Sebastian J. Leins

#CircularMinds: Today’s Highlight at the Pop-Up Circular Hub at Jupiter, Hamburg 🌟 Today, we witnessed a remarkable event that has set a new standard for innovation and sustainability. The pop-up circular hub at Jupiter in Hamburg was abuzz with energy and inspiration, thanks to the insightful keynotes from Laura Marie Edinger-Schons from Universität Hamburg and Elena Girlich from PwC Deutschland. But the spotlight shone brightest on Karen Löhnert, Frank and Alberts, the trio behind the start-up Gloop Green. Founded in January 2024, Gloop Green had its first public appearance today, marking Demo Day 1 of what promises to be a game-changing venture. Their passion is palpable, their vision clear: to ignite a digital social innovation that promotes sustainable consumption. By harnessing mechanisms akin to those used by TikTok and other platforms, they aim to make sustainability not just a choice, but a lifestyle, engaging and accessible to all. The event was crafted with love and attention to detail, right down to the home-baked cake adorned with the sustainability symbol—a testament to their commitment to the cause. Join me in wishing Karen, Frank, and Alberts tremendous luck and success in their endeavours. May Gloop Green grow to become a beacon of sustainable innovation, transforming how we think about and engage with our planet. 🍀🌱 #Innovation #StartUp #GloopGreen #DigitalSocialInnovation #SustainableConsumption #CircularEconomy #HamburgEvents

20

3 Kommentare

At GMH Gruppe, we've joined the Science Based Targets initiative (#SBTi), committing to #climateneutrality by 2039. Our journey toward sustainable steel began with electric steelmaking 30 years ago, but high #electricity costs now #threaten our progress. For energy-intensive industries like ours, #competitive electricity rates—ideally 4-6 euro cents per kWh—are essential for driving #GreenTransformation. Renewable energy’s low production costs must benefit industry directly, and CO₂ pricing should support, not restrict, sustainable solutions. We're ready to lead and truly want to do the transformation, but competitive rates are critical to making climate neutrality #achievable. Read more on the link. https://lnkd.in/eUU2mgpT #GreenSteel #ClimateNeutrality #SBTi

91

Latest update on global warming in numbers, invest 2 minutes of your lifetime to listen to Johan’s summary!! And then take action today!

3

Talk about green cities!

1

Market or subsidies? US approach based on the IRA seems to significantly outperform the european market based approach in terms of green innovation power Interested to hear your thoughts on this major topic https://lnkd.in/eztchKg4

9

1 Kommentar

The 2021 study of the Umweltbundesamt is stating this: In the event of strong climate change, many more regions would be confronted with these effects by the middle of the century. The greatest changes to the climate relative to today would occur in the west and south of Germany. Climate extremes would occur most frequently in the southwest and east. Rivers and river valleys could be affected by the consequences of water-specific risks such as low water and floods. Give it a read; the risk analysis and predictions are right there. We must now integrate adaptation more and more into strategies without losing mitigation speed. PS: Don’t vote yesterday, vote a livable future for our children.

7

r3.0 announces Season 3 of the UNSDPI Training for 2024/2025 Following the BIG NEWS that EFRAG & the European Union have endorsed the United Nations Sustainable Development Performance Indicators (#UNSDPI) as a "robust tool" for authentic sustainability assessments in accordance with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (#ESRS) under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (#CSRD), r3.0 now announces the first three trainings for season 3 (October 2024 to July 2005, October to December 2024 dates now available). Says the Press Release: 'As EFRAG continues to refine its sustainability reporting standards, the role of the UNSDPI as a foundational element of ESG measurement is likely to grow, offering companies a clear path to demonstrate their commitment to sustainable development and responsible business practices. This recognition not only validates the importance of SDPI but also sets a new standard for transparency and accountability in the corporate world.' This statement clarifies that the ESRS in tandem with the UNSDPI now offer companies to leverage from ESRS 'ESG progress' reporting to 'authentic sustainability' reporting, a position r3.0 has taken since the release of the ESRS in 2022 and the start of the UNSDPI Training in January 2023. Season 3 features an update of the curriculum and will continually build in best-in-class application of the combined use of the UNSDPI and the ESRS. All 4 modules will be updated, face-lifted and more interactive than ever. Make sure to reserve your seat early as we are expecting an increased demand for the training. The testimonials of earlier training participants stand out in recognition of what's offered. Make your reservation today at https://lnkd.in/e7iZvX7V.

