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As the federal government moves to eliminate U.S. climate rules, companies still face pressure to be better stewards of the planet from their customers, investors, employees, local communities, lenders, insurers, global trading partners and many states. Each of those groups knows it will face increasing costs from rising temperatures and extreme weather if corporations dont rein in their greenhouse gas emissions. Many companies will find that returning to past polluting ways isnt in their best interest. Over 60% of chief financial officers surveyed by global management firm Kearney in December 2024 signaled that they intended to invest at least 2% of their revenue in sustainability in 2025. These companies may maintain a low profile about climate change while the Trump administration is in power, but they have strong financial incentives to continue to reduce their emissions and their own climate risks. We study private environmental governance the ways companies and organizations work outside government to improve the nations sustainability and reduce environmental damage. Our work finds that, in this polarized era, addressing climate and sustainability challenges is not just a matter of government action. Thats because a lot of climate and sustainability progress is underway in the private sector. Sustainability matters to companies bottom lines Businesses have used climate and sustainability initiatives for years to make their operations and supply chains more efficient and to reduce their long-term costs. When McDonalds faced public pressure to reduce waste in the late 1980s, the company teamed up with the Environmental Defense Fund to analyze the problem. It was able to reduce its waste by 30% over the following decade, saving the company US$6 million a year. This early risk-taking by McDonalds opened the door for other environmental groups to help businesses understand how to reduce their environmental impact, including emissions, while boosting the companies profitability. Maersk, the logistics giant responsible for nearly a quarter of global shipping, has responded to pressure from its corporate customers with a plan to reduce carbon emissions by one-third from 2022 to 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2045. It expects the combination of low-emissions vessels and a more efficient delivery network with hubs and shuttles to help meet its climate goals while increasing productivity. Companies have also helped drive the expansion of renewable energy, motivated by the competitive economics of renewables and business opportunities. Facebooks parent company Meta and Google invested nearly $2 billion in projects to provide renewable energy in the Tennessee Valley Authority service area, even though no government required them to do so. And major companies continued signing renewable energy power purchase agreements in 2025. Microsoft and Amazon are responding to massive new power demand by trying to locate data centers near existing nuclear power plants for cleaner energy supplies. Thousands of companies report emissions via private systems Another sign of companies continuing commitment to sustainability is how many of them measure and report their greenhouse gas emissions even when governments do not require them to do so. Nearly 25,000 companies representing two-thirds of total global market capitalization and 85% of the S&P 500 report their emissions to the nonprofit CDP. Disclosing emissions is like keeping a fitness journal with a personal trainer. It helps a company track its progress and plan for future financial and environmental risks. More than 12,500 small- and medium-size companies also dislosed emissions to CDP in 2024. Many of these companies were initially motivated by pressure from environmental groups or corporate customers. Today, they have more reason to continue paying attention to emissions. California has its own formal reporting requirements designed to encourage companies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. And other states are considering setting climate disclosure rules. The Trump administration has promised to challenge them, and announced that it also plans to cut federal greenhouse gas reporting standards, but companies will likely still face reporting rules in the future. The European Union also has reporting requirements. It delayed their start date in April 2025 to give companies more time to comply. Cleaner supply chains can also be more efficient Managing supply chains with climate and environmental risks in mind can also help businesses increase their efficiency and reduce the risk that climate change will disrupt their operations. The supply chain is the largest source of the average companys emissions and may be particularly vulnerable to climate shocks. A storm can easily disrupt vital production or shipping, and droughts or heat waves can damage crops, stop work and increase costs. Companies estimate climate-related supply chain risks at $162 billion, nearly three times the cost of mitigating those risks. Many companies therefore have incentives to reduce emissions and their exposure to related hazards. Nearly 80% of the largest companies across seven global economic sectors had set environmental requirements for suppliers within their value chains as of 2023. These requirements include reporting carbon emissions, reducing emissions and using sustainable forestry practices. Walmart eliminated 1 billion tons of carbon emissions from its supply chain in less than seven years by sharing its expertise with suppliers and working with them to reduce their emissions. Walmarts global director of sustainable retail noted in 2024 that the effort made its suppliers more efficient, too. Keeping employees and customers happy Companies also face pressure from average people both employees and customers. More than two-thirds of Americans support action to address climate change. Even companies that are not consumer-facing need retail customer and employee support. Pro-climate actions have been found to improve employee and customer loyalty. The outdoor clothing company Patagonia ranked third out of over 300 brands in a 2024 customer experience survey, in part because of its reputation for sustainable practices. Many of the over 10,000 