Page 20 – Sustainability Academy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being defined as “any computer system able to perform tasks that generally require human intelligence”. In terms of sustainability, the key parameter is that if we want AI to “work” towards a more sustainable world, we must first teach machines what sustainability is and how to make a positive impact.

When AI is mentioned in CSR reports it focuses on how AI presents opportunities for companies. AI is already being used in sustainability in the form of reducing energy consumption and environmental footprint, but also for providing more innovative products and services.

A number of companies are using AI in order to go the extra mile in improving efficiency. Companies like Google, Xcel are using AI to improve efficiency, while IBM and Interserve are using AI to improve their products and services which range from weather prediction to building construction.

Further to environmental applications, AI has great potential to improve human health and wellbeing, especially in remote areas and in developing countries. For example, Ada Health, an AI-powered chat box telemedicine app asks relevant personalized questions in order to identify potential causes of symptoms as well as suggestions on how to proceed with care.

Also sectors like the fashion industry are examining how they can implement AI in order to control the production process, but also to predict what styles will sell well and what styles will fail.

Developed and Developing countries are already formulating national AI strategies. Especially for developing countries, AI will be a great tool to upgrade their infrastructure, step up R&D and skills development in order to leapfrog advanced economies. However, companies seem to fail to acknowledge that AI may pose some risks to sustainability, such as bias, job loss and increased consumption. And of course there are basic questions that need to be answered such as how to make the machine understand, and take into account, ethical and philosophical questions, and how to make up for the lack of crucial human qualities such as wisdom, empathy, compassion.

I am very glad that you can find such a remedy in our market. I take with pleasure, though occasionally because I don’t want to develop drug dependence and lose my good sleep without it. Currently, everything’s fine. I tried not many drugs at https://nygoodhealth.com/product/ambien/, but as soon as I began to take Ambien, I immediately liked it very much and now always keep it in my medicine box. If helps me like a sedative. I’m very satisfied with the drug and did recommend it to my mom who suffers from insomnia.

Even though Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the present and future, it is with in depth knowledge and research that we may create a better and more sustainable future for everyone.

Join us in London on March 14-15 2019 as we discuss the subject of AI and 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.

Investment advisors, fund managers, family offices – they all have their go-to indices when choosing corporate investments. They watch the S&P 500, Dow Jones and Nasdaq indices. Most of us even have favorite stock pickers with less stodgy parameters (who hasn’t been beguiled by Seeking Alpha or the Motley Fool?).

What are the indices guiding the over $11.6 trillion in US assets under management (AUM) using SRI strategies? Sustainable, responsible, impact investing represents 26%—or 1 in 4 dollars—of total US assets under management (USSIF.org).

Important indices which rank companies based on SRI, CSR (corporate social responsibility) and ESG (environment, social, governance) criteria include:

Bloomberg Barclays MSCI ESG Indices
CSRHub
FTSE 4 Good
Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI)
Morningstar
NasdaqCRD Global Sustainability Index (NQCRD)

CEOs, CFOs, and VPs of investor relations must pay attention to how their companies rank on these and other indices because investors – institutional and private – watch these closely. There are mutual funds and ETFs based solely on these.

Many sustainability portfolios rely heavily on these indices, and other professional portfolio managers such as Pax World, Domini and Calvert create their own indices which are then used by private investors. AUM in the 780 so-called alternative investment vehicles nearly tripled since 2016, many of them available from traditional investment houses such as Goldman Sachs, Merrill Lynch and UBS.

Companies finding their way on to these indices are rewarded. CSE research has found a connection between financial performance and sustainability strategies and reporting. Of companies with the highest Sustainability scores (as ranked by CSRHub), 73% improved financial results, as expressed by change in revenues 2016-2017. Sustainability Reporting and comprehensive strategies regarding community, employees, governance and environment correlate to a positive impact on profitability.

Sustainability rankings reach beyond the CEO, CFO and Investor Relations. Sustainability concerns permeate the corporate structure. Supply Chain risk and management is only one of many key elements reaching beyond finance and toward Operations. With SRI investments often including exclusionary screening, COOs are affected by investment policies related to conflict risk countries. Sustainability rankings take these and many other criteria, new to traditional corporate thinking, into account.

