Environment Economy Society December 2017 FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY PROFESSIONALS www.iema-transform.net How millennials are disrupting the world of business PLUS Survival of the fi ttest Chris D Thomas on nature’s way of coping Green shoots Investments to tackle climate change Brexit across borders Complexities of environmental governance p01_Transform_Dec2017_COVER_v3•CT.indd 1 21/11/2017 15:34 Two new routes to IEMA membership If you’re looking for a route to membership or to upskill your team, our new training courses will provide the knowledge and skills you need to do your job. The Foundation Certificate in Environmental Management gives a first foot in the door of the Environment & Sustainability profession and leads directly to Associate membership of IEMA. The brand new Certificate in Environmental Management is designed to instil, recognise and support environment and sustainability knowledge and is the pathway to Practitioner membership. Learn more and sign up today: www.iema.net/training/new-courses-2017 p02.IEMA.Dec17.indd 24 17/11/2017 10:53 Contents DECEMBER 24 Upfront 04 Comment Tim Balcon, CEO of IEMA, on how members have inspired what has been a year to remember 05 Industry news roundup 07 COP23 news 08 IEMA news Annual members survey results; IEMA attends Bonn climate talks; More members awarded Fellowship Regulars 19 10 Legal brief FEATURES Regulations, consultations and court news, including fi ne for NE region activities 14 Interview: Professor Chris D Thomas Leading ecologist and author argues how 12 In focus nature is thriving in an age of extinction Can pesticides cause bumblebees to lose their buzz? 18 Energy Paul Reeve explains the UK government’s 30 The big question plans for a low-carbon economy How can business change 27 behaviour and attitudes 19 Investment towards sustainable resource Rick Gould outlines the history of green bonds management? and explains how the fi nancial sector can demonstrate their credibility Connect 22 Reporting Elisabeth Jeff ries looks at how the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures can 32 Member news encourage more strategic reporting measures 33 Member profi le 24 COVER STORY Jess Kennedy, environmental Corporate social responsibility consultant at RSK David Burrows reports on how millennials Environment are disrupting the business world 34 Member success 27 Politics All the latest IEMA upgrades Charlotte Burns, Viviane Gravey and Andy Jordan discuss the complexities 35 IEMA Education 35 of Brexit, devolution and environmental Course listings and providers governance in the UK www.iema-transform.net December 2017 3 p03_Transform_Dec2017_Contents•CT.indd 3 22/11/2017 11:54 Comment IEMA is the worldwide alliance of environment and sustainability professionals, working to make our businesses and organisations future-proof. Belonging gives us the knowledge, connections and authority to lead collective TIM BALCON, CEO OF IEMA change, with IEMA’s global sustainability standards as our benchmark. By mobilising our expertise, we will continue to challenge norms, drive new kinds of enterprise and make measurable progress towards our bold vision: transforming the world to sustainability. IEMA City Offi ce Park, Tritton Road, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, A year to LN6 7AS tel: +44 (0) 1522 540069 fax: +44 (0) 1522 540090 [email protected] | www.iema.net Editor remember Sharon Maguire [email protected] IEMA head of PR and communications t’s been quite a year. During the past 12 months, our membership Katrina Pierce [email protected] has – in a word – performed. Members have got involved, contributed News reporting time, eff ort and expertise and generally made some noise. This [email protected] encapsulates everything that membership and our profession [email protected] is about; an alliance of people who want to work together to tip Sub-editors Caroline Taylor the status quo and improve what needs improving. It’s genuinely Kathryn Manning inspiring, and I mean that literally. Business development manager We take inspiration from the work you do and what you say you need. Daniel Goodwin I tel: +44 (0) 20 7880 6206 That’s why in 2017 we’ve taken your direction to power up our networks, [email protected] hold more webinars, provide more guidance, create exciting events so you Senior recruitment sales executive Katy Eggleton have options about the kind of things that make it into your diary, and deliver tel: +44 (0) 20 7880 7665 a brand new magazine, TRANSFORM – perhaps you’ve heard of it? We’ve [email protected] also ramped up our policy, advocacy and engagement work with two new Designer additions to our policy team – Marc Jourdan and Spencer Clubb. That extra Nicola Skowronek Picture editor capacity resulted in our attendance and infl uence at COP23, which is no Claire Echavarry small achievement. Publishing director All of this happened because