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Building blockchains for a better planet (World Economic Forum and PwC) highlights over 65 existing and emerging use cases that demonstrate how blockchain technology can be applied to the world's most pressing environmental challenges. The report also identifies eight blockchain "game changers" that have the potential to drive progress on transparent supply chains, sustainable funding, decentralized energy, circular economy and more.
Drawing a sustainable advantage: survey on responsible investments 2018 (RBC Global Asset Management) concludes that responsible investment is becoming mainstream. Key results:
- Ninety percent of the respondents believe that ESG's integrated portfolios have better or better performance than non-ESG portfolios.
- 72 percent use ESG to make investment decisions.
- 50 percent say they consider the inclusion of ESG factors in their investment approach as part of their fiduciary duty (compared to 25 percent last year).
- 42% support shareholder proposals as an effective means of achieving gender diversity on boards of directors.
The opportunity of the circular economy for urban and industrial innovation in China (Ellen MacArthur Foundation) finds that applying the principles of large-scale circular economy in China could save businesses and households about $ 5.1 trillion in 2030 and $ 11.2 trillion in 2040. The report identifies opportunities in five areas main: built environment; mobility; nutrition; textiles; and electronics.
Business planning of renewable supply and transmission: the communication of the demand to the RTO can generate more low-cost options (Wind Solar Alliance) offers recommendations to help corporate renewable energy buyers better understand how to interact with regional transmission organizations (RTOs). The report outlines the actions that companies can take to increase access to renewable energy in the United States, including entry into an RTO, payment of a "green fee" utility, and collaboration with a utility to develop a necessary transmission line.
Curve Ahead: the future of electrification of the commercial fleet (UPS Group and GreenBiz) provides an overview of the current state of vehicle technology and charging infrastructure and outlines barriers, motivators and strategies to accelerate the transition to electrification of the commercial fleet.
Financing of sustainable development objectives: impact that invests in action (Global Impact Investing Network) presents case studies that show investors are increasing and directing capital to help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Case studies present the following investors: blue like an orange capital; Incofin Investment Management; The Mirova Land Degradation Neutrality Fund project; PGGM; and Partners Group.
Financing our future (Accounting for Sustainability and Aviva Investors) provides five recommendations on how actors in the global investment chain can help build a sustainable financial system that can support the actions needed to achieve the SDGs and the Paris Agreement. Recommendations include: building a convincing evidence base and motivating people to take action; develop a coherent terminology; allocate funds to sustainable results; adopt reporting standards; and outsourcing of prices.
Global Insights Report 2018: The Rise of ESG Regulations (Datamaran) analyzes the growth of ESG regulations dating back to 2012 in the areas of financial services, utilities and health care and pharmaceuticals in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. The report indicates an evolving regulatory landscape that increasingly fosters non-financial information from public companies.
The Low Carbon Economy Index 2018 (PwC) tracks the progress made by the G20 countries in relation to their national decarbonisation targets. The report notes that the UK has made the fastest transition to a low carbon economy since 2000 among the G20 nations. The report also notes that China has achieved the highest overall carbon reduction in 2017, bringing all G20 countries with a decarbonisation rate of 5.2%. However, none of the G20 countries reached the 6.4% rate required to limit heating to 2 degrees Celsius this year.
Business sense: how RE100 companies have an advantage over their colleagues (The Climate Group, CDP and Capgemini Invent) notes that companies committed to 100% renewable electricity as part of the RE100 initiative perform better than non-RE100 members on two financial indicators: net profit margin and EBIT margin ( earnings before interest and taxes). The report shows that the difference in performance varies from 0.3 percent to 7.7 percent in both indicators.
Return on values (UBS Investor Watch) surveys more than 5,300 investors, with at least $ 1 million in investable assets, in 10 markets to better understand investors' attitudes towards sustainable investments. Key results include:
- 65 percent of investors surveyed believe it is very important to help create a better planet. However, only 39% have sustainable investments in their portfolio.
- 72% of investors believe it is difficult to understand the language of sustainable investments and less than 50% know the term very well.
- 12% of US investors said they had sustainable investments, compared to 39% globally. However, 49% of the assets of the US investor's portfolio is dedicated to sustainable investments, the highest of any country.
- 51% of US investors surveyed expect sustainable investment returns to match traditional investment returns, compared to 50% of global investors. 19 percent of US investors expect sustainable investments to outperform traditional investments.
- 72% of young investors have sustainable investments, compared to only 6% of investors aged 65 or over.
State of sustainable business (BSR and Globescan) is based on the responses of business leaders representing 152 global companies. Key results include:
- Corporate reputation was the first guide to sustainability efforts, given more attention to social problems.
- Key priorities include ethics / integrity (76%), diversity / inclusion (71%), climate change (70%), human rights (69%).
- 41% of companies report no change in their approach to women's empowerment problems.
- Only 20% of the business leaders surveyed believe that supply chain efforts are effective, but 75% are working on approaches and technologies to improve.
- Artificial intelligence (AI), automation and disruptive technology are the mega-trends of greatest concern.
- 71% use SDGs to help set business goals, particularly with regard to climate change, the economic growth of decent work, responsible consumption and production and gender equality.
The state of circular economy in America (Circular CoLab) analyzes 202 circular economy initiatives and categorizes them according to the area of interest of the solution, such as design, education / awareness and funding and attention to the sector. The report also includes expert interviews, case studies and editorials.
The sustainability reporting performance of the FTSE 100 | 2018 (EcoAct) identifies sustainable business trends within the UK's largest companies. Select key results:
- 76 percent set carbon reduction targets; 42 percent are on track to reach their goals.
- 73% of companies reveal Scope 3 emissions.
- 32% have set or are committed to science-based goals.
- 15% of companies comply with the TCFD recommendations.
- 31 percent have dedicated initiatives to reduce their plastic waste.
- 29% of companies consider the impact on the natural capital of their activities.
A guide for users to complete energy management (GreenBiz Group and Siemens Building Technologies) outlines recommendations to promote comprehensive energy management and accelerate investments in a clean energy future.
