Tag Archives: ESG

PR Newswire

PRICE COMPARISON TRAVEL APP WAYAWAY LAUNCHES OFFSETTING INITIATIVE

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  • Recently launched travel price comparison appWayAway announces A Green Way to Travel initiative.
  • All contributions by WayAway users are doubled by the app.
  • Carbon offsetting provided by Sustainable Travel International.

NEW YORK, Aug. 29, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — WayAway – the recently founded price comparison app for travel – today announces the launch of ‘A Green Way To Travel Initiative.

The initiative reduces the carbon footprint damage of traveling by purchasing carbon credits provided by Sustainable Travel International. The company partnered with Envira Amazonia Project in Brazil and takes care of 500,000 acres of rainforests and protects against lumber harvesting and cattle ranching. 

WayAway is a new price comparison travel app that launched in the summer of 2022 and offers cost-saving, intelligent searches for the best flight, accommodation and car rental deals.

Users who subscribe to the WayAway Plus membership plan of the app gain multiple cashback offers from all trip purchases – but unlike other travel cashback programs however users are able to withdrawable real hard cash via PayPal.

WayAway Plus users are then able to use this cashback for contribution – taking advantage of a tool built into the app to estimate the impact of their trip – to the ‘A Green Way To Travel’ program and all contributions are then doubled by WayAway.

Ivan Baidin, WayAway CEO comments: “Traveling damages the planet and this problem needs to be solved if we want to keep going for vacations. But many travelers are simply lost as to what meaningful steps they should take to address this. So we at WayAway have established a partnership with the inspiring team at Sustainable Travel International to give our users a simple and trustworthy option for offsetting their travel with every trip.”

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Waterdrop Releases the 2020-21 ESG Report – Striving to Provide High-quality and Sustainable Protection to Billions of Families

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BEIJING, Aug. 4, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Waterdrop Inc. (“Waterdrop”, the “Company” or “we”) (NYSE: WDH), a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact, recently released its “2020-21 Environmental, Social and Governance Report” (the “ESG report” or the “report”). This is the first ESG report published since the public offering of Waterdrop. The report unveils the ESG performance of the Company in the areas of corporate governance, social responsibility, technology and innovation, industry value chain, workplace development, green development, and other topics for 2020-21. It also illustrates how Waterdrop leverages its sophisticated business model and technological innovation to resolve various social issues, thereby achieving its effective business performance and sustainable prospects.

Mr. Peng Shen, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Waterdrop commented, “Since our inception, ESG has been embedded in our corporate mission and business philosophy. The 2020-21 ESG report unveils our continuous efforts to enhance our ESG capabilities, including the provision of online medical fundraising services to approximately 2.4 million patients with critical illnesses through our Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding platform, and providing inclusive insurance to more than 100 million users whom over 70% are from Tier-3 or lower-tier cities. The report also demonstrates that Waterdrop has attached great weightiness to its ESG-related efforts. Along with our strict compliance with relevant laws and regulations, we have developed rigorous management systems in corporate governance, compliance operations, supplier management, employee management, and low carbon development. At the same time, we have set up a dedicated Social Responsibility Department which empowers our business competitive advantages and technological innovation to integrate resources from various partners, thereby driving sustainable social value. Going forward, we will continue to make every endeavor to promote ESG, striving to achieve our mission of ‘leveraging internet technologies to make insurance protection more inclusive and accessible to the public, and bringing insurance and healthcare services to billions’.”

Business innovation to provide financial relief for medical treatments and prevent patients with critical illness from being impoverished

In early 2021, the State Council published The Opinions of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Deepening the Medical Insurance System Reform, proposing that a medical protection system that centers on basic medical insurance, underpinned by medical aid that includes the mutual development of supplemental medical insurance, commercial health insurance, charitable donations, and mutual medical assistance, should be well-established by 2030. Waterdrop leverages its business strengths to provide a solid supplement to China’s multi-layer medical protection system, thereby offering innovative financial assistance solutions for the medical treatments of the needy.

Pioneered from the health protection model of “Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding (fundraising for patients with critical illnesses)” and “Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace (life and health insurance)” platforms, Waterdrop has utilized its innovative technologies to provide financial relief for the medical treatments of its users, in particular for the low-income group, the marginalized, and the minority communities, thereby improving the efficiency of emergency medical relief. As of the end of 2021, 394 million caring individuals offered medical financial relief of exceeding RMB48.4 billion to patients with critical illnesses and financial difficulties. Waterdrop has highly regarded individuals not covered by traditional insurance, including the low-income group, the elderly, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. The Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace has thus launched various low-threshold, cost-effective, and inclusive insurance products to satisfy the protection needs of these vulnerable groups, such as “Waterdrop Carefree Thyroid Insurance”, “Waterdrop Elderly Medical Insurance”, etc. Currently, out of the over 100 million users on its platform, about three quarters are located in third-tier or lower-tier cities, highlighting the Company’s efforts to improve the penetration rate of health and medical insurance in China.

