Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance calls for regulatory mandates on Scope 3 disclosure

The UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA) has released a new paper emphasising the critical role of top-down regulatory mandates in overcoming data and disclosure challenges related to Scope 3 emissions. As regulations on these emissions evolve worldwide, with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) in the European Union and emerging regulatory frameworks in Japan and California, the NZAOA’s new paper highlights the growing urgency for standardising disclosure and the need for policymakers to act decisively. The report finds barriers to tackling these emissions—which account for three-quarters of most companies’…

WWF calls on countries to unite around necessary binding upstream measures and urgently adopt the treaty that people and nature need

WWF is disappointed that countries failed to reach an agreement despite a vast majority of governments demanding ambitious measures that science has shown can stop plastic pollution.  Almost all countries stood up and applauded Rwanda’s lead negotiator Juliet Kabera’s call on countries during the final INC-5 plenary to symbolically show their support for a globally binding and ambitious plastic pollution treaty that extends over plastics’ entire lifecycle. In addition, during the plenary session, Mexico together with a majority group of 95 countries from various regions, stated that they will not…

Fairtrade International and International Cooperative Alliance join forces to enable more cooperatives and their members to realise sustainable livelihoods

As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres launches 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives, Fairtrade International and the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA) have signed a joint partnership declaration to drive greater inclusion and sustainability of cooperatives. The declaration, signed by Melissa Duncan, Executive Director of Fairtrade International, and Jeroen Douglas, the Director General of ICA, has solidified the organisations’ commitment to work together to advance the principles of democracy, empowerment, economic prosperity and distribution, and the convergence of economic, social, and environmental components of development.    The announcement was made…

New report reveals stark challenges facing disabled musicians in the music industry

Disabled Musicians face high levels of discrimination in the workplace, and mental health impacts career progression The significant barriers and discrimination faced by disabled musicians, alongside financial challenges and concerns around physical and mental wellbeing are highlighted in a new insights report published today. Laurie Oliva, Director of Services & Research, Help Musicians, comments: ​“The scale of the challenges disabled musicians face in navigating a career in music is stark and we thank everyone who contributed to the Census in trusting us with their honesty and insights. At Help Musicians we continue to…

Barnardo’s Issues Plea For New Adopters In Scotland As Register Reveals 20% Fall In Numbers

The country’s leading children’s charity is today issuing a plea for more people to consider adoption after figures revealed that the number of adopters on the national register had dropped by almost 20% in the space of a year. Ahead of last month’s Adoption Week, Barnardo’s Scotland has pointed to Scottish Adoption Register (SAR) figures that show the number of registered adopters has fallen from 209 at the end of March 2023 to 169 on the corresponding date this year. That is a decrease of 19%. What’s more, in the…