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Cision Canada
2 days ago
- Business
- Cision Canada
Starlight Investments Releases 2024 Sustainability Report, Highlighting Momentum Across Key Priorities
TORONTO, June 18, 2025 /CNW/ - Starlight Investments ("Starlight") today released its 2024 Sustainability Report, detailing the company's sustainability commitments, innovative initiatives, achievements and strong progress across key impact areas. Over the past year, Starlight has continued to implement its robust multi-year Sustainability Action Plan that is founded on continuous improvement and the organization's overarching purpose – to invest with impact. "Sustainability is a central pillar of our business strategy that shapes both our long-term vision and day-to-day operations," said Glen Hirsh, Chief Operating Officer, Starlight Investments. "We are focused on actions that aim to create a lasting positive impact in the communities we serve. By prioritizing ambitious targets, transparency and engagement, we are laying the groundwork for a more sustainable and inclusive future." 2024 Sustainability Report Highlights $2.3 billion invested over five years to maintain, upgrade and expand Starlight's properties across Canada. $48.3 million invested in energy and water retrofits in 2024 alone, accelerating progress towards net zero emissions by 2050. A reduction of 21% in carbon emissions intensity and 16% in energy intensity since 2019. 1,659 new rental suites built since 2019, primarily through infill development, an approach that reduces disruption to natural ecosystems by promoting sustainable growth in existing neighbourhoods. Over $12 million invested in resident-focused amenities, from rooftop patios to community gardens, reflecting the evolving needs of families, seniors and young professionals. 1,120 rental suites reserved for vulnerable and at-risk individuals through partnerships with 40 social housing organizations. $542,000 donated to local charities, and more than 1,000 volunteer hours contributed during Starlight's annual Impact Day. Named among OnConferences' Top 50 Human Resources Team Award winners for Starlight's People & Culture team. Launched "Ivan's Garden of Hope," a children's book celebrating the diversity and experiences of Starlight's residents and embracing the power of community, distributed to thousands of families across Canada. "In 2024, we refined our Sustainability Action Plan to set more focused objectives and initiatives. Sustainability is embedded across our operations, from investment analysis to property management, and is directly linked to performance metrics," said Marlee Kohn, Vice President, ESG, Starlight Investments."Looking ahead, we remain committed to driving our sustainability program forward and moving the dial on the environmental and social priorities that matter most to our stakeholders." Commitment to Decarbonization Starlight remains steadfast in its commitment to the environment and has developed a decarbonization pathway to achieve net zero emissions intensity by 2050, with an interim target to reduce emissions by 50% by 2035 over its 2019 baseline year. To date, the company has achieved a reduction of 21% in carbon emissions intensity and 16% in energy intensity across its portfolio. Over the past year, Starlight continued to lay a strong foundation to advance this work through in-depth risk assessments, data-driven decision-making and managing properties with foresight, responsibility and care. Creating Much-Needed Housing and Vibrant Local Communities As Canada's leading rental housing provider and developer, Starlight is committed to helping address the country's housing shortage. The company is actively working to increase the supply of purpose-built rental housing, while also making significant investments in the preservation and revitalization of the country's existing and aging rental stock. Starlight has invested over $2.3 billion over the past five years in maintaining, upgrading and expanding its existing properties to ensure they remain high-quality communities for current and future residents. To date, 63% of building improvement investments are made within the first three years of ownership, and 85% over the first five years. Additionally, through community design and regular resident engagement initiatives, the company seeks to provide healthy spaces that enhance well-being and community cohesion. Starlight's approach to new purpose-built rental developments is resident-focused, thoughtfully creating safe and vibrant communities for residents to live, work and play over the long-term. Every development is designed to integrate with its neighbourhood, meeting unique community needs and enhancing resident quality of life. Starlight's innovative infill development strategy is helping address Canada's housing crisis by creating new rental supply where it is needed most, while minimizing environmental impact. The company's partnerships with social housing organizations have also delivered 1,120 affordable suites to at-risk populations, reinforcing a commitment to inclusive housing solutions. People-First Culture Drives Impact As part of its sustainability program, Starlight is also investing in its greatest asset: its people. With an emphasis on well-being, the organization expanded its wellness initiatives and mental health coverage for employees. The company continues to advance diversity and inclusion through its dedicated council, companywide training, cultural celebration days and a well-defined code of conduct. These initiatives reflect Starlight's dedication to fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace where all individuals feel valued and respected – and a culture where exceptional talent is engaged and empowered to grow. Explore Starlight's full 2024 Sustainability Report here. To learn more about Starlight's sustainability initiatives, please visit the website. About Starlight Investments Starlight Investments is a leading global real estate investment and asset management firm headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A privately held owner, developer and asset manager of over 70,000 multi-residential suites and over 7 million square feet of commercial property space with CAD $30B AUM, Starlight offers a range of investment vehicles across various real estate strategies. Starlight's guiding mission is to balance its tenure with visionary curiosity to create positive impact for investors and communities alike. At Starlight, we invest with impact.