Want to learn more about how you can leverage your sustainability efforts for higher rankings? Attend the Center for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) Sustainability (ESG) Leadership Training Workshop for C-Suite Executives, in NYC on Monday September 30^th – Tuesday October 1^st, 2019. Stay tuned for more information.

CSE specializes in global sustainability consulting, research and training. Clients include governments, NGOs and Fortune 500 companies. CSE is accredited by CMI and is a GRI organizational stakeholder.

By Nikos Avlonas & Rosalinda Sanquiche

Centre for Sustainability and Excellence

Years of research, international observation, working with corporate intrapreneurs and social entrepreneurs and leading programs around the world – we feel confident looking toward the future!

2019 will be a continuation of trends, growing in momentum. This year will also see the rise of sustainability practices in unexpected places using innovative applications of cutting-edge technologies as reported in CSE’s 2018 researches Trends and Challenges for European Companies on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact 2018 and Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends: North America 2018.

COMMON STRATEGIC GOALS set by companies are evident regardless of sector and country. These common strategic goals relate to issues such as climate change and energy efficiency, as well as the continuous effort for more sustainable supply chains. These goals are at the top of the international sustainability agenda, and what sustainability professionals are working on in order to mitigate the expected severe impacts of climate change and to provide products and services which are responsible and respond to the demands and preferences of stakeholders.

SOCIAL IMPACT GOALS of European companies related to expanding the reach of their sustainability strategies to their business partners, mitigating the impacts to local communities caused by their operations and activities, and providing responsible products and services. However, significant gaps have been identified with respect to measuring the impact of those initiatives and application of practices, for example through a Socioeconomic Impact Assessment or use of tools such as the Social Return on Investment (SROI).

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in its many manifestations will assist sustainability efforts by increasing efficiencies – a trend we’ve seen for the past couple of years. Now, entrepreneurs are bringing their technology to market. What is brand new (pun intended) is the application of AI to social marketing. AI algorithms can create emotion- and character-based interface to gain consumer buy-in and brand loyalty. Creating a persuasive digital persona will draw from positive human characteristics such as ethics, empathy, transparency and social awareness. This AI-driven marketing increasingly will be deployed in social media.

SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONALS are leaving home. Sustainability practitioners will no longer be relegated to the Sustainability Department, under a Director of Sustainability, outsiders who tap the rest of the company once a year for metrics in pursuit of the increasingly in demand Sustainability Report. Sustainability practitioners will be found in and demanded by departments throughout an organization to strengthen organizational culture around sustainability. The legal team, Financial department, ERM (risk management), Procurement, communications, R&D, investor relations – cross-organizational departments will want a sustainability expert among their ranks, working side-by-side, answering questions, leading programs and informing policy throughout the corporate structure.

AGRICULTURE is increasingly under scrutiny for health and safety. Blockchain will track products farm-to-table. Local sourcing is growing, as is the demand for fresh products which are organic, biodynamic and/or non-GMO. To accommodate this growing market, there is concern that these farming practices, being taken over by Agribusiness, may actually be contributing more to climate change. If more acres of land must be cleared, even slash and burned, to get non-GMO yields equivalent to 1 acre of “regular” farming, research shows the carbon load is greater for the more natural farming practices. One option is to use existing farmlands, too often being subsumed into suburbia. Another option is the use of halophytes which grow on desert or denuded lands, thrive on salt water and have long root systems which sequester carbon. Increasing yields without the carbon burden of clearing lands will affect the climate change race by carbon sequester and lower dependency on fossil fuels.

CSE is a leading boutique firm operating globally that specializes in maximizing business impact in Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility. CSE helps professionals advance their careers through our certified on-site, online (www.Sustainability-Academy.org) and group training services globally and supports companies and organizations grow and excel through Sustainability consulting and coaching.

