Richard McGlone

The WSIS+20 High Level Event kicked off with some great perspectives looking back on the last 20 years. I appreciated hearing the “what, why, and how”, and thoughts on key areas of focus as we build a digital economy that is human-centered and maximizes advanced technology that supports the SDGs. Some key themes of WSIS as it relates to the Global Digital Compact (GDC) heard this morning: — Ensure support for the Multistakeholder Approach to Governance — Avoid the duplication of processes — Ensure the GDC compliments WSIS and continues to support the IGF as the main forum for multistakeholder cooperation — Note how forward thinking WSIS was in 2003, and celebrate how far we have come while tackling new challenges such as AI and the continued inclusion of women in ICT #WSIS #Digitaltransformation #digital #IGF #GDC #multistakeholder #internetgovernance #AI #internetforall #SDGs #UN #USCIB #Globaleconomy #digitaleconomy #digitalgovernance #inclusive

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I have long said that Impact Measurement & Management have an important role to play in ESG, because they're all about turning goals into action, and tracking our progress. I could not be more excited for this webinar with Tim Mohin and John Sherman. Do not miss it!

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Sharing this report that I researched and wrote with Tides WE LEAD about what's needed to support and build power for women of color leaders on the frontlines of climate justice. Tides https://lnkd.in/dTZc6XAU #climatejustice #environmentaljustice #philanthropy #leadership

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Panorama Strategy has a great webinar today exploring women and political leadership! The expert panel will share insights and opportunities to support women making a difference. 

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As The Rockefeller Foundation celebrates its 111th anniversary this month, I have found myself thinking quite a bit about risk and reward. I believe that it is more important than ever for The Rockefeller Foundation and others in philanthropy to rededicate ourselves to making big bets. In this new piece, I examine what we can learn from the risks and rewards that have defined humanity’s past and discuss how our team is working to do our part to address the most serious threat facing humanity today, climate change. https://lnkd.in/enh-sz4w

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Fast fashion comes with hidden costs: exploitative labor practices and severe environmental damage. Rapid production cycles often mean poor working conditions and low wages for workers. Additionally, this industry contributes significantly to water pollution, textile waste, and carbon emissions. #SustainableFashion #EthicalConsumerism #EnvironmentalAwareness https://lnkd.in/ehBQ6JAW

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My ICF Climate Center colleagues used our climate risk analytics platform, ClimateSight, to understand how many more Americans in disadvantaged communities could face health-threatening heat each year by 2050. Learn more. https://bit.ly/3WfU87Z

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Really interesting approach to incentivizing the “impact” part of impact investing. https://lnkd.in/ex3ZVWgc by Roots of Impact.

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The Science Based Targets initiative announcement scope 3 abatement has created a lot of noise and a lot of confusion about environmental attribute certificates (EACs), what they are, what they aren’t and why they matter. This excellent webinar hosted by C2ES is well worth the time if you’re trying to understand their implications for voluntary corporate action and accountability. Experts and scientists break down why EACs like Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate are essential for within value chain decarbonization and how central carbon credits are for driving finance into the key IPCC identified mitigation actions in nature. If you’re interested in going beyond the hysterical headlines this is your chance. # marketswork

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The quantum of investment needed to support critical #development and #climate priorities is massive and requires innovative solutions. Enter #blendedfinance – an approach that leverages public, #philanthropic, and private capital to achieve sustainable development and climate goals. How does it work? Blended finance de-risks projects for private investors, making it more attractive to invest in high-impact sectors like renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and resilient infrastructure. By combining different sources of capital, blended finance can mobilize significantly larger amounts of funding, driving transformative projects that might otherwise be underfunded. Get this: climate blended financing totals increased by 107%, from $5.6 billion in 2022 to $11.6 billion in 2023, with 48% of 2023 climate blended finance deals exceeding $100 million. For every dollar of public or philanthropic funding, blended finance attracts up to $4 of private investment. And the impact is huge: blended finance initiatives have contributed to providing clean energy to over 30 million people and improving agricultural productivity for 10 million smallholder farmers. This is why I am thrilled to join the Investment Committee for the SDG Impact Finance Initiative facilitated by Convergence Blended Finance for their third Innovation Window focused on awarding grant funding for feasibility studies, proof of concept activities and solutions addressing SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-Being), SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Through the course of this process, I will share key learnings takeaways on how we can use tools like #blendedfinance to support and scale solutions to critical challenges like development and climate change. #BlendedFinance #SustainableDevelopment #ClimateAction #SDGs

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My thanks to Sightline Institute for inviting me to do a deep-dive Q&A on why aging solutions are also climate solutions. I've long respected Sightline's thought leadership on all things #planning, #climateadaptation and #resilience, and #equity, and appreciate their focus on this critical topic too. We can't adequately plan for our climate future without considering the ways in which it will (and already is) differently impact a growing segment of our society: older adults. Doing so calls for new approaches to housing, transportation, utilities and more. Island Press Read the Q&A here: https://lnkd.in/eTAFGwZ9 Learn more about the book, Climate Resilience for an Aging Nation here: https://lnkd.in/emwH8M9r

