Tag: 3BL

Viatris is continuously looking for ways to reduce the volume and types of materials being used in packaging while safeguarding access to high-quality medicines and maintaining compliance with various regulatory and quality requirements around the world.

In 2023, teams across the organization worked together on various projects including:

Reducing the use of paper by 90 metric tons at our oral-solid dose manufacturing sitesReducing 2 metric tons of plastic and 5 metric tons of wood through bulk packaging optimizationReplacing approximately 88 metric tons of plastic with polythene bagsOptimizing shrink bundle film to reduce use of plastics by 18 metric tonsProgressing work to replace leaflets on ARV bottle packs with QR codes, with a pilot study planned for 2024Working to replace the existing polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE) based unit dose in accordance with proposed PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) directive issued by the European Chemical Agency

We are continuing work harmonizing bottle packaging artwork across different markets by using common packaging across multiple countries in multiple languages, including quadrilingual packs, when feasible. This means a single pack can have one label and leaflet (in pad form) that holds information in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish, for example, reducing the need to produce individual bottles for each language. This advances our previous work with trilingual packs that we implemented in 2022.

We are implementing a similar shared pack concept in Europe, which makes our packaging much leaner and gives us more flexibility in our supply chain to supply medicines where they are most needed. We remain committed to continue to work on this concept across more markets in Europe.

Looking ahead, we are exploring adopting e-labeling across other markets, implementing PCTFE mitigation in blister packaging across geographies, carton-less initiatives for technology transfer projects, and reducing paper layers used in shipping boxes.

At our facility in Cairo, Egypt, we started using empty supply carton boxes instead of buying new ones for use in the destruction process for returned expired products. The change has saved the facility four tons of carton boxes annually.

View the full 2023 Sustainability Report.

Originally published on U.S. Bank company blog

While U.S. Bank has goals coaches who serve clients at all stages in life, some coaches focus on helping students at colleges and universities across the country. With the new school year getting into swing, here are tips from those coaches on dealing with the topics students raise with them the most.

Setting goals

When setting goals, it’s good to start by evaluating where you currently are in life and, from there, set personal, professional and financial goals along with dates to achieve those goals, said goals coach Holly Kierstead.

“For example, if you’re a freshman in college, your goals could be to learn what study habits work for me, actively meet new people and start a budget,” she said. “A graduating senior’s goals could be to discover myself, prepare my resume and cover letter, and grow my money.”

It’s important to make the goals well-defined, said goals coach Barry Saeger.

“By setting goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound, you can be more intentional with your future plans,” Saeger said.

Utilizing resources

To help achieve the goals you set, it’s helpful to use the tools at your disposal, Saeger said.

“Your academic counselors, financial aid advisors, even a goals coach are wanting you to succeed in achieving your academic goals,” he said. “Use these resources as your accountability partners in accomplishing what you need to get done and take ownership of your future.”

Some students may be hesitant to ask for help, and they need to put that hesitation aside, Kierstead said.

“Don’t be afraid to ask or reach out for help and be honest,” she said. “Whether it is related to class content you are not understanding, your finances or something personal that is weighing on you, speak up and reach out to someone for help.”

Time management

Many things can compete for a college student’s time and attention, and managing time effectively is crucial in balancing academic, social and personal responsibilities, goals coach Haitham Suleiman said.

“We start with having the client list all their tasks and deadlines, then have them prioritize them based on importance and urgency, focusing on the most critical tasks first to complete,” he said. “Then they work on creating a schedule by using either a planner or digital calendar so they can map out their day, week and month to allocate specific time needed for each task.”

Goals coach Timothy Klecker said that, like many people, he struggled to manage time efficiently in his early adult years.

“Recognizing that you may have issues with time management is often a symptom of a larger issues, such as procrastination, excessive distractions and possibly lack of future vision for the direction one wants their life to go,” Klecker said. “Each of us has the same 24 hours in a day and what matters is what you do with that time to focus most productively toward a centralized goal.”

