Belinda Chellingworth (She/Her)

How can local climate action drive economic development? In this blog with the OECD - OCDE I explore insights from our experience with the Melbourne Climate Network. This has involved bringing together hundreds of people from across the city’s business, academic, and government sectors to tackle the climate crisis. 👇 #ClimateAction #EconomicDevelopment #golocal OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities

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What is the state of the NZ sustainability profession and are we well placed to be tackling the challenges being thrown at us? Oxygen's report for 2024 summarising their survey of sustainability professionals is worth a scan. Lots of gold in there if you want to understand the market for these types of roles better. My personal reflection is while we will always have a need for dedicated sustainability managers and there will be an increasing demand for specialists we won't really shift the dial until we push sustainable thinking and capabilities into all roles. The people covered in the survey are genuinely attempting to do this but as the results show they are struggling to keep up with the sheer scale of change across all the environmental, social and governance areas they are supposed to be proficient in. The amount of effort required to keep up with and meet ESG or climate reporting is just one example and if we are all being honest this is generally retrospective and doing little to create change. We are talking about a group of 300 odd people, maybe that grows to 500 max given not everyone responds to a survey. Compare that to the 30,000 odd people in accounting, the 15,000 lawyers, thousands more in procurement roles. You get the idea. To shift the dial we need these people to have sustainability in their roles in some way. This requires a change in tertiary education to ensure it is a part of courses (starting to happen) and a rethink about how we design organisations. I love the work that Project Drawdown has done to communicate what would be required in different functions through their Job Function Action Guides. Thanks Oxygen Consulting for a great piece of work and encouraging me back onto the soap box. I'll step off now.

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A most practical guide for everyone with a garden…

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Hi LinkedIn folks. If you had the opportunity to create a truly ambitious Sustainability Strategy what key themes and objectives would you seek to include? Many Sustainability Strategies and Policies follow a similar set of topics such as NZ, Circular Economy, Nature Recovery, Climate Adaptation, Digital impacts and benefits, Social Impact etc but what's missing, or what would you, if you could, seek to be ambitious on given the green light and budget? Essentially, what's your passion and pet topic that you feel is not being addressed currently in the mainstream of Sustainability? Thanks all and looking forward to your replies! #Sustainability #netzero #circularity #hivemind #movingthebar

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MiA has made a quick submission, FWIW and edited the text to included the need for reuse and repair hubs for more resilient and disaster prepared communities, as follows: In my community the amount of waste that is not reused or repaired is a grave concern to me. How will residents and ratepayers cope if they do not have the necessary survival skills. Many of these skills are basic but have been forgotten. The Government could prepare my community for climate disasters by providing dedicated reuse and repair facilities, that include opportunities for disaster preparedness activities. These facilities must be dedicated, well funded and inclusive of all. I call on the Inquiry and Advisory Committee to recommend the Government establish a permanent Victorian Community Climate Adaptation Fund (VCCAF). The fund would distribute money annually to community groups that apply to undertake localised adaptation and resilience projects, such as community repair cafes, tool libraries. libraries of things, reuse and repair activities and training, community gardens for food security, textile sorting and sewing programs etc. I want to be on the right side of history. I want my grandchildren to be able to recall our joyful but determined efforts to do something in the face of global climate change and its many consequences https://lnkd.in/guYy_xAs Making polluters pay for their contribution to climate change and the damage they are causing would ensure people are provided with the financial means to locally lead their climate adaptation pathway This approach would help the government meet its obligations under the Victorian Climate Change Act (2017) to prepare Victoria for the impacts of climate change. And also meet The Circular Economy (Waste Reduction and Recycling) Act 2021 (Circular Economy Act) strengthens regulation and oversight of the state's waste and recycling sector. Paula Jarzabkowski Anthony Gleeson Sustainability Victoria Resilient Cities Network RMIT Centre for Urban Research Juliana Addison MP Daniela De Martino MP David Hodgett Nicole Werner Friends of the Earth Ellen Sandell et al https://lnkd.in/gduHbn7v Juliana Addison. Chair. Member for Wendouree. Martin Cameron. Deputy Chair. Member for Morwell. Jordan Crugnale. Member. Member for Bass. Daniela De Martino. Member. Member for Monbulk. Martha Haylett. Member. Member for Ripon. David Hodgett. Member. Member for Croydon. Nicole Werner. Member. Member for Warrandyte. #climateresilience