you took the time to Joanna Marsh tell us what is important and what is valuable, and I’d Senior production executive like to thank you for that. We’ll continue to listen to Aysha Miah-Edwards what you tell us and act on your recommendations Printer Warners Midlands PLC, Lincolnshire – we’re already looking at the results of the Member Published by Satisfaction Survey to guide 2018’s activity. Redactive Publishing Ltd Level 5, 78 Chamber Street, London, E1 8BL Later this month – also because you asked us tel: +44 (0) 20 7880 6200 to – we’re bringing back a highly valued www.redactive.co.uk resource after several calls from members. What To subscribe to TRANSFORM, please contact +44 (0) 20 7324 2738 longer-standing members will remember as [email protected] The Practitioner will return as the fi rst in The 2017 annual subscription rate is £142. the new Sustainability in Practice series. Change Management for Sustainable Development updates on our 2008 © IEMA 2017 The Practitioner, which was recently This magazine aims to include a broad range of opinion and articles that do not necessarily refl ect the views of IEMA; nor should such opinions reviewed on Twitter by one member be relied upon as statements of fact. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, as a “lifesaver resource”. It will provide transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical or renewed perspective, inspiration otherwise, without the prior written consent of the publisher and editor. and practical guidance in the ISSN 14727625 context of transforming the world to sustainability and the action you can take at work to contribute. As we bring 2017 to a close, I’d like to wish you all the very best for the new The paper used to print TRANSFORM year, and here’s to making an impact comes from sustainable sources. For more information on TRANSFORM’s sustainability credentials, in 2018. visit: https://transform.iema.net/think-green 4 December 2017 www.iema-transform.net Newp04-05_Transform_Dec2017_Editorial_Roundup•CT.indd 4 22/11/2017 11:16 ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY ROUNDUP NEWS AND VIEWS GLOBAL WARMING CO2 emissions to rise for fi rst time in four years n a “step back for humankind”, China’s emissions are projected Although the researchers say CO2 emissions are set to rise after to grow by 3.5% in 2017 after two there are “several factors” pointing a three-year plateau. years of decline. They account for to a continued rise in 2018, long- I Global carbon dioxide approximately 28% of the 41 billion term emissions are not expected to emissions from human activities are tonnes of CO2 emissions that are return to the persistent high growth set to be 2% higher this year than in forecast worldwide this year. rates seen during the 2000s of over 2016, according to a new report from India’s emissions are set to rise 3% annually. the Global Carbon Project (GCP). by 2%, although this is signifi cantly “This year we have seen how The rise follows a three-year period less than the 6% per year averaged climate change can amplify the of emissions staying relatively fl at, over the previous decade. The fall is impacts of hurricanes, with stronger with the increase largely a result thought be a result of government downpours of rain, higher sea levels of greater coal use and industrial interventions in the economy. and warmer ocean conditions production in China. Meanwhile, emissions in Europe favouring more powerful storms,” The researchers say it is too early and the US are predicted to decrease said lead researcher, professor to speculate whether this is the start by 0.2% and 0.4% respectively, but Corinne Le Quéré. of a new trend, warning that we need this is notably less than the 2.2% and “This is a window into the future. to reach a global peak in emissions 1.2% reductions averaged over the We need to reach a peak in global before 2020 if we are to meet the previous 10 years. emissions in the next few years goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. The remaining countries, which and drive emissions down rapidly “We must reverse this trend and represent around 40% of the global afterwards to address climate change start to accelerate toward a safe and total, are expected to see increases of and limit its impacts.” prosperous world for all,” stated around 2.3% in 2017, with emissions The researchers said their forecasts Future Earth executive director still rising in 101 nations with had an uncertainty range of between Amy Luers. GDP growth. 0.8% and 3%. PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCK www.iema-transform.net December 2017 5 p04-05_Transform_Dec2017_Editorial_Roundup•CT.indd 5 21/11/2017 15:58 News SHORTCUTS 2017 set to be in top three hottest years on record This year is likely to join 2016 and 2015 in the top three hottest on record, according to analysis from the World WATER SECURITY Meteorological Organization (WMO).