Month: November 2022

Stadium 974 – the first fully demountable tournament venue in FIFA World Cup™ history – has achieved a five-star rating under the Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS), which is administered by the Gulf Organisation for Research & Development (GORD).  The 40,000-capacity venue is a landmark in sustainable stadium design and construction, having been built with prefabricated and modular steel elements such as standard certi­fied shipping containers. This reduced the waste generated during the production of stadium components and the waste created on site during construction. The use of modular elements also reduced the venue’s construction duration. Water efficiency methods ensured that 974 reduced water use by 40% compared to a conventional stadium development.  As a result, 974 achieved a five-star rating for GSAS Design & Build and a Class A* rating for GSAS Construction Management. Executives from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy received the certificates during a special event on Wednesday. The SC delegation included Eng. Ghanim Al Kuwari, Deputy Director General, Technical Services; Eng. Bodour Al Meer, Sustainability Executive Director; Mohamed Al Atwaan, Facilities Management Director, Stadium 974; and Jassim Al Jaidah, Sustainability Communications Manager.  As the f­irst-ever FIFA complaint stadium that can be fully dismantled and re-purposed post-event, 974 sets new standards in the building and usage of sustainable venues. This includes f­lexibility in the design to rebuild the stadium with the same capacity in a different location or build multiple smaller venues using the same materials. A study into the environmental impact of Stadium 974 was published earlier this year.  Located in Doha – close to Hamad International Airport and opposite the stunning West Bay skyline – Stadium 974 hosted its first match on 30 November 2021 during the FIFA Arab Cup™.  Eight stadiums will host matches during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which will take place from 20 November to 18 December. Each venue has achieved a minimum four-star rating under GSAS, which was adopted as a sustainability rating system by FIFA and will ensure all tournament-related infrastructure meets stringent environmental standards.  Stadium 974 will host seven matches up to the round of 16 stages during Qatar 2022, starting with Mexico versus Poland on 22 November.

If you were asked what makes Advent the most magical time of the year, we would probably get pretty similar answers. Festive lights and decorations, lively festive fairs, gift shopping, exquisite culinary delights and socialising with friends would probably be at the top of the list. But also the euphoria and crowds of December, which can sometimes be quite exhausting, can’t they? Why not make this a time to pause for a moment, think about the true meaning of the holidays and discover the magic of Advent in a different way? Also, by thinking ahead and embracing the joys of Advent in a more sustainable way. Here are some of the things we are trying to do in Slovenia to bring some “green” consciousness to the Advent fairy tale.  In the glow of festive lights – Slovenian cities and towns shine with thousands of festive lights in December. Despite the lavish lighting, energy-saving strings of lights are mostly used and in some places additional energy-saving measures are being taken. In Celje, more attention will be paid to the daytime decoration of the city and its bars and lighting elements will be replaced by non-illuminated features that are less energy-consuming. Murska Sobota, Maribor, Kranj and Slovenj Gradec have also decided to switch off their New Year lighting at night, and the light decorations in Koper will be partially switched off at night, while Jesenice will keep its lights on for a shorter period than usual. Additional or non-essential lighting was also given up in many towns.  Festive decorations for homes and towns.  In addition to the lights, decorated Christmas trees and other types of decorations, mostly made from natural or recycled materials, decorate the towns. Instead of cut down Christmas trees, you will find so-called living trees, which are planted in special pots. In Ljubljana, 10 spruce trees and 79 evergreen trees will be placed on four streets in the city centre and returned to nature after the holidays. Children from local schools and kindergartens often take part in decorating the trees. For example, the children will decorate the forests around Ljubljana and they have invited the city’s residents to contribute their own decorations. In Maribor, you can also join the citizens in decorating the urban woods.

