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I'm setting up a 'climate crisis hub' – The Spectator
SSCI Launches Public Consultation on Environmental Sustainability Benchmark Criteria – The Consumer Goods Forum
“We are all most grateful to members of The Consumer Goods Forum for doing what is in their power to ensure the availability of these products at affordable prices. We appreciate CGF members’ constant support for the efforts of national governments and public health bodies.”
“The CGF proves that partnership creates more impact. This is what I will hold myself accountable for – fostering the force of impactful partnerships to enable better lives through better business”.
“Leadership by the private sector can catalyse action on multiple fronts to tackle hunger, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity. This workforce programme is one. It makes business sense, and is the right thing to do. We appreciate CGF’s leadership”.
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is committed to helping its members understand the challenge being faced and provides a unique, global platform that promotes best practice sharing.”
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“We are all most grateful to members of The Consumer Goods Forum for doing what is in their power to ensure the availability of these products at affordable prices. We appreciate CGF members’ constant support for the efforts of national governments and public health bodies.”
“The CGF proves that partnership creates more impact. This is what I will hold myself accountable for – fostering the force of impactful partnerships to enable better lives through better business”.
“Leadership by the private sector can catalyse action on multiple fronts to tackle hunger, micronutrient deficiencies, and overweight and obesity. This workforce programme is one. It makes business sense, and is the right thing to do. We appreciate CGF’s leadership”.
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) is committed to helping its members understand the challenge being faced and provides a unique, global platform that promotes best practice sharing.”
Certifications are a key tool for organisations to use when conducting supply chain due diligence. However, with dozens of standards to choose from, and more emerging each year — all of which approach sustainability differently — it can be difficult for organisations to know which schemes to trust.
The Consumer Goods Forum (CGF)’s Sustainable Supply Chain Initiative (SSCI) benchmarks third-party sustainability auditing, monitoring, and certification standards against industry-developed criteria to provide trusted guidance on which standards cover key sustainability topics and operate responsibly. The SSCI currently operates a social sustainability benchmark and has been working with members since 2022 to expand its scope to environmental sustainability.
Today the SSCI opens a public consultation on the draft environmental sustainability criteria and calls on expert insights to ensure this process is successful. By participating in development of the criteria, stakeholders will help contribute to a more transparent, credible, and sustainable environmental certification system.
With the new environmental sustainability benchmark criteria, the SSCI Benchmark will be able to recognise independent environmental sustainability certification, auditing, and monitoring schemes and programmes that meet the industry’s expectations for the kind of sustainability topics standards should cover and how assessments should be carried out.
Similar to the Benchmark’s scope-based approach to social sustainability, the Environmental Benchmark Criteria will apply to schemes and programmes working in the Manufacturing & Processing; Primary Production; and Forestry sectors.
The SSCI now invites the public to provide feedback on the draft Environmental Sustainability Benchmark Criteria for these three scopes. The topics covered by the Benchmark Criteria are:
Your input is needed to set the bar for sustainability standards in our industry
With your help, we will ensure that the SSCI recognises the best environmental certifications and sets a bar for our industry that meets the expectations of all stakeholders. We believe that this benchmarking process is a game-changer for the environmental certification landscape, and we need your help to make it a success. Join us in this movement and make a positive impact on our environment!
All are invited to participate in a this consultation and evaluate the final draft criteria which is available here and returning any feedback on this sheet via email before 9 April 2024.
© 2024 The Consumer Goods Forum. All Rights Reserved
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5 Female Founders Leading The Charge For A Sustainable Future – Forbes
These 5 female founders are recipients of the WE Empower UN SDG Challenge 2023.
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) are a set of 17 global objectives established in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They aim to address a range of critical issues facing the world, including poverty, gender inequality, environmental degradation, and ensuring prosperity and peace for all. Each goal is interconnected, emphasizing the need for a holistic approach to achieve sustainable development.
The WE Empower UN SDG Challenge is the first-of-its-kind global competition for social entrepreneurs who are advancing the UN SDGs and inspiring entire communities to act to create the world we want. Funded primarily by the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory, the Challenge has been providing vital support to women environmental leaders since 2018.
Here are the 5 innovative women entrepreneurs (WE) who won the 2023 Challenge. These leaders from around the world are pushing forward sustainable business practices and inspiring others to follow suit. As Awardees, they enjoy capacity-building training sessions and opportunities to connect with an unparalleled global network to advance their enterprises.
