THE CLEAN POWER PLAN
The Clean Power Plan sets achievable standards to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 32 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. By setting these goals and enabling states to create tailored plans to meet them, the Plan will:

PROTECT THE HEALTH OF AMERICAN FAMILIES. IN 2030, IT WILL:

Prevent up to 3,600 premature deaths
Prevent 1,700 non-fatal heart attacks
Prevent 90,000 asthma attacks in children
Prevent 300,000 missed workdays and schooldays
BOOST OUR ECONOMY BY:

Leading to 30 percent more renewable energy generation
in 2030
Creating tens of thousands of jobs
Continuing to lower the costs of renewable energy
SAVE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FAMILY:

Nearly $85 a year on their energy bills in 2030
Save enough energy to power 30 million homes
in 2030
Save consumers $155 billion from 2020-2030

DUE TO CLIMATE CHANGE,
THE WEATHER IS GETTING MORE EXTREME

TEMPERATURES ARE RISING ACROSS THE U.S.

2014 was the hottest year on record globally, and 2015 is on track to break that record. Explore this interactive map from the National Climate Assessment to learn more.

GLOBALLY, THE 10 WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD ALL OCCURRED SINCE 1998.
SOURCE: NOAA

FOR THE CONTIGUOUS 48 STATES, 7 OF THE 10 WARMEST YEARS ON RECORD HAVE OCCURRED SINCE 1998.
SOURCE: NOAA

EXTREME WEATHER COMES AT A COST
CLIMATE AND WEATHER DISASTERS IN 2012 ALONE COST THE AMERICAN ECONOMY MORE THAN $100 BILLION

$30 BILLION U.S. DROUGHT/HEATWAVE ESTIMATED ACROSS THE U.S.

$65 BILLION
SUPERSTORM SANDY ESTIMATED

$11.1 BILLION COMBINED SEVERE WEATHER ESTIMATED FOR INCIDENTS ACROSS THE U.S.

$1 BILLION WESTERN WILDFIRES ESTIMATED

$2.3 BILLION HURRICANE ISAAC ESTIMATED

THERE ARE ALSO PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS ASSOCIATED WITH EXTREME WEATHER
Children, the elderly, and the poor are most vulnerable to a range of climate-related health effects, including those related to heat stress, air pollution, extreme weather events, and diseases carried by food, water, and insects.

“WE CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE THAT SUPERSTORM SANDY, AND THE MOST SEVERE DROUGHT IN DECADES, AND THE WORST WILDFIRES SOME STATES HAVE EVER SEEN WERE ALL JUST A FREAK COINCIDENCE. OR WE CAN CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN THE OVERWHELMING JUDGMENT OF SCIENCE — AND ACT BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE.”
– PRESIDENT OBAMA

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced a series of actions to further streamline the organization and optimize its footprint as a result of the Company’s pending separation of a significant portion of its chlorine value chain.

Dow has shifted its portfolio toward targeted, integrated high-value markets, and as a result the Company is taking additional actions to further enhance its organizational effectiveness – with a focus on driving geographic market engagement coupled with global efficiency – to deliver maximum value from its growth investments.

The actions will further accelerate Dow’s value growth and productivity targets, and will result in a reduction of approximately 1,500 – 1,750 positions, or approximately 3 percent of the global workforce. In parallel, the Company is also announcing additional minor adjustments to its asset footprint to enhance competitiveness.

The Company will take charges totaling approximately $330 million – $380 million in the second quarter of 2015 for asset impairments, severance and other costs related to these measures, which are expected to be completed during the next two years. Once fully implemented, these actions are expected to result in approximately $300 million of annual operating cost savings.

“At our Investor Day last fall, we committed to a new, three-year $1 billion productivity drive. Our productivity efforts continue to center on cost-out actions and doing more with the resources we have in place, all to enable higher earnings,” said Howard Ungerleider, Dow’s chief financial officer. “We executed against each of our financial, operational and strategic objectives again in the first quarter, and today’s announcement illustrates our ongoing commitment to the consistent implementation of our strategy moving forward and proactively addresses any stranded costs from the divestment of Dow Chlorine Products.”

In parallel, minor asset footprint adjustments will be made to select manufacturing facilities. The facilities impacted represent less than one percent of the Company’s net property value and include minor consolidation and shut downs in response to changing market dynamics and to position the relevant businesses for long-term growth.

The Company will involve local stakeholders as defined in each country and in compliance with relevant information and consultation processes.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Building on strong progress during the first six years of the Administration, today President Obama announced a new target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions 26-28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025. At the same time, President Xi Jinping of China announced targets to peak CO2 emissions around 2030, with the intention to try to peak early, and to increase the non-fossil fuel share of all energy to around 20 percent by 2030.

Together, the U.S. and China account for over one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Today’s joint announcement, the culmination of months of bilateral dialogue, highlights the critical role the two countries must play in addressing climate change. The actions they announced are part of the longer range effort to achieve the deep decarbonization of the global economy over time. These actions will also inject momentum into the global climate negotiations on the road to reaching a successful new climate agreement next year in Paris.

The new U.S. goal will double the pace of carbon pollution reduction from 1.2 percent per year on average during the 2005-2020 period to 2.3-2.8 percent per year on average between 2020 and 2025. This ambitious target is grounded in intensive analysis of cost-effective carbon pollution reductions achievable under existing law and will keep the United States on the right trajectory to achieve deep economy-wide reductions on the order of 80 percent by 2050.

The Administration’s steady efforts to reduce emissions will deliver ever-larger carbon pollution reductions, public health improvements and consumer savings over time and provide a firm foundation to meet the new U.S. target.

The United States will submit its 2025 target to the Framework Convention on Climate Change as an “Intended Nationally Determined Contribution” no later than the first quarter of 2015.

The joint announcement marks the first time China has agreed to peak its CO2 emissions. The United States expects that China will succeed in peaking its emissions before 2030 based on its broad economic reform program, plans to address air pollution, and implementation of President Xi’s call for an energy revolution.

China’s target to expand total energy consumption coming from zero-emission sources to around 20 percent by 2030 is notable. It will require China to deploy an additional 800-1,000 gigawatts of nuclear, wind, solar and other zero emission generation capacity by 2030 – more than all the coal-fired power plants that exist in China today and close to total current electricity generation capacity in the United States.

Building on Progress
In 2009, U.S. greenhouse gas emissions were projected to continue increasing indefinitely, but President Obama set an ambitious goal to cut emissions in the range of 17 percent below 2005 levels in 2020. Throughout the first term, the Administration took strong actions to cut carbon pollution, including investing more than $80 billion in clean energy technologies under the recovery program, establishing historic fuel economy standards, doubling solar and wind electricity, and implementing ambitious energy efficiency measures.

Early in his second term, President Obama launched an ambitious Climate Action Plan focused on cutting carbon pollution, preparing the nation for climate impacts, and leading internationally. In addition to bolstering first-term efforts to ramp up renewable energy and efficiency, the Plan is cutting carbon pollution through new measures, including:

Clean Power Plan: EPA proposed guidelines for existing power plants in June 2014 that would reduce power sector emissions 30% below 2005 levels by 2030 while delivering $55-93 billion in net benefits from improved public health and reduced carbon pollution.
Standards for Heavy-Duty Engines and Vehicles: In February 2014, President Obama directed EPA and the Department of Transportation to issue the next phase of fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by March 2016. These will build on the first-ever standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles (model years 2014 through 2018), proposed and finalized by this Administration.
Energy Efficiency Standards: The Department of Energy set a goal of reducing carbon pollution by 3 billion metric tons cumulatively by 2030 through energy conservation standards issued during this Administration. These measures will also cut consumers’ annual electricity bills by billions of dollars.
Economy-wide Measures to reduce other Greenhouse Gases: The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies are taking actions to cut methane emissions from landfills, coal mining, agriculture, and oil and gas systems through cost-effective voluntary actions and common-sense standards. At the same time, the State Department is working to slash global emissions of potent industrial greenhouse gases called HFCs through an amendment to the Montreal Protocol; the Environmental Protection Agency is cutting domestic HFC emissions through its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program; and, the private sector has stepped up with commitments to cut global HFC emissions equivalent to 700 million metric tons through 2025.
Expanding U.S. and China Climate & Clean Energy Cooperation

To further support the achievement of the ambitious climate goals announced today, the United States and China have pledged to strengthen cooperation on climate and clean energy. The two countries are expanding their ongoing and robust program of cooperation through policy dialogue and technical work on clean energy and low greenhouse gas emissions technologies.

The United States and China agreed to:

Expand Joint Clean Energy Research and Development: A renewed and expanded commitment to the U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC). This will include:
Extending the CERC mandate for an additional five years from 2016-2020;
Renewing funding for the three existing tracks: building efficiency, clean vehicles, and advanced coal technologies with carbon capture, use and sequestration (CCUS); and
Launching a new track on the interaction of energy and water (the energy/water ‘nexus’).
Advance Major Carbon Capture, Use and Storage Demonstrations: Expanding our work under the Climate Change Working Group (CCWG) and under the CERC, and partnering with the private sector, the United States and China will undertake a major carbon capture and storage project in China that supports a long term, detailed assessment of full-scale sequestration in a suitable, secure underground geologic reservoir. The United States and China will make equal funding commitments to the project and will seek additional funding commitments from other countries and the private sector. In addition, both sides will work to manage climate change by demonstrating a new frontier for CO2 use through a carbon capture, use, and sequestration (CCUS) project that will capture and store CO2 while producing fresh water, thus demonstrating power generation as a net producer of water instead of a water consumer. This CCUS project with Enhanced Water Recovery will eventually inject about 1 million tons of CO2 and create approximately 1.4 million cubic meters of freshwater per year.
Enhance Cooperation on Hydroflurocarbons (HFCs): Building on the historic Sunnylands agreement between President Xi and President Obama regarding HFCs, the United States and China will enhance bilateral cooperation to begin phasing down the use of high global warming potential HFCs, including through technical cooperation on domestic measures to promote HFC alternatives and to transition government procurement toward climate-friendly refrigerants.
Launch a Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities Initiative: Urbanization is a major trend in the 21st century, and cities worldwide account for a significant percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. In response, the United States and China are establishing a new initiative on Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities under the U.S.-China Climate Change Working Group. Under the initiative, the two countries will share city-level experiences with planning, policies, and use of technologies for sustainable, resilient, low-carbon growth. This initiative will eventually include demonstrations of new technologies for smart infrastructure for urbanization. As a first step, the United States and China will convene a Climate-Smart/Low-Carbon Cities “Summit” where leading cities from both countries will share best practices, set new goals, and celebrate city-level leadership.
Promote Trade in Green Goods: The United States announced that Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker and Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will lead a Smart Cities/Smart Growth Business Development Mission to China April 12-17, 2015, focused on green infrastructure, energy efficiency and environmental trade sectors. The mission will highlight the benefits of sustainable urbanization, technologies to support China’s air pollution and climate goals, and green buildings opportunities. In addition, USTDA will conduct three reverse trade missions to bring Chinese delegations to see environmental, smart grid, and CCUS technologies in the United States over the next year.
Demonstrate Clean Energy on the Ground: U.S. DOE, State, and USTDA will undertake a number of additional pilot programs, feasibility studies, and other collaborative efforts to promote China’s energy efficiency and renewable energy goals. These will include expansion of our cooperation on “smart grids” that enable efficient and cost-effective integration of renewable energy technology, as well as the implementation through a U.S. and Chinese private sector commercial agreement of a first-of-its-kind 380 MW concentrating solar plant in China.

Citing “clear and growing” human influence on the climate system, a United Nations report issued today has warned that if left unchecked, climate change will increase the likelihood of severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems.

Echoing that dire warning, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that if the world maintains its “business as usual” attitude about climate change, the opportunity to keep temperature rise below the internationally target of 2 degrees Celsius, “will slip away within the next decade.”

“With this latest report, science has spoken yet again and with much more clarity. Time is not on our side…leaders must act,” declared the UN chief, in Copenhagen, Denmark on an official visit that included a press conference to launch the final installment Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

According to a press release from the panel, the so-called “Synthesis Report” confirms that climate change is being registered around the world and warming of the climate system is unequivocal. Since the 1950s many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to millennia.

“Our assessment finds that the atmosphere and oceans have warmed, the amount of snow and ice has diminished, sea level has risen and the concentration of carbon dioxide has increased to a level unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years,” said Thomas Stocker, Co-Chair of IPCC Working Group I, which participated in the compilation of the final report along with two other expert working groups.

Calling the report the “most comprehensive assessment of climate change” ever carried out, the Secretary-General urged worldwide action in light of its stark findings, saying that “even if emissions stopped tomorrow, we will be living with climate change for some time to come.”

He went on to say that the report found that the world is largely very ill-prepared for the risks of a changing climate, especially the poor and most vulnerable who have contributed least to this problem.

“I have seen for myself those rapidly melting glaciers, most recently in Greenland together with the Prime Minister of Denmark,” he said emphasizing that though he is not a scientist, he has traveled the world over, “to see the impact for myself and…add to the voices of scientists in a political way, as a common man.”

Yet, the “good news is that if we act now, we have the means to build a more sustainable world,” he said, explaining that quick and decisive action that draws on many readily available tools and technologies can put the world on the right track. Renewable energy sources are increasingly economically competitive. Energy efficiency has long proven its value. It was a myth that climate action would be costly, he said, stressing that in fact, inaction “will cost much, much more,” he added.

R. K. Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC, underscored that the means to limit climate change are at had. “The solutions are many and allow for continued economic and human development. All we need is the will to change, which we trust will be motivated by knowledge and an understanding of the science of climate change.”

Speaking later at the Copenhagen Energy Security Dialogues, the Secretary-General commended the global vision of European Union leaders who had taken decisive action to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent from by 2030.

“This is one of the major achievements immediately after the Climate Change Summit which I convened,” in late September, said the UN chief, adding that while he has made the issue one of the Organization’s top priorities, he wanted to broaden the scope of measures aimed at tackling it.

Indeed as climate change “is not just a matter for environmentalists and/or scientists. It is a major development challenge that can also lead to serious security threats”, Mr. Ban said, noting that mobilizing for climate change is also mobilizing for sustainable development.

As such, the United Nations would focus on three linked priorities for next year: accelerating continued efforts to meet the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); shaping a “bold and ambitious” post-2015 development agenda by the end of next year; and agreeing a meaningful climate change agreement by next December next year in Paris.

“A transformative approach to energy can drive all these priorities to a successful realization,” of those aims, said the Secretary-General, noting that the Sustainable Energy for All initiative he had launched in 2011is mobilizing governments, businesses, finance and civil society to transform the world’s energy systems.

“The United Nations is bringing the world together on energy because energy is central to our future well-being as a human family,” he said.

The National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) invites media and members of the public to a series of lectures intended to promote discussion of issues that scientists expect to shape their research in the coming years.

MPS’ mission is to harness the collective efforts of the mathematical and physical sciences communities to address compelling questions and push the boundaries of scientific frontiers. All of the 2017-2018 MPS distinguished lecturers have received NSF support allowing them to pursue cutting-edge research in fields ranging from the interaction of matter in the quantum realm to how chemistry works in space. The lectures allow these scientists and engineers the opportunity to communicate about their discoveries and potential applications for their work.

Where: NSF headquarters, 2415 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, directly across the street from the Eisenhower Avenue Metro station.

When: 2 p.m.-3 p.m. ET

Who:

Monday, Dec. 11, 2017: Soft Materials Research in the Era of Machine Learning, Juan de Pablo, professor of molecular engineering, University of Chicago.
Monday, Jan. 22, 2018: Turning Inert Nitrogen from the Atmosphere into Useful Products through Mild Catalytic Chemistry, Nobel laureate Richard Schrock, professor of chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Monday, Feb. 12, 2018: Strange Bonds and Odd Angles: Exploring Exotic Chemistry in Space, Michael McCarthy, associate director, Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Monday, April 23, 2018: Modeling and Simulation of Asteroid-Generated Tsunamis, Marsha Berger, professor of mathematics and computer science, New York University.
Monday, May 21, 2018: Hairy Hydrodynamics in Biology and Beyond, Anette (Peko) Hosoi, professor of mechanical engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Monday, June 25, 2018: Atomic Clocks in the Next Quantum Revolution, Marianna Safronova, professor of physics, University of Delaware.
These lectures will not be simulcast or recorded. If you would like to attend, please email Andrew Lovinger at alovinger@nsf.gov to arrange for a visitor badge that will be available the day of the lecture. Include your name and, if you are a member of the media, your publication or outlet. Please make sure to register at least 24 hours prior to the lecture you would like to attend.

Visitors must present a government-issued ID to enter the building. For more information on travel to NSF or building access, see the Visit NSF webpage.

-NSF-

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2017, its budget is $7.5 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 48,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Breakthrough Prize Foundation today announced the launch of its popular, global video competition for students – the Breakthrough Junior Challenge – now in its seventh year.

To participate in the Challenge, students ages 13 to 18 are invited to create and submit an original video that explains a favorite scientific concept or theory that falls within the category of Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, or Mathematics. Submissions will be accepted today through Friday, June 25.

New this year, students can opt to focus a video specifically on Space Exploration, provided the particular subject matter fits within one of the original three categories (Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics). The Space Exploration topic is in recognition of the 60th anniversary of the first human space flight by Yuri Gagarin, which occurred on April 12, 1961.

Launched in 2015, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge is designed to inspire creative thinking among young people about Life Sciences, Fundamental Physics, and Mathematics. Conducted annually, the contest encourages students from around the world to create and submit original, three minute videos that explain a favorite scientific theory or concept. Last year’s contest, held during the COVID-19 pandemic, included a special, one-time category devoted to pandemic science, and attracted more than 5,600 applicants from 124 countries. Since its launch, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge has reached 202 countries.

“The Breakthrough Junior Challenge provides students with an opportunity to tell their favorite science stories in a compelling, imaginative way,” said Sal Khan, Founder and CEO of Khan Academy, partner with the Breakthrough Prize Foundation. “We encourage students to submit videos on their favorite science topics, and in doing so, they’ll have lively discussions with other entrants from around the world.”

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge is also partnering with accomplished Chess Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen and the ‘Magnus Carlsen Invitational.’ The partnership was devised to promote space exploration and chess – two pursuits that have generated widespread public enthusiasm in the past, and are growing increasingly popular once again.

As in years past, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge will hold an opportunity for the public to vote on their favorite videos during a “Popular Vote” that will run from Sunday, September 5 to Monday, September 20. The 2021 Popular Vote will produce two top scorers – one representative of the overall general science submissions, and another from the Space Exploration section.

During the Popular Vote, a total of 30 videos will be posted online to the Breakthrough Junior Challenge Facebook page, YouTube page, and web site. The full group will comprise 20 general science videos (including the top two videos from each region listed below), and up to 10 Space Exploration videos, as determined by the Evaluation Panel judging.

In the Popular Vote, the video that accrues the highest number of likes and positive reactions (e.g. “love”, “haha”, “wow”) on the Breakthrough Prize Facebook page will be declared top scorer. The seven regions are North America (U.S. / Canada); Central America / Mexico / Caribbean / South America; Europe; Asia (including China); India; Middle East / Africa; and Australia / New Zealand.

At the conclusion of the contest, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge will honor two outstanding submissions – declaring one overall Challenge winner, and recognizing one Space Exploration Champion.

The winner of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge will be awarded a $250,000 college scholarship, $50,000 for the science teacher who inspired them, and a state-of-the-art science lab for their school, valued at $100,000 and conceived by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. The Space Exploration Champion will receive the opportunity to attend a rocket launch on a date to be determined in 2022, organized by Rocket Lab.

Eligible space topics could include:

For Life Sciences
The effect of space flight on human physiology; Issues regarding long-term human habitation away from Earth; Space exploration to search for life on other planets or moons, such as on Mars, Venus or beyond our Solar System.
For Fundamental Physics
Spacecraft propulsion – for example chemical fuel, nuclear fuel, antimatter or other methods; Space-time trajectories, effects of relativity, the limits on the speed of travel; Gravitational potentials, gravity wells, and Solar System and interstellar exploration – the science of achieving mission goals.
For Mathematics
Spacecraft orbits, escape velocities; Mathematical investigations of the possibilities and pitfalls of space exploration; The Tsiolkovsky rocket equation.
The Breakthrough Junior Challenge will be open for submissions beginning on Thursday, April 1 through Friday, June 25. All students ages 13 to 18 from countries across the globe are invited to participate by creating original videos. Videos must be up to three minutes in length, and illustrate a concept or theory of a student’s own selection. Submissions will be judged on the individual students’ ability to communicate complex scientific ideas in the most engaging, illuminating and imaginative ways. In addition to creating and producing their own video entries, competitors will participate in a round of peer-to-peer assessment, in which they will score some of their fellow Challengers’ submissions.

About the Breakthrough Junior Challenge

The Breakthrough Junior Challenge, founded by Yuri and Julia Milner, is a global science video competition, aiming to develop and demonstrate young people’s knowledge of science and scientific principles; generate excitement in these fields; support STEM career choices; and engage the imagination and interest of the public-at-large in key concepts of fundamental science.

About Khan Academy

Khan Academy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Our platform includes more than 70,000 practice problems as well as videos and articles that cover a range of K–12 subjects. Khan Academy allows students to learn key concepts at a pace that’s right for them before moving on to more challenging content. We partner with school districts across the country and around the world that serve students who are historically under-resourced. In the United States, school districts use Khan Academy Districts and MAP Accelerator to help teachers differentiate instruction. Khan Academy Kids is an award-winning free app for children ages two to eight. Nearly 20 million learners use Khan Academy every month in 190 countries and 50 languages. As a nonprofit, Khan Academy relies on donations from foundations, corporations and individuals around the world, as well as earned revenue. For more information, please see research findings about Khan Academy and our press page.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

The Breakthrough Prize Lab for the winning student’s school is designed by and in partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL). Established in 1890, CSHL has shaped contemporary biomedical research and education. Its New York campus boasts 1100 faculty, students and employees and hosts over 12,000 visiting scientists each year for world-renowned conferences and courses. CSHL’s DNA Learning Center is the world’s largest provider of student lab instruction in molecular genetics and teacher training. Materials and methods developed by the DNA Learning Center are accessible for free through more than 20 award-winning educational websites. The Laboratory’s education arm also includes an academic publishing house, a science policy think tank and a graduate program in biological sciences. Visit www.cshl.edu.

Rocket Lab

Rocket Lab provides end-to-end mission services, including complete satellite build and launch solutions, that provide rapid, frequent and reliable access to space. Rocket Lab will launch thousands of small satellites to orbit, enabling vital science, research and services from orbit including weather monitoring, communications, technology demonstrations and Earth-observation.

About Play Magnus Group

Play Magnus Group is a global leader in the chess industry focused on providing premier digital experiences for millions of chess players and students. The company offers e-learning and entertainment services via its market leading brands: chess24, Chessable, iChess, CoChess, the Play Magnus App Suite, and the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour. The Group’s mission is to grow chess to make the world a smarter place by encouraging more people to play, watch, study, and earn a living from chess.

SOURCE The Breakthrough Prize Foundation

CONTACT: Kristen Bothwell, kbothwell@rubenstein.com, 212-843-9227

23 January, Davos, Switzerland – Batteries will be a major driver in reducing the carbon footprint of the transport and power sectors through the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy. To help companies and governments, the Global Battery Alliance designed 10 guiding principles for the creation of a sustainable battery chain by 2030.

These principles are intended as the first step in a responsible, sustainable battery value chain as set out in the Global Battery Alliance’s “A Vision for a Sustainable Battery Value Chain in 2030”. Implementing commitments will be based on existing standards such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Due Diligence Guidance and economically viable considerations for a circular and low carbon economy.

At the Annual Meeting 2020, 42 organizations, including businesses from mining, chemicals, battery, automotive and energy industries, representing annual revenue of close to a trillion dollars, along with international organizations and global NGOs, have agreed on the 10 guiding principles.

They include maximizing the productivity of batteries, enabling a productive and safe second life use, circular recovery of battery materials, ensuring transparency of greenhouse gas emissions and their progressive reduction, prioritizing energy efficiency measures and increasing the use of renewable energy, fostering battery-enabled renewable energy integration, high quality job creation and skills development, eliminating child and forced labour, protecting public health and the environment and supporting responsible trade and anti-corruption practices, local value creation and economic diversification.

“We all need batteries to power the clean revolution. However, we must ensure violations of human rights do not occur anywhere in the value chain, that local communities benefit and that battery production is sustainable. These guiding principles are an important first step to build a value chain that can deliver on this promise while supporting societies and economies at the same time”, said Dominic Waughray, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.

Organizations supporting the realization of a battery value chain that meets these principles include AB Volvo, African Development Bank, Amara Raja Batteries , Analog Devices, Audi, BASF, Bayerische Motoren Werke (BMW), Cadenza Innovation, China EV100, Clarios, ClimateWorks Foundation, Enel, Envision Group, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), Everledger, Fairphone, Fundacion Chile, Good Shepherd International Foundation, Greentech Capital Advisors, Groupe Renault, Honda, IMPACT, International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), International Justice Mission (IJM), Johnson Matthey, International Lead Association (ILA), Leaseplan, Office of the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), OPTEL Group, Pact, Pure Earth, Responsible Battery Coalition, SGS, SK Innovation, Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile SA (SQM), The Faraday Institution, The World Bank Group, Trafigura, Transport & Environment (T&E), Umicore, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Volkswagen Group and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD). To realize the full ambition of these principles, the Global Battery Alliance is actively seeking the endorsement of additional organizations to ensure full participation throughout the battery value chain.

This alignment among key players in the battery market establishes the basis for a transparent accountability system. It will guide the development of a global digital battery information disclosure system referred to as the “Battery Passport”, which is designed to enable a transparent value chain, for example, with respect to human rights and the environmental footprint.

What the signatories say

“Je suis ravi d’annoncer que le Gouvernement de la République Démocratique du Congo soutient la Global Battery Alliance et ses dix principes directeurs. J’invite les membres de mon gouvernement à travailler avec l’Alliance afin d’établir une chaîne de valeur durable du cobalt. C’est indispensable pour permettre la transition énergétique.” Felix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

“Amara Raja is fully committed to support the transition to a carbon neutral energy footprint across the globe and recognizes that advanced battery technologies have a critical role to play to enable and accelerate this transition. Amara Raja is delighted to be part of the Global Battery Alliance efforts to drive the transition and endorses the ‘Principles and Commitments to Realize the 2030 Vision’. The principles and commitments as articulated by the GBA provide a framework for implementation of a scalable and sustainable approach for faster adoption of smart energy solutions for a greener future.” Vijayanand Kumar Samudrala, Chief Executive Officer, Amara Raja Batteries

“Analog Devices strongly believes that technology is one of the key enablers for a sustainable, circular and ultimately regenerative economy. Batteries will play a key part in enabling this shift as the world accelerates towards renewable energy sources. It is vital that the value chain forming around batteries is both sustainable and just across the entire lifecycle of the battery, from extraction and formation to second life and recycling. At Analog Devices, we support the work of the Global Battery Alliance and fully endorse the 10 principles for a sustainable value chain.” Vincent Roche, Chief Executive Officer, Analog Devices

“For Audi, batteries are key on our way to carbon neutral mobility. To ensure that this technology is thoroughly sustainable, we welcome and support the GBA initiative and our common principles. We believe in the power of joint collaboration across all stakeholders in the entire value chain of batteries and therefore encourage others to join the GBA as well. Audi is striving for a reliable “sustainability performance seal”, carried out by robust stakeholder engagement, which stands as a global reference for clean and ethically produced batteries.” Hildegard Wortmann, Member of the Board of Management, Sales and Marketing, Audi

“These guiding principles are a milestone for the Global Battery Alliance to promote a sustainable and responsible battery value chain. As a founding member of the alliance, BASF welcomes a joint vision and concrete actions, such as the planned battery passport.” Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF and Co-Chair of the Global Battery Alliance

“An efficient, transparent, sustainable global value chain is vital to ensuring that the battery industry continues to meet unprecedented demand in an innovative and socially responsible manner. The guidelines put forth by the Global Battery Alliance provide a thoughtful and actionable approach for ensuring that. By bolstering the role that energy storage plays in combatting climate change while lifting underserved populations up out of energy poverty, the GBA’s efforts can benefit our whole society.” Christina Lampe-Onnerud, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Cadenza Innovation

“The 10 principles of the Global Battery Alliance have far-reaching significance for the development of the global battery industry, and will play a guiding role in the orderly and sustainable development of the battery value chain. As a think tank and exchange platform for China’s electric vehicle industry, China EV100 has been committed to conducting research and cross-industry exchanges on the entire value chain and recycling of the battery industry for the past six years. We are willing to work with GBA to help the energy transition and decarbonization of the transportation industry along with the sustainable development of the electric vehicle and battery value chain.” Liu Xiaoshi, Executive Deputy Secretary-General, China EV100

“When combined with zero-carbon electricity from sources like wind and solar, batteries can cleanly power our vehicles, homes and businesses, reducing climate pollution and advancing sustainable development. As an organization dedicated to ending the climate crisis, the ClimateWorks Foundation supports the work of the GBA and applauds its efforts to improve battery supply chain sustainability in the mining and extraction industries and ensure greater transparency and traceability.” Charlotte Pera, President and Chief Executive Officer, ClimateWorks Foundation

“We support these principles as they are fully aligned with our strategy and with commitments we have already made to the environment, society, human and labour rights. The collaboration of the whole value chain to sustainably supply battery storage systems is key to accelerate the energy transition. As the world’s leading private operator of renewables and networks, we have implemented tangible actions to foster a circular and sustainable value chain that is respectful of human rights.” Francesco Starace, Chief Executive Officer, ENEL

“As we convene for the 50th anniversary Davos meeting, the launch of the 10 key principles will help bring the Alliance one step closer to unlocking the potential of batteries to power sustainable development. We are aiming to ensure that the vast benefits to the global economy never come at the cost of the most vulnerable communities. A key focus for ERG is working with all Alliance members to eradicate child labour within the battery value chain.” Benedikt Sobotka, Chief Executive Officer of Eurasian Resources Group and Co-chair of the Global Battery Alliance

“At Everledger, we believe technology is one of the greatest platforms for change towards a low carbon economy. We not only support the principles of the GBA, but also enable the global battery value chain to achieve ever increasing levels of transparency for sustainability efforts.” Leanne Kemp, Chief Executive Officer, Everledger

“It is time we as an industry make a joint effort in cleaning up our battery supply chains. We welcome the GBA principles as an important step towards this.” Monique Lempers, Director Impact Innovation, Fairphone

“As non-corporate members of the Global Battery Alliance, we endorse the GBA principles for the development of an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable battery value chain. Aligning our diverse global collaboration platform around the principles – placing the Sustainable Development Goals and the critical connectivity of human rights and development at the heart of the value chain – is an important step forward for the GBA. We are committed to monitoring and implementing joint programmes to deliver concrete progress against the principles, and developing clear and transparent measuring tools, as we continue to support this critical effort.” Joint statement from Cristina Duranti, Director, Good Shepherd International Foundation; Joanne Lebert, Executive Director, IMPACT; Gary A. Haugen, Chief Executive Officer, International Justice Mission; Karen Hayes, Vice-President, Mines to Markets, Pact; Charlotte Petri Gornitzka, Assistant Secretary-General and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Partnerships, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

“We fully endorse the Global Battery Alliance’s bid to develop a responsible and sustainable battery value chain. The world is going to need many more batteries using different chemistries and technologies as demand for energy storage continues to grow and we are encouraged that the 10 guiding principles make reference to lead-based batteries that will continue to play a significant role in achieving the UN sustainability goal to provide access to clean and affordable energy for all. The GBA’s aim to foster the creation of a sustainable battery value chain by 2030 is fully aligned with lead battery industry’s material stewardship initiative and our own guiding principles.” Andy Bush, Managing Director, International Lead Association

“Johnson Matthey is very pleased to support the 10 principles of the GBA, which underpin our company’s vision to build a cleaner, healthier world. This a key milestone for the battery community as we align to deliver common objectives that will power a sustainable energy transition in a way that safeguards and benefits the whole supply chain and the planet. JM is fully committed to working together with the GBA on these critically important efforts.” Robert MacLeod, Chief Executive Officer, Johnson Matthey

“Electric vehicles and the batteries that power them are central to the fight against climate change. LeasePlan therefore fully supports the work of the Global Battery Alliance to ensure we have safe, clean and ethically produced batteries. Collectively, we are determined to build a 100% sustainable battery value chain and ensure the industry maintains its social licence to operate.” Tex Gunning, Chief Executive Officer, LeasePlan

“We welcome the adoption of GBA principles that explicitly refer to the need for human rights standards in the battery supply chain. To effectively address child labour and other human rights issues, formalization of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sites is key. The GBA is ideally positioned to pool knowledge and resources to develop ASM formalization standards that can be implemented in the DRC.” Michael Posner, Director of the NYU Stern Center for Business and Human Rights and Dorothée Baumann-Pauly, Director of the Geneva Center for Business and Human Rights

“At OPTEL, we are proud to use our traceability expertise to contribute to the achievement of the GBA principles towards a sustainable battery value chain. This project fits perfectly with our mission of using innovative technologies to create a more sustainable world and we recognize all the organizations jointly involved in this effort.” Louis Roy, President, OPTEL GROUP

“The Global Battery Alliance is moving the needle with respect to batteries. Health problems from battery recycling (especially lead-acid batteries) are ridiculously enormous. We need to avoid a similar problem with lithium batteries, as their boom continues. GBA is the group that can make this happen.” Richard Fuller, President, Pure Earth

“Batteries are becoming a significantly more important part of our energy infrastructure, economy and national security. A key part of sustaining our growing, battery-reliant energy infrastructure is to conserve human and natural resources. We at the Responsible Battery Coalition are proud to join with our fellow members of the Global Battery Alliance in supporting these principles and working together in creating a sustainable, humane and circular battery value chain.” Steve Christensen, Executive Director, Responsible Battery Coalition

“SK Innovation fully supports the 10 guiding principles and the GBA’s ambition to build sustainable global battery value chain by 2030. This vision and timeframe dovetails with SK Innovation’s ‘Green Balance 2030’ initiative, which will accelerate our transition to a low carbon economy. Moreover, we believe accurate measurement is the very first step in building momentum and credibility for a sustainable value chain. SK group-wide socio-environmental impact assessments demonstrate that our growing battery business is leading the way with our decarbonization efforts.” Jun Kim, President and Chief Executive Officer, SK Innovation

“In the last 25 years SQM has been operating and optimizing its sustainable production process for lithium. SQM takes its responsibility seriously in protecting the environment and ensuring the well-being of its neighbouring communities. As a key element to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, today we are taking another step, making a public and transparent commitment to the principles of the Global Battery Alliance of the World Economic Forum to ensure sustainable supply of lithium. SQM is proud to endorse the GBA principles of the World Economic Forum. As a leading lithium producer, we believe this is major step towards realizing a sustainable battery supply chain.” Ricardo Ramos, Chief Executive Officer, SQM

“We must diligently work together and support governments like that of the DRC in their efforts to address shortcomings in the Lithium-ion value chain. These challenges cannot be wished away. The adoption of the Global Battery Alliance principles provides a welcome foundation in pursuit of the responsible sourcing of materials such as cobalt, which are essential for the transition to low carbon economies.” Jeremy Weir, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Trafigura

“Rechargeable Batteries are the best technology to achieve zero emissions mobility and underpin climate neutral economy of the future. The Global Battery Alliance should accelerate the transition to sustainably sourced and produced batteries by enabling full traceability along the supply chain and implementing the Battery Passport. GBA’s members include the world’s largest mining and smelting companies so it is in their power to guarantee responsible, safe and inclusive extraction of battery metals in developing countries.” Julia Poliscanova, Director, Transport & Environment’s Clean Vehicles and E-Mobility Director

“I am very pleased that after over two years of intense work among many key stakeholders of the battery value chain we have reached consensus on 10 challenging principles. In particular, the principles call for ‘immediately and urgently eliminating child and forced labour’ from the batteries. Indeed, we cannot accept that the pursuit of climate neutrality should in any way involve child labour. Therefore (along with the immediate elimination of child labour) I am prepared to pledge significant funds to support the work of a consortium of NGOs in order to ensure that children are out of the mines and I invite other members of the Global Battery Alliance to join me for the creation of this fund.” Marc Grynberg, Chief Executive Officer, Umicore

“At Volkswagen, our sustainability and social responsibility requirements go well beyond production and cover the entire value chain. We do not tolerate any infringements of environmental and social standards – this applies to the entire supply chain. That’s why we support the GBA and are committed to the 10 principles that were agreed today as a building block to safeguard human rights and economic development consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.” Ralf Pfitzner, Head of Sustainability, Volkswagen Group

Sustainable batteries are a must for our society to thrive within planet boundaries. WBCSD welcomes the 10 principles for a sustainable value chain that protects human rights and accelerate the transition to carbon neutrality, and will continue to support the Global Battery Alliance members in their action towards the vision for a sustainable battery value chain by 2030”, Maria Mendiluce, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

CANBERRA, Australia – Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) and Electro Optic Systems Pty Ltd (ASX: EOS) have broken ground on a new space object tracking facility in Australia that aims to provide commercial and government customers an unprecedented view of orbital space debris fields.

