We are just days away from September and it feels like fall is already in full swing. Just in time for back-to-school season, we have some new tools and offerings to share with you.
First, in the next few weeks we are releasing our long-awaited Climate Action Catalyzer Tool. This tool will help connect you to potential collaboration partners and service providers and will also provide you a customized report detailing resources specific to your climate needs. For the reminder of 2023, the tool will be free to our community as we continue to refine the content, connections, and resources. We can't wait for you to give it a try!
We are also planning to release our Service Provider Membership Program in late September. We know there are so many of you in this community that are eager to connect your offerings with brands and retailers looking for solutions. Keep an eye on our website and newsletter for more details on how to sign up for this program.
In October, we are launching our Regenerative and Organic Transition Community of Practice. This year-long program brings together a skilled facilitator, experts in regenerative and organic agriculture, and a committed community of companies to work together to activate solutions in support of an organic and regenerative transition. Please see details below. Our deep thanks to the UNFI Foundation and Good Earth Natural Foods for supporting this critical work.
I look forward to seeing many of you at Expo East! The Climate Collaborative has robust programming at the event, you can see the full description of our five sessions below.
In collaboration,
Courtney
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Courtney Pineau
Executive Director
Climate Collaborative
RESOURCES |
Save the Date: Climate Programming at Natural Products Expo East
Friday, September 22nd, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, 1:30 - 3:30 PM
Summer is speeding by, and Expo East will be here before we know it! We're planning a fantastic day of climate programming with New Hope on September 22nd. Check back regularly for updated speaker and event information!
Forest Summit:
10:30 am - The Business and Climate Case for Assessing the Deforestation Risk in Your Supply Chain:
The business and climate case for assessing the risk of deforestation has never been more critical. From international trade requirements to climate impact reductions, all companies need to identify areas in their supply chain where there is deforestation and/or forest degradation occurring. This session will provide you with the business case, tools, and resources to support your work, and case studies of how companies are assessing deforestation risk to enhance supply chain transparency and resilience.
11:00 am - The Climate and Trade Imperative of Making a Zero Deforestation Commitment:
Deforestation remains a significant driver of global greenhouse gas emissions and poses unprecedented challenges to our planet’s ecosystems. Increasingly, businesses are tackling deforestation through zero deforestation policies. This session will outline how you develop a meaningful zero deforestation policy and the opportunity to align your policy and action into your broader climate change strategy.
11:30 am - Unlocking the Power of Forests in Your Climate Strategy through Insetting, Reforestation, and Zero Deforestation Initiatives:
Forests play a critical role in sequestering carbon, preserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of climate change. Tackling deforestation and/or forest degradation requires companies to address vulnerabilities in their supply chain, work directly with farmers, and to work collaboratively to meaningfully impact the preservation of forests. This session will share case studies and strategies that companies have deployed to successfully implement their forest commitment.
Afternoon Programming:
1:30 pm What's Your Climate Action Blueprint? Align Your Strategy and Goals for Greater Impact:
Join the Climate Collaborative and Planet FWD for the launch of the Climate Action & Innovation Matrix—a new tool to help you align your business strategy with your climate goals. In this session, Planet FWD will walk attendees through the new tool and help you identify your organization’s unique blueprint for climate action. You will also hear company perspectives on how aligning brand identity and climate strategy can lead to greater impact. Whether you are new to climate action or a leader in the space, this session will be actionable and informative in your climate and business strategy work.
2:30 pm Critical Farm Bill Updates and How Companies Can Engage to Advance Climate and Ag Solutions:
The current Farm Bill is set to expire on September 30th, 2023. This timely Expo session will provide the latest news out of Washington, DC, on the developments related to the Farm Bill and the opportunities for your company to engage before and after the vote. This monumental legislation impacts every aspect of our agricultural system, including key issues like food access, climate resilience, and farmer livelihoods. This session is a must-attend for anyone in the food space.
Webinar Recording: Transforming Food Waste - Unleashing the Power of the Upcycled Food Movement
There are opportunities for almost every company to tap into the waste reduction benefits of upcycling. In our August webinar, we featured the work of the Upcycled Food Association and member companies Kerry and Seven Sundays on the climate and business opportunity of the upcycled food movement.
Regenerative and Organic Transition Community of Practice
The Regenerative and Organic Transition Community of Practice was designed to meet the unique needs of our CPG community. This year-long cohort will foster innovation and collaboration, supporting businesses in evolving their supply chains to enable a transition to organic and regenerative agriculture. Participants will benefit from expert-led sessions and consults, peer-to-peer learning, and opportunities to work together in pre-competitive collaboration to solve many of the trickiest challenges facing CPGs with a climate-smart agriculture commitment. More details will be released on the Community of Practice in early September. Our deep thanks to UNFI and Good Earth Natural Foods for their support of this work!
Space will be limited! Drop us an email to ensure you are the first to know the full details of this program.