Managing finances

Suleiman said he often works with college students to create a budget plan.

“They will list all income and expenses for a month to get a clear picture of where their money is going,” he said. “Once they have a baseline, they should work on categorizing their spending into needs, like rent, grocery and utilities, and wants, like dining out, entertainment and shopping. After that, they can start allocating specific amounts of money to each category and start building a savings plan for a rainy day.”

Learning to manage credit effectively is very important, Klecker said.

“As you enter the early stages of adulthood, take the time to learn the ins and outs of debt management,” he said. “The temptation to buy now and pay later may feel like a relief, but over time and without the proper frame of mind, it can become all too easy to find yourself underwater just when your lives are really beginning to take off.”

Saeger said it’s especially important to be mindful of social spending such as eating out, having food delivered or doing activities with friends.

“Consider giving yourself a weekly allowance that can be used for experiences you enjoy, but still fits within your budget,” he said. “By establishing a planned amount of dollars for entertainment, you can still have fun while not placing additional stress on your bank account.”

The right mindset

Setting goals and making a plan aren’t the only ingredients in achieving them, said goals coach Tamra Clark Champion.

“The single most important gift you can give yourself – past, present, and future – is a positive mindset,” she said.

“For the past, consider the lessons you have gleaned from your mistakes or failures,” Clark Champion said. “In the present, appreciate where you are, what you have, and all you are becoming. When you think about the future, focus more on who you want to be rather than what you want to achieve. Your life is what you make it in every moment.”

Eaton AbleEdge smart breakers will add intelligent load management to Lunar Energy’s solar battery system Compatibility with Lunar Energy’s mobile application will make it easier and faster for customers to integrate and manage distributed energy resources at home

PITTSBURGH, October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton today announces a collaboration with Lunar Energy to simplify the installation and maximize the functionality of home energy storage and solar systems. The integration of Eaton’s new AbleEdgeTM smart breakers with the Lunar System will make it easier for installers and homeowners to deploy solar and storage, manage loads, optimize costs and extend the life of the solar battery system. The joint solutions are expected to be available in early 2025, with Eaton as Lunar Energy’s preferred supplier for load management.

Eaton’s AbleEdge smart breakers will add load management functionality to the Lunar System in new construction and retrofit projects. The Eaton smart breakers can be added to the Lunar Bridge, any Eaton BR loadcenter or meter breaker. Homeowners and installers will be able to use Lunar’s application to install, commission and control both companies’ technologies—simplifying installation and ongoing home energy management.

“Every home has unique energy demands and infrastructure, so we created a home energy management ecosystem that’s modular and scalable for retrofits and new homes,” said Paul Ryan, general manager, Connected Solutions and EV Charging at Eaton. “We’re opening the door for more resilient, sustainable and electrified homes with technologies that work out of the box with any solar and storage provider. Our collaboration with Lunar Energy will streamline solar and energy storage deployments to help homeowners keep their power on despite grid outages and reduce their carbon footprint.”

The collaboration aligns with Eaton’s Home as a Grid strategy that helps homeowners put the energy transition to work. By creating flexible power systems that manage energy consumption in an integrated way, Eaton’s work with leading energy storage providers such as Lunar Energy is transforming what is possible for the home as an energy source.

“When we started Lunar Energy, we set out to deliver a simple and elegant clean energy solution for customers. For us, ‘brilliantly-designed’ means exactly that — designing a solar and battery system that is custom for every home and an experience that is intuitive for every family member inside,” Lunar Energy Founder and CEO Kunal Girotra said. “Our modular battery system achieves this by adapting to homes of all sizes. With the addition of Eaton’s AbleEdge smart breakers, we will offer an outstanding solution that makes the transition to clean energy both simple and exceptional.”

Eaton’s components are backed by the company’s secure-by-design philosophy that ensures its products meet rigorous cybersecurity and safety design standards.

Learn more about Eaton’s home energy management system and Home as a Grid approach.

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.

Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit Eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:

Kristin Somers
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com

Regina Parundik
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., October 10, 2024 /3BL/ – 3BL announced today the annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking, recognizing outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance among the 1,000 largest public companies in the United States.

HP Inc. has earned the top ranking this year, with Hewlett Packard Enterprise,Johnson & Johnson, Owens Corning, and Ingersoll Rand completing the top five.

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking evaluates Russell 1,000 companies based on 223 ESG factors across seven pillars including climate change, employee relations, environment, governance, human rights, and stakeholders and society. The 2024 methodology developed by 3BL and ISS ESG introduced new factors to measure progress on key issues such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, and workforce diversity to reflect modern best practices for performance and disclosure.

View the 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2024 ranking here.

If the 2024 100 Best Corporate Citizens were a financial index, it would have beat the market average over the past two years, according to the first backtesting study of the ranking, conducted by 3BL. The companies in the top 100 had a cumulative return of 29.97% from January 2022 to September 2024, compared to 25.75% for the S&P 500.

But do corporate sustainability messages make their way from report pages, spreadsheets and board rooms to leave an impression on the public? 3BL’s latest research reveals that companies are leaving revenue on the table if they rely on reporting and disclosures alone to share information about their sustainability progress.

Download 3BL’s whitepaper for the full findings and insights now. 

Unlike other rankings, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens relies solely on publicly available data and information, eliminating the need for questionnaires or company submissions, and there is no fee for companies to be considered. To ensure accuracy, companies can verify the data collected for the ranking at no cost. The data and information used for the 2024 ranking were published between August 2023 and August 2024.

Additionally, 3BL has partnered with InfluenceMap to assess the intensity and orientation of a company’s lobbying efforts and whether this lobbying is supportive or oppositional to the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. A “red flag” penalty is assessed if a company’s lobbying is deemed oppositional to Paris-aligned policies, and a “green flag” bonus is awarded to recognize firms using their political influence and spending in support of the agreement. In 2024, VF Corp. is the only company to receive the “green flag” bonus.

In this year’s rankings, the competition has intensified, with the gap in overall weighted scores between No. 1 and No. 100 narrowing by nearly 4% compared to 2023. Just five companies — HP, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Johnson & Johnson, Owens Corning, and PepsiCo — managed to maintain their spots in the top 10, making room for newcomers Ingersoll Rand, VF Corp., Trane Technologies, Citigroup, and Ford Motor Co. In the tech and hardware arena, HP and Hewlett Packard Enterprise are leading the pack, with just three other industry peers in the top 100. Meanwhile, the Capital Goods, Food and Beverage, and Materials sectors collectively represent 30% of the top scorers.

About the 100 Best Corporate Citizens Ranking 
The 100 Best Corporate Citizens debuted in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine and appeared annually in Corporate Responsibility Magazine for many years. 3BL has managed the ranking since 2018. To compile the ranking, each company in the Russell 1000 Index is ranked according to its transparency and performance on 184 environmental, social and governance factors.

About 3BL 
3BL is the leading sustainability and social impact communications partner, connecting organizations’ stories of purpose and progress with the audiences who matter most. We partner with over 1,500 companies — from global corporations and mid-sized enterprises to NGOs and nonprofits — to elevate their reputations as players in the world of responsible business. We do this through unrivaled news and content distribution, bespoke storytelling support, and our digital media division, TriplePundit. Learn more here.

3BL CONTACT 
100Best@3bl.com

KeyBank’s Key4Women Capital Region Chapter held its annual forum on Wednesday October 18th at the Marriott Albany. Ginger Zee, Chief Meteorologist for ABC News, author and mental health advocate shared her inspiring story about how she overcame difficult mental health challenges to become the first female chief meteorologist at a network, building a remarkable career and family.

Watch WTEN-TV’s coverage of the message Ginger Zee brought to the Key4Women Forum in Albany: https://www.news10.com/community/ginger-zee-discusses-mental-health-journey/

Deshanna Wiggins, CEO of the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce and Social Club, was also honored by Key as its 2024 Key4Women Achieve Award Winner. The award honors and recognizes the accomplishments of women business leaders and their contributions to the Capital Region community. It is open to clients of KeyBank and is given annually to a female leader in the region who has achieved a high level of success in her profession, is a community leader, and is a supporter of other women in the Capital Region.

