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NEW YORK, September 5, 2024 /3BL/ – The names of the Top 20 Chief Sustainability Officers of North America have been revealed today, together with the names of the Grand Jury that will select the three winners of the Futur/io CSO Awards North America.

The winners will be announced during the CSO Awards gala ceremony in New York City on September 23, during the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week.

The 20 CSO Awards Nominees are, in alphabetical order:

Alan B Horowitz – AramarkAlanna Boyd – Sun LifeAlison Taylor – Archer Daniels Midland CompanyAnn Tracy – Colgate-PalmoliveCassandra Garber – DellEllen Jackowski – MastercardEmilio Tenuta – EcolabEmma Stewart – NetflixJeannie Renne-Malone – VF CorporationKatharina Beumelburg – SLB Schlumberger LimitedMary de Wysocki – CiscoMeigan Terry – ScotiabankMelanie Nakagawa – MicrosoftMichael Kobori – StarbucksRenee Morin – EbayRobert Coviello – BungeSarah Chapman – ManulifeSophie Beckham – International PaperSuzanne Dibianca – SalesforceVictoria Emerick – Bristol Myers Squibb

The Grand Jury, who will choose the three winners among the 20 nominees, includes stellar names such as John Elkington, known as “the Godfather of Sustainability”, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome, Vandinika Shukla, deputy director of Global Programs at the Obama Foundation, Livio Scalvini, co-founder and executive director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London, and Niyanta Spelman, founder and CEO of Rainforest Partnership, among others.

The CSO Awards North America is an initiative of the Futur/io Institute, a pioneering organization dedicated to nurturing and inspiring leadership in sustainable innovation and building the most impactful network of CSOs globally. The European version of the CSO Awards takes place every year during the World Economic Forum week in Davos.

“The CSO Awards celebrates the people who are championing change within the corporate world,” says Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute. “I’m honored to announce the names of the 20 nominees to the CSO Awards, and also of the members of the Grand Jury, who will choose the winners. They are some of the most inspirational voices in sustainability, and the combination of such incredible and diverse experiences, backgrounds and points of view will certainly bring powerful insights, shining a light on the next wave of sustainability leaders within the corporate world.”

“The purpose of having a Jury in our CSO Awards is to integrate the human factor into the evaluation criteria for our CSO Awards can help to identify and promote CSOs who are not only effective sustainability leaders, but also empathetic, innovative, and capable of fostering positive change within their organisations and beyond.” added Harald Neidhardt.

In July, Futur/io published a list of the Top 100 CSOs of North America, which included sustainability leaders from a diverse range of industries, including retail, consumer brands, services and technology.

From an extensive database including all the major companies of the USA and Canada, the most relevant names were selected using a four-quadrant model criteria, developed by Futur/io and scientific partner the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School, and supported by knowledge partners Denominator, specialized in human-centric data, and Rainforest Partnership, focused on biodiversity.

The four quadrant model takes into consideration the maturity of corporate behaviours, regulatory performance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) criteria, environmental and human impact and also a self assessment survey.

Now, the members of the Grand Jury will add the human factor to the selection process, using their expertise to choose the three final winners, to be announced at a gala ceremony in New York City on September 23, during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week. The CSO Awards North America are supported by premium partners IntegrityNext and Celonis.

CSO Awards North America Grand Jury

John Elkington

Founder of Volans and chief pollinator. A true pioneer and foundational figure in the global sustainability movement, John brings over 50 years of experience as a strategic advisor to businesses across the world. 

Known as the creator of the “Triple Bottom Line” concept—People, Planet, and Profit—John’s visionary approach has become a fundamental part of business strategy worldwide. He has been at the forefront of movements such as the Global Reporting Initiative, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and B Lab UK, and continues to guide sustainability conversations globally. 

John has addressed over 1,000 conferences around the world and was a faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008. He is the author or co-author of 21 books including the best-selling Green Consumer Guide and the recently published “Tickling Sharks”.

Katja Iversen

CEO of the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live. Defined as an “agile extension of the United Nations”, the UN Live Museum is an unconventional, independent, borderless museum which, in collaboration with hundreds of partners across five continents, makes global problems tangible through cultural experiences and programmes. 

Katja’s extensive experience spans leadership roles in civil society and the United Nations, as well as training Fortune 500 executives in cross-cultural leadership. She has advised global leaders, including serving on Prime Minister Trudeau’s and President Macron’s G7 Gender Equality Councils and advising the World Economic Forum and MIT Solve Challenge. Katja has also worked closely with artists to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Holding a Master’s in Communications and a Leadership Degree from Columbia University, Katja was named Dane of the Year in 2018 and received a Woman of the Decade award in 2022. In 2022, she also earned an honorary doctorate for her significant contributions to cross-cultural connections.

Larry Adams

Founder of BLKFAM.tv, a TV platform dedicated to Black American family friendly content, with Hollywood Star Whoopi Goldberg as backer and investor. He also founded XStereotype, an award-winning inclusion OS aimed at analyzing and eliminating stereotypes and bias in marketing.

Larry’s impressive career includes key roles as SVP of digital strategy at AT&T and WarnerMedia, where he helped launch HBO Max and DIRECTV NOW. He also led marketing at Vimeo and served as a Senior Advisor for the Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign.

Livio Scalvini 

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London and leads the Sustainable Development Strategy of Imperial College Business School. 

With over 30 years of international experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, and venture capital, Livio’s expertise spans across diverse sectors including finance, sustainability, and education. His extensive background includes serving in C-level roles at financial institutions, advising start-ups, and co-founding the GOLDEN for Impact Foundation.

He has published books and articles on entrepreneurship, sustainability, business strategy, strategic planning, and risk management. He served as an advisor and investor in a wide range of start-ups and NGOs across Europe and Africa. Livio holds a Degree in Economics & Business Administration, MSc in Macroeconomics, and Executive Education in Exponential Technologies at Singularity University.

