Today, in our third year of the Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge, we are proud to be recognizing a new group of young entrepreneurs who are creating cutting-edge, technology-based solutions capable of solving some of the world’s toughest challenges. With each year, I’m continually impressed by the ideas and solutions developed by these young entrepreneurs and inspired by their drive to make a difference. It’s with much excitement that I introduce you to the winners of this year’s competition.
Southern California Edison announced that it has signed seven contracts for 195 megawatts of battery-based energy storage resources to meet local capacity requirements in the Santa Clara sub-area of its electrical system. Contracts were the result of SCE’s Aliso Canyon Energy Storage 2 Request For Offers and last year’s Local Capacity Requirements Request For Proposals.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Senior Vice President for Ethics and Enterprise Assurance, Dr. Leo S. Mackay, Jr., was named one of Compliance Week’s 2019 “Top Minds,” an annual recognition of the best and brightest thought leaders in the fields of governance, risk, compliance and ethics.
A team of scientists, including those from Janssen and the Lung Cancer Initiative at Johnson & Johnson, found that biomarkers related to the immune system may be able to aid doctors in identifying high-risk lung cancer patients—and treating them—at the earliest stage of the disease.
Hiro Mizuno, Executive Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer of Japan’s $1.4 trillion Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF), spoke at the recent IMAS-Bloomberg Investment Conference in Singapore. To an audience of 400 asset managers, investment professionals, technologists and industry experts, Mizuno shared his views on ESG investing and the unique approach GPIF adopts as a universal owner and cross-generational investor. GPIF invests $28 billion of its AUM in ESG and signed the Principles of Responsible Investment in 2015.
Patti Poppe likes to joke about the bumper sticker she once stuck on her Chevy Volt electric hybrid car: “I ♥ coal.”
These days, the sticker sits in Poppe’s office at Consumers Energy’s headquarters in her hometown of Jackson. It’s a symbol of her personal evolution on climate change — and the transformation she’s leading at Michigan’s largest natural gas and power provider.
Major League Baseball® (MLB) and Discovery Education, the leader in standards-aligned digital curriculum resources, engaging content, and professional learning for K-12 classrooms, invite all students and educators nationwide to participate in the Global Sustainability Challenge. During this unique no-cost event, participants will explore their impact on the environment and learn about the importance of environmental stewardship through a set of flexible digital resources that can either be integrated by educators into classroom instruction or completed independently by students over the summer as part of an enrichment activity.
GreenMoney’s annual all-Videos issue (May 19) is now online. Check out the lineup of selected short videos on Sustainable Business, Impact Investing and Environmental Sustainability
Today, World Bee Day, Whole Kids Foundation launched the Give Bees a Chance campaign to showcase the vital role that bees play in our food system, winning support from some of the nation’s most celebrated chefs. The monthlong fundraising effort to support the organization’s Bee Grant Program, which provides educational beehives to schools and nonprofits, will take place during June’s National Pollinator Month. The Give Bees a Chance campaign goal is to raise $100,000 to fund 50 new educational beehives for schools across the nation.
Achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a common agenda for the public, private, and social sectors in Latin America, and while partnership is recognized as a critical component toward this end, there has been no obvious pathway for cross-sector engagement and collaboration. Nevertheless, the will to take the necessary steps exists, and companies in the region are expressing interest in engaging with nonprofits and governments for social progress. PYXERA Global, in collaboration with the members of the Global Pro Bono Network, is promoting Global Pro Bono as a gateway to purposeful engagement. In late March, the two organizations teamed up to host the first Global Pro Bono Network Summit for Latin America in Mexico City.
General Mills is committed to advancing regenerative agriculture practices on 1 million acres of farmland by 2030. In partnership with organizations like The Nature Conservancy and Understanding Ag, the company trains farmers to use soil health practices that increase the resiliency of cropland and boost farm profitability.
"I am proud to work for PNC because it is a company made up of hard-working and ethical employees whose No. 1 priority is our customers. As both an employee and customer myself, I can see the great work that PNC does for its customers, employees and communities."
As climate change carries increasingly varied challenges of both too little and too much water, cities and utilities are renewing their focus on reuse strategies to ensure a safe and resilient supply. Black & Veatch announced today the addition of water reuse expert Jo Ann Jackson as One Water Planning Practice Leader in the global construction, engineering, and consulting company’s Water Planning Group.
MilliporeSigma, which manufactures chemicals and other lab supplies, lets customers return plastic foam coolers and chemical containers. MilliporeSigma has also worked to repurpose the more difficult-to-recycle plastic products used in science. After being sterilized, the plastics are turned into plastic lumber that can be used in decking, speed bumps, and park benches.
Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (Bridgestone) is launching a new consumer safety awareness campaign aimed at teaching drivers about the important role tires play in safety. The campaign, which is part of the company’s National Tire Safety Week initiative (May 20-27, 2019), centers on a partnership with lifestyle influencer Landyn Hutchinson, the creator and voice behind the Living with Landyn lifestyle channel.
Diversity Inc. published their Top 50 Companies list and Intel was included as No. 50, after having been included as a Noteworthy Company last year. The Diversity Inc. Top 50 list is derived exclusively from corporate survey submissions and companies are evaluated within the context of their own industries. The survey is the most rigorous, data-driven analysis gauging detailed demographics based on race/ethnicity and gender at some of the largest U.S. employers, all in an effort to better assess initiatives to hire, retain and promote women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ and veterans.
The Arbor Day Foundation has announced today that Dr. Edward E. Louis, Jr. has been awarded the Foundation's J. Sterling Morton Award. This award recognizes an individual who has had a positive impact on the environment due to his or her lifelong commitment to tree planting and conservation. Dr. Louis will be honored with the award on May 24 from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. at the Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Scott Aquarium Conference Center.
You probably know the Aflac Duck, but do you know the company behind it? Catherine Hernandez-Blades, Aflac’s SVP, Chief ESG and Communications Officer, joined Purpose 360 to share how Aflac deftly manages reputation in a volatile world and bestowed a new social purpose on its beloved mascot. As a cancer insurance pioneer, Aflac has a now 24-year, $131M commitment to childhood cancer.
