Event - GLOBE Forum 2018: Leadership Summit for Sustainable Business

This event will take place on March 14 - 16, 2018 in Vancouver, BC. The GLOBE Series is the largest and longest running leadership summit for sustainable business in the world.   GLOBE Forum and the associated Innovation Expo, showcasing cleantech and sustainable innovation, attract nearly 10,000 delegates from more than 50 countries, sparking inspiration, collaboration, innovation and enhanced corporate responsibility. There will be over 700 Presidents and CEOs in attendence as well as 250 exhibitors; and 300+ international media.

This forum is focused on transforming business as usual and like all Globe events, attendees of the Vancouver Forum will get information, and networking opportunities for business and policy leaders to pursue a cleaner, more prosperous world.

In the last 25 years Globe has held more than a dozen leadership summits that have brought together upwards of 150,000 participants from 97 countries. Attendeees will share insights, find inspiration, make connections, and identify and advance clean-growth opportunities.

Globe events are designed for sustainability change makers. These events provide an unparalleled platform for collaboration and partnership across sectors and regions. Deep networks and exceptional convening power, enable them to attract global thought leaders and practitioners from corporations, all levels of government, NGOs, international agencies, technology innovators, and the finance community.

The undisputed thought-leader in sustainability worldwide, GLOBE Forum is an exciting, international gathering of global senior business, government and civil society representatives who are at the forefront of the clean economy.  At these events you will d iscover an innovative business practice, partnership, technology solution or idea that could change your business for the better.

Click here to register.

For more information:

Contact Name: Kare Jacoba
Website: http://www.globeseries.com
Phone: 604.695.5000 x307
E-mail: kare.jacoba (at) globeseries.com

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One Planet Summit Highlights the EU's Climate Leadership

As evidenced by the recent One Planet Summit, the EU and its member states are leading climate action. In the EU, governments, businesses and investors are all engaged in hopeful efforts and initiatives designed to combat climate change.

On the anniversary of the signing of the Paris Climate agreement on December 12, French President Macron convened a summit to encourage private and public financing for the implementation of the Paris agreement. The One Planet Summit was attended by governments, corporations and other organizations. At this event the European Union announced that it would invest at least €9 billion (US$10 billion) on clean energy, sustainable cities and agriculture. Even Theresa May, the less than green-minded prime minister of the UK, acknowledged the need for wealthy nations to help the developing world. She pledged to contribute £140 million to help poorer countries manage climate change.

European nations are also working towards the goal of eradicating emissions. Germany is already a climate leader and that nation has announced that it will slash its greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 95 percent by 2050. France has emerged as the global climate leader. The country in engaged in serious emission reduction efforts through the adoption of a host of forward looking initiatives.

The EU and its member states are leading producers of renewable energy. engaged in consorted efforts to reduce emissions, ratchet-up climate finance, move away from fossil fuels, grow the green economy, and invest in agricultural adaptation.

The EU's efforts are all the more important in the face of the fiasco that is the Trump administration. Trump has eviscerated the US government's climate action plan. Trump announced that he is withdrawing from the 2015 Paris Climate agreement.

The US is now the only nation on Earth that has will not honor to their emissions reduction pledges. In the face of an historically irresponsible US government the EU is leading nations, organizations and individuals who are committed to the goals of the Paris Accord.

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France Shows Trump What Climate Leadership Looks Like

France is leading climate action. The host nation for the signing of the historic Paris Agreement has repeatedly refuted Trump's climate denial while adopting a raft of measures as part of an ambitious national climate plan.  It is fair to say that with its support of science, climate focused political agenda, and progressive climate plan France is one of the most sustainable countries in the world.  French efforts have been ongoing for years and include everything from mandatory sustainability reporting to the problem of food waste. In May France announced that it was moving forward with 17 GW of clean energy investments. These are just some of the reason France has emerged as a global climate leader.


Science

The US under Donald Trump is the only nation in the world that is not signed on to the Paris Climate Agreement. In reponse to Trump's contempt for climate science, France awarded "Make Our Planet Great Again" grants to 18 researchers including 13 US climate scientists. The research grants will extend throughout the remainder of Trump's term (assuming he is able to avoid impeachment). The laureates include professors and researchers from Cornell University, Columbia University, and Stanford University.

Following Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Accord in June French President Emmanuel Macron said that France would cover the US share of funding for a U.N. climate change panel. When Macron and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met in July they made fun of Trump's climate denial. "Now we will deliver together to make the planet great again," Macron said.

He also sent out an invitation to US climate scientists saying:

"To all scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs who were disappointed by the decision of the President of the United States I want to say that they will find in France a second homeland. I call them to come and work here, with us on concrete solutions for our climate and our environment. I can assure you that France will not give up the fight".

Macron awarded 3-5 year long climate research grants worth between €1 - €1.5 million. The grants cover research for climate modeling as well as well as the technological and social challenges associated with transitioning away from fossil fuels. At the beginning of 2018, France is teaming up with Germany to provide €60 million worth of grants to 50 projects.

Macron said during the ceremony: “We will be there to replace US financing of climate research. If we want to prepare for the changes of tomorrow, we need science”.

As reported by the Star one of the awardees lamented the "devaluing of science by this administration" These remarks came from Louis Derry, a leading professor of Earth and atmospheric sciences at Cornell, who also said that he is happy to be free of the "crazy stuff that goes on in Congress and with the current administration".

Another grant recipient is Núria Teixidó Ullod, a visiting scientist at Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University. Her research revealed the relationship between fossil fuels and drought. Another recipient of the French grant is Alessandra Giannini. Giannini is a Research Scientist at Columbia University. Giannini is well known for having conducted research that makes a causal connection between global warming and drought.

Trump is pleased to see these people go because their research flatly contradicts his climate denying narrative.

Politics

Macron has made it clear that climate action will continue regardless of what the ruling US administration does. After it has become clear that the US president has no interest in listening to reason, The French president seems to have decided that Trump is not relevant. Macron is part of a growing chorus that sees Trump as irrelevant. To make the point Trump was not invited to the climate-focused UN and World Bank's "One Planet Summit," that took place one day after the Macron's grant award ceremony.

France must also be acknowledged for having stemmed the tide of right-wing populism. In the wake of Trump's electoral victory, some were concerned that similar dystopia creating governments would pop up all across Europe.

