Page 18 – Sustainability Academy

As leaders in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and CSR strategy, we are often asked for our opinion on matters of most concern to the C-Suite. Here are some of the questions and the answers we’ve provided regarding Renewable Energy.

What are the main challenges for corporate renewable energy uptake in the US?

Executives and Boards of Directors are unaware of the opportunities and, more importantly, the risk of not being energy diversified.
2. Arguments are still made based on cost and efficiency rather than risk and long-term stability.
Getting past regulatory barriers in building infrastructure (one of the reasons we like portable solar solutions such as from Envision).

Where do the opportunities lie?

Investment in VPPAs (virtual power purchase agreements)
Technologies which supplement basic renewables infrastructure such as coatings on solar cells;

What are the main trends?

A follow the leader mentality put to good use – For example, as server intense tech companies look to reduce cost and risks, others will follow.
Dawning (in its infancy) awareness that renewable energy is a job leader
Discussing energy as a critical piece of a comprehensive sustainability strategy! It’s moving out of the isolation of cost-savings and/or carbon emissions.

What do you think needs to happen for the industry to develop further?

Greater awareness of the job benefits in Renewables. Job creation drives policy. It is immediate and impacts employees and local stakeholders more than the political implications of dependency on foreign oil or long-term fears of climate change.

What would you focus on if speaking at an energy conference?

Nikos Avlonas, CSE’s president and founder, and many at CSE would speak to renewable energy’s role as a risk avoidance sustainability strategy. Such a strategy is significant for investors to see higher ESG rankings based on GRI reporting, including SDGs. Our research shows a direct connection between sustainability reporting and strategy and financial performance, partly attributed to investor confidence and brand loyalty. We attend and host events in which we can share our experiences and decades of expertise.

In addition, we host events which fall into two categories:

CSE’s exclusive Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Training Workshop for C-Suite Executives, a Fast-Track training workshop especially designed to address key sustainability leadership challenges and equip business leaders with updated knowledge and practical tools to develop a sustainability vision and strategy, improve branding and ESG ratings, reduce stakeholder related risks and lead sustainable companies to deliver economic returns. (Next workshop – September 30 – October 1, 2019, in NYC).

Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) is a foundation course on the pragmatic methodology and tools to implement a corporate sustainability program. This is the “how to” course for identifying stakeholders, material issues, goals, implementation and reporting (Next training – New York City, June 6-7, 2019).

Beyond teaching the theory of sustainability, universities must hold themselves accountable as socially responsible citizens.

There are many opportunities to grow sustainability at the university level – beyond and including curriculum! How are institutions of higher education addressing sustainability reporting? A quick glance indicates they are incorporating SDGs, but there is no reporting standard. Yet, the often huge campuses have ample need and opportunity for sustainability strategy.

Educational organizations which do have some sustainability reporting are mostly for-profit corporations and are listed on CSRHub, the sustainability ranking service with whom CSE partners. A good portion of their data comes from GRI database.

Ranking indexes also rely on sources which range from sustainability reports (both listed in the GRI database and not), annual reports, government and legal filings, positions on other ranking platforms, financial and general media coverage, reports made to other organizations such as CDP and reports by advocacy groups. They are tailored toward for-profit corporations, explaining why universities generally don’t appear in sustainability rankings. Most universities are either non-profits, state agencies, or both.

In general, higher education is late to sustainability reporting. Organizations such as AASHE are trying to change this, but there needs to be a critical mass of sustainability practitioners to implement their recommendations.

Graduates need practical sustainability certification to hit the ground running, regardless the discipline they’ve pursued. Theory is one thing – methodology and tools are something else.

As more universities release sustainability reports, ranking agencies will pay closer attention, requiring specific metrics. Right now, the GRI sector disclosure which would apply to universities (but only the non-profits) is the NGO Disclosure. In the future, there may be a disclosure that covers institutes of higher learning, both for-profit and non-profit.

