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Every day, we help millions around the world live their best lives with our science-backed products that support balanced nutrition and by providing economic opportunities through our direct selling business model, encouraging people to become entrepreneurs and have a positive impact in their communities.

Our global presence means we are committed to doing more to provide life-changing opportunities focused on our Global Responsibility (GR) core pillars:

· Healthy communities

· Economic empowerment

· Environmental stewardship

To celebrate National Entrepreneurship Week, we’re diving into our Economic Empowerment Pillar, which supports programs worldwide that advance and support inclusive economies for underrepresented communities and promote entrepreneurship. Mentorship and training that supports educational achievements have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for youth and pave the way for personal empowerment while strengthening local communities.

What makes Economic Empowerment a Pillar in Our Global Responsibility Journey

According to the International Labor Organization, almost half a billion people work fewer paid hours than they would like or lack adequate access to paid work. We aim to target this global challenge by supporting organizations that empower opportunities for underserved, vulnerable and minority communities.

We understand and appreciate the challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs and strongly believe that small businesses are an essential part of any thriving community.

That’s why we work with leading non-profit organizations around the globe to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs through leadership and mentorship programs so more people can be empowered to reach their full potential.

By supporting partners such as the Village Book Builders and the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), we are working to empower entrepreneurship and increase job opportunities in marginalized communities.

Village Book Builders 

Looking for ways to empower our employees to make a difference, we partnered with the Village Book Builders nonprofit organization because it encompasses values we work to cultivate.

Village Book Builders empowers villages worldwide to end poverty through education. One way they do so is by connecting volunteers to serve as mentors to students in developing communities around the globe. In 2021, Herbalife Nutrition employees participated in pilot mentorship sessions with students in Ghana during an eight-week program.

U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF)

We are proud partners with USADF, and supported five African social entrepreneurs through our Nutrition for Zero Hunger program in 2022.

The focus of USADF has been to champion a community-led, participatory approach by supporting entrepreneurs that are working to address some of Africa’s most significant challenges around food insecurity, energy poverty, and unemployment, particularly among women and youth.

For example, one of the entrepreneurs, Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Founder and Managing Director, Nutrie Foods, started her company to offer healthy food while giving back to the community by providing a fair-trade market for female farmers’ produce.

These success stories confirm how cross sector alliances can transform entire communities and change lives by empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs with new skills and resources that potentially could unlock economic opportunities in the fields they plan on pursuing through leadership and mentorship programs.

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April 29, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Ceres and its company and investor partners applaud the California Air Resources Board for adopting the Advanced Clean Fleets rule, an ambitious and balanced approach to transitioning fleets well-suited for vehicle electrification to zero-emission models over time.

The ACF rule complements other California clean transportation policies that increase the availability of zero-emission vehicles by requiring major commercial fleets operating in the state to deploy them at increasing rates in the coming years.

As companies increasingly seek access to zero emission vehicles that reduce fuel and maintenance costs, several large businesses have supported the ACF rule. The policy will help companies meet their climate goals throughout their supply chains and strengthen the U.S.’s role as a global leader to attract clean transportation investment.

“At eBay, we believe we have an urgent and important responsibility to mitigate the impact of climate change,” said Renée Morin, chief sustainability officer at eBay. “Moving to clean vehicles is a critical part of achieving our climate goals. That’s why we support the Advanced Clean Fleet rule to help get more clean trucks on U.S. roadways and help minimize the impact of transporting and shipping the goods sold on our platform.”

“IKEA USA is committed to 100% zero-emission home deliveries by 2025. To achieve our vision for a clean transportation future, we need smart policies to help accelerate the availability of and access to zero-emission vehicles of all types and sizes. An ambitious Clean Fleets program is a critical policy that will move us closer to our climate goals, reduce air pollution, and build a cleaner economy” said Steven Moelk, fulfillment project implementation manager, zero-emission delivery at IKEA.