Niyanta Spelman

Founder and CEO of Rainforest Partnership, an international NGO that works to protect rainforests by empowering Indigenous and local communities on the front lines of deforestation. 

Under her leadership, the organization has safeguarded over 1 million acres of rainforest, making a significant impact on biodiversity and climate. With a background in environmental policy, Niyanta is a thought leader in global conservation efforts.

Niyanta has received numerous honors and awards, including The Women Of Change® Award at the Family Office Impact Summit, hosted by 5th Element Group PBC in the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations in 2019, and the Profiles in Power award from the Austin Business Journal in 2020. She also spearheads the Rainforest Collective, convening leaders to drive action for forest protection.

Raj Joshi

Professor of Columbia University, founder of Bridging Ventures, and President & Executive Director of Project Regeneration. He served as the inaugural Associate Dean for Climate Action at Columbia Climate School, leading initiatives such as the Global Policy Impact Lab. 

Rajiv S. Joshi is an economist, community organizer, and entrepreneurial leader working at the intersection of environmental, social, and economic justice. Of Kenyan-Indian origin and born in Scotland, he has played a key role in global climate action, co-authoring the Decisive Decade Inquiry and supporting efforts to phase out fossil fuels, transform food systems, and advance climate finance.

Rajiv has advised world leaders, grassroots NGOs, and leading brands on systemic change. Rajiv co-founded Bridging Ventures, driving cross-sector collaborations to address global challenges. As the former Managing Director of The B Team, he worked with CEOs and activists to drive corporate accountability and climate action. Rajiv holds degrees from Strathclyde Business School and Columbia University.

Sandrine Dixson-Declève 

Co-President of the Club of Rome and Earth4All initiator. She chairs the European Commission’s Expert Group on Economic and Societal Impact of Research & Innovation (ESIR), and is involved in climate missions and advisory boards for organizations like BMW, UCB Climate KIC, and Imperial College London.

A TED global speaker and author, Sandrine’s recent publications like Earth4Alll aim to guide humanity towards a sustainable future. She was recognised most recently by Reuters as one of 25 global female trailblazers and by GreenBiz as one of the 30 most influential women across the globe driving change in the low carbon economy and promoting green business.

Vandinika Shukla

Deputy Director of Global Programs at the Obama Foundation.

With over a decade of experience at the crossroads of human rights, tech policy, and democracy, her journey includes shaping AI tools at MIT Media Lab, incubating the Practicing Democracy Project at Harvard Kennedy School, and crafting gender policies at the United Nations.

Vandinika’s commitment to social change is reflected in her work, her teaching, and her writing, which has been featured in major publications like The Boston Globe and Slate Magazine.

Chair of the Grand Jury: Harald Neidhardt

CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute, where he has grown an influential faculty and think tank of innovators, futurists and thought leaders – home to the co-creators of desirable, regenerative futures. He is the initiator of the Futur/io CSO Awards for sustainable leadership, and the host of the CSO Impact Podcast.

Harald is an advisor to the UNFCCC Resilient Frontiers initiative and an expert member of the World Economic Forum workgroup on digital platforms & ecosystems projects. He is a Singularity University alumnus and is a keynote speaker on sustainable innovation at many international conferences, including COP26, TEDx (Hongkong, Hamburg, Marrakesh), SXSW, SingularityU Summit (NL/USA/DE), Wired, Next, MWC/4YFN and is a speaker at corporate executive events.

He’s published five books, most recently “Leadership for Sustainable Futures”, “Moonshots for Europe”, and “Before this Decade is Out”.

Selection Criteria: the Four Quadrant Model 

1 – Science & Behaviour Based Maturity Index – Imperial College (External Research Based): 

The Leonardo Centre at Imperial College has created a comprehensive global dataset that analyses corporate sustainability behaviours, enabling a thorough assessment of the maturity levels of the top 100 companies. Utilising this dataset, the Impact Maturity Index ranks companies within various sectors and geographies, providing valuable insights into their sustainability performance.

2 – ESG Qualitative Rating (External Research Based): 

Using publicly available ESG Ratings, it was assessed which companies are exceeding regulatory requirements in their advancements on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

3 – Planet (Internal & External Research Based) & People (External Research Based):

Futur/io trained an AI tool to analyse 100 sustainability reports from the companies of the Top 100 shortlisted CSOs for the CSO Awards, extracting pertinent information on Greenhouse Gas emissions, Biodiversity measures, and Water usage. Additionally, research partner Rainforest Partnership carried out an in-depth analysis on biodiversity aspects of each company.

Finally, research partner Denominator created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matrix score and research partner Rainforest Partnership created a matrix score for rainforest impact to assess relevant data in these areas. After that, scores were assigned for these five impact areas (GHG, Biodiversity, Water, DEI and Rainforest Impact).

4 – Survey & Self-Assessment (Internal Research Based):

The Top 100 CSOs were invited to contribute to a Survey & Self-Assessment, based on external ESG Ratings and the Imperial College Maturity Index.

About Futur/io Institute

We believe in co-creating desirable futures where ideas and innovation drive a regenerative economy that benefits people and the planet within the planetary boundaries.

The Futur/io Institute is a pioneering organization to serve the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers dedicated to transforming businesses to drive positive impact for people, planet and prosperity. We do this through publications, podcasts and convening at inspiring locations like Davos, Basel, Lisbon, Venice and New York.

With a mission to inspire ambition, action and cross-pollination to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the institute provides a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape the futures of business and society.

Futur/io works with organizations like the UNFCCC or corporations in leadership training and curates Executive Programmes to inspire future leaders in sustainable innovation. Each year in Davos, the institute organizes executive receptions and recently debuted the annual CSO Awards to shine a light on the leadership role of Chief Sustainability Officers.

