Social Impact

What is happening? Swiss scientists have designed windows that generate solar power using photosensitized dye. The cells can be applied over regular windows and could up the aesthetics of solar.

@globalpositivenews

What is happening? New York became the 6th state to allow for green burials, human composting, returning bodies to the earth. States that permit green burials are NY, WA, CA, CO, OR, and VT.

Why is this important? Let’s look to an opposition statement: “The New York State Catholic Conference, a group that represents bishops in the state, has long opposed the bill, calling the burial method “inappropriate.”

ABC News | New York OKs human composting law; 6th state in US to do so

What is happening? France has banned all single use plastic tableware, including at fast food establishments. The change is expected to cut 100,000 tonnes of trash per day. What can U.S. business take from this? Want to address sustainability issues from your employees? lower waste and eliminate plastic tableware.

@Good

What is happening? The Founder of AirBnB has a new venture, Samara that wants to add small homes to people’s backyards. It will sell factory-produced studio and one-bedroom units to homeowners to address housing affordability, high rents, need for home offices, the need to house college age relatives, parents, aunts, uncles, etc… Multigenerational housing is on the rise in the U.S.

Why is this important? In a COVID world, people have changed their relationships with their homes.

WallStreet Journal | Airbnb Co-Founder’s New Business Is Building Small Homes in Backyards

What is happening? We’ve talked about the women majority Legislatures in Nevada and Colorado. Plus Arizona that’s at 47.3% women. A lot of us are in Texas, where he Dallas Morning News describes the 2023 Texas Legislature as ” much older and more male-dominated than the state’s population overall.” The 2023 average age of a Texas legislator: 57 years. The average age in 2021: 54 years. The average age of a Texas Senator: 60 years. There remains twice as many men than women in the Texas Legislature.

Governing | Texas’ 2023 Legislature Will Be Disproportionately Old and Male

What is happening? Did you know that Newsweek produced a list of America’s most responsible corporations? I didn’t. Or, if I did, I didn’t remember. This week the 2023 list was announced. Top of the pack were businesses in materials and chemicals business and the bottom was hospitality. The List.

Newsweek | America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023

General Mills Named No. 2 on Newsweek’s America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023 List

Gen Recognized as One of America’s Most Responsible Companies by Newsweek

What is happening? Salesforce is expanding its Net Zero, sustainability cloud computing to track customer Net Zero goals. This sustainability tool will expand to conclude the S & G of ESG. The company says customers want it and ESG reporting needs it.

Why is this important? In country reporting requirements are coming. Tracking sustainability and emissions data, diversity, equity and inclusion data, data on suppliers and whether there are any kind of human rights flags – it’s a lot of data. Tools help.

TechCrunch | Salesforce to expand Sustainability Cloud into full ESG reporting tool

What is happening? Congress has passed legislation to protect gay marriage and interracial marriage and it came about because of a bipartisan effort. Let’s learn. 12 Republicans joined Democrats in the U.S. Senate. They worked quietly. They worked behind the scenes. Senator Collins is quoted as saying ““What I heard from at least one of my Republican colleagues was that he had lost significant support among big donors in his state.”  Because of his votes that are anti-LGBTQIA+.

Why is this important? In September the Wall Street Journal published an open letter signed by 450 prominent Republicans supporting the right to love who you want. It’s a roadmap to future issues.

NY Times | Prominent Gay Republicans Helped Smooth the Way for Marriage Bill

What is happening? California state agencies are starting a dialog with indigenous tribes on environmental issues. The parameters of this dialog are being called “authentic consultation.” Let’s learn. The White House released guidance on incorporating indigenous knowledge in decision making by federal agencies. California stopped verifying Indigenous knowledge with Western Science and began listening to indigenous knowledge of the lands.

Why is this important? How to balance stewardship of nature with growth. It’s a learning process.

Governing | California Seeks Native American Help After Years of Environmental Abuse

White House Releases First-of-a-Kind Indigenous Knowledge Guidance for Federal Agencies

What is happening? Meet  Testbeds, a pilot program between a Columbia architectural academic and an architectural firm to move construction waste to build community gardens. An EPA study from 2018 found  600 million tons of waste is generated in the construction and demolition of buildings and infrastructure.

Why is this important? Testbeds works with the city’s  Department of Parks and Recreation’s GreenThumb program that oversees more than 500 community gardens.

New York Times | Destined for the Dump, Construction Waste Gets New Life in the Garden

What is happening? Straws, bottles and packaging made from captured greenhouse gases are reaching commercial scale. Big companies like Target, Ford, Disney, Hyatt Hotels, Ikea, Dell and Shake Shack have shown interest in the products. Production is moving to include utilizing captured emissions to manufacture materials used to make clothes, tires and plastic bottles. Meet Newlight, the company that opened its first commercial-scale factory in Huntington Beach, CA in 2020.

Why is this important? Newlight’s next factory is slated to come online in 2025 in Ohio, which will tap methane from a coal mine.

WSJ | Products Made With Captured Greenhouse Gas Are Reaching Commercial Scale

What is happening? Results from a 6 month pilot program of a 4 day work week in North America and Ireland revealed that 63% of businesses found it easier to attract & retain talent; 78% of employees reported greater satisfaction with fewer sick days; and revenues rose 8.14%, weighted by company size. “When compared to the same six-month period in 2021 to the trial period in 2022, the increase was much larger at 37.55%” For those paying attention, employees are paid based on a 5 day work week and work a 4 day work week.

Why is this important? I can’t believe I need to explain that this isn’t about paying employees less, but here we are.

@AdamMGrant

4DayWeek | After a six month trial, the results are now available from our first pilot program in North America and Ireland

What is happening? Consumers, Employees, Investors and the global market. Purpose driven consumers are now the largest share of the market at 44%. Market competition is favoring purposeful players.

Why is this important? ESG investments in Europe have grown 10 times and will outnumber conventional funding by 2025.