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“If it is to be done well, impact investing should be hard.” The notion of 'difficulty' in impact investing isn't merely about the complexity of the process; it's about the depth of commitment to driving meaningful change. While some may shy away from labeling impact investing as 'hard,' it's undeniable that the work is intricate and demanding. Yet, this complexity is where the true value lies. As highlighted in a study by the Impact Finance Research Consortium, market-rate impact investors may perceive less difficulty precisely because they integrate impact considerations seamlessly into their investment strategies. However, this raises important questions about the distinctiveness of their deals compared to those pursued by traditional investors. Are we truly pushing the boundaries of impact if our deals mirror conventional investments? For impact investing to fulfill its promise, we must embrace the challenge of seeking out transformative opportunities that address pressing social and environmental issues. It's not enough to simply overlay impact metrics onto financial returns; we must actively seek out investments that create meaningful change. The call to action is clear: impact investors must be catalysts for innovation, resiliency, and sustainability. We need to champion investments that prioritize long-term impact over short-term gains, actively engage with investees to drive social and environmental progress and challenge the status quo by amplifying voices that are often marginalized in traditional finance. https://lnkd.in/eTdYjXe3

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A compelling call to action from Laudes Foundation partner Institute for Human Rights and Business to achieve lasting, meaningful impacts for people and our planet: "The climate crisis is the most pressing challenge we are facing but a narrow focus on decarbonisation risks slowing progress and fast-tracking us into an even greater inequality crisis. While populist narratives are increasingly pitching climate action and social justice against each other, success lies in tackling both in harmony with each other. This will require multi-sector and stakeholder collaboration at all levels, as well as shared visions and tools for a greener, fairer future. A human rights approach, with its wide recognition and adoption, can be a unifying force, aligning these agendas and accelerating climate action by grounding responses in social justice." See the full piece below. #climateaction #justtransition #bizhumanrights

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What an honor to give a keynote speech today about climate finance and Indigenous Peoples at the 23rd session of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues happening at the UN Headquarters this and next week. As a non-indigenous person, I have seen and worked with many leaders who keep showing tremendous resilience and tenacity as they advocate for their rights and needs. Accessing climate finance is one of them -- for too long, too many barriers have been imposed on them. But as first-responders of the climate and biodiversity crises, they need all the support they can get, but right now less than 1% of all climate finance reaches Indigenous communities in the frontlines. This must urgently change.

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The Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) is thrilled to see the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to climate resilience through the Climate Resilience Game Changers Assessment. This initiative aligns perfectly with USDN's mission to support local government practitioners in their efforts to create sustainable and resilient communities. By identifying critical technologies, management practices, and financial tools, this assessment paves the way for transformative change that not only addresses the pressing climate challenges we face but also creates good-paying jobs, improves community well-being, and advances environmental justice. USDN is dedicated to empowering local leaders with the resources and knowledge they need to implement these innovative strategies effectively. Together, we can build a #ClimateResilient Nation that prioritizes sustainability, equity, and resilience. We look forward to collaborating with our members and partners to leverage these advancements and drive meaningful progress in our communities. #ClimateResilience #Sustainability #EnvironmentalJustice #Innovation #USDN

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The challenge of both finding and affording workers faces small governments scattered around the U.S., and often leaves those still there to pick up the slack. Jessica Jimmo, 32, who grew up in Ashland, Maine, is the town’s deputy clerk, assistant librarian and a volunteer firefighter for the Ashland Fire Department, where she serves with family including her mother and sisters. Several other multitasking workers are at least a generation older, including David Milligan, 56, who is both a police officer and Ashland’s town code enforcer.  Town manager Cyr Martin, 59, has pulled double-duty as Ashland’s police chief for years. He also served as chief in nearby Washburn, Maine, before stepping down early this year. Stymied by hiring struggles, that town voted in June to disband its police department and rely instead on county and state law enforcement. In Texas, roughly two-thirds of cities with 3,000 to 5,000 residents are missing a finance director, according to the Texas Municipal League. And nearly all of the hundreds of Texas cities with fewer than 3,000 people are missing one, too.    Other city employees who might not have financial-management experience often end up filling in, said Bennett Sandlin, the league’s executive director. One consequence is cities that go without audits, raising the chances of uncorrected bookkeeping errors, he said. The league is working on a remote bookkeeping program that would aim to have retired finance officers manage a handful of cities remotely. Federal data show the public-sector workforce outside metropolitan areas skews older, which increases the pressure to replace retiring workers. Local officials and government associations in many states say they face a persistent challenge to find qualified employees who want to work in a small town’s office. Rural areas have long struggled to hang onto—or recruit—young residents launching their careers. Small-town officials say they face particular hurdles when it comes to offering competitive salaries to compete for workers. “They’re not as interested in starting in a small Texas town like Muleshoe,” Sandlin said, referring to the city of about 5,000 people located near the New Mexico border. Increasing salaries is one way state and local governments that can afford such moves have eased some of their recent hiring strains, the firm MissionSquare Research Institute found in an annual survey this spring. There are also signs of a cooling job market, which might ease some private-sector competition. A newly released survey data found 54% of respondents expect their largest number of potential retirements among baby boomer-age workers in the next few years. Also, 37% of respondents said they had hired back their already-retired employees. “We’re going to have to get aggressive about attracting the next generation of workers to our towns,” said Cara Woodson Welch, chief executive of the Public Sector HR Association.

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"FACT SHEET: Biden-⁠Harris Administration Releases Agency Climate Adaptation Plans, Demonstrates Leadership in Building Climate Resilience, excerpt below: " the Biden-Harris Administration released updated Climate Adaptation Plans developed by more than 20 federal agencies that expand agency efforts to ensure their facilities, employees, resources, and operations are increasingly resilient to climate change impacts like extreme weather. This work advances the Biden-Harris Administration’s National Climate Resilience Framework, which helps to align climate resilience investments across the public and private sector through common principles and opportunities for action to build a climate-resilient nation. These efforts are backed by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, through which more than $50 billion is being delivered to advance climate adaptation and resilience across the nation, including in communities that are the most vulnerable to climate impacts." https://lnkd.in/gZpvjbsm

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