Futur/io is based in Hamburg and works as a think-tank with a selected international and diverse faculty of 100+ leaders in sustainability. The most recent book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” was published in May 2024 with Murmann Publishers. CEO & curator Harald Neidhardt hosts the CSO Impact Podcast, which launched in June 2024.

futur.io

Additional Info

https://www.csoawards.org/north-america

Grand Jury: https://www.csoawards.org/north-america/2024/grand-jury

Top 20 List: https://www.csoawards.org/north-america/2024/top-20-csos

Selection Criteria: https://www.csoawards.org/north-america/2024/criteria

Media Contacts

Barbara Axt – Media Relations

barbara@futur.io

Luciana Prestes – Head of Marketing

luciana@futur.io

NEW YORK, September 5, 2024 /3BL/ – The names of the Top 20 Chief Sustainability Officers of North America have been revealed today, together with the names of the Grand Jury that will select the three winners of the Futur/io CSO Awards North America.

The winners will be announced during the CSO Awards gala ceremony in New York City on September 23, during the UN General Assembly and New York Climate Week.

The 20 CSO Awards Nominees are, in alphabetical order:

Alan B Horowitz – AramarkAlanna Boyd – Sun LifeAlison Taylor – Archer Daniels Midland CompanyAnn Tracy – Colgate-PalmoliveCassandra Garber – DellEllen Jackowski – MastercardEmilio Tenuta – EcolabEmma Stewart – NetflixJeannie Renne-Malone – VF CorporationKatharina Beumelburg – SLB Schlumberger LimitedMary de Wysocki – CiscoMeigan Terry – ScotiabankMelanie Nakagawa – MicrosoftMichael Kobori – StarbucksRenee Morin – EbayRobert Coviello – BungeSarah Chapman – ManulifeSophie Beckham – International PaperSuzanne Dibianca – SalesforceVictoria Emerick – Bristol Myers Squibb

The Grand Jury, who will choose the three winners among the 20 nominees, includes stellar names such as John Elkington, known as “the Godfather of Sustainability”, Sandrine Dixson-Declève, co-president of the Club of Rome, Vandinika Shukla, deputy director of Global Programs at the Obama Foundation, Livio Scalvini, co-founder and executive director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London, and Niyanta Spelman, founder and CEO of Rainforest Partnership, among others.

The CSO Awards North America is an initiative of the Futur/io Institute, a pioneering organization dedicated to nurturing and inspiring leadership in sustainable innovation and building the most impactful network of CSOs globally. The European version of the CSO Awards takes place every year during the World Economic Forum week in Davos.

“The CSO Awards celebrates the people who are championing change within the corporate world,” says Harald Neidhardt, CEO & Curator of the Futur/io Institute. “I’m honored to announce the names of the 20 nominees to the CSO Awards, and also of the members of the Grand Jury, who will choose the winners. They are some of the most inspirational voices in sustainability, and the combination of such incredible and diverse experiences, backgrounds and points of view will certainly bring powerful insights, shining a light on the next wave of sustainability leaders within the corporate world.”

“The purpose of having a Jury in our CSO Awards is to integrate the human factor into the evaluation criteria for our CSO Awards can help to identify and promote CSOs who are not only effective sustainability leaders, but also empathetic, innovative, and capable of fostering positive change within their organisations and beyond.” added Harald Neidhardt.

In July, Futur/io published a list of the Top 100 CSOs of North America, which included sustainability leaders from a diverse range of industries, including retail, consumer brands, services and technology.

From an extensive database including all the major companies of the USA and Canada, the most relevant names were selected using a four-quadrant model criteria, developed by Futur/io and scientific partner the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College Business School, and supported by knowledge partners Denominator, specialized in human-centric data, and Rainforest Partnership, focused on biodiversity.

The four quadrant model takes into consideration the maturity of corporate behaviours, regulatory performance on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) criteria, environmental and human impact and also a self assessment survey.

Now, the members of the Grand Jury will add the human factor to the selection process, using their expertise to choose the three final winners, to be announced at a gala ceremony in New York City on September 23, during the UN General Assembly and Climate Week. The CSO Awards North America are supported by premium partners IntegrityNext and Celonis.

CSO Awards North America Grand Jury

John Elkington

Founder of Volans and chief pollinator. A true pioneer and foundational figure in the global sustainability movement, John brings over 50 years of experience as a strategic advisor to businesses across the world. 

Known as the creator of the “Triple Bottom Line” concept—People, Planet, and Profit—John’s visionary approach has become a fundamental part of business strategy worldwide. He has been at the forefront of movements such as the Global Reporting Initiative, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, and B Lab UK, and continues to guide sustainability conversations globally. 

John has addressed over 1,000 conferences around the world and was a faculty member of the World Economic Forum from 2002-2008. He is the author or co-author of 21 books including the best-selling Green Consumer Guide and the recently published “Tickling Sharks”.

Katja Iversen

CEO of the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live. Defined as an “agile extension of the United Nations”, the UN Live Museum is an unconventional, independent, borderless museum which, in collaboration with hundreds of partners across five continents, makes global problems tangible through cultural experiences and programmes. 

Katja’s extensive experience spans leadership roles in civil society and the United Nations, as well as training Fortune 500 executives in cross-cultural leadership. She has advised global leaders, including serving on Prime Minister Trudeau’s and President Macron’s G7 Gender Equality Councils and advising the World Economic Forum and MIT Solve Challenge. Katja has also worked closely with artists to advance the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Holding a Master’s in Communications and a Leadership Degree from Columbia University, Katja was named Dane of the Year in 2018 and received a Woman of the Decade award in 2022. In 2022, she also earned an honorary doctorate for her significant contributions to cross-cultural connections.

