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In September, Expedia Group proudly hosted its 2nd annual Inclusion Business Group (IBG) Summit, bringing together our IBG global leaders from across the globe for two dynamic days in our Austin office. The summit was a powerful opportunity for IBG leaders to collaborate on strategic initiatives, strengthen networks, and enhance their professional development. This year’s theme focused on driving inclusion and belonging across our organization and creating a lasting impact through actionable outcomes that connect to the business.

Inclusion Business Groups (IBGs) are strategic, self-organized, and sponsored by the Inclusion & Diversity team. They focus on advancing inclusion, awareness, development, and a sense of belonging for underrepresented identities at Expedia Group. IBGs are vital to our business as they foster a diverse and inclusive work environment, providing employees a platform to connect, share experiences, and support one another, thereby enhancing workplace culture and employee engagement.

The goals of the 2024 IBG Summit were to increase strategic alignment between inclusion and diversity goals, IBG goals and the business; increase sentiments of belonging and awareness onsite for Austin; and empower IBG board members to exemplify leadership qualities while championing inclusive practices. This 2-day summit consisted of over 15 sessions including an “Ask Me Anything” discussion with our Chief People Office, Christine Deputy and a panel featuring our IBG Executive Sponsors.

Below, read reflections from some of our attendees and organizers who shared their sentiments on the experience.

“At this year’s summit, we made an impact by developing as well as empowering our IBGs as leaders who are integral to our mission, fostering a community that truly reflects the diversity of the travelers we serve, and sharing the authentic well-traveled stories of our communities to amplify our commitment to an inclusive travel ecosystem. Sentiments of belonging for summit attendees went up by 100%. 

So how do I try to sum up in one word the months of preparation and planning for the second IBG Summit at Expedia Group? One word comes to mind: unforgettable. Executing this summit was a true honor and shows what we can accomplish when our teams as well as stakeholders come together to rally behind our EG value to include consciously.”

Guishard Revan, Global Senior Manager, Inclusion and Diversity

“Gandhi said “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” 

Last week was a true testament to this life philosophy. Expedia Group hosted our 2nd annual IBG Summit in Austin. I was honored to attend as Global Partnerships Chair of our Latinx at Expedia & Allies for Development (LEAD) IBG. Joining over 70 EG leaders from around the world, including the rest of the LEAD Board was truly an amazing experience to witness. 
IBGs or also known as Employee Resource Groups are at the cornerstone of building an inclusive workplace. Employees must feel safe, supported, and empowered, and we are committed to doing this at Expedia Group.”

Melissa Cano, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

“I am feeling extremely grateful to have spent this week with our amazing IBG board members, advocating, brainstorming, and advancing our impactful work in the inclusion and diversity space at Expedia Group. Being part of this group has been one of the most fulfilling experiences. 

Expedia Group has IBGs focused on giving underrepresented groups—such as our Asian community, those with disabilities, our Black community, our Latinx community, our Indigenous community, our queer community, veterans, and women—a voice in the company and a seat at the table. There are many reasons why diverse teams excel, and EG is a true testament to that.”

Brandon Robbers, Business Development Manager

“We dedicate our time to not only advancing our workplace goals and commitment to inclusion but also our commitment as a brand to break down barriers to travel. Travel is a force for good and everyone should be able to access that opportunity. In a world that is so divisive and so challenging for many, coming together with this group gives me hope.”

Mubaraka Malbari, Senior Manager, Marketing

“IBGs open a world of opportunities for our employees. In addition to their day jobs, active members get to stretch some muscles that they normally wouldn’t be able to. Development opportunities, increased sense of belonging and community building all lie at the heart of these intersectional communities. The impact of these groups on their members goes beyond boosting their engagement. IBGs truly represent an opportunity to influence the business from all divisions, levels and geographies. This Summit is a testament to the above and those who tried once say there’s nothing quite like it.”

Francisco Gallego, Global I&D Manager, Inclusion and Diversity

As we wrapped up the IBG Summit, it’s important to remember that the work doesn’t end here. This summit has been a catalyst for driving real change, but to maintain momentum, we must continue to champion inclusion and diversity in every facet of Expedia Group. Our commitment goes beyond the conversations we’ve had — it’s about turning ideas into action. Together, we’ll take the insights, strategies, and partnerships developed at the summit, and use them to create measurable impact throughout the year and beyond.

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In an initiative that combines inspiration with science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), participants of She Is an Astronaut recently embarked on an exciting visit to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Space Center in Houston, Texas.

Organized by the She Is Foundation in collaboration with SLB, a global energy technology company, this program empowers young women with the opportunity to learn about space science, engage with industry professionals, and envision themselves as future leaders in STEM.

A total of 24 girls from Colombia, Ecuador and Peru are taking part in the program. Ranging from 11 to 16 years old, these young women from diverse backgrounds engaged in virtual and in-person STEM learning over several months. The program culminated in a week-long experience in Houston, which included going to the NASA Space Center as well as a visit to the SLB technology center to explore cutting-edge technologies first-hand.