Are there enough sustainability professionals to meet this demand? In addition to sustainability practices themselves, and how to effectively implement or improve them, there are intricacies and nuances to the different reporting mechanisms and platforms. We’re all moving forward in different ways!

CSE’s Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) offers training on these key topics and many others. The first 2019 program in Toronto runs April 11-12, 2019. Only two seats remain.

As it is happening in cities around the world, Toronto has a significant portion of government resources directed toward sustainability. Where the city leads, opportunities follow. Some of the key issues addressed by the city council include climate change, wet weather, waste management, green spaces and ecosystems, and resilience.

With regards to Climate Change, the city is making investments to decarbonize its economy and infrastructure. Preference will go to companies with low emissions and companies which can help reduce green house gases while improving public health, economic prosperity and social equity. Construction and transportation will play a key role.

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) has a series of blogs addressing aspects of sustainability and resilience in Toronto and throughout Canada. CSE’s research Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends: North America 2018 shows how engaging in socially responsible behaviors helps drive a profitable bottom-line.

Wet weather affects more than the agriculture sector. The city has a 25-year plan that looks closely at storm water run-off. Protecting adjacent waters from urban pollution is one aspect. Another is mitigating basement flooding. This issue even affects tourism as the beaches are at risk. This is why WATERFRONT Toronto pays close attention to global best practices. The organization has a well-developed procurement process for revitalization projects.

Another concern, the City of Toronto manages nearly a million tonnes of waste annually. The growing population combined with limited landfill space requires new waste reduction, reuse, recycling, recovery and residual disposal programs. Companies which can mitigate their own waste stream or can provide cost-effective, socially acceptable and environmentally sound, long-term solutions are in demand.

Many of these efforts culminate in protecting and enhancing Toronto’s green spaces, including ravines and along the waterfront. Quality of life, economic prosperity, opportunities for recreation and education, clean air and biodiversity require increased vigilance. For example, invasive pests and plants put pressure on these systems. Whether maintenance companies, non-profits or universities, there is need for people working on viable solutions.

Accutane at www.papsociety.org/accutane-isotretinoin/ is a potent isotretinoin-based drug. One of its main aims is the complete blocking of the sebaceous glands, as well as reducing their size. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect of isotretinoin on the skin has been proven.

These efforts lead toward building Toronto’s resilience. CSE’s Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) offers trainings addressing topics key to Toronto. CSE does not pick focus topics arbitrarily. We listen to participants from past trainings and to participants enrolled for future trainings. Want to inform the focus for Toronto? Register now and let us know your thoughts. CSE’s first Toronto training is April 11-12, 2019.

The Canadian Carbon Tax has more than economic ramifications. It is part of interdependent issues affecting Toronto.

Canada has passed its revenue neutral carbon tax. It may be high enough to meet climate targets, but will it cover social cost? Toronto will benefit from Canada’s move because it is already experiencing climate-related, surprising heat waves and both droughts and flooding. The legislation addresses risks to critical infrastructures and food security. Between 2019 and 2022, gas prices will increase less than 10%, but the cost of coal will double, increasing demand for cheaper carbon-free electricity.

Fortunately, artificial intelligence will assist sustainability efforts by predicting weather patterns which affects energy load and farming, to name just two. Entrepreneurs are bringing new AI technology to market as reported in CSE’s Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends: North America 2018.

As weather becomes less predictable, local sourcing is growing, but “sustainable” farming practices are being taken over by Agribusiness and may actually contribute to climate change. To get non-GMO yields equivalent to 1 acre of “regular” farming, research cautions may require more cleared land, even slash and burned. Wise use of Canada’s existing farmlands, too often subsumed into suburbia, might help. Another option is halophytes which grow on denuded lands, thrive on salt water and have long root systems which sequester carbon.

Climate change will alter transportation dynamics, directly addressed by the carbon tax. As a tech hub, Toronto will see industry experimenting with significantly low-fuel and even no-fuel options. Already social entrepreneurs are using congestion to their benefit to promote the use of electric scooters in dense urban settings.

