National Governments Failing to Act on Climate Change

The most recent data indicates that not only are we are far from where we need to be to slow global warming, we are falling further behind. Greenhouse gas emissions are rising again and the planet is getting hotter. After three consecutive years of decline, global emissions began to rise again in 2017. They are expected to increase even more in 2018.

The UN emissions gap report was released ahead of the upcoming COP 24 meetings in Katowice, Poland where governments will meet to discuss their failure to achieve the targets laid out in the Paris climate agreement.

At 53.5 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, global emissions have reached historic levels. Worse still they show no signs of peaking. If we are to stave off the most cataclysmic impacts of climate change we must urgently reduce emissions. Scientists have determined that we need to keep temperatures from rising above the upper threshold limit of 1.5 - 2.0 degrees Celsius. Earth has already warmed 1.8 C since the beginning of the 20th century.

As reported by the Guardian, Joyce Msuya, deputy executive director of UN Environment, said: "The science is clear: for all the ambitious climate action we’ve seen, governments need to move faster and with greater urgency. We’re feeding this fire, while the means to extinguish it are within reach."

Although President Trump tried to bury it, the second installment of the Fourth Climate Assessment made it clear that his own government acknowledges that climate change will be costly for the US economy. The fact that Trump dismissed the report should come as no surprise as he is the world's leading climate denier. He has announced that he is pulling the US out of the Paris Climate agreement and he has advocated for increased use of fossil fuels while eradicating most of President Obama's climate initiatives. Even before this report was released it was already clear that he would not heed warnings about economic havoc wreaked by climate change.

It is not just the US that has reneged on its commitments. According to the gap report, big polluters are failing to meet the emissions reduction commitments laid out in the Paris Climate agreement. This includes EU member states and countries like Canada, Australia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Argentina and South Africa. The world's wealthiest countries known as the G20, are responsible for 80 percent of global carbon pollution.

Low targets have made it possible for Brazil, China, Japan, India, Russia and Turkey to meet or exceed their emissions reduction targets. The report notes that emissions have not peaked in many of these countries.

The report suggests we could see temperature increases that far exceed the upper threshold limit by 2100. Climate change is already adversely impacting the earth and its inhabitants. We are already seeing rising sea-levels and more extreme weather events, but warming of the magnitude suggested in this report would augur species extinction on an even greater scale, ending of civilization as we know it.

Although the report indicates the situation is dire it also predicts that with a consorted global effort we can meet our carbon emission reduction targets.

The report states that to stay within the 2 degree upper threshold temperature limit we will need to cut global emissions by a third by 2030, to stay within the 1.5 degree limit we would need to cut CO2 by more than 50 percent in the same time frame. That translates to a three to five fold increase in national emissions reduction commitments. The report suggests that in order to make such reductions we need to end subsidies for fossil fuels and level some form of carbon tax. Additional investments in clean energy and more ambitious government policies are also necessary.

If we need more motivation to act consider the ominous warning from Jennifer Morgan, the executive director of Greenpeace International: "The window of opportunity is starting to close and if we fail to act now the opportunity will be gone. Failure to act will lock in catastrophic global warming that will change the planet irrevocably and condemn millions to suffering. What are governments waiting for?"

Click here to access the UN Emissions Gap Report 2018

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Webinar - The Science of Resilience in Decision-Making

This webinar will take place on Wednesday, Dec 5th 2018, 1:15 PM - 2:45 PM EST. Erica Goldman, NSCE Science Policy Director, will moderate a multi-disciplinary discussion on climate resilient infrastructure. She'll be joined by specialists in engineering, water resources, urban planning and natural hazards. Erica will moderates a multi-disciplinary discussion on climate resilient infrastructure. This 90-minute webinar is sponsored by ASU's School of Sustainability in partnership with the National Council for Science and the Environment and will explore:

• Resilience as a paradigm to understand infrastructure at a systems level
• Social science as a critical component in planning for and understanding resilience
• Resilient design as a continuum, rather than an endpoint
• The role of social and institutional infrastructure in disaster response and planning for climate impacts

Panelists

• Thomas Seager Associate Professor School of Sustainable Engineering & the Built Environment Arizona State University
• Patricia Solis Executive Director Knowledge Exchange for Resilience Arizona State University
• Jennifer Tobin Deputy Administrator Natural Hazards Center University of Colorado
• Joe Manous Director Institute for Water Resources US Army Corps of Engineers

 Science of Resilience Resources

Here is a folder of material you can download in preparation for the webinar. It includes guidance co-authored by panelists, including:

• Tom Seager on resilience in decision-making
• Patricia Solis on how spatial information can help resolve disconnects between scientists and decision makers
• A multi-disciplinary community resilience study of flooding in Lumberton, NC, with a chapter co-authored by Jennifer Tobin
• The Army Corps of Engineers' Resilience Initiative Roadmap

Click here to download the folder
Click here to register.

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Sustainability Benefits the Bottom Line

A slew of studies have demonstrated that there are financial benefits associated with corporate sustainability performance. Recent research adds to the body of evidence linking ESG performance to a strong ROI.

These are the findings of a new report that also shows that an increasing number of companies are integrating the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their reporting paradigms. The fact that the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the dominant platform makes sense given the fact that new GRI standards are compatible with SDGs. The report also indicates that an increasing number of companies reporting to the CDP, an organization that supports corporate disclosures of environmental impacts.

This new report was created by the Centre for Sustainability and Excellence (CSE), a sustainability consulting and educational organization. The key finding is that financial returns are associated with sustainability, specifically, companies that improve their environmental performance and social performance also benefit the bottom line.

The study examined the sustainability reports of 642 North American companies. The research revealed a strong correlation between financial performance and sustainability. Almost three quarters (73%) of the top 50 companies recorded better financial results in 2017 compared to 2016. Companies were ranked in terms of the following four components: Community, employees, environment, and governance.

The report also indicated that reporting initiatives are essential. The best performers tend to have the most comprehensive sustainability reporting. Almost one third of the top 50 companies validate their reports with a third party (external assurance). More than two thirds of companies use the GRI making it the most popular reporting framework.

A growing number of organizations are integrating the SDGs into their reporting and between one third and one half of companies report to CDP.