Many are saying that France's rejection of the far right in recent elections killed the momentum that threatened all of Europe. Germans followed the French lead reelected Angela Merkle. Europeans seem to be rejecting the politics of Trump (and UK Prime Minister Theresa May), instead they are embracing progressive centrist forms of government. The importance of France in this respect cannot be overstated. France is a bulwark against the cancerous nationalism that is presently dividing Americans.

The fossil fuel industry pays the Repubublicans handsomely to deny climate science and the recent tax bill is an homage to that relationship. It would appear that Trump and the GOP are using nationalism to mask a plutocracy.

Although Macron's government is decidedly pro-capitalism, they are also anti-corruption. The Trump administration by contrast is the most corrupt administration in Amercian history. 

Economy

France is a model for Republicans who purport to be concerned about the economy and claim to be pro-business. Since 2015 the French economy has been steadily growing. Entrepreneurs seem to be thriving in the country and this has pushed France ahead of the rest of Europe in startup fundraising.Macron acknowledges the importance of climate consideration as both a health concern and an economic issue. This is evident in their appraisal of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Canada. In October France announced that they would only ratify the trade deal it will not affect the nation's climate policies and regulations.

France has seen tremendous economic returns from their investments in clean energy.  First with nuclear and increasingly with renewables France is a clean energy titan. France is currently a low carbon energy leader getting more than 75 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. It produces so much energy, in fact, that it exports much of it to nearby nations to the annual tune of $3.2 billion.

"France wants to become the No. 1 green economy." This is part of France's ambitious climate plan. After the announcement Shares of French automaker, PSA Group rose 2.4 percent and Renault SA gained 1.9 percent, making them the day’s best performers on the Bloomberg 500 Autos Index.

Climate plan

In July French Ecological Transition Minister Nicolas Hulot unveiled details of a national climate plan to help France eliminate net carbon emissions by 2050.  Macron's predecessor President Francois Hollande, strongly supported renewable energy and he made bold strides towards ramping up capacity.  Holland announced that France will close all of the nation's coal-fired power plants by 2022.

Macron is continuing Holland's agenda by ramping up renewables and encouraging homeowners to produce their own energy. Last summer Macron announced that he is planning a massive home renovation retrofit program that will reduce energy consumption and cut CO2 emissions.

France is embracing renewables are abandoning fossil fuels. This includes an initiative to end the sale of fossil fuel powered cars by 2040. Hulot said that the government will stop issuing licenses for oil and gas exploration on French territory. "There will be no new exploration licenses for hydrocarbons," Hulot told BFMTV. Hulot has previously indicated that France will offer tax incentives to help get fossil fuel powered vehicles--especially older vehicles--off of the road. Hulot has also expressed an interest in raising diesel taxes.

On the issue of climate change Trump is like Macron's polar opposite just as Scott Pruitt is Huot's evil antithesis. Trump and Pruitt are eroding support for renewables and smoothing the path for more fossil fuel development.  The contrast between the climate focus of Macron's government and the rampant denial in the Trump administration could not be starker. The two governments have diametrically opposed climate narratives. While Macron is charting a course into the future, Trump is reaching back to the darkness that got us here.

Related Posts
Vive La France! French Electorate Rejects Climate Denial and Commits to Progressive Action
France: One of the Most Sustainable Countries in the World
France Curbs Vehicles and Decrees Green or Solar Roofs
Why France is a Global Climate Leader
France Restricts Both GMOs and Cars
Obama and Hollande Call for Climate Action

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Event - Sustainable Investment Forum Europe

The Sustainable Investment Forum Europe (SIFE), will take place on March 13, 2018, in Paris France. This event is subtitled "Financing Innovation for a Low Carbon Future". Leaders will convene to discuss concrete solutions to the current challenges of the European and global climate finance market. SIFE will host more than 200 organizations including governments,  investment agencies,  NGOs, corporations, and think tanks. Attendees will hail from from more than 30 countries and include leading members of the finance community.  At SIFE you can meet sustainable investment thought leaders including C-Level representatives, investment decision-makers, influencial policy-makers and regulators.

SIFE builds on the success of its Forum in New York, Climate Action is bringing the Sustainable Investment Forum to Europe, an ideal location for such an event. The European market is leading the global climate finance market including advanced SRI and ESG strategies, green bond issuance, European Emission Trading System (EU ETS), COP21 and the French law Article 173. However, most European investors still haven’t aligned their investments with the 2C target. Much more needs to happen in the near future to scale up low-carbon investment and fulfil EU's determination to scale up its international climate finance contribution towards the $100 billion per year goal set for industrialised countries by 2020 and through until 2025.

Key Topics To Be Covered

• Climate risks and opportunities
• Appropriate governance for sustainable investment
• Defining a European and global green finance lexicon
• Efficient use of information to scale-up low-carbon investment
• Financing the transition to a low-carbon economy
• Financing the Sustainable Development Goals
• Technology for sustainable investment
• Setting up an efficient carbon pricing system
• Policy and regulatory updates: the examples France and the EU

Who Will Attend

• European, national and local governments
• Asset owners
• Asset managers
• Commercial and development banks
• Credit rating and indices firms
• Research firms
• Large private sector companies
• Insurance companies
• Finance consultants
• Non-profit organisations and think tanks

Speakers

• Mike Tyrell, Editor, SRI-CONNECT. Mike has been an SRI analyst for the past 20 years - on the 'buy-side' at Jupiter Asset Management.
• Paul Simpson, Chief Executive Officer, CDP. Paul has been at the forefront of CDP's expansion since its inception in 2000 and has led CDP from a climate  perspective.
• Gerben-Jan Gerbrandy, Member European Parliament
• Megan Richards, Director of Energy Policy in DG Energy European Commission
• Elise Calais, Green Bond Project Manager, Agence France Trésor.
• Sune Schackenfeldt, Chief Executive Officer PBU - Pædagogernes Pension
• Andreas Hallermeier, CEFA, CIIA Sustainability Manager and Assistant to the Chief Investment Officer Bayerische Versorgungskammer
• Niklas Ekvall, Chief Executive Officer Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund (AP4)
• Sean Kidney, Co-Founder and CEO Climate Bonds Initiative Sean Kidney is the co-founder and CEO of the Climate Bonds Initiative, an investor-focused NGO based in...
• Olivier Rousseau, Executive director FRR - Fonds de réserve pour les retraites
• Eva Halvarsson, CEO of the Second Swedish National Pension Fund -- AP2.
• Jane Stevensen, Engagement Director Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), CDP and CDSB Jane is CDP’s Engagement Director to the TCFD.
• Magnus Billing, CEO, Alecta
• Pierre Ducret,Special Advisor for climate change, Caisse des Dépôts Group
• Stephanie Pfeifer, Chief Executive, IIGCC
• Carine Smith, Ihenacho Global Head, Ownership Strategies Norges Bank Investment Management 

Watch the highlights from the 2nd edition of the Sustainable Investment Forum was held on 19 September 2017 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Times Square during Climate Week NYC.

