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Monthly Archives

August 2022

Authored ArticlesGlobal

2022 ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE INDEX FINDS WORLD NOT ON TRACK TO MEET CLIMATE COMMITMENTS

by Team Conscious Carma August 19, 2022
written by Team Conscious Carma

Denmark earns #1 ranking; India falls to bottom of the scorecard; United States ranks low among wealthy democracies

Global progress to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remains insufficient to meet the net-zero GHGs by mid-century target established in the 2021 Glasgow Climate Pact, according to the 2022 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) produced by researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities.

The Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy advances real-world outcomes in sustainable development through multiple initiatives. Inspiring fresh thinking with data- driven approaches to environmental decision- making, the Center engages stakeholders across disciplines, sectors, and boundaries to enhance policy and voluntary action on critical sustainability issues. The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), a center of the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University, works at the intersection of the social, natural, and information sciences. CIESIN specializes in online data and information management, spatial data integration and training, and interdisciplinary research related to human interactions in the environment.

Using the past 10-years’ emissions trajectory as a basis for projecting 2050 emissions, the EPI researchers forecast that the vast majority of countries will not achieve the net-zero goal. A number of nations — including the United States — are projected to fall far short of the target.

Commenting on the findings, Professor Dan Esty, who directs the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy that has produced the EPI biennially since 2006, said: “Major countries have much more work to do than they may have realized if the world is to avoid the potentially devastating impacts of climate change.”

Only a handful of countries — notably Denmark and the United Kingdom — are currently projected to reach GHG neutrality by 2050, according to the EPI’s analyses. The countries performing well on the net-zero GHG in 2050 metric have enacted some of the world’s most ambitious climate policies. For example, Denmark has set a national target of reducing 2030 emissions by 70% compared to the 1990 level and has adopted a comprehensive policy agenda to deliver on this commitment including recently expanded GHG taxes.

More than 50% of emissions in 2050 are slated to come from just 4 countries: China, India, the United States, and Russia. “While U.S. emissions are declining rapidly, they are not falling fast enough to get to net zero by 2050 given the very high emissions starting point of the United States,” said EPI project director Martin Wolf. More troubling, GHGs continue to rise in China, India, Russia, and a number of other major developing countries.

Just 24 countries — the dirty two-dozen — will account for nearly 80% of 2050 residual GHG emissions unless climate change policies are strengthened and emissions trajectories shifted. “The 2022 EPI emissions projections should be a call to action for many nations,” declared Dr. Wolf.

Ranking 180 countries on 40 performance indicators covering climate change, environmental public health, and ecosystem vitality, the EPI constitutes the world’s leading analysis of country-level sustainability trends. The 2022 EPI offers a powerful policy tool for assessing performance at the global and national levels across an array of critical sustainability issues including air and water pollution, waste management, biodiversity and habitat protection, as well as the transition to a clean energy future. Country rankings are grounded in the best available data from international organizations and research centers around the world that have been carefully analyzed by Yale and Columbia researchers.

In highlighting leaders, calling out laggards, and spotlighting the best policy practices on an issue-by-issue basis, the EPI provides a guide to policymakers on the path to a sustainable future. It also offers opposition political leaders, the media, environmental advocates, business executives, community groups, and citizen activists a mechanism for holding governments accountable.

2022 EPI Rankings

Denmark emerges as the most sustainable country in the world according to the 2022 EPI. Retaining its #1 ranking from 2020, Denmark’s top score reflects strong performance across many of the issues tracked by the EPI with notable leadership in climate and sustainable agriculture. Dan Jørgensen, the Danish Minister for Climate, Energy, and Utilities, commented on Denmark’s achievements: “Denmark is a small country. But we want to make a big difference. That’s why we aim to set a good example. We hope that by doing so, we can inspire others to also do more to preserve our planet. And when we set ambitious targets for ourselves, we also spark innovation and the development of solutions and technology that can help the green transformation in other countries. We have come a long way. But we still have a lot of work to do. Even though Denmark comparatively is doing a lot at a fast pace, we are not satisfied. We need to do more even faster. And we will.”