Larry Adams

Founder of BLKFAM.tv, a TV platform dedicated to Black American family friendly content, with Hollywood Star Whoopi Goldberg as backer and investor. He also founded XStereotype, an award-winning inclusion OS aimed at analyzing and eliminating stereotypes and bias in marketing.

Larry’s impressive career includes key roles as SVP of digital strategy at AT&T and WarnerMedia, where he helped launch HBO Max and DIRECTV NOW. He also led marketing at Vimeo and served as a Senior Advisor for the Bloomberg 2020 presidential campaign.

Livio Scalvini 

Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Leonardo Centre on Business for Society at Imperial College London and leads the Sustainable Development Strategy of Imperial College Business School. 

With over 30 years of international experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, social impact, and venture capital, Livio’s expertise spans across diverse sectors including finance, sustainability, and education. His extensive background includes serving in C-level roles at financial institutions, advising start-ups, and co-founding the GOLDEN for Impact Foundation.

He has published books and articles on entrepreneurship, sustainability, business strategy, strategic planning, and risk management. He served as an advisor and investor in a wide range of start-ups and NGOs across Europe and Africa. Livio holds a Degree in Economics & Business Administration, MSc in Macroeconomics, and Executive Education in Exponential Technologies at Singularity University.

Niyanta Spelman

Founder and CEO of Rainforest Partnership, an international NGO that works to protect rainforests by empowering Indigenous and local communities on the front lines of deforestation. 

Under her leadership, the organization has safeguarded over 1 million acres of rainforest, making a significant impact on biodiversity and climate. With a background in environmental policy, Niyanta is a thought leader in global conservation efforts.

Niyanta has received numerous honors and awards, including The Women Of Change® Award at the Family Office Impact Summit, hosted by 5th Element Group PBC in the Delegates Dining Room at the United Nations in 2019, and the Profiles in Power award from the Austin Business Journal in 2020. She also spearheads the Rainforest Collective, convening leaders to drive action for forest protection.

Raj Joshi

Professor of Columbia University, founder of Bridging Ventures, and President & Executive Director of Project Regeneration. He served as the inaugural Associate Dean for Climate Action at Columbia Climate School, leading initiatives such as the Global Policy Impact Lab. 

Rajiv S. Joshi is an economist, community organizer, and entrepreneurial leader working at the intersection of environmental, social, and economic justice. Of Kenyan-Indian origin and born in Scotland, he has played a key role in global climate action, co-authoring the Decisive Decade Inquiry and supporting efforts to phase out fossil fuels, transform food systems, and advance climate finance.

Rajiv has advised world leaders, grassroots NGOs, and leading brands on systemic change. Rajiv co-founded Bridging Ventures, driving cross-sector collaborations to address global challenges. As the former Managing Director of The B Team, he worked with CEOs and activists to drive corporate accountability and climate action. Rajiv holds degrees from Strathclyde Business School and Columbia University.

Sandrine Dixson-Declève 

Co-President of the Club of Rome and Earth4All initiator. She chairs the European Commission’s Expert Group on Economic and Societal Impact of Research & Innovation (ESIR), and is involved in climate missions and advisory boards for organizations like BMW, UCB Climate KIC, and Imperial College London.

A TED global speaker and author, Sandrine’s recent publications like Earth4Alll aim to guide humanity towards a sustainable future. She was recognised most recently by Reuters as one of 25 global female trailblazers and by GreenBiz as one of the 30 most influential women across the globe driving change in the low carbon economy and promoting green business.

Vandinika Shukla

Deputy Director of Global Programs at the Obama Foundation.

With over a decade of experience at the crossroads of human rights, tech policy, and democracy, her journey includes shaping AI tools at MIT Media Lab, incubating the Practicing Democracy Project at Harvard Kennedy School, and crafting gender policies at the United Nations.

Vandinika’s commitment to social change is reflected in her work, her teaching, and her writing, which has been featured in major publications like The Boston Globe and Slate Magazine.

Chair of the Grand Jury: Harald Neidhardt

CEO and Curator of the Futur/io Institute, where he has grown an influential faculty and think tank of innovators, futurists and thought leaders – home to the co-creators of desirable, regenerative futures. He is the initiator of the Futur/io CSO Awards for sustainable leadership, and the host of the CSO Impact Podcast.

Harald is an advisor to the UNFCCC Resilient Frontiers initiative and an expert member of the World Economic Forum workgroup on digital platforms & ecosystems projects. He is a Singularity University alumnus and is a keynote speaker on sustainable innovation at many international conferences, including COP26, TEDx (Hongkong, Hamburg, Marrakesh), SXSW, SingularityU Summit (NL/USA/DE), Wired, Next, MWC/4YFN and is a speaker at corporate executive events.

He’s published five books, most recently “Leadership for Sustainable Futures”, “Moonshots for Europe”, and “Before this Decade is Out”.

Selection Criteria: the Four Quadrant Model 

1 – Science & Behaviour Based Maturity Index – Imperial College (External Research Based): 

The Leonardo Centre at Imperial College has created a comprehensive global dataset that analyses corporate sustainability behaviours, enabling a thorough assessment of the maturity levels of the top 100 companies. Utilising this dataset, the Impact Maturity Index ranks companies within various sectors and geographies, providing valuable insights into their sustainability performance.

2 – ESG Qualitative Rating (External Research Based): 

Using publicly available ESG Ratings, it was assessed which companies are exceeding regulatory requirements in their advancements on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.

3 – Planet (Internal & External Research Based) & People (External Research Based):

Futur/io trained an AI tool to analyse 100 sustainability reports from the companies of the Top 100 shortlisted CSOs for the CSO Awards, extracting pertinent information on Greenhouse Gas emissions, Biodiversity measures, and Water usage. Additionally, research partner Rainforest Partnership carried out an in-depth analysis on biodiversity aspects of each company.