This will be a four-part series on developing trends and opportunities in Sustainability. Keep up with the upcoming blogs every week!

Many new graduates and young professionals are attracted to careers in sustainability. You have fresh ideas, ample energy and a social awareness. Likewise, many established professionals are drawn to sustainability because you’ve become disenchanted with how many corporations and governments disregard obvious societal needs.

Access to resources, human rights, clean environment, educational opportunities, community spirit – these are just a few of the ambitions emerging sustainability professionals want for themselves and their families.

Part One: Trends

So, what are the sustainability employment trends? The good news is that nearly every publicly traded company, national and state governments and thousands of NGOs employ sustainability professionals. Even better, the demand is increasing.

Suppliers have demands which require sustainability expertise. As we become an increasingly globalized business community, companies have sustainability criteria they impose on suppliers, and clients have sustainability criteria imposed on the companies. This is certainly true among large multinational corporations and is reaching down into SMEs (small medium enterprises). Learn how to track down metrics to answer supply chain surveys, and you’ll have an edge over others looking for similar jobs. A flexible option is the suite of online courses offered by the Sustainability Academy.

Companies are increasingly seeking certifications like the ones offered by CSE. They can cover general sustainability topics such as CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program or highly specific topics such as an Online Certificate on Carbon Reduction Strategy. Don’t settle for just one certification as sustainability is a growing and ever-changing field. Employers seek specific skill sets which culminate in a full body of knowledge.

Career sustainability professionals must understand the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By the end of 2019, every sustainability professional will be expected to implement SDGs for their employers. Companies are adding SDGs to their mission statements and projects so quickly that the SDGs will be as mainstream to sustainability reporting as revenue is to an annual report.

Sustainability practitioners are not limited to sustainability departments. They will be found in and demanded by departments throughout an organization to strengthen organizational culture around sustainability. Marketing, Finance, ERM (risk management), Communications, HR – cross-organizational departments will want a sustainability expert among their ranks, answering questions, leading programs and informing policy throughout the corporate structure.

These trends are resulting in growing sustainability departments. The lone employee tasked with completing a supply chain survey has turned into a cadre of personnel worthy of a C-suite leader.

More to follow on building your sustainability career next week. Part 2: Career Paths. Keep up with us!

CSE helps professionals advance their careers through certified on-site and group training services globally as well as the online Sustainability Academy. CSE is a recognized global leader in professional Sustainability training and coaching and one of the first to recognize the growing need for advanced certified education in the sustainability field. The Sustainability Academy is CSE’s global initiative to offer affordable, specialized, online education focused on Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility. Our goal is to train 100,000 professionals by 2020 and make an impact on our planet!

By Nikos Avlonas, CSE President, and Rosalinda Sanquiche, CSE North America.

Years of research, international observation, working with corporate intrapreneurs and social entrepreneurs and leading programs around the world – we feel confident looking toward the future!

1/ ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE in its many manifestations will assist sustainability efforts by increasing efficiencies – a trend we’ve seen for the past couple of years. Now, entrepreneurs are bringing their technology to market as reported in CSE’s Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends: North America 2018. What is brand new (pun intended) is the application of AI to social marketing. AI algorithms can create emotion- and character-based interface to gain consumer buy-in and brand loyalty. Creating a persuasive digital persona will draw from positive human characteristics such as ethics, empathy, transparency and social awareness. This AI-driven marketing increasingly will be deployed in social media.

2/ SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONALS are leaving home. Sustainability practitioners will no longer be relegated to the Sustainability Department, under a Director of Sustainability, outsiders who tap the rest of the company once a year for metrics in pursuit of the increasingly in demand Sustainability Report. Sustainability practitioners will be found in and demanded by departments throughout an organization to strengthen organizational culture around sustainability. The legal team, Financial department, ERM (risk management), Procurement, communications, R&D, investor relations – cross-organizational departments will want a sustainability expert among their ranks, working side-by-side, answering questions, leading programs and informing policy throughout the corporate structure.

