Page 22 – Sustainability Academy

Love or hate them, Google (Alphabet, Inc., actually) has money to spend. Google has agreed to invest $50 million into planning Sidewalk Toronto. The waterfront project envisions a high-tech community, prioritizing sustainability, safety, and affordability. Innovative technologies include: self-driving vehicles, underground garbage collection, green energy, snow-melting sidewalks, modular construction, and a lot of data collection.

This is where the hate comes to play. Many local leaders have privacy concerns. Built “from the Internet up”, connected sensors will enable extensive data collection. People will share personal information to access customized programs and services.

Is the privacy trade-off worth the promised increased sustainability, efficiency, and responsiveness? The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) recently reported on how companies must deal with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The GDPR mandates transparency around information gathering and sharing. The EU’s move has raised awareness and concern.

These concerns are wrapped around sustainability concepts and practices. The waterfront community may ultimately reach over $1 billion invested. That’s not counting the $300 million Toronto green bond and dozens of companies based in Toronto focused on sustainability.

Toronto boasts over 800 sustainability-related jobs with over 3000 throughout Canada (Indeed). Sustainability experts are required who understand finance, government, and law. Companies in play will face ever-changing regulations, reporting requirements and CSR expectations.

Sustainability practitioners will be best positioned to meet these needs. Among many disciplines, CSE has trained real estate developers, NGO leaders, investment professionals and executives from the Fortune 500. CSE will deliver its Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2018, for a second time this year in Toronto, October 25-26, 2018.

Companies have become more accessible than ever before. Businesses can speak directly to consumers through social media, not only to elevate their brands beyond the bounds of traditional advertising but to share their social responsibility and sustainability achievements.

There is no better time to invest in sustainability and become part of an elite group of professionals implementing sustainability goals and entering the new age of green corporations. CSE has more than 10 years of executive sustainability education in the United States and with its Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program is coming back to Houston. The Advance Sustainability Practitioner Program focuses on SDGs, Supply Chain Management and provides sector based case studies and research on crucial sustainability issues.

These conditions of open communication between consumers and corporations, allow people to demand more action and accountability with the tap of a finger. From sustainability to the Internet to immigration, companies are adding to their platform to engage the public debate.

This is not just words and empty promises. Corporations are following through with action. Such as Starbucks being the latest corporation to announce its phasing out plastic straws by 2020. Google and Apple recently announced their businesses are powered by 100 percent renewable energy. These commitments are catching: 85 percent of the nation’s largest public companies reported on climate change, diversity and other sustainability issues in 2017.

On the plus side, social activism doesn’t have to come at the expense of corporations. In a new research from the Shelton Group: 86 percent of consumers said they believe companies should take a stand for environmental and social issues. And 64 percent of those said it’s “extremely important” for a company to take a stand on an issue and that they were “very likely” to purchase a product based on that commitment.

Join the CSE Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program in Houston, Sept. 27-28, 2018 and learn all about the new hottest trends in sustainability such as UN SDG’s, the new GRI Standards and reporting.

How did Toronto go from North America’s most sustainable city in 2015 to enduring record heat waves in 2018? While one responsible city cannot mitigate the effects of global climate change, Toronto stands both as a role model and a warning.

Planning long-term, the City of Toronto continues to focus on “Climate, Energy & Resilience”. Last year, IISD (Institute for Sustainable Development) opened its fifth global office in Toronto because the city is a “hub for innovation and collaboration.” Through IISD and other organizations, Toronto’s influence reaches as far as the gorilla’s in Congo and near as Toronto’s waterfront.

Will these efforts cure the toxic blue-green algae in Humber Bay?

The heat wave Canada is experiencing and the likelihood of a connection to climate change cannot be ignored, according to the University of Waterloo. Canada must prepare for “hotter, wetter and wilder”. Scientists, urban planners, and engineers need a strong sustainability foundation to help mitigate the inevitable – whether preparing for eco-migrants or garbage-smelling algal blooms.