Finally, research partner Denominator created a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) matrix score and research partner Rainforest Partnership created a matrix score for rainforest impact to assess relevant data in these areas. After that, scores were assigned for these five impact areas (GHG, Biodiversity, Water, DEI and Rainforest Impact).

4 – Survey & Self-Assessment (Internal Research Based):

The Top 100 CSOs were invited to contribute to a Survey & Self-Assessment, based on external ESG Ratings and the Imperial College Maturity Index.

About Futur/io Institute

We believe in co-creating desirable futures where ideas and innovation drive a regenerative economy that benefits people and the planet within the planetary boundaries.

The Futur/io Institute is a pioneering organization to serve the most impactful network of Chief Sustainability Officers dedicated to transforming businesses to drive positive impact for people, planet and prosperity. We do this through publications, podcasts and convening at inspiring locations like Davos, Basel, Lisbon, Venice and New York.

With a mission to inspire ambition, action and cross-pollination to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the institute provides a platform for thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to shape the futures of business and society.

Futur/io works with organizations like the UNFCCC or corporations in leadership training and curates Executive Programmes to inspire future leaders in sustainable innovation. Each year in Davos, the institute organizes executive receptions and recently debuted the annual CSO Awards to shine a light on the leadership role of Chief Sustainability Officers.

Futur/io is based in Hamburg and works as a think-tank with a selected international and diverse faculty of 100+ leaders in sustainability. The most recent book “Leadership for Sustainable Futures” was published in May 2024 with Murmann Publishers. CEO & curator Harald Neidhardt hosts the CSO Impact Podcast, which launched in June 2024.

futur.io

Additional Info

https://www.csoawards.org/north-america

Grand Jury: https://www.csoawards.org/north-america/2024/grand-jury

Top 20 List: https://www.csoawards.org/north-america/2024/top-20-csos

Selection Criteria: https://www.csoawards.org/north-america/2024/criteria

Media Contacts

Barbara Axt – Media Relations

barbara@futur.io

Luciana Prestes – Head of Marketing

luciana@futur.io

By Nicole Burford, Clean Energy Credit Union

As the impacts of climate change become more evident, the urgency to transition away from fossil fuels is clear. Investing in renewable energy is crucial for the future of our planet, yet it remains a challenge for many. Clean Energy Credit Union is poised to change that narrative. Our not-for-profit model focuses on making clean energy affordable and accessible to a wide range of people across the country by providing an attainable entry point for individuals to invest in the clean energy movement with a low minimum deposit. This innovative approach advances sustainability and democratizes access to renewable energy investing.

Our Bold Mission — At the heart of Clean Energy CU lies the vision to create a world where everyone can participate in the clean energy movement. We are making this vision a reality by:

Making it easier for everyone to afford clean energy and energy saving products and services by offering clean energy loans with amazing terms.Making it easier for everyone to invest in the clean energy movement by offering federally insured checking accounts, savings accounts, and clean energy CDs whereby the deposits are solely used to help others pursue their clean energy and energy saving projects.

Clean Energy CU operates as a not-for-profit financial institution, enabling us to prioritize the needs of members. This unique structure allows the credit union to offer competitive interest rates on clean energy loans, high dividends on share accounts including 3.5% interest on rewards checking, and minimal fees.

The credit union’s mission isn’t just about dollars and cents — it’s a commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and a sustainable financial future. 

Read Nicole’s full article here – https://greenmoney.com/powering-a-sustainable-future-with-clean-energy-credit-union

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By Nicole Burford, Clean Energy Credit Union

As the impacts of climate change become more evident, the urgency to transition away from fossil fuels is clear. Investing in renewable energy is crucial for the future of our planet, yet it remains a challenge for many. Clean Energy Credit Union is poised to change that narrative. Our not-for-profit model focuses on making clean energy affordable and accessible to a wide range of people across the country by providing an attainable entry point for individuals to invest in the clean energy movement with a low minimum deposit. This innovative approach advances sustainability and democratizes access to renewable energy investing.

Our Bold Mission — At the heart of Clean Energy CU lies the vision to create a world where everyone can participate in the clean energy movement. We are making this vision a reality by:

Making it easier for everyone to afford clean energy and energy saving products and services by offering clean energy loans with amazing terms.Making it easier for everyone to invest in the clean energy movement by offering federally insured checking accounts, savings accounts, and clean energy CDs whereby the deposits are solely used to help others pursue their clean energy and energy saving projects.

Clean Energy CU operates as a not-for-profit financial institution, enabling us to prioritize the needs of members. This unique structure allows the credit union to offer competitive interest rates on clean energy loans, high dividends on share accounts including 3.5% interest on rewards checking, and minimal fees.

The credit union’s mission isn’t just about dollars and cents — it’s a commitment to environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and a sustainable financial future. 

Read Nicole’s full article here – https://greenmoney.com/powering-a-sustainable-future-with-clean-energy-credit-union

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LINCOLN, Neb., September 5, 2024 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation subawards $4.7 million in urban forestry grants to 18 community-based nonprofits in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. The Foundation’s Community Roots Program, a grant opportunity established with Inflation Reduction Act funds, saw great demand in its first phase with more than 230 applicants.

The grants awarded will be used to plant trees, grow green spaces, and foster environmental justice in disadvantaged communities of greatest need, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. Proposed projects range in focus from addressing the urban heat island effect, to natural disaster recovery, to establishing food forests. A full list of the community-based nonprofit subawardees is below.

“Trees are a critical part of building healthy and resilient cities. The overwhelming response to our Community Roots Program underscores the immense need for continued investment in urban and community forestry,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We’re confident these local organizations will leverage this funding to maximize the positive impact trees can have in the neighborhoods that need it most.”

