Kate A Larsen

A critical yet often overlooked issue in climate negotiations: the contribution of global textile and garment value chains to greenhouse gas emissions. Our latest briefing paper "Textiles and Garments Trade, Climate, and Net Zero Pathways: Scenarios and Implications for Developing Countries and Climate-Resilient Development" is the latest result of a dynamic collaboration between Forum on Trade, Environment & the SDGs (TESS) and Chatham House on sustainability and global trade.   Despite their significant environmental footprint, the textile and garment sectors are notably absent from most countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)—with Pakistan being the exception. The publication is especially timely as the current UNFCCC Climate #COP in Baku highlights the importance of aligning trade and climate agendas to meet global climate goals. Tackling emissions along the full textiles and garments value chain will require close cooperation between producer and consumer countries, as well as between suppliers and fashion brands. This briefing paper lays out some suggestions to foster such collaboration, ensuring that the transition to net zero is equitable and inclusive for all stakeholders. #ClimateAction #NetZero #COPBaku #circulareconomy 👉 Read the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/ejTtu7yp Chatham House Environment and Society

55

1 Comment

Have you seen the Considerations for Board Committees which is part of the Board Pocket Guide: Nature and Climate Action? Effective exchange of information between board committees is critical, especially as new regulations and leading practice will require integrated reporting of both financial and non-financial sustainability-related information. AccountAbility partnered with GCA Accountability Accelerator and Climate Governance Initiative - link to the guide in the comments.

22

2 Comments

𝗔 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗦𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 Beyond the typical JD's that usually circulate around for such roles, below I have tried to create a guide on what the Sustainability Manager will have to deal with and/or direct impact on a daily basis. 𝟭) 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀, 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 • Apply science and evidence-based approaches rooted in climate and environmental science. • Embed sustainability into risk, compliance and reporting frameworks, aligned with global standards (GRI, SBTi, ISSB, BRSR, CSRD etc). • Use tools to quantify climate, environmental, and social dependencies - which assists the tracking and monitoring of progress. • Data-driven solutions via usage of AI, IoT, and Big Data for carbon monitoring, resource analysis, and ecosystem health. • Embracing Nature-based solutions (NBS) - through afforestation, wetland restoration, and urban greening - to leverage the best available options. • Circular economy practices implemented through waste reduction, recycling, and upcycling to minimize environmental impact. 𝟮) 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗶𝗻 -  • Embed sustainability into organizational vision and strategy - beyond just a sustainability strategy. • Drive sustainable sourcing, e.g. agriculture, conflict minerals, green metals. • Manage Scope 3 emissions and integrate sustainability into procurement to enhance transparency. • Mitigate ecosystem degradation and negative externalities of business operations. • Be a revenue-enabler through sustainable products, eco-friendly branding, and alignment with consumer demand. • Identify and address risks from climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity. • Drive operational efficiencies, cost savings, and shareholder value through sustainability. 𝟯) 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 - • Stakeholder engagement: Partner with employees, communities, investors, NGOs, conservation groups, academic & research firms and policymakers. • Implement localised community solutions on mangrove restoration, agroforestry, and urban greening. • Train employees, suppliers and communities on sustainability practices. • Foster interconnected systemic-solutions benefiting ecosystems, economies, and communities. 𝟰) 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 - • Align with existing frameworks and anticipate and adapt to changes like carbon pricing and biodiversity mandates. • Drive climate finance possibilities via green bonds, sustainability-linked loans, and nature-positive investments. • Work with policymakers on renewable energy and conservation initiatives. • Establish a culture of accountability and transparency in company's touch point with all stakeholders. • Embrace continuous improvement in an ever-evolving domain. #Sustainability #JobDescription #SustainabilityManager

31

1 Comment

What if we were presenting financial and sustainability (climate, nature, people) #impact data on the same page, and in the same "currency" (in $ £ or €), to Boards? My guess is that it would influence business decisions towards creating both, shareholder and stakeholder value. And it can be done - as illustrated by the below Capitals Coalition's easy Board Motion template. It is a seemingly simple, yet powerful, if integrated, step towards including the value of nature and people in financial decision making. One that more companies, and market actors, are getting on board with. Benj Sykes Virginia Dundas Ida Krabek Kathrine Nistrup Madsen Mark Gough Natalie Nicholles Lenka Moore