Let’s say you’re not a biologist. Are there other opportunities? Absolutely!

Canada is debating a carbon pricing regime. That means sustainability experts are required who understand government, trade, law. Toronto’s investments alone for dealing with climate change reach into the tens of millions. Corporations will face ever-changing regulations.

There are over 800 sustainability-related jobs in Toronto and over 3000 throughout Canada (Indeed).

So far in 2018, more than 70 deaths in Quebec are attributed to climbing temperatures. Governments, NGOs, and corporations are preparing for the inevitable. They need sustainability practitioners who can decipher the interrelations of material issues to different stakeholders. They must be able to create and manage initiatives that are future-oriented.

Sustainability practitioners will be best positioned to meet these needs. The Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) has trained government officials, NGO leaders and executives from the Fortune 500. CSE will deliver its Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2018, for a second time this year in Toronto, October 25-26, 2018.

Because these are global challenges, CSE is also holding trainings in Houston, USA, Sept. 27-28, 2018; Dubai, UAE, Nov. 11-12, 2018, and London, UK, December 6-7, 2018. Register now for early bird pricing or contact [email protected] group pricing discounts.

Continued degradation of environmental resources and failing to provide safe and healthy working environments globally have put water and OHS high on the global agenda, and are relevant to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Credible and actionable information about organizations’ impact on society and the environment is more important now than it has ever been, and sustainability reporting must also reflect the changes in how we understand problems and how we think about solutions.

The format of the new GRI Standards allows the update of individual standards (topics) without having to update the whole document. It also allows the introduction of additional standards (topics) if it is deemed as necessary by the GSSB (Global Sustainability Standards Board).

This month marks the first example of this process, through the update of two standards (topics), the GRI 403: Occupational Health and Safety, and GRI 303: Water and Effluents. These GRI Standards have been updated to ensure reporting on these issues is done according to current best practice. They further reflect the urgency of the new ways of understanding and addressing these issues. The process for updating the Standards is based on a multi-stakeholder, expert approach, which helps the GRI ensure that the content is developed based on consensus and in the public interest.

The updated GRI 403 allows companies to improve their measurement of how they contribute to the health, safety and general well-being of their workers. The revision focuses on the presence of robust occupational health and safety management systems, and the processes and programs that prevent harm and promote worker health. The new Standard aligns with key international instruments from the ILO (International Labor Organization) and with ISO45001.

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GRI 303 has been revised to bring best practices in water stewardship into reporting practice. The Standard also has a basis on the Sustainable Development Goal 6 which addresses issues of drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene, and quality and sustainability of water resources available. It introduces a holistic framework for collecting information about an organization’s water use, the associated impacts, and how it addresses them. The Standard also addresses the investors’ perspective and approach to measuring water risk and water security, and it is aligned wherever possible with other reporting frameworks, including the CEO Water Mandate Corporate Water Disclosure Guidelines, and the revised CDP Water Questionnaire.

To get all the latest updates on legislation (including the integration of the UN SDG’s) and get trained on the new GRI standards join the CSE Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program in London, December 6-7, 2018. CSE is a boutique sustainability consultant and trainer with an international presence.

Agreed at the United Nations in 2015, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include targets to end poverty and hunger, improve health and education, and fight climate change, all by 2030. These 17 goals apply to urban areas, but Goal 11 specifically focuses on making cities “inclusive, safe, strong and sustainable”.

Cities are home to two-thirds of the G20 countries population and while these cities are responsible for over 70% of planet-warming emissions, they are the foundation for making the SDGs a reality. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that two-thirds of the 169 targets under the goals will not be reached without the involvement of local governments. In the United States, where 85% live in urban areas, only a few major cities have taken a step on tackling climate change.

Training is the key in unlocking all difficulties that may rise while implementing and monitoring the SDGs. CSE has more than 10 years of executive sustainability education in the United States and with its Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program is coming back to Houston. The Advance Sustainability Practitioner Program focuses on SDGs and provides sector based case studies and research on crucial sustainability issues.

