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September 2023 Newsletter Recap: Behavior Change

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25 Oct, 2023

This post was originally published on Climate Links

September 2023 Newsletter Recap: Behavior Change
jschoshinski
Tue, 10/17/2023 – 13:46

Did you miss the Climatelinks September newsletter? We’ve got you covered. Please find a recap of the September ‘Behavior Change’ theme below. You won’t want to miss this short list of top programs, resources, and blogs from the month. Do you want to contribute to the Climatelinks community? Send us a resource, blog, or event.

USAID’s 2022–2030 Climate Strategy recognizes behavior change as a critical component of successful climate change initiatives. As the climate crisis continues to affect lives and livelihoods around the world, adapting to and mitigating its effects will require people to modify their behaviors or adopt new ones related to health, agriculture, natural resource management, infrastructure, and beyond.

Fresh Blog Posts

Four Ways USAID Supports African Climate Leadership

USAID has long supported African-led climate programming that aims to address the increasingly destructive impacts of climate change and work toward a cleaner, safer, and more equitable Africa. From helping to improve air quality in Kenya to supporting forest conservation in the Congo Basin, USAID remains committed to advancing African countries’ ambitious climate goals.

Read more.

Integrating Climate Change into Biodiversity Programming in Karamoja, Uganda

The USAID Biodiversity for Resilience Activity helps communities in northeastern Uganda use sustainable land management practices to address the threat of agricultural expansion into natural ecosystems. The activity piloted a program aligned with USAID’s Climate Strategy to develop and implement climate-smart land management practices to boost resilience and improve watershed management.

Read more.

New Resources

Reducing Single-Use Plastics Through Social and Behavior Change Research

As part of the Save Our Seas Initiative, USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean program collaborates with local partners around the world to promote behavior change that reduces single-use plastics. This case study shares how the program uses qualitative research to test locally relevant, feasible practices to decrease plastic use in the Maldives and stop plastic leakage into the ocean. 

Read more.

USAID Water and Development Technical Brief: Social and Behavior Change for Water Security, Sanitation, and Hygiene

Within the WASH and water resource management sectors, communication-only approaches do not result in sustained behavior change. This technical brief offers key takeaways for developing a holistic approach to effective social and behavior change programs.

Read more.

Supporting Micronesian Communities to Access Funds for Adaptation Projects

Pacific Island communities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis and need allies to support their implementation of climate solutions. This resource explains how USAID Climate Ready, in partnership with the UNDP Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme, has helped mobilize more than $680,000 for community-level adaptation projects in the Federated States of Micronesia by unblocking access to small grant funding.

Read more.

Video: Women in Forest Carbon Initiative

Women’s representation in climate science is still rare, with women only accounting for 20 percent of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report authors. This video highlights The U.S. Forest Service’s Women in Forest Carbon Initiative, which provides women scientists and students with professional experiences, training, and mentorship to create more opportunities for women in forest management and carbon monitoring.

Learn more.

Climate Risk Management Spotlight

Effective climate risk management (CRM) requires accessing, digesting, and applying climate information, a task that can often seem overwhelming. This primer helps decision makers and practitioners charged with CRM determine what climate information is appropriate to use for different contexts and development objectives and to leverage that information to enhance program impacts.

Learn more.

Call for Content

Share your events and resources or write a blog related to an upcoming monthly theme! Check out our upcoming themes to see if your climate work aligns:

  • October: Behavior Change
  • November and December: COP28

If your USAID-related climate change work relates to these themes, Climatelinks would love to feature your work and share your resources. Send us a resource or blog.

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Did you miss the Climatelinks September newsletter? Here is a recap of the September ‘Behavior Change’ theme.

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Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks has become essential as businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability. IT operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, energy consumption and electronic waste (e-waste). Organisations that embed environmental responsibility into their IT governance can reduce their ecological footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen their brand reputation.

