Valeria Duflot 🌱

What has been hailed as the ‘#greentransition’ – the global project to end large-scale extraction of #fossilfuels – requires a shift to a new set of #extractive projects. Green technologies depend on #minerals and #metals locked in the earth: #lithium, #cobalt, #nickel, #copper, and, above all, #iron for #steel. The #exploitation, #corruption and #environmental #destruction involved in the #mining of these materials are not on the wane. But what can be done to counter the interests behind them? What possibilities are there for a less ecologically compromised and economically stratified future? [...] "But the thing that most worries the #mining#industry – more than #finance, more than the reliability of supply – is the so-called #sociallicense to operate. Over the past couple of decades there has been a rise in community-level #militancy. I’ve mentioned the #protests in Panama and Serbia, but there are many, many more. Some mining projects have been stalled for years or a decade with no clarity over when or even whether they will resume. Mining companies no longer feel confident that local populations will accept their operations, which has resulted in a whole cottage industry of consultants on corporate social responsibility, green credentials and ethical certification schemes. The classical form of contention in the mining industry for the past century was labor. And strikes still happen. But given how much automation has changed the sector and reduced its labor intensity, community and frontline conflict have become the primary concerns."

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#VR, #AR and #AI can generate real-time #climate #disaster #scenarios, #visualizations and #impact analyses. My 2019 articles about #hurricanes and #wildfires. In 2016, my Swedish startup simulated #hurricane winds up to 175mph and 10-foot flooding in 2016, as well as #searise using Unreal 4.0. Here are our ideas: https://lnkd.in/gAPYbnEu #Wildfire #VR #simulations for #preparedness #training: After the 2018 Camp Fire, I wrote this article about how VR/AR, #drones and #satellites can help with wildfire planning, simulations, management and recovery. https://lnkd.in/dbwB9Rn4

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OUT NOW: The Business Associations Climate Action Guide As more companies commit to achieving #netzero they are increasingly asking more from the membership associations that they are a part of. The Business Associations Climate Action Guide has been developed to empower companies to take concrete actions to assess and align their business association memberships. Although, the guide is for businesses, it is a *MUST READ* for #membership #associations as it offers the insight and recommendations into what membership organisations need to consider and what actions are expected of them to support their members transition. Embracing a robust internal and member facing climate and sustainability strategy goes way beyond standard governance and compliance for your membership organisation — it's about ensuring relevance and demonstrating leadership and integrity. So your membership organisations business strategy needs to be sustainable, climate positive one. Climate Action for Associations (CAFA) calls on all membership organisations, regardless of size, industry or profession, to lead by example, advocate on behalf of and put positive climate activities, policies, guidance and support in place to help the transition of the industry, sector, profession and/or community that your members represent. Climate Action for Associations (CAFA) contributed to the Business Associations Climate Action Guide alongside the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, United Nations High-Level Climate Champions #RaceToZero team, UN Global Compact Network UK, We Mean Business Coalition, InfluenceMap and the WBCSD – World Business Council for Sustainable Development Read the Business Associations Climate Action Guide in full here 👇 - https://lnkd.in/ewCvf8e2 Learn more about Climate Action for Associations (CAFA), including the net zero and sustainability support we provide the membership sector and how your #membership organisation can lead positive change here - https://lnkd.in/ezws_iX #RacetoZero #ClimateAction #NetZero #Sustainability #Associations #MembershipOrganisations #ClimateLeadership #ClimatePolicy Nigar Arpadarai, Paul Polman, Jennie Dodson, Johan Falk, Dominic Gogol Steve Kenzie, Tessa Vincent Tessa F. Nigel Topping, CMG María Mendiluce Emily Faint Shana Gallagher Kari Allen Emma Adams David Carlin

