to play a complex character who you think has it all together and she’s a boss and then you see that she too has trauma. That’s our theme. Trauma has no look to it. It does not discriminate. How each person deals with trauma is different. You get to see that in Gabi Mosely.”

The Peacock comedy “Killing It” also had a presence at the festival. Leads Craig Robinson and Rell Battle spoke about their series in an in-depth discussion moderated by Associated Press entertainment writer Gary Gerard Hamilton. They broke down the first season in a clips-and-conversations style panel and discussed the show’s central theme about how achieving the American Dream is highly dependent on the socio-economic background of the individuals pursuing it. They also previewed an exclusive new clip from the upcoming second season.

Jeanne Mau, Senior Vice President of TV Programming Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at NBCU, introduced both panels as well as presented the Best Series Award to “I Was a Soul Train Dancer” at the Best of ABFF Awards alongside Comcast’s Keesha Boyd.

EssenceFest

NBCUniversal returned to EssenceFest, one of the world’s largest celebrations of Black culture and the largest festival in the country per daily attendance.

Talent from across our entertainment networks participated in five panels at the Essence Film Festival representing Peacock’s “Bel-Air,” NBC’s “Found” and hit Bravo series, “Married to Medicine,” “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard.”

“Bel-Air” breakout star Jabari Banks spoke on the “Leaders of the New School” panel alongside fellow actors Dominique Fishback (“Swarm”), Jacob Latimore (“The Chi”), Joseph Sikora (“Power” franchise)Amber Stevens West (“Run the World”). They shared how they navigate relationships on set as leads of their respective series.

Later, Shanola Hampton (“Found”) and Cassandra Freeman (“Bel-Air”) participated in Essence Film Festival’s signature panel about the movers and shakers in the industry which provides space for top TV and film talent to explain how they adapt to the ever-changing entertainment business.

Jimmy Akingbola (“Bel-Air”) sat on the “International Focus: Lords of the Underground” panel alongside fellow Brits, Daniel Ezra (“All American”) and Aml Ameen (“Boxing Day”) where he spoke about the challenges and opportunities of transitioning his career from the UK to the US.

“Found” showrunner Nkechi Okoro Carroll joined comedian Gina Yashere (“Bob Hearts Abishola”) for a special Nigeria Day panel. They shared their respective journeys of how they broke into television as well as their desire to continue building relationships with Nollywood talent. The conversation was moderated by Toyosi Etim Effiong.

On the last day of the festival, three showrunners from unscripted and scripted shows participated in an insightful panel called “The Nuts and Bolts of Running the Show.” James Knox (“Married to Medicine”), Lorraine Haughton-Lawson (“The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Summer House: Martha’s Vineyard”) and Nkechi Okoro Carroll (“Found”) broke down their day-to-day responsibilities on a show including budgeting, story-shaping, and other skills necessary as a contemporary showrunner.

Originally published in Enbridge’s 2022 Sustainability Report

Biodiversity, land and water use 

Enbridge works across many different landscapes—some densely populated, some remote—to create and operate the energy infrastructure that communities rely on. Every place we work is ecologically and culturally important. We also invest in programs that promote environmental stewardship and conservation, and work closely with local and Indigenous communities and other stakeholders to promote shared environmental values and priorities.

Each business unit must implement an integrated management system and an environmental protection program (EPP) that meet Enbridge’s requirements and ensure regulatory and permit compliance. The goal of the EPP is to anticipate, prevent, manage and mitigate environmental risk and conditions that could adversely affect the environment.

Biodiversity and land use 

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth, connecting us to nature through food, water and air. By safeguarding and respecting biodiversity, we help ecosystems essential to sustainable human development thrive and benefit us all. Our EPPs include wildlife management plans to support responsible project development and operations and to identify and monitor any potential adverse impacts.

Our engineering and technical services teams integrate biodiversity considerations into the design, construction, maintenance and operation of our assets in order to balance the protection of land, plant sensitivities and animal life with business requirements. For example, we use pre-existing rights-of-way where possible and carry out environmental and cultural assessments to identify sensitive areas.