13

🌿🇨🇳 China's National Ecological Protection and Restoration Bulletin: A Rapidly Evolving Space to Watch 👀 I recently delved into China's first national ecological protection and restoration bulletin, and it's filled with ambitious initiatives that deserve global attention. The scale and speed of development in this space are noteworthy - of course, essential to approach the content with a critical eye and an understanding that on-the-ground verification is crucial. 🔍 Here are some key points that highlight why this space is one to watch: 1️⃣ Ecological Security as a National Priority 🛡️ China has placed ecological protection and restoration on par with national security, signaling a shift in prioritizing environmental health. This elevation underscores the increasing recognition of the link between ecosystem well-being and national stability. 2️⃣ National Spatial Master Plans: A Long-Term Vision 🗺️ Provinces in China now have centrally approved plans with a 2035 vision, aiming to integrate protection, development, resource utilization, and restoration. These plans incorporate a National Ecological Security Barrier System, which divides the country into ecological zones with specific functions. The eventual goal is for every city and town to have their own plans aligned with this vision. 🏙️ 3️⃣ Natural Resource Registration: Mapping the Inventory 📝 China has initiated a national inventory of natural resources, including ownership and usage rights. This complex undertaking aims to improve resource management and promote responsible use. By mapping its natural assets, China seeks to inform decisions about conservation, development, and restoration. 🌿 4️⃣ Holistic Ecosystem Thinking: Integrating Ecology and Socioeconomic Development 🌐 The plans outlined in the bulletin aim to recognize the interconnectedness of ecosystems and integrate socioeconomic development with ecological goals. This holistic approach represents a progressive shift in thinking and practice, considering the complex relationships between human activities and the environment. 🌱 China's ecological protection and restoration efforts are undoubtedly a space to watch, as the country's actions could have far-reaching implications for global sustainability efforts. 🌍💚 #China #EcologicalRestoration #Sustainability #EnvironmentalPolicy #SpatialPlanning #NaturalResources #EcosystemManagement #NationalEcologicalSecurityBarrierSystem #HolisticApproach #VisionFor2035 #GlobalCollaboration #CriticalThinking #OnTheGroundVerification

24

In light of the climate crisis, it is impossible to think of a future that does not legally protect the natural resources capable of mitigating the effects of climate change. Nowadays, the difficulty lies in finding legal protection for those formally public (meaning state-owned) lands: specifically, in regulating the sale of huge portions of land between states, often leading to the destruction of important ecosystems. Moreover, these natural resources, despite being public, informally belong to those communities that have traditionally depended on them. Such is the case of many forests and pastures that through civic uses have been responsibly managed for generations. It follows that trees – individually and as ecosystems – are not a property that can be sold and managed like any other good. In fact, and as amply demonstrated, they are living, sentient, and intelligent beings on which humans deeply rely on. This brief text (https://shorturl.at/PNovh) argues for the introduction of a legal framework that recognises this strict link between men and nature, allowing natural resources – trees, for the sake of this text – to enjoy of a legal protection enforceable (if necessary, also in court) by its responsible individuals. Comments, suggestions and notes are warmly welcome.

4

1 Comment

An excellent article by Halima Ahmed at ETI on the importance of enforceable agreements to end GBVH in garment supply chains.