Other high-scoring nations include the United Kingdom and Finland, both of which earn top rankings from their strong climate change performance driven by policies that have substantially cut GHGs in recent years. Sweden and Switzerland, also among the top countries, rise above their peers in terms of air and water quality. But as Yale Professor Jay Emerson, who leads the team doing the EPI’s statistical analyses, noted, “No country is top-tier across the board. Even Denmark has things to learn from others.”

Beyond providing global and country-level results, the 2022 EPI offers insights into the drivers of good environmental performance. As senior research scientist Alex de Sherbinin of Columbia University’s Columbia Climate School and one of the lead authors of the 2022 EPI explained, “Good governance, policy commitment, and targeted environmental investments separate the nations that are moving toward a sustainable future from those which are not. High-scoring countries have well-thought-through programs to protect public health, conserve natural resources, and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.”

Lagging its peers, the United States places 43rd out of 180 countries in the 2022 EPI. This relatively low ranking reflects a nation that has become deeply divided over how to respond to environmental challenges leading to inaction in Washington on critical issues such as climate change — and the rollback of environmental

protections during the Trump Administration. Between 2016 and 2020, the Administration repealed or weakened nearly 100 environmental regulations, reversing progress the U.S. had made in climate mitigation, air quality, and habitat conservation. In particular, the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement, relaxed methane emissions regulations, and weaker fuel efficiency standards meant the nation lost precious time while its peers in the developed world enacted significant policies to reduce their GHG emissions. While the data indicate the U.S. has made strides toward improving air quality and marine protected areas, the aggregate ranking puts it behind most wealthy western democracies, including France (12th), Germany (13th), Australia (17th), Italy (23rd), and Japan (25th).

The lowest scores overall go to countries that are struggling with civil unrest and other crises (such as Myanmar or Haiti), or nations that have prioritized economic growth over environmental sustainability, such as India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. India, with markedly poor air quality and quickly rising GHG emissions, comes in at the very bottom of country rankings for the first time. Poor air quality and growing GHG emissions continue to impact China’s EPI ranking, placing the nation 160th out of 180 countries in the 2022 scorecard.

Additional Global Insights

Worldwide trends suggest that many countries have made significant progress over the past decade on critical environmental health issues like sanitation, drinking water, and indoor air pollution. These gains demonstrate that investments in environmental infrastructure, like wastewater treatment facilities, and better household energy technologies, such as cleaner cookstoves, can translate into rapid improvements in public health. The EPI’s new air quality metrics indicate, however, that residents in most countries still breathe unsafe air. More than 8 million people die prematurely each year from exposure to indoor and ambient air pollutants. Southern Asian countries, such as India, Nepal, and Pakistan, are particularly lagging in air quality.

Ecosystem trends capture both remarkable improvements and persistent challenges when it comes to preserving habitat and biodiversity around the world. Belgium, the U.A.E., Croatia, and Niger have substantially expanded protected habitat within their borders, earning top scores for biodiversity metrics in the 2022 EPI. The world has also met its marine protected areas target, successfully preserving 10% of coastlines – but with ocean ecosystems still threatened in much of the world, there remains a good bit of work to do in this issue category. On other issues, global performance continues to move away from sustainability. Fisheries are especially in decline, with nearly all countries earning scores below 50% on this vital issue.

The Drivers of Good Environmental Performance

At every level of development, some countries achieve scores that exceed their peer nations with similar economic circumstances. Cutting-edge analyses of the 2022 EPI rankings make clear that the factors explaining environmental success include good governance, country wealth, quality of life, independent media, and well- crafted regulations. The researchers found strong correlations between EPI scores and government effectiveness, rule of law, regulatory quality, happiness, and GDP per capita. Sustainable development requires financial resources, which enable investments in environmental protection. The wide divergence in scores among wealthy countries demonstrates, however, that policy choices also matter. Leaders that carefully manage pollution threats and natural resource use can drive their countries toward a more sustainable future.

A Call for Improved Environmental Monitoring and Data Reporting

Policy efforts to deliver a more sustainable future would benefit from better data collection, reporting, and verification across a range of environmental issues. The push towards more analytically-rigorous environmental policymaking has gained momentum in recent years, particularly after the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. Nonetheless, persistent information gaps hold the world back from a more sustainable future. Good data are particularly lacking in agriculture, freshwater quality, chemical exposure, and ecosystem protection. The EPI team continues to call for world leaders and data organizations to close these gaps with stronger investments in environmental information frameworks.

