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Checking in on environmental disclosure

The Vivace Index, hot takes, enshittification, Adam Neumann returns, and cannabis in the UK

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Ryan Sheppard & Joel Leeman
February 13, 2024

Welcome back to Spark, a weekly newsletter from Vivace Content. We compile news signals from across the business, financial, and cultural landscape, and spark ideas to help you and your business jump on something new to talk about. Send tips and feedback to [email protected] or just hit reply.

Please forgive the delay in this week’s edition. We were too busy rewatching Usher on roller skates and finding the best Travis Kelce meme (it’s this one), with a dash of client work mixed in there.

While neither Vivace co-founder tuned in live for the Super Bowl, we did enjoy looking through the ads (great ranked round-up here). Did you have a favorite? Hit reply and let us know.

Quick programming note: Spark will be off next week in observance of U.S. President’s Day, barring some major content marketing emergency. We’ll be back in your inboxes on February 26. Best wishes to you on the week ahead!

In today’s issue: Environmental disclosure, the Vivace Index, hot takes, enshittification, and cannabis in the UK

Checking in on environmental disclosure

The good news? More companies than ever are choosing to be transparent about their impact on the environment.

The bad news? Only 2% of companies who are disclosing are going as far as is needed for us to get to Net Zero.

From CDP – the global environmental disclosure nonprofit — in its annual scorecard on companies and cities:

“It is encouraging to see so many companies across the globe starting or accelerating their journey towards environmental transparency in 2023. We saw a 24% increase in disclosures last year and that trajectory is welcomed. It is only by laying the groundwork of disclosure that companies can show they take seriously the vital part they play in safeguarding the future.

“The stark reality is that we are incredibly far behind where we need to be, and progress is much too slow. Earning a place on the A List is about more than the score. It’s an indication of high quality and comprehensive data that equips companies with a holistic view of their environmental impact, serves as a baseline for transition plans and – crucially – enables them to follow through on their stated ambitions. And yet it is still a minority of companies that are rising to the challenge. Without transparency and accountability – followed by immediate action – claims of sustainability are meaningless.

“A heartfelt congratulations to this year’s A List. As CDP continually raises the bar for what represents environmental leadership, the work of all companies should be celebrated, but is never complete. We must see corporate ambition ramp up on climate and nature-positive action. This has never been more crucial.”

Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP

Much more to be done here.

Vivace Index 👆

Our recurring feature providing a snapshot of the world by the numbers.

  • 128%: Cocoa price increase in the past year, an all-time high that may make your Valentine’s Day a bit more expensive than normal. (Chartr)

  • 54 seconds: Total time Taylor Swift was shown on the broadcast during Super Bowl LVIII (Bleacher Report)

  • $92 million: Norwegian sovereign fund’s loss due to an Excel error. (FT)

  • 19: CEOs who died on the job in 2023. (Fast Company)

  • 56%: Increase in BlackRock’s ESG-related AUM from 2022-2023, despite increasing attacks from the GOP. (Bloomberg)

  • $50: Nearly half of those surveyed plan to spend at least $50 on a gift for their Valentine. (Cheddar News)

  • 68%: Increase in BNPL spending on sports apparel in Kansas City. (Marqueta, via Josh Mendelowitz)

  • 80%: People who feel like they don’t have enough time in their day. (BBC)

Hot takes 🔥

Listen, is most of Twitter (X) an absolute cesspool these days? Yes. Has that had any effect on my (Joel’s) addiction to it? Unfortunately no. Here, we present a few business-related tweets (Xeets?) that made us smile.

Best of the rest

Enshittification is coming for absolutely everything. Can Adam Neumann make a comeback at WeWork? American personal taxes are complicated, but they don’t have to be. The forces pushing back against the green transition. Former Wall Street cop on how to avoid prison. World Bank President on the shift to focus on climate change and pandemics. The hottest new job in the corporate world. Is the UK ready for the green rush of medicinal cannabis?

Off the charts

📆 Upcoming events

  • Month of Feb: U.S. Black History Month

  • Feb 14: Valentine’s Day

  • Feb 18: BAFTA Awards

  • Feb 20: World Day of Social Justice

  • Feb 26: Mobile World Congress, UN Environment Assembly begins

  • Mar 7: World Book Day

  • Mar 8: International Women’s Day, SXSW

🗳️ Reminder: 76 democracies will hold elections in 2024. Check out this convenient 2024 Global Election Quick Reference guide compiled by Marshall Manson.

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Thanks for joining us this week. Anything we missed? Something we should include next week? Please send all ideas and feedback to [email protected]. 

Spark is a production of Vivace Content, where we help our clients navigate what to say and how to say it every single day. Get in touch if you’d like a no-hassle consultation about how we can help you. Have a great week ahead, and see you next Monday.