Budapest, 16 October 2018. Budapest Airport has won two prestigious environmental awards; Ozone TV’s “Green Award” was handed over recently, and previously, BUD received Telekom’s “Dolphin Award”.
Following a strict, international audit, Budapest Airport achieved carbon neutrality last year, which means that the airport’s fossil energy use has been counterbalanced in the course of operation, with various measures. The international measurement unit for this is the carbon footprint. But the environmental experts of Ferenc Liszt International Airport are not resting on their laurels, and have launched numerous other programs, all promoting sustainable development and operation in harmony with nature. These include the GreenAirport program, which many airport-based companies and authorities have joined.
The Ozone Award recognizes organizations, small and large companies which strive to leave the smallest possible ecological footprint in the course of their daily operation. Winners are expected to prioritize environmental protection and sustainable development, and to keep introducing useful, exemplary solutions, combining creativity and environmental awareness. The award is decided, based on the nominations of the environmental media, by a panel of experts, whose members obtained valuable experience of sustainable operation in various areas of life.
“We are very proud of winning this award, bestowed by Ozone TV and environmental experts, as we managed to demonstrate that we are ready to share the benefits of aviation with those living in the vicinity of the airport,” commented Gábor Szarvas, environmental protection director for Budapest Airport, during the handover of the award. He also highlighted that Budapest Airport is trying to convince more partners for the cause of sustainable airport operation. Thus, amongst other things, the replacement of gas-operated airport vehicles with electric ones is continuing and the widespread use of LED lighting is on the agenda, which enables a significant energy saving, coupled with greater light output.
Ozone TV, which granted the Green Award, will provide an opportunity for Budapest Airport’s representatives to discuss the planned measures which will contribute to the full implementation of sustainable airport operation, in the TV show called “The Equator”.
Earlier, Budapest Airport also won the Dolphin Award established by Telekom, in the large company category. This accolade is bestowed on large companies operating in Hungary which, through their activities, organize the stakeholders of a business sector and implement joint programs aimed at sustainability.
“We would like to recognize the outstanding activities of leaders and companies in the field of sustainability”- said Irén Márta Managing Deirector of BCSDH at the award-giving ceremony of the “For a Sustainable Future” prize on BCSDH’s business lunch.
18 October, 2018, Budapest – The Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH), which embraces 82 member companies that contribute approximately 30% of Hungary’s GDP, has now presented the For a Sustainable Future Prize for the second time in three categories: Change Leader, Leading Women, and Business Solutions.
Irén Márta, Managing Director of BCSDH and member of the professional jury, explained: “We have established this complex prize with the purpose of recognizing and disseminating to a wide audience the activities of leaders and companies in the field of sustainability. The goal of the prize is to set an example, and moreover, to promote and increase the contribution of business to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.”
The jury, consisting of five professionals (Dr. Gábor Bartus, Szilvia Krizsó, Irén Márta, István Salgó and Diána Ürge-Vorsatz), selected the laureates from the applicants.
Winner of the Change Leader prize: Ferenc Molnár (Ilcsi Szépítő Füvek)
Winners of the Leading Woman Prize: Zdravka Demeter Bubalo (MOL), Anita Urbán (Grundfos), Barbara Verő (Nestlé)
The best Business Solution prize-winners are:
Biofilter: ‘Circular approach in digital switchover’ digital office program,
Heineken: ‘Plastic-free movement in May’ compostable cup program,
MOL: ‘MOL Limo, the future of driving’ car-sharing program.
The winners of the “For a Sustainable Future” prize in 2018:
LEADING WOMAN PRIZE:
Zdravka Demeter Bubalo HR Director, MOL Group
…who is a proactive, strategic thinker and as a cooperative leader operating beyond Hungary’s borders is playing an active role in promoting gender equality to increase the opportunities of women and girls, thereby personallycontributing to the achievement of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Anita Urbán HR Director, Grundfos
….who is always thinking long-term, and as a committed and innovative leader is actively involved in creating high-quality workplaces with flexible forms of employment and opportunities for lifelong learning, thereby personally contributing to the achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Barbara Verő Head of HR, Nestlé
…who is an innovative, inspirational leader that constantly questions the usual processes, and goes beyond normal company activities through promoting the employment of young people, talent management, and a start-up culture. Through her sustainable employment activities, she is contributing personally to meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
CHANGE LEADER PRIZE:
Ferenc Molnár Owner, Managing Director, Ilcsi Szépítő Füvek
…who is an innovative and environmentally conscious leader and pioneer at producing professional, certified, natural cosmetics. He has a major interest in promoting sustainable lifestyles and natural resource-saving forms of production, as also evidenced in his personal lifestyle.
