SOURCE:Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

SUMMARY:

Highlights from G&A Institute: 

G&A Institute has analyzed the index company components' sustainability reporting activities for the past six years.   Our research over the last six years shows that reporting on the corporate sustainability including environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) continues to be a consistent, reliable norm for the largest companies in US capital markets.   

Sustainability reporting rose dramatically from just 20% of the companies reporting in 2011 to 72% just three years later in 2013.  From 2013 to 2016, the frequency of reporting has maintained with slight increases each year, now up to 82% in 2016, the latest year of our study released.

Over the last few years, this consistent volume of corporate reporting underscores the importance and staying power of considering ESG issues when setting corporate strategies, managing resources and communicating to important stakeholders such as customers, employees and shareholders. 

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, May 31, 2017 /3BL Media/ — In the sixth annual monitoring and analysis of S&P 500 Index® company sustainability reporting, just completed by theGovernance & Accountability Institute research team, the findings are that eighty-two percent (82%) of the companies included in this important investment benchmark published a sustainability or corporate responsibility report in the year 2016.

The S&P Index is one of the most widely-followed barometers of the US economy, and conditions for large-cap public companies in the capital markets.

To put this in context, in charting prior years reporting, G&A found that:

• in the year 2011, just under 20% of S&P 500 companies had reported on their sustainability, corporate social responsibility, ESG performance and related topics & issues;
• in 2012, 53% (for the first time a majority) of S&P 500 companies were reporting;
• by 2013, 72% were reporting — that is 7-out-of-10 of all companies in the popular benchmark;
• in 2014, 75% of the S&P 500 were publishing reports;
• in 2015, 81% of the total companies were reporting;
• in 2016, 82% signals a steady embrace by large-cap companies of sustainability reporting.

As we entered the year 2017, just 18% of the S&P 500 were not publishing sustainability reports. The practice of reporting by the 500 companies is holding steady with minor increases year-after-year. The graph attached represents the trends of S&P 500 sustainability reporting over the last six years.

Comments
Louis Coppola, EVP & Co-Founder of G&A Institute, who designs and coordinates the annual analysis, notes:  "Year after year we continue to see that corporations are reporting on their ESG performance and related issues.  We also see that there are some companies that continue to ignore the growing demands of their stakeholders and shareholders. 

"However, the pressure is on!  While searching for sustainability information on the non-reporters, more often than not, the first result on Google was an investor proxy resolution requesting for the company to start reporting on its management of ESG issues.  These non-reporting companies are feeling the pressure from other stakeholders such as employees and customers as well."

"As reporting standard setters and frameworks continue to evolve rapidly, leading reporters are continuously working to integrate the latest concepts into their strategy making and reporting.   These leaders are seeing dramatic benefits from their efforts and are also increasingly engaging with investors to help make ESG data more strategically useful for decision-making by both company management, stakeholders and investors."

Hank Boerner, Chairman & Co-Founder of the Institute, observed:  "As we continue to see this steady level in US corporate sustainability and responsibility reporting, we are wondering what the thinking is in the non-reporting enterprises.  These companies are now clearly laggards in this important peer group (the S&P 500), which is a very important benchmark for institutional investors.  Are these companies not recognizing the significant range of benefits that accrue to their more sustainable peers? 

"Do they not understand the rising expectations of stakeholders seeking much more comprehensive information about their company's ESG performance?  At the least, the companies seem to be firmly resistant to the demands of shareholders for more information about their ESG policies and performance."

The Diminishing Missing Among US Corporate Sustainability Reporters
The chart attached presents the number of companies from the sectors in our annual S&P 500 study that are choosing not to report on their sustainability opportunities, risks, strategies, actions, programs and achievements implying no focus on sustainability with comparisons from 2014 through 2016.  

Governance & Accountability Institute's GRI Data Partner Report Analyst Research Team of talented interns contributed significantly to this research and we recognize and salute them here (see attached table).

Governance & Accountability Institute Training, Coaching & Workshops
In response to the rising demand for corporate sustainability knowledge and the rapidly rising embrace of ESG integration to investment decision making, the Institute offers a range of industry-leading training opportunities for corporate managers and investment professionals. For more information, go to:  http://www.ga-institute.com/training.html

About Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.
Founded in 2006, G&A Institute is a sustainability consulting firm headquartered in New York City, advising corporations in executing winning strategies that maximize return on investment at every step of their sustainability journey.  The G&A consulting team helps corporate and investment community clients recognize, understand and address sustainability issues to address stakeholder and shareholder concerns.  G&A Institute is the exclusive Data Partner for the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) in the USA,  UK and Republic of Ireland.  A G&A team of six or more perform this pro bono work on behalf of GRI. Over the past 6-plus years, G&A has analyzed more than 5,000 sustainability reports in this role and databased more than 100 important data points for each of the thousands of reports.

G&A’s sustainability-focused consulting and advisory services fall into three main buckets: Sustainability/ESG Consulting; Communications and Recognitions, and Investor Relations.  The resources available within each bucket include strategy-setting; sustainability/CSR reporting assistance; materiality assessments; stakeholder engagement;  ESG benchmarking; enhancing investor relations ESG programs; investor engagement; investor ESG data review; sustainability communications; manager coaching; team building; training;  advice on third party awards, recognitions, and index inclusions; ESG issues monitoring and customized research.

*S&P 500®
According to S&P Dow Jones Indices / McGraw Hill Financial: “The S&P 500® is widely regarded as the best single gauge of large cap US equities.  There is over US$7 trillion benchmarked to the index, with index assets comprising approximately US$1.9 trillion of this total. The index includes 500 leading companies and captures approximately 80% coverage of available market capitalization.”  The S&P 500 is a trademarked® property of S&P Dow Jones Indices, McGraw Hill Financial. Ticker: SPX

G&A CONTACT:
Louis Coppola 
Executive Vice President & Co-Founder 
Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc. 
Tel 646.430.8230 ext 14  
Email lcoppola@ga-institute.com

Tweet me:.@gainstitute FLASH REPORT: 82% of S&P 500 Companies Published CSR Reports in 2016 http://bit.ly/GAflash2017

KEYWORDS: Research, Reports & Publications, Corporate Social Responsibility, Governance & Accountability Institute, G&A Institute, Louis Coppola, Hank Boerner, Corporate Sustainability Reports, GRI, global reporting initiative, S&P 500 Index, Corporate Citizenship, ESG performance, environmental, corporate governance, non-reporting companies, GRI Data Partner

SOURCE:T. Rowe Price

DESCRIPTION:

Loyola University Maryland has received a $105,000 gift from the T. Rowe Price Foundation to support work with community residents, neighborhood organizations, and businesses in the development of a shared vision for strengthening the Greater Govans/York Road corridor communities in Baltimore City.