Norwegian life sciences companies are finding new ways to extract useful compounds from marine residual materials, leading to innovations in health, medicine and food production while building a blue circular economy.  In terms of mass, 35 per cent of the harvest from fisheries and fish farms is residual materials. These are biological “leftovers” after the primary product has been extracted – for example, skin, guts, heads and bones from fish and shells from shellfish.  “Both aquaculture and pelagic fisheries create a high volume of residual material,” explains Hanne Mette Dyrlie Kristensen, CEO of The Life Science Cluster.  “For example, only about two thirds of a salmon’s weight can be sold as fillets. The question is: What do we do with the rest? Do we throw it back into the ocean, sell it as pet food, or can we find new, higher value use for it?”   The Life Science Cluster is a network for companies and organisations in industries for which the life sciences are key. The cluster promotes the development of new technology and higher value products in health, medicine, and the marine, agriculture and forestry sectors. This includes the use of marine residuals, which contain proteins, oils and other compounds that can be extracted and made into valuable products.  Norwegian companies are already adept at not letting marine residuals go to waste. Approximately 82 per cent of the harvest from Norwegian fisheries and fish farms is utilised in one way or another. Nevertheless, Kristensen would like to see an even higher percentage.  “We want to increase the use of marine residuals because it is a way of ensuring sustainable and circular resource use. Making sure to use every ounce we harvest is also a way of showing respect for marine life.”   Norway is a world leader in “blue” life science.  There are many products that can be made from marine residuals. Kristensen explains that Norwegian companies are continuously discovering untapped potential, based on synergies between industries.  “A good example is Arctic Bioscience, a company that uses herring roe to extract useful compounds for pharmaceuticals and nutritional supplements. Herring roe is a new resource in this respect; previously it has been discarded completely during the processing of herring.”

The tight labor market is prompting more employers to eliminate one of the biggest requirements for many higher-paying jobs: the need for a college degree.  Companies such as Alphabet Inc.’s Google, Delta Air Lines Inc. and International Business Machines Corp. have reduced educational requirements for certain positions and shifted hiring to focus more on skills and experience. Maryland this year cut college-degree requirements for many state jobs—leading to a surge in hiring—and incoming Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro campaigned on a similar initiative.  U.S. job postings requiring at least a bachelor’s degree were 41% in November, down from 46% at the start of 2019 ahead of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to an analysis by the Burning Glass Institute, a think tank that studies the future of work. Degree requirements dropped even more early in the pandemic. They have grown since then but remain below prepandemic levels.  The shift comes as demand for workers remains high and unemployment is low. Job postings far outpace the number of unemployed people looking for work—10.7 million openings in September compared with 5.8 million unemployed—creating unusually stiff competition for workers.  The persistently tight labor market has accelerated the trend that builds on a debate about the benefits and drawbacks of encouraging more people to attend four-year colleges and as organizations try to address racial disparities in the workplace.  Some occupations have universal degree requirements, such as doctors and engineers, while others typically have no higher education requirements, such as retail workers. There is a middle ground, such as tech positions, that have varying degree requirements depending on the industry, company and strength of the labor market and economy.  Lucy Mathis won a scholarship to attend a women in computer science conference. There, she learned about an IT internship at Google and eventually dropped out of her computer science undergraduate program to work at the company full time. The 28-year-old now makes a six-figure sum as a systems specialist.  “I found out I had a knack for IT,” she said. “I’m not good at academics. It’s not for me.” 

The main purpose of this webinar is to discuss the importance of Eucalyptus globulus as a differential element for innovation and the creation of a disruptive product that opens the way for a new packaging paradigm.  Industry experts Angela Graham-Brown (WBCSD), Fabienne Sinclair (PEFC), and Jonathan Tame (Two-Sides) will discuss forests, biodiversity, sustainability, the importance of PEFC, the growth of the circular bioeconomy with forest products, the myths, and facts about paper packaging and the role of virgin fibre.  gKRAFT aims to be the solution that guarantees the reduction of the use of fossil materials, as is the case with most plastics, in favour of renewable and biodegradable forest-based materials to help build a sustainable future.  The Navigator Company’s packaging solution includes three sub-brands targeting specific market needs: FLEX was designed to develop flexible packaging for the food industry, catering, and pharmaceutical trade; BAG is intended for retail product packaging already used by major international brands; finally, BOX (focused on paper for corrugated cardboard boxes) is intended for more resistant industrial and retail packaging, namely food retail, where there is a growing need for shelf-ready packaging, particularly in refrigerated environments, with high-quality printing to attract consumers and differentiate brands from the competition.

