BETHESDA, Md., July 17, 2024 – WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) offers a new white paper available for download today, Protecting Earth’s Most Valuable Resources | Conservation Activities to Benefit Water and Air Quality. The white paper is sponsored by General Motors and is available for free on our website.

Water and air are the earth’s most valuable resources. No ecosystem or human community could exist without access to clean air and water, making the protection of these resources a paramount concern. Unfortunately, decades of industry and development have had negative effects on the quality of the earth’s air and water.

Because of the widespread and well-documented impacts of air and water pollution, governments have implemented regulations requiring industries to minimize deleterious effects on air and water. Adherence to these critical regulations is not the final step in corporate efforts to protect air and water quality. The private sector can go above and beyond these regulations to promote air and water quality through voluntary habitat conservation projects, with the added benefits of supporting wildlife species and human well-being.

The case studies featured in this white paper illustrate the role of habitat-specific projects in water and air quality improvement. Featured case studies from WHC-Certified sites include:

• ArcelorMittal: AM/NS Calvert, Alabama, USA
• Bacardi: Bombay Sapphire Distillery, Hampshire, UK
• Cemex: Laguna de Los Cangrejos, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• DTE Energy: Downtown Detroit Headquarters, Michigan, USA
• The Earth Lab: Ejido Sisal, Yucatán, Mexico
• Freeport-McMoRan: Miami Site, Arizona, USA
• INVISTA: Victoria Site, Texas, USA
• ITC Holdings: Iowa City Warehouse, Iowa, USA
• WM: Twin Creeks Landfill, Ontario, Canada

Sponsored by General Motors, this white paper features a foreword stating, “Environmental conservation requires everyone’s participation. At GM, we believe that businesses have a responsibility to contribute to the regeneration of nature and the protection of biodiversity. As we strive to enhance resource circularity in our products and operations, we are also promoting biodiversity across our sites.”

About WHC:

WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC builds strategies and frameworks for companies to integrate nature with climate, equity and engagement to support sustainable ecosystems and healthy communities. WHC’s corporate members represent some of the leading national and multinational corporations. WHC-certified programs can be found in 19 countries and 48 U.S. states. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

Call for nominations open through June 30

BETHESDA, Md., May 2, 2024 – WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) is seeking nominations for its newly created WHC Executive Advisory Committee (EAC). Members of the EAC will shape the future of WHC Conservation Certification^®, the world’s only voluntary sustainability standard for broad-based biodiversity enhancement and conservation education activities on corporate landholdings.

As the pace of change at the nexus of biodiversity and business continues rapidly, WHC is taking steps to ensure the Certification standard remains a hallmark for quality habitat for wildlife, conservation education and community outreach initiatives. The EAC will provide direction, governance and oversight to ensure WHC Certification operates cohesively toward its intended goals. In addition to contributing to the advancement of WHC Certification, the EAC will also offer technical expertise, evaluate proposed changes to the current Certification system and ensure that changes are consistent with global business standards and contemporary conservation objectives.

WHC is seeking a group of esteemed experts from diverse backgrounds to be appointed to the Committee. Potential EAC members should have extensive experience with business and biodiversity initiatives; nature-based NGOs; ESG rating organizations; academics engaged in conservation science; or representatives from the private, public and financial sectors.

Members will be expected to participate in the deliberations of the EAC and establish policies and procedures for efficient operation of the EAC. All engagement is voluntary, and the expected hourly involvement per year will be determined at the first meetings of the EAC.

Nominations are open until June 30, 2024, with the first online meeting to be held in September. Learn more about the expectations and submit a nomination here.

About WHC:

WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC builds strategies and frameworks for companies to integrate nature with climate, equity and engagement to support sustainable ecosystems and healthy communities. WHC’s corporate members represent some of the leading national and multinational corporations. WHC-certified programs can be found in 19 countries and 48 U.S. states. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

• Leading businesses Syensqo, BASF, PPC, Titan, Hitachi, Autostrade per l’Italia, Leonardo, Coca-Cola HBC, and the national CSR Network Impronta Etica joined forces to integrate solid biodiversity management strategies into business operations.
• In 2024, the Alliance will prioritize mitigating business site impacts on biodiversity, integrating conservation efforts into CSR and sustainability policies.
• In 2025, the Alliance will open to the participation of non-member companies. To learn more, interested businesses are invited to join Alliance partners at the European Sustainable Industry Summit 2024, for the roundtable on “Biodiversity Management: Business Strategies in Action”, taking place in Brussels on 25 June.