The financial pressure from the patients to receive medical treatment that are not covered by national medical insurance is also a social issue the general public faces. Through “Waterdrop Medicine”, the Company has provided comprehensive services including healthcare services and diversified medical payment solutions for patients in need of new drugs for special medical purposes, chronic disease drugs, and rare disease drugs. The results relieved the financial pressure on such patients and enhanced the accessibility and affordability of specific medicine. As of the end of 2021, Waterdrop has assisted over 150,000 patients with critical illnesses saving medical expenses of more than RMB50 million.

It is not sufficient to rely on merely one company or a particular business section to utterly resolve a social issue. Henceforth, Waterdrop has integrated various parties to explore more supplementary channels to address the supply of medical relief funds beyond the national medical insurance. The Company is engaged in the establishment of a multi-layer medical protection system and served as a “supplementary layer” through its Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding, Waterdrop Charity, and other businesses. In March 2021, Jinyun County Healthcare Security Administration of Zhejiang and Waterdrop launched a project named “Jin Qing Bang” to establish a multi-layer medical insurance and poverty prevention system. 5 months after the launch of “Jin Qing Bang“, the platform has helped reduce the out-of-pocket medical expenses of the needy by more than RMB14 million, equivalent to a per capita reduction of over RMB5,000, or a year-over-year decline in such expenses of about 12%. Waterdrop expects the number of people in poverty caused by diseases to reduce by 77% annually. Waterdrop also contributes the export of its technological capabilities for product design, platform construction, marketing and promotion, pharmacy benefit management, and other patient services to empower Hui Min Bao projects for more than 10 cities in mainland China. More than 12 million people have benefited from the low-threshold and high-protection of Hui Min Bao products launched in various cities.

Technological innovations empower the improvement in operational efficiency and promote the development of the healthcare industry

Since its inception, Waterdrop has been consistently investing in R&D to leverage technology to empower its businesses, improve its operational efficiency, and support its service upgrades. In 2021, its R&D expenses increased by 55.2% year-over-year to RMB 379 million, accounting for 11.82% of total revenues. The increase was mainly attributable to the expansion of its R&D team and the strengthening of its technological competitiveness.

Given its in-depth insights into the healthcare industry, Waterdrop unveiled the “ABDC” strategy (AI + Blockchain + Data = Construction), in 2020. Focusing on the application of technologies such as AI and big data analysis in its businesses, Waterdrop has developed its proprietary intelligent systems and tools, including the claims settlement system, “intelligent calculation” system, risk management system, system related to storage media and computing equipment technology, AI-powered matching system, the CONF medical knowledge map, and the intelligent chatbot system, which has improved its operational efficiency and user experience significantly. The Company also took a major step forward by applying for national patents for its inventions and technological innovations.

Meanwhile, the Company has launched Waterdrop Open Platform 2.0, enhancing its capabilities to empower the digitalization, process management, data analytics, and smart operations of the insurance industry.

For marketing insurance products, the AI-powered matching system can match each user with the most appropriate insurance consultants. This applies to users who speak Cantonese, Sichuan Putonghua, or other dialects, thereby improving the APL efficiency of insurance consultants significantly. For insurance claims, Waterdrop’s intelligent claims system is capable of settling a claim in 8 seconds. This has helped save the consumption of 2.61 million paper documents, and the users’ waiting time for claims settlement. The insured people do not need to repeatedly mail paper documents, and do not have to worry about the long hours and complexity of claims settlement. The big data analysis and the CONF medical knowledge map can help generate more accurate estimates of the funds needed for the medical treatment of fundraisers in the Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding platform, based on information about their illness categories, treatment methods, and the hospitals they attend.

Leveraging technology to effectively drive charitable social value

In 2018, Waterdrop launched an online fundraising platform called “Waterdrop Charity“, which was later designated by the Ministry of Civil Affairs as one of the online fundraising platforms for charity organizations. Waterdrop Charity has leveraged technology to improve the efficiency of fundraising and fund utilization, providing all-around support for charity organizations. From 2020 to 2021, Waterdrop Charity launched a total of 9,451 projects which cover a wide range of areas including anti-pandemic action, emergency and disaster relief, and rural revitalization, raising a total of RMB833,776,562 from 47,258,209 donators.

During the initial outbreak of the pandemic in 2020, Waterdrop Charity collaborated with over 20 charity organizations and raised more than RMB65 million for the purchase of medical masks, protection gear, and other anti-pandemic supplies. At the same time, Waterdrop Charity joined hands with the China Social Welfare Foundation to launch the “Emergency Response Workers Protection Program”, providing financial relief to frontline medical staff who were infected with or died from Covid-19. Up till now, the program has granted a total of RMB400,000 to four medical workers who contracted the virus, and RMB1 million to the families of two police officers who died on duty, honoring their contribution to the anti-pandemic efforts.

In face of catastrophes, Waterdrop Charity has promptly organized charity projects to integrate the efforts of various parties to distribute relief supplies so that the disaster victims could return to normal life quickly. The Henan Rainstorm Disaster Relief program that Waterdrop Charity launched in 2021 has raised approximately RMB 16.8 million in donations, assisting the transfer and resettlement of more than 209,000 victims. Waterdrop Charity also launched the “Baby Whale Project” to alleviate the financial burden of families whose children suffer from critical illnesses. The project has helped raise more than RMB150 million for the medical expenses of these children from nearly 4.84 million donators, benefiting 1,795 families. Moreover, Waterdrop has initiated the Waterdrop Charity Home program to offer temporary accommodation for patients with critical illnesses and their families during their medical treatment. To date, more than 30 charitable homes have been built in 7 cities across China.