“Avocado Green Brands is proud to be the first mattress company to become carbon negative across all our operations by offsetting more emissions than the company generates. But we know that carbon offsets are a band-aid and not a long-term solution to climate challenge. That’s why we support ambitious policies like California’s Advanced Clean Fleets rule that will help accelerate the shift to zero-emission vehicles and drive their uptake by the fleets we partner with to deliver our products—which in turn will help us to reduce emissions without offsets” said John Davies, senior director, brand editorial and sustainability at Avocado Green Brands.

“An Ambitious Clean Fleets program is vital to meeting our climate goals and keeping the U.S. economy competitive. But perhaps most importantly for our Dignity Health hospitals: this regulation will improve public health and reduce health costs. This is especially true for vulnerable, low-income and BIPOC communities that live near major transportation hubs. Getting more clean trucks on our roads will reduce respiratory illness and hospitalizations and decrease the health sector’s carbon footprint that’s attributed to the supply chain” said Rachelle Wenger, system vice president for public policy and advocacy engagement at CommonSpirit Health.

Transportation is the nation’s leading source of climate pollution and a major source of deadly air pollution that causes heart and lung disease, most severely hurting low-income communities and communities of color located near major roadways and freight centers. Reducing public health impacts and meeting national and state climate goals will require widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles of all types.

The ACF rule sets different standards for different types of vehicles, but ultimately will require high-priority fleet operators to transition to 100% zero-emission vehicles everywhere feasible by 2045 and begin purchasing them for some operations as soon as next year. The rule allows for flexibility to account for potential challenges, including those related to infrastructure deployment and vehicle delivery delays.

In addition, ACF requires all new truck sales in California to be zero-emission models by 2036.In 2022, more than 45 companies, investors, and institutions signed a letter organized by Ceres and sent to CARB calling for the adoption of an ambitious version of the ACF rule.

“Adopting a strong standard for commercial vehicle fleets is necessary and feasible and doing so will generate significant climate, economic, and public health benefits across the country,” the letter said.

The ACF rule is especially valuable to companies that have set ambitious climate targets throughout their supply chains or that do not operate their own fleets by ensuring their suppliers and contractors are also adopting zero-emission vehicles.

The finalization of the policy caps a years-long process of policymaking in California to accelerate the shift to clean vehicles, charting a path for the rest of the U.S. CARB previously adopted the Advanced Clean Trucks and Advanced Clean Cars II rules, which together set increasing sales targets for zero-emission passenger and commercial vehicles over time. Each has been adopted by several other states with strong support from major U.S. businesses.

“Widespread adoption of zero-emission vehicles will benefit the climate, public health, and the bottom lines of companies,” said Alli Gold Roberts, senior director of state policy, Ceres. “The Advanced Clean Fleets rule is a crucial policy that will complement others already adopted by California to ensure the benefits of clean vehicles are felt throughout the economy and in communities across the state. We applaud the California Air Resources Board for the thoughtful design of this policy, celebrate its finalization today, and encourage other states to follow this bold example and share in its many benefits.”

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 Contacts: Helen Booth-Tobin

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Whole Foods Market suppliers are funding income-generating opportunities to alleviate global poverty through Whole Planet Foundation’s microlending programs. 2023 top donors, which can be found in select stores and online on Whole Foods Market on Amazon, are committed to creating opportunity for the world’s poorest entrepreneurs. Participating brands support microentrepreneurs and smallholder farmers, primarily women, with opportunities to improve their own lives. Microcredit is small loans typically under $200 – no formal contract, no formal collateral – provided for the entrepreneur to change their own lives through their own hard work. Microloan recipients have a chance to create or expand a small business, often home-based, to generate income for themselves and their families. Learn why these brands support Whole Planet Foundation’s mission this year to empower people living in poverty in the United States and around the globe.

Primal Kitchen

In 2023, Primal Kitchen is increasing its annual contribution to the Whole Planet Foundation to reach even more entrepreneurs around the globe. Through the program, this money will benefit communities and financial institutions offering microloans to those most in need. “We’re so proud to support Whole Planet Foundation in helping entrepreneurs in unserved or underserved regions of the world. The natural food industry is filled with entrepreneurial spirit, so our own business is a natural fit with this mission. This year, we’ve increased our pledge to $100,000 because we’ve seen the impact of this program, and we believe that it can change the world,” says Ana Goettsch, VP Marketing Primal Kitchen.

