Corporate Knights

The most abundant protein on earth is present in all green plants, but so far its immense potential value has yet to be truly unlocked. The California startup Plantible might have the key, and it comes from a surprising source: duckweed, or those little green plants that float on the surface of ponds and lakes, whose protein density is much higher than the salad greens people usually eat. Rather than pitching its products to the consumer, Plantible has developed ingredients for food manufacturers, grown in its "vertically integrated biology platform" in Texas. Read Mark Mann's story about this promising new entrant in the chaotic plant protein market, and why venture capitalists are backing the company. https://lnkd.in/eTphTRhb

Canadians overwhelmingly want a thriving economy, preservation of nature, and protection against severe natural disasters. To achieve these and other shared goals demands substantial financial investment. At the Sustainable Finance Forum in Ottawa this week, investors and policymakers are gathering with leaders from across sectors to work on the economic underpinnings of Canada's green transition. Don't miss this OpEd by three presenting partners of the forum: Maya Saryyeva of the Institute for Sustainable Finance at the Smith School of Business at Queen's University; Graham Singh of Relèven and Table of Impact Investment Practitioners; and Michael Toye of the The Canadian CED Network (CCEDNet) - Le Réseau canadien de DÉC (RCDÉC). https://lnkd.in/eVy_tXcN

We know family dinners can get heated during the holidays, so we asked Clara Kirkpatrick to illustrate some talking points to help you navigate arguments over climate change. Happy holidays to all our American readers! #thanksgiving #climatechange Jack Dylan https://lnkd.in/dVXmjtED

The green jobs boom is real and it's only getting bigger. The hiring rate for green talent globally is 55% higher than for the general business population, according LinkedIn's 2024 Global Green Skills Report. In the United States, that advantage is 80%. But the supply of green expertise isn't keeping up with demand, and the report projects that a full half of the jobs required by the green economy in 2050 will lack qualified candidates. “This data is a wake-up call, and there’s no more time to hit the snooze button,” says Sue Duke, LinkedIn’s vice president of public policy. Read Rick Spence's brief on the accelerating global demand for green skills. Smart Prosperity Institute The Conference Board of Canada Hem Dholakia, PhD https://lnkd.in/e-inCay3

Among COP29's limited accomplishments was a new global framework for carbon credits. While some in the climate movement celebrated the announcement, others say it fails to solve the problems of the existing system. With this new framework, stagnating carbon credit markets could see fresh growth, reports Eugene Ellmen. But big emitters can still use the system to meet their climate pledges without doing the real work of reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. According to Carbon Market Watch, the COP29 guidelines will create “cowboy carbon markets at a time when the world needs a sheriff." Environmental Defense Fund The Integrity Council for the Voluntary Carbon Market (ICVCM) Dr Injy Johnstone Science Based Targets initiative International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits An Lambrechts https://lnkd.in/eaAVSeEw

Huge numbers of oil lobbyists swarm the UN climate talks every year, and they're backed by some of the world's top PR firms. While fossil fuel interests at COP are coming under increasing scrutiny, less attention is paid to the ad agencies and communications professionals who help them craft their messaging. Journalist TJ Jordan and researcher Kathryn Clare have put together a fascinating survey of the big PR firms that have been helping the oil lobby promote sketchy climate solutions at #COP29 in Azerbaijan. #climatechange https://lnkd.in/dYPvVhfH

The makers of heat recovery systems don’t tend to generate much media frenzy, but when they’re introduced by the likes of America’s Got Talent judge Heidi Klum, Canadian supermodel Winnie Harlow and William, Prince of Wales, the paparazzi start to take notice. That’s the magic formula behind this month’s The Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in Cape Town, South Africa, writes Rick Spence, a glitzy event that shamelessly combined Hollywood pizzazz and British royalty with innovative waste-heat systems, wildlife conservation and circular-economy waste solutions. Green Africa Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People Keep IT Cool | Deliver while still fresh Advanced Thermovoltaic Systems #climatesolutions #greensolutions #greeninnovation #climatecrisis https://lnkd.in/dfnQHfre

It’s tempting to view the energy transition as primarily an issue of investment in renewables, but that would be oversimplifying the overlapping challenges to the green shift. While we may take heart from the price competitiveness of wind and solar, there are many other complicating factors that influence the pace of decarbonization: required grid updates, unpredictable policy shifts, serious conservation concerns, and more. In this dispatch from #COP29, Isabela Alcázar PhD, Chief Purpose and Sustainability Officer at IE University in Spain, argues that the UN's new global framework for carbon credits could give a much-needed speed boost to the energy transition. #CarbonCredits https://lnkd.in/eakVtX-s

November has brought record-breaking heat to cities across Canada and around the world, and 2024 is "virtually certain" to be the hottest on record, scientists say. The planet is heating up and city-dwellers are experiencing the worst effects as urban areas are warming at twice the global average, according to a UN report published this summer. At the recent Human/Nature design conference hosted by AZURE Media in Toronto, writer Brian Banks attended the "Forecast for Hotter Cities" panel with leading experts on urban design and climate resilience: Rasmus Astrup, Dorsa Jalalian, Fadi Masoud, Owen Gow, and Kristina Reinders. Here, Brian gathers five key insights on how to turn down the heat for urban populations. https://lnkd.in/eccf9CDX

Until Canada’s spending aligns with our climate commitments, disasters will keep eating away at our prosperity, writes Ralph Torrie in the latest edition of the Climate Dollars initiative. #netzero #climatecrisis #climatefinancing Schulich School of Business - York University https://lnkd.in/d6n366pt