THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Newer players Climate Vault and Covalent are banking on their unique approaches — along with the dreaded “R” word, regulation — to salvage the credibility and efficacy of carbon markets.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Several discussions at SB’23 San Diego highlighted the importance of achieving total visibility into company operations, relationships, impacts and messaging — to avoid surprises that could hamstring progress.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Another strong thread throughout SB’23 San Diego addressed the tightrope that brands must often walk when working to stay true to their values — and not letting ‘purpose fragility’ rule in our politically polarized world.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Studies have shown that urban and liberal-leaning US consumers are more likely to try alternative meat compared to rural and more conservative-leaning
demographics. So, crafting messages that appeal to both audiences is vital.
CLEANTECH -
Keeping the planet below 1.5ºC will require rapid scaling of current technologies and deployment of emergent climate solutions — as well as innovative, binding policy interventions.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
Many see DAC as a necessary, if imperfect, tool for
achieving needed carbon reductions; but climate justice groups oppose anything that perpetuates petrochemical operation, which often disproportionately harms communities where they are built.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Anti-ESG agitators are telling a story that’s both inaccurate and bad for business. And silence won’t deter further attacks — though it certainly could compromise long-term brand value.
WALKING THE TALK -
As the advocacy group asserts: ‘This is a time that calls for commitment and courage. Your action can be made in the sound knowledge that you have the majority behind you.'
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Two-thirds of US adults surveyed want companies to continue environmental, social, governance action; more than half have positive view of the term.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
California and Washington are the latest states to attempt to fill gaps in public-health safeguards, thanks to a lack of federal protections against certain commonly used chemicals.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
Here are three lessons social-impact leaders can learn from Ellie — the 14-year-old protagonist in “The Last of Us” — for dealing with these increasingly challenging times.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
From ‘quiet quitting’ to conscious quitting: Despite economic uncertainty, 51% of employees surveyed would consider resigning if employers do not align with own values.
FINANCE & INVESTMENT -
Global government action must accelerate to ensure the ‘polluter pays’ principle is enacted. In turn, businesses and citizens will be compelled to consider the cost of carbon-intensive goods.
WASTE NOT -
Updated federal guidelines that reduce donor liability could begin to change the conversation around what is acceptable to consumers, especially as much-needed food begins to make its way to those who need it most.
WALKING THE TALK -
From my perspective as a scientist who’s been working on climate change and environmental resilience since before the crisis made front-page headlines, here are the four biggest trends I foresee defining 2023.
THE NEXT ECONOMY -
This year, we saw companies double-down on purpose amidst a rise in consumer skepticism and politically motivated attacks on ESG. Below are six notable trends and what they might mean for 2023.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
How does identifying with a certain political party, generation or minority group influence whether consumers think more highly or more disapprovingly of a brand taking on a cause? Here is what we learned.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
For most readers, bribery or corruption aren’t part of your everyday experience — though they should be part of due diligence processes on your business partners and supply chain. However, the danger that one department says one
thing and another does something different and inconsistent is clear in every company.
WALKING THE TALK -
COP27 ended with an agreement to create a funding facility to compensate vulnerable nations for ‘loss and damage’ from climate disasters; but weakened language around the phase-out of fossil fuels opens a dangerous loophole that could threaten decarbonization before it’s too late.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
If we continue to be distracted by our biennial game of political ping-pong, we are unlikely to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change — unless we fundamentally address the underlying causes of polarization and disinformation as part of our sustainability agenda.