Since 2018, Primal Kitchen has continued to increase its support of Whole Planet Foundation to fund microcredit in underserved communities where Whole Foods Market sources products. This year is no exception as they join our top giving level, the $100,000 Fund! We are proud to announce Primal Kitchen as our 2023 Top Donor supporting multiple programs to fund additional microloans this year.

Seventh Generation

Seventh Generation is a founding member of the Whole Planet Foundation Supplier Alliance for Microcredit, donating $650,000 since they first began giving in 2008. The team from Seventh Generation have joined us to witness microcredit in Paraguay, South Africa, Nepal, and various cities in the United States, so they’ve met microcredit clients whose dreams of starting or expanding their businesses were just a microloan away. Through deep partnership with our microfinance partners, donors like Seventh Generation have been able to tell the story of our mission to their donors through our work in the field. Through content like videos and landing pages from trips to South Africa and Nepal, Seventh Generation and their parent company, Unilever continue to deepen our collective mission to empower people living in poverty around the globe.

Traditional Medicinals

Traditional Medicinals has been a Whole Planet Foundation donor since 2008. In that time, they have contributed more than $505,900 to fund more than 14,300 microloans. In addition to funding microcredits through our work, Traditional Medicinals is committed to social development projects in communities where they source around the world. Pre-COVID Whole Foods Market Team Member volunteers had the wonderful experience learning about Traditional Medicinals programs in India in the communities where Whole Planet Foundation funds microcredit and Whole Foods Market sources products.

“Traditional Medicinals has a long- standing commitment to responsible business dating to our founding almost 50 years ago. We owe much of our success to the powerful healing properties of plants. To ensure that these plants have a healthy home for generations to come, it’s vital that we source high quality herbs that are traded fairly, and contribute to healthy, sustainable communities for people and planet. Partnering with organizations like Whole Planet Foundation help lead our industry toward a brighter future and a healthier planet as part of the positive transformation our world needs,” says Jamie Horst, Chief Purpose Officer at Traditional Medicinals.

To date, our supplier donor community has contributed more than $17 million to fund microloans around the globe. We are honored to work with these like-minded brands to fuel the entrepreneurial endeavors of microloan recipients in the U.S. and abroad. Join our mission this June via Whole Planet Foundation’s Power Your Purpose Virtual 5K to move for microcredit and fund additional loans in the communities where Whole Food Market sources products.

CINCINNATI, April 28, 2023 /3BL Media/ – There are a lot of emotions tied to opening a brand-new business, including excitement and fear. But Fifth Third Bank, National Association, with 165 years of banking experience, knows the ins and outs.

“Small businesses make a huge impact on communities and local economies,” said Fifth Third Business Banking National Sales Director Navia McCloud. “They are a significant source of employment, help build the middle class, and create generational wealth.”

For entrepreneurs, creating that business and making a long-lasting success is easier said than done. One challenge is that each business sector and state will have different requirements that new business owners need to master, but all businesses require these documents or processes in some form. Fifth Third has a simple guide to the documents and processes required to start a business.

“As bankers, it’s our responsibility to help our small business owners reach their goals through active listening, understanding their industry, and delivering the appropriate solutions for every stage of their unique business lifecycle,” McCloud said.

A solid business plan is the first step

A critical component to a successful start-up is a strong business plan. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers five reasons why this is so important. A business plan will serve many functions throughout a company’s business lifecycle. Investors and financial institutions will analyze its soundness and look at specific factors like the opportunity for sustainable growth. Business owners and management teams can use their business plan as an operational compass to track important milestones – what’s working and what’s not.

A thoroughly crafted business plan can also expedite funding and help cut through red tape. A good example is Fifth Third client Caliber Mechanical LLC, an MBE certified mechanical construction and piping contractor located in Chicago. The owners are two friends, with prior industry experience working for larger outfits, who decided to make the leap and start working for themselves. This was in 2021 when the effects of the global pandemic were still very real. However, their passion, plans, and banking partners aligned to make their dreams a reality.