Photo: Ildikó Fülöp
BUSINESS SOLUTION PRIZE:
Biofilter’s ‘Circular approach in digital’ is an innovative, far-seeing program that sets an example for other companies and industries. Beyond regular business considerations, it continues to expand its own responsibilities and thus contributes to meeting the Action 2020 Hungary and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Heineken’s ‘Plastic-free movement in May’ program is an innovative, eye-catching business solution that seeks and finds answers to a major ecological problem. It could easily be extended to other market players within and beyond the industry, thus contributing significantly to the achievement of the Action 2020 Hungary and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
MOL’s ‘MOL Limo, the future of driving’ program is an innovative and forward-looking response to a large-scale problem, and a good example of responsible, strategic and business thinking. It also sets an example for other actors in the market and contributes significantly to achieving the Action 2020 Hungary and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
00eszter.chikankovacshttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngeszter.chikankovacs2018-10-19 10:43:482018-10-19 10:43:48The “For a Sustainable Future” Prizes have been awarded
“Leaders have a primary responsibility to ensure sustainable value creation in an era of major change”- said Doreswamy Nandkishore (‘Nandu’) at BCSDH’s business lunch which focused on sustainable lifestyles. The award-giving ceremony of the “For a Sustainable Future” prize was also held at the event to recognize outstanding leaders and business solutions.
18 October, 2018, Budapest – An introduction to the two-point recommendation for the business sector showing the way to promote sustainable lifestyles was presented at the business lunch of the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH).
The organization, which embraces 82 member companies that contribute approximately 30% of Hungary’s GDP, has now presented the For a Sustainable Future Prize for the second time in three categories: Change Leader, Leading Women, and Business Solutions.
There’s a need for change and new business models, but sustainable value creation should still be the focus – Speech of Nandu Nandkishore
We are living in an era of big changes, where the survival of organizations depends on their capability to adapt and change – said Doreswamy Nandkishore (Nandu), formerExecutive Vice President for Nestlé SA, and currently Executive Fellow of Strategy and Entrepreneurship at London Business School – “But one thing cannot change: commitment to principles and values, as this is the basis of trust, and is not concrete, but is still the permanent and everlasting basis of the value of companies. Thus, creating sustainable value and building trust are the primary responsibilities of leaders.”
Nandu highlighted that it is increasingly urgent for businesses and companies to make changes, and managers need to prepare their companies for wider changes in business models.
BCSDH’s recommendations for promoting the uptake of sustainable lifestyles
“According to a report by the United Nations, we only have 12 years left to stop climate change and step onto a path of sustainability. For this to happen, it is essential that sustainable lifestyles become more general. In promoting their uptake, companies have a clear role and responsibility. Fortunately, the commitment of companies to this goal is increasing both globally and on the domestic level too” said Attila Chikán Jr., President of the BCSDH in a speech that also introduced the two-point recommendation which was put together by BCSDH and the leaders of its member companies to help the business sector take the steps necessary for promoting the uptake of sustainable lifestyles.
BCSDH’s recommendations to the business sector for promoting sustainable lifestyles:
Change business models to make sustainable products and services competitive
Shift consumer demand towards sustainability through brands
Over 80 senior executives, civil and scientific experts took part in the preparation and wording of the recommendation. As a result, solutions for both the business sector and its stakeholders have been identified that can positively impact the sustainable lifestyles.
00eszter.chikankovacshttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngeszter.chikankovacs2018-10-19 10:17:492018-10-19 10:17:49Time is pressing – new business models are necessary
Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C
approved by governments
Limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society, the IPCC said in a new assessment. With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) said on Monday.
The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C was approved by the IPCC on Saturday in Incheon, Republic of Korea. It will be a key scientific input into the Katowice Climate Change Conference in Poland in December, when governments review the Paris Agreement to tackle climate change.
“With more than 6,000 scientific references cited and the dedicated contribution of thousands of expert and government reviewers worldwide, this important report testifies to the breadth and policy relevance of the IPCC,” said Hoesung Lee, Chair of the IPCC.
Ninety-one authors and review editors from 40 countries prepared the IPCC report in response to an invitation from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) when it adopted the Paris Agreement in 2015.
The report’s full name is Global Warming of 1.5°C, an IPCC special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty.
