Page 17 – Sustainability Academy

In April 2019, the city of Atlanta announced its bold and ambitious green energy plan, approved by the Atlanta City Council in March — which aims to get Atlanta 100% green in 16 years by 2035. It is ambitious with no easy path to get there.

Like any other American city, Atlanta is woven with power lines, trams and buses. The electricity that makes Atlanta run comes mostly from coal, natural gas and nuclear energy. Only 6% to 8% comes from renewable sources.

The city believes it can tackle their green energy plan by trying to use less energy, believing an opportunity to reduce the consumption in the city 25% to 30%, is possible just through the energy-efficiency side alone.

Atlanta also plans to put up a lot more solar panels — on homes, commercial buildings and at utility scale solar farms. It will rely on things like improved battery storage for solar energy as well as renewable-energy credits from outside the state to offset coal and gas power still coming from the local grid. Atlanta’s mix will also still include a lot of nuclear power.

Do you represent or are directly or indirectly linked to this reality of Atlanta’s green energy plan? What solutions do you adopt and what actions to do implement to ensure the sustainability of your organization with the city’s bold plan and ambitious plan in place? Join us in Atlanta in early 2020 for sustainability discussions regarding Atlanta.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2020, takes over Atlanta March 9-10, 2020 to help sustainability professionals rise to any occasion. This challenging two-day training offered by Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) aims to give you all the latest tools and resources required to implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives taking place in your organization.

The Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) is expanding Sustainability Training and Consulting Services to Miami, Florida. These days, greater Miami is also positioning itself as a global leader in resilience and sustainability, approaching it from all fronts. It is clear that Miami has taken some important steps involving funding, regulations, policy and program implementation to enhance sustainability.

Local and state-level authorities have committed to implementing and spending on infrastructure improvements, pump stations and repairing sea walls. Educational organizations, the scientific community, the private sector, non-profits and citizens take the lead in achieving environmental sustainability. Building a more resilient and sustainable Miami is not a “one man job” though.

THAT IS WHY TRAINING IS KEY

East coast issues include climate change and sea-level rise, water resources, city growth and management and applying ESG (environment, social, governance) principles to the region. CSE trainings start and finish by making the business case for sustainability. If a company cannot advance financially, they can’t help their community of stakeholders. Investor relations are key! Employees need to understand this as well as employers do.

TRAININGS

CSE marks more than a decade in providing high caliber certified education on sustainability and corporate responsibility worldwide for C-suite executives & Sustainability (CSR) Managers who want to maximize their company’s impact and become qualified with the latest knowledge in the field.

An important CSE strategy is to meet corporations where they are. From construction to Silicon Valley, from banking to telecommunications, CSE has developed meaningful relationships with both SME’s and large corporations. Over the past 10 years, more than 6,500 executives from leading organizations including Google, NASA, Coca-cola, Timberland, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, L’Oréal, ExxonMobil, Hartford, T-Mobile, Procter & Gamble, Tridel and Macy’s were certified as sustainability professionals by the Center for Sustainability and Excellence.

TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE

Not everyone has the time or the money to spend four years earning a sustainability degree. Informed employees, aware students, corporate leaders who understand the fundamentals are needed immediately! Modules on Local Legislation, Global Standards and Future Trends provide critical foundational knowledge.

In 2020 we have added Miami, in January 16-17 to our rotation of trainings. Others include New York, Atlanta and Toronto. Senior managers and VPs from more than 90% of the FORTUNE 500 have attended our programs. They join over 1500 Certified Sustainability Practitioners from over 50 countries all over the world.

For more information and Early Bird pricing, check here or contact [email protected]

The successful November 2019 Dubai training focused on the importance of the need for a comprehensive sustainability strategy, including full commitment and support of each organization’s leadership. Another focus, praised as one of the key take-aways by participants and challenges for the organizations in Gulf Countries and Africa, was the Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, there was a strong interest in measuring the social impact and value created of long-term CSR Initiatives. Also, the central role of sustainability in each county’s vision and strategy for the future was discussed, as well as for the Dubai 2020 Expo, and the role companies play in the fulfillment of these strategies.