Leader Live
3 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Mark Isherwood MS for North Wales questions ministers
MS for North Wales Questioning the First Minister, I referred to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Bevan Foundation 'Poverty in Wales 2025' report, which found little progress in reducing poverty in Wales over the last 20 years and warned that if no action is taken, child poverty in Wales could reach 34 per cent by 2029-30, again making it the highest rate of all UK nations. Questioning the Health and Social Care Secretary, I spoke of the postcode lottery for dementia services across North Wales identified by people living with dementia and their carers during my recent visit to the Wrexham Dementia Hub, and asked how the Welsh Government's new Dementia Action Plan will meet their needs. Speaking in the Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, 'Anything's Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap', I spoke of the impact of the closure of the Work and Health Programme, referring to the sector's evidenced concern that the new Programme 'will dilute and therefore reduce support for the many Disabled and Autistic People who want to work'. Senedd engagements included Carers Week 2025, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Cross-Party Group for Co-operatives and Mutuals 'Building a Resilient Food System for Wales', NFU Cymru, Save the Children Cymru's youth-led research project 'Power of Voice'; Cancer: Project Zero and a meeting of the Chairs' Forum of Senedd Committee Chairs. As Chair of the Public Accounts & Public Administration Committee (PAPAC), I met with the Committee's Clerking Team ahead of PAPAC's next meeting on June 18th.. I also met the Welsh Parliament's Legislation Team to discuss the actions required before the formal introduction of my British Sign Language (Wales) Bill and the Explanatory Notes to accompany this (I intend to introduce the Bill on 14th July), and tabled a 'Statement of Opinion' to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15th). Other engagements included a visit to Holywell Community Hospital for a meeting with the Head of Adult Audiology and the Clinical Director of Audiology at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and a visit to their new Audiology Van; and meeting Nuclear Restoration Services, to discuss nuclear decommissioning in Wales and the potential benefits for North Wales from their management of the Wylfa and Trawsfynydd sites. It is concerning that the Chancellor's Spending Review only announced £445 million over 10 years for rail infrastructure in Wales, around a third of the £1.4billion invested by the previous UK Conservative Government over the last 10 years. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan
KANANASKIS, AB, June 17, 2025 /CNW/ - We, the Leaders of the G7, recognize that critical minerals are the building blocks of digital and energy secure economies of the future. We remain committed to transparency, diversification, security, sustainable mining practices, trustworthiness and reliability as essential principles for resilient critical minerals supply chains, and acknowledge the importance of traceability, trade, and decent work in contributing to our economic prosperity and that of our partners. We have shared national and economic security interests, which depend on access to resilient critical minerals supply chains governed by market principles. We recognize that non-market policies and practices in the critical minerals sector threaten our ability to acquire many critical minerals, including the rare earth elements needed for magnets, that are vital for industrial production. Recognizing this threat to our economies, as well as various other risks to the resilience of our critical minerals supply chains, we will work together and with partners beyond the G7 to swiftly protect our economic and national security. This will include anticipating critical minerals shortages, coordinating responses to deliberate market disruption, and diversifying and onshoring, where possible, mining, processing, manufacturing, and recycling. We are launching a G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, building on the Five-Point Plan for Critical Minerals Security established during Japan's G7 Presidency in 2023 and advanced by Italy in 2024. The Action Plan will focus on diversifying the responsible production and supply of critical minerals, encouraging investments in critical mineral projects and local value creation, and promoting innovation. We are committed to action in the following areas: Building standards-based markets We recognize that critical minerals markets should reflect the real costs of responsible extraction, processing, and trade of critical minerals, while ensuring labour standards, local consultation, anti-bribery and corruption measures and addressing negative externalities, including pollution and land degradation. We will develop a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals, in collaboration with industry, international organizations, resource producing nations, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, unions, and civil society. The roadmap will establish a set of criteria that constitute a minimum threshold for standards-based markets, strengthening traceability as a necessary measure. As part of these efforts, we will evaluate potential market impacts. We task relevant