Sustainability Flashcards

1
Q

When was the UN’s first meeting on environmental issues?

A

1972

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2
Q

What did the Club of Rome publish & when?

What was the conclusion - what was the impact?

A

1972 ‘The Limits of Growth’

Limit to economic growth due to resource constraints - did not shape public policy

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3
Q

When was the Brundtland Commission established?

What report did they publish, what was the conclusion?

A

Established in 1980s

1987 - commission’s final report

Concluded that sustainable development needs to be compatible with economic growth
‘Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’

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4
Q

When did corporations begin to widely pursue CSR?

A

1990s

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5
Q

Wen did investors begin pressing companies to become more sustainable? What was this referred to as?

A

1990s

Referred to as ‘shareholder engagement’

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6
Q

When was ESG coined as a term, by what?

When was this solidified?

A

ESG coined in 2005 by UN Global Compact

Solidified when embedded into the UN PRI (2006)

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7
Q

What are corporations corporate-level climate goals motivated by?

A
  • bottom up consumer pressure
  • government policy
  • investor / lender pressure
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8
Q

Is Climate an exclusively ESG issue? Why?

A

No - impacts all stakeholders, including those who are not currently acting in sustainable ways

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9
Q

When were the UN SDGs launched?

What were they launched as part of?

A

2015

UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

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10
Q

What was adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit? By whom?

A

Agenda 21 - plan for a global partnership on sustainable development
178 countries

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11
Q

Who was the Rio Earth Summit started by?

A

UNFCCC - UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Convention on Biological Diversity

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12
Q

What have the UNFCCC and Convention on Biological Diversity helped to support?

A

Large role in coordinating communication regarding scientific consensus built by the IPCC with Governments

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13
Q

Why is the UNFCCC important

A

All major global level climate-policy agreements have happened under aegis of UNFCCC

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14
Q

MDGS : when established, how many, to be achieved by ___?

A

Established in 2000
X8 goals
To be achieved by 2015

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15
Q

Success of MDGs, why?

A

Ultimately fell short
Lack of private sector engagement
But helped set a benchmark

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16
Q

Mandate of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

A

Build on the MDGs and complete what they did not achieve

Centred on people, planet, prosperity & peace

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17
Q

Success of SDGs based on?

A

Broad, all encompassing, detailed goals

169 targets provide specificity and better tracking / focus

Broader set of policies covered - allows wider range of stakeholders to find agreement on some issues

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18
Q

CS: Goal 4 - Quality Education

A

Free access to primary & secondary

Access to early childhood care

Access to technical, vocational and higher education

Eliminate gender disparities

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19
Q

CS: Goal 7 - Affordable Energy

By 2030…

A

Universal, reliable, affordable modern energy services

Increase share of renewable energy in global mix

Double global rate of improved energy efficiency

International cooperation on research / tech / investment

Expand infrastructure for supplying modern energy - esp. in developing

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20
Q

Nature based solutions - brief description

A

Help protect, manage or restore ecosystems whilst addressing societal challenges

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21
Q

WWF definition of nature based solutions

A

Increased ECOSYSTEM functionality

Be SCIENCE based

Be SYNERGISTIC

Involve STAKEHOLDERS form local / indigenous communities

Be MEASURABLE

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22
Q

First 6 SDGs (individual rights)

A
1 - no poverty 
2 - zero hunger 
3 - good health & wellbeing 
4 - quality education
5 - gender equality
6 - clean water & sanitation
23
Q

External Requirement SDGs - x5

A
  1. Affordable clean energy
  2. Decent work & economic growth
  3. Industry, innovation & infrastructure
  4. Reduced inequality among countries
  5. Sustainable cities
24
Q

Environmental SDGs X4

A
  1. Responsible consumption & production
  2. Urgent climate action
  3. Protect life below water
  4. Protect life on land
25
Q

Final 2 SDGs

A
  1. Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions

17. Partnership for Goals

26
Q

Previously businesses used to practice ‘pure’ capitalism - who was this aligned to?

A

Friedman
‘There is one social responsibility of business - to use its resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits’

27
Q

When was the ‘triple bottom line’ developed

A

1980s & 1990s

28
Q

When was the term CSR developed?

When did it get popularised?