August 19, 2022 0 comment
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SustainabilityTravel

GSTC Public Webinar: “Travel and Tourism Marketplace: Adopting the Sustainability Agenda”

by Team Conscious Carma August 17, 2022
written by Team Conscious Carma

Date: August 24th, 2022 | 16:00 IST

Sustainable travel as a concept is gaining momentum. The Travel and Tourism Marketplaces are well positioned to further the “sustainable & responsible travel” aspirations that travelers are demanding. Given their reach to connect with a range of service providers, which way will the Travel and Tourism Marketplaces go? This webinar aims to throw light on the role that the Travel and Tourism Marketplaces are playing now, and their potential role in the future.

Register here: https://bit.ly/GSTCIWG_Webinar2

“Travel Forever”……Travel with Sustainable options….…GSTC Board Member and South Asia Director, CB Ram Kumar speaks to Conscious Carma
August 17, 2022 0 comment
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EconomyEnvironmentGlobal

India is leveraging the renewable energy industry

by Team Conscious Carma August 12, 2022
written by Team Conscious Carma

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is obtained from natural resources which can regenerate within short period without exhausting the planet’s reserves. These sources of energy include solar energy, wing energy, geothermal energy and hydroelectric power. Renewable energy, is often referred to as the clean energy.

Switching to the Renewable Energy is the need of the hour

The way we produce and consume electricity not only impacts our environment but also influences the economy of a nation. Therefore, switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy is crucial.   

The production and use of renewable energy are rising, and almost 30% of the electricity consumed on the planet comes from renewable energies. The global renewable energy market is expected to continue its upward growth over the next years, reaching 1.1 trillion U.S. dollars by 2027.

India leveraging the renewable energy industry

India is trying to reduce its dependency on fossil fuels and trying to reach a net-zero economy by 2070. India ranks 3rd in renewable energy country attractive index in 2021 and is also the 3rd largest energy consuming country in the world.  India produces 38 percent of renewable energy and it has significantly progressed to implement policies on renewable energy. Indian government plans to install 175 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy projects by 2022 and 500 GW by 2030. This is the world’s largest expansion plan in renewable energy.

renewable

Addressing the G7 Summit, India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi said,  “We have achieved the target of 40% energy-capacity from non-fossil sources nine years before time. The target of 10% ethanol-blending in petrol has been achieved five months before time.  India has the world’s first fully solar power operated airport. India’s huge railway system will become net zero in this decade”.

Facts and Figures – INDIA

India was the second largest market in Asia for new solar PV capacity and third globally (13 GW of additions in 2021). It ranked fourth for total installations (60.4 GW), overtaking Germany (59.2 GW) for the first time.

4th largest installed capacity of renewable energy in the world

4th largest installed capacity of wind power in the world

Fifth-largest solar installed capacity in the world

India ranked third globally for total renewable power capacity additions with 15.4 GW in 2021, following China (136 GW) and the US (43 GW).

Source : https://www.investindia.gov.in/

Investment in renewable energy in India reached a record US$14.5 billion in the last financial year (FY2021-22), an increase of 125% compared to FY2020-21 and 72% over pre-pandemic FY2019-20, finds a new report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

THE GLOBAL SCENARIO – World Leaders in using renewable energy

Iceland and Norway generate all of their electricity using renewable energy resources. 

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com

Top five countries with the highest wind energy capacity in 2020

1. China – 288.32 GW

2. United States – 122.32 GW

3. Germany – 62.85 GW

4. India – 38.63 GW

5. Spain – 27.24 GW

Source: https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/features/top-countries-wind-energy-capacity/

Global per capita fossil fuel consumption by select country 2020

  1. Qatar
  2. Singapore
  3. Trinidad & Tobago
  4. UAE
  5. Kuwait
  6. Saudi Arabia
  7. Oman
  8. Canada
  9. Turkmenistan
  10. USA

Qatar has the highest per capita fossil fuel consumption in the world. In 2020, residents in Qatar used up nearly 165,000 kilowatt-hours worth of fossil energy. This was some 3,000 kilowatt-hours more than the fossil fuel energy consumed by the average resident of Singapore, which ranked second. Qatar is one of the largest natural gas producers in the world and also among the leading exporters of liquefied natural gas.