It remains a key focus of Waterdrop to contribute to China’s poverty alleviation and rural revitalization efforts. As a key program to support rural revitalization, the Waterdrop Rural Clinic has built 64 clinics across China, benefiting over 150,000 people in rural areas. Waterdrop is planning to establish 1,000 clinics in 100 counties across the country by 2030, making a greater contribution to rural revitalization and a better China.

Implementing our mission to “put people first and build a better society”

Waterdrop is a company driven by its mission and values. It pursues employee equality and diversity, regarding its employees as partners working for a common cause. Based on this belief, Waterdrop has built an equitable and inclusive workplace with strong growth potential.

Waterdrop promises not to discriminate against employees in recruitment, compensation, training, promotion, and retirement due to differences in gender, race, disability, social class, political affiliation, or any other factors. In 2021, Waterdrop recruited employees from more than 20 ethnic groups, with the proportion of female employees and female managers reaching 46.8% and 28.99%, respectively. Waterdrop also offered customized comprehensive female medical check-up packages, nursing rooms, and breastfeeding leave to its female employees.

For talent training, Waterdrop provides customized training programs for employees in different positions. A comprehensive training system and a variety of training activities are introduced to facilitate all-around growth of every staff, from a new hire to a backbone team member and a leader. In 2021, Waterdrop invested RMB1.69million in employee training, attaining 9,683 participations or an average of 3.3 training sessions for each employee, and achieving a 100% training coverage rate. Meanwhile, Waterdrop has established a clear talent development path and a flexible internal job transfer system for employees’ continued exploration and growth in the suitable positions.

About Waterdrop Inc.

Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE: WDH) is a leading technology platform dedicated to insurance and healthcare service with a positive social impact. Founded in 2016, with the comprehensive coverage of Waterdrop Insurance Marketplace and Waterdrop Medical Crowdfunding, Waterdrop aims to bring insurance and healthcare service to billions through technology. For more information, please visit www.waterdrop-inc.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains statements that may constitute “forward-looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Waterdrop’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in Waterdrop’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release, and Waterdrop does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

For investor inquiries, please contact:

Waterdrop Inc.
Xiaojiao Cui
IR@shuidi-inc.com

Christensen
In China
Mr. Eric Yuan
Phone: +86-1380-111-0739
E-mail: Eyuan@christensenir.com

In US
Ms. Linda Bergkamp
Phone: +1-480-614-3004
Email: lbergkamp@christensenir.com

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Source: Waterdrop Inc.

PR Newswire

Suzhou promotes green, smooth industrial and supply chains with digital economy

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SUZHOU, China, Aug. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) Forum on Industrial Chain and Supply Chain Cooperation kicked off in Suzhou on Friday, its sub-forum on digital economy under the spotlight. Suzhou, as a global industrial city advantageous in the open economy, shared new ways to promote digital infrastructure construction, innovative application of digital technologies and green development of industrial chain and supply chain in the region, according to the Organizing Committee of ASEAN Plus Three Forum.

The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou
The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou

Suzhou boasts a sound industrial ecosystem and business environment. In recent years, the city has been making active efforts to promote the development of the digital economy, digital transformation, green and quality development by strengthening digital thinking and the philosophy of green development. In 2021, the value added of core industries in the digital economy hit 330 billion yuan ($48.84billion), accounting for 14.6% of the city’s GDP. More than 10,000 projects have completed intelligent transformation and digital reforming. Meanwhile, information technology, biomedicine and other pioneering industries have been actively laid out.

Three production bases of Panasonic in China have achieved net-zero emissions through digital transformation and green development, according to Zhao Bingdi, director and president of Panasonic China investing and building factories in Suzhou for many years. By 2050, Panasonic can reduce 110 million tons of CO2 emissions.

Suzhou is the hub for Japanese and South Korean investment in China. It is home to 2,794 companies funded by ASEAN member states, 2,987 Japan-invested companies and 2,452 ROK-invested companies, with their direct investment for actual use reaching $15.01 billion, $13.71 billion, and $5.93 billion respectively.

Suzhou Municipal Development and Reform Commission said in a five-year development plan for the city that it will continue to implement the strategy of digital transformation to build Suzhou into a first-class, globally renowned hub for the development of the digital economy in China.

Image Attachments Links:

   Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=426860
   Caption: The Gate of the Orient in Suzhou

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CNN’s ‘Going Green’ meets the next generation of environmentalists leading the charge against climate change

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Special coverage airs July 18-22, with a 30-minute program airing July 23

HONG KONG, July 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Protecting our planet often means starting small – but every action has the potential to spark a global transformation. On the upcoming episode of ‘Going Green’, CNN meets the next generation of young environmentalists who are sprinting into action and bringing their innovations to life to protect every corner of the earth.