It is estimated that there are hundreds of thousands of debris objects in orbit, ranging from spent rocket parts to pieces of defunct satellites. These objects pose a major threat to satellites in orbit that power everything from smartphones and weather prediction to national security and global financial markets. The new space object tracking site will give satellite operators a clearer picture of the debris that could damage their networks, and how they can avoid potential collisions.

“The expansion of space debris tracking by EOS and Lockheed Martin is expected to make a significant contribution to the preservation of the space environment, by providing data which will enable cost-effective debris manoeuvre for satellites,” said Mark Valerio, Lockheed Martin vice president and general manager of Military Space. “The accuracy of our optical sensor network, combined with an ability to reschedule tracking operations according to commercial priorities, will provide a trusted source of critical space data to commercial and government operators.”

The network developed by EOS and Lockheed Martin, called Optical Space Services (OSSTM), was formed in August 2014. Sensor systems like OSSTM serve as a complement to radar-based systems like the U.S. Air Force’s Space Fence, which will sweep the sky tracking 200,000 objects.

“The strategic collaboration with Lockheed Martin has allowed a critical mass of sensors, data and services to be assembled, enabling OSSTM to deliver the suite of asset protection services requested by customers,” said Dr. Ben Greene, EOS Chief Executive Officer. “This new tracking capacity will provide unique data which is exclusively available to EOS and Lockheed Martin, enabling each organisation to offer both data and services to meet global market needs. Based on current contracts and active negotiations, EOS expects to commence the delivery of data and services by late 2016.”

Sensors, lasers and optic systems will be fused together by software enabling OSSTM to hone-in on, characterise and track human-made objects orbiting the depths of space. That data will then be quickly and accurately delivered to customers allowing them to manoeuvre satellites and prevent collisions. The system can also predict the paths of debris, giving operators advance warning of potential collisions.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that – with the addition of Sikorsky – employs approximately 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

About Electro Optic Systems
EOS is based in Canberra, Australia and employs 100 staff in two sectors: Space Systems and Defense Systems. The EOS Space Systems sector focuses on both commercial and defense requirements for space information. EOS specializes in obtaining space information based on the use of EOS-developed optical instruments and sensors to detect, track, classify and characterize objects in space. This information is required for both military and commercial space applications, and particularly for managing space assets to avoid collisions in space with space debris.

WASHINGTON — The American Chemistry Council welcomes the introduction of bipartisan legislation by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Tom Carper (D-DE), and James Lankford (R-OK) to extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, which is set to expire on July 27th.

ACC and its members are long-time supporters of CFATS because it is critical to the security of our industry and the nation. Passing the Senate bill will provide much needed regulatory certainty for CFATS, which will help support the chemical industry’s ongoing investments into enhancing security.

The following statement in support of the bill can be attributed to Chris Jahn, President and Chief Executive Officer of ACC:

We commend Chairman Peters and his colleagues for their commitment to national security and to protecting the chemical industry, which is vital to the health and well-being of our nation. CFATS has helped industry and the federal government enhance security for chemical facilities, workers and communities and has proven to be a practical and effective regulatory program. ACC and its members support stability for the CFATS program, and we urge Congress to act quickly to prevent these important safeguards from expiring.

American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the multibillion-dollar business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products, technologies and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health, safety and security performance through Responsible Care®; common sense advocacy addressing major public policy issues; and health and environmental research and product testing. ACC members and chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development, and are advancing products, processes and technologies to address climate change, enhance air and water quality, and progress toward a more sustainable, circular economy.

Learn more at: https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/press-release/2023/acc-welcomes-senate-bill-to-save-chemical-facility-anti-terrorism-standards

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) applauded a decision by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reject a petition requesting increased testing and changing the safety status of a key chemistry used to make concentrated detergent unit-dose packets and sheets from its Safer Choice program.

At issue was a call from a single cleaning products manufacturer and non-governmental organizations for the EPA to require more human and environmental health testing under Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) for the polyvinyl alcohol (known as PVA or PVOH) used in laundry and dishwasher detergent packets and sheets. The petitioner also requested that regulators inappropriately act by removing the “green” designation PVA currently has from the agency’s Safer Chemical List, which denotes its safe use in detergent products.

“We commend EPA for sticking to the science on the use of polyvinyl alcohol film in laundry packets and automatic dishwasher detergent tablets and rejecting the petitioners’ requests,” said Kathleen Stanton, ACI Associate Vice President, Technical & International Affairs.

“In denying the petition, the EPA’s published response in the Federal Register provides a cogent analysis of the scientific facts that are readily available. It is highly critical of underlying research and arguments put forth by the petitioners and cites a significant number of easily findable studies demonstrating the safety and biodegradability of PVA that the petitioners overlooked or ignored. The EPA’s extensive response should be sufficient to settle this quite conclusively in favor of PVA’s safe and sustainable use.”

EPA denied the petitioners request to change PVA’s status on the Safer Chemicals Ingredient List (SCIL) to indicate future removal. Quoting directly from EPA’s comments:

“The petition does not demonstrate that PVA fails to meet the Safer Choice criteria. The supporting data cited in the petition relied on a study estimating the persistence of PVA and several studies on the health and environmental impacts of microplastics, rather than the soluble PVA used in Safer Choice-certified products. EPA notes that only certain PVA structures are allowed for use in Safer Choice-certified products.”
“EPA identified data not discussed in the petition that provides a clear weight of evidence showing that PVA structures used in Safer Choice-certified products meet the Safer Choice Standard.”
In announcing its decision, the EPA also stated that:

The petition “…does not set forth the facts establishing that it is necessary for the Agency to issue” a rule ordering manufacturers to fund and conduct additional health and environmental safety testing on PVOH.
The petition …“does not demonstrate that existing information and experience on PVA used in laundry and dishwasher detergent pods and sheets is insufficient to determine or predict human health and environmental risks from such use of PVA.”
“The petitioners failed to acknowledge the nature and extent of existing data and articulate why these data are insufficient.”
The petition …“fails to establish that testing of PVA is necessary to develop sufficient information. EPA also finds that the petitioners’ request for the EPA to require third-party oversight of PVA testing is outside the scope of what can be requested under TSCA section 21 and cannot be granted.”
“No evidence of toxicity or bioaccumulation potential for the soluble form of PVA used in detergent pods and sheets has been presented in the petition to the extent necessary to warrant EPA initiating a TSCA section 4 action.”
In addressing petitioners’ claims that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) standards governing biodegradability of PVA are insufficient, EPA clearly stated:

“The OECD biodegradation test conditions are more conservative than real world conditions in [wastewater treatment plants] and are appropriate tools for predicting biodegradation of PVA.”
“The Agency identified peer-reviewed literature using OECD Guideline studies showing PVA chemical structures used in laundry detergent packets are readily biodegradable.”
Background:
More than 50 years of published science including extensive reviews by regulatory agencies around the world (including the EPA itself), have supported the safety of PVA/PVOH.

PVOH is a key enabler of more sustainable cleaning products. Detergent packets contain highly concentrated cleaning formulas encased in a water-soluble film, which is made of PVA/PVOH.

These films are designed to dissolve completely in washing and dishwashing machines and then flow down the drain with the wash water.
The films used in detergent packets, along with the ingredients they encapsulate, are safe to use in the home and meet rigorous test methods to ensure they fully dissolve and biodegrade quickly in wastewater treatment after use.
The PVOH used in detergent products is accepted by the U.S. EPA Safer Choice program and other strict ecolabeling organizations around the world.
For science-based information on the use of PVOH film in detergent products, visit https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/pvoh.

The American Cleaning Institute® (ACI – www.cleaninginstitute.org) is the Home of the U.S. Cleaning Products Industry® and represents the $60 billion U.S. cleaning product supply chain. ACI members include the manufacturers and formulators of soaps, detergents, and general cleaning products used in household, commercial, industrial and institutional settings; companies that supply ingredients and finished packaging for these products; and chemical distributors. ACI serves the growth and innovation of the U.S. cleaning products industry by advancing the health and quality of life of people and protecting our planet. ACI achieves this through a continuous commitment to sound science and being a credible voice for the cleaning products industry.

DECATUR, Ill., – Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) and Hawkins, Inc. today introduced Chill-Pro, a USDA Certified Biobased heat transfer fluid made using ADM Evolution Chemicals™ propylene glycol.

Chill-Pro is designed to maintain a constant temperature and provide superior freeze protection for closed-loop, water-based HVAC systems. It is formulated with a comprehensive food-grade inhibitor package that provides corrosion protection without reducing the efficiency of the system components. The corrosion inhibitors first passivate the surface of the metal to maximize the corrosion resistance and then buffer the organic acids formed through the glycol oxidation process to prevent the fluids from becoming too acidic.

“ADM recognizes the increasing demand for renewable chemicals, and we’re excited to partner with Hawkins to offer Chill-Pro to a range of customers,” said Lindsay LeMaster, manager of propylene glycol at ADM Evolution Chemicals. “Our high-quality biobased propylene glycol and Hawkins’ excellence in customer service and support provides customers an alternative to traditional petroleum-derived chemicals.”

The benefits of Chill-Pro over petroleum-derived products include the fact that the majority component, propylene glycol, is 100% biobased and has lower cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas emissions. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label indicates that the product contains 100 percent biobased content. ADM is the first company in the world to make biobased propylene glycol that complies with both industrial requirements and United States Pharmacopeia (USP) specifications.

For more information on Chill-Pro and other Hawkins products, visit www.hawkinsinc.com. For more information about Evolution Chemicals, visit www.adm.com/evolutionchemicals.

About Evolution Chemicals™
ADM’s Evolution Chemicals™ line of biobased products is derived from renewable resources like corn and soy. Evolution Chemicals places ADM’s renewable chemicals, such as isosorbide, propylene glycol, glycerin, industrial ethanol and ethylene glycol, under one brand. ADM has more than 100 years of experience producing renewable chemicals. The first product offered for sale by the Daniels Linseed Company in 1902 was linseed oil, which is still used in industrial applications such as paints and varnishes. Today, ADM produces polymers, solvents and starches for industrial and personal care applications like paints, plastics, household cleaners and pharmaceutical excipients. To learn more about Evolution Chemicals, visit adm.com/evolutionchemicals. For more information or to order products, contact ADM at 800-637-5843 or ADMEvoChemCS@adm.com.

About ADM
For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve vital needs. Today, 31,000 ADM employees around the globe convert oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa into products for food, animal feed, industrial and energy uses. With more than 270 processing plants, 470 crop procurement facilities, and the world’s premier crop transportation network, ADM helps connect the harvest to the home in more than 140 countries. For more information about ADM and its products, visit www.adm.com.

This news is courtesy of www.adm.com

A new U.S. National Science Foundation-funded study, published in Nature Geoscience, identifies fertilizer and pesticide applications to croplands as the largest sources of sulfur in the environment — up to 10 times higher than the peak sulfur load seen in the second half of the 20th century, during the days of acid rain.

As a result, researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder recommend greatly expanded monitoring of sulfur and examination of possible negative impacts of this increase, which include rising levels of mercury in wetlands, soil degradation and a higher risk of asthma for populations in agricultural areas.

“Sulfur in agriculture is used in many different forms, and we haven’t studied broadly how those different forms react in the soil,” said Eve-Lyn Hinckley, lead author of the study. “No one has looked comprehensively at the environmental and human health consequences of these additions.”

Sulfur is a naturally occurring element and an important plant nutrient, helping with the uptake of nitrogen. It’s mined from underground through fossil fuel extraction and is used for the creation of fertilizers and pesticides.

But sulfur is also highly reactive, meaning it will quickly undergo chemical transformations once its stable form surfaces — affecting the health of ecosystems, and reacting to form heavy metals that pose a danger to wildlife and people.

Historically, coal-fired power plants were the largest source of reactive sulfur to the biosphere — leading to acid rain in the 1960s and 1970s and the degradation of forest and aquatic ecosystems across the northeastern U.S. and Europe.

“This is a very different problem than in the acid rain days,” said Hinckley. “We’ve gone from widespread atmospheric deposition over remote forests to targeted additions of reactive sulfur to regional croplands. These amounts are much higher than what we saw at the peak of acid rain.”

Added Philip Bennett, a program director in NSF’s Division of Earth Sciences, “This study illustrates the intertwined nature of natural and human-driven biogeochemical cycles, and reveals new implications of sulfur in our environment, including effects on nutrient availability and runoff, food production and toxic metals.”

— NSF Public Affairs, researchnews@nsf.gov

Deep learning, drug docking and molecular dynamics simulations identify ways to shut down virus

Researchers are running a global race to discover a vaccine, drug or combination of treatments that can disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which causes the COVID-19 disease, and prevent widespread deaths.

Major efforts are underway to screen every possible molecule that might interact with the virus — and the proteins that control its behavior — to disrupt its activity.

In addition to working faster, computational scientists are working smarter, combining artificial intelligence with physics-based drug docking and molecular dynamics simulations to rapidly look at the most promising molecules.

A project using some of the most powerful supercomputers on the planet — including the National Science Foundation-funded Frontera and Longhorn supercomputers at the Texas Advanced Computing Center and Comet at the San Diego Supercomputer Center — is running millions of simulations, training a machine learning system to identify the factors that might make a molecule a good candidate, and doing explorations of the most promising results.

“The discovery of effective therapeutics to mitigate the current COVID-19 crisis is critical for the rapid recovery of the global economy,” says Ed Walker, a program director in NSF’s Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure. “NSF-funded instruments such as Frontera and Comet provide important computational capabilities and human expertise to support multi-institution efforts harnessing our nation’s research capabilities.”

The project complements epidemiological and genetic research efforts supported by TACC, which are enabling more than 30 teams to undertake research that would not otherwise be achievable in the timeframe this crisis requires.

— NSF Public Affairs, researchnews@nsf.gov

An interdisciplinary team of researchers using the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica has measured how certain high-energy neutrinos are absorbed by the Earth, as opposed to passing through matter as most neutrinos do. The finding could help expand scientists’ understanding of the fundamental forces of the universe.

Funded and managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the IceCube Neutrino Observatory conducts research into these nearly massless particles.

“IceCube was built to explore the frontiers of physics and, in doing so, possibly to challenge existing perceptions of the nature of the universe,” said James Whitmore, program director in NSF’s Division of Physics. “This new finding and others yet to come are in that spirt of scientific discovery. IceCube is truly a remarkable window on the universe.”

Scientists with the international IceCube Collaboration, which includes more than 300 researchers from 48 institutions in the U.S. and 11 other countries, say in a paper published in the journal Nature how some very energetic neutrinos from space interact with matter and are absorbed by the Earth.

Neutrinos are subatomic particles, most of which pass through anything and everything, only very rarely interacting with matter. In contrast to the newly discovered properties of the high-energy neutrinos, about 100 trillion neutrinos with lower energies pass through the human body, on average, every second without being absorbed.

“Neutrinos have quite a well-earned reputation of surprising us with their behavior,” says Darren Grant, spokesperson for the IceCube Collaboration and a professor of physics at the University of Alberta in Canada. “It is incredibly exciting to see this first measurement and the potential it holds for future precision tests.”

For this study, the collaboration included geologists who have created models of the Earth’s interior from seismic studies as part of a larger multidisciplinary team. Physicists worked with the geologists to measure how neutrinos are absorbed by the Earth. A deeper understanding of how often a neutrino will come through the Earth to eventually interact within the IceCube detector also requires detailed knowledge of the Antarctic ice properties, the interaction of cosmic rays with the Earth’s atmosphere, and how neutrinos interact with matter.

IceCube is an array of 5,160 optical sensors, each roughly two feet in diameter, deeply encased within a cubic kilometer of very clear Antarctic ice near NSF’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. IceCube’s sensors do not directly observe neutrinos. Instead, they measure flashes of blue light, known as Cherenkov radiation, produced by muons and other fast-moving charged particles created when neutrinos interact with the ice. By measuring the light patterns from these interactions in or near the detector array, IceCube can estimate the neutrinos’ directions and energies.

NSF’s Office of Polar Programs and Division of Physics support the management and operations of the observatory. IceCube was built with funding from an NSF Major Research and Equipment and Facilities Construction award, with assistance from partner funding agencies worldwide. The University of Wisconsin-Madison is the lead institution for the IceCube Collaboration, coordinating data-taking and management and operation. As manager of the U.S Antarctic Program, NSF operates three year-round stations in Antarctica, including Amundsen-Scott.

Fundamental forces

The IceCube Collaboration research team found that fewer energetic neutrinos made it to IceCube’s detector on paths that took them all the way through the Earth than from less obstructed paths, including near-horizontal trajectories. The probability of neutrinos being absorbed by the Earth was consistent with expectations from the Standard Model of particle physics, a theory that scientists use to explain the fundamental forces and particles in the universe. This probability — that neutrinos of a given energy will interact with matter — is what physicists refer to as a “cross section.”

“Understanding how neutrinos interact is key to the operation of IceCube,” said Francis Halzen, principal investigator for the IceCube and a professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Precision measurements at the HERA particle accelerator complex in Hamburg, Germany, provided a foundation to calculate the neutrino cross sections, which would apply to IceCube neutrinos of very high energies if the Standard Model is valid at these energies.

“We were of course hoping for some new physics to appear, but we unfortunately find that the Standard Model, as usual, withstands the test,” Halzen says.

This study provides the first cross-section measurements for a neutrino energy range that is up to 1,000 times higher than previous measurements at particle accelerators. Most of the neutrinos studied by the research team were more than a million times more energetic than the those produced by sources like the sun or nuclear power plants.

In addition to providing the first measurement of the Earth’s absorption of neutrinos, the researchers’ analysis shows that IceCube’s scientific reach now extends beyond the observatory’s core focus on particle physics discoveries and the emerging field of neutrino astronomy. Its work could also have applications in the fields of planetary science and nuclear physics. The team’s analysis will be of interest to geophysicists seeking to use neutrinos to image the Earth’s interior, although such work would require more data than the current study used.

The neutrino-interaction events selected for the study have energies of at least one trillion electron volts, or 1 teraelectronvolt (TeV), roughly the energy of motion of a flying mosquito. At this energy, the Earth’s absorption of neutrinos is relatively small; the lowest-energy neutrinos in the study largely served as a baseline measurement for neutrinos that the Earth did not absorb.

The analysis was sensitive to absorption in the energy range from 6.3 TeV to 980 TeV.. At these energy levels, each individual proton or neutron in a nucleus acts independently, so the probability of absorption by the Earth depends on the number of protons or neutrons that each neutrino encounters. The Earth’s core is particularly dense, so absorption is largest there.

By comparison, the most energetic neutrinos studied at particle accelerator facilities were at energies below 0.4 TeV. Researchers have used accelerators to fire beams containing an enormous number of lower energy neutrinos at detectors, but only a very tiny fraction yield interactions.

IceCube researchers used data collected from May 2010 to May 2011, from a partial array of 79 “strings,” detector units embedded more than a mile deep in the ice, each containing 60 sensors. Researchers compared data to a model describing how neutrinos propagate through the Earth to find the cross section that best fits the data. Simulations to support the analysis have been conducted using supercomputers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and at Berkeley Lab’s National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC).

Physicists now hope to repeat the study using an expanded, multiyear analysis of data from the full 86-string IceCube array and look at higher ranges of neutrino energies for any hints of new physics beyond the Standard Model. IceCube has already detected multiple ultra-high-energy neutrinos, in the range of petaelectronvolts (PeV), which have energy levels 1,000 times higher than those detected in the TeV range.

More data will both reduce researchers’ uncertainties and generate findings about neutrinos at even higher energies, opening new opportunities to explore nuclear effects in the Earth and collective magnetic effects. With a better understanding of nuclear neutrino interactions, scientists hope to explore the boundary between the Earth’s inner solid core and its liquid outer core.

-NSF-

BEIJING — Apple® today announced two new programs aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of its manufacturing partners in China. The programs will avoid over 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas pollution in the country between now and 2020, equivalent to taking nearly 4 million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.

Apple also announced that construction on 40 megawatts of solar projects in the Sichuan Province is now complete. These solar installations produce more than the total amount of electricity used by Apple’s offices and retail stores in China, making Apple’s operations carbon neutral in China.

“Climate change is one of the great challenges of our time, and the time for action is now,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “The transition to a new green economy requires innovation, ambition and purpose. We believe passionately in leaving the world better than we found it and hope that many other suppliers, partners and other companies join us in this important effort.”

First, Apple is significantly expanding its clean-energy investments in China. Apple plans to build more than 200 megawatts of solar projects in the northern, eastern and southern grid regions of China, which will produce the equivalent of the energy used by more by than 265,000 Chinese homes in a year and will begin to offset the energy used in Apple’s supply chain.

Second, Apple is launching a new initiative to drive its manufacturing partners to become more energy efficient and to use clean energy for their manufacturing operations. Apple will partner with suppliers in China to install more than 2 gigawatts of new clean energy in the coming years.

Apple also will share best practices in procuring clean energy and building high-quality renewable energy projects, and provide hands-on assistance to some suppliers in areas like energy efficiency audits, regulatory guidance and building strong partnerships to bring new clean energy projects to China.

As part of Apple’s industry-leading program, Foxconn will construct 400 megawatts of solar, starting in the Henan Province, by 2018. Foxconn has committed to generate as much clean energy as its Zhengzhou factory consumes in final production of iPhone.

“We are excited to embark on this initiative with Apple. Our companies share a vision for driving sustainability and I hope that this renewable energy project will serve as a catalyst for continued efforts to promote a greener ecosystem in our industry and beyond,” said Terry Gou, founder and CEO of Foxconn Technology Group. “Sustainability is a core pillar in Foxconn’s strategy and we are committed to investing in green manufacturing.”

“Being responsible, protecting air and water, and driving clean energy are at the heart of Apple’s commitment to China,” said Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “These projects go beyond Apple’s operations in China to help our suppliers adopt clean renewable energy.”

Apple has taken significant steps to protect the environment by transitioning from fossil fuels to clean energy. Today the company is powering 100 percent of its operations in China and the US, and more than 87 percent of its worldwide operations, with renewable energy.

Learn more about Apple’s environmental efforts at www.apple.com/environment.

Apple in China
Apple operates 19 corporate offices and 24 retail stores in Greater China, directly employing 10,000 people. In total, Apple has helped create and support over 4.4 million jobs in China, including at least 1.4 million iOS app developer jobs and other positions related to the iOS ecosystem.
Developers in China have earned more than $4 billion through the worldwide sale of apps on the App Store®, with over half of that amount paid in the last 12 months alone.

Apple revolutionized personal technology with the introduction of the Macintosh in 1984. Today, Apple leads the world in innovation with iPhone, iPad, the Mac and Apple Watch. Apple’s three software platforms — iOS, OS X and watchOS — provide seamless experiences across all Apple devices and empower people with breakthrough services including the App Store, Apple Music, Apple Pay and iCloud. Apple’s 100,000 employees are dedicated to making the best products on earth, and to leaving the world better than we found it.

CHICAGO, – Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) today announced that it has completed the sale of its South American fertilizer business to The Mosaic Company (NYSE: MOS).

“The completion of this sale is an important part of our ongoing portfolio management,” said ADM Chairman and CEO Patricia A. Woertz. “By selling our blending assets in Brazil and Paraguay, we are improving our returns and creating shareholder value. At the same time, we look forward to continuing to partner with growers in that important region through our grain origination and fertilizer distribution network.”

The transaction consists primarily of five ADM-owned blending facilities in Brazil and Paraguay. The Mosaic Company paid US$350 million for the assets; that purchase price included $150 million in working capital. As part of the transaction, ADM will purchase fertilizer from Mosaic and will continue to supply certain fertilizer customers in Brazil and Paraguay.

About ADM

For more than a century, the people of Archer Daniels Midland Company (NYSE: ADM) have transformed crops into products that serve the vital needs of a growing world. Today, we’re one of the world’s largest agricultural processors and food ingredient providers, with more than 33,000 employees serving customers in more than 140 countries. With a global value chain that includes more than 470 crop procurement locations, 285 ingredient manufacturing facilities, 40 innovation centers and the world’s premier crop transportation network, we connect the harvest to the home, making products for food, animal feed, chemical and energy uses. Learn more at www.adm.com.

Bank of America today announced a Catalytic Finance Initiative, designed to stimulate at least $10 billion of new investment into high-impact clean energy projects. The initiative will focus on developing or advancing innovative financing structures that reduce investment risk, thereby attracting a broader range of institutional investors.

“We want to take a leadership role in helping remove barriers to investment in clean energy projects around the world,” said Brian Moynihan, Bank of America chief executive officer. “The capital we commit and our strong global client and institutional investor relationships can lead to considerable additional investments in a lower carbon future.” Moynihan was the only U.S. CEO who spoke today at the United Nations Climate Summit Finance Session.

As part of the initiative, Bank of America will commit $1 billion in capital to investment structures that employ a range of de-risking tools, developed in conjunction with development finance institutions (DFIs), insurance providers, foundations and institutional investors. The goal of the initiative is to make clean energy investments more financeable, particularly in emerging markets where project impact is often amplified – addressing other large-scale issues like health, education and job creation.

The Catalytic Finance Initiative will broaden the impact of the bank’s work with partner organizations and drive at least $10 billion of incremental capital in investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access. It will target primarily larger-scale financing opportunities that use de-risking structures such as first loss and mezzanine tranches, risk guarantees and new insurance products to crowd-in capital that would not otherwise be deployed in this sector. The bank will also explore opportunities to work with foundations and impact-focused clients to support smaller, energy access opportunities, using innovative catalytic first-loss capital and other forms of credit support.

“In recent years, there’s been increased focus on de-risking tools that can be used to support clean energy and energy efficiency investment,” said Purna Saggurti, Bank of America Merrill Lynch chairman of Global Corporate and Investment Banking. “We look forward to expanding our work with DFIs, investors and peers to develop approaches to credit enhancement, blended finance and aggregation structures that will open the door for a rapid rise in investment in this area.”

“The financing gap is significant, and we really welcome Bank of America’s leadership in this area. We look forward to working with them and other global banks to accelerate private sector investment into renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy access,” said Rachel Kyte, group vice president and special envoy for Climate Change, World Bank Group.

“Bank of America’s bold contribution demonstrates the leadership and public-private partnership required to catalyze action towards a low-carbon economy. Transformative change will follow many such initiatives,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary-General and executive director of United Nations Environmental Programme.

“It is essential to bring together both private and public funding if we are to secure the investment needed to address the problems created by climate change. The European Investment Bank is committed to supporting clean energy investment around the world. Initiatives such as Bank of America’s for catalytic finance help to increase the opportunities for institutional investors. We particularly welcome its clear aim to increase co-operation between development finance institutions and private capital,” said Jonathan Taylor, European Investment Bank vice president responsible for climate action.

“Accelerating clean energy investments globally isn’t just about needing stronger government policies that will incentivize low-carbon technologies. It’s also about creating a broader array of financing vehicles that investors can utilize to stimulate capital flows. Bank of America’s new initiative is hugely important because it acknowledges this financing gap and aims to help fix it,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres and director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk.

Bank of America’s $70 billion multi-year environmental business commitment

Since 2007, Bank of America has dedicated $31.7 billion to low-carbon and other environmental business activities. In June 2012 in conjunction with the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Bank of America announced a 10-year, $50 billion environmental business goal to advance lower-carbon economic solutions through lending, equipment finance, capital markets and advisory activities, carbon finance and investment advice and solutions for clients around the world. The $50 billion commitment followed an initial $20 billion multi-year environmental business commitment announced in 2007 that was achieved four years ahead of schedule.

Read more about Bank of America’s commitment to the environment.

Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world’s leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small businesses, middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 49 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,000 retail banking offices and approximately 16,000 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users and more than 15 million mobile users. Bank of America is among the world’s leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

WAYZATA, Minn., Oct. 19, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — BASF and Cargill are expanding their partnership in the animal nutrition business, adding research and development capabilities and new markets to the partners’ existing feed enzymes distribution agreements. Together, they will develop, produce, market, and sell customer-centric enzyme products and solutions. The goal is to bring farmers feed innovations that reduce nutrient waste, improving feed efficiency, and promote animal growth and wellbeing.

BASF
BASF
“We are proud to enter this next stage of collaboration with Cargill. Through joint solutions we will further increase the value creation opportunities in the enzymes space,” says Julia Raquet, Senior Vice President BASF Animal Nutrition & Aroma Ingredients.

“Together, BASF and Cargill are bringing forward market solutions that target zero nutrient waste and address customers’ major productivity and sustainability challenges. By combining our scientific excellence and animal nutrition expertise, we will more quickly advance the feed industry efforts around greater nutrient absorption through enzymes that promote animal wellbeing and environmental protection,” says Adriano Marcon, President of Cargill’s animal nutrition business.

Enzymes help animals increase nutrient utilization from feed ingredients. This improves the growth of the animals and reduces nutrient excretion into the environment. Due to the lower excretion of nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen, the negative environmental impact is minimized, improving the overall sustainability of animal production. As enzymes increase feed efficiency in animals, less feed is needed to produce animal protein. In this way, enzymes help reduce land and water use to produce feed raw materials.

BASF is a pioneer and specialist in enzymes for more than 30 years, owning a genomic library with more than two million microorganisms. BASF’s enzymes technology includes enzyme identification, engineering, registration, scale-up, production and formulation. Cargill is in a favorable position in the value chain – one that has direct interaction with both producers and consumer-facing customers. The direct relationship with producers allows Cargill to develop solutions that provide foundational economic and environmental benefits to their operations. Both companies thus share a joint bond and at the same time complement each other in their efforts to be leaders in the field of feed enzyme solutions globally.

“By combining BASF´s and Cargill´s research and development knowledge, application know-how and broad market reach, we will deliver enzyme products and solutions generating distinctive value to the animal nutrition industry,” says Daniela Calleri, Vice President Business Management BASF Animal Nutrition.

“Building upon the successful start of our distribution partnership, we will generate even more value for our customers moving forward. They will benefit from innovative enzyme products and solutions further increasing utilization of feed nutrients and improving overall sustainability of animal production,” says Mariano Berdegue, Cargill Animal Nutrition Strategic Marketing and Technology Director.

Along with the new development agreement, BASF and Cargill also aim to expand their distribution partnerships over the coming months, adding further countries across multiple continents to the cooperation. This extended partnership builds upon the successful distribution collaboration both partners have developed across Brazil and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) in recent years.

NOTE TO EDITOR

About BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.

About Cargill
Cargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 155,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit www.cargill.com and our News Centre.

www.animal-nutrition.basf.com
www.cargill.com/animal-nutrition

SOURCE Cargill, Inc.

CONTACT: BASF – Joachim Hueter, Direct: +49(0)621-60-47735, Email: joachim.hueter@basf.com; Cargill – April Nelson, Direct: +1 952-742-9150, Email: media@cargill.com

Related Links
http://www.cargill.com

Bayer CropScience has signed an agreement to purchase certain DuPont Crop Protection Land Management assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand.

MONHEIM, Germany, and WILMINGTON, Delaware, – Bayer CropScience (Bayer) and DuPont Crop Protection (DuPont) announced today the signing of an agreement for Bayer to purchase certain DuPont Crop Protection Land Management assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand. Closing of the transaction is expected in the fourth quarter 2014, subject to customary regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

This acquisition will enable Bayer’s Environmental Science business unit to offer a comprehensive portfolio of products for effective weed control for Industrial Vegetation Management (IVM). Furthermore, the company will gain access to the growing Forestry and Range & Pasture business segments in North America. Under the agreement, DuPont will continue to sell its Land Management products outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and New Zealand and its range and pasture products in Mexico and Latin America.

“We are a leader in the professional environmental science market globally and the planned acquisition underlines our ambition to further grow this position in the years to come,” said Bayer CropScience CEO Liam Condon. “It allows us to provide our customers with first-choice solutions to protect and care for the environment in which we live, work and play. Keeping our railways, railroads and infrastructure clean and safe and forestry plantations more productive is part of our mission – Bayer: Science for A Better Life.”

“This agreement is another step in the execution of our DuPont Crop Protection business growth strategy,” said Rik Miller, president of DuPont Crop Protection. “We continue to focus on delivering our science and innovative new offerings to the market that drives profitable growth both today and over the long-term.”

