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Global Warming / Climate Change -- What Are Current Weather Events and Dramatic Changes Telling Us? The National Geographic describes “Global Warming” as a set of changes to the Earth’s climate, or long-term weather patterns, varying from place-to-place. The dramatic changes in the rhythms of climate could affect the face of our planet – coasts, forests, farms, mountains…all hang in the balance. So, also hanging in the balance: the fate of humanity! Explains NatGeo: “Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are dying, and wildlife scrambles to keep pace. It’s becoming clear that humans have caused most of the past century’s warming by releasing heat-trapping gases as we power our modern lives. Greenhouse gases (GhGs) are at higher levels now than in the last 650,000 years.” * “Climate Change” is the less politically-volatile term used by leaders in the public and private sectors (such as in the numerous shareholder-presented proxy resolutions that are on the ballots of public companies for owner voting and in the language of corporate sustainability reporting). Carbon Dioxide emissions (CO2) released into the atmosphere have increased by a third since the start of the Industrial Revolution, and so addressing this challenge would logically be a prime responsibility of those who benefitted most from the 200-year-plus revolution – pretty much all of us! The political climate in most of the developed industrial world is mostly reflective of the will to do “something” – witness the almost 200 sovereign nations signing on to the Paris Agreement in 2015 (“COP 21”) to work together and separately to holding the temperature rise to well below 2-degrees Centigrade (3.5F), the pre-industrial levels -- and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature rise to 1.5-degrees C above pre-industrial levels. (“As soon as possible.”) The Agreement also calls for the increasing society’s ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience including low GHG emissions development. ** The outlier nation to the agreement, sad to say, is the world’s largest economy and significant GHG emitter, the United States of America, which has begun the withdrawal process from the Paris Agreement. This week we present a selection of top stories about climate change – and global warming! – to illustrate the effects of a changed climate around the globe. And to send signals to the doubting policymakers in Washington DC that the threat is real! The good news is that many corporate managements, powerful institutional investors, and public policy makers in a growing number of cities, states and regions are committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement and working to implement steps to hold the line – to build resilience – that will benefit all of society. We really do have to hurry -- take a look at what is happening around our planet: This Week’s Top Stories: Earth at risk of becoming 'hothouse' if tipping point reached, report warns 5-year drought raises questions over Israel's water strategy Our climate plans are in pieces as killer summer shreds records Are devastating wildfires a new normal? "It's actually worse than that," climate scientist says Europe battles wildfires amid massive heat wave Don’t despair – climate change catastrophe can still be averted Australia's most populous state now entirely in drought Nearly 140 people dead amid Japan heat wave Europe bakes again in near-record temperatures * Greenhouse Gases are defined as a gas trapping heat in the atmosphere, contributing to the “greenhouse effect” by absorbing radiation: carbon dioxide/CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and flouorinated gases (such as chlorofluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride). ** The Paris Agreement is at: https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/english_paris_agreement.pdfSustainability: Forward Momentum! Sustainability Squared Green is the New Black: Sustainability in the Fashion World Design Thinking: Making Sustainability Irresistible “Straw-less summer”: Balancing sustainability and disability rights on the Eastern Shore In the business of being green: is there really a business case for sustainability? Making the Case for Sustainability – a U.S. Coast-to-Coast EV Tour Ag investors looking for sustainability Question Of The Week: What Sustainability Means Today Large healthcare organizations not concerned with sustainability, study finds Effective Governance for Sustainable Development: 11 Principles to Put in Practice Certificate program seeks to reframe sustainability Sustainability Change Is Hard but Companies Slog Along, Study Shows Techstars Sustainability Accelerator: 10 Start-Ups Driving Innovation For The Planet Is Stella McCartney The Queen Of Sustainability?
A Range of ESG Topics & Issues – More Things For You to Think About -– What Will Be the Future Impact? The US is tilting the global balance in oil and gas NY ratepayers will pay for $2.1B offshore wind plan, but won't get the energy From the Corporate Sector - Both Positive & Negative – Headline Scans for You NRA Says It Faces A Financial Crisis In Lawsuit Against New York State Officials Goldman’s CEO-in-waiting makes another change, names Esposito co-head of trading division Wells Fargo says hundreds of customers lost homes after computer glitch Purdue University removes John Schnatter name from building, offers to return $8 million donation Aardvark, only U.S. producer of paper straws, acquired to meet skyrocketing demand Why So Many People Sleep in McDonald's in Hong Kong Chipotle faces second lawsuit after 703 people fall ill in Ohio Playskool crayons found to contain asbestos, advocacy group says The N-word remark by Papa John's founder caused sales to crater 10.5% in July Japan says Mazda, Suzuki, Yamaha Motor carried out improper testing First trial alleging Monsanto's Roundup causes cancer goes to jury
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G&A Institute Sustainability Update™ Eco-Efficiency Green Firm-Specific Advantages — L’Oréal Case Study ________________________________________ _________________________________________ Louis Coppola from G&A Institute Goes In Depth on How to Improve ESG Performance
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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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