3/ TRANSPORTATION is moving toward greater efficiency using established methods of better scheduling, on-demand delivery, and computer-assisted routing. These are well established trends. What is new is the growing awareness that climate change will change transportation dynamics. The industry is experimenting with significantly low-fuel and even no-fuel options. Elon Musk has a functioning mile of Hyperloop. Adhering to the sustainability principle of transparency, his Hyperloop concept is explicitly open-sourced, encouraging creativity and entry by other players. Jeff Bezos is betting on battery-operated drones for urban delivery – limiting carbon emissions and congestion. Already social entrepreneurs are using congestion to their benefit to promote the use of electric scooters in dense urban settings.

4/ AGRICULTURE is increasingly under scrutiny for health and safety. Blockchain will track products farm-to-table. Local sourcing is growing, as is the demand for fresh products which are organic, biodynamic and/or non-GMO. To accommodate this growing market, there is concern that these farming practices, being taken over by Agribusiness, may actually be contributing more to climate change. If more acres of land must be cleared, even slash and burned, to get non-GMO yields equivalent to 1 acre of “regular” farming, research shows the carbon load is greater for the more natural farming practices. One option is to use existing farmlands, too often being subsumed into suburbia. Another option is the use of halophytes which grow on desert or denuded lands, thrive on salt water and have long root systems which sequester carbon. Increasing yields without the carbon burden of clearing lands will affect the climate change race by carbon sequester and lower dependency on fossil fuels.

5/ CARBON TAX debates will increase as Canada implements its carbon tax (revenue neutral, as are most options debated in the US). Canada’s carbon tax may be high enough to meet climate targets but won’t cover the social cost of carbon. Canada’s move is in part because it is already experiencing climate-related “coastal erosion, thawing permafrost, increases in heat waves, droughts and flooding, and related risks to critical infrastructures and food security,” as noted in its legislation. 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. The US Paris commitment is to reach 26 -28 % below 2005 levels by 2025. Any headway the US makes will not come via a Carbon Tax anytime soon but, at least, both state and federal options are being discussed and legislation proposed.

Upcoming in-person Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Programs (2019 Advanced Edition) include London, March 1-2; Atlanta, February 21-22; Toronto, April 11-12; New York, June 6-7, and other dates globally.

CSR challenges are never ending in the corporate modern world whilst highly demanding and that is an important hint all professionals are aware of when it comes to facing them. Of the most significant ones is stakeholder’s influence and how corporates need to take that extra mile in order to engage with them. CSE acknowledges that, among other challenges, while it also aims to further focus on them during the upcoming popular Global Sustainability Event that will take place in London, in March 2019.

On that note, it will be discussed how CSR professionals have to be more than just adequate in terms of designing sharper strategies and increasing their social, environmental and social impact. The new pool of Stakeholders has shifted from the traditional model; they are savvier and more perceptive. To that extent, the pressure on CSR professionals is added accordingly as they have to escalate their efforts to drive impact and remain in the frontline.

Sustainability (CSR) planning encompasses a basic step prior to putting it into force and that is communicating the business case of sustainability to the organization. The more effective is the communication of purpose and values the stronger the participation on behalf of the employees and more effective is the CSR Professional’s work. Sharing CSR initiatives and achievements both internally and externally can attract most of the C-Suite Executives’ support into the Sustainability Plan. Additionally, organizations are faced with the challenge of ensuring that they are balanced between being strategic, adapted and relevant not only globally but also locally.

Sustainable Development Goals are on the top list of the companies’ interests but it is unlikely whether they can integrate them into their current sustainability plan, let alone investing on how to engage their employees in them. More specifically, although SDG’s can be identified by most corporates and perhaps some of the strategies are focused on them it is unsure whether they are correctly embedded. Furthermore, the backbone of the companies, the employers, and also the customers are often found confused and little familiarized with the SDGs framework and how can this be related to the corporate brand. As a consequence, strategies often fail to address SDGs and their purpose.

