Jonathan Kent, Business Editor

• Broad commitment: environmental organisations hope others follow PwC Bermuda’s example (Graphic by PwC Bermuda)

• Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda leader

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PwC Bermuda is to shrink its environmental impact through a combination of efficient practices and a commitment to offset 100 per cent of its air travel emissions and energy consumption.

A carbon offset is a way to compensate for emissions by funding an equivalent carbon dioxide saving elsewhere.

Environmental organisations and the Government voiced support for PwCs actions and expressed hopes that other companies would follow suit.

Arthur Wightman, PwC Bermuda leader, said: Climate change and resource scarcity are major forces shaping our future. Without real and lasting global action, average temperatures are predicted by scientists to increase by more than two degrees Celsius, a threshold at which they believe potentially irreversible environmental changes will occur.

Our people rightly demand that we take a leadership position in this area.

Avoiding or reducing emissions associated with our energy use is the starting point of our strategy. Over the course of the last few years we have taken many actions to reduce our absolute carbon impact.

In late 2017, PwC moved into new offices on the fourth floor of Washington House, on Church Street, an upgrade that helped the firm reduce its carbon footprint by half.

We continue to work hard to drive this down further through elimination of single-use plastic at our office and events, digitising our processes and recycling, Mr Wightman said.

While our priority is reducing our absolute carbon impact, offsetting is an important part of our strategy to mitigate the impact of our unavoidable emissions. The greatest impacts from operating our business come from the energy we use to power our offices and our air travel.

This is why we have decided to take the extra steps of offsetting air travel emissions and to sourcing renewables for our electricity consumption wherever possible and offsetting residual energy use.

We believe business has a key role to play in solving societal challenges alongside other stakeholders. These commitments are, for us, a recognition of the need to accelerate the pace of change. Individual business commitments, collectively, will make a critical difference to that.

Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs, praised PwCs environmental efforts.

These initiatives are all very meaningful, tackling a broad range of environmental issues from the reduction in energy and paper usage to the elimination of single-use plastics in the workplace, Mr Roban said.

These business practices provide excellent examples of what can be done to reduce human impacts on the natural world, while at the same time improving the work environment for employees and business efficiencies.

The Government was committed to eliminating single-use plastics by 2022 and had also pledged to promote energy conservation and use more renewable energy, he added.

We hope more companies will implement an efficiency plan such as that of PwC Bermuda, Mr Roban said.

Eugene Dean, Greenrock chairman, said PwCs environmental commitments proved that the actions required to address climate change and reduce our impact on the environment were diverse, achievable and accessible to us all.

Changing mindsets requires leadership and PwCs willingness to act means that they now possess the potential to inspire countless others to do the same, Mr Dean said.

Some actions require us to change simple behaviours while others require sizeable investments that reap benefits over time. Some actions may seem far less convenient initially, however we ultimately derive satisfaction from the knowledge that we are doing something inherently good.

At Greenrock, we focus on education that encourages conscientiousness and inspires action that leads to positive change.

Kim Smith, BEST executive director, said her organisation aimed to promote the idea of human activities being designed and carried out in harmony with nature and not in competition with it.

I am absolutely convinced that a disregard for the impact of our activities on the environment will come back to haunt us, Ms Smith said.

She added: BEST applauds the good example of PwC as they work to make tangible changes to their processes and policies, in recognition of the impact on the environment of their business activities. Their willingness to take a lead role with this initiative is a reflection of their corporate values, and employees of PwC can be proud to work for such a socially conscious and committed organisation.

Anne Hyde, Keep Bermuda Beautiful executive director, said: We applaud PwC for taking the lead and setting the example to sustainably reduce solid waste and eliminate single-use plastics from their office and PwC events.

During the Americas Cup finals in Bermuda in 2017, PwC and KBB were represented on the Legacy and Sustainability Committee.

Ms Hyde said: We were shoved onto the worlds stage to produce Bermudas biggest event which was set to the highest standards for economic, social and environmental sustainability.

PwC picked up the ball and ran with it, and we are delighted to see, they are still running with it. PwC staff have educated themselves on concepts that might normally fall outside the realm of chartered accountants.

We hope that this will be a catalyst for more businesses to follow suit.

Any local businesses can contact KBB for assistance with matters including waste reduction, reuse and recycling, Ms Hyde added.

