POLICY

80% of cities not yet 1.5C-aligned; more government support needed 

Just one-fifth of the world's cities have reported climate plans aligned with the Paris Agreement's 1.5C trajectory, with many saying they need more support to accelerate decarbonisation and adaptation. That is a key finding from a new report from CDP and sustainable development NGO ICLEI. More than 90% of the cities, states and regions state that they are working with national governments and the proportion stands at 88% for local governments. However, one-third of them said they will need more support from their governments to deliver their climate adaptation plans, while the proportion was one-quarter for those needing more support on decarbonisation. Government support will likely need to be increased in the fields of decarbonised electricity grids and transport sectors, and new incentives, mandates and funding for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors. (Edie)  

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Report finds most ethnic minority finance workers suffer discrimination

Two in three UK finance workers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds have suffered discrimination in the workplace, according to an industry survey revealing shortfalls in the City of London’s diversity agenda. The findings from reboot. –a network of senior professionals drawn from some of the City’s biggest firms, including fund managers Legal & General and State Street– said the industry was failing to back up diversity pledges with concrete action. Two-thirds (66%) of BAME staff had experienced discrimination at work as a result of their background. More than a quarter (28%) said discrimination was holding back their career, while nearly half (48%) felt their career progression was slower than for white colleagues. Four in 10 (41%) thought their employers were failing to demonstrate a full commitment to creating an inclusive environment. (The Guardian)

COLLABORATION 

Lendlease and Stora Enso to develop sustainable construction materials 

International real estate group Lendlease has launched a partnership with a leading supplier of sustainable wood for construction, Stora Enso, in a bid to slash the embedded carbon from its buildings. The partnership will see the two companies accelerate the use of environmentally friendly construction products through collaborative research and the development of sustainable timber products. A new studio will be built in Milan, where Lendlease has $7.9 billion in urbanisation projects underway, to develop the sustainable timber products and facilitate their rollout across the company's European development projects, which are together worth $52 billion. Sustainable timber contains less carbon than traditional building materials such as steel and cement, according to Lendlease, and can play a key role in reducing the construction industry's environmental footprint. (Business Green) 

STRATEGY

McDonald's targets net-zero value chain globally by 2050 

Fast-food giant McDonald's has set a 2050 global net-zero target covering operations and the supply chain, while its UK & Ireland business has set a more ambitious 2040 deadline. The company will work with the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to update its existing climate goals, which are aligned with the Paris Agreement’s less ambitious 2C pathway. It is set to develop targets to reduce emissions from its operations and supply chain by around one-third this decade, to support its long-term net-zero vision. An alignment with 1.5C is now the best-practice standard, after a major report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018 revealed the likely differences between a 2C world and a 1.5C world. Indeed, the SBTi is currently working to make 1.5C the minimum target-setting requirement. (Edie)  

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

Enzyme-based plastic recycling moves a step closer with new demo plant 

Biochemical company, Carbios, has successfully launched an industrial demonstration plant for its enzyme-based plastic recycling technology, marking the culmination of a decade of research. The consortium said it is now working "hand in hand" with its multinational brand partners including L'Oréal, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo, and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe to implement its technology and "lead the transition toward a truly circular economy". The Carbios system uses enzymes, which occur naturally in compost heaps, and adapts them to break down any type of PET plastic, regardless of colour or complexity. The enzyme leaves behind a raw material which can then be turned back into virgin-quality plastic. (Business Green) 

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