Over the next three years, the gift will fund a planning process—including trainings, assessment, measurement, and strategic goal-setting—for this shared vision, and will result in a synthesized, 10-year operational plan to improve the quality of life of those living, working, and learning in the Greater Govans/York Road corridor communities immediately east of Loyola’s Evergreen campus.

“We are tremendously grateful to the T. Rowe Price Foundation for its generous support of Loyola University Maryland’s York Road Initiative and for recognizing our commitment—and our responsibility as a Jesuit university—to working toward a more equitable world,” said Erin O’Keefe, ’03, director of Loyola’s Center for Community Service and Justice and York Road Initiative. “That work begins in our neighborhood in Baltimore. We have made significant progress since our York Road Initiative began nearly a decade ago, and partnerships strengthened by new resources made possible by the Foundation will further ensure our shared community’s long-term health and vitality.”

Loyola’s York Road Initiative focuses on building neighborhood civic capacity, strengthening the commercial corridor, enhancing youth development, and addressing food insecurity.

Continue reading on Loyola News.

Tweet me:.@TrowePrice Foundation grants @LoyolaMaryland $105,000 to support York Road Initiative http://bit.ly/2rl327w

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, T. Rowe Price Foundation, T. Rowe Price Foundation grant, York Road Initiative, York Road Baltimore, Loyola University

Streamlined certification pathway for Multiple Existing Buildings will leverage efficiencies, drive performance improvements across portfolios

SOURCE:International WELL Building Institute

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, May 31, 2017  /3BL Media/ – The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) announced today that CBRE Group, Inc., Hines, and Lendlease are among leading global developers collaborating with IWBI to deliver WELL Portfolio™, a new cost-effective, existing building portfolio certification pathway within the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL).  This new pathway will reward a commitment to ongoing enhancements to existing buildings, with specific focus on policies, programs, procurement guidelines, and plans that can be applied across a portfolio of buildings.

A roundtable of those who have expressed interest in the WELL Portfolio concept will be held in New York City on June 15. Those committing to piloting a sample portfolio of qualifying buildings in this first phase will join a Portfolio Advisory to directly inform the pathway’s development.

“We know that when building owners, operators, and corporate tenants look across their portfolios, they typically shift their parameters one policy at a time, not a building at a time,” said Rick Fedrizzi, chairman and CEO of IWBI.  “We believe this new approach can introduce immediate and measurable performance improvements and allow projects to earn recognition for their achievements, reducing fees and overall costs in the process.”

“Hines is very interested in this approach of certifying health and wellness attributes in existing buildings, not only development,” said Hines Innovation Officer Charlie Kuntz. “With a large global development and property management portfolio, we want to build on our sustainability commitment in this leadership-defining area.”

“Global third-party sustainability indices and benchmarking tools like WELL have helped institutional investors make informed investment decisions and improve their portfolios,” said Brian Long, group head of safety and sustainability at Lendlease. “While focus has traditionally been on achieving positive environmental outcomes in buildings, greater focus is now on human health and wellness outcomes.  Lendlease will continue to do both across our portfolio, providing competitive differentiation and longer-term value for our clients.”

“We are pleased to assist with the development of a comprehensive portfolio-wide approach for WELL Certification and believe this will be an important addition to ongoing efforts to introduce this standard to a wider marketplace,” said David L. Pogue, global director of corporate responsibility, CBRE.

The comprehensive scientific evidence that lays the groundwork for wellness decisions is indisputable and growing every day, further supporting the value of WELL Certification to companies looking to improve employee productivity and engagement, lower absenteeism, and potentially reduce insurance health care spend.  

“WELL Portfolio is a direct response to owners and operators who have shared with us their desire to rapidly incorporate proven, science-based practices across all their existing buildings, and to have their work third-party verified.  We’re looking forward to their input on the best ways to move these practices rapidly to scale,” Fedrizzi added, “because improving health and wellness through better buildings is sustainability’s second wave.” 

About the WELL Building Standard™
The WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact the health and wellness of the people who live, work, and learn in the buildings. WELL focuses on seven categories of building performance: air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort, and mind. The WELL Building Standard is grounded in evidence-based research that demonstrates the connection between the buildings where people spend approximately 90 percent of their time and those buildings’ health and wellness impacts on those who use them. The WELL Building Standard is administered by the International WELL Building Institute™ and third party certified by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI). www.wellcertified.com

About the International WELL Building Institute™
The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) is a public benefit corporation whose mission is to improve human health and wellness through the built environment. Public benefit corporations like IWBI are an emerging U.S. structure for corporations committed to balancing public benefits with profitability – harnessing the power of private capital for greater good. IWBI administers the WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) – a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of buildings that impact the health and wellness of the people who live, work, and learn in them. It also supports the growing number of professionals who seek WELL accreditation, as administered by GBCI. www.wellcertified.com

IWBI Press Contact:                                                              
Callie Stanton                                                 
646.654.3438                                                             
cstanton@nikecomm.com

Tweet me:The International WELL Building Institute Announces @WELLcertified Portfolio http://bit.ly/2sncqVr #BuiltEnvironment #RealEstate

KEYWORDS: Green Infrastructure, Green Building, International Well Building Institute, WELL Building Standard, Real Estate

Detroit Ento wins startup competition at SB’17 Detroit

SOURCE:Sustainable Brands

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® recently announced Detroit Ento as the winner of the Sustainable Brands Innovation Open (SBIO) startup competition, co-sponsored by Whirlpool and with technology provided by YouNoodle and awards provided by Rivanna Natural Designs. The competition, culminating at SB’17 Detroit, May 22-25, attracted world-changing entrepreneurial teams with unique ideas to solving some of the world’s pressing environmental and social concerns.

Detroit Ento specializes in the production/processing of insect proteins and byproducts for food, feed and pharmaceuticals. The company works with local schools in Detroit to hire and build Ag-tech and manufacturing skills development for local Detroiters. They hope that their food model will be more sustainable in the short term, but also that their model will equip the next generation to take on the diverse challenges of food production and population growth.

