ZeroBees - Certified B Corp®

BIG NEWS: We've been certified as a B Corporation (or B Corp)! This means we're joining a growing move of companies - including many of our amazing clients - that are reinventing business for the benefit of all people and our shared planet. It's been a while in the making, as we've been focused on our clients' needs, helping them achieve B Corp, move forward on their ESG journeys or support with carbon measurement and reduction plans. So excited and proud to finally be able to also count ourselves among the B Corp community. Thank you in particular to Reena Joy for your tireless commitment to the project! What does this mean? Verified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp movement, the achievement demonstrates that we've met high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability alongside a commitment to goals beyond shareholder value. But we're not done yet. We're committed to improving, sharing what we learn on the way, and championing sustainable business. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/e5uzbrgM #bcorp #certified #zerobees #esg #impact #smegoals #decarbonisation #sustainability #betterbusinessact #bcorporation ZeroBees - Certified B Corp® Martin Stead Oliver Errington

What happens to the world if forests stop absorbing carbon? Ask Finland Natural sinks of forests and peat were key to Finland’s ambitious target to be carbon neutral by 2035. But now, the land has started emitting more greenhouse gases than it stores The boreal forests in Finnish Lapland, home to its native Sami, helped underpin the credibility of the most ambitious carbon-neutrality target in the developed world: Finland’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2035. For decades, the country’s forests and peatlands had reliably removed more carbon from the atmosphere than they released. But from about 2010, the amount the land absorbed started to decline, slowly at first, then rapidly. By 2018, Finland’s land sink – the phrase scientists use to describe something that absorbs more carbon than it releases – had vanished. Its forest sink has declined about 90% from 2009 to 2022, with the rest of the decline fuelled by increased emissions from soil and peat. In 2021-22, Finland’s land sector was a net contributor to global heating. The impact on Finland’s overall climate progress is dramatic: despite cutting emissions by 43% across all other sectors, its net emissions are at about the same level as the early 1990s. It is as if nothing has happened for 30 years. The reasons behind these changes are complicated and not fully understood, say researchers. Unfortunately, under the rightwing government that was elected last year, much less emphasis has been put on meeting climate targets. The Finnish government did not respond to the Guardian’s request for comment. But researchers warn that rising global temperatures are likely to further degrade Finland’s land sink. Studies indicate that across boreal ecosystems, the forest is losing its ability to absorb and store as much carbon. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4BRrrFZ Source: The Guardian #climatechange #carbonneutrality #forests #carbonemissions #Finland #borealforests #sustainability #climateaction #greenhousegases #environmentalimpact #netzero #landuse #climatetargets #peatlands #globalwarming

RIP 1.5C? Global greenhouse gas emissions reached a record high in 2023, and nations will need to collectively deliver a 42% reduction by 2030 if the Paris Agreement’s 1.5C goal is to remain feasible, the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) new annual emissions gap report finds. The report confirms that global emissions exceeded 57 gigatonnes (!) in 2023 for the first time in history, with a 1.3% increase recorded on 2022 levels. The largest sources of emissions are power (26% of the global total), agriculture and land-use (18%), transport (15%) and heavy industry. The fastest-growing sector in terms of emissions figures year-on-year was international aviation, where a 19.5% increase has been recorded between 2022 and 2023 as the sector gets back onto its pre-covid growth in emissions. Nations are largely off track to delivering their 2030 climate targets made under the Paris Agreement, UNEP has concluded. If these targets are delivered in full, the world’s temperature increase on pre-industrial levels would be about 2.6C-2.8C by 2100. At current rates, however, the world is on track for a 3.1C future. RIP 1.5C? Big – an likely unrealistic – expectations from #COP29. https://lnkd.in/eeDQhCGi #fossilfuelcrisis #fossilfuelemergency #overproductioncrisis #overconsumptioncrisis

What are the UK's priorities at #COP29? Can we regain a leadership position on climate? CAn we drive an agenda for an equitable transition to a liveable future, or will we bow to fossil lobbies and entrenched self-interests? Find out in our blog here: https://lnkd.in/eyTghSHt #climatecrisis #metacrisis #government #lobby #fossilfuels #UK

