The Sargassum Podcast

The Institution of Structural Engineers has created a valuable resource called the "Sustainability Resource Map," which serves as a comprehensive guide for sustainability in structural engineering. This map is designed with a circular layout featuring a center labeled as "Sustainability Guidance" and eight branches leading to different sections, each representing a key focus area. The sections include aspects such as "Low Carbon", "Zero Waste", "Influence the Brief", "Your Role" and "Report and Share". Each section is linked to subpoints that provide additional details on the main theme. Additionally, points on circular economy are highlighted, and there is a specific section for "CO2," indicating the relevance of carbon emissions. This resource is essential for professionals in the field of structural engineering as it offers quick access to information on sustainable practices and guidelines. It is an invaluable tool that can help drive the adoption of sustainable practices in the structural engineering industry. Discover this resource map and elevate your knowledge of sustainability to the next level! #StructuralEngineering #Sustainability #Resources #Innovation #SustainableEngineering

🚨 𝙐𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙀𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙎𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙍𝙚𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 🚨 The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), effective since January 5, 2023, replaces the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), increasing the scope and depth of sustainability disclosures. Key points: 𝘾𝙎𝙍𝘿 & 𝙀𝙎𝙍𝙎: CSRD mandates ESRS, developed by EFRAG, to provide detailed guidelines for non-financial disclosures across environment, social, and governance (ESG) areas. 𝙀𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙧𝙤𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙁𝙤𝙘𝙪𝙨: ESRS E1-E5 addresses climate change, pollution, biodiversity, water resources, and circular economy. 𝙂𝙡𝙤𝙗𝙖𝙡 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: ESRS aligns with ISSB and GRI to harmonize global sustainability standards. These reporting standards require companies to focus on climate change, human rights, anti-corruption, workforce issues, and more, fostering transparency and responsible business practices. 🌱 With the European Commission adopting ESRS on July 31, 2023, this regulation marks a shift towards more structured, comparable, and transparent ESG reporting in line with the EU’s Sustainable Finance Package. With the adoption of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), companies are now required to provide more comprehensive disclosures across ESG domains. Here's how it all connects: 𝙎𝙁𝘿𝙍, 𝘾𝙎𝙍𝘿, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙀𝙐 𝙏𝙖𝙭𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙮: Together, these frameworks form the backbone of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Package. The Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) pushes for greater transparency in sustainable investments, while the EU Taxonomy classifies economic activities that align with the EU’s climate goals. The CSRD, through the ESRS, demands consistent ESG disclosures, ensuring that companies align with both SFDR and the Taxonomy for sustainability clarity. 𝙀𝙁𝙍𝘼𝙂’𝙨 𝙍𝙤𝙡𝙚: The European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has developed ESRS standards to guide these disclosures, ensuring coherence with the EU's broader sustainability agenda. 𝙄𝙎𝙎𝘽 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙂𝙍𝙄 𝘼𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩: The ESRS standards also align with ISSB and GRI frameworks, fostering consistency in global sustainability reporting. The collaboration between these two organizations is crucial for ensuring that ESG disclosures remain standardized, allowing companies to benchmark their performance both within the EU and globally. ESRS covers environmental areas such as climate change (E1), pollution (E2), biodiversity (E4), and social topics like workforce (S1), affected communities (S3), and governance (G1). These standards are shaping the future of sustainable business practices across industries! Source: ASPECT ADVISORY #ESRS #CSRD #Sustainability #ESG #EU #ClimateChange #Taxonomy #ISSB #GRI

Solar-powered Healthcare| ☀ 🔋 🏥 The Blue Hills, Bottle Creek and Middle Caicos healthcare clinics are now equipped with solar PV systems that reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability and energy efficiency. The clinics are also outfitted with battery systems that store solar power for nighttime use or use during overcast weather.  The ‘Transitioning Towards Green Energy in the Turks and Caicos Islands’ project contributes to the strengthened capacity of the TCI for sustainable energy transition. Turks and Caicos Islands Government #SustainableEnergy #SolarPower #TCI   - Expertise France European Commission

Happy #WorldEnvironmentDay! In the Philippines, USAID is working with government and community partners to protect ecosystems critical to sustaining water supply services. USAID’s assistance, through the Safe Water Activity, enabled roughly 1,400 community members and government officials to plant more than 58,000 indigenous trees in the Bago Watershed in Negros Occidental. USAID is also supporting learning exchanges between indigenous groups to promote best practices for protecting native tree species valued for resin and timber, like the Almaciga, from further degradation. These actions help protect forests and restore damaged ones, which, in turn, help increase the water storage capacity of watersheds that provide water for people, production, and the planet. https://lnkd.in/e7zvdeCW