The ten additional 2017 SBIO semi-finalists included:

• Bluon Energy – creates an R-22 replacement refrigerant that increases energy efficiency and extends the life of existing HVAC-R equipment.
• eKutir Global PBC– uses digital technologies and artificial intelligence to identify and train community agents that will help connect markets, finance and knowledge to small farmers.
• Full Cycle Bioplastics– mitigates plastic pollution by making compostable bioplastic, PHA, from mixed organic and cellulosic waste.
• GoPure Water Purifier – presenting their GoPure Pod, a portable, cork-sized and re-usable purification device that absorbs contaminants found in ordinary tap water. The POD remains effective for 2,000 uses in a standard liter water bottle.
• Immotor, LLC – produces intelligent and safe modular battery solutions, including the GO: a sleek, ulta-compact, multi-functional electric personal vehicle.
• NewGen Surgical, Inc.– develops and manufactures sustainably designed, single-use medical devices and surgical products, with the hope of minimizing plastic waste in the O.R.
• RAPPORT - gives enterprises access to environmental impact data locked in hidden parts of their supply chain while also communicating to suppliers real-time impact data and best practices to cut costs and carbon.
• Totem Power– offering a platform that combines solar, energy storage and EV charging with 4G/5G/Wifi communications for modern campuses and cities.
• toxnot PBC–  facilitates company transparency about the chemicals they use and their impact with design tools, client communications and supply chain intelligence so companies can promote and sell better products.
• Verb – helps companies develop talent through a purpose-driven, online employee engagement platform that provides employees with personalized learning connected to impact.

The 11 semi-finalists pitched their business plans before attendees and a panel of judges on Tuesday, May 23^rd. Of those, 4 finalists were selected to deliver their pitches before the full SB audience and on the main stage. They were Detroit Ento, Bluon Energy, Totem Power and Full Cycle Bioplastics. Both the panel of judges as well as the SB audience chose Detroit Ento as the SBIO competition winner. They won a ticket to all SB conferences for the next 3 years as well as consultations with both Whirlpool and Ford Motor Company to strengthen their business case/model.  

“The Innovation Open aims to recognize innovative tools and solutions that are driving environmental and social impact” says Riley Scherer, Manager at Sustainable Brands. “These entrepreneurs seek to disrupt, and the Sustainable Brands community embraces that passion. The ideas that will come to light from these contenders will spark conversations and inspiration for even the most advanced brands.”

The SB Innovation Open at SB’17 Detroit was co-sponsored by Whirlpool. YouNoodle was the technology partner and Rivanna Natural Designs was the award provider. Further information about SB’17 Detroit, including the Innovation Open and the Activation Hub, can be found at www.sb17detroit.com.

About Sustainable Brands
Sustainable Brands® is the premier global community of brand innovators who are shaping the future of commerce worldwide. Since 2006, our mission has been to inspire, engage and equip today’s business and brand leaders to prosper for the near and long term by leading the way to a better future. Digitally published news articles and issues-focused conversation topics, internationally known conferences and regional events, a robust e-learning library and peer-to-peer membership groups all facilitate community learning and engagement throughout the year. Sustainable Brands is hosted by Sustainable Brands Worldwide, a division of Sustainable Life Media headquartered in San Francisco, CA.

Tweet me:.@SustainBrands Announces @DetroitEnto as #SBIO winner for #SB17Detroit: http://bit.ly/2rpECK6 #socent #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Events, Media & Communications, Energy, Sustainable Brands Innovation Open, SBIO, sustainable brands, SB'17 Detroit, Detroit Ento

Whirlpool Cyclists Travel to Ohio for United Way

SOURCE:Whirlpool Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

By Tony Wittkowski

BENTON HARBOR — Over the next two days, 15 bikers will ride 240 miles from Benton Harbor to Clyde, Ohio.

The intention is to raise money for the two United Way organizations prevalent in each city. While some of the bikers work in Ohio and others work in Benton Harbor, they all come from the same home appliance maker.

Tweet me:240 miles for charity: Whirlpool cyclists travel to Ohio for United Way http://bit.ly/2snpnOS via @HeraldPalladium @WhirlpoolCorp

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives, Fundraising, whirlpool, United Way, philanthropy, Benton Harbor, Sandusky County, The Herald Palladium, Cyclists

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) presents award to The Nature Conservancy for organization's program that quantifies value of world's reefs to tourism

SOURCE:Carnival Corporation & plc

DESCRIPTION:

MIAMI, May 31, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company congratulated its partner, The Nature Conservancy, for receiving the Tourism for Tomorrow Innovation Award at the World Tourism and Travel Council (WTTC)'s annual Global Summit in Bangkok, Thailand.

The WTTC's Tourism for Tomorrow awards recognize best practices in sustainable tourism. The Innovation Award celebrates initiatives that use novel techniques to overcome challenges faced by the travel and tourism sector in implementing sustainability practices.

With support from Carnival Corporation, scientists with The Nature Conservancy's Mapping Ocean Wealth project are using the latest crowdsourcing and data mapping techniques to quantify -- for the first time – the total and local economic value of the world's coral reefs to tourism. The project includes an online atlas that provides maps, marine life databases and other resources that community and business leaders can access to make educated ocean-use decisions.

The Nature Conservancy's Mapping Ocean Wealth models indicate that 70 million trips annually to the world's coral reefs generate an estimated economic value of $36 billion.

"It is clear that the tourism industry depends on coral reefs, but now, more than ever, these fragile and beautiful organisms are depending on the tourism industry," said Dr. Robert Brumbaugh, director of ocean planning and protection for The Nature Conservancy. "Armed with geographic-specific information, available through the Mapping Ocean Wealth project that has been made possible through our supportive partners like Carnival Corporation, governments can take steps to promote the expansion of tourism in harmony with the environment, and businesses can make smart investments that take into account both business goals and protecting our natural systems."

"Protecting the environment, including the world's coral reefs, is a top corporate priority for our company, which operates 10 cruise brands and 103 ships traveling the world's oceans and seas and visiting more than 700 ports of call," said Roger Frizzell, chief communications officer for Carnival Corporation, which oversees the Carnival Foundation. As part of its 2020 sustainability goals, Carnival Corporation is providing, through the Carnival Foundation, a $2.5 million gift over five years to The Nature Conservancy.

Frizzell continued: "Our donation to The Nature Conservancy, as well as other leading environmental groups, underscores our commitment to sustainable tourism around the world. We congratulate The Nature Conservancy on developing the innovative and now award-winning Mapping Ocean Wealth project, which we are proud to support."

In addition to the mapping efforts globally, Carnival Corporation's support of The Nature Conservancy has provided decision makers with new and comprehensive data about coral reef conditions throughout the Caribbean. Research has tracked the success of conservation efforts tied to coral reefs and provided new maps of fish production connected to Caribbean mangrove growth.