“One of the key messages that comes out very strongly from this report is that we are already seeing the consequences of 1°C of global warming through more extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, among other changes,” said Panmao Zhai, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I.
The report highlights a number of climate change impacts that could be avoided by limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C, or more. For instance, by 2100, global sea level rise would be 10 cm lower with global warming of 1.5°C compared with 2°C. The likelihood of an Arctic Ocean free of sea ice in summer would be once per century with global warming of 1.5°C, compared with at least once per decade with 2°C. Coral reefs would decline by 70-90 percent with global warming of 1.5°C, whereas virtually all (> 99 percent) would be lost with 2°C.
“Every extra bit of warming matters, especially since warming of 1.5°C or higher increases the risk associated with long-lasting or irreversible changes, such as the loss of some ecosystems,” said Hans-Otto Pörtner, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.
Limiting global warming would also give people and ecosystems more room to adapt and remain below relevant risk thresholds, added Pörtner. The report also examines pathways available to limit warming to 1.5°C, what it would take to achieve them and what the consequences could be. “The good news is that some of the kinds of actions that would be needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C are already underway around the world, but they would need to accelerate,” said Valerie Masson-Delmotte, Co-Chair of Working Group I.
The report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C would require “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45 percent from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050. This means that any remaining emissions would need to be balanced by removing CO2 from the air.
“Limiting warming to 1.5°C is possible within the laws of chemistry and physics but doing so would require unprecedented changes,” said Jim Skea, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III.
Allowing the global temperature to temporarily exceed or ‘overshoot’ 1.5°C would mean a greater reliance on techniques that remove CO2 from the air to return global temperature to below 1.5°C by 2100. The effectiveness of such techniques are unproven at large scale and some may carry significant risks for sustainable development, the report notes.
“Limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared with 2°C would reduce challenging impacts on ecosystems, human health and well-being, making it easier to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals,” said Priyardarshi Shukla, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group III.
The decisions we make today are critical in ensuring a safe and sustainable world for everyone, both now and in the future, said Debra Roberts, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group II.
“This report gives policymakers and practitioners the information they need to make decisions that tackle climate change while considering local context and people’s needs. The next few years are probably the most important in our history,” she said.
The IPCC is the leading world body for assessing the science related to climate change, its impacts and potential future risks, and possible response options.
The report was prepared under the scientific leadership of all three IPCC working groups. Working Group I assesses the physical science basis of climate change; Working Group II addresses impacts, adaptation and vulnerability; and Working Group III deals with the mitigation of climate change.
The Paris Agreement adopted by 195 nations at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC in December 2015 included the aim of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change by “holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
As part of the decision to adopt the Paris Agreement, the IPCC was invited to produce, in 2018, a Special Report on global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways. The IPCC accepted the invitation, adding that the Special Report would look at these issues in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty.
Global Warming of 1.5°C is the first in a series of Special Reports to be produced in the IPCC’s Sixth Assessment Cycle. Next year the IPCC will release the Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate, and Climate Change and Land, which looks at how climate change affects land use.
The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) presents the key findings of the Special Report, based on the assessment of the available scientific, technical and socio-economic literature relevant to global warming of 1.5°C.
Diana Ürge-Vorsatz, @IPCC WGIII Vice-Chair, presented the emission pathways and system transitions, consistent with 1.5°C global warming #SR15 during the scientific workshop in Hanoi.
00eszter.chikankovacshttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngeszter.chikankovacs2018-10-11 21:14:162018-10-11 21:14:16We have 12 years to limit climate change catastrophe, warns UN
In 13th of September 2018 the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (‘DJSI’) review have been announced.
Launched in 1999, the DJSI recognize the leading companies in each industry sector for responsible economic, environmental, and social performance. Randstad is proud to be included as a member in the Professional Services industry of the DJSI World and DJSI Europe indices. We were assessed as best in class by RobecoSAM on many criteria like Risk & Crisis Management.
CEO Jacques van den Broek comments: “The inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index shows that we’re on the right track to contribute to a better society. We know from our heritage that it is our empathy, our intuition, and our passion for people that make us successful. We believe that it is the human side of our business that makes the difference. Our ultimate goal – touching the work lives of 500 million people by 2030 worldwide – therefore forces us to develop client and candidate experiences that combines technology with our human strength, so we can truly touch people’s work lives.”
00Takacs Ivetthttps://bcsdh.hu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/bcsdh-logo.pngTakacs Ivett2018-10-10 14:41:192018-10-10 14:41:19Randstad included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index