Click here to access the report

ROI
Sustainability is an Economic Boon not a Liability
Comprehensive Compilation of Studies Proving the ROI of Sustainability
The Business Case for Sustainability
The Business Case for Sustainability: Corporations, Banks and Investors
20 Studies Make the Business Case for Sustainability
CDP Report Demonstrates Sustainability is Profitable
Climate Action Enhances Profit by 9.6% (CDP)
Acting on Climate Change Makes Good Economic Sense According to Citibank
Sustainability Reporting Attracts Investors and Improves ROI (Video)
The Benefits of a Sustainability Designed Constructed and Operated Facility
A Case Study on the Value of Sustainable Sourcing
Sustainability Initiatives Double Revenue
Adding Value through Sustainability
Sustainability, CSR, ESG & SRI = $

Read More»

Trump Hides New US Climate Report to Conceal the Costs

The release of a major new climate report on Black Friday is entirely consistent with the subterfuge that defines the Trump administration. The hope was that by releasing it on the busiest shopping day of the year no one would notice the economic toll foretold in the report. It is a savage irony that Trump is using the consumer spectacle of Black Friday to hide a study that predicts massive economic consequences from unchecked climate change. It should be obvious by now that Trump disavows facts that are inconvenient. He won't accept the conclusion of his own intelligence services regarding Russian interference. He equivocates on the CIA's conclusions about the murder of a journalist by Saudi Arabia. He even disputed the death toll from Hurricane Maria because it revealed how his administration's neglect killed hundreds in Puerto Rico. 

This is the second volume of the Fourth National Climate Assessment by the US Global Change Research Program. The report, which has a picture of California wildfires on its cover, is the most recent US climate report and it draws on research from 13 federal agencies and hundreds of scientists both in and outside of government.

Just before Trump released the report he once again doubted the veracity of climate change.  "Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS – Whatever happened to Global Warming?" Trump tweeted. As everyone who understands climate change knows, a snapshot of weather does not make the case for or against climate change. Climate change is reflected in longer term analysis.
We have already seen 1.8 degrees of warming in the US over the last hundred years and we will see as much as 9 degrees of warming over the next century if we fail to reduce emissions.

This administration refuses to consider the economic implications of global warming. They practice a modified form of climate denial that tries to infer uncertainty about the anthropogenic origins of climate change.  One thing is certain Trump's failure to act makes storms and wildfires worse.

David Easterling, director of the Technical Support Unit at the NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information said this report confirms once again that humans are the primary cause of climate change. "The global average temperature is much higher and is rising more rapidly than anything modern civilization has experienced, and this warming trend can only be explained by human activities," Easterling said.

As with all facts that repudiate their policy positions this administration along with their minions in the Republican party ignore research that supports the consensus view that climate change is happening and humans are the cause. This administration is at war with science and media in an effort to erode the perceived veracity of facts. They want to hijack the narrative to suit their political agenda including an insane energy agenda.

While Republicans and the ruling administration have no love for natural world they claim to be preoccupied with the economy, yet they have refused to do the math and consider the costs of climate change.  In addition to costs this administration refuses to pursue the opportunities associated with climate action.

The new US government report is hardly the first to outline the costs of climate inaction. This report reiterates the finding of many other similar reports including the most recent IPCC report.  This report warned that nations must cut their global emissions in half over the next 12 years if we are to avoid $54 trillion in damages. According to the second installment of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, the  cost to the US economy alone will be hundreds of billions of dollars and it will cause the US GDP to shrink by 10 percent by 2100.

However, it is important to point out that these costs are already totaling billions. In 2017 we saw a record setting $306 billion in damages associated with extreme weather events and other "natural" disasters.

What makes the timing of this release far more sinister is the fact that it was released early in the hopes that it would be ignored by Americans who are enjoying their holiday weekend.

The willful climate ignorance of the Trump administration and leading Republicans have prompted Jeffrey Sachs to call this "a crime against humanity". Sachs is a professor and director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University.

"President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and others who oppose action to address human-induced climate change should be held accountable for climate crimes against humanity. They are the authors and agents of systematic policies that deny basic human rights to their own citizens and people around the world, including the rights to life, health, and property. These politicians have blood on their hands, and the death toll continues to rise." Sachs said in a an opinion piece published by CNN. "Trump remains in willful denial of the thousands of deaths caused by his government's inept, under-funded, and under-motivated response to Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico last year."

Sachs points to the president's dismal response to hurricanes.  Republicans and this administration have forged an ironclad alliance with the fossil fuel industry which is the leading cause of the climate crisis. Rather than listen to the science the Trump administration has worked to expand fossil fuel exploitation including offshore drilling in the Arctic.

Failure to accept the facts means that climate adaptation investments including infrastructure are ignored. This will further exacerbate the costs of climate change.

"The huge bills for Hurricanes Florence and Michael will now start rolling in: funerals, suffering, sorting through debris, and perhaps $30 billion in losses that could have been reduced dramatically through science-based planning and foresight. The American people are paying a heavy cost for the cynicism and cruelty of politicians in the pocket of the fossil-fuel industry. It is time to hold these reckless politicians to account."

The flagrant hypocrisy of claiming to care about the economy while ignoring climate change will haunt Republicans. Americans of all political stripes will be forced to pay for this administration's failure to act. 

Related
Trump and Republicans Ignore the Costs of Climate Change 
Climate Economics: Trump and Republicans Ignore the Math 
Climate Crisis is a Serious Threat and a Real Opportunity

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Event - United Nations Forum on Business and Human Rights

This event will take place on November 26-28, 2018, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. The central theme for the 2018 Forum will be: "Business respect for human rights – building on what works".

PROGRAMME

Monday, November 26

8:00am Conversation with the UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights

9:00am Corporate human rights due diligence – state of play and way forward Voices from the ground Academic Networks in Conversation with Business and Human Rights Stakeholders

9:30am Introduction to the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

11:00am Opening plenary

1:30pm Snapshot: Driving human rights due diligence through law - Lessons from the first year of application of the law: major challenges and recommendations for companies Human rights due diligence in the world of sport What do “Protect, Respect, Remedy” mean in practice for responsible tax conduct? A special focus on women's rights Labour rights and human rights due diligence Driving human rights performance from the top in the mining sector – the role of the board and investors

1:45pm Snapshot: Managing risks at the operational level ; lessons from Vinci in Qatar

2:00pm Snapshot: Lead and deploy the vigilance approach: a challenge for large companies; lessons from BNP and Orange

2:15pm Snapshot: The French Duty of Vigilance - Lessons learned and Guidance on Vigilance Plans

2:30pm Snapshot: Human rights due diligence: practices in the supply chain. Findings from a cross-sectoral study.

2:45pm Snapshot: Documenting Human Rights Due Diligence- Operational-level human rights impacts assessments

3:00pm Snapshot: Employer Association Relations - Need to Document Human Rights Due Diligence Are States making progress on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights? Challenges, innovations and lessons learned from implementation Integrating indigenous peoples rights in human rights due diligence: what does it mean in practice? What human rights responsibilities apply to businesses with respect to climate change? Disruptive technology I: what does artificial intelligence mean for human rights due diligence

3:15pm Snapshot: Employer Association Collaboration - Documenting Human Rights Due Diligence

3:30pm Snapshot: Investor Relations - Need to Document Human Rights Due Diligence

3:45pm Snapshot: Investor Relations - ICT Company Documenting Human Rights Due Diligence

4:00pm Snapshot: B2B Relations - Need to Document Human Rights Due Diligence

4:15pm Snapshot: B2B Relations – Mutual Documentation of Human Rights Due Diligence

4:40pm Human Rights in International Supply Chains - Where is the disconnect? Are States making progress on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights? Challenges, innovations and lessons learned from implementation Connecting child rights and human rights due diligence in practice How can climate actions respect rights & contribute to peacebuilding in the transition to a green economy? Disruptive technology II: What does automation mean for human rights due diligence?