Forbes | The End Of CSR (As We Know It) And The Rise Of Businesses With A Conscience

What is happening?  Chicago has a $46 million initiative, Our Roots Chicago, to plant 75,000 trees in five years with a focus on underserved & historically marginalized communities.This year’s goal is to plant 15,000 trees. The contractor must have an arborist on staff and is required to maintain (water) the trees for 3 years.

Why is this important? Chicago’s overall canopy coverage is not as strong as other cities.

Governing | Chicago on Track to Plant 15,000 Trees by Year’s End

What is happening? Colorado joins Nevada as the two states that have women majorities. 51 of Colorado’s 100 seat Legislature will be held by women. Nevada Legislature currently is 58.7% women.

Why is this important? Colorado was the 1st state to have women elected to its Legislature in 1894, when three women were elected to the Colorado House of Representatives.

Colorado News Live | Colorado Legislature poised to be second in country with women in majority

What is happening? ESG investing traces back to Quakers and the Methodist Church in the 1700s. The Quakers and Methodist Churches asked their members to not invest in business that relied on slave labor. Same for the 1960s when institutional investors avoided investments that supported the Vietnam War or civil rights. Same for the 1980s when investors divested from Apartheid supporting investments.

Why is this important? By definition “woke” means  “aware of and actively attentive to important societal facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice)” according to Merriam Webster and according tot he Cambridge dictionary as “aware, especially of social problems such as racism and inequality” Woke is the verbiage of choice as attacking ESG by conservative American politicians.

Forbes | How To Become The ESG Company You Want To Be

What is happening?

Why is this important? ESG funds rose 42% from $12 trillion in 2018 to $17.1 trillion in 2020 according to data from the  US SIF: The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment. 10% of world’s funds are ESG according to Reuters. More than 50% of  754 sustainable funds examined by Morningstar outperformed non-ESG investments.

Why is this important? An ongoing attack on ESG business principles by a wing of the Republican Party.

Forbes | How To Become The ESG Company You Want To Be

What is happening? Let’s dispel the myth- remote work is not going away. Living in the past isn’t winning. Here’s the job posting numbers behind this- The number of job postings with salaries above $100,000 that include remote working is up to 36%, doubling the end of 2021 which had 18% of jobs offering remote work.

Why is this important? Worker mental wellness and remote work are connected. Workers increasingly indicate that they want a purpose with their employer and want to know that their employer understands them. Offering working flexibility is a viable solution when most workers say they will quit if there is no access to remote work.

Austin Business Journal | AustinInno | What return to the office? High-paying remote jobs continue to soar

This year 3614 women ran for state legislative offices. A record number of women ran for Governor or their state legislatures this year.

In Texas, the number of women in the State Senate is on track to increase to 8 of the 31 members and in the Texas House it is looking like 47 (ish) women of the 150 members.

Governing | 3614

What is happening? 86% of millennials want their retirement investments to reflect their personal values. 66% would invest more in their workplace retirement accounts if they knew those funds were making a social impact that aligned with their values.

Why is this important? 16% of DC plans surveyed offer an ESG investment option

Investment News | Strong millennial demand pushing for increased ESG options in 401(k)s

What is happening? ESG is more than environmental sustainability it also includes: applications, data center, cloud and infrastructure, governance, ESG data management, communications, resource management, and supply chain. It’s about being purpose driven, supporting employees, the types of vendors in their supply chain, benefits, work life balance.

Why is this important? The economy since COVID hit, and arguably before, is shifting back to the days of a stakeholder economy. You know, when it was not ok to have child labor in the supply chain.

Forbes | CIOs Meeting ESG Commitments Must Go Beyond Reducing Carbon Footprint

Way back when Facebook began as a college only media, MIT Sloan School of Management researchers found that Facebook led to a 7% increase in severe depression and 20% increase in anxiety. A friendly reminder that mental health should be part of fostering employee wellness.

@MITSloanSchool of Management

What is happening? Pew Research has a historical look at generational voting.  51% of Millennials say they are Democrats and 35% Republican, leaving 14% in other categories. Their research discusses the partisan divide within generations too.

Why is this important? Its said that nationally the election results are attributable to voting rates of Gen Z.

Pew Research Center | A Different Look at Generations and Partisanship

What is happening? Many cities have programs that encourage and support planting trees. Good for cleaning the air. Philadelphia thought- why not make it an accessible food source too- free fruit. Hence, planting fruit trees. Meet nonprofit Philadelphia Orchard Project.

Why is this important? Hello other cities that want to solve food desert issues.

GoodGoodGoodCo | Cities Are Planting Trees. Why Not Make Them Fruit Trees?

What is happening? Corporate leadership is falling back on old habits that don’t fit in a Post-COVID world. In simple terms, leaders are out of step with employees. It’s like parents telling their kids they walked to school uphill, both ways, in 8 feet of snow in their day and so should the kids. The Future Forum says the old ways are out of step.

Why is this important? Disconnect with the tippy top. In a recent study, 90% of the HR leaders say they need to build trust at their companies, & 30% of executives see an ROI in building a healthy, resilient and equitable future of work.

HR Dive | Leaders, strained by changing norms, keep falling back on outdated habits

What is happening? Adidas and Kanye West parting ways is a lesson in legal counsel ensuring companies have taken time to define their stances on important social issues. Social issues/core values. Tomato/toh-mah-to.

Why is this important? A list of factors to consider:

• where the company is located
• where employees reside
• where they conduct business
• how positions align with their past actions

Legal Dive | Adidas’ handling of Kanye West controversy highlights need for companies to define core values

What is happening? 1 in 5 financial leaders do not consider ESG when making decisions.

Why is this important? 4 of 5 financial leaders DO consider ESG when making decisions. There’s more:

• 93% of financial leaders say it is important to transform their financial decisions in a way that addresses ESG issues
• 87% say ESG information is important for their decision-making
• 68% of financial leaders “also pointed to the failure to adapt quickly to customer, employee, investor or regulatory demands for sustainability as the biggest ESG-related risk facing their firms”

CFO Dive | ESG goals versus action gap emerges: survey

What is happening? Twitter’s change of hands to Elon Musk has advertisers pausing over concerns that Twitter’s objectionable content will increase. Advertisers concerned over objectionable content range from General Mills, Oreos, Volkswagen, Audi, Pfizer, GM and more.