Watch a video where Key4Women 2024 Achieve Award Winner Deshanna Wiggins talks about her work and how our entire community moves forward when we ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive: https://youtu.be/sYD6M3ujVzQ

KeyBank also honored the Capital District Women’s Employment and Resource Center, or WERC, as its charitable partner. KeyBank donated $2,500 to WERC to support their work to advance women’s success in the workplace by building their economic and personal independence.

Key4Women is an avenue of growth and advice for many women business owners and leaders. As a relationship-based bank, Key partners in helping our clients use every tool possible, providing them with access to capital while knowing exactly what best fits their business and financial goals. Learn more and sign up by going to key.com/women.

In 2023, Gildan’s entire Australian office became certified in mental health first aid, becoming equipped to identify and support those in need around them.

This World Mental Health Day, we sat down with the individual driving this initiative, David Hillen, Sales Director at Gildan, to learn more about the project’s inception and how he rallied the senior management team and his co-workers to heighten employees’ awareness around this topic.

What made you want to get mental health first aid certified?

Almost five years ago, I encountered a colleague who didn’t seem to be doing very well, and after a few conversations, it came to my attention that the individual was facing mental health issues.

At the time, I did my best to help the colleague – I connected the individual with a professional and made sure to regularly check-in. Today, I’m happy to say that the colleague is doing quite well.

This experience made me realize the importance of normalizing conversations around mental health and having the right tools to help those who need support. Motivated by this, I pursued a course provided by Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA).

When you first acquired the certification, did you envision this step scaling the way it did?

Not at all! It was only after I got certified that I realized the potential of this course in benefiting my network. I especially realized how useful it might be in the context of the workplace where most people spend the majority of their time. Our teams in the Australian office work closely together, so it seemed like the natural next step to encourage my colleagues to get certified, deepen our collective understanding of mental health, and create an even more open work environment.

To facilitate this, I became a certified trainer of mental health first aid myself, making the course more accessible to my network.

How did you rally the support of your colleagues and eventually the entire office, to acquire the certification?

Once I became a certified trainer, I approached the senior management team at our office to gauge their interest in the course, and the team wholeheartedly embraced this idea. From there, it was a matter of promoting the training among employees.

We began offering it on an optional basis. Gradually, as people became certified and began noticing the positive effects of the training in both their professional and personal lives, more employees stepped forward to participate. Before we knew it, the entire office was certified!

Can you tell us more about your experience with the course?

I enjoyed the course and took away applicable concepts that have been valuable when helping those around me. The course covered four broad mental health topics, explaining theory and outlining concrete steps to be taken when responding to particular issues. More specifically, I learned how to recognize warning signs of mental health problems and how to intervene in a timely and effective way.

One of my key takeaways was learning how to speak about mental health. This has been extremely helpful in my endeavours to facilitate conversations around this topic.

What kind of changes did you notice at the office once this course had been completed by all employees?

When we initially decided to roll out the course among employees, we had two main objectives – the first was to normalize discussions of mental health in the workplace, and the second was to identify individuals around us potentially facing problems and provide timely, as well as the right kind of intervention. The training allowed us to achieve both objectives.

Now, more people at the office openly speak about mental health, fostering a safe space for everyone. I’ve also heard some great stories from co-workers about how the training has gone beyond the workplace to benefit people in their personal lives.

What advice do you have for anyone at Gildan and beyond looking to initiate a project or advocate for a cause that matters to them?

It only takes one person and one step to make a difference. What began as a gesture towards one of my colleagues, has now turned into an office-wide initiative. At a global organization such as Gildan, imagine the large impact the first step can have.

To anyone who is passionate about a cause, I’d encourage you to take that first step, lead by example, and spread awareness around the cause through education and conversation. 