The cherry trees on the Tidal Basin need care and tending year round.  For more than a century, the cherry trees on the National Mall have been a beloved cultural symbol and popular tourist destination that draws visitors from around the world to our nation’s capital. Living symbols of friendship and diplomacy, the trees have adorned the National Mall waterfront since 1912, when the Mayor of Tokyo gifted cherry trees to the United States.  The iconic trees on the Tidal Basin, a beautiful but fragile wetland ecosystem, require year-round care and tending to bloom. The changing climate and rising sea-level of the Tidal Basin, coupled with damage from weather and ever-increasing foot traffic pose a growing threat to health of the trees. The Trust for the National Mall is proud to partner with the National Park Service and friends like you to steward the trees.  The cost to maintain the Cherry Trees exceeds the federal funds available to provide for their care.  But with your help, the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service can provide care for the trees and ensure they will endure and flourish for years to come.  The Trust for the National Mall has partnered with the National Cherry Blossom Festival to launch our Adopt a Cherry Tree Campaign with a goal to raise over $3.7 million to care for the 3,700 cherry trees and create a maintenance fund to care for the trees all year long.  We seek ambassadors like you who share our commitment to environmental sustainability and are willing to join our mission to preserve this cultural landscape and living symbol of friendship and diplomacy.  The future of this annual spring tradition is becoming increasingly uncertain as the trees face damage foot traffic from the millions of visitors, the growing impacts of the changing climate and daily flooding caused by the rising sea level that damages their root systems. Now more than ever, the Cherry Trees need support to ensure they will continue to bloom and thrive for generations to come.

You can hear it in her voice, during a breakfast-time conversation about her attention-getting research on the unseen and unacknowledged relationships between humans and nature. An ecosystem ecologist jointly appointed to the Bieler School of Environment and the Department of Natural Resource Sciences, she’s up early and deep into a description of the data-gathering she’s doing for Canada’s Census of Environment, the first-ever national register of the country’s ecosystems and the services they provide.
Bennett is the principle investigator for NSERC ResNet, an interdisciplinary network of Canadian researchers and other specialists who examine the many different facets of our country’s ecosystems (she also chairs ResNet’s scientific committee). Along with her ResNet colleagues, she is busy developing new ways of understanding and assessing the present state and future possibilities of the country’s highly complex landscapes. She hopes to make useful contributions as Statistics Canada prepares the census (she was asked to join the external advisory committee for the census).
But as she homes in on a specific local problem of what should be done with Nova Scotia’s costly, vulnerable dikelands, which have long separated encroaching sea water from developed agricultural areas, she realizes she’s hit on an issue that both bothers her and excites her about the limitations of big-budget scientific research on the national scale.
“In helping to nudge Canada’s Census of Environment towards being as useful as possible to as many decision-makers as possible, one thing we’ve been thinking about is finding ways to engage actors at a very local level and assist their decisions even as we are also collecting national-scale data. How do we provide data that’s useful to federal and provincial decision-makers, but also useful in a very particular way to these local decision-makers?
“Scientifically I don’t think we know how to do that yet,” she adds, and now the measured, pensive delivery of McGill’s Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Science suddenly takes a passionate and intellectually impulsive turn. “And anywhere that I hear ‘We don’t know how to do that,’ I think, Oooh, that’s a neat idea.”
“Neat idea” may not be an official term…