As one of the cities to be one step ahead, Houston is creating an Energy Efficiency Incentive Program and launching a Green Office Challenge! As Sylvester Turner, Houston’s mayor, Said in an interview right after Harvey: “We are going to take it day by day, week by week. But at the same time, this is a “can do” city.” In addition, better jobs, education, social unity and safer housing limited the human impact of disasters, enabling Houston to protect its residents and development gains.

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To be able to localize the SDGs, local engagement is necessary since there seems to be a lack of data to monitor how the goals are being implemented at city level. Citizens, companies/ organizations and Governments need to be educated and trained to effectively understand the targets set by the SDGs. Join the CSE Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program in Houston, Sept. 27-28, 2018 and learn all about the new hottest trends such as UN SDG’s and the new GRI Standards.

The United States is home to leading global Energy Companies. Of those companies, over 30 of those on the Fortune 500 are based in Texas. Of that select group, 69 percent are based in Houston, the site of CSE’s next sustainability training. Another 16 percent are Dallas-based; 9 percent are in San Antonio; 3 percent in Corpus Christi and 3 percent in El Paso.

FT 500 or not, industries in Texas and much of the southwest are dependent on the energy sector. Energy industries include extraction, infrastructure, engineering, and distribution. What is missing from the mix? A strong focus on sustainability and sustainability reporting.

While CSE research indicates that more Energy and Energy Utility companies provide sustainability reports than any other sector in the US, that does not mean that ALL or even close to all energy sector companies provide the caliber of sustainability information sought by investors, activists, international partners, and other stakeholders.

While Exxon, Phillips and PhillipsConoco certainly have sustainability goals and reporting, other companies such as Enterprise Products Partners or Plains GP Holdings, Houston energy sector companies, do not. A lack of sustainability reporting is one of the reasons they have low ratings from the investor resource CSRHub.

Major companies are hiring sustainability professionals: employees, managers, directors, and VPs to oversee Sustainability Strategy. Those trained in a focused sustainability methodology will be leading the way. CSR/Sustainability professionals are embedded in departments ranging from Acquisitions, to Human Resources, Operations and Supply Chain.

The next CSE Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program (Advanced Edition 2018) will be in Houston, Sept. 27-28, 2018. For more information, visit www.cse-net.org or email [email protected].

As Canada celebrates Canada Day and the USA celebrates the Fourth of July, we take a moment to acknowledge all the government and non-government organizations it takes to run a nation and align countries internationally.

Governments and closely aligned NGOs are integral to the functioning of nations and international treaties. Yet, they are often overlooked as part of the sustainability movement.

In June, the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE) celebrated the sustainability efforts of government and government-related organizations. Participants from the US Forest Service, the United Nations Federal Credit Union, and USAA attended our Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program, Advanced Edition 2018.

USAA offers banking, investing, and insurance to those who serve, or served, in the United States military, with more than 12 million members. USAA is growing its internal sustainability efforts and even diversifying into impact investments.

The UN Federal Credit Union manages over $4.3 billion in assets globally. Social responsibility is core to their business. CSE is proud to have multiple members from their US headquarters attend the training.

The US Forest service is highly cognizant of the UN SDGs as it moves forward domestically, and the National Grid Corporation of the Philippines is focused on using sustainability opportunities to limit risk.

While we welcome government-affiliated participants, the training also included non-profits such as the Nature Conservancy, Atlantic Health System and The Resource Foundation. The fully booked course also had participants from such diverse corporations as Exxon, Celgene and Stantec.

CSE is proud of our service to progressing sustainability strategy, goals, and reporting. With consulting worldwide, our in-person trainings, and our award-winning Sustainability Academy, we offer important knowledge and resources in all aspects of Sustainability.

Our next training is in Houston, Texas, September 27-28, 2018. Appropriate to the region, the focus will be on the energy sector. Early-bird registration will end soon, and our recent trainings have been sold out. With questions or for more information, contact [email protected].