“At SLB, we believe in the transformative power of education and inspiring diverse young people through STEM,” notes Carlos Sarmiento, director, Culture, Diversity and Inclusion. “At the end of the program, the young women will develop a project to positively impact their communities and inspire other young people about STEM vocations.”

The participants toured the NASA facility, where they enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at mission control rooms and astronaut training areas, and were impressed by the range of collaborative research projects run in conjunction with NASA’s many international and domestic partners.

“One of the participants said that since she was a little girl, her dream has been to become an engineer and one day visit NASA,” says Ruth Zambrano, managing director, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, SLB. “For these young women, their trip is the culmination of four months of hard work. We’re delighted to support them to learn and grow in their STEM journey.”

By the end of the visit, the participants gained an in-depth understanding about STEM as well as an understanding about the power of diversity and collaboration. The She Is an Astronaut program opens doors, inspiring young women to become innovators, scientists and engineers. Their trip was more than just a visit to NASA; it’s a launchpad for their dreams.

Learn more about the She Is an Astronaut program here and about SLB educational initiatives in the company’s sustainability report.

As awareness of climate change grows, so does the responsibility of organizations to minimize their environmental impact. Events, from corporate meetings to large-scale conferences, can have a significant carbon footprint if not managed with sustainability in mind. As sustainability becomes a more pressing concern, organizations are increasingly looking for ways to make their events carbon neutral. With that in mind, we put together a comprehensive checklist to help you achieve a carbon neutral event. Whether you’re an experienced event planner, a sustainability professional, or simply someone looking to make a positive impact, this 6-step carbon neutral event checklist will help you minimize your event’s environmental impact while still delivering an unforgettable experience.

Benefits of Hosting a Carbon Neutral Event

A carbon neutral event is one where the total carbon emissions produced are neutralized either by verifiable carbon offsets, or by investing in environmental projects that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This can include renewable energy projects and waste reduction initiatives. There are multiple benefits to hosting a carbon neutral event and key amongst them include:

Environmental Impact: Reduce your ecological footprint and contribute to global sustainability efforts.Brand Image: Enhance your brand’s reputation by showing commitment to environmental responsibility.Cost Savings: Energy-efficient practices often lead to long-term cost reductions.Customer Satisfaction: 80% of consumers consider a company’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact when making purchasing decisions.

How to Plan a Carbon Neutral Event

1. Choose a Venue that Aligns with Your Goals

Select a venue that aligns with your sustainability goals as your first step.

Location: Look for venues that prioritize sustainability. For example, a venue that only uses energy-efficient lighting, heating, and cooling systems and has a zero waste catering policy.Accessibility: Choose locations that are easily accessible by public transportation. A central location reduces the need for long-distance travel, automatically lowering your event’s carbon footprint.Energy Use: Coordinate with the venue to ensure that lighting, heating, and cooling are managed efficiently during the event. Look for venues powered by LED lighting, renewable energy or those that offer carbon offset programs for their energy consumption. You could also consider outdoor venues to take advantage of natural lighting and ventilation.

2. Opt for Eco-Friendly Catering

Food production and waste can significantly impact your event’s carbon footprint. Choose catering options that minimize environmental impact.

Local & Seasonal: Choose caterers who prioritize local and seasonal produce, reducing the carbon footprint associated with food transportation.Mindful Menus: Offer plant-based and vegetarian menu options as these typically have a lower carbon footprint compared to meat-based dishes. Be mindful when selecting carnivorous options for your menu. For example, red meat will typically have a significantly higher footprint than fish or chicken.Waste Management: Use reusable or biodegradable cutlery, plates, and cups. You can also ensure that all leftover food is either composted or donated to local shelters.

3. Promote Sustainable Transportation

Travel to-and-from often represents the largest carbon footprint of any event. Encourage eco-friendly transportation options for your attendees in order to reduce the event’s related scope-3 travel emissions.

Ground Transportation: Arrange ground transportation, like buses or shuttles, to reduce the number of individual car trips to your event. If it makes sense, you can also promote the use of public transportation, carpooling, and cycling.Offset Travel: For unavoidable travel, offset travel emissions by investing in high-quality and credible carbon offset projects. Encourage participants to do the same.Virtual Options: Consider offering a virtual attendance component to reduce the need for travel with a hybrid event.

4. Implement Waste Reduction Strategies

Aim for a zero-waste event (or close to it) by implementing a robust waste management plan focused on reducing, reusing, and recycling.

Go Digital: Cut down on paper waste by going paperless. Use digital alternatives, like a QR code, to distribute information such as invitations, tickets, and promotional materials. If printed materials are necessary, use recycled paper and eco-friendly ink.Signage & Decorations: Invest in reusable signage, decor, and decorations that can be updated and used for future events.Recycling Stations: Set up clearly marked recycling stations throughout the venue to encourage proper waste disposal.

5. Measure & Offset the Event’s Emissions

You can’t manage what you don’t measure. Calculating the total carbon emissions of your event throughout the planning process will give you a clear understanding of the areas where you can make improvements.

