The Role of Business in Addressing Climate Change: Walmart’s Experience
In recent years, there has been a global shift towards more environmentally sustainable ways of working. The world’s biggest companies are increasingly disclosing their greenhouse gas emissions and other energy metrics – and being judged on them by consumers – with 71 percent of the world’s top 500 companies opting to externally audit their environmental impact. While Presidents and Prime Ministers might be negotiating sustainability deals, CEOs also have an incredible amount of power in preserving our planet.
As the Senior Vice President of Global Sustainability at Walmart Inc., Laura Phillips works to help support Walmart’s environmental goals to:
- Achieve an 18% emissions reduction in its operations by 2025
- Work with suppliers to avoid 1 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases from the global value chain by 2030
- Be powered by 50% renewable sources by 2025
- Achieve zero waste to landfill from its operations in key markets, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, and Canada in accordance with the Zero Waste International Alliance guidelines
- More sustainably source 20 key commodities by 2025
Join us as Laura Phillips shares her insight on Walmart’s environmental responsibilities and efforts, as well how the private sector can work to build a lower-carbon economy.
Date:
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Location:
Hilton Charlotte Center City
222 E. Third St.
Charlotte, NC 28202 – Directions
Check-In, Networking and VIP Reception:
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Lunch, Presentation, and Q&A:
12:00 – 1:30 p.m.
Cost:
$35* WACC student/educator/TMS member
*You must be an individual WACC educator/student/TMS member to qualify for the $35 rate
$50 WACC Member Rate
$65 Non-Member Rate
- Register online
- Credit card payments (non-PayPal transactions): Please call 704-687-7762 for payment processing over the phone
- Check payments: Please make your check payable to “World Affairs Council of Charlotte” and mail it to the following address:
World Affairs Council of Charlotte
UNC Charlotte – CHHS 227
9201 University City Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28223
All reservation cancellations must be completed at least 3 business days prior to an event for a full refund. Pease let us know in advance if you have dietary restrictions so that we can make the appropriate accommodations.
Biography
Laura Phillips is the Senior Vice President for Global Sustainability for Walmart Inc.
Laura is responsible for leading the development, cross-sectional coordination and implementation of key sustainability initiatives that focus on emissions avoidance, waste reduction, product sourcing and related programmatic areas. Her team works with Walmart associates, suppliers, non-profit organizations, academics, industry associations and other key stakeholders to drive progress towards Walmart’s environmental goals.
Before being selected to lead the Walmart sustainability team in 2015, she spent more than 20 years with the retailer in a variety of other executive leadership positions that included advancing Walmart’s omnichannel enterprise initiatives and merchandising strategy for Walmart’s U.S. stores.
Laura earned a bachelor of science in finance from the University of Florida, as well as a master of business administration from the University of Arkansas. She also is a graduate of the Global 2020 program at the Tuck Business School at Dartmouth College. She resides in Rogers, Arkansas with her husband, John, and their two children, Jack and Kate.