Princeton molecular biologist Bonnie Bassler and graduate student Justin Silpe have identified a virus, VP882, that can listen in on bacterial conversations — and then, in a twist like something out of a spy novel, they found a way to use that to make it attack bacterial diseases like E. coli and cholera.

“The idea that a virus is detecting a molecule that bacteria use for communication — that is brand-new,” said Bassler, the Squibb Professor of Molecular Biology. “Justin found this first naturally occurring case, and then he re-engineered that virus so that he can provide any sensory input he chooses, rather than the communication molecule, and then the virus kills on demand.” Their paper will appear in the Jan. 10 issue of the journal Cell.

A virus can only ever make one decision, Bassler said: Stay in the host or kill the host. That is, either remain under the radar inside its host or activate the kill sequence that creates hundreds or thousands of offspring that burst out, killing the current host and launching themselves toward new hosts.

There’s an inherent risk in choosing the kill option: “If there are no other hosts nearby, then the virus and all its kin just died,” she said. VP882 has found a way to take the risk out of the decision. It listens for the bacteria to announce that they are in a crowd, upping the chances that when the virus kills, the released viruses immediately encounter new hosts. “It’s brilliant and insidious!” said Bassler.

E. coli bacteria infected with eavesdropping virus
These E. coli bacteria harbor proteins from the eavesdropping virus. One of the viral proteins has been tagged with a red marker. When the virus is in the “stay” mode (left), the bacteria grow and the red protein is spread throughout each cell. When the virus overhears that its hosts have achieved a quorum (right), the kill-stay decision protein is flipped to “kill” mode. A second viral protein binds the red protein and sends it to the cell poles (yellow dots). All the cells in the right panel will soon die.

Images courtesy of Bonnie Bassler and Justin Silpe, Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University
“This paper provides an entirely new perspective on the dynamic relationship between viruses and their hosts,” said Graham Hatfull, the Eberly Family Professor of Biotechnology at the University of Pittsburgh, who was not involved in this research. “This study tells us for the first time … that when a phage is in the lysogenic [stay] state, it is not ‘fast asleep’, but rather catnapping, with one eye open and ears alert, ready to respond when it ‘hears’ signals that cells are getting ready to respond to changes in their environment.”

Bassler, who is also the chair of molecular biology and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, had discovered years before that bacteria can communicate and sense one another’s presence and that they wait to establish a quorum before they act in concert. But she had never imagined that a virus could eavesdrop on this quorum-sensing communication.

“The bugs are getting bugged,” she said with a laugh. “Plus, Justin’s work shows that these quorum-sensing molecules are conveying information across kingdom boundaries.” Viruses are not in the same kingdom as bacteria — in fact, they are not in any kingdom, because they are not technically alive. But for such radically different organisms to be able to detect and interpret each other’s signals is simply mind-boggling, she said. It’s not like enemy nations spying on each other, or even like a human communicating with a dog — those at least are members of the same kingdom (animal) and phylum (vertebrate).

After finding the first evidence of this cross-kingdom eavesdropping, Silpe started looking for more — and found it.

“He just started a brand-new field,” Bassler said. “The idea that there’s only one example of this cross-domain communication made no sense to us. Justin discovered the first case, and then, with his discovery in hand, he went looking more deeply and he found a whole set of viruses that harbor similar capabilities. They may not all be listening in to this quorum-sensing information, but it is clear that these viruses can listen in to their hosts’ information and then use that information to kill them.”

Silpe said he was drawn to work in Bassler’s lab because of her research on bacterial communication. “Communication seems like such an evolved trait,” he said. “To hear that bacteria can do it — her discovery — it was just mind-blowing that organisms you think of as so primitive could actually be capable of communication. And viruses are even simpler than bacteria. The one I studied, for example, only has about 70 genes. It’s really remarkable that it devotes one of those genes to quorum sensing. Communication is clearly not something higher organisms created.”

Once Silpe demonstrated that VP882 was eavesdropping, he began experimenting with feeding it misinformation to trick the virus into killing on command — to turn the predator into an assassin.

VP882 is not the first virus used as an antimicrobial treatment. Viruses that prey on bacteria are called “phages,” and “phage therapy” — targeting a bacterial disease with a phage — is a known medical strategy. But VP882 is the first phage that uses eavesdropping to know when it is optimal to kill its targets, making Silpe’s experiments with salmonella and other disease-causing bacteria the first time that phage therapy has used trans-kingdom communication.

In addition, this virus holds enormous promise as a therapeutic tool because it does not act like a typical virus, Bassler said. Most viruses can only infect a very specific type of cell. Flu viruses, for example, only infect lung cells; HIV only targets specific immune-system cells. But the virus VP882 has an “exceptionally broad host range,” Bassler said. So far, Silpe has only performed “proof of principle” tests with three unrelated bacteria: Vibrio cholerae (cholera), salmonella and E. coli. Those diseases have evolved separately for hundreds of millions of years, so the fact that they are all susceptible to this bacterial assassin suggests that many, many more are as well.

Hatfull is also optimistic about the utility of this re-engineered virus for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. “Antibiotic resistance is clearly a major global health threat, and there is a clear and evident demand for new strategies and approaches to this problem,” he said. “Although we have admittedly found it tricky even to reach ‘first base’ with basic therapeutic use of naturally occurring phages, we can envisage the possibility of a ‘home run’ if we can engineer phages for therapeutic use that have very specific targeting.” These viral assassins might even slow down the emergence of antibiotic resistant strains, he said.

Bassler gives all credit for the discovery to Silpe. After identifying a new quorum-sensing gene in V. cholerae, he made the choice to search genome databases for that gene. It showed up in some cholera-related strains and exactly one virus. Bassler wondered if that could be a meaningless data artifact, but Silpe wanted to get a specimen of the virus and run experiments.

“He was gung-ho, and I thought, ‘What the heck, give this kid a little rope. If this isn’t working soon, we can always move on,’” she said. “His was a crazy idea, because there’s never, ever been evidence of a virus listening in on bacterial host information to decide whether to stay put or kill. But this lab was built on crazy ideas, like bacteria talking to each other, and we’ve kind of made a living out of it. … Of course, that’s the beauty of science, and science at Princeton, that you have enough resources to play those hunches out, and see if there’s a ‘there’ there. And this time, there was a big ‘there’ there.”

“A Host-Produced Quorum-Sensing Autoinducer Controls a Phage Lysis-Lysogeny Decision,” by Justin Silpe and Bonnie Bassler, will be published in the Jan. 10 issue of Cell and was released online Dec. 13 (DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.10.059). It was supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, NIH Grant 2R37GM065859, National Science Foundation Grant MCB-1713731, the Max Planck Society-Alexander von Humboldt, and the Department of Defense through the National Defense Science & Engineering Graduate Fellowship.

While April showers might bring May flowers, they also contribute to toxic algae blooms, dead zones and declining water quality in U.S. lakes, reservoirs and coastal waters, a new study shows.

In the Midwest, the problem is largely due to phosphorus, a key element in fertilizers that is carried off the land and into the water, where it grows algae as easily as it grows corn and soybeans.

Previous research had found that waterways receive most of their annual phosphorus load in only a dozen or two events each year, reports Steve Carpenter, director emeritus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology and lead author of a new paper published online in the journal Limnology and Oceanography.

The paper ties those phosphorus pulses to extreme rain events. In fact, Carpenter says, the bigger the rainstorm, the more phosphorus is flushed downstream.

Carpenter and his colleagues used daily records of stream discharge to measure the amount of phosphorus running into Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, from two of its main tributaries.

The dataset spanned a period from the early 1990s to 2015. The scientists then looked at long-term weather data and found that big rainstorms were followed immediately by big pulses of phosphorus.

The researchers reviewed stream data from the same period, when seven of the 11 largest rain storms since 1901 occurred.

“This is an important example of how changes in one aspect of the environment, in this case precipitation, can lead to changes in other aspects, such as phosphorus load,” said Tom Torgersen, director of the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Water, Sustainability and Climate program, which, along with NSF’s Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) program, funded the research.

Added David Garrison, chair of NSF’s LTER Working Group, “This study’s findings, which depend on long-term data, are important to maintaining water quality not only today, but into the future.”

Carpenter agreed. “Without long-term data, this research would never have happened.” The next steps, he said, need to include new strategies for managing nutrient runoff.

Farmers and conservation groups now use several strategies to try to slow water down and capture some of the sediment and fertilizer it carries as it runs off a field. “But we’re not going to solve the problem with buffer strips or contour plowing or winter cover crops,” said Carpenter. Although those practices all help, he said, “eventually a really big storm will overwhelm them.”

The best available option for protecting water quality is to keep excess phosphorus off the landscape, Carpenter said. “A rainstorm can’t wash fertilizer or manure downstream if it isn’t there.”

Carpenter noted that while there are countless acres in the Midwest that are oversaturated with phosphorus, there are also places that aren’t. And that, he said, “is an encouraging sign. Some farmers are having success in decreasing their soil phosphorus, and we could learn from them.”

Added John Schade, an NSF LTER program director, “This analysis clearly shows that extreme rainfall is responsible for a large amount of the phosphorus that flows into inland waters. Now, we need to develop nutrient management strategies to meet the challenge. Without long-term data like those presented here, the impact of these events would be difficult to assess.”

NASA has approved the completion of Boeing’s first milestone in the company’s path toward launching crews to the International Space Station from the United States under a groundbreaking Commercial Crew Transportation Capability (CCtCap) contract.

The Certification Baseline Review is the first of many more milestones, including flight tests from Florida’s Space Coast that will establish the basis for certifying Boeing’s human space transportation system to carry NASA astronauts to the space station. The review established a baseline design of the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 spacecraft, United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, and associated ground and mission operations systems.

“The work done now is crucial to each of the future steps in the path to certification, including a flight test to the International Space Station,” said Kathy Lueders, manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program. “This first milestone establishes an expected operating rhythm for NASA and Boeing to meet our certification goal.”

On Sept. 16, the agency unveiled its selection of Boeing and SpaceX to transport U.S. crews to and from the space station using their CST-100 and Crew Dragon spacecraft, respectively. These contracts will provide U.S. missions to the station, ending the nation’s sole reliance on Russia and allowing the station’s current crew of six to grow, enabling more research aboard the unique microgravity laboratory.

The CCtCap contracts are designed for the companies to complete NASA certification of their human space transportation systems, including a crewed flight test with at least one NASA astronaut aboard to verify the fully integrated rocket and spacecraft system can launch from the United States, maneuver in orbit, and dock to the space station, as well as validate all its systems perform as expected. Once the test program has been completed successfully and the systems achieve NASA certification, the contractors will conduct at least two, and as many as six, crewed missions to the space station. The spacecraft also will serve as a lifeboat for astronauts aboard the station.

During the review, Boeing provided NASA with a roadmap toward certification, including its baseline design, concept of operations and management and insight plans. The Boeing team also detailed how the CST-100 would connect with the station and how it plans to train NASA astronauts to fly the CST-100 in orbit.

“It’s important for us to set a robust plan for achieving certification upfront,” said Boeing Commercial Crew Program Manager John Mulholland. “It’s crucial for us to achieve our 2017 goal, and the plan we’ve put in place will get us there.”

By expanding the crew size and enabling private companies to handle launches to low-Earth orbit — a region NASA has been visiting since 1962 — the nation’s space agency can focus on getting the most research and experience out of America’s investment in the International Space Station. NASA also can expand its focus to develop the Space Launch System and Orion capsule for missions in the proving ground of deep space beyond the moon to advance the skills and techniques that will enable humans to explore Mars.

For more information about NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/commercialcrew

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, — Boeing [NYSE:BA], South African Airways (SAA) and SkyNRG announced today they are collaborating to make sustainable aviation biofuel from a new type of tobacco plant. This initiative broadens cooperation between Boeing and SAA to develop renewable jet fuel in ways that support South Africa’s goals for public health as well as economic and rural development.

“It’s an honor for Boeing to work with South African Airways on a pioneering project to make sustainable jet fuel from an energy-rich tobacco plant,” said J. Miguel Santos, managing director for Africa, Boeing International. “South Africa is leading efforts to commercialize a valuable new source of biofuel that can further reduce aviation’s environmental footprint and advance the region’s economy.”

SkyNRG is expanding production of the hybrid plant known as Solaris as an energy crop that farmers could grow instead of traditional tobacco. Test farming of the plants, which are effectively nicotine-free, is underway in South Africa with biofuel production expected from large and small farms in the next few years. Initially, oil from the plant’s seeds will be converted into jet fuel. In coming years, Boeing expects emerging technologies to increase South Africa’s aviation biofuel production from the rest of the plant.

“By using hybrid tobacco, we can leverage knowledge of tobacco growers in South Africa to grow a marketable biofuel crop without encouraging smoking,” said Ian Cruickshank, South African Airways Group Environmental Affairs Specialist. “This is another way that SAA and Boeing are driving development of sustainable biofuel while enhancing our region’s economic opportunity.”

“We strongly believe in the potential of successfully rolling out Solaris in the Southern African region to power sustainable fuels that are also affordable,” said Maarten van Dijk, Chief Technology Officer, SkyNRG.

In October 2013, Boeing and SAA said they would work together to develop a sustainable aviation biofuel supply chain in Southern Africa. As part of that effort, they are working with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials to position farmers with small plots of land to grow biofuel feedstocks that provide socioeconomic value to communities without harming food supplies, fresh water or land use.
Boeing is the aviation industry’s leader in the development of sustainable aviation biofuel, working with partners in the United States, Europe, China, Middle East, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Australia and other countries. When produced sustainably, aviation biofuel reduces carbon emissions by 50 to 80 percent compared to petroleum jet fuel through its lifecycle. Airlines have conducted more than 1,500 passenger flights using biofuel since the fuel was approved in 2011.

Siemens and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) announced the winners of the City Climate Leadership Awards 2014 at a ceremony held on Monday night in New York City. The Awards honor cities all over the world for excellence in urban sustainability and leadership in the fight against climate change.

The winners and presenters of the C40 & Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards 2014 after the ceremony.

The awards honored eleven city projects for their leadership in the fight against climate change. .
The winners and presenters of the C40 & Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards 2014 after the ceremony. The awards honored eleven city projects for their leadership in the fight against climate change.
The winning cities in the ten award categories are:
Amsterdam (Finance & Economic Development)
Barcelona (Intelligent City Infrastructure)
Buenos Aires (Solid Waste Management)
London (Carbon Measurement & Planning and Air Quality)
Melbourne (Adaptation & Resilience)
New York City (Energy Efficient Built Environment)
Portland (Sustainable Communities)
Seoul (Green Energy)
Shenzhen (Urban Transportation)

“The C40 & Siemens City Climate Leadership Awards demonstrate the breadth, scale and impact of the most innovative climate actions in cities around the world,” said C40 Chair, Rio de Janeiro Mayor Eduardo Paes. “I commend the winning cities for their leadership and commitment, and am confident that their knowledge and experience will help drive other cities to implement on-the-ground solutions faster and more efficiently. Through cooperation and collaboration, cities continue to deliver the results that are having a global impact.”

“In the fight against climate change, cities have the most crucial role to play,” said Roland Busch, CEO of Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. “And cities are very aware of this. We were simply overwhelmed by the number and quality of environmentally impactful and innovative city initiatives from all over the world. We have seen bold approaches, out-of-the-box thinking and smart ingenuity. The key thing is: these are not just ideas but these are ideas that are making a difference.”

The winners were celebrated at an Awards Ceremony featuring Eduardo Paes as well as Roland Busch, C40 Board President Michael R. Bloomberg and Gro Harlem Brundtland, former Norwegian Prime Minister. The event brought together more than 250 decision-makers from cities around the world including national leaders, mayors, city planners, policy makers and representatives from the business world.

The award-winning cities were selected for the following actions:
Finance and Economic Development recipient: Amsterdam for its ‘Investment Fund’. With this innovative project the city demonstrates how environmental and climate protection initiatives can be effectively incorporated into a city’s economic development strategy. Amsterdam designed a powerful financing instrument of USD 103 million to be invested in sustainable energy projects, some of them focusing on small businesses. The fund lowers energy bills for citizens and businesses and contributes to Amsterdam’s overall CO2 reduction targets: In 2010, the city had already achieved a 20 percent reduction, compared to 1990 levels.

Intelligent City Infrastructure recipient: Barcelona for its ‘Urban Platform’. This project introduces a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) architecture that provides a single platform, which interconnects the entire city. The platform enables the city to manage resources efficiently and reduce the impact of urban infrastructure on the environment. It will help the city save energy and reduce pollution thanks to sensors monitoring water levels for irrigation, garbage containers, parking, people flow, energy efficiency in city buildings, etc. The program is also geared towards citizen engagement and features a web platform called “GO” (Open Government), which publishes all data publicly.

Solid Waste Management recipient: Buenos Aires for its ‘Solid Urban Waste Reduction Project’. This project is not only improving the city’s cleanliness, but it is also a well-integrated and easily replicable strategy that includes strong citizen engagement and job growth. The city has committed to reducing waste sent to landfill by 83 percent by 2017, achieving this through an ambitious waste treatment program based on waste separation at origin, recovery, recycling and valorization. The city’s efforts have already resulted in a significant reduction of waste sent to landfills.

Carbon Measurement and Planning recipient: London for its assessment of city-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Between 2012 and 2013, the Greater London Authority (GLA) took a holistic approach to measuring GHG emissions. It was the first city worldwide to report direct and indirect city-wide GHG emissions following internationally recognized GHG accounting and reporting principles. The effort builds on the C40 and partners’ Global Protocol for Community-scale GHG Emissions (GPC) (in which London was also a pilot city), including a wider range of indirect emissions and a separate consumption-based methodology.

Air Quality recipient: London for its ‘New Taxi for London’ project. Transport accounts for 60 percent of all air pollutant emissions in London. This project seeks to develop new zero emission-capable vehicles with manufacturers; it will use GPS-based geofencing to switch hybrid vehicles to its zero emission drive cycle and will provide a range of innovative financing solutions. The aim of the project is to reduce emissions from the city’s iconic black taxi fleet by up to 100 percent in central London and around 75 percent in the rest of the city. Since the introduction of age limits more than 3,000 of the oldest taxis have been retired and from 2018 all taxis will be newly licensed. This project is a unique approach of aligning the Government Office for low emission vehicles, the European Investment Bank and the UK Green Investment Bank.

Adaptation and Resilience recipient: Melbourne for its ‘Urban Landscapes Climate Adaptation Program’. By increasing green space to 7.6 percent of municipal space and doubling the tree canopy, the program’s goal is to cool the city by 4°C and reduce drought vulnerability using green infrastructure. The city’s actions have already led to the planting of 12,000 new trees and the addition of 10,000 square meters of green space. The program includes running extensive citizen engagement initiatives, which together with the other actions provide a wide range of benefits including improved air quality and city resilience, reduced energy demand, and reduced heat-related illness and morbidity.

Energy Efficient Built Environment recipient: New York for its ‘Greener, Greater Buildings Plan’ and New York City ‘Carbon Challenge’ program. Launched to back up New York’s environmental goal of reducing citywide GHG emissions by 30 percent by 2030, these programs benefit building owners through energy savings, and improve both air quality and public health. By reducing an estimated 5 percent of GHG emissions, this program can save the city USD 7 billion in energy costs and create roughly 17,800 jobs over the next 10 years. The NYC Carbon Challenge is designed to reduce emissions by more than 600,000 metric tons by the end of the program.

Sustainable Communities recipient: Portland for its ‘Healthy Connected City’ network. The city is developing “complete neighborhoods” to give all residents safe and convenient access to the goods and services needed in daily life. In 2012, 45 percent of the Portland population lived in complete neighborhoods, a figure which the city aims to raise to 80 percent by 2035. The city’s ambitious and successful initiative shows a unique and valuable pathway to sustainable, resilient, and low carbon communities.

Green Energy recipient: Seoul for its ‘Make Seoul a City of Sunlight’ project. The city is building more photovoltaic facilities, targeting a reduction of greenhouse emissions as well as the city’s heavy dependence on fossil fuels, oil and nuclear and coal power plants. This project is part of the ‘One Less Nuclear Power Initiative’, designed to reduce the city’s energy demand by two million tons of oil equivalent, which is the same amount as the output of one nuclear plant. Seoul’s aim is to function as a huge solar power plant and create energy independent communities.

Urban Transportation Award recipient: Shenzhen, for its ‘New Energy Vehicle Promotion’ project. As of December 2013, Shenzhen has introduced a new energy vehicle fleet of more than 6,000 units, making it the largest zero-emissions fleet in service worldwide. The project aims to add 35,000 new energy vehicles to the fleet in the next two years and to reach a zero emission ecosystem in the long term. Between 2009 and 2013, this program has cut CO2 emissions by 160,000 tones, leading to the city being ranked in the top 10 for best air quality in China according to China’s Environment Agency.

About the Awards competition:
This year marks the second collaboration between C40 and Siemens on this awards competition, which recognizes innovative city driven climate actions. Cities around the world submitted 87 applications. An independent, seven-member judging panel consisting of former city mayors, architects, representatives of the World Bank, as well as C40 and Siemens evaluated 31 projects in 26 cities as award finalists.
The City Climate Leadership Awards are part of a broader collaboration between Siemens and C40, announced in New York City in April 2013. In addition to the Awards, Siemens supports the C40 Measurement and Planning Initiative – an effort dedicated to enhancing each member city’s ability to measure data, take action and track progress towards self-identified goals. Siemens’ technical expertise is directly available to C40’s robust network of cities.

For more information on the Awards and the projects of the finalist cities, go to: www.cityclimateleadershipawards.com
For more information on the Green City Index, go to: www.siemens.com/entry/cc/en/greencityindex.htm
The Siemens Infrastructure & Cities Sector (Munich, Germany), with approximately 90,000 employees, focuses on sustainable and intelligent infrastructure technologies. Its offering includes products, systems and solutions for intelligent traffic management, rail-bound transportation, smart grids, power distribution, energy efficient buildings, and safety and security. The Sector comprises the divisions Building Technologies, Low and Medium Voltage, Mobility and Logistics, Rail Systems and Smart Grid. For more information visit http://www.siemens.com/infrastructure-cities

The C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) is a network of large and engaged cities from around the world committed to implementing meaningful and sustainable climate-related actions locally that will help address climate change globally. C40 was established in 2005 and expanded via a partnership in 2006 with President William J. Clinton’s Climate Initiative (CCI). The current chair of the C40 is Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes; former Chair, 108th Mayor of New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. To learn more about the work of C40 and our Cities, please visit www.c40.org, follow us on Twitter @c40cities and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/C40Cities.

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 11, 2022 – Clean fuels, such as advanced biofuels and hydrogen, play an essential role in contributing to Canada’s plan to reach net zero by 2050. Recognizing the unique opportunities that clean fuels present for Indigenous businesses and communities, the Government of Canada is helping grow their domestic production capacity while strengthening the economy, creating good, sustainable jobs and supporting workers in the natural resource sectors.

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources, today launched a call for proposals for Indigenous-led projects to build new or expand existing clean fuel production capacity in Canada.

As a component of the Clean Fuels Fund, this dedicated Indigenous Call for Project Proposals targets new production and feasibility projects at the commercial scale and in advanced states of readiness. Projects for the production of clean liquid or gaseous fuels — such as hydrogen, advanced ethanol and renewable diesel — are eligible for consideration.

Selected projects are expected to enable emissions reductions while benefitting Indigenous communities, leveraging private sector investments, creating jobs and improving gender and diversity in the clean fuels sector. Indigenous businesses, communities and organizations are encouraged to apply.

A single application can be submitted for feasibility studies and/or production projects. Feasibility and front-end engineering design studies can receive up to 75 percent of eligible costs to a maximum of $5 million, while production projects may receive support of up to 50 percent of total eligible costs to a maximum of $150 million each.

The $1.5-billion Clean Fuels Fund supports the growth of domestic production capacity of clean fuels. It also supports the implementation of proposed Clean Fuels Regulations and delivers on the Hydrogen Strategy for Canada.

Applications for the call for proposals for Indigenous-led projects will be accepted until funding is no longer available.

Quote

“Indigenous businesses are bringing forward innovative solutions in the clean fuels space. Our government is partnering with them on these innovative projects to make Canada a global supplier of choice for clean fuels.”

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson
Minister of Natural Resources

Related Links

Call for Proposals: Funding for Indigenous-led Clean Production Capacity Projects
Clean Fuels Fund
A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy
Budget 2021
Hydrogen Strategy for Canada
Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)

SOURCE Natural Resources Canada

CONTACT: Natural Resources Canada, Media Relations, 343-292-6100, media@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca; Ian Cameron, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Natural Resources, 613-447-3488, Ian.Cameron@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca

WASHINGTON — As part of the Obama Administration’s Climate Action Plan, today the Energy Department announced the selection of 18 projects across the country to research innovative, second-generation technologies that will help improve the efficiency and drive down costs of carbon capture processes for new and existing coal-fired power plants.

“In the past four years we’ve more than doubled renewable energy generation from wind and solar power. However, coal and other fossil fuels still provide 80 percent of our energy, 70 percent of our electricity, and will be a major part of our energy future for decades,” said Secretary Ernest Moniz. “That’s why any serious effort to protect future generations from the worst effects of climate change must also include developing, demonstrating and deploying the technologies to use our abundant fossil fuel resources as cleanly as possible. As part of the President’s all-of-the-above approach to develop clean and affordable sources of American energy, the projects announced today will focus on the next generation of carbon capture technologies – helping to drive down the cost, increase efficiency and ensure America’s continued international leadership in combating climate change.”

To date, the Obama Administration has invested $6 billion in clean coal technologies to ensure the U.S. continues to have access to safe, sustainable and affordable energy from our abundant domestic fossil resources. Developing, demonstrating and deploying these technologies is a critical part of President Obama’s all-of-the-above approach to American energy.

With nearly $84 million in investments from the Energy Department – and additional cost-share from industry, universities, and other research institutions – the projects will support the development of advanced technologies that will help enable efficient, cost-effective application of carbon capture and storage (CCS) processes for new and existing coal-fired power plants.

Projects will conduct carbon capture research for two different fossil power generation processes. For traditional, combustion-based power plants – like most coal-fired plants today – research will focus on more efficiently capturing carbon emissions post combustion. More advanced, gasification-based electric power plants break down coal – or almost any carbon-based feedstock – into its chemical constituents before any combustion takes place. Research into this technology will improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of pre-combustion carbon capture.

COURTESY OF US ENERGY DEPARTMENT

BEIJING, Dec. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China-Arab cooperation in the fields of infrastructure, space and health has been continuously developed in a sustainable manner.

China has vowed to accelerate the development of the China-Arab inter-governmental science and technology innovation cooperation mechanism.

CGTN_Covid_Vaccine
CGTN_Covid_Vaccine
The country will implement more partner projects, and continue to improve the sci-tech capabilities of Arab states.

Lusail Stadium: first China-built World Cup venue
Lusail Stadium, the main venue for this year’s World Cup, was constructed with China Railway Construction Corporation as the main contractor.

Shaped like a date palm bowl or an enamel lantern, the stadium will host the World Cup final, scheduled for December 18.

It is the first time a Chinese company has built a World Cup venue, which is featured on the new 10-riyal banknote of Qatar.

“The Lusail Stadium is by far the world’s largest, most advanced and most complex professional football stadium built to FIFA standards,” Li Chongyang, head of the Chinese side of the engineering team, told the China Media Group (CMG).

Lusail Stadium, which can host 80,000 spectators, shows Chinese enterprises’ technical capabilities and service levels, Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary general of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for 2022 FIFA World Cup, told CGTN.

China-UAE joint vaccines projects
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) helped China with the clinical trial of its COVID-19 vaccine and later established localized production lines.

In 2020, the UAE approved registration of an inactivated vaccine developed by China’s Sinopharm.

“The UAE was the first country to approach a Chinese vaccine,” Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, the UAE ambassador to China, told CGTN. “The production facility can produce 200 million doses per year. The vaccine is not for the UAE, not for China, but for the rest of the world.”

Space cooperation
China is pushing forward space cooperation with countries participating in the BRI.

China and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding on March 16, 2017, sharing the scientific data in space cooperation.

The two then jointly unveiled three lunar images acquired through cooperation on the relay satellite mission for Chang’e-4 lunar probe, according to the China National Space Administration.

In 2018, the China-Arab States BDS/GNSS Center, the first overseas center for China’s indigenous Beidou Navigation Satellite System (BDS), was inaugurated in Tunisia. BDS-related cooperation expanded to more Arab states in 2021 as they agreed to implement more pilot projects.

In addition, Kuwait’s national satellite team looks forward to cooperating with China.

Link: https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-12-10/Infrastructure-vaccines-and-space-China-Arab-sci-tech-cooperation-1fDKJNs4QuI/index.html

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1965838/CGTN_Covid_Vaccine.jpg

SOURCE CGTN

DETROIT – Chevrolet is investing in clean energy efficiency initiatives of U.S. colleges and universities through its voluntary carbon-reduction initiative. The brand helped develop a formula where campuses can earn money for certain upgrades that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This marks the first time college campuses can use carbon performance methodologies to make money via greenhouse gas reductions that result from energy efficiency. As carbon emissions continue to contribute to the warming of the earth, such funding enables universities to reduce their impact and save money on utility bills while engaging and educating students in their efforts. The funding opportunity is timely given that 675 campuses have pledged to reduce their carbon emissions.

“Historically, campuses purchased other organizations’ carbon credits to help achieve carbon neutrality,” said Eban Goodstein, director of Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy in New York. “Now they are earning revenues for the carbon reductions achieved right on their own sites, where the long-term clean energy benefits lie for their community.”

Campuses are increasingly pursuing aggressive clean energy efficiency efforts from installing more efficient building equipment to using renewable energy to help power operations. With this initiative, Chevrolet will buy and retire carbon credits resulting from some campuses’ greenhouse gas reductions from either their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified buildings or other campuswide energy-saving initiatives.

Chevrolet is dedicated to securing a cleaner energy future through efficient vehicles, responsible manufacturing and supporting community-based carbon-reduction projects.

“Electric cars like the Chevrolet Volt and Spark EV drawing electricity from a cleaner energy infrastructure is a win-win for our customers and the environment,” said David Tulauskas, GM director of sustainability. “The Chevrolet carbon-reduction initiative is about supporting the ingenious ways people are reducing their carbon emissions, like the efforts of leaders driving the higher education sustainability movement.”

For the last two years, Chevrolet has been the largest U.S. corporate buyer of voluntary carbon credits by volume, according to the nonprofit Forest Trends Ecosystem Marketplace. The brand has supported many projects, from helping a landfill heat a hospital with methane gas to helping truckers avoid idling their engines at rest stops. The initiative is part of the brand’s voluntary goal set in 2010 to prevent up to 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions from entering the earth’s atmosphere. That’s like the annual carbon reduction benefit of a mature forest the size of Yellowstone.

With this next phase, Chevrolet aims to spur even more carbon-reduction activities that benefit college campuses, their communities and job creation.

To develop the new methodologies, Chevrolet worked with an advisory team led by the Climate Neutral Business Network with support from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the U.S. Green Building Council and the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education. The methodologies have been approved through the Verified Carbon Standard.

Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. and Valencia College in Orlando, Fla. are among the first to apply these new methodologies with pilot projects, confirming that funding such as Chevrolet’s is strategic to their other efforts to reduce greenhouse gases.

Chevrolet’s funds will be used for additional energy efficiency retrofits at Valencia. Ball State’s pilot involves selling some of the carbon reductions from installing the largest geothermal system at a U.S. college.

Said Robert Koester, professor of architecture and chair of the Ball State University Council on the Environment: “Without such third-party financing of this type, most colleges and universities would not be able to capitalize on the more significant investments needed to bring down their carbon load on the atmosphere.”

Visit Chevrolet’s website for more information about the carbon-reduction initiative.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world’s largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.9 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.gm.com

High-quality water is of paramount importance to power generation. It helps facilitate efficient and reliable operations, protect c­­ritical equipment, and minimize environmental impact. Source water for many power plants, however, is far from ideal. That is certainly the case for a power station in Alberta, where an innovative two-pass reverse osmosis (RO) design was used to optimize the plant’s existing configuration. The design includes DOW FILMTEC™ ECO 440i Reverse Osmosis elements and DOW FILMTEC™ XFRLE-400/34i Reverse Osmosis elements. Since their installation, FILMTEC ECO elements have resulted in 30 percent more energy savings in the system’s second pass and FILMTEC XFRLE has improved overall pressure drops and fouling.

The lake source water at the power station is derived from a combination of the North Saskatchewan River, mine drainage, plant site drainage, sewage effluent and chemical neutralization ponds. Due to the highly variable nature of source water, the system requires thicker feed spacer elements to reduce fouling rates, and to lower the pressure drop in the first pass.

“To combat this water source challenge, we designed a two-pass RO system with state-of-the-art FILMTEC XFRLE elements for the first pass and FILMTEC ECO 440i elements for the second pass,” said Denise Haukkala, technical service, Dow Water & Process Solutions.

Together, these low energy elements provide a solution to treat the power station’s high-fouling source water, and deliver high-quality permeate for the boiler feed process. FILMTEC ECO and FILMTEC XFRLE elements are optimized with low pressure drop feed spacers to allow for lower feed operating pressures, which help reduce operating costs and counter the effects of the cool feed water temperature range (7-26°C). FILMTEC ECO elements have also helped reduce chemical usage, when the plant opted not to degas the carbon dioxide with caustic in the second pass, while maintaining high permeate quality for continuous electrodeionization (CEDI) polishing prior to feeding the boiler.

Power plants rely on a steady stream of water to convert heat energy into electrical energy to drive the turbines that run the electric generators. To accomplish this, the plants require high-quality feedwater to operate their boiler and cooling system. The treatment of boiler feedwater is extremely critical, as problems can result from the use of untreated water in extreme pressure and temperature environments, including lower efficiency, overheating, damage, and the need for frequent cleaning. Since 95 percent of water used in plant operations can be reused, it is vital that both the feedwater and recycled steams are effectively treated to prevent scale and corrosion in the steam water circuit.

“Highly variable source water and cooler feed temperatures can present unique energy and fouling challenges for Canadian power plants,” remarks Wendy Rae, account manager, Dow Water & Process Solutions. “We are proud to provide early adopters of innovative technology with solutions to help lower their operating costs, reduce plant downtime, and maintain product water quality and consistency.”

Recognizing the perilous state of water demand, FILMTEC ECO elements’ unique configuration offers the possibility of higher rejection of salts at significantly reduced operating pressures, helping deliver up to 40 percent better water purification while using up to 30 percent less energy, resulting in up to 19 percent lower operating costs. FILMTEC ECO membrane technology recently won a prestigious Edison Award for its innovation and contribution to combat global water scarcity. The new technology was also named Dow’s second-ever Breakthrough to a World Challenge as part of the Company’s 2015 Sustainability Goals .