Measure Emissions: Measure the total carbon footprint of your event by considering the various factors like energy use, transportation, catering, and more.Eliminate Manual Calculations: Consider using a software tool, like Climate Vault’s Event Emissions Calculator, to alleviate the burden of manual data collection, measurement, management, and analysis and minimize human-error in your calculations.Offset Programs: Once you have your final emissions measurement, invest in verified carbon offset programs to neutralize the emissions. Look for high-quality solutions that align with your organization’s values and will provide the promised environmental impact in a verifiable method.

6. Engage Attendees

Engaging your attendees with your carbon-neutral goals not only raises awareness but also encourages them to get involved

Education: Provide information to attendees on how they can contribute to your carbon-neutral event goals via pre-event communications or on-site materials. Also consider hosting a sustainability workshop or a panel discussion as part of the event agenda.Incentives: Offer incentives for participants who carpool, bring reusable water bottles, or take other sustainable actions. Use your event to highlight sustainable practices they can adopt in their everyday life.Promote Your Efforts: Use social media and other key event communication channels to share your sustainability initiatives.Feedback Loop: Collect feedback from attendees and stakeholders regarding your sustainability efforts.

Communicate Your Commitment

Both during and after the event, share your sustainability efforts and achievements with your audience. Transparency is key—let them know how much carbon was offset and the impact of their participation, if applicable. This not only builds trust but also demonstrates the actions your organization is taking to make the world a better place. More than ever, organizational responsibility matters as the public increasingly values carbon neutrality and other climate-conscious actions from the brands they purchase from and engage with.

Achieving a carbon neutral event requires careful planning and dedication, but the benefits are well worth the effort. By following our checklist, organizations can significantly reduce the environmental impact of their events, enhance their brand image, and attract eco-conscious attendees. Every decision made during the planning process, from choosing a sustainable venue to minimizing waste, can contribute to a healthier, more sustainable world.

Climate Vault’s Event Emissions Calculator makes it simple to measure, reduce, and remove the carbon impact of your events—no matter the size. Get started calculating the footprint of your first event for free.

Originally published in Jazz Pharmaceuticals’ 2023 Corporate Sustainability and Social Impact Report

PROMOTING HEALTH AND WELLBEING

We have a strong commitment to provide a culture of care to our employees through a holistic approach focused on our employees’ financial, physical, mental and emotional health and well-being. Our benefits and well-being offerings are designed to support our employees across each of these aspects, empowering them to choose the benefits that suit and benefit their personal well-being. We have a company-wide campaign called “Wellness Wednesdays” that is aimed at promoting well-being for all employees and we host both on-site and virtual opportunities for employees, to improve their health and wellbeing, including everything from in-office massage services to mental health related e-learning resources.

FINANCIAL WELLBEING

In addition to offering competitive base salaries, our compensation programs and practices are designed to support the financial well-being of our employees in multiple ways, including:

Cash Bonus Incentive Plans: All regular employees are eligible to participate in an annual global corporate bonus plan or a sales incentive plan, which rewards employees based on the company’s achievement of pre-established annual goals (or sales targets in the case of sales incentive plans), as well as performance against their personal objectives.Employee Equity Incentive Plans (EIP): All regular employees are eligible to receive equity incentive awards under the terms of our global EIP program, which fosters an ownership culture and provides employees with the opportunity to share in the long-term success they help create.Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP): In 2023, Jazz updated its ESPP program to apply globally to eligible employees, providing them with the ability to purchase Jazz stock at a discounted rate.Equity Retirement Program: We provide eligible employees who retire from Jazz with continued vesting of a portion of their unvested equity awards to help support and enhance their financial well-being into retirement.

PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

Our well-being offerings are designed to be inclusive and promote choice for our employees to use these benefits in the way that best suits their lifestyle.

We offer access to the Lyra Employee Assistance Program to all employees with a strong emphasis on health and well-being, including up to 25 face-to-face therapy/coaching sessions a year for our employees and their families.In 2023, we introduced a Wellbeing Reimbursement Account, which reimburses employees for a wide array of expenses that support their overall well-being, empowering them to choose what is most important to them. To date, over 81% of our eligible employees have claimed reimbursement for well-being expenses.

Over 81% of our eligible employees have claimed reimbursement for well-being expenses

We run a wide variety of individual, team and global corporate wellness challenges, engaging employees to actively participate in global well-being events.Our paid leave and time-off policies assist our employees through varying stages of life, often above and beyond what is mandated by local regulations, including for new parents (irrespective of gender or how their family is created) and family caregivers, as well as for bereavement and employee medical leave.Our flexible approach to work through Jazz Remix provides our employees with the ability to better balance and manage both work and home needs.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

We continue to ensure proper workplace design with appropriate control measures implemented, such as personal protective equipment, contractor environmental, health and safety induction and compliance with relevant national and international health and safety standards, which help us create and sustain a safe workplace.

Our manufacturing and operations sites each have specific Environmental, Health, Safety and Security (EHSS) management systems, which apply to all employees and other persons (such as contractors) who may be affected by our activities. We track our health and safety key performance indicators monthly via cloud-based EHSS software.

