August, 2024

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The energy transition: Where are we, really?

McKinsey Sustainabilty

Scaling up deployment of decarbonization technologies is crucial to achieve net zero, but there is a reality gap—the lack of firm EU and US project commitments could slow momentum.

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South Australia runs on more than 100 pct net renewables in last week of winter

Renew Economy

South Australia sources more than 101 per cent of its demand over past week from wind and solar, in last week of winter. The post South Australia runs on more than 100 pct net renewables in last week of winter appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Wind and solar energy surge past fossil fuels for first time in Europe

Corporate Knights

Solar and wind energy in the European Union generated more electricity than fossil fuels in the first six months of 2024, prompting analysts to declare “a historic shift” in the region’s energy mix as renewables capacity continues to grow. “The first half of the year shows fossil generation’s narrowing role in the power sector, and gains for renewables that are beyond temporary variations in conditions,” said Chris Rosslowe, senior data analyst at Ember, a think tank that assessed EU energy d

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Greenland fossil discovery reveals increased risk of sea-level catastrophe

Science Daily / Earth & Environment

Seeds, twigs, and insect parts found under two miles of ice confirm Greenland's ice sheet melted in the recent past, the first direct evidence that the center -- not just the edges -- of the two-mile-deep ice melted away in the recent geological past. The new research indicates that the giant ice sheet is more fragile than scientists had realized until the last few years -- and reveals increased risk of sea-level catastrophe in a warmer future.

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How to Drive Cost Savings, Efficiency Gains, and Sustainability Wins with MES

Speaker: Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions

Is your manufacturing operation reaching its efficiency potential? A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) could be the game-changer, helping you reduce waste, cut costs, and lower your carbon footprint. Join Nikhil Joshi, Founder & President of Snic Solutions, in this value-packed webinar as he breaks down how MES can drive operational excellence and sustainability.

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Drax is UK’s largest single source of CO2 emissions

Envirotec Magazine

New analysis from energy think tank Ember shows that the wood-burning Drax power station is the UK’s largest source of CO2 emissions at 12.1 million tonnes in 2022. This is significantly greater than any other single UK power station, including coal and gas. The plant is by far the largest single CO2 emitter in the UK power sector, accounting for over double the amount of CO2 emissions of the second largest emitter, RWE’s Pembroke Gas Power Station, with 5.3 million tonnes CO2 emissions.

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The AI-Powered Nonprofits Reimagining Education (Blog)

Stanford Social Innovation

By Kevin Barenblat & Brooke James AI is being used in exciting ways to bridge educational divides, and AI-powered nonprofits are creating a roadmap for what the future of education may hold.

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Victoria’s biggest battery becomes first project through new renewables fast track

Renew Economy

A new big battery was approved after just nine weeks, marking the first renewables project to be fully processed under the state's new fast-tracked approvals pathway. The post Victoria’s biggest battery becomes first project through new renewables fast track appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Healthy organizations keep winning, but the rules are changing fast

McKinsey Sustainabilty

Driving higher organizational health and performance means focusing on new practices: empowering employees to make decisions, using technology to create value, and updating leadership styles.

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Record-breaking recovery of rocks that originated in Earth's mantle could reveal secrets of planet's history

Science Daily / Earth & Environment

Scientists have recovered the first long section of rocks that originated in the Earth's mantle, the layer below the crust and the planet's largest component. The rocks will help unravel the mantle's role in the origins of life on Earth, the volcanic activity generated when it melts, and how it drives the global cycles of important elements such as carbon and hydrogen.

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Inclusive, not Exclusive

Chris Hall

Disability inclusion has emerged as a must-have engagement and investment theme for DEI-focused investors. Seeing diversity, equity and inclusion-related (DEI) themes – from gender, to ethnicity, to socioeconomic background – climb up the agendas of investors and companies alike in recent years has been heartening. Sadly, the same cannot yet be said for disability inclusion.

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The Key to Sustainable Energy Optimization: A Data-Driven Approach for Manufacturing

Speaker: Kevin Kai Wong, President of Emergent Energy Solutions

In today's industrial landscape, the pursuit of sustainable energy optimization and decarbonization has become paramount. ♻️ Manufacturing corporations across the U.S. are facing the urgent need to align with decarbonization goals while enhancing efficiency and productivity. Unfortunately, the lack of comprehensive energy data poses a significant challenge for manufacturing managers striving to meet their targets. 📊 Join us for a practical webinar hosted by Kevin Kai Wong of Emergent Ene

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Archaeologists discover the sunken temple of Aphrodite brimming with glittering jewels

Good.is: Planet

This expedition illuminated new details about the ancient Egyptian city Thonis-Heracleion which got submerged underwater due to earthquakes.