respondents cited the companys sustainable practices as the leading reason for their support. Many companies also face pressure from lenders and insurers who want to reduce climate risks to their own bottom lines. Dozens of insurers have committed to ending or restricting underwriting for new fossil fuel projects. Others use incentives, such as lower premiums for companies that reduce emissions or invest in climate adaptation. Climate change may accelerate the current 5% to 7% annual increase in insured losses, according to estimates from insurer Swiss Re. That has led some insurance leaders to recommend insurance companies take bigger steps to reduce emissions through their investments and policy underwriting. Private climate governance can help buy time Media attention and interest group advocacy is often focused on government actions, but decisions made in boardrooms and through initiatives with nonprofits have created an important kind of private climate governance. As companies respond to their own economic risks and incentives, they help buy time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change until the political system recognizes the financial risks posed to the entire country. Ethan I. Thorpe is a fellow at the Private Climate Governance Lab at Vanderbilt University. Michael Vandenbergh is a professor of law and co-director of the Energy, Environment and Land Use Program at Vanderbilt University. Zdravka Tzankova is an associate professor of the practice in climate & environmental studies at Vanderbilt University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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E-Commerce
Sony said it will raise prices starting Monday for some PlayStation 5 video game consoles in Europe, Australia and New Zealand, citing global economic turmoil.The company unveiled the price hikes of at least 10%, saying it was a “tough decision” amid the “backdrop of a challenging economic environment, including high inflation and fluctuating exchange rates.”The recommended retail price for a PS5 Digital Edition will go up to 499 euros ($570) in Europe, according to a post Sunday on the official PlayStation blog. That’s up from 449 euros in a previously announced pricing update in 2022.In the United Kingdom, the new price will be 430 pounds ($565), up from 389 pounds previously while in Australia the price will increase to 749 Australian dollars ($474) from $649. The price in New Zealand will rise to 859 New Zealand dollars ($504).The PS5 Digital Edition is a slimmed-down version of the console that comes without a disc drive.Sony said the price in Europe and the U.K. for the standard PlayStation 5, which was released in 2020 and comes with a Blu-ray Disc drive, will remain unchanged, as will the price for the PS5 Pro version, which was released last year.U.S. President Donald Trump’s move earlier this month to impose tariffs on nations around the world has roiled global manufacturing supply chains. News on the weekend that imports of electronics like smartphones and laptops are getting a temporary reprieve until the administration figures out a new tariff approach specific to the semiconductor industry has added to the confusion for exporters. Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Mauritania isnt typically a major tourist destination. But its only railway has recently become the subject of a viral TikTok travel trend: riding the Iron Ore Train. This 437-mile journey through the Sahara desert offers dramatic selfie backdropsand no shortage of controversy. @marissameizz Replying to @Atticus White STORYTIME: RIDING THE IRON ORE TRAIN IN MAURITANIA.. original sound – MARISSA MEIZZ The History of the Iron Ore Train The Mauritania Railway, or Iron Ore Train, is the countrys only rail line. Since the 1960s, it has transported iron ore from the mining hub of Zouérat to the port city of Nouadhibou. Operated by the state-owned Société Nationale Industrielle et Minire (SNIM), the train is a crucial economic lifeline for Mauritaniahauling up to 16,800 metric tons of iron ore per trip across remote desert terrain in open-air cars stretching up to two miles long. Iron ore makes up nearly 50% of the small nations exports. Why Tourists Are Drawn to the Mauritania Railway Although the Iron Ore Train includes a designated passenger car, the social media trend focuses on riding atop the loaded iron ore carspromoted online as a daring travel adventure. TikTok videos showcase sweeping desert vistas described by commenters as post-apocalyptic. The now-ubiquitous selfies show tourists in what one blogger called the uniform of ski goggles and a seche tied tightly around the head, posing amid clouds of iron dust to survive the elements. @isaacexploress A once in a lifetime experience Thank you Mauritania #ironoretrain #extremetravel #shock #richinmemories Ordinary – Alex Warren The Risks and Challenges of Riding the Iron Ore Cars Many posts highlight the journeys harsh conditionsconstant iron dust coating travelers skin and lungs, freezing nights, scorching days, and no access to food, water, or restrooms for an average of 20 hours. But instead of serving as a warning, these challenges are often framed as selling points, promoting the trip as a bucket list item or once-in-a-lifetime experience. The train offers no safety measures for those riding atop the ore cars. If a rider falls off, operators likely wouldnt knowleaving injured tourists stranded in the middle of the Sahara Desert. The Legal and Ethical Controversy As the trend has grownand as videos show increasingly unsafe behavior, including backflips on moving carsSNIM has officially banned tourists from riding on the iron ore cars. Still, that hasnt stopped social media. Influencers now share tips for evading security, bribing officials, and sneaking onto the train. Some, like Isaac Elam, even sell guides for riding illegally. Social media can be a valuable tool for discovering unique experiencesbut its important to question whos sharing this inside info. Before chasing the latest viral trend, consider the safety, legal, and ethical risks to yourself and the communities you visit. The livelihood of Mauritanias people depends on this railway. If reckless tourist behavior causes delays or shutdowns, the consequences could be far more serious than a missed photo op.