The Tibet delegation pointed out that the Chinese government is responsible for the worsening climate situation in the region which is already affected by global warming.  The all-women Tibetan representative at the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (Cop 27) raised the climate crisis that is threatening Tibet and the degradation of the environment due to Chinese projects, Tibet press reported. They demanded that world leaders acknowledge Tibet’s ecological significance and adopt a rights-based strategy that gives frontline communities power.  According to the Tibet press, China imprisons and sentence the Tibetans who defend and protect their environment be it against the constant damming projects – adhering towards it so called Hydro-Hegemony, mining extensively without any recovery time, needless development of grasslands and Greenwashing – which sees large number of Tibetans relocated from the ancestral lands in the name of development and for its realization, Beijing has directed a large sum of governmental finances (taxpayers money) which instead could have been utilized consciously in preserving the environment. The Tibet delegation pointed out that the Chinese government is responsible for the worsening climate situation in the region which is already affected by global warming.  This is further accelerated by the policies implemented in Tibet by Beijing that pushes for development but neglects sustainability. Tibetan environmentalists have been sentenced without any legal justification by China. Environmental activists Nya Sengdra and Karma Samdrup are in prison to preserve and protect Tibet’s fragile and unique ecology and also that both have been sent to prison without formal legal procedures.  In 2010 Human Rights Watch submitted a report to the Chinese government requesting to rescind the accusations against the philanthropist and environmentalist Karma Samdrup and his brothers. It states “these people embody the characteristics the government says it wants in modern Tibetans – economically successful, lending support to only approved cultural and environmental pursuits, and apolitical – yet they, too, are being treated as criminals.” This illustrates what the Chinese think of Tibetans who are not only apolitical but are trying to bring upward mobility to not only Tibetans but also the Chinese residing in Tibet especially in terms of the quality of life which is intertwined with the state of the environment. Lobsang Yangsto , the programme and environment coordinator at the International Tibet Network (ITN) along with 4 other Tibetan women at the CoP27, highlighted the desecration and destruction of Tibet’s fragile and vital ecosystem under the illegal Chinese occupation.

The Madhya Pradesh government and Central Nodal Department on Saturday organised workshops on Urban infra, urban transport, roads and logistics, informed a Finance Ministry press release. “The in-person workshop on Track 1 – Urban Infra, Urban Transport, Roads & Logistics, Power, and Industrial Infrastructure of Sub-Theme 2 – Infrastructure & Investments under Pillar 1 – Growth and Job Creation, in the run-up to the 2nd Conference of Chief Secretaries, was organised by the track-lead State of Madhya Pradesh and the Central Nodal Department i.e., the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), Ministry of Finance, Government of India,” the Ministry of Finance said in the release.  As per the release, the workshops witnessed participation from 16 State Governments and Union Territories. The workshop saw participation from over 60 senior officials from the State Governments and Union Territories and also representatives from industry and academia. The workshop was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Iqbal Singh Bains, and Secretary, DEA, MoF, GoI, Ajay Seth.  They suggested utilising this opportunity to enable a centre-state and inter-state discussion on ideas, potential solutions and exchange of learnings and best practices. They also emphasised the need to bring forth practical recommendations that are of utmost relevance to the State/UTs and aligned to the theme for this year’s conference – ‘Viksit Bharat – Reaching the Last Mile’, the release added. In his context-setting address, Principal Secretary, of the Urban Development and Housing Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Neeraj Mandloi, apprised of the background and steps leading to today’s in-person workshop, such as preparation of concept notes, background paper and video conference meeting held earlier this month.  As per the release, the session also witnessed the launch of the scheme guidelines for the financial support for Project Development Expenses of PPP Projects – India Infrastructure Project Development Fund (IIPDF) Scheme (The Scheme was notified on 3rd November 2022). During the workshop, presentations were made by representatives from industry and academia, State Governments and Union Territories followed by an open house discussion on major implementation models, ideas and experiences across projects, schemes and the way forward, the Ministry further stated. (ANI)