About Dow Water & Process Solutions
A global leader in sustainable separation and purification technology, Dow Water & Process Solutions is making real progress in the world. We’re helping to make water safer and more accessible, food taste better, pharmaceuticals more effective and industries more efficient and spearheading the development of sustainable technologies that integrate water and energy requirements. Dow Water & Process Solutions offers a broad portfolio of ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration membranes, fine particle filters and electrodeionization products, with strong positions in a number of major application areas, including industrial and municipal water, industrial processes, pharmaceuticals, power, oil and gas, residential water and waste and water reuse. More information about Dow Water & Process Solutions can be found at www.dowwaterandprocess.com.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Geneva, Switzerland – The World Economic Forum’s 50th Annual Meeting, to be held in Davos on 21-24 January, will be climate-neutral for the fourth consecutive year, with new initiatives to boost resource efficiency and reduce emissions.

Building on its 2018 ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management, the Forum in 2020 is working to make Davos one of the most sustainable international summits in four key areas:

Emissions: The Forum has been offsetting 100% of all emissions, including air travel, since 2017. Some 35,000 tons of CO2 equivalent were offset in 2019: this provided funding for sustainable production in the Amazon Basin, efficient cookstoves in China, Mali, India and South Africa, and biogas installations in local farms in Switzerland. The Forum also funds the restoration of peatlands across the canton of Graubunden, which hosts the Annual Meeting. The peatlands act as a natural carbon sink by absorbing greenhouse gases from the air. Learn more about the various projects here. The Forum has helped improve the sustainability of the Congress Centre in Davos with the installation of solar panels and geothermal heating in 2020. Moreover, the Annual Meeting relies on 100% renewable electricity in its temporary event spaces and utilizes best-in-class insulation and heating systems as well as efficient lighting devices.

Materials: The Forum promotes a circular economy, an economic system aimed at eliminating waste and the continual use of resources. It applies this principle in the logistics of the Annual Meeting by focusing on reducing, reusing and recycling materials. The Annual Meeting 2020 will reduce the amount of waste by 25% compared to 2019 by introducing new design concepts, repurposing more material and removing single-use plastics for bags and beverages.

Food: Some 90% of food will feature seasonal ingredients and there will be more plant-based meals using regional produce than in 2019. The provenance and ecological footprint of each food product will be checked and new artificial intelligence tools will be tested to reduce food waste. A full day of the Annual Meeting (22 January) will be designated as “Future Food Wednesday”, with a menu that is rich in protein but meat- and fish-free.

Transport: The Forum will refund half of the cost of a first-class train ticket to any participant travelling by rail in 2020. Use of public transport will be further encouraged with a temporary railway station near the Congress Centre and a more frequent bus and shuttle service. Nearly 90% of the Forum’s official vehicle fleet in Davos will either be electric or hybrid in 2020, compared to 66% in 2019. Walking remains the most efficient way to get about, with shoe grips and walking maps provided to participants and staff. The Forum encourages all participants to use the most environmentally friendly mode of air travel. Since 2018, commercial private aviation has declined by 20% for Zurich and St Gallen-Altenrhein, the two nearest airports to Davos. The Forum is now working with partners in the aviation industry to promote sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) that can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 80% over their full life cycle.

“The Forum is committed to improving the state of the world and this is why sustainability of our 50th Annual Meeting takes on the utmost importance,” said Lee Howell, Managing Director and Head of Global Programming Group at the World Economic Forum.

STOCKHOLM, – The Coca-Cola Company and its global bottling partners (the Coca-Cola system) today announced they have met their goal to replenish, or in other words balance, the equivalent amount of water used in their global sales volume back to nature and communities. Based on this achievement, Coca-Cola is the first Fortune 500 company to publicly claim achieving such an aggressive water replenishment target1.

The Coca-Cola system also announced progress against its water efficiency goal. The company and its bottling partners improved water use efficiency by 2.5 percent from 2014 to 2015, adding to a cumulative 27 percent improvement since 2004.

Based on a global water use assessment validated by LimnoTech and Deloitte, and conducted in association with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), the Coca-Cola system returned an estimated 191.9 billion liters of water to nature and communities in 2015 through community water projects, equaling the equivalent of 115 percent of the water used in Coca-Cola’s beverages last year.

“This achievement marks a moment of pride for Coca-Cola and our partners. A goal that started as aspiration in 2007 is today a reality and a global milestone we plan to maintain as our business grows,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company. “Now, every time a consumer drinks a Coca-Cola product, they can have confidence that our company and bottling partners are committed to responsible water use today and tomorrow. We are keenly aware that our water stewardship work is unfinished and remain focused on exploring next steps to advance our water programs and performance.”

The Coca-Cola system has achieved its water replenishment goals through 248 community water partnership projects in 71 countries focused on safe water access, watershed protection and water for productive use. In many cases, projects also provide access to sanitation and education, help improve local livelihoods, assist communities with adapting to climate change, improve water quality, enhance biodiversity, engage on policy and build awareness on water issues. The program aspects mentioned in the preceding sentence do not contribute to Coca-Cola’s replenish volume.

Replenish performance is independently reviewed by LimnoTech and verified by Deloitte. That work is reflected in a 1,188 page report. The methodology for calculating water replenishment benefits was created in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and LimnoTech. It was the subject of scientific technical peer review to verify its accuracy, and uses generally accepted scientific and technical methods. Projects are reviewed annually and evaluated using this methodology.

Some replenish projects directly return water to the source we use while others are outside the watershed our plant uses but are important to help meet needs of local governments, communities and partners where there is a pressing need. Coca-Cola and its partners seek projects that have a direct benefit, can be scaled up to have greater impact by reaching more people and parts of an ecosystem, are easy to learn from and replicate in other places where the challenges are similar, and can be built to be sustainable by the community over time, continuing to replenish water. These efforts, as well as new projects, frequently address local source water vulnerabilities and balance additional sales volume as
Coca-Cola’s business continues to grow.

At each of its 863 plants globally, Coca-Cola requires operations to determine the sustainability of the water supply they share with others in terms of quality, quantity, and other issues such as infrastructure to treat and distribute water. Through this process, one of the factors Coca-Cola plants must examine is whether or not their use of water and discharge of water has the potential to negatively impact the ability of other community members to access a sufficient quantity and quality of water. If so, or if there are areas where water sources may still be unsustainable in some aspect, Coca-Cola’s requirement then mandates that each plant develop and implement a Source Water Protection Plan. The plan, among other things, engages others to mutually seek solutions to promote the sustainability of the local water source. This may result in replenish projects or other opportunities. While each plant may not replenish all water to its direct source, Coca-Cola’s policy is to require that all plants work to ensure they do not negatively impact water sources and work with the community on longer term solutions.

Coca-Cola’s replenishment strategy supports the company’s overall water goal to safely return to communities and nature an amount of water equal to what is used in its beverages and their production. On the production side, the Coca-Cola system returned approximately 145.8 billion liters of water used in its manufacturing processes back to local watersheds near our bottling plants through treated wastewater in 2015.

“All life depends on water, but less than 1 percent of the world’s water is fresh and accessible. From mountain glaciers to estuaries, we must account for the whole system if we hope to secure freshwater for all,” said Carter Roberts, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) President and CEO. “This means partnerships matter. This is an important milestone in Coca-Cola’s continued leadership on water stewardship and sets a standard for other water users to build from.”

Coca-Cola collaborates on replenish projects with governments, civil society and other members of the private sector. Some of the many organizations Coca-Cola partners with include Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF), Millennium Challenge Corporation, TNC, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN-Habitat, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), WaterAid, Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor (WSUP), Water for People, WWF, and World Vision.

Four programs with significant contribution to Coca-Cola’s water replenishment activities are our global conservation partnership with WWF, The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation’s Replenish Africa Initiative (RAIN), the company’s Every Drop Matters partnership with UNDP, which expanded to New World in 2014, and Coca-Cola’s investment in 50 water funds across 12 countries in Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, with key partners TNC, FEMSA Foundation and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). All of these programs are active and committed through 2020.

Replenish projects work to balance, or offset, the direct water use of The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners across operations in more than 200 countries. The water use is inclusive of water used within manufacturing as well as finished beverages, which includes water from fountain sales. The water footprint of growing agricultural ingredients sourced by the Coca-Cola system is not included in this goal. However, sustainable water practices are part of Coca-Cola’s Sustainable Agriculture Guiding Principles required for suppliers.

To learn more about Coca-Cola’s water stewardship program, visit the company’s water stewardship report.

For more information on Coca-Cola’s water replenishment initiatives, check out the infographic here.

About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands and more than 3,800 beverage choices. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands, 18 of which are available in reduced-, low- or no-calorie options. Our billion-dollar brands include Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero, Fanta, Sprite, Dasani, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Del Valle, Georgia and Gold Peak. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, we are the No. 1 provider of both sparkling and still beverages. More than 1.9 billion servings of our beverages are enjoyed by consumers in more than 200 countries each day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit CocaCola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.cocacolablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-colacompany.

1We acknowledge that different companies and industries water use varies within their products and production. Coca-Cola’s claim is based on publicly reported claims and information as of June 1, 2016, and is inclusive of water return against direct water use.

Colgate-Palmolive has issued a new Policy on No Deforestation, including a pledge to achieve full traceability of its palm oil supply back to the plantation by 2015. The policy outlines commitments to responsibly source the forest commodities of pulp and paper, palm oil and derivatives, soy and soy oil and beef tallow and is an integral part of the Company’s strategy to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.

It is estimated that over the past 50 years, about half of the world’s original forests have been lost. Deforestation of tropical rainforests and peatlands has been especially devastating to endangered animal species and has led to significant release of carbon emissions. Colgate and other consumer packaged goods companies can have an impact on deforestation through sourcing decisions for packaging and ingredients. Colgate has joined the Consumer Goods Forum (CGF) in pledging to mobilize resources to help achieve zero net deforestation by 2020, and this policy will enable Colgate to fulfill this pledge.

“Our values of Caring, Global Teamwork and Continuous Improvement are the foundation of our sustainability commitments,” said Ian Cook, Chairman, President and CEO of Colgate-Palmolive. “This policy reflects our values and our commitment to grow the business ethically and responsibly.”

The policy, which was published on the Company’s Sustainability website, details specific requirements for the sourcing of forest commodities, including:

Obtaining verification that pulp and paper materials from high priority countries are of low risk of coming from controversial sources contributing to deforestation
Increasing our purchase of physical Certified Sustainable Palm Oil and Palm Kernel Oil where possible each year, and continuing to purchase GreenPalm Certificates to cover the remaining percentage of our requirements, gradually phasing out the need for the purchase each year
Requiring additional independent verification that the palm oil supply to Colgate does not come from areas where High Carbon Stocks (HCS) and High Conservation Value (HCV) forests were deforested; fire was used for clearance; and peat lands were developed into plantations or drained
Procuring soy and soy derivatives that are not linked to deforestation by 2017
Requiring all applicable tallow suppliers to be in compliance with the “Minimum Criteria for Industrial Scale Cattle Operations in the Brazilian Amazon Biome” by 2017

Colgate, in consultation with key stakeholders such as Greenpeace, developed this policy to clearly communicate its commitment on this critical issue. The Company will work closely with customers, suppliers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other key stakeholders to increase awareness and commitment to the new policy and to build the capability to achieve the 2015-2020 targets.

About Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate-Palmolive sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet and Hill’s Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate-Palmolive’s global business, visit the Company’s website at www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, Colgate’s global oral health education program, please visit www.colgatebsbf.com.

This news is courtesy of www.colgatepalmolive.com

MIDLAND, MI – The Dow Chemical Company’s (NYSE: DOW) Packaging and Specialty Plastics business collaborated with industry leaders Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) and Accredo Packaging to produce Seventh Generation’s first recyclable Dishwasher Pods packaging. The new packaging features SPC’s How2Recycle label.

Dow developed the resins for the recyclable polyethylene stand-up pouch to help ensure the package’s stiffness, toughness and sealability. Accredo Packaging converts these materials into pouches and their award-winning printing capabilities gives the package the aesthetics it needs to stand out on store shelves.

“Our goal was to produce a recyclable package for our Dishwasher Pods, without sacrificing performance or aesthetics,” said Derrick Lawrence, director of packaging development, Seventh Generation. “Our customers were asking for a more recyclable option, and our collaboration with the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, Dow and Accredo Packaging turned that demand into a reality.”

Seventh Generation’s new Dishwasher Pods packaging carries the How2Recycle “Store Drop-Off” label, which encourages consumers to take flexible plastic bags, films and wraps to local grocery or retail stores for recycling. The pouches can be recycled at more than 18,000 store drop-off locations throughout North America.

As a founding member of the SPC, Dow focuses on collaborating throughout the value chain to create more sustainable packaging and improve consumer knowledge and adoption of recycling streams.

“We are excited about our work with the SPC on the How2Recycle Label program because it enables us to communicate and educate the consumer about the pouches’ recyclability. This kind of collaboration is important to achieve the environmental vision for packaging that we all share,” said Greg Jozwiak, North America commercial vice president for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics.

Rex Varn, executive vice president of Accredo Packaging, Inc. says “Accredo Packaging’s new innovative 100% recyclable stand-up pouch offers CPG brand-owners a more sustainable proposition of recyclability.”

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About the How2Recycle Label and GreenBlue
The How2Recycle Label is a project of GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition®, a membership-based group that brings together business, educational institutions, and government agencies to collectively broaden the understanding of packaging sustainability and develop meaningful improvements for packaging solutions. GreenBlue® is an environmental nonprofit dedicated to the sustainable use of materials in society. For more information, follow us on Twitter @How2Recycle or go to our website at How2Recycle.info.

About Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation is the nation’s leading brand of household and personal care products that help protect human health and the environment. Established in 1988, the Burlington, Vermont based company remains an independent, privately held company distributing products to natural food stores, supermarkets, mass merchants, and online. See www.SeventhGeneration.com for more information.

About Accredo Packaging
LEED Silver certified Accredo Packaging, Inc. is a fully integrated converting company producing flexible packaging with an emphasis on sustainability, with best in class production processes, primarily targeting the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) markets in North America. A Certified Minority Business Enterprise, Accredo utilizes electricity generated via wind power. It attributes its growing success to investment in leading edge technologies, including state-of-the-art extrusion, bag making, and printing processes in terms of reduced environmental impact, high quality, and world-class productivity. For more information, go to www.accredopackaging.com.

Underscoring President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to cut harmful emissions and double energy efficiency, the Energy Department is taking action to develop the next generation of combined heat and power (CHP) technology and help local communities and businesses make cost-effective investments that save money and energy. As part of this effort, the Department launched today seven new regional Combined Heat and Power Technical Assistance Partnerships across the country to help strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, lower energy consumption and reduce harmful emissions.

Last year, President Obama established a new national goal of 40 gigawatts of new CHP capacity by 2020 – a 50 percent increase from today. Meeting this goal would help American manufacturers and companies save as much as $100 billion in energy costs over the next decade and reduce emissions equivalent to taking 25 million cars off the road. View an Energy Department infographic on how CHP technology works and its environmental and economic benefits.

Launching Seven New CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships

Since 2003, the Energy Department has supported a set of regional centers to help organizations understand how CHP can improve their bottom lines and lower energy bills.

Today, the Department is launching seven regional CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships – the next generation of these centers – to help further grow America’s CHP market for commercial, institutional and industrial businesses, state agencies, utilities and trade associations. Located in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Washington state, these organizations will offer best practices for CHP project financing, management and state policies, market analysis tools and resources, and technical site evaluations.

Find more information on how the CHP Technical Assistance Partnerships are helping U.S. businesses and communities get the information they need to make smart, cost-effective investment decisions.

Strengthening Infrastructure Reliability and Resilience

Combined heat and power technologies can also help make our nation’s infrastructure smarter, stronger and better equipped to maintain power against increasingly severe weather events. During and after Hurricane Sandy, CHP helped hospitals, fire stations and multifamily housing in New York and New Jersey continue their operations when the electric grid went down.

The Energy Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Environmental Protection Agency recently issued a guide to help state and local officials determine if CHP is a good option for Sandy rebuilding efforts. The guide includes practical information on financial, site and technical decision-making as well as how to operate and maintain these systems.

The Energy Department is also helping critical facilities across the country invest in CHP – providing affordable, reliable power and heat and ensuring that life-saving operations keep running. For example, in 2010, Thermal Energy Corporation installed a new high-efficiency 48 megawatt CHP system to power and heat the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas Children’s Hospital and 16 other institutions at the Texas Medical Center. The Energy Department invested about $10 million in this project, matched by $62 million in private funding. Last year, the Midwest Clean Energy Application Center helped Gundersen Health system complete installation of a CHP system at its medical campus in Onalaska, Wisconsin – completely offsetting its electricity and steam needs and saving about $100,000 each year.

Developing Innovation CHP Technologies

In addition to technical assistance efforts, the Energy Department is supporting research, development and demonstration projects to help grow the CHP market, including finding CHP solutions that fit small- and medium-sized facilities and accelerating new product commercialization.

Industries with high and continuous demand for both electrical and thermal energy – such as food processing, paper manufacturing and metals production – are well suited for CHP installations but often face market and technical barriers to deployment. With that in mind, the Department is supporting demonstration projects to test how these systems impact plants’ operations and energy use and help identify financing and maintenance best practices. For instance, the Department partnered with Frito-Lay to install and test a CHP system at its Killingly, Conn.-based food processing facility. In addition to providing reliable, efficient power, the gas-fired system reuses excess heat to warm Frito-Lay’s chip fryer oil – cutting costs and reduce harmful air pollution.

The Department is also supporting new CHP technologies that are cleaner, more efficient and can use a variety of fuel sources. The Gas Technology Institute is developing a new CHP burner technology that cuts greenhouse gas emissions while improving overall system efficiency. Capstone Turbine Corporation is designing a combined 65 kilowatt CHP system and biomass gasifier that can use stalks, grass and other material to generate gas and power a turbine. Capstone is also developing a 370 kilowatt CHP system that can save about 44 percent more energy over a traditional system while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 95 percent.
Courtesy Department of Energy

Our individual global water-energy “splashprint” is much higher than most of us think. Consider that it takes 2,867 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans or 1,500 gallons to make a desktop computer. Two critical needs – clean water and on-demand energy – are intimately intertwined. The 2030 Water Resources Group reports that by 2030, global water requirements are expected to grow by 50 percent, and analysts are predicting that our available water supplies will satisfy only 60 percent of demand.

This year’s United Nations World Water Day is centered on re-focusing our lives to lessen our water-energy splashprint through technology that helps us conserve.

Recognizing the perilous state of the water-energy nexus, Dow scientists have developed breakthrough polymer chemistry that is the most advanced water purification science available today. Introduced in 2013, DOW FILMTEC™ ECO Reverse Osmosis (RO) Elements are helping to deliver manufacturers 40 percent better water purification while using 30 percent less energy.

As a technology helping to improve the world’s ability to solve sustainable water supply challenges, FILMTEC™ ECO Technology is recognized as Dow’s second-ever Breakthrough to a World Challenge. The technology is also a finalist of the coveted 2014 Edison Award, recognized in the Energy/Sustainability and Commercial Resource Management categories.

“Water is, without a doubt, the world’s most precious resource,” said Neil Hawkins, Dow’s corporate vice president, Sustainability. “Dow is committed to advancing science that directly addresses global challenges like water, energy and climate change through our innovations and our 2015 Sustainability Goals. We help people around the globe process more than 15 million gallons of water per minute. Our scientists are employing breakthrough chemistry to revolutionize reverse osmosis – the most advanced water purification technology available today – to help fight global water scarcity.”

FILMTEC™ ECO Elements are helping to save water and energy while also helping to reduce operational costs in facilities by 16-19 percent. In the first ten years of use, FILMTEC™ ECO Elements will produce 15 trillion m3 of clean water (more than 6 million Olympic-sized swimming pools), while providing more than 2 billion kWh (Kilowatt hours) of energy savings and reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 1.5 million metric tons.

FILMTEC™ ECO Elements are making waves in the industrial and manufacturing worlds. Utility providers are reducing their chemical usage and improving their power production time and electronic manufacturers are increasing water purity for higher performing tablets, smartphones and computers. Even brewers are using FILMTEC™ ECO Elements to brew beer more sustainably.

“The industrial use of water is one of the largest uses of treated water, and increasing water scarcity has driven companies to seek out new ways to purify water and promote water reuse that are cost-effective and environmentally conscious,” said Snehal Desai, global business director for Dow Water & Process Solutions. “FILMTEC™ ECO Elements offer added ecological and economical value, increasing sustainability over time and reducing energy and chemical costs. Energy consumption is the first controllable resource in the water-energy nexus, and FILMTEC™ ECO elements are playing a key role in helping manage water and energy resources around the world.”

Dow offers extensive expertise and a robust portfolio of advanced pipe and water technology solutions that help customers make water distribution safer, cleaner and more cost-effective. With water purification and separation technologies as well as advanced and sustainable microbial control and scale inhibitor solutions, Dow combines the creativity of our people and our technology expertise to help reduce the global water crisis—setting the standard for sustainable water use, purification and management. For more information about Dow’s commitment to water security, visit www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/

Splashprint Stats Social Corner

Energy needs water, #water needs #energy. Dow helps enhance water-energy nexus w/ #reverseosmosis tech #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
#RO tech from Dow will produce 15,000 m3 of pure #water (>6 Olympic size pools) in next 10 years #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
FILMTEC ECO #ReverseOsmosis delivers manufacturers 40% better #water purification using 30% less #energy #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
FILMTEC ECO recognized as Dow’s 2nd Breakthrough to a World Challenge tech & finalist for 2014 Edison Award #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
Watery paper: It takes 2.64 gallons of #water to produce 1 sheet of paper #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
1 cotton t-shirt = 400 gallons of #water. Dow #RO tech reduces water & #energy use & increases purity in mfg #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
#DYK it takes 2,867 gallons of #water to make 1 pair of jeans or 1,500 gallons to make a desktop computer #WorldWaterDay http://www.dow.com/sustainability/globalneeds/world-water-day/index.htm
About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Construction began today in Houma, Louisiana, on the R/V Taani, a new research ship that will advance the scientific understanding of coastal environments by supporting studies of ocean acidification, hypoxia, sea level rise and other topics.

Operated by Oregon State University (OSU), Taani (pronounced “tahnee”), a word that means “offshore” in the language of the Siletz people of the Pacific Northwest, will be the first in a series of Regional Class Research Vessels funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Officials from NSF, OSU and Gulf Island Shipyards, LLC gathered for the keel-laying ceremony, marking the start of fabrication of this state-of-the-art ship.

“NSF is proud that Taani will be the flagship for a new class of research vessels, and we eagerly anticipate decades of productive oceanography from Taani to support the nation’s science, engineering and education needs,” says Terrence Quinn, director of NSF’s Division of Ocean Sciences.

During the ceremony, former OSU president John Byrne and his wife Shirley, the ship’s ceremonial sponsors, inscribed their initials into the ship’s keel.

Research missions aboard Taani will focus on the U.S. West Coast. NSF has funded OSU to build a second, similar research vessel, which will be operated by a consortium led by the University of Rhode Island.

“This new class of modern vessels will support future research on the physical, chemical, biological and geologic processes in coastal waters,” says Roberta Marinelli, dean of OSU’s College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences. “The research is critical to informing strategies for coastal resilience, food security and hazard mitigation not only in the Pacific Northwest but around the world.”

For example, the ship will be equipped to conduct detailed seafloor mapping to reveal geologic structures important in subduction zone earthquakes that may trigger tsunamis.

The 199-foot Taani will have a range of more than 5,000 nautical miles, with berths for 16 scientists and 13 crew members; a cruising speed of 11.5 knots; and a maximum speed of 13 knots. The ship will be able to stay at sea for about 21 days before returning to port and will routinely send streams of data to shore via satellite.

NSF selected OSU to lead the design, shipyard selection, construction and transition to operations for as many as three new Regional Class Research Vessels for the U.S. Academic Research Fleet. The National Science Board — NSF’s oversight body — authorized as much as $365 million for the project as part of NSF’s Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction portfolio.

NSF awarded OSU $121.88 million to launch the construction of the first ship. This past summer, the funding was supplemented with an additional $88 million, allowing Gulf Island Shipyards, LLC to proceed with the second vessel.

Taani is scheduled for delivery to OSU in the spring of 2021. After a year of outfitting and testing, the ship will be fully operational.

-NSF-

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2018, its budget is $7.8 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 50,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards.

Bonn/ Madrid – As the global climate emergency intensifies and greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow, governments will gather in Madrid for the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 (2 to 13 December 2019) to take the next crucial steps in the UN climate change process.

The conference will take place under the Presidency of the Government of Chile and will be held with logistical support from the Government of Spain.

Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change said: “This year, we have seen accelerating climate change impacts, including increased droughts, storms and heat waves, with dire consequences for poverty eradication, human health, migration and inequality.

“The world’s small window of opportunity to address climate change is closing rapidly. We must urgently deploy all the tools of multilateral cooperation to make COP25 the launchpad for more climate ambition to put the world on a transformational path towards low carbon and resilience,” she said.

A key objective of COP25 is to raise overall ambition also by completing several key aspects with respect to the full operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

Last year at COP24 in Poland, the bulk of the implementation guidelines of the Paris Agreement were agreed, with the exception of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

Article 6 is to provide guidelines for how international climate markets will work, as a key component of the world’s economic toolbox for addressing climate change.

Other focus areas at COP25 will include adaptation, loss and damage, transparency, finance, capacity-building, Indigenous issues, oceans, forestry, gender and more.

Notably, the provision of finance and technology is crucial for developing countries to green their economies and build resilience.

“While we have seen some progress with respect to climate-related financing for developing countries, we will continue to urge developed nations to fulfil their pledge of mobilizing $100 billion annually by 2020,” Ms. Espinosa said. “We also must see overall global finance flows reflect the deep transformation throughout society that we need: away from carbon-heavy investment and towards more sustainable and resilient growth. Drops in the bucket are not enough: we need a sea change.”

COP25 to Set the Stage for Enhanced NDCs

In 2020, nations are to submit new or updated national climate action plans, referred to as Nationally-Determined Contributions, or “NDCs”.

According to the UN Environment Programme’s 2019 Emission Gap Report published this week, unless global greenhouse gas emissions fall by 7.6 per cent each year between 2020 and 2030, the world will miss the opportunity to get on track towards the 1.5°C temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

This means collective ambition would need to increase more than fivefold over current levels to deliver the cuts needed over the next decade for the 1.5°C goal.

“Current NDCs remain inadequate,” said Executive Secretary Espinosa. “If we stay on our current trajectory, it’s estimated that global temperatures could more than double by the end of this century. This will have enormous negative consequences for humanity and threaten our existence on this planet. We need an immediate and urgent change in trajectory.

It’s achievable, but to stabilize global temperature rise by 1.5 Celsius by the end of this century, we need to reduce emissions 45 per cent by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. It’s an extremely difficult challenge, but meeting it is absolutely necessary to the health, safety and security of everyone on this planet—both in the short- and long-term.”

With regard to raising ambition, COP25 will be informed by the outcomes of the Climate Summit in New York in September and Climate Weeks in Africa, Asia and Latin America co-organized by UN Climate Change this year.

“At these key events, we saw an enormous groundswell of action, with many contributions from governments and non-Party stakeholders, including regions, cities, businesses and investors. Their contributions are crucial to drive the transformation we need, said Executive Secretary Espinosa.

At the New York Climate Summit, Chile launched a Climate Ambition Alliance that brings together nations upscaling action by 2020, as well as those working towards achieving net zero CO2 emissions by 2050.

About the UNFCCC
With 197 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The ultimate objective of all agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.

HOUSTON– Waste Management (NYSE: WM) today released its 2014 Sustainability Report, titled “Creating a Circular Economy,” which documents the company’s progress on recycling, energy production, transforming waste into valuable resources and helping businesses move toward zero waste.

“As our customers have become more focused on waste reduction, so have we,” said David Steiner, Waste Management president and CEO. “By finding new ways of extracting value from the materials we manage, we’re making advancements toward our long-term business strategy, and helping others do the same.”

“We believe we can reuse materials in a ‘circular economy’ that operates as a true closed-loop system, where little is wasted. There’s a lot of work ahead to make this vision a reality, but we’re committed for the long run because we see the potential to radically transform the way we all define — and interact with — waste,” continued Steiner.

In its latest Sustainability Report, Waste Management announced progress on:
Reducing waste. By working with a variety of businesses and organizations, Waste Management helped create customized solutions that lower waste production, increase reuse and improve the recyclability of products.

Growing recycling. The company extracted more than 15 million tons of materials from the waste stream in 2013. During this time, it also launched the Recycle Often. Recycle Right SM campaign to educate consumers on the simple actions they can take to grow and improve recycling.
Extracting value from organics. Organic materials comprise about 28 percent of the U.S. waste stream. This represents an opportunity to invest in processing facilities that create compost, as well as new technologies that produce biogas for fuel and electricity.

Lowering emissions. By the end of 2014, Waste Management will operate over 70 natural gas fueling stations to power its growing fleet of alternative fuel trucks, reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The company currently operates more than 3,500 of these vehicles, the largest fleet of its kind in North America.

Harnessing energy at the landfill. When materials are disposed there’s still an opportunity to produce electricity using naturally occurring landfill gas. Waste Management currently uses this technology to provide enough energy for 472,000 homes annually.
Also included in the report are a number of statistics on the company’s environmental performance, from fleet emissions to wildlife habitat protection to the variety of materials managed each year.

Waste Management’s complete Sustainability Report can be viewed at wm.com/sustainability.

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Our subsidiaries provide collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. We are the largest residential recycler and also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill-gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. Our customers include residential, commercial, industrial and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more visit www.wm.com.
– See more at: http://investors.wm.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=119743&p=irol-recentnewsArticle&ID=1999130#sthash.hm38ly5J.dpuf

NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 2022 – Deloitte’s Low-Carbon Hub Accelerator is designed to bring together networks of supply-side and demand-side players to share costs and drive economies of scale, to help make a clean hydrogen economy in the U.S. a reality.

Deloitte’s 2022 study, “Low-Carbon Industrial Hubs: Driving Deep Decarbonization for Industry,” found that surveyed companies who collaborate in hubs see up to a 95% reduction in the capital investment required when compared to individual companies deploying carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) by themselves.

Deloitte is uniquely positioned to provide policy, tax and regulatory insight; strategic road-mapping and project management office support; business and operating model design services; hydrogen usage project design and execution; grant application and related incentives support; information technology and operational technology design, accounting and assurance services; and ecosystem facilitation.

Deloitte’s Low-Carbon Hub Accelerator is designed to be plug-compatible with virtually any combination of existing participants, including other professional services organizations.

Deloitte’s new Low-Carbon Hub Accelerator offers unique approach to supporting hydrogen growth

Why this matters

According to the International Energy Agency, hydrogen is one of the biggest innovation opportunities to reduce global carbon dioxide emissions to net zero by 2050, a widely accepted global target to avert the worst effects of climate change.

Although the push for decarbonization is gaining momentum, traditional strategies and methodologies are largely unable to address the majority of emissions for some sectors. Abatement solutions like clean hydrogen and CCUS remain cost-prohibitive for most companies to pursue on their own. Establishing low-carbon hubs in strategic geographical areas across the U.S. aims to further long-term decarbonization and help mitigate the effects of climate change.

Low-carbon hubs accelerate decarbonization for hard-to-abate sectors
“Hard-to-abate” sectors account for more than 30% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, and this number is only expected to grow as other industries make progress on their sustainability goals, according to Deloitte’s May 2021 report, “Leading in a Low Carbon Future.”

These sectors — heavy industry, such as chemicals, metals and mining; building materials and heavy road transport; as well as shipping and aviation — have some of the most challenging pathways toward emissions reduction, creating increased urgency to find new strategies to offset emissions.

According to the Deloitte study, “Low-Carbon Industrial Hubs: Driving Deep Decarbonization for Industry,” low-carbon hubs can provide a cost-effective way for companies in hard-to-abate industries to accelerate their decarbonization efforts; demonstrate action on climate change to customers, investors and other stakeholders; and spur tipping points in low-carbon technology innovation. Deloitte found that surveyed companies that collaborate in hubs tend to have a more effective pathway for deep emission reductions.

Collaboration can help reduce emissions at a lower cost
Deloitte research identified hub models that can help maximize cost synergies, economies of scale and emissions reductions. Deloitte found that CCUS hubs with hydrogen, or “Industrial Hubs,” are often the most comprehensive, combining CCUS infrastructure with hydrogen from fossil sources to create an ecosystem of multiple reinforcing solutions for downstream utilization or export.

The benefits of participating in hydrogen hubs are fairly clear: compared to individual companies that deploy CCUS by themselves, lower emission industrial hubs can help companies and industries reduce emissions by approximately 50%, at a cost that is 20% to 95% cheaper than when pursued alone.

Lower emissions industrial hubs can serve a variety of geographies across the U.S., each with their own unique industry configurations and addressable emissions profile. Deloitte also found that emissions reduction benefits driven by hubs extend to downstream customers who benefit from the lower emissions footprint of products supplied by the hub. Locally produced hydrogen can also help with energy security, while creating new business models and jobs.

The time is right in the U.S. market
Significant action at the federal level is accelerating the development of a viable hydrogen economy in the U.S. and positioning the country as a global low carbon hydrogen leader.

In June 2022, the U.S. Department of Energy announced its intent to accept applications to award $8 billion in funding for the development of regional clean hydrogen hubs that demonstrate the production, processing, delivery, storage and end-use of clean hydrogen via its H2Hubs program.
In September 2022, the DOE further elaborated that the initial $7 billion of this funding will be awarded to at least six to 10 regional clean hydrogen hubs through a competitive bidding process that will conclude by summer 2023, with awards ranging from $400 million to $1.25 billion.
The formation of hydrogen hubs is expected to help drive towards the DOE’s “earth shot” objective of bringing the cost of clean hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram within the next decade and contribute to achieving DOE’s goals for H2@Scale, which provides an overarching vision for how clean hydrogen can enable energy pathways.
In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 providing historic investments to combat climate change and create clean energy solutions, including an additional boost to the U.S. clean hydrogen economy through a new tax credit of up to 30% of eligible capital costs, collectively estimated at over $13.1 billion. The IRA also extends and enhances incentives for hydrogen fueling stations.
Services approach drives progress throughout the hydrogen economy

The Low-Carbon Hub Accelerator projects are part of Deloitte sustainability, climate, and equity a practice serving clients as they define a path to a more sustainable future. Building upon years of sustainability and climate client service, Deloitte is assembling one of the largest global networks of sustainability experience including an investment of US$1 billion in client-related services, data-driven research, and assets and capabilities. Globally, Deloitte is involved in multiple hubs, working with consortium leaders on feasibility studies, business cases, connecting supply and demand centers, and supporting acceleration.

