SUSTAINABILITY TLDR NEWSLETTER: EDITION 2
This newsletter gives you highlights of selected sustainability insights that were, perhaps, too long (you) didn’t read (TLDR) or there’s just too much out there to read. The highlights presented cover insights gleaned from a global, regional (African), and national (Kenyan) perspective. Happy reading! GLOBAL: IPCC Climate Change 2022 – Impact, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Summary for Policymakers This report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chane was published in late February 2022. It highlights the interdependence of climate, ecosystems and biodiversity, and human societies. Here are some (unfortunate but need-to-know) highlights from the report: There us a greater than 50% likelihood that global warming will reach or exceed 1.50C by 2040 (13 years from now). Human-induced climate change has already: Altered ecosystem structures in across the globe, in all regions, continents Caused species range to shift on all continents and regions Altered changes in cyclical and seasonal patterns for climate, plant and animal life Climate change has already resulted in: Increasing water scarcity, reducing crop production and food security. Increasing human health and wellbeing impacts such as rise in infectious diseases, malnutrition, and displacement/migration. It is also impacting cities, settlements and infrastructure with increase flooding, damage to coastal areas, infrastructure and damage in key economic sectors. Today, approximately half the world’s people live in environments highly vulnerable to climate change; as human and ecosystem vulnerability are interdependent. Between now and 2040, even if we take the necessary actions to reduce and mitigate global warming, the impacts of the damage that has already done will still be experienced. This means that we will have to trust the process – take the urgent action needed to change our societies and economies, even though the results of these actions won’t be evidenced until after some years. Earth’s feedback system won’t happen in a flash (like our human minds think). So we must trust that we will get to the results we need to… trust the process. To adapt to climate change, the report highlights that it is vital we look at: Forest conservation, protection and restoration; Agroforestry, and biodiversity and ecosystem connectivity Green infrastructure and ecosystem services Resilient power systems, and energy reliability Disaster risk management, and climate services e.g. early warning systems To achieve adaptation, our global, regional and national financial systems, governance, institutional and policy systems must adapt quickly to overcome the range of constraints these systems present to timely and relevant action. Worldwide climate resilient development action is more urgent now than previously assessed. My two-cents: In your organisations, it is vital that climate change risk and mitigating climate change are priority agendas for the next decade. In your own personal lives, you also need to act e.g. grow trees, reduce your energy use, car pool, save water, start your own vegetable garden, eat less meat, don’t waste anything, etc. Every individual action will make a difference. If not you, then who? Proposed Directive of the EU Parliament and Council on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence In late February 2022, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a Directive on corporate sustainability due diligence for EU and EU-based companies. The proposal aims to foster corporate respect for human rights and the environment throughout global value chains. This proposal is critical as about 80-90% of environmental harm of EU products may occur in value chains located outside the European Union. The directive aims to: Improve corporate governance integration of risk management and mitigation processes of human rights and environmental risks and impact including those from value chains Avoid fragmentation of due diligence requirements Increase corporate accountability for adverse impacts Improve access to remedy for those affected by adverse human rights and environmental impact of corporate behavior This directive highlights that despite efforts of voluntary action by companies, it has not resulted in large scale improvement, and as a result the negative externalities from EU production and consumption are being felt inside and outside the EU. My two-cents: The EU is taking a leading role in demanding accountability and action from companies on their social and environmental risks and impacts, not just in the EU, but wherever they have operations and value chains (globally). The ‘looseness’ of regulation, due diligence and accountability in developing countries and their fragile institutions is being buffered – climate change and inequality affects everyone, eventually. If/when adopted EU Member States will have two years to transpose the Directive into national law. AFRICA: Africa’s mRNA Vaccine Hubs Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia will receive the technology to produce mRNA vaccines for the African continents – its +50 countries. C-19 vaccines are the priority, but in time – depending on their own (or African) capacity and resources, these countries will also be able to produce other vaccines for the region’s public health needs. mRNA technology is the latest technology in vaccine development. It involves a type of molecule with the ability to deliver specific instructions to cells, teaching the cells to create a harmless piece of a protein belonging to a specific virus. This then triggers the immune system to make antibodies to destroy and attack the virus protein when you are actually infected with the virus. Although the technology has been around since the 1990s it’s first use in vaccines was with C-19 i.e. Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines. African Union Adopts Kiswahili as an Official Language In February 2022, AU Heads of State approved Kiswahili as an official language of the bloc. Before adding Kiswahili, the AU and its institutions official languages were: Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and any other Africa language…. (the dots are here intentionally). The African continent is the most linguistically diverse continent with over 1500 languages. Kiswahili was proposed as an official AU language in the early 2000s but the proposal did not succeed at that time. Thanks to Tanzania’s Vice President, Philip Mpango, and his request; an African language is finally an official language for the very first time. Kiswahili is currently spoken by +100 million Africans making it
