Day: December 1, 2021

A forum to empower youth and women in mining communities has been held in Accra.
Themed “Maximizing socio-economic benefits from Extractive Areas for Women and Youth Entrepreneurs – Connect, Collaborate, Scale-up”, the 3-day forum seeks to tackle topical issues including participatory and inclusive local development in extractive areas.
The forum further seeks to facilitate discussions on women and young entrepreneurs in mining areas i.e., how they can access finance and the technical support to grow their businesses and local development mining funds and other mining revenues.

Steel production could be made with almost no carbon emissions through $278 billion of extra investment by 2050, according to a new report from research firm BloombergNEF (BNEF). Hydrogen and recycling are likely to play a central role in reducing emissions from steel production. Steel is responsible for around 7% of man-made greenhouse gas emissions every year and is one of the world’s most polluting industries.
Government and corporate net-zero commitments are pushing the steel industry to cancel out its emissions by 2050. Efforts to decarbonize steel production are central to the net-zero aspirations of China, Japan, Korea and the European Union.

Global automotive supplier Marelli has unveiled a new goal to become carbon neutral across its direct impacts and operations by 2030, with a focus on onsite renewable generation and energy efficiency upgrades to be introduced.  The company will focus on an “energy efficiency Monozukuri” programme that has been introduced to reduce energy usage at plants.  Italian automotive developer Marelli has committed to becoming carbon neutral within its operations (Scope 1 and Scope 2) by 2030, this will cover emissions from direct sources owned or controlled by the company and emissions from energy purchases.  Marelli’s executive chairman Dinesh Paliwal said: “The automotive industry has a critical role to play in creating a cleaner, greener world. In addition to our role as a supplier of technologies which enable the responsible transition towards full electrification, this significant investment in achieving full operational carbon neutrality is a milestone in building a stronger, more sustainable Marelli.”

We don’t have time to think conceptually about sustainability operations anymore – we must act. Results on the ground are what we need to move the needle, but many leaders aren’t sure how to get started. With this toolkit, you can put theory into practice now.  Eventually, all organisations looking to change to more sustainable operations will need to transition from strategic thinking to tactical implementation. In a career that’s observed international development in some of the world’s political hotspots, I have learned that results on the ground are often what matter most. This is especially true if you are working under pressure, as we all ought to be in relation to climate change today. 

The Ki Culture Sustainability Training Programme is a new activity for 2021-24, and is part of ETC’s pledge to become a climate neutral network by 2030.  Course runs from 18 January – 18 April 2022. Expected time committment: 3-4 hours per week (this can be shared between multiple members of staff)  This intensive pilot programme is an opportunity for 10 – 15 ETC member theatres to join a global effort to use culture to drive sustainable change in their organisations and communities.  Ki Culture has run a similar programme in the museum sector with major organisations including The Smithsonian (Washington), Museo Moderno (Buenos Aires), Deutsches Museum (Munich), and the National Museum Lagos (Lagos).

The Emission and Climate Impact of Alternative Fuels (ECLIF3) study, an effort involving Airbus, Rolls-Royce, German research centre DLR and Finnish SAF producer Neste, marks the first time 100 per cent SAF has been measured simultaneously on both engines of a commercial passenger aircraft – an Airbus A350 aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWB engines. According to Airbus, in-flight emissions tests and associated ground testing on the ECLIF3 programme began earlier this year and have recently resumed. The interdisciplinary team, including researchers from the National Research Council of Canada and Manchester University, will publish its results in academic journals towards the end of next year and 2023.

General Motors has joined the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), adding another element to company programs that support the sustainability and human rights of the EV supply chain. IRMA advances responsible mining practice through a comprehensive set of standards covering the four principles of Business Integrity, Planning for Positive Legacies, Social Responsibility and Environmental Responsibility. As automotive battery demand expands globally, access to battery materials is of increasing importance. Given the critical role of EVs in reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation sector, GM says it is committed to the responsible sourcing of the mined materials needed for EV production.

Sport for purpose championship Extreme E has teamed up with Project Everyone, a not-for-profit creative communications agency, to raise awareness of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), better known as the Global Goals. Co-founded by film writer and director Richard Curtis to drive adoption of the 17 Global Goals, Project Everyone creates advocacy campaigns, content, programmes and events – telling stories that help multiple sectors engage with the Goals and ensure greater involvement from civil society, corporations, educators, philanthropist, activists and politicians. As part of Extreme E’s commitment to raising awareness of the climate crisis, all nine teams will display the Global Goals logo on their cars in the Jurassic X Prix next month in Dorset, UK. The Global Goals logo is a wheel representing all 17 Goals, which are designed to eliminate extreme poverty, to reduce inequalities, and to combat the threat of climate change by 2030.

Climate change presents the single biggest threat to sustainable development in the marine and infrastructure industries and there is a need for action.
With increasing stakeholder expectations and regulations – such as the International 
Maritime Organization (IMO) Greenhouse Gas Strategy 2050 – the maritime industry finds itself at a pivotal point in the debate around sustainability. As the conversation continues to grow in both volume and reach, so do initiatives, such as the World Ports Sustainability Program, the Environmental Ship Index, and the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Today, the Nevada Conservation League announced its partnership with the Nevada Green Business Network that is part of a statewide effort to identify sustainable businesses and provide resources for sustainable business practices. Through education, networking, and collaboration, the Nevada Green Business Network finds new ways for businesses to be more efficient, healthy, and attract new customers.
“The pursuit of a healthier climate future is an undertaking that requires all hands on deck, including, and especially, the help of businesses — and today, we are excited to join a network of leaders who share this same vision,” said Nevada Conservation League Deputy Director Verna Mandez. “As a partner, we look forward to expanding opportunities for Southern Nevada businesses to implement practices that help to protect the environment and employees and reduce costs, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste diversion from landfills, and reducing hazardous materials.”