Tag: 3BL

3BL is stopping in Dallas, TX to host our second Network Effect, a series of conversations tackling some of the most pressing issues facing the people and planet today. Each Network Effect is distinctive, bringing together corporate leaders and practitioners for critical dialogue that explores meaningful solutions to sustainability and social impact issues.

If you have been looking for an opportunity to expand your network and spearhead positive change alongside like-minded individuals, join us for Network Effect: Dallas at Hotel ZaZa in Dallas Uptown, TX on May 1 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. 

Register for Network Effect: Dallas at no cost here.

Hear from leading Texas brands, like Ericsson North America, Frito-Lay, Tetra Pak and Texas Capital Bank on how these businesses are approaching their sustainability strategies and why that work matters on a local and global scale.

Don’t miss candid conversations with:

Bhushan Joshi, Head of Sustainability & Corporate Responsibility, Ericsson North AmericaEffie Dennison, EVP, Head of Community Development & Corporate Responsibility, Texas Capital BankValeria Rivas, Corporate Communications & Citizenship Director, Frito-LayLarine Urbina, VP of Communications, Tetra PakMadeline Patterson, ESG Strategy Lead, BCWDave Armon, CEO, 3BL Media

Admission is free and breakfast is included.

Click here to register.

Boston Scientific Corporation (NYSE: BSX) recently released its 2022 Performance Report on the company’s work to innovate with medical devices and therapies to improve patient outcomes while also prioritizing environmental, social and governance (ESG) progress.

“At Boston Scientific, we advance science by developing new solutions that help people lead healthier lives,” said Mike Mahoney, chairman and chief executive officer, Boston Scientific. “This work involves building greater business value, as well as contributing to a healthier planet and addressing inequities in the world around us. We have much more to do, and thanks to the agility, commitment and talent of our more than 45,000 employees on our global team, we are making strong progress toward our goals.”

In 2022, the company invested more than $1.3 billion in research and development1 and helped to improve the lives of more than 33 million patients across the world. Boston Scientific further advanced diversity, equity and inclusion in its workplace and continued to make progress toward its environmental goals. A commitment to sustainable and inclusive business practices is central to the company’s work and is reinforced by an ESG scorecard that is part of the annual employee bonus program.

2022 Performance Report Highlights
The 2022 Performance Report addresses five areas of focus, including transforming care, investing in people, accelerating possibilities, protecting the environment and creating value responsibly. Boston Scientific made a measurable difference in 2022 through its business and ESG progress, including:

Became one of the first companies in its sector to have its net-zero, science-based target approved under the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) Net-Zero Standard, which will help guide the company’s path to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.Achieved 76% renewable electricity2 and remained on track for the company’s goal of carbon neutrality (scopes 1 and 2)3 in all manufacturing and key distribution sites by 2030.Delivered improved results on its aspirational diversity goals, with 42.6% of supervisor and manager roles now held by women globally, 22.6% by multicultural employees in the U.S., including Puerto Rico.Increased diversity in medical research and identified more than 121,000 women and people of color in health action plans to advance equitable care in underserved U.S. communities.Contributed 31,000+ employee volunteer hours, including science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) outreach to 70,000 students.Contributed more than $67 million in corporate donations to fund medical research, fellowships, education and charitable organizations.Expanded digital and operational capabilities while adding digitally and AI-enabled operational resiliency, cybersecurity and patient data privacy safeguards.

The Boston Scientific 2022 Performance Report was prepared with reference to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards as well as alignment with the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards for the Medical Equipment & Supplies industry and the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations.

Detailed information about the company’s ESG progress is available on the company’s Corporate responsibility website and ESG investor site.

All data as of December 31, 2022, unless otherwise specified.

About Boston Scientific 
Boston Scientific transforms lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. As a global medical technology leader for more than 40 years, we advance science for life by providing a broad range of high-performance solutions that address unmet patient needs and reduce the cost of healthcare. For more information, visit www.bostonscientific.com and connect on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact 
Media: Kate Haranis, 508-683-6585

1 Represents GAAP R&D expense per 2022 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

2 Purchased electricity matched with electricity from renewable sources, inclusive of all manufacturing and key distribution sites only.

3 Scope 1 emissions are direct emissions from owned or controlled sources. Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions from the generation of purchased energy.

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Another important result achieved regarding the involvement of suppliers in the fight against climate change: Sofidel has been included in the Leadership band of the CDP Supplier Engagement Rating Report 2022.