Carnival Corporation's five-year gift has also helped The Nature Conservancy to launch an Atlas of Ocean Wealth – the largest collection to date of information about the economic, social and cultural values of coastal and marine habitats from all over the world. It is supported by multiple international online tools, detailed maps, marine life databases and other resources to educate and inspire community leaders engaged in ocean planning.

Last year, Carnival Corporation continued to show its support by hosting The Nature Conservancy's 2016 Mapping Ocean Wealth conference at its Miami corporate headquarters. At that conference, conservationists and decision-makers from around the world gathered to discuss ocean sustainability initiatives.

The WTTC's Tourism for Tomorrow awards for sustainable tourism initiatives are judged by a panel of independent experts. This year's awards, presented in five categories on April 27in Bangkok, coincided with the United Nations' World Travel Organization (UNWTO) proclaiming 2017 the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, marking a global commitment to support changes in policies,

business practices and consumer behavior towards sustainable goals.

About The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect the lands and waters on which all life depends. Together with its more than 1 million members and 600 scientists, the Conservancy has protected 120 million acres of land and 5,000 miles of rivers worldwide, and operates more than 100 marine conservation projects globally. The Nature Conservancy works on the ground in all 50 U.S. states and in more than 69 countries. To learn more, visit www.nature.org.

About the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) was formed in 1991 by a group of Travel & Tourism CEOs who felt that the sector's contribution to economies and job creation was not being recognized. Its objectives were to use empirical evidence to promote awareness of Travel & Tourism's economic contribution; to expand markets in harmony with the environment; and to reduce barriers to growth. Members include chief executives of more than 140 of the world's leading Travel & Tourism companies.

About Carnival Foundation 
Carnival Foundation supports hundreds of organizations annually with primary funding focused in the areas of the arts, human needs, education, health and the environment. Following the example set by Carnival Corporation's founder, the late Ted Arison, and continued by his son Micky, Chairman of the Board of Carnival Corporation, Carnival Foundation endeavors to make South Florida and other communities better places to live and work. For more information visit www.carnivalfoundation.com.

About Carnival Corporation & plc
Carnival Corporation & plc is the largest leisure travel company in the world, with a portfolio of 10 cruise brands in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia comprising Carnival Cruise Line, Fathom, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Seabourn, AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, P&O Cruises (Australia) and P&O Cruises (UK).

Together, these brands operate 103 ships visiting over 700 ports around the world and totaling 231,000 lower berths with 17 new ships scheduled to be delivered between 2018 and 2022. Carnival Corporation & plc also operates Holland America Princess Alaska Tours, the leading tour companies in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. Traded on both the New York and London Stock Exchanges, Carnival Corporation & plc is the only group in the world to be included in both the S&P500 and the FTSE 100 indices.

In 2017, Fast Company recognized Carnival Corporation as being among the "Top 10 Most Innovative Companies" in both the design and travel categories. Fast Company specifically recognized Carnival Corporation for its work in developing Ocean Medallion™, a high-tech wearable device that enables the world's first interactive guest experience platform capable of transforming vacation travel into a highly personalized and elevated level of customized service.

Additional information can be found on
www.carnival.com, www.fathom.org, www.hollandamerica.com, www.princess.com, www.seabourn.com, www.aida.de, www.costacruise.com, 
www.cunard.com, www.pocruises.com.au, and www.pocruises.com.

Roger Frizzell
Carnival Corporation
rfrizzell@carnival.com
(305) 406-7862

Mike Flanagan
LDWWgroup
mike@ldwwgroup.com
(727) 452-4538

Tweet me:Carnival Corporation Environmental Partner Wins Top Travel Innovation Award @CarnivalPLC http://bit.ly/2snyak2

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, The Nature Conservancy, World Travel & Tourism Council, WTTC, Carnival Corporation, Global Summit, Bangkok, Thailand., Mapping Ocean Wealth

by Anthony Macuk

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

It's been almost a year since Republic Services and the City of Lake Oswego rolled out their new residential food scraps composting program, and the City plans to mark the anniversary with a new public outreach effort aimed at answering lingering questions and getting more residents on board.

"The goal is to increase participation," says Jenny Slepian, Lake Oswego's sustainability and management analyst. "I know the problems that people have had from the past year, so I have a pretty good inventory of reasons why people aren't doing it. So we're really focusing the education on that."

Continue reading in Portland Tribune

Tweet me:.@RepublicService and City of Lake Oswego promote residential #composting http://bit.ly/2qArmDc @ThePortlandTrib

KEYWORDS: Environment, Green Infrastructure, Republic Services, The Portland Tribune, Lake Oswego, composting, Recycling, sustainability

SOURCE:21st Century Fox

DESCRIPTION:

On Monday, May 22, 21st Century Fox and European professional cycling team, Team Sky, joined forces to give away 100 free bicycles to children from the Boys and Girls Club of Hollywood, Los Angeles. Sponsored by 21CF and having just completed the 2017 Amgen Tour of California race, Team Sky spent the afternoon teaching kids how to use their new bikes on an outdoor cycling confidence course, and helped them decorate their new helmets and use their new locks. 

By emphasizing teamwork and inclusivity, 21CF and Team Sky are encouraging the next generation of young athletes to aim high and pursue their goals. Team Sky has a long history of engaging fans on the issues of health and exercise, and 21CF has spearheaded those efforts during the team's visits to the U.S.—the third annual event with the Boys and Girls Club has become a tradition for Team Sky, 21CF and FoxGives, whose volunteers from the Fox lot took time from their day as well to assist with organizing the event. 

For more information on 21CF's Social Impact initiatives, please visit impact.21cf.com.

Tweet me:.@21CF and @TeamSky partner to give 100 free bicycles to children from the @BGCA_Clubs of Hollywood http://bit.ly/2snO4Le @21CF_Impact

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Diversity & Inclusion, team sky, 21st century fox, cycling, Boys and Girls Club

SOURCE:Cargill

DESCRIPTION:

If President Trump withdraws the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement, he will be moving against the wishes of some of Minnesota’s biggest companies.

“We would be incredibly disappointed if the U.S. decides to withdraw from the agreement to which our country had committed,” Cargill CEO David MacLennan said Wednesday in a statement to the Star Tribune. “Signing the accord means being a champion for U.S. economic growth and job creation. Caring about sustainability of the planet is not only the right thing to do for people and the environment, it is also good business.”

Three weeks ago in an ope letter to Trump, MacLennan and 3M CEO Inge Thulin joined 28 other powerful U.S. corporate leaders who said the 195-nation agreement to limit man-made climate change would help American companies become more efficient and competitive.