So despite the trend, the challenge remains, as the know-how is missing from most CSR Professionals. The Center for Sustainability & Excellence has surfaced most of the latest challenges to focus on and hosts one of the leading Certified Sustainability training programs globally, this time in London, March 14-15. Additionally, the certified practitioner program will feature a presentation of the Surprising Research Findings 2018 on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact. The research focuses on reporting practices of more than 460 corporations from leading business sectors and outlines key considerations related to common strategic objectives, social impact goals, UN SDG’s, reporting and external assurance practices as well as legislation.

Claim your spot to be part of this global sustainability Event! For more information, contact [email protected].

2019 is going to be a sustainable year in all aspects as “Sustainable Travelling & Tourism” is now a hot trend. These Travel Trends of 2019 have been published by ABTA and include ‘Responsible tourism goes mainstream’ and ‘Resurgence of the trusted travel expert’.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA chief executive, said: “Sustainability issues are now firmly in the minds of holidaymakers, our research shows people are increasingly conscious of the positive influence they can have through their holiday booking choices and are more mindful of the actions they take. We expect these factors to further inform where and how they holiday next year. The travel industry has been working across a range of sustainability issues for some time now and continue to develop plans and initiatives which support local communities, their economies and the environment.”

This year a number of sustainability issues rose to tackle further into the public’s consciousness with greater awareness of the impact of plastics on the environment, on tourism’s impact on local communities etc. The increasing nature of this need for awareness is also reflected in holidaymakers attitudes towards companies with over a third of people would select one travel business over another if they have a better environmental record. Responsible tourism has risen further up the agenda and is becoming an integral part of business decisions and planning, with many companies announcing plans to make holidays more sustainable in the long term.

Travel Trends 2019 also reveals that, despite the unprecedented political turbulence and uncertainty of the past year, Britons are firmly committed to taking holidays with 12% of bookings for summer 2019 being already set up from 2018.

CSE is so happy to be part of this change-culture and will be back in London, UK, March 14-15, 2019 to present its very popular Globally Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program.

This certified practitioner program will feature a presentation of the Surprising Research Findings 2018 on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact. The research focuses on reporting practices of more than 460 corporations from leading business sectors and outlines key considerations related to common strategic objectives, social impact goals, UN SDG’s, reporting and external assurance practices as well as legislation.

Johnson & Johnson reportedly knew about the asbestos in its baby powder for decades. We have known for even more years that asbestos is a carcinogen. We also know that children’s development is sensitive to environmental factors, often manifesting well into adulthood. How hard is it to make these links?

For a sustainability professional, trained in systems thinking, the connections are obvious. We can even take the connections much farther. The dramatic drop in stock value comes as no surprise to sustainability professionals. Aside from the lawsuits, aside from the branding black eye, there will be deep and long repercussions.

Does this mean a long-term decline for Johnson & Johnson or any pharmaceutical caught in the crossfire? Not necessarily. Merck faced reputation challenges in the 1980s but turned much of that around in the 1990s when the company made a concerted effort to protect rainforests as an invaluable medicinal resource. In the early 2000s when the cannabis debate raged, savvy pharmaceuticals, now trading at a thousand times their opening shares checked into the chemistry to create important medications globally.

Research shows that pharmaceutical companies face a greater burden to behave ethically than most other industries. CSE’s own research shows that a culture of transparency within a company is linked to increased revenue.

Sustainability practitioners, trained in program management, Assessments, metrics and sustainability reporting must be aware of Customer Health and Safety, the ethical and financial considerations inherent to the pharmaceutical industry. According to the GRI (Global Reporting Initiative), they must also be alert to issues with Products and Services, Water, Indirect Economic Impacts, Remediation, Transport, Marketing Communications, Emissions, Effluents and Waste, Investment and Procurement Practices.

Atlanta is peppered with over 30 pharmaceutical companies and major distributors. CSE will hold its Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program(Advanced Edition 2019) in Atlanta in February 21-22, 2019, one of the several trainings held in North America each year. Meeting the needs of the community and providing training for a growing employment need is part of CSE’s mission. We will also hold trainings this year in Toronto, New York, Houston and Seattle.