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Q&A: ‘The window of opportunity is there, but closes a little every day’

Eco-Business

As COP16 in Colombia nears, renowned Argentine biologist Sandra Díaz champions the need for transformative change to tackle biodiversity loss.

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Big battery market charges beyond expectations, now the grid just needs more wind and solar

Renew Economy

Big batteries projects are charging ahead beyond all expectations, helped by plunging costs. But where is the wind and solar, and what are the big utilities up to? The post Big battery market charges beyond expectations, now the grid just needs more wind and solar appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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LLM to ROI: How to scale gen AI in retail

McKinsey Sustainabilty

Retailers continue to experiment with generative AI and are seeing that the technology holds great promise for reigniting growth—if they move quickly to seize the opportunity.

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Are Your Impact Comms Resonating With Stakeholders?

Whether your organization is at the start of its sustainability and impact journey or years into it, many brands share a common concern: the uncertainty of whether they are sending stakeholders mixed messages. Creating content that speaks to your audience's “love language” can be a tricky dance. But, worry not! 3BL has put together tips to ensure that your content not only finds its rhythm but also resonates with your target audiences.

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Scientists achieve more than 98% efficiency removing nanoplastics from water

Science Daily / Earth & Environment

Linked to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in people, nanoplastics continue to build up, largely unnoticed, in the world's bodies of water. The challenge remains to develop a cost-effective solution to get rid of nanoplastics while leaving clean water behind. That's where Mizzou comes in. Recently, researchers created a new liquid-based solution that eliminates more than 98% of these microscopic plastic particles from water.

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Enough renewable energy projects have been cancelled in Alberta to power almost all its homes

Corporate Knights

As Alberta reels from wildfires that have destroyed swaths of Jasper National Park, new data is showcasing the losses inflicted by the province’s moratorium on renewable energy projects. One year after the provincial government imposed a seven-month halt on new solar, wind, hydro, biomass and geothermal ventures, a report from environmental think tank the Pembina Institute reveals that 53 projects were cancelled, representing more than 8,600 MW of power-generating capacity.

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New world map portrays the actual size and shape of the Earth’s landmasses

Good.is: Planet

The 'Equal Earth projection map' is inspired by Robinson projection which is a blend of the Mercator projection and Gall-Peters projection.

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The Conservative Groups Behind Soaring ‘Anti-woke’ Proposals

Chris Hall

Two US right-wing think tanks responsible for 75% of this year’s anti-ESG shareholder resolutions say they are just getting started. At Walt Disney’s annual shareholder meeting in April this year, 19-year-old California-native Chloe Cole told a harrowing story. Born female, Cole began gender transition treatment at the age of 12. This included taking puberty blockers at age 13, and undergoing a double mastectomy at 15.

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Mastering Supply Chain Sustainability: Where Does ESG Fit In?

Speaker: Hortense Grouvel

In this new webinar, you will learn firsthand how to set up a sustainable supply chain program that will help meet increasing ESG requirements stemming from regulators, customers, consumers, and investors alike. Hortense Grouvel, ESG expert at IntegrityNext, and Sean Whelan, Global Senior Manager at Halliburton, will look at how ensuring compliance will also help you increase sustainability performance, resilience, and innovation, allowing you to unlock the full potential of your supply chain op

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Rooftop PV sends grid demand to new winter low, as big wind and solar hit by record curtailment

Renew Economy

Rooftop solar sends operational demand on Australia's main grid to a new winter low, as coal, wind and solar all forced to dramatically curtail output. The post Rooftop PV sends grid demand to new winter low, as big wind and solar hit by record curtailment appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Reimagining insurance with a comprehensive approach to gen AI

McKinsey Sustainabilty

Insurance companies are at an inflection point with their generative AI use cases. Three McKinsey partners discuss the value of combining generative AI with other technologies.