Continue reading on Star Tribune >>>

Tweet me:.@Cargill's CEO David MacLennan among #Minnesota biz #ParisAgreement supporters via @StarTribune http://bit.ly/2rvahtB #ClimateAction

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Development Goals, Environment, Paris Agreement, COP21, Cargill, Star Tribune, Minnesota, David MacLennan

By Kelly McGlumphy Public Relations Senior Manager, GOJO Industries

SOURCE:GOJO

DESCRIPTION:

Summer is almost here.  And soon our calendars will be filled with vacations, outdoor adventures, picnics and much, much more. With so much fun ahead, one thing is for certain, no one wants to miss out on all the fun activities because they are sick. Here are some easy and simple tips to help you and your family stay healthy this summer.

1. Wash or Sanitize Your Hands at Key Moments

Summer is a time for hands-on fun. And no matter if we are at a park or in our own backyards, there is an increase in the likelihood of us spreading germs from one person to another. In fact, it has been reported that up to 80% of infections are transmitted by the hands.[1]The practice of good hand hygiene, which includes handwashing and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol, like PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer, when soap and water are not available, is one of the best preventive measures we can all take to reduce the spread of germs that can cause illness.

It is important to either wash or sanitize your hands at key moments including:

• Before and after preparing food;
• Before eating;
• After using the bathroom;
• After touching anything that may be touched by many people, such as playground equipment and shared toys.

2. Clean and Disinfect Frequently Touched Surfaces and Objects

At work and in our homes, we all touch a variety of surfaces. From doorknobs, to kitchen and break room counters, to light switches, germs that can cause illness are easily transferred from one person to the next via the surfaces we touch. This is why it is important to clean and disinfect both hard and soft surfaces, like picnic tables, frequently as well as objects such as children’s toys. Also, always sanitize and disinfect food-preparation surfaces with a sanitizer and disinfectant specifically formulated for those surfaces. PURELL® Surface Disinfecting and Sanitizing Sprays, which are available via online retailers and distributors, contain no harsh chemicals, while quickly killing germs including Norovirus and cold and flu.

3. Take Hand Hygiene Products With You

We know during the summer you are most likely on the go from baseball games, to summer camp, to the family road trip. This is why you need hand hygiene products that can easily be placed in a beach or gym bag, a purse or the car. PURELL® Advanced Hand Sanitizer comes in a variety of sizes that easily fit in or clip onto carry-on bags and purses. In addition, PURELL® Hand Sanitizing Wipes make cleaning and sanitizing your hands easy while on the go.

Have a fun and healthy summer, and be sure to have PURELL® products on hand. Learn more at www.PURELL.com

1. CDC estimate http://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/implementation/topics/immunization.html, accessed May 2016

Tweet me:.@GOJOindustries blog: easy & simply tips to help families stay #healthy this summer http://bit.ly/2srWbGp #HandHygiene

KEYWORDS: Health & Healthcare, hand hygiene, good hand hygiene, GOJO Industries, clean surfaces, disinfect

SOURCE:T. Rowe Price

DESCRIPTION:

The stats are troubling. According to a Pew Research Center analysis a few years ago, wealth of white households was 13 times greater than the wealth of black households.

Many factors may be to blame for the wealth gap, notably income inequality, but retirement savings is equally important.

According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, only slightly more than one-third of minority families have retirement accounts. The median value of minority families’ retirement accounts is $23,000.

There is no shortage of competing financial priorities for most families. And it’s often difficult to set money aside when families may be struggling to make ends meet.

Saving, even very small amounts, is the first step towards building wealth. T. Rowe Price recommends these six steps for families to build wealth and plan for future goals.

Continue reading on The AFRO.

Tweet me:.@afronews has 6 steps from @TRowePrice on how African American Families can build wealth http://bit.ly/2sjjUIM

KEYWORDS: Education, Energy, T. Rowe Price, financial education, The Afro

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., June 1, 2017 / 3BL Media/ — Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, believes that meaningful, lasting change is best achieved when NGOs and social service organizations, businesses, government, academia and individuals — reflecting the strength and diversity of our nation and the world — join together to take responsibility with collective action.

Today’s decision to withdraw the United States from the historic Paris Climate Agreement adds an even greater sense of urgency to our work to help create a country where every community is a clean, green and beautiful place to live, work and play.

Helen Lowman, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful said, “Today’s announcement reinforces the immediacy and relevancy of the work done by Keep America Beautiful for nearly 65 years — along with the efforts of many others — to bring people together from all walks of life to create positive environmental, economic and social impact in communities across America and beyond.

“Behavior change — steeped in education, research and behavioral science — are the cornerstones of Keep America Beautiful. We strive to educate and empower generations of community and environmental stewards with real-world experiences, practical advice, curricula, programs and other resources that help people understand the essentials of proactive community citizenship, including the preservation and conservation of our natural resources and the importance of responsible consumption.

“Today, we renew our commitment to work with and help bring together federal, state, county and municipal government leaders — joined by our other partners and millions of volunteers across the country — to advance our fight to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities.”

About Keep America Beautiful
At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country in which every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 state and community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, social service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. To donate or take action, visit kab.org. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram, like us on Facebook, or view us on YouTube.

Tweet me:.@kabtweet Statement on US Decision to Withdraw from #ParisAgreement http://bit.ly/2rvnTVv

Contact Info:

Mike Rosen
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3008
mrosen@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful

KEYWORDS: Environment, Clean Water and Sanitation, Keep America Beautiful, Paris Climate Agreement

Eduardo Cetlin President, Amgen Foundation

SOURCE:Amgen Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Over the past 25 years, the Amgen Foundation has worked to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education, particularly biology education, around the world. We have a long-standing history of reaching students through hands-on science programs such as the Amgen Biotech Experience and the Amgen Scholars Program, which have reached more than 500,000 students worldwide.

We also realize there is an opportunity to make science accessible to all students—and to increase scientific literacy around the globe—so in 2016 we entered into a partnership with Khan Academy to build a comprehensive online repository on core biology topics at the high school and introductory college level. Khan Academy is a leading, innovative, and effective educational technology platform—with over 50 million registered users—with demonstrated power to shape and transform how we learn, including in science.

STEM: Embracing the T to Power the S

Technology has the power to exponentially increase the reach of the Amgen Foundation’s efforts—and ensure access to those who need it most. The online platform is free to all to use, and it provides those with little access to science education—whether due to income status or location—the ability to increase their knowledge on myriad subjects.