Fifth Third Business Banking Relationship Manager Marcin Bos, and SBA Market Specialist Anna Delic met with the entrepreneurs to discuss their goals. While reviewing their business plan, Bos and Delic were confident they could secure funding for them.

“We were extremely impressed with Caliber Mechanical’s business plan,” said Boz. “It clearly outlined their unique approach, industry background, market analysis, and competitive advantages. Because of their due diligence, we were willing to do our first SBA loan for a startup since COVID hit.”

Fifth Third closed on an SBA Express line of credit, which was essential for the new company to start and begin operating the business.

The loan also helped them purchase quality software and equipment to perform their work as well as manage their receivables while waiting for clients to pay.

Visit Fifth Third’s Business Banking site to learn more about business solutions and click on contact a banker to speak to an experienced relationship manager.

About Fifth Third

Fifth Third is a bank that’s as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we’ve been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it’s one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere’s World’s Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation’s highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.

Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.” Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Deposit and credit products offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.

CONTACTS
Beth Oates (Media Relations) 
Beth.Oates@53.com | 313-230-9002

Chris Doll (Investor Relations) 
Christopher.Doll@53.com | 513-534-2345

International Olympic Committee news

Regional leaders, development organisations and the Olympic and sports movement have committed to strengthening the use of sport as a tool for sustainable development in Oceania in the lead-up to, and beyond, the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032.

The commitment was made during the Sport and Sustainable Development Strategic Partners Forum, which was convened by the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in conjunction with the Pacific Regional Sports Taskforce (PRST), during last week’s ONOC General Assembly in Brisbane.

The Forum brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including multilateral development financing institutions, bilateral partners and donors, UN entities, Council of Regional Organisations of the Pacific (CROP) agencies, and regional inter-governmental organisations, along with leaders of the Olympic and sports movement in the region.

The participants recognised sport’s potential to contribute to sustainable development in Oceania and agreed to increase investment, strengthen coordination and enhance policy frameworks to maximise its impact ahead of the Olympic Games Brisbane 2032. Their commitment aligns with the IOC’s Olympism365 strategy, which is aimed at strengthening the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The Olympic and Paralympic Games Brisbane 2032 represent an exciting opportunity for Oceania,” said Auvita Rapilla, IOC Member and Chair of the IOC’s Olympism365 Commission. “It is well recognised that these ‘Home Games’ have the potential to spur improved performances of our athletes and teams. Nevertheless, they can also be a catalyst to enhance the positive impact that sport and the Olympic Movement can have in communities across our diverse region, contributing to the improved health and well-being of our people across the Blue Continent.

“Realising the potential of sport to make a positive impact has arguably never been more important. Considering the ever-intensifying environmental, health and economic challenges facing our countries, strengthening the use of sport as an enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals is imperative.”

Key outcomes for the region

One of the key outcomes of the Forum was the formation of consortia working to align efforts and resources to effectively leverage the power of sport to address the UN SDGs in the region, with an emphasis on safe, inclusive and sustainable approaches that support young people, athletes, and women and girls in becoming key agents of change.

This multi-system approach highlighted at the Forum has already proved to be a catalyst, with a number of UN and regional organisations setting out plans and commitments to work to strengthen sport’s role in sustainable development:

Capacity building on promoting sport and physical activity to deliver public health outcomes will be explored with the World Health Organization (WHO);Collaboration with UN Habitat in promoting sport and fitness friendly cities as part of the SDG Cities initiative is being developed;Opportunities to strengthen sport and youth crime prevention are being discussed with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC);Opportunities to strengthen climate adaption, resilience, advocacy and education will be explored together with UN Climate Change (UNFCCC);Work is being done on capacity building and policy frameworks in partnership with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) to enhance action on sport, climate action, environmental sustainability and conservation through sport, a vital subject for the region;The IOC will also be joining ONOC in an Oceania-led and seeded sport, equality and inclusion network that also includes UN Women and the Australian Government’s sport for development programme “Team Up”, to intensify work to advance gender equality and inclusion in and through sport in the region.