The PwC global network has joined the RE100 initiative of over 150 global businesses dedicated to growing the global demand for renewable energy, led by The Climate Group, an international non-profit, whose mission is accelerating climate action.

In selecting carbon-offsetting investments, PwC member firms will aim to reflect local priorities. Its offsets are verified by an independent third party to an established standard or protocol.

We may submit local projects to vet for future investment, PwC added.

Through these projects, PwC globally is projected to have collectively impacted nearly three million people worldwide, protected or restored 656,000 hectares of forest, generated 209,000 MWh of clean energy and created over 570 new full-time jobs.

Bob Moritz, global chairman of PricewaterhouseCoopers International Ltd, said: The worlds current economic model is pushing beyond the limits of the planets ability to cope. And healthy environmental ecosystems are critical to healthy economies. Its time to accelerate the pace of change.

PwC Bermudas environmentally friendly features and culture includes the following.

Energy-efficient features: central energy management system, energy recovery ventilators, groundwater cooling for 24-hour data rooms, central atrium for natural lighting in offices, rainwater collection for over half of potable water supply, low-e glazing coated with SolarBan 60 for low solar heat gain.

Plastics: No single-use plastic items in our office kitchens; no single-use plastic water bottles at PwC Bermuda corporate and social events; we build awareness of the plastics issue among our employees and encourage behaviours that help tackle plastic pollution, including recycling, reusing, and annual park and beach clean-ups.

Paper: shift towards using less paper and more information in digital format, energy-efficient printers set to default to double-sided printing, office paper, paper waste and printing cartridges all recycled, central recycling hubs for all office waste with all desk-side trash bins removed.

Electronics: laptops and mobile phones returned when employees leave the firm are reused, refurbish and donate disused laptops and equipment, we only hand out IT accessories (mice, laptop bags, etc) on request, encouraging our people to use those already issued.

Technology: our adoption of Google Gmail and the G Suite of tools in 2018 enables us to work in a more agile, efficient and innovative way. Teams can easily connect with one another online or on their mobile phones using Google Hangouts, allowing our people to take advantage of work-from-home and flex-time policies as well as reduce international business travel.

For more information on PwCs approach to corporate responsibility, visit https://tinyurl.com/y6adp5eo

Published Feb 22, 2019 at 8:00 am
(Updated Feb 22, 2019 at 3:14 pm)

WASHINGTON (AP) — A winter storm is disrupting air travel in the mid-Atlantic region.

FlightAware.com shows Reagan National Airport leading the country in cancellations Wednesday morning, with 37 percent of departures and 33 percent of arrivals canceled.

Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is seeing about 32 percent of departures and 31 percent of arrivals canceled. Dulles International Airport is seeing about 26 percent of departures and 23 percent of arrivals canceled.

Christina Saull, a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Reagan and Dulles, says many airlines canceled flights ahead of the storm. Still, Saull says the runways are open and flights are taking off.

BWI spokesman Jonathan Dean says the snow team has been treating and clearing the airfield and despite delays and cancellations, flights are continuing.

The winter storms effects caused several departing and arriving flights at Norfolk International Airport to be delayed or cancelled Wednesday morning.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

NEW DELHI: Personnel of the paramilitary forces deployed in the Kashmir Valley for counter-terror operations have been entitled by the government on Thursday to take commercial flights to either join duty or go on leave, in the wake of the killing of 40 jawans in a deadly attack on their convoy in Pulwama.

The Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order saying it “has approved the entitlement of air travel on Delhi-Srinagar, Srinagar-Delhi, Jammu-Srinagar and Srinagar-Jammu sectors to all the personnel of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs)”.

This includes, the order said, their journey for joining duty, transfer, tour or going on leave.

Till now, officers in the rank of Inspectors and above were given this air travel facility.

As many as 65,000 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel are deployed in the state as part of 65 battalions apart from units of the Border Security Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police, Central Industrial Security Force, Sashastra Seema Bal and the National Security Guard present in the Kashmir valley for rendering a variety of roles in the internal security grid.

The decision of the government comes in the wake of the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 personnel of the CRPF were killed when a explosives-laden vehicle was blown off by a JeM terrorist, near a force bus that was plying between Jammu-Srinagar as part of a convoy.

Questions were raised as to why these troops are not allowed to travel by air so that the risk and threat of travelling on road, in large convoys in the Kashmir Valley, is eliminated.

