Economist Impact

In this week's newsletter, understand how the builders of infrastructure powering AI are working with local communities and officials to address concerns. How can developers minimise local impact while furthering AI expansion?

As AI ambitions surge, the politics of data-centre construction is becoming local. Community concerns over water use, grid stress and diesel fumes are reshaping how—and where—AI infrastructure is built. https://lnkd.in/gXCVPJZn Supported by Schneider Electric

Despite rising political headwinds, corporate sustainability leaders in the US remain focused on long-term resilience. Most anticipate increased investor scrutiny and are maintaining or expanding budgets for sustainability-linked initiatives. Explore the full findings from the CSO Leaders Club survey here: https://lnkd.in/gdv4YYBQ

“The climate crisis is a health crisis. Those on the front line of care are also on the front line of its impacts—from rising cases of asthma to the health toll of flooding and overheating,” says Heidi Barnard, Head of Sustainability at NHS Supply Chain. Watch the full interview at The Health Dividend: https://lnkd.in/g8vPYsht

Food waste accounts for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Adam CJ Park, Former UK CEO of HelloFresh, emphasises the role of innovation and collaboration in tackling this urgent challenge across the food system. https://lnkd.in/gtvRKh8w Since filming, Adam has moved into a new role as Managing Director for Factor US, part of HelloFresh.

Take a look at our adaptation framework, which shows how to minimise the impact of environmental change on cardiovascular-renal-metabolic health, fostering equitable and inclusive care. https://lnkd.in/gMMQhAwY Supported by Bayer

In this week's newsletter: supply chains are getting smarter. New research with GEP reveals how firms across America and Europe are using AI to forecast demand, track emissions and automate decisions. The question for leaders now: how far should they trust it?

Reuse is no longer theoretical. From Jakarta to Aarhus, reuse systems are scaling—cutting emissions, shortening supply chains and shielding businesses from rising costs. Amy Larkin, co-founder and director of PR3 | the Global Alliance to Advance Reuse, explains why this shift is both urgent and investable. Read more at The Sustainability Project: https://lnkd.in/gV8UbnBh

Economist Impact’s “Resilience from the ground up” programme, supported by Zurich Insurance, has been shortlisted in the Social Good category at the World Media Group Awards. It explores how cities can face climate change—not just as sources of risk, but as engines of resilience. Drawing on a survey of 5,000 residents across ten cities worldwide, we examined what people think their cities should do—and what is being missed when their views are ignored. Find out more: https://lnkd.in/gAbzEMHY

Sustainability is no longer just about the environment—it’s about business survival. Companies that want to stay profitable and resilient for the next 50 or 100 years must embed sustainability at their core. Joanna Gilroy, Group Director of Sustainability at Balfour Beatty plc, shares why this shift matters. Find out more on The Sustainability Project. https://lnkd.in/gNqgpJbn