14

🔥 In Guatemala forest fires are one of the biggest danger for nature and people 🚒 The Global Wildfire Information System (GWIS) estimates over 1,600 wildfires break out across the country between Januar and April 2024. According to the data from GWIS, 522,459 acres (211.431 ha) have burned (the state of Saarland has 257.000 ha). 🎇 There are a plenty of reasons of this sad reality, like bigger aridity becaiuse of the lack of water and hotter temperatures (climate change) and the more and more need for agricultural land. In Guatemala most of the fires are set because of this reason. 👩‍🌾 The first responders who arrive to fight the fires are residents and community authorities. They often have little to no training and knowledge to fight back the fires, but they are the first ones to protect their territories. Please look at this article „The forgotten forest fires in Central America“ of the ZDF (in German) https://lnkd.in/dnBTFfNU

4

The ESG backlash is experiencing a backlash, and it's all because of pragmatic sustainability. I think the linked articles confirm my previous hypothesis on the 'ESG backlash'. What we have seen over the past few years, and what has been interpreted generally as corporates taking steps back on environmental, social and governance related aspect in doing business, is not really a 180 degree turn on whatever is considered sustainability. It's more an emphasized focus on the business case of sustainability, driven by different scenarios of how the world changes in the future. This is sustainability as we professionals always wanted it to be, pragmatic. To make sustainability pragmatic, the corporate world has put their hopes on the political world, to set a framework where the business case for sustainability would become possible and predictable, by putting a price on the externalities that our current economic system is causing, and creating incentives on preferable ways of conducting business to make the world a better place. But instead, in politics, the terms 'ESG' and 'sustainability' have been converted into something oversimplified and binary, good or evil, that gets attached to political agendas and is weaponized for own benefits. This leads to absurd claims, like "sustainability is against shareholders best interest". But being pragmatic, we all realize; how can water stewardship be against shareholders best interest in a world where water patterns are changing aggressively? Droughts, floods and polluted water will surely destroy shareholder value going forward. How can climate action and adaptation be against shareholders best interest, in a world with more extreme weather events, demolishing assets of companies and disrupting supply chains? As every sensible person can see, sustainability is very pragmatic. The times are politically turbulent, and politics seem to be the biggest hurdle for us to future proof our societies and businesses. Thus, in the aftermaths of COP29, I argue for a political backlash, turning away from identity politics and protectionism and bringing in more pragmatic solutions and collaboration. After all, we have real problems to solve. Thank you BSR for thought provoking articles. https://lnkd.in/dktAyu4y #sustainability #ESGbacklash #COP29 #planetaryboundaries

30

2 Kommentare

🌐 #CircularMinds: #Kreislaufstadt – Boosting Resilience and Value Creation in Hamburg In the quest for a #CircularEconomy, Hamburg is leading the way as a pilot city in the #Kreislaufstadt project. Recently, 50+ key actors from Hamburg’s circular economy scene convened at the #PopUpCircularHub to deliberate objectives and essential measures for the city’s circular economy strategy. 🎥 Watch the video: Sandra Wagner-Endres from Deutsches Institut für Urbanistik (Difu) succinctly outlines the project’s core aspects, emphasizing the role of local and regional resilience and value creation. 🌱🔄 #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Hamburg #CircularCities4ALL

20

Want the latest update on climate science? Listen to this brilliant podcast with Stefan Rahmstorf from PIK - Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The facts might not be news for climate enthusiasts, but they are sobering. *Did you know that excess rainfall, often caused by warmer air, is a result of the air holding more water vapor at higher temperatures? The relationship between temperature and water vapor was described back in 1834 in the Clausius Clapeyron law. It's not a linear progression; at 1C warming, the air can hold 7% more water vapor, increasing further with each degree. Brace for wetter times ahead, especially up North! *The current geological period, "the holocene," is an exceptionally long interglacial due to a unique orbital configuration. Humanity could enjoy a stable climate for tens of thousands of years if we don't disrupt it - but we are. The irony and tragedy of this situation are evident. Listen, learn, and take action! #phaseoutfossilfuelsnow https://lnkd.in/dHR9HSKu