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⭐ New Theory, New Practice, and New Voices ⭐ Last week, our partner UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (IIPP), founded by the indomitable Mariana Mazzucato, held its second annual #RethinkingtheState festival (https://lnkd.in/dakrKcXy) And I was honoured (and deeply humbled) to facilitate a conversation amongst four powerhouse economists – all women, most hailing from Africa or South America. Thank you to Mariana Mazzucato, Bogolo Joy Kenewendo, Erika Kraemer-Mbula, and Carolina Alves for the insights, particularly when it comes to what we need to tackle the deeply systemic challenges we face today. Spoiler alert: as Mariana says, challenges such as deepening #inequality, #climate change, #nature loss are not accidental. Rather, they are the result of a dysfunctional system of corporate governance and problematic economic policies. We need a new theory of #value, and one that is grounded in practice (showing what works) and is led by new voices. As the recently launched Strategic Economics Alliance (#SEA) states: “Different #voices must be brought to the table to discuss what it means to achieve an equitable, just and sustainable economy that is co-created by actors globally. Justice according to whom? Answers must include voices from the most marginalised, whether it is Indigenous communities, women or people of colour who have been left out of the process of deciding ‘what is to be done.’” Thank you, all, for the inspiration. Binaifer Nowrojee, Pedro Vieira Abramovay Yasmine Moezinia, Angharad Milenkovic, Caroline Cooke

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In this short article, I explain my latest research, a literature review of ~500 degrowth economics and business articles through the lens of corporate functional managers. I wanted to see whether/how degrowth is being communicated specifically for application in corporate environments. Unsurprisingly, the dialogue between degrowth researchers and corporate practitioners is nascent. However, with a careful approach to avoiding co-optation into profit-centrism, there is a huge opportunity to jointly establish a bottom-up research and application agenda. The paper will be published in a volume on radical business perspectives on sustainability transitions, edited by Nicolas Chevrollier and others at Nyenrode Business University. I warmly thank Nicolas for his guidance and Lotte Levelt for her feedback on early drafts. Thanks also to Timothée Parrique for recommending me to write the degrowth chapter for the volume.   Wilkins, J. (2025) [Manuscript submitted for publication]. Corporate Degrowth Intrapreneurship. Radical business perspectives for sustainability transitions. Edward Elgar Publishing. https://lnkd.in/gp6VsNWu

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 “Our world is facing an eco-social crisis…driven by the global capitalist system, centered around perpetual economic expansion (growth) and accumulation. Our obsession with economic expansion clashes with finite planetary boundaries.” This was the culmination of last month’s European Degrowth conference. When Harvard Business Review features degrowth we can hope and expect others to follow? #degrowth https://lnkd.in/eAE67UV6

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Are you concerned about “cherry-picking” in impact reports and the danger of “impact-washing” in #impactinvesting ? I certainly am. That's why it's great to see that Impact Frontiers, with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, has been working over the past 18 months to build consensus amongst investors in private markets to establish shared expectations for impact performance reporting. The result of this initiative has just been published — Version 1 of the Impact Performance Reporting Norms. As a voluntary “social contract,” the Reporting Norms are designed to guide the creation of impact performance reports shared privately by fund managers with their capital providers, as well as the creation of public impact reports. It was an honour to provide input into this process as part of the consultation process. Kudos to Impact Frontiers for tirelessly pushing to help our sector scale with impact and integrity.   More information is available at https://lnkd.in/epED8jvh   From 2024 to 2026, Impact Frontiers will facilitate a pilot phase with interested asset managers, asset owners and allocators, and assurance, consulting, and verification providers. They will host a series of webinars and in-person workshops at conferences to introduce the next phase. If you would like to get involved, please email: info@impactfrontiers.org   #impactinvesting #impactreport #impactmanagement

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Happy Mother Earth Day ! 💚 We need to do more on climate change and large corporations need to lead the way ! 🚀 1️⃣ Companies' 2030 and net-zero climate targets have improved but are still insufficient to limit global warming to 1.5°C. ⁠2️⃣ Companies struggle to shift purpose into practice: a majority of claimed trajectories are at risk. 3️⃣ Flexibility mechanisms for scope 3 emission reduction targets are gaining momentum, which would involve regression from already insufficient commitments. 4️⃣ Independent assessors must harmonize methodologies and maintain a very high level of scientific rigor in carbon trajectory assessments. ⁠We need large corporations to show concrete progress and results to demonstrate that another world is possible. At Goodness & Co, we work with courageous leaders to move the needle and build business as a Force for Good. ⁠We must not let pessimism win, and keep on going! 🌱 #EarthDay #Leadership #Sustainability (source : Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, 2024)

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Thank you, Christopher Marquis, for your essay in the Harvard Business Review on #degrowth. This is another in the growing series of discussions on degrowth that will help normalize this conversation.

