Carbon Reduction: The Next Big Thing

The Nutrien PPT from the event is HERE 

The SysEne PPT from the event is HERE 

“Carbon Reduction – the next big thing”

Whether or not you believe in climate change, the need for carbon reduction in the supply chain is real. This event will detail why it will be the “next big thing” for SIMSA members and then begin to address what SIMSA members can do about it. It will also illustrate how taking action on cutting carbon can help your organization realize a tri benefit of increasing market share, reducing energy/carbon costs and accessing clean growth funding.  And, the event will point-out some opportunities this effort creates.

Why?

ESG is the current buzz-word in corporate financing. ESG is an acronym for “Environmental Social and Governance” – these are major reporting items for publicly trade companies, such as Nutrien. SIMSA and Nutrien have historically focused on the “S” or “Social” of ESG, which includes items such as Aboriginal Inclusion. We are not reducing the importance of Inclusion, just shifting our focus onto “E” or “Environmental” - namely carbon reduction – for a bit.

Why?

Carbon reduction matters to major investment groups such a BlackRock. BlackRock manages over $7-trillion in assists, so when they speak corporations listen. The BlackRock letter to CEOs has transformative implications for all companies regarding ESG metrics – including the resource sector - and thus their supply chains. As Forbes wrote about the BlackRock letter:

The world’s largest asset manager sent a clear message to CEOs with his annual letter this week. Implement sustainability measures or face the consequences. The letter is direct in its title, “A Fundamental Reshaping of Finance,” and in it Larry Fink claims climate change will cause a transformative reallocation of capital towards sustainable investments. “Awareness is rapidly changing, and I believe we are on the edge of a fundamental reshaping of finance” he writes. BlackRock is preparing for these changes. It's incorporating Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) metrics in its investment strategies. What’s more, the company is encouraging businesses to disclose these measures.

And Note:

When a company’s carbon footprint is measured – such as Nutrien’s – the measures are done in three scopes that are all added together:

1. Scope 1 – from the activities of an organisation or under their control. Including fuel combustion on site such as gas boilers, fleet vehicles and air-conditioning leaks.
2. Scope 2 – from electricity purchased and used by the organisation. Emissions are created during the production of the energy and eventually used by the organisation.
3. Scope 3 – from activities of the organisation, occurring from sources that they do not own or control. These are usually the greatest share of the carbon footprint, covering emissions associated with use of the product, business travel, procurement, waste and water.

Presenting will be:

Candace Laing – Nutrien’s Vice President, Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations

Candace Laing (M.A., B.Comm., CPHR) is the Vice President of Sustainability and Stakeholder Relations at Nutrien. Before leading sustainability strategy at Nutrien, Candace led the organization and talent development efforts and also served on the core integration team that brought together two legacy Canadian companies to form Nutrien in January of 2018. Her career has spanned both private and public-sector organizations - with a focus on strategic business initiatives that create long-term value and high-performance cultures. Recently, she completed a graduate certificate from Harvard in Corporate Sustainability and Innovation. In addition to volunteering on community boards, Candace is a Director on the Boards of the Global Institute for Food Security and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. She is passionate about sustainable agriculture and ensuring the world is well fed. She is proud to have grown up in Saskatchewan where she currently lives and where her family farms.

Flyn McCarthy – Sysene, Principal

Flyn McCarthy was formerly Goldcorp’s Corporate Energy Manager and lead the Canadian Mining Innovation Council’s Energy Team. Flyn has successfully fostered innovation in the mining industry at the corporate strategy level and the site management level. Flyn’s focus on cost reduction technology applications helped Goldcorp reduce costs and meet social license requirements. Flyn’s previous projects have included, low carbon power purchase agreements and "build, own, operate" renewable energy projects. Application of innovative technology in all aspects of open pit and underground mining. Flyn was responsible for the development and application of near real time company wide data analytics and translating this information into corporate metrics including all in sustaining costs, sustainability targets and site level KPIs. Flyn has worked in both mining and oil and gas to adapt the ISO 50001 energy management framework as a vital tool for managing company wide systems analysis, opportunity evaluation and value tracking.