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Is your business ready for the new Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards? From January 2025, over 6,000 Aussie businesses will need to comply with mandatory climate-related disclosures. Even if you're not one of the 6,000, you’ll likely face data requests and impacts across the supply chain. We suggest getting familiar now so you can stay ahead of the curve. At SEAOAK Consulting, we’ve broken down what these changes mean and how you can prepare. 🔍 Read it here: https://lnkd.in/gJ5pD-ZB #climatedisclosures #agribusiness #emissions #reporting

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As we approach the anniversary date of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adoption, it’s an appropriate time to reflect on how we’re tracking. In fact, every year a report is put together by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network - This organisation takes publicly available information and ranks how each state is making action towards the goals. It’s been a busy old time for Bead and Proceed (we’ve been trying to practice more yohaku - a beautiful Japanese concept that we’ve unpacked in a previous Proceed Peptalk… but anyway)! Now we are finally getting on to sharing the latest results and sadly… the stats are not great. Currently, Aotearoa has 6 SDGs that face major challenges, which include: 🔴 Zero Hunger 🔴 Responsible Consumption and Production 🔴 Climate Action 🔴 Life Below Water 🔴 Life on Land 🔴 Partnerships For the Goals 🔙We’re going backwards on Life Below Water And we’re currently sitting at #26 on the SDG Global Rank. Last year, we were at #27, before 23, before that #16 and before that, we were sitting at #11. This doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going backwards as some states have moved ahead and if you had to guess who are in the top three positions…it’s a typical Scandinavian Success Story with Finland at #1, Sweden in #2 and Denmark in #3. However, this isn’t the Olympics. What’s important is actually achieving the goals (rather than where states are ranked) and sadly no state is on track to achieving all 17 by 2030… which is why I left my law job to paint beads for a living. But seriously… I truly am on a mission to educate, engage and inspire action towards the SDGs from school students to business leaders to city councillors to charities. We all have the power to BEAD the change we want to see in the world and to be agents of this positive change. With the anniversary date approaching, ask yourself: how are you, your business, your team, your community making traction towards the SDGs? And don’t forget, it’s okay to ask for help or reach out if you’re not sure where to begin. #sdgs #sustainabledevelopmentgoals #sustainability #creativity #sustainabilityreporting

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In the push to net zero, it gets easy to forget the workers, communities and traditional land owners in the spaces where the transitions to net zero are so important. It is imperative that we take care of those who are hit hardest in this transition. Learn more about a just and equitable transition from our fantastic programmes coordinator Farah Dirgantoro — and come check out our incredible panel at #UNitingBusinessLive #sdg13

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Calls for discussing #degrowth at the New Zealand Climate Change and Business Conference began in 2022. While it's not an explicit agenda item in #CCBC2024, I will bring degrowth into a panel discussion on the new economics of climate change. Degrowth remains a challenging topic for many in business, finance and consulting. As someone originating from this community, I've looked at the evidence and the ideas with a sceptical eye and I honestly find degrowth to be credible and compelling. It's not perfect—it's an emerging concept—but then, what is perfect? Certainly not the current economy, which many would agree is deeply flawed. 🌍 🌍 How can we take the best of both worlds and move forward? That demands a more open-minded look at both degrowth and growth. If you want to know a little bit more about degrowth, alongside indigenomics with Jewelz Petley (Nga Puhi/Te Rarawa) and operationalising planetary boundaries with Kate Meyer, please join us for our panel conversation led by Gareth Hughes of Wellbeing Economy Alliance Aotearoa NZ on 9 Sep 2024 at the conference or online. Register here: https://lnkd.in/gCgYGmAC Sustainable Business Council NZ, Environmental Defence Society (EDS), Climate Leaders Coalition