For more than 30 years, our scientifically tested and proven GORE‑TEX materials have been keeping people dry and warm so they can spend longer in the outdoors. At the heart of GORE-TEX fabrics is an extremely thin membrane called ePTFE that is durably waterproof, windproof and breathable. PTFE is a fluoropolymer.  Fluoropolymers are extremely valuable materials that have unique properties and enable high performing products. For example, the use of fluoropolymers will enhance the durability of a product, enabling a longer life and lowering its environmental footprint. This fluoropolymer is inert, insoluble in water, extremely stable and not biodegradable. Therefore, it does not degrade to become a source of PFCs of Environmental Concern.  GORE FABRICS’ GOAL AND ROADMAP FOR ELIMINATING PFCS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN*  As part of its commitment to continuously improve the environmental footprint of its consumer fabrics products while maintaining a high level of durability and performance, Gore Fabrics has set the goal of eliminating PFCs of Environmental Concern from the life cycle of its consumer fabrics products.  Gore Fabrics intends to eliminate PFCs of Environmental Concern from its consumer fabrics products. This is an important milestone in a long-term journey to continuously reduce the environmental footprint of its products throughout their full life cycle. Gore Fabrics is working towards the elimination of PFCs of Environmental Concern from its Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatments and membrane manufacturing processes.  The original target for completion of the elimination of PFCs of Environmental Concern from its consumer Fabric products is the end of 2023. Gore Fabrics is proud of the significant progress we have made on this journey with significant changes in DWR chemistries, supplier engagement and alternative materials developed. Despite Gore Fabrics’s focus and progress to date, it is now clear that completing the transition of its entire portfolio by the original target date will not be possible due to product development and scaling challenges. Gore Fabrics is still fully committed to the PFCec-Free goals, and now is on track to transition the vast majority of its consumer portfolio by end of 2025. *PFCs (per and poly-fluorinated chemicals) is a term with no commonly agreed definition, and like PFAS (per and poly fluorinated alkyl substances), generally refers to a broad group of highly fluorinated compounds with vastly differing physical attributes and properties. So, in communicating about PFCs it is important to be specific about the particular PFC or group of PFCs being discussed.

Paris La Défense, 22nd November 2022 – Bureau Veritas a world leader in testing, inspection and certification, in partnership with the Korean Register (KR), has been appointed to lead the project certification of Bada Energy’s Gray Whale 3, a major floating offshore wind farm project in Ulsan, Republic of Korea, that will be a key component of the country’s renewable energy strategy.  Gray Whale 3 floating offshore wind farm is a product of a partnership between Corio Generation (“Corio”), a portfolio company of the Green Investment Group, and TotalEnergies, a global multi-energy company. Under the plan, a floating offshore wind farm is being built 70 km off the coast of Ulsan, at a water depth of 150 metres. The project aims to be in operation by the end of 2026 and will have a grid connection with a capacity of approximately 500 MW.  As an independent third party, Bureau Veritas will provide project certification services. This covers a conformity assessment of the complete floating offshore wind farm and conformity assessments related to design, manufacturing, transportation, installation, and operation, including a review of the Front End Engineering Design (FEED).  Laurent Leblanc, Senior Vice President Technical & Operations at Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore, said: “This project is unique. The floating offshore wind industry is at an important crossroads, and it is an honour to be a trusted partner to one of the first commercial projects. With our extensive expertise in floating foundation technology, Bureau Veritas is well positioned to support wind farm initiatives and shape trust in both fixed and floating wind energy. Building on our experience in marine-related industry, we are proud to help Bada, Corio and TotalEnergies manage risks as they implement new solutions to develop the energy of tomorrow”.  Woojin Choi, Co-Representative Director of Gray Whale 3, commented: “The project certification will enable us to carry out the floating offshore wind project in accordance with domestic and international standards. This way we can ensure the reliability and stability of the project, allowing us to contribute in strengthening the competitiveness of Korea’s offshore wind technology industry by making the project an example of outstanding practice.”

“Milk and Dairy – Essential for your Life” This is more than the title of our Annual Convention; this is the simple and basic truth and it is our mission to make this truth resonate in Europe. Our Annual Convention is set to be the high-level platform for the dairy industry in Europe and beyond to see where we stand today and how to position ourselves in the future. Next to our internal meetings, our Annual Conference will be axed on two sessions: an European focus on our future dairy systems and a session with an international focus – after all, our European dairy excellence is recognized all over the world.  In these times of unprecedented challenges and threats, we, the European dairy industry, we want to be at the forefront of the political debates for our sector: A heartfelt ‘muchas gracias’ to our friends from our Spanish member Federación Nacional de Industrias Lácteas (FeNIL) for hosting our Annual Convention in the wonderful capital of Spain.  We are grateful to our members and friends, that have made our EDA congress in the past THE platform of high level exchange and in-depth debate on milk and dairy in Europe and beyond – and we trust we can build in Madrid the bridge for the future.  The motto of this edition, “Milk and Dairy: Essential for your Life!”, speaks to the importance of the products that our sector makes to consumers, all the while using the highest quality standards set by the European Union. In these times of uncertainty, it is important to recall how essential our products are from a nutritional point of view, but also to remind ourselves of the contribution that the dairy sector makes towards rural development, environmental sustainability and the generation of wealth and employment. We will discuss these and other topics with a wide range of experts, public representatives from different institutions and stakeholders, and we look forward to your attendance.  The EDA Annual Convention 2022 will take place at the Hotel RIU Plaza de España, located in the heart of Madrid, next to Gran Vía, and inside the historic Edificio España, which is one of the outstanding architectural landmarks in the city.

