As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
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The As You Sow blog has all our latest analyses of the biggest changes we're making with shareholders to make the world safe for future generations. Founded in 1992, As You Sow empowers shareholders to change corporations for good. Our mission is to promote environmental and social corporate responsibility through shareholder advocacy, coalition building, and innovative legal strategies to..
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
1M ago
The emissions reductions we can achieve over the next decade will make a crucial impact on minimizing the worst dangers of a 1.5°C climate reality. Investors expect companies to develop transition pathways that drastically reduce the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Leading companies are delivering on their commitments to decarbonize their industries, supply chains, and customers.
Corporate strategies that rely on offsetting, however, do not contribute to internal decarbonization. Instead, offsetting depends on causing emission reductions outside of the value chain and using ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
1M ago
The world is struggling to keep the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal in reach. Pressure on oil and gas companies is reaching an all-time high.
Global bodies such like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and International Energy Agency are emphatic about the urgent need for transparent, immediate, and ambitious decarbonization of the oil and gas industry. Despite significant pushback from petrostates and US oil executives, COP28’s final agreement included language about the need to “transition away” from fossil fuels.
Unfortunately, the appearance of action is seemingly more important tha ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
1M ago
A quiet forest where there was once ruckus bird sound. Fewer bees in the fields. A monotone, brown landscape where there once was lushness. The loss of biodiversity is the loss of the familiar and erosion of stable ecosystem services that we depend on.
As You Sow recently launched a Biodiversity Program in response to increasing global concern about the systemic risks posed by biodiversity loss and looming ecosystem collapse. Biodiversity is the basis for the innumerable ecosystem services that communities, companies, and the world at large depend on – food security, fresh water, clean air, an ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
3M ago
After researching 1,600 public companies, As You Sow statistically linked diversity to financial outperformance.
Written By Andrew Behar, As You Sow & Meredith Benton, Whistle Stop Capital
Why are Elon Musk and Mark Cuban publicly feuding over workforce diversity? The billionaire beef is part of a larger conversation making headlines on corporate programs meant to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Elon claims the programs are “racist” against white men because they result in hiring practices that prioritize optics over “merit.” Mark says the same diversity pr ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
4M ago
Episode Goal: To introduce the world of private equity and its pivotal role in shaping industries. Explore how private equity funds have the power to influence carbon-intensive sectors, either exacerbating or mitigating climate change.
Title: Episode 1: "The Green Investment Landscape" - The Power of Private Equity in Shaping Climate Change
Private equity, a term often heard in financial circles, wields immense influence in shaping the business landscape. In recent years, the influence of private equity firms has extended beyond profit margins and shareholder returns to an ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
6M ago
The climate crisis will have a devastating impact on the world's poor, who will be affected first and most severely – and it’s already happening. One of the most infuriating parts of the climate crisis for me is the way the richest in our society disproportionately contribute to the crisis while the poorest suffer.
Notably, aviation emissions have doubled since the 1980s and the use of private jets, likely the most emission-intensive way of flying, is growing. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) aviation accounts for approximately 2% of global CO2 emissions produc ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
8M ago
Studio executives are at an inherent disadvantage in the War of Words that defines the WAG/SAG-AFTRA strikes. The people who make programs we love funny are on the other side of the picket line, and their way with words brings people to their side. Writers and actors are ready to risk it all to fight for better pay, for a more secure future, and against the astronomical pay of the Hollywood CEOs who have been unyielding to the demands of the strikers. As Variety put it: “Hollywood Strikes Amplify Criticism of Lavish Media CEO Pay Packages.” I’ve spent most of my career looking at excessive ex ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
1y ago
On April 21st 2023 the fight against environmental racism took an important step forward. As You Sow commends President Biden and his administration on signing the Executive Order 12898: Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All. Stating that “racism is a fundamental driver of environmental injustice,” the Order lays out concrete steps to overcome years of denial and neglect. Biden's order explicitly establishes EJ as central to the missions of every executive branch agency, acknowledging that EJ is a fundamental part of the country’s civil rights and ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
1y ago
Andrew Behar
CEO of As You Sow
The capital market paradigm has shifted and leading companies realize they have the opportunity to outperform by taking into account environmental and social risks coupled with transparent corporate governance. Over the past 50 years shareholder advocates have helped birth this new reality, with help from mainstream investors who now routinely support the new ideas and creative solutions proxy season presents each year. While political efforts to roll back the clock are underway, they will crumble against the wall of economic reality investors and compani ..read more
As You Sow Blog » Ocean+Plastics
1y ago
Hello, I am Maren Costa, I am a Microsoft employee, and today I’m representing As You Sow on proposal number three on the proxy statement. This Proposal asks Microsoft to report on how the Company is managing the growing systemic risk created by investing retirement plan funds in companies that contribute significantly to climate change.
Recognizing the growing risks of climate change to the Company’s bottom line, Microsoft has adopted ambitious operational climate goals, including a commitment to become carbon negative by 2030, as well as a goal to reach 100 percent renewable energy by 2025 ..read more