The A rating achieved, up from the A- rating in 2021, has put the Group on the CDP Leaderboard with the best companies in every sector worldwide. 

The CDP Supplier Engagement Rating Report assesses performance through selected questions on governance, goals and Scope 3 emissions (including all the indirect emissions produced in a company’s value chain). 

With an A rating, the best on the scale, Sofidel ranks above the Paper products & Packaging sector average (C-) and the overall European (C) and global average (C). Sofidel achieved the highest rating in the Supplier Engagement and Scope 3 emissions areas and was well above average in all others as well: Targets, Governance and Overall CDP Climate Change score. 

CDP is a nonprofit organization that supports investors, companies, cities, countries and regions worldwide in managing their environmental impact.

About The Sofidel Group    
The Sofidel Group, a privately held company owned by the Stefani and Lazzareschi families, is a world leader in the manufacture of paper for hygienic and domestic use. Founded in 1966, the Group has subsidiaries in 12 countries – Italy, Spain, the UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, Greece, Romania, and the USA – with more than 6,400 employees. A member of the UN Global Compact and the international WWF Climate Savers program, the Sofidel Group considers sustainability a strategic imperative and is committed to promoting sustainable development.  For more information, visit www.sofidel.com.         

Media Contact:     
Brianna Fitzpatrick  
Mulberry Marketing Communications  
bfitzpatrick@mulberrymc.com 

CNH Industrial brand New Holland Agriculture continues to inspire and inform others about the brand’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in agriculture.

Recently, New Holland and Bennamann were guests at “Farm of the Future: Net Zero in Practice.” It was a first-of-its-kind event, dedicated to farmers, hosted by The Royal Agricultural Society of England (RASE) and held at Harper Adams University in the UK – one of the country’s most prestigious agriculture universities.

The event promoted RASE’s 2022 “Farm of the Future” report, which explores and seeks to understand the farm-level changes needed to meet the challenge of Net Zero by 2040.

Mark Howell, Alternative Energies Global Product Manager, New Holland Agriculture, spoke to participants at the event. He explained the technologies developed at New Holland’s tractor plant in Basildon, UK, which is a Center of Excellence for Alternative Fuels.

New Holland displayed the multi-award winning T6.180 Methane Power tractor, with its recently updated Dynamic Command transmission. It is still the only methane fuelled tractor on the market. And participants had the opportunity to take it for a test drive.

New Holland and Bennamann also contributed practical insight on carbon reduction in farms, highlighting the real solutions and products already available on the market.

Mark Howell said: “Having completed my Engineering Degree at Harper Adam’s I’m personally pleased to be back here and to have the opportunity to share how New Holland is contributing to the objective of a carbon neutral future in agriculture. It’s an honour to bring the T6.180 Methane Power tractor and represent the teams who have worked on this product, which we believe is a real game-changer in the sector. Thank you to the Royal Agricultural Society of England and to Harper Adams University for this special invitation.”

Originally published on HanesBrands Newsroom

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ — HanesBrands Inc., a global leader in iconic apparel brands and sustainability, released its 2022 Sustainability Summary Report, highlighting significant accomplishments in the areas of People, Planet and Product.

“HanesBrands continues to build on our leadership position in sustainability by improving the lives of people, protecting the planet and creating more sustainable products,” said Steve Bratspies, chief executive officer, HanesBrands. “Our global associates are passionate about strengthening the communities where we live and work. I want to thank our teams around the world for their commitment to sustainability as we work together to achieve our ambitious goals.”

Highlights of Progress in 2021 & 2022

People Goal : Contribute to improving the lives of at least 10 million people through diversity and inclusion, workplace equality, health and wellness, education and community-improvement philanthropy.

Progress:

2.7 million lives impacted by HanesBrands’ philanthropic initiatives and associate and community programs8.5 million pieces of essential clothing provided to people in need50% of senior manager and above positions are held by women in the U.S

Planet Goals: Set science-based targets to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce energy and water use by 25%, move to 100% renewable electricity and take landfill waste to zero.

Progress:

30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions; have submitted emissions reduction targets through the Science-Based Target Initiative92% of waste diverted from landfillNearly 50% of the electricity we consume is from renewable sources

Product Goals: Use 100% recycled/biodegradable polyester and sustainably sourced cotton, reduce packaging weight by 25% and eliminate single-use plastics (what remains must be commonly recyclable or compostable).

