It's official: 2018 was the largest year on record (so far!) for newly announced corporate renewable energy projects. Now an established business practice for companies seeking environmental sustainability advantages, large-scale renewable energy procurement has become a well-understood exercise for some companies, while still holding many opportunities for advancement and innovation. 

After a foundational market update, this tutorial will feature moderated discussions: 

• One set of discussions will focus on the best practices and options for sourcing large-scale solar, wind and other clean power resources for their companies or organizations. The speakers and facilitators will lead intimate conversations about emerging trends in off-site corporate procurement of renewable energy (the why); the fundamentals of energy markets, what's required to execute transactions and the process most buyers take (the how); and offer a high-level overview of risks present in off-site transactions (the what). These issues will be explored and discussed from the buyers’ point of view.
• The second will review topics related to emerging trends related to corporate renewables procurement. The speakers will review the state of aggregated purchasing options; advanced risk management techniques; and a discussion of supply chain strategies — including common hurdles, current consensus around solutions and key areas of innovation in supply chain renewables. 

GreenBiz 19 In-Depth Tutorials are intensive half-day sessions held prior to the start of the conference. These are designed to offer participants an opportunity to dive deeper into a topic of interest and develop tangible knowledge and skills. In addition, attendees will have a greater opportunity to network with their peers in these interactive sessions. An all-access pass is required to participate.

The SDGs are now three years old and we are 20% through our timeline, which the private sector has recognized as an essential partner in achieving these ambitious targets. In 2018, GRI and its partners released the Practical Guide for SDG Reporting and an accompanying Investor-Relevant Data for Companies Reporting on the SDGs. This session will review the current corporate impact on the SDGs, how companies can further engage on this topic, and what expectations are placed on companies to disclose how they are reporting their positive or negative impacts on the 169 targets.

The last two years have seen a rise of CEO, corporate activism around issues as broad as climate change, diversity, immigration, and now gun rights and gun control. This session will explore both the value and potential downsides of corporate activism, and will tap the experiences of change makers in helping their companies decide whether, when and how to act.

This session will help large companies explore the various ways to make public commitments to climate action. These commitment pathways include the Science Based Targets Iniatiative, RE100, EV100 and other internally driven greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction pledges. How can your company get engaged, where can your team turn for help, and what are the lessons learned from some early adopter companies? 

They’re intrepid. Tireless. And perhaps a little battle scarred. They’re the professionals who’ve spent years of their careers working inside companies to bake sustainability into processes, business plans and marketing approaches. They’ve learned a LOT over the years and this session is intended for them to share what they’ve learned — a roadmap, if you will — with the next generation: professionals early in their careers or new to sustainability. Join this interactive session to learn from the successes and speed bumps that these veterans have experienced, synthesized into a framework for successfully baking sustainability into the way a business operates that you can apply to your own career.

Bob Langert headed McDonald’s sustainability efforts for more than 20 years, leading the burger giant’s efforts on recycling and waste reduction, animal welfare, sustainable beef and other topics. This session, commemorating the publication of his new book, “The Battle to Do Good,” Langert shares his stories and learnings about what it takes to be a sustainability leader, but as an individual inside a company and as a highly visible, global brand.

How we manage land, forests, and habitat is a critical, yet often overlooked, solution in the fight against climate change. Improvements to land stewardship – Natural Climate Solutions – could mitigate a third of what is needed to meet global climate commitments. Natural climate solutions can also preserve biodiversity, strengthen agricultural resilience, improve water and air quality – not to mention the potential to provide employment and reduce costs associated with basic needs. Hear how International Paper is collaborating with The Nature Conservancy to catalyze these natural climate solutions in Gabon and Indonesia – and how Capital One is making strides in the Central Appalachians of the United States – by working with governments, NGOs, and the private sector to advance climate smart forestry.

In sustainability circles we talk a lot about the voice of “the investor” – but what does an investor look like and what information do they seek? The diversity of types of investors offers an opportunity for companies to consider engagement, but presents a challenge in focusing information that a variety of investors will find “decision useful”. How do we balance diverse needs for information with the risk of information overload? This session will review work by the Sustainable Stock Exchange Initiative, World Federation of Exchanges and even state-level initiatives that are driving data availability for investors.