Amgen Foundation’s work with Khan Academy started with an initial one-year partnership, which funded the creation of over 450 new biology content items including videos, articles, and exercise questions fully aligned to education standards. In addition, a large group of expert volunteers from Amgen, the Amgen Scholars Program, and the Amgen Biotech Experience volunteered their expertise to Khan Academy.

Expanding Access and Improving Outcomes

The biology content garnered immediate attention, with learners expressing their appreciation for the new materials via social media. One learner shared via Facebook, “The biology lessons help me focus on my studies in Advanced Placement (AP) and gain a real-world approach to the content. It isn't just my textbook.” Another learner tweeted about the experience of using the resources: “Khan Academy is going to be the reason I pass Biology.” We’ve heard this same sentiment echoed from many other learners across the globe who have shared their appreciation of the work of Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, and his team to offer these high-quality lessons.

In fact, Derek Wan, a freshman at University of California, Berkeley who is studying neuro-molecular biology, said, “Other people in my class struggled, and I would just regurgitate Sal’s response to them. That made me feel like I could understand biology—as long as I got it the right way; as long as I could spend time with it. That’s the feeling that Khan Academy gave me.”

The Next Generation of Science Education

The initial partnership was so successful that we recently announced a new three-year, $3 million grant to continue to build the Khan Academy’s biology library. The new content will build on its existing biology resources to develop a truly comprehensive offering of videos, articles, and intensive practice exercises, from ninth grade biology through AP biology. By creating high-quality and free primary learning resources in AP biology, Khan Academy hopes to increase access to AP courses and practice resources for low-income students.

With this new commitment, Amgen Foundation has become Khan Academy’s Science Partner, and we will continue to engage Amgen staff and others in this work.

“With the long-term support of the Amgen Foundation as our Science Partner, Khan Academy is poised to become a leading provider of free, high-quality science content that can scale to reach millions of learners across the country and world,” said Sal Khan.

Today’s youth will become the next generation of innovators who will create the cures that will eradicate diseases or discover new methods that will revolutionize the field of medical biotechnology. It is important that we help nurture, engage, and inspire future scientists in the United States and across the globe. This continuing partnership will help us do just that.

Visit amgeninspires.com and follow @AmgenFoundation on Twitter for updates on progress and more details of the partnership, and visit khanacademy.org to see all the educational resources Khan Academy provides.

Tweet me:The @AmgenFoundation was recently featured in @USCCFBiz4Good’s new report on Purposeful Partners: http://bit.ly/2rJ8BgI

KEYWORDS: Education, Amgen Foundation, Amgen, Khan Academy, STEM Education, science education, online education, The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Eduardo Cetlin

87,000-square-foot urban farm will produce 275,000 pounds of fish and 475,000 pounds of organic produce annually

SOURCE:Pentair

DESCRIPTION:

LONDON, June 1, 2017 /3BL Media/– Pentair, a global leader in sustainable water solutions, and aquaponics farming innovator Urban Organics, are opening a new, 87,000-square-foot indoor aquaponics farm in St. Paul, Minn. As one of the largest commercial aquaponics facilities in the world, the urban farm has the capacity to grow 275,000 pounds of fish and 475,000 pounds of organic produce annually.

“The world’s population is growing, and with it, the demand for fish protein is quickly surpassing sustainable natural fish production. Pentair’s aquaculture and aquaponics solutions are expanding farming techniques, including in urban areas, and supporting greater access to protein worldwide,” said Karl Frykman, President, Pentair Water. “We joined forces with Urban Organics to help accelerate the development of large-scale modern aquaponics as we believe it can provide a real commercial option to help solve this growing food dilemma.”

With advanced water filtration technology developed by Pentair, the system is designed to allow Urban Organics to decouple the fish water from the plant water. This allows Urban Organics to raise fish species in cold water with low nutrient levels, alongside plant species in warm water with high nutrient levels. Waste nutrients from the fish water is concentrated and delivered to the plant water. Additionally, the system was designed for cold-water fish to take advantage of the colder climate in Minnesota, and therefore operate more energy efficiently. LED lighting is also being used to further reduce the farm’s energy use.

“Our collaboration with Pentair has helped us achieve our vision of creating a new model for urban agriculture that ensures access to healthy foods, while using less than two percent of the water consumed by traditional agriculture,” said David Haider, Co-founder of Urban Organics. “Our local market will get the benefit of our fish and greens, but there will also be a worldwide benefit as we continue to learn from this model and apply its lessons to other locations in the future.”

Fish and produce production at Urban Organics is underway, and the farm is expected to be at full capacity in early 2018. Fully certified by the USDA as an organic produce farm, Urban Organics is growing a variety of fresh greens, including green and red kale, arugula, bok choy, green and red romaine, Swiss chard, and green and red leaf lettuce, alongside sustainably-raised Atlantic salmon and arctic char.

Urban Organics is distributing its fish and produce at regional supermarkets, co-ops and restaurants. And, in a first-of-its-kind partnership in Minnesota, Urban Organics is working with HealthPartners hospitals and clinics to put its fresh greens in patient meals, cafeteria salad bars, and retail take-out locations.

Pentair and Urban Organics first started working together when Urban Organics opened its inaugural aquaponics farm in 2014 in the former Hamm’s brewery building in St. Paul. Pentair, with its innovative technologies in water systems and solutions and biological and technical expertise, worked closely with Urban Organics to design, install and engineer the world-class system. To learn more about Pentair’s aquaculture and aquaponics solutions, visit pentairaes.com.

ABOUT PENTAIR

Pentair plc (NYSE: PNR) is a global company dedicated to building a safer, more sustainable world. Pentair delivers industry leading products, services and solutions that help people make the best use of the resources they rely on most. Its technology moves the world forward by ensuring that water is plentiful, useful and pure, and that critical equipment and those near it are protected. With 2016 revenues of $4.9 billion, Pentair employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide. To learn more, visit pentair.com.

Tweet me:.@Pentair and @urbanorganicsmn open second commercial-scale, indoor #aquaponics farm in St. Paul, Minn. http://bit.ly/2st2pWI

Contact Info:

Rebecca Osborn
Pentair Communications
+1 (763) 656-5589
rebecca.osborn@pentair.com

KEYWORDS: Responsible Production & Consumption, Environment, Pentair, Urban Organics, Aquaponics

Submit a built project that exemplifies the beauty of Biophilic Design by August 31st

SOURCE:International Living Future Institute

DESCRIPTION:

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is now accepting submissions for the Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award that acknowledges Stephen Kellert's legacy as a pioneer in articulating and applying Biophilic Design principles to the built environment. His advocacy has encouraged widespread adoption of the practice. The award is being offered for the first time this year through ILFI’s Biophilic Design Initiative.

