Every year, we like to pause to reflect on the progress made in the sustainability and ESG space. 2023 was no exception, emerging as a landmark period of transformation and growth. This year, there have been significant strides in regulations and the interoperability of sustainability reporting. It set new benchmarks for corporate accountability and climate action, impacting businesses globally. Below are some key highlights discussed in this week’s episode.  Key...

s we leave an exciting 2023, it’s time to enter a new year. Without a doubt, the sustainability sector is witnessing transformative trends and predictions reshaping how businesses operate and consumers engage. This week, we discuss our thoughts as we enter 2024 and provide an in-depth look at these key trends and predictions our team has complied: Global supply chains under the microscope–The focus on transparency and public reporting within global supply chains has become more...

The 28th annual Conference of the Parties (COP28), hosted by the United Nations, wrapped this week. It marked a significant shift in the climate change dialogue. The event brought together over 100 country delegations, climate scientists, business leaders, activists, indigenous peoples, and journalists, fostering a platform for pivotal discussions and decisions.  If you've followed news surrounding previous COPs, you’re no stranger to the rollercoaster ride they can become. The high- and...

As the festive season approaches, our excitement to celebrate often matches a surge in shopping activities. However, understanding the impact of this increased consumerism on retailer emissions is vital. This week, we explored the significant effects of our holiday shopping habits on the emission profiles of retailers, focusing primarily on Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Understanding retailer emissions Scope 1 emissions: During the holiday season, retailers often extend their store hours,...

Australia's ambitious climate goals: On the Vverge of COP28 As we gear up for COP28, Australia has made notable climate strides that can't go unnoticed. Under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the country has set ambitious goals to reduce emissions by 43% by 2030, a significant leap from the previous 28% target. At COP28, Energy Minister Chris Bowen will present a report indicating that Australia is on track for a 37% reduction with existing programs while aiming for 42%. Here are just a few...

The National Climate Assessment: risks, progress, and opportunities This week, the National Climate Assessment was released, a pivotal report crafted every five years by major U.S. Federal agencies. This 2023 edition did not shy away from the stark climate risks looming over us. Yet, it's not all doom and gloom. The report underscores significant strides in climate action across the U.S. since 2018, with unexpected frontrunners like Virginia, Texas, and Florida making remarkable...

Navigating the complexities of the Inflation Reduction Act and highway infrastructure The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), with its substantial $369 billion funding package, stands at the forefront of America's push toward a greener future. Yet, its recent entanglement with Texas's highway infrastructure plans has raised eyebrows. The proposal to allocate $112 million of IRA funds to expand highways aims at reducing congestion and idling.  However, this move has sparked debate due to its...

This week, we’ve witnessed several impactful developments across two high-contributing factors to climate change: mining and garbage. The UK has taken a firm stand against deep-sea mining, acknowledging its potential impact on our warming oceans. At the same time, U.S. state officials have called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to bolster waste management initiatives. ‍Navigating the deep sea dilemma ‍Due to the depths of our oceans, there is a delicate balance between...

The Week in Sustainability October 23–27 This week: – DOE’s new funding: The Department of Energy has committed a whopping $3.5B towards upgrading the electric grid. Stemming from the bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021, this move aims at enhancing the grid’s resiliency and capacity. – GM’s unionization: GM (General Motors) is taking the lead amidst an ongoing auto worker strike by permitting its EV battery plant workers to unionize under the United Autoworkers Union....

As climate change continues its relentless march, the call for more transparent, standardized, and actionable sustainability reporting grows louder. The UK's recently unveiled Transition Disclosure Framework (TDF), coined by the UK Transition Plan Taskforce (TPT), is the latest entrant into the world of ESG standards and metrics. But what does it mean for companies and investors alike? About Sustain.Life Sustain.Life helps future-proof businesses by fighting climate change. ​ Learn...

New California laws to reshape climate reporting The new climate legislation in the Golden State is, and has been, making big headlines. Governor Gavin Newsom has put his signature on SB 253 and SB 261. Starting in 2026, California will expect businesses generating more than $1 billion in revenue to publicly disclose their scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Furthermore, companies with revenue surpassing $500 million must highlight their climate-related financial risks, according to SB 261. While...

Last week, New York City witnessed a brief bout of intense rain it hadn’t experienced in over seven decades. In just a day, New York received a month’s worth of rain. For a city revered for its resilience, the downpour exposed glaring infrastructure vulnerabilities. When streets turned into streams The city’s streets transformed into treacherous rivers, submerging vehicles mid-road and flooding basement apartments. The sight was eerily reminiscent of the devastating aftermath of Hurricane...