5

1 Kommentar

more integration of ESG requirements and EU commits fisrt! in addition, the launch of ISO IWA 48 also give a common framework. the world is moving to integrate ESG. #ESG #CSRD #IWA48 #SFDR #CWDDD

6

1 Kommentar

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬? 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐕𝐂𝐌 This FAQ document from the Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) highlights the key differentiators between high-quality and regular carbon credits. Here's a breakdown of the essentials: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 (𝐂𝐂𝐏𝐬): ๏ Established by the ICVCM, these 10 principles define a global benchmark for high-integrity carbon credits. ๏ They address the quality of emissions impact, environmental and social impact, and governance of carbon credit programs. ๏ CCP-labelled credits ensure greater confidence in the market, attracting investment towards projects that demonstrably reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐂𝐕𝐂𝐌'𝐬 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞: ๏ Acts as a non-profit, independent body overseeing project-based carbon markets. ๏ It assesses carbon crediting programs and project methodologies (categories) for adherence to the CCPs. ๏ This assessment ensures programs have robust governance, transparency, and verification processes. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐂𝐂𝐏 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬: ๏ The ICVCM doesn't assess individual projects, but rather the programs issuing the credits and the methodologies used (categories). ๏ CCP-Eligible Programs can then label credits from CCP-Approved Categories as "CCP" credits. ๏ The assessment process is rigorous and ongoing, ensuring continuous adherence to CCP standards. 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐂𝐏-𝐋𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐬: ๏ Increased trust and confidence in the carbon market for buyers. ๏ Support for UN Sustainable Development Goals through a focus on positive environmental and social impact. ๏ Transparency and clarity for project developers seeking high-integrity credit issuance. In Conclusion: The ICVCM plays a critical role in establishing a global benchmark for high-quality carbon credits. By adhering to the CCPs, carbon crediting programs can ensure the integrity of their credits, attracting investment for impactful climate change mitigation projects. Source:

1

What’s next for the #EUDR after today's vote in the European Parliament? The #EuropeanParliament approved the #EuropeanCommission’s proposal to delay the EUDR by 12 months, but crucially also adopted other amendments to the legislation. That means the Commission, #EuropeanCouncil and Parliament now need to negotiate the amended legislative file via trilogues. From a legislative perspective, the amendments have not been finalised and the original text (and 2024 deadline) still stands for now. We're still waiting for the dust to settle after the Parliament’s vote today, but based on what we've seen so far, the small set of amendments and the agreement to a one-year delay (rather than longer) means that the amendments now on the table are likely palatable to all three institutions. That said, there is still the possibility that one or other of the institutions will want to open up some of the points for deeper or further discussion when trilogues begin. So: ✅ Companies can have a fair degree of confidence now to move forward on the basis that there will be a one-year delay. It seems likely that the one year delay will eventually be adopted. ✅ The greater risk is that the delay is not implemented in time to allow for publication in the EU Official Journal before December 30, 2024. Amongst the other amendments approved by the Parliament is a new risk category for countries posing "no risk" on deforestation. Companies may want to start to factor this into their planning, but should wait until a final legislative decision before relying on the new category. You can read more about our on the EUDR here: https://lnkd.in/eD9Xs5kP #EMEASustainabilityRegulationHub #EUDR #EUGreenDeal Ruth Kilsby | Ramon Bravo | Laura MacKay

31

COP29 is underway in Baku. This is the year of "triple COP", and some of us already forgot Biodiversity COP16 in Cali. Reflecting on the whirlwind of COPs, the focus of the work in Cali was on ensuring the effective implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted at COP15 in Montreal. During my time in Cali, it became clear that reaching consensus on some 23 targets will not be easy. And what's the key roadblock? Finance. I will wager a bet that finance will emerge as a critical lever of success of the COP trifecta this year. While funding dedicated to natural preservation and restoration has increased, we are not on track to hit the targets agreed in Kunming/Montreal gathering. Progress towards closing this gap will not be linear. Questions about where the funding will come from are already splitting opinions and creating a divide between developing and developed countries - between those pushing for greater private investment and those prioritizing grants to avoid worsening existing debt burdens. The work continues, and our industry is critical in ensuring that we produce enough good food for all, on the land we use, sustainably. #cop16 #Biodiversity #GlobalBiodiversityFramework #SustainableAgriculture #finance  