Why is this important? Corporations want to ensure distance between themselves and objectionable content.

Wall Street Journal | General Mills, Audi and Pfizer Join Growing List of Companies Pausing Twitter Ads

What is happening? A new report says that employees are 2x more likely to say employers genuinely care about employees if the organization responded to Roe v. Wade’s overturning. 55% of employees want more clarity on their organizations abortion care policies. ResumeBuilder data shows that abortion access is increasingly part of job searches.

Why is this important? A former general counsel at the EEOC is reportedly sending letters ” to multiple employers encouraging them not to adopt travel benefits for employees seeking an abortion and cautioning them that doing so violates federal anti-discrimination laws.” The EEOC says “She lacks the authority to speak on behalf of the EEOC.”

Littler: Former EEOC general counsel ‘intimidating’ employers over abortion travel benefits | HR Dive

Employees say they need clarity around abortion access benefits | HR Dive

What is happening? GM’s Sustainability Chief says it matters how EVs are made. It matters what the supply chain looks like, where manufacturing is located, moving it to the U.S., responsible water and energy use, and active investing in charging infrastructure.

Why is this important? GM is taking it further by establishing a “Supplier ESG pledge,” including supplier goals in carbon emissions, human rights and ethics. More than 65% of GM’s suppliers have committed to it.

Forbes Women | How EVs Are Made Matters, General Motors Sustainability Chief Says

What is happening? NASA has a new 60 page DEI plan. Need a roadmap? Here’s the link. NASA’s leader is putting DEI on equal footing with astronaut safety. READ: DEI is very important too.

Why is this important? Diane Carrion, a tech-industry HR veteran, says “. “I have not seen a published roadmap within our government or private sector that is as well thought out as the NASA 2022 plan.”

Inc. | Inside NASA’s Ambitious, 60-Page DEI Plan

What is happening? Let’s think about the various ways and standards that exist to measure the social impact, the S in ESG. There is the UN’s Corporate Human Rights Benchmark;  California’s Transparency in Supply Chain Act; auditing your supply chain; accountability in your  grievance mechanisms; and tracking how  your company improves social mobility and progress for employees. Let’s not forget the ROI- Stanford’s Social Innovation Review found a “positive correlations between good environmental and social performance and overall financial returns within its equity portfolio for private and public companies.”

Why is this important? The S doesn’t garner all the excitement the E and the G do.

Reuters | How companies are measuring the impact of their “social” issues

What is happening? ICA, a Swedish grocery store chain, is selling food that is good, but soon to near its use by dates, for 70% off. Customers can reserve their bag of groceries.

Why is this important? ICA has a goal to eliminate food waste and make good food accessible to all.

@ICASupermarketkupolen

What is happening? Previous wisdom was that workers wanted the best pay. Turns out predictability and the opportunity to grow are equally as important.

Why is this important? Social scientists will tell us that predictability means happier, healthier employees. By way of example, researchers point to a food manufacturer that often hired workers that did not speak English. The company then  partnered with an adult education organization providing classes, including courses in English, financial literacy and U.S. citizenship. Employee retention improved & company saw a 123% return on investment

Route Fifty | What Workers Want From Their Jobs Other Than Good Pay

What is happening? Reuters has released a 18 page report on the SEC and ESG. including guidance on ESG storytelling.

Why is this important? We’ve entered a world where ESG is political fodder. Arm oneself with information.

ESG: The SEC Point of View | Reuters

What is happening? The bees have arrived at BCBS headquarters in Richardson, Texas. Meet “Alveole, a company that helps businesses, schools and other organizations bring bees to their buildings, will maintain the hives and educate BCBSTX employees about the bees’ role in environmental sustainability.”

Why is this important? The bees are a Segway to talk about environmental concerns, impact of pesticides, climate change, the medicinal properties of bees, the nutritional value that bees add in pollination and via honey.

Bees Have Arrived at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

What is happening? Metrolink, a Southern California commuter rail service, is dumping diesel for sustainable, renewable fuel sources like plant based power.

Why is this important? Metro link is the 1st commuter rail int he U.S. to switch from petroleum based fuel sources. Metrolink’s governing body, Southern California Association of Governments, is asking about equity and sustainability in all its actions.

Government Technology | Metrolink Dumps Diesel in Move to Cleaner, Sustainable Fuel

What is happening? 74% of women on maternity leave drain their savings within 8 weeks. Bad for equality. Bad for the economy.

Why is this important? Paid family leave is the norm in Industrialized nations, except the U.S. and a tiny handful of others.

@theSkimm

What is happening? Corporate giving increased 24% between 2020 and 2021. Corporate giving isn’t the same as it was 10 years ago.

Why is this important? Too keep track of corporate giving data meet the new Accelerist platform that “empowers both companies and nonprofits to quickly identify partners with aligned social good objectives, raise more from consumers and workforces, better disburse and collect corporate donations, and pairs sophisticated data with proprietary valuation methods for in-depth reporting on the impact a company’s social investments have on community, constituents, and bottom line.”

It is About Time for One Corporate Giving Platform – Accelerist

What is happening? The 1st ever Social Impact Competition from Alabama Launchpad, a program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama. The program is supported by  Alabama Power Foundation helps entrepreneurs intent on making a positive impact in the community.

Why does this matter?  The program is building awareness and interest among Alabama businesses about combining a company’s profit-making motive with a mission to benefit society. 

Alabama News Center | Alabama Power Foundation, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama unveil finalists for Social Impact Competition

What is happening? Glassdoor is allowing job seekers to filter employer ratings on diversity and equity and location to get a better picture of employer cultures.

Why does this matter? Lots of stories from employees that say if I knew then what I know now about the employer’s sexism, racism, homophobia etc… These ratings from women, people of Color, disabled, queer employees will help with diversity and inclusion transparency.