To find out more about Gildan’s respect for its people, click here.

CINCINNATI, October 10, 2024 /3BL/ – For more than a century, Fifth Third Bank has managed private foundations, empowering individuals, families and institutions to realize their visions and leave a legacy for the greater good. ​It all started with Bank president, Jacob G. Schmidlapp. A pioneer, ahead of his time, he established the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Trust in 1903.

Today, the Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank works diligently to ensure these foundations fulfill their mission of giving back to worthy charitable causes. From October 1 – November 22, 2024, the Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky and Piqua regional grant application process is open for grants that will be awarded by April 1, 2025.

“The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank is committed to healthy, strong and vibrant communities,” said Heidi B. Jark, senior vice president and managing director of The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank.

“Our Grant Application Process is designed to connect those organizations seeking support with opportunities to enable them with needed resources. Our goal is to make that process as transparent, accessible and easy as possible,” Jark added.

Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations that operate in Cincinnati, Dayton, Northern Kentucky, and Piqua and are designated under section 501(c)(3) and subsections 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), and 509(a)(3) Types I and II by the Internal Revenue Service.Churches and religious organizations, through non–denominational programming administered by such organizations will be considered (examples include food pantries, after school programs, housing initiatives, etc.).​The following are not eligible for Foundation Office grants: individuals​, government or government agencies​, public or private K-12 schools​ and athletic, band and other booster clubs​. In addition, events such as walks, runs, dinners and galas are also ineligible.For complete details, please visit our Guidelines for Grantseekers.

New this year, there are two application links. Organizations are welcome to apply to both applications, if they find they have appropriate requests.

Regional Application 
This grant application is for organizations applying for a grant from multiple foundations administered through The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank.The Ohio Valley Foundation Application 
The Ohio Valley Foundation funds small equipment, technology, and capital improvement projects in the Ohio Valley. Organizations can request grants up to $25,000.

The Foundation Office 
The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, National Association, serves as trustee, co-trustee or agent for more than 300 private and corporate foundations that grant millions of dollars annually to worthy charities across the United States. The foundations support a variety of causes, from education to the arts and from basic-needs organizations like shelters and counseling centers to environmental projects and animal rescue.

To learn more about The Foundation Office at Fifth Third Bank, please visit 53.com/foundationoffice.

# # #

CONTACT:
Adrienne Gutbier (Media Relations)
Adrienne.gutbier@53.com
513-534-8038

In an era where sustainability is becoming more than just a trend, Coachtopia is taking a bold step forward with the launch of its “Alter/Ego” collection. Each bag has been meticulously crafted from specific leather scraps left over from the creation of iconic Coach styles, including the Tabby, Hampton, and Brooklyn Bags. These remnants, which might otherwise have been destined for landfill, are given a new lease on life in the form of stylish and durable accessories.

The Alter/Ego collection comprises five new bag styles, all of which use Coachtopia’s signature Checkerboard Upcrafted Leather technique to reimagine the small and irregular scraps of leather that are left over after specific Coach bag patterns are cut from Coach leather hides. As these styles are made with the same leathers as those used in Coach’s most iconic products, the Alter/Ego collection has a 59-80% lower carbon footprint than comparable styles made with new materials and exceptional value—the price of each style reflecting the production efficiencies of crafting with this so-called “waste” material.

“Since we launched Coachtopia in April 2023, our mission has been to pioneer circularity in fashion by reimagining waste, design and the end of life of our products—and the Alter/Ego collection is another step forward in that mission,” says Joon Silverstein, SVP Global Marketing and Sustainability at Coach and Head of Coachtopia. “We’ve gone from making with pre-existing waste to thinking forward to future waste—and finding new ways to design out waste from the outset. Most importantly, thanks to all the experimentation we’ve been doing in Coachtopia, we’ve been able to create scalable processes that will bring the wider Coach brand further along the road to circularity, taking bold steps to drive transformative change.”

Congratulations to the entire Coachtopia team for bringing this campaign and collection to life. Join us in celebrating the new collection and our commitment to a more circular future in fashion. 