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Supporting local & global communities from NZ EHF Fellows are driving transformative projects from NZ that uplift communities worldwide - from new financial models to fund community-led climate projects, to amplifying the rights of nature, to supporting eco-village models, and digital tools for community empowerment. The 2023/24 Hillary Institute & EHF Annual Report highlights some examples, including petr lom and Corinne van Egeraat’s documentary ‘Ko au te Awa, ko te Awa ko au – I Am the River, the River Is Me’, which highlights the significance of the Whanganui river's legal recognition and its role in sparking the global rights of nature movement. The result of a four-year collaboration with the Māori community in Whanganui, the film emphasises the urgent need to protect the planet for future generations and is resonating with communities in NZ and around the world. Satya Kumar DV, Vishal Chaddha, Siddharth Sthalekar and Andrew Hewitt along with a number of other Fellows are developing a new initiative to unlock capital for communities in the Asia-Pacific Islands region to address urgent climate challenges. The Climate Impact Fund for Asia Pacific Islands (CLIMAP) is designed to support community-led climate projects, and explore innovative finance models to address barriers to climate finance. CLIMAP’s focus is on investing in projects related to climate mitigation, adaptation, regenerative agriculture, and ocean conservation to support local and global communities. Siddharth Sthalekar’s Neighbourhoods Foundation, based in Aotearoa NZ, uses Web3 tools to boost community coordination and cultural data recording, assisting ground-up responses to global crises. Neighbourhoods partnered with CLIMAP to bridge the gap between global capital and local communities through Neighbourhoods' data-driven approach, while ensuring data sovereignty and community ownership throughout the process. Simone Woodland progressed the development of the Tākaka Co-Housing Project, a sustainable eco-village in Golden Bay designed to cultivate deeper connections with both neighbours and the whenua (land). Since its inception, the project has received financial support from several Fellows, with five Fellows currently living in the first neighbourhood, and others interested in joining the next phase. For more examples of how EHF Fellows are creating value and impact across Aotearoa NZ, view the 2023/24 Annual Report on our website: https://lnkd.in/gaNm6nUs

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Is the Environment one of your TOP Priorities? Tell us what action you want to see on climate change, water, biodiversity, waste and more. Tell us what you think about the Government's Fast Track legislation. Tell us your TOP Priorities for the environment: https://lnkd.in/gQtezU_W

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The Peoples’ COP. Without funding. And without New Zealand. COP16 – the UN’s Biodiversity Summit held every two years – wrapped-up last week. There were some wins for people and society: agreement on a new fair and equitable benefit-sharing mechanism for genetic resources (the "Cali Fund"), and establishment of a new permanent body to ensure indigenous peoples and local communities have direct input at future biodiversity COPs. There were also some major misses. Currently $7 trillion in subsidies and private investment directly funds the destruction of nature. A key goal of this summit was to establish a new fund to help redirect finances to protect and regenerate nature. Negotiations failed to reach an agreement. Almost 80% of countries, including New Zealand, also failed to meet their commitments to submit National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans, showing how they will meet the goals of the Global Biodiversity Framework. In September, our Minister of Conservation Tama Potaka said “New Zealand is not required… to report on its achievement in relation to the global target… and has no plans to do so”. Unsurprisingly, Potaka didn't attend COP16. So, where to now? Our government is finalising an implementation plan for the Aotearoa New Zealand Biodiversity Strategy. I can’t wait to see it. And considering the Department of Conservation (DOC) manages a third of the country with 0.64% of the Government’s core budget, I can’t wait to see the funding behind it.

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I have not read the article yet - just reacting to the post text. These paragraphs caught my attention, as I found myself nodding in agreement. Impact sounds great - who can deny that intention. Metrics are necessary too. In the real complex world though, realizing impact is non-trivial. One aspect of making impact happen is to accept and recognize that it not only takes time, but often an enormous amount of it - during which nothing would have remained the same, in fact to such an extent that, theories, methods, tools, techniques might all need to be reconsidered. What remains steadfast is the intention to impact. I emphasize practice and a concomitant commitment to learning. Here goes: "This article underscores the need for methods that navigate complexity without fixating on certainty or targets. In an era of heightened uncertainty, impact measurement should facilitate learning and experimentation rather than merely ticking boxes. I really like the term "navigational learning" where "in complex contexts we are increasingly moving towards a focus on learning and experimentation (trying, testing, learning) as a way to figure out next steps in the direction of travel"."