CNN’s ‘Going Green’ meets the next generation of environmentalists leading the charge against climate change
CNN’s ‘Going Green’ meets the next generation of environmentalists leading the charge against climate change

CNN hears from Melati Wijsen from Bali, Indonesia, who started a youth campaign to make the island plastic bag free when she was just 12 years old. After several years, and a conversation with the governor, she succeeded – and a law was passed banning single use plastics. Now, Wijsen has launched YOUTHTOPIA, a platform where young people can learn from each other about how to create change. YOUTHTOPIA now runs 150 free youth workshops and programs for young changemakers focusing on tackling the climate crisis through education.

We also meet Fionn Ferreira, a 21-year-old student from Ireland on a mission to remove microplastics from our oceans. Ferreira is building an ingenious way to collect these particles by using a magnetic mixture to extract plastics from liquid. He won the Google Science Fair in 2019 with his invention, as well as a financial boost to jumpstart a pilot program in a wastewater facility in Ohio. Since then, Ferreira’s work has taken him all the way to the Arctic to continue his research, and most recently to the World Economic Forum where he helped bring together young changemakers to share their perspectives on the global agenda.

The programme then travels to Nairobi, Kenya, to meet a teenager hoping to use football to inspire young people to create a greener environment. Lesein Mutunkei is the founder of Trees 4 Goals, an initiative which began when Mutunkei decided he would mark every goal he scored playing football by planting a tree. What began as a solo endeavour has kicked off across Kenya – bringing a culture of conservation to a wider team of players. Mutunkei also sows with intent: he only plants indigenous trees to maintain ecosystem balance, and has been working with a team of other young environmentalists to help revive the country’s forests.

It’s then off to the Amazon rainforest to hear from Helena Gualinga, an Indigenous rights and climate justice advocate who hails from the Sarayaku community in Ecuador. For decades Amazonian women in Ecuador have been empowered and outspoken about protecting the rainforest. Gualinga is amplifying that message and spreading her tribe’s worldview at climate change conferences across the globe, giving first-hand accounts of life in the Amazon and the impact that deforestation is having on the rainforest.

CNN also travels to the land of the First Nations in Canada to meet Autumn Peltier, an Indigenous rights and water activist. Peltier shares how she became interested in water protection after a trip to a nearby Indigenous community whose water sources were polluted, making the tap water undrinkable. She has spent the past eight years speaking out about the importance of clean water to international organizations like the UN and the World Economic Forum. Peltier also explains why she believes the fight for clean water is in the hands of young people.

Going Green trailer: https://bit.ly/3zdZOVI 
Going Green images: https://bit.ly/3Pb4dhO 
Going Green microsite: https://cnn.it/3bMvOqF 

Airtimes for 30-minute special:
Saturday, 23rd July at 12:30pm HKT
Sunday, 24th July at 12:30am, 9:30am and 6:00pm HKT

About CNN International 

CNN’s portfolio of news and information services is available in seven different languages across all major TV, digital and mobile platforms, reaching more than 475 million households around the globe. CNN International is the number one international TV news channel according to all major media surveys across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, the Asia Pacific region, and Latin America and has a US presence that includes CNNgo. CNN Digital is a leading network for online news, mobile news and social media. CNN is at the forefront of digital innovation and continues to invest heavily in expanding its digital global footprint, with a suite of award-winning digital properties and a range of strategic content partnerships, commercialised through a strong data-driven understanding of audience behaviours. CNN has won multiple prestigious awards around the world for its journalism. Around 1,000 hours of long-form series, documentaries and specials are produced every year by CNNI’s non-news programming division. CNN has 36 editorial offices and more than 1,100 affiliates worldwide through CNN Newsource. CNN International is a Warner Bros. Discovery company.

PR Newswire

IBM, DELTA AIR LINES WPP, 4A’S, IAB, AD COUNCIL AND OTHER INDUSTRY LEADERS ACT TO MITIGATE BIAS IN ADVERTISING TECHNOLOGY

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IBM Delivers Open Source Toolkit to Identify and Mitigate Bias in Advertising Technology

CANNES, France, June 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, leading companies committed to improving fairness in marketing campaigns. The initiative, announced at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity 2022, brought together agencies, brands, and other leaders to generate awareness and take action towards mitigating bias in advertising technology. Committing organizations include IBM (NYSE: IBM), Delta Air Lines, WPP, Mindshare, 4A’s, IAB and the Ad Council.

The action is the most recent effort by IBM to drive education and awareness around the impact of bias in advertising technology. In 2021, the company launched a research initiative to explore the hypothesis that bias can exist in ad technology, which initial findings confirmed. The research also showed that mitigating bias in ad technology was possible using AI tools and resources in marketing processes. More industry participation and data collection are needed to better understand the potential impact of bias on these campaigns, but several industry leaders are demonstrating early activism by raising awareness and taking action via IBM’s Advertising Fairness Pledge.

“While the risk of bias in advertising is well known, by making this commitment, these organizations are among the first in the industry to take action,” said Bob Lord, IBM Senior Vice President of The Weather Company and Alliances. “Together, we are agreeing to educate ourselves and our companies and ask other industry leaders to join us in helping to mitigate bias in advertising.”

Toward that effort, IBM also announced the release of its gratis Advertising Toolkit for AI Fairness 360, an open-source solution deploying 75 fairness metrics and 13 state-of-the-art algorithms to help identify and mitigate biases in discrete data sets. A playbook and sample code are also made available for ease of use. Organizations utilizing the toolkit may gain a better understanding of the presence and impact of bias on their ad campaigns, as well as the makeup of their audiences.