Progress:

70% of cotton used is sustainably grownProjects implemented to reduce single-use plastic by 34%Projects implemented to reduce packaging weight by 11%

“We are proud of our longstanding history of ethical and responsible business practices and our ongoing commitment to ‘Do What’s Right’,” said Chris Fox, chief sustainability officer, HanesBrands. “Our commitment to sustainability goes back decades, and we look forward to continuing the hard work toward achieving our ambitious 2025 and 2030 sustainability goals.”

HanesBrands also announced the launch of its “I’m In” global associate sustainability campaign, encouraging associates to do simple things to create major change. With more than 50,000 associates around the world, the “I’m In” campaign is designed to further strengthen HanesBrands’ impact on improving the environment and fostering engagement among its internal teams to help create a more comfortable world for every body.

To learn much more about HanesBrands’ 2025 and 2030 goals and progress, visit HBISustains.com.

About HanesBrands

HanesBrands (NYSE: HBI) makes everyday apparel that is known and loved by consumers around the world for comfort, quality and value. Among the company’s iconic brands are Hanes, the leading basic apparel brand in the United States; Champion, an innovator at the intersection of lifestyle and athletic apparel; and Bonds, which is setting new standards for design and sustainability. HBI employs 51,000 associates in 32 countries and has built a strong reputation for workplace quality and ethical business practices. The company, a longtime leader in sustainability, has set aggressive 2030 goals to improve the lives of people, protect the planet and produce sustainable products. HBI is building on its unmatched strengths to unlock its #FullPotential and deliver long-term growth that benefits all of its stakeholders.

Nicole Ducouer, 336-986-7090

Source: HanesBrands

April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – As we honor Earth Day this week, three entrepreneurs from the SkysTheLimit.org community are leading the charge to reuse and minimize waste now and for future generations.

Hailing from New Jersey, England, and Georgia, these innovative founders are helping accelerate the transition to a more equitable, prosperous, and green economy for everyone, making it more accessible for each of us to invest in our planet.

They are:

Tatiana Gomez, based in Belleville, NJ, is Founder of Ceres Market, Corp. offering wholesale, refill and repair options for families to pivot into a sustainable lifestyle and support a circular and nature positive economy.

“It’s hard to buy an ethically sourced product that doesn’t come in some sort of plastic or non-recyclable packaging. The general public doesn’t have the energy to research every product or constantly purchase online for sustainable alternatives. We do all the work of sourcing and researching sustainable products so that more people can start their own zero waste journey. My goal is to be the next big Costco and open up shops across the country and hopefully the world. I’m motivated to inspire others to start their own zero waste journey on their own terms but with the right resources to make it easier for them,” said Tatiana.

Being a first-generation American of Colombian descent taught her to question and focus on the consumerist habits of the American way of life as well as the lack of regulation towards environmental conservation. In her journey as an aspiring zero-waste vegan, she found it difficult to buy ethically sourced products that were free of plastic packaging.

Read more about Tatiana here.

Brian Johnston based in Wolverhampton, England, is the Founder of iBiotech Ltd, enabling people and companies to achieve a sustainable, circular economy through the application of green biotechnological methods to create more efficient, healthy, and economical systems and outputs. With a goal of setting a new trend for other modern biotech companies, the organization only uses sustainable biomaterials and does not use any artificially modified organisms.

“We have developed a vegan bioleather material that does not need plastics. The material is biodegradable and 100% nontoxic, so when it breaks down, it doesn’t have any bad effects on the environment. And this is the unique selling point, we make this material from waste streams, so we use the waste from other industries, process it, and then we create our bioleather. In addition, our material is 100% biodegradable and uses far less water,” said Brian

Brian has a PhD in biotechnology and microbiology and several years of experience working in the sustainability sector.

Read more about Brian here.

Christina Onuoha based in Jonesboro, GA, is Founder of Vermi Waste LLC, a social enterprise that uses earthworms to transform organic waste into living soil. She created the organization to combat the global garbage crisis locally by reducing the amount of organic waste that warms the planet.

“I am an n-th generation grower. My ancestors have grown their food as far back as my family can go. My mother in particular fed me with her passion for nature and community. This love for people and the environment undergirds my efforts to engineer circular food systems in Clayton County, GA. I am most inspired by the humble earthworm, a tiny creature that transforms dead organic material into rich soil for all to grow in,” said Christina.