The training included a majority of participants from Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Nigeria, Ghana, Morocco and Dubai.

Several SVPs, Circular Economy Experts, Senior Specialists, Sustainability Directors and CSR Professionals from leading companies such as The World Bank, Oman Oil, Emicool, Aldar Properties and Worley Parsons joined CSE’s certified sustainability program that has qualified over 6.500 Sustainability and CSR professionals.

CSE is preparing now for the London Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2020), March 12-13, 2020. As always, CSE will tailor the training to the unique needs of Europe.

Supply chain, investor rankings, and materiality are important components of the Center for Sustainability and Excellence Certified Sustainability Practitioner training which will be presented in London 2020. CSE does not pick focus topics arbitrarily, such as the request for extra SROI information in the 2019 Houston training. We listen to participants from past trainings and to participants enrolled for future trainings.

Want to inform the focus for London? Register early and earn the chance to inform the discussion, bring your unique challenges and learn the case-study based methodology to enhance your sustainability journey.

The Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) thanks all of our participants at our sold-out San Francisco training, October 15-16, 2019. The discussions were enlightening, deep, meaningful and the key issues brought to the table critical.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2019 provides participants the tools they need to implement effective sustainability strategies. Executives from Fortune 500 & Fortune 1000 companies tackled issues arising from Sustainability Reporting, ESG ratings, stakeholder engagement and competitive advantage. Discussion also focused on the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as responsible communication of sustainability practices, initiatives and results. The salient topics covered included supply chain, compliance, international legislation, the circular economy and the significance of materiality assessment.

Several Sustainability Professionals from leading companies such as Cisco, Oracle, Chevron, Lyft joined CSE’s certified sustainability program that has qualified over 6.500 Sustainability and CSR professionals.

Attendees were among the first to learn about CSE’s research on Sustainability Reporting Trends in Silicon Valley 2019, a follow up to 2016’s research. CSE’s research indicates that Silicon Valley has made significant improvements in sustainability strategy and reporting over the past three reporting cycles. Despite improvement, much work remains especially when comparing Silicon Valley to CSE’s research findings on the Sustainability Status of all sectors in North America.

Attendees from corporations, governments and NGOs from around the world have trusted CSE and participated in our advanced training to become Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioners and earn recognition in the Sustainability and CSR field. Each training addresses issues of deep concern to the region and the participants. The upcoming trainings include Miami January 16-17, 2020 and Atlanta March 9-10, 2020!

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Leadership Edition 2020, will take place in New York City on June 11-12, 2020 and its goal is to help sustainability and other ESG professionals rise to any occasion and implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives taking place in their organization.

Register early for our future global trainings and earn the chance to inform the discussion, bring your unique challenges and learn the case-study based methodology to enhance your sustainability journey.

Contact [email protected]

Former president Barack Obama was invited to speak on Wednesday, during an international conference at the Green Build Expo, where he pointed out the advantages of environmentally sustainable construction.

His administration work with the Paris Climate Accords was among the main highlights during his speaking agenda while he also broached how human behavior has been one of the main indicators of causing climate change. Additionally, he talked how our lifestyle, working patterns and city designs have to be drastically altered.

“I’m all about logic and reason and fact,” Obama said, adding, “Obviously, that’s contested these days.”

Obama sure knows and names that climate change has a severe effect in human existence and stressed the importance of equity in order to solve sustainability and climate issues.

Environment and global warming concerns tend to grow more prominent at the 2020 elections and despite the writing is on the wall, climate change is, according to Obama, one of those things where you can be too late.

Despite the urgency that is surfaced from his speech, Obama did not disregard to emphasize on how important it is to close as much as possible the huge gaps in wealth, work and opportunity if they are to be solved any sustainability and climate change issues.