Projects will be judged based on the following criteria:

1. INTEGRATION of Biophilic Design

2. EXPRESSION of Biophilic Design

3. EXPERIENCE of Biophilic Design

4. EVALUATION of Biophilic Design

Exemplary projects will be recognized as leaders through the International Living Future Institute's global network and will receive recognition from our media partners. One award will be given, as well as up to 5 honorable mentions in Boston during a Greenbuild Conference shoulder event in November 2017. 

Award submission will close on August 31, 2017. For more information and to submit a project, visit https://living-future.org/stephen-kellert-biophilic-design-award

Tweet me:Submit a biophilic project for @Living_Future’s Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award. Submission closes 8/31! http://bit.ly/2qBQ2qE

KEYWORDS: Awards, Ratings & Rankings, Environment, International Living Future institute (ILFI), biophilic design, biophilia

Campaign Celebrates Strength and Unity By Working Together

SOURCE:AEG

DESCRIPTION:

LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2017 /3BL Media/ – In support of LGBT Pride Month, AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, is creating awareness around diversity and inclusion with the launch of “Better As One,” a social media campaign that underscores the organization’s belief in unity and diversity.  

Launching today, the campaign encourages employees and fans to view AEG’s “We Are Better Together” video and share it on their social channels via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using the hashtag #BetterAsOne.  The program promotes AEG’s belief that its strength comes from different perspectives – the many ideas and voices that create a unique and powerful team.

Dan Beckerman, CEO and President of AEG, stated, “At AEG, we have sought to build a workforce that mirrors the communities where we do business.  We embrace our differences with regards to race, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, politics, sexual orientation, education, and religion, and are focused on building a culture that consistently promotes diversity of thought. Because it is diversity of thought that drives us forward.  We are proud to celebrate AEG’s diversity during Pride Month and throughout the entire year.”

In addition to the “Better As One,” social media campaign, AEG will host a panel discussion at The NOVO by Microsoft at L.A. Live, for its global employee workforce that focuses on LGBTQ initiatives in the sports and entertainment industry.  Participating panelists include Justin Mikita, Board Member, the Human Rights Campaign; Robbie Rogers, player for the LA Galaxy; Marquita Thomas, Executive Director, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce; Roger Nyhus, President and CEO, Nyhus Communications; Carleen Cappelletti, President of Bounce AEG and John Nelson, Sr. Vice President, AEG Presents Las Vegas.  Panel topics will include LGBTQ advocacy and civil rights, a discussion about creating a safe environment for LGBTQ in sports and entertainment; and best-practices for integrating LGBTQ businesses into supply chain activities.    The discussion will be webcast simultaneously to more than 4,000 employees on five continents.

ABOUT AEG
Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world's leading sports and live entertainment company. With offices on five continents, AEG operates in the following business segments: AEG Facilities, which is affiliated with or owns, manages or consults with more than 120 preeminent arenas, stadiums, theaters, clubs and convention centers around the world including The O2 Arena, the Sprint Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arenas; AEG Presents, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals; AEG Real Estate, which develops world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE; AEG Sports, which is the world's largest operator of sports franchises and high-profile sporting events; and AEG Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 100 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.
 

Media Contact:
Allegra Batista, AEG
(213) 763-7738
abatista@aegworldwide.com

Tweet me:Learn how @aegworldwide is celebrating #LGBTPrideMonth with #BetterAsOne, showcasing commitment to unity & diversity http://bit.ly/2sjyYpK

KEYWORDS: Diversity & Inclusion, Education, AEG, LGBT Pride Month, Dan Beckerman, Sports and Entertainment, Justin Mikita, Human Rights Campaign, Robbie Rogers, LA Galaxy, Marquita Thomas, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, LGBTQ Advocacy

SOURCE:Newmont Mining Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Last month, members of our team in Nevada took part in the Elko District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sagebrush seedling-planting project. Newmont, the National Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the Nevada Muleys and Barrick Gold sponsored the event.

In the summer of 2016, a lightning strike 35 miles north of Battle Mountain, Nevada, started the wildfire that is now called the Hot Pot wildfire. The fire burned over 120,000 acres of land in an area that included a large amount of prime sagebrush habitat and native vegetation that provides essential food and shelter for many wildlife species in the region including mule deer.

Matt Murphy, fuels manager with the Elko District BLM, spoke with a local news channel about the purpose of the event: “We are trying to get sagebrush back into that ecosystem so that we have a little bit of habitat for mule deer as they go into winter next year.”

On a bright March day, 75 volunteers from the community, including 19 Newmont employees, worked together for six hours planting over 2,500 sagebrush seedlings and installing protective netting around each seedling on ~9 acres along a hillside 27 miles north of Battle Mountain. With the combined efforts of the volunteers and some growing success in the coming years, hundreds of acres acres of sagebrush landscape may soon be restored.

Newmont has long had a commitment to environmental stewardship in the region, working with public and private partners on conservation efforts for over 20 years. Most recently, we signed a mutual agreement to manage more than 1.5 million acres of sagebrush habitat in Nevada, one of six elements comprising our Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation Program.

To learn more about our commitment to biodiversity management and conservation, visit our 2016 sustainability report, Beyond the Mine.

Tweet me:.@Newmont #Employees Donate Personal Time to #LandRehabilitation in Nevada http://bit.ly/2rUXWN7 #EmployeeEngagement #SocialImpact

KEYWORDS: Social Impact & Volunteering, Responsible Business & Employee Engagement, Newmont Mining, environment, Land Rehabilitation, nevada

SOURCE:HP, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

PALO ALTO, Calif., June 1, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- Climate change is one of the most significant and urgent issues facing business and society today. The science is clear, the impacts are serious and the need to act is essential.

At HP, we see this not only as our responsibility, but vital to the longevity of our business. We support the Paris Climate Agreement and the global efforts to address climate change. HP is working to ensure our business is resilient, innovating to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapting to an evolving global business and regulatory environment that supports our customers, partners and employees.

For more about HP Sustainability visit: hp.com/sustainability

About HP
HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of printers, PCs, mobile devices, solutions, and services, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at http://www.hp.com.