17

Voluntary governance schemes have been allowed to create the illusion of progress, while enabling business to maintain BAU in the commercialisation of nature. So why are more voluntary schemes being launched at the Nature Positive Summit? All voluntary certifications scheme do is put off the one thing that can drive real change - government mandated regulation of biomass extraction. Maybe the most well known of these 'voluntary' schemes is the Global Reporting Initiative, which was founded in 1997. GRI's voluntary sustainability reporting framework has been adopted by multinational organisations, governments, SMEs, NGOs, and industry groups. To try to create the illusion voluntary schemes are credible, some have even created professional certification programs. But in the end firms just selectively disclose the (sustainability) information they choose. In a comprehensive study of Multi Stakeholder Initiatives created to address human rights abuses in business supply chains MSI Integrity found “MSIs are not effective tools for holding corporations accountable for abuses, protecting rights holders against human rights violations, or providing survivors and victims with access to remedy…They are simply not fit for this purpose”. The reason should be obvious, as MSI Integrity equally highlights, “MSIs (aka, voluntary schemes) have not fundamentally restricted corporate power or addressed the power imbalances that drive abuse. Companies have preserved their autonomy and safeguarded their interests throughout the design, governance, and implementation of MSIs.”. As a result of global management consultants entering the conservation space, global conservation NGOs seem to have dug in on their belief that their certification schemes and appeals to self-regulation by business are ‘doing good’. This belief is genuine and maintained by confirmation bias, that is by only looking for evidence that supports the belief. How far this confirmation bias goes is evidenced by the utter lack of rigorous studies into the effectiveness of voluntary certification. These voluntary schemes (phantom solutions: https://lnkd.in/gCpUr6uH) mean business gets to look good, the corporate NGOs get to feel good, and the unsustainable practices are perhaps slightly less unsustainable, but of course remain unsustainable. https://lnkd.in/gZAi-iiY

1

Today marks the beginning of #CBD #COP16, a pivotal moment to tackle the biodiversity and human rights crises. I urge negotiators to put human rights at the heart of discussions. We must: • Transform how we finance conservation, ensuring it advances human rights • Protect environmental human rights defenders • Operationalise the Global Biodiversity Framework’s rights-based approach Together, we can build a future where both people and the planet thrive.

34

1 Comment

🏭👚♻️ PUSHING THE BOUNDARIES OF EPR POLICY FOR TEXTILES New report out by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation on making Extended Producer Resposnibility #EPR work for the #textiles sector: 🟢 A comprehensive circular economy approach is the only solution that can match the scale of the global textile waste problem. EPR policy is a necessary part of the solution. 🟢 The report explores a common approach across national EPR systems, to maximise alignment and effectiveness, as well as the many benefits EPR can bring, beyond downstream waste management. What is EPR and why do we need it? 🟢 To establish separate textile collection systems at scale, dedicated, ongoing and sufficient funding is needed to cover the net cost associated with managing all discarded textiles, EPR is a crucial policy mechanism. 🟢 EPR policy places responsibility on producers for the collection, sorting and recirculation of their products when these are discarded by citizens. If designed well, EPR policy significantly improves the cost-revenue dynamics for... ...separate collection ...sorting ...reuse ...repair ...recycling of discarded textiles 🟢 EPR also delivers transparency and traceability on global material flows, and it helps to attract capital investments in the infrastructure needed to reuse and recycle at scale. What is wrong with the current system? 🟢 Textile waste is a direct consequence of our linear economic system. Separate, dedicated textile collection systems are underdeveloped and do not capture all textiles placed on the market. 🟢 Around the world, the vast majority of textiles (>80%) leak out of the system when they are discarded, they are incinerated, landfilled, or end up in the environment 🟢 In our current textile system, most business models are linear: they are based on high volumes of new products, made from virgin resources, which are often used for a short time and then thrown away. 🟢 Separate collection is the only way to keep textiles from ending up in the waste stream or worse, the environment. But today, the economics of separate collection and sorting do not stack up. 🟢 Collecting and managing discarded textiles happens at a cost, and sorters around the world experience challenging profitability. This is a key barrier to achieving a circular economy for textiles. How do we make EPR deliver #circulareconomy outcomes? 🟢 EPR policy is a starting point and needs to evolve to deliver circular economy outcomes. Today’s EPR policy leaves opportunities untapped by focusing on downstream activities, such as recycling. 🟢 EPR has the potential to drive action upstream, by encouraging circular design, extending the use phase of textile products, and addressing pollution impacts, such as microfibre leakage. 🟢 To achieve a global circular economy for textiles, national EPR systems need to align around the same key objectives, while setting targets that are tailored to the national or regional context.