Zoos and aquariums have evolved tremendously in the last few decades. While animal welfare rightfully remains the highest priority, zoos and aquariums are expanding their conservation efforts and investments beyond the walls of their own facilities. Thanks to the high level of trust that zoos and aquariums have earned within their communities, they have a massive opportunity to influence wider climate action. Zoos and aquariums have a special responsibility to act sustainably, as they care for live animals – especially endangered species. But there’s work to be done. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) has an accreditation system in place that judges wildlife organizations based on several factors, including the practice of sustainability. Currently, of the approximately 2,800 animal exhibitors licensed by the USDA across the country, less than 10% are AZA-accredited.  Ultimately, more zoos and aquariums need to drive a sustainability vision that embraces their potential to act as agents of cultural change as well as educators of sustainable development. I spoke with notable executives of zoos and aquariums across the United States who are incorporating sustainability practices into their organizations and how this is further promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle and giving a positive outlook on wildlife conservation.  Jeff Fromm: How are you currently thinking about sustainability?  Sean Putney, CEO at Kansas City Zoo: Conservation and sustainability are a core part of our strategic plan. We want to be leaders in these categories and our guests expect us to be as well. Zoos have come such a long way over the last 50 years. Though excellence in animal care continues to be a focus, we are also concerned with the environments where they come from and where we live. We are involved with dozens of projects that range from regional to international efforts and often times the focus is on the animals and how to protect them from extinction, but it is equally important to look at the environment in which they live and how to sustain it for them and for us.  We have come a long way at our zoo but we continue to look for ways that we can get better and “walk the walk” not just talk the talk. Specifically speaking about the efforts we have made on grounds in the last decade, I can point to photovoltaic cells on many of our buildings that help to generate the electricity we use. We have also reduced energy waste in several buildings by updating control systems. We have added well over 100 recycling containers throughout the Zoo to make it easier for our guests to make the right choice. We have green roofs and water gardens as well as multiple areas that utilize local plants and flowers that need less watering. When building new, or renovating old, animal exhibits, we incorporate sustainability into the planning sessions as well. Several buildings are LEED Certified as we look for ways to save and conserve water and other resources and energy. We collect animal waste and plant refuse and make a rich compost that can be reused on grounds as well as sold to the local community. We have also been involved with efforts outside the Zoo as staff have helped with Blue River Cleanups and placing signs at local schools encouraging “no idle zones.”  All of these should reveal that conservation and sustainability is important and are woven into our everyday practices.

A cement industry body and the Canadian government have released a blueprint for the sector to reach net-zero by 2050, challenging the heavily polluting industry to decarbonize with technology, efficiency and carbon capture.  The Roadmap to Net-Zero Carbon Concrete By 2050 report was published by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada in cooperation with the Cement Association of Canada (CAC). The CAC is a trade association representing most of the country’s cement companies.  It identifies concrete as the second-most consumed product on earth, used for all manner of buildings and infrastructure. In Canada, the industry is said to be responsible for 158,000 direct and indirect jobs, and $76 billion in direct, indirect and induced economic impact.  Cement and concrete are also a serious contributor to climate change. Cement contributes to seven per cent of global emissions and 1.5 per cent of Canada’s pollution.  Canadian firms are expected to produce 55 million tonnes of cement and 400 million tonnes of concrete over the next five years.  The report says the cement and concrete industry has committed to reducing more than 15 megatonnes of greenhouse gases (GHGs) cumulatively by 2030. The report lays out a series of paths the industry and government can take to achieve that goal.  Ways to decarbonize – The first path deals with clinker, the precursor to cement. Its production is energy-intensive and a major source of the carbon dioxide emissions related to cement.  To reduce emissions from clinker, the report prescribes:  Rreducing clinker volumes by increasing the volume of decarbonized raw materials;  Increasing the use of low-carbon fuels for combustion such as waste-based fuels; adopting clean energy and energy efficiency; and employing carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).  For concrete, the report recommends increasing the use of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) to reduce GHG emissions.  It also notes the importance of: decarbonizing concrete manufacturing and transportation; optimizing the design and construction process to produce less waste; and use of materials built for longevity, adaptive re-use and deconstruction.  From government, the report suggests new codes and standards to mandate low-carbon concrete and addressing the issues surrounding the procurement of concrete and cement.  Adam Auer, president and CEO of the CAC, said governments have “the potential to be significant market-makers for innovation and to really de-risk the novelty of new low-carbon innovation for the rest of the market.”  