27

1 Kommentar

Potsdam Inst. - lifestyle largely plant-based, best rapid path to biodiversity and climate protection "For example, the sustainable lifestyle pathway includes a rapid shift towards a flexitarian, largely plant-based nutrition, which is known to also have substantial benefits for human health." This pathway would further include a reduction of global final energy use per capita of around 40% by 2050, with wealthier countries contributing the largest share to decrease energy inequality. Such changes might pose challenges in terms of how realistic they are for people to adopt, the researchers point out. However, they would also come with large benefits, as Soergel adds, "The sustainable lifestyle pathway has the lowest reliance on unproven technologies and the most positive outcomes for biodiversity and climate protection." Article source ↙️ https://lnkd.in/eEZ-DxNy I AM AN ANIMAL TOO, HERBIVORE BY DESIGN #LifeMattersForAll All life matters for all, because all matters are intrinsically connected to all life on Earth 🌍 (?)(‘ > ( )”~ * <”\ \/“> ^••^ ~•> ‘0‘ (Hell Yes!🌏)

2

The question posed here is crucial: What’s holding Swiss businesses back from taking decisive action? Let’s start a conversation and explore how we can collaborate to turn ambition into impact. At Dimarjan we’ve seen how transformative action can be when businesses step up to the challenge, like Unimission AG #UniVision From #agroforestry in Angola to creating measurable carbon offset solutions, we’re proving that sustainable business models not only benefit the planet but also drive economic growth and equity. Read more about the challenges and opportunities presented at #COP29 and let’s discuss how we can move forward together. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #Leadership #BusinessForGood

8

Money Talks. Without transparency, oversight and effective Conflict of Interest rules well-intentioned, private, voluntary climate initiatives - such as Science Based Targets initiative - cannot contribute meaningfully to decarbonisation. DIE ZEIT has dived into the way how US politics (John Kerry) and corporations (Bezos Earth Fund) have tried to influence the way how / what SBTi requires from & allows for companies voluntarily pledging decarbonization. The ZEIT story confirms how much room we have for governance/process improvements. However, ZEIT has not spotted/asked a few fundamental, related aspects that are important for the climate (in)action contexts such as: (a) the crucial difference between and need for climate finance in areas that are outside of the value/supply chains of corporations (eg. clean-cooking for 2.4 billion people; restoring already depleted forest & grassland etc). We must find ways to finance these on a gargantuan scale. How? ( see (d) below for some hints) (b) the inherently limited role of VOLUNTARY action in addressing the climate crisis. The ZEIT described opportunistic and flawed US attempt to REPLACE sovereign climate finance contributions with PRIVATE funding would have offered a perfect entry point to show why SBTi's position of offsetting is a far bigger issue than of greenwashing. (c) what governance, transparency, formal complaint, public consultation and Conflict of Interest rules apply to SBTi and what overdue changes need to be made to save SBTi from itself (see Bill Baue's stream https://lnkd.in/ese8ymjf or my earlier post: https://bit.ly/3qv5fxB ) (d) ZEIT, with is predominantly German audience, refers to the TÜVs without explaining what they are. The German TÜVs evolved from a voluntary steam engine safety inspection club into giant technical inspection associations covering literally all things manufactured / built in Germany. Steam engines were as deadly as climate change in the 1850s, in 1855 voluntary inspections started and by 1863 regulations were introduced that movable steam engines have to pass a final inspection. Do you see a pattern? From voluntary to mandatory; not REPLACING mandatory ( UN Climate Change / Paris Agreement climate finance) with voluntary action as John Kerry advocates... I hope that reading the article one realises that the unless we address the 'Money Talks' inherently unsustainable nature of our World we can only make incremental, minuscule progress in addressing the climate and biodiversity crises, not to mention other Planetary Boundaries & Social Foundations (on which here comes the recommended weekend read: "The planetary commons: A new paradigm for safeguarding Earth-regulating systems in the Anthropocene" (-> https://lnkd.in/eWkjwPAP ) DIE ZEIT article: https://lnkd.in/eG6izNcF

19

3 Kommentare