No matter which side of the carbon tax one falls on – for or against – there is no doubt to the multiple ramifications to sustainability practitioners! The legal team, Financial department, ERM (risk management), Procurement, communications, R&D, and investor relations are cross-organizational departments needing a sustainability expert, answering questions, leading programs and informing policy throughout the corporate structure.

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) offers trainings topics key to Toronto. CSE does not pick focus topics arbitrarily. We listen to participants from past trainings and to participants enrolled for future trainings, such as extra SROI information presented at the 2018 Toronto training. Want to inform the focus for Toronto? Register now and let us know your thoughts. CSE’s first Toronto training is April 11-12, 2019.

The number of businesses that turn to a greener identity is constantly increasing, as they find themselves that the more they focus on sustainability the better the results and their performance. As reported during the Climate Week in NYC last month, the 2019 ESG landscape is shaped by climate change alleviation. Additionally, it was noted that a serious investment in new generation professionals should be made who understand not only how their companies impact the environment but also how the environment will impact on their company.

Amidst the top recognized challenges is to identify the leading personalities that can tackle issues such as diversity to manage growth towards more sustainable business in the long term. Furthermore, the companies that are tied to climate change have begun receiving pressure on behalf of shareholders to coordinate their efforts and face the climate-related challenges in a more holistic yet focused and intense way.

On that note, businesses identify that the growing need of sustainability expertise has been shaped accordingly and it is critical to absorb high quality professionals that can keep up with the latest innovations while deliver profitable results.

To meet this need, the Silicon Valley awarded Sustainability Academy is beyond environmentally focused as it offers affordable specialized certified education and coaching in the field of Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility. We are set to make a difference on this planet so we invite you to take on the journey with us!

Check out our most popular courses of Online Certificate on ESG Performance for Investors & Sustainability Professionals and the Online Certificate on Sustainability (CSR) Reporting and contact us to get a discount!

Bosses across industries are increasingly tasked by long-term ESG (environment, social, governance) concerns. Toronto business leaders are no different. College grads or corporate managers growing as leaders are finding opportunities around sustainability.

A key driver in and around Toronto is the Aerospace industry. Space may be “the final frontier” for exploration, but it’s also a frontier for sustainability practices. Concerns include managing debris, ensuring fair access to satellite orbits, increasing rocket efficiency and developing systematic methods and practices for LCAs (life cycle assessments). Space exploration and delivery are benefiting from AI and adding applications from environmental monitoring (AGRICULTURE) to navigation (TRANSPORTATION).

Opportunities exist for envisioning space as a resource for sustainable development (ok, not in 2019, but the plans are being outlined now!). Space research has inadvertently created products which advance sustainability. Now, sustainability is a clear mandate for the Canadian Space Agency, ESA and NASA. CSA has been monitoring the ozone, mapping geological features and determining the environmental impact of mineral exploration for decades.

CSE’s 2018 research Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends North America focuses on the influence of Sustainability on Financial Results. We find confirmation of the link between Sustainability Reporting and Financial Performance. Paying attention to long-term concerns pays off in annual profits.

CSE research highlights findings from key sectors such as Telecommunications, Transportation, Energy, Construction, Agriculture and Financial Services, and many other industries becoming increasingly important to sustainability.

Through consulting, research and training, CSE research breaks down CSR (corporate social responsibility) data, tracking the issues which keep telecom CEOs and administrators on edge such as:

Sustainable product design,
inclusion and diversity,
talent management,
customer service and transparency,
privacy and security,
waste and recycling,
energy and emissions.

Whether you are an engineer, from HR, client relations, IT or operations, established and emerging industries need sustainability experts.

Be among those driving successes. CSE has worked with NASA’s sustainability champions and has trained participants for NASA’s Johnson Space Center. We have an incredibly strong presence in other Canadian industries such as mining, construction, real estate and energy. We all need to work together and learn from each other as we prepare for the future.