ministers to produce this roadmap, setting out milestones to be met in fulfilling this commitment, before the end of the year. Mobilizing capital and investing in partnerships We recognize the need to work together to increase investment in responsible critical minerals projects within the G7 and around the world. Immediate and scaled investment is required to secure future supply chains and ensure promising mining and processing projects overcome barriers such as delays in permitting and approvals processes, market manipulation, and price volatility. Critical minerals are an opportunity to build mutually beneficial partnerships and drive economic development, innovation and shared prosperity. We will continue to work with emerging market and developing country partners to develop quality infrastructure, such as economic corridors. We will address investment barriers and support policy and regulatory reforms that improve the investment climate of our partners and empower entrepreneurs in low- and middle-income countries, including through the G20 Compact with Africa. Our approach will support local economic growth, build community trust, and reduce investment risks, creating the necessary conditions to attract responsible private capital. We will continue to support the development of responsible critical minerals projects through direct partnerships with each other and by promoting private sector investment. We encourage our export credit agencies and development finance institutions (DFIs) to identify more opportunities for collaboration. We also welcome the work of the G7 DFIs to enhance coordination on critical minerals projects as an important step. To build on this momentum, we encourage multilateral development banks, as well as private sector lenders, to make further capital available for investment in standards-based critical minerals projects, including through innovative financing. We also encourage them to leverage existing financing mechanisms to de-risk projects, maximize and mobilize private capital, and increase the resilience and security of global critical minerals supply chains. We are committed to deepening our cooperation with mineral-rich emerging market and developing country partners. We will help build their capacity; foster local value creation; create opportunities for all; promote responsible mining practices; combat gender-based violence in the mining industry; support the improvement of artisanal mining; and diversify global critical minerals value chains. In this spirit, to promote responsible mining-related activities in emerging mining nations, we welcome the G7 Finance Ministers commitment to strengthen the World Bank-led Resilient and Inclusive Supply Chain Enhancement (RISE) Partnership. Interested G7 members will also support initiatives such as the Minerals Security Partnership and its MSP Forum, and the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development. Recalling our commitment to promote debt sustainability and transparency, we acknowledge the challenges faced by developing countries with mounting debt levels, including to finance infrastructure. We will promote debt sustainability through transparent and fair development finance, and we will support countries facing debt challenges including near-term liquidity challenges. We call on all international providers of finance to do the same. This includes working within the G20 to improve the implementation of the Common Framework. Promoting innovation We have rich public and private innovation ecosystems with untapped potential to address strategic technology and processing gaps essential to bringing critical minerals to market. We will intensify our collaboration to fill targeted innovation gaps in critical minerals research and development, with a focus on processing, licensing, recycling, substitution and redesign, and circular economy. We will work with partner organizations to showcase new technologies and production processes. We look forward to the upcoming Conference on Critical Materials and Minerals, to be chaired by the United States in Chicago, in September 2025, in order to advance this work. We welcome the endorsement of the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan by the Leaders of Australia, India, and the Republic of Korea. SOURCE Prime Minister's Office View original content:
Time of India
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Haryana rolls out phased strategy to curb vehicular and construction emissions in NCR
Haryana govt has unveiled a roadmap that suggests phasing out of polluting vehicles and management of construction dust as ways to improve air quality across the National Capital Region ( NCR ). In a meeting chaired by Haryana chief secretary Anurag Rastogi on Monday, the state govt laid out timelines and formulated strategies to implement the roadmap. As part of the roadmap, from Nov 1, fuel stations in Gurgaon, Faridabad, and Sonipat will no longer supply fuel to end-of-life (EoL) vehicles. This restriction will extend to the remaining NCR districts from Apr 1, 2026. To enforce this, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at all fuel stations by Oct 31, 2025, in the first-phase districts, and by Mar 31, 2026, in the rest of NCR. These systems, in addition to traffic surveillance cameras and command and control centres, will be instrumental in identifying EoL vehicles for challaning, impounding, and scrapping. In