Zubaida Bai

As India votes amid sweltering heat, voter turnout has dropped, highlighting a new victim of climate change. The Election Commission's efforts to mitigate heat risks show the urgent need to rethink election timing and shorten the process. If this is true for India now, this will be true for more in the future. Rising temperatures currently (yes, now!) impact multiple facets of our lives, from increasing cases of dengue and malaria in Asia and South America respectively to deaths from heatwaves during elections. We are living in a #climateemergency. While it is tempting to panic and give in to despondence, it is better to keep in mind that things can change. It is better to let the events off today inspire, not deter you. Humanity has faced dire conditions before. The stakes are high, but it's crucial to question the systems that allowed this crisis and strive for change. #heatwave #India #climatecrisis https://lnkd.in/eedcUT4d

7

Impact investing is at a crunch point. After several years of remarkable growth, there is growing debate about whether investors really can simultaneously use their capital to make money and do meaningful amounts of good for society and/or the planet. Some dismiss such efforts as "woke capitalism" that sacrifice returns for politically correct do-goodery. Others see much of impact investing as, in practice, either charity by another name, or the same old capitalism lightly washed with a barely perceptible amount of greenery or a social purpose. Along with the mountains, this is the backdrop for this week's Sorenson Impact Summit in Park City, Utah https://lnkd.in/edQKVyEa. I will be taking part in a debate on whether impact investors can make a difference through how they trade equities on the public stock exchanges and having a keynote conversation with water purifier to airship social entrepreneur Mikkel Frandsen. I am so looking forward to catching up with many of the pioneers of impact investing, including some of the Sorenson Global Impact Leaders group, which I chair. Hopefully, this will be a time for hard talking and answers that lead to high impact action.

10

3 Comments

#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

3

Age-appropriate and solutions-focused climate education empowers students to take climate action. This has a spillover effect as they also pass on this knowledge to their parents and other community members whom they discuss their learnings with. We're not just saying this. This is what the data shows from the evaluation of Earth Warriors Global work in Botswana and Zambia, done in partnership with Theirworld in 2023 that reached over 100 teachers and 2650 students across both countries. This programme involved the implementation of the Earth Warriors climate & sustainability curriculum for 3-11-year-olds as well as teacher training on climate education. I am so proud of the impact of our work as well as the lessons we have learned. There has been a lack of data in this space to demonstrate what works and doesn't and we hope this report is a useful tool to everyone working on climate change & education. Please do read and share our report in your networks! Laura L. #climateeducation #impactevaluation #data #learning

19

This week, as we celebrated The Rockefeller Foundation's 111th anniversary, Rajiv J. Shah shared some thoughts on what the world and philanthropy needs to do to make the large-scale change needed amid an accelerating climate crisis. The history of The Rockefeller Foundation and philanthropy more broadly make clear it’s possible to change the world for the better for everyone. Today, as we address the most serious threat facing humanity today, it is more crucial than ever for organizations, philanthropies and others in civil society to be bolder and think bigger. Read Raj’s note to see how The Rockefeller Foundation is updating and applying its model for the climate era. https://lnkd.in/ez_GT3AA

29

2 Comments

I have had the privilege of knowing some of the world's most prominent philanthropists and foundations, learning firsthand the critical role we can play in driving systemic change. Our approach to grant-making and philanthropic strategies goes beyond mere charity; it harnesses the power to create substantial impact. With our Fashion Climate Fund, we are mobilizing essential resources to steer the market toward a future where all products and business models positively impact people and the planet. When we first set out to scale solutions at Aii, we recognized the necessity of catalytic funding to prepare proven solutions for broader implementation. We also acknowledged the importance of identifying and evaluating potential solutions using a data-driven, science-based approach. Moving from pilot projects to large-scale implementation requires significant resources. This is the mission of the Fashion Climate Fund. Our goal is to deploy $250 million by 2030 in catalytic capital, which we aim to leverage to drive a total of $2 billion toward supporting producers (i.e., suppliers) in their decarbonization efforts. This strategy not only future-proofs their businesses but also contributes to global climate action targets. DM me to learn more about becoming a LEAD PARTNER! Join the leadership. Apparel Impact Institute. The Schmidt Family Foundation The 11th Hour Project The DOEN Foundation The Rockefeller Foundation PVH FOUNDATION INC TARGET FOUNDATION HSBC lululemon H&M Group Laudes Foundation Roy A. Hunt Foundation

85

5 Comments

Jayati Ghosh is spot on in this new piece. The world needs tax justice to close the development and climate-financing gaps. "It is time to move beyond the hollow “billions to trillions” mindset and ensure that the billions we do have are spent wisely. This requires boosting LMICs’ public revenues by facilitating sovereign-debt reductions, enhancing cooperation to ensure that multinational companies and the super-rich are properly taxed, and advancing new allocations of special drawing rights (the IMF’s reserve asset). Together, these measures are far more likely to generate the trillions of dollars needed to close development- and climate-financing gaps in the developing world." https://lnkd.in/g4t93Yab