Our manufacturing operations have Health and Safety Systems that are designed to fully comply with the requirements of the European Union Framework Directive for Health and Safety and to meet the requirements of section 6.4.6 of ISO 26000 (Labour Practices – Health and Safety at Work).

Offering Flexibility and Balance

We believe a flexible approach to balancing work and life benefits our employees and the company. In May 2022, we introduced Jazz Remix, which provides most employees with the flexibility to perform more individually oriented work from home and create their optimum routine to manage home and work commitments. Teams are empowered to meet periodically as needs require for collaboration and connection, and we leverage our office sites for in-person engagement. The power of flexibility builds a mutual trust and respect in all that we do.

Remote working is available for all employees where on-site presence is not essential to their role, which includes local and regional nuances to support flexible working in the way that is most appropriate for the local context. We are committed to a flexible working model that allows people to work from the location that best suits them, but also value the importance of meeting in person. To secure the benefits of remote working while recognizing the importance of in-person engagement, sites periodically hold connection events to offer in-person gathering opportunities. These connection events provide an opportunity for our employees to connect with leaders and their colleagues and engage in business updates and local activities to improve wellbeing. At the end of 2023, 85% of full-time employees used the flexibility offered by Jazz Remix to work from home or off-site. In July 2023, we ran a survey to assess the impacts of Jazz Remix a year from its introduction. The results provided insights into the positive impacts of the Jazz Remix model.

Since introducing Jazz Remix, our employee voluntary attrition rate has declined from 13% to 7% at the end of 2023. Based on feedback gathered from employee surveys and other sources, we believe this improvement is largely a result of the benefits of our flexible work model. We have seen an 11% increase in talent applying for roles at Jazz, with a particular increase in those applying for remote working roles, despite an overall lower number of vacancies, underscoring the role of Jazz Remix in supporting the attraction of high- performance talent.

JAZZ REMIX EMPLOYEE SURVEY RESULTS – PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES WHO RESPONDED FAVORABLY

79% My overall level of satisfaction of working at Jazz has improved as a result of Remix

78% Remix has improved the trust and empowerment to get work done in ways that meet my personal needs and those of the team/business

78% My overall sense of happiness has improved as a result of the way Jazz enables me to work

Results reference the Jazz Remix Employee Survey conducted in July 2023

Learn more about Jazz Pharmaceuticals commitment to progress, responsibility and innovation in its 2023 Corporate Sustainability and Social Impact Report

Originally published on Insights by Black & Veatch

Impacts from severe climate events are affecting utilities in all the regions of our country. While the geographical impacts vary from fire to snow, hurricanes and tornadoes, the threats remain the same in the form of outages, damaged infrastructure and widespread disruption. For this reason, large investments are required, but a one-size-fits-all approach to resiliency doesn’t work due to the regional diversity of threats.

Energy utilities from regions where lower risks were reported aren’t necessarily better prepared for those risks; they just have alternative threats to consider. With climate modeling data growing in accuracy, the storm readiness and response teams of energy utilities can be a lot more strategic and effective in their tailored approach to the specific region.

According to responses from nearly 700 U.S. electric sector stakeholders for Black & Veatch’s 2024 Electric Report, cold/ice (66 percent), high wind (62 percent) and heat (49 percent) are the most common threats to system operations, and these concerns vary significantly by region. For example, wildfire is the biggest concern in the West (68 percent) while it’s a lesser concern in the Midwest (20 percent) (Figure 14).

Despite these obstacles, recovery times are being optimized, and those surveyed reported that their specific utility’s recovery time has improved from previous years — with 48 percent saying it’s taking less time to recover from severe weather events (and just 13 percent saying it’s taking more time).

This may be attributed to utilities developing more robust response plans, mutual assistance programs, system automation and improved infrastructure. Utilities also are implementing ways to isolate and address issues before the entire system is affected. Additionally, we’re seeing the positive effects of resiliency investments in grid infrastructure a few years after the U.S. government’s Infrastructure Investment and Grid Resiliency and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program was established.

Disaster Planning Gains Momentum

Most utilities reported they are prioritizing disaster planning, regardless of regulatory requirements. Thirty-seven percent of respondents say they are motivated by regulatory requirements, while 41 percent said they would be developing disaster plans even if it wasn’t regulated.

Only 12 percent responded that resiliency is “probably not” or “definitely not” being given more consideration regarding their investment decisions (Figure 15).

With almost eight in 10 respondents incorporating disaster planning, it’s clear that utilities are taking a proactive approach and making progress in their resiliency efforts. But are utilities effectively using data to inform further investments?

Affordability Still a Major Hurdle

Survey data revealed that the biggest hurdles to climate event mitigation include affordability (55 percent), regulatory scrutiny and rate case approval (38 percent), and difficulty in accurately modeling future events and impact (33 percent). The severity of these top three obstacles increased significantly from 2023 to 2024; conflicting priorities and internal buy-in also became a bigger problem in 2024 (29 percent, up from 22 percent) (Figure 16).