Erica Smith, chief alliance officer and environmental, social and governance lead, Blue Connections IT, said, “Environmental stewardship supports financial performance, risk mitigation and brand differentiation. With rising energy costs, increased consumer demand for sustainable products and services, and growing pressure from investors and regulators, companies can no longer afford to overlook their environmental responsibilities.

“Poor sustainability practices in IT can lead to high operational costs, supply chain risks and reputational damage. Conversely, a proactive approach improves efficiency, attracts environmentally conscious customers and helps future-proof businesses against evolving policy and regulatory changes.

“Integrating environmental responsibility into IT governance integrates sustainability initiatives into decision-making systematically. Organisations can reduce waste, lower energy consumption and extend the lifecycle of technology assets while positioning themselves as responsible leaders in an increasingly climate-aware market.”

There are four key areas that present opportunities to embed environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks.

1. Device lifecycle management

A structured approach to managing the lifecycle of IT assets ensures devices are deployed efficiently, maintained properly and retired responsibly at the end of their useful life. Embracing a circular economy model, where equipment is refurbished, reused or ethically recycled, can significantly reduce e-waste and resource use. Companies that adopt this approach lower their environmental impact and unlock financial value by extending the lifecycle of IT assets.

Smith said, “Effective asset recovery strategies further support sustainability efforts. Integrating secure data erasure and refurbishment into IT governance policies lets businesses repurpose functional devices within the organisation or resell them to external buyers. Responsible e-waste recycling also supports companies to process materials ethically in instances where resale is not viable, reducing landfill contributions and preventing environmental contamination. The adoption of industry-certified data sanitisation methods also safeguards compliance with security and privacy regulations.”

2. Sustainable procurement

IT governance frameworks should prioritise the selection of technology vendors and partners committed to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing and energy-efficient product design. This includes favouring IT hardware with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials and using minimal packaging. Additionally, employing Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) models optimises IT asset utilisation while reducing upfront investment and unnecessary hardware purchases.

Partnerships with sustainability-driven IT service providers can further enhance an organisation’s environmental impact. Working with partners that offer end-to-end IT asset management solutions, encompassing secure device deployment, certified data sanitisation and ethical recycling, simplifies the process of aligning IT operations with sustainability goals. Companies that prioritise environmental stewardship in their IT governance framework gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

3. Energy consumption

Data centres, cloud services and enterprise networks require substantial energy resources, making green IT practices essential. IT governance frameworks should include policies to reduce consumption by optimising server efficiency, reducing redundant infrastructure and using renewable energy sources. Cloud providers with strong sustainability credentials can support carbon reduction initiatives, while virtualisation strategies can consolidate workloads and improve overall energy efficiency.

4. Employee engagement

Educating staff on sustainable IT practices, such as energy-efficient device usage and responsible e-waste disposal, creates a culture of accountability. Organisations that implement green workplace initiatives, such as responsible end-of-life disposal programs, reinforce their commitment to sustainability at all levels.

“IT governance must also align with corporate environmental, social and governance commitments. Companies can contribute to broader sustainability objectives by embedding environmental stewardship into IT policies, such as net-zero emissions targets and responsible supply chain management. Clear reporting mechanisms and regular sustainability audits aid transparency, letting businesses track their progress and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders,” Smith said.

Government regulations and evolving industry standards are increasingly shaping the sustainability expectations for organisations. Aligning IT governance frameworks with best practices for environmental stewardship keeps companies ahead of regulatory requirements. Proactive adoption of sustainable IT practices positions businesses as industry leaders in environmental responsibility.

Smith said, “Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks is not just about meeting compliance obligations; it’s about futureproofing company operations and prioritising the broader environment. Taking a proactive approach to sustainability lets organisations drive efficiency, reduce long-term costs and contribute to a healthier planet. Businesses that lead in sustainable IT governance will be well-positioned for long-term success as environmental concerns continue to shape consumer and corporate priorities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Petmal

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