6:15pm Breathless – Documentary How indigenous people can "renew" renewable energies Forum debate: Are tech companies a threat to human rights? Special film screening with Nobel Laureate Kailash Satyarthi: The Price of Free

Tuesday, November 27

8:15am Snapshot: Exiting responsibly - Respect for human rights in circumstances of urgent exit

8:30am Snapshot: New insights. Projects from BHR Young researchers (I) Human rights due diligence approaches for safeguarding migrant workers Building coherence on essential elements of human rights due diligence Crowd-drafting: Designing a human rights-compatible international investment agreement Human rights due diligence in practice in the ICT sector

8:45am Snapshot: New insights. Projects from BHR Young researchers (II)

9:00am Snapshot: New insights? Labour governance in the garment industry

9:15am Snapshot: New insights After Rana-Plaza: Business, Labor, and Global Supply Chains in Bangladesh

9:30am Snapshot: Human Rights Due Diligence in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain

9:45am Snapshot: Samsung - Human rights due diligence across the supply chain – Experiences from practice

10:00am Snapshot: Human rights due diligence across the supply chain – Experiences from practice Plenary II: Building coherence and reaching scale on human rights due diligence – International organizations' leadership perspectives

10:15am Snapshot: How can business association promote human rights due diligence. Experiences from Japan

10:30am Snapshot: Human rights due diligence - Challenges and business pathways (case of the project operator)

10:45am Snapshot: Strengthening human rights due diligence with in-depth assessment and radical transparency

11:00am Snapshot: Human rights due diligence in a large supply chain

11:15am Snapshot: Human rights due diligence - Building on what works in a global supply chain. An overview of risk assessment

11:30am Snapshot: Human rights due diligence across supply chain starts with due diligence with internal stakeholder groups Role of NHRIs in facilitating access to remedy for business-related human rights impacts Human rights due diligence across value chains - addressing systemic challenges Trends and challenges in promoting business respect for human rights in Africa Safeguarding human rights defenders: new efforts and tackling growing threats

11:45am Snapshot: Konica Minolta - What motivates this global technology company’s commitment to human rights and what outcomes have been achieved – experiences from practice

12:00pm Snapshot: Human rights-based sustainable fisheries: an experience from the Thai Tuna Industry

12:15pm Snapshot: From commitment to action - Advancing decent work in global supply chains with SAP Ariba

12:30pm Snapshot: How investing in basic sanitation can help guarantee women’s rights: a case study from Brazil

12:45pm Snapshot: #Metoo and She too– Addressing sexual abuse and other gender-specific violations

1:00pm Snapshot: Gender, corporate due diligence, access to justice and indigenous women human rights defenders – Case study from Asia

1:30pm Due diligence and remedy: Is one possible without the other? Reinforcing the importance of human rights due diligence for realizing the SDGs Accountability and building trust on corporate engagement on rights of LGBTI people Connecting human rights due diligence and business lawyers: overcoming practical challenges Update on the process to elaborate a legally binding instrument

3:00pm Snapshot: New insights? The impacts of the UN Guiding Principles and the OECD Guidelines Trends and challenges in promoting business respect for human rights in "Western Europe and Others" region (WEOG) Trends and challenges in promoting business respect for human rights in Eastern Europe Developing a gender lens to business and human rights Addressing “modern slavery” in supply chains – Company responses

3:15pm Snapshot: The use of the Universal Period Review (UPR) mechanism as a tool to prevent Business related human rights abuses

3:30pm Snapshot: New insights? When causation, contribution, and direct link overlap: UNGP implementation in “complex complicity” scenarios

3:45pm Snapshot: Corporate responsibility to respect human rights in situations of occupation

4:00pm Snapshot: Building Trust between Human Rights Defenders and Financial Actors

4:15pm Snapshot: NHRIs and Business: Working Together to Advance Human Rights

4:30pm Snapshot: Children’s Rights and Business Atlas: Harnessing the power of data in risk and impact assessments.

4:40pm Accountability and remedy: exploring the interconnectedness of different types of grievance mechanisms Trends and challenges in promoting business respect for human rights in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) Developing a gender lens to business and human rights Government responses to modern slavery and child labour in supply chains

4:45pm Snapshot: Economic evidence for civic rights protection

5:00pm Snapshot: Roles of the youth in moving forward the UNGPs

5:15pm Snapshot: Experiences from practice - Effective multi-stakeholder models working against child labour

5:30pm Snapshot: The impact of extractive activities in Honduras on the rights of indigenous peoples

5:45pm Snapshot: The contribution of the indigenous Papuan community to promote respect of the rights of indigenous peoples

6:00pm Snapshot: The implications of Indigenous Peoples’ FPIC Protocols and Policies for business respect for human rights

6:15pm Snapshot: Upholding the right to participate in environmental matters for affected communities: Mexico’s Supreme Court ruling in the Sonora case Protecting human rights in Public Policy: What Role for Business? Documentary - Combatting modern slavery in supply chains - Lessons from two sectoral campaigns Human Rights and Business Award – Human rights defenders in the Global South

Wednesday, November 28

8:30am Investing in the Human Right to Housing Leading by example? Procurement as lever for human rights due diligence Elements of effective human rights due diligence regulation: lessons from legal developments Human rights due diligence in practice in the global food and beverages sector Human rights due diligence in practice in the oil & gas sector

10:00am Accountability and Remedy: human rights due diligence and corporate legal liability Engaging and safeguarding workers across value chains: identifying good practice approaches What do “Protect, Respect, Remedy” mean in practice in conflict contexts How can benchmarks, rating agencies and ESG researchers drive more and better human rights due diligence Trends and challenges in promoting business respect for human rights in Asia

11:40am Community engagement for HRIAs in challenging contexts: a round table discussion Leading by example? Using government trade promotion and development finance as levers for human rights due diligence How can investors drive more and better human rights due diligence? Labour union perspectives on ways to scale up effective human rights due diligence

1:00pm Understanding Business Impact on Children—Presenting the Children’s Rights and Business Atlas

1:30pm Scaling up human rights due diligence through the use of blockchain What works? Investigating the relationship between business practices and outcomes for people Addressing human rights impacts of toxic substances: challenges and human rights due diligence across sectors with a deep dive on the electronics industry Human rights due diligence in practice in the commodities trading sector Human rights due diligence in practice in the tourism sector