Brussels, 18/04/2024 – CSR Europe and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) officially launched the business-led Biodiversity Alliance for Sustainable Management at a high-level kick-off meeting on 17 April. The initiative brings together leading businesses Syensqo, BASF, PPC, Titan, Hitachi, Autostrade per l’Italia, Leonardo, Coca Cola HBC and the Italian sustainability network Impronta Etica to enhance biodiversity preservation and integrate nature-centric approaches into corporate strategies and operations.

With the support of CSR Europe and WHC, in 2024 Alliance partners will focus their efforts to:

• Share best practices and strategies on risk and impact assessments and management strategies.
• Identify a set of metrics and management tools to scale up and increase the impact of common and individual efforts on biodiversity.
• Understand how to better implement current EU requirements on biodiversity as part of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS), as well as international requirements such as the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Explore how biodiversity efforts can be leveraged to contribute to a Just Transition.

During the virtual inaugural meeting, Alliance members engaged in insightful discussions on key trends linking business operations with nature. Emphasis was placed on the critical importance of integrating nature and biodiversity in corporate strategies, ensuring ecological resilience and sustainable development. Participants exchanged valuable insights and perspectives, laying the groundwork for collaborative action and shared learning in the months ahead.

After a year-long incubation period, in 2025 the Alliance will open the participation to external businesses. Interested companies are invited to join the dedicated European Roundtable “Biodiversity Management: Business Strategies in Action”, taking place in the framework of the European Sustainable Industry Summit, on 25-26 June 2024.

MEDIA CONTACT
Lorena Sorrentino, Materials Manager: ls@csreurope.org

ABOUT CSR EUROPE
CSR Europe is the leading European business network for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility. With our corporate members, National Partner Organisations (NPOs), and Associated Partners, we unite, inspire & support over 10,000 enterprises at local, European and global level. We support businesses & industry sectors in their transformation and collaboration towards practical solutions and sustainable growth. We are for systemic change. Following the SDGs, we want to co-build with the European leaders and stakeholders an overarching strategy for a Sustainable Europe 2030. Learn more at www.csreurope.org.

ABOUT WHC
WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC’s corporate members are leading national and multi-national corporations, and their collective efforts have resulted in more than 1,500 WHC-certified programs around the world. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

BETHESDA, MD, January 24, 2024 – WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) offers a new white paper available for download today, Reaching New Heights in Avian Conservation | Corporate Conservation Strategies to Support Bird Populations. The white paper is sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company and is available for free on our website.

Birds are of pivotal importance to the environment and to human well-being. They exist on all seven continents across a vast range of ecoregions, and the value of the ecosystem services provided by birds cannot be understated. Unfortunately, in nearly every type of habitat, bird populations are decreasing, often due to habitat degradation. Unless interrupted, this continued loss of avian species will result in escalated impacts on pollination, seed dispersal and decomposition, with cascading impacts on the global economy and health and well-being.

Given the ubiquity of birds and the vast amount of privately owned lands around the world, conservation projects involving birds are particularly well-suited for corporations. Avian projects require varying levels of personnel involvement, money and time and can be installed across a number of different habitat types. As such, there is a suitable avian conservation project for nearly any corporate conservation program. This white paper shares the various strategies that WHC members employ at corporate sites around the world to conserve avian populations and educate the community about these critical species. Featured case studies include:

• AriensCo: AriensCo Conservation, Wisconsin, USA
• Argos: Black Vulture Management Program Martinsburg Plant, West Virginia, USA
• CEMEX: Guadalajara “Potrerillos I,II y La Presa,” Jalisco, Mexico
• ExxonMobil: St. Mary’s Island, Texas, USA
• Holcim: Lafarge Presque Isle Quarry, Michigan, USA
• IBM: Silicon Valley Laboratory, California, USA
• Shell: Woodcreek Campus, Texas, USA
• Summit Materials: Cox Station Quarry Mainland Sand and Gravel, British Columbia, Canada
• Toyota: Georgetown, Kentucky, USA
• Wacker Chemical: Adrian Site, Michigan, USA

Sponsored by Vulcan Materials Company, this white paper includes a foreword stating: “At Vulcan Materials Company, we believe being a good steward of the environment is an integral component of our long-term sustainability and growth as a company. We effectively manage the impact of our operations, utilize natural resources wisely and intentionally support and protect the biodiversity of the areas where we operate.”

About WHC:

WHC (Wildlife Habitat Council) has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC builds strategies and frameworks for companies to integrate nature with climate, equity and engagement to support sustainable ecosystems and healthy communities. WHC’s corporate members represent some of the leading national and multinational corporations. WHC-certified programs can be found in 19 countries and 48 U.S. states. Learn more at www.wildlifehc.org.