Click here to register to download the conference brochure and agenda. Click here to register for the event.

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Event - High-Performance Building Conference 2018

Hosted by Maine CSI (Construction Specifications Institute), the High-Performance Building Conference 2018, will take place Thursday, March 15, 2018 from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM (EDT) at the Holiday Inn Portland, in Portland, Maine. The conference is for all those who design, manage or build structures in New England. The event will gathers architects, contractors, designers, engineers, facility managers, building owners and other industry professionals with an interest in learning about high-performance enclosures in New England. The full-day event features a slate of nationally recognized speakers, who each offer expertise on aspects of high-performance buildings. In addition, more than 20 suppliers will be available to approach with questions on products and services related to high-performance building design and construction. The confereence features AIA accredited sessions by top industry leaders and exhibits by leading manufacturers.

Sessions and Presenters

Roofing presented by Joseph Lstiburek, Ph.D., P. Eng., ASHRAE Fellow, founder of Building Science Corp. ¨Joseph Lsiburek is an internationally known authority on moisture-related building problems and indoor air quality. He has appeared on such television programs as PBS NOVA (Can buildings make you sick?) and is the author of numerous books and technical papers on building science, indoor air quality and durability. The adjunct professor of Building Science at the University of Toronto has more than 30 years of experience in design, construction, investigation, and building science research. Joseph Lstiburek is the founding principal of Building Science Corporation. A building science pioneer, particularly in the areas of air barriers, vapor barriers, and vented and unvented assemblies, he has had a lasting impact on building codes and practices throughout the world. For example, his work with industry partners through the Building America program led to significant research into the wetting and drying of walls and ultimately to a major code change relaxing the requirement for vapor barriers in the International Residential Code.

Air Vapor Barriers presenteed by Ken Roko: Mr Roko works at The Facade Group, in Portland, Oregon. He is a Building Enclosure Consultant and Principal with over 14 years experience. He has a diverse background--encompassing both architecture and structural engineering. His project experience is equally diverse--ranging from commercial towers to residential towers, public buildings to institutional buildings. Ken is the The Facade Group's in-house roofing, waterproofing and air barrier expert and head of the Hygrothermal Analysis team. He is responsible for project coordination, analysis, detailing, production and construction services and existing buildings performance reporting. Having earned a degree in architecture from NY Institute of Technology and an architectural engineering degree from Penn State University, Ken has a foundation in both the practical and theoretical aspects of building enclosure and structural systems. He is a member of the AIA, NRCA, and a founding member of the Portland Building Enclosure Council (BEC). Ken is also a member of the Air Barrier Association of America where he ists on both the Terminations and Flashings Committee, and the Air Leakage Testing Committee.

Proper Detailing presented by Richard Keleher: Mr Keleher is a Senior Architect at Thompson & Lichtner. He performs peer reviews of architectural designs in the early design stages as well as during the construction document preparation process. He assists in reviewing submittals, testmockups and installations of building enclosures. Mr. Keleher is presently employed as senior architect by The Thompson & Lichtner Company, Cambridge, Massachusetts and is also the editor of the revisions to the Whole Building Design Guide, Building Enclosure Design Guide being done by the Building Enclosure Council Chairs. He also consults in private practice to architects in the Boston area. Mr. Keleher is founder and current co-chair of the Boston Society of Architects Building Enclosure Council as well as a member of the National Institute of Building Sciences Building Enclosure and Thermal Environment Council Board of Directors. He is nationally recognized for his expertiese on building enclosures.

Sealants & Waterproofing presented by Brian Stroik: Mr Stroik is part of the Building Envelope Solution Team, Tremco, he is the 2nd Vice Chair Air Barrier Associate of America, Chair National Building Enclosure Council Topic-Mock-ups Brian is on the Building Envelope Solution Team for Tremco Sealants and Waterproofing. He also currently serves on the Board of Direction for the Building Enclosure Technology and Environmental Council (BETEC) and is a member of the Leadership Committee for the Building Enclosure Council National (BECN). He is also a co-chair of the Building Enclosure Council of Wisconsin (BEC-WI), Â a voting member of ASTM E 06, a Senior Member of American Society of Quality (ASQ), and a Union trained carpenter. He graduated from Marquette University with a degree in Psychology. When not working, Brian and his wife enjoy being actively involved in the lives of their five children.

Moisture Mitigation in Concrete Floor Slabs presented by Peter Craig. Mr Craig is with Concrete Constructives, and he is a Concrete Floor Specialist. He has over 40 years experience as a materials and concrete repair specialist. In addition to providing consulting and quality assurance services for specialized aspects of concrete construction, maintenance, repair & protection, Mr. Craig's experience and involvement includes: Professional Affiliations: 1996 National President, International Concrete Repair Institute ( ICRI ) Sterling, VA 2000 Received ICRI Fellowship award Member American Society for Testing & Materials ( ASTM ), Standing member ASTM Task Group E06.21.08 Standards produced: Standard Specification for water vapor retarders used in contact with soil or granular fill under concrete slabs ASTM E-1745. Standard Practices for installation of water vapor retarders used in contact with earth or granular fill under concrete slabs ASTM E-1643 Standard Practices for Determining Moisture Related Acceptability of Concrete Floors to Receive Moisture Sensitive Finishes ASTM E-1907. Member American Concrete Institute (ACI) Member ACI Committee 302 Guide for Concrete Floor and Slab Construction Associate Member ACI Committee 360 Design of Slabs on grade 1996- 2004 Co-Chairman ACI Committee 302 & 360 Moisture Task Group studying and reporting on moisture-related floor and vapor retarder issues. 1992-1997 Instructor for the NNECPA sponsored ACI Flatwork Certification Program, Former member of the ACI sanctioned Maine Concrete Technicians Certification Board (MCTCB ) Member Construction Specifications Institute (CSI ) Officer of the Maine Chapter 1990-2000.