Our industry must address critical challenges of safety, productivity, and the way we use land, energy, and water. As our global population grows, this leads to a greater demand for minerals and metals, core components of products and services that are essential to human progress.  But it’s about more than just the work we do and the footprint we leave. We are part of people’s lives. People who demand and deserve more than just high product quality. Modern society rightly expects the mining industry to make a positive contribution to socio-economic development in a sustainable way by reducing its environmental footprint and supporting biodiversity.  Our definition of sustainability – A sustainable business is purposeful, competitive, resilient and agile –it’s a business that thrives through both economic and social cycles.  By understanding the context and listening to stakeholders we stay ahead of evolving trends and provide the solutions to societal expectations around sustainable development. By solving the physical challenges of mining through restless innovation, and by constantly searching for more responsible ways to do business, we are changing the way our employees and stakeholders experience our business – creating enduring value for all stakeholders.  FutureSmart MiningTM – A blueprint for future success – Our Purpose is to re-imagine mining to improve people’s lives.  Central to living up to our Purpose is our FutureSmart MiningTM programme – our innovation-led pathway to sustainable mining. It is our blueprint for the future of our business. A future in which broad, innovative thinking, enabling technologies, and collaborative partnerships will shape an industry that is safer, more sustainable and efficient, and better harmonised with the needs of our host communities and society.  Our Sustainable Mining Plan is integral to FutureSmart MiningTM – We have developed a Sustainable Mining Plan that will foster innovation and deliver step change results across the entire mining value chain, from mineral discovery right through to marketing.  Our Sustainable Mining Plan is designed specifically to drive business efficiencies, resilience and agility. It will ensure that we deliver outstanding sustained business results across all seven of our pillars of value, without compromise – safety, environment, social, people, production, cost/margin, and returns/financial. Sustainability is at the heart of our decision-making – it is how we do business.

The UK’s advertising watchdog is policing the language of sustainability more strictly than ever before. After a string of high-profile breaches, Iona Murphy sets out how businesses can stay on the right side of the UK’s ‘Green Claims Code’.  Sustainability has long been plagued with greenwashing. Marketers frequently opt for vague terms like ‘eco-friendly’, ‘green’ and ‘all-natural’, which can mislead or outright lie to the public about a product or company’s environmental impact. It’s no surprise that polling from RED C Research last year discovered that 62% of the UK public found it difficult to understand which brands are sustainable and which aren’t. With a third of the UK’s necessary emissions cuts hinging on behavioural change, it’s crucial that the public have the information they need to make more sustainable choices.  62% of the UK public found it difficult to understand which brands are sustainable and which aren’t It was therefore welcome that, after the Competition and Markets Authority’s review into greenwashing concluded 40% of online green claims could be misleading, the body introduced rules on how to make meaningful environmental claims via the Green Claims Code in September 2021.  Green Claims Code – Claims must be truthful and accurate.
Claims must be clear and unambiguous.  Claims must not omit or hide important relevant information.  Comparisons must be fair and meaningful.  Claims must consider the full life cycle of the product or service.  Claims must be substantiated.  Which all sounds straightforward enough. Yet, over a year since the launch, brands continue to fall foul of the regulator. A minority of breaches appear to be out-and-out greenwash – for instance, a nutrition drinks company that advertised its plastic-lined bottles as plastic-free. But the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has found that even though they may not have deliberately misled consumers, many brands have ended up inadvertently breaching the code.  So, brands are falling short because of unsubstantiated, misleading claims and a lack of consideration as to how the public might interpret these. The ASA’s concern with the overall impression of advertising should encourage brands to pause and consider how their messaging stacks up with the rest of their approach to sustainability.  We expect to see brands getting more specific about exactly how their products are ‘better’ for the environment and leaning less on vague claims.