3:00pm New perspectives on overcoming hurdles for parent company liability? Widening uptake of the UNGPs: a spotlight on SMEs Leading by example? State-owned enterprises’ performance on human rights due diligence Toward meaningful corporate human rights reporting? Human rights due diligence in practice in the banking sector

5:00pm Plenary III: Summing up and looking ahead

Speakers

Michelle Bachelet Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights

Guy Ryder International Labour Organization (ILO) Director-General

Sharan Burrow International Trade Union Confederation General Secretary

Tania Cosentino Schneider Electric Senior Vice President of Customer Satisfaction & Quality

Kate Gilmore Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights

Gary J. Goldberg Newmont Mining Corporation Chief Executive Officer

Lise Kingo UN Global Compact CEO & Executive Director

Masamichi Kono The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Deputy Secretary-General

Mthunzi Mdwaba TZoro IBC CEO

Angkhana Neelapaijit National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT) Commissioner

Phyllis Omido Center for justice governance and environmental action grassroots environmental activist and co- founder

Patrick Pouyanne TOTAL S.A. Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer

Leonardo Sakamoto UN Voluntary Trust Fund on Contemporary Forms of Slavery Member of the Board of Trustees

Kailash Satyarthi Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Jeannette von Wolfersdorff Schiess Santiago Securities Exchange (Bolsa de Santiago) Director of the Board and President of the Committee of Corporate...

Haoliang Xu United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Assistant Administrator and Director for the Regional Bureau for Asia...

Dante Pesce UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights Chairperson

Surya Deva UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights Vice-chairperson

Elżbieta Karska UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights Member

Githu Muigai UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights Member

Anita Ramasastry UN Working Group on Business and Human Rights Member

Click here for information about the modalities of participation. For registration and approval information click here

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Thanksgiving Under Trump and the Awakening of Corporate America

Thanksgiving under Trump is a partisan affair. This is but the most recent American tradition that is being undermined by this president. Instead of unifying Americans Trump is lauding himself and sewing conflict. He spews his caustic venom to erode the center and breed division.

Trump's shameless capacity for self promotion knows no bounds. In a public call to US military leaders he maligned the judiciary for ruling against his immigration policy. Rather than focus on Thanksgiving well-wishes for all Americans he used the occassion to attack his enemies and sell his narrative.

Trump's narcissism is eclipsed only by his stupidity as evidenced by a recent tweet undermining the veracity of climate change. "Brutal and Extended Cold Blast could shatter ALL RECORDS - Whatever happened to Global Warming?", Trump tweeted.

If we ascribe an actual strategy to his twitter tirade we can infer that Trump was attempting to counter the public's growing awareness of climate related extreme weather events. The hurricanes on the East Coast and wildfires in California are indeed a painful reminder of Trump's ignorance. Or Perhaps it really is because he is that stupid.

Climate scientist Michael Mann has an especially dim view of the US commander-and-chief. In response to the president's tweet Mann told the Huffington Post: "This demonstrates once again that Donald Trump is not an individual to be taken seriously on any topic, let alone matters as serious as climate change. He is a clown — a dangerous clown."

Trump and his minions have accrued a track record of policy positions that ignore climate science and eschew the costs of global warming. Despite the ever rising tide of urgency Trump avoids the issue of climate economics altogether.

After almost two years his pessimal presidency has proven to be nothing short of a nightmare.  It is not just his flagrant dishonesty or his bullying. Trump is being investigated for a whole host of criminal activities including collusion with the Russians to win the election of 2016, tax fraud and obstruction of justice. He has eroded the US credibility and been a harbinger of hate. His rhetoric is directed at anyone who opposes him from heads of state to venerable domestic institutions. He regularly attacks the judiciary, the intelligence community and the press.

In 2016 Americans could look back in gratitude at the accomplishments of the Obama administration. The contrast between trump and his predecessor could not be more stark. Obama's scandal free presidency was replaced with an unprecedented level of corruption.

Hope has been in short supply since Obama completed his second term. That is until the midterm elections of 2018.

Americans can be thankful for the checks and balances from the newly flipped House of Representatives. This will give Congress the authority imbued by the constitution to formally challenge this president's malfeasance and Republican obsequiousness. 

Despite the short term benefits afforded by radical deregulation and tax cuts, corporate America cannot avoid the realization that Trump and his Republican minions are bad for business and bad for the country. From the start Trump has not been able to get along with business leaders. He was even forced to disband his business councils in the wake of the resignations of  some of America's leading CEOs. More recently he has started trade wars that have hurt American companies. 

It is becoming increasingly apparent that Trump is on a collision course with America. Trump's vision of the country is at odds with the intent of the founding fathers and the venerable traditions that have made the country great.

Last Thanksgiving corporate America offered a ray of light and this year that light appears to be getting brighter. As evidenced by corporate activism in the midterms, a growing number of business leaders are opposing this president's agenda.

Some corporate leaderships may be acting to protect their vested interest, while others may feel morally obligated to defend the national interest. If nothing else many realize that this administration will be judged harshly by history alongside those who failed to act.

Can corporate America avoid challenging this president's deceitful narrative? Can consumer facing brands afford to stay on the sidelines? They can either risk trying to fly under the radar or they can rise to the occasion.

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Thanksgiving Shopping: Consumption and the Earth's Carrying Capacity

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Standing Up to Trump is Synonymous with Protecting your Brand

The times are changing and resisting this presidency may be a smarter play than trying to play it safe by staying under the radar. There was a time when openly contradicting the president of the United States was unthinkable. However, in the context of Donald Trump, failing to do so may represent a serious risk. Consumers want companies to take an ethical stand and they will reward companies with loyalty for being responsible corporate citizens. They will also punish companies for failing to do so. Many CEOs have come to the realization that it is safer to speak out than it is to be quietly complicit with the Trump administration. This is why they are openly refuting this president in ever growing numbers.  This includes some of the CEOs of leading corporate organizations.

In most instances it is not merely a matter of conscience it is a strategic calculation based on their long term best interest. For consumer facing brands there really is little choice.

Despite his repeated claims to the contrary, Trump has demonstrated that he is both bad at business and bad for business.Shortly after coming to power Trump was forced to disband his business councils as the high profile team of leaders abandoned him in droves.  This president has shown himself to be on the wrong side of a number of issues ranging from respect for diversity to climate change.

Shortly after Trump took power corporate leaders began refuting Trump and  advocating for sustainability. Over time this has increased as the heads of business call out Trump for his wrong-minded disregard for sustainability.  Companies are resisting Trump and rejecting his false narrative that regulations are bad for business.