View the Alter/Ego collection, along with Coachtopia’s latest campaign, “The Wasted Parts,” featuring actor and Coachtopia community member Lola Tung here.

WASHINGTON, October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – There has been a catastrophic 73% decline in the average size of monitored wildlife populations* in just 50 years (1970-2020), according to World Wildlife Fund‘s (WWF) Living Planet Report 2024. The report warns that parts of our planet are approaching dangerous tipping points driven by the combination of nature loss and climate change which pose grave threats to humanity. 

The Living Planet Index, provided by the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), tracks almost 35,000 vertebrate populations of 5,495 species from 1970-2020. The steepest decline is in freshwater populations (85%), followed by terrestrial (69%) and then marine (56%). 

Habitat loss and degradation and overharvesting, driven primarily by our global food system are the dominant threats to wildlife populations around the world, followed by invasive species, disease and climate change. 

Significant declines in wildlife populations negatively impact the health and resilience of our environment and push nature closer to disastrous tipping points– critical thresholds resulting in substantial and potentially irreversible change. Regional tipping points, such as the decimation of North American pine forests, the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, and the mass die-off of coral reefs, have the potential to create shockwaves far beyond the immediate region, impacting food security, livelihoods, and economies.**  

“Nature provides the foundation for human health, a stable climate, the world’s economy, and life on earth. The Living Planet Report updates fifty-year trend lines of how much we’ve lost and tipping points that lie ahead,” said WWF-US President and CEO Carter Roberts. “It highlights the most powerful tools to stem the loss and match the scale of this slow-motion catastrophe. A wake-up call that we need to get going, and fast.”

Some of the species populations captured in the Living Planet Index include a 57% decline in nesting female hawksbill turtles between 1990 and 2018 on Milman Island in the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, a 65% decline in Amazon pink river dolphins and an 88% decline in Chinook salmon in the Sacramento River in California. More recently, over 330 Amazon river dolphins died in just two lakes during a period of extreme heat and drought in 2023.  

The Living Planet Index also reveals populations that have stabilized or increased due to effective conservation efforts, such as an increase in the sub-population of mountain gorillas of around 3% per year between 2010-2016 in the Virunga mountains in East Africa, as well as an increase from 0 to 6,800 in bison populations across central Europe between 1970 and 2020. 

WWF Chief Scientist Rebecca Shaw, said: “Sharp declines in wildlife populations are a clear and urgent warning. These steep drops signal that nature is unraveling and becoming less resilient. When nature is compromised, it is more vulnerable to climate change and edges closer to dangerous and irreversible regional tipping points. When this happens in too many places around the globe, it threatens the very air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat.”

While global leaders have already agreed on ambitious goals to halt and reverse nature loss (the Global Biodiversity Framework), cap global temperature rise to 1.5ºC (the Paris Agreement), and increase human well-being (the UN Sustainable Development Goals), the Living Planet Report warns that national commitments and on the ground action fall far short of what’s required to achieve those goals and avoid dangerous tipping points. 

The international biodiversity and climate summits taking place this year – COP16 and COP29  – provide an opportunity for global leaders to rise to the challenge. WWF is calling for countries to develop and implement ambitious national nature and climate plans to halt biodiversity loss and cut emissions by reducing global overconsumption in food and energy in an equitable manner. WWF is also urging government and private sector leaders to scale up public and private investments and better align their climate, nature and sustainable development policies. Governments and businesses should act rapidly to eliminate activities with negative impacts on biodiversity and climate, and redirect finance toward activities that will deliver on global sustainability goals.  

