Hi Friend,

It’s hard to ignore the crisis at our doorstep, and as sustainability professionals we can’t help but dedicate this week’s update to the massive forest fires ablaze globally and share insights from our friends in the business and action that could help create a positive ripple. If you have a few minutes to spare, we invite you to read through our update for the week of August 26th.

In reflecting the need for bold climate action, you may want to consider...

The breadth of the climate crisis

• A special report, “Climate Change, Desertification, Land Degradation, Sustainable Land Management, Food Security and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in Terrestrial Ecosystems” was released in the IPCC’s 50th session ahead of the G7 meeting and climate talks to inform leaders, decision makers, practitioners and the public on the dire status of our ecosystem.

• In a Times interview in June, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that "Climate change is not a problem for multilateralism, climate change is a problem for us all. But I think climate change offers an opportunity for multilateralism to prove its value.”

• “The Lungs of the Earth Are On Fire” broke in the New York Times a few days ago capturing widespread attention, including the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio who responded in an Instagram post with recommendations for what individuals can do to take action now.

• “A period of warmth that rewrote the record books” continues in Alaska prompting wildfires, increased glacial melt, flooding and heat-related deaths of healthy salmon. Anchorage adopted its climate action plan on May 21st of this year.

Applying tactics for igniting change from within

• A Board of Directors Climate Change Checklist was posted by Helle Bank Jorgensen in LinkedIn last week, which would help provide a quick guide for what’s possible.

• Following the issuance of the Statement on the Purpose of an Organization at the Business Roundtable recently, Alison Olmens posted Questions Every Business Leader Must Ask Now That CEOs Have Rewritten a Purpose of An Organization which could provide starting points for engaging key stakeholders in reorienting businesses of the future.

Offsetting your own activities

• Connect with Code REDD’s Stand For Trees Program to protect forests, climate and wildlife by investing in the forests that bring us life. The program offers affordable offsets and the use of research and multi-media platforms to add value to your organization’s actions.

• Register your travel and/or include the Good Traveler app on your website to better track Scope 3 emissions and to promote reforestation projects.

Joining other thought leaders and agents of change in the fight

• Learn how to truly shape a purpose-driven enterprise that is all inclusive and regenerative at the upcoming BCorp Champions Retreat in Los Angeles September 16-18.

• Side events at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York late September can provide ample opportunities for collaboration. There is no lack of side events that one can attend for free! US Climate Action Center will be discussing ways in which groups can take action on a webinar scheduled for Thursday, September 5th at 4PM EDT. If you have other ideas for how you would like to get involved at Climate Week in NYC or in Chile at COP25, complete this form to inform the #We Are Still In delegations.

• Our very own, Eric Israel will be speaking to “How Integrating Sustainability into Risk Operations” at the next Skytop Strategies Sustainability & Risk conference in Arlington, Virginia - October 24th. Let us know if you’d like to be added to the guest list!

• With the release of the new IPCC special report Ceres is holding a webinar August 28th at 10am (Eastern) on the State of Science: Everything You Need To Know About Climate Change and Land. Getting a sense for key features of the report may provide some indication of where leading ESG surveys and reporting platforms are headed in this next disclosure cycle.

Attend one of our upcoming learning opportunities

• Our next Certified GRI Standards Training will be held in Washington, D.C., on September 26-27. If you haven't already completed the course, please consider joining us in our nation's capital.

• We just confirmed November 7-8 in New York at Fordham University! We’ll open registration in the next few weeks!

Applying to help companies from within

• SDG&E seeks a Senior Environmental Specialist to provide high-level environmental guidance to internal clients, peers, management and project teams, while also conducting and overseeing complex analysis of the potential effects of existing and proposed company operations on the environment.

• Snooze: an A.M. Eatery is interviewing ideal candidates to fill the position of Director of Sustainability in Denver to help position the company as a leader in the restaurant industry within the sustainability space and to enable its mission to respect the Mothership, the restaurants and the community.

If there is anything else you feel would help you along in your journey, please don't hesitate to send your thoughts to us!

To a brighter future,
Team ISOS Group