24

1 Comment

FAME addresses various United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on specific sub-goals to contribute to global sustainability and development. Here's a deeper dive into the sub-goals FAME aligns with: 💰 SDG 1: No Poverty - Sub-goal 1.4: Ensure equal rights to economic resources, including financial services, for the poor and vulnerable. FAME's non-custodial wallet and financial inclusion initiatives empower small-scale farmers and underprivileged communities by providing direct access to financial services without traditional banking. 🥣SDG 2: Zero Hunger - Sub-goal 2.3: Double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers. FAME's food marketplace and job opportunities connect farmers directly to consumers, fostering increased productivity and providing new income sources. - Sub-goal 2.4: Ensure sustainable food production systems and resilient agricultural practices. By promoting decentralized governance and responsible production, FAME supports farmers in adopting sustainable agricultural practices. 💼 SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth - Sub-goal 8.3: Promote development-oriented policies that support entrepreneurship and job creation. FAME's job marketplace and financial services stimulate local economies by providing opportunities for work and fostering entrepreneurship. - Sub-goal 8.10: Strengthen the capacity of financial institutions to encourage and expand access to banking and financial services. FAME's blockchain-based services enhance financial inclusion and encourage a broader range of people to participate in the digital economy. 👨🏽‍🌾👩🏻‍🌾 SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities - Sub-goal 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all. FAME's decentralized governance structure ensures that everyone has a voice in decision-making processes, promoting inclusion and reducing inequalities. 🥦 SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production - Sub-goal 12.2: Achieve sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. By supporting local production and reducing reliance on intermediaries, FAME encourages responsible consumption and production practices. - Sub-goal 12.8: Ensure people have relevant information and awareness for sustainable development. FAME’s platform connects farmers and consumers, promoting transparency and awareness about the sources of food and agricultural products. By addressing these sub-goals within the SDGs, FAME creates a pathway toward a more inclusive, sustainable, and equitable agricultural sector. join us: https://linktr.ee/algofame https://lnkd.in/dDHVKJxJ

7

3 Comments

What is #regen and how is it different from traditional conservation? ✨ This clip is part of a conversation with Neesha Mirchandani 🎙️, an entrepreneurship mentor & impact funding catalyzer. Neesha and her company Impact Stars work with planet-positive entrepreneurs to help them magnetically attract capital and drive more impact. This conversation was an installment of Quorum1’s Future of Work Series: Exploring the future of business, employment, emerging tech, org design, capitalism, and participatory governance structures.

10

2 Comments

Great perspectives from Hisham Mundol, our Chief Advisor, India. #India is the most populous country in the world and is poised to become a $5 trillion economy — the world’s third largest — in the next three years. Today, India’s per capita greenhouse gas emissions are about one tenth of those from the United States, and India represents just 3.4% of historic global emissions. Ambitious growth is of paramount importance for India, but the nation is also acutely aware that its emissions cannot grow proportionately with its economy. Therefore, India has a bold vision to become the first major economy to industrialize without carbonizing. This will require a concerted effort from the public and private sector. As a global nonprofit, Environmental Defense Fund aims to help catalyze this action — working as an authentic and distinctive partner to India by sharing our scientific and economic expertise and by amplifying our partners’ capabilities on the ground. Our areas of interest include demonstrating the viability of #SustainableLivelihoods in #agriculture, #livestock and #fisheries, establishing the shareholder value potential of #ResponsibleBusiness, informing the potential of #MarketBasedMechanisms, and catalyzing the #ClimateTechnology ecosystem in India. Reach out to us to know more about our work in India!

9

The clock is ticking to 2030, so where do we stand on the SDGs? ⏳ Since 2016, the global edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR) has provided the most up-to-date data to track and rank the performance of all UN member states on the SDGs. This year’s edition was written by a group of independent experts at the SDG Transformation Center, an initiative of the SDSN. It focuses on the UN Summit of the Future, with an opening chapter endorsed by 100+ global scientists and practitioners. Here are 5 key findings from this year’s report: ⛔️ Limited Progress: Only 16% of SDG targets are on track; with the remaining 84% showing limited progress or reversal. Significant reversals in key areas like press freedom and life expectancy. 📊 Progress Variability: The pace of SDG progress varies significantly across country groups. Nordic countries lead; BRICS show significant gains; the poorest countries are falling further behind. 💰 Investment Challenges: Urgent need for global financial reform to provide affordable long-term capital for sustainable development. 🌍 Global Cooperation: There is a significant gap in the degree to which different countries engage in multilateral cooperation within the UN system and beyond. 🌽 Food and Land Systems: The SDG targets related to food and land systems are particularly off-track with significant hunger and emissions issues; requiring dietary shifts, productivity investment, and deforestation monitoring. [Link in comments for the full report.] We know the challenges are huge, but measuring them can help us understand and overcome them. So yes…this should be alarming, but also action-inducing. As individuals, companies and startups, we can all play our part if we do so together. We don’t have long, but we know what needs to be done ⌛ #sustainabledevelopment #sdgs #sustainability #development #impact #csr #esg

