We all know that economic growth and business success are some of the essential pillars and backbones wealth is build on in our society.
BUILDING A FUTURE
The result of all that economic striving day in and day out puts us in a position to give something back – a basic but amazing principle of our free market economy.
And giving back does not always have to be on the scale of Bloomberg Philanthropies – and therefore, does not need the seven digit scale of funds for social engagements. This is why we have selected a small foundation in California for our Iptor #MakeADifference charity this spring.
MEET ANGELA BRANNON-BAPTISTE & THE ALL ABOUT THE KIDS FOUNDATION
So, what really does count? According to EU Eurostat and the US Environmental Protection Agency, around half of the global greenhouse gas emission result from Agriculture and Electricity and Heat production, each coming close to around 25% of global emissions. Within that, 15% of the world’s carbon emissions result from livestock and animal farming, of course with significant differences by country.
In May last year, I had the opportunity to discuss environment and climate at a conference in the US with NBC chief meteorologist and Emmy award winner John Morales. Two things he shared have really stuck in my mind. The first was when he said that “an even slightly warmer atmosphere can hold more water and therefore change weather dynamics significantly. Meaning we will not necessarily see more weather phenomena and weather caused emergencies, but the ones we will see will be much more intense and devastating.”
The second was around the impact on people living on this planet. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, many of those countries at long-term climate risk are those that might generally be considered to be “less well off”. Therefore, the price of carbon emission from mass animal farming and electricity consumption is often paid by people that receive significantly less benefit from these than those living in industrial countries. As an example, the UN has warned that climate change threatens one in three Bangladeshi children.