The Speakers

Chris Mathis S. M. Arch.S, Member - ASHRAE, DL, President, Mathis Consulting Company (MC2). As president of Mathis Consulting Company, Chris and his team provide a variety of strategic services to both private and public sector interests related to buildings and building product performance. From energy efficiency and code compliance to long-term durability and sustainability, Chris focuses on the role of buildings and how they perform. He holds a Master of Science in Architecture Studies from MIT where he focused on energy use in buildings. His research has addressed a variety of building science topics – from insulation testing, fenestration performance and effective building performance policy. mathisconsulting.com, @mathisconsult, chris@mathisconsulting.com

Andrew Dunlop AIA, CDT, LEED AP, Architect, SmithGroupJJR, Director of the Air Barrier Association of America. As a building enclosure specialist for SmithGroupJJR, Andrew Dunlop is a go-to expert on exterior building enclosures and thermal analysis—roofing, skylights, curtain walls, windows and waterproofing—including those of historic structures. He analyzes conditions, investigating options for corrective work, and develops remediation and construction plans. Andrew focuses on providing energy-efficient designs, and regularly validates designs for energy code compliance. Andrew’s work has corrected problems at such architectural and historic gems as the Smithsonian Arts and Industry Building and the Eliel Saarinen-designed Cranbrook Art Museum. smithgroupjjr.com, airbarrier.org

Steve Easley, Principal, Steve Easley & Associates. Steve Easley provides seminars nationwide and specializes in solving building science-related problems and educating building industry professionals and their trade partners. Steve’s mission is helping industry professionals build and remodel structures that are durable, energy-efficient, healthy and comfortable to live and work in. His work focuses on increasing quality of construction, sustainability and performance, and reducing costly mistakes that lead to construction defects and call-backs. He has more than 30 years of industry experience, performing thousands of job site quality surveys and presenting building science seminars around the world. steveeasley.com, steve@steveeasley.com

Peter Craig FACI, FICRI, Concrete Floor Specialist, Concrete Constructives. Peter Craig has more than 42 years of experience as a concrete construction and repair specialist. Based in Greene, Maine, he provides consulting and quality assurance services for specialized aspects of concrete construction, maintenance, repair and protection. Peter has served as a concrete specialist in more than 400 moisture-related flooring projects nationwide and has been guest speaker at more than 100 technical conferences and meetings over the past 15 years. In 2012, Peter was voted one of the five most influential people in the concrete industry by Concrete Construction Magazine. FloorWorks3.com

Scott Tarr PE, FACI, Consulting Engineer, President, North S.Tarr Concrete Consulting, P.C. Scott’s expertise in concrete design, evaluation and rehabilitation spans more than 25 years. Based in Dover, New Hampshire, the consulting engineer and president of North S.Tarr Concrete Consulting regularly evaluates floor covering failure, including those caused by excessive moisture vapor emission, high pH, adhesive failure, and improper surface preparation. Scott has contributed to more than 50 articles on concrete design, construction and evaluation and presents at seminars and workshops throughout North America and South America. starr@northstarrconcrete.com

Brian Neeley AIA, NCARB, Partner and Senior Project Manager, Gale Associates, Inc. Brian is leader in building enclosures for Gale Associates, a 100-person consulting firm that specializes in the repair, renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings, sites and infrastructures. Based in the Boston area, he’s a champion for industry education and networking, serving as co-chairperson of the Building Enclosure Council – Boston (2014 to present) and as past vice-president of CSI – northeast region (2011-2014). Brian has extensive knowledge on the complexity of building envelope designs and commissioning. galeassociates.org, @galeassociatesinc.

Registration includes access to all sessions, buffet luncheon, refreshment breaks, and wine/beer-tasting social. Click here to go to Eventbright to register.

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Corporations Need to Get Over their Fear of Reporting Failure

Corporations, particularly those who purport to be interested in sustainability, need to bravely report where no reports have gone before. Many firms instinctively shield their failures from the public, however, forward looking corporations know that even here there is value to transparency.  

Although it is hard to avoid getting defensive about shortcomings, being forthcoming about weakness augurs transformative opportunities. Those who have the courage to honestly acknowledge the facts are in a position to change the paradigm. Problems are transformed into an exercise in problem-solving. Identifying weakness becomes an invitation to improve. 

PR guru Lou Hoffman says that transparency pays. Hoffman is the founder of PR firm The Hoffman Agency. "[A] company can garner goodwill from the public for being honest, transparent, and accountable," Hoffman said in an EcoBusiness interview at the recent Asia 360 conference in Singapore.

"In the earnest, fact-based world of sustainability communications there is no room for spin, but companies need to be brave enough to talk about failure." Companies hate talking about their failures, especially when it comes to sustainability. According to Hoffman, being open about their weaknesses as well their achievements might help firms avoid one of the biggest corporate communications sins - being boring. A company that has been forthright about their shortcomings will build trust so that consumers will be more forgiving if things go wrong.

Missteps are part of a good sustainability story. Having problems is not the problem while failing to report them in a clear and accurate way can be. However, disclosing weaknesses in the absence of corrective action is a recipe for disaster. Companies can redeem themselves if they are  prepared to respond. As explained by Hoffman.

"If a company doesn’t have a solution, it would be risky. But if the company has taken the right steps and has addressed the issue, then it’s no longer in question whether or not they will do the right thing."

The key proviso here is sincerity, an organization that is truly earnest will benefit from transparency. Hoffman says that by admitting mistakes companies can bank goodwill and that can pay lucrative dividends when something goes seriously wrong.

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Event - Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) Impact 2018

This event will take place on April 24 - 26, 2018 in San Francisco, California. More than 350 attendees will get inspired, learn, make new connections and leave with actionable takeaways for their daily work through thought-provoking presentations, interactive sessions, engaging panels, interesting tours and fun business networking functions.

Momentum around sustainable packaging is at an all-time high. Industry efforts to improve packaging are widespread and a common understanding has been developed, allowing more advanced conversations throughout the entire supply chain. It’s time to ensure that our actions are aligned with the bigger picture. Meaningful progress needs to be made towards the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and packaging improvements and innovations have the power to contribute. SPC Impact brings together the leading packaging decision-makers and influencers to focus on contextualizing opportunities for packaging, expanding the possibilities while bringing the perspective of our planetary boundaries.