The top two hurdles — affordability and rate case approval — go hand in hand, and the sheer magnitude of investments needed is creating affordability challenges nationwide. Conversations with energy utility clients also have highlighted that more attention is necessary to unlock the power of data analytics for accurate climate modeling.

Infrastructure Investments Needed. But Where?

Despite great progress fueled by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), industry data shows that there’s still investment needed for our nation’s grid infrastructure to achieve optimal resiliency and reliability. And despite widespread funding and investment, utilities still face affordability and regulatory roadblocks.

Could climate modeling and improved data analytics related to climate-based events and their direct impacts on infrastructure trigger approvals for necessary investments?

Although modeling technology has come a long way, severe weather events remain unpredictable and can, at times, feel like a guessing game, leaving energy utilities wondering where to invest.

Engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) companies such as Black & Veatch are performing studies for major energy providers that include financial models and stakeholder communications that effectively inform how to appropriately set aside money for repairs and optimizations.

Extreme weather events are increasingly frequent and — combined with large-scale energy transition — create a complex environment that requires significant investments across the electric utility sector. Utilities that are proactive in leveraging climate and risk analytics to develop data-driven strategies position themselves best for navigating the unpredictability in weather and regulations.

Download the Black & Veatch 2024 Electric Report

Published by Las Vegas Sands on September 19, 2024

Marina Bay Sands held its 10th Sands for Singapore Charity Festival Aug. 23-25 and raised more than $3.5 million for local nonprofit organizations, bringing the total amount generated by the festival to nearly $30 million since its inception in 2013.

The cornerstone of the resort’s community engagement program and one of its signature annual events, the charity festival featured multiple days of activities, live entertainment and events, all to benefit local charitable causes under the theme: Where Hearts Come Together.

A key annual highlight of the Sands for Singapore Charity Festival is the annual Community Chest Heartstrings Walk and Vertical Marathon in which participants ascend 57 stories up to the Sands SkyPark. Co-organized by Marina Bay Sands and Community Chest, the event benefited more than 30 programs supported by Community Chest.

The charity festival again featured the Giving Marketplace, where nonprofit organizations and small businesses raised funds and promoted their causes in 16 booths that offered handcrafted products, baked goods and lifestyle products made by beneficiaries from local nonprofit and charitable organizations.

New features added this year in celebration of the festival’s 10th edition included the return of the ice cream pop-up Scoops of Hope from August 16-25. Marina Bay Sands’ executive pastry chef Hoi Kuok I offered locally inspired flavors, and all proceeds benefited Metta Café and its mission to provide food and beverage vocational training programs for graduates with intellectual disabilities.

Marina Bay Sands also introduced Heartwork: Upcycling for Good, in which visitors could make a small donation and turn plastic bottle caps into heart-shaped coasters and keychains. More than 35,000 bottle caps were upcycled, and funds benefited the Asian Women’s Welfare Association for its transitional shelters program, which provides displaced families with temporary housing.

Encompassing all activities, the festival capped 10 weeks of community events and innovative fundraising efforts. More than 4,000 Marina Bay Sands Team Members participated in over 20 volunteer activations and contributed more than 6,600 volunteer hours, bringing the total number of Team Member volunteer hours to more than 110,000 since the resort’s opening.

Volunteer service in the weeks leading up to the 2024 Sands for Singapore Charity Festival included supporting the Asian Women’s Welfare Association, one of Singapore’s largest multi-service social service agencies, by enhancing the living conditions in its temporary shelters. Team Members also organized a National Day celebration for residents at Moral Home for the Aged Sick, including music, engaging activities and a cake to enjoy.

In July, Team Members volunteered to support beneficiaries from three local Singapore Red Cross programs, including the Day Activity Centre for the Disabled, ElderAid and Red Cross Home for the Disabled. Team Members were paired with beneficiaries to paint art canvases, and the completed canvases were joined together to form a bigger art piece, which was displayed during the 9th Singapore Humanitarian Conference by the Singapore Red Cross.

“We recognize the collective impact we can make when we come together as a community,” Paul Town, chief operating officer at Marina Bay Sands, said. “This year’s Sands for Singapore Charity Festival marked a decade of contributions, and it is heartening to see how far we have come since its early days. The festival is testament to the power and strength of unity, when we band together to create lasting impact in the community.”

The annual Sands for Singapore Charity Festival is part of the global Sands Cares community engagement program, which provides charitable investments, capacity-building initiatives and volunteer support to ensure Sands’ regions remain great places to live, work and visit.

To learn more about the variety of community endeavors spearheaded by Sands Cares, read the company’s latest ESG report: https://www.sands.com/resources/reports/.

In this Q&A, Ross Pamphilon and Mark Duffy of Impax Asset Management explore the nuances of the asset class of Impact Bonds and how rigor and expertise can help investors navigate an expanding opportunity set. 

Executive Summary

We believe it is worth taking a nuanced view of impact bonds, considering both non-labelled and labelled green, social and sustainability bonds.Thorough issuer-specific research helps us to understand the environmental and social merits of each bond, assess the impact of financed projects, and maintain flexibility in labelling sustainable securitizations.Within a portfolio, impact bonds can offer stability, transparency, and diversification alongside attractive risk-adjusted returns.