There are benefits associated with climate action that make sustainability an unparalleled opportunity. While businesses are engaging in climate action Trump and his Republican minions refuse to factor the costs of climate change.


Even Trump's tax scam is a massive gift to corporations that has ballooned the deficit without the promised economic benefits. His trade wars and resulting tariffs have hurt businesses across the country.

Leaders have a choice they can embrace growing anti-Trump sentiments or they can remain quiet and hope to ride out the storm of this dysfunctional presidency.  They problem is that while the Trump presidency will end within the next couple of years failing to stand up to his malfeasance could stick to a company for a very long time.

In the same way that media organizations closed ranks when attempts were made to curtail press freedoms, corporations, particularly sustainability focused companies need to organize and stand together in the face of this president's crooked agenda.

We have seen waves of corporate goodness that bodes well for the future.  This is a Spartacus moment.  As intimated by the 2018 midterm elections a time is coming when it will not be possible to remain on the sidelines. For some it may already be too late.

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Democrats Preparing to Fight for Voter Rights

On January 3 the wingnut party will end and a House full of shiny checks and balances will ring in the new year. Voting rights will be at the top of the agenda when the Democrats take control of the House of Representatives. This battle will be the backdrop to both impeachment proceedings and the 2020 presidential election. Its a winning message for Democrats and hard sell for the GOP.

The public has renewed interest in voting rights and Democrats are gearing up to amplify this message. Voter suppression is a hotter issue now than it has been for more than half a century. The most recent incarnation of voter suppression was borne in 2013 after the United States Supreme Court overturned the Voting Rights Act. Shortly thereafter Republicans went to work dismantling voting rights. They use the phony pretext of voter fraud to conceal their efforts to make it harder for certain constituencies to vote.  It is no coincidence that suppression efforts commonly target those that oppose Republican candidates, ie people of color, students and the elderly.

Even losing gubernatorial candidates are garnering strong support for their efforts to expose the ways Republicans are manipulating the electoral system. Florida's Andrew Gillum and Georgia's Stacy Abrams are both Democratic gubernatorial candidates that have been publicly demanding reform in what has been described as an "existential fight over voting rights".

Both Agrams and Gillum have turned to the courts without much success. In July the courts struck down unfair voting laws favoring Republicans in five states, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Kansas, North Dakota, and Texas. However, the courts have offered mixed results since then squashing efforts to rollback unfair Republican voting laws while counting some votes that would have otherwise been excluded.

Democrats have acquired some valuable experience in recent weeks. As quoted by CNN, Abrams describes the midterms as a learning opportunity, "we have used this election and its aftermath to diagnose what has been broken in our process."

Democrats are fighting to make every vote count and one of the ways they are doing this is by supporting automatic voter registration. "We've got to demand a more perfect union, we have to demand a process that is more fair," Gillum said.

Abrams said that "democracy failed Georgia" under the watch of Brian Kemp, the man who will be governor. Kemp is the former Secretary of State who used his office to lob false accusations at Abrams just days before the election. Democrats now have a platform from which to challenge this and other examples of Republican malfeasance. Democrats are already working on democracy reforms to combat Republican efforts to skew the electoral playing field.

Maryland Democratic Rep. John Sarbanes explained that new legislation being crafted by House Democrats is trying to, "create a roadmap for how to protect people's vote and their voice everywhere in this country...If we can learn something from challenging these deficiencies in our voting process (in Florida) and our voting system in this country, you're putting together a handbook not to steal elections but to have elections be an accurate reflection of the will and the voice of the people."

There is still much work to do. Voting restrictions remain in at least twelve states. With Trump's minions in control of the Senate, passing legislation may prove difficult. However the House can shine a bright light on the ways Republicans sway electoral outcomes in their favor.

Voter suppression, gerrymandering and dark money are three of the primary ways that democracy is under threat from the GOP. But at least one part of this despotic trifecta will be challenged by lawmakers in 2019.

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Event - Pathways to Sustainability conference

Pathways to Sustainability conference will take place on January 24, 2019 at TivoliVredenburg, Utrecht. A wide spectrum of researchers and partners will come together for this annual free conference.

The programme of the upcoming conference features keynotes from Sheila Jasanoff (Professor of Science and Technology Studies, Harvard University), Jeroen Willemsen (founder of the Green Protein Alliance), and Diederik Samsom (chair Klimaattafel Gebouwde Omgeving, nuclear physicist and former politician). Sustainability from various perspectives.

Harvard Professor Sheila Jasanoff challenges the two main visions to achieve a more sustainable world by introducing a new imaginary of the 'un-modern'. Diederik Samsom uses storytelling to take us on a journey to sustainable futures, based on his varied experience with sustainable energy in the energy sector, Dutch politics, and at Greenpeace. And Jeroen Willemsen, founder of the plant-based ‘chicken’ producing company Ojah, argues that we need to restore the worldwide protein balance to ensure food security. Interactive sessions and discussions

In the afternoon we offer several interactive break-out sessions, which are organised by the hubs of Pathways to Sustainability. They cover the energy transition, future food, future deltas and circular cities. In addition, we have a session on the circular economy in relation to the plastic soup, and one on the creation of a sustainable campus. We close off with an interactive discussion about the role of the university in the transition to a sustainable society. Marketplace

In between these programme elements you can visit the Sustainable Marketplace, representing all kinds of initiatives within Utrecht University related to sustainability. And during the vegetarian lunch and other breaks there is plenty of opportunity to get in touch with fellow sustainability experts.

Speakers

• Sheila Jasanoff is Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the Harvard Kennedy School.
• Jeroen Willemsen is the founder of the Green Protein Alliance.
• Diederik Samsom is the chair of the Klimaattafel Gebouwde Omgeving, a nuclear physicist and former politician.
• Denise de Ridder is Professor of psychology at Utrecht University. 
• Jochen Monstadt is Professor of Governance of Urban Transitions and Dynamics at Utrecht University. 
• Gert Jan Kramer is Professor of Sustainable Energy Supply Systems at Utrecht University.
• Rens Voesenek is Professor of Plant Ecophysiology at Utrecht University.
• Hans Middelkoop is Professor of Global Change Geomorphology at Utrecht University.
• Ernst Worrell is Professr of Energy, materials and environment at Utrecht University. 
• Walter Vermeulen is Associate Professor on governance systems for sustainability at Utrecht University. 
• Kitty van der Heijden is the Director of the Europe and Africa Offices of the World Resources Institute.
• Frans Berkhout is Professor of Environment, Society and Climate at King's College London.
• Henk Kummeling is the Rector Magnificus of Utrecht University. 
• Maarten Hajer is the Scientific Director of Pathways to Sustainability and professor of Urban Futures at Utrecht University.
• Vanessa Timmer is a Senior Research Fellow at Utrecht University. She is also the Executive Director of the Canadian 'think and do tank' One Earth.