Big Street Bikers is supercharging its network of Locky Docks free secure parking and charging stations for cycles, e-bikes and e-scooters with 100 more to be rolled out across New Zealand.  “Mercury has been a cornerstone partner of Big Street Bikers since day one, as we recognise transport is New Zealand’s biggest opportunity to reduce emissions – and our sector can help with that,” says Mercury sustainability general manager Lucie Drummond.  “We’re excited to help get more Kiwis on to bikes, e-bikes and e-scooters, as convenient and cleaner ways to get around, as the network expands.”  Analysis of the 10 existing Locky Docks in Christchurch by consultancy Sense Partners found they contributed to 250,000 fewer vehicle kilometres travelled, 58 tonnes of CO2 abated and $1.7-$2.3 million in physical benefits annually.  Big Street Bikers co-founder Cleve Cameron says Locky Docks are “mode shift machines”.  “The wayfinding and secure storage Locky Docks provide makes them an excellent complement to improving cycling infrastructure. By making it safe, secure and normal to bike to more regularly, we can accelerate climate action and enhance the wellbeing of our streets.”  Sense Partners economist Shamubeel Eaqub says expansion of the network can bring proportionally greater benefits.  “Based on our analysis, the next 100 Locky Docks could reduce vehicle kilometres travelled by 2.5 million kilometres a year,” he says.  “The Locky Dock network also provides exceptional value – $1.50 (at our most conservative measure), up to $4.60 for every $1 of cost (at our most optimistic). That comes from reduced car operating costs, reduced pollution costs, health benefits from cycling and more.”  The next 100 Locky Docks are planned for existing locations – Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton and Christchurch – and new locations such as Tauranga, Whakatane, Napier, New Plymouth, Wairarapa and Dunedin.  Each Locky Dock station has a screen displaying safe cycling routes to make commuting easier and CCTV cameras for extra security.  They are locked and unlocked using the Bikeep app available here.  Meanwhile, transport minister Michael Wood is expected to help launch “The Big Switch” on Friday November 25 in the way people move around New Zealand’s cities from streets made for cars to streets made for people.

Young Canadians say they feel the pressure to make environmentally friendly choices. Unfortunately, those choices sometimes cost more. As they struggle with affording basic necessities, some people feel guilty about not being able to do more to combat climate change.  The planet is dangerously close to crossing the carbon emissions threshold of 1.5 °C in 10 years, says the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The effects would be devastating and irreversible.  Experts say climate action efforts from governments, institutions and individuals are all critical to the fight against climate change. But young Canadians say the rising cost of living is getting in the way.  The November 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference, commonly known as COP27, stressed that the pressure is on to implement substantive changes rather than “snazzy promises,” said Julie Segal, conference attendee and climate finance manager at Environmental Defence, a Canadian environmental advocacy organization.  “People always say that we’re the leaders of tomorrow,” said 27-year-old Segal. “First of all, we’re leading today.”  But, as costs of living increase, making eco-conscious choices can make that leadership a struggle.  Eden Schwinghamer says he understands his responsibility to prevent further harm to the planet, but the second-year Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) photography student says financial constraints have proven to be a significant obstacle.  “I look at my budget and the fact that I’m putting myself through school, I am the only person in this ship with me,” said Schwinghamer. “I look at my bank account and I look at what I need and unfortunately, a lot of the more sustainable options do not line up as being more affordable.”  Schwinghamer says he feels a certain level of guilt for not being able to afford making bigger changes, such as buying more ethically sourced clothes, in his efforts to be eco-conscious.  His situation isn’t unique. TMU environmental sciences graduate Claire Davis also says she feels guilt about being unable to invest more into green living.  “I do what I can, but there’s only a certain degree of change people can individually contribute to protecting the environment,” she said.”