Combined Organization will Establish a New International NGO to Continue to Advance Sustainability through its Corporate Members with Innovative Solutions, Collaborations and Thought Leadership

New NGO will Deliver Meaningful Private Sector Contributions – from Operations to the C-Suite – Through Science-based Approaches in Nature, Water, Climate Resilience and Social Impact

Washington, D.C., January 2, 2024 – Two of the leading NGOs working with business on sustainability and nature programming, the World Environment Center (WEC) and the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) have entered into a memorandum of intent (MOI) to combine the two organizations. As of January 1, 2024, Margaret O’Gorman assumed the dual role of President and CEO of WEC and President of WHC. The new organization name and branding is expected to launch in the fall of 2024.

The combined organization will be positioned as a leader working at the intersection of business and sustainability, offering meaningful private sector value through science-based approaches in nature, water, climate resilience and social impact. Through technical acumen and thought leadership, the new organization will deliver solutions and support for a wide range of corporate sustainability efforts – from operations to the C-suite, all under the same roof.

With the expertise of the two organizations, and their combined 75 years of experience, this new NGO will expand opportunities for best-in-class collaborations with companies to halt and restore nature loss, improve water stewardship, enhance climate and community resilience and support the transition to a circular economy. This combination will also include WEC Europe e.V., which will continue to serve as the Global Thought Leadership hub for the future global organization.

“We are bringing together two purpose-driven organizations working with corporations on sustainability and nature goals,” said Emilio Tenuta, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer of Ecolab, Inc. and WEC Board Chair. “The new organization comes at a critical time for business as stakeholder and shareholder expectations related to planet and people grow, and intersections between issues like water, climate and nature are increasingly acknowledged. We expect to be a leader in this space from the start.”

Adds Connie Hergert, Vice President, Corporate Real Estate at Ontario Power Generation and WHC Board Chair, “The expertise of each organization complements the other, allowing for a distinctive approach by seamlessly connecting C-suite ambition to operational implementation and supply chain engagement. Companies will find a strong partner to advance their nature, climate and impact reporting. WEC and WHC members will see the benefit of the combined expertise almost immediately.”

Under the terms of the MOI, unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both organizations, Margaret O’Gorman will be appointed President and CEO of WEC while remaining President of WHC. When the legal combination is complete, O’Gorman will be named CEO of the new organization. Dr. Neil Hawkins, interim CEO of WEC, completed his pre-determined tenure on December 31, 2023.

“I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to lead this combination and build an organization that will better meet private sector needs while addressing some of the planet’s most pressing issues,” said O’Gorman. “I am thrilled to work in joining WEC’s global thought leadership and capacity building with WHC’s strategic pragmatism and technical know-how. I would like to extend my deepest thanks to Neil Hawkins for the critical role he played in supporting and advancing this effort.”

Says Dr. Hawkins, outgoing President and CEO of WEC, “The new organization will become the ‘thought leader’ and the ‘do leader’ that is needed to support accelerated progress on climate change, water, circularity and nature challenges we all face. It is very exciting.”

The signature events of WEC and WHC, the WEC Gold Medal Award Presentation and WHC Conservation Conference respectively, will continue. The 2024 WEC Gold Medal event, commemorating 40 years of recognizing sustainable business excellence, will be moved from May 2024 to the fall of 2024. The WHC Conservation Conference will be held June 4-5 in New Orleans, LA. Additionally, all work related to funded projects of both organizations — currently underway or scheduled— will continue without interruption.

About Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC)

WHC has been working at the nexus of business and biodiversity for 35 years and is the only international NGO focused exclusively on enabling private sector action for nature. WHC builds strategies and frameworks for companies to integrate nature with climate, equity and engagement to support sustainable ecosystems and healthy communities. WHC corporate members represent some of the leading national and multinational corporations. WHC-certified programs can be found in nineteen countries and 48 U.S. states.

About World Environment Council (WEC)

The World Environment Center is an independent, global, non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices of member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC creates sustainable business solutions through individual projects in emerging markets; convenes leadership roundtables to shape strategic thinking across a range of sustainability topics; and honors industry excellence through the annual awarding of its Gold Medal Award. WEC celebrates 40 years of impact in 2024.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Monica Keller, Chief Marketing Officer, WHC
mkeller@wildlifehc.org  |  240.247.0930

Zoie Gaidos, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, WEC
press@wec.org  |   202.939.3852