Page 20 – Sustainability Academy

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.

The business climate has generated many shared concerns among CEOs and other board managers on issues of manpower and budget, regardless of the industry or type of business they operate. One of the greatest hurdles for CEOs is trying to balance creating an exciting future while maximizing results today.

Time and space for reflection is crucial for strategic process but struggling with how to navigate change might take you away from your day-to- day workload and leadership goals. You want to identify challenges before they disrupt productivity. You want to innovate your approach and stay ahead of competition.

You need a strong management team, trustworthy and flexible, to ensure fast problem solving and focus on strategic initiatives. You need to keep innovation alive with talent and engage on new ways to motivate employees and keep them dedicated, thus providing the reassurance and sense of stability an organization needs.

A sustainability strategy helps evolve your company’s mission and prioritize quality, people and community:

Define the company’s long-term purpose. Here we mean a higher, social purpose. This should be shared across the company so that all employees can relate to it. This will create meaning for them in and at work.
Explain why sustainability is good for the company. As we posted in Step Aside Fortune 500: ESG Rankings Are Key to Corporate Growth, there is a connection between financial performance and sustainability strategies and reporting. CSE research has found that of companies with the highest Sustainability scores (as ranked by CSRHub), 73% improved financial results. Sustainability Reporting and comprehensive strategies regarding community, employees, governance and environment correlate to a positive impact on profitability.
Promote and support a “people first” approach, nurturing a strong company culture. Stress the values of respect, safety and inclusion. A comprehensive Sustainability strategy includes and prioritizes these issues. Make sure you reinforce this through goals and training. Establish and support rewards and compensations scheme beyond legislation requirements.
Provide purpose to your employees. Purpose is a key to creating an engaged and productive workforce, beyond day-to-day completion of tasks and income. Sustainability provides that higher purpose needed to match the values of employees. Find ways to get all employees, from top executives to assembly line workers, personally engaged in corporate sustainability efforts.
Promote sustainability knowledge. Invest in educating employees about sustainability and creating systems and processes that make it easier for them to integrate sustainability into their business decisions. Many sustainability initiatives require specialized knowledge and expertise — such as talking to suppliers about sustainable sourcing or using an eco-efficiency tool to evaluate a new product.
Use your leadership to inspire and create sustainability champions. In order to embed a sustainable business model, you have to create and cultivate sustainability champions or “ambassadors” throughout the organization. This way, employees will feel that their role enables them to contribute to the sustainability agenda. Employees contributing their own ideas or initiatives is a process that has proven valuable: Once employees see the positive impact and economic returns on social and environmental investments that they helped create, they start believing that they do have a role to play, and the ideas start to flow.
Make sustainability visible inside and outside the company. Measure and communicate progress or success on key sustainability indicators, as this is always attractive and will keep employees satisfied from their own contribution. To keep visibility high and reinforce the idea that achievements in sustainability are meaningful for the company, celebrate success when goals are reached, or awards won (such as category leadership in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index).
Stand firm on social issues – and because you cannot please everyone, focus on values important to you and the company.
Create transformational change through sustainability. Leaders who can see the broader picture and are working to solve major environmental and social issues will help create a sustainability momentum to foster a sense of unity among employees that goes beyond traditional competition and can demonstrate the higher purpose.

Want to learn more about how you can leverage your sustainability efforts to motivate employees and strengthen efficiency? Attend the Centre 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.

The CSE Leadership Training Workshop is a C-Suite gathering of key corporate influencers working together to motivate employees and supply chains, to turn competition into collaboration and to influence policy on the sustainability concerns most impacting social, environmental, workplace and marketplace arenas. Participants will develop strategy, hone techniques and actively design the future of corporate sustainability. The workshop incorporates exclusive training, facilitated discussions and intimate conversations to culminate in thought leadership and actionable steps for an integrated approach toward addressing the most pressing issues of our time.

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.

You believe access to resources, human rights, clean environment, educational opportunities, community wellness are important. You have fresh ideas, ample energy and a social awareness. You’d also like a steady paycheck.

Read the fourth part series on Sustainability careers to find your perfect job.

How to land your dream job

If you’ve read parts 1-3 of this series, you know we strongly advocate becoming a certified sustainability practitioner. Certifications demonstrate you have the basic knowledge to hit the ground running. They give you an edge over similar applicants, particularly when you pick up a topic-specific course.

Other ways to gain an edge:

Do your homework. Find out all you can about the company you’ve set your sites on. If you haven’t picked a specific company, find out about the industry. CSE regularly posts industry insights on Facebook and Twitter.

Identify the organization’s challenges. What are the most prominent sustainability obstacles and opportunities? Retail may worry about supply chain or employee relations. A mining company may angst about the environment or worker health and safety.

Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight how you can help the company meet specific challenges. Yes, this means you have multiple resumes (beyond the “dump file” resume which has every job/volunteer position, dates, boss, address and phone number you have ever had since high school) and multiple cover letters.

Network. We’ve said this before. Once you’ve targeted an organization(s), reach out to someone you know who works there (mine your LinkedIn and Facebook contacts). A casual good word in the hiring manager’s ear can move you to the interview pile.

Prepare. Practice describing how you can meet the company’s need. If they didn’t have a pressure point, they wouldn’t be hiring! Demonstrate you’ve done research and thought about what you bring to the company.

Practice interview skills. Start with a tutorial offered by college placement offices, libraries, community centers, etc. Then, set up mock interviews with the most difficult and obnoxious person possible – never hurts to over prepare.

Send a thank you letter. You want them to remember you out of all the other people the hiring committee saw the same day. Now you know who is hiring, so send the note to specific people.

You can do this!

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!

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

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