Through Enbridge Fueling Futures, we make investments in conservation and research projects focused on biodiversity, such as the RGV Reef study, which was launched in 2022. We also provide funding and create opportunities for employees to support activities like tree planting and habitat restoration.

We work with landowners and local and Indigenous communities that may potentially be affected by our projects and operations to meaningfully address their environmental priorities and concerns. Enbridge respects designated protected areas located near or adjacent to our operations, and we operate in accordance with all associated conservation management requirements and objectives, forging strong relationships with landowners and engaging directly with them to support their land use objectives—from agriculture to conservation to commercial activity.

Overarching policies and compliance 

Our commitment to environmental protection is articulated in our Safety and Reliability Policy. Our EPPs are part of an Integrated Management System that encompasses safety, security and protection of the environment, and define environmental management accountabilities and responsibilities in our organization. We continually monitor our environmental performance and conduct regular internal audits of our EPPs to assess and enhance our environmental management practices.

Enbridge completes all necessary impact assessments for our projects—including environmental, species at risk, siting, noise and cultural—and we develop avoidance and/or mitigation measures that aim to protect and maintain wildlife and environmentally sensitive areas, and reduce land and habitat disturbances.

Biodiversity has been identified as a critical global risk, and Enbridge is closely monitoring the development of new frameworks and recommended disclosures, including the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). We are currently working with the Wildlife Habitat Council to assess our biodiversity performance against these developing frameworks and plan to report the outcomes in our next Sustainability Report.

Combining renewable energy with landscape restoration 

We work to balance the protection of land, plant and animal life—all while respecting cultural priorities and community needs. One example of this multi-faceted approach is a large-scale land restoration project at Sarnia Solar, our longest-operating solar facility, purchased in 2008. A 200-acre area adjacent to the site’s 1.3 million solar panels was unsuitable for other human uses because of the adjacent energy generating activity—so we worked with conservation nonprofit Return the Landscape to create the second largest grassland meadow in southern Ontario, a haven for bees, monarch butterflies, and many other species of wildlife.

Water 

Drawing water for safety operations 

Enbridge’s main reason for drawing water is hydrostatic pressure testing, a practice critical to ensuring the integrity of our assets. Hydrostatic testing involves filling sections of pipe with water at high pressure and maintaining the pressure for a prescribed period to confirm the integrity of the pipeline. In order to carry out this testing across new and existing pipelines and related infrastructure, we require large volumes of water each year. The exact volume of water we use fluctuates from year to year depending on our testing needs, which vary according to the number of projects under construction and our overall integrity management requirements.

We use recycled water as much as possible to meet our hydrostatic testing needs sustainably. This water does not need to be “good quality freshwater” and can be delivered by a third-party water supplier, rented or reused from a previously tested section of pipeline. A negligible volume of water is consumed through hydrostatic testing; on average, more than 99% of the water used this way is returned to its natural environment—and our teams use detailed procedures to evaluate water quality prior to release or disposal. If the water can’t be safely returned to the environment, we dispose of it using approved methods. We expect that recycled water will remain central to Enbridge’s approach to meeting our hydrostatic testing needs related to our safety requirements.

Water risk assessments and mitigation 

Enbridge uses a combination of approaches to identify, assess and mitigate potential water risks across our operations. We take a lifecycle approach to managing the safety and design of our assets, and assess water risks as part of an established enterprise risk management framework. Water-related issues are addressed and managed through our policies and management systems for Safety and Operational Reliability. Our key priority is to achieve zero spills or leaks of any of the hydrocarbons we transport. We invest in preventing off-property spills and leaks—including in or near watercourses and environmentally sensitive areas—because such releases can impact the environment, damage property and threaten the safety of workers and the public.

During project planning and operations, our business segments use multiple regional government databases to conduct risk assessments. These databases help identify higher-risk environmental features such as municipal water intake locations and recharge areas for municipal drinking water supplies. They also offer insight into subsurface conditions, the depth of groundwater in various locations and the proximity of regulated areas (such as floodplains and fill line areas) to our project footprint—all important to determining permitting requirements and mitigating water risks.

