đź’š Top industries thriving on the back of unpaid natural capital

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Hej,
Love letter #66 coming in hot with our upcoming climate leadership roundtable and a report on the world's top industries and the cumulative toll of unpriced natural capital they're consuming — can you believe that they wouldn't be profitable if they had to pay for their environmental costs? Finally, you can learn more about our climate research partners' take on TransitionView (this time in English). Happy reading! 
Climate action

Climate Leadership Roundtable #3

On May 24th, we are hosting our third Climate Leadership Roundtable together with Ă…sa Löfgren, Sverker C. Jagers, and sustainability leaders from Microsoft, Swedbank and Pfizer, amongst others. 

Building on our joint findings from the last roundtable, the upcoming session is all about turning inertia into actions and impact. More specifically, we will focus on Willingness which is one of the three key areas within the TransitionView framework and covers parts such as a company's financing, leadership backing and support as well as clarity and mandate with regards to an organisation's transition. 

We're excited to share the outcome with you soon and if you're interested in joining future roundtables and events, reach out to Lisa
Curated

Disregarding Nature's Bill: Top Industries Thrive on the Backs of Unpaid Natural Capital

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A new study finds that the world's biggest industries burn through $7.3 trillion worth of free natural capital a year which is also the reason they turn a profit.  

Conducted by environmental consultancy Trucost on behalf of the Natural Capital Coalition, the report calculates the cumulative toll of "unpriced natural capital" consumed by the world's dominant industrial sectors. This encompasses the essential resources of clear water, a stable atmosphere, and other ecological materials and sectors.

The study showcases that the biggest share of unpriced natural capital costs arise from greenhouse gas emissions (38%), water use (25%), and land use (24%). Notably, the most significant environmental impacts stem from coal power generation in Eastern Asia, cattle ranching and farming in South America, iron and steel mills in Eastern Asia, wheat farming in Southern Asia, and coal power generation in North America.

Perhaps the most astonishing finding is that none of the world's top industrial sectors would be profitable if they had to pay for their environmental costs. The report serves as an eye-opening testament to the symbiotic relationship between profitability and the exploitation of natural capital.

Read the article here and download the report here
Recommended

The climate researchers behind TransitionView on the new tool for climate action

A few weeks back we talked to our climate research partners Ă…sa Löfgren and Sverker C. Jagers about TransitionView, the climate action tool we developed together to accelerate organisations' green transition. Find an excerpt of the conversation below and click here for the full interview. 

AT: Who should use TransitionView?

Ă…sa: Those who realise that we are in a period of transition and are aware that change is necessary for the company's survival. 
TransitionView can also assess the credibility of other companies' objectives, which can be useful when comparing two companies with the same sustainability or climate goals.

Sverker: TransitionView is particularly suitable for at least three types of companies: companies with significant emissions that need to reduce them, companies that rely on others who emit a lot e.g. on logistics companies for the delivery of products, and all investors. With TransitionView, investors can find out if the companies they want to invest in are equipped to meet current and future sustainability requirements.

What is the greatest value of using the tool?
Sverker
: TransitionView can create security, provide guidance, and help make the transition feasible. It's like a nautical chart that shows how to navigate to reach climate goals.

Ă…sa: Even though TransitionView doesn't provide answers to everything, it offers an important overview for the entire organisation. It's a way to see what needs to be improved, involve everyone within the organisation, and help each department understand its role in the transition.

Final note from Linnéa, Head of Communications
As my parental leave is approaching, this is the final newsletter written and edited by myself, but fear not, my brilliant colleagues will be spearheading the production and make sure that you will receive a bi-weekly newsletter packed with new, exciting and interesting content going forward. I'm looking forward to become a subscriber myself and will be back in Spring 2024. 

All the best until then and as always, stay safe and stay curious! 
/ LinnĂ©a 

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Climate Leadership Roundtable #3: Transition Willingness

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The climate researchers behind TransitionView on the new tool for climate action