6

1 Comment

Steal our 4-step guide for Climate Risk Assessments 👇 Find all the answers in our guide to: ⚡ 4 steps for completing a climate risk assessment (ESRS E1) ⚡ The purpose of a climate risk assessment ⚡ Practical examples & applications Grab your copy here: https://lnkd.in/ejUQGcRA #EUTaxonomy #CSRD #ESRSE1 #DazzleResources Nalise

22

5 Comments

[Recap of Day 2 Circularity 2024] Aligning Stewardship with Regulation for Systemic Impact 🚀 Reflecting further on the insightful session at #Circularity2024, I realised just how critical it is for product stewardship to align with policy and regulation to drive long-term impact. Chris Foley, Linda Mitchell, and Kylie Roberts-Frost shared their perspectives on this topic, and it left me thinking deeply about how we balance responsibility, practicality, and innovation. Here are the key reflections I took away: 1️⃣ The Role of Regulation in Packaging Chris (Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO)) delved into the importance of mandatory measures and eco-modulated fees to incentivise sustainable practices in packaging. What resonated with me was his point about ensuring industry accountability while avoiding unintended consequences—regulation should drive improvement, not just impose costs. 2️⃣ Data as a Foundation for Change Kylie discussed how the Australian Bedding Stewardship Council (ABSC) Council is building a clearer picture of mattress waste. Her explanation of how robust data can guide better policy frameworks underscored the importance of evidence-based decision-making to ensure targeted and effective regulations. 3️⃣ Collaboration to Overcome Challenges Linda shared how Tyre Stewardship Australia works with various stakeholders to improve material recovery and create innovative solutions for tyre reuse. I was particularly inspired by her emphasis on integrating upstream and downstream strategies—designing for longevity while finding high-value end markets for used materials. 💡 Takeaway: Aligning stewardship with regulation isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating a framework that drives innovation, accountability, and collaboration. It’s a reminder that the success of a circular economy depends on all of us working together—industries, governments, and consumers alike. 👉 Have you seen examples where regulation has effectively driven circular innovation? Let me know in the comments! 👉 Missed earlier insights? Go back to Part 1 (https://lnkd.in/gDJe-kct or https://lnkd.in/gf_Wvrcv) to learn about product stewardship as a practical enabler of circularity and Part 2 (https://lnkd.in/grvN6x_J) for real-world examples of stewardship in action. Let’s connect and keep this important conversation going! #CircularEconomy #ProductStewardship #SustainabilityMatters #PolicyInnovation #CircularDesign #RegulatoryAlignment Circularity Australian Circular Economy Hub Planet Ark Sancta Sophia College Millennium Campus Network (MCN)

10

2 Comments

Delivering sustainable climate action: reframing the sustainable development goals. This perspective considers how to re-frame the SDGs and their successor towards mainstreaming climate action within the targets and indicators of all the development goals. https://lnkd.in/gWgZaFdw

3

The concept of #materiality sits at the heart of #bestpractice identification, management and reporting of #sustainability risks and opportunities. It guides the prioritisation of those risks and opportunities that can significantly impact our business and/or are most important to our stakeholders. As a demonstration of our #sustainabilityleadership, New Forests regularly assesses materiality, guided by globally leading sustainability-related reporting frameworks including the Integrated Reporting (IR) Framework, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the FSB Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the nascent International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB). Done well, a materiality assessment should do more than inform our sustainability management and reporting. A refreshed understanding of the environmental, social, and governance themes that are most important to stakeholders is a valuable input to strategic planning, helping to inform business strategy and resource allocation and guide performance measurement. This year we evolved our Materiality Assessment to incorporate a double materiality approach to understand the environmental, social or governance themes of significant to our stakeholders (impact materiality), the themes which most affect New Forests’ business going forward (financial materiality) and those themes which are material from both an impact and financial lens. We also expanded the number and types of stakeholders engaged, for example, including Environmental NGOs as a proxy for the environment, given our reliance on nature as manager of nature-based real assets and natural capital strategies. Well done Carly Hammond for pursuing a novel approach to gaining input from our stakeholders and her considered way of bringing it all together. If you want to know the findings from our 2024 Materiality Assessment, I encourage you to read our Report, that can be found here https://lnkd.in/gepKBiq6.