Source: Statista.com

Countries most reliant on fossil fuels

With 98 per cent reliance on fossil fuels, Singapore comes out as the worst in the world.
Singapore is closely followed by Australia, with 93 per cent reliance, and then South Africa with 91 per cent.
Luxembourg and the Netherlands take fourth and fifth spot with a joint 90 per cent fossil fuel dependence.

Indian Renewable Energy sector on a growth spree

  • Proposed solar cities and parks – 1 solar city per state-approved and 45 solar parks of 37 GW across the nation have been approved
  • New areas of opportunities – Wind – Solar Hybrid, Off-shore Wind Energy, Floating PV Projects, Green Hydrogen
  • The world’s largest renewable energy park of 30 GW capacity solar-wind hybrid project is under installation in Gujarat
  • India offers a great opportunity for investments in RE sector; $ 196.98 bn worth of projects underway in India

Leading Indian companies in Renewable Energy

1. Tata Power Solar Ltd – The largest integrated solar power company in India
2. Suzlon –  One of India’s leading company designing, developing and manufactures wind turbine generators.
3. ReNew Power – ReNew Power Ventures is an independent power produce, generating non-conventional energy through solar and wind power.
4. Adani New Industries Ltd – A pioneer in energy transition and clean energy adoption, Adani has invested USD 50 bn in green hydrogen and have entered into a new partnership with  TotalEnergies of France, to jointly create the world’s largest green hydrogen ecosystem.
5. Sterling and Wilson is a leading end-to-end solar EPC solutions providers globally.
6. Inox Wind is one of the leading manufacturers of wind turbine generators in India.
7. Borosil Renewables is India’s only solar glass manufacturer.

August 12, 2022 0 comment
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GlobalSustainabilityTravel

“Travel Forever”……Travel with Sustainable options….…GSTC Board Member and South Asia Director, CB Ram Kumar speaks to Conscious Carma

by Team Conscious Carma August 4, 2022
written by Team Conscious Carma

Interview with Mr. CB Ram Kumar, Board Member, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and South Asia Director, GSTC and Member of India Working Group (IWG) (www.gstc.org/india).  GSTC-IWG, Team Member, Freeda in a tête-à-tête with Ram about the future of GSTC-IWG as they celebrate one-year of the IWG and look forward in the promotion of Sustainable Tourism and Sustainability as a way of life for the tourism and hospitality ecosystem in India.

Freeda is also the Consulting Editor, Sustainable Tourism for Conscious Carma
What is sustainability, sustainable Tourism to you?

Sustainability mirrors the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development the subsequent guidelines in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is endorsed by all the countries around the world.  Following the global guidelines from the UN, the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) identified important guidelines for tourism. The guidelines list not just environmental sustainability, but Environmental, Social, Cultural and Economic sustainability.  The whole idea is to ensure that tourism prospers as an industry.  At times it is felt that Environment is all pervading; but while it is important, it is not the only facet to focus on.  For tourism to drive itself on the best of path, the ‘four-pillar’ framework is important. 

Environment, Economic, Social and Cultural sustainability aspects take us forward in an all-encompassing and holistic way.  If we look at environment, it is not about just changing from a regular bulb to a LED.  It is beyond that.  When one looks at Economic sustainability, the focus is not only on legality of the establishment, it is beyond that. Similarly social sustainability; incorporates within itself, local employment, the commitment from the society/community around the tourism product.  Resources for the ‘commons’ which will surely get used by the tourism product; needs to be done in a sustainable manner.  It is the symbiotic relationship that matters.  If we look at cultural sustainability, it is involving the local community to showcase the local culture and the ‘mores’ and ‘folkways’ which then needs to be interpreted for guests to understand and take back as memories. will then go viral be appreciated. The local cuisine, the food, the gourmets’ delights, will surely add value to the destination and its people, the community who are an integral part of the tourism eco system…  The fourth pillar, yes, is Environment which by itself is a large pillar, and along with the other pillars of sustainability, brings in the domain of sustainability. Sustainability builds business.”  Sustainability is capable of building of adding value to the balance sheet. The perception that becoming sustainable is ‘expensive’ is a wrong perception.  Sustainability builds business and this is the  mantra that will help the tourism business to move ahead. 