Through Deloitte’s Low-Carbon Hub Accelerator, companies can benefit from a unique approach to supporting hydrogen growth no matter where they are in the journey. Comprehensive, end-to-end services generally focus on strategic development, as well as the construction of hubs, technology implementations, and insight into the current policy and regulatory environment driving the hydrogen economy.

Deloitte services include:

Strategy: Deloitte specialists evaluate and help prioritize the impact of trends and uncertainties in the market, make recommendations related to organizations’ strategies and operating models, and shape public policy in support of hydrogen market development.
Operations: Through the Low-Carbon Hub Accelerator, Deloitte can help execute on strategy by implementing and — where appropriate — operating the capabilities, processes, technologies and infrastructure to bring low-carbon hubs to life.
Finance: Deloitte can provide support and recommendations on policy, accounting and tax, and also recommend ways to leverage the evolving capital market transition and U.S. government grants and incentives to increase sustainable investments and optimize cost and capital structures.
Reporting: Deloitte can provide advice and recommendations related to ESG readiness and integrated reporting, including related governance and controls.
Key quote
“Over the past five years, we’ve seen a steady acceleration by companies in all sectors in their efforts to decarbonize the value chains in which they operate. Combined with new government funding and policies for developing low-carbon hubs, this momentum provides a rare catalyst to attract private investment and scale up quickly, particularly within hard-to-abate industries. While low-carbon hydrogen is quickly – and finally – showing itself to be one of the key, viable lynchpins to achieve bold societal climate goals, we might only get there if companies embrace a collaborative, cross-industry approach to accelerate the energy transition.”

— Geoff Tuff, principal and U.S. hydrogen practice leader, Deloitte LLP

Connect with us on Twitter at @Deloitte4Energy or on LinkedIn at @GeoffTuff.

About Deloitte
Deloitte provides industry-leading audit, consulting, tax and advisory services to many of the world’s most admired brands, including nearly 90% of the Fortune 500® and more than 7,000 private companies. Our people come together for the greater good and work across the industry sectors that drive and shape today’s marketplace — delivering measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in our capital markets, inspire clients to see challenges as opportunities to transform and thrive, and help lead the way toward a stronger economy and a healthier society. Deloitte is proud to be part of the largest global professional services network serving our clients in the markets that are most important to them. Building on more than 175 years of service, our network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte’s approximately 415,000 people worldwide connect for impact at www.deloitte.com.

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the “Deloitte” name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

SOURCE Deloitte

CONTACT: Alyssa Weir, Public Relations, Deloitte Services LP, +1 585 238 3371, alweir@deloitte.com

The Department of Defense is participating in the 5th USA Science & Engineering Festival Expo, on Apr 5-8 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in DC. The expo is designed to inspire the next generation of inventors, creators and innovators. It is a free, family-friendly expo that allows kids and adults to participate in thousands of exhibits, experiments, and stage shows.

The DoD will again be a premier supporter at the 2018 USA Science and Engineering Festival. The Department of Defense (DoD) has been participating in the USA Science and Engineering Festival since 2012. “We’re excited to participate in our fourth USA Science & Engineering Festival and to showcase the many talented STEM professionals within the DoD and their accomplishments,” says Dr. Jagadeesh Pamulapati, director, Laboratories Office within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

The hours of operations are Apr 7 from 10a.m. to 6 p.m. and Apr 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The grand finale of the Festival’s year-long science celebration is Apr 8. The Festival Expo features over 3,000 hands-on activities showcasing how STEM Can Take You into the deep blue, into cyberspace, inside the human body, into nature, into outer space and beyond! In all, the Festival Expo expects to draw more than 350,000 people.

Within the Defense Pavilion, the audience will have the opportunity to interact with STEM professionals and mentors within the DoD through a variety of activities including a “Ray Optics Laser System” demonstration, navigating a drone, taking a Virtual Reality Tour, and hearing Lightning Talks to learn about the experiences of DoD Scientist and Engineers.

The Festival features science celebrities, explorers, astronauts, physicists, inventors, and experts in fields like oceanography, climatology, robotics, medical research, neuroscience, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and more. Participating celebrities include:

o TV host and Ocean Explorer Danni Washington
o Explosive Science’s Dr. Kate Biberdorf
o World Champion of Magic Jason Latimer
o America’s Science Teacher Steve Spangler
o Fox TV Xploration Outer Space host, Emily Callandrelli

Featured Lightning talks include:

o “The Engineering Path Less Traveled”
o “Why Do We Have Scientist and Engineers”
o “Do DoD Technologies Behave the Way They are Portrayed in Popular Games?”

The USA Science & Engineering Festival is the nation’s largest science festival and was developed to ignite the next generation’s interest in pursuing careers in science and engineering.

To learn more, visit http://dodstem.us/stem-programs/events-map
2
Science Tech Special

MISSION
The mission of the Department of Defense is to provide a lethal Joint Force to defend the security of our country and sustain American influence abroad.

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) announced today that it has signed a definitive agreement under which AgroFresh, its post-harvest specialty chemical business, will be acquired by Boulevard Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: BLVD, BLVDU, BLVDW), a public investment vehicle, formed by Avenue Capital Group, for $860 million, or 9.2x EBITDA multiple based on 2014 earnings.

The transaction has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2015, subject to approval by Boulevard’s shareholders and other closing conditions, including regulatory filings and local employment law and governance obligations in Europe. An affiliate of Avenue has provided incremental capital commitments and Boulevard expects to take certain steps to help ensure both the successful closing and the future growth of AgroFresh.

“In line with recently announced portfolio moves, this transaction demonstrates Dow’s focus on selectively shifting our portfolio away from businesses that are no longer a strategic fit, allowing Dow to release cash and focus on advancing our strategic growth agenda and remunerating shareholders,” said Howard Ungerleider, Dow’s chief financial officer. “AgroFresh is focused on the post-harvest market segment, which is not aligned to the rest of the Dow AgroSciences’ portfolio. The retention of a minority interest in AgroFresh, however, allows Dow to participate in the growth prospects of the business while unlocking a majority share of value for our shareholders.”

Upon closing, AgroFresh will become a subsidiary of Boulevard, a stand-alone public company in which Dow will retain a non-consolidated minority ownership position. It will be positioned to grow both through its existing innovative processes and through future investments and acquisitions. Thomas Macphee, vice president and corporate director for Dow, who had formerly been responsible for AgroFresh in the Company’s early development, has been named Chief Executive Officer of AgroFresh, pending official closure of the transaction.

AgroFresh is a global industry leader in advanced proprietary technologies for the horticultural and agronomic markets. It offers an innovative portfolio of products and services that enhance the freshness, quality and value of fresh produce. Its flagship product is the SmartFresh℠ Quality System, a freshness protection technology proven to maintain firmness, texture and appearance of fruits during storage and transport. SmartFresh is currently commercialized in 45 countries worldwide.

Dow had previously announced its intent to divest AgroFresh on Oct. 2, 2014. The signing of this transaction represents yet another milestone against the Company’s stated target of $7 billion to $8.5 billion in proceeds from divestitures by mid-2016. Since 2013, the Company has signed or completed transactions that are expected to exceed $12 billion in pre-tax proceeds.

Dow is committed to working with Boulevard to ensure a seamless transition of this business for all stakeholders.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

MIDLAND, Mich. & CLAYTON, Mo. -The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW): Dow to separate a significant portion of its chlor-alkali and downstream derivatives businesses and merge them with Olin in a tax-efficient Reverse Morris Trust transaction that creates an industry leader with revenues approaching $7 billion; Dow shareholder value will be further enhanced through the ownership of shares in the combined company.

Transaction is highly complementary to the strategic objectives of both companies, with substantial synergies and significant potential to enhance value for both sets of shareholders.

Represents highly synergistic transaction with significant growth opportunities; Olin expects to achieve annualized cost synergies of a minimum of $200 million, which are anticipated to be fully realized within 36 months.

Transaction is highly accretive to Dow and Dow shareholders, with a tax efficient consideration of $5 billion, and a taxable equivalent value of $8 billion.

Transaction is a significant achievement in executing Dow’s strategic transformation to a focused provider of high value, differentiated products based on key integrated and innovative value chains, such as Dow’s advantaged ethylene and propylene derivatives.

The strategic relationship between Dow and Olin resulting from this transaction will enable Dow to continue to benefit from its integration efficiencies in chlorine for key downstream applications; Olin will expand its downstream portfolio of chlorinated products and benefit from the opportunity provided by low-cost ECU production on the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Olin will become a leading, low-cost global player in chlor-alkali and derivatives while enhancing its existing presence in key geographies; Olin will more than double its scale and drive incremental growth as a result of the combined companies’ product and process technologies, networks, logistics, creating substantial customer value.

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Olin Corporation (NYSE: OLN) announced today that the boards of directors of both companies unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which Dow will separate a significant portion of its chlorine value chain and merge that new entity with Olin in a transaction that will create an industry leader with revenues approaching $7 billion. The transaction has a tax efficient consideration of $5 billion, and a taxable equivalent value of $8 billion to Dow and Dow shareholders. It is highly complementary to the strategic objectives of both companies, with significant potential to enhance value for both Dow and Olin shareholders, and create substantial benefits for customers.

The terms of the agreement call for Dow to separate its U.S. Gulf Coast Chlor-Alkali and Vinyl, Global Chlorinated Organics and Global Epoxy businesses, and then merge these businesses with Olin in a Reverse Morris Trust transaction. The merger will result in Dow shareholders receiving approximately 50.5 percent of the shares of Olin, with existing Olin shareholders owning approximately 49.5 percent.

The transaction is valued at $5 billion, and includes $2.0 billion of cash and cash equivalents to be paid to Dow; an estimated $2.2 billion in Olin common stock using the Olin stock value as of close on March 25, 2015; and approximately $800 million of assumption of pension and other liabilities. In addition, by virtue of the joint share ownership, both sets of shareholders will benefit from a minimum of $200 million in projected annual synergies and cost savings.

Following the completion of the transaction, Olin will be an industry leader in chlor-alkali and derivatives – benefiting from the combination of complementary businesses, significant scale, integration, cost-advantaged feedstocks, and a broad and diverse end-uses portfolio. Expected cost synergies of the transaction include network optimization which will facilitate output expansion, significant logistics savings and benefits, and the potential for expansion of existing products produced by Olin and Dow into additional geographies and to additional customers. Annual revenues of the combined business are anticipated to be approximately $7 billion and EBITDA is expected to be $1 billion on a 2014 pro forma basis, excluding synergies. The transaction is subject to a vote by Olin shareholders and is expected to close by year-end 2015.

In a separate, arms-length transaction, Dow and Olin agreed to a 20-year long-term capacity rights agreement for the supply of ethylene by Dow to Olin, in which Dow will receive up-front payments and, in return, Olin will receive ethylene at co-investor, integrated producer economics. The agreement is additive to the financials outlined above for the chlorine value chain transaction. The combined company will utilize an integrated supply of ethylene from Dow’s production grid on the U.S. Gulf Coast to be a sustainable, integrated chlor-vinyl producer. It will create scale benefits to Dow, and Olin will contribute significant capital for these rights. Together, both Dow and Olin will benefit from long-term, sustainable physical integration, which is key to the ongoing sustainable growth of both companies.

“By combining Dow’s world-class assets and people with Olin, we are creating a premier company with the scope and capabilities to optimally leverage long-term growth opportunities in the marketplace and generate significant shareholder value,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “We have jointly created a solid foundation for success for Olin, driven by the benefits of greater scale, an enhanced ability to capitalize on globally advantaged cost positions backed by U.S. shale gas economics, technology advantages, broader market access and significant envelope integration.”

Liveris added, “This milestone is a powerful shift in our portfolio towards targeted, integrated high performance sectors and end-markets that will drive further margin expansion, earnings growth, and return on capital – with a deal structure designed to maximize total shareholder return. With this transaction we will exceed our target to divest $7 billion to $8.5 billion of non-strategic businesses and assets. This achievement will allow us to have an ongoing focus to continue to enhance shareholder remuneration, reduce debt and continue to invest in future growth in our high priority and high margin businesses.”

“This transaction is a natural fit to our strategic objectives – creating a sustainable, long-term growth platform and enhanced shareholder and customer value,” said Joseph D. Rupp, Olin’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Supported by significant integration and scale, premier low-cost assets, an upgraded and diversified product mix, and valuable network and other synergies, we will be able to better serve and grow with our customers. We are excited to combine the strengths of our businesses and capitalize on the significant opportunities inherent in this transaction.”

Dow and Olin will have a strong, ongoing operational and commercial relationship including several long-term supply, service and purchase agreements which will support downstream products aligned with Dow’s strategic market focus. Dow will be an important anchor customer of Olin as it works to grow the acquired business. Olin will have a strong capital structure and cash flow to support growth and return of capital to shareholders. It will employ approximately 6,000 employees at 29 operating sites in 9 countries.

Olin will continue to be led by Rupp and a senior management team comprised of both Dow and Olin current employees. Olin’s Board of Directors will consist of the existing nine Olin Company directors and three new members to be designated by Dow.

The transaction is subject to approval by Olin shareholders and completion of customary closing conditions, including relevant tax authority rulings and regulatory approvals.

Dow and Olin will host a live Webcast to discuss this announcement today at 9:00 a.m. ET on www.dow.com and www.olin.com.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Olin Corporation
Olin Corporation is a manufacturer concentrated in three business segments: Chlor Alkali Products, Chemical Distribution and Winchester. Chlor Alkali Products, with eight U.S. manufacturing facilities and one Canadian manufacturing facility, produces chlorine and caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, hydrogen, bleach products and potassium hydroxide. Chemical Distribution manufactures bleach products and distributes caustic soda, bleach products, potassium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid. Winchester, with its principal manufacturing facilities in East Alton, IL and Oxford, MS, produces and distributes sporting ammunition, law enforcement ammunition, reloading components, small caliber military ammunition and components, and industrial cartridges.

MIDLAND, Mich. & DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia – The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Aramco) today announced a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that sets forth a process for Dow to acquire an additional 15 percent ownership interest from Saudi Aramco in Sadara Chemical Company (Sadara), a joint venture developed by the two companies. The current equity ownership split is 65 percent Saudi Aramco and 35 percent Dow. If the potential transaction is concluded as presently proposed, Dow and Saudi Aramco would each hold a 50 percent equity stake in Sadara.

“Sadara is the result of a game-changing partnership between Saudi Aramco and Dow by delivering market-driven solutions that support the diversification of the country’s economy,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow’s chairman and CEO. “Increasing our equity stake in this iconic joint venture is a powerful example of our strategic partnership with Saudi Aramco and is yet another accelerator in Dow’s long-term growth strategy designed to capture growing consumer-led demand in our key end-markets of transportation, infrastructure, packaging, and consumer products in developing regions.”

Saudi Aramco President and CEO Amin H. Nasser said, “We are proud of our partnership with Dow given its preeminent stature among the world’s leading chemical companies. Dow’s larger stake in Sadara is an endorsement of the Kingdom’s vibrant ecosystem, and signals Dow’s confidence in our partnership as a model of mutually beneficial foreign direct investment. The time is right to fully leverage Dow’s global leadership to further contribute to the Kingdom’s economic transformation in line with Vision 2030.”

The potential equity equalization would occur following the later of two events― (i) the intended separation of the Materials Science Company, within 18 months after the close of the merger of equals between Dow and DuPont (NYSE: DD) on August 31 and (ii) Sadara’s completion of the Creditors’ Reliability Test, which is part of the limited-recourse financing used to fund the Sadara project development. The anticipated financial impact of the potential transaction is not being disclosed. The Sadara financial structure and governance remain unchanged.

The Sadara chemical complex―the largest of its kind ever built in a single phase―is currently operating all of its 26 world-scale units that manufacture a portfolio of valued-added performance plastics and specialty chemicals. The more than three million metric tons of performance-focused products serving the Packaging, Transportation, Infrastructure and Consumer markets will add new value chains to Saudi Arabia’s vast hydrocarbon reserves, resulting in the diversification of the economy and region.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from material, polymer, chemical and biological science to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems, such as the need for fresh food, safer and more sustainable transportation, clean water, energy efficiency, more durable infrastructure, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven portfolio delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in 175 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, infrastructure, transportation, consumer care, electronics, and agriculture. In 2016, Dow had annual sales of $48 billion and employed approximately 56,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 7,000 product families are manufactured at 189 sites in 34 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

About Saudi Aramco
Saudi Aramco is a world leader in integrated energy and chemicals. We are driven by the core belief that energy is opportunity. From producing approximately one in every eight barrels of the world’s crude oil supply to developing new energy technologies, our global team is dedicated to creating positive impact in all that we do. We focus on making our resources more sustainable and more useful. This promotes long-term economic growth and prosperity around the world. Visit us at www.saudiaramco.com

MIDLAND, Mich. – Washing hands with soap is a proven way to help prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases, especially among children. In fact, nearly two million children under the age of five die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia. Dow has joined forces with the Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap (PPPHW) to promote this simple, healthy practice on an international scale.

Collaboration is a cornerstone of Dow’s citizenship approach. With a long history of experience in teaming with major personal care and home care companies, scientists from Dow’s Home, Institutional and Personal Care Solutions business are constantly working to develop innovative products that will help improve personal health and safety.

Dow previously worked with the PPPHW during Global Handwashing Day, a successful effort in raising awareness of the importance of handwashing with soap and water. The campaign was initiated by the PPPHW to reduce childhood mortality rates related to respiratory and diarrheal diseases and recognized DOW POLYOX™ Water-Soluble Polymers, technology that helps make soaps more affordable, last longer and feel better on the skin.

“We believe in the power of the human element to change the world. Dow places a high value on listening to our communities and we strive not just to be a good neighbor, but an excellent global corporate citizen,” said Ralf Brinkmann, business president, Dow Consumer Care. “This initiative has the power to change and save lives, and we are proud to contribute to building better, stronger, and more sustainable communities in the places where we do business.”

The Global Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing with Soap joins a number of leading non-profit organizations, peer companies and thought leaders that Dow has collaborated with to create a holistic approach that meets societal needs on many levels. These include the UN Global Compact, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, Habitat for Humanity, United Way, Nature Conservancy, Acumen, and Keep America Beautiful.

PPPHW is a coalition of international stakeholders whose focus is handwashing and child health. Established in 2001, the partnership aims to give families, schools, and communities in developing countries the power to prevent diarrheal and respiratory infections by supporting the universal promotion and practice of proper handwashing with soap at critical times.

For more information, visit www.cleanhands.dow.com.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

For the third consecutive year, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) has committed to combining leadership and business development while simultaneously addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges. From September 26 – October 3, 2015, Dow will send 42 employees from 24 global locations to Surabaya, Indonesia to work with nonprofit organizations and address long-standing challenges in a key growth market for the Company. The program, Leadership in Action (LIA), is being held for the first time in Asia and in one of Dow’s focused growth geographies. The company recently opened its first sales office in Surabaya, the capital of East Java province.

Pairing talent development with global citizenship, LIA offers Dow employees the opportunity to partner with on-the-ground, local organizations in emerging geographies to develop sustainable community-driven solutions. In Indonesia this year, employees will work with three universities and four non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address challenges related to education, agriculture, water and community development. The Dow employees have been working virtually with their colleagues since April 2015 on various projects, and will travel to Surabaya in September to work side-by-side with their Indonesian counterparts to present their proposals. The Dow teams and their local partners will then work together to reach the most suitable solutions and by the end of October, Dow will present the final solutions.

“Leadership in Action exposes our employees to real-world challenges in emerging economies,” said Johanna Söderström, Dow’s corporate vice president of human resources and aviation. “These projects serve as exceptional development opportunities for our employees, who become visionaries for new business development opportunities while learning first-hand the realities of working in unknown situations that test their leadership, decision-making and problem-solving skills.”

“As part of Dow’s 2025 Sustainability Goals, we have committed to positively impacting the lives of one billion people over the next 10 years,” said Rob Vallentine, Dow’s director of global citizenship and president of The Dow Chemical Company Foundation. “Leadership in Action is helping us accomplish this goal while leaving a lasting impact on both our employees and the strategic communities in which we see growth opportunities. This year in particular, our employees will be collaborating with NGOs, government agencies and civic groups on sustainable development projects, with the ultimate goal of creating sustainable communities.”

Dow’s LIA is a collaboration between Dow Sustainability Corps (DSC), the Company’s skills-based employee engagement program, and the Company’s human resources function. LIA leverages the goals of DSC and human resources to generate solutions to global challenges and exceptional leadership development opportunities.

For additional information and to learn more about Dow’s commitment to sustainability and global citizenship, please visit www.dow.com. This year’s program can be followed online or via Twitter at #DowLeads.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

MIDLAND, Mich. – December 05, 2014 -The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) announced today that it has signed definitive agreements to sell its global Sodium Borohydride business to Vertellus Specialty Materials LLC (Vertellus) and its polyolefin films plant in Findlay, Ohio to Valfilm North America, Inc. (Valfilm), a wholly-owned subsidiary of VALGROUP Packaging Solutions. Both transactions are expected to close in the first quarter of 2015 pending regulatory approvals. Combined proceeds from the transactions total approximately $225 million.

Dow had previously announced its intent to divest its Sodium Borohydride business on Oct. 2, 2014, as part of the Company’s ongoing focus to maximize value across its integrated portfolio by reducing exposure to non-strategic businesses and assets. Both transactions are part of Dow’s ongoing drive to deliver $7 billion to 8.5 billion in gross proceeds by mid-2016.

“We continue to demonstrate our market-driven focus by selectively shifting our portfolio away from businesses that – while valuable – are no longer a strategic fit,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “By narrowing our market participation and preferentially funding those businesses in which we have strong competitive positions in attractive markets, we continue to increase value that can be redirected for more strategic uses, such as funding targeted growth, reducing debt and rewarding shareholders.”

The divestiture of Sodium Borohydride includes a manufacturing facility located in Elma, Washington, the associated business, inventory, customer contracts and lists, process technology, business know-how and certain intellectual property. Approximately 75 employees globally are expected to transition employment status to Vertellus as part of the transaction. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Vertellus will honor customer and supplier contracts and related agreements.

The sale of the Findlay plant includes assets and technology that produce a wide-variety of polyolefin films. In September 2014, Dow decided to close the facility at the end of January 2015, impacting approximately 70 employees. Valfilm intends to restart the facility in February 2015. The transaction is dependent on the final approval for all incentives by the State of Ohio.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

BRASILIA, Brazil – Infográfico em inglês InfographicThe Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), the “Official Chemistry Company” of the Olympic Games and Official Carbon Partner of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee today announced that Dow AgroSciences Brazil is working with Brazilian farmers from the state of Mato Grosso to implement more sustainable agricultural practices that will generate climate benefits for the mitigation of Rio 2016’s direct carbon footprint.

The Sustainable Agriculture project is a key element of Dow’s innovative “Sustainable Future” program being implemented across Brazil and Latin America, which utilizes energy-efficient technologies and low-carbon solutions to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Through the Sustainable Agriculture project, Dow, in collaboration with Farmers Edge, a world leader in precision agronomy, and Irriger, a Brazilian group specialized in irrigation management, will provide variable rate technology and expertise to farmers in Mato Grosso, one of Brazil’s main ‘breadbaskets’.

The project is designed to minimize environmental impact and optimize productivity in corn and soybean crops through higher yields, better varieties and more targeted pest control management. Implementation of the precision and variable rate technologies along with seeds and crop protection solutions from Dow is expected to result in lower rates of synthetic fertilizer application, leading to a reduction in emissions of nitrous oxide. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas (GHG) and is produced as fertilizer decomposes. The reduced GHG emissions from this project will be applied towards Dow’s commitment to mitigate 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2eq) for the Rio 2016 Games.

“The objective is to help farmers produce more with less, and increase yield through advanced and more sustainable agricultural practices – all while contributing to one of Rio 2016’s most important sustainability goals,” said Welles Pascoal, president of Dow AgroSciences Brazil. “This project is fully aligned with Dow AgroSciences’ mission to put science at work to address the needs of an ever-growing world through innovative technologies for crop protection, seeds and biotechnology.”

Farmers participating in the project have access to services and technologies such as satellite imagery, precision harvest and profit maps, intensive soil sampling and laboratory analysis, weather monitoring, and detailed review of cropping plans and goals with variable rate technology experts. Seeds and crop protection solutions from Dow are also available to help optimize production and increase yields.

The climate benefits of the Sustainable Agriculture project will be realized over the next five years – far beyond the Olympic Games, creating a lasting legacy for farmers participating in the program. As reducing environmental impact continues to be an area of focus for agriculture in Brazil and globally, the Sustainable Agriculture announcement coincides with Dow AgroSciences Brazil’s support and participation in the World Congress on Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest Systems (WCCLF), taking place in Brasilia, Brazil from July 12-17, 2015. During the conference, Dow AgroSciences Brazil will present case studies and contribute to discussions on this important topic.

Work with farmers started during preparation for the 2015 Brazilian soybean season, and will continue through the end of the 2016 corn harvest. Carbon emissions reductions will be tracked based on productivity increase and reductions in the use of fertilizers and fuel. The climate benefits generated by the Brazilian farms participating in the project will be measured, reviewed and verified by the third party Environmental Resource Management (ERM).

“Agriculture plays a key role in the Brazilian economy and is also one of the largest sources of GHG emissions, therefore the opportunities to implement more sustainable practices are countless,” commented Tânia Braga, head of Sustainability & Legacy for the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee, who spoke at the WCCFF about the Committee’s sustainability plans and goals. “The carbon mitigation program implemented by Dow and its partners is one of the key sustainability legacies of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. The way we are collectively working to influence the entire value chain will bring great benefits for Brazil long after the Games are over.”

Following the successful execution of a similar “Sustainable Future” program in Sochi for the 2014 Olympic Games, Dow was selected as the Official Carbon Partner of Rio 2016 in September 2014. Dow designed a tailor-made program to address the technology needs for Brazil focused on farming, industrial processes and civil infrastructure to generate climate benefits for the mitigation of the direct carbon footprint of the Rio 2016 Organizing Committee. In addition to Dow’s commitment to mitigate 500,000 tons of CO2eq from the organizing and hosting of the Games, Dow and Rio 2016 will also work to generate an additional 1.5 million tons of CO2eq in climate benefits by 2026, to address other Games-related emissions.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

MOSCOW, Russia – The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) has officially launched a new sustainable agriculture program in Russia to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by implementing more sustainable farming practices and healthier seed crops, which will also promote better food choices for consumers in Russia. As the Official Carbon Partner of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, this innovative project is part of the Company’s “Sustainable Future” program to mitigate the direct carbon footprint associated with the hosting of the Games by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee.

Traditional farming practices include the use of heavy machinery for deep tilling of fields each year which consume fuel, cause long-term soil erosion and lead to substantial GHG emissions. Dow Seeds, a unit of Dow AgroSciences, is deploying leading technology in Russia and engaging with local farmers to encourage low-till agriculture and other sustainable farming solutions to reduce the negative impact on the environment, while also enabling the production of healthier crops.

Dow is partnering with Farmer’s Edge (a world leader in precision agronomy) and ADVAG (a leader in Russian Agriculture Management) to work with five large farms: “Shatsk Zolotaya Niva” LLC (AgroTerra), KFH “Baigora”, “VAPC” LLC, SKPSSK “Izmalkovskiy” and “ADVAG – Baltic Farms” LLC. The program will provide access to state-of-the-art precision agriculture and advanced expertise to optimize farm productivity of Nexera™ hybrid canola seeds while focusing on more sustainable practices, such as reduced tillage, optimized use of nutrients and variable rate application of fertilizer.

The partnership is set to last for two years, and has the potential to eliminate up to 100,000 metric tons of GHG emissions at these five farms combined over a 10-year span. The emissions reductions will count toward the mitigation of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games’ direct carbon footprint, estimated to be up to 360,000 MT.

“The project will demonstrate to the Russian Agricultural Industry how yields can be increased and optimized using more sustainable farming practices,” explains Dr. Nicoletta Piccolrovazzi, Sustainability and Technology Director, Dow Olympic Operations. “Advancing sustainability while enabling increased production of healthier oils is a very significant way to connect Dow’s ‘Sustainable Future’ program with the very values of the Olympic Movement, which combine the environment with the promotion of healthier lifestyles.”

Holistic Approach, Amplified Results

In addition to minimizing emissions, low -till farming has positive effects on the entire ecosystem, keeping existing carbon based materials in the soil rather than emitting them into the atmosphere. Maintaining higher carbon content in soil improves water retention, reduces the need for additional irrigation and decreases soil erosion. By increasing soil resilience, crops become stronger and better able to resist weeds and pests, therefore reducing the need for additional pesticide and herbicide applications. Avoiding overuse of fertilizers also decreases the emissions of nitrogen oxides, or gases with extremely high global warming potential. A resulting healthier ecosystem will lead to higher crop yields, ultimately benefitting the local economy.

This program also improves the quality of crops produced. Dow is focusing on rapeseed (canola), aiming to reduce Russia’s dependency on oil imports in the long term and promoting the use Omega-9 canola oils, which are low saturated fat oils for healthier food production. The seeds to be introduced by Dow are bred to work particularly well with reduced tillage practices, producing higher yields and, therefore, more efficient farms.

Training for farmers is another key component of the program, which focuses on mastering low-tillage practices to achieve higher crop yields, and using water and fertilizers in an optimized way. The training programs started in December of 2013, and a technological map and special guidelines will be developed for each farm to support the implementation in early 2014.

“Innovation and sustainability are part of our core as a Company. We feel these specific training programs have the potential to bring lasting, positive change to Russia’s environment, agricultural sector, and overall economy,” said Igor Savinskiy, country leader for Dow Seeds in Russia. “Enabling greenhouse gas emissions reductions that will support the climate goals of Sochi 2014 is a very special way to celebrate our 40 years presence in Russia.”

Contributing to more sustainable Olympic Games

As The Official Carbon Partner of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, supporting sustainable agricultural practices is just one piece of Dow’s “Sustainable Future” program, a unique and innovative program to mitigate the direct carbon footprint associated with hosting the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. Dow is collaborating with partners and customers in Russia to implement energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies that will result in a net decrease of GHG emissions in the key areas of infrastructure, industry and agriculture. All projects will be implemented in-country, generating benefits to the Russian economy by targeting upgrades in building infrastructures, farming practices and industrial processes.

“As The Official Chemistry Company of the Olympic Movement, we are in a unique position to advance sustainability beyond the Games and catalyze change globally through the excitement generated by the Olympics,” said George Hamilton, vice president, Dow Olympic Operations. “GHG emission reductions are happening in Russia as we speak, thanks to the low carbon and energy efficient technologies introduced through this unique sustainability program tailor-made by Dow for Sochi 2014.”

This Press Release is courtesy of www.dow.com

Dow Microbial Control, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW), has announced European Union regulatory approval of its antifouling active substance DCOIT (4,5-Dichloro-2-octyl-2H-isothiazol-3-one), an innovative technology used in paints and coatings to prevent the settlement of unwanted organisms on the surface of structures immersed in water.

The European Commission has approved DCOIT for use in coating formulations that fall under the Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) “Product Type 21,” which encompasses antifouling products. From an environmental point of view, this is one of the most challenging product types for which to gain approval, and DCOIT is only the second active substance to be given EU market clearance in this category.

Antifouling products are used to control the unwanted growth and settlement of fouling organisms — such as microbes and higher forms of plant or animal species — on marine vessels, aquaculture equipment or other structures used in water. Such biofouling reduces a ship’s operating efficiency, thereby wasting money and harming the environment through increased fuel consumption and emissions as well as the spreading of marine invasive species.

“We are pleased that Dow Microbial Control’s technology has been embraced by a regulatory body and in a product category that is respected for having some of the most stringent environmental standards in the world,” said Mark Henning, Global Business Director for Dow Microbial Control. “This landmark EU approval confirms an excellent environmental profile for DCOIT as an antifouling agent for commercial fleets, superyachts, nets and other marine structures.”

DCOIT has been used safely around the world as an active substance in antifouling products under the trademark SEA-NINE™ since the early 1990s. SEA-NINE™ won the prestigious US EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award in the category of Designing Safer Chemical Products. This award recognizes and promotes fundamental breakthroughs in chemistry that prevent pollution and have broad applicability in the industry.

“SEA-NINE™ is exemplary of Dow Microbial Control’s commitment to providing top-performing products while also leading customers to a more sustainable future,” said Rick Strittmatter, Global Research & Development Director for Dow Microbial Control. “Smart business practices and responsible environmental decisions are no longer an either-or proposition. Dow makes it possible to have both.”

For information on how Dow is leading efforts for sustainability across various industries, visit www.dow.com/microbial/.

About Dow Microbial Control
Dow Microbial Control innovates with science and technology to provide long-term viable and sustainable microbial control. Our comprehensive global offering provides customers with solutions to optimize formulations, including a high performing and technically supported selection of registered actives and products. With world-class people organization-wide and a broad portfolio of microbial control technologies, Dow Microbial Control can help solve most any microbial control problem. From specialty and highly regulated to non-regulated, the company has the experience and the essentials for more sustainable microbial control protection for products and processes. Visit www.DowMicrobialControl.com.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Midland, Michigan – A new resin compatibilizer from Dow is giving millions of pounds of barrier film scrap a second chance at life. At PACK EXPO International Chicago, November 2 – 5, 2014, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics will debut RETAIN™ Polymer Modifiers, a portfolio of compatibilizers that make it easier to recycle post-industrial barrier films without compromising performance or aesthetics.

Based on a reactive ultra-low viscosity, RETAIN Polymer Modifiers allow pelletized barrier films, containing materials like ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) or polyamide (PA), to be more evenly dispersed into a polyolefin matrix. Compared to other control films, the technology is helping make packages clearer, maintain mechanical properties and significantly reduce gels in films produced from barrier film recycle streams.

“RETAIN Polymer Modifiers help take plastic packaging to the next level, supporting converters’ landfill waste goals,” said Ritika Kalia, market manager for Food and Specialty Packaging, Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “The technology also enables the use of ‘post-industrial recycled content’ claims, and helps trim down costs associated with collecting, packaging and selling scrap materials.”

