Salesforce com : At COP27, Salesforce Deepens Climate Commitments with New Initiatives

Together with global partners, Salesforce launches first-ever framework to guide the development of a sustainable blue carbon market

Salesforce supports alliance to grow and restore 30 million trees in Zambia, helping small-scale farmers thrive and protecting biodiversity

Salesforce launches Nature Accelerator to empower nonprofits to innovate andscale climate solutions

At the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) next week in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Salesforce is launching three new environmental initiatives to bolster world leaders' efforts to advance climate solutions.

For over a decade, Salesforce has been committed to climate action and transparent reporting. Salesforce achieved net zero residual emissions in 2021, and this year launched a first-of-its-kind carbon credit marketplace - a platform where organizations can find and purchase carbon credits offered by ecopreneurs, allowing organizations to accelerate positive climate impact at scale.

In this critical time for climate action, and as part of its own sustainability journey, Salesforce is committing additional funds and resources to accelerate climate justice and climate action at scale through nature advocacy and policy engagement.

Salesforce introduces high-quality blue carbon framework

At COP27, Salesforce and a global coalition of ocean leaders will announce the "High Quality Blue Carbon Principles and Guidance" - a framework that provides a consistent approach to ensuring that blue carbon credits optimize outcomes for people, biodiversity, and the climate. The principles also provide guardrails for the development and management of blue carbon projects that are equitable, fair, and credible.

As organizations race to achieve their net zero commitments, the global voluntary carbon market is estimated to grow to $50 billion USD by 2030. Blue carbon - or the carbon captured and sequestered by coastal and marine ecosystems (such as mangrove forests and seagrass meadows) - is experiencing a particularly rapid increase in demand.

This framework is critical to ensure that blue carbon projects truly safeguard biodiversity, protect ecosystems, and improve the livelihoods of millions of people in coastal communities. This is only the beginning of a shared journey to ensure accountability, sustainability, and transparency in the rapidly evolving blue carbon marketplace.

Dr. Whitney Johnston, Director of Ocean Sustainability, Salesforce

The development of the framework was made possible through a collaborative effort between Salesforce and leading environmental groups including Conservation International, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance, World Economic Forum's Friends of Ocean Action, and the Meridian Institute. The framework also includes public input of best practices from a wide range of stakeholders.

Salesforce launches Nature Accelerator to empower nonprofits tackling climate challenges

Salesforce is also announcing the launch of a Nature Accelerator, a new initiative that leverages resources from across the company to help nonprofits innovate and scale urgently-needed climate solutions.

Today, less than 2% of philanthropic funding goes toward climate action, and much of that funding includes requirements or restrictions that can make it difficult for nonprofit organizations to innovate and take risks.

Salesforce's Nature Accelerator will provide a cohort of nonprofits with flexible capital to pursue big ideas, test new solutions, and scale successful climate programs faster.

Philanthropy has a powerful role to play in financing the fight against climate change. Salesforce's Nature Accelerator provides nonprofits with funding, technology, and support to make big bets and explore the innovative new solutions our planet needs.

Naomi Morenzoni, Senior Vice President of Philanthropy, Salesforce

Through the Salesforce Nature Accelerator, nonprofits will receive a holistic set of resources, including philanthropic investments, product donations, and pro bono support from a dedicated Salesforce team. The pilot program will enable nonprofits to explore nature-based solutions while also building organizational capacity and learnings that the larger climate sector can benefit from.

"Moving the needle on climate change requires unprecedented social innovation and collaboration across multiple sectors," says Cheryl Timoney, VP of Tech for Social Impact, Salesforce. "The Nature Accelerator taps into technology, talent, and resources across Salesforce, and partners directly with organizations that are already leading the way. We are honored to play a role in their work, and look forward to discovering new ways to help them accelerate their progress."

Salesforce expands support for people and the planet through project in Zambia

Salesforce is also announcing it will support the Global EverGreening Alliance (GEA) in a five-year initiative to restore and grow 30 million trees across Zambia, as part of its commitment to 1t.org, the global movement to conserve, restore, and grow 1 trillion trees by the end of the decade.

Zambia faces land degradation and poor environmental governance, which negatively impacts the country's natural resources and the rural communities that depend on them.

The project addresses this problem by restoring ecosystems to mitigate the impacts of climate change, promoting wildlife conservation, and supporting the livelihoods of small-scale farmers in the country.

The project is part of GEA's Restore Africa Programme, which aims to scale regenerative farming practices across Africa, and significantly contributes to the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative to bring at least 100 million hectares of degraded land under restoration by 2030.

"We are delighted to partner with an organization that invests in nature," says Chris Armitage, CEO of the Global EverGreening Alliance.

Support from Salesforce is allowing us to take immediate action to help some of the most vulnerable small-scale farming communities in Southern Africa.

Chris Armitage, CEO, Global EverGreening Alliance.

"Working with our member organizations, such as COMACO, we're scaling up proven and effective approaches to improve the productivity, profitability, and resilience of food production systems to the impacts of climate change."

Salesforce has supported similar projects that span globally from Africa to Australia, Europe to Latin America, and more, with progress tracked here.

Salesforce policy priorities and partnerships guide climate advocacy

Advocacy and policy engagement are essential to accelerating climate justice and climate action at scale.

Salesforce also recently unveiled new Nature Policy Priorities to guide the company's advocacy and policy engagement on issues that help protect the world's natural ecosystems and build community resilience for a more just and equitable world.

To build on Salesforce's Nature Policy Priorities, the company joined Business for Nature and other leading companies in calling on world leaders to require organizations to assess and disclose nature-related dependencies by the end of the decade.

In addition to these priorities, the company has also joined the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) and Business for Nature, calling on world leaders to require organizations to assess and disclose nature-related dependencies by the end of the decade.

More information:

• Learn how Salesforce is investing in nature via 1t.org and nature-based solutions.
• Learn more about Salesforce's Ecosystem Restoration & Climate Justice Fund.
• Learn more about Salesforce's Climate Policy Platform.
• Read new Salesforce research that reveals 82% of employees want to help their company reach climate goals.

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Tags News Announcements: Corporate Stakeholder Capitalism Sustainability News & Stories