We believe pipelines are the safest and most reliable way to transport the oil and natural gas that fuel our economy and enable modern society. However, potential risks to local water sources may arise from spills or releases of oil and gas. The Liquids Pipelines business unit uses several risk mapping tools—OilMap, OilMapLand, SiMAP and OilMap Deep—to assess the potential flow and downstream impact of a crude oil release. These tools enable us to model, for instance, the distance a plume of crude oil could travel over a 24-hour period and potential impacts to a water body from a submerged pipeline leak. To identify the potential impact of oil dispersion in open water—specifically with respect to drinking water intakes and shorelines—we assess where oil could be expected to travel based on factors such as water currents and wind direction.

All liquids lines in the U.S. are modeled annually in support of our High Consequence Area analysis and once every three years in Canada. We also use OilMap on an ad hoc basis to assess the impact of new pipeline projects and replacement projects and to assess specific risk scenarios. Enbridge worked with the former Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) to develop the Pipeline Watercourse Management Recommended Practices for Operating Pipelines; this resource compiles and presents the latest industry practices relating to the management of hydrotechnical hazards at operating pipeline crossings and encroachments, namely watercourses.

Learn more 

Safety and Reliability Policy 

Sustainability Policy 

Climate Policy 

Indigenous Peoples Policy

Enbridge Fueling Futures 

 

Read more

Originally published in Enbridge’s 2022 Sustainability Report

Biodiversity, land and water use 

Enbridge works across many different landscapes—some densely populated, some remote—to create and operate the energy infrastructure that communities rely on. Every place we work is ecologically and culturally important. We also invest in programs that promote environmental stewardship and conservation, and work closely with local and Indigenous communities and other stakeholders to promote shared environmental values and priorities.

Each business unit must implement an integrated management system and an environmental protection program (EPP) that meet Enbridge’s requirements and ensure regulatory and permit compliance. The goal of the EPP is to anticipate, prevent, manage and mitigate environmental risk and conditions that could adversely affect the environment.

Biodiversity and land use 

Biodiversity is the variety of life on earth, connecting us to nature through food, water and air. By safeguarding and respecting biodiversity, we help ecosystems essential to sustainable human development thrive and benefit us all. Our EPPs include wildlife management plans to support responsible project development and operations and to identify and monitor any potential adverse impacts.

Our engineering and technical services teams integrate biodiversity considerations into the design, construction, maintenance and operation of our assets in order to balance the protection of land, plant sensitivities and animal life with business requirements. For example, we use pre-existing rights-of-way where possible and carry out environmental and cultural assessments to identify sensitive areas.

Through Enbridge Fueling Futures, we make investments in conservation and research projects focused on biodiversity, such as the RGV Reef study, which was launched in 2022. We also provide funding and create opportunities for employees to support activities like tree planting and habitat restoration.

We work with landowners and local and Indigenous communities that may potentially be affected by our projects and operations to meaningfully address their environmental priorities and concerns. Enbridge respects designated protected areas located near or adjacent to our operations, and we operate in accordance with all associated conservation management requirements and objectives, forging strong relationships with landowners and engaging directly with them to support their land use objectives—from agriculture to conservation to commercial activity.

Overarching policies and compliance 

Our commitment to environmental protection is articulated in our Safety and Reliability Policy. Our EPPs are part of an Integrated Management System that encompasses safety, security and protection of the environment, and define environmental management accountabilities and responsibilities in our organization. We continually monitor our environmental performance and conduct regular internal audits of our EPPs to assess and enhance our environmental management practices.

Enbridge completes all necessary impact assessments for our projects—including environmental, species at risk, siting, noise and cultural—and we develop avoidance and/or mitigation measures that aim to protect and maintain wildlife and environmentally sensitive areas, and reduce land and habitat disturbances.

Biodiversity has been identified as a critical global risk, and Enbridge is closely monitoring the development of new frameworks and recommended disclosures, including the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). We are currently working with the Wildlife Habitat Council to assess our biodiversity performance against these developing frameworks and plan to report the outcomes in our next Sustainability Report.

