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What STEM Skillsets, Mindsets Bring to Sustainable Development
Many people still believe that all scientists and engineers work in science and engineering. Do all scientists pipette solutions in a clean white lab while all engineers take measurements on a construction site and programmers write apps in a cubicle? While many STEM professionals do fit these traditional roles, many more use their analytical skills to solve problems in other fields. According to the National Science Board, fewer than half the undergraduate STEM majors in the U.S. end up in STEM occupations. Part two in a series on STEM careers and directions for sustainable development.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Technology
- Tags
- research
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UBS Cancer Fund Shows Power of Impact Investing
UBS Wealth Management is proving investors in Asia will warm to funding projects with social and environmental benefits if the potential returns deliver.
- Categories
- Environment, Investing
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- impact investing
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Viewpoint: Review Moratorium on Oil Palm Plantations
President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo plans to issue a decree on the suspension of issuances of new oil palm plantation development in the country. His decision is a commitment to protect the country’s remaining tropical forests and demonstrate his determination for the country’s environmental stewardship.
- Categories
- Environment
- Region
- South Asia
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Morningstar Gives Marks for Environmental Prudence
Morningstar has begun to rate more than 20,000 mutual funds on their environmentally sustainable characteristics, and that should give a boost to sustainable investing in general say organizations that promote impact investing.
- Categories
- Environment, Impact Assessment, Investing
- Tags
- impact investing
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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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