Global water crisis leaves half of world food production at risk in next 25 years A report from the Global Commission on the Economics of Water suggests that more than half the world’s food production will be at risk of failure within the next 25 years. Half the world’s population already faces water scarcity, and that number is set to rise as the climate crisis worsens. Demand for fresh water will outstrip supply by 40% by the end of the decade, because the world’s water systems are being put under “unprecedented stress”, the report found. The commission found that governments and experts have vastly underestimated the amount of water needed for people to have decent lives. While 50 to 100 litres a day are required for each person’s health and hygiene, in fact people require about 4,000 litres a day in order to have adequate nutrition and a dignified life. For most regions, that volume cannot be achieved locally, so people are dependent on trade – in food, clothing and consumer goods – to meet their needs. Despite the interconnectedness of global water systems there are no global governance structures for water. The UN has held only one water conference in the past 50 years, and only last month appointed a special envoy for water. What’s more worrying is that the impacts of climate change are felt first on the world’s hydrological systems, and in some regions those systems are facing severe disruption or even collapse. Drought in the Amazon, floods across Europe and Asia, and glacier melt in mountains, which causes both flooding and droughts downstream, are all examples of the impacts of extreme weather that are likely to get worse in the near future. People’s overuse of water is also worsening the climate crisis – for instance, by draining carbon-rich peatlands and wetlands that then release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Read more: https://lnkd.in/d4wPC6VN #WaterCrisis #ClimateChange #FoodSecurity #Sustainability #GlobalWaterCrisis #WaterScarcity #EnvironmentalImpact #ClimateAction #HydrologicalSystems #WaterGovernance #WaterEconomics #Drought #Flooding #CarbonEmissions #SustainableDevelopment #FutureOfFood #ClimateEmergency #Peatlands #Wetlands #GlobalChallenges #WaterForLifea

Tesco secures largest UK solar power purchase agreement in landmark renewable energy deal Tesco has signed the largest UK Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for solar power, partnering with EDF and Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners to secure 65% of the solar power generation from Cleve Hill Solar Park. Cleve Hill Solar Park is expected to supply up to 10% of Tesco’s UK electricity demand over fifteen years, providing enough clean energy to power the equivalent of 144 large Tesco stores for a year. The site will feature more than 560,000 solar panels and energy storage infrastructure, marking it as a major contributor to the UK’s renewable energy landscape. With the addition of Cleve Hill to its existing portfolio, PPAs will cover 45% of Tesco UK’s electricity demand or 36% of the Group’s expected demand by 2030. This PPA forms part of Tesco’s ongoing commitment to sourcing renewable energy. Over the past five years, Tesco has launched multiple energy projects, enabling the retailer to directly source green electricity from wind farms and solar parks across the UK. In addition to the Cleve Hill project, several other renewable energy initiatives have been announced. These include projects such as Burnfoot East and Stranoch in Scotland, Burwell and Sutton Bridge solar parks, and West Benhar wind farm, all developed by EDF Renewables UK. Zooming out globally, last year approximately three-quarters of the world’s newly added renewable energy capacity was attributed to solar power. At the same time, corporate funding for the solar sector surged by 42% year-on-year. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eCe6MkU8 #RenewableEnergy #SolarPower #Sustainability #CleanEnergy #CorporateResponsibility #SolarPPA #Tesco #EDF #QuinbrookInfrastructurePartners #CleveHillSolarPark #GreenEnergy #UKEnergy #RenewableEnergyInitiatives #SustainableBusiness #ClimateAction #EnergyTransition #NetZero #SolarPanels #FutureOfEnergy #RenewableInnovation

Government pledges £22bn for carbon capture and storage technology in net zero drive The £22bn funding for carbon capture and storage has been welcomed as a lifeline for some industry jobs. The expensive technology is regarded as critical to reaching UK climate targets, but green groups warn the wrong use risks prolonging dependence on fossil fuels. Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) has been developed to combat climate change. In theory, it captures the planet-warming carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels or from heavy industry, and puts it to use or stores it underground. It is expensive and difficult, but the UK's climate advisers, the Climate Change Committee (CCC), and United Nations scientists say it is essential to get the world to net zero, which the UK is targeting for 2050. Others say it is a red herring and an expensive distraction that the fossil fuel lobby is encouraging to enable further business as usual. Some believe expensive CCUS should be preserved for areas like cement or lime production, that are very hard to clean up in any other way. Greenpeace UK's Doug Parr warned of a "risk of locking ourselves into second-rate solutions, especially as the oil industry could easily hoover up most of the money to continue business as usual". Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVp88ifN #CarbonCapture #CCUS #NetZero #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenTech #CleanEnergy #ClimateChange #Innovation #FossilFuels #RenewableEnergy #UKGovernment #Decarbonisation #SustainableDevelopment #EnvironmentalImpact