Over the last 25 years of investing in impact bonds, we have learned the value of looking beyond labeled green, social and sustainability (GSS) bonds. By broadening the definition of impact bonds, investors can access a wider range of opportunities to generate positive environmental and social outcomes while pursuing attractive risk-adjusted returns. However, navigating this market requires a nuanced understanding of innovative security structures, evolving standards and project-level impact assessment.

In this Q&A, we’ll look at how to define the asset class and explain why we look ‘off-label’, how the global impact bond market has grown, whether impact bonds involve higher credit risks, and the role these instruments can play in an investment portfolio.

Find their useful answers to a variety of questions here – https://greenmoney.com/lifting-the-lid-on-impact-bonds-5-questions-for-investors/

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Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) presented its 2024 Courage to Care Award to AEG at the hospital’s gala hosted at L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles, CA on October 5, 2024. The biennial gala pays tribute to its brave patients and remarkable physicians, researchers and caregivers who create hope and build healthier futures for children.

The Courage to Care Award is presented to individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to children, pediatric-related causes and humanitarian efforts at CHLA and beyond.

As longtime supporters of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, AEG has helped the hospital fulfill its mission to create hope and build healthier futures for children. Through the organization’s exceptional contributions and partnerships with the Los Angeles Galaxy and the Los Angeles Kings, among others, AEG has invested in critical programs and services, such as the Blood Donor Center, the Sports Medicine Program, pediatric neurosurgery research and the Children’s Fund, which supports the hospital’s greatest needs.

BELLEVUE, Wash., October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) has activated its emergency operations and preparedness plan as Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, mobilizing its emergency teams to help keep customers, communities, first responders and others connected. In summary:

T-Mobile’s network has been hardened to withstand anticipated extreme weather conditions along Milton’s projected path and the company’s experienced emergency response teams are preparing portable generators and heavy-duty network equipment to provide support when and where needed.T-Mobile’s emergency response team is actively working with federal and state public safety agencies as well as Florida’s State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee to identify early prioritization needs immediately following the storm.To keep employees safe, T-Mobile has temporarily closed stores, a Customer Experience Center and a T-Mobile for Business Virtual Business Center, all of which are located in Milton’s path. Customer calls will be rerouted to other locations. The company’s community support team is on standby to deploy relief supplies as conditions allow.T-Mobile and Starlink asked for and received a second Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to operate our T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service over Hurricane Milton’s projected path. Wireless emergency alerts and SMS, including the ability to text 911, are now enabled in Florida as well as the areas previously impacted by Hurricane Helene.T-Mobile also stands ready to support cross-carrier roaming requests from other wireless providers as needed.

Network Modernization, Technology and Hardening

T-Mobile continues to make investments in its network nationwide to prepare for the unpredictable and challenging nature of extreme weather. This includes tapping into the capabilities of AI and data to help support real-time response and faster recovery. An experienced T-Mobile team who has deep familiarity with the challenges associated with massive storms like Milton is at the ready in Florida and knows what it takes to quickly recover network impacts. The team has taken steps to harden its network, using extensive analysis of historical data, customer density and meteorologist experts to proactively strengthen the network’s infrastructure to help reduce interruptions. This includes adding overlapping coverage, installing back up power sources to towers and key network sites, building redundant backhaul routes for cell sites and core network, and performing ongoing inspection and maintenance of all facilities.

T-Mobile’s network modernization employs innovative technologies that aim to improve resilience, including:

Cognitive Self-Organizing Network (SON): A “smart” network that automatically assesses, manages and optimizes performance during disasters, redistributing resources across the network and “healing” coverage gaps by adjusting nearby towers.24/7 Automatic Coverage Optimization: Continuously re-configuring antenna patterns to optimize signal and expanding coverage area during service interruptions – over 100,000 tilts took place throughout Hurricane Helene.Guided Digital Antenna Tilting: Allows engineers to remotely fine-tune coverage, boosting signal for critical areas such as rescue operations, Incident Command Centers, shelters, reunification centers and hospitals.Automated Parameter Changes: AI enabled real-time network performance monitoring to adjust site parameters to avoid congestion and increase data performance and connectivity.Spectrum Layer Management: Automatically optimize power level on multi-band 5G network during commercial power outages to extend backup generators and batteries runtime.Network Hardening: Proactively strengthens network infrastructure to reduce interruptions using extensive analysis of historical data, customer density and meteorologist experts. This includes adding overlapping coverage, installing back up power sources to towers and key network sites, building redundant backhaul routes for fiber, satellite or microwave, and performing ongoing inspection and maintenance of all facilities.

This multi-faceted approach helped keep a vast majority of customers connected in the midst of Hurricane Helene recovery: approximately 10% of T-Mobile customers in the path experienced coverage loss in the first 24 hours following the storm even though 30% of T-Mobile’s network sites were impacted. Within 72 hours, less than 1% of customers remained affected, primarily due to power outages and other challenging and unsafe conditions.