Combining renewable energy with landscape restoration 

We work to balance the protection of land, plant and animal life—all while respecting cultural priorities and community needs. One example of this multi-faceted approach is a large-scale land restoration project at Sarnia Solar, our longest-operating solar facility, purchased in 2008. A 200-acre area adjacent to the site’s 1.3 million solar panels was unsuitable for other human uses because of the adjacent energy generating activity—so we worked with conservation nonprofit Return the Landscape to create the second largest grassland meadow in southern Ontario, a haven for bees, monarch butterflies, and many other species of wildlife.

Water 

Drawing water for safety operations 

Enbridge’s main reason for drawing water is hydrostatic pressure testing, a practice critical to ensuring the integrity of our assets. Hydrostatic testing involves filling sections of pipe with water at high pressure and maintaining the pressure for a prescribed period to confirm the integrity of the pipeline. In order to carry out this testing across new and existing pipelines and related infrastructure, we require large volumes of water each year. The exact volume of water we use fluctuates from year to year depending on our testing needs, which vary according to the number of projects under construction and our overall integrity management requirements.

We use recycled water as much as possible to meet our hydrostatic testing needs sustainably. This water does not need to be “good quality freshwater” and can be delivered by a third-party water supplier, rented or reused from a previously tested section of pipeline. A negligible volume of water is consumed through hydrostatic testing; on average, more than 99% of the water used this way is returned to its natural environment—and our teams use detailed procedures to evaluate water quality prior to release or disposal. If the water can’t be safely returned to the environment, we dispose of it using approved methods. We expect that recycled water will remain central to Enbridge’s approach to meeting our hydrostatic testing needs related to our safety requirements.

Water risk assessments and mitigation 

Enbridge uses a combination of approaches to identify, assess and mitigate potential water risks across our operations. We take a lifecycle approach to managing the safety and design of our assets, and assess water risks as part of an established enterprise risk management framework. Water-related issues are addressed and managed through our policies and management systems for Safety and Operational Reliability. Our key priority is to achieve zero spills or leaks of any of the hydrocarbons we transport. We invest in preventing off-property spills and leaks—including in or near watercourses and environmentally sensitive areas—because such releases can impact the environment, damage property and threaten the safety of workers and the public.

During project planning and operations, our business segments use multiple regional government databases to conduct risk assessments. These databases help identify higher-risk environmental features such as municipal water intake locations and recharge areas for municipal drinking water supplies. They also offer insight into subsurface conditions, the depth of groundwater in various locations and the proximity of regulated areas (such as floodplains and fill line areas) to our project footprint—all important to determining permitting requirements and mitigating water risks.

We believe pipelines are the safest and most reliable way to transport the oil and natural gas that fuel our economy and enable modern society. However, potential risks to local water sources may arise from spills or releases of oil and gas. The Liquids Pipelines business unit uses several risk mapping tools—OilMap, OilMapLand, SiMAP and OilMap Deep—to assess the potential flow and downstream impact of a crude oil release. These tools enable us to model, for instance, the distance a plume of crude oil could travel over a 24-hour period and potential impacts to a water body from a submerged pipeline leak. To identify the potential impact of oil dispersion in open water—specifically with respect to drinking water intakes and shorelines—we assess where oil could be expected to travel based on factors such as water currents and wind direction.

All liquids lines in the U.S. are modeled annually in support of our High Consequence Area analysis and once every three years in Canada. We also use OilMap on an ad hoc basis to assess the impact of new pipeline projects and replacement projects and to assess specific risk scenarios. Enbridge worked with the former Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) and the Canadian Gas Association (CGA) to develop the Pipeline Watercourse Management Recommended Practices for Operating Pipelines; this resource compiles and presents the latest industry practices relating to the management of hydrotechnical hazards at operating pipeline crossings and encroachments, namely watercourses.

Learn more 

Safety and Reliability Policy 

Sustainability Policy 

Climate Policy 

Indigenous Peoples Policy

Enbridge Fueling Futures 

 

Read more

Published by Las Vegas Sands on June 28, 2023

LAS VEGAS, 2023 /3BL/ – Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) today announced the expanded Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit will take place November 8 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

With support from the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the seventh annual Summit shifts to a statewide focus, recognizing the imperative to attack the youth homelessness issue with a broader movement that can more effectively address state-level policy initiatives and create collaborations for innovative solutions.

