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An Underutilized Weapon Against Climate Change Risks: Maximizing the Potential of Micro-insurance
Over the past few decades, changes in climate activity have led to extreme weather events that have posed substantial threats to security and financial well-being – particularly at the bottom of the economic pyramid. As these natural disasters may become the new norm, new strategies are needed to address their impact, both during and after the events. One approach to building this resilience is through asset-based micro-insurance.
- Categories
- Environment
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South Africa is First Middle-Income Country to Fund Impact Bonds for Early Childhood Development
March 18 was an historic day for early childhood development (ECD) financing—the Departments of Social Development and Health of the Western Cape province of South Africa committed 25 million rand ($1.62 million) in outcome funding for three social impact bonds (SIBs) for maternal and early childhood outcomes. This is the first ever funding committed by a middle-income government for a SIB—to date no low-income country governments have participated in a SIB either—making South Africa’s choice to pioneer this new path especially exciting.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- impact bonds
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MaRS Catalyst Fund Seeks Startups With Both Social Impact and Financial Returns
The MaRS Catalyst Fund, a national impact venture fund, has raised $3 million and plans to raise a total of $5 million, which will be used to invest in early-stage Canadian startups tackling social and environment issues with potential for profit.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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Unhealthy Environment a Factor in Millions of Deaths Worldwide
Living or working in an unhealthy environment caused almost one-quarter of all deaths worldwide in 2012, a report made public Tuesday by the World Health Organization (WHO) found.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care
- Tags
- climate health
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John Hoffmire: The Importance of Environmental Practices in Poverty Alleviation
Alleviating poverty is a worthy endeavor pursued by many organizations. However, studies show that in some cases there are unintended negative impacts upon the environment. The goal to alleviate poverty without environmental damage can be challenging.
- Categories
- Environment
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Capitalism at the Crossroads: An Interview with Stuart Hart
Stuart Hart is one of the world's top authorities on the implications of sustainable development and environment for business strategy. He is currently the Grossman Chair of Sustainable Business at the University of Vermont. Previously, Hart founded sustainable MBA programs at Cornell, UNC, and the University of Michigan. He wrote the seminal article "Beyond Greening: Strategies for a Sustainable World," which won the McKinsey Award for Best Article in Harvard Business Review in 1997, and helped launch the movement for corporate sustainability.
- Categories
- Environment
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Impact Investing’s New Theme: Themes
Bill and Melinda Gates have long worked to reduce disease and poverty. For Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, education ranks as a top cause. And Michael Bloomberg is battling climate change and gun fatalities. Of course, plenty of room for overlap exists, but you get the point: Not all philanthropists care about the same things.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
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How Can Product Designers Help Solve the World’s Massive E-Waste Problem?
In February, a new smartphone launched in India that cost the equivalent of $3.60. The quickly dropping price of electronics, along with rising incomes around the world, means that there will soon be many more gadgets in the market. And when a newer, cheaper one comes along in a year, many more of them will end up as electronic waste.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- waste
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