A senior official said jawans and sub-officers, the ranks who were killed in the suicide attack in Pulwama, will now be able to book tickets in regular commercial flights and claim reimbursement from their organisation or force for this travel to and from Kashmir.

The home ministry said the new facility is “in addition” to the existing air courier services for CAPFs where an entire aircraft is booked for the force personnel from either Delhi or Jammu to Srinagar and back.

A statement on Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s official Twitter handle said the decision will “immediately benefit approximately 7.8 lakh paramilitary personnel of the ranks of constable, head constable and assistant sub-inspector who were otherwise not eligible earlier”.

The ministry said that for the Jammu and Kashmir sector, an air courier service was already available for CAPFs jawans and this was extended in December, 2017 to cover more routes like: Delhi-Jammu, Jammu-Srinagar, Srinagar-Jammu and Jammu-Delhi.

“The number of flights were further extended in December, 2018. In addition, air support is provided from the Indian Air Force as and when required,” it said in a statement.

A senior official said the step will allow more and more personnel to undertake air travel to and from Kashmir but the requirement of running convoys of the security forces cannot be brought to zero.

Air travel. It’s great in theory, but can be stressful in practice. Between long queues, stodgy plane food and uncomfortable seats, the whole experience can sometimes leave you wishing you had just stayed home.

With that in mind, an avid flyer by the name of Taha Khan has taken to Twitter to dispense pearls of wisdom for those of us who find the whole thing to be a bit of an ordeal.

“I fly a lot,” Khan’s sermon began. “A thread of what I learned.” Over the course of six tweets, he shared 20 tips on how to become a ruthlessly efficient flyer. After all, it’s every man for himself at the airport.

Packing

On packing, Khan recommends never checking a bag and packing 10 days’ worth of clothes, regardless of whether or not your trip is longer. Investing in good bags is also essential. Khan’s preferred bags for travelling are an Away suitcase and Peak Design Everyday Backpack.

Getting to the airport

For those who fret about getting to the airport on time, Khan advises “arriving 1.5 hours before an international flight is fine” during school term.

Security

When it comes to security, Khan recommends removing your belt, shoes and jackets. “Even if they don’t ask, it saves you any trouble,” he says. Likewise, keeping electronic items on your person in a backpack or handbag is a must. After all, “Repacking your suitcase after an inspection is a nightmare.”

Oh, and the cardinal rule of flying? Keep your passport on you from start to finish. They’re pocket-sized for a reason, you know.

Pre-boarding

Chance your arm and you never know where it might land you. Khan advises asking for an upgrade at the gate every time. “Sometimes they’re really cheap,” he notes.

Flight

Now this is where Khan’s tips really come in handy. First of all, he is opposed to neck pillows and advises making do with an eye mask instead. Noise cancelling headphones, portable power banks and anti-bacterial wipes are also essential.

Snacks like MMs and Skittles will tide you over. His tip for feeling semi-human? “Orange juice is magic. It makes you feel alive again. Bring your own, theirs is sugar water.”

As cabin pressure and lack of movement is bad for circulation, Khan recommends “regular stretches and movement” to prevent aching. Counteract the effects of dry cabin air by “[moisturising] skin and lips often”.

Finally, don’t be tempted by the inflight entertainment. “Watching films dries your eyes quickly, you’ll feel rough afterwards,” says Khan. “Podcasts, music audiobooks are better.”

Arriving

Once you land, Khan recommends speed walking to passport control. “You save a minute of queuing for every person you pass,” he says. Well that’s one way of looking at it.

Should you encounter any difficulties upon landing, he recommends having a shortcut set up to alert someone. “This is especially important for non-white people,” he adds.

The aftermath

For those returning from a longhaul flight, Khan says jetlag will usually kick in on the second night. He recommends melatonin as a sleep aid, which is only available by prescription in Ireland.

His final tip?

“Being patient, smiley friendly go a long way.”

Underneath the thread, people weighed in with their own tips for air travel. One user recommended always selecting an aisle seat when on a flight with three seats to a row. “This allows you easy access to get up and stretch during long flights without having to disturb your seat companions,” they noted.

Another intrepid traveller advised travelling with your own teabags and instant porridge. “Just ask for hot water,” he said.

Finally, one gentleman advised using the bathroom at the beginning of the flight or right when you board the flight. “It’s as clean as it will ever be, and there’s no line,” he said.

Truer words were never spoken.