Hotter Days Ahead?

If you’ve been keeping up with the news recently, you may have seen disturbing headlines like this “Earth Faces Hottest Day Ever Recorded – Three Days in a Row” (1). Unfortunately, this is not merely clickbait, but based on actual data collected by the U.S. National Centers for Climate Change Prediction, and while there are multiple factors at work here, such as El Niño, the largest driving factor behind this anomaly is anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change (1). 

Climate change (also referred to as global warming) is defined as long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns, and since the industrial revolution in the 1800s, human activities have been the main driver of these shifts (2). This is largely due to the rapid rate with which we have been burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas, which has led to a rapid increase in the concentration of CO2 within Earth’s atmosphere. This extra CO2 then leads to an increase in heat trapping by the atmosphere, known as the greenhouse effect. In total, this increase in the greenhouse effect has already led to a global average temperature increase of 1.1°C already from the 1880 mean temperatures, and while this may not sound like a lot, it has massive implications on Earth’s biosphere and hydrosphere (3). Unfortunately, this is only the start, as “business as usual” projections suggest that if we do nothing to curb our emissions, temperatures will increase by 3.0°C by the end of the century (4). 

Some common myths that surround climate change include “the globe can’t be warming, it is way too cold today”, and “the Earth naturally gets warmer and colder all the time”. These myths can both be dispelled quite easily, as climate change does not mean that every day is warm, simply that average temperatures are increasing, and while it is true that Earth’s climate does change overtime naturally, the rate we are currently seeing it change is entirely unprecedented (5). In fact, over 97% of experts in the field of climate science believe that climate change is a global crisis, and that is caused by human behaviour (6). 

Unfortunately, climate change doesn’t just mean slightly warmer days. In fact, the impacts of climate change are vast and often unpredictable, and many of them have the potential to put billions of humans on this planet into catastrophic risk. These include more frequent and intense droughts, heatwaves, and storms, as well as sea level rise, and the spread of disease and invasive species (7). These can all have drastic impacts on individual’s health and wellbeing, but also on society and the economy. In fact, it is estimated that if left unchecked climate change could cost the global economy over $69 trillion USD and displace over 400 million people by the year 2100 (8,9). 

Overall, while it is true that there are still many uncertainties in the fields of climate science and climate prediction, what is certain is that Earth’s climate is changing, that humans are causing it, and that if it is left unchecked, climate change will wreak havoc on our people and economy. As such, governments, corporations, and individuals alike must come together to work on a united front to tackle the greatest issue we will face this century.

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Jeff Garcia-Seminario

AssociateSenior Associate, Social Impact
Jeff brings global experience in leading corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community engagement projects in the extractive sector.   Jeff excels in stakeholder mapping, community engagement, and conflict resolution.   Applying his private and public sector experiences, Jeff can bridge cultural and historical divides between extractive industries and their communities.  His areas of focus include food security, sustainable procurement, and good governance. Most recently, Jeff contributed to the development of an ESG strategy for a multi-national company.  
Jeff’s native language is Spanish. He enjoys morning runs in the neighboring parks. 

Kaitlyn D'Lima

Associate

Kaitlyn D’Lima holds both a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Master of Science and Sustainability Management degree from the University of Toronto.   She is also trained in greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting.

She brings extensive experience in sustainability and business transformational projects. She is known for her ability to execute projects of any size with both urgency and accuracy.   Kaitlyn has a natural talent for improving stakeholder engagement. She’s a real trailblazer when it comes to benchmarking and research.

Kaitlyn is a runner who participates in outdoor adventure races.

Arun Balu Pazhayannur

Advisor

Arun B Pazhayannur holds a degree in mechanical engineering and is a Chartered Accountant. He also has an MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. Along with his academic achievements, he has a thorough knowledge of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, which he incorporates into his consulting work. 

Arun is well-known for his leadership abilities as well as his strong skills in data analysis, financial modeling, and operations management. He has been recognized for his ability to identify practical solutions and deliver value to clients ranging from banks to payment companies to software providers. Arun is also a past President of Toastmasters Club. 

In his free time, Arun enjoys scuba diving.In his spare time, Arun likes to scuba dive. 