The technology has benefits beyond the sustainability realm too. After many vigorous trials, RETAIN Polymer Modifiers demonstrated impressive optical and physical properties, and improved processability. The product portfolio also:

Uses the advanced chemistry developed for Dow’s AMPLIFY™ TY Functional Polymers
Achieves the same clarity as a control film
Maintains or increases dart values
Delivers the option to replace a portion of PE purchases with in-process barrier film trim
Makes better use of existing recycling streams
For more information about RETAIN™ Polymer Modifiers, AMPLIFY TY tie layers and plastic packaging technologies, please visit http://www.dowpackaging.com/, or follow the business on Twitter at @DowPackaging. Dow experts will also be available to discuss Dow’s entire packaging portfolio at PACK EXPO International Chicago.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

The Dow Chemical Company (Dow) is showcasing its packaging technologies that deliver optimum performance and shelf appeal at the International Converter Exhibition (ICE) in Orlando, Florida, February 10-12, 2015.

Dow’s broad set of adhesive, heat seal coating and sealant resin technologies provide excellent sealability, abuse resistance and optics for a variety of food, medical and other packaging applications. These qualities help meet brand owner needs for durable, attractive packaging, which appeals to today’s sophisticated consumer.

“As trends continue to shift, Dow offers a competitive advantage to its customers with an expansive technology portfolio, world-class fabrication and testing facilities and global R&D and technical service expertise,” said Badrish Krishnan, Market Manager for Dow Packaging and Specialty Plastics. “Our complete adhesives product offering is based on leading technologies and expertise for lamination, coating and bonding in packaging applications that range from films to tapes and labels.”

Leading Adhesives & Sealants Capabilities
Dow recently added an adhesives lab and laminator to its Pack Studios Freeport, Texas, location. The new lab and laminator give Dow customers the convenience of developing and evaluating a variety of film structures on a small scale without having to interrupt their large-scale operations. Pack Studios enhances collaboration across the value chain to help customers adopt new packaging technologies quickly to meet their unique performance requirements and sustainability goals. With locations in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Latin America, Pack Studios offers customers a global network of labs equipped to collaborate with the right expert for any challenge.

Adding Style to Function
In addition to showcasing its world-class adhesive and sealant portfolio, Dow will discuss the latest package coating innovations that directly address consumer demands.

“As we work to enhance the total package, we are seeing a trend in consumer demand for more natural products,” said Krishnan. “Dow developed OPULUX™ Optical Finishes to help brand owners match their natural and organic products with more natural-looking packaging.”

OPULUX Optical Finishes is a portfolio of acrylic-based matte coatings that reduce glare and deliver a distinctive and luxurious look to product packaging.

Dow to Present at ICE
In addition to exhibiting, Dow senior research scientist and extrusion coating specialist Jim Cooper will present on Specialty Polymers used for Packaging Applications. He will discuss how polymers are used as tie layers and sealants in the extrusion coating and extrusion lamination process and highlight how recent innovations have impacted the space. Cooper’s presentation will take place Tuesday, February 10 at 10:30a.m. – 11:00a.m.

For more information about Dow’s broad portfolio of adhesives technology, Pack Studios and OPULUX™ Optical Finishes, please visit www.dowpackaging.com, or follow the business on Twitter at @DowPackaging. Visit Dow at the International Converting Exhibition at Booth #947.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) will begin construction of its previously announced world-scale ethylene production facility, representing a prominent milestone in delivering on its strategy to invest in its performance-based portfolio of technology-enabled businesses. This significant investment in Dow’s Texas Operations in Freeport remains on track and on-plan for start-up in the first half of 2017, and will employ up to 2,000 workers during construction.

“This world-scale ethylene facility is a foundational element in Dow’s strategy to utilize low-cost and advantaged shale gas feedstocks to enable growth in key value-add market-driven businesses,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Collectively, Dow’s U.S. Gulf Coast investments serve as an integral component of our global growth strategy, where we are leveraging our first-mover advantage to deliver significant shareholder value, enabling the Company to achieve our near-term $10 billion EBITDA goal and beyond.”

With a nameplate capacity of approximately 1500 KTA, Dow’s new ethylene production facility is part of a multi-billion dollar investment. Alongside previously announced plastics and elastomers facilities, this will support market growth and expansions of Dow’s industry leading-leading Performance Plastics franchise that includes:

Next Generation NORDEL™ metallocene EPDM to serve the consumer durables, automotive and electrical cable markets. (Capacity: 200 KTA)
High Melt Index Specialty Elastomers used in hot melt adhesives for high performance flexible packaging, and hygiene and medical markets. (Capacity: 320 KTA)
ELITE™ Enhanced Polyethylene for high performance flexible packaging and hygiene & medical markets. (Capacity: 400 KTA)
New specialty low density polyethylene for protective packaging and power transmission markets. (Capacity: 350 KTA)
“When combined with our on-purpose propylene PDH project, which is more than 30 percent complete, this ethylene production facility takes Dow yet another step closer to realizing the full financial benefit of our Gulf Coast investment effort,” said Jim Fitterling, Executive Vice President, Feedstocks, Energy and Performance Plastics. “This investment will connect cost-advantaged raw materials to many of the Company’s highest-margin downstream businesses – including Performance Plastics – businesses that also consistently deliver a high return on invested capital. Once fully operational, our Gulf Coast investments are projected to deliver an estimated $2.5 billion in EBITDA and will serve as a solid base for long-term growth while further strengthening Dow’s market competitiveness.”

In total, Dow’s comprehensive U.S. Gulf Coast investments in Texas and Louisiana will employ 5,000 workers during peak construction. The projects announced for the Freeport site represent the majority of those workers, with 4,000 required for construction of multiple feedstocks, derivatives and supporting infrastructure projects.

Dow Texas Operations in Freeport is Dow’s largest integrated manufacturing site worldwide and the largest chemical complex in North America with more than 4,200 employees and 3,800 contractors on site daily.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2013, Dow had annual sales of more than $57 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 36 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

MIDLAND, Mich.- The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced it intends to restructure its participation in its group of Kuwaiti Joint Ventures with the objective of optimizing its investment and expanding its relationship with Greater EQUATE on the U.S. Gulf Coast. This announcement aligns with Dow’s prior stated commitments to optimize its investments in certain joint ventures.

The optimization is expected to occur in two phases. Under the first phase, EQUATE would acquire MEGlobal for a total equity consideration of $3.2 billion. The transaction will result in Dow receiving $1.5 billion in pre-tax proceeds. Following completion of this acquisition, which is expected to close by year-end 2015, Dow will retain a 42.5 percent ownership stake in MEGlobal through its ownership of Greater EQUATE. This acquisition is also expected to drive efficiencies and cost savings due to existing synergies between MEGlobal and EQUATE.

In the second phase, Dow and PIC have agreed that Dow will further reduce its overall ownership interest in Greater EQUATE. The target to complete this second phase of the transaction is mid-2016.

In a related move, MEGlobal will build an MEG plant on the U.S. Gulf Coast – enabling MEGlobal and its parent companies to enjoy growth in a highly strategic region of the world and drive significant expansion of MEGlobal’s geographic footprint and capacity. Final location of the asset is contingent upon pending incentives.

“This announcement demonstrates Dow’s commitment to evaluate our joint venture portfolio to unlock value for shareholders and simultaneously expand our relationship with a key strategic partner,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “This transaction allows Dow to maximize shareholder value, while maintaining our commitment to these industry-leading joint ventures.”

MEGlobal is a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of monoethylene glycol and diethylene glycol (EG), and is headquartered in Dubai, UAE. Established in July 2004, MEGlobal currently markets over 2.5 million metric tons of EG per year globally. EG is used as a raw material in the manufacture of polyester fibers (clothing and other textiles), polyethylene terephthalate (PET) resins, antifreeze formulations and other industrial products. MEGlobal is a joint venture between Dow and Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC) of Kuwait.

Established in 1995, EQUATE is the operator of an integrated world-scale manufacturing facility producing more than 5 million tons annually of high-quality petrochemical products, including polyethylene, ethylene, and EG, that are marketed throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa and Europe. Formed in 2004, The Kuwait Olefins Company (TKOC) is an international joint venture among Dow, Petrochemical Industries Company (PIC), Boubyan Petrochemical Company (BPC) and Qurain Petrochemical Industries Company (QPIC). EQUATE is the single operator of Greater EQUATE, which includes TKOC, The Kuwait Styrene Company (TKSC), and Kuwait Paraxylene Production Company (KPPC) under one fully integrated operational umbrella at Kuwait’s Shuaiba Industrial Area.

These transactions are subject to negotiation of definitive agreements and satisfaction of certain conditions, including obtaining and maintaining of certain customary regulatory approvals.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 product families are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

MIDLAND, Mich. – Dow (NYSE: DOW) recently won five R&D 100 Awards, including three R&D 100 Product Awards, R&D Researcher of the Year for 2023 and a special recognition for Corporate Social Responsibility. Marking its 61st year, the R&D 100 Awards program is universally recognized as a highly prestigious accolade within the research and development (R&D) community. This program pays tribute to innovative pioneers and their impactful contributions to science and technology.

“We are very proud that Dow has earned recognition on the R&D 100 list for twelve consecutive years, and over that timeframe the Company’s products, people and technologies have received 59 cumulative awards – the most of any company,” said A.N. Sreeram, senior vice president, Research & Development, and chief technology officer for Dow. “Team Dow strives to develop more differentiated products and solutions for our customers while solving societal needs and creating value for our shareholders.”

The R&D 100 Awards program is open to corporate, government, and academic R&D organizations across the globe. First established in 1963, the R&D 100 Awards is the only science and technology awards competition that recognizes new commercial products, technologies and materials for their technological significance that are available for sale or license.

This year, Dow continued its winning streak by securing three awards in the Mechanicals/Materials category, which comes after having 10 solutions showcased in the finalists round. Dow’s Dr. Bharat Indu Chaudhary received the inaugural ‘R&D Researcher of the Year Award’ in the R&D 100 Professional Award category for his recent accomplishments in the design of the SI-LINK™ DFDF-5451 NT Faster Moisture Curing Ethylene-Silane Copolymer, which enables game-changing improvements in performance.

In addition to the award winners, Dow received special recognition in the Corporate Social Responsibility category for combating geographic inequality in remote areas by erecting high-standard basketball courts from waste bicycle tires.. This honors an organization’s efforts to be a greater corporate member of society, from a local to global level.

Read more about our 2023 R&D 100 Award-winning products and innovations:

Solventless Antimisting SYL-OFF™ SL 184 Release Coating is a technological advancement that solved the long-standing misting issue, enabled extreme speed production of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive labels with excellent coating performance. Fast curing, low release force at both low and high peel speeds, reduces downtime for a variety of applications such as pressure sensitive laminates.

DOW ENDURANCE™ HFDD-4201 Compound for Cable Systems is a fully formulated polymer compound for high voltage insulation designed for use in underground and undersea power cables up to 500 kV (500,000 volts). It is a novel, more sustainable, patented cross-linkable polyethylene formulation that provides more than 70% reduction in methane byproduct versus incumbent materials.

DOWSIL™ TC-4083 Dispensable Thermal Pad delivers a transformative combination of high thermal conductivity, excellent dispensability with patented thermal stability. This helps drive thermal management in 5G base station, ADAS and self-driving chipset for ever-increasing communication capacity and connectivity, the future of mobility to prevent deaths and injuries and improve driving comfort.

Visit Dow’s website for additional information on the Company’s commitment to Sustainability, R&D and ID&E, and to explore the Company’s consolidated 2022 Intersections Progress Report.

The full list of winners may be viewed on R&D World.

About Dow
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth; asset integration and scale; focused innovation and materials science expertise; leading business positions; and environmental, social and governance leadership to achieve profitable growth and help deliver a sustainable future. The Company’s ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric, inclusive and sustainable materials science company in the world. Dow’s portfolio of plastics, industrial intermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated, science-based products and solutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumer applications. Dow operates manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 37,800 people. Dow delivered sales of approximately $57 billion in 2022. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and its subsidiaries. For more information, please visit www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

Research Triangle Park, N.C., – DuPont Advanced Materials (DuPont) is launching a new electronic ink for inkjet printing that offers the high conductivity and strong adhesion required for rapid digital design, prototyping and full-scale manufacturing. The technology will enable digital printing for electronic components and circuits in applications where extremely fine lines are required, such as OLED panels, solar cells, printed antennae and touch panels.

“As the leader in the printed electronics industry, we must stay one step ahead of our customers’ needs,” said Kerry Adams, segment manager, DuPont Advanced Materials. “Our new conductive ink for digital printing will open the door to the next important wave of innovations enabled by printed electronics.”

DuPont’s newest conductive ink, PE410, enables rapid prototyping and a smooth transition from “lab to fab” with the versatility to scale up to industrial high-volume inkjet print heads and machines. This allows circuit designers to immediately test a new design, quickly make necessary edits, and, due to reduced silver laydown, save on material costs. The technology also can be adapted to non-planar printing, enabling a series of new and emerging applications.

“Based on industry benchmarks, we find DuPont’s new conductive inkjet ink to provide the best combination of important properties available among competitive products,” said Jeroen van den Brand, program director, Holst Centre. “When considering the low sintering temperature, conductivity, adhesion, print head stability, fine line capability and substrate compatibility, DuPont’s solution is the leader.”

DuPont will feature its new inkjet ink, PE410, along with its other printed electronic technologies during LOPEC (April 6-7, in Munich, Germany, hall B0 booth #310) and Printed Electronics Europe (April 27-28, in Berlin, Germany, booth #D14). Highlights include:

Stretchable inks for wearable electronics that provide a manufacturing-ready alternative to traditional methods of embedding electronics in clothing and are used to create thin, form-fitting circuits that can be seamlessly bonded with many standard fabrics.
A suite of in-mold electronic inks which help create lighter, less expensive and more beautiful electronic devices by reducing the need for rigid circuit boards. These inks enable circuits to be printed directly onto plastic substrates and allow electronic features such as electronic controls, capacitive switches and LED lighting, to be readily integrated in applications such as home appliances and automobiles.
New low-temperature inks that cure quickly at temperatures as low as 60C, opening up the possibility for printed electronics designers to use a wide range of functional and low-cost plastic films.
DuPont Advanced Materials is a leading innovator and high-volume supplier of electronic inks and pastes that offers a broad range of printed electronic materials commercially available today. The growing portfolio of DuPont Advanced Materials electronic inks is used in many applications, including forming conductive traces, capacitor and resistor elements, and dielectric and encapsulating layers that are compatible with many substrate surfaces including polymer, glass and ceramic.

Advanced Materials has over 40 years of experience in the development, manufacture, sale and support of specialized thick film compositions for a variety of electronic applications in the consumer electronics, automotive, photovoltaic, biomedical, military and telecommunications markets. For more information on DuPont Advanced Materials, visit http://www.advancedmaterials.dupont.com

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

WILMINGTON, Del, – Today, DuPont and Caribou Biosciences, a leading developer of CRISPR-Cas technologies for genome editing, jointly announced a strategic alliance. As part of the agreement, DuPont and Caribou have cross-licensed their respective patent portfolios, with DuPont receiving exclusive intellectual property rights for CRISPR-Cas technology applications in major row crops, and non-exclusive rights in other agricultural and industrial bioscience applications.

In addition, the alliance between DuPont and Caribou involves a multi-year research collaboration with scientists from the two organizations focused on enhancing the breadth, versatility and efficiency of the core CRISPR-Cas toolkit. DuPont also has made a minority equity investment in Caribou to further strengthen the working relationship.

“DuPont intends to lead in the application of CRISPR-Cas technology to improve agricultural productivity and enhance food security. Our alliance with Caribou is now at the forefront of this emerging science and will speed our development of this important platform to create long-term value for our company and our customers,” said James C. Borel, executive vice president, DuPont. “Specifically, we believe CRISPR-Cas has significant potential to advance plant breeding and expand the range of agricultural solutions available to farmers. We look forward to bringing related products to market in the next five to 10 years.”

CRISPR-Cas technology is capable of making exact changes to the DNA of most organisms. In plants, this editing capability can be applied to promote drought tolerance and disease resistance to protect plant health and increase crop yields. It also can provide direct consumer benefits like the removal of food allergens and the improvement of the nutrient composition of plant-derived oils.

“We are delighted to work with DuPont on what we believe will be a truly groundbreaking collaboration,” said Rachel Haurwitz, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer and co-founder of Caribou Biosciences. “DuPont has been responsible for numerous breakthroughs in CRISPR biology and we are excited to gain access to their impressive knowledge and expertise in developing and applying Cas-mediated genome editing technologies in promising commercial areas. This initiative will serve as a vital accelerator to our advancement of new applications for CRISPR-Cas gene editing that will help bring the tremendous promise this technology holds for patients and consumers to reality.”

Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

This most recent license and collaboration agreement completed by DuPont represents a cornerstone of its strategy as an early adopter and leader in the CRISPR-Cas field. It complements DuPont’s own estate of related patent applications, and adds to the previously announced licensing and collaboration agreements with Vilnius University.

CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is a feature naturally existing in bacteria providing protection against viruses. DuPont scientists were among the first to understand how the CRISPR system works in bacteria. CRISPR-Cas (CRISPR associated proteins) is one of several CRISPR-derived tools and differs from the natural CRISPR process used to identify and immunize bacteria. The DuPont patent portfolio comprises more than 60 patents and patent applications related to the use of CRISPR for bacteria identification and immunization. It also comprises multiple patent applications related to the CRISPR-Cas genome editing technology.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

Wilmington, DE and Midland, MI – DuPont (NYSE:DD) and The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE:DOW) today announced that their boards of directors unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which the companies will combine in an all-stock merger of equals. The combined company will be named DowDuPont. The parties intend to subsequently pursue a separation of DowDuPont into three independent, publicly traded companies through tax-free spin-offs. This would occur as soon as feasible, which is expected to be 18-24 months following the closing of the merger, subject to regulatory and board approval.

The companies will include a leading global pure-play Agriculture company; a leading global pure-play Material Science company; and a leading technology and innovation-driven Specialty Products company. Each of the businesses will have clear focus, an appropriate capital structure, a distinct and compelling investment thesis, scale advantages, and focused investments in innovation to better deliver superior solutions and choices for customers.

“This transaction is a game-changer for our industry and reflects the culmination of a vision we have had for more than a decade to bring together these two powerful innovation and material science leaders,” said Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s chairman and chief executive officer. “Over the last decade our entire industry has experienced tectonic shifts as an evolving world presented complex challenges and opportunities – requiring each company to exercise foresight, agility and focus on execution. This transaction is a major accelerator in Dow’s ongoing transformation, and through this we are creating significant value and three powerful new companies. This merger of equals significantly enhances the growth profile for both companies, while driving value for all of our shareholders and our customers.”

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to deliver long-term, sustainable shareholder value through the combination of two highly complementary global leaders and the creation of three strong, focused, industry-leading businesses. Each of these businesses will be able to allocate capital more effectively, apply its powerful innovation more productively, and extend its value-added products and solutions to more customers worldwide,” said Edward D. Breen, chairman and chief executive officer of DuPont. “For DuPont, this is a definitive leap forward on our path to higher growth and higher value. This merger of equals will create significant near-term value through substantial cost synergies and additional upside from growth synergies. Longer term, the three-way split we intend to pursue is expected to unlock even greater value for shareholders and customers and more opportunity for employees as each business will be a leader in attractive segments where global challenges are driving demand for these businesses’ distinctive offerings.”

HIGHLY SYNERGISTIC TRANSACTION
Upon closing of the transaction, the combined company would be named DowDuPont and have a combined market capitalization of approximately $130 billion at announcement. Under the terms of the transaction, Dow shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 1.00 share of DowDuPont for each Dow share, and DuPont shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 1.282 shares in DowDuPont for each DuPont share. Dow and DuPont shareholders will each own approximately 50 percent of the combined company, on a fully diluted basis, excluding preferred shares.

The transaction is expected to deliver approximately $3 billion in cost synergies, with 100 percent of the run-rate cost synergies achieved within the first 24 months following the closing of the transaction. Additional upside of approximately $1 billion is expected from growth synergies.

INTENDED SEPARATION INTO THREE INDEPENDENT, PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANIES
It is the intention of both companies’ boards of directors that, following the merger, DowDuPont would pursue a tax-free separation into three independent, publicly traded companies with each targeting an investment grade credit rating. Each would be a strong, focused business with powerful innovation capabilities, enhanced global scale and product portfolios, focused capital allocation, and a distinct competitive position. The three businesses that the boards intend to separate are:
Agriculture Company: Leading global pure-play agriculture company that unites DuPont’s and Dow’s seed and crop protection businesses. The combined entity will have the most comprehensive and diverse portfolio and a robust pipeline with exceptional growth opportunities in the near-, mid- and long-term. The complementary offerings of the two companies will provide growers across geographies with a broad portfolio of solutions and greater choice. Combined pro forma 2014 revenue for Agriculture is approximately $19 billion.
Material Science Company: A pure-play industrial leader, consisting of DuPont’s Performance Materials segment, as well as Dow’s Performance Plastics, Performance Materials and Chemicals, Infrastructure Solutions, and Consumer Solutions (excluding the Dow Electronic Materials business) operating segments. The combination of complementary capabilities will create a low-cost, innovation-driven leader that can provide customers in high-growth, high-value industry segments in packaging, transportation, and infrastructure solutions, among others with a broad and deep portfolio of cost-effective offerings. Combined pro forma 2014 revenue for Material Science is approximately $51 billion.
Specialty Products Company: A technology driven innovative leader, focused on unique businesses that share similar investment characteristics and specialty market focus. The businesses will include DuPont’s Nutrition & Health, Industrial Biosciences, Safety & Protection and Electronics & Communications, as well as the Dow Electronic Materials business. Together, their complementary offerings create a new global leader in Electronics Products, and each business will benefit from more targeted investment in their productive technology development and innovation capabilities. Combined pro forma 2014 revenue for Specialty Products is approximately $13 billion.

Advisory Committees will be established for each of the businesses. Breen will lead the Agriculture and Specialty Products Committees, and Liveris will lead the Material Science Committee. These Committees will oversee the respective businesses, and will work with Liveris and Breen on the intended separation of the businesses into independent, standalone entities.

MANAGEMENT, GOVERNANCE AND CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS

Upon completion of the transaction, Liveris, President, Chairman and CEO of Dow, will become Executive Chairman of the newly formed DowDuPont Board of Directors and Breen, Chair and CEO of DuPont, will become Chief Executive Officer of DowDuPont. In these roles, both Liveris and Breen will report to the Board of Directors. In addition, when named, the chief financial officer will report to Breen.

DowDuPont’s board is expected to have 16 directors, consisting of eight current DuPont directors and eight current Dow directors. The full list of directors will be announced prior to or in conjunction with the closing of the merger. The Committees of each company will appoint the leaders of the three new standalone companies prior to a contemplated spin-off.

Following the closing of the transaction, DowDuPont will be dual headquartered in Midland, Michigan and Wilmington, Delaware.

APPROVALS AND TIME TO CLOSE

The merger transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2016, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and approval by both Dow and DuPont shareholders. The subsequent separation of DowDuPont, which the companies intend to pursue, would be expected to occur 18-24 months following the closing of the merger.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST DETAILS

Dow and DuPont will host a joint conference call and webcast today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time (U.S.) to discuss the proposed merger. Participants will include Dow’s chairman and CEO and DuPont’s chairman and CEO. To access the audio webcast please visit the Investor Relations sections of Dow or DuPont’s websites. For those unable to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available on both websites.

A copy of the investor presentation will be made available on both companies’ Investor Relations websites. Additional information regarding the transaction can be found on www.DowDuPontUnlockingValue.com.

ADVISORS

Klein and Company, Lazard, and Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC are serving as Dow’s financial advisors for the transaction with Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acting as its legal advisor.

Evercore and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are serving as DuPont’s financial advisors for the transaction, with Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP acting as its legal advisor.

ABOUT DOW
Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company is driving innovations that extract value from the intersection of chemical, physical and biological sciences to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, clean energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s integrated, market-driven, industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 180 countries and in high-growth sectors such as packaging, electronics, water, coatings and agriculture. In 2014, Dow had annual sales of more than $58 billion and employed approximately 53,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 6,000 products are manufactured at 201 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to “Dow” or the “Company” mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

ABOUT DuPONT
DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders, we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

Changchun, Jilin Province, China, – DuPont and Jilin Province New Tianlong Industry Co., Ltd., (NTL) announced a licensing agreement to begin the development of China’s largest cellulosic ethanol manufacturing plant, located in Siping City, Jilin Province, China. The agreement allows NTL to license DuPont’s cellulosic ethanol technology and use DuPont™ Accellerase® enzymes, to produce renewable biofuel from the leftover biomass on Jilin Province’s highly productive corn farms. NTL is working to secure the necessary government approvals and support to implement this agreement.

Officials from DuPont, NTL, Siping City and Lishu County in Jilin Province praised the announcement as a milestone in the global renewable fuel marketplace. Combining NTL’s ethanol production expertise with processing technology, technical support and world-class enzymes supplied by DuPont, NTL will be able to produce cellulosic renewable fuel for the rapidly growing Chinese liquid biofuel market, which is projected to exceed 1.7 billion gallons per year by 2020. “As we bring online the largest and most sophisticated cellulosic facility in the world in the State of Iowa in the United States, we are simultaneously working with leaders who share the same vision of producing the next generation of clean renewable fuels in their region,” said Jan Koninckx, global biofuels leader for DuPont Industrial Biosciences. “We are honored to have found such a strong partner in NTL. The company’s reputation for producing world-class grain ethanol makes it a superior candidate to put DuPont’s advanced technology to work to realize the additional economic and environmental benefits of cellulosic biofuel in China.”

“With its history of scientific innovation, collaboration and commitment to the ethanol industry, DuPont is an ideal partner for New Tianlong in our quest to bring the cleanest renewable fuel on the planet to China,” said SUN Guojing, general manager of NTL. “We look forward to working with DuPont over the coming years as we develop the biomass supply chain, construct a world-class facility, and produce fuel that delivers on the promise of reduced pollution and greenhouse gases. This project will augment our current excellent grade ethanol offerings and business and will make NTL the preeminent biofuel product supplier in China.”

This announcement is particularly important in light of China’s aggressive goals for renewable energy, cutting its reliance on foreign oil and increasing employment opportunities for its large number of rural citizens.

An official signing ceremony took place in Changchun with representatives of both companies in attendance. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Siping City Secretary LIU Xijie and Lishu County Secretary SUN Yanjun. “This project is significant for local economic development and the launch of the clean-energy industry in the region and enjoys the full support from the local government,” said LIU Xijie.

Jilin Province New Tianlong Industry Co., Ltd. (NTL) was founded in 1988 and acquired by Ginsber Beer Group in 2003. NTL is one of the largest corn refinery plants in the northeast of China with the production and sale of potable alcohol, chemical reagent (absolute ethyl alcohol), corn oil (raw material), etc. For additional information about NTL, please visit: http://www.jlsxtl.com/En/aboutus.asp.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com/

WILMINGTON, Del., DuPont today announced its 2020 Sustainability Goals as the next step in its more than 25-year commitment to sustainability. The centerpiece of the new DuPont 2020 Sustainability Goals is a company wide commitment to embed sustainability into its innovation process and R&D pipeline.

The new 2020 goals further a progressive and comprehensive sustainability strategy at DuPont, which now also includes DuPont’s Food Security Goals, along with updated footprint goals addressing greenhouse gases, energy, water and waste that build on a longstanding focus to reduce the impacts of company operations.

“We are continuing on our sustainability journey at DuPont by challenging all new products in our innovation pipeline to contribute to a safer, healthier, more sustainable planet by 2020,” said Vice President, DuPont Safety, Health and Environment and Chief Sustainability Officer Linda J. Fisher. “Innovation and sustainability remain two of DuPont’s greatest strengths and represent significant growth opportunities for DuPont, while creating value for our customers, the marketplace and society,” Fisher added.

As part of the DuPont Sustainable Innovation Goal, DuPont will report annually through 2020 on the quantifiable benefits in safety, health and sustainability stemming from the company’s major innovations. Such benefits may include reduced or prevented carbon emissions, quantifiable ecosystem benefits, measurable improvements in water quality or conservation, or improvements in workers’ safety conditions.

“We are increasingly seeing customers who want to partner with DuPont to create more value for their consumers through sustainability,” noted Senior Vice President and Chief Science & Technology Officer Douglas Muzyka. “As we develop value propositions for our new products – from inception to delivery – sustainability benefits can create unique competitive advantages for DuPont and our customers while driving shareholder and societal benefits.”

For more information on DuPont’s new 2020 Sustainability Goals go to http://www.sustainability.dupont.com.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

WILMINGTON, Del., – DuPont Protection Solutions today announced it will add two new DuPont™ Thermo-Man® testing facilities in Brazil and Singapore in 2016, increasing its capacity to test and analyze the performance of protective apparel exposed to sudden fire, an ever-present risk in multiple industries the company serves. The new facilities bring the total number of DuPont™ Thermo-Man® proprietary testing labs to five worldwide, including those currently in service in the United States, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates, enabling innovation and product development with customers in all regions.

“These investments to expand our global network of thermal testing and innovation centers will further enhance our ability to serve customers,” said Rose Lee, DuPont Protection Solutions president. “We will be poised to support the development of more advanced fabrics, as well as advancing our own fiber technologies, which will increase and broaden the levels of flame-resistant protection for those most at risk, including firefighters, industrial workers, emergency response professionals and military personnel.”

DuPont™ Thermo-Man®, a life-sized, instrumented mannequin covered with 122 heat sensors, is one of the most advanced thermal burn injury evaluation devices in the world. It was developed in conjunction with the U.S. Government to help protect the military personnel from burns.

“DuPont’s investment in its Thermo-Man® testing facilities around the world ultimately benefits firefighters and other professionals whose lives depend on their personal protective apparel,” said Russell Shephard, chairman of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) subcommittee on firefighter PPE, and manager standards at Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC). “Thermo-Man®, which meets stringent international standards, effectively simulates what will happen to the wearer in a real-life setting, informing critical design decisions.”

DuPont™ Nomex® is known worldwide as the leading flame-resistant fiber. More than 3 million firefighters, as well as workers across the manufacturing, chemical, oil and gas industries, emergency response and armed forces personnel, depend on its thermal protection to help keep them safe. Nomex® fiber can help enable protective apparel to have the lowest possible weight at the highest level of protection, breathability for reduced heat stress, and the ability to effectively wick away moisture. In addition to personal protection, Nomex® is used in mass transit systems, wind energy, transformers, filtration, hoses and aircraft.

For more information about DuPont™ Thermo-Man®, visit: http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/personal-protective-equipment/thermal-protective/brands/thermo-man.html. For recent CNN coverage of a Thermo-Man® test performed at the DuPont Innovation Center in Meyrin, Switzerland, click here.

DuPont Protection Solutions is global leader in products and solutions that protect what matters – people, structures and the environment – and enables its customers to win through unique capabilities, global scale and iconic brands. DuPont™ Kevlar® helps protect law enforcement officers, military personnel, athletes and astronauts; DuPont™ Nomex® helps protect firefighters, industrial workers and race car drivers, as well as mass transit and wind energy systems; DuPont™ Tyvek® helps protect chemical industrial and healthcare workers, as well as sterile medical devices and building construction; and DuPont™ Corian® helps protect hospital patients against infection. For more information about DuPont Protection Solutions visit: http://www.dupont.com/corporate-functions/our-company/businesses/protection-solutions.html.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit http://www.dupont.com.

WILMINGTON, Del., Today, DuPont Industrial Biosciences announced the launch of its DuPont™ SYNERXIA® Fermentation System, a ground-breaking approach to fermentation that will help ethanol producers improve their yields by up to 2 percent, while lowering total sugar levels at drop by up to 25 percent.

“We believe that the best technology delivers performance and is easy to use,” said Troy Wilson, global business leader, Grain Processing. “The SYNERXIA® Fermentation System launched today is designed to do just that – deliver better performance and take the guesswork out of dosing glucoamylase with bioengineered yeast.”

The system includes SYNERXIA® PRIME ADYT, a bioengineered yeast paired with the world’s only commercial dry trehalase. Compared to cream yeast, DuPont’s active dry yeast requires no special storage or handling.

The system also includes SYNERXIA® PRIME LC, a new glucoamylase blend that delivers three times the debranching activity of conventional glucoamylase. The glucoamylase included in the SYNERXIA® Fermentation System liberates more glucose for the yeast to ferment, improving ethanol yield.

Additional benefits include 20-25 percent lower sugar levels at drop and full end-to-end onsite technical support.

Representatives from DuPont Industrial Biosciences will be on hand at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, June 20-23 to discuss the new offering with customers. Attendees also are encouraged to listen to Vivek Sharma, one of the developers of the system, on the FEW Innovation Stage Tuesday, June 21, at 2:40 p.m. CT.

DuPont Industrial Biosciences works with customers across a wide range of industries to improve products and make processes more sustainable. Through a unique combination of biotechnology, chemical and material science capabilities, we are focused on providing market-driven, biobased solutions to meet the needs of a growing population, while protecting our environment for future generations.

DuPont (NYSE: DD) has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment. For additional information about DuPont and its commitment to inclusive innovation, please visit www.dupont.com.

WILMINGTON, Del., – Seisco International is introducing the next generation Supercharger tankless water heater unit, which uses DuPont engineering polymers in several components. The units can help homeowners meet National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) requirements, which were updated in April.

The new standards, according to Seisco President David Seitz, could drive up the cost and size of tank-type water heaters because efficiency technology will have to be added to tanks that are 55-gallon or larger. “A Seisco Supercharger coupled with a 40-gallon tank matches the performance of a 60 to 80 gallon tank with significantly lower energy use because you heat less water all day,” he said.

The unit, at 15 inches by 7 inches by 6 inches, is small enough to be placed near the use point. “Thousands of gallons of water are wasted each year waiting for hot water to travel through cold pipes,” he said. “Heating at the use point can significantly reduce water waste and save energy.” Click here to read more about the new unit.

The new tankless water heaters feature an internal heating chamber, which is injection molded of DuPont™ Zytel® nylon for high heat resistance, thermal stability and compliance with NSF and UL requirements. DuPont™ Crastin® PBT thermoplastic polyester delivers impact resistance and compliance with UL flammability requirements in a one-piece protective exterior housing.

A microprocessor control manages on/off when flow starts/stops. The water heater’s patented mixing chamber provides a small amount of heated water and the patented “Power-Sharing” technology helps ensure elements heat evenly. These innovations help protect against scalding, scaling and sediment build-up.

The single-chamber Seisco models can be used as a back-up for both new and existing hot water storage tanks in single-family homes. Multifamily water heaters allow building owners to eliminate storage tanks in each unit. More information is available at www.seisco.com.