The USDA Forest Service awarded the Arbor Day Foundation a $50 million Inflation Reduction Act grant in 2023. The nonprofit has already subawarded $27 million of the funding to municipalities in 14 states.

The same grant helped the Arbor Day Foundation create the Community Roots Program. The program’s first phase subawarded funding to community-based nonprofits. The second phase will subaward $8 million to Tribes and Tribal organizations across the country. The application portal for this second phase of funding will remain open through September 30 and can be accessed here.

 

COMMUNITY ROOTS PROGRAM FUNDING RECIPIENTS

 AwardeeProject NameArea of FocusAlief Super Neighborhood CouncilAlief Arbor InitiativeAlief, TXAlliance for Cape Fear TreesCapacity Building to Improve the Canopy Through Integrated Tree Care and Community OutreachWilmington, NCBeyond Housing24:1 Tree Canopy RestorationSt. Louis, MODenver Urban GardensDig Deeper Initiative: Food ForestsDenver, COForest ReLeaf of MissouriCommuniTree Program ExpansionKansas City & St. Louis, MO, and communities across MissouriFriends of Bellefontaine CemeteryEnhancing Community and Ecological Health through Tree ManagementSt. Louis, MOFriends of the RappahannockExpanding Urban and Community Forestry Opportunities in the Rappahannock and York River WatershedVarious communities in VirginiaFriends of the Urban ForestAdopt-A-Yard-TreeSan Francisco, CAMississippi Children’s Museum-MeridianDeep Roots Urban Pocket ParkMeridian, MSNewport Tree ConservancyIncreasing Tree Canopy and Environmental Stewardship in NewportNewport, RIOregon Urban Rural and Community ForestryRogue Valley’s Treesilience: Transforming Urban Canopies TogetherJackson County, ORRoytens Enrichment Academy Community Hope (REACH)TreeVitalize: Sowing Community Roots TogetherCalifornia City, CASacramento Tree FoundationCommunity Forests and EducationSacramento, CAServe Ethiopians WashingtonSouth King County Tree CaptainsSeattle, WASpeak for the TreesNeighborWoodsBoston, MASustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL)Reforesting New Orleans’ Lower 9th WardNew Orleans, LATree TrustCooling Northern Dakota CountyMinneapolis-Saint Paul, MNReTreeUsGrowing Roots of Environmental Justice through School and Community Orchard Capacity BuildingVarious communities across Maine and New Hampshire

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

# # #

LINCOLN, Neb., September 5, 2024 /3BL/ – The Arbor Day Foundation subawards $4.7 million in urban forestry grants to 18 community-based nonprofits in partnership with the USDA Forest Service. The Foundation’s Community Roots Program, a grant opportunity established with Inflation Reduction Act funds, saw great demand in its first phase with more than 230 applicants.

The grants awarded will be used to plant trees, grow green spaces, and foster environmental justice in disadvantaged communities of greatest need, as defined by the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool. Proposed projects range in focus from addressing the urban heat island effect, to natural disaster recovery, to establishing food forests. A full list of the community-based nonprofit subawardees is below.

“Trees are a critical part of building healthy and resilient cities. The overwhelming response to our Community Roots Program underscores the immense need for continued investment in urban and community forestry,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “We’re confident these local organizations will leverage this funding to maximize the positive impact trees can have in the neighborhoods that need it most.”

The USDA Forest Service awarded the Arbor Day Foundation a $50 million Inflation Reduction Act grant in 2023. The nonprofit has already subawarded $27 million of the funding to municipalities in 14 states.

The same grant helped the Arbor Day Foundation create the Community Roots Program. The program’s first phase subawarded funding to community-based nonprofits. The second phase will subaward $8 million to Tribes and Tribal organizations across the country. The application portal for this second phase of funding will remain open through September 30 and can be accessed here.

 

COMMUNITY ROOTS PROGRAM FUNDING RECIPIENTS

 AwardeeProject NameArea of FocusAlief Super Neighborhood CouncilAlief Arbor InitiativeAlief, TXAlliance for Cape Fear TreesCapacity Building to Improve the Canopy Through Integrated Tree Care and Community OutreachWilmington, NCBeyond Housing24:1 Tree Canopy RestorationSt. Louis, MODenver Urban GardensDig Deeper Initiative: Food ForestsDenver, COForest ReLeaf of MissouriCommuniTree Program ExpansionKansas City & St. Louis, MO, and communities across MissouriFriends of Bellefontaine CemeteryEnhancing Community and Ecological Health through Tree ManagementSt. Louis, MOFriends of the RappahannockExpanding Urban and Community Forestry Opportunities in the Rappahannock and York River WatershedVarious communities in VirginiaFriends of the Urban ForestAdopt-A-Yard-TreeSan Francisco, CAMississippi Children’s Museum-MeridianDeep Roots Urban Pocket ParkMeridian, MSNewport Tree ConservancyIncreasing Tree Canopy and Environmental Stewardship in NewportNewport, RIOregon Urban Rural and Community ForestryRogue Valley’s Treesilience: Transforming Urban Canopies TogetherJackson County, ORRoytens Enrichment Academy Community Hope (REACH)TreeVitalize: Sowing Community Roots TogetherCalifornia City, CASacramento Tree FoundationCommunity Forests and EducationSacramento, CAServe Ethiopians WashingtonSouth King County Tree CaptainsSeattle, WASpeak for the TreesNeighborWoodsBoston, MASustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL)Reforesting New Orleans’ Lower 9th WardNew Orleans, LATree TrustCooling Northern Dakota CountyMinneapolis-Saint Paul, MNReTreeUsGrowing Roots of Environmental Justice through School and Community Orchard Capacity BuildingVarious communities across Maine and New Hampshire

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees. Together with our partners, we have helped plant more than 500 million trees in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival. Through our members, partners and programs, the Arbor Day Foundation inspires people across the globe to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

# # #

“As Dalit landless people, we used to survive primarily on rice, and some days we had nothing to eat. Our children’s stomachs were never full. We now have land to grow vegetables for our family,” says Rubi Sadhya, a member of the Dina Bhadri Women Farmers Group, in Siraha District, Nepal.

