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Are You Still In? The President May Not Be On Board -- But These 2,000 U.S. Organization's Leaders Are Still Are! As the President of the United States began the laborious process of reneging on the historic global agreement to address the challenges of climate change reached in Paris at the COP 21 meetings in 2015, the reaction inside the country by thought leaders and important economic players was swift and decisive: The "We Are Still In" movement was launched by private parties and state and municipal-level government officials. And by a widening range of institutional investors (asset owners and managers), major corporate leaders (especially the well-known, large-cap corporate brand marketers), respected academic centers, trade & professional associations, family foundations, entrepreneurial businesses, professional practices, information providers...and more.
In just days, more than 1500 companies, 197 majors of cities, 308 universities, nine governors, sent the message loud & clear: We Are Still In the Paris Agreement! This new, important social movement is a voluntary, grassroots approach that includes a wide range of stakeholders, many with familiar names, proclaiming: Despite the Trump Administration reneging on an important commitment -- governmental (public policy) and moral (especially in terms of leadership on the most important societal issue of our time) -- the players in the new movements will continue moving ahead to address climate change challenges. We are still in the game and keeping the word of the United States of America, say the signatories. Important for all of us to keep in mind: (1) in the USA, the Federal government alone is not driving the process; (2) the Paris Accord was an important blueprint for creating new jobs, especially here in the United States; (3) and was a pathway to creating greater prosperity on a broad basis; (4) part of a concerted effort by the community-of-nations to creating stability in the world community. Today, just three of the world's sovereign nations are absent from the Agreement: Nicaragua, Syria...and the United States of America. For shame! Our Top Story today is the background information for you from the G&A Institute Sustainability Update blog on the We Are Still In Movement, with many of the bold names of the signatories. This is spreading now like a proverbial prairie wildfire, we say; the response of American leaders in business, academia, investing, social sector organizations, professional providers, and others is encouraging and bold, and sending a clear message in Plain English in our words: We [the signatories] are still in! Still in, that is, [in] the effort to address the serious challenges inherent in climate change and committed to innovating solutions while creating economic opportunities! As a footnote to the commentary, note that the members of the U.S. Conference of Mayors are meeting in Florida this week, and supporting cities (in a bipartisan basis) approved resolutions such as attaining 100% renewable energy by 2035 and encouraging the use of electric vehicles in their jurisdictions. Said Mayor Steve Benjamin of Columbia: "We are showing the world that cities and mayors can and will lead the transition from fossil fuels to 100% clean, renewable energy!" Mayors also called on the President to re-consider commitment to the Paris Accord and continuing President Obama's Clean Power Plan. The second Top Story for you in from the widely-read Huffington Post, a commentary by Dr. Gregory Unruh, Arison Professor of Values Leadership at George Mason University and a well-known advocate for sustainable business strategy (including environmental sustainability and climate responsibility). He shares his perspectives on the important steps in building the organization to meet sustainability goals. Once the material sustainability issues are identified by the organization, he advises, structures and systems need to be put in place to meet the adopted goals of the [corporate] sustainability journey. And at the top, CEO commitment is necessary because of the changes that will be taking place on the journey. Putting in place KPIs for important tangible goals and assigning clear managerial responsibilities are necessary steps to ensure that the sustainability efforts don't hit the rocks. The key, he writes, is getting the body of middle managers on board -- most are likely to resist and see implementation as a "pain in the butt." There's more sage advice in his piece. The two Top Stories are of a pair, we would say. First, read about the We Are Still In movement, and think about signing on for your organization; and then read Professor Unruh's advice on managing your organization's sustainability journey, based on the research he's done with major academic centers, including MIT (his post is the fourth in the series by MIT Sloan Management Review and Boston Consulting Group). Top Stories This Week... Are You Still In? Are You Signed on Yet? C’Mon – the Country Needs You! Build the Organization for Your Sustainability Goals Important Items for Your Attention: Editors' Sustainability Scans - Progress! Source: Sustainable Brands - The truth is that most of what passes for mainstream practice in sustainability accounting today does not pass this test. One such method is monetization, according to which a monetary value (positive or negative, as the case may... How hybrid energy storage aids corporate sustainability Source: GreenBiz - Arguably most of the environmental and social impacts in retail lie in its supply chain — the manufacturing of consumer goods. More Developers Are Targeting Aggressive Sustainability Goals Seeing green: Why fleets are jumping on the sustainability trend Sustainability: A greener culture The Brands That Have Been Sustainable Since Before It Was Buzzy Flint outlines sustainability progress Weaving sustainability into Singapore’s urban fabric SFA Director Mike Schragger: How to Make Sustainability a Business Success Source: MorningStar - Investors are very interested in sustainable investing, but one of the main ways most people invest, through their workplace defined-contribution, or DC, retirement plans, typically have no sustainable options.
What's a woman on the board worth to stock investors? About 300 bps, according to CIBC study Why this leading shareholder advisory firm is now studying climate change California invested heavily in solar power. Now there's so much that other states are sometimes paid to take it
Norway issues $1bn threat to Brazil over rising Amazon destruction Swedish pension fund sells out of six firms it says breach Paris climate deal Sovereign investors tweak portfolios for environmental risk Biggest U.S. banks clear first hurdle in Fed's annual stress tests News for You From the Corporate Sector How Marks & Spencer Is Helping To Build A Global ‘Sustainability Tribe’ Here are some takeaways from the Uber founder’s departure Source: Business Insider - After Amazon.com Inc completes its takeover of high-end grocer Whole Foods Market Inc , it might launch another brand with different standards, the grocery chain's chief executive said in remarks reported in a securities filing... Mylan shareholders vote against executive pay, re-elect board Xylem Publishes 2016 Sustainability Report
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