After a car accident I have gained a terrible disorder which is called anxiety disorder. Panic and negative thoughts made me feel awful, I felt that bad things are going to happen to me all the time, so the doctor prescribed Xanax and I`m very grateful him. I enjoy my life with my family and surrounding people.

CSE is a leading training organization specializing in maximizing social, economic and environmental impact. We help professionals advance their careers through our certified on-site, online and group training services globally. Fortune 500 companies and other organizations grow and excel using our specialized consulting services.

The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence celebrates 10 years of trust from global FT 500 corporations and executives to provide Sustainability Education in Europe, the US and Canada..

We are sincerely grateful for our success in 2018. The corporate community is awake to the many opportunities for a better world by engaging in sustainable practices. The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) is pleased to be part of this inevitable shift!

We are thankful for the many newly trained sustainability (CSR) practitioners certified with our CSR-P designation. We held trainings with participants from five continents and 30 countries. The networks and friendships built among energy companies, food producers, major retailers and emerging entrepreneurs are invaluable.

We celebrate the growth of our Sustainability Academy. Under Nikos Avlonas’ leadership, it led to his being named Corporate Responsibility Impact Practitioner of the Year for 2018 by the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

We are proud of our 3^rd annual research, Sustainability (ESG) Reporting Trends: North America 2018. Our team found positive connections between Sustainability Reporting and financial performance among the Fortune 500 and other top companies in North America.

We welcome our new affiliates around the world, growing our family, training new practitioners and helping companies reach their potential. They are key to our vision of a sustainable future.

As we look to the future, we hope to build on our Sustainable Development Goals Champions campaign. In support of SDG Goal 4 for Quality Education, we entered a UN Partnership to increase awareness and promote education among professionals, corporations and entrepreneurs on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Thank you to all our friends, colleagues, practitioners, to those of you who read our newsletters, follow our social media and refer us throughout your networks. We perform at our best because of your insights, endorsements and support.

Happy Holidays from our CSE Family to yours!

The climate change issue is rising and becoming a pressing matter for all sustainability professionals. Its drastic rise along with the acknowledgement of the insurers that climate-related factors have to be identified and reevaluated, business need to be more prepared and reliable on their sustainability plans. A group of more than 400 investors that manage $32 trillion in assets warned governments to take aggressive steps and address climate change. If this climate change is not dealt with there is a risk of a financial crash several times worse than the 2008 global recession.

The world is now facing an economic crash twice the scale of the 2008 financial crisis unless more is done to tackle climate change. Failure to tackle climate change would lead to temperature rises of around 4˚C and £18trillion in global economic losses over the next 80 years.

“The full implementation of current NDCs would lead to an unacceptably high temperature increase that would cause substantial negative economic impacts,” the statement says.

“It is vital for our long-term planning and asset allocation decisions that governments work closely with investors to incorporate Paris-aligned climate scenarios into their policy frameworks and energy transition pathways.”

This investor group includes some of the world’s largest pension funds, asset managers and insurance companies, along with state treasurers and venture capital funds. The call from investors came just one day after the United States, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait worked to dismiss recent scientific findings from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which concluded that the world has just over a decade to stop the worse impacts of climate change.

Investors’ mentioned that it would be important for all workers and communities to share the benefits of cleaner energy sources, making sure that everyone affected by this transition is supported.

This crucial intervention comes after a UN report last month warned that nations must triple their emission cuts to meet the Paris Agreement and keep global warming below 2˚C.

By demand, CSE will be back in London, UK, March 14-15, 2019. This certified practitioner program will feature a presentation of the Surprising Research Findings 2018 on Sustainability Goals Integration and Sustainability (CR) Impact. The research focuses on reporting practices of more than 460 corporations from leading business sectors and outlines key considerations related to common strategic objectives, social impact goals, UN SDG’s, reporting and external assurance practices as well as legislation.

Key sustainability challenges and priorities are an integral part of the London Sustainability Training coming up next in Europe.

By Nikos Avlonas & Rosalinda Sanquiche

Centre for Sustainability and Excellence

Part One: Trends

Group registration form