Click here for the conference programme

Participation in the Pathways to Sustainability conference 2019 is free of charge, but registration is mandatory. You can register by clicking on the link below. Please note that the capacity of the parallel break-out sessions is limited, so make sure to register in time for the session of your choice.

Click here to register.

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Event - International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

The Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability will take place on January 17-19, 2019 at UBC Region Square in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The conference features research addressing the following annual themes:

• Theme 1: Environmental Sustainability
• Theme 2: Sustainability in Economic, Social and Cultural Context
• Theme 3: Sustainability Policy and Practice
• Theme 4: Sustainability Education 2019 Special Focus: From Pedagogies for Sustainability to Transformative Social Change.

Speakers

Charlene Aleck (Plenary Speaker) is serving a third term as elected council of Tsleil Waututh Nation, a First Nations government in the Canadian province of British Columbia. She is working on the TWN Sacred Trust Initiative team, whose mandate is to oppose the Trans Mountain Expansion Project pipeline (TMX project). She is a mother of four and a grandmother. Plenary Speaker - Robert Gifford

Robert Gifford is an environmental psychologist and Professor of Psychology and Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. He is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, the Canadian Psychological Association, the Association for Psychological Science, and the International Association of Applied Psychology, and he is the recipient of a Career Award from the Environmental Design Research Association. Professor Gifford is the author of 140 refereed publications and book chapters in addition to five editions of Environmental Psychology: Principles and Practice. His 2016 book (as editor) is Research Methods for Environmental Psychology. He was the Chief Editor of the Journal of Environmental Psychology for fourteen years and has served as President of the Environmental Psychology division of the International Association of Applied Psychology, APA’s Population and Environment Division, and CPA’s environmental section. He also tries to grow roses and vegetables at his rocky hillside home, but the deer and raccoons think he is growing them for their benefit. Plenary Speaker - Eduardo Jovel

Eduardo Jovel is a Mayan-Pipil descendant. He is an Associate Professor and Director of the Indigenous Research Partnerships, Faculty of Land & Food Systems at UBC. His research interests include Indigenous people’s worldviews and the role Indigenous knowledge, particularly plant uses and medical practices and ceremony, health, and wellness. He also explores the intersections between gender, research ethics, and culturally respectful mobilization of Indigenous knowledge. Dr. Jovel aims to integrate interdisciplinary research practices, Indigenous knowledge, and biocultural diversity to support Indigenous resurgence, education, and research. He is actively engaged in building Indigenous land-based research and education environments. Conference Chair - David Humphreys

Dr. David Humphreys, Professor of Environmental Policy, The Open University, United Kingdom. He is proud to work teaching and researching sustainability and environmental policy at what he regards as the world’s leader in distance university teaching. He began his career specializing in international forest policy on which he was written two books, Forest Politics: The Evolution of International Cooperation (1996) and Logjam: Deforestation and the Crisis of Global Environmental Governance (2006). His interests in heritage include the natural and built environments, with a particular interest in the reconstruction of Beirut. He has also published on climate change politics, geoengineering, the democratic regulation of transnational corporations, and the emerging jurisprudence of rights of nature. With Spencer Stober he edited the Common Ground volume Transitions to Sustainability: Theoretical Debates for a Changing Planet (2014). His academic awards include the International Studies Association’s Harold and Margaret Sprout Award (2008) and an Honorary Fellowship from the Institute of Chartered Foresters (2015).

Local Organizing Committee

• Dr. Peter Cole, Associate Professor, Indigenous Education,Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia
• Dr. Samson Nashon, Head & Professor of Science Education,Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia
• Dr. Pat O’Riley, Honorary Associate Professor, Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia
• Dr. Kerry Renwick, Assistant Professor, Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of British Columbia

This conference is organized in partnership University of British Columbia - Department of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Faculty of Education.

Click here to submit a proposal
Click here to register.

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Trump and Republicans Ignore the Costs of Climate Change

Even if you can get beyond Trump's callousness, it is hard to understand how anyone could support his irresponsible economic policies.  This is about more than just the ballooning deficit associated with his tax cuts.

Trump's insensitivity is legendary but his comportment towards politicians dealing with hurricanes and wildfires has been nothing short of shocking. Trump's handling of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico paints a sadistic portrait of a president who just does not seem to care. He verbally assaulted Tallahassee mayor and Democratic Gubernatorial contender Andrew Gillum as Hurricane Michael was about to make landfall.

Although some may celebrate Trump's cruelty, this view is not shared by the majority of Americans as evidenced by the fact that many more Americans voted for Democrats than voted for Republicans in the midterms. In addition to sending a message to the GOP, this election offered a stinging rebuke of this president's policies and his tone. 

Contrary to the assertions of Trump and other Republicans there are not two sides to the scientific consensus on climate change just as there are not two sides to propagating hate in contemporary American politics. A vast amount of scientific research confirms the anthropogenic origins of global warming.

Trump's penchant for alternative facts was on display during the midterms when he paraded his caravan of lies as he demonized those seeking asylum in the US.  Trump and Republicans are hostile to science and fact based media because undermining the credibility of these institutions helps them to conceal their deceit.

However, their deception is getting harder to conceal. Destructive extreme weather events including hurricanes and wildfires make it hard for Trump and his Republican minions to deny the veracity of climate change. The facts can only be denied for so long and history will show that Republican climate denial and support for fossil fuels arrested responsible climate action at a critical junction in human history.

Although Trump has assumed the mantle of the world's leading climate denier, Republicans cannot blame this on Trump, they have been engaged in successive campaigns of climate disinformation for years before Trump ever came onto the political scene. 

The science is clear, climate change is increasing the duration and intensity of both wildfires and storms and the costs are staggering. People lose their homes and their livelihoods, some even lose their lives, yet Trump and the GOP refuse to have anything to do with climate economics.

The cost of US wildfires and storms keeps increasing. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, the cost of suppressing wildfires was a record breaking $2.9 billion in 2017. The 2018 total is expected to be even larger. However this is a drop in the bucket compared to the cost in damages. According to Fortune, the most recent spate of California fires is expected to top $19 billion. Last year the Department of Commerce conducted an analysis that indicated the total annualized cost of wildfires at anywhere from $71.1 billion to $347.8 billion. As reported by CNN the cost of US storms this decade is estimated to be $356 billion. 

Republicans claim to be focused on the economy however, they refuse to even consider a cost benefit climate analyses.  Trump's climate inaction combined with his insane energy agenda and national inefficiency policy invite an economic and humanitarian disaster. 

The Richmond Federal Reserve released a report that found "evidence that higher summer temperatures could reduce overall U.S. economic growth by as much as one-third over the next century".  The federal government is exacerbating global warming and Americans will be forced to shoulder the costs.

