Tipping Point: An ongoing series of the latest Clean50 Member News, Updates, & Accomplishments

By: (c) Gavin Pitchford

(Clean50 Member submissions welcome! – email Gavin or clean50@deltamanagement.com)

BDC announces appointment of Sandra Odendahl to lead its sustainability and diversity strategy and programs

From BDC’s Press Release:

“Sandra brings over 25 years of experience in environmental science, responsible finance, and social innovation. A respected and well-known voice in promoting sustainability and clean capitalism in Canada, she will be responsible for all facets of BDC’s ESG strategy and programs, including the bank’s renewed and enhanced focus on the environment, as well as its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) strategy.” Read the full story here.

Clean50 member Laura Zizzo has undergone a remarkable evolution from environmental lawyer, to climate consultant, to now climate consultant AND software entrepreneur at Manifest Climate

 From Manifest Climate’s press release: 

“Manifest Climate has just completed a CAD$30 million Series A fundraising round, co-led by the BDC Capital Women in Technology Venture Fund and Climate Innovation Capital. The raise was also supported by OMERS Ventures, Golden Ventures, Garage Capital, Active Impact Investments, Klass Capital, Bryker Capital, and other angel investors.

The Series A round reflects the growing global interest and regulatory changes regarding climate-related risks and disclosures. This show of confidence in our product by major investors will allow Manifest to respond to its increased demand.

Manifest Climate is now better positioned to bring cutting-edge tech into the world of corporate strategy and disclosure. By combining our AI software with in-house climate expertise, Manifest Climate uniquely helps businesses identify, navigate, and manage their climate risks and opportunities. Our financing proceeds will be used to strengthen these capabilities and will support product development, our international expansion, and other growth-related initiatives. As the world embraces climate insights alongside ‘traditional’ financial considerations, Manifest Climate is committed to helping companies meet all emerging regulatory requirements, stay on top of necessary climate updates, and become climate-competent”.

We congratulate and salute Laura and her team for their evolution, ingenuity, prescience and expertise – and would suggest to prospective Clean50 members – it’s a lot easier to give us the data we need in some nominee’s cases if you’re tracking it on Manifest’s platform!

TRANSPOD CONFIRMS $550M INVESTMENT IN ALBERTA PROJECT

TransPod, the Canadian tube transportation startup building the TransPod line – an ultra high speed passenger and freight transport system – announced the next stage of a multibillion dollar project in Alberta. Financial commitment from Broughton Capital Group and China-East Resources Import & Export Co equating to $550 Million USD and a Maste EPC arrangement, ensures to accelerate the development of a TransPod line between Calgary and Edmonton. The project is projected to create 140,000 jobs and contribute $19.2 Billion to the area’s GDP, and the Master EPC Arrangement will involve numerous Canadian contractors. With this announcement, TransPod becomes the first ever tube-transportation company to establish investment on a multibillion dollar venture.

TransPod CEO, and 2019 Clean50 award winner, Sebastian Gendron said “The construction and operation of a TransPod Line will help Albertans move around easily, create new jobs, and facilitate investment into the region. With the confidence of our investors and the Government of Alberta, we will deliver on a joint vision of a progressive, sustainable, and growing economy.” Most amanzingly, with a total travel time of 45 minutes between Alberta’s largest two cities, the TransPod Line will offer the door to door speed of an airline, at a much lower cost of $90 CAD, versus the $160+ CAD cost of a plane ticket. Learn more about TransPod here.

Clean Energy Professionals for Ukraine Fundraiser

April 6, 2022… Philippe Dunsky at Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors is almost set to kick off a fundraising campaign for the people of Ukraine and the invasion of their country continues on. The fundraiser will be configured through the Canada Helps web page and all donations will be matched by Dunsky Energy + Climate advisors. Stay tuned for more information & for a specific launch date!

Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors aid Manitoba on the road to Net Zero

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April 6, 2022… Manitoba: The Government of Manitoba retained Dunsky Energy + Climate Advisors to develop the province’s energy policy framework. The consulting firm plans to combine deep modelling algorithms to assess how the province could achieve Net Zero by 2050 at the lowest possible cost; conduct other research into best practice policies around the globe; holding a series of consultations – Dunsky is consulting a wide array of stakeholder groups and government departments, and Government is separately consulting Indigenous peoples. Based on the input they will be recommending an energy policy framework that builds on Manitoba’s strengths, addresses its challenges, and ultimately positions the province to win in a low-carbon economy.

GLOBE IS BACK! Join us in Vancouver March 29-30-31

March 11, 2022… GLOBE SERIES FORUM IS BACK… AND IN PERSON! The best sustainability conference in the world, and the event we have been waiting for, for two (very, very) long years is back – March 29-30-31 and available in both “in-person” or in virtual mode.  Clean50 alumni and newsletter subscribers are invited to leverage a 15% discount by using a code: CLEAN50GSF22 at checkout HERE and hitting the REGISTER button top right. Clean50 Members are invited to an Alumni reception on March 30th following the conference 5:15 to 8:15 PM. Check your inbox for the invitation.

Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth Is…

Milla Craig (C50 ’17)
Eric St-Pierre (C50 ’21)

March 11, 2022… The Great Canadian ESG Championship is a Dragons’ Den-style competition where more than 55 investment managers across the country battle to win part of a $75 Million investment mandate. Driven by eight Canadian institutional investors (philanthropic foundations, university foundation, community foundation and private trusts), the goal of the championship is not only to identify gold-standard approaches to responsible investing but also to publicly promote those who demonstrate them, to inspire increased transparency and best practices in the market. The ESG Championship is led by Clean50 member Eric St-Pierre of the Trottier Foundation, and Clean50 member Milla Craig‘s firm Millani has been selected as the ESG expert to independently adjudicate the selection process. 

Looking to be Better in the Boardroom?

March 11, 2022… Looking to Get Better in the Boardroom? We would like to bring your attention to some world-class education programs by Competent Boards led by Clean50 member Helle Bank-Jorgensen and we would highly recommend their ESG and Climate programs for board directors and senior executives. The program offers a Climate Competent Boards Designation (CCB.D) and helps senior executives learn how to implement climate strategies in their organizations and boardrooms with a 6-session, highly practical program. A new Climate cohort starts on March 15 with a few limited spots left.