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E-Commerce
The Federal Aviation Administration said Sunday that the helicopter tour company whose sightseeing chopper broke apart in flight and crashed in New York, killing the pilot and a family of five visitors from Spain, is shutting down operations immediately.The FAA, in a statement posted on X, also said it would launch an immediate review of New York Helicopter Tours’ operating license and safety record.The move came hours after New York Sen. Chuck Schumer had called on federal authorities to revoke the operating permits of New York Helicopter Tours.The company’s sightseeing helicopter broke apart in midair and plunged into the Hudson River Thursday, killing the tourists from Spain and the pilot, a Navy SEAL veteran.At a news conference Sunday, before the announcement by the FAA, Schumer said the company should be required to halt all flights as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates the deadly crash.The Senate Democrat minority leader also called on the Federal Aviation Administration to ramp up safety inspections for other helicopter tour companies, accusing them of “cutting corners and putting profits over people.”The victims included passengers Agustin Escobar, 49, his wife, Merc Camprubí Montal, 39, and their three children, Victor, 4, Mercedes, 8, and Agustin, 10. The pilot was Seankese Johnson, 36, a U.S. Navy veteran who received his commercial pilot’s license in 2023.“One of the things we can do to honor those lives and try to save others is to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Schumer said. “We know there is one thing for sure about New York City’s helicopter tour companies: They have a deadly track record.”Thursday’s crash has renewed safety concerns about New York’s sightseeing excursions, a popular tourist draw that whisks passengers high above the city, offering soaring views of the Statue of Liberty, the World Trade Center, and other landmarks.In the last two decades, five helicopters on commercial sightseeing flights have fallen into the Hudson and East rivers as a result of mechanical failures, pilot errors, or collisions, killing 20 people.The president of New York Helicopter Tours, Michael Roth, did not respond to phone and email inquiries. The company said in a statement published on its website that it was cooperating with authorities in the investigation.In response to Schumer’s calls for more oversight, an industry group, Eastern Region Helicopter Council, said Manhattan’s sightseeing choppers “already operate under the most stringent of regulations.”“We stand ready to work with leaders on finding ways to ensure the safety and preservation of our businesses and aviation community,” the group said.Critics of the industry have long sought to limit or entirely ban nonessential helicopter flights from taking off above the city, though they have had limited success. After New York City capped the number of flights that could take off from Manhattan heliports at 30,000 annually in 2016, many companies moved operations to New Jersey.Two years later, in 2018, five people died when a helicopter offering “open door” flights crashed in the East River after a passenger’s restraint tether snagged on a fuel switch, stopping the engine.The cause of Thursday’s crash is not yet determined. According to Schumer, rescue divers were continuing to search for the helicopter’s main rotor and assembly gear box, which would give clues about what happened. Jake Offenhartz, Associated Press
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E-Commerce
Youre mid-sentence in a meeting, sharing an idea or outlining a strategy youve been thinking through for weeksthen it happens. Someone jumps in, cuts you off, and shifts the conversation. You fade out while they take the spotlight. Its frustratingbut even more so when its subtle. Maybe you werent shouted over, but you were redirected, ignored, or sidelined. Over time, it takes a toll on confidence, clarity, and leadership presence. So how do you know its happeningand how do you stop it? Here are five signs youre being talked over in meetings, plus practical strategies to reclaim your voice and authority. 1. Youre constantly circling back to what you were saying. If you often hear yourself say, As I was saying earlier, or, Just to finish that thought, youre probably being interrupted more than you realize. These polite reentries signal youve been cut offand trained to work around it. What to do: Dont just circle backown the space. Use direct language. Id like to finish my point before we move on, or, I wasnt finished with that thoughtlet me complete it. Its not rude. Its reclaiming your airtime. 2. Youre the idea originatorbut someone else gets the credit. You suggest something early in the meeting. Ten minutes later, someone repeats itand suddenly its a brilliant new direction. This isnt just annoyingits a visibility issue. What to do: Speak upgracefully but clearly. Stating, Thanks for building on my idea from earlier, signals ownership without confrontation. And when others do this to your colleagues, amplify them too. It builds a culture of mutual respect. 3. Youre interrupted before you finish a full sentence. This one is easy to spotbut easy to dismiss. If you rarely get through your full thought before someone else jumps in, youve been conditioned to shrink your communication. You may start to self-edit, speak faster, or say less. What to do: Pause, then continue. Id like to finish my point, is powerful and direct. And dont speed up or apologize. Take your time. If someone consistently interrupts you, address it privately: Ive noticed Im often cut off mid-thought. Can we be more mindful of giving each other space? 4. Your contributions get ignored until they come from someone else. You bring a new perspective. Silence. Later, a colleague echoes itand gets enthusiastic agreement. This isn’t your imagination. What to do: Keep a strong, clear voice. Thats similar to what I shared earliermaybe we can build on that. You can also enlist allies ahead of time to support your points, creating an environment where your voice is heard the first time. 5. You leave meetings feeling invisibleor exhausted. The biggest red flag is how you feel. If meetings leave you drained, frustrated, or questioning your value, its not about being too sensitive. Its a sign your presence isnt being respectedor that youre overworking to be heard. What to do: Set boundaries and speak up. But also, reflect on the environments youre in. Is this a meeting problemor a culture problem? Change what you can, advocate when you need to, and know when its time to take your brilliance somewhere its truly valued. The bottom line Being interrupted or talked over in meetings isnt just annoyingits a leadership issue. When your voice is minimized, so is your influence. These patterns are deeply embedded in workplace culture, but they arent unchangeable. Start with awareness. Add practical language. And remember: owning your voice is one of the most powerful leadership tools you have.
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E-Commerce
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