CSE’s Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019) offers trainings on these key topics and many others. CSE’s first Toronto training is April 11-12.

Atlanta joins urban centers Toronto and New York in welcoming CSE trainings addressing specific regional sustainability needs.

The successful February 2019 Atlanta training focused on the South. Atlanta is a gathering place for corporations throughout the southern U.S. and the world, given it is a critical transportation hub. The Atlanta international airport is the busiest in the world. The training included a majority of participants from Georgia, the Carolinas, Maryland, Florida and Texas. We also had participants from as far away as the UK, Belgium and Ghana.

CSE is preparing now for the Toronto Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2019), April 11-12, 2019. As always, CSE will tailor the training to the unique needs of this region.

A good portion of the Atlanta training focused on Supply Chain, important considerations for participants from Rheem, Allnex and Suddath. Sustainable management of Supply Chain makes a significant impact in promoting human rights, fair labor practices, environmental progress and anti-corruption policies. The conversation even dealt with human trafficking. Given Atlanta’s national and international reach, highlighting Supply Chain issues made sense.

FT 500 participants from Google, Sodexo, Guardian Life Insurance and Intercontinental Exchange were particularly sensitive to the implications of sustainability rankings to investors. ESG criteria (environment, social, governance) are part of due diligence for trillions of investment dollars.

Another focus, praised as one of the key take-aways by participants, was Materiality. When allocating resources, smaller and newer companies such as S&D Coffee and Tea, Capgemini and WildArk appreciate knowing how to address stakeholder concerns when designing a sustainability strategy and developing a sustainability report.

Supply chain, investor rankings, and materiality are important components of the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence Certified Sustainability Practitioner training which will be presented in Toronto, April 11-12, 2019. CSE does not pick focus topics arbitrarily, such as the request for extra SROI information in the 2018 Toronto training. We listen to participants from past trainings and to participants enrolled for future trainings. Want to inform the focus for Toronto? Register now and let us know your thoughts.

In times of volatility, Corporate Sustainability Leadership guides legislation and successfully manages internal risks.

In this age of globalization, CEOs and the entire C-suite must focus beyond their office buildings, factories and retail outlets. To protect their interests, employees, suppliers and vendors, they must and do affect policy, regionally, nationally and globally.

Recently, a group of companies including GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, Coca-Cola, Interface and United Technologies signed a statement encouraging the EU to set the stage for a climate-neutral economy by 2050. While there is certainly a component of altruism to their request, their motives have a basis in economics. Long-term certainty makes for economic prosperity.

If you doubt that companies believe this, look at what happens to the markets whenever there is extreme volatility. Investors want certainty, even if that certainty may lead to increased oversight, legislative restrictions and even taxes.

Just as the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) research shows increased profitability among those companies with a strong sustainability strategy, multinational corporations have run the numbers. They believe the economic value of achieving a net zero economy by 2050 is greater than the economic benefits of less ambitious goals.

Companies know their factories are in threatened coastal zones. They know their employees are at risk of poor health from air pollution, hunger, increased costs of living. At a corporate level, wielding the power of the purse, corporations can influence policy for the good of their revenue stream and the good of the communities which drive their profitability.

Larry Fink, CEO of Blackrock, wrote in his annual letter to the companies in which Blackrock invests, “the world needs your leadership.” He said purpose and profit are inextricably linked. “Stakeholders are pushing companies to wade into sensitive social and political issues,” he wrote, “especially as they see governments failing to do so.”

CEOs and the whole C-suite need to be sustainability experts. They must address geopolitics, talent acquisition and retention, international supply chains, national legislation and global commitments not only from their countries of incorporation but from the countries in which they have holdings, factories, and employees.

What they need to know should not be left to “on the job” training nor delegated down the ranks. Corporate heads need to come together as a cohort of leaders, learning from each other and driving changes outside their domains which are inextricably linked to their own success.