Burning rubbish now UK’s dirtiest form of power Burning household rubbish in giant incinerators to make electricity is now the dirtiest way the UK generates power, BBC analysis has found. Nearly half of the rubbish produced in UK homes, including increasing amounts of plastic, is now being incinerated. Scientists warn it is a “disaster for the climate” - and some are calling for a ban on new incinerators. The BBC examined five years of data from across the country, and found that burning waste produces the same amount of greenhouse gases for each unit of energy as coal power, which was abandoned by the UK last month. Nearly 15 years ago, the government became seriously concerned with the gases being produced from throwing away household rubbish in landfill and their contribution to climate change. In response, it hiked the taxes UK councils paid for burying waste. Facing massive bills, councils turned to energy-from-waste plants - a type of incinerator that produces electricity from burning rubbish. The number of incinerators surged - in the past five years the number in England alone has risen from 38 to 52. About 3.1% of the UK’s energy comes from waste incinerators. Read more: https://lnkd.in/efaBNvjW #climatechange #sustainability #cleanenergy #environmentalimpact #netzero #renewables #circulareconomy #carbonemissions #wastemanagement #greenenergy #climateaction #plasticsreduction #incinerationn #zerowaste

BlackRock accused of greenwashing in ClientEarth legal complaint ClientEarth, an environmental law charity, is filing a complaint against investment giant BlackRock in France, arguing that customers are being misled as it invests moneys from funds labelled as ‘sustainable’ in fossil fuel firms. ClientEarth alleges that BlackRock has provided more than $1bn to energy companies which are developing new oil and gas projects or capacity through 18 funds labelled as ‘sustainable’. Beneficiaries include TotalEnergies, Shell, BP, Chevron, Conoco Phillips and Equinor. These firms to invest in some energy transition solutions, but the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates that oil and gas producers collectively put less than 3% of their investments into renewables and electric mobility. The law charity also raised complaints with France’s financial regulator, Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF), arguing that investors are being misled. It has also notified the European financial regulator (ESMA). Lawyer Megan Clay stated: “Exaggerated sustainability claims create a competitive advantage for these BlackRock funds, distorting competition in the market and diverting capital flows away from genuinely sustainable products”. The hope is that ClientEarth will be able to get BlackRock to either: change the language it uses when marketing its investments or to reallocate ‘sustainable’ fund portfolios to activities that would be understood to be sustainable by the general public. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKfcpbpR #Greenwashing #Sustainability #Investment #BlackRock #ClientEarth #FossilFuels #RenewableEnergy #ESG #CorporateResponsibility #Finance #LegalAction #ClimateFinance #SustainableInvesting #ClimateAction #FinancialRegulation #CapitalFlows #CleanEnergy

Are UK nature-based solutions a missed opportunity in meeting corporate ESG aims? The Green Finance Institute (a set of leading research organisations in the UK) exposed huge risks to the UK economy, arising through the combined impact of climate change and the poor state of nature, but this went largely unreported in mainstream media despite being published in June. The research focused on impact coming in a just a few decades, claiming that the pincer action of nature and climate could harm the UK economy by a far greater degree than the Covid-19 pandemic or the Global Financial Crisis. The research piece urges businesses to be part of a nature-positive economy. Evidence of this change can be seen in the £38 million collaboration that Aviva has with the UK’s Wildlife Trusts, or with the more rigorous reporting frameworks such as the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, together with the requirements of the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), putting pressure on companies to determine how to incorporate nature into their business models and sustainability strategies. This emphasis on nature-based solutions need to keep going, and it is still relatively untapped. The UK could hold a key position as a leader in nature-based solutions. Alongside being a fairly strong global sustainable finance leader, it is home to a wealth of innovative businesses, and has cutting-edge ecological and nature tech capability. The Nature Finance UK Conference in London on the 5th of November aims to act on this. The forum consists of a diverse group of professionals with interests in financial innovation for the stewardship of land, water and nature. Read more: https://lnkd.in/ezKyEgn5 #NatureBasedSolutions #SustainableFinance #GreenEconomy #ClimateChange #ESG #NaturePositive #CorporateSustainability #Biodiversity #EnvironmentalStewardship #UKEconomy #SustainableBusiness #ClimateAction #GreenInvestment #NatureTech #SustainableInnovation #CSRD #TNFD #NetZero #ClimateRisk #EcoFinance #UKLeadership #NatureFinanceUK #Aviva #WildlifeTrusts #EcologicalInnovation