Why Attend

• LEARN what the most important issues are in packaging sustainability
• EXPERIENCE the most current ways of thinking about these issues
• GET INSPIRED by the ways in which others are addressing these issues
• LEAVE ARMED with the tools to push packaging sustainability forward in your company
• GAIN NEW CONNECTIONS that will help, reinforce, and inspire your work and career

What will SPC Impact be about?

SPC Impact 2018 will have something for everyone. We will have interactive workshops and masterclasses; engaging panels and presentations; inspiring keynotes; tours and offsite events; time to connect with old and new friends and contacts; and the opportunity to learn about a plethora of topics.

Expanding opportunities within planetary boundaries; how social, environmental and economic principles have evolved in sustainability; getting inspired by new ideas for a changing landscape; redesigning materials to create regenerative packaging; circularity, systems thinking and resilience will be some of the concepts we will start our conference with. We will hear from thinkers and doers on how they have approached these challenges and how did their journeys lead them to where they are today.

Moving towards Cooperative Reverse Supply Chains in Fashion, Apparel and Retail

In this session, we will learn about reverse supply chains and how they differ from a forward supply chain. What role does packaging have in reverse supply chains? Can packaging help to streamline the process? What happens to package sent to return a product in e-commerce in a reverse supply chain and a return in a brick and mortar retail environment?

How can brick and mortar retailers have circular systems to recapture packaging? How is sustainability evolving in reverse supply chains? We will also hear from brands that have developed innovative uses of the circular economy.

Knowledge Cafe: Sustainable Forest Products Sourcing

We rely on forests every day for an incredible array of environmental, social, and economic benefits. Choosing a material that when managed responsibly can help combat climate change, clean our air and water, and provide a home for wildlife is an amazing opportunity for any business, but one that is not always well understood. This Knowledge Cafe will help attendees 1) understand the most important factors to consider when sourcing forest products, and 2) understand how their sourcing strategies and not merely mitigating risk, but have the power for real conservation impacts!

Leveraging Bioplastics’ Advantages on Performance, Technical Benefits and Functionality

Bioplastics have proven environmental benefits, from sourcing to end of life. For 2018, we want to evolve the conversation to focus on the users and developers perspective on renewable & biobased materials based on their performance, technical benefits and functionality and where do bioplastics fit in moving forward and ultimately, how can brands leverage their attributes and advantages in their products.

E-commerce and the changing retail environment landscape

The primary goal of packaging for e-commerce is to protect the product while at the same time, preventing the sustainability repercussions of damage. The e-commerce landscape varies significantly from region to region; as well as the frequency of shipments, quantity and type of products – in this session we will learn of the experience coming from other regions; how is e-commerce impacting brands and how the logistics infrastructure is evolving to accommodate this rapidly growing market.

An Ideas Lab hosted by SPC and YFYJupiter at their brand new West Coast Design Center 

This lab will tackle the challenges of e-commerce user experience. It will specifically deal with how we can meet the expectations of the online experience vs. the physical experience when the product arrives. How do we solve the amount of packaging given to the consumer? What’s more important, speed or sustainability? Compostable Packaging and Organics Diversion: Policy Insights from the West Coast .

Policy discussion

To kick-start organics collection programs in both residential and commercial contexts, policy is often discussed as a mission-critical tool. But policy is incredibly nuanced and used loosely, it can cause unintended consequences. Learn how cities, municipalities, and states along the West Coast have thoughtfully used policy to achieve precise interventions and motivate specific sectors in the past and how policy and Compostable Packaging will play roles in moving organics collection from ‘good’ to ‘great’.

Also at SPC Impact: Presentation of the winners of the 2018 SPC Innovator Awards

The Sustainable Packaging Coalition recognizes meaningful contributions and advancements towards more sustainable packaging through the annual SPC Innovator Awards. The awards celebrate and showcase the outstanding people behind packaging improvements, partnerships that move the needle, breakthrough processes, and extraordinary advancements in packaging. Nominations are open until January 19th, 2018. Take advantage of this opportunity to show off the work that you have done in 2017. All members are encouraged to apply. Learn more.

Featured Speakers

• Pashon Murray - Detroit Dirt
• William Rosenzweig - Food Venture Lab
• James Connelly - International Living Future Institute
• Jeff Kirschner - Litterati
• Sharon Greene - Alice Labs Partners

Pricing

SPC Members may receive complimentary tickets based on membership level. Additional SPC Member tickets: $999. Late fee (after 4/2/18): $160. Non-Members: Early bird pricing through 2/23/18: $1,299, regular tickets: $1499. Late fee (after 4/2/18): $160. Registration closes 04/26/2018 5:00 pm.

Click here to register.

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The Art of Effective Science Based Climate Communications

Science-based communications have failed to effectively counter the barrage of misinformation about climate change. This is partly due to the sheer volume of politically motivated subterfuge. This is especially true in the United States where climate change denial is being sold to the public by both the president and his party. This administration and most GOP legislators have made it clear that they are opposed to a fact-based understanding of climate change. Nonetheless, science is critical to the health of a society and if we are to reach larger numbers of people we need to be more effective.

We must help shape the way climate change is perceived. To start with we need to make it relevant to people here and now. Rather than a seemingly amorphous global threat we must focus on climate threats as they apply in local contexts in the present.  This includes immediate impacts on health, agriculture, the economy and our natural resources.

We have to counteract the slew of misinformation being generated by partisan interests. Despite being grossly inaccurate, these non-scientific surveys can overwhelm scientific surveys in popular media. We need to help non-scientists to appreciate the difference between studies with rigour and those without.

However, we must do more than just strive to ensure that our climate communications are free of factual inaccuracies, unsupported statements and logical flaws. Here are some additional recommendations to help us effectively communicate climate science.

It must be made emphatically clear that few statements have more scientific veracity than the evidence connecting human activity and climate change.  Historical impacts must be differentiated from future vulnerabilities. This last point is important because historical impacts have been shown to do a far better job at reinforcing understanding then future vulnerabilities. When talking about future impacts it must be clearly stated that these are scientific projections, not predictions.

We need to show that scientific conclusions effect people. We specifically need to show how people are being hurt by the changing climate. If people understand these facts they are more likely to respond particularly if they see the threat as pertinent to them.