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Trump Called an "Idiot" as he Blames the Victims for California's Wildfires

As Californians combat three major forest fires Trump takes to Twitter to blame the state for forest mismanagement and threatens to withdraw federal funding. The president is once again misinformed as these are urban interface fires and have nothing to do with forest management. These statements prompted California Firefighters Union President to call Trump "an idiot". 

In addition to the deaths associated with the most recent spate of fires in the state there has been an unprecedented amount of property destruction. In the face of the the deadliest and most destructive fire in California history, Trump is blaming the state of California. The president seems to like to kick people when they are down. He attacked politicians in Puerto Rico and Florida when they were dealing with devastating hurricanes. As Trump politicizes the devastation Californians are contending with death and destruction.

Although some people have been allowed to return to their neighborhoods in Southern California the threat continues. A flare-up in Santa Monica Mountains was beaten back, however, the fire in Ventura and Los Angeles is only about 40 percent contained as progress combating the blaze is being hampered by Santa Anna winds. At its height as many as a quarter of a million people were under evacuation orders.

At least two people succumbed to the Woolsey fire and almost 500 buildings are known to have been destroyed so far. A total of 152 square miles have been scorched by the fire including 80 percent of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. 

In Northern California the situation is even worse with at least 48 people confirmed dead due to the Camp Fire that decimated the town of Paradise making it the deadliest fire in the state's history. More than 200 people are missing suggesting the death toll may rise. To add to the tragic loss of life this is also the most destructive fire ever in California. A total of 8,800 buildings have been destroyed thus far and 52,000 residents have been forced to evacuate. The Camp Fire was 35 percent contained as of Tuesday November 13th. 

Although Trump approved a disaster declaration he also threatened to cut off federal aid due to what he called poor forest management. Trump's recent misinformed comments about California fires are not new. During California's wave of wildfires in August Trump stated "bad environmental laws" have "magnified" the disaster and "made [it] so much worse."

"California wildfires are being magnified & made so much worse by the bad environmental laws which aren’t allowing massive amount of readily available water to be properly utilized. It is being diverted into the Pacific Ocean. Must also tree clear to stop fire spreading!" Trump said. This is simply not true. A lack of water was not the cause.

In response to Trump's tweets in August the California Firefighters Union president called the president's remarks "dangerously wrong," adding that most California forests are under federal management and "it is the federal government that has chosen to divert resources away from forest management."

What the president refuses to acknowledge is the fact that climate change is making summers hotter and drier than they otherwise would be. The scientific evidence connecting heat to wildfires is incontrovertible. Six of California’s ten most destructive wildfires on record have occurred in the past three years.

The GOP's climate denial makes it hard to find a solution to the problem of global warming related disasters like wildfires. Trump has demonstrated his incompetence in his response to hurricanes, he has also demonstrated that he is equally ignorant about wildfires.

Update: As of November 16 at least 63 civilians are known to have been killed by the Camp Fire and 10,321 structures have been destroyed. Three people are also known to have died during the Woolsey Fire near Malibu.

Related
Heat Connects Wildfires to Climate Change
Evidence Linking Wildfires and Climate Change
California is Burning Again
California Fires are Part of a Global Phenomenon
Climate Change Fueling Wildfires in North America and Russia
Video - The Relationship Between Climate Change & Wildfires
Climate Change Fueling Forest Fires in the North American West
Trump's Climate Denial Makes Storms and Wildfires Worse
The Warming Temperature Trend Continues Despite Trump
Warming Temperatures are an Urgent Warning

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Corporate Activism in the 2018 Midterm Elections and Beyond

Companies are increasingly departing from their traditional apolitical stances and the 2018 midterm election in the United States was no exception. While many companies encouraged their employees to vote, others extended this message to their partners and the general public. Some companies wore their social conscience on their sleeves while others actively endorsed environmentally concerned candidates.
Many are disgusted with the president's hate speech and his penchant for sewing division. Some resist Trump because of his trade policies and specifically his tariffs which have been devastating in some sectors, while others decry his hard-line immigration policy or support for the NRA.  Companies are being forced to respond to public outcries. Earlier this year Publix supermarket chain ended its support for a Republican candidate for Florida governor due to his ties with the NRA.

People resist this presidency for a number of reasons. Trump's sexism, racism, and deceit are a few examples that explain why Americans are coalescing against this president. Although it has yet to achieve critical mass, environmental and climate protests are at the heart of this growing resistance.

The Trump name has become toxic. Trump's public facing brands have been subject to boycotts forcing buildings to remove the now infamous name and retail outlets to drop Trump labels. Even companies that contribute to Trump's political campaign can find themselves in hot water. LL Bean was swamped with complaints after it became known that a member of the Bean family is one of Trump's financial supporters. 

Murder

The social conscience of companies was tested just before the midterms when journalist Jamal Khashogg was murdered by operatives working for Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman.
 Many companies decided to Boycott Saudi Arabia's Future Initiative conference in Riyadh (aka "Davos in the desert ") on October 23rd.

Siemens CEO Joe Kaeser, explained why he decided not to attend in a Linked in post. "As soon as I heard of his death, it was clear to me that we couldn't simply move on and do business as usual," he wrote. "We in Germany should know from our history what it can lead to if people stay out of trouble and don't speak up till it is too late."

Dozens of other corporate leaders cancelled their trips to Riyadh. Representatives from JPMorgan Chase, Uber, HSBC, Blackrock, PepsiCo and Six Flags amusement parks also opted to boycott the event.

Trump made it clear that he did not want to jeopardize trade ties with the kingdom. Other nations and sectors shared Trump's view. The murder did not stop Russia, China and the fossil fuel industry from attending. Aramco said it alone signed memorandums of understanding worth $34 billion with companies from around the world. The highest profile CEOs who attended was Patrick Pouyanné, the chief of French oil company Total (TOT).

Midterms

Companies also encouraged voter participation in the US midterms. The Civic Responsibility Project handed out free toolkits to make it easier for companies to increase voter turnout among their employees and customers.

World leading sustainability focused outdoor gear giant Patagonia encouraged their employees, patrons and stakeholders to vote with the planet in mind. Patagonia has challenged some of president Trump's decisions especially the virtual eradication of the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah. The company launched a campaign titled "The president stole your land". Patagonia is also part of a coalition of companies that have also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration.

Consistent with its effort to protect wilderness areas Patagonia also supported Senate candidates Jacky Rosen in Nevada and Jon Tester in Montana.  Rosen defeated the Republican incumbent Dean Heller and Tester also won despite being singled out and targeted by Trump.

Racism

CVS Health, Dow Chemical and Southern Company indicated that they would acquiesce to public pressure over racist comments and stop donating to a pro Trump organization.  

