The Spark#30: Hot House Syndrome, Heat Protection and Sustainability for the LA 2028 Olympics

August 23, 2024

Hey there!

You might notice I've shaken things up a bit with the newsletter - it is now divided into three sections: social sustainability news, environmental sustainability news, and corporate responsibility news.

This way, you can jump straight to the part that grabs your interest. Hope this helps make it easier to keep up with the topics most important to you.

Top News This Week

Social Sustainability

Hot House Syndrome affecting Millions: A recent study by the Warm This Winter campaign found that 4.5 million Britons have suffered from "hot house syndrome," falling ill due to extreme indoor heat over the past year. Vulnerable groups, including the elderly and those with preexisting health conditions, are most affected. Poor insulation and ventilation in low-quality housing are major contributors. Experts emphasize the need for better home insulation, ventilation, and retrofitting to help people stay cool during heatwaves.

Heatwave Threatens Garment Workers: Rising temperatures pose serious challenges for the fashion industry, with workers in Asia experiencing health risks and declining productivity due to extreme heat. Urgent adaptation strategies are needed.

Workers Demand Heat Protections: As the US grapples with scorching temperatures, a nationwide movement ("Heat Week") demands stronger workplace protections against heat exposure for workers.

Environmental Sustainability

Trees Play a Bigger Role in Climate Change: A new study reveals that microbes in tree bark help remove methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere. Planting trees and reducing deforestation are crucial for tackling climate change.

New Approach to Measuring Corporate Climate Impact: Researchers propose tracking a company's "spheres of influence" to better understand their overall environmental impact, going beyond just direct emissions.

LA 2028 Olympics Aim for Sustainability: The Los Angeles 2028 Olympics are aiming to be a sustainable model for event hosting by being a "no car" event, requiring all attendees to use public transportation. The city aims to use existing venues, including the historic Coliseum Stadium, with no new permanent structures being built specifically for the Games. Over 3,000 buses will be needed, and the city is expanding its public transit system to support the initiative.

July Ends Streak of Global Heat Records: July 2024 ended a 13-month streak of global heat records, but experts warn this doesn't signal relief from climate change. They emphasize that the forces driving temperature increases remain unchanged, and the effects will continue to worsen without significant action.

Renewables on the Rise in the US: For the first time ever, US wind and solar power generation has surpassed coal usage in the first half of 2024, reflecting a significant shift towards cleaner energy sources.

US Backs Global Plastic Treaty: Shifting its stance, the US now supports a global agreement to reduce plastic production, aligning with efforts to combat plastic pollution.

Corporate Responsibility

UK Strengthens ESG Transparency: The UK is introducing regulations to ensure clarity and prevent bias in ESG ratings, a crucial tool for sustainable investment decisions.

Climate Action Benefits Businesses: A PwC study reveals that companies taking proactive climate actions often experience better financial performance through innovation and market leadership.

The Gap Between Commitment and Action: An IBM study found that while sustainability remains a top priority for many companies, their current approaches often lack effectiveness. Innovation is key to achieving meaningful sustainability goals.

What We Are Talking About

Last week, troubling images from an event in Silicon Valley surfaced- pictures that could easily be mistaken for being taken decades ago.

However, these photos were taken at a recent event in Silicon Valley- a place known for its innovation. The pictures depicted women with lampshades on their heads greeting attendees at the entrance. Despite efforts to improve inclusivity in the industry, the event's organizers seem to have missed the mark entirely.

The company's leadership has since apologized, but this incident raises critical questions: How did something like this get approved in a company as large as Palo Alto Networks? Why wasn't it flagged earlier?

And what MORE do we need to do to make sure that such a scenario isn't even an option on the table?