A

Developed in 1950s

Popularised in 1990s

29
Q

Who issued one of the first sustainability reports?

When was this?

A

Shell - 1998

30
Q

What did shell develop to support its sustainability reports? When was this established?

A

Internal Social Responsibility Committee - 1997

31
Q

What was the conclusion of Shell’s first sustainability report

A

No choice needed to be made between ‘profits and principles’

32
Q

What trend are we starting to observe in sustainability reporting from the late 1990s to present?

A

Move away from values towards establishing targets

33
Q

What sort of effect do SDGs have on companies and industries?

What does this mean?

A

Material effects

Effects can impact the financial bottom line

34
Q

Understanding SDG alignment is important - what tools are out there for measuring this?

A

MSCI’s SDG Alignment Tool

8500+ companies - overview of net contribution to the UN SDGs

35
Q

Reputation Risk can be material for companies - how does this come about and what may it result in

A

Perceived breaches of sustainability can lead to reduced demand

Increased scrutiny from creditors or regulators

Potential to lose ‘social license to operate’

36
Q

Example of where a lack of sustainability has resulted in material financial impact

A

2019 Dam in Brazil - Vale
Collapsed - killing 250+ and polluted downstream
Share price collapsed >24%

37
Q

What council was formed at the 1992 Rio Summit, what is its mandate?

A

World Business Council for Sustainable Developed (WBCSD)

Research on CSR & share best practice

38
Q

When was the PRI launched?

What did it pave the way for?

A

2006

Helped pave the way for issue-specific coalitions

39
Q

By joining the Principles for Responsible Investment, you commit to…

A
  1. INCORPORATING ESG in investments & decision
  2. ACTIVE ownership
  3. Seeking DISCLOSURES
  4. Promoting Principles ACCEPTANCE
  5. Collaborating to IMPLEMENT the principles
  6. REPORTING activities and progress

Individuals - At - Daylesford - Always - Implement - Rudeness

40
Q

When was the SASB board founded?

How many industries do they set standards on for the most materially relevant issues?

A

2011

Most materially relevant issues in 77 industries

41
Q

What 5 main dimensions does the SASB look at?

How many key issues does this cover?

A
  1. Social Capital
  2. Human Capital
  3. Leadership & Governance
  4. Environment
  5. Business Model

Covers 26 key issues

42
Q

What initiative was founded in the wake of an oil spill? & when?

What has their journey been?

A

Global Reporting Initiative - 1997

Initially focused on guidelines - since 2016 has focused on setting standards for sustainability reporting

43
Q

Who is the WBCSD composed of?

A

200+ global firms

Members from a range of industry sectors - CEOs act as council members

44
Q

What is the UN Global Compact?

A

13,000 participants

Framework based around 10 principles on human rights / labour / environment / anti-corruption

Coined the term ESG in 2005

45
Q

What is the PSI and when was it launched?

How many principles and what is the mandate

A

Principles for Sustainable Insurance - launched in 2012

4 principles - manage ESG issues, develop resilient, inclusive, sustainable society

46
Q

What are the 6 Principles for Responsible Banking - brief version

A
  1. Alignment
  2. Impact & Target Setting
  3. Clients and Customers
  4. Stakeholders
  5. Governance & Culture
  6. Transparency & accountability

All - Turtles - Can (be) - Saved - Go - Turtles

47
Q

What is the three step process which guides PRB signatories through implementing their commitments?

A
  1. Impact Analysis - most significant products / services
  2. Target Setting - setting & achieving
  3. Reporting - publicly report
48
Q

PRB Principle: Alignment

Describe

A

Be consistent with and contribute to individuals’ needs expressed in SDG & PCA

49
Q

PRB Principle: Impact & Target Setting

Describe

A

Continuously increase positive impacts whilst reducing negative impacts on people & environment

50
Q

PRB Principle: Clients & Customers

Describe

A

Work to encourage sustainable practices, create shared prosperity

51
Q

PRB Principle: Stakeholders

Describe

A

Proactively consult, engage and partner

52
Q

PRB Principle: Governance & Culture

Describe

A

Implement commitment to principles via governance & culture

53
Q

PRB Principle: Transparency & Accountability

Describe

A

Periodically review individual and collective implement of these principles - be transparent about +/- impacts