Equipment Ready to Deploy

T-Mobile’s emergency management team, local teams and National Operations Centers are working together to monitor the network around the clock. Local network and market teams and field technicians use knowledge of the area to provide critical understanding of potential impact and implement real-time mitigation strategies. The teams are also pre-staging a fleet of equipment and relief supplies at our emergency response facilities in Live Oak, Florida and Plant City, Florida along with our Everglades Mobile Switching Office in Sunrise, Florida for rapid deployment and activation as conditions safely allow that will provide critical network connectivity, power and Wi-Fi for first responders, disaster organizations and communities at locations such as fire and police departments, incident command posts, shelters reunification centers, hospitals, local government facilities, stores providing community support and much more.

T-Mobile’s fleet includes:

Mobile Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs): Large RVs with network management and monitoring equipmentSatCOLTs and SatCOWs: Satellite cell-on-light-trucks and satellite cell-on-wheels that teams can drive to impacted areas to temporarily restore or boost service.Heavy Duty Wi-Fi and Charging Vehicles: A fleet of trucks and towable trailers equipped with 80 charging ports that can be quickly deployed to provide Wi-Fi and device charging to anyone who needs it, even if they aren’t a T-Mobile customer.Quick-deploy and Portable VSATs: Satellite dishes called “Very Small Aperture Terminals” that can provide a layer of coverage across broad areas and quickly provide temporary wireless service to send and receive data from T-Mobile’s network.Microwave Solutions: Network technology that offers high throughput and low latency for better data usage.Portable Generators: Portable power solutions that can be quickly set up to power sites and help customers.Search and Rescue and Heavy-Duty Drones: Search-and-rescue (SAR) drones are equipped with infrared and thermal imaging cameras used to find people and objects. Heavy Lift Drones can fly for up to an hour, cover up to 60 miles and carry up to 50 pounds to provide imaging, deliver supplies or illuminate an operation.

Late last week the teams at T-Mobile and Starlink asked for and received Special Temporary Authority (STA) from the FCC to operate our T-Mobile Starlink Direct-to-Cellular service over parts of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Helene. T-Mobile and Starlink have once again asked for and received STA from the FCC to do the same for areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Milton. In these areas, Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are on and the teams have enabled basic texting (SMS), including the ability to text 911. While SpaceX’s direct-to-cell constellation has not been fully deployed, this early test version could provide vital support as teams work to get infrastructure and services back online and help first responders with rescue efforts.

T-Mobile also stands ready to support cross-carrier roaming requests from other wireless providers as part of the FCC’s Mandatory Disaster Response Initiative to help ensure that emergency roaming is available.

Public Safety and First Responders

T-Mobile for Government is coordinating with federal, state and local authorities including first responder agencies and the Florida State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) in Tallahassee to identify high-impact priorities for coverage restoration. The team is already preparing to deploy to support requests from first responders for additional network coverage and capacity once conditions safely allow.

First responders, emergency officials and other eligible critical infrastructure customers can register for Wireless Priority Service (WPS) to get priority access and preemption on T-Mobile’s network at no cost. When seconds matter during times of emergency or network congestion, WPS moves critical communications to the front of the line. Agencies needing communications assistance can also reach out to T-Mobile’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 888-639-0020 or email at ERTRequests@T-Mobile.com.

Employees, Retail Stores, and Community Support

T-Mobile has connected with all potentially impacted employees and will continue to support them as needed. With their safety in mind, the company has decided to temporarily close all retail stores that are located within Milton’s projected impact area, as well as a Customer Experience Center and T-Mobile for Business Virtual Business Center. Customer contacts will be re-routed to other locations. Future updates on local store operations and hours will be available at the company’s store locator. When it is safe to deploy, T-Mobile teams will roll relief support trucks full of charging supplies, including cables and battery packs, into communities where they are needed most. Locations may shift daily and are posted at https://www.t-mobile.com/news/emergency-response.

More Information

For more information on T-Mobile’s emergency response efforts and for tips to stay connected visit: https://www.t-mobile.com/news/emergency-response. Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news.

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About T-Mobile 
T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com 

Media Contact 
T-Mobile US, Inc. Media Relations 
MediaRelations@t-mobile.com

Investor Relations Contact 
T-Mobile US, Inc. 
Investor.Relations@t-mobile.com 
https://investor.t-mobile.com 

Read the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here

Wesco Cares

Corporate giving and employee volunteerism are a part of the vibrant Wesco experience. Employees are actively engaged in local communities through fundraising, volunteering, contributing products and performing advocacy to address local needs. Many of these initiatives include strategic partnerships with global organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Red Cross.

In 2022, we launched Wesco Cares, our new corporate philanthropy program focused on affordable housing and humanitarian aid. In 2023, we also added STEM education (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) as a focus for the program. In 2022, June 22 became an annual day of caring for Wesco employees globally, a day on which employees are encouraged to volunteer in their communities.

Three key areas of focus for Wesco Cares are Humanitarian Aid, Affordable Housing and STEM/STEAM.