Over the past year, some of America’s largest companies have leveraged their brand recognition to help tackle societal and environmental issues, including Nike, Levi's, Walmart, and, most recently, Gillette. Should your company join them? There are risks of doing so. But as consumers, employees, NGOs, and investors increasingly expect companies to speak out on public issues, sitting back and letting others do the talking can pose an even greater risk to a company's brand and bottom line. Join Future 500’s Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Kellen Klein, and take some dos and don’ts back to the office with you on what goes right – and what goes awry – when brands take stands.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

You’ve made your commitment and mapped out your sustainability plan for tackling your biggest supply chain hotspots. Now what? Join Elizabeth Sturcken, managing director of Supply Chains at Environmental Defense Fund, for a discussion about “the middle miles” – that arduous period of implementation, measuring, reporting and scaling. What road blocks are you hitting? Which stakeholders haven’t been responsive? This lunch will address how to overcome these challenges, engage the right allies and stakeholders, and achieve your most ambitious supply chain goals.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the number of ESG ratings out there and do you struggle with how to prioritize where to spend your time? This lunch discussion will address which ESG ratings your peers are prioritizing and why. Join Christina Wong, Director at SustainAbility as she shares findings from the first part of SustainAbility's Rate the Raters research and explores different approaches for how you can streamline your ratings approach.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Business resilience starts with understanding risks and opportunities, and ESG topics are high on the list of challenging issues for business. Companies are seeking new data-driven insights using tools like AI to inform their business strategies. Join this lunch discussion with Linden Edgell, Global Sustainability Director at ERM, and Donato Calace, Director of Innovation at Datamaran, to learn how to use data to transform your materiality assessment process and add real value to your business.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

The desert background provides the perfect setting to discuss the necessity of healthy and abundant freshwater systems to support business and our communities. Join Val Fishman, Chief Development Officer at Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Fawn Bergen, Global Water Stewardship Manager at Intel, as we talk about leading corporate environmental water stewardship strategies and programs, and dive into the challenges, opportunities, and experiences around collaboration among businesses and NGO's on water restoration projects.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Buildings are where the magic happens in our organizations. It’s where company culture forms. They house and support our businesses and our employees, and they enable collaboration and unlock creativity. They keep us warm in the winter, cool in the summer and they can make us both healthy and unhealthy, if operated improperly. In the day and age of maturing IoT technologies, our buildings can run far more efficiently: they can optimize themselves, track our workforce, improve campus security, and make a major dent in our organizations’ environmental footprints. Having real-time data on workspace utilization, for example, allows us to not just reduce building energy use, but reduce our building footprint altogether, without compromising productivity. This discussion will address how IoT and Connected Buildings technologies could, are and should be used to advance our organizations’ sustainability initiatives and goals.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Several researchers have argued that a 'culture for sustainability' is necessary to become a sustainable organization. But what does that mean? Is there one organizational culture that rules them all? Join Senior Sustainability Scientist at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Shirley-Ann Behravesh for a discussion about different organizational cultures and their varying paths to sustainability.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

In 2015, more than 150 world leaders adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda.  Is your company aligning with the SDGs?  If so, how did you go about choosing which SDGs are material for your organization, how are you tracking progress, and how are you communicating your journey? Join Brian Werner, Account Director, ESG at Trucost, part of S&P Global for a discussion to share ideas, best practices, and learnings among your peers.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

 Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Corporations have been installing onsite solar to save money on energy bills, manage the risk of rising energy costs, strengthen brand affinity and employee satisfaction, and as a means to hit sustainability goals. However, not all facilities are created equally, and whether your organization has one or hundreds of locations, each requires a unique approach to maximize your benefit from onsite solar. Join GE Solar’s Amol Kapur to discuss creative approaches to overcoming onsite challenges you may face as your organization considers onsite solar.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

 Companies are seeing increased pressure from regulators, investors and others to reveal more about their payments to governments. Believing that greater transparency is an important tool to help ensure public and stakeholder confidence that companies employ fair tax strategies and demonstrate their contributions to society in the regions where they operate, GRI has initiated and drafted its first new standard on taxes and payments to governments. This standard will include information such as tax strategy, governance, taxes paid, and other payments to governments. Currently available in draft form and open for public comment, this session with the project lead will allow you an opportunity to learn more about the draft standard and weigh in on its content and scope.