“Used correctly, data can help brands personalize consumer engagement and identify the most relevant touchpoints. However, we know that bias can exist in algorithms or technology, and that’s why we’re helping our clients to evaluate how and when to use data in a meaningful way that will benefit the customer experience,” said Mark Read, CEO of WPP. “Through WPP’s GroupM, we’ve developed the Data Ethics Compass to help clients navigate the challenges of using datasets, while IBM’s new Advertising Toolkit for AI Fairness 360 will help us to better understand the potential impact of bias. Consumers rightly expect brands to use their information in a fair way and for the industry to tackle data bias collectively, which can ultimately result in increased engagement and commercial outcomes.”

Bias is often unintentional, a result of human assumptions and judgments encoded into algorithms that can result in unfair targeting, exclusion of certain groups, and marketing campaign failures. Organizations taking the pledge can contribute data to ongoing studies that seek to better explain the impact of bias. According to Salesforce’s 2022 State of the Connected Customer survey, nearly 62 percent of consumers surveyed reported they are concerned about bias in AI, up from just 54 percent two years prior, emphasizing the imperative for brands and agencies to better understand its impacts.

“As technology and data prevalence accelerates, the risk for bias in advertising compounds. It is our duty to address this head-on,” said Adam Gerhart, Global CEO of Mindshare. “We believe the industry needs to take clear and intentional action, which is why we are committing to leverage the Advertising Toolkit for AI Fairness 360.”

As the advertising industry continues to face issues related to privacy and transparency, many organizations believe that tackling bias in ad tech could be a next key area of focus for marketers. Nearly $1 trillion was spent on digital advertising globally in 2021, much of which flows through programmatic engines that segment and target specific audiences, sometimes missing large consumer groups in the process. With increasing consumer demand for transparency in how their data is used, marketers must look for new ways to remain effective. Tapping into alternative privacy-forward data sources, such as weather data, can be effective predictors of behavior that could also help rebuild trust with consumers.

“As a global brand, we know that every decision we make, whether it’s about a supplier, an employee or an ad campaign, is a reflection of our values and the change we want to see in the world,” said Emmakate Young, Delta’s Managing Director of Brand Marketing. “We’ve long been focused on inclusive representation in our campaign creative, this effort allows us to go a step further to bring more inclusive representation to our campaign delivery.”

To download the Advertising Toolkit for AI Fairness 360 and the associated playbook, to take the Advertising Fairness Pledge, and to learn more about how bias in advertising can negatively impact businesses and consumers, visit IBM’s Bias in Advertising microsite.

To learn more about IBM Watson Advertising solutions and services, visit here.

Statements regarding IBM’s future direction and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals and objectives only.

About IBM
IBM is a leading global hybrid cloud and AI, and business services provider, helping clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Nearly 3,000 government and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM’s hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly and efficiently. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and business services deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s legendary commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

IBM Contacts:

Luca Sesti
luca.sesti@ibm.com

Clare Chachere
Clare.chachere@ibm.com

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Jeffrey Sachs Awarded 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development for Leading Transdisciplinary Sustainability Science

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TAIPEI, June 18, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Tang Prize, an international academic award set up to create a better world for all of humanity, is poised to announce its 2022 laureates in Taipei in four consecutive days starting June 18. In the first press conference held on June 18, the Foundation introduced to the public winner of the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development: Prof. Jeffrey Sachs. A world-renowned professor in economics who has made great contributions to the establishment and promotion of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Prof. Sachs served as Special Advisor to three UN Secretaries-General, and is currently Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University as well as President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). He is awarded for “leading transdisciplinary sustainability science and creating the multilateral movement for its applications from village to nation and to the world,” according to the selection committee’s citation.  

the public winner of the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development: Prof. Jeffrey Sachs
the public winner of the 2022 Tang Prize in Sustainable Development: Prof. Jeffrey Sachs

At the moment, mankind as a whole is confronted with many tough challenges, including environmental pollution, extreme weather events, energy crisis, the shock to our physical, social and economic wellbeing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and food shortages and raging inflation exacerbated by the regional confrontation. As an eminent economist of international distinction, Prof. Sachs has conducted ground-breaking research in many areas, such as debt crises, hyperinflations, transition from central planning to market economies, and eradication of extreme poverty. Moreover, when addressing complex issues related to global sustainable development, he combined the fields of global economics, public health, equity and sustainability to pioneer a multidisciplinary approach to solving these problems, transforming sustainable development into an integrated field of study and practice. His outstanding scholarship, advice to world leaders, educational innovation, and efforts in the global advocacy and realization of sustainable development have proven him to be a true leader of great vision, of profound influence, and imbued with deep humanistic concern.