These efforts will also contribute to the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, which sets out Oceania’s approach to collectively work together to achieve its long-term goals and secure the region’s future against current and future challenges. This includes supporting the delivery of the Pacific Sport, Physical Activity and Physical Education (SPAPE) Action Plan 2019-2030. These efforts will be coordinated by the PRST, with the support of ONOC and the IOC, including through the provision of technical and financial assistance to help facilitate joined-up approaches and impact.

According to Henry Puna, Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum, emphasising the considerable links between sport and sustainable development is vital to achieving the region’s long-term vision.

“I am really pleased to note [the Forum’s] integration of the Pacific 2050 strategic direction, set by our leaders, into this work,” he said. “It is a key part of how Pacific leaders are setting our development agenda right now, and we know the impact level, where we meet our people where they are, must involve all things sport.

“The Olympic Movement, represented for us through the Oceania National Olympic Committees, is a key Forum civil society partner in that regard. The impact of sport on healthy communities and nations has been universally accepted for many years now. But we are at a tipping point, if you will, especially with the clock ticking to 2030 on the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Addressing Forum attendees, he continued: “Your being here is recognition of the impacts and benefits gained at all levels of development, when there is effective regional coordination of sport, physical activity and physical education. From a regional perspective, strategic engagements in policy, advocacy and research have helped to position sport as a regional policy priority.

“These connections help to ensure we are working in harmony and leveraging a significant legacy across the Pacific and Oceania for sport as an enabler of sustainable development.”

April 28, 2023 /3BL Media/ – With strong shareholder votes at three of the largest U.S. banks this week supporting proxy resolutions seeking climate transition plans — and similar resolutions filed at companies in a range of industries – institutional investors have made clear they want to know how portfolio companies are meeting their climate goals and participating in the transition to a zero emissions economy.

Shareholders at Wells Fargo voted 31.1%, at Goldman Sachs 30%, and at Bank of America 28.5% this week in support of resolutions filed by As You Sow asking the banks for detailed climate transition plans on how they will align their financing activities with their 2030 emissions targets. Shareholders at JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley will vote on similar proposals in May.

A study by BlackRock shows that 75% of proposals that garnered at least 30% of votes resulted in companies taking action, while proxy advisor Glass Lewis recommends that any resolution winning 20% or more of votes should lead to engagement between investors and company boards.

Across all sectors, shareholders filed 58 resolutions seeking company climate transition plans including 30 that ask for both greenhouse gas reduction goals and transition plans for reaching them, and 28 that seek only the transition plans, according to tracking by Ceres, a sustainability nonprofit organization.

Shareholders at companies ranging from Martin Marietta Materials to Raytheon Technologies to Bloomin’ Brands to Marathon Petroleum are voting on resolutions seeking climate transition plans. At Bloomin’ Brands 42.8% of shareholders supported a proposal filed by Green Century Capital Management asking for both emissions reductions targets and a transition plan. At Canada’s TD Bank, shareholders voted 24.8% in favor of a resolution seeking emissions targets and a transition plan filed by Investors for Paris Compliance.

“The climate crisis brings huge financial risk for banks, investors, and the U.S. economy,” said Cynthia McHale, Program Director, Investor Engagement at Ceres. “Investors need banks to show them how their net zero commitments will be achieved to assure shareholders, and the public, that the bank has a financially sound path forward.”

For banks, the requests for transition plans are a new type of resolution, reflecting investors’ increasing attention to financial institutions’ role in financing high-emitting companies whose operations and supply chains are contributing to a rapidly warming planet. Ceres Ambition 2030 initiative has also brought attention to the urgency of this moment by shifting the focus to sector-wide progress in the banking sector, and other high-emitting sectors, and has called on companies to publish climate transition plans that show how they are meeting their science-based targets.

The As You Sow resolutions specifically ask the banks to include detailed measures and policies they plan to implement, the reductions to be achieved by them, and the timelines for implementation and associated emissions reductions. These proposals earned the most votes of any climate-focused proposals at the big banks thus far.

“Banks’ actions are fundamental to achieving global net zero targets,” Danielle Fugere, President of shareholder representative As You Sow, which filed the bank resolutions seeking transition plans. “Having demonstrated leadership in setting net zero 2030 targets, we now look to banks to create and publish actionable climate transition plans to ensure success.”