Menna Farouk is the CEO and Cofounder of Dosy.
With a population of about 100 million, Egypt is one of the most densely populated and polluted countries in the world. Dosy aims to encourage women and girls in Egypt to ride scooters and bicycles by connecting them with riding instructors. Not only does Dosy create employment opportunities for women, but it also helps reduce traffic congestion and pollution. As it is against social norms for females to ride scooters and bicycles in Egypt, Dosy furthermore helps to shift those norms.
Cofounder and CEO Menna Farouk is a journalist and entrepreneur whose purpose is to help people who face injustices. “By facilitating scooter and bicycle lessons, Dosy empowers women and girls with the confidence and skill to navigate their surroundings independently. We also break down gender barriers in transportation, which could lead to women having more freedom and control over their movement,” she said in an exclusive interview with me.
Farouk advises aspiring change makers to identify their passion. Also, she says, “Do not let limited resources hold you back. Think outside the box and find creative solutions. See challenges as opportunities to learn and grow. Persistence is key to making a lasting impact.”
Diana Mbogo is the Founder and Managing Director of Millennium Engineers Enterprises.
Millennium Engineers Enterprises Ltd is a female-founded and led social enterprise that specializes in renewable energy. Currently, their Sardine Fishing Industry business project is working to transition the low-income sardine fishing industry in Lake Victoria away from pressurized kerosene/LED lead acid powered batteries lamps and conventional methods of sardine drying towards more climate-friendly solar drying facilities.
Diana Mbogo is the founder and managing director of Millennium Engineers. “My work gives me the opportunity to serve the most vulnerable communities,” she said in an exclusive interview with me. Even though funding was suspended during the Covid pandemic and she already had drained all her savings to support the business, she rallied Mbogo cut all unnecessary administrative costs, and was able to secure the first $0.5M in financing by 2021.
“Challenges are the most beautiful opportunities,” Mbogo says. “Integrity will open more doors for you than your skills can. Remember, our greatest moment is now!”
Andrea ‘Andy’ Blair is the Cofounder and Director of Business and Innovation at Upflow.
Upflow is a geothermal research and innovation company based in New Zealand. Upflow assembles expert teams to work on cutting-edge technologies and fosters interdisciplinary approaches to build real-world solutions rooted in geothermal environments. The company also aims to ignite a movement that harnesses the power of STEAM (Science, Technology, Arts & Math) to solve humanity’s most pressing challenges.
“My mission is to empower humans to achieve things they never dreamed possible,” said Andrea ‘Andy’ Blair, cofounder and director of business and innovation at Upflow, in an exclusive interview with me.
The greatest challenge Blair has faced with Upflow is money. “We are constantly being challenged by the tension between the need for cashflow and saying no to work that doesn’t align with our purpose,” she says. The work we are doing doesn’t fit ‘the norm.’ Navigating this landscape requires resilience, persistence, creativity and a steadfast commitment to our purpose-driven vision, despite the constant obstacles.”
Blair has this advice for aspiring change makers. “No doesn’t mean the end, no just means you have to find another way around! Don’t worry about all the bad stats and scary stuff, just stay focused on your purpose, hold your head up and push hard. Also, we can no longer simply wait and hope for fairness. We need all genders to help us get there! This is not a women’s problem – this is a societal problem.”
Karin Sempf is the CEO and Founder of Innova Nation.
Innova Nation is an educational lab focused on motivating and empowering the upcoming generation of entrepreneurs, innovators, and sustainability advocates. They provide interactive learning opportunities for children and teenagers aged 8-18, helping them foster creativity, critical thinking skills, and problem-solving abilities while simultaneously encouraging them to explore their interests and ideas. So far, Innova Nation’s programs have impacted the lives of more than 10,500 students at over 90 schools.
Founder and CEO Karin Sempf is a purpose-driven entrepreneur. It was only after 10 years of owning her first business that she understood her strengths and how to harness them in favor of her passions. This led her to make a change in her career and create Innova Nation.
“My life’s purpose is to connect with the youth and find meaningful ways to help them understand the power of their ideas,” Sempf said in an exclusive interview with me. “At a larger scope, my purpose is to catalyze sustainable change through entrepreneurship and innovation in Latin America.”
Sempf advises aspiring change maker to welcome disruption – the kind of disruption that starts with empathy and curiosity, breaks the status quo but has a deeper purpose. “Start connecting the dots and create the world you want by harnessing who you are and by tapping into communities with similar purposes,” she says.