With regard to the innovative transdisciplinary approach Prof. Sachs pioneered, an example can be found in his engagement with the Millennium Project, which he chaired on behalf of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan from 2002 to 2006. He was tasked with developing a concrete action plan to attain the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)[i], and he demonstrated how it can be done by using best practices in science, technology, and public policy. Moreover, Prof. Sachs was also in charge of the UN Millennium Village Project (MVP), which was implemented from 2006-2015 after the UN General Assembly adopted the key recommendations of the Millennium Project at a special session in September 2005. The MVP aimed to help rural Africa and was carried out in ten countries including Senegal, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. During these ten years, a range of notable successes were achieved, from raising agricultural production to reducing child stunting, and cutting child mortality rates. Lives of more than half a million people were changed as a consequence. Its key concepts of integrating rural development to achieve the MDGs are now being adopted by many other countries to help support national anti-poverty programs.   

With regard to promoting the UN SDGs[ii], Prof. Sachs began his engagement from their very inception when the idea was first broached at the “Rio+20” conference in June 2012 and offered his help based on this experience of implementing MDGs. The SDGs are the blueprint for creating a more sustainable future for all. They address many global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, and environmental degradation. To overcome these problems, 17 goals, such as “no poverty,” “good health and well-being,” “reduced inequalities,” “climate action,” and “life below water” have been set. They are subdivided into 169 targets and 232 indicators to measure and track the global progress toward these goals. Prof. Sachs’ fruitful pursuit of the MDGs, and his tireless work in front of and behind the scenes at Rio+20 made an important contribution in persuading nations to forge a consensus on adopting the 17 SDGs as the successor to the MDGs.

To promote the SDGs, also in 2012, Prof. Sachs led a global consortium of universities and think tanks under the auspices of then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to establish the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), which functions as the largest global knowledge-based think tank to help countries achieve the SDGs. The SDSN has produced many highly influential reports, conducted academic studies, offered online courses, and held hundreds of SDG-related meetings around the world each year. The SDSN now has over 1600 member institutions in 47 networks across 137 countries.   

With regard to combating anthropogenic climate change, Prof. Sachs saw the crucial importance of a long-term policy framework for climate control. He headed a global study on “deep decarbonization” which resulted in the highly influential “Pathways to Deep Decarbonization” report. The report lays out concrete and viable plans regarding issues like energy transition, industrial transformation, technological innovation, and governance mechanisms to enable 15 major carbon emitters to achieve deep decarbonization. Presented to Ban Ki-moon in September 2014, the report demonstrates how, during the decades leading to 2050, these 15 countries can find their own pathways to decarbonization that are compatible with their economic growth targets and technically feasible. Subsequently, many countries have taken on board this idea and designed their deep decarbonization pathways.           

Prof. Sachs’ participation in the promotion of the Paris Agreement has been equally vital. He has long helped to formulate core policy concepts for global climate control as a scholar and an academic leader. During the intensive phase of negotiating the Agreement, he worked behind the scenes with France, the US, and many other governments to support the design and adoption of the Paris Agreement. The SDGs and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change have been hailed as the two essential pillars for the world to achieve sustainable development, and Prof. Sachs has played a unique role in both.

With regard to offering suggestions to leaders of different countries, as one of the world’s leading experts on economic development, global macroeconomics, and the fight against poverty, Prof. Sachs has advised many heads of states and governments on complex economic challenges, including ending high inflations (Bolivia, Peru, Poland), negotiating debt relief (Bolivia, Brazil, Poland, and others), adopting market economic reforms (Poland, Russia), introducing new national currencies (Estonia, Slovenia), promoting regional development (China), and scaling up health systems (Ethiopia, Ghana, India, and many others). He has been awarded by several countries their highest honors for his board-based support of their economic reforms.

[i] The 8 MDGs are: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. 2. Achieve universal primary education. 3. Promote gender equality and empower women. 4. Reduce child mortality. 5. Improve mental health. 6.Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases. 7. Ensure environmental sustainability. 8. Develop a global partnership for development.  

[ii] The 17 SDGs are: 1. No poverty. 2. Zero hunger. 3. Good health and well-being. 4. Quality education. 5. Gender equality. 6. Clean water and sanitation. 7. Affordable and clean energy. 8. Decent work and economic growth. 9. Industry, innovation, and infrastructure. 10. Reduced inequalities. 11. Sustainable cities and communities. 12. Responsible consumption and production. 13. Climate action. 14. Life below water. 15. Life on land. 16. Peace, justice and strong institutions. 17. Partnerships for the goals.

About Jeffrey Sachs

Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1954, Jeffrey Sachs got his BA, MA and PhD degrees in economics from Harvard University. He joined the Harvard faculty in 1980s. In less than four years’ time became a Professor of Economics with tenure at Harvard. He served as Director of the Center for Sustainable Development in the Earth Institute of Columbia University and Special Advisor to three UN Secretaries-General. He is a recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Knight of the National Order of the Legion of Honor (by decree of the president of the French Republic), the Sustainable Development Leadership Award from India’s TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute), and Japan’s Blue Planet Award. He has also received 38 honorary degrees from universities all over the world. The papers and books he has published number in the hundreds, including three New York Times bestsellers: The End of Poverty, Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet, and The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity     

About the Tang Prize

Since the advent of globalization, mankind has been able to enjoy the convenience brought forth by the advancement of human civilization and science. Yet a multitude of challenges, such as climate change, the emergence of new infectious diseases, wealth gap, and moral degradation, have surfaced along the way. Against this backdrop, Dr. Samuel Yin established the Tang Prize in December 2012. It consists of four award categories, namely Sustainable Development, Biopharmaceutical Science, Sinology, and Rule of Law. Every other year, four independent and professional selection committees, comprising many internationally renowned experts, scholars, and Nobel winners, choose as Tang Prize laureates people who have influenced and made substantive contributions to the world, regardless of ethnicity, nationality or gender. A cash prize of NT$50 million (approx. US$1.7 million) is allocated to each category, with NT$10 million (approx. US$ 0.35 million) of it being a research grant intended to encourage professionals in every field to examine mankind’s most urgent needs in the 21st century, and become leading forces in the development of human society through their outstanding research outcomes and active civic engagement.