DuPont Performance Polymers works with customers throughout the world to help improve the performance, sustainability and cost of components used in automotive, aerospace, consumer electronics, health care, medical and other diversified industries. DuPont supports product development efforts with more than 40 manufacturing, development and research centers and technical teams to help ensure ideas can go to market quickly and cost effectively.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a settlement with the E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) for alleged violations of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). DuPont will pay a $1,853,000 penalty to resolve allegations that the company failed to submit reports to EPA about potential adverse effects of an herbicide product called Imprelis, and sold it with labeling that did not ensure its safe use. When customers applied the misbranded Imprelis product, it led to widespread death and damage to trees.

“EPA’s ability to protect the public from dangerous pesticides depends on companies complying with the legal obligation to disclose information on the harmful effects of chemicals,” said Cynthia Giles, EPA Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. “This case sends the message that illegally withholding required information will be treated as a very serious violation.”

As part of the registration process for a pesticide or herbicide, FIFRA requires companies to submit to EPA reports on a product’s potential adverse impacts on plants or animals that it is not intended to control. During the registration process and after registration was approved for Imprelis, an herbicide product intended to control weeds like dandelions, clover, thistle, plantains and ground ivy, DuPont failed to submit 18 reports.

As a result, Imprelis – as it was registered and labeled – did not adequately protect against damage to certain tree species. DuPont made 320 shipments of Imprelis to distributors in 2010 and 2011. This failure to submit reports and the sale or distribution of a misbranded pesticide or herbicide are violations of FIFRA.

DuPont has submitted over 7,000 reports to EPA of damage or death of trees – primarily Norway spruce and white pine – related to the application of Imprelis. Test data from DuPont confirmed certain coniferous trees, including Norway spruce and balsam fir, as susceptible to being damaged or killed by the application of Imprelis. There is also evidence that non-coniferous trees such as maple, honey locusts, lilacs, sycamores, and alders are susceptible to damage from Imprelis.

Starting in June 2011, EPA began receiving complaints from state pesticide agencies regarding damage to trees related to the use of Imprelis when it was applied to control weeds. Cases of tree damage and death from Imprelis were widespread in the Midwest, especially Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. Indiana investigated more than 400 cases of tree damage related to Imprelis in 2011.

In August 2011, EPA ordered DuPont to stop selling and distributing Imprelis without prior approval from EPA. In September 2011, the registration for Imprelis was amended to prohibit the sale, distribution or marketing of Imprelis. The product registration for Imprelis expired on September 8th, 2014, and DuPont is no longer selling the product.

Imprelis was distributed and sold in 1 gallon, 2.5 gallon and 4.5 ounce containers, primarily to pest control professionals servicing the lawn, golf, turf and weed control sectors.

Imprelis was registered with EPA in 2010, and was marketed by DuPont for lawn and turf applications on residential and commercial lawns, golf courses, sod farms, schools, parks, and athletic fields.

The settlement, a consent agreement and final order, will be filed at EPA’s regional office in Philadelphia, and DuPont must submit payment of the penalty to the U.S. Department of Treasury within 30 days.

ST. PAUL, Minn.– Ecolab Inc. has expanded its commitment to global water stewardship by working with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as a founding partner of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) to support the launch and implementation of the International Water Stewardship Standard, a global framework to promote sustainable freshwater use.

The Standard was announced by AWS in April at the UN CEO Water Mandate multi-stakeholder working conference in Lima, Peru, and builds upon Ecolab’s work with WWF to implement the beta AWS Standard in China.

“Ecolab has considerable water management expertise with solutions that help a wide range of industries conserve, treat and reuse water,” said Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab chairman and chief executive officer. “Through our work with WWF and AWS, we are expanding our reach beyond our operations and customers to advance sustainable water management practices around the world.”

In 2013, Ecolab was one of a handful of global partners to pilot the beta Standard to test its feasibility and applicability. Ecolab and WWF field-tested the beta Standard at two sites within the lower Yangtze, one of China’s most critical watersheds, and shared its learnings with AWS to ensure the effectiveness of the AWS Standard.

As part of this continued commitment to water stewardship, Ecolab will implement the AWS Standard within its own operations where water risks are identified, starting with formal adoption of the Standard at its lower Yangtze facilities. In addition, Ecolab aims to collaborate with approximately 10 companies with facilities in the lower Yangtze catchment to support adoption of the Standard in more locations.

Addressing the world’s water challenges requires collaboration by businesses, communities, governments and NGOs. Ecolab, the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, joins nearly 30 leading organizations from across sectors to advance the efforts of AWS to protect the world’s limited freshwater resources. The AWS Standard provides a critical framework to inform decision making by water users at the watershed level. Global adoption of the AWS Standard will drive more responsible water management and collaboration.

“Ecolab has been a critical ally in advancing the water stewardship landscape,” said Adrian Sym, executive director of AWS. “Their commitment demonstrates a willingness to also walk the talk by implementing the AWS Standard in their own operations. We are thrilled to have Ecolab as a founding partner and excited to work with them to help ensure clean water for people and nature.”

The AWS Standard was developed through a four-year, multi-stakeholder, global water roundtable process that included a diversity of business, public sector and civil society interests from around the world. This free, globally consistent and locally adaptable standard outlines a set of water stewardship criteria and indicators for how water should be stewarded at a site and catchment level in a way that is environmentally, socially, and economically beneficial. The Standard provides water stewards with a six-step continual improvement framework that enables sites to commit to, understand, plan, implement, evaluate and communicate water stewardship actions. To learn more about the AWS Standard, visit www.allianceforwaterstewardship.org.

About Ecolab
A trusted partner at more than one million customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital resources. With 2013 sales of $13 billion and 45,000 associates, Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions and on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments, optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more Ecolab news and information, visit www.ecolab.com.

About World Wildlife Fund
WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of almost five million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter.

About the Alliance for Water Stewardship
The Alliance for Water Stewardship is a partnership of global leaders in sustainable water management who are dedicated to promoting responsible use of freshwater that is socially, economically and environmentally beneficial. AWS drives collective responses to shared water challenges through its stakeholder-endorsed international Water Stewardship Standard. AWS’s Founding Partners are American Standard, CDP, Centre for Responsible Business, Centro del Agua para America Latina y el Caribe, Ecolab, European Water Partnership, Fundacion Chile, Fundacion FEMSA, Future500, General Mills, The Gold Standard Foundation, Hindustan Unilever Foundation, Inghams, Marks & Spencer, Murray Darling Basin Authority, Nestle, Pacific Institute, Sealed Air,United Nations Environment Programme, the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, The Nature Conservancy, The Water Council, Veolia Environnement, Water Environment Foundation, Water Footprint Network, Water Stewardship Australia, Water Witness International, WaterAid and WWF. info@allianceforwaterstewardship.org

CHICAGO, IL – Secretary Moniz today announced $3.2 million to launch the National Incubator Initiative for Clean Energy, which will create a national support network to serve the clean energy small business and entrepreneur community, providing critical technical assistance and training services in order to bring these businesses and entrepreneurs closer to market readiness. The Initiative will establish a suite of technological and training resources, connect critical industry and energy sector partners, enhance incubator best practices, and increase access to information about industry resources to advance innovative clean energy technologies emerging from universities and federal laboratories.

“Small businesses and entrepreneurs make crucial contributions to our nation’s economy every day,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “With the right tools, these businesses and entrepreneurs can make an even bigger contribution to the development of advanced clean energy technologies. This initiative will drive innovation and foster cooperation in the clean energy business community, further advancing our clean energy economy and bringing the U.S. closer to its low carbon future.”

“This funding will help to support the growth of over 100 new clean tech jobs in Chicago, a sector that is increasingly vital to our competitiveness in the global economy,” said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “This effort will bridge the gap between the technologies being developed by startups and the needs of large organizations strengthening our economy and positioning Chicago as a leader in addressing complex energy and resource challenges.”

The Initiative will fund a national organization, the Clean Technology Accelerator Program (CleanTAP), led by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, in partnership with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). CleanTAP will receive $979,783 to coordinate clean energy-focused business incubators nationwide and provide robust online and technical resources to support the innovation and entrepreneurship community. Building on the President’s lab to market initiative to open national laboratory assets for entrepreneurs to test and demonstrate their technologies, the national organization will develop a National Asset Map to make private and public resources nationwide more readily available to individual businesses and entrepreneurs across the country.

As a cornerstone of the Initiative, additional awards will go to the three incubators announced today to run innovative programs with commercialization services for startups including mentorship, business development, capital access, and testing and demonstration. These incubators will work with the national organization to develop best practices for clean energy incubators that can be replicated nationwide. With a combined 25 years of experience, the three selected individual incubators have worked with hundreds of startups that have raised more than $1.2 billion in follow-on funding.

NextEnergy and Clean Energy Trust Midwest Innovation Bridge: The NextEnergy (NE) Center in Detroit, Michigan and its partner, the Clean Energy Trust (CET) in Chicago, Illinois, will receive more than $745,000 to establish the Midwest Innovation Bridge. Through the Bridge, startups and entrepreneurs will have access to a robust set of testing and demonstration facilities in both Michigan and Illinois. Additionally, NE and CET will support the development of new, commercially viable companies and industry tech-teaming partnerships through a newly established Energy and Transportation program that mirrors the National Science Foundation (NSF) I-Corps, encouraging companies to engage directly with potential customers. The partnership will host showcases and recruiting events with industry stakeholders where startups have target-rich opportunities to present their products in a real-world environment.

Southwest Regional Clean Energy Incubation Initiative (SRCEII): The Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) at the University of Texas, Austin will receive more than $745,000 to form the Southwest Regional Clean Energy Incubation Initiative (SCREII). ATI and its partners offer a collection of diverse and substantial tools for entrepreneurs, including facilities for testing and prototyping a wide variety of technologies and access to world-renowned facilities, including those of project partner Pecan Street, Inc. SCREII’s network will support entrepreneurs in both rural and urban communities across Texas and New Mexico by providing an integrated incubator network that will bring resources directly to entrepreneurs, virtually or in person.

California Cleantech Commercialization Coalition (4C) Program: The Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator’s (LACI’s) California Cleantech Commercialization Coalition (4C) Program, led by LACI, will receive more than $729,000 to establish California’s first statewide clean energy incubator collaboration, which will connect stakeholders, including state and local government organizations, major California utilities, and investors to provide resources and support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The 4C Program will leverage its partners’ networks to commercialize clean energy technologies and provide access to demonstration facilities focused on testing market-ready technologies.

These organizations will demonstrate the power of incubator programs, while also fostering innovation in clean energy sectors across the country. For more information on the Technology-to-Market program in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, please visit http://energy.gov/eere/about-us/technology-market-team.

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. continues to be a global leader in wind energy, ranking second in installed capacity in the world, according to two reports released today by the Department of Energy. Wind power is a key component of the nation’s all-of-the-above strategy to reduce carbon pollution, diversify our energy economy, and bring innovative technologies on line. With increasing wind energy generation and decreasing prices of wind energy technologies, the U.S. wind energy market remains strong and the U.S. is moving closer to doubling renewable electricity generation from energy resources like wind power yet again by 2020.

“As a readily expandable, domestic source of clean, renewable energy, wind power is paving the way to a low-carbon future that protects our air and water while providing affordable, renewable electricity to American families and businesses,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “However, the continued success of the U.S. wind industry highlights the importance of policies like the Production Tax Credit that provide a solid framework for America to lead the world in clean energy innovation while also keeping wind manufacturing and jobs in the U.S.”

WIND TECHNOLOGIES MARKET REPORT
After modest growth in 2013, total installed wind power capacity in the United States now stands at 61 gigawatts (GW), which meets nearly 4.5 percent of electricity demand in an average year, according to the 2013 Wind Technologies Market Report, released today by the Energy Department and its Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. The report also found that wind energy prices – particularly in the Interior region of the United States–are at an all-time low, with utilities selecting wind as a cost-saving option.

With utility-scale turbines installed in more than 39 states and territories, the success of the U.S. wind industry has had a ripple effect on the American economy, spurring more than $500 million in exports and supporting jobs related to development, siting, manufacturing, transportation and other industries.

DISTRIBUTED WIND MARKET REPORT
In total, U.S. turbines in distributed applications, which accounted for more than 80 percent of all wind turbines installed in the U.S. last year, reached a cumulative installed capacity of more than 842 MW–enough to power 120,000 average American homes–according to the 2013 Distributed Wind Market Report, also released today by the Energy Department and its Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. This capacity is supplied by roughly 72,000 turbines across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In fact, a total of 14 states, including Iowa, Nevada and California, among others, now each have more than 10 MW of distributed wind capacity.

Compared to traditional, centralized power plants, distributed wind energy installations supply power directly to the local grid near homes, farms, businesses and communities. Turbines used in these applications can range in size from a few hundred watts to multi-megawatts, and can help power remote, off-grid homes and farms as well as local schools and manufacturing facilities.

For more information on these two new reports – including infographics, video and updated interactive map – visit www.energy.gov/windreport.

Washington, DC — The board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) today adopted revisions to its environmental procedures and guidelines governing high-carbon intensity projects, aligning the Bank with President Obama’s goal of reducing carbon pollution, while maintaining the Bank’s focus on continuing to help create and support American export-related jobs.

“No one has been more supportive of U.S. exports and the American jobs they produce and maintain than this Bank and this board. Since 2009, we have supported nearly 1.2 million jobs.” said Fred P. Hochberg, Ex-Im chairman and president. “We can’t do it, however, without considering the environmental costs associated with transactions.”

The revised guidelines adopted today require carbon capture and storage in most countries in order to secure Bank financing for coal-fired power plants, but would provide flexibility for the Bank with respect to the important energy needs of the poorest countries in the world.

The policy revisions were drafted by Ex-Im Bank staff and reviewed extensively by exporters, the public, leading environmental groups, the Administration and other federal agencies through an extensive and transparent vetting process.

“The Bank engages in an important balancing act — in supporting our exporters, we have to weigh the potential impacts on the environment associated with our financing,” Hochberg said. “This balancing act is a Congressional mandate, is a directive in our Charter, is part of our mission and it is something we at the Bank take seriously.

Hochberg noted that: “Our proposed guidelines would balance the Bank’s obligations to its many different stakeholders and also its efforts to support the growth of export-related U.S. jobs.”
“Without guidelines or limits, ever-increasing numbers of new coal plants worldwide will just continue to emit more carbon pollution into the air we breathe,” said Hochberg. “But America cannot do this alone. I strongly support the Administration’s efforts to build an international consensus such that other nations follow our lead in restricting financing of new coal-fired power plants.”

Ex-Im has been a leader among the world’s export credit agencies (ECAs) in adopting measures to protect the environment while financing exports.
•In 1995 the Bank was the first ECA to adopt environmental procedures and guidelines governing its export financing.
•In 1999 the Bank began tracking and publicly reporting projected carbon emissions produced by projects it financed. Even today Ex-Im is the only ECA that tracks and reports carbon emissions.
•In 2009 the Bank approved a formal carbon policy, and in 2010 it approved supplemental guidelines for high-carbon intensity projects.

The guideline revisions approved today are not designed to impact mining projects or coal exports produced by American coal miners. Ex-Im staff have worked with other agencies to ensure that the flexibility of these guidelines would be consistent with those of other federal agencies.

In addition to approving the revisions to its environmental guidelines, the board today approved seven transactions that together will support more than 11,200 U.S. export-related jobs.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.exim.gov

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its seven National Enforcement Initiatives for fiscal years 2017-2019, which focus on national pollution challenges where EPA’s enforcement efforts will protect public health. For the next cycle starting on October 1, 2016, EPA will retain four of its current National Enforcement Initiatives, add two new initiatives, and expand one to include a new area of focus. The fiscal year 2017-2019 National Enforcement Initiatives are:

1. Keeping Industrial Pollutants Out of the Nation’s Waters (new initiative)
2. Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities (new initiative)
3. Cutting Hazardous Air Pollutants (expanded initiative)
4. Reducing Air Pollution from the Largest Sources
5. Ensuring Energy Extraction Activities Comply with Environmental Laws
6. Keeping Raw Sewage and Contaminated Stormwater Out of the Nation’s Waters
7. Preventing Animal Waste from Contaminating Surface and Ground Water

EPA is expanding its initiative focused on reducing toxic air pollution by adding large storage tanks and hazardous waste facilities to its work to address public health threats.

National Enforcement Initiatives reinforce EPA’s core enforcement work. One of EPA’s top enforcement priorities is to protect safe drinking water, and three of its initiatives include a focus on keeping pollutants out of drinking water sources.

“National Enforcement Initiatives help us focus time and resources on national pollution problems that impact Americans locally,” said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for enforcement and compliance assurance at EPA. “These initiatives were chosen so we can better protect communities, especially those overburdened by pollution, and were informed by extensive analysis and public input. We remain committed to a vigorous enforcement program that reduces pollution and protects public health.”

EPA selects National Enforcement Initiatives every three years to focus resources on national environmental problems where there is significant non-compliance with laws, and where federal enforcement efforts can make a difference. The initiatives will cover three fiscal years, and focus on employing Next Generation Compliance strategies to enhance enforcement cases and build compliance. Next Generation Compliance is EPA’s strategy to address today’s pollution challenges through a modern approach to increase compliance, utilizing new tools while strengthening vigorous enforcement of environmental laws.

EPA’s new work will address sources of pollution that pose direct public health and environmental threats to communities.

• Keeping Industrial Pollutants Out of the Nation’s Waters: Certain facilities in industrial sectors like chemical and metal manufacturing, mining and food processing are responsible for nutrient and metal pollution in lakes, rivers and streams, and can degrade water quality and threaten drinking water sources. EPA’s focus on facilities in these industrial sectors, driven by water pollution data, will build compliance with Clean Water Act discharge permits and cut illegal pollution discharges, which impact water quality.
• Reducing Risks of Accidental Releases at Industrial and Chemical Facilities: Thousands of facilities nationwide, many of which are in low income or minority communities, make, use and store extremely hazardous substances. Catastrophic accidents at these facilities—historically about 150 each year—result in fatalities and serious injuries, evacuations, and risk of harm to health and the environment. EPA will focus on reducing the risks of accidents through innovative accident prevention measures, and improving response capabilities.
• Cutting Toxic Air Pollution (expanded initiative): Leaks, flares, and excess emissions from refineries, chemical plants and other industries emit hazardous air pollutants that are known or suspected to cause cancer and birth defects, seriously impact the environment, and pose risks to local communities and facility employees. EPA will continue to implement this initiative, and expand it to address air toxics violations at facilities that generate, treat, store or dispose of hazardous waste.

EPA’s current National Enforcement Initiative that focuses on reducing pollution from mineral processing operations will return to the base enforcement program level for hazardous waste beginning in fiscal year 2017. Recent settlements that address some high risk mineral processing facilities have helped set the stage to resolve future cases at other high risk facilities in this sector.

EPA has achieved significant progress under its National Enforcement Initiatives:

• More than 98 percent of cities with large combined sewer systems and more than 90 percent of cities with large sanitary sewer systems are under enforceable agreements or have permits that put them on a schedule to address untreated sewage discharges into America’s waterways.
• 59 percent of individual power generating units at coal-fired power plants have installed the required pollution controls or are under a court order to do so.
• Since 2011, EPA has secured enforceable agreements to address violations at 539 facilities emitting toxic air pollution.
• Since 2011, EPA has concluded 217 enforcement actions at concentrated animal feeding operations for violations of the Clean Water Act, and 196 enforcement actions at natural gas extraction and production sites.

EPA’s overall enforcement work has resulted in large cases that reduce pollution, level the playing field for responsible companies, and protect public health in communities across the country. Recent record settlements include putting billions of dollars to work restoring the Gulf and helping communities affected by the BP oil spill, and securing a $100 million penalty from Hyundai-Kia, as well as forfeiture of emissions credits and more than $50 million invested in compliance measures. For more information about EPA’s enforcement results and statistics, visit:
http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/enforcement-annual-results-fiscal-year-fy-2015.

EPA took public comment on the proposed National Enforcement Initiatives for fiscal years 2017-2019, and EPA solicited input from a wide range of stakeholders, including state and local governments, industry and non-governmental groups, and considered their feedback and comments when finalizing the initiatives.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new tool today to help communities prepare for, deal with and recover from floods. The Flood Resilience Checklist offers strategies that communities can consider, such as conserving land in flood-prone areas; directing new development to safer areas; and using green infrastructure approaches, such as installing rain gardens, to manage stormwater.

“Flooding from major storms has cost lives and caused billions of dollars in damage,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “With climate change, storms are likely to become even more powerful in many regions of the country. Where and how communities build will have long-term impacts on their flood resilience, and on air and water quality and health and safety. This checklist will help flood-prone communities think through these issues and come up with the solutions that work best for them.”

The checklist is part of a new report, Planning for Flood Recovery and Long-Term Resilience in Vermont: Smart Growth Approaches for Disaster-Resilient Communities. The report is a product of EPA’s year-long Smart Growth Implementation Assistance project in Vermont where EPA worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and state agencies, including the Agency of Commerce and Community Development, to help communities recover from Tropical Storm Irene. Although the project focused on Vermont, the policy options and checklist in the report can help any community seeking to become more flood resilient.

As part of the Smart Growth Implementation Assistance project, FEMA and EPA also supported the development of Vermont State Agency Policy Options, a report that provides more detailed suggestions for how Vermont state agencies can coordinate their efforts to plan for, respond to, and recover from floods.

EPA will host a webinar on lessons learned from the Vermont project on Wednesday, August 13. The webinar will feature speakers from FEMA, the state of Vermont, and the Mad River Valley Planning District.

View the tool and the report: http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/sgia_communities.htm#rec1

LUXEMBOURG, – We are pleased to share the second of the COP26 Glasgow Chronicles series, bringing you updates on the activities and key messages that the members of the European Committee of the Regions are delivering at COP26. This second issue includes major COP26 developments and new pledges and additional press coverage.

Let’s first start with a short recap on the conclusions of the World Leaders Summit which took place on 1 and 2 November. More than 100 world leaders promised to end and reverse deforestation by 2030, in the COP26 climate summit’s first major deal. The countries who have signed the pledge – including the EU, most EU Member States, Canada, Brazil, Russia, China, Indonesia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the US and the UK cover around 85% of the world’s forests. The full list of countries having joined the end to deforestation pledge can be found here. This commitment will be backed by public and private funding, which amount to $12bn and $7.2bn respectively.

The second major takeway of the COP26 opening is the EU and the US announcing a global pledge to slash methane. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden made the announcement on Tuesday. The Global Methane Pledge has been signed by 103 countries so far, including major emitters such as Brazil, Nigeria and Canada. The objective is to limit methane emissions by 30% compared with 2020 levels. You can find out all details in this BBC report.

It must be noted that none of both pledges are actually binding. Nevertheless, it seems COP26 is bringing new hope since ‘Pledges to limit greenhouse gas emissions made so far at the Glasgow climate conference could keep world temperature rises to below 2C’, writes The Times.

DAY 4. Wednesday 3 November the COP26 has been the Finance Day in which a sticking number of central bank governors, senior industry leaders, head of multilateral financial institutions, and finance ministers have discussed the potential of public and private funding for the race to a net zero, climate resilient world. Countries have agreed to the disposition of $130tn of private finance in order to create, develop and implement science-based solutions to climate change. Furthermore, commitments were also made to support developing countries in facing the various challenges that climate change poses on their countries. The main aim of these initiatives was to facilitate developing countries’ access to funds in order to unwrap their climate plans. In addition, to create and ensure common standards, 36 countries favored the creation of a new international body, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)

DAY 5. End of Coal in Sight at COP26. The 4th of November has been the Energy Day in Glasgow. The focus is on accelerating the global transition towards green and sustainable energy sources. The UK COP26 presidency reports that ‘at least 23 countries have made new commitments today to phase out coal power, including five of the world’s top 20 coal power-using countries’. Read the press release here.

Local Governments and Municipal Authorities Constituency (LGMA) Daily Briefings.

The members of the LGMA constituency can follow daily updates on the progress of the negotiations at COP26. For that, you must register to the Multilevel Action Pavilion.

The first daily briefing took place on 2 November. Click here to watch it. The second one took place today, 4 November. The image above summarises the key milestones of the LGMA constituency as the representative group of cities and regions in the UN system. LGMA has three main areas of focus. First, multilevel must become the new normal, where national or supranational bodies work hand in hand with local and regional authorities and actors. Second, the localization of appropriate financial means to foster sustainable, integrated urban and territorial development. Third, action must be just for all, not leaving anyone behind.

Rural areas have also been on the spotlight on November 4 at COP26 as the OECD organised the event ‘Rural Regions – realizing the net-zero opportunity’. The objective was to demonstrate that rural areas are central to the green and just transition and assess how rural regions can benefit from the opportunities of the transition towards a net-zero economy. National rural policies must adapt to the different needs within the large variety of rural, remote and mountain areas in order to develop six key areas including the deployment of renewable energies, capacity-building, land-use and ecosystem services, circular and bio-economy, decarbonising transport, and evidence based policy making.

On press coverage today November 4, Spanish Europa Press publishes the first statement of Juan Espadas on COP26. The Mayor of Seville, Chair of the CoR’s ENVE commission and Green Deal Going Local working group, and one of the members of the European Committee of the Regions’ (CoR) official delegation to COP26 stressed that “The climate crisis is here, and it is an existential threat to humanity. At COP26, we must bring the voice of the many cities and regions that are working tirelessly to fight the climate emergency”.

Also, the Czech Republic’s environmental web portal Ekolist shares an opinion article by the Mayor of Prague, Zdeněk Hřib, who stresses the city’s will to move towards carbon neutrality, making the city greener, reducing waste production, increasing waste recycling rates and developing sustainable modes of energy production. The Mayor of Prague announces his participation at COP26 and the presentation of a resolution of the Pact of Free Cities together with the Mayor of Budapest, in an event that is to take place on November 10 in Glasgow where the Mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, will also be present. The Pact of Free Cities is a cooperation agreement between the mayors of Prague, Bratislava, Warsaw, and Budapest – Zdeněk Hřib, Matúš Vallo, Rafał Trzaskowski, and Gergely Karácsony respectively – signed on 16 December 2019 at Central European University in Budapest.

DAY 6 Preview. On 5 November, the CoR will have two members speaking at COP26.

Markku Markkula (FI/EPP) will speak at the ‘Climate Adaptation Event’ at 11:30 (Brussels time) organized by Westphalia.

Emma Nohrén (SE/Greens) will participate to the event ‘The Role of Academies of Science in Climate Change Policy Action’ which will take place at 12:00 (Brussels time) in the South Africa Pavilion in Glasgow. Please click here to register for this virtual Zoom event

Do not forget to click here to download the CoR official delegation and key messages to COP26 and visit our COP26 web portal.

Copyright European Union, 1995-2021

SOURCE European Union – Committee of the Regions

Brussels, 27 March 2017 – The European Commission has approved under the EU Merger Regulation the proposed merger between US-based chemical companies Dow and DuPont. The approval is conditional in particular on the divestiture of major parts of DuPont’s global pesticide business, including its global R&D organisation.

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy, said: “Pesticides are products that matter – to farmers, consumers and the environment. We need effective competition in this sector so companies are pushed to develop products that are ever safer for people and better for the environment. Our decision today ensures that the merger between Dow and DuPont does not reduce price competition for existing pesticides or innovation for safer and better products in the future.”

Today’s decision follows an in-depth review of the merger. The Commission had concerns that the merger as notified would have reduced competition on price and choice in a number of markets for existing pesticides. Furthermore, the merger would have reduced innovation. Innovation, both to improve existing products and to develop new active ingredients, is a key element of competition between companies in the pest control industry, where only five players are globally active throughout the entire research & development (R&D) process.

The commitments submitted by Dow and DuPont address these concerns in full. The parties will remove the overlap in markets, where concerns were raised, by divesting the relevant DuPont pesticide businesses. They will also divest almost the entirety of DuPont’s global R&D organisation. The Commission concluded that the divestment package enables a buyer to sustainably replace DuPont’s competitive effect in these markets and continue to innovate, for the benefit of European farmers and consumers.

As regards certain petrochemical products, where both companies are important players, the parties will divest relevant assets in Dow’s petrochemical business to preserve effective competition.

This transaction is one out of a number of proposed mergers in the agrochemical sector. The Commission examines each case on its own merits. In line with its case practice, the Commission assesses parallel transactions according to the so-called “priority rule” – first come, first served. The assessment of the merger between Dow and DuPont has been based on the currently prevailing market situation.
The Commission’s competition concerns

The Commission had three main categories of competition concerns.
a) Significantly reducing competition in a number of markets for existing pesticides
Pesticides are products used in agriculture to control pests that can harm crops. They can be categorised into herbicides (targeting weeds), insecticides (targeting insects) and fungicides (targeting diseases).
The merged entity would have held very high combined market shares for a number of pesticides, with few other competitors remaining. The Commission found that the merger would have significantly impeded effective competition and resulted in reduced choice and higher prices in the following markets:
As regards herbicides, the transaction would have significantly reduced competition for certain types of selective herbicides for cereals, oilseed rape, sunflower, rice and pasture in a number of Member States.

As regards insecticides, the transaction would have significantly reduced competition for products controlling for chewing insect and sucking insect in fruits and vegetables and some other crops in a number of Member States in particular in the South of Europe.
As regards fungicides, where the parties overlap to a more limited degree, the transaction would have reduced competition for rice blast fungicides in some Member States.

b) Significantly reducing innovation competition for pesticides
Innovation in pesticides is of particular importance. The Commission’s in-depth investigation confirmed that the ability and incentive to innovate is important to capture sales from competitors and to defend existing sales. Farmers value new products that are less toxic or more efficient against pests, which may become resistant to existing active ingredients over time.
The transaction would have had a significant impact on innovation competition by:
Removing the parties’ incentives to continue to pursue ongoing parallel innovation efforts – The Commission’s investigation of Dow and DuPont’s innovation pipelines demonstrated that the two are competing head-to-head in a number of important herbicide, insecticide and fungicide innovation areas. After the merger, they would have an incentive to discontinue some of these costly development efforts.

Removing the parties’ incentives to develop and bring to market new pesticides – The Commission found specific evidence that the merged entity would have lower incentives and a lower ability to innovate than Dow and DuPont separately. In its investigation it also found specific evidence that the merged entity would have cut back on the amount they spent on developing innovative products. Only five companies (BASF, Bayer, Syngenta and the merging parties) are globally active throughout the entire R&D process, from discovery of new active ingredients (molecules producing the desired biological effect), their development, testing and regulatory registration, to the manufacture and sale of final formulated products through national distribution channels. Other competitors have no or more limited R&D capabilities (e.g. as regards geographic focus or product range). After the merger, only three global integrated players would remain to compete with the merged company, in an industry with very high barriers to entry. The number of players active in specific innovation areas would be even lower than at the overall industry level.

c) Significantly reducing competition for certain petrochemical products.
Dow and DuPont’s activities also overlap in petrochemical products. Specifically, the Commission had concerns due to the high combined market shares of the two companies in the acid co-polymer market, where the number of competitors would be reduced from four to three. The Commission also had concerns due to the strengthening of DuPont’s dominant position in the ionomer market. These are products widely used in packaging and adhesive applications.
The Commission initially also had concerns relating to nematicides (products used to protect against nematode worms) and seeds. However, the in-depth investigation did not confirm these.
The commitments
The parties offered a set of commitments, which address the Commission’s competition concerns in full.

a & b) Preserving price and innovation competition in pesticide markets
The parties will divesta significant part of DuPont’s existing pesticide business, including its R&D organisation, in particular:
Globally, DuPont’s herbicides for cereals, oilseed rape, sunflower, rice and pasture (thifensulfuron, tribenuron, metsulfuron, chlorsulfuron, triflusulfuron, lenacil, flupyrsulfuron, ethametsulfuron and azimsulfuron) and insecticides for chewing insect and sucking insect control for fruits and vegetables etc. (indoxacarb, cyazypyr and rynaxypyr). They will also divest all tangible and intangible assets underpinning the divested products (including the facilities where the products are manufactured) and relevant personnel.
An exclusive license to DuPont’s product for rice cultivation in the European Economic Area to address the more limited concerns relating to fungicides.
DuPont’s global R&D organisation, with the exception of a few limited assets that support the part of DuPont’s pesticide business, which is not being divested.
The Commission concluded that the divestment package will enable a buyer to replace the competitive constraint exerted by DuPont. Competition on price and choice in existing markets is preserved because all of DuPont’s products in problematic markets are divested. The sale of the underpinning R&D organisation and pipeline ensures the viability and competitiveness of the divested business on a lasting basis and will enable the buyer to become a global integrated R&D competitor.

c) Preserving competition for certain petrochemical products
Dow will divest its two manufacturing facilities for acid co-polymers in Spain and in the US, as well as the contract with a third party through which it sources ionomers that it sells to its customers.

International cooperation
The Commission has been in close contact with a number of other competition authorities, which are also reviewing the transaction. In particular, the Commission has had regular exchanges with the US Department of Justice and the competition authorities of Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China and South Africa.

Companies and products
Dow is headquartered in the United States. It is the ultimate parent company of the Dow group, which is active in plastics and chemicals, agro-chemicals, and hydrocarbon and energy products and services.
DuPont is also headquartered in the United States. It is the ultimate parent company of the DuPont group, which is active in a variety of, plastics and chemicals, agro-chemicals, paints, seeds, and other materials.

Background
The Commission has the duty to assess mergers and acquisitions involving companies with a turnover above certain thresholds (see Article 1 of the Merger Regulation) and to prevent concentrations that would significantly impede effective competition in the EEA or any substantial part of it.
In addition to this investigation, there are currently three other in-depth merger investigations:
– the proposed acquisition by HeidelbergCement and Schwenk of Cemex Croatia
– the proposed merger of Deutsche Börse and London Stock Exchange Group and
– the proposed acquisition of Syngenta by ChemChina.

Brussels, The European Commission today announced how it will spend €30 billion of the EU research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020, including €2.7 billion to kick-start a European Innovation Council.

Horizon 2020, the EU’s €77 billion research and innovation funding programme, supports scientific excellence in Europe and has contributed to high-profile scientific breakthroughs such as the discovery of exoplanets and gravitational waves. Over the next 3 years, the Commission will seek greater impact of its research funding by focusing on fewer, but critical topics such as migration, security, climate, clean energy and digital economy. Horizon 2020 will also be more geared towards boosting breakthrough, market-creating innovation.

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation, said: “Artificial Intelligence, genetics, blockchain: science is at the core of today’s most promising breakthrough innovations. Europe is a world leader in science and technology and will play a major role in driving innovation. The Commission is making a concerted effort – including with the European Innovation Council which takes its first steps today – to give Europe’s many innovators a springboard to become world leading companies.”