Atlanta is more reflected on that view as it has repeatedly earned the questioning title of “Income inequality capital of America”.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2020, returns to Atlanta, March 09-10, 2019 to help sustainability professionals rise to any occasion. This challenging two-day training offered by Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) aims to provide to sustainability professionals all the latest tools and resources required to implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives.

If anyone seems to understand a bit more clearly the truths behind climate change that would be the younger generations globally. With protests taking place almost every week, it is high time education focuses on the emergent significance of the climate change issues.

Twelve and counting are the states that have decided to put climate change in the heart of their science programs. However, in Florida, despite the numerous nature strikes it has experienced, such basic conversations are bypassed.

“Identify, analyze, and relate the internal and external conditions that contribute to global climate change.” That is what several education experts as well as teachers have agreed to when asked about Florida’s strongest climate change principals.

Though it starts to raise the subject of climate change, along with greenhouse gases and fossil fuels, even Florida’s strongest climate standard is insufficient of pointing out the human involvement in the cause of climate change. While other states bring at the front the human activity, Florida is noticed to put the matter on the side according to Rebecca Anderson, a leader with the Alliance for Climate Education.

Changing the science guidelines would not be easy. State law would have to change, teachers would need time for training and Florida’s assessments would need an update. “Climate change is now apparent and happening in real time, and they are learning how to connect the dots whether its extreme weather events, such as wildfires or flooding or hurricanes” Anderson adds.

Several climate scientists agree that climate change is driven by humans, nonetheless when it comes to Florida and education, there is a limit in terms of standards while trainers have to make any political and social noise out of the teaching classes.

Resources and local support is the key to a robust education on climate change, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “Leaders are calling for this increase, but the teachers are in this kind of a sticky spot where they don’t have the training, even if they agree it’s important”.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2020, takes over Florida January 16-17, 2020 to help sustainability professionals rise to any occasion. This challenging two-day training offered by Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) aims to provide to sustainability professionals all the latest tools and resources required to implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives.

Participants at the Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program in Toronto welcomed Anna Zubets Anderson, Vice President – Senior Analyst at Moody’s Investors Service in New York.

As this program focuses on key challenges that professionals have to face in the field of Sustainability, Supply Chain, Corporate Responsibility, Sustainable Development and Circular Economy, Anna presented Moody’s views and strategy on sustainability on the last day of the program, Friday, November 1, 2019.

Anna started her presentation by discussing market interest around ESG and UN SDGs alignment increasing globally. “There is a growing focus on SDGs but there is a gap as we are not investing enough money towards SDGs,” she said. Indeed, achieving the SDGs will require between $3 trillion and $5 trillion in investment per annum in developing countries alone, according to the UN Commission on Trade and Development. Current annual investment in achieving the SDGs sits at $1.4 trillion.

Anna followed her presentation with Moody’s vision to establish ESG assessment standards to meet analytical needs of the credit analysis teams and broader market.

Moody’s objective is to improve transparency using the four ESG analytical tools:

– ESG taxonomy: What is ESG?

– Heat maps: Is ESG material to credit quality?

– Assessments: How is a specific issuer exposed to ESG risks?

– Credit opinions: How has ESG affected an issuer’s credit rating?

Trainees’ reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Those attending CSE’s two-day certification program were excited to hear Anna also discuss how the labelled bond market is growing and diversifying as she presented figures regarding the increase in green bonds compared to the emergence and increase in social and sustainability bonds.

Moody’s is a sponsor to CSEs Leading global Certified Sustainability Program. More specifically, this program aims to equip business executives with updated knowledge and practical tools necessary to develop a sustainability vision and strategy, improve branding and ESG ratings, reduce stakeholder-related risks and lead sustainable companies to deliver economic returns.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Leadership Edition 2020, will take place in New York City on June 11, 2020 and its goal is to help sustainability and other ESG professionals rise to any occasion and implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives taking place in their organization.