What about the Tourism and Hospitality Industry in India like, FHRAI, IATO, TAAI and other and their understanding of GSTC and Sustainability options?

Very pertinent question…we need to have conversations with the industry stakeholders and get them to understand the larger nuance of Sustainability, its cause, the impact,. We at GSTC can help in this. The GSTC-IWG welcomes conversations with the industry bodies to help remove mis perceptions surrounding sustainable tourism.. 

I recently met with a faculty member of Tourism and Hospitality in a University, and was stunned to see they were not aware about GSTC and its ideals.  How should be the outreach to Educational Institutions be structured by GSTC and the IWG?

This is another area that we need to proliferate.  I was till recently a one-person army of GSTC in India.  Now with three experts joining in; it is interesting to see, how we work out and ensure spreading awareness about sustainable tourism in general and the role that GSTC can play in this.  I have tried my best to connect up with the Leading Tourism and Hospitality Higher Education Institutions in India, but have not been very successful.  We want to work along with educational institutions, and create sustainable tourism curriculum. The India Working Group (IWG) members are trained in the GSTC criteria, which will be able to share relevant information for stakeholders.  

What is the way forward for GSTC in India and the how will the Indian Working Group (IWG) forward the important agenda of GSTC, Sustainability and Sustainable Tourism?

With the expansion of the team in India we at IWG are hoping to engage with the Tourism and Hospitality ecosystem, to spread awareness of  the role of GSTC to the stakeholders.  The outreach needs to be stronger and we are working towards that now.  The working group will help with the qualitative articulation of the GSTC ideals to the Indian Tourism and Hospitality ecosystem. 

Do you think Certification should be voluntary and/or mandatory for the various constituents of the Indian Tourism and Hospitality scenario.  How has the Federal/State Tourism structuring impacted the proliferation of Sustainable Tourism?

Mandates that force the private sector are undesirable. Certification sdecisions should be voluntary and the stakeholders should be made to understand the benefits that they will accrue over a period of time, for their own business first, and then for the region and country. 

Tourism is a state subject. But India, with its central federal structure has responsibilities to give direction to the States.  Part of the directions can be to incentivise certifications by the private stake holders. The Gujarat Tourism draft policy for instance speaks of concessions for those who are certified by GSTC and GSTC equivalent certifications. 

     The Indian Tourism Administrators and the Policy makers have made efforts; but the actual actions have not happened in the ground level.  It is nice to see that Sustainable Tourism mentioned in the last three Tourism Policies in India.  We are a large democracy with all our poverty alleviation priorities. But we now need the political will and start to focus on aspects of sustainability that concern the tourism industry. Globally we have seen the adoption of GSTC norms by small city destinations, and countries.  We at the GSTC-IWG are confident that, though India has been tough ride, we are.    India is a Culture rich country, and we are the cusp global change, and we have the opportunity to catapult India to the top league of Sustainable Tourism. 

Certification, how does it work, if someone in India wants to go in for an Ecolabel?

The first step is for organisations to go through the freely available GSTC criteria found at https://www/gstccouncil.org and start to comply with them.  Once the enterprise feel ready, then they can approach a certifying body and start the process. The auditors will then come over to the enterprise and conduct their audit. If this is all satisfactory, then they move towards certifying the organisation.  So the cost will depend on how ready the organisation is to ensure that the auditors spend very little time at the organisation during the audit.

Benchmarking Sustainable Tourism in India; is it feasible or should India create an opportunity for itself and which would be the top-five countries that India can emulate?

India is a huge country and does not need benchmarks from other nations. We need to work and understand for ourselves and this will be the.  We are still walking the baby steps, but we at GSTC are confident that we will realise the potential. 

What is one big advice for the travel and tourism fraternity?

“Travel forever” is a mantra that we at GSTC follow. During Covid, the Foreign Travel Arrival (FTA) into India dropped to ‘zero,’. The post Covid India, is seeing a rise in domestic travel. Besides, more Domestic holiday makers are looking at Sustainable Options as per a Booking.com survey. Let’s then, speak about Sustainable Travel, and Travel Forever. 