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New Zealand International Climate Finance Strategy to help with new sustainable centre in Pacific region https://lnkd.in/gDtDquDK With funding from the NZ International Climate Finance Strategy, the hub aims to be a sustainable fixture to ensure its long-term impact on PICs

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Does your workplace or household enjoy high quality coffee and care about biodiversity and sustainability. After months of preparation we are launching what we think may well be Australia’s most sustainable coffee.  The Sustainable Coffee Company (TSCC) and Parks Victoria have launched “Coffee for Nature.” Under the partnership, every kilo of Coffee for Nature sold will directly fund seed collection, propagation, site preparation and planting of a habitat tree, shrub or understory plant to create habitat for Victoria’s state faunal emblems, the critically endangered Helmeted Honeyeater and Lowland Leadbeater Possum. Plantings will take place in specific reforestation projects under Parks Victoria management. The first planting site is Haining Farm, a former dairy farm and now conservation site on the Don River in Victoria’s Upper Yarra region. Haining Farm restoration project is a multi-year scientific restoration project, aiming to create viable new habitat areas to enable the release of these endangered species, and improving their prospects for survival. Coffee for Nature green beans are sourced from Brazil’s Bom Jesus Coffee Farm, ranked 3rd among Brazil’s most sustainable large farms (of all types) and the most sustainable coffee farm in 2023 in a competition held by Globo Rural magazine. This farm has also engaged in significant on farm rainforest restoration, meaning that the coffee supply chain is bookended with positive environmental initiatives at origin and in Australia. We are aiming to provide a mechanism for consumers to contribute directly to ecological restoration every time they enjoy a coffee, providing cafes, not for profits, hospitality groups and online audiences a way to ensure they’re drinking an ethically sourced, sustainable coffee with a strong nature positive story. Coffee for Nature embeds biodiversity restoration into the Australian coffee supply chain. We aim to make this a new business as usual standard for sustainable coffee. We will also offer our coffee partners the opportunity for hands in the earth tree planting days on the beautiful Upper Yarra habitat restoration sites, where they will have the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder with our team in planting trees, enjoying an emerging forest and having hands on nature conservation experiences. Haining Farm restoration is a science-based restoration and a collaboration between a range of organisations including Australian Ecosystems, Greening Australia, Zoos Victoria, Parks Victoria, the Victorian Government (DEECA) and other stakeholders. The locally indigenous plants and trees have been grown at Australian Ecosystems nursery. If you are interested in a nature positive coffee for your home or workplace, see more here including a video we made about Coffee for Nature and you can buy online or contact The Sustainable Coffee Company. https://lnkd.in/gggKNuB4

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TE TAUTOHETOHE TIRITI A MODLIK RAUA KO SEYMOUR The ACT leader told Mike Hosking the debate is needed, because people think others can't have an opinion on something they're not an expert on. We need Seymour to explain who these people are, who are busily precluding others from the discussion. This is the type of sleight we might expect in the the debate. Seymour says New Zealand needs to mature and let ordinary people have an opinion on the country's constitutional future. We need Seymour to set out who these ordinary people are and his pathway for ensuring they can express their opinion on the country's constitutional future. How does he ensure they are included? How does he ensure they are informed and have a voice? https://lnkd.in/gkiT9_9A

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Supply chain power imbalances: piecework in Australian textiles industry In this harrowing account, we again see “in the raw” the asymmetric relations that underpin many supply chains. Whether it’s big grocery chains or contractors hiring migrants, there’s much to be fixed and learned from how we go about arranging our systems of value creation and distribution. So-called first world countries are often the first to raise concerns about exploitation elsewhere; yet, the cases of moral and economic failure are often taking place in our own backyards. #supplychains

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Welcome to the next reporting era 💫, It has been an exciting time witnessing the first mandatory climate-related disclosures as they roll fresh off the press. The first reporting six of which are NZX50. Each report a different format, style, and context for their own sector/entity climate impacts, risks, and opportunities. Simply fantastic. Check out the PwC analysis below and the link to the wider report. The Aotearoa New Zealand Climate Standards (NZCS) is not just a reporting requirement, it's an assessment of the underpinning principles and processes required to effectively handle climate-related risk and opportunity with the weighting it deserves, to enable a smooth transition to a low carbon economy. Similar to the Integrated <IR> Reporting movement, I am very interested to see organisations who have been ahead of the pack (#influencers) and chosen to report their sustainability and climate reports as a combined publication. I am even more excited to see if any follow our Australian counterparts and their required combined annual + climate report under their incoming legislation (#levelup). It pays to stay ahead of the game! Jess Scott (Your sustainability reporting rizz)

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