She is a part of a groundbreaking climate-resilient leasehold farming approach in Nepal that is not just about farming; it is a journey for the landless towards a more nourished and sustainable life. While there is still a long way ahead to enjoy a balanced diet every day, the strides families have made are unprecedented.

The contract farming model allows and supports landless farmers to lease cultivable land for five to ten years. That lets people create livelihoods even when land would normally be out of reach. The National Farmers’ Groups Federation (NFGF) initiated this climate-resilient leasehold farming practice in the fiscal year 2018/19 as a pilot in Bhagwanpur Municipality. Local governments paid the cash cost to pilot the model ($378 USD, or 50,000 NPR). CARE and NFGF provided technical support, production inputs, and technology are from CARE and NFGF. The cost is likely to go down once it is institutionalized and scaled out widely. 

This approach succeeds because it brings together several different stakeholders for the same goal. CARE and its partner NFGF play a crucial role in overseeing the entire process. They not only provide the initial production inputs and technical support but also offer incubation assistance. Meanwhile, the local government takes care of paying the lease amount. After farmers complete their production training, they begin independently leasing additional land.

It’s already scaling women and governments are already building on the model, reaching nearly 20 times the number of people the project started with. 10 more local governments are starting to roll out the approach.

What is changing? 
Fostering collective responsibility: Farmers in this model embrace a strong sense of collective responsibility, ensuring adherence to the obligations outlined in the land lease agreements signed by their group leader.

Women become bread winners: 40 women are now growing food on 2.6 hectares of lands that would otherwise lie fallow. The land lets them grow food even though their husbands have migrated to get jobs abroad.

Self-esteem goes up: Women increase their confidence to engage with local government to claim their rights. The model creates opportunities for individual households within the group to own a share of the land, encouraging them to increase production and enhance individual earnings.

Land gets used effectively: The model ensures that land that no one is using grows food, creates jobs, and improves the livelihoods of the most marginalized land-poor and landless communities.

Women are already scaling the approach: These women have not only provided nutrition, but they are also confident they can earn enough to expanding their leased lands. That will reduce how much they depend on external subsidies in the future, making them self-reliant.

Governments are scaling up nearly 20 times the reach: Laxmipur Patari Rural Municipality has already embraced this model as part of its policy and program, extending its reach from ward 1 to ward 3 and 5. In total 732 landless families from 31 communities of 10 local governments have developed sustained food security and livelihood source as of now. The local governments have included contract farming in their policy and program to reduce poverty among landless and climate-vulnerable communities.

How did we get here? 
Partnership with local stakeholders – CARE Nepal in partnership with National Farmers Group Federation (NFGF) and Local Initiatives for Biodiversity Research and Development (LIBIRD) identified the food insecure, most marginalized, and landless Musahar community as the impact group and brought concept of leasehold farming targeting Musahar, the landless agricultural tenants. As contract farming was an ‘untrodden turf,’ CARE Nepal and its partners decided to pilot this practice in Siraha district.

Engagement of women farmers – NFGF supported formation of 40-members Dalit Women Farmers Group and engaged in the scheme enhancing their livelihoods significantly. The female farmers should specially be credited for bravely taking on the load of cultivating the land after receiving several demonstration trainings.

Effective Advocacy and Lobbying – CARE partners successfully advocated, more than a decade ago, for the introduction of the Land Lease Working Guideline (2014/2015). This guideline ensures that government and private lands are leased to farmers without land. This helped in initiating the pilot process for leasehold farming. Beyond just policy impact, this approach is seen as a model for making the best use of land, creating jobs, and fostering the country’s long-term socio-economic growth.

What next? 
The impact of this transformative farming model continues to ripple through communities, with Laxmipur Patari Rural Municipality leading the charge. Recognizing its success, the municipality has officially incorporated this model into its policy and program, expanding its coverage from Ward No. 1 to include Wards No. 3 and 5. This extension marks a significant milestone in the widespread adoption of a sustainable and empowering approach to agriculture.

Moreover, the positive momentum does not stop there –10 different local governments including Belaka Municipality in the Udayapur district have also eagerly endorsed it. The endorsement from multiple municipalities underscores the replicability and adaptability of the model in diverse contexts.

The strength of this model is that government policy and guidelines are in place on leasehold farming which explicitly provisions to utilize private and public land for leasing and farming. Additionally sufficient fallow land (both public and private is available at local level)

Written by Kim Allman | Head of Corporate Responsibility and Public Policy

Gen Blog | Community

If there’s one thing that parents, caregivers and teachers can likely agree on, it’s that students spend a lot of time online. Social media and gaming apps give young people new ways to connect, create and play, but they also come with their fair share of risks. And in a threat landscape that’s constantly evolving, it’s important for students to know what to look out for as they begin to navigate the digital world on their own.  

At Gen, we’re doing our part to empower young people with the Cyber Safety skills they need to conduct their digital lives securely and confidently. One of the ways we do this is through My Digital Life, which provides educators with lesson plans, videos and interactive tools aligned to learning standards and meant to address common issues young people face online, from cyberbullying and privacy risks to misinformation and scams.  

The program is the result of a partnership between Norton, one of Gen’s trusted Cyber Safety brands, and Discovery Education, a worldwide leader in education technology. Together with the National Afterschool Foundation, we launched My Digital Life in September 2023. As the program celebrates its first anniversary, we’re thrilled to share some of the highlights from its inaugural year. 