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Link between global warming and rising sea levels

Science Daily / Earth & Environment

A new study suggests that Earth's natural forces could substantially reduce Antarctica's impact on rising sea levels, but only if carbon emissions are swiftly reduced in the coming decades. By the same token, if emissions continue on the current trajectory, Antarctic ice loss could lead to more future sea level rise than previously thought.

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Florida’s Citizens Lose Out On Federal Climate Funding Due To DeSantis’ Trickery

CleanTechnica

Ron DeSantis, Florida’s governor, seems bent on destroying everything he touches in our delightful state. Think how DeSantis’ dangerous push for a six week abortion ban has hurt women. How he’s alienated LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. How he twists the stories about immigrants — I see the helicopters zoom. [continued] The post Florida’s Citizens Lose Out On Federal Climate Funding Due To DeSantis’ Trickery appeared first on CleanTechnica.

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What Regulations Will Impact Sustainability Comms in 2024?

Navigating the waters of sustainability reporting disclosures and regulations can be intimidating, to say the least. With various measures set in motion in 2023 to keep companies accountable, there is a lot in store for brands’ impact communication in the upcoming year. 3BL is kicking off this January with our Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Capricorn Edition by highlighting the impact of: The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Climate disclosure rules The European Commission

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Study says humans all over the world came from one place in Africa

Good.is: Planet

The Big Data Institute at the University of Oxford astonishingly shared per their research that we all may have some genetics rooted in Africa.

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Queensland’s biggest battery to double in size after AGL signs “virtual” contract

Renew Economy

Biggest battery in Queensland to double in size after AGL signs up to a 10-year "virtual" contract as big generators lock in to battery storage. The post Queensland’s biggest battery to double in size after AGL signs “virtual” contract appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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A near 100 per cent renewable grid is readily achievable and affordable

Renew Economy

Three years of daily simulations show that very close to 100% renewable electricity is feasible for Australia’s main grid at reasonable cost, using just several hours of battery storage. The post A near 100 per cent renewable grid is readily achievable and affordable appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Big win for Tesla and Co in push to exempt batteries from contentious reliability rule

Renew Economy

At the request of Tesla and other developers, big batteries could be exempted from a contentious energy market rule designed to plug future supply gaps. The post Big win for Tesla and Co in push to exempt batteries from contentious reliability rule appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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What Questions Are Brands Asking About Their ESG Initiatives Ahead of 2024?

Temperatures are rising (and not just metaphorically) as key stakeholders anxiously anticipate the outcomes of COP28. While companies reconsider their 2024 environmental sustainability strategies, there is another aspect of ESG that deserves exploring, the social sector. In the latest edition of "Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Sagittarius Edition", 3BL hones in on this sign’s bold quality of asking questions others are burning to know the answers to.

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“Purely phenomenal:” AEMO says world is watching as rooftop PV leads surge to 100pct renewables

Renew Economy

AEMO says world is watching as Australia leads in the penetration of wind and solar in the grid and addresses the engineering challenges. The post “Purely phenomenal:” AEMO says world is watching as rooftop PV leads surge to 100pct renewables appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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“Energy transition in real time:” Texas grid hits demand records, and for solar and battery storage

Renew Economy

The Texas grid has many similarities to Australia, and this week it dealt with record demand in a searing heatwave with no problems, thanks to solar and battery storage. The post “Energy transition in real time:” Texas grid hits demand records, and for solar and battery storage appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Victoria lays out plan for 95 pct renewables, with no coal, not much gas and a big lift in demand

Renew Economy

Victoria lays out plan to reach its target of 95 pct renewables target by 2035, by which time it expects to close the last of its coal fired generators, relegated gas to a minor support role. The post Victoria lays out plan for 95 pct renewables, with no coal, not much gas and a big lift in demand appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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Business power: Batteries and solar could help kick out coal with less new transmission, if price is right

Renew Economy

A network of battery-backed mini solar farms installed on Australia's commercial and industrial rooftops could help usher out coal, and remove the need for big transmission upgrades. The post Business power: Batteries and solar could help kick out coal with less new transmission, if price is right appeared first on RenewEconomy.

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The Silver Lining to Corporate DEI Challenges

In our latest edition of Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Scorpio Edition, 3BL embraces the perspective of one of the zodiac's most misunderstood signs: Scorpio. While this sign often has a darker view of the world, they do not shy away from shining a light on controversial topics. This month we take a deep dive into corporate pullback of DEI and how companies can utilize astrological advice to reinvent its social impact communication.