Join interactive moderated lunch discussions around a particular topic. Each table discussion will be led by an expert or thought leader, held at roundtables of up to 10 participants. These are freeform discussions, so bring your own challenges, questions, and ideas to talk through and get to know your fellow conference participants.

Join experts from the Carbon Trust, Dell and Microsoft to discuss how businesses can significantly reduce global carbon emissions through their products and services, and how this aligns business strategy with action on climate change.  We will introduce the new Avoided Emissions Framework, developed with support from the Swedish Government, which is being used by governments and companies around the world to measure impact and make investments into low carbon technologies.  We will also explore the use of exciting technologies, such as artificial intelligence, that are unlocking new opportunities to drive emissions reductions and can be used to solve global environmental challenges.

Circular delivery models will require not just innovation in packaging but a reimagination of supply chains, partnerships and the consumer experience. Learn about a groundbreaking new approach to reusing packaging at scale, and hear how large consumer product companies, retailers and TerraCycle are partnering to enable a durable supply chain while maintaining affordability and convenience, and improving the customer experience.

Decades of research demonstrates how diversity enhances innovation, collaboration, financial performance, and more, yet companies continue to be challenged in creating workforces that are truly diverse and inclusive. What are the critical elements company efforts must address in order to make progress? What role should sustainability and corporate responsibility leaders play in accelerating the success of these initiatives? How should your company define diversity, in the context of varying geographies and industry norms? Hear from leading companies on the challenges and successes they've faced in their own programs, and what sustainability professionals should know about effectively advancing diversity and inclusion efforts.

The Beauty and Personal Care (BPC) Initiative finalized its common approach to evaluating the sustainability of beauty and personal care products in late 2017. Forum for the Future, along with TSC, gathered companies from across the beauty and personal care industry to create more sustainable products. As a response to growing consumer and NGO demand, this group of leading retailers, manufacturers and NGOs set out to do the impossible: create a common rating system. Hear from TSC and Forum about the rough road it took to get here, and the successes and challenges for two would-be competitors to combine forces. Hear from participating brands and retailers as to how they will be using BPC Rating System results to facilitate supplier-retailer dialogue, drive improvements in supply chains, and independently evaluate and incentivize better, more sustainable products.

It has been more than 30 years since the World Commission on Environment and Development’s “Brundtland Report” was published, bringing the concept of sustainability into the foreground on an international level. Though some good progress has been made, it is arguable that we aren’t moving at the pace nor scale we need to realize the change we need to secure our future. System change methodology offers an approach that enables sustainability practitioners to move from working on surface problems to addressing system-level issues. Join this session to learn about system change and how two leading organizations, Target and Kimberly Clark, are using this practice to create more ambitious, more efficient and more effective sustainability strategies.

Global companies are committing more and more energy to eliminating forced labor, modern slavery, human trafficking, and other labor issues from their supply chains. But as they set out to tackle these issues, they quickly discover their blind spots. Current strategies lack a way to connect the dots across the full spectrum of supply chain labor information, including initial risk assessment, supplier policies and contracts, facility-level assessments and audits, all the way down to the workers on the ground. How can businesses create a more strategic view of labor in their networks so they can truly target for impact and make the best sourcing decisions possible? Join SupplyShift, Verisk Maplecroft, and Ulula for a discussion on the latest tools and approaches enabling end-to-end visibility of labor and human rights issues in global supply chains. The panel will offer insights on the latest strategies combining risk, supplier diligence, and worker voice data feeds for better predictability, risk mitigation, and to enhance their understanding of global labor information as a whole.

Tech Tools Showcases are sponsor-led technology demonstrations addressing the thorniest challenges of corporate sustainability including assessment, measurement, reporting, risk management and materiality and more.

Corporate sustainability is a broad and ever evolving field. For companies, staying on the cutting edge of sustainability means navigating uncharted territory and prioritizing new risks and opportunities to determine the best path forward. This panel will explore how sustainability professionals navigate and prioritize emerging issues, with a focus on framing business value of new programs and focus areas for internal decision makers.