Building Students’ Cyber Safety Skills 

Throughout the 2023-2024 school year, My Digital Life reached more than 214,000 students in 1,100 school districts across 49 states, far surpassing the program’s initial goal to reach 100,000. 63% of these students were from Title I schools, which are districts allocated federal funds for educational programs and services that close achievement gaps. 70% were from underrepresented ethnic/racial backgrounds.  

“Knowing that so many of my students interact online even at the elementary level, these resources offer great ways for us to have discussions about how to stay safe and friendly when conversing and playing games online,” one teacher said.  

Equipping Educators with Cutting-Edge Tools 

Getting these resources into educators’ hands remains one of the program’s top priorities. Through the combination of its dedicated website, placement on Discovery Education Experience, the company’s award-winning K-12 learning platform, and outreach campaigns to educators on social media, we make sure teachers are aware of the numerous free, ready-to-use tools that are at their fingertips.  

“We don’t have a dedicated technology class anymore, so digital citizenship largely falls on the subject teachers,” said one school administrator. “The Educator resources lay everything out for them, so they don’t have to do a lot of legwork to give great lessons!” 

Forecasting the Program’s Future 

In its second year, My Digital Life plans to launch in multiple new languages, greatly expanding the program’s reach both within the United States and internationally. In addition, Gen employees will volunteer as part of Discovery Education’s Career Connect, through which they’ll speak directly with the classrooms where My Digital Life is used and discuss the wider technology industry.  

For more on how we provide Cyber Safety education and training, check out our 2024 Social Impact Report. These grants were awarded from the Gen Foundation, a corporate advised fund of Silicon Valley Community Foundation.  

Complimentary Webinar

EUDR Compliance and the Uber Evolution of Traceability Platforms

September 19, 2024 | 11:00 AM ET/8:00 AM PT

REGISTER HERE

Compliance with the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) begins in earnest on December 30, 2024 (June 30, 2025, for small businesses) and companies that fall within the affected industries—particularly those dealing in soy, beef, oil palm, rubber, wood, cocoa, coffee, and many derived products—are finding the path to compliance exceptionally challenging.

Besides ensuring that commodities are deforestation-free and legally produced, the regulation also demands robust traceability throughout the supply chain. Traceability is seen as a central tool in the search for sustainability and ethical sourcing seeking to connect the producer with the consumer. In this transformative era, a new commercial opportunity has emerged through traceability platforms, offering not only location tracking but a broad spectrum of data analytics, including land ownership, production yields, quality assessments, fertilization practices, and much more. These platforms, some of which are free, are redefining the landscape, but at what cost?

Join SCS Consulting Services’ Jan Pierre Jarrin, Managing Director, Europe and Mohammad Abdel-Razek, Technical Director, on Thursday, September 19th at 5:00 p.m. CET (11:00 a.m. ET, 8:00 a.m. PT) for a 45-minute discussion on EUDR compliance focusing on:

The levels of traceability required for EUDR ComplianceWhat should companies look for in a traceability platformThe significant data risks of using “Free” traceability platformsThe value of doing an EUDR compliance gap analysis to help set a corporate strategy for compliance achievement by the December 30th deadlineHow to navigate the EUDR due diligence reporting requirements

Register today to secure your spot!

By registering, you will get access to the webinar recording.

For inquiries, contact:

Madhumita Mohan 
Marketing Manager, SCS Global Services 
mmohan@scsglobalservices.com

CINCINNATI, September 4, 2024 /3BL/ – In 2017, Fifth Third set an ambitious goal to power the Bank’s operations across its national footprint – including more than 1,000 retail locations and operational facilities across 11 states – with 100% renewable power.

In late August 2019, Fifth Third achieved this goal with the opening of the Aulander Holloman solar facility in North Carolina. The project was made possible through a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), which guaranteed that Fifth Third would purchase all the electricity generated, thereby enabling the developer of the solar project to secure funding and build the project.

As part of the agreement, and in return for Fifth Third’s financial guarantee, the Bank receives claims for adding net-new renewable capacity to the regional grid in the form of renewable energy certificates (RECs). RECs are issued when one megawatt hour of electricity is generated and delivered to the electricity grid from a renewable energy resource. Appropriately verified and retired RECs act as a proof of generating and using renewable energy. As an industry best practice, Fifth Third uses a combination of RECs, onsite renewable energy, and ongoing energy-efficiency measures across the enterprise to power its operations with 100% renewable power.

“Ultimately, the power purchase agreement has meant that we put more power into the nation’s electricity grid than we use with all our facilities combined,” said Pratik Raval, chief sustainability officer for Fifth Third. “Additionally, and equally importantly, this has proven to be a smart financial decision, particularly as an energy price hedging mechanism for the Bank. In that regard, this is a great example of sustainability as a driver for direct business value creation while mitigating our climate impact.”

In 2023, the solar power generation from the Aulander Holloman solar facility was more than 190,000 megawatt hours – enough to power over 25,000 homes, or the equivalent of emissions from over 29,000 passenger vehicles.

Fifth Third has continued to build upon its commitment to renewable energy by installing solar panels at 20 new financial centers at the end of 2023 and into 2024. These projects took place in communities across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. In all, Fifth Third now has 24 retail locations generating up to 80% of annual electric needs at some locations.

Fifth Third’s use of solar power, combined with internal efforts to reduce energy use, have helped the Bank reduce enterprise-wide grid-based energy use by more than 40% – one of Fifth Third’s six operational sustainability targets adopted in 2022. To-date, the Bank has achieved two of the six goals, and is making significant progress toward the rest.

“These goals are the most aggressive operations sustainability goals we’ve had to date,” Raval said. “They maintain our focus on critical areas of operational sustainability while demonstrating our continued leadership in the financial services industry.”

More information about Fifth Third’s sustainability strategy is available in the Bank’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

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About Fifth Third

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

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