Climate Collaborative & UNFI Launch Three Case Studies in Support of Forest Action
In partnership with United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), the Climate Collaborative is thrilled to share three case studies focused on the forest action efforts of Nature's Path, Traditional Medicinals, and Tony's Chocolonely. UNFI and the Climate Collaborative are deeply committed to accelerating the efforts of the grocery industry to stop deforestation and forest degradation, and to support reforestation efforts.
- Read Nature's Path Case Study
- Read Traditional Medicinals Case Study
- Read Tony's Chocolonely Case Study
Resources to Support Your Food Waste Reduction Work
The United Nations estimates that if global food loss and waste were a country, it would rank third in the world for GHG emissions after the US and China. Reducing and eliminating wasted food is an important step companies can take to mitigate climate change, and it has cost savings benefits. In support of your food waste work, you can access case studies, a landscape assessment, and a company profile on the Climate Collaborative's food waste resources page. Learn more about how companies in the natural products industry are addressing food waste. Discover partner organizations working to embed justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in the food system.
PARTNER RESOURCES |
For Companies in OR & WA: Fleet Decarbonization Accelerator
Want to take your business's fleet from polluting to zero-emitting? Join a free upcoming webinar to learn how you can join a cohort of like-minded businesses and organizations, receive hours of 1:1 coaching from fleet decarbonization experts, and walk away with a fleet decarbonization action plan, business case, and pitch deck.
Webinars are being held on September 13th, and September 27th.
Partner Policy Sign-On Opportunities
We know that many of you have been following news related to the 2023 Farm Bill and its importance as a major opportunity for climate action—on working lands, across supply chains, and on grocery shelves and in kitchens throughout the country.
Below are two "marker bills" that would greatly benefit from our support, and if included in the Farm Bill, would go a long way toward supporting a healthy climate and resilient food and farming systems. Read more below, and please consider adding your support—you can do so until August 31.
Increasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities Act
The vast majority of young and BIPOC farmers want to be part of the climate solution, with the National Young Farmers Coalition (NYFC) National Survey of 10,000 farmers noting that "one of their farm's primary purposes is to engage in conservation or regeneration." Yet access to land is the number one challenge facing young farmers in the United States. This bipartisan, bicameral legislation aims to establish the 'Increasing Land, Capital, and Market Access Program' within the Farm Service Agency Office of Outreach and Education and supports a historic investment in land access for young and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) farmers.
Local Farms and Food Act
While the climate impacts of our industrial agriculture system are significant, we can achieve important reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by investing in regional food and farming infrastructure. The Local Farms and Food Act does just that, through advancements to proven programs that connect farmers and ranchers to local markets, and by supporting low-income families in maintaining access to nutritious, locally grown food.
The bill has bipartisan support and is championed by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC).
Partner Events: Climate Week
March to End Fossil Fuels
September, 17th, New York City
The United Nations is calling on world leaders to take real steps to lead us off fossil fuels to protect people and the planet. This September, the UN Climate Ambition Summit in New York will gather world leaders to commit to phasing out fossil fuels. Thousands of concerned individuals will take to the streets of New York to demand President Biden take bold action to #End Fossil Fuels.
Lessons from FLAG: Forest, Land, and Agriculture GHG Emissions
September 19, New York, City
Join Pure Strategies and EDF for a unique opportunity for sustainability professional to engage in a small group discussion about lessons learned from applying SBTi's recommendations for forest, land, and agriculture (FLAG) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets and management. This session is open to sustainability professionals working for companies in the FLAG value chain.
Brand Scaling Scope 3 GHG Solutions
September 20, New York City
The dominant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions for most businesses lies in the value chain, in scope 3 GHGs. These impacts of doing business have been hard to manage, and ultimately reduce. Pure Strategies is offering a session to explore how brands have been looking at overcoming common hurdles and scaling scope 3 GHG reduction solutions
Connecting Corporate Climate and Nature Strategies
September 20, New York City
Why do you need a nature strategy if you already have a climate strategy? Find out at the Climate Week workshop, hosted by Pure Strategies and EDF, for corporate sustainability professionals looking to explore what an effective nature strategy may look like within an ESG/sustainability program.
VERGE 23
VERGE 23 (Oct. 24-26, San Jose, CA) is the leading climate tech event accelerating solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time. It is the center of gravity for the climate community — leaders from business, government, solution providers and startups — working together to address the climate crisis across the six key programs that comprise the event: Buildings, Carbon, Energy, Food, Startups and Transport.
IN THE NEWS |
Judge Rules in Favor of Montana Youths in a Landmark Climate Case
The court found that young people have a constitutional right to a healthful environment and that the state must consider potential climate damage when approving projects.
German Supermarket Trials Charging True Climate Cost of Foods
A leading discount supermarket in Germany has raised the prices of a selection of its products to reflect their real cost on people's health and the environment.
Share Your Good News With Us!
In this new section of our newsletter, we want to share out climate-related progress, announcements, and good news from our community in action. Send us an email at [email protected] to contribute to next month's section.
COMMIT TO CLIMATE ACTION |
If you haven't already made a commitment to Climate Action please visit the Climate Collaborative website and check out the nine areas in which your company can make a commitment to bold climate action.
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