EMPLOYEES

New upskilling programme to train food industry in climate awareness

A new organisation named the ‘Future Food Movement’ has launched a programme aimed at closing the climate skills gap in the food industry, revealing that only 12% of people in the sector feel confident in their understanding of climate and sustainability issues. A number of leading businesses, including Cranswick, Yeo Valley, and Nomad Foods, have already signed up to take part in the first Accelerator training programme starting in January 2022. The Future Food Movement is an industry organisation aimed at tackling the climate change risks faced by the food industry through upskilling workers on climate literacy, technology and communication. Other initiatives include training on the impacts of climate change and how the food industry can take action, and a network among industry executives focused on collaborative approaches to climate change. (Business Green)

CLIMATE CHANGE

BT takes aim at slashing 60 million tonnes of customers' CO2 by 2030

Technology and telecoms giant BT has set out fresh targets to help its customers reduce their own carbon emissions by 60 million tonnes by 2030, in addition to building towards becoming a circular business by the same date, as the firm accelerates its net-zero agenda. As part of its decarbonisation ambitions, the company will harness the use of technologies such as full fibre broadband, expanding its 5G mobile network, cloud computing and Internet of Things systems in order to slash its customers carbon footprint. Moreover, the firm set out fresh plans to try and address the growing e-waste challenge, with a target to become a 'circular' business by 2030 through focusing on circular economy initiatives such as the redesign, reuse and recycling of devices, hardware and their packaging. (Business Green)

ENERGY 

First passenger flight with 100% sustainable aviation fuel-powered engine

United Airlines has completed its first passenger flight with a 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) powered engine. The flight, on a Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Chicago to Washington D.C., used 100% SAF in the right engine, and traditional jet fuel in the left. The airline partnered with Boeing, GE and Safran Engines’ joint venture CFM International, Marathon Petroleum subsidiary Virent, and SAF producer World Energy. Airlines are currently permitted to use a maximum of 50% SAF on flights, whereas United Airlines secured permission to operate one engine solely on SAF. The SAF-powered engine generated an estimated 75% less CO2 emissions than conventional jet fuel-powered flight. The flight aligns with United Airlines’ plans to fully reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 without relying on carbon offsets. (ESG Today)

DIGITAL ETHICS

Rohingya refugees sue Facebook for $150 billion over Myanmar violence

Rohingya refugees from Myanmar are suing Meta Platforms Inc, formerly known as Facebook, for $150 billion over allegations that the social media company did not take action against anti-Rohingya hate speech that contributed to violence. A US class-action complaint, filed in California by law firms Edelson PC and Fields PLLC, argues that the company's failures to police content and its platform's design contributed to real-world violence faced by the Rohingya community. Facebook did not immediately respond. However, it has stated it was "too slow to prevent misinformation and hate" in Myanmar and it has since taken steps to crack down on platform abuses in the region, including banning the military from Facebook and its photo-sharing platform Instagram after the February 1 coup. (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

EQUALITY

Mayor of London unveils £51m housing programme to tackle fuel poverty

The Mayor of London has unveiled a £51 million programme to tackle fuel poverty for households in the capital in early 2022, as part of a “retrofit revolution” to improve the energy efficiency of homes in the city. More than £40 million has been secured from the £40.2 million in “Sustainable Warmth” funding from the Government. The Mayor’s office believes that the funding will help upgrade 3,200 fuel-poor homes from Spring 2022. The upgrades will be delivered through the Warmer Homes scheme that offers grants of up to £20,000 for heating, insulation and ventilation improvements. The rest of the funding will come from the Warmer Homes Programme with investments of £2.6 million from City Hall and £8.5 million from the government which will support emergency heating replacements and repairs. (edie)

CURRENT OPENINGS

Would you love to work in sustainability, supporting big brands in their responsible business journeys? Click here to see info on our current openings. We can't wait to hear from you