She has a Bachelor’s degree in engineering science and is currently working towards a Master’s degree in engineering management.

Read more about Christina here.

Sky’s the Limit offers opportunities for traditionally marginalized entrepreneurs – typically those who identify as LGBTQI+, BIPOC, women, veterans, disabled people, and people from low-income backgrounds – to connect with mentors to come together to foster, grow, and shape modern and future enterprise.

“My mentors have been my rock. When you’re getting started as a solo entrepreneur with no advisory board built out, it’s important to have a group of people that can act as a sounding board as you develop your business. I am forever grateful for those that have poured into my business and helped me get to this point the past year that I have been on the Sky’s the Limit platform,” said Tatiana.

For more information about how to get your company involved in mentoring, please visit skysthelimit.org/partnerships.

# # #

About SkysThelimit.org: SkysTheLimit.org is a digital platform that connects young, historically excluded entrepreneurs with one-on-one support from experienced business advisors and mentors, entrepreneurship training, and community-voted startup grants. SkysTheLimit.org is a 501(c)3 nonprofit. 

Originally published on GoDaddy.com

TEMPE, Ariz., April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ GoDaddy Inc. (NYSE: GDDY), the company that helps entrepreneurs thrive, today announced CEO Aman Bhutani signed the CEO Action for Diversity & InclusionTM pledge, joining a coalition of more than 2,400 CEOs across the U.S. who have committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. The news comes as the company releases both its 2022 Sustainability Report and 2022 Diversity and Pay Parity Annual Report.

The reports highlight the strides the company made on its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) commitments, including diversity representation, strategies, activities, progress, metrics and performance for 2022.

CEO Action for Diversity & InclusionTM

GoDaddy strives to create deep, lasting change and further its progress in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) by joining forces both internally and externally. That’s why in 2023, GoDaddy signed the CEO Action for Diversity & InclusionTM pledge, making it clear to GoDaddy’s employees, customers and investors how it holds itself accountable. The collective of over 2,400 signatories have already shared more than 1,900 best known actions, exchanged tangible learning opportunities and created collaborative conversations.

“As a global company, GoDaddy has the opportunity and the responsibility to play a role in accelerating diversity, equity and inclusion practices,” said GoDaddy CEO Aman Bhutani. “I am happy to sign the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge as it aligns closely with GoDaddy’s mission to build a culture that deeply values diversity and prioritizes the importance of furthering inclusive opportunities for all.”

2022 Sustainability Report

GoDaddy values continuous improvement in the priority sustainability issues that drive its sustainability strategy. In 2022, GoDaddy drove progress on its sustainability pillars – customers, employees and operations – including:

Reducing GoDaddy’s scope 1 and 2 emissions by 35% from a 2019 baseline.Providing more than 9,700 learning engagements for entrepreneurs around the world through Empower by GoDaddy.Achieving 86% employee participation in GoDaddy Voice, GoDaddy’s annual employee engagement survey.

GoDaddy’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs everywhere, making opportunity more inclusive for all. At GoDaddy, this means constantly seeking ways to further positive and widespread change that best serves the greater community. For example, in 2022 GoDaddy’s Venture Forward initiative launched the Microbusiness Data Hub to provide unprecedented access to free data on more than 20 million microbusinesses. GoDaddy also issued a position statement on climate change, highlighting the urgent need for climate action.

“GoDaddy is committed to transparent communication about our sustainability progress, and we are proud of our efforts in 2022 to advance ESG best practices,” said GoDaddy Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Michele Lau. “We hope that the programs and initiatives we implement will aid global efforts to preserve our environment and empower communities.”

2022 Diversity and Pay Parity Annual Report

As a company that publishes its representation and pay parity results yearly, GoDaddy affirms that it continues to achieve pay parity for women and underrepresented communities across its business. GoDaddy leaders understand the importance of transparency and sharing of both its successes and defined areas for improvement. By being open about where the company is today, GoDaddy invites accountability for its DEIB initiatives in the future. In 2022, GoDaddy:

Achieved gender (global) pay parity for the eighth consecutive year.Hired Kristy Lilas as the company’s dedicated vice president of diversity, inclusion and belonging.

“We value all of our employees and customers, and work to empower each of them to succeed,” said GoDaddy Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Kristy Lilas. “This can only be done by prioritizing a culture of belonging and creating equitable programs, policies and practices that sustain real change. We are proud of the progress we have made so far and are eager to continue investing deeply in our internal and external communities.”