🔍✨ UPDATE: Episode 71 of the Sargassum Podcast Episode 71: Sargassum Management with Leslie Hickerson and Fleur Hermanides in St. Maarten 🌿 Is this a better text? In this compelling episode, Leslie Hickerson and Fleur Hermanides delve into their proactive measures to effectively manage Sargassum, a species of seaweed, in St. Maarten. They explore its intricate environmental ramifications and illuminate the collaborative endeavors of various stakeholders in combatting it. Delving into pivotal themes such as the pivotal role of the Nature Foundation, the impactful initiatives spearheaded by EPIC (Environmental Protection in the Caribbean), as well as groundbreaking climate clean-up research, and valuable insights gleaned from the Sargassum Champions Course. Join us for an immersive journey into their firsthand experiences and invaluable contributions to fostering sustainable tourism and safeguarding our precious ecosystems. YouTube link:  👉https://lnkd.in/gyw9Gw5j   Anchor:  👉https://lnkd.in/gkkKH6Qv How was this podcast made❓ 🌊🌿The Sargassum Podcast is made possible through funding from the Resilience, Sustainable Energy, and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID). Financed under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories Regional Programme, RESEMBID is being implemented by Expertise France, with the primary stakeholders being the 12 Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories. hashtag#Sargassumpodcast hashtag#Sargazo hashtag#Sargasso hashtag#Sargao hashtag#sargassum hashtag#podcast hashtag#seaweed hashtag#initiative hashtag#sustainability hashtag#tourism 

𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐚 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞-𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐚𝐝𝐦𝐚𝐩 The Kingdom of Tonga today launched a National Single-Use Plastics Roadmap aimed at phasing out single-use plastics (SUPs) in the country. This strategic roadmap will provide a clear pathway for targeted actions to achieve a cleaner environment and improve waste recycling strategies. The roadmap was launched at a side event at the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting hosted by Tonga this week. The side event was organised by the Secretariat of the Pacific Environment Programme (SPREP) through the Pacific Ocean Litter Project (POLP) funded by the Australian Government. “Tonga is dedicated to promoting sustainable development by aligning economic advancement with environmental conservation and societal well-being. The objective of the roadmap is to eliminate problematic and unnecessary plastics and guarantee that plastics reaching the end of their life cycle can be reused, recycled, or disposed of sustainably and safely, with minimal impact on the environment,” said Mr Sione Tukia Lepa, the Acting Director, Department of Environment, MEIDECC. “This transition not only supports the environment but also encourages innovation in materials and processes in Tonga, thus improving the country’s economic position and providing significant social, cultural, environmental, and public health benefits to its people,” Mr Lepa added. “It is important that we continue to advocate and mobilise support and activities where all key development partners and agencies working in the plastic pollution space, work collaboratively to articulate what the regional and national priorities are, where gaps are for implementation in country and identify implementing and supporting partners, and roll out activities that avoid duplication and support our members who have many competing priorities,” said Ms Ofa Kaisamy, the Manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre as she spoke on behalf of SPREP at the launch. The work on the Tonga Plastics Roadmap was supported by the POLP project and the New Zealand High Commission in Tonga. #CleanPacific #ResilientPacific #piflm53

🌊 Futuran I Tasi: Episode 1 🌊 Tune in to the premiere of “Futuran I Tasi (Future of the Ocean)” to hear Ocean Elder Auntie Frances Sablan share her special place on Saipan. Discover the place that holds the most significance and why it is so cherished. 📍💙 “My friends and I visited Micro Beach, and I automatically fell in love with it.” Watch the full episode here ⟶ https://ow.ly/BecP50T89zE #FuturanITasi #OceanConservation #MarineProtectedAreas #30x30 #CNMI

Youth 🤝 Coastal Resilience| 👨🏫 👩🎓 Twenty-six students at the Enis Adams Primary School received an exciting hands-on introduction to coastal resilience and marine biodiversity. Led by Coastal Resilience Programme Coordinator, Nia Jeffers at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, the students toured the Mangrove Nursery, the Mangrove Boardwalk, and participated in the Great Plankton Race! Over 300 students across the British Virgin Islands have been engaged through similar outreaches. This is made possible through the BVI SMART Schools initiative. Implemented by our partners at the Department of Disaster Management in collaboration with the HLSCC, the Ministry of Education, BVI Red Cross, and Green VI, this project helps create a safer, healthier, and greener learning environment and educational experience for students across BVI. #CoastalResilience #EducationOutreach #BVIYouth - Expertise France European Commission

What’s worse here 🤔 The ever-growing sargassum influx or the amount of plastic tangled within… ⚠️ Both are signs that our oceans are in urgent need of attention 🆘 Explore this #DronePano for a 360 view & witness firsthand the challenges facing our oceans 🌊 Click for Drone #POV 📲 https://lnkd.in/gXG5Gt3b River Bay | Barbados 🇧🇧 #Caribbean #MarineLitter #Sargassum #PlasticPollution #OceanConservation Marine Spatial Information Solutions, Inc. DroneDeploy Red Diamond Compost Joshua Forte