In addition to highlighting local impacts, we need to make it clear that this is a global issue. The overarching implications of climate change make it one of the most pressing global challenges of our day.  As such climate change has the potential to unify people.

Climate science must be rendered in approachable narratives so that we can reach vast swaths of the general public. We need climate communications that bridge the political divide and help the electorate to make informed voting decisions.   Science-based narratives must employ emotion and perhaps most importantly we need to help people to understand that there are a wide range of viable solutions.

If we want to address the climate crisis we will need the involvement of all sectors of society including governments. To get responsible political leadership we need better informed voters and this means we need more effective strategies for sharing science with the public.

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Climate Communication Strategy to Bridge the Political Divide

Despite the urgency of the climate crisis, Americans have been reluctant to make climate action a top-tier voting priority. It is not that people are confused by the science it is that they are confounded by the politics.  The politics of climate denial practised by the GOP and the Trump administration are the foremost impediments to climate action in the US.

The veracity of anthropogenic climate change is not the issue, decades of research have produced a comprehensive compilation scientific data that is almost impossible to refute. Despite the misinformation coming from deniers are not two sides to the debate. You are either on the side of science or you support political efforts to undermine the truth. The research is clear and abundant. Climate change is real and it is caused by human activity.

The only reason that some people think otherwise is due to the tribal politics of the Republican party.  For many years the GOP has been putting what they perceive as their political interests ahead of the national interest.  Rather than helping people to understand the facts they have manipulated people by interjecting an element of doubt into "debates" about the veracity of climate change.

As explained by Katharine Hayhoe in Macleans, "The top predictor of what people think about climate change has little to do with scientific literacy—it’s about politics." Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and professor at Texas Tech University. In a November 8 article, she offers some advice on how to get people to accept the facts about climate change. According to Hayhoe, it is not about publishing another study it is about speaking to the immediacy of climate impacts here and now.

When Hayhoe is asked if she believes in climate change, her answer is a resounding "no". Hayhoe explains, "I crunch the data myself, I run the models, and the evidence is clear. I don’t believe in climate change—I know it’s real." She points out climate change is now one of the most politically polarized topics in the US. Hayhoe suggests we need to find ways to work together and resist the urge to ridicule deniers because that is not an effective tactic.

According to Hayhoe climate denial is not about rejecting science or even the superimposition of faith. When Republicans admit to obvious climate realities, they commonly equivocate on the seriousness of the impacts. According to Hayhoe, this is the real problem. "[W]e aren’t convinced the impacts are serious and the solutions are plausible," Hayhoe says. She points to renewable energy and electric vehicles as two examples of practical solutions to the climate crisis.

The real impediment to climate action in the US is the Republican party and their commander and chief. This is a serious issue because public support for climate-focused public policy is crucial. We need to get the people interested in a fact-based understanding of climate change so that they can pressure legislators to act, or change them if they fail to do so.

As with all marketing strategy, we need to respond to the question, "whats in it for me?" People have a wide range of issues that they vote for so we have to tailor our communications to respond that address people's points of view.  This means we must communicate climate issues from the vantage point of how a warming planet will affect their specific issues. 

The obstacle to action is not climate awareness as almost all Americans (97%) are aware. Many believe that it will continue to worsen if nothing is done and they accept that it is caused by human activity. However, at present, the majority of Americans are not prepared to make this a priority at the ballot box. Thus we need to get develop evidence based narratives that communicate human stories related to climate impacts.

Climate change has been used by Republicans to divide people but the fact is it affects us all. With the right communication strategy, climate change can bridge these political divides and be a powerful unifying force.

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Event - Eighth Session of the IRENA Assembly

Eighth Session of the IRENA Assembly will take place on January 13 – 14, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Assembly is the Agency’s supreme decision-making body and brings together Heads of State, Ministers, government officials, and representatives from the private sector, civil society and other international organisations to reaffirm the global renewable energy agenda and make concrete steps to accelerate the global energy transition. This Assembly will deliberate on IRENA’s progress on the Work Programme and Budget for 2016-2017 and decide upon the new strategic and programmatic direction in the context of the Work Programme and Budget for 2018-2019 and Medium-term Strategy 2018-2022.

In addition, numerous programmatic discussions will be held on current trends in renewable energy policy and technology, including in the form of two Ministerial Roundtables to discuss these matters at the highest level.

The Assembly takes place at the outset of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and will be followed by the World Future Energy Summit, from 15 to 18 January 2018, which will also feature a number of events hosted by IRENA.

Click here for the draft agenda.

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Event - World Future Energy Summit

World Future Energy Summit will take place on January 15-18, 2018 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The theme is "Driving the Global Energy Transformation". This event is dedicated to innovation, digitalisation and transformation in the global energy mix. The World Future Energy Summit is the leading event worldwide that connects hundreds of international suppliers, decision makers and thought leaders across the entire renewable energy industry. Network, do business and gain insights into the latest industry trends and advancements in dedicated energy sectors in one place over four fully packed business days. More than 30,000 attendees from 175 countries will converge on Abu Dhabi for this event. It will include 639 exhibiting companies and feature 110 speakers.

Placing you at the heart of the conversation, the conference 2018 offers you a well-balanced mix of expert talks, panel sessions and business breakfasts covering burning issues and key trends in the renewable energy sector, such as the future of energy and transport in urban environments, digitalisation and technology disruption. Also concrete project plans and strategies around renewables in Saudi Arabia and the African continent will be discussed. Hear expert opinions, understand key strategic trends, ask in-depth questions and mix with peers.

Conference Topics

• The future of energy and transport in urban environments
• Digitisation and technology disruption
• Project plans and strategies around renewables in Saudi Arabia and the African continent
• How drones are making renewable energy more sustainable
• 3D printing: Transforming the energy landscape
• The future of energy and transport in urban environments
• Digitisation and technology disruption
• Project plans and strategies around renewables in Saudi Arabia and the African continent

Sustainability Business Connect: Find Your Perfect Business Match

Business Connect is an intuitive online matchmaking programme that allows you to book your meetings in advance with the right contacts for your business. Through this platform we match your objectives with contacts. You can plan your agenda, meet at the show and keep networking after the show.



Click here to learn more about finding your business matches.

New in 2018

Energy Efficiency in Buildings Forum: With a strong focus on retrofitting of buildings, the new forum demonstrates how a stronger alliance between engineering and design at the architectural stage can improve sustainability outcomes and minimize costly changes over time.