As the 2023 proxy season enters the second month of annual general meetings when shareholders place their votes on resolutions, investors are also seeking support for resolutions that ask companies to ensure that their climate plans include a just and equitable transition for affected workers and communities.

A resolution filed by Domini Impact Investments at BorgWarner, an automotive parts manufacturer, received 32% of shareholders’ votes this week. It asked BorgWarner to publish a report on how the company is assessing, consulting on, and addressing the impact of its climate strategies on employees, workers in its supply chains and communities in which it operates.

“What we are seeking in this proposal is an understanding of the process and strategy underway to ensure that the benefits and opportunities, as well as costs and challenges, of this transition are equitably shared. That the transition brings your workforce, communities, and suppliers along with you,” said Mary Beth Gallagher, Director of Engagement at Domini, in addressing the shareholder meeting.

Resolutions calling for reports on corporate climate lobbying are also prevalent this year. At Boeing Co., 37.2% of shareholders voted for a resolution seeking a report on how climate lobbying aligns with climate goals, filed by Seventh Generation Interfaith Coalition for Responsible Investing.

Ceres is tracking 237 climate-related shareholder resolutions filed so far this year, a near record second only to last year’s 242 climate related proposals.

Investors and companies have already reached agreement on 69 of this year’s climate-related resolutions, with companies committing to take action in exchange for the shareholders withdrawing the resolution. These agreements can result in positive outcomes, depending on the strength of the withdrawal agreement, as the goal of shareholder resolutions is to persuade companies to address the financial risks and opportunities from climate change.

See language of resolutions on Ceres’ public database of climate-related shareholder engagements here.

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: Barbara Grady, grady@ceres.org 617-247-0700 ext. 209

Companies around the world are working to reduce their impact on the earth, and many are turning to the emissions-tracking platform Energy Expert for help.

The software-as-a-service tool created by Alibaba Group’s cloud computing arm tracks greenhouse gas output and helps clients develop a path toward carbon neutrality.

Powered by AI, it empowers Alibaba and corporate clients to reduce carbon emissions, a step forward in the group’s pledge to slash 1.5 gigatons of emissions across its ecosystem by 2035.

“Energy Expert has helped us simplify the process, reduce errors, and prepare for a compliance exercise that we will be undertaking,” said Sharifah Bakar Ali, head of Strategic Business and Market Development at UEM Edgenta Berhad.

The Malaysian asset management and infrastructure company has used the tool to streamline its ESG strategies, and it plans to integrate Energy Expert into its own system.

Alizila spoke with Ali and William Xiong, Vice President of Alibaba Cloud and General Manager of Enterprise Service Cloud, to learn more.

Below is a transcript of this conversation, edited for clarity and brevity

Transcript

William Xiong: Recently, interest in carbon neutrality has increased dramatically, especially in the public sector and among enterprises.

More and more companies want to take responsibility for carbon emission reduction to contribute positively to the environment. Enterprises really adopt this as a core strategy in their global development.

But, generally speaking, there is no end-to-end system or platform that could help them to reach this optimization rapidly.

So, Alibaba Cloud provides out-of-the-box solutions, such as Carbon Vision, such as Energy Expert, to help companies save energy and manage their carbon footprint.

Sharifah Bakar Ali: UEM Edgenta Berhad is an asset management and infrastructure solutions company.

In my current role, I lead a high-power team in setting ESG strategies and sustainability initiatives for our business and our offices all around the world.

Because we are in the business of caring for assets, which includes buildings and infrastructure, we need to be mindful of our impact on the environment and what positive work we are doing to take care of the climate.

So, our road map required us to calculate our Scope 1, Scope 2 and Scope 3 emissions. But this has always been a very manual process. And so this year, we wanted to look at ways to automate it. And hence, we made the decision to use Energy Expert.

We are using the platform to count and measure our own emissions and carbon footprint. Now, using Energy Expert has helped us simplify the process, reduce errors, and prepare for a compliance exercise that we will be undertaking. And from a company ESG perspective, understanding the admission alone is just one-half of the job.