Contact:
Emily Horn, HP
emily.horn@hp.com
www.hp.com/go/newsroom

Tweet me:.@HP Response to #ParisAgreement Decision http://bit.ly/2rw3kID #ClimateAction #SDGs #Environment @HPSustainable

KEYWORDS: Sustainable Development Goals, Environment, Paris Agreement, HP Inc., 2020 goals, climate change

SOURCE:VMware

DESCRIPTION:

As many educational institutions embrace technology and evolve their educational models, an almost equal number struggle to adequately join in this digital revolution. The result is a stark divide in our educational system and in public policy. The divide between the digital “haves” and “have-nots” echoes civil rights era warnings that we run the risk of creating two Americas, separate and unequal. To complicate things further, what we call the digital divide is not an issue in merely one population, system, or industry. More than anything, the digital divide highlights a central paradox of technology itself. As Preston Winn, VMware’s director of education solutions and product marketing for end-user computing, describes it, “Technology has the ability to level the playing field for people, but if you don’t do it right, it can become the biggest barrier.”

The Dimensions of the Divide

The digital divide extends beyond classroom walls. It is not just about schools lacking the resources to provide access to digital devices or infrastructure to support a secure, one-to-one or bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program. The divide is also about broadband service to the home.

Today, only 67 percent of Americans have broadband service to their homes, with adoption rates among African-American and Hispanic households running an average of about 15 percent lower than American homes in general. It’s often a matter of finances: 33 percent of those who do not have broadband service to their home cite cost as the reason.

The digital divide also impacts adult continuing education. The dropout rate for these courses is very high and studies show that the reasons include the cost, complexity, and inability to acquire the necessary technology. Yet another example of the digital divide exists between teachers and students. This dimension is about legacy thought processes and workflows, whether in regard to teaching, research, or on the school administration and business side. All these processes are difficult to evolve. For some institutions, Winn says, “This is a high hurdle indeed. They just come to a standstill.”

The Challenge of Creating Digital Equality

Just as the digital divide has many dimensions, so do efforts to eliminate it. Both higher education institutions and K-12 schools are committed to closing the gap for socioeconomically challenged students. At the K-12 level, the most popular approach is to issue each student a device to ensure classroom access to digital media. This is becoming the norm in private and parochial schools. For public school systems serving economically disadvantaged communities, the situation can be very different. This is where the digital divide is widest and cuts deepest.  

The challenge for these schools is generating the necessary funding. In the United States, most school districts are managed and operated as separate, independent businesses. This situation makes addressing issues as complex as bridging the digital divide in any coordinated fashion even more challenging. Many public primary and secondary schools may have up to 95 percent of their student population on free or reduced-price lunch programs—for these school systems, finding the resources to afford a 1:1 program is an enormous upfront obstacle and an even bigger one to sustain over time. But despite these complex challenges, the goal is the same: to level the digital playing field and create “digital equality,” both as a society and in our school systems.

The Blended Learning Environment

At the higher education level, it’s estimated that students average 2-3 digital devices each. As a consequence, universities must offer seamless, device-agnostic environments. According to Winn, this approach allows for more creativity. “It helps enable the creation of a blended learning environment,” he says, “where students can learn and read on any device. That kind of flexibility is what’s needed to create a modern digital learning environment.” Winn says that ultimately, certain segments of the student population in K-12 schools would be equally or better served by transitioning to this device-agnostic model. But, he wonders, “Is higher education really taking full advantage of the opportunities that this model offers?”

The digital ecosystem is more than just boxes and devices, Winn says. Getting stakeholders to work together is the real challenge. “If it’s not part of your DNA at the university,” he says, “the way you teach, the way you administer, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the technology.”

The Digital Workspace and Digital Equality

Winn argues that, while device access does make a difference at the K-12 and university levels, it should not be the main focus. What will ultimately make the real difference is both access to technology and the associated coaching and support from teachers, professors and administrators. Additionally, content from a myriad of sources—whether publisher-generated, open source, learning platforms, or other resources—must be accessible when it’s needed, where it’s needed, and from any user digital device.

This is the seamless, digital learning environment that the VMware® secure digital backpack powered by Workspace One™ makes possible. It allows students, faculty, and administrators to access the broadest array of resources—including any kind of content, native applications, web apps, virtualized apps—anytime, anywhere, from any device. On top of that, accessibility via a single sign on (SSO) delivers an intuitive, consumer-like end-user experience—the same experience that is already so familiar to students.

Not only will the digital workspace help to break down the barriers of the digital divide and achieve what Winn calls “digital equality”—it will also change the relationship between technology and its users in the educational community. “We can say yes now, instead of no. And that,” Winn concludes, “changes everything.”

Tweet me:Bridging the #digitaldivide to create digital #equality http://bit.ly/2mTN26S @VMware

KEYWORDS: Innovation & Technology, Diversity & Inclusion, VMware, Digital equality, Digital Divide, Digital workspace, Workspace One

SOURCE:Ingersoll Rand

DESCRIPTION:

I’ve received many questions over the past few months about Ingersoll Rand’s commitment to reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Those questions intensified this week with news of the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change.

In early May, Ingersoll Rand joined a coalition of companies, formed by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), which signed a full-page letter featured in major news outlets, urging the United States to stay in the Paris Agreement. We signed the letter because we believe climate action is a global issue – one to which our customers around the world are demanding solutions, regardless of policy or regulation. They seek our guidance on how to reduce energy demand and GHG emissions from their buildings, industrial processes and transportation systems. Our innovations can improve their operating performance, and reduce their impact on the environment.

As a global company with a strategy built on sustainability, Ingersoll Rand is committed to improving our environmental footprint. The bold Climate Commitment we made in 2014 is a long-term pledge to significantly reduce GHG emissions from our products and operations by 2030, and we’ve already made great progress. The Commitment has helped us avoid 6.7 million metric tons of CO2e globally from our products compared to a 2013 baseline – equal to the emissions from the energy used in 700,000 homes for one year. We have also reduced the GHG intensity of our operations by 23 percent compared to a 2013 baseline.

Like Ingersoll Rand, businesses from all sectors have made these bold commitments to climate action. Collectively we are blazing the trail to widespread renewable energy adoption, breakthrough technology development, innovative corporate sustainability strategies and strong employee engagement.

In the words of the coalition letter we signed, we remain concerned with the well-being of our customers, investors, communities and suppliers. We will continue to innovate and provide solutions that our customers require, and we are committed to strengthening our climate resilience.

Sincerely,

Michael W. Lamach
Chairman and CEO

Tweet me:Commitment to Climate Action: Message from Michael W. Lamach, Chairman and CEO of @IngersollRand http://bit.ly/2sy0Fvc

Contact Info:

Misty Zelent
Ingersoll Rand
+1 (704) 655-5324
mzelent@irco.com

KEYWORDS: Environment, Energy, Ingersoll Rand, Paris Agreement