1. Net-zero commitments  One of the central themes of Climate Week NYC 2023 was the widespread commitment to net-zero emissions goals. It demonstrates a growing acknowledgement among businesses: Addressing climate change is a moral imperative and essential for long-term economic resilience. While the tone remained hopeful, it was also realistic—we only have six years left to reduce global emissions by 50% to meet 2030 goals.     2. Investments in renewable energy   Renewable energy took...

Apple continues to trailblaze on the sustainability front. On the legislative front, California’s new bills might set a precedent for broader global actions, which make one thing clear: meticulous carbon accounting is no longer a choice; it’s a necessity. Paving the way: California’s climate bills California is once again at the forefront of climate legislation. The state has passed two promising bills: SB 253, aka the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act, and SB 261, the...

California’s challenges Big Oil In yet another bold move to address climate change, California Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a lawsuit against five leading oil companies: BP, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Shell, and ConocoPhillips, along with their associated trade group, the American Petroleum Institute.  The core of the lawsuit alleges that these energy giants were not only significantly responsible for exacerbating climate change but were fully aware of the...

We dive into the Burning Man festival’s environmental challenges, namely how its principles are at odds with its practices. Background on Burning Man  Originating from a small group of artists in San Francisco, Burning Man now attracts around 70,000 attendees annually in the Nevada desert. Attendees would argue it’s not just a festival—it’s a temporary city with guiding principles that resonate closely with sustainability, like radical inclusion, civic responsibility, and environmental...

Global warming’s ripple effects can be seen everywhere month-by-month and minute-by-minute—from July heatwaves to altered coastal ecosystems. And that’s just this summer alone. But the challenge also brings forth innovation—and this week, we’re focusing on a couple of stoires about promising innovations in marine cargo shipping and aviation.  Marvel in marine shipping Traditionally derived from natural gas, methanol is emerging as a potential alternative to heavy fuel oil in marine cargo...

In recent days, two major environmental events have captured our attention. On the one hand, we have the devastating wildfires that ravaged a community in Hawaii, and on the other, we witnessed a landmark ruling in a climate case from Montana, which could potentially pave the way for future climate-related lawsuits. Hawaii’s heartbreaking wildfire disaster The alarming news of wildfires in Hawaii has been distressing to say the least. The fact that the fires claimed over 100 lives (a...

A permitting predicament States like California and New York, heralded for their ambitious climate policies, might not meet their 2030 climate targets. Why? It’s not a lack of planning or policies but rather the tortuous pace of state permitting.  Ambitious goals, bureaucratic hurdles Both states have set ambitious targets, including plans to ban new natural gas lines and end the sale of combustion engine cars by 2030. But one question begs to be asked: How can states with such robust...

Impact of climate change and the role of El Niño The globe is currently experiencing the ramifications of climate change as we endure soaring temperatures and severe weather patterns during the summer of 2023. Torrential rains have triggered floods and landslides in Korea, Japan, and the northeastern United States. Meanwhile, heatwaves have swept through the Mediterranean, Mexico, China, and the Southern United States. July has been logged as the most sweltering month on record, shaped by...

There’s been a new surge of ambitious supply chain decarbonization efforts led by heavyweight companies like Amazon, SAP, and others. The reason? It’s likely that the looming SEC climate disclosure rule, now expected in October, has catalyzed action. Businesses are looking to stay ahead of the—again, potential—regulatory mandates and tackle the thorny issue of scope 3 emissions—those tied to supply chains, typically representing 80-90% of a company’s carbon footprint. Large-scale firms are...

The summer in the Northern Hemisphere has seen record-breaking heat waves. The stifling heat has served as a reminder of the harsh realities of the effects of climate change. The first week of July was the hottest ever recorded, with temperatures surpassing 110°F in Europe, while Phoenix, Arizona experienced its twentieth day of temperatures above 110°F. As the heat wave persists, concerns about health impacts and strains on the power grid continue to grow, exemplified by a recent study that...

Minerals critical to the energy transition The International Energy Agency’s inaugural edition of the Critical Minerals Market Review offers intriguing insights into global energy markets as the world transitions from a fossil fuel-based system to renewable energy. While the transition has happened in significantly less time than it took to build a fossil fuel-based system (we’re already seeing record deployment of solar panels, wind turbines, and electric vehicles), it hasn’t been without...

Australia’s proposed climate disclosure law   The Australian government has proposed a new law to enhance climate-related financial disclosures from companies and other entities operating in the country. Drawing from the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the proposed legislation intends to provide investors and stakeholders with reliable information about the financial risks and opportunities associated with climate change. It is part of the...