CLIX: A unique marketplace connecting entrepreneurs and investors to enable partnerships that will power sustainable climate change solutions through knowledge, innovation, and funding.

Free Seminars: A wide range of technical seminars covering topics including energy efficiency in buildings, advanced PV technologies, innovations in CSP and storage and solar panel maintenance. Exclusive sessions delivered by MESIA, APVIA, EU-GCC Clean Energy Network and more.

Dialogue Hall: Encouraging interaction and networking, the Dialogue Hall creates a whole new experience for delegates, speakers and media.

Click here to register to attend the summit

The World Energy Summit is part of Abu Dhabi Sustainabiltiy Week and it is co-located with 6 other events (see below).

Co Located Events:

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Event - Ontario EcoSchools SuperConference: Building Environmental Leadership

Ontario EcoSchools SuperConference will take place on Feb 22, 2018, at Le Jardin event centre, 8440 Hwy 27, Woodbridge, Ontario. This day-long event offers interactive learning and networking that will focus on building environmental leadership in school communities. The critical importance of education makes this an event for everyone (including teachers, school staff, outdoor education centres, administration, EcoTeam leads, and the general public).

There will be a keynote address and workshop sessions. There will be presentations both of Canada's official languages (English and French). The 50 – 60 minute long presenations will align with the conference theme of Building Environmental Leadership. Presenations will be delivered by teachers, school board representatives, or community members. In addition to speakers and adult-only workshops, there will be a stream specially designed for students.

Accomodations for out of town guests can stay at one of three nearby hotels: at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites – Vaughan Southwest, Element Vaughan Southwest, The Vaughan Inn.

Early Bird Registration is $80 and it has been extended until December 22, 2017. General Registration is $100. Click here to register and to see French language information.

Please tell them you saw it at The Green Market Oracle
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Make sure to see the article titled, "Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources." It contains links to over 350 posts covering everything you need to know about sustainable academics, green school buildings, student eco-initiatives, and college rankings as well as a wide range of related information and resources. 

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Emotion is the Key to Communicating Sustainability and Climate Messaging

Emotion is a critical part of effective communications. This is particularly true when marketing sustainability efforts and crafting effective climate message strategies. Research in the social sciences and particularly cognitive psychology help us to understand how our communications are perceived. Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe has said that the "greatest advances" in our understanding of climate change over the past decade have come not from the physical sciences, but from the social sciences.

Here is an informal summary of some of the lessons we have gleaned from the social sciences. Research in pyschology reveals that facts alone are not enough to get through to people.

Many companies fail to appreciate the need for an engaging and accessible narrative.  As reported in Eco-Business, PR Guru, Lou Hoffman says corporate communications around sustainability can be "clinical and academic". This is not conducive to reaching your audience.

It is far more effective to tell a story than to overwhelm people with statistical information. According to Hoffman the element that often gets left out of sustainability stories is the human dimension. While numbers are important it shouldn’t stop there. To explore the science of storytelling in the context of marketing sustainability click here.

To reach people we need to be personal and speak from authentic experience. Sincere, heartfelt stories are a powerful form of communication that resonates with audiences. What we are really seeking is far more than just a story. Ideally, we are using stories to weave a narrative that fosters a culture of sustainability.

Effective communications should relate to specific impacts on someone's health and well being. The idea is to speak to the immediate and the local to touch people on a visceral level. However, focusing on local impacts and efforts, should not obscure the reality that the scale of the problem demands coordinated global solutions.

We need to remember that communications are a two-way street. Communication often breaks down when a message is not received and this can be a function of the language being used. Some feel the word "sustainability" is hard for people to embrace just like the words "global warming" and "climate change". As reported in Yale Climate Connections, TV meteorologist Amber Sullins avoids such words altogether. Her strategy to avoid turning-off some of her audience is to "remove those two words and just talk about how they’re going to be affected as things change," she says, "and they’re much more open to listening."

Some have created their own words that are more descriptive and easier for people to embrace. One example would be replacing sustainability with "our new reality". Our word choice is important. The language of sustainability and climate science is often boring. "Dullness comes from a combination of the lexicon of your company and corporate speak," Hoffman was quoted as saying. Once again we need engaging narratives that captivate both attention and interest.

Climate scientist Sarah Myhre of the University of Washington stresses the importance of emotion for effective communications.  "You have to use emotion in the way you talk about things." Myhre says. "People respond to emotion, they don’t respond to facts. You want to introduce people to the field of climate science?" Myhre asks rhetorically. "You got to say something like, yeah, this hurt, this is scary. You have to say,  Hey, I want to ski with my kid in the future. I want to eat salmon in the future … I have a stake in this, I am invested, I am not separate from this. And I do have emotions around this, and I share this with you."

Ultimately emotion serves the all-important goal of inducing behavioral change. To find out more about strategies for inducing behavior change see Sherry Nouraini, Heath brothers, Matthew Archer, and Sander Van Der Linden.

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Republican Tax Scam is a Crime Against People and the Planet

The Republican's tax plan impoverishes Americans while enriching the one percent. It is unconsciounable that those who control 90 percent of America's wealth are being given an even greater share of the pie.  The bill that passed in both the House and the Senate is a windfall for the few but it has devastating implications for everyone else. It is a nightmare for wealth inequality and no better for planetary health. The tax scam, as some are calling it, favors oil and gas development while weakening the cleantech sector.

GOP steals from the poor and gives to the rich

The plan cuts the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 20 percent. The tax breaks for middle class Americans will expire in 2026, while tax reductions for corporations are permanent. According to the latest Congressional Budget Office (CBO) assessment, the tax scam will add $1.4 trillion to the deficit over the next decade. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget says the debt-to-G.D.P. ratio will be approaching one hundred percent.

As reported by The Wahington Post's Tom Kane one especially partisan provision would exempt Hillsdale College, a leading conservative college in Michigan, from an excise tax. Erik Prince, the brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, is a Hillsdale graduate and the Trump administration includes at least four Hillsdale graduates.

The farce of trickle down economics

Both the House and the Senate pushed the bill through because Republicans knew they had to get something done. After months of failing to do anything on the legislative front, they passed what may be one of the most damaging bills in the country's history. This bill relies on trickle down economics which has been exposed as a farce.