SUSTAINABILITY TLDR NEWSLETTER: EDITION 1
This newsletter gives you highlights of selected sustainability insights that were, perhaps, too long (you) didn’t read (TLDR) or there’s just too much out there to read. The highlights presented cover insights gleaned from a global, regional (African), and national (Kenyan) perspective. Happy reading! GLOBAL: World Economic Forum (WEF) – The Global Risks Report 2022 Every year (17 editions) the WEF publishes its global risks reports that present global risks as perceived by world leaders in business government, civil society, and risk experts. The report’s risks are across five categories: economic, environmental, geopolitical, societal, and technological. Here are selected highlights from the report, I have opted to highlight the top 5 risks selected from the global risks perception survey Risks that got worse since the pandemic (COVID-19 Hindsight): Social Cohesion Erosion Livelihood Crises Climate Action Failure Mental Health Deterioration Extreme Weather When will risks become a critical threat to the world Global Risks Horizon): 0 – 2 years 2 – 5 years 5 – 10 years Extreme Weather Climate Action Failure Climate Action Failure Livelihoods Crises Extreme Weather Extreme Weather Climate Action Failure Social Cohesion Erosion Biodiversity Loss Social Cohesion Erosion Livelihoods Crises Natural Resource Crises Infectious Diseases Debt Crises Human Environmental Damage Most potentially damaging risks (Global Risks Horizon): Climate Action Failure Extreme Weather Biodiversity Loss Livelihood Crises Social Cohesion Erosion My Two-Cents: From this WEF report, it is evident that environmental and societal risks are at the for of all risks for the next decade. As you deliberate on and deliver your sustainability-related strategies and actions for the year and the next decade; environmental protection and conservation; livelihood resilience; social cohesion and inclusivity may need to be top of your list. REGIONAL – AFRICA Foresight Africa – Top priorities for the Continent in 2022 Published by the Brookings Institute in Washington D.C, this annual report proposes priorities and recommendations for Africa from experts on the region and in their field. Here are some insights from the report’s priorities: The nature of African societies perceives that working hard is what gets you ahead economically – African people believe in meritocracy – and want to pass on this value (of working hard ) to our children (Henn, S. 2021). Being cosmopolitan is in our DNA! We grow up and thrive within endless different cultures, religions, languages, and histories – which makes African people naturally inclusive e.g “The word ‘stranger’ and ‘guest’ are the same in most African languages” Africans believe in their future because they believe in the talents and character of their people, rather than the continent’s natural resources. Majority of African households rely mostly on wood and charcoal as their main cooking fuel. Women make up half of Africa’s population, will Africa reach its development potential if half of its population is lagging behind? For once, Africa’s underdevelopment is the greatest opportunity for better: development led by renewable energy, and more environmentally smart societies and economies. The fact is, if Africa doesn’t succeed in this, the entire world/entire planet won’t succeed in climate action (Africa holds the key) The continent must invest in ICT and technology infrastructure; and prepare our young workforce for new technologies – to avoid increasing the gap between Africa and other continents. The private sector has to be a key player in this partnering with government (private-public partnerships) to drive the continent’s technology into the future. This included data governance and digital diplomacy. Lastly, blockchain technology are the future and regulators should focus on how to develop this technology, rather than hinder – the blockchain train has already left the station, and is too late to stop it. The continent’s external relations have to focus on enabling its own people and its own private sector. Africans want alternative development partners from China and the US (Afrobarometer, 2021). Old and new partners abound e.g India with opportunities for healthcare and pharma, the UK with a reset in relations to focus on renewables and support to the AfCFTA, Russia seeking elite-based and not state-based relationships (Foresight Africa, p. 117), the Gulf seeking partnerships for their food security and economic diversification, among others. African countries must move towards the ‘Africa We Want’ from the Africa they want. My Two-Cents: The African continent has countless challenges, but challenges are also opportunities. Opportunities for solutions that are business and market-based, profitable and impact-driven. How we see it as a choice: the glass is either half-full or half-empty. Global Compact Africa Strategy 2021-2023 The Global Compact is the world’s largest sustainability initiative. It is a platform for businesses to learn, dialogue, and partner on sustainability on the Global Compacts Ten Principles (in human rights, labor, the environment, and anti-corruption) and the SDGs. In 2021 Global Compact launched a new Africa Strategy. From their regional network councils (5 in total) Africa’s is the smallest. But this is soon to change. The Africa strategy will: Prioritise Africa’s largest economic centers and companies to drive impact. Include all companies and sectors – particularly SMEs, which are 90% of Africa’s businesses, employ two-thirds of the formal workforce, and are 40% of Africa’s GDP Leverage business associations, supply chains, and financial institutions for eco-system transformation The Global Compact has prioritized leading with business on the following SGDs: SGD 5 – Gender Equality, SGD 8 – Descent Work and Economic Growth, SGD 13 – Climate Action, SGD 16 – Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions, SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals. The Global Compact is a platform to learn, dialogue, and partner. My Two-Cents: Global Compact has been instrumental in driving and championing corporate sustainability in other regions like Europe, Asia, and Latin America, it’s time for the movement to do the same in Africa. Sustainability (The GC’s Ten Principles and the SDGs) requires us to work together – no one individual, company, or stakeholder can solve them alone. NATIONAL: KENYA Nairobi Bus Rapid Transport Network Goes Electric The Nairobi Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, NAMATA, is looking to buy or lease electric, hybrid, and biodiesel