Other companies are taking issue with some of the xenophobic rhetoric coming from the Republican party. This includes corporations like Land O'Lakes and Purina, both of which rescinded their support for Iowa Representative Steve King due to public outcry over his racist remarks.

Judd Legum, writes the political newsletter Popular Information and leads a social media campaign, urging companies to abandon King. "Corporations have just gotten used to idea that they wouldn't be accountable for any of this," Legum is quoted as saying by CNN. "These companies sell products in King's district, but they also sell products around the country and the world."

Hope

It is not easy to be hopeful in the political environment created by Trump and his minions in the GOP.  Yet hope is an essential part of auguring change. "A lot of people feel powerless in this political environment," Legum said adding, holding firms to account for their political activity, "is a way for people to make their voices heard."

While Richard Levick, the CEO of LEVICK, a Washington-based public relations firm, holds the traditional view that companies should be apolitical, so as to be welcoming to patrons on both sides of the political equation. However, this may be based on an outdated calculus that may prove a dangerous game and a gamble that could lose big. This presidency will only get worse and those who supported it may find themselves on the receiving end of a public backlash.

The only businesses that can afford to play it safe the way Levick suggests are those that exclusively court rural patrons. Even here these patrons may not appreciate apolitical positioning they may demand that everything they buy comes with a side of MAGA.

The midterms make it clear that Democrats received the vast majority of support allowing them to flip control of the House. Even in Senate races Democrats won by more than 12 million votes.  While the math makes a compelling case there are also moral considerations.

It may be more important to take a stand for what is right rather than try to accommodate - or turn a blind eye - to highly dubious statements and policy postures. One way or another the Trump presidency will end and history may cast aspersions on firms that failed to take a stand. They may even be viewed the way collaborators were perceived after World War ll. History can be a harsh judge.

While corporations have benefited from tax cuts companies increasingly see social and environmental action as an important part of being good corporate citizens. This by definition pits them against this regressive administration.

In the past companies avoided overt politics like the plague. In the era of Trump resistance may be unavoidable. It is likely that part of that effort will of necessity involve speaking out against politicians who are at odds with social and environmental realities.

Unless you are selling swastikas or other white power paraphernalia, pandering to Trump supporters is a risk.  

Many companies are asking themselves if they can afford to resist this president, a more fitting question may be can they afford not to. 

Related
The Wave of Corporate Goodness
US Corporate Climate Efforts in 2017 Offer Hope for 2018
Business Action on Climate Change 
Why Corporate Sustainability Leaders Must Resist Trump
Corporations Offering Hope this Unhappy Thanksgiving
Corporate Actions that Combat Trump's Climate Ignorance
Sustainability is Not Impervious to Trump
Sharing Sustainability Matters Now More than Ever
Which Side is Your Business On?
Businesses Support Sustainability and Oppose Trump
Business Leaders Advocate for Sustainability and Refute Trump
Corporate America Rejects Trump's Climate Ignorance

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Event - Nature & Me

Nature & Me is a presentation that will take place on December 3, 2018 at the Moment Factory, 6250 Park Ave, Montreal, QC Montreal, QC. Doors open at 6:45 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7:15 p.m.

For many of us, our everyday connection to nature isn’t what it used to be. What does that mean for our quality of life and economy? Join them for an engaging discussion on our relationship with nature and how it stands to impact our future.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is the country’s largest national land conservation organization. Since 1962, they have helped to protect 2.8 million acres (more than 1.1 million hectares) across the country. Their conservation process has been fine-tuned over decades of on-the-ground work, and continues to evolve to meet our changing needs.

Mission and Values

A natural legacy through partnership

VISION

They envision a world in which Canadians conserve nature in all its diversity, and safeguard the lands and waters that sustain life.

MISSION

The Nature Conservancy of Canada leads and inspires others to join them in creating a legacy for future generations by conserving important natural areas and biological diversity across all regions of Canada.

VALUES

Wherever they work across Canada, they share and apply the following values:

• Durable conservation outcomes
• While respecting nature's processes, they manage lands and waters for their natural values today and for the long term. They believe future generations deserve to inherit a biologically rich world.
• Evidence-based decision-making
• They are guided by the best available conservation science. 
• They are committed to continuous learning, and to finding practical, resourceful and innovative solutions to conservation challenges.
• Respect for nature and people.
• They respect the needs, values and culture of local communities. 
• They seek conservation solutions that meet the needs of nature and people. Conservation supports prosperous and sustainable communities.

Integrity first

• They work to the highest ethical and professional standards. We are transparent and accountable to their supporters. We earn trust by living up to their commitments.
• Conservation through collaboration and cooperation
• Their commitment to community and to partners makes them strong.
• They strive to be open to the ideas of others so that together we can achieve conservation outcomes that benefit all. 
• They work in the spirit of collaboration. We celebrate each other's successes. 

 

Speakers

Featuring

• Dan Kraus Senior Conservation Biologist Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Nicole Vadori Head of Environment TD Bank Group

NatureTalks Speakers

• Dr. Robert Anderson Director, Beaty Centre for Species Discovery and Change Canadian Museum of Nature
• Edward Burtynsky Photographer and artist The Anthropocene Project
• Tracy Dandeneau Senior Manager, Partnership & Visitor Experiences Travel Manitoba
• Don Enright Travel and tourism writer Toque & Canoe
• Jane Gilbert VP, Public Affairs and Communications Moderator Dr. Mark Graham Dr. Mark Graham Vice-president, Research and Collections Canadian Museum of Nature
• Jaimie Isaac Curator, Indigenous and Contemporary Art Winnipeg Art Gallery
• Jessie Klassen Author of "The Sapling"
• Dan Kraus Senior Conservation Biologist Nature Conservancy of Canada
• Kevin Lamoureux Associate Vice President, Indigenous Affairs University of Winnipeg
• Dr. Kevin wâsakâyâsiw Lewis Ministikwan Cree First Nation Founder | Kaniyasihk Culture Camps
• Deborah McGregor Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Environmental Justice York University
• Tara Mulhern Davidson Range Biologist and Rancher Lonesome Dove Ranch
• Louie Porta Vice-president, Operations and Programs Oceans North
• Jonathan Potts Executive Director of Marketing & Communications Tourism Saskatchewan
• Mark Rittinger VP, Development & Marketing Emcee
• Harley Rustad Author "Big Lonely Doug: The Story of One of Canada’s Last Great Trees"
• Carolyn Scotchmer Executive Director TD Friends of the Environment Foundation
• Lindsay Somers Wellness and Community Health consultant.
• Laval St.Germain Adventurer - Speaker NatureTalks logo Sandy and Brian Stewart Producers of Sharkwater Extinction; parents of filmmaker and activist Rob Stewart
• Nicole Vadori Head of Environment TD Bank Group

Tickets: $20 (includes a unique Moment Factory experience and refreshments)
Click here to register.

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