Energy Expert has helped us simplify the process, reduce errors, and prepare for a compliance exercise that we will be undertaking

– Sharifah Bakar Ali HEAD OF STRATEGIC BUSINESS & MARKET DEVELOPMENT, UEM EDGENTA

We need to have targets in place to reduce emissions. Energy Expert has got features that will allow us to do that. And so it has been very, very helpful in helping us implement our ESG strategy.

From a client’s perspective, we are going to be integrating Energy Expert into AssetTool, our own system. We’re going to go out to our clients and give them the service for them to understand what their emission footprint is and what they can do to reduce that overall footprint.

With support from a company like Alibaba, there will be a lot of knowledge sharing and creation.

And that’s something that I hope all of us here at UEM Edgenta will continue to enjoy and that many other companies out there will also experience. It is our commitment and our contribution to protecting our climate and environment.

Dig deeper into Alibaba’s sustainability efforts here

View original content here.

Please refer to https://www.alizila.com/esg/ for additional information about Alibaba’s sustainability efforts.

At Leidos, our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is inherent in our culture and demonstrated in the support of our people and communities.

Initiated in 2004 to recognize and honor the diversity surrounding us all, Celebrate Diversity Month provides an opportunity to recognize and understand our differences, be it gender, race, ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation, and more, while honoring the common essence of humanity.

As we recognize Celebrate Diversity Month this April, we reaffirm our goal to become the global leader in the development and application of technology and workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Leidos works to foster a culture that attracts a vast array of the best talent, values, diversity of experiences, and embraces different perspectives in pursuit of the innovative ideas that power our competitive advantage. This sets the expectation that inclusion is more than just what we say or do.

We achieve our goals through specific actions including a Strategic Diversity Outreach Program that partners with professional organizations and underserved communities to advance representation and retention of underrepresented groups. Our community efforts include a focus on STEM education and programs that position future generations for success. Our people form and lead Employee Resource Groups to foster a culture of inclusion and bring different voices into our workplace conversations.

We have updated our people strategy to include Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as its own pillar to ensure our commitment remains a top priority and focus for us as a company, our mission, and our values.

Achieving inclusion excellence cannot be the burden of a faithful few. We must go beyond just fostering an inclusive workplace to achieving excellence in all aspects of DEI. This is a commitment that takes all of us, treating everyone with dignity and respect, and as they wish to be treated, every day.

Cummins

Cummins Inc. President and CEO Jennifer Rumsey recently visited Spain to tour the new Accelera by Cummins electrolyzer manufacturing facility under construction there, meeting with employees as well as government and university leaders during her visit.

Electrolyzers are critical technology for producing no-carbon, green hydrogen. Green hydrogen could play a crucial role in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The action-packed day commenced in Madrid with two meetings with the Vice President of the Spanish Government and Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, and the Secretary General for Industry, Francisco Blanco, who spoke about the future of the hydrogen market, the public funding landscape, and the timeline and regulatory factors required to make that future a reality, as well as proposed future legislation to reduce on-highway emissions.

The day continued with a tour of the plant site in Guadalajara to see the progress that has been made in a relatively short amount of time. Just five months after breaking ground, the building is starting to take shape. Rumsey also met with the team working at the facility, where she said she found their energy and enthusiasm inspiring.

When making such a significant investment, it is important to work in partnership with communities, public authorities and academia. One of the main purposes for Rumsey’s visit was to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Alcalá de Henares at City Hall in Guadalajara. The University of Alcalá is close to the Accelera by Cummins manufacturing site and shares the business segment’s goal of making a positive impact on communities, people and the environment.

The MoU establishes a general framework of cooperation and coordinated action between the parties with the objective of promoting cultural, educational and training activities of common interest. How Accelera by Cummins trains the employees working at the plant is vital to the new facility’s future success.

The clean-tech jobs and related skills at the new plant will help Europe do its part to address climate change and achieve the aims of the Paris climate agreement.  They also align with Cummins’ Destination Zero product decarbonization strategy. The power of partnerships is critical to achieving Cummins’ decarbonization efforts, and that theme was very present throughout Rumsey’s trip.