This year’s Summit will provide the foundation to build the state’s first plan to end youth homelessness, modeling the effort to build the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness that had been curated through previous Summits.

“The scope of the youth homelessness crisis extends throughout the state of Nevada, and we know that we can no longer focus just on Southern Nevada to create lasting change,” Arash Ghafoori, CEO, NPHY, said. “We must join forces with the host of great organizations throughout Nevada to aid vulnerable young people and youth in crisis. Youth homelessness is bigger than any one sector and any region.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in 2022 roughly 12% of youth experiencing homelessness across the United States were residing in Nevada. In addition, homelessness risk factors have accelerated as the state of Nevada is facing an estimated shortage of more than 80,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income tenants, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

To expand The Movement to End Youth Homelessness statewide, a steering committee is spearheading content planning and participant engagement for Summit 2023. Members include representatives from University of Nevada, Reno; Eddy House; ACLU Nevada; Nevada Department of Education; Nevada Homeless Alliance; Nevada Housing Coalition; Clark County School District; St. Jude’s Ranch for Children; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Las Vegas Sands; Clark County Social Service; Help Hope Home; Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority; and NPHY, with collaboration from the Northern Nevada Continuum of Care and Balance of State Continuum of Care.

Registration for Summit 2023 opens on August 24, and conference tickets are $100. Information about the Summit 2023 agenda and speakers will be posted in August at https://nphy.org/summit23.

About Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY)

NPHY is the most comprehensive service provider for the thousands of homeless youth in Southern Nevada, serving hundreds of youth through core programs and touching the lives of thousands more through outreach each year. NPHY’s programs stabilize homeless teens’ lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency. Through work with homeless youth, NPHY creates productive, healthy adults who contribute to society. Strengthening and complementing the high-quality direct services for homeless youth, NPHY is dedicated to advocating with and for the Las Vegas Valley’s homeless youth population and serves as a leader in systems-level efforts to eliminate homelessness among Nevada’s youth. For more information or to support our life-changing work for homeless youth, please visit www.nphy.org.

About Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Sands is the world’s preeminent developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts. Our iconic properties drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities for local businesses and community investment to help make our host regions ideal places to live, work and visit.

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao and Sands Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

Sands is dedicated to being a leader in corporate responsibility, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. Our ESG leadership has led to inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America. To learn more, visit www.sands.com.

Contacts:

Kristin Koca, Sands
Kristin.Koca@sands.com
702.923.9142

Lanette Rivera, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
lanette@nphy.org
702.688.1013

Published by Las Vegas Sands on June 28, 2023

LAS VEGAS, 2023 /3BL/ – Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) and Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) today announced the expanded Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit will take place November 8 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

With support from the UNLV Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the seventh annual Summit shifts to a statewide focus, recognizing the imperative to attack the youth homelessness issue with a broader movement that can more effectively address state-level policy initiatives and create collaborations for innovative solutions.

This year’s Summit will provide the foundation to build the state’s first plan to end youth homelessness, modeling the effort to build the Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness that had been curated through previous Summits.

“The scope of the youth homelessness crisis extends throughout the state of Nevada, and we know that we can no longer focus just on Southern Nevada to create lasting change,” Arash Ghafoori, CEO, NPHY, said. “We must join forces with the host of great organizations throughout Nevada to aid vulnerable young people and youth in crisis. Youth homelessness is bigger than any one sector and any region.”

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, in 2022 roughly 12% of youth experiencing homelessness across the United States were residing in Nevada. In addition, homelessness risk factors have accelerated as the state of Nevada is facing an estimated shortage of more than 80,000 affordable rentals for extremely low-income tenants, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

To expand The Movement to End Youth Homelessness statewide, a steering committee is spearheading content planning and participant engagement for Summit 2023. Members include representatives from University of Nevada, Reno; Eddy House; ACLU Nevada; Nevada Department of Education; Nevada Homeless Alliance; Nevada Housing Coalition; Clark County School District; St. Jude’s Ranch for Children; University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Las Vegas Sands; Clark County Social Service; Help Hope Home; Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority; and NPHY, with collaboration from the Northern Nevada Continuum of Care and Balance of State Continuum of Care.