As mentioned in a previous blog article, North Bay Village, like many other areas across Florida, is beginning to notice the effects of rising sea levels. Top environmental issues in Miami are not new problems and have been raised for decades.

For example, one problem is Florida allowing development on its beaches and the sea level rise, as a result of climate change, is not stopping developers of Florida’s coast.

In 2016, South Florida was home to 6 million people and projected to grow by 3 million over the next three decades. Yet, by 2050, an estimated $15 billion to $36 billion of Florida’s coastal property will be threatened by sea-level rise, according to a report in 2015 from the Risky Business Project, a Bloomberg Philanthropies effort that quantifies economic risks from climate change.

In South Florida, sea-level rise and climate change are already having an effect on available drinking water as the rise of the ocean is bringing salt water into the water system.

It is undeniable the beautiful Florida beaches are attractive to tourists. On May 1, 2019, the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) announced a record-breaking 16.5 million overnight visitors in 2018, up +3.5% compared to 2017, along with 6.8 million Day Trippers for a total visitor number of 23.3 million. The record-breaking visitor volume led to an economic impact of nearly $18 billion, fueled mostly by international visitors who contributed an estimated +54% of the total economic impact. Greater Miami and the Beaches broke another record by selling a record 15.6 million hotel room nights in 2018, representing an increase of +1.5% compared to 2017. This speaks to the strong demand for the destination. But tourists bring their own challenges – often in the form of motor boats and fishing rods, contributing further to the sustainability issues.

If you represent or are directly or indirectly linked to these industries affected by these environmental challenges in Florida, what solutions do you adopt and what actions to do implement to ensure the sustainability of your organization? Join us in Miami in early 2020 for sustainability discussions regarding the Sunshine State.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2020, takes over Florida January 16-17, 2020 to help sustainability professionals rise to any occasion. This challenging two-day training offered by Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) aims to give you all the latest tools and resources required to implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives taking place in your organization.

For example, one problem is Florida allowing development on its beaches and the sea level rise, as a result of climate change, is not stopping developers of Florida’s coast.

In South Florida, sea-level rise and climate change are already having an effect on available drinking water as the rise of the ocean is bringing salt water into the water system.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2020, takes over Florida January 16-17, 2020 to help sustainability professionals rise to any occasion. This challenging two-day training offered by Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) aims to give you all the latest tools and resources required to implement or upscale existing sustainability initiatives taking place in your organization.

For the 6th consecutive year, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) are organizing Green Week, an overarching umbrella for key environmental activities and events in the region. Green Week features programs and initiatives to raise awareness about the environment and sustainability and the need to follow a sustainable lifestyle. It also informs younger generations about the importance of rationalization of electricity and water and the conservation of natural resources; motivating them to innovate new solutions that support the transformation towards a green economy.

Under its umbrella, the 6th Green Week will host the 21st Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition. The Green Week also features the 4th Dubai Solar Show, the region’s largest solar power technology event; the 6th World Green Economy Summit; the International Desalination Association World Congress, the premier global event on desalination and advanced water treatment solutions; and the Gas and Oil Technology Showcase and Conference 2019.

The Green Week is based on a vision to promote a culture of sustainability in society, while also instilling a culture of creativity and innovation among the younger generations, who are considered by the UAE’s wise leadership as vital for anticipating and shaping the future. Green Week also focuses on developing young talents that will help shape a sustainable future for the energy sector, thereby supporting the national efforts to establish Dubai’s and the UAE’s leadership in the field of sustainable development.

The event will launch a ‘Centre of Excellence,’ which will target universities, students and the academia, welcoming more than 150 students.

Sustainability practitioners bring strong skills and out-of-the-box way of thinking to deal with the challenges ahead. After its sold out events in NYC, Houston, San Francisco, Seattle and Toronto CSE is holding its next Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program in Dubai, November 17-18, 2019.

Group registration form