###

Notes to Editors

For media requests, please contact:

Amy Fallah | WWF-US | amy.fallah@wwfus.org| 703-473-1442 

Link to full report, executive summary, and media summary 

Link to photos

Link to b-roll

*The Living Planet Index shows an average 73% decline in monitored vertebrate wildlife populations (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish). The percentage change in the index reflects the average proportional change in monitored animal population sizes at sites around the world, not the number of individual animals lost, nor the number of populations lost.**For example, losses of populations of large fruit-eating animals (tapirs, toucans, tamarins, deer), which provide an essential seed-dispersal function in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, can lead to a decline in tropical forest carbon storage. When these animals are lost through hunting and illegal trade, they can no longer disperse the seeds of larger, hardwood trees and the forest becomes dominated by smaller, softwood trees. The smaller trees store less carbon, exacerbating climate change.Please note that successive iterations of the LPI are not directly comparable as they contain different sets of species. It is also important to note the significance of the 1970 baseline for the various regions monitored. In both Europe and North America large scale impacts on nature were already apparent before the start of the index in 1970, explaining why there is less of a negative trend. North America registered an average decline of 39%, while Europe and Central Asia registered a decline of 35%.For further information on the hawksbill turtle, Amazon river dolphin, Chinook salmon, mountain gorilla and European bison local population case studies above and for other examples please see pages 32-33 of the full report. Energy and food systems are the main drivers of climate change and nature loss. Fossil fuels contribute approximately 70% of greenhouse gas emissions. Food production is the leading cause of habitat loss, accounts for 70% of water use, and is responsible for over a quarter of greenhouse gas emissions. 

About WWF

WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in nearly 100 countries for over half a century to help people and nature thrive. With the support of more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat the climate crisis. Visit http://www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter and signing up for our newsletter and news alerts here.

About ZSL

Founded in 1826, ZSL is an international conservation charity, driven by science, working to restore wildlife in the UK and around the world; by protecting critical species, restoring ecosystems, helping people and wildlife live together and inspiring support for nature. Through our leading conservation zoos, London and Whipsnade, we bring people closer to nature and use our expertise to protect wildlife today, while inspiring a lifelong love of animals in the conservationists of tomorrow.

October 9, 2024 /3BL/ – One year into the Israel- Gaza conflict, and the biggest escalation of violence in years in the region, Action Against Hunger is expanding humanitarian assistance to reach the most vulnerable families in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

To date, nearly 42,000 Palestinians have died and around 100,000 have been injured. More than 1.9 million people are displaced in Gaza and the entire population is facing food insecurity. Humanitarian needs will only grow with the oncoming winter and escalating displacement, both of which are expected to increase malnutrition in the Gaza Strip and now the needs of thousands of families in Lebanon as well. Over the last year, teams on the ground have faced serious challenges, including limited ability to deliver aid and the lack of protection for humanitarian workers.

Limited Access to Aid in Gaza

“All land crossings need to be opened for goods and personnel, ensuring the provision of critical services such as water, electricity, fuel and food,” said Jean Raphael Poitou, Action Against Hunger’s Middle East Advocacy Officer. “The protection of all humanitarian and health workers is essential to save lives.”

At the end of July, the UN estimated that 86% of the Gaza Strip was marked as unsafe by Israeli forces. Only 15 square miles is what remains of the so-called “safe zone,” with more than two million people unable to access basic hygiene, protection, food and water in accordance with human rights and international humanitarian law. “The concept of ‘safe zones’ or ‘humanitarian zones’ in Gaza is non-existent,” said Poitou. “We continue to call for a permanent ceasefire so that we can deliver the humanitarian aid needed by the entire population of the Gaza Strip and Lebanon and avoid further civilian casualties.”

Despite great difficulties, Action Against Hunger continues to operate in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Lebanon, distributing fresh and dry food, drinking water and hygiene kits, and providing other necessities to vulnerable communities.

Increased Humanitarian Response in Gaza and the West Bank

With winter coming, needs will only increase. “In addition to everything we have been doing, there is a new priority with the arrival of the cold, especially in Gaza, where there are thousands and thousands of people who have been displaced for a year, moving several times, leaving behind clothes and shoes and with tents that have already been destroyed,” said Anguera. “We fear an increase in disease, because it is a coastal area, with many people sleeping on the beach in storms and torrential rains, or in areas with rubbish where rainwater accumulates.”