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QIMA Joins the United Nations Global Compact Initiative

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HONG KONG, May 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — QIMA, a leading provider of quality control and supply chain compliance solutions is pleased to announce their participation in the United Nations Global Compact initiative — a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices.

With this announcement, QIMA is proud to join thousands of other companies globally committed to taking responsible business action to create the world people want.

“At QIMA, our mission is to help our clients make products consumers can trust. A large part of that pertains to assessing the social and environmental footprint of consumer goods and food that end up on retail shelves; hence, it is only natural that we also commit to improving our own internal sustainability practices and live by the principles we help our clients enforce,” shares Sebastien Breteau, QIMA founder and CEO. “By communicating our commitment and best practices through UN Global compact’s principles, we are imposing on ourselves to be a positive contributor for a more sustainable global trade environment.”

The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 70 Local Networks.

About QIMA
At QIMA we are on a mission to offer our clients smart solutions to make products consumers can trust. We combine on-the-ground experts for quality inspections, supplier audits, certification, and lab testing, with a digital platform that brings accuracy, visibility, and intelligence for quality and compliance data. We operate in 95 countries and help more than 17,000 global brands, retailers, manufacturers, and food growers achieve quality excellence.

Media Contact
Courtney Terrey
Director of Communications, QIMA
+852 3165 8838
press@qima.com

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Bridging Technology and Education: UNESCO and Huawei Deliver Campus UNESCO for Young People in 20 countries

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SHENZHEN, China, May 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — UNESCO and Huawei have to date run ten Campus UNESCO sessions, focusing on technology and education and reaching students from 39 schools in 21 countries.

Campus UNESCO is an ongoing program that gives young people aged 14 to 18 the chance to share views with experts from UNESCO and civil society. The topics discussed in each 90-minute session in either English or French are linked to major UNESCO themes such as education, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, gender equality, and citizenship.

One of the campus real-time screenshot
One of the campus real-time screenshot

Huawei has been partnering with UNESCO on the program since June 2021. The sessions have covered a wide variety of topics, including the relationship between technology and education, new technologies for today and tomorrow, and how technology can be used for good. Topics relevant to current issues that rose on the global agenda when the pandemic closed school doors in 2020 were especially welcomed by the students, including the changes brought to schools that either have or lack technology, and the necessity of physical schools when everything can be found on the Internet.

“We believe the SDG and COVID challenges are incredible ingredients for innovation,” said Dr. Valtencir Mendes, Senior Programme Specialist, UNESCO at one of the campuses.

Other issues of focus during campus sessions have been the value of digital skills and new behaviors to prevent cyberbullying, a threat that is on the rise for many teenagers in an increasingly digital world where social media is prevalent and when young people are outside the classroom.

Sharing their experiences and views with expert speakers can raise awareness among young people, not just about how new technologies will impact today and tomorrow, but the role that today’s teenagers can have in shaping the future.

The campus in French language real-time screenshot
The campus in French language real-time screenshot

As well as UNESCO experts, other speakers include inspirational people from the organization’s networks, such as NGOs, IGOs, startups, spanning a wide range of roles, including scientists, researchers, and local development project managers.

Aligned with the aims of Campus UNESCO, Huawei and UNESCO are also partnering on the “Technology-enabled Open Schools for All” project, the implementation phase of which was launched in 2021 in Ghana, Egypt, and Ethiopia. The three-year project is supporting the construction of resilient education systems that can withstand global disruptions such as COVID-19. In addition to connecting schools, the project is providing training for teachers and students in the use of digital tools, establishing online platforms to link school and home learning, and developing digital curricula that can be accessed remotely.

The “Technology-enabled Open Schools for All” project is aligned with the Tech4Education domain of Huawei’s digital inclusion initiative TECH4ALL, which aims to drive education equity and quality with technology under the major aim of TECH4ALL: to leave no one behind in the digital world.

View the series on the Huawei TECH4ALL official website:

https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all/stories/bridging-technology-education-campus-unesco

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CASETiFY Celebrates Earth Day 2022

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HONG KONG and LOS ANGELES, April  22, 2022 /PRNewswire/  –This Earth Day, global lifestyle brand CASETiFY is highlighting its commitment to invest in our planet with the latest from its global impact report. Among an exciting collection of sustainable products available for a range of device sizes, the brand also unveils its newest initiative calling on the CASETiFY community to #ReCASETiFYYourWorld.

The global lifestyle brand rings in Earth Day with an update on its ongoing sustainability initiative, inviting customers to #ReCASETiFYYourWorld.
The global lifestyle brand rings in Earth Day with an update on its ongoing sustainability initiative, inviting customers to #ReCASETiFYYourWorld.