Forbes | New Glassdoor Features Give Diverse Jobseekers More Insights Into Workplace Climate

What is happening? Harvard Business Review looked at a law firm that was trying to achieve better Diversity Inclusion and Equality. In law firms partners generally hand out work to associates and others. There was no data on how assignments were handed out & once data was collected it showed 81-88% white men thought it was all fair and everyone else was at about 50%.

Why does this matter? The law firm created a centralized system to distribute work load and created an incentive for law firm partners, allowing them to write off work through the centralized system.

Harvard Business Review | To Build a DEI Program That Works, You Need Metrics

What is happening? Quiet Quitting and the Great Resignation have in common that employees are dissatisfied with employers- unethical behavior, toxic management, toxic leadership. In short culture at employers isn’t great for employees.

Why does this matter? Remedies exist to change employer cultures like encourage and rewarding employees to speak up, valuing employees. Valued, safe employees are more productive.

Route Fifty | Quiet Quitting and the Great Resignation Have a Common Cause

What is happening? States are being challenged on their period taxes- a tax on menstrual products that unfairly hits one segment of the population. To counter this, CVS has announced it will cut the cost of CVS menstruation products by 25%.

Why does this matter? CVS wants to create a better future by eliminating the period tax nationwide.

@CVSpharmacy

What is happening? Illinois welcomed its first Black Cannabis business and grower, who says it took persistence and partnering with an out of state cannabis business.

Why does this matter? States that have legalized cannabis all have stories abut the high licensing fees serving as a barrier to entry for women and BIPOC businesses.

Chicago Tribune | Illinois’ 1st predominantly Black-owned licensed pot business and craft grower opens in Rockford; hundreds more licensees still trying to get started

What is happening? The Ellevest Financial Wellness Survey showed that if corporations remained silent, even when their policies cover costs of out of state care for abortion services, the corporations risk losing women employees.44% of women will leave an employers whose reproductive rights views do not align with theirs. 56% of Millenial women, 53% of Latinas, and 45% of Black women.

Why does this matter? Other data shows that the more women & diversity in leadership, the more profit.

@SallieKrawcheck

What is happening? PostcardMania in Clearwater Florida minimized Hurricane Ian and encouraged employees to bring their kids and pets to work. twitter and employees were not pleased. The CEO apologized to employees who ” “felt that it came across as insensitive,”” which doesn’t actually qualify as an apology.

Why does this matter? I’m going to leave it with this “As part of the L. Ron Hubbard management system, PostcardMania employees are required to report statistics related to their productivity each week. A similar system is used by Scientology’s full-time workforce, the Sea Org.”

Route Fifty | Company Apologizes for Asking Staff to Work Through Hurricane

What is happening? A new report from Economic Innovation Group that in 42 regions across the U.S. more than 20% of the work force works remotely. In 2021, remote work jumped to 179% fall US workers, up from 5.6% in 2019. Topping the list is D.C. at 34% of workers are remote, San Francisco 33% of workers, and Austin 32% Remote work also increased in areas like Provo, UT and Santa Fe, NM.

Why does this matter? Trend lines show it isn’t changing, it will increase. For every 1 person who moved to a more affordable location for remote work, there are 4 other workers who plan to relocate. Quality of life focus is winning over traditional economic issues.

Route Fifty | The Places Where Remote Work Became Most Common

What is happening? Austin emergency services has released an app, What3words, to help emergency responders reach people in need of assistance.

Why does this matter? What 3 words have divided the world into 3 meter squares and assigned unique 3 words to that space. This allows emergency providers to get to people in crowded festivals more easily than when someone says I’m near a stage and speakers.

@ATCEMS

What is happening? Tokyo Metropolitan Government will require all new homes beginning in 2025 to have solar power.

Why is this important? The new rule will apply to 50 home builders that operate in Tokyo.

How will this be important? There’s built in flexibility including that “Companies will not have to install solar panels on all buildings they build but be asked to meet a certain target in terms of the share of their buildings with solar panels. “

Japan Times | Tokyo plans to require that new homes have solar panels from 2025

What is happening? We can’t not talk about Patagonia. Its founder, Yvon Chouinard announced that he will donate the entire company, worth about $3 billion, to a trust and a nonprofit organization fighting climate change. Plus, any annual profits that are not reinvested in the company will go to fight climate change.

Why is this important? Chouinard wants to spur a new form of Capitalism that isn’t just a few exceptionally wealthy people.

How will this be important? It is the culture dude, he likes to turn norms on their heads and has been a lifelong supporter of the environment.

NY Times | Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company

What is happening? Limiting PFAs has found its way into 203 bills proposed in 31 states.

Why is this important? Environmental groups say clean water and soil shouldn’t require that you live in certain zip codes. American Chemistry Council says that not all PFAS are the same, and that they should not be regulated the same way.

How will this be important? here’s the laundry list of laws that have passed:

• Maine’s 2021 law banning PFAS in all new products 
• Colorado passed a law in 2022 covering many products, and ending its use in oil and gas production. This bill was supported by Republicans who want to protect clean water
• Hawaii passed a ban on PFAS in food packaging and firefighting foam in 2022
•  California passed laws this year to ban PFAS in cosmetics and textiles, and requiring companies to report data on other products containing PFAS

Route Fifty | States Take on PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ With Bans, Lawsuits

What is happening? First came Colorado to require salary ranges be posted for job listings. Then came NYC, and now we add California to the ranks of officially requiring salary ranges be listed on job postings.

How is this important? Pay disparity for the same job continues to be a concern for improving diversity, equity and inclusion.

How will this be important? It said that posting salary ranges for open positions helps lessen systemic pay disparities.

@businessweek

What is happening? Samsung has created the “balance mouse” that will run away from the user when the user is overworked.

How is this important? Burnt out is real. We’ve all heard of people leaving their jobs in mass or quiet quitting.

How will this be important? Creating a work life balance is a win for everyone. A win as an employee who enjoys life and a win for employers who like happy, productive employees.