To read GoDaddy’s 2022 Sustainability Report, visit: https://www.godaddy.com/godaddy-for-good/sustainability

To read GoDaddy’s 2022 Diversity and Pay Parity Annual Report, visit: https://careers.godaddy.com/diversity

About GoDaddy

GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online and in-person. GoDaddy’s easy-to-use tools help microbusiness owners manage everything in one place and its expert guides are available to provide assistance 24/7. To learn more about the company, visit www.GoDaddy.com.  

About CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ 

CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ is the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. Bringing together over 2,400 CEOs of America’s leading organizations, the commitment outlines actions that participating companies pledge to take to cultivate a workplace where diverse perspectives and experiences are welcomed and respected, employees feel comfortable and encouraged to discuss diversity and inclusion, and where best known—and unsuccessful—actions can be shared across organizations. Learn more at CEOAction.com and connect with us on Twitter: @CEOAction.

SOURCE GoDaddy

BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – National Grid employee volunteers kick off a range of hands-on activities for Earth Day, across the New York Metro area aimed at promoting a greener future and making an immediate and visible impact in the local communities.

Brooklyn

Thursday, April 20

NIA Brooklyn – PS 179 and PS 204 will host National Grid for the first of a series of events collectively named “Spruce Up New York.” These events will involve pencils, containing white spruce tree seeds, donated by National Grid to school age children for planting. One hundred pencils will be provided to each school and the students will write their personal pledges in support of a greener future. Volunteers from National Grid will assist students in decorating pots for the pencils containing the seeds to be planted.Transit Tech Career and Technical Education High School – National Grid employees will participate on a career panel for 75 students and provide “Spruce Up New York” seed pencils.

Friday, April 21

Partnerships for Parks, It’s My Park (IMP) collaboration to help clean up and beautify Kaiser Park in Coney Island. National Grid volunteers will help with shoreline clean up, bench painting and horticulture maintenance.

Saturday, April 22: Earth Day

NYC Parks GreenThumb Community Gardens and East New York Restoration LDC in partnership with National Grid volunteers and community volunteers will clean up and revitalize 400 Montauk Community Garden in East New York, for the garden’s annual day of service —“Sowing the Seeds of Our Future.”

Queens

The first kickoff event was held on Wednesday, April 19 in Queens at the Glendale Library Garden. In support of the Queens Public Library Foundation, National Grid volunteers assisted library staff with spring clean-up and planting in the gardens on the grounds of the Glendale Library branch to prepare the space for public use. Additionally, National Grid provided the library with 75 “Spruce Up New York” pencils for their distribution.

Staten Island

Also on Wednesday, April 19, National Grid volunteers joined with New York Restoration Project (NYRP) to help with creating raised flower beds in Skyline Playground Community Garden on Staten Island.

These volunteer events are part of National Grid’s commitment to support people and communities across New York through community engagement and neighborhood development. As with Earth Day, through the year-round work of Project C, National Grid’s employees collaborate with New Yorkers to inspire positive change, create positive neighborhood impact, strengthen communities, and make a difference for future generations.

About National Grid

National Grid (NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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

Can Social Impact programs play a critical role in Transforming the Human Condition? If so, it’s all about empathy – the preconscious reaction in our brain that arises from witnessing another’s pain. When we witness the pain of someone in our “in group”, one way to make the pain stop – their pain (and our own pain) – is to step in and help. But here’s the thing: there’s a flip side to this drive to come together. For every “in group” we react to with empathy, there are outsiders – and for these “out groups”, our brains react very differently – often times, we don’t have empathy. 

Empathy happens when we understand that we share needs, that we are all impacted by similar problems, and that our shared experiences are just as informative as our differences. Our preconscious mind will continue to inform our reactions and decision-making, but it will be shaped by our proximity to others, our ability to relate to others, and ultimately our expanded empathy. 

Transformative Volunteering creates opportunities in which equal partners have an opportunity to alert one another to new understandings about ourselves and others through mutually beneficial experiences. This is how we increase the value and impact of volunteering. Projects and activities may be helpful at times, but at their best they only solve an immediate problem. When we practice Transformative Volunteering, these experiences become a tool through which we uncover and address the root causes of societal challenges. 