Contributions from 2023 include:

More than $671,050 in donations toward our partnership with Habitat for Humanity to sponsor builds toward our 100 builds goal.A combined $241,720 to the American Red Cross to support relief for the earthquakes in Türkiye/Syria/ Morocco, the Hawaii Wildfires, and conflict in the Middle East.Between employee donations and company matches, we donated over $205,000 impacting 220 different charities in 2023.

Our approach to giving has three aspects: volunteer day off, matching gifts and corporate giving. Wesco launched a new corporate giving platform in June, making it easier than ever for our employees to donate and volunteer and enabling us to get a broader picture of the impact employees are making around the globe.

Sponsored Events

Earth Day Clean-Up: 
– Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Glenview, Illinois 

In 2023, Wesco Cares organized employee volunteer opportunities with Friends of the Riverfront (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and the Forest Preserves of Cook County (Glenview, Il.) in honor of Earth Day.

In Pittsburgh, a group of approximately 70 volunteers from Wesco, US Steel and the Pittsburgh Penguins worked on a park and trailhead location along the 40th Street Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Volunteers planted native plants, weeded invasive species, mended fences, painted signs and placed new gravel on the trail. After the vegetation was cleared the team planted 26 native trees along the riverbank.

In Glenview, approximately 20 employees volunteered with the Forest Preserves of Cook County to beautify the park by picking up litter along the Des Plaines trail.

Volunteer Day Off: 

We encourage employees to volunteer in their community by providing one day of paid volunteer time off per year. By connecting with and contributing to local charitable organizations Wesco supports the development of strong, vibrant and diverse communities. In 2023, 
152 employees participated in a volunteer day off impacting 57 different charitable organizations.

Corporate Giving

Wesco Cares also supported a series of community programs through corporate giving or employee- organized efforts. A few 2023 highlights include:

Carter Work Project: Wesco sponsored the 2023 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project with Habitat for Humanity. Over five days, future homeowners worked alongside hundreds of volunteers from around the world to build 27 single-family homes in Charlotte, NC.Habitat for Humanity: Wesco sponsored the Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity Hero Awards. The company also served as Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity’s inaugural Regional Repair program sponsor, supporting a dozen home repairs this past year. The company’s other projects with Habitat for Humanity have ranged from a community renovations project in Sao Paolo, Brazil to a roof wind mitigation project in Orlando, Florida.Boys & Girls Clubs of America: Wesco sponsored the Midwest Youth of the Year Awards, a program focused on fostering a new generation of leaders fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy.

Wesco Cares Build-a-Thon

In 2022, Wesco launched our centennial build-a-thon 
in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Wesco has a strong, ongoing engagement with Habitat for Humanity focused on employee volunteerism and supporting affordable housing in the communities we serve. We kicked off our centennial year with the goal of 100 builds across the globe in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. We reached our goal and celebrated while commemorating our inaugural Day of Caring.

BRG Community Engagement

Wesco’s Business Resource Groups (BRGs) have also made their mark on local communities around the world by contributing to various causes. In 2023, our BRGs donated to 18 different organizations, provided scholarships to four children of BRG members for pursuit of military service, trade school, or college and volunteered their time with additional philanthropic organizations.

To learn more, download the 2024 Wesco Sustainability Report here.

About This Report

Unless otherwise stated, this report covers activities, data and initiatives from our fiscal year 2023.

ESG Disclosure and Framework Alignment

The topics covered in this report include those that we have determined to be material for our business and stakeholders as noted on page 12. Wesco aligns with several ESG frameworks and disclosures in support of our commitment to transparency and our fulfillment of stakeholder needs and expectations. We leverage the following frameworks and standards to provide robust ESG information disclosure:

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): GRI offers a list of global standards and guidelines around sustainability reporting.Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB): SASB provides a comprehensive set of industry-specific disclosure topics and guidelines.Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): TCFD provides disclosure recommendations on thematic ESG topics such as governance, strategy, risk management, metrics and targets to provide stakeholders with fuller information surrounding climate risks.CDP: Formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project, CDP is an international organization that helps companies and cities measure and disclose important environmental impact information through an annual questionnaire and rating system.United Nations Global Compact (UNGC): UNGC is an initiative that aims to help businesses align their strategies and work toward the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals.United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (U.N. SDGs): U.N. SDGs provide a shared set of 17 toward peace and prosperity for people and planet goals and create a call to action by all countries in a global partnership.

We also regularly engage with our investors, employees, customers, regulators, ratings agencies and others on ESG and business issues. Additional information about Wesco can be found in our public financial filings—including our annual report and proxy filings—as well as on the Security and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or on the Investors page of our website at Wesco.com.

Wesco plans to continue to report annually as we monitor, measure, and deepen our ESG initiatives and disclosures.

Wesco endorses the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are a call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

More information about our SDG aligned initiatives is included throughout this report.

Assurance 
We did not seek third-party assurance for this report; however, we will consider doing so for future reporting. The information and data contained in this report was vetted by internal subject matter experts on the various ESG topics included in this report.

Contact Us 
We appreciate and welcome feedback on our ESG initiatives and reporting and invite you to contact us directly via email at Sustainability@Wesco.com.