Thred. | The Samsung ‘Balance Mouse’ runs away if you overwork

What is happening? Chevron has donated a 53-acre parcel in northwest Houston to serve as Houston Food Bank’s second warehouse and distribution facility. It came to pass because a Chevron employee serves on the board of the food bank. Get to know the relationships your employees have and what is important to them.

Why is this important? The Houston Food Bank is the largest food bank in the U.S. and coordinates service in the 18 counties in Southeast Texas.

How will this be important? “Through our involvement with the Houston Food Bank, Chevron is aware of the tremendous need for food security in our community,” said Eimear Bonner, president of the Chevron Technical Center and food bank board member, “and this is our way to be a part of the solution.”

Houston Chronicle | Chevron makes major land donation for Houston Food Bank expansion

What is happening? Smirnoff (the vodka) is partnering with the Don’t Trash Glass campaign, Glass Packaging Institute, and GlassKing Recovery & Recycling to increase glass recycling in Chicago.

Why is this important? The partnership is making it more accessible for 300 bars, restaurants and local businesses to recycle glass.

How will this be important? Glass is 100% recyclable. The glass recycling process is “easy.” Yet, the EPA estimates only 40% of glass is recycled.

Environment + Energy Leader | Smirnoff Program Seeks Boost in Glass Recycling

What is happening? U.S. is #41 in global rankings that measure democracy and inequality, moving the U.S. to developing country standards, and placing the U.S. between Cuba and Bulgaria.

Why is this important? The U.S. landed at #41 because of a lack of equity, treatment of the environment, and a “flawed democracy” according to United Nations Office of Sustainable Development and the Economist’s democracy index.

How will this be important? Historians say structural inequalities in the U.S. were first noted in 1899 by Scholar W.E.B. Du Bois, and brought into the political conversation by Martin Luther King Jr.

Route Fifty | US is Becoming a ‘Developing Country’ on Global Rankings that Measure Democracy, Inequality

What is happening? Robert Sarver, owner of Arizona’s NBA and WNBA teams, has put the teams up for sale this week, after league enforcement actions related to racism and misogyny. Racism and misogyny, even if in the past, isn’t going to be swept under the rug anymore.

Why is this important? Sarver blames the current cultural climate that he can’t be redeemed. While NBA players”, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Draymond Green have spoken out and said the NBA’s punishment wasn’t severe enough.”

How will this be important? “NBPA president CJ McCollum: “We thank Mr. Sarver for making a swift decision that was in the best interest of our sports community.””

ESPN | Robert Sarver says he’s starting process to sell NBA’s Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury

What is happening? Globally the number of clean energy employees outnumbers traditional energy employees according to the International Energy Agency.

Why is this important? The IEA’s first-ever World Energy Employment report says the energy labor market is in a period of transition and that clean energy jobs are leading the way. The IEA report stresses that the jobs require people-centered employment policies.

How will this be important? The IEA points to Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine as creating an energy crisis.

Corporate Knights | The majority of energy workers are now employed in clean energy jobs

Why is happening? Smart science types have developed tattoo ink that can monitor certain biomarkers like pH and glucose.

Why is this important? This monitoring tattoo could alleviate daily needle pricks.

How will this be important? A step toward making health care more efficient.

@leaps.org

What is happening? Council of Fashion Designers of America has pledged to achieve a net-zero goal by 2050.

Why is this important? Some fashion law types say that fashion houses banding together to achieve sustainability may run afoul of antitrust regulators. EU regulators did raid fashion houses over antitrust concerns.

How will this be important? “There are emerging tensions between E.S.G. and antitrust,” said William Kovacic, a former Federal Trade Commission chairman, referring to environmental, social and governance goals. “A vocal group of commentators say antitrust enforcement treats cartels very harshly and that unduly inhibits firms from pursuing environmental and social goals.”

NY Times | How ‘sustainable fashion’ could run afoul of antitrust regulators.

What is happening? Companies with strong DEI outperform competitors by 4 times in India.

Why is this important? Get Z is a large in numbers and strong in its values. It’s a driver policies.

How will this be important? IN addition to profitability, employee retention and brand reputation improve with strong DE&I according to this paper.

Free Press Journal | For Gen Z, gender diversity needs the support of equity and inclusion policies

What is happening?  Boston Planning and Development Agency has adopted a new diversity, equity and inclusion policy. It will apply to developers of certain projects that will have to disclose plans to foster participation by women and minorities.

Why is this important? Diversity Plans will have to be submitted to the Development Agency before a shovel hits the ground in their projects.

How will this be important? Disclosures will include “economic participation, employment, and management roles” by people of color, women and minority- and women-owned businesses. The goal is to better understand disparities in the real estate industry.

Boston.com | What to know about Boston’s new diversity and equity rules for developers

What is happening? Adam Grant of the Wharton School tells us open floor plans lead to 27% more sick days, 14% lower cognitive performance and a whopping 70% less face to face interactions.

Why is this important? With a return to the office, employee wellness should be at the top of mind. Happy, productive employees are not in open office plans.

How will this be important? Doors are important for employee wellness.

@AdamMGrant

What is happening? “A county court in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Sept. 6, 2022, became the first in more than 150 years to disqualify a person from public office because they participated in an insurrection.”

Why is this important? Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the US Constitution permits barring from public office people who participated in insurrections.

How will this be important? Good governance organizations are considering Section 3 if Donald Trump seeks public office again.

Route Fifty | A New Mexico Official Who Joined the Capitol Attacks is Barred From Politics

What is happening? The chief data scientist in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Denice Ross, said “using only the data we have can mask important aspects of our society.” 

Why is this important? The solution is to collect more equitable data that better accounts for the experiences of underrepresented groups.

How will this be important? Let’s let the data experts detail equitable data further: “Equitable data are those that allow for rigorous assessment of the extent to which government programs and policies yield consistently fair, just and impartial treatment of all individuals. Most importantly—and this is what really drives me professionally—these data illuminate opportunities for targeted actions that will result in demonstrably improved outcomes for underserved communities.” – Denice Ross

Route Fifty | Lack of Equitable Data Is Harming Underserved Communities

What is happening?  California Management Review says increasing the number of women directors leads companies to improve their environmental, social and corporate governance.

