News

This Reuters newsletter has some seriously thought-provoking developments encouraging us to take stock of where we are in the fight against global warming. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) warns that global temperatures have a 66% chance of temporarily reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2027, which means the world has failed to make sufficient progress on slashing climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions.

“There must be urgency in our action. The global climate crisis is more evident by the day, and today’s actions are crucial. Carbon must become a priority, equal to money in all future decision-making.”

Read the full report here.

Over 80% of Businesses Plan to Increase Spending on Environmental Sustainability Goals Over Next Year: Honeywell

A large majority of companies are planning to increase spending over the next 12 months on environmental sustainability initiatives across categories including energy efficiency and emissions reduction, according to a new survey released by industrial products, solutions and technologies company Honeywell, as sustainability goals continue to emerge as the top priority for executives. (Source: ESGtoday.com)

“Our data shows that companies aren’t wavering in their commitment to sustainability. Not only are leaders keeping it at the top of the priority list despite other looming challenges, but they are also increasingly taking actions.” ~ Vimal Kapur, President and Chief Operating Officer of Honeywell

Click here to access Honeywell’s 2Q 2023 Environmental Sustainability Index.

The Government of Canada announced today a new series of measures aimed at preventing plastic pollution and improving how plastics are made, used and managed, including the launch of consultations into proposed new labelling rules for products, requirements for recycled content in plastic packaging, and for reporting requirements for a planned plastics registry. (Source: ESGtoday.com)

“Plastics play an important role in the everyday lives of Canadians; however, the way plastic waste is managed in Canada is a growing concern we all share. [...] We must find a way to keep plastics out of the environment. That means requiring minimum recycled content in certain types of plastic packaging and providing Canadians with clearer labelling and better transparency, to help people better understand what they are buying and determine whether those plastics can be properly recycled in their community.”

~ Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Read the full article here.

Government of Canada: Development of Minimum Recycled Content Requirements for plastic items - Overview

Government of Canada: Recycled content and labelling rules for plastics: regulatory framework paper

Over 70% of Businesses View ESG as a Revenue Enabler

The argument that ESG harms profitability is “more than a myth—it’s misinformation that leads to poor business decision-making,” according to a new study released by IBM, which found that more than 70% of executives view ESG as a revenue enabler, and that consumers increasingly focus on companies’ sustainability performance when making purchasing and employment decisions. (Source: ESGtoday.com)

“ESG leaders are 43% more likely to outperform on profitability—and 52% more likely to say ESG efforts have a huge impact on profitability.”

“72% of executives say ESG needs to be a higher priority in their organization.”

Read the full report here.

Montreal, April 18, 2023 – BDC today announces the creation of its new $150-million Sustainability Venture Fund dedicated to investing in businesses developing technologies that will support Canada and the world to meet sustainability and climate targets.

The Fund is a key component of BDC’s commitment to sustainability and part of its contribution to help advance Canada’s 2050 net-zero ambition. It will invest in technologies in line with four key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) leveraging Canada’s strengths and areas of opportunity: sustainable communities and cities, responsible production and consumption, climate action as well as clean and affordable energy.

“Innovation is imperative to speed the transition to net-zero, as much as it can spur the growth of our economy. With the new fund, we have an immense opportunity to ensure that Canadian start-ups have access to the capital they need to compete and drive meaningful impact to Canada’s journey to reach net-zero and meet its sustainability targets.” ~ Isabelle Hudon, President and CEO of BDC

Read the full article here.

New study from Bain & Company and EcoVadis

ESG activities, regarding sustainability, diversity and employee satisfaction, correlate with stronger financial profitability and growth for private companies, revealed a joint study by Bain & Company and EcoVadis released today.

Four correlations between ESG activities and business results:

1. Companies with more women on the executive team have better financial results.
2. Renewable energy usage correlates with higher EBITDA margins in carbon-intensive industries.
3. Companies that focus on ethics, environmental and labor practices within their supply chains are more profitable.
4. ESG leaders have higher employee satisfaction; companies with the most satisfied employees grow faster and are more profitable.

Read the full article here.

L’Oréal Announcement

Beauty company L’Oréal announced the introduction of its Product Impact Labeling system in Canada, providing consumers with information on the environmental and social impact of its products.

According to the company, its Garnier, La Roche-Posay and Biotherm brands will be the first to launch the Product Impact Labelling System in Canada, with the information available on their websites starting this month, and gradually displayed on the products through a QR code, and plans to roll out the system progressively across the L’Oréal Canada brands.

Read the full article here.

Canada unveiled its response to the emerging global race to scale up green energy and clean tech manufacturing capacity, with proposals for over $60 billion in tax credits and an additional $20 billion in sustainable infrastructure investments in its 2023 budget.

While the budget acknowledges the opportunities created for Canada by the Inflation Reduction Act, arising from “the accelerated pace of technological development, and from new opportunities in North American supply chains for clean energy and technologies,” the budget also points out the need for Canada to respond in order to remain competitive in the global transition, noting that:

“(W)ithout swift action, the sheer scale of U.S. incentives will undermine Canada’s ability to attract the investments needed to establish Canada as a leader in the growing and highly competitive global clean economy.

“If Canada does not keep pace, we will be left behind.”

Read the full article here.

A liveable future for all is possible, if we take urgent climate action: flagship UN report.

A major UN “report of reports” from the authoritative Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), outlines the many options that can be taken now, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to human-caused climate change.

The study, “Climate Change 2023: Synthesis Report”, released on Monday following a week-long IPCC session in Interlaken, brings into sharp focus the losses and damages experienced now, and expected to continue into the future, which are hitting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems especially hard

Read the full article here.

UN Photo / Mark Garten

BlackRock's Larry Fink says “not our place to be telling companies what to do” on climate, and more...

Investment giant BlackRock will continue to view climate risk as an investment risk, according to the firm’s Chairman and CEO Larry Fink’s annual letter to investors released today, that addressed a series of claims by anti-ESG politicians, such as accusations that BlackRock forces companies to reduce emissions, or that the firm “boycotts” energy companies.

Read the full article here.