We're No. 30!

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Dec 01, 2022 View in browser   By Debra Kahn Presented by JBS USA THE BIG PICTURE Health care, crime and income inequality are dragging the U.S. down. | SolAbility Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index SURVEY SAYS — Scandinavian countries are the closest to achieving sustainable economies, according to a new survey of performance on a wide range of sustainability metrics. The U.S. is a distant 30th place — right above China — in the rankings by SolAbility, a Seoul- and Zurich-based consulting firm. The company's Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index weighs physical resources, efficient use of resources, intellectual capital, social cohesion and governance. SolAbility defines sustainable competitiveness as "the ability to generate and sustain inclusive wealth without diminishing the future capability of sustaining or increasing current wealth levels." We're not doing great, overall. The worldwide average score is 43.1 out of 100, down from 45 last year. "[W]e are far away from an inclusive and circular society that lives in equilibrium with the natural environment," the report says. Sweden tops the list — along with Finland, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland — due to its high level of women's workforce participation, public spending on education and relative income equality. The index dings the U.S. for resource use, particularly water consumption. The U.S. also ranks poorly on social capital — just below Nicaragua and above Ghana — due to its "high crime rates, low availability of health services and rising inequality."   A message from JBS USA: What food producers bring to the table should sustain families—and our planet—for generations. That's why, at JBS, we are investing heavily in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040. By prioritizing sustainable food production today, we're able to help ensure a thriving food system for all. Learn More   China also does badly on natural resources and using them efficiently — poorly enough to rank just behind the U.S. despite its superior scores on every other metric, particularly intellectual and social capital. China is lagging on resource use but leading the pack on intellectual capital. | SolAbility Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index "China is on a path to improve its sustainable competitiveness," the report says, noting that country's upward trajectory from past reports. The U.S. is more of a "mixed picture," it says, thanks to declining performance on governance, social capital and natural resources.   POLITICO APP USERS: UPGRADE YOUR APP BY DECEMBER 19! We recently upgraded the POLITICO app with a fresh look and improved features for easier access to POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Starting December 19, users will no longer have access to the previous version of the app. Update your app today to stay on top of essential political news, insights, and analysis from the best journalists in the business. UPDATE iOS APP – UPDATE ANDROID APP .     SolAbility makes the case that its index is a better measure than GDP for comparing countries' economic competitiveness. The firm points out that several low-GDP countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Bolivia, Belize) ranked higher than wealthy, resource-dependent countries like Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and argues that credit ratings should include sustainability risks alongside other factors. "Under a sustainability-adjusted credit rating, countries with high reliance on exploitation of natural resources would be rated lower, while [a] poor country with a healthy fundament (biodiversity, education, governance) would receive higher ratings," it says.   A message from JBS USA:   YOU TELL US GAME ON — Welcome to the Long Game, where we tell you about the latest on efforts to shape our future. We deliver data-driven storytelling, compelling interviews with industry and political leaders, and news Tuesday through Friday to keep you in the loop on sustainability. Team Sustainability is editor Greg Mott , deputy editor Debra Kahn and reporters Jordan Wolman and Allison Prang . Reach us all at gmott@politico.com , dkahn@politico.com , jwolman@politico.com and aprang@politico.com . Want more? Don't we all. Sign up for the Long Game . Four days a week and still free!   Mark your calendar! The fourth annual edition of the Future Sustainability Week will take place from November 29 to December 1. Take part in discussions about the most current and pressing sustainability policies together with our expert speakers. Join this three-day-long summit, either in Brussels or online, by  registering today !     WHAT WE'RE CLICKING — Wall Street is still bullish on ESG, according to Bloomberg , despite continuing pushback including from GOP state officials who are divesting in protest of what they see as a "woke agenda." Florida is the latest to make a big move, Reuters reports . — The European Union has a plan for cutting packaging waste by nearly 20 percent by the end of the decade. Reuters has the story . — Tesla is set to unveil its long-delayed 18-wheeler amid trucking industry skepticism over whether electric vehicles can handle heavy-duty, long-haul work.   A message from JBS USA: As a food company committed to feeding larger needs, at JBS we believe in sustainable food production. There's nothing more important than ensuring that our planet can continue to feed us all long into the future. Because of that, we're leading the industry in change, targeting 2040 to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and investing over $1B to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, our emissions. In doing so, we're setting a new standard for food production—one that allows sustainable practices, quality products, and affordable prices to go hand in hand. It's our way of bringing more to the table. Learn More     Follow us on Twitter Debra Kahn @debra_kahn Greg Mott @gwmott Jordan Wolman @jordanwolman Allison Prang @AllisonPrang   Follow us

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