Why is this important? Women directors are more likely to create a Corporate Social Responsibility Committee and more likely to appoint qualified directors to that committee.

How will this be important? “… an effective CSR committee helps the company navigate to a greater level of environmental, social and corporate governance, which in turn creates value including top-line growth, reduced regulatory and legal intervention, and improved productivity.”

The University of Sydney | Female directors improve corporate social responsibility

What is happening? In response to US Senate Republicans drafting legislation requiring pensions to make investment decisions based solely on monetary issue. IN pop news parlance this is whether pensions should invest in ESG or should pensions make woke investments—dependent upon your pop news channel.

Why is this important? This issue will play out in state Legislatures throughout the country. Value based investment being solely monetary and values based investing being ” investing according to a set of principles irrespective of any link between those principles and economic value.” The authors say- there is no difference is unclear at best.

How will this be important? Which side wins the messaging….” Conservatives who complain that ESG investing is a way of forcing a social and environmental agenda on companies that has nothing to do with company profitability, perhaps even hurting it, need to look in the mirror if they are creating anti-ESG funds of their own. This is simply swapping out one set of values for another. Both are forms of Socially Responsible Investing.”

The Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance | The Politics of Values-Based Investing

What is happening? California Legislature passed AB1242 (2022 | CA) that would prevent a California based company from disclosing to an out of state agency abortion related data. This would prohibit California companies from disclosing information pursuant to a warrant  related to an abortion.

Why is this important? The authors of the legislation say “We have no obligation to be complicit in enforcing laws that are antithetical to our own values and legal system in California.”

How will this be important? Might as well start moving the abacus, California isn’t alone in this.

Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan and Attorney General Bonta’s Legislation Protecting Digital Information on Abortion Heads to the Governor

What is happening? California has enacted SB1162 (2022 | CA) that makes position pay scales public and require employers to report employee & contractor demographics and pay to the State.

Why is this important? Public pay scales isn’t unheard of- Colorado, Washington, and NYC require it.

How will this be important? The policy goal is to address pay equity which some say women with children get paid on average 58 cents for every $1 a similarly situated man does.

What is happening? The Cherokee Nation has expanded its paid family leave policy to include fathers and foster parents.

Why is this important? How does this compare to the standards in your jurisdiction? let’s note there is also no reduction in pay, it is full pay, full time off leave policy.

How will this be important? Leading by example.

KTUL | Cherokee Nation adopts policy to provide all employees with paid family leave

What is happening?  Angel investor John Moore was instrumental in launching  ImpactPHL, a nonprofit whose mission is to proselytize social impact investing in Philadelphia.

Why is this important? So how does ImpactPHL make Philadelphia the impact investing capital? By hosting an annual forum to educate financial professionals about the value of purposeful investing; serving as a critical resource for connecting the dots between making money and being philanthropic; solving social problems; and contributing to the system that causes them, living locally and sending money elsewhere.

How will this be important? The intent with which John Moore operates is summed up with “I have this premise that investing in startup entrepreneurs that have a social mission could be financially more profitable than not.”

The Philadelphia Citizen | GENERATION CHANGE PHILLY:THE IMPACT INVESTOR EVANGELIST

What is happening? California Legislature has sent AB 2771 (2022 | CA) to Gov. Newsom’s desk for signature. The bill bans PFAS from cosmetics sold in California.

Why is this important? 2 years ago, California led the nation by banning 13 PFAS from use in personal care products. Now, it continues this work

How will this be important? Maryland, Maine, and Colorado have all enacted laws concerning limiting PFAs. 12 other states have pending legislation.

ewg | California legislature sends to Gov. Newsom bill to ban toxic ‘forever chemicals’ from cosmetics

What is happening? Companies are marketing to politics. Think Black Rifle Coffee, which describes itself as “anti-hipster” and contrast it with Blue State Coffee.

Why is this important? It’s really companies taking a 3 prong approach- marketing, social media stances, and statements that take political stances like company policies that cover travel for reproductive health care.

How will this be important? Companies use to stay away, but now consumers want politics and companies have moved to the market. 70% of consumers want companies to take a political stand.

ABC News | Companies increasingly using politics in marketing, but there are risks: Experts

What is happening? 12 states are taking action against ESG. Legislation ranges from West Virginia-like practice of blacklisting banks to barring state money managers from considering ESG factors when investing

Why is this important? A PR kerfuffle. Investment professionals say they do not boycott fossil fuel companies and indeed invest heavily in fossil fuels. Politicians feel that their state fossil fuel industry is under attack. West Virginia State Treasurer Riley Moore says anti-ESG legislation will peak in 2023.

How will this be important? Experts say that some ESG factors are conventional risk factors for investors, and legislating investment practices could make managing decisions difficult.

The Hill | Republicans wage war on environmental investing rules

What is happening? The data is streaming in for the Great Resignation. Turns out the majority of people wanted to be treated better and 60% of them got salary increases after leaving in the Great Resignation.

Why is this important? The Great Resignation has always been about whether employers respect their employees- employee wellness, equity and parity in pay, etc… Y0u know having the crazy notion that employees are humans.

How will this be important? Even as inflation increased, the Great Resignation resulted in higher salaries. As someone said- maybe we need think about it as a Great Rebalancing.

@businessweek

What is happening? Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) approved Burberry’s zero emissions goal. The first luxury fashion brand to receive the approval.

Why is this important? The SBTi is considered the gold standard for companies setting goals to reduce their emissions and develop targets in line with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5 C pathway.

How will this be important? As more companies set ESG standards for themselves as is increasing de rigueur.

@VogueBusiness

What is happening? Scotland became the 1st country in the world to offer period products for free for everyone in the Period Products Act. Prior to Monday August 15th, when the the Period Products Act became effective, Scotland offered free period products in schools and universities.