Business leaders are facing the rising importance of measuring and disclosing climate risks. The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommends that companies and investors publish forward-looking information on the financial implications of the direct physical risks and indirect transition impacts of climate change in annual reports and financial filings. Adopting these recommendations presents organizations with a number of challenges, including questions around how climate-economic scenarios can be interpreted in useful financial terms and how to link top-down scenario impacts to future business performance. Join this session to learn practical steps to move forward from the team that helped the UN and leading banks develop critical elements for an actionable framework for assessing climate risks and opportunities that supports strategic and executive-level decision-making.

Corporate managers have long heralded people as their companies’ most important assets and research confirms the vital role of human capital in long-term value creation. In recognizing the importance and value of social and human capital many corporations, their investors, stakeholders and business partners are seeking to integrate consistent, standard, and widely accepted valuation and decision making tools. This session will discuss the evolution of the Social & Human Capital Coalition.  The Coalition and key stakeholders will delve into the latest trends around valuing social and human capital, as well as the application of the Social & Human Capital Protocol.

Employee engagement is essential to embedding sustainability throughout a company and making it an important and visible part of everyone’s role, but effective execution is an ever-present challenge. Mario and Shannon took on this challenge, travelling to 12 cement plants in 9 countries in Europe and the Caribbean with the goal of shifting mindsets of cross-functional teams regarding social innovation. Using empathy and role playing, they were able to realize transformational changes in the commitment and creativity of their operational teams on-the-ground and roll out a global CSR strategy as a bottom-up intervention. Join this interactive session to learn how you can reach the “unconverted” and develop new leaders and advocates on the journey towards sustainable business.

The October 2018  report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) indicates that the climate is changing more rapidly than previously understood. IPCC’s new and aggressive recommendations for governmental policy interventions will have major implications for business within the next few years. Many companies are not waiting for additional governmental policies and are already taking significant steps to limit the impacts of emissions across their value chain using an obvious and underleveraged North American resource – our lands, soils and forests. Join this session to learn from leading business executives and their work in utilizing land-based solutions to minimize emissions, move toward science-based targets, and expand business opportunities.

Corporate boards are increasing their oversight of societal and environmental trends that put their operations and value chains at risk. There is now an emerging set of best practices in board sustainability oversight that investors and governance professionals expect. With the risk and business case for sustainability established, it is a fiduciary responsibility of directors to build their sustainability capacity and know-how to responsibly govern their organizations. This session will describe the standards that will impact company boardrooms and enable sustainability practitioners to elevate these governance practices with their boards and C-suites. It will delve into the drivers, trends and best practices of board sustainability governance, and the role of sustainability practitioners to influence the board agenda from the perspective of investors, corporate directors, risk managers and sustainability leaders.

As the realities of climate change become more evident, pressure is increasingly being placed on financial institutions to be more responsible in their lending – particularly when it comes to fossil fuel companies and projects. Dozens of financial institutions have embraced sustainable finance commitments that aim to support economic growth while reducing pressures on the environment, addressing carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing waste, and improving resource efficiency.  However, because there is no agreed-upon methodology or approach regarding the types of transactions included when accounting for progress against sustainable finance goals, the long- and short-term impacts and overall value of these commitments are often unclear.  This panel will discuss TCFD recommendations and other disclosures financial institutions can make with regard to their sustainable finance commitments in order to satisfy their stakeholders’ demands for more responsible environmental finance.

Forced labor refers to situations in which persons are coerced to work through the use of violence or intimidation, or by more subtle means such as manipulated debt, retention of identity papers or threats of denunciation to immigration authorities (ILO). In these situations, workers lack the alternatives needed to defend against such coercion. Forced labor is illegal, but supply chains with 0% human rights abuses do not exist, even when certified or vertically integrated. A company can and should take action when sourcing, but it can often be difficult to know where to start, especially in situations where it is difficult to see into the supply chain. In this session we will explore ways to successfully implement practices that help unveil the exploitation of workers in supply chains if it is happening, as well as explore opportunities for multi-stakeholder collaboration that can lead to more transparency and improved understanding of the issue and the solutions.

During a 15-minute personalized one on one coaching session with ICF-certified leadership coach and GreenBiz columnist, Shannon Houde, you will have time out to get perspective on what you personally want to be achieving in your work and life. You could: