News

Knowledge is Power When Preventing the Spread of Zika

Almost every day seems to bring more bad news regarding the Zika Virus: babies developing malformed brains, adults suffering the progressive paralysis of Guillain-Barré syndrome and the devastating disease is spreading from the tropics to the United States.

There have already been more than 1,400 travel-related Zika cases in the United States while nearly 3,800 people have acquired the virus locally. A further 40,000 people are estimated to be carrying the virus without their own knowledge.

Health officials in Florida have been investigating several new cases of Zika in the region. The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention have now confirmed that these were the first infections originating from mosquitoes in the United States.…

The Rising Star in Emerging Markets

“Brazil is offering some of the most interesting investment opportunities across asset classes in emerging markets.”

– UBS Investment Management, 2016 –

While the first athletes arrive in Rio for the Olympic Games 2016, there is a great sense of excitement and hope for Brazil as the country demonstrates the underlying strength of their economy on the verge of a profound recovery.

Over the past several years the emerging markets that are actively pursuing a reform agenda in governance towards the center-right have seen a huge level of outperformance even in these difficult times for global financial markets. Mexico was one of the first in 2012 with the election of Enrique Pena Nieto, followed by India and Indonesia in 2014 with Modi and Jokowi, and most recently in Argentina with the election of Mauricio Macri in October 2015.…

The Power of Planting Trees

We are now living in a world where the increasing amount of scientific evidence proving the existence of climate change is being overshadowed by the drastic effects that can be seen even in our immediate environment. From catastrophic droughts in the United States to flooding and snowfall in South Africa, extreme weather patterns are becoming more frequent and widespread. The United Nations, the World Economic Forum and many government institutions and multinational corporations are all implementing huge efforts to reduce their green house gas emissions, their carbon footprint and their dependency on fossil fuels. There is another, significant tool to help us reduce the anthropogenic emissions derived from fossil fuel energy production to the lowest possible levels while we continue to develop the technology needed for a cleaner and sustainable alternative: our forests.…

Beauty Inspired by Nature

Beauty is a natural reflection of health and wellbeing; therefore any product that promises beauty must bring overall health to our body. Nature has always excelled in providing the nutrition, vitamins, minerals and solutions the body needs for comprehensive sustenance. Many plants and flowers, seeds and trees have provided medicines to treat, cure and prevent an assortment of diseases, while restoring the natural beauty of the human body.

World renowned cosmetic and personal health care brands such as L’Oréal, Garnier, A. Vogel, Dr. Hauschka, Colgate and Avon have realized the immense advantages of utilizing natural products, particularity neem, and are capitalizing on the benefits of innovation inspired in nature.…

Big Food’s Multibillion Dollar Problem

Over the past few months the world’s largest agricultural and seed technology firms such as Monsanto, Dow and Syngenta have found themselves in the middle of a profound upheaval that not only raises questions regarding the future of the food system but also increases the value of organics in global food production.

Owning 75% of the agrochemicals market and 63% of the commercial seed market, the six largest agricultural organizations in the world have undergone a spate of mergers in an attempt to further consolidate power and influence in the sector. One example is the merger between Dow and Dupont last year.…

Working Together to Drive Prosperity and Save the World

Having recently returned from the UN Global Compact Summit in Mexico, we ask ourselves the important question – does sustainability make better and more adaptive businesses?

We have reached a pivotal period in history where humanity has turned more decisively toward the development of thriving and sustainable societies. Through increased connectivity we have a greater understanding of our more damaging practices and their impact on the world around us. Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, global leaders and corporations have created a vision and destination for building a thriving world with no poverty, zero hunger, improved health and wellbeing, equity and equality, as well as action on climate change.…

Unequivocal Consensus in the Private Sector

Over 100 representatives from international businesses, non profit organizations, the Inter-American Development Bank and several divisions of the United Nations met at a Global Compact Conference last week to determine the role of the private sector in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

There was an unequivocal consensus in the private sector’s role in solving the world’s most significant challenges. Having more resources than the social sector and more flexibility than the government, corporations have the power to drive change and influence the operating standards of other companies by example.

The private, public and social sectors of the world have unique roles and responsibilities essential to catalyzing change and driving the type of development that “leaves no one behind”.…

Managing A Stronger Real

Brazil’s Central Bank wasted no time in taking proactive measures this week, stepping into the foreign exchange markets in an effort to slow the US$’s recent slide against the Real and further bolster the country’s lucrative export sector. By carefully managing the rise of the Brazilian Real (through the auctioning of reverse currency swaps worth an estimated $500 million), the newly appointed economic team in Brazil have taken decisive action to preserve the country’s status as one of the world’s most attractive sources of commodities in this time of uncertainty for global financial markets.

The Brazilian Real has strengthened more than 20% against the US$ this year, reaching 3.19 to the dollar last Thursday June 30th – its strongest level in 11 months and the largest monthly gain for the currency in over 13 years.…

Meeting Locally to Create Change Globally

The United Nations Global Compact Local Network is hosting their annual meeting in Mexico later this week at the Instituto Panamericano de Alta Dirección de Empresas (IPADE Business School), bringing together sustainable enterprises committed to ending extreme poverty, fighting inequality and protecting our environment. We are very excited to have been invited to participate in the working sessions to create the First National Agreement from the perspective of the Private Sector towards the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

More than 12,000 organizations and associations in 170 countries have signed the United Nations Global Compact. With a mission to create awareness, inspiring institutions worldwide to think globally while acting locally, this compact is driving innovation in every sector of business and across all aspects of sustainability.…