Why is this important? Many states are considering or have considered removing sales taxes from menstruation products.

How will this be important? Let’s count the states and countries to follow suit. Removing the “Pink Tax” continues…

@theSkimm

What is happening? Data shows that the luxurious sounding, Unlimited PTO, is good for both employees and employers. Employers save money on paperwork & administration.

Why is this important? Unlimited PTO helps with recruitment, retention, cost savings (no paying out unused PTO), less administrative hassle, executive freedom, and the always on mentality “feels better.”

How will this be important? Right now 1 in 10 companies offer unlimited PTO with the documented savings more will join the trend.

@businessweek

What is happening? Research before the Alabama Workforce and Wage Gap Task Force says closing the pay gap will add $15.4 billion in wages and be an economic gain for Alabama of $22 billion. “This could be the single largest economic development tool that is on the table,” said Peregrine Strategies Principal Allen Freyer 

Why is this important? Closing the pay gap also will create 59,000 new jobs.

How will this be important? Alabama is 24th in population. Imagine the economic gain in larger states.

Governing | Closing Alabama’s Gender Pay Gap Could Grow Economy by $22B

What is happening? It is being reported that LinkedIN Recruiter is adding nudges for recruiters who aren’t getting enough diversity in candidate searches.

Why is this important? Supporters say it could make recruiters more aware of their candidate pool.

How will this be important? “there’s a growing pool of research which suggests that increasing gender diversity can lead to better outcomes for all types of organizations, “

Social Media Today | LinkedIn Adds New ‘Diversity Nudges’ to Help Recruiters to Expand their Candidate Search Efforts

What is happening? According to a study by Morgan Stanley 99% of millennials are interested in sustainable investing.

Why is this important? The interest is driven by Millennial women.

How will this be important? It is said that follows trends across the board where the younger generation leads the way to change.

@MITSLOAN

What is happening? Food deserts are defined here as “generally describes the nation’s thousands of low-income census tracts where an estimated 53.6 million people live outside an easy walk or drive to a full-service supermarket.”

Why is this important? Access to fresh, quality ingredients to cook is crucial for wellbeing . To address this, an urban farmer in Buffalo, NY is using $7 million to open a wellness center, with greenhouses and clinic space.  Faith-based development group obtained four vacant lots and announced plans to open a neighborhood grocery. Businesses and nonprofits are “plant[ing] vegetable gardens, subsidize fresh produce purchases and install health-screening stations.”

How will this be important? No U.S. city has solved food deserts. Researchers say it isn’t just solving access it is also solving for community ownership, improving public infrastructure for food access, like public transit and broadband networks. 300 U.S. Cities have created Food Councils to Solve this issue.

Rute Fifty | Advocates Look for New Ways to Fill City ‘Food Deserts’

What is happening? Two counties in rural Kansas supported access to abortion even though the counties have not voted for a Democrat since LBJ in 1964. In Osage County Trump won with 71% of the vote in 2020.

Why is this important?

• Messaging. The message in Kansas was- do you want the government to have this much power? Do you want the government to control your daughter’s healthcare? Supporting “Value to them both”
• Supporters of Abortion Care in Kansas didn’t care if their support came from Republicans, Democrats or Independents. They found quiet Democrats who didn’t want to reveal their Democratic tendencies in the sea of Republicans surrounding them.
• These are Libertarians who oppose government power overreaches, encroachments on freedom, and government mandates.
• Young people were angry and turned that into voters.
• Rural Western Kansas voters are described as ” “Eisenhower Republicans” who reject extremist ideas.

How will this be important? Similar votes could be occurring throughout the country or the issue could impact races throughout the country.

Kansas City Star via Governing | Why Kansas Abortion Amendment Failed Even in Rural Counties

What is happening? The World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap report for 2022 says the pandemic and cost of living increases have had a greater impact on women.

Why is this important? The report says efforts need to be made to improve workforce returns for women and to develop workforce skills for women.

How will this be important? In the US women lose up to a million dollars over the course of their careers because of pay disparities for the same work.

Governing | Rising Cost of Living Disproportionately Impacts Women

What is happening? Beaches are the front line for climate issues. Even Florida will acknowledge climate issues when it comes to tourism. No more beaches means no more tourism.

Why is this important? How can a person make beach travel more sustainable?

• sleep away from the beach (hotels on the beach contribute to erosion
• avoid or limit flights which contribute greatly to your vacations carbon footprint
• support businesses that plant local trees (coconut palms are not local to say Miami Beach and do little to prevent erosion with their shallow roots)
• identify resorts that empower locals
• avoid overdeveloped areas

How will this be important? Embrace sustainable tourism

National Geographic | 6 tips to make your next beach trip more sustainable

What is happening? Zippia says that 70.8% of managers in the U.S. are white, while 14.4% are Latinx, 6.2% are Asian, and 6% are Black. At the executive level, Investopedia reports that the Fortune 500 has only six Black, 40 Asian American, and 20 Latinx CEOs.

Why is this important? Diversity and Inclusion isn’t working its way up management ladders

How will this be important? Solutions to avoid the stall on DEI are to : include more voices in management decisions, address poor communication from executives, address exclusion from the executives, executives must actively diversifying talent

CNBC | Companies’ DEI plans often stall at ‘frozen’ middle management—here’s how to fix it

What is happening? After the overturning of Roe v Wade multiple companies announced plans to cover travel expenses for those seeking abortion care in states that do not offer abortion care.

Why is this important? Communication is key and companies are figuring out how to word policies- mostly broadly to cover a range of items that would include abortion and to structure the financial assistance in a way that does not create a taxable event for the employee.

How will this be important? Some state laws will put employers in the legal crosshairs for aiding and abetting a person seeking an abortion. It’s complicated.

Wall Street Journal | After Roe v. Wade Ruling, Employers Weigh In on Abortion and Benefits—Cautiously

What is happening? In June, there were  273,000 job openings in a 13 county area around Houston. At the same time there were  170,400 people who were unemployed across the region. Uh yeah that’s an extra 100,000 job openings.

