Climate change has already cut into the global food supply and is fuelling wars and natural disasters, but governments are unprepared to protect those most at risk, according to a report from the UN‘s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The second part of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5), which discusses the impacts of climate change, states climate change has ceased to be a distant threat and made an impact much closer to home. The hundreds of scientists and experts from across the globe who worked on the report found evidence of climate change “on all continents and across the oceans”. The finding that climate change could threaten global food security has proved particularly concerning to the government officials from 115 countries who reviewed the report. Scientists and campaigners pointed to the finding as a defining feature of the report, with Tim Gore, head of food policy and climate change for Oxfam, commenting that “the main way that most people will experience climate change is through the impact on food: the food they eat, the price they pay for it, and the availability and choice that they have.” (The Guardian)
Employees
McDonald’s warns of Europe’s ‘workforce cliff’
McDonald’s has warned that Europe faces a future of stunted growth unless employers do more to bring marginalised groups such as young people and older workers into the labour force. David Fairhurst, chief people officer at McDonald’s Europe, said the fast-food chain was already starting to feel the effects of what he called the “workforce cliff”. “The workforce is shrinking at both ends of the spectrum,” he said. “There aren’t enough young people coming into the labour market and too many older people are leaving it.” He also said the shortage of workers would soon have an impact on economic growth. “There is growing evidence that a sustained economic recovery in Europe may be jeopardised by the rapid downturn in workforce growth,” he said. If employment stopped growing, the entire burden of economic growth would be placed on productivity, which had largely stagnated in recent years. Fairhurst further commented that action by a wide range of employers was needed to increase labour market participation “so that it helps the overall economic growth which in turn helps us as a business”. (Financial Times)*
Supply Chain
Clariant Joins BASF, AkzoNobel in chemical industry sustainability initiative
Swiss specialty chemicals giant Clariant has announced it is the newest member of Together for Sustainability (TfS), a chemical industry initiative founded in 2011 aimed at improving sustainability practices within its supply chains. Clariant joins AkzoNobel, BASF, Bayer, Evonik Industries, Henkel, Lanxess and Solvay in jointly operating global supplier assessments and third-party audits. The companies will share scorecard ratings within the TfS member group on a web-based collaborative platform, eliminating the need for each company to conduct its own. Assessing sustainability requirements through the program, TfS aims to lower risks in the procurement process while reducing the burden for suppliers by allowing them to participate in one comprehensive program. Mathias Lütgendorf, member of Clariant’s Executive Committee, underlined: “Corporate Sustainability is a core element of our corporate strategy. With the TfS membership, we enhance our procurement and supply chain activities into our corporate sustainability strategy.” (Sustainable Brands)
Renewable Energy
UK Green Investment Bank announces major investment in offshore wind
The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) has revealed plans for equity investments worth £461 million in offshore wind projects that will use “next generation” turbines manufactured by Siemens, which itself has plans to boost the sector. GIB’s investment includes a 50% stake in the Westermost Rough offshore wind farm in Yorkshire, developed by DONG Energy, and a 10% stake in the Gwynt y Môr offshore wind farm in Wales, owned by RWE Innogy. The announcement follows Siemens’ plans to invest significantly in a new £310m offshore wind project in Hull. Shaun Kingsbury, chief of the UK Green Investment Bank, said, “The UK has ambitious plans to build on its position as a world leader in offshore wind. We have two roles to play in supporting those plans. Firstly, to directly invest to help developers recycle their capital into the next wave of new renewable energy projects. Secondly, to invest on fully commercial terms to create a demonstration effect which others will follow.” (Blue and Green Tomorrow)
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