Global perspective

52 / GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

The world view

We're going global every day by going social. Meet us in the virtual world via Twitter and Linkedin. Here's just some of digital chat you may have missed... Follow us for more: @OBHMagazine and Linkedin.com

Earth Day action

This year's Earth Day (April 22 2022) has the theme: Invest In Our Planet and calls on businesses to put their weight behind change. Private sector innovation accelerates the kind of rapid change we need for the climate like nothing else. Studies also show it makes business sense as there is a direct correlation between sustainable business practices, share prices, and business performance. Companies with strong Environment Social Governance (ESG) standards have better profitability, stronger financials, happier employees, and more resilient stock performance. What will you do? @earthday #InvestInOurPlanet

Only One Earth

The United Nation's annual World Environment Day (June 5 2022) will be held under the theme Only One Earth. The UN’s flagship day for promoting worldwide awareness and action for the environment, this event has become the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world. Hosted by Sweden for 2022 the day will highlight the need to live sustainably in harmony with nature by bringing transformative changes – through policies and our choices – towards cleaner, greener lifestyles. @UNEP #OnlyOneEarth

MENA moves on

The first-ever Middle East and North Africa Climate Week was held in Dubai (March 28-31) positioned as a major climate action event for the MENA region. It provided a platform for governments, cities, private sector leaders, financial institutions and civil society to discuss opportunities to build forward from the pandemic by identifying opportunities to enhance climate action. The event brought together key stakeholders to take the pulse of climate action in the region, explore climate challenges and opportunities, and showcase ambitious solutions. #MENAClimateWeek

Eyes on the prize

Five, one million-pound prizes are to be awarded each year for the next 10 years, providing at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest environmental problems by 2030. The Earthshot Prize - launched by Prince William and The Royal Foundation last year - is designed to drive a decade of action around the environment to maximise impact and take solutions to scale. It celebrates the people and places driving change; and aims to bring hope and inspire people all over the world to work together to repair the planet. @EarthshotPrize

GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE / 53/ 53

Vegan gains

Circle back

Wise up to the ways that a circular economy can help save the planet and take us all towards net zero. Leader in this field is the Ellen Macarthur Foundation, offers a raft of insights and inspiration to help you understand the issues and create pathways to circularity within your business and lifestyle. Renewable energy is only half the story. A circular economy is a way to make and produce materials, products, and food, that brings resilience to a netzero world. @circulareconomy ellenmacarthurfoundation.org Agriculture generates 30-40% of all greenhouse gas emissions and creates other problems such as deforestation, poor soil health and high-water usage, so thinking twice about ingredient sourcing makes sense. In the UK, the annual Veganuary initiative saw 500,000 people try a vegan diet in January 2022 and 825 new vegan products and menu options were launched. 19% said they did it for climate change and environmental reasons, while 44% did it to help protect animals and 21% for health reasons. Food for thought. @#Veganuary2022

SAF takes flight

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) can reduce emissions by 80% over its full lifecycle. 100 million litres of SAF was produced in 2021 and around 14 billion litres of SAF is involved in forward buying agreements with airlines to date. More than 45 airlines have experience of SAF and over 370,000 flights have taken to the skies using SAF since 2016. Momentum is building and new pathways to SAF are being formed. @IATA

Who cares wins

The growing prominence of ESGs (Environmental, Social, Governance considerations) in investor strategies, coupled with new policies such as the European Union’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation, is helping cement ESG thinking as a mainstream business concept influencing investment returns and corporate strategy. If you don't know what they are or don't have them integrated into your business culture, it's time to wise up and change. #ESG