Brief about GSTC

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council® (GSTC) establishes and manages global standards for sustainable travel and tourism, known as the GSTC Criteria. There are two sets: Destination Criteria for public policy-makers and destination managers, and Industry Criteria for hotels and tour operators. They are the result of a worldwide effort to develop a common language about sustainability in tourism. They are arranged in four pillars: (A) Sustainable management; (B) Socioeconomic impacts; (C) Cultural impacts; and (D) Environmental impacts. Since tourism destinations each have their own culture, environment, customs, and laws, the Criteria are designed to be adapted to local conditions and supplemented by additional criteria for the specific location and activity.   Vision: Tourism fulfils its potential as a vehicle for social, cultural and economic good while removing and avoiding any negative impacts from its activities in terms of environmental and social impacts   Mission: To be an agent of change in the world of sustainable travel and tourism by fostering the increased knowledge, understanding, adoption and demand for sustainable tourism practices.   GSTC Criteria: https://www.gstcouncil.org/gstc-criteria/ GSTC Membership: https://www.gstcouncil.org/become-a-gstc-member/
August 4, 2022 0 comment
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EnvironmentReports

Ranked lowest in Environment Performance Index, India claims report used ‘unscientific methods’

by Team Conscious Carma August 3, 2022
written by Team Conscious Carma

Says weight of indicators in which India performed well has been reduced – The Union environment ministry,  rebutted the Environmental Performance Index 2022, which ranked India at the bottom of a list of 180 countries, saying some of the indicators it used are extrapolated and based on surmises and unscientific methods.

The index published recently by the Yale Center for Environmental Law and Policy and the Center for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University, used 40 performance indicators across 11 categories to judge countries on climate change performance, environmental health and ecosystem vitality.

The Environmental Performance Index (EPI) 2022 released recently has many indicators based on unfounded assumptions. Some of these indicators used for assessing performance are extrapolated and based on surmises and unscientific methods, the ministry said in a statement.

A new indicator in the climate policy objective is ‘projected GHG emissions levels in 2050’. This is computed based on the average rate of change in emission of the last 10 years instead of modelling that takes into account a longer time period, extent of renewable energy capacity and use, additional carbon sinks, energy efficiency etc. of respective countries, the ministry said.

Forests and wetlands of the country are crucial carbon sinks but have not been factored in while computing the projected GHG emissions trajectory up to 2050 given by EPI 2022. Historical data on the lowest emission trajectory has been ignored in the computation, it said while rejecting the analysis.

The ministry said the weight of the indicators in which India performed well has been reduced and the reasons for such change have not been explained in the report.

The principle of equity is given very low weightage in the form of indicators like GHG emission per capita and GHG Emission intensity trend. The CBDR-RC principle is also barely reflected in the composition of the index, it said.

Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDRRC) acknowledges the different capabilities and differing responsibilities of individual countries in addressing climate change.

The indicators on water quality, water use efficiency, waste generation per capita which are closely linked to sustainable consumption and production are not included in the Index, the ministry said.

The index emphasises the extent of protected areas rather than the quality of protection that they afford. Management, effectiveness and evaluation of protected areas and eco-sensitive regions is not factored into the computation of biodiversity indices, it said.

The index computes the extent of ecosystems but not their condition or productivity. It did not include indicators like agro biodiversity, soil health, food loss and waste even though they are important for developing countries with large agrarian populations.

Source: PTI

August 3, 2022 0 comment
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Authored ArticlesSustainabilityWellness

It’s a New Era of Well-being at Workplaces!

by Team Conscious Carma August 1, 2022
written by Team Conscious Carma

Intro: The future of work is well-being. The zillennials are demanding better work culture and environment. Nurturing employee well-being is critical to developing workplace resilience and sustainability! – Nona Walia

Body Copy: The last two years of pandemic era living have impacted everyone. Pandemic-related fatigue, social isolation, remote hybrid work culture and ‘the Great Reshuffle,’ have employees across generations asking for workplaces that promote well-being. The future trend forecasters believe that a new wave of well-being at work is here: leaders as coaches; 4-day work week; elimination of bullying. The rise of ‘well workplaces’ which follow the pyramids of wellness: financial wellness, career wellness, physical wellness, social wellness are the core focus areas. We need more workplaces which create new thriving cultures. 