If you’re a Social REV member, keep an eye out for the new Employee Course coming this April, Volunteer Leadership: The Transformative Approach to Social Impact, to take a deep dive on this topic. If you’re not yet a member, dive into this blog and consider making space for transformation in your Social Impact program.

READ THE FULL BLOG.

Abbott is joining the Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics (CLIMADE) consortium, which will use data science to predict, track and control diseases that may be amplified by climate changeA changing climate may increase the spread of both known and unknown viruses, particularly those transmitted by water or animals carrying diseasesCLIMADE’s initial work will start with disease surveillance in Africa and expand to countries often impacted by infectious disease outbreaks caused by climate change

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., April 20, 2023 /3BL Media/ – Abbott (NYSE: ABT) announced today that it is partnering with the Climate Amplified Disease and Epidemics (CLIMADE) consortium, a group of more than 100 global scientists in public health agencies, academia and industry focused on using data science technology and diagnostic testing to assess and potentially mitigate the impact climate change has on disease outbreaks.

A changing climate, such as warmer temperatures and a rise in extreme weather events like droughts and floods, has the potential to accelerate the spread of disease, which could fuel a new era of pandemics. Research has found that climate change could impact more than half of known infectious diseases, which commonly spread via water or animals carrying diseases, such as West Nile virus and malaria.1

As part of the consortium, scientists trained in infectious diseases, bioinformatics and data science will develop technologies that can aggregate environmental, weather and viral sequencing data sets to predict if conditions could cause a disease outbreak. If a potential outbreak is identified, resources and rapid surveillance testing can be sent to that location to prevent further spread.

“Imagine being able to track weather patterns to determine if rising floods may lead to a water-borne disease outbreak,” said Gavin Cloherty, Ph.D., head of infectious disease research and the Pandemic Defense Coalition in Abbott’s diagnostics business. “Abbott’s work with CLIMADE is focused on tracking and predicting events so testing and medical resources can be deployed to prevent the spread of disease – making a real impact in communities and people’s lives.”

The CLIMADE consortium will be focused on improving surveillance tools and expanding access to resources to decrease the impact of climate amplified diseases and epidemics. The global group of scientists is led by Tulio de Oliveira, Ph.D., a professor at Stellenbosch University and Director of the Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) in South Africa as well as Luiz Carlos Alcantara, Ph.D., a professor at the Fundação Osvaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) in Brazil and Edward Holmes, Ph.D., an evolutionary biologist and virologist and professor at the University of Sydney. CLIMADE members include public health agencies, like the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), that bring decades of experience in genomics surveillance and epidemic response, as well as academic organizations such as the Broad Institute, University of Washington and University of Oxford.

Abbott and its partners in the Abbott Pandemic Defense Coalition will provide viral sequencing and testing data as part of the technology being developed and can provide diagnostic testing for potential outbreaks.

“We are bringing together the best minds in the medical, scientific and public health communities to help the world create a robust surveillance system that quickly identifies pathogens and tracks their evolution and spread,” said Oliveira. “This collaboration across the private and public sectors is critical to pandemic preparedness and to our ability to go from responding to outbreaks to predicting them before they occur.”

CLIMADE’s initial work will start with disease surveillance in Africa and expand to countries around the world that are often impacted by infectious disease outbreaks.

Protecting Health in an Evolving Climate 
Safeguarding a healthy environment is a longstanding part of Abbott’s purpose to help people live fuller lives through better health. Building on our longstanding commitment to minimize our environmental footprint and protect precious resources, we’re also focused on taking action to protect people’s health in the face of climate change. At Abbott, our work focuses in two areas: tracking and finding solutions for emerging health threats and preparing frontline systems and communities. Across our business and in collaboration with others, we’ll work to identify and address emerging health issues, strengthen underlying health systems and help build more resilient communities in a warming world. For more information, visit abbott.com/sustainability.

About Abbott 
Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.

About CERI 
The Centre for Epidemic Response and Innovation (CERI) is an academic and research entity located within the School for Data Science and Computational Thinking in the Faculty of Science at Stellenbosch University and the laboratories are situated at the state-of-the art facilities at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences based at the Tygerberg Medical Campus. CERI’s goal is to strengthen Africa’s capacity to quickly identify and control its own epidemics and pandemics before they become a global problem.

Connect with us at www.ceri.org.za and on Twitter @ceri_news

References:

1. Mora, Camiloet al. Nature Climate Change 8 Aug 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-022-01426-1