Anti-ESG proposals flooded U.S. corporate annual meeting agendas in 2024 by shareholder proponents who do not support limiting corporate environmental impacts, promoting diversity, or providing investors with more ESG disclosure, filing more than 100 shareholder proposals as of June 30, 2024.  Support averaged only 1.9 ...

Research consistently demonstrates the long-term benefits of inclusive policy-making and sustained diversity and inclusion programs, making inclusion a strategic imperative that promotes sustainable growth and resilience in the face of global risks and challenges.  Anchoring diversity and inclusion in the business worl ...

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) are different but complementary concepts.  Diversity focuses on the representation of different groups in the organization.  Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances and needs.  Inclusion is about involving individuals and groups with their unique personal cha ...

In 2015, the United Nations agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as the central normative framework for sustainable development worldwide.  The effectiveness of governing by such broad global goals, however, remains uncertain and the question arises whether these 17 SDGs have had any political impact withi ...

The term "greenflation," which combines "green" meaning decarbonization and "inflation" meaning rising prices, has become widely known.  As investment in fossil fuels has been curbed, demand for natural gas, which can have lower greenhouse gas emissions than coal, has increased, causing energy prices to rise.  Addressi ...

Six out of nine planetary boundaries have already been breached with the seventh is about to be breached, too.  Despite global promises, crucial policies fall short, which causes alarm amongst scientist.  Carbon emissions are on the rise, natural feedback loops spiral downwards, and essential biodiversity targets remai ...

The 2024 Sustainable Development Goals Report highlighted that nearly half the 17 targets are showing minimal or moderate progress, while over a one-third are stalled or going in reverse, since they were adopted by UN Member States back in 2015 to bring peace and prosperity for people and the planet.  “This report is k ...

The U.S. under the Trump administration stated that it “rejects and denounces” the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), the key global goals adopted by nations unanimously in 2015 as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, aimed at tackling global environmental and social challenges.  Th ...

Numerous environmental, social, and economic development challenges are covered under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and green building plays a key role of in achieving the UN’s SDGs.  Overcoming barriers and the adoption of solutions and methods to integrate non-renewable and renewable resources is a promisi ...

The Trump administration has launched an unfounded assault on science and initiatives, on research institutions and international organizations and on academic freedom and people’s rights.  It is firing employees from national agencies in key disciplines that protect public health, the environment and people’s safety a ...

A trade war occurs when countries impose tariffs or other barriers on each other’s goods, which can lead to a global conflict that unsettles global trade relations.  When major players like the United States, the European Union, and China engage in trade disputes, entire sectors that depend on global collaboration and ...

Globally, fossil fuel subsidies were $7 trillion in 2022 or 7.1% of GDP.  Explicit subsidies – the undercharging for supply costs – have more than doubled since 2020.  This equals 18% of the total subsidy, while nearly 60% is due to undercharging for global warming and local air pollution.  Differences between efficien ...

The United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) is the most important instrument for planning and implementation of the UN development activities at country level.  The Cooperation Framework is an agreement between the UN and the host government that must a) clearly articulate the United Natio ...

A better understanding of the complexity, size, design, and effects of subsidies and externalities of economic sectors contributing to environmental degradation could facilitate and expedite discussions to strengthen the implementation of multilateral agreements.  This is an essential aspect of the global economic syst ...

Construction and real estate have been central to the debates on sustainable development.  Where the dominant definition of sustainability in the built environment focuses on the environmental dimension, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) offer opportunities for the building sector to expand its focus.  Green ...