24

4 Comments

On Friday we shared the results of our annual Big Garden Birdwatch - but rather than only focus on the vital species insights, let’s consider the participation figures. More than 600,000 people took part, and since it launched, around 12 million hours have been spent watching nature.     There is a swell of interest and engagement here that’s translated into genuine time and action. Put simply, people care about nature.     But for businesses, nature can feel more complex and intangible when compared to climate change and carbon targets. For UK customers though, nature is arguably much more tangible.   A recent survey from Fair to Nature, RSPB’s nature-friendly food certification scheme, showed that over half (56%) of adults want UK farmers to adopt farming practices which protect, preserve and enhance the environment and nature. And there is growing consumer concern about nature loss and a desire to halt its decline - 67% of UK adults are concerned with the decline in the variety of UK wildlife compared to 50 years ago.    Birds, bees and flowers are very real – we can see or hear them. Many businesses have an immense opportunity to commit themselves to a wide range of sustainability and ESG initiatives designed to address the effects of climate change and nature loss and in turn harness these stories to engage their customers.    Producers have an opportunity and a responsibility to be the change that consumers so clearly want to see. I make the case for this and how we're here to give businesses a helping hand in this piece I wrote for BusinessGreen   #ESG #ClimateChange #Nature #Sustainability #BusinessStrategy #Food #Farming 

131

2 Comments

Exciting report launch 🙌 I have the privilege of working alongside a superbly talented insights and comms team who have captured learnings from the Energy for Livelihoods Accelerator in this beautiful report 🤩 If you're interested in sustainable energy business models that focus on livelihood development, take a look - it's full of valuable insights that can support ecosystem development!

17

1 Comment

What are Nature-Based Restorative Solutions? Nature-based restorative solutions are strategic initiatives that leverage natural processes to address environmental, social, and economic challenges. At FloCard, we're actively engaged in these solutions through dynamic partnerships and innovative technologies that ensure effectiveness and sustainability. One of our notable collaborations is with the SERVE Council, a tech-enabled, ESG-driven organization dedicated to environmental conservation and promoting sustainable livelihoods. Raosaheb Samrat, Yuvraj Seth and his team at grassroots have pledged for #BetterPlanetTogether Together, we are working on several impactful projects: 1. Serve Trees Project: This initiative combines digital and blockchain technology to enhance tree plantations' monitoring and transparency. By facilitating real-time data access, we ensure that every tree planted is accounted for, contributing to more significant environmental recovery and community trust. 2. From Seeds of Hope to Fruits of Opportunity: In partnership with SERVE Council, FloCard supports the free tree-sapling program, empowering rural communities through sustainable tree farming. This program distributes high-value species suitable for local climates and markets, provides comprehensive training on sustainable planting and care, and connects participants with market opportunities. This approach not only combats biodiversity loss but also boosts local economies by creating stable, sustainable livelihoods. 3. SERVE Livelihood - Micro Entrepreneurship Development & Livelihood Enterprises Development: Our joint efforts extend to fostering micro-entrepreneurship, providing tools and training that enable community members to start and sustain their green businesses. This initiative supports economic empowerment and sustainable development in tandem with environmental conservation. 4. Distance Learning Innovators Alliance: This alliance, supported by FloCard and SERVE Council, bridges distance learning and innovation, offering a platform for remote learners to connect, collaborate, and grow their entrepreneurial ventures. It’s an ecosystem designed to foster networking and development among those who might otherwise lack access to traditional educational resources. Through these initiatives, FloCard is a participant and a driver of nature-based solutions, ensuring that every project is impactful, sustainable, and aligned with our commitment to advancing corporate sustainability and empowering communities. Join us in protecting biodiversity and nurturing a green economy. Follow https://lnkd.in/dKJ8aBQS

14

2 Comments

Great opportunity for women and POC GPs and fund managers with Bridge Funding Global, a data-driven fundraising platform and investor community for top-performing underrepresented Emerging Managers.  Criteria for members selection: Diversity and Leadership: The Bridge prioritizes funds led by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those that are 30% or more women-led or led by people of color. Fundraising Stage: This network welcomes funds at all stages of their financial journey, whether you are currently fundraising or considering future fundraising efforts. Geographic Focus: While the primary focus is on U.S.-based funds, the Bridge recognizes the value of global perspectives. Non-U.S. funds that strongly align with our Limited Partners' investment theses may also be considered. The Bridge just launched its application process, which will run until June 15th. Here is the link for GPs to apply: https://lnkd.in/eTWzFwjH There is an upcoming info session on June 6, 2024 to answer all questions related to the process as well as benefits. Registration link: https://lnkd.in/e3d-x2Gn

10

2 Comments

How can you reform large organizations? One way is to consider the Schools of Experience of the folks going on the journey with you. Check out my latest to learn more. https://lnkd.in/dqkmGfwY

5

Did you know? #Breastfeeding supports maternal and newborn health and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more in a new article, co-authored by Alive & Thrive’s Roger Mathisen: https://lnkd.in/gxePm4bN #BreastfeedingasCarbonOffset

3