"Trickle-down economics says that the Reagan and Bush tax cuts should have helped people in all income levels. Instead, the opposite occurred. Income inequality worsened," Kimberly Amadeo wrote. While everyone else suffered the top one percent saw their incomes triple. Trickle down economics does not work.

A 2015 International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, authored by five economists concludes that trickle down economics contributes to income inequality. "Income distribution matters for growth," states the IMF report. "Specifically, if the income share of the top 20 percent increases, then GDP growth actually declined over the medium term, suggesting that the benefits do not trickle down."

Income inequality

The Republican tax scam exacerbates growing inequality and this will result in deep cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security.  The repeal of the individual mandate in the Senate bill takes away health insurance from 13 million Americans and raises premiums by 10 percent.

This bill will kill 10,000 Americans every year by depriving people of  adequate health coverage. This assessment comes from economist Larry Summers, who cited studies on what happens when people are uninsured. Summers is the former Treasury secretary under Bill Clinton and White House economic advisor under Barack Obama.  Summers said the estimate is likely conservative and he added "this bill is very dangerous". If you factor the repeal of the individual mandate, the tax scam will hurt anyone earning less than $75,000 per year.

With 41 million people currently living in poverty in the US income inequality is already a very serious problem. It is tragically ironic that the UN is currently investigating extreme poverty in the weathiest nation on Earth. This bill will make an already dire situatiion far worse.

Tax plan that harms the planet

The plan amounts to an assault on the green economy. The bill contains pro-fossil fuel and anti-renewables provisions. Although it faced opposition from 12 House Republicans a provision in the bill opens a 1.5 million-acre area of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling. There will also be tax benefits for oil and gas developers including intangible drilling deductions.

The House version of the plan kills up to $7,500 in federal tax credits for electric vehicles. It also eliminates tax credits for renewable energy development. The Senate proposal contains a provision that could hurt renewable investments.

Republicans looting the treasury

The GOP tax bill passed without either hearings or transparency causing the New Yorker's John Cassidy to call the process a "travesty". "It is brazen power politics carried out by a Republican Party desperate for a legislative victory," Cassidy wrote. The Treasury Department’s inspector general is investigating whether the department hid its analysis of the bill.

"The Senate is declining to a new low of chicanery," Chuck Schumer said. Bernie Sanders described the bill as "one of the great robberies in U.S. history because Republicans are looting the Treasury."

Once again Republican lawmakers have shown themselves to be unfeeling and self-serving. In an interview with the Des Moines Register Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley said that the reason the bill favors the wealthy is because they don't blow their money on "booze and women. Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch like most in his party refused to reauthorize the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). He explained, "we don’t have the money" to help sick children. Two days later he voted for the tax bill which gives billions to corporations and America's wealthiest citizens.

Corporations are not onboard

Corporations are well aware of the fact that the blatent inequality in this bill does not reflect well on them. As reported by Bloomberg's Toluse Olorunnipa a number of corporations including Cisco, Pfizer, Coca-Cola and Amgen, have promised to give the returns from proposed tax cuts to shareholders.

This undercuts Republican claims that the revenues will quickly trickle down to workers. A recent White House paper suggests that corporate tax cut would boost wages. However, there is scant evidence to support this contention. At an event for The Wall Street Journal's CEO Council very few Chief Executives indicated they were going to invest the windfall from corporate tax deductions in capital assets.

The two versions of the tax bill will need to be reconciled one of two ways. Either going to a conference committee which would produce a conference report or simply have the House vote on the version passed by the Senate.

This Christmas Americans may have a new tax plan and the best way to describe it is Scrooge on steroids.

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Getting Ready to Report Educational Forum on Ontario's Energy and Water Regulation

This event will take place on Tuesday, December 5th, 2017 from 11:30AM-1:00PM at St. Jerome's University, 290 Westmount Rd. N Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G3.

By July 2020, most buildings over 50,000 square feet will be required to publicly report data about their energy and water usage. This is in accordance with Ontario Regulation 20/17 "Energy and Water Reporting and Benchmarking for Large Buildings." Michael Brophy from the Ministry of Energy will give an overview of the regulation and help organizations prepare for for mandatory public reporting of waste and water.

In addition to learning basic information about the regulation, attendees will gain an understanding of how this regulation will impact their organization. Michael will provide an overview of the Energy Star Portfolio Manager and details about where reporting organizations can get additional support. There will be networking time before the event and a catered lunch

Who should attend

• Anyone interested in organizational sustainability
• Individuals representing organizations in the Waterloo Region sustainability network
• Students interested in environmental sustainability and policy

Tickets are $35. Click here to register.

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Why Trump Does Not Want a Science Advisor

The Trump administration has not filled dozens of key scientific posts. This includes senior positions at the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy and most notably, a science advisory job in the White House. Many are asking why Trump is not naming a science advisor when every president since Eisenhower has considered this to be an important positiion. The Science advisor is charged with giving the president scientific and technical advice in areas of national concern. If there was ever a president in need of a science advisor it is the current commander and chief.

While almost everything Trump does is a source of concern, his failure to hire a science advisor is especially worrisome. The vacancy effectively deprives the White House of a much needed voice of reason. Having an adult in the room is particularly important when you consider the erratic behavior and the irrational decisions of the man that occupies the Oval Office.

"There’s little room for doubt that the Trump administration’s priorities do not include science and technology, in sharp contrast with every president, Republican or Democrat, since World War II," Neal Lane, was quoted as saying in a Washington Post article. Lane is a physicist at Rice University and he was Bill Clinton’s second science adviser.

Trump does not want someone to advise him on science because he does not want the facts to interfere with his irrationality. The Trump administration - like most Repbulican legislators - despise science because serious research commonly refutes their policy positions.

Trump's failure to nominate a science advisor may also be driven by the fact that so few scientists would consider working for such an irrational regime. This is the view of Zuoyue Wang, a historian of science at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. Wang pointed to a "deep divide between the American scientific community and the Trump campaign/administration over key issues, including climate change." As a consequence most of America's leading scientists would not want to work with the current administration.

The Trump administration and the GOP eschews science for personal and political gain just as they ignore the fact that trickle down economics do not work.

Nothing good can come from the absence of even the most rudimentary scientific reflection. The fact that Trump is making decisions without advice from a science advisor is readily apparent in almost all of his policy positions

The administration is now free to craft their own narrative unfettered by the truth. The failure to nominate a science advisor effectively ensures that Trump's decisions remain untehered to reason and unencombered by reality.

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