The youngest workforce — Zillennials – born between 1993-1998 – demand a work environment that aligns with their personal values.  Wellness is now a new corporate responsibility in order to create sustainable workplaces. If companies are serious of building a well-being inclusive culture – then it’s time to take care of your employees. Stop giving people Well-being and Meditation Days, or free wellness apps, this is the time to make broader wellness policies and make structural changes. Employees need support, this is the time for collective organisational well-being. 

It’s going to be essential to train bosses to embrace the roles of facilitator, coach, mentor and guide with the purpose of empowering wellbeing and trust. ‘Command and Control’ model of work and obsessive bosses will be outdated.  Organisations that sack employees mindlessly automatically become unattractive as they go against the model of well-being and sustainability.

According to a recent article in Forbes, ‘employee well-being has expanded beyond physical well-being to focus on building a culture of holistic well-being including physical, emotional, financial, social, career, community, and purpose. At the heart of this is the growing need for flexibility in where, when, and how employees work.’

Organizations need to go beyond physical well-being. Opening up a gym or holding online/real yoga and meditation classes isn’t well-being.  For instance, PwC’s Be Well, Work Well Habit Bank helps you track physical well-being from standing up for short meetings or tracking what and when you eat. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has been focusing on employee well-being, he believes “soft skills and “good old-fashioned” management practices were needed to take care of employee well-being.”

According to a survey by LifeWorks’ Mental Health Index, mental stress among employees continues to rise. Employees are now more likely to report feelings of isolation and anxiety which negatively impacts productivity. The Mental Health Index survey revealed that young people are now focussing more on mental health with individuals between 20 and 29 nearly twice as likely to report wanting to put their mental health first compared to those over 60. This translates to employee retention with half of millennials and 75% of Gen-Zers citing mental health reasons as the motivation for leaving a job.  Experts report that, “wellbeing is becoming a board priority, not just the domain of the HR department.”

The shift will be creating workplaces with energy and vitality not just stresses and control. Employees will reject workplaces and cultures that don’t allow them to thrive. Work does not need to be an unending drain on vitality or your energy reserves. We need work and workplaces where people actually leave work more refreshed, happy, feeling charged and creative than when they arrived.

Wellbeing is important for employee happiness and fulfillment, but it’s also critical for business results. According to Gallup survey, “When your employees’ wellbeing is thriving, your organization directly benefits — they take fewer sick days. But when your employees’ wellbeing suffers, so does your organization’s bottom line.  Career wellbeing is the foundation for the other wellbeing elements.”

The focus of future will be on those organisations that promote and enhance the employee’s career well-being. The future area of focus will be — Why We Work rather than How We Work. In his TED Talk, Why We Work, Barry Schwartz says, “We need more organisations that motivate employees beyond a paycheck. This is a period of transformation of workplaces. We need to change workplace structures.”

People are not in it just for the money. They want to know where and why they should spend their energy and time in the right workplaces. Nobody wants to sign into a life making unbearable workplaces bearable. People are going to ask: What am I getting giving 40 hours a week to this organisations beyond the salary? Is this workplace interested in my well-being? Everyone is asking: Does this add value to my life?

The Wellbeing of We

We are trying to build sustainable and resilient work culture. People will not fall for the goals hiring HR pundits will be dangling at them. Employees want organisations for ensure financial well-being in times of uncertainty and distress. The PwC 2021 Employee Financial Well-being Survey found finances to be the top cause of employee stress above their job, their health, and their relationships combined. The Wellbeing of We is a culture that believes in everyone’s wellbeing not just the bosses wellbeing or their favourite people’s wellbeing.

Social Well-being

The key for workplace wellbeing is also to create strong bonds and meaningful friendships at work. “They can be a buffer during stressful situations,” says Jen Fisher, co-author of Work Better Together and Chief Well-Being officer for Deloitte. Leaders now view well-being not just as an employee benefit but as a way to support employees in all aspects of their personal and work lives.

It takes time to build workplaces that “do no harm” as spaces that optimize performance, lower fatigue, promote healthy life- and work-styles and empower thriving.

It’s time for well-being revolution at workplaces.

A check-list for Workplace Wellbeing for organisations:

•       Do your development plans include wellbeing goals?

•       Do you share and celebrate wellbeing successes?

August 1, 2022 0 comment
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  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives
  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

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  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

  • Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Publishes Annual Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report Detailing Progress on Sustainability Initiatives

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