Susan Blanchet (Canada) is the CEO and Founder of Origen Air.
Origen Air is on a mission is to create biophilic rooftop oases that metabolize toxins and purify indoor air. Buildings now represent 40% of emissions. By connecting to HVAC systems, Origen systems produce efficient and sustainable living air purifiers using genetically modified plants that are 92x more effective at removing toxins from the air.
Susan Blanchet is the founder and CEO of Origen Air. As a teen, she was inspired by reading Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring to do something about the human-made toxins in our environment. So, she went into environmental law. Then, at only 51, her father was diagnosed with early onset dementia, which she linked to his work in wastewater treatment plants. Since she couldn’t litigate better air, she learned how to clean it.
Origen has quickly built an international brand with large clients, won international recognition as climate leaders, brought in over $1.8M in funding and is positioned to access more government funding. Still, the greatest challenge they have faced is access to capital.
“My mantra is ‘I will not fail,” said Blanchet in an exclusive interview with me. “Many times as a female leader in the climate space, I have come extremely close to failing. My advice is to develop a network of key women and male supporters that you can reach out to in these difficult times to provide warm introductions. Go to events to meet like-minded people. And never stop promoting your brand.”
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Beatriz Baldan Commemorates Excellence in Design and Sustainability – 24-7 Press Release
Ms. Baldan has carved a distinguished career in design and construction, sustainability, and the circular economy.
MIAMI, FL, May 31, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Beatriz Baldan has been included in Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
Ms. Baldan has carved a distinguished career in design and construction, sustainability, and the circular economy. She is the owner and director of B Sustainable in Miami, and since 2021, she has offered consulting services to decarbonize residential and commercial buildings. Her work involves inspecting existing structures for insulation efficiency, conducting airflow tests to identify weatherization leaks, drafting proposals for decarbonization initiatives, and collaborating with contractors to implement these plans effectively. Before this role, she was the managing partner at 3Ci Inc. from 2015 to 2020, where she honed her skills in sustainable development practices.
Before her work at 3Ci Inc., Ms. Baldan served as a principal and managing partner at MBD Investments from 2003 to 2012, concurrent to her tenure as a principal and managing director at Agora Developers LLC from 2007 until 2012. She gained her foundational experience as a project manager at Skanska USA Inc., where she first applied her architectural expertise to large-scale construction projects. She has been recognized throughout her career for her unique position as a woman deeply involved in the design and construction sectors. Notably, she is most proud of her role as the designer behind Columbia University’s Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, a project that spanned five years from inception to completion.
Ms. Baldan’s academic journey has been a pillar of her professional success. She earned a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Buenos Aires in 1968 and a master’s degree in architecture with honors in health services planning and design from Columbia University in 1973. Her commitment to continuous learning is evident in her circular economy and sustainability strategies certification from the University of Cambridge Judge Business School in 2023.
Underscoring her commitment to leveraging her expertise for broader societal benefits, Ms. Baldan is actively involved with civic-minded organizations. She served as a board member for Foster Care Review in Miami for four years and volunteered for ten years. Ashe also volunteers at the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience. Additionally, she is an alumni member of Columbia University.
Presently, Ms. Baldan is focused on drafting a paper for Miami-Dade County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Board. This paper addresses housing concerns and explores financial, health care, environmental and social issues. Through this initiative, she aims to contribute her vast consulting expertise to projects that tackle these critical areas, further demonstrating her dedication to creating sustainable solutions for complex challenges.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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As Florida hurricane season starts, at least there's no climate change – Tampa Bay Times
Comedian, Florida Man and 2024 Gasparilla grand marshal Bert Kreischer was recently asked to defend the state. You see, people from other regions love to make Floridians do this, as if all residents are long-suffering public defenders working pro bono for an obviously guilty party.
“Don’t sleep on Florida …” he said on the show “After Midnight.” “Everything in Florida kills you. We have alligators, poisonous snakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, bath salts. We have lightning so bad, we can’t even have giraffes at our zoos.”
Kreischer is correct, I fear. As we cross into hurricane season this week, it’s worth remembering how Floridians are just built different. Where else do average families have survival kits stocked in the weird half-cupboard over the fridge? I bet nobody in Illinois has the stones to decapitate a lubber between sips of Miller Lite. Furthermore, wood storks literally knock on my door seeking snacks. Floridians simply do not freak out when a dinosaur descendant comes calling, only briefly wonder if we may be pregnant.