Registration for Summit 2023 opens on August 24, and conference tickets are $100. Information about the Summit 2023 agenda and speakers will be posted in August at https://nphy.org/summit23.

About Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY)

NPHY is the most comprehensive service provider for the thousands of homeless youth in Southern Nevada, serving hundreds of youth through core programs and touching the lives of thousands more through outreach each year. NPHY’s programs stabilize homeless teens’ lives, meeting their immediate needs and providing a safe, supportive environment and a path to self-sufficiency. Through work with homeless youth, NPHY creates productive, healthy adults who contribute to society. Strengthening and complementing the high-quality direct services for homeless youth, NPHY is dedicated to advocating with and for the Las Vegas Valley’s homeless youth population and serves as a leader in systems-level efforts to eliminate homelessness among Nevada’s youth. For more information or to support our life-changing work for homeless youth, please visit www.nphy.org.

About Sands (NYSE: LVS)

Sands is the world’s preeminent developer and operator of world-class integrated resorts. Our iconic properties drive valuable leisure and business tourism and deliver significant economic benefits, sustained job creation, financial opportunities for local businesses and community investment to help make our host regions ideal places to live, work and visit.

Sands’ portfolio of properties includes Marina Bay Sands in Singapore and The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, The Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao and Sands Macao in Macao SAR, China, through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd.

Sands is dedicated to being a leader in corporate responsibility, anchored by the core tenets of serving people, planet and communities. Our ESG leadership has led to inclusion on the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for World and North America. To learn more, visit www.sands.com.

Contacts:

Kristin Koca, Sands
Kristin.Koca@sands.com
702.923.9142

Lanette Rivera, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth
lanette@nphy.org
702.688.1013

In this quick episode of ESG Talk, Mandi McReynolds highlights key findings from Workiva’s second ESG practitioner survey, which polled more than 900 professionals involved in ESG reporting across North America, Europe, and Asia. The data underscores the complexity in ESG reporting and reveals a surprising disconnect between managers and executives.

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WASHINGTON, August 22, 2023 /3BL/ – The World Environment Center (WEC) is pleased to announce two Requests for Proposals (RFPs) seeking qualified consulting firms/consultants specializing in Gender & Women Empowerment and Business Competitiveness issues. These contracts will support WEC’s efforts in providing training and technical assistance to small grantees and beneficiaries MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises) within the US Department of State funded grant, Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC).

Under the Gender & Women Empowerment RFP, the selected consulting firm/consultant will deliver comprehensive training and technical assistance on gender-related topics to enhance the capacity of the beneficiaries. Applicants from Latin America and the Caribbean, proficient in both English and Spanish, are strongly encouraged to apply. The decision will be based on the technical approach, qualifications, past performance, and cost of the proposal. For more information, interested parties are invited to review the detailed Request for Proposals.

WEC is committed to equal employment opportunities and celebrates diversity. As an equal opportunity employer, WEC does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.

Interested parties are requested to submit their proposals by September 25, 2023, in accordance with the guidelines provided in the respective Request for Proposals. Questions regarding the RFPs can be directed to Smitha Konduri at info@wec.org

About the World Environment Center:

WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that promotes sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities, and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to promote business and its social value by advancing solutions to sustainable development-related problems.

www.wec.org

About the EMPOWER INNOVATION CHALLENGE (EIC)

The World Environment Center (WEC) and its partners Nucleo de Biotecnologa de Curauma (NBC) and Baastel will support the expansion of the La Red de Innovacion e Impacto (La RED) network through a new Empower Innovation Challenge (EIC) in the Latin-American and Caribbean (LAC) region.

The goal of the EIC will be to assist women-owned micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in scaling their businesses through a series of small grants focused on local solutions. With a focus on green and blue economies, the EIC partnership will provide training, access to capital, networking, and partnership opportunities with local and international businesses.