Why is this important? The desire for flexibility is strong. Employees will take pay cuts and leave jobs to gain flexibility. 66% of Houston area employees surveyed said they work at least part time remotely. “The sweet spot is generally two to three days a week in office.”

How will this be important? An HR consultancy is advising Texas employers that if they do not offer some for of remote work that they will miss out on 50-70% of available candidates.

Houston Chronicle via Governing | Houston Workers Still Don’t Want to Return to an Office

What is happening? Abt Associates reviewed voting information in Arizona where 1/3 of voters are Democrats, 1/3 Republican, and 1/3 Independent. Their survey showed that when Republicans and Democrats formed friendships with Independents, the reliance on moderate media consumption increased, especially for Republicans.

Why is this important? independents have social networks that are structurally different from those of partisans and that impacts the way their Democratic and Republican friends see their own political views.

How will this be important? The number of independents has been concisely growing to 40% of the overall electorate.

Governing | Can Independents Be a Bridge Over Our Partisan Divide?

What is happening? Investors are opposing the election of a management-backed director at 225 U.S. companies over unhelpful climate positions. This is up from 157 companies where directors were blocked for anti-climate awareness in 2021 & 83 in 2020.

Why is this important? The investor that are voting from a climate change perspective are European investors, sustainability-oriented managers, and big U.S. institutions such as asset manager Nuveen LLC and the California Public Employees’ Retirement System.

How will this be important? Investors learned from their previous push for diversity, which was successful and are applying those tactics to climate.

Wall Street Journal | More Investors Vote Against Corporate Directors Over Climate Change

What is happening? Wyoming, Vermont, and Tennessee are exploring decentralized autonomous organizations (DAO), a structure that allows all shareholders to vote on everyday company actions that are enforced by smart contracts.

Why is this important? In theory shareholders could decide on whether a company accepts cryptocurrency. Or a DAO could be used like it is in a Texas where a village, Montanoso, is establishing a “neighborhood DAO”; with a goal of overriding anti-development sentiments.

How will this be important? It is likely that state and local governments will follow Wyoming’s lead in fully legalizing DAOs.

Governing | Can We Turn Shareholders into Public Decision-Makers?

What is happening? The River Heritage Conservancy is working on Origin Park to be built on 600 acres of post-industrial wasteland along the banks of the Ohio River.

Why is this important? The park will remediate past environmental abuses, adapt to future flooding events, and slow years of riverbank erosion.

How will this be important? The park will not only restore land it will connect 3 communities: New Albany, Clarksville, Jeffersonville and Louisville.

Governing| The Midwest Gets Its First Climate-Adaptive Park

Why is happening? California was the 1st state to prohibit food waste in land fills. Landfills are the 3rd largest source of methane from human activity.

Why is this important? California also made it mandatory that all cities and counties provide organic waste collection services to all businesses and residences.

How will this be important? In 2021, 50 bills addressing food waste were introduced in 18 states. Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington all prohibit food waste in landfills. The food waste is turned into compost, biofuels, and sometimes ultimately into electricity.

Governing | It’s Time America Stopped Throwing Out Food Waste

What is happening? Oregon’s 2022 gubernatorial race will see 3 women face off: Republican, Democrat, and an Unaffiliated candidate.

Why is this important? 1st time event in the United States and the 3rd party candidate has out-raised the republican and democrat candidate having raised $9.4 million compared to $4.3 million (Republican) & $3.2 million (Democrat)

How will this be important? Oregon is also on target to increase their Congressional delegation from 2 women to 4 women.

Governing | Oregon’s Three-Woman Gubernatorial Race Is a First

What is happening? Texas No. 49 for Life, Health and Inclusion which pulled Texas down to 5th for CNBC’s annual America’s Top States for Business

Why is this important?Elected officials like to tout the ratings

How will this be important? Watch and see if elected officials react.

CNBC | By putting partisanship aside, North Carolina ranks No. 1 in America’s Top States for Business, with the nation’s strongest economy

What is happening? The EveryLibrary Institute, a library-focused political action committee, is encouraging libraries to get involved in cannabis legislation.

Why is this important? Cannabis legislation tends to dedicate revenue to education but that revenue isn’t specifically directed to libraries. Library participation in the legislative process could help open this funding source.

How will this be important? This could increase the revenue stream for libraries with a revenue source that has proven to be solid through a pandemic.

Marijuana Moment | Public Libraries Can Benefit From Marijuana Tax Revenue And Should Be Involved In Shaping Legalization Plans, Library PAC Argues

What is happening? Cities are turning to night mayors to lead revitalization of night life in downtown areas since COVID.

Why is this important? The idea started in Amsterdam. The position in Amsterdam was cooperative and independent. Now San Francisco is considering a night mayor.

How will this be important? Funding for night mayors comes from the city and local club owners. The night mayor advocates for and grow the city’s nightlife scene — all while working with residents, clubs and city officials to implement smart, forward-thinking policy around alcohol, safety, late-night transit and other infrastructure.

Governing | Could a Night Mayor Help San Francisco Revitalize Its Downtown?

What is happening? States that have legalized cannabis have taken varying methods of taxation which has led to pricing for the same 1/8 of weed to be  $41.39 in Las Vegas, but $48.48 in Los Angeles

Why is this important? Generally there is up to a 15% deviation among prices between states.

How will this be important? Within a state the deviation is related to local tax rates. Aspen has 21% and Fort Collins 19%

Westword | Where Are the Cheapest Cities to Buy Pot? We Crunched the Numbers.

What is happening? The IRS permits donations to non-profits in the form of crypto currency. The non-profit then immediately converts the crypto into dollars upon receipt to provide the tax benefit at the time of the donation.

Why is this important? Hawaii has a pilot program that helps Hawaii businesses use digital currency. Since the pilot program began in 2020, the program assisted with more than 800 million dollars in crypto-transactions.

How will this be important? Hawaii Governor has a bill on their desk that would license crypto currencies.

KITV 4 Hawaii | Many Hawaii non-profits are accepting crypto currency donations