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In the closing remarks of the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Simon Stiell's closing remarks at the June UN Climate Meetings (60th Subsidiary Bodies) on 13 June 2024, the following resonated with me: "...all nations have a role, particularly inside the process. To make the most of these opportunities, we need to separate the technical from the political. In parallel, we must accelerate and prepare to elevate, if we are to land a deal in #Baku. Time is short. We must make progress at all levels - heads of delegations must now redouble efforts, to present ministers and leaders with viable options well before COP."

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The "energy system sciences" indicate that focusing on #diversity, #flow and intricate structures in human and socio-ecological #networks can be a foundation for long-term and equitable thriving. In many ways, this is about extending the lessons from "fire-adapted communities," grounded in "Indigenous knowing," regarding what it means to tend to the holistic #health of the forested landscape – the importance of considering and conserving biodiversity, #care-fully choosing interventions and disturbances that encourage #resilience and new growth, and suppoting those who know local landscapes the best to act ... https://lnkd.in/esVquHy

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The Degrowth Database is https://lnkd.in/eSqAm6RQ. In this digital library, you can find Details of 300 groups worldwide doing incredible work in the degrowth & post-growth space. 1500 academic papers and a tool that can filter by topic, language (we’ve got 18!), and publication type. A media section with over 70 pieces of content, including documentaries, blogs, and playlists (podcasts, lectures, talks, music), to start the conversation and spread ideas in global languages 550 books discussing degrowth in nearly 30 languages. 100+ news articles from some of the world's most well-known news publishers. For those looking to learn even more, there are almost 50 educational programs listed, from master's degrees to workshops.  What a horrible development. You can blame Juan Pablo (JP) Arellano He is also here: (@https://lnkd.in/e4Q66Bq8) Thank you, JP. Well done. https://lnkd.in/ezY3ZWyQ

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Thoughtful HBR piece from The Profiteers author Christopher Marquis on what degrowth can mean for businesses and how we might achieve it.

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Think it's time to stop shooting the messenger, and maybe start listening to the message? And to actively support the messenger in their critical yet often undervalued and overwhelming work? My heart aches for Leo Joubert and every other climate communicator, journalist, consultant, scientist and activist who suffers in similar ways, mainly because they care enough to speak out about a situation that impacts each and every living being on this planet. Stop what you're doing, for a second, and think. Are you listening? Are you paying attention? Are you awake? You're on this global team, whether you acknowledge it or not. We're in it together. Will you join us, step up and add your voice, your will, to all the others?

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This article in HBR makes a case for looking at degrowth proposals for social ecological well being given that evidence historically and in the present don’t hold too much hope for proposals on green growth and energy transition. One of the key insights here is on the energy transition and how it is an illusion. Do read https://lnkd.in/gcE-4wbP #degrowth #energytransition

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Loved this 🎙 Wicked Problems - Climate Tech Conversations catching up with Dr. Anatol Lieven of Quincy Institute, whose "Climate Change and the Nation-State" got a review from Aris Roussinos in UnHerd that made Anatol crack up when I read it to him. It's worth listening for that alone. Despite (or because of) seeing international relations through a "realist" lens, he both disdains what's been caricatured as 'woke' and was an early centre-right voice in favour of a Green New Deal. And sees competition with China over #climatetech supply chains, reindustrialisation, and potential cooperation over #climateadaptation and #climateresilience to paradoxically be the thing that might help climate solutions get through a populist 'greenlash' and Trump 2.0. Listen here (other coordinates in the comments): Rupert Read | Liam Kavanagh | Ciarán Cuffe | Alyssa Gilbert | Ketan Joshi | Michael Barnard | Akshat Rathi | Prashant Rao | Freya Pratty | Jamie Smyth https://lnkd.in/eiKGhGMi

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The Sustainable Development Goals should be the key driver for policy development and action for 2030, inspiring leadership committed to peace, justice, human rights and solutions to the fundamental climate, health, development and economic challenges we face globally, regionally and locally. At North Kesteven District Council, in common with many local authorities here in Europe and around the world, our community strategy is aligned to sustainable development goals. #leadership #localgovernment #sustainabledevelopment

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