CSE delivered yet another successful session of the Certified CSR Practitioner Program, this time in Bucharest. The Advanced Edition 2018 of the global Certified CSR Practitioner Program was held in Bucharest for the very first time on the 21st and 22nd of June. This high level professional training was fully booked and CSE managed, once again, to bring together executives from different fields from both local and multinational companies such as KPMG, Baxter Healthcare, Raiffeisen Bank and other leading organizations.

The new GRI standards and SDGs together with the Social Return on Investment were among the key topics of the program. More than 1500 CSR directors from leading European companies have attented this leading program in the field of CSR.

This two day workshop was designed as part of CSE’s mission to further educate professionals and enhance their knowledge on CSR in order to increase their organizations’ positive impact on society, the environment and the economy.

Coming up next are sessions in Houston, Sept. 27-28, 2018. CSE is a leading advisory organization in training and consulting governments, large multinationals and small-medium enterprises in more than 30 countries. CSE’s experience has serviced Fortune 500 companies, governments and institutions across diverse sectors.

Next trainings for the year include Toronto in October, Dubai, UAE, in November, and London, UK, in December.

Acknowledging the extreme effects of the environmental fluctuations on communities and the need for rigorous action to protect the environment and individuals, Canada is leading the way to advancing policies and strategies that will ensure long-term sustainability in its cities.

Inspired by the country’s initiatives, CSE is bound to responsibly address the importance of the UN SDG’s and Carbon Footprint Reduction. Upon popular demand, the advanced edition of the Certified Sustainability Practitioner Program will be hosted in Toronto for the second time this year. The leading training program aims to provide the sustainability professionals with all the essential and practical tools and resources in order to deliver the most effective strategies in favor of the environment and society.

Following the 2017 UN climate report it is pointed that the effects of the climate-related events have increasingly shifted the lives of societies and global health. In this context, green buildings seem to play an important role in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals and addressing the challenges of rapid urbanization, resource limitations and climate change.

Building more but acting greener

Given the indisputable fact that building and construction account for more than 30 percent of CO2 emissions, the work of the World Green Building Council is significant in terms of promoting affordable and clean energy and facing the challenges of global warming. From this angle, Canadian Government has put into force innovative projects and policies in order to reach the long term goal of creating more “net-zero” cities in the future that promote the health and wellbeing while using climate-resilient infrastructure. Despite the growth of floor space over the past fifteen years in Canadian buildings, GHGs emissions have fallen, explaining how successfully local, federal and market actions along with the greening of the electrical network have been combined towards that innovation.

With regards to Toronto, the city is engaged in operations to achieve the gas reduction target of 80% by 2050 and improve its energy performance overall that will grow economy and will advance social equity.

CSE is on track with Toronto’s transformational low-carbon plans and invites you to one of its leading certified practitioner programs in sustainability this October, 25-26, 2018. Be sure to claim your spot and learn all about the hot trends including the UN SDG’s and newest GRI standards.

Houston is the 5th most populous metro area in the US. It has experienced unexpected population growth, was devastated by Hurricane Harvey and faces the potential for severe flooding in 2018.

Welcome to the new normal. How do urban centers and companies prepare? By hiring sustainability professionals.

Those trained in a focused sustainability methodology will be leading the way. Research shows 87% of Sustainability professionals are embedded throughout different organization departments, opening a wide range of job opportunities.

As companies are forced to rebuild from disaster and design strategies to take Houston into the 2020s, training becomes key. Module 1 of CSE’s Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program addresses the crucial business case for sustainability. By the time attendees reach Module 8, they are ready to apply important skills to the future trends.

Join the CSE Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program in Houston, Sept. 27-28, 2018. CSE is a boutique sustainability consultant and trainer with an international presence. Next trainings for the year include Toronto in October, Dubai, UAE, in November, and London, UK, in December.

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