The collapse of Gaza’s health system, restricted access to sufficient food, clean water and hygiene items, the destruction of agricultural land and local markets, blocked roads, and poor shelter conditions have led to malnutrition, a serious health condition that previously did not exist in the Gaza Strip.

“A year ago, the image of an aid worker measuring the arm circumference of a Gazan child didn’t exist because there was no malnutrition,” said Anguera. In response, Action Against Hunger has implemented both prevention and nutritional treatment programs for children and pregnant and lactating women, two of the most vulnerable populations in Gaza.

“All children in Gaza are at risk of malnutrition,” said Cristina Izquierdo, the Nutrition Coordinator for Action Against Hunger’s emergency team, who has worked in Gaza several times in the past eight months. “”We provide a holistic response, addressing the underlying causes of malnutrition. Access to water is insufficient and hygiene conditions are horrible. That’s why we are also working in this area and on food security.”

Over the past year, despite insecurity and blockades, Action Against Hunger has provided assistance to more than one million people in Gaza and the West Bank, including. This includes more than 916,000 people in the Gaza Strip who have benefited from Action Against Hunger’s water, sanitation and hygiene activities, including the distribution of safe drinking water, hygiene kits and the installation of toilets. In addition, more than 175,000 people have benefited from Action Against Hunger’s food security and livelihood interventions, which include the distribution of fresh and dry food and hot meals, as well as increased support to farmers. More than 47,000 people, especially children and mothers, have had access to Action Against Hunger’s nutritional support.

Since the beginning of the conflict, the organization has increased its staff in the area from 60 to 130 humanitarian workers. “For years, Action Against Hunger has been working with farmers and herders in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank,” said Anguera. “Despite the conflict, we maintain our goal: to promote resilience, so that people don’t have to leave the land they work on. We work so that people have infrastructure, pipelines and roads, so that they can raise their animals.”

Around 75% of Gaza’s farmland has been destroyed.

“Food security is about dignity and autonomy. It is about not having to depend on external aid,” said Anguera. “In Gaza and the West Bank, we face the destruction of local markets and increased violence by Israeli settlers. Farmers have been displaced, infrastructure is closed, fuel remains a constraint for transportation. It is key for Action Against Hunger to be able to continue supporting farmers.”

Emergency Response in Lebanon 

Between September 16 and September 27, 2024, more than 1,000 people, including 87 children, were killed by increased hostilities in Lebanon. In Lebanon, increased tension on the border with Israel has displaced more than one million people, according to Lebanese authorities. Prior to this escalation, the number of internally displaced persons had already grown by 1,800% due to the violence on the border.

“In Lebanon, where we have been present since 2006, we have a team of 240 people. In this country, since October 2023, we have supported more than 160,000 people through cash assistance, nutrition and health activities, food aid, and water, sanitation, and hygiene services,” said Anguera.

In the face of the crisis and regional escalation, Action Against Hunger teams are scaling up their activities, working closely with local authorities, the UN and other organizations to reach affected communities, including Syrian refugees in Lebanon, who had fled one conflict only to find themselves caught in the middle of another. Since the first hours of the escalating conflict in Lebanon, Action Against Hunger has been distributing water, food, blankets, and other necessities to vulnerable people and coordinating with authorities and institutions to increase support in collective shelters open to the population.

Hunger as a Weapon of War

“Hunger is being used as a weapon of war in Gaza,” said Poitou. “It shows the failure of the international community to enforce respect for international humanitarian law. We cannot allow key civilian infrastructure to continue to be destroyed, aid to be blocked or agricultural land to be destroyed. This is using hunger as a weapon of war. It is imperative that international humanitarian law is applied to protect civilians, as well as to ensure that hostages are returned home and that all available mechanisms to protect humanitarian and aid workers are put in place and respected.”

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger is a global leader creating a future where every life is well nourished. We innovate to prevent malnutrition and respond to hunger hotspots, working in 59 countries and reaching more than 21 million people each year. Together, we are promoting resilience and working to end hunger for everyone, for good.