We are, as Kreischer put it, “the ones who are going to save you” when the dead start walking. That’s a vital skill set, because we’re on our own out here. Under the current political conditions, Floridians will apparently have to bootstrap our way through history’s biggest existential threat.
State leaders, who continue to guzzle bathtub gin at alarming rates, have decided now, of all times, in the Year of Our Lord 2024, to smudge the existence of climate change from state statues. A law signed this month by Gov. Ron DeSantis erases the word “climate” in nine places, moves policy away from renewable energy goals and axes a host of other environmental measures. DeSantis, naturally, took the opportunity to go on X, formerly Twitter, and dunk on “radical green zealots.”
Well, then. Florida Man, are you ready to apply a heavy layer of zinc oxide in pursuit of defeating the radical green zealots? Is your insurance policy solid, or has it been canceled? Do you know the whereabouts of your mylar blankets and water purification tablets? What’s the condition of your jon boat? We must prep for the worst in Florida, where climate change doesn’t exist.
Some considerations to the contrary:
• Federal meteorologists are forecasting an “extraordinary” hurricane season with the Atlantic Ocean already heating to typical August levels. Boiling waters will bump against a hurricane-happy La Niña, a cocktail as treacherous as a rum runner in a plastic bucket.
• A new study confirms that storms are becoming so strong, there may be justification for a Category 6 hurricane classification. This reads like a SyFy network movie, especially after the trauma of back-to-back Category 4s Ian and Idalia.
• Street flooding continues to run amok everywhere from Shore Acres to inland Riverview. Jacksonville roads could become inaccessible to emergency vehicles. Pensacola officials are asking some homeowners to raise their homes or take a buyout. In St. Pete and Tampa, both mayors are signaling concerns about the eventual livability of our coasts.
• An event called a “heat dome” in Mexico, Central America and, yes, Florida, is putting pressure on the energy grid and killing both humans and howler monkeys, the latter of which are dropping out of trees. There is no way to make this amusing. It’s awful.
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It can be easy to write off the above list as fear mongering. The view out the window might appear sunny and calm at the moment, and Hollywood has conditioned us to picture environmental disaster as hiding in the New York Public Library with a young Jake Gyllenhaal. But, guys, this is it! The crisis is already happening! The United Nations warns that more extreme, unrecoverable disasters will accelerate. This makes it all the more bonkers that the state’s Republican-led Legislature prioritizes fossil fuel profits and treats our safety like an infant playing peekaboo instead of reaching for meaningful solutions around transportation, energy and development.
But, uh, yeehaw? Floridians will get through it as colorfully as possible, of course. We will do what we always do, which is climb ladders, board up windows, fill bags with sand, grit our mojito-drenched teeth and be there for our fellow leathery man. So as Kreischer said, “give us some leeway when we take our shirt off at Buffalo Wild Wings.”
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Stephanie Hayes is a columnist offering her thoughts on current events, life and culture. She can be reached at shayes@tampabay.com.
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Vermont becomes first state to penalize oil companies for climate change – Salon
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Last year, Vermont suffered a catastrophic series of torrential rains that washed out major cities like Montpelier, the state's capital, and the nearby municipality of Barre. Many businesses took months to rebuild and many homeowners were left stranded. Some Vermonters said it was the worst natural disaster to hit the state since a 1927 flood killed dozens of people.
Now, Vermont has become the first state to require oil companies to compensate the public for damages caused by climate change. On Thursday, the Vermont legislature passed a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of damages caused by climate change.
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The bill is controversial. Vermont's Republican governor, Phil Scott, issued a public statement saying, “I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways." He allowed the bill to become law without his signature because he expressed concern about the costs of what is expected to be a prolonged legal battle.
Scott Lauermann, a spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute, told the National Review that this is a "punitive new fee" that is part of "a coordinated campaign to undermine America’s energy advantage and the economic and national security benefits it provides. Rather than work collaboratively with the industry to further our shared goal for a lower carbon future, state lawmakers opted to pass a bill designed by activists to further their own interests.”
While this may be seen as a win for anyone hoping for better regulation of fossil fuel companies, it will likely entail a long legal battle, the Guardian reports. “We know that big oil will fight this in the courts,” Martin LaLonde, chair of the state’s house judiciary committee, told the outlet. “But, as an attorney myself, and having worked closely with many legal scholars in shaping the bill, I believe we have a solid legal case.”
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