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Colleges and Universities and Global Sustainability – Many Higher Ed Institutions Are Addressing the 21st Century’s Great Societal Challenges in Many Ways in North America, Asia-Pacific and Europe United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon thinks that institutions of higher learning are “the leading torch bearers for global sustainability.” The world’s universities, adds the Study International organization team: “…Universities play a vital role in helping us understand climate change…” The Study International Staff looks at the roles of universities in addressing climate change challenges in the U.S.A., Asia-Pacific and in Europe in a very informative wrap-up that is one of our Top Stories this issue. Under the Climate Leadership Network, they explain, more than 600 colleges and universities in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia have committed to take action on climate change, preparing students through research and education to solve 21st Century challenges. The institutions profiled today: the University of Utah’s College of Mines and Earth Sciences; the University of Queensland in Australia; College of Science and Technology, Temple University (USA); Asian School of Environment, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Our other two relatedTop Stories for you are (1) a feature from Florida by Bakari M. McClendon at the Florida A&M University’s Sustainability Institute (go Rattlers!), about the great work being done at the school to work toward “climate (impact) neutrality”, collaborate with the community and prepare students for the sustainability challenges of the 21st Century. (The school is a public, historically African-American institution). It’s a fascinating wrap up and FAMU faculty, staff and students are justifiably proud of telling. And (2) on the other American coastline, far to the west, at the University of California’s Santa Barbara campus, there’s news about the school being named among the top-performing institutions in the 2019 Sustainable Campus Index (did you know there was such an index?). The index is from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (“ASSHE”) and it annually ranks the nation’s most sustainable colleges and universities in 17 impact areas related to academics, engagement, operations and administration based on it “STARS” methodology. UCSB is part of the “sustainability revolution” in California that is helping to set the pace for the U.S.A. in addressing climate change challenges. Here at G&A Institute we have a program for select intern-analysts to assist with ESG / sustainability / corporate disclosure and reporting research projects -- which we then share results [of] with you on our G&A web platforms. We are proud of the men and women who have participated in our rigorous programs over the years since 2010 – they are now influential in helping to advance corporate sustainability and sustainable investing out “in the real world” – you can find their profiles on our Honor Roll at: https://www.ga-institute.com/about/careers/internship-honor-roll/ And the results of their research over the recent years that these outstanding professionals have helped to conduct is found at: https://www.ga-institute.com/research/research/research-reports/ If you are a college/university student, particularly a grad student, and you would like to be considered for an internship with G&A Institute, please examine this: INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS DATA ANALYST P.S. If you don’t know about The Study International organization, which operates from the UK, Australia and Malaysia, and helps students find educational institutions and graduate employers connect, you can tune in to their web platform: www.studyinternational.com Perhaps you will find an institution that your organization can collaborate with, or a graduate to fill that sustainability position at your organization. This Week's Top Stories Resilient research hubs that strive for global sustainability Education is a launch pad for sustainability problem-solvers Sustainability Strides Calling Your Attention To The JAMA Network (Journal of the American Medical Association) published an analysis of Health Care Organizations’ sustainability and CSR reporting. We share with you this week a very informative commentary from the JAMA Network (Journal of the American of the American Medical Association -AMA) that should be interesting reading for managers of healthcare facilities. This is an assessment of the sustainability reporting by large health care delivery organizations (HCOs) performed by two medical professional, Emily Senay, M.D., MPH; and, Philip J. Landrigan, M.D. MSC2: Assessment of Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting by Large Health Care Organizations(Thursday - August 30, 2018) Source: Jame Network, Emily Senay, MD, MPH1; Philip J. Landrigan, MD, MSc2 - Do large health care organizations participate in the business trend to report on sustainability activities?
Sustainability: Forward Momentum! Sustainable nutrition: a new term for an old concern Sustainability and Profitability: How to Make a Positive Impact Sustainability Can Be a Win-Win
Our Focus This Week on A Range of ESG Topics & Issues – More For You to Think About – What Will Be the Future Impact of These Developments? From Passive To Active: Institutional Investors Promote Corporate Governance 70% of Americans think the environment is more important than economic growth Winners and losers from the new NAFTA deal Yes, We Should Conserve Energy
From the Corporate Sector - Both Positive & Negative – Headline Scans for You How Eileen Fisher's DesignWork Initiative Is Effectively Strengthening Sustainability In Fashion How to make luxury goods sector sustainable: Kering’s mission to identify issues, team with suppliers and enable designers And we offer these headlines for you… PepsiCo's recycling drive and Lego's plant-based bricks: The sustainability success stories of the week Six Volkswagen Managers Fired in Ongoing Diesel Emissions Scandal Papa John's scorches Papa John in 800-word response HBC Releases 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report And two important stories from the “S” factors category (in “ESG”) – major U.S. large-cap companies and how they are taking care of their human assets: General Mills Expands Employee Benefits, Includes 18-20 Weeks Of Maternity Leave Microsoft will require US suppliers to offer paid parental leave And a company responds to public criticism: News & Opinion: Asset Managers, Sovereign Wealth Funds, Pension Funds Should Companies Abandon Quarterly Earnings Reports? Legg Mason Charged for Violating US FCPA over Libya’s SWF The Public-Pension Party Must End
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G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ INTERNSHIP: SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS DATA ANALYST ________________________________________ _________________________________________ Louis Coppola from G&A Institute Goes In Depth on How to Improve ESG Performance
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G&A's To The Point! is a businesss intelligence web-platform resource. This management briefing service offers timely insights and perspectives on Corporate Sustainability, Responsibility & Citizenship.Click here to request a trial subscription. Below are links to a sampling of three recent briefs: ABOUT THOSE CORPORATE EMPLOYEE PENSION PLANS –The Focus is Increasing on the Shortfalls…and Remedies _________________________________________ FLASH REPORT: 85% of S&P 500 Index® Companies Publish Sustainability Reports in 2017
Using The GRI Sustainability Reporting Framework Improves The Quality of ESG Disclosures - Joint Research From G&A Institute and Baruch College Shows
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G&A Institute is the Data Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative's (GRI) in the USA, UK and Republic of Ireland. We identify, receive, collect, analyze, database, and communicate about every report issued in any of the 3 countries. Over the past 6+ years, G&A analyzed 6,000-plus sustainability reports in this pro bono role and databased 100+ important data points for each report. Find out more @ G&A's What's A Data Partner _________________________________________
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The Sustainability Highlights eNewsletter is prepared by Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. based on continuous monitoring of trends and developments in Sustainability and ESG. Governance & Accountability Instiute is the "Sustainability Headquarters™" for clients in the corporate, investment, public and social sectors. Based in New York, G&A is a for-profit consulting organization providing a range of value-added strategies, services and resources related to ESG & sustainability to clients in the corporate and capital markets communities.For G&A's full range of services, click on each of the links below: For more information, contact Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. | |||||||||||||||
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