Gregory Donovan

Senior Advisor

Gregory  Donovan is a Chartered Accountant. He is a Fundamentals of Sustainable Accounting (FSA) Credential Holder.  He obtained an Honours in Business Adminstrations (HBA) from the Ivey Business School (Western University) and a Master or Laws (LLM) from the London School of Economics. Gregory is the CEO of Avondale Private Capital, a sustainable finance firm focused on energy transition finance and carbon markets.  He has presented on these topics at conferences in Canada, the US and UK.  

Greg participates in the occasional triathlon and loves to go skiing and sailing with his two young children.

Margaux Loptson

Associate & US Operations Lead

Margaux Loptson holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and a Bachelor of Arts (Criminology) from Pennsylvania State University. In addition, she holds several research certifications, including Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans

She has been an essential player in AI-powered teaching and learning projects as a User Experience (UX) lead.  Margaux is known for applying her design thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills to make a positive impact. She is a native French speaker

Margaux is a fitness enthusiast who can be found hiking around Central Park in NYC.

Ritika Jain

Associate / Responsible Supply Chain Lead

Ritika Jain holds a Masters in Environmental Sciences, Policy and Management from Lund University (Sweden)  and a Bachelor of Technology from Indraprastha University (India). As a lifelong learner, she is pursuing a Graduate Diploma in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability at the University of Toronto.

Ritika is a recycling and responsible supply chain specialist.  Through her work, she collaborates with organizations to implement circular economy focused policies to ensure compliance with regulations.  

Her proficiency in data analytics and with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) enable her to manage complex sustainability data. Ritika also volunteers with the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, engaging with youth to drive positive change.  

Ritika is a native Hindi speaker.  She is a certified hiking leader who enjoys travelling.

Jonathan Spence

Associate & Western Canada Operations Lead

Jonathan Spence holds an Honours Bachelor of Integrated Sciences (Earth and Environmental Sciences) from McMaster University and has his certification in Geographic Information Sciences from the ESRI Canada Center of Excellence at McMaster University. Jonathan worked as a research analyst in the environment and sustainability group for a TSX listed company.  

He is pursuing his Ph.D. in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at the University of Alberta, where he is researching the development of carbon capture techniques and their applications to the mining industry.  Jonathan is focused on helping companies to minimize their carbon footprint while supporting their economic growth.   

Jonathan is an avid water polo player and coach. He plays for the local National Championship League team. 

Gurnoor Gandhi

VP Business Development & Strategic Partnerships

Gurnoor Gandhi holds an MBA from Ivey Business School (Western University) and a postgraduate diploma in Maritime Energy Management (Sweden). Gurnoor brings experience with sustainability frameworks including TCFD, GRI, and CDP and is pursuing FSA credential (SASB). 

Gurnoor has global leadership experience in the shipping industry managing assets worth millions of dollars on the high seas and has led diverse teams worked in Monaco, Singapore, and India. Most recently, he led organizational development and client partnerships at CARD, a non-profit focused on rural development and renewable energy.

Gurnoor brings a blend of technical and leadership skills. He applied his knowledge of greenhouse gas accounting and carbon capture to support clients with niche energy transition projects. He is known for putting his problem-solving, stakeholder management, and project management skills to work to help firms expedite their ESG Journey. 

Gurnoor is a certified BMW adventure motorcyclist who finds off-road rides rejuvenating for body and spirit.  He enjoys hiking with his family.

Lisa-Annabel Ellis

Founder & CEO

Lisa Annabel Ellis holds an Honours Bachelor of Science (Environmental Science) from the University of Toronto and an MBA from the Ivey Business School (Western University). She is a certified Project Manager Professional (PMP) with a Six Sigma Green Belt. Lisa is a Fundamentals of Sustainable Accounting (FSA) Level II Candidate. Applying her deep expertise in business and operational strategies, she has led award-winning transformational initiatives.

Drawing on her well-rounded science and finance expertise, she launched YellowYellow to help clients advance their sustainability practices. As an advocate of transparency and good governance, she partners with clients to understand their risks and opportunities to generate superior long-term value. Stakeholders across the value chain recognize the impact of this effort. She has been called upon to be a keynote speaker and lecturer.

Lisa is an advanced scuba diver who enjoys most water-related sports.