53

3 Comments

I love this sentence: “the new rule is designed to protect consumers by ensuring sustainable products and services sold are accurately described.” I love it because so much of the greenwashing narrative has been led by “well at least they are trying to do something… they are not as bad as fossil fuels…” etc. What has been largely lacking is the root point - which is protecting consumers who think they are spending money on something that changes the climatic outcome. (This may not be a popular statement but…) the second part of the sentence “ensure products and services sold are accurately described” has also largely been lacking in much of the greenwashing conversations over the past year by communications and marketing teams. My observation has been the approach taken is a rough understanding of the CMA guidance without an eagerness to find a way to lean on 3rd party experts to navigate the hard complex and multidisciplinary work required to actually ensure messaging is accurate in the context of deep interconnected sustainability. “Results from the latest Financial Lives survey shows significant consumer interest in sustainable finance as 81% of adults surveyed would like their investments to do some good as well as provide a financial return.” This is a hugely helpful development that will eventually level the market for the better but in the meantime might pop the cat amoungst the pigeons. From 31st May the anti-greenwashing rule comes into force so the UK’s Financial Condict Authority (FCA) is offering guidance… “The proposed labelling and Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) for portfolio managers largely mirror those introduced for asset managers in November 2023. They include: 💡product labels to help consumers understand what their money is being used for 💡naming and marketing requirements so products can only be described as having positive outcomes on the environment and/or society when those claims can be backed up” The overarching takeaway from this is that sustainability MUST be embedded through an organisation…. 💡Yes legal will look at the legality of claims 💡 marketing and comms will craft them But… ❓who is deciding what products are chosen and against what parameters? ❓Is everyone in the organisation able to speak on the nuances well? ⁉️Vitally - SERVICES must be described accurately… are you a sustainability fund or a fund with some sustainability options? We are 3rd party experts with 20 years academic and practitioner experience in deep earth sciences based sustainability with a marketing background - get in touch for support https://lnkd.in/e7TNjWDe.

30

6 Comments

Europe advances the development of its new Green Claims Directive to address #greenwashing The European Commission previously published a proposed Green Claims Directive (GCD), which complements the recently adopted directive on empowering consumers for the green transition. The GCD sets minimum requirements for the substantiation, communication and verification of explicit environmental claims. The EU's environment ministers have now adopted the Council's position on the proposed GCD: * Scope - will apply to environmental claims and voluntary environmental labels * Environmental claims and labels should be clear and easy to understand, and based on the latest scientific evidence * Prior verification - Any green claim would have to be verified by third-party independent experts BEFORE being published. A simplified procedure will exempt certain types of explicit environmental claims from third-party verification through completing a technical document before making the claim public. *Provision will be made to recognise public environmental labels *Climate-related claims - new requirements will be introduced to prove climate-related claims, including those involving carbon credits. The Council’s position will form the basis for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final shape of the GCD. Press release: https://lnkd.in/gPFS28Ey.

6

I was thrilled to work with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland on their most recent Circular Insights study examining ways to reduce single-use packaging in the sale of fruit and vegetables. The study was delivered to support the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in advancing national policy. This was a fascinating, collaborative project that brought together Arup’s expertise in circular economy, packaging design, food systems and supply chains from our teams in Dublin, Berlin, London and Glasgow. Based on an extensive literature review and stakeholder engagement, key options for reducing single-use packaging were explored, including lightweighting, loose produce, laser labelling, B2B crate and pallet pooling systems, consumer-level reuse and short food supply chains. The study uncovered opportunities to reduce or eliminate single-use packaging for fruit and vegetables in Ireland, and to enhance the efficiency of reusable packaging systems in the supply chain. Our findings highlighted the importance of adopting a whole supply chain perspective to reduce the net lifecycle environmental impacts, including indirect impacts on food waste. Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/e-6Et_T6  #CircularEconomy #CircularEconomyIRL #Sustainability #Packaging #WeAreArup 

38