“We’re excited to share our sustainability progress with the world, but we know there is so much more room for growth,” said Wes Ng, CASETiFY CEO and Co-founder. ” We want to continue moving our industry in the right direction with sustainable innovations that refuse to compromise on quality and self-expression.”

CASETiFY Makes an Impact

CASETiFY is committed to investing in our plant and reducing its carbon footprint wherever possible. To date, the DTC brand has recycled over 160,000 phone cases through its recycling program RECASETiFY, in partnership with TerraCycle and other global partners, diverting over 60,000 lbs of plastic from landfills. Through the program, customers are able to either globally mail-in or bring in their old, retired phone cases to a number of drop-off locations throughout Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.

Furthermore, Earthday.org and CASETiFY together have planted over 165,000 trees directly supporting The Canopy Project, which benefits local communities, increases habitat for species, and combats climate change. CASETiFY officially announced its partnership with Earthday.org in 2020 with a pledge to plant one tree for every compostable phone case and reusable water bottle sold.

Incorporating Sustainable Materials

Last year, CASETiFY moved the needle even further by launching a brand new collection of upcycled phone cases made with revolutionary Re/CASETiFY technology. The Crush Collection, uses proprietary technology turning old, discarded phone cases, manufacturing scraps and plant-based material into brand new phone cases––drastically reducing the carbon manufacturing emissions by 20%. By using retired phone cases, the Crush Collection helps to repurpose existing plastic, reduce use of virgin plastic and further close the loop on single-use plastics. The new material is currently available for select iPhone and Samsung cases as well as newly launched AirPod cases with plans to be integrated in future product launches and lineups.  

In addition to the Crush Collection, CASETiFY offers even more sustainable solutions for every eco-conscious shopper with best-selling Impact and Ultra Impact Cases featuring up to 65% recycled materials, Leather Cases made with 90% recycled material and the Compostable Collection made with ecotify™, a trademarked proprietary blend of biopolymers, starch, and bamboo.

#ReCASETiFYYourWorld

At CASETiFY, it’s in our DNA to create high quality products that empower self expression and celebrate individuality without compromising its impact on the environment. Over the past few years we’ve developed new technologies, such as Re/CASETiFY to manufacture products that help reduce carbon emissions and create better alternatives than the average plastic phone case. This year, CASETiFY is calling on its community to #ReCASETiFYYourWorld through a socially-driven initiative spotlighting ways to re-invent, recycle and upcycle old phone cases. Similar to the brand’s ReCASETiFY Couch, designed by Crosby Studios, participants can submit their own Re/CASETiFY project repurposing old phone cases to create something entirely new to CASETiFY for a chance to win up to $1000.00 USD. You can find more information regarding this initiative at casetify.com/sustainability/fund-your-idea.

To shop products made from Re/CASETiFY, compostable and recycled material, and to learn more about the process and brand initiatives, please visit www.casetify.com. For the latest news on CASETiFY, sign up for the newsletter and stay tuned to @CASETiFY on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Twitter.

About CASETiFY 

CASETiFY is the global lifestyle brand and home to the first and largest platform for customized tech accessories. Created with the highest-quality materials and most cutting-edge designs, CASETiFY’s products turn your personal electronics into stylishly slim, drop-proof accessories. Known for tapping top artists and creatives for its Co-Lab program, CASETiFY gives brands and individuals the opportunity to share their unique visions with the world. For more information on CASETiFY, its stores, partners and products, please visit www.CASETiFY.com.

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ReneSola Power Appoints Ramnath Iyer as a Director

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STAMFORD, Conn., April 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — ReneSola Ltd (“ReneSola Power” or the “Company”) (www.renesolapower.com) (NYSE: SOL), a leading fully integrated solar project developer, today announced that Ke Chen has stepped down as a Director of the Company and that it has appointed Ramnath Iyer, Head of ESG Asia of Invartis Consulting, to its Board of Directors effective April 20, 2022. Ke Chen will remain serving in the capacity of Chief Financial Officer. 

Mr. Iyer brings extensive capital markets experience from his prior roles as portfolio manager to multiple international asset management firms, and strategist role at investment banks. In addition, Mr. Iyer brings significant knowledge and expertise on sustainability, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) from his current role as the Head of ESG Asia at Invartis Consulting where he helps institutional investors and buyside funds integrate ESG and sustainability practices into their investing processes. 

“We are pleased to welcome Ramnath as our fellow director”, Said Himanshu Shah. “His extensive experience in ESG complements our Board’s efforts to strengthen our sustainability practices around environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and corporate governance. We look forward to his many contributions.”

About ReneSola Power

ReneSola Power (NYSE: SOL) is a leading global solar project developer and operator. The Company focuses on solar power project development, construction management and project financing services. With local professional teams in more than 10 countries around the world, the business is spread across number of regions where the solar power project markets are growing rapidly and can sustain that growth due to improved clarity around government policies. The Company’s strategy is to pursue high-margin project development opportunities in these profitable and growing markets; specifically, in the U.S. and Europe, where the Company has a market-leading position in several geographies, including Poland, Hungary, Minnesota and New York. For more information, please visit www.renesolapower.com.

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Source: ReneSola Ltd.