a major shift towards green mobility, the state has mandated that only CNG or electric 3-wheeler auto-rickshaws will be inducted into existing fleets going forward. From Nov 1, only BNS-VI compliant light, medium, and heavy goods vehicles - excluding essential services and Delhi -registered vehicles - will be allowed entry into Delhi. All non-conforming goods vehicles, including those carrying essential commodities, will be barred from entering the city after Oct 31, 2026. It was informed that 382 BNS-VI buses will be added by the end of Oct this year for better connectivity between Haryana and Delhi. From Jan 1, 2026, no new diesel or petrol 2-wheelers, 4-wheeler LCVs, or N1-category LGVs will be allowed into the fleet. Also, all buses entering Delhi, including tourist buses and special permit vehicles, must operate in EV/CNG/BNS-VI mode from Nov 1, 2026. Haryana is also intensifying efforts to manage construction and demolition (C&D) waste and reduce road dust emissions - two major contributors to urban pollution. Facilities to process 300 metric tonnes per day of C&D waste are operational in both Gurgaon and Faridabad. One more C&D facility is to be established in Gurgaon to cater to existing excess C&D waste. Additionally, the Draft Action Plan on Road Dust Mitigation has been submitted to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Importantly, all road-owning agencies have been directed to develop at least one model stretch in Gurgaon and Faridabad for 2025-26, which will be replicated in other districts following CAQM's Standard Framework as a priority.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
SA nears Financial Action Task Force greylist exit, on-site visit next step
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has confirmed that South Africa has substantially completed all 22 recommended action items outlined in the Action Plan adopted when the country was placed on the organisation's greylist in February 2023. South Africa was greylisted due to deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) regime. During its plenary session held in Strasbourg, France, the FATF made an initial determination that South Africa had substantially completed its Action Plan and warrants an on-site assessment. This visit will verify that the implementation of AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place. According to the National Treasury, the completion of the Action Plan paves the way for the final step before FATF can delist South Africa — an on-site visit by the FATF Africa Joint Group (JG). A statement by FATF on Jurisdictions under Increased Monitoring (June 13, 2025) noted that South Africa has undertaken key reforms. These include a sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering, and the full range of terror financing activities in line with its risk profile, as well as updating its terror financing risk assessment to inform the implementation of a comprehensive national counter-financing of terrorism strategy. The National Treasury emphasised that these improvements to South Africa's AML/CFT regime are particularly important given the legacy of state capture, one element of which was the deliberate weakening of law enforcement and prosecuting institutions. 'Improvements in these domains are critical not just for getting off the greylist, but for strengthening the fight against crime and corruption, and for contributing to the integrity of the South African financial system. Exiting the FATF greylist is a significant step forward as South Africa continues to improve and strengthen its supervisory and criminal justice systems,' National Treasury said on Friday. The on-site visit is scheduled before the next FATF plenary. If the outcome is positive, South Africa will be removed from the greylist at the October plenary. Preparations for the visit are already underway. During the visit, the JG will confirm the country's ongoing commitment to combating money laundering, terror financing and other financial crimes. 'National Treasury commends the efforts and commitment of the law enforcement entities, especially the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation of the South African Police Service, the State Security Agency, and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), for the sustained increase in investigations and prosecutions of serious and complex money laundering and terror financing activities. 'This made it possible for South Africa to secure the upgrades of the last two remaining action items, often considered to be the most difficult, in the current reporting cycle,' National Treasury said. South Africa also commended Mali and Tanzania, who were delisted from greylisting by the FATF plenary. 'We also congratulate Nigeria, Mozambique and Burkina Faso, who like South Africa, were deemed to have substantially completed their action plans, and for who on-site assessments were also approved. 'National Treasury pays tribute to the late Advocate Rodney de Kock of the NPA, who played a leading role in preparing the groundwork for South Africa to address the action items, but sadly passed away in January.' The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has welcomed FATF's confirmation that South Africa has completed all 22 action items. 'This is a significant step forward – but not the time for complacency,' the SARB said yesterday. – At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