Want to learn how to leverage sustainability efforts to demonstrate global leadership and impact? Attend the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Training Workshop for C-Suite Executives, in NYC on Monday September 30^th – Tuesday October 1^st, 2019, an exclusive limited gathering of corporate leaders. CSE specializes in global sustainability consulting, research and training. Participants include governments, NGOs and Fortune 500 companies. CSE is accredited by CMI, Green Business and is a GRI organizational stakeholder.

This year BBC Earth launched a new cause to “place sustainable fashion at the heart” of London Fashion Week. This eco-friendly move was done in collaboration with British Fashion Council and clothing company Mother of Pearl. A short film was made for the event and premiered on Saturday.

Ethical fashion is becoming an increasingly hot-topic. Headlines have celebrated the fact London Fashion Week is officially fur-free – an announcement made by the British Fashion Council that reflects an important cultural change in the way consumers are shopping for clothes.

There has been a shift towards understanding the importance of using ethically sourced, natural materials. Consumers are increasingly seeking out Fair Trade brands or simply looking into the production processes behind the clothes they wear. There has been an increased awareness to the impact of buying decisions.

Alongside the traditional London Fashion Week shows, a series of events are taking place to highlight some of the eco-friendly and ethical issues within fashion.

Sustainable fashion is not a trend, but a new movement which needs to be recognized as an industry standard. This is why it is even-more important for the industry leaders to promote these values at London Fashion Week so others will follow.

Not one to shy away from coming challenges, CSE always keeps up with the latest sustainability trends! Join us in London on March 14-15 2019 as we will discuss many more crucial areas of sustainability. Also, we are excited to present in London, CSE’s brand new research findings on Sustainability (CR) and Non-Financial Reporting in Europe. The research explores the level of commitment of European companies, through their common Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility strategic goals, and how well they measure their impacts and social value.

There is limited seating so hurry up. Contact us: [email protected]

Food security and hunger is the “dumbest problem” in the world, according to Komal Ahmad, founder of Copia PBC which has recovered over $4.6 million worth of food. Hunger is also a problem that sustainability practitioners can help solve. Whether land management, agriculture, food production, water protection, or distribution, crossing disciplines and industries requires systems thinking – integral to the training received by certified sustainability practitioners.

Toronto is meeting this challenge head on with Food Projects, the Toronto Food Strategy Team and the Toronto Food Policy Council. Solutions range from sustainable agriculture/aquaculture to public/private partnerships.

Healthy food should not be a perk of the rich or those conveniently living in Vancouver or Toronto. As a top food exporter, Canada should be able to feed its own population. The country can tackle Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG3) and Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG11) within its own borders. There is wide disparity between northern Canada food costs and the rest of Canada.

In some regions, “ethical” food – those that are affordable or ecologically sustainable – are often out of reach for lower income individuals. PepsiCo (which has relied on the Sustainability Academy) is trying to change the perception of ethical food as only available from small farmers with its mission to “Leave No Trace” throughout its entire business and supply chain.

A systems approach requires input from many stakeholders. Canada is finding the same food security issues faced worldwide: foreign influence on farming, urban food deserts, injustice to temporary farm workers, climate change, environment protection and diet-related diseases, to name a few.

Toronto’s chefs are taking on the challenge. Canoe Restaurant, Drake One Fifty, Ruby Watchco, and AGO Bistro are acclaimed sustainability leaders. There is a website specific to finding Sustainable Food jobs (FoodWork.ca), and Canada ranks #3 globally for Food Sustainability.

Sustainability practitioners constantly question who are the key stakeholders? What are the Materiality considerations? No industry is left out. Even mining, affecting water resources, influences food security. Are you ready to address these concerns?

CSE’s Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program (New Advanced Edition 2019) offers training on these key topics and many others. The first 2019 program in Toronto runs April 11-12.

Beyond teaching the theory of sustainability, universities must hold themselves accountable as socially responsible citizens.

The Canadian Carbon Tax has more than economic ramifications. It is part of interdependent issues affecting Toronto.

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