Microsoft, Time100, Shell, UEFA, Moatwood

1. Honesty is the best policy

What do you do when your product displays serious risks to the public? Here’s how Microsoft are tackling it.???

72% of people are worried about deepfakes, according to the 2024 Microsoft Global Online Safety Survey . Interestingly, this time it's not outsiders raising alarms about the immense actual and potential impact of AI, but one of the tech giants themselves—Microsoft—voicing very serious concerns. Microsoft is calling for more regulation to combat four key issue areas which fraudsters are already abusing. These include financial scams using deepfake celebrities to endorse fake products, content misleading the public around elections and sexually explicit fake images to humiliate individuals. While they are taking their own action against generative AI abuse, they state that there is only so far as a tech company that they can go. We need public awareness, so that people can protect themselves, and clear legislative penalties to criminalise abuse. To read more about the concerns and action called for, please read the summary or the Whitepaper .?

I’m sure we’re not the only ones who have joined the 72% concerned. However, in a world where the public are feeling more and more disenfranchised with politics, industry and the media, it’s refreshing to hear of a company displaying honestly when it comes to risks surrounding their own products and the complex issues around them. Microsoft lay out within the Whitepaper serious risks of AI abuse, with no sugar-coating. We’re hopeful that with an industry giant like Microsoft heading up the regulatory campaign, including raising public awareness, meaningful action will be made and online safety will be improved going forwards.?

2. It’s TIME for climate action?

This week, Time magazine unveiled its second annual TIME100 Climate List , spotlighting the 100 most influential leaders driving real climate action across industries. The list brings together a mix of decision makers, executives, researchers, and innovators from around the globe, underscoring the fact that tackling the climate crisis, and advancing sustainability, requires collaboration across all sectors.?

Focusing on measurable, scalable achievements rather than announcements or commitments, the TIME100 Climate List shines a light on those making genuine strides in the business of climate change. From World Bank President Ajay Banga to Lime’s Vice President of Sustainability, Andrew Savage, this year's list celebrates a remarkable group categorized as titans, catalysts, innovators, leaders, and defenders of the planet.?

We’re encouraged by the inclusion of business leaders who are championing sustainability. At our core, we believe that businesses have the unique power to drive sustainability forward, acting as a force for good while also benefiting their bottom line. The leaders featured on this list are a testament to that belief.?

Take for example Greg Jackson, founder and CEO of Octopus Energy, and Niels Christiansen, CEO and President of Lego. Both are proving that sustainability isn't just about helping the planet—it’s also about advancing business. Last year, Octopus Energy helped prevent over 960,000 lbs. of CO2 emissions in the U.K. and has reached a valuation of $9 billion, underscoring the fact that sustainability is, indeed, good business. Similarly, Lego is investing up to 60% more in greener plastic alternatives compared to fossil-fuel-based options. Despite this, the company’s operating profit rose by 26% in the first half of 2024 , illustrating that sustainability doesn’t have to come at the expense of profit.?

If you’ve been inspired by the climate list and want to explore how your business can make a positive impact, we’d love to hear from you.?

3. Is there a silver lining in Shell’s win??

The Hague Court of Appeal has overturned a 2021 ruling that required Shell to cut its CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. Not great news. But there are reasons to think big oil shouldn’t rush to celebrate Shell’s court win.???

As Donald Pols, the director of Milieudefensie, the Dutch arm of Friends of the Earth , which brought the case to court said: “This hurts. But at the same time, this case has ensured that major polluters are not immune and has further fuelled the debate about their responsibility in combating dangerous climate change.”?

We see this mixed picture in the rulings. The judges balked at mandating specific reduction targets, citing a lack of scientific consensus on individual company obligations. And they also gave their backing to Shell’s argument that targeting a single company would be ineffective, as other suppliers would fill the demand for fossil fuels.????

However, the court reinforced the principle that Shell has an obligation to counter dangerous climate change by reducing its emissions. This crucially important acknowledgment, coupled with the court's assertion that it can, in principle, mandate absolute emission reductions for companies, suggests that corporate climate accountability is becoming increasingly inevitable, even if we are not there yet.??

This also comes at a time of mounting pressure from countries, states and environmental organisations, coupled with the fact that New EU rules, including the directives on carbon trade, CSRD and CSDDD, require Shell to develop and implement transition plans.?

The march towards change continues, and despite this ruling, as cases continue to unfold, the courts are likely to pay an ever more important part.??

4. Huge score or own goal for UEFA??

Why the UEFA President’s excessive private JET use risks undermining the sustainability success of the 2024 games.?

UEFA recently scored a huge environmental win, reporting a 21% reduction in carbon emissions from their 2024 tournament in Germany relative to initial forecasts for the games. But has UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin’s private jet use during the games cast a shadow over this success story??

The UEFA EURO 2024 ESG report , released earlier this month, celebrated over 120 sustainability actions and a €29.6 million investment. These efforts enabled UEFA to achieve 95% of their pre-tournament sustainability goals. Initiatives included providing fans with free public transport passes, offering discounted InterRail passes, and reducing stadium parking availability. Match clustering in regional hubs also cut Participating National Associations’ flights by 75% compared to 2016, while 90% of staff travelled by public transport within Germany. These efforts set a strong example for reducing event-based emissions, offering a roadmap for other major sporting events and festival organisers.?

However, recent controversy around Ceferin’s excessive use of private jets during the games, even for trips that would have been less than an hour by car, risks undermining UEFA’s environmental efforts. While fans and staff embraced public transport, Ceferin’s hypocrisy challenges his claim of the tournament being a ‘modern way of shaping a sporting event’.?

While we don’t wish to take away from the success of the 2024 tournament, true sustainability requires an organisation-wide commitment, especially at leadership levels. Top executives must actively model the organisations values, only then can UEFA fully position itself as a leader in sustainability.??

5. A toast to sustainability?

Looking for a tipple that is as kind to the planet as it is to the palate? We have the answer.?

Moatwood | English Premium Gin , hand-crafted in small batches from the wild-foraged starflower sourced from their 1,500-acre regenerative farm in the UK, ensure every bottle reflects their commitment to sustainability.?

In addition to sustainable ingredients, their single-shot small batch distillation process conserves resources while delivering a smooth, light and refreshing gin, enhanced by subtle sweet and floral notes from the starflower.??

And what’s more, as members of 1% for the Planet, they pledge 1% of their total revenue to environmental causes, including a partnership with SeaTrees , an organisation focused on restoring coastal ecosystems and supporting vital ocean habitats—from kelp forests to coral reefs—helping to create a more resilient future for our oceans.?

So, whether enjoyed in a classic Moatwood & Tonic, a bittersweet Negroni or a deliciously smooth Moatwood Martini, Moatwood are reinvigorating the planet, one sip at a time.??

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