Decarbonisation is emerging as a key business differentiator. Accenture’s latest report on the decarbonisation activities of the world’s largest companies finds that those that connect climate ambition to business strategy are cutting emissions faster and creating lasting value. But the journey is far from complete: just 16% are on track to reach net zero in their operations by 2050.
Features
Governor Newsom: subnational climate action is a defining opportunity
Governor Newsom said California is leading by example, proving that climate action and economic growth go hand in hand. As California continues and accelerates its climate action, the Governor urged global investors to embrace the technologies and infrastructure driving the clean energy future.
Ralph Lauren retires net zero goal in favour of rolling milestones
Ralph Lauren Corporation has announced that it will evolve its approach to climate as part of its ongoing commitment to decarbonisation. It will retire its 2040 net zero goal in favour of setting rolling five-year GHG reduction milestones, with a near-term focus on its current SBTi-validated 2030 goal to reduce emissions by 30% from its FY20 baseline.
Close to 100 countries signal new climate targets
Close to 100 countries – including nearly 40 Heads of State and Government – have announced, committed to finalising or set out their commitment to implementing their new climate targets ahead of COP30 in Belém, Brazil this November. The announcements came at a Climate Summit convened by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil on the margins of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
Updates
Behaviour
The surprising psychology of dietary choices
Food systems are a major contributor to environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, with widespread dietary changes required to avoid surpassing safe planetary boundaries by 2050. A study published in Elsevier’s Journal of Cleaner Production analyses the dimensions underlying public perceptions and misperceptions of food's environmental impact.
Wilful blindness: turning a blind eye to planetary insolvency
The global economy could face a 50% loss in GDP between 2070 and 2090 unless immediate policy action on risks posed by the climate crisis is taken. This is the stark warning set out in ‘Planetary Solvency – finding our balance with nature’ by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) in collaboration with climate scientists.
Climate silence: does it matter or is it golden?
Anyone who has read the article “Why well-off Brits who think collapse is coming still stay silent” will recognise the scenarios it calls out. Those silent Brits are familiar to us all: they know the planet is hurtling towards existential crisis but they do not use their voice to influence others while they live comfortably within a system that cannot endure (and they know it).
Big shout out to growing list of companies committing to DEI
Impactivize has published a long list of companies who have publicly stated their commitments to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The list includes some big names. Amongst them are: Adidas, American Express, Apple, AstraZeneca and Audible. And that's only in the section under 'A'.
Anti-microbial resistance? New antibiotics are not the only answer
AMR (anti-microbial resistance) is a world health issue. Many believe there cannot be too much investment in and coordination globally on this issue. Standards and regulation – across the use by humans and animals of antibiotics and antifungals – are one thing; but are they the only way forward?
Curious to know where we are with Industrial Revolution 5.0?
Clarity around which industrial revolution we are in and what Industrial Revolution (IR) 5.0 really means is delivered by a paper that points out: “This evolution of industry is not just a technological change but a human-centred movement that concerns politicians, academics, practitioners, and society at large.”