Supporting breakthrough, market-creating innovation
Since the beginning of its mandate, the Juncker Commission has been working hard to give Europe’s many innovative entrepreneurs every opportunity to thrive. Now, the Commission is launching the first phase of the European Innovation Council.Between 2018 and 2020, the Commission will mobilise €2.7 billion from Horizon 2020 to support high-risk, high-gain innovation to create the markets of the future. Moreover, Horizon 2020 will make better use of its “crack the challenge” prizes to deliver breakthrough technology solutions to pressing problems faced by our citizens.

Focusing on political priorities
The 2018-2020 Work Programme will focus efforts on fewer topics with bigger budgets, directly supporting the Commission’s political priorities:

A low-carbon, climate resilient future: €3.3 billion
Circular Economy: €1 billion
Digitising and transforming European industry and services: €1.7 billion
Security Union: €1 billion
Migration: €200 million

€2.2 billion will be earmarked for clean energy projects in four interrelated areas: renewables, energy efficient buildings, electro-mobility and storage solutions, including €200 million to support the development and production in Europe of the next generation of electric batteries.

Boosting ‘blue sky’ research
At the same time, Horizon 2020 will continue to fund ‘curiosity-driven science’ (often referred to as ‘blue sky science’ or ‘frontier research’). The annual Work Programme of the European Research Council for 2018, adopted in August, will enable support for excellent researchers with nearly €1.86 billion. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which fund fellowships for researchers at all stages of their careers, receive a boost with €2.9 billion in total over three years.

Enhancing international cooperation
The new Work Programme also strengthens international cooperation in research and innovation. It will invest over €1 billion in 30 flagship initiatives in areas of mutual benefit. Examples include working with Canada on personalised medicine, with the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia on road transport automation, with India on water challenges and with African countries on food security and renewable energies.

Spreading excellence
Between 2018 and 2020, €460 million under Horizon 2020 will be allocated specifically to supporting Member States and associated countries that do not yet participate in the programme to their full potential. The aim is to tap into the unexploited pockets of excellence in Europe and beyond. In addition, the programme also continues to promote closer synergies with the European Structural and Investment Funds.

Simplifying rules of participation further
Another novelty is the introduction of the lump-sum pilot, a new, simpler approach to providing financial support to participants. It will shift the focus of ex-ante controls from financial checks to the scientific-technical content of the projects.

Open Science
The programme marks a step change in promoting Open Science by shifting from publishing research results in scientific publications towards sharing knowledge sooner in the research process. €2 billion will be channelled to support Open Science, and €600 million will be dedicated to the European Open Science Cloud, European Data Infrastructure and High Performance Computing.

Background
Horizon 2020 is the EU’s biggest ever research and innovation framework programme with a budget of €77 billion over seven years (2014-2020). While most research and innovation activities are still underway or yet to start, the programme is delivering.

Horizon 2020 researchers have contributed to major discoveries like exoplanets, the Higgs boson and gravitational waves, and at least 19 Nobel Prize winners received EU research funding prior or after their award.

As of October 2017, Horizon 2020 has in total funded more than 15 000 grants to the tune of €26.65 billion, of which almost €3.79 billion went to SMEs. The programme has also provided companies, in particular SMEs, with access to risk finance worth over €17 million under the “InnovFin – EU finance for innovators” scheme. Furthermore,3,143 ERC Principal Investigators in host organisations and 10,176 fellows under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions have received grants worth almost €4.87 billion and €2.89 billion respectively.

Simultaneous to the adoption of the Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2018-2020, the Euratom Work Programme 2018 has been adopted, investing €32 million in research into the management and disposal of radioactive waste. It will also develop a research roadmap on safe decommissioning of nuclear power plants to reduce environmental impact and costs.

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: CETY), announced today that it has secured a new Clean Cycle ORC Waste Heat Generator order as a result of an environmentally friendly European directive aimed to foster development of new renewable energy projects. An EU based wood processing company will use CETY’s Clean Cycle as a small electrical generation plant using waste heat to produce electricity for its own use and to sell to local businesses.

The three-year-old directive incentivizes local European business to re-capture waste, generate electricity and resell it to local business and residences creating a new income stream for businesses while benefiting the environment. American renewable energy manufacturer Clean Energy Technologies currently offers a suite of clean energy solutions geared perfectly for these opportunities, with a growing hold on European market share. CETY secured a new sale for its ORC Clean Cycle generator from a wood panel manufacturer that creates huge mounds of waste wood as by product of its production process. The wood is burned in a Biomass boiler to produce superheated water for heat and hot water. With the addition of CETY’s Clean Cycle generator, it will also create approximately 800MWh/year of electricity which will be used to create electricity for the facility and sold to the neighbouring business on the power grid. Now the recycled material is helping the manufacturer reduce electrical costs and creating a new revenue stream.

Kam Mahdi, Chief Executive Officer of Clean Energy Technologies said, “It took a few years for the EU and CETY to see the benefits of the EU’s Renewable Energy directive which was renewed and improved in 2018. It is another clear example that renewable energy legislation is beneficial to business and to the environment. The directive offers businesses incentives to implement waste heat generators and other forms of energy recovery solutions, and CETY has a turnkey solution. Its ORC Clean Cycle generator provides businesses with energy savings and new revenues. The price and quality of our ORC Clean Cycle II generator makes sense to our customers because the cost savings and revenues far outweigh the investment in our renewable energy electrical generators. We expect more businesses in the EU to take advantage of the Renewable Energy Directive and we plan to further capitalize on these new opportunities. We are excited for the future as we push forward and build more market share in Europe.”

About Clean Energy Technologies, Inc. (CETY)
Headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, Clean Energy Technologies (CETY) a low carbon energy company delivers power from heat and biomass with zero emission and low cost. CETY designs, produces, and markets clean energy products & solutions focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Company’s principal product is the Clean Cycle™ magnetic bearing heat recovery generator, offered by CETY’s subsidiary Clean Energy HRS, or Heat Recovery Solutions.

The Clean Cycle™ system captures waste heat from a variety of sources and turns it into electricity that can be used or sold back to the grid. CETY’s proven, reliable technology allows municipal, commercial, and industrial users with heat sources, such as from biomass, industrial processes, or energy production, to boost their overall energy efficiency with no additional fuel, no pollutants, and little ongoing maintenance. CETY’s common stock is currently traded on the OTC Market under the symbol CETY.

For more information, visit www.cetyinc.com or www.heatrecoverysolutions.com.

DISCLAIMER
This news release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with respect to achieving corporate objectives, developing additional project interests, the company’s analysis of opportunities in the acquisition and development of various project interests and certain other matters. These statements are made under the “Safe Harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and involve risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements contained herein.

Contact:

Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.
Kam Mahdi, CEO
949-273-4990 x814
kmahdi@cetyinc.com

Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.
2990 Redhill Avenue
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
949.273.4990 main
949.273.4990 fax
www.cetyinc.com

SOURCE Clean Energy Technologies, Inc.

After a tense wait during the seven-hour descent to the surface of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, the signal confirming the successful touchdown arrived on Earth at 16:03 GMT (17:03 CET).

The confirmation was relayed via the Rosetta orbiter to Earth and picked up simultaneously by ESA’s ground station in Malargüe, Argentina and NASA’s station in Madrid, Spain. The signal was immediately confirmed at ESA’s Space Operations Centre, ESOC, in Darmstadt, and DLR’s Lander Control Centre in Cologne, both in Germany.

The first data from the lander’s instruments were transmitted to the Philae Science, Operations and Navigation Centre at France’s CNES space agency in Toulouse.

“Our ambitious Rosetta mission has secured a place in the history books: not only is it the first to rendezvous with and orbit a comet, but it is now also the first to deliver a lander to a comet’s surface,” noted Jean-Jacques Dordain, ESA’s Director General.

Philae’s parting image of Rosetta, taken shortly after separation
Philae’s parting image of Rosetta, taken shortly after separation
“With Rosetta we are opening a door to the origin of planet Earth and fostering a better understanding of our future. ESA and its Rosetta mission partners have achieved something extraordinary today.”

“After more than 10 years travelling through space, we’re now making the best ever scientific analysis of one of the oldest remnants of our Solar System,” said Alvaro Giménez, ESA’s Director of Science and Robotic Exploration.

“Decades of preparation have paved the way for today’s success, ensuring that Rosetta continues to be a game-changer in cometary science and space exploration.”

“We are extremely relieved to be safely on the surface of the comet, especially given the extra challenges that we faced with the health of the lander,” said Stephan Ulamec, Philae Lander Manager at the DLR German Aerospace Center.

“In the next hours we’ll learn exactly where and how we’ve landed, and we’ll start getting as much science as we can from the surface of this fascinating world.”

Rosetta was launched on 2 March 2004 and travelled 6.4 billion kilometres through the Solar System before arriving at the comet on 6 August 2014.

“Rosetta’s journey has been a continuous operational challenge, requiring an innovative approach, precision and long experience,” said Thomas Reiter, ESA Director of Human Spaceflight and Operations.

“This success is testimony to the outstanding teamwork and the unique knowhow in operating spacecraft acquired at the European Space Agency over the decades.”

The landing site, named Agilkia and located on the head of the bizarre double-lobed object, was chosen just six weeks after arrival based on images and data collected at distances of 30–100 km from the comet. Those first images soon revealed the comet as a world littered with boulders, towering cliffs and daunting precipices and pits, with jets of gas and dust streaming from the surface.

Following a period spent at 10 km to allow further close-up study of the chosen landing site, Rosetta moved onto a more distant trajectory to prepare for Philae’s deployment.

Five critical go/no-go decisions were made last night and early this morning, confirming different stages of readiness ahead of separation, along with a final preseparation manoeuvre by the orbiter.

Deployment was confirmed at 09:03 GMT (10:03 CET) at a distance of 22.5km from the centre of the comet. During the seven-hour descent, which was made without propulsion or guidance, Philae took images and recorded information about the comet’s environment.

“One of the greatest uncertainties associated with the delivery of the lander was the position of Rosetta at the time of deployment, which was influenced by the activity of the comet at that specific moment, and which in turn could also have affected the lander’s descent trajectory,” said Sylvain Lodiot, ESA Rosetta Spacecraft Operations Manager.

“Furthermore, we’re performing these operations in an environment that we’ve only just started learning about, 510 million kilometres from Earth.”

Touchdown was planned to take place at a speed of around 1 m/s, with the three-legged landing gear absorbing the impact to prevent rebound, and an ice screw in each foot driving into the surface.

But during the final health checks of the lander before separation, a problem was detected with the small thruster on top that was designed to counteract the recoil of the harpoons to push the lander down onto the surface. The conditions of landing – including whether or not the thruster performed – along with the exact location of Philae on the comet are being analysed.

Over the next 2.5 days, the lander will conduct its primary science mission, assuming that its main battery remains in good health. An extended science phase using the rechargeable secondary battery may be possible, assuming Sun illumination conditions allow and dust settling on the solar panels does not prevent it. This extended phase could last until March 2015, after which conditions inside the lander are expected to be too hot for it to continue operating.

Science highlights from the primary phase will include a full panoramic view of the landing site, including a section in 3D, high-resolution images of the surface immediately underneath the lander, on-the-spot analysis of the composition of the comet’s surface materials, and a drill that will take samples from a depth of 23 cm and feed them to an onboard laboratory for analysis.

The lander will also measure the electrical and mechanical characteristics of the surface. In addition, low-frequency radio signals will be beamed between Philae and the orbiter through the nucleus to probe the internal structure.

The detailed surface measurements that Philae makes at its landing site will complement and calibrate the extensive remote observations made by the orbiter covering the whole comet.

“Rosetta is trying to answer the very big questions about the history of our Solar System. What were the conditions like at its infancy and how did it evolve? What role did comets play in this evolution? How do comets work?” said Matt Taylor, ESA Rosetta project scientist.

“Today’s successful landing is undoubtedly the cherry on the icing of a 4 km-wide cake, but we’re also looking further ahead and onto the next stage of this ground-breaking mission, as we continue to follow the comet around the Sun for 13 months, watching as its activity changes and its surface evolves.”

While Philae begins its close-up study of the comet, Rosetta must manoeuvre from its post-separation path back into an orbit around the comet, eventually returning to a 20 km orbit on 6 December.

Next year, as the comet grows more active, Rosetta will need to step further back and fly unbound ‘orbits’, but dipping in briefly with daring flybys, some of which will bring it within just 8 km of the comet centre.

The comet will reach its closest distance to the Sun on 13 August 2015 at about 185 million km, roughly between the orbits of Earth and Mars. Rosetta will follow it throughout the remainder of 2015, as they head away from the Sun and activity begins to subside.

“It’s been an extremely long and hard journey to reach today’s once-in-a-lifetime event, but it was absolutely worthwhile. We look forward to the continued success of the great scientific endeavour that is the Rosetta mission as it promises to revolutionise our understanding of comets,” said Fred Jansen, ESA Rosetta mission manager.

Rosetta is an ESA mission with contributions from its Member States and NASA. Rosetta’s Philae lander is provided by a consortium led by DLR, MPS, CNES and ASI. Rosetta is the first mission in history to rendezvous with a comet. It is escorting the comet as they orbit the Sun together, and has deployed a lander to its surface.Comets are time capsules containing primitive material left over from the epoch when the Sun and its planets formed. By studying the gas, dust and structure of the nucleus and organic materials associated with the comet, via both remote and in situ observations, the Rosetta mission should become the key to unlocking the history and evolution of our Solar System.

About the European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) provides Europe’s gateway to space.

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.

ESA has 20 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxem-bourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, of whom 18 are Member States of the EU. Two other Member States of the EU, Hungary and Estonia, are likely soon to become new ESA Member States.

ESA has Cooperation Agreements with six other Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.

ESA is also working with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes.

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country.

ESA develops the launchers, spacecraft and ground facilities needed to keep Europe at the forefront of global space activities.

Today, it develops and launches satellites for Earth observation, naviga-tion, telecommunications and astronomy, sends probes to the far reaches of the Solar System and cooperates in the human exploration of space.

IRVING, Texas– Scientists from ExxonMobil and the Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a potentially revolutionary new technology that could significantly reduce the amount of energy and emissions associated with manufacturing plastics. Results of the research were published today in the peer-reviewed journal Science.

If brought to industrial scale, this breakthrough could reduce industry’s global annual carbon dioxide emissions by up to 45 million tons, which is equivalent to the annual energy-related carbon dioxide emissions of about five million U.S. homes. It could also reduce global energy costs used to make plastics by up to $2 billion a year.

Using a molecular-level filter, the new process employs a form of reverse osmosis to separate para-xylene, a chemical building block for polyester and plastics, from complex hydrocarbon mixtures. The current commercial-scale process used around the world relies on energy and heat to separate those molecules.

“Through collaboration with strong academic institutions like Georgia Tech, we are constantly exploring new, more efficient ways to produce the energy, chemicals, and other products consumers around the world rely on every day,” said Vijay Swarup, vice president of research and development at ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company. “If advanced to commercial-scale application, this technology could significantly reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with chemical manufacturing.”

The research successfully demonstrated that para-xylene can be separated from like chemical compounds known as aromatics by pressing them through a membrane that acts as a high-tech sieve, similar to a filter with microscopic holes. Commercially practiced separations involve energy-intensive crystallization or adsorption with distillation. Globally, the amount of energy used in conventional separation processes for aromatics is equal to about 20 average-sized power plants.

The ExxonMobil and Georgia Tech team first developed a new carbon-based membrane that can separate molecules as small as a nanometer. The membrane was then incorporated into a new organic solvent reverse osmosis process, during which aromatics were pressed through the membrane, separating out para-xylene.

“In effect, we’d be using a filter with microscopic holes to do what an enormous amount of heat and energy currently do in a chemical process similar to that found in oil refining,” said Mike Kerby, corporate strategic research manager at ExxonMobil.

The carbon-based membrane developed by the ExxonMobil-Georgia Tech team is about 50 times more energy efficient than the current state-of-the-art membrane separation technology. Because the new membrane is made from a commercially available polymer, ExxonMobil believes it has potential for commercialization and integration into industrial chemical separation processes.

Reverse-osmosis membranes are already widely used to desalinate seawater, consuming a fraction of the energy required by thermally driven processes. The new organic solvent reverse osmosis process is believed to be the first use of reverse osmosis with carbon membranes to separate liquid hydrocarbons.

“By applying pressure at room temperature, the membrane is able to concentrate para-xylene from a mixture at high rates and low energy consumption relative to state-of-the-art membranes,” said Ryan Lively, an assistant professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and the lead researcher. “This mixture could then be fed into a conventional thermal process for finishing, which would dramatically reduce total energy input.”

The technology still faces challenges before it can be considered for commercialization and use at an industrial scale. The membranes used in the process will need to be tested under more challenging conditions, as industrial mixtures normally contain multiple organic compounds and may include materials that can foul membrane systems. The researchers must also learn to make the material consistently and demonstrate that it can withstand long-term industrial use.

“The implications could be enormous in terms of the amount of energy that could be saved and the emissions reduced in chemical and product manufacturing,” said Benjamin McCool, an advanced research associate at ExxonMobil and co-author of the research. “Our next steps are to further the fundamental understanding in the lab to help develop a plan for pilot plant-scale demonstration and, if successful, proceed to larger scale. We continue to work the fundamental science underlying this technology for broader applications in hydrocarbon separations.”

Chemical plants account for about eight percent of global energy demand and about 15 percent of the projected growth in demand to 2040. As global populations and living standards continue to rise, demand for auto parts, housing materials, electronics and other products made from plastics and other petrochemicals will continue to grow. Improving industrial efficiency is part of ExxonMobil’s mission to meet the world’s growing need for energy while minimizing environmental impacts.

The researchers on the technology as written in Science include Lively and Dong-Yeun Koh from Georgia Institute of Technology and McCool and Harry Deckman from ExxonMobil.

About ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil, the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. We hold an industry-leading inventory of resources and are one of the largest integrated refiners, marketers of petroleum products and chemical manufacturers. For more information, visit www.exxonmobil.com or follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/exxonmobil.

Cautionary Statement: Statements of future events or conditions in this release are forward-looking statements. Actual future results, including project plans and timing and the impact and results of new technologies, could vary depending on the outcome of further research and testing; the development and competitiveness of alternative technologies; the ability to scale pilot projects on a cost-effective basis; political and regulatory developments; and other factors discussed in this release and under the heading “Factors Affecting Future Results” on the Investors page of ExxonMobil’s website at exxonmobil.com.

About Georgia Tech
The Georgia Institute of Technology, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is a leading research university committed to improving the human condition through advanced science and technology. As a leading technological university, Georgia Tech has more than 100 centers focused on interdisciplinary research that consistently contribute vital research and innovation to American government, industry, and business. For more information, visit www.gatech.edu.

As the fourth round of negotiations on a global plastics treaty opens this week in Ottawa, we’re eager to continue the dialogue and identify the solutions that will help the world address the issue of plastic waste.

The ideal outcome of these talks is a ratified treaty that keeps waste out of rivers and oceans. We believe the best way to reach that goal is to remember why these talks began – with a focus on ending plastic pollution.

ExxonMobil supports a treaty that provides the framework to make real progress toward eliminating plastic waste. Keeping a laser-like focus on that issue will get us to a solution faster.

We’re in Ottawa to serve as a resource for negotiators, to share what we know and to learn from others. We want to engage with and listen carefully to all interested parties.

Through the first three rounds of discussions, we’ve been encouraged to hear negotiators acknowledge the value of plastics and the benefits they bring to society:
They help reduce food waste, a significant problem. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that wasted food causes 58% of methane emissions from municipal solid waste landfills.
They also help transport clean water, keep medicine sterile, and save energy by reducing the weight of packaging and vehicles.
They’re key to reaching many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and net-zero emission ambitions.
They’re essential in the making of mobile devices, computers, vehicles, airplanes, and solar cells.
Plastic is also the material with the lowest environmental impact for many uses, in most cases with a smaller life-cycle footprint than alternatives like glass, paper, and aluminum.

At the same time, plastic waste in the environment is a serious challenge, and the industry is already hard at work, rallying scientists and engineers to help solve the problem.

At ExxonMobil’s advanced recycling plant in Baytown, Texas, we’re taking in millions of pounds of discarded plastic and transforming it at the molecular level into raw materials for making new products. The amount we make is freely attributed through a mass balance approach to the plastic we sell as “certified-circular plastics.”

Because our mass balance approach is certified through an independent, third-party system, our customers know their purchases help prevent used plastic from going to landfills or being incinerated. This market exists today. It has many serious participants, and we expect it to keep expanding.

That expansion can happen faster with strong infrastructure for gathering and sorting used plastic. Instead of going to a landfill, it can go to plants like Baytown and be transformed into the building blocks of useful products.

We’re also listening to policymakers and our customers, who want to manufacture more recyclable materials. Today, we make polymers that are lighter, stronger, and more durable, so our customers can use less of them in their products that can be more easily recycled after they’re used.

Big problems require multiple solutions. Let’s not limit ourselves as we convene in Ottawa.

Billions of people benefit from the use of plastics. None of them want to see waste on our roadways, in our forests, or in our rivers and oceans. That’s the problem that needs solving.

In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, federal agencies obligated $31.6 billion to institutions of higher education in support of science and engineering (S&E), an increase of $1.1 billion from FY2015.

The most up-to-date federal S&E obligation levels come from the FY2016 Survey of Federal Science and Engineering Support to Universities, Colleges, and Nonprofit Institutions (Federal S&E Support Survey), conducted by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF). Federal obligations are funding commitments to support six categories:

Research and development (R&D).
R&D plant, or facilities and fixed equipment used in R&D.
Facilities and equipment for instruction in S&E.
Fellowships, traineeships and training grants.
General support for S&E.
The 100 higher education institutions receiving the largest amounts of federal S&E support accounted for about 82 percent of the total federal obligations. Johns Hopkins University continued to be the leading academic recipient of federal S&E obligations, with nearly $1.9 billion for S&E support, followed by the University of Michigan with $668 million and the University of Washington with $642 million. The top 10 recipients among the academic institutions received a total of $7.1 billion in S&E obligations.

Five agencies accounted for 94 percent of federal S&E support to higher education institutions. These include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) at 57 percent; NSF at 17 percent; the Department of Defense (DOD) at 12 percent; the Department of Agriculture (USDA) at 4 percent; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) at 4 percent.

Sixty-six of the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) received $373 million in federal obligations for S&E support. Although this is the second year of decreasing total federal S&E support obligations to HBCUs (down 6 percent from FY2015 and down 9 percent from FY2014), support to HBCUs for R&D has remained stable. NSF’s obligations to HBCUs rose about 12 percent between 2015 and 2016.

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University was the leading recipient of federal obligations for S&E support to HBCUs in FY2016, with $26 million. Morehouse School of Medicine was the second-leading recipient, with $25 million.

High Hispanic Enrollment (HHE) institutions received $1.7 billion in federal obligations for S&E. The majority (55 percent) of the support for HHE institutions came from HHS, with nearly $941 million in obligations. NSF was the second-leading federal agency source of funding, with $390 million, or 23 percent of all federal S&E obligations to HHE academic institutions. The top ten HHE recipients of federal S&E support received a total of $1.2 billion, or 68 percent of the total support to all 134 HHE recipient institutions. The University of Arizona was the leading recipient among HHEs of federal obligations for support of S&E.

Federal S&E support to 33 tribal colleges and universities in FY2016 totaled $55 million. The Department of Education was the leading source of S&E support, with $33 million in obligations, followed by the USDA with $13 million and NSF with $8 million.

The nine High American Indian Enrollment (HAIE) institutions were obligated $75 million in federal funds for S&E support. NSF provided $28 million, followed by NASA with $16 million, HHS with $12 million, and USDA with $6 million. The University of Alaska, Fairbanks is the largest HAIE recipient of federal obligations, with $69 million in support for S&E. All other HAIEs combined were obligated $5.9 million in S&E support.

For more information, including data tables, please see the report.

-NSF-

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2018, its budget is $7.8 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 50,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards.

NEW YORK, Nov. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — The Fixed Income Analysts Society (FIASI) in collaboration with Fordham University’s Center for Research in Contemporary Finance and the O’Shea Center for Credit Analysis and Investment are inviting research applications for the 2nd Annual FIASI-Gabelli School Student Research Competition on environmental, social and governance (ESG) focused investments and innovations. This co-branded competition invites undergraduate and graduate students to submit their ongoing original research on the topic of sustainable finance in fixed income or related markets1. Although the primary focus of this competition is to encourage student research on ESG in the fixed income market, research papers on the application of ESG principles in related markets but still relevant for fixed income will also be accepted. The purpose of the competition is to raise awareness of environmental, social and governance-based principles of investing in the fixed income markets as a research area, address challenges and opportunities associated with the integration of ESG in fixed income, promote the further development of ESG in the design of fixed income investments as well as corporate innovations and to gain more visibility for and encourage conversations among students, academics, as well as practitioners.

The competition will recognize up to eight research papers in year 2022, with each winning submission receiving an award of up to $5,000 and recognition at the annual FIASI ESG in Fixed Income conference scheduled to be held on or about April 21, 2022 and April 22, 2022 (Earth Day 2022). Payments will be made directly to the recipients. This grant does not in any way preclude subsequent publication of the research in the journals of the recipients’ choice. The recipients should agree to acknowledge this grant in all publications and presentations, and to present the research at a mutually convenient date following the FIASI conference. For reference, last April, three competition winners were announced, each receiving a monetary award in the amount of $2,000, and the winners were invited to present their research papers at a virtual event hosted jointly by FIASI and Fordham.

This year, the Competition is being expanded to include schools with business programs in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut area and students in this region are welcome to submit their research for the competition. Examples of student submissions include PhD. dissertations, Masters theses, Honors program theses, or any similar researches. Research papers coauthored between students and faculty are also welcome. Submissions from undergraduate, master, and PhD students will be evaluated in separated pools and awards will be chosen independently from these pools.

All submissions should consist of the following:

A cover page with title, names of authors, addresses and affiliation;
An abstract of up to 150 words;
A research paper;
A copy of (each) researcher’s resume.
A review committee will select the winners from the submitted proposals. In making its selections, the committee will seek input from colleagues at both FIASI and the Gabelli School of Business finance area. The review committee will consist of members drawn from the academic community as well as the fixed income industry.

Research papers will be judged on the basis of the originality and relevance of the research question as well as the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the research methodology.

Applicants should submit their proposals to Ms. Pamela Huang (phwang4@fordham.edu) by March 18, 2022. Decisions will be made before on or about April 15, 2022.

The competition is co-funded by the Fixed Income Analysts Society and Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business.

Additional questions or inquiries should be directed to Lauren Nauser, Executive Director, FIASI at nauser@fiasi.org.

1 Submissions from both full-time and part-time students will be accepted. The research should reflect the student’s own analysis and should contain a disclaimer that the research is not in any connected to or derives from a previous or current employer.

SOURCE Fixed Income Analysts Society (FIASI)

WASHINGTON, – A normal water supply is predicted for much of the West, while the Southwest, Sierra Nevada region and Pacific Northwest are beginning the year drier than normal, according to data from the first 2015 forecast by USDA’s National Water and Climate Center (NWCC). California, Arizona and New Mexico as well as parts of Colorado, Utah and Nevada are experiencing prolonged drought, focusing attention again on the winter snowfall.

“Right now, snowpack and streamflow forecasts look pretty close to normal for much of the West,” NWCC hydrologist Cara McCarthy said. “A couple of major regional exceptions are the Southwest and California, which are unusually dry, once again.”

In Western states where snowmelt accounts for the majority of seasonal water supply, information about snowpack serves as an indicator of future water availability. Streamflow in the West consists largely of accumulated mountain snow that melts and flows into streams as temperatures warm in spring and summer. NWCC scientists analyze the snowpack, air temperature, soil moisture and other measurements taken from remote sites to develop the water supply forecasts.

Overall, the basins of the Missouri, Colorado and Columbia rivers are expected to receive near normal streamflows.

In the Pacific Northwest, although rainfall during the fall months has been above average, the current snowpack is far below normal because of higher than normal temperatures.

“This is just the first forecast of the season; everything can change,” McCarthy said. “A weak El Niño is forecast for this year, which might play a part in coming months.”

Although variable, El Niño conditions tend to deliver more than normal winter precipitation to the Southwest and less to the Pacific Northwest.

The NWCC, part of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, monitors conditions year-round and will continue to issue monthly forecasts until June. The water supply forecast is part of several USDA efforts to improve public awareness and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including drought and other extreme weather events. Through the creation of the National Drought Resilience Partnership, launched as part of the President’s Climate Action Plan, federal agencies are working closely with states, tribes and local governments to develop a coordinated response to drought.

Since 1939, USDA has conducted snow surveys and issued regular water supply forecasts. Other resources on drought include the U.S. Drought MonitorThis is an external link or third-party site outside of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) website.. For information on USDA’s drought efforts, visit USDA Disaster and Drought Information. And to learn more about how NRCS is helping private landowners deal with drought, visit the NRCS’ drought resources.

TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2021 /CNW/ – The financial sector should move quickly to seize opportunities opening up to finance the economy of a greener tomorrow, the Global Risk Institute says in response to the report Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis, published August 9 by the United Nations working group Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

In a short opinion article entitled, “We Are on the Bell Lap: Top 5 Takeaways from the IPCC’s New Climate Science Report”, Canada’s premier agency on risk management offers five key takeaways for financial institutions in response to the IPCC’s latest report which sent a shot across the bow for humanity on the state of the climate.

“Now is the time for Canada to come together across government, industry and academia and punch above our weight,” says Sonia Baxendale, President and CEO, Global Risk Institute.

“Industry must pick up the pace. We have an obligation to our stakeholders, shareholders and future generations to face an unprecedented challenge and drive the innovation needed to create a sustainable low-carbon economy today – not in the distant future.”

Canadian financial institutions provide capital and leverage to the country’s societal and economic activity. Accordingly, they must play their part in managing and mitigating climate risk and accelerating low carbon opportunities.

The paper offers five key takeaways from the IPCC report for financial institutions:

Canada is in the cross-hairs, and the world agrees – modelled projections see a larger than average temperature increases for Canada due to its geographic location. In a year of catastrophic storms, fires and droughts, Canada must accelerate the urgency to lower carbon emissions in the short term.

Clearer, data-drive future scenarios are now possible – recent scientific breakthroughs now bring more resolution to climate risk assessment, better data for climate risk scenario analysis, and updated set of IPCC net zero pathways.

Liability risk set to rise as human influence on the climate is now “unequivocal” – amplified liability risk is expected from two breakthrough findings of the IPCC report: greenhouse gases by humans is causing climate change and scientists are now able to link specific weather events to human-made climate change.

Doubling down on transition finance and the move to a low carbon economy – financing and underwriting of fossil fuels must support energy diversification toward renewables, and transparency from firms about net zero portfolio alignment and climate-related financial risk must increase.

Investment in the one entity that can soften the blow: Mother Earth – with some major impacts of climate change such as sea level rise a certainty, there will be a scramble for financial resources to adapt, build resilience and invest in nature-based solutions to buffer the impacts. In response, the financial sector should develop ‘climate adaptation finance’ as a tool within the sustainable finance umbrella.
Read more about GRI’s five key messages for the financial sector coming out of the seminal IPCC report in the paper, “We Are on the Bell Lap: Top 5 Takeaways from the IPCC’s New Climate Science Report”, found on GRI’s website: https://globalriskinstitute.org/publications/we-are-on-the-bell-lap-top-5-takeaways-from-the-ipccs-new-climate-science-report/

About GRI: The Global Risk Institute in Financial Services (GRI) is the leading forum for ideas, engagement and building capacity for the management of risks in the financial services sector. We are a non-profit, public and private partnership with 46 government and corporate members from asset management, banking, credit unions, insurance and pension management. GRI’s goal is to develop fresh perspectives on risks, to engage members, and to enhance risk management skills. Our activities support academics, corporations, policy makers and regulators. We take a global view of the risks facing the financial services industry from our base in Toronto, Canada.

SOURCE The Global Risk Institute in Financial Services

CONTACT: Media contact: Mary Lou Frazer, Communications & Marketing Director, Global Risk Institute in Financial Services, Email: mfrazer@globalriskinsitute.org, Tel: +1-416-306-1148

CINCINNATI–Charmin has been secretly testing a big innovation for their Ultra Soft rolls. Some lucky consumers have even gotten it in-store through a secret test. But now, for the first time, Charmin is ready to talk about reinventing the square.

Charmin has reinvented the square by replacing the traditional perforation line with a scalloped edge to provide a better, smoother tear, and launched Smooth Tear as part of the Ultra Soft category to offer a more enjoyable go.

“This is something the toilet paper category hasn’t seen, and we’ve spent more than five years perfecting the technology and design behind it,” said Rob Reinerman, Charmin Vice President, Procter & Gamble. “At Charmin, we’re all about delivering a better bathroom experience and delivering superior products with the best performance, ultimately delivering value to our consumers. It’s why we keep innovating and investing in performance.”

Many consumers often get frustrated when they’re unable to get a clean tear, resulting in additional toilet paper usage and potential waste. This innovation aims to deliver an even and clean tear every single time, addressing multiple pain points that are experienced when using toilet paper. Charmin Ultra Soft Smooth Tear enables getting just the right desired amount, does not tear during dispensing and leaves a clean smooth cut.

“Consumers’ #1 complaint to our call centers over the years has been the uneven tears from the square shape,” said Gregg Weaver, Senior Scientist, Procter & Gamble. “The uneven tear is a result of straight perforations that don’t match the direction that consumers pull sheets and where the toilet paper is hung in the bathroom. The new Charmin wavy perforation ensures that you’re able to tear smoothly no matter where and how you tear.”

Charmin Ultra Soft Smooth Tear is rolling out this month in stores nationwide. Visit Charmin.com for more information about Charmin’s commitment to help all people #EnjoytheGo.

About Procter & Gamble
P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news.

Alan Danzis, MSL New York, 917-580-0585, Alan.Danzis@mslgroup.com

Source: Procter & Gamble

CINCINNATI–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Although the average home has more than 100 kinds of bugs living in it1, most Americans are woefully unprepared to deal with them. Why? Turns out the majority of the population (71%) suffer from a fear of bugs2 – or what Zevo dubs “bugxiety.”

Procter & Gamble’s (NYSE: PG) Zevo recently conducted a 2023 survey to learn more about consumer attitude toward bugs and how they respond to being around the little critters. Ready for some interesting findings?3

More Americans ratedtheir anxiety of bugs (46%) higher than theiranxiety of getting fired (44%)
Fourteen percent of Americans said they wouldn’t marry someone who suffered from bugxiety
And there are even a handful of people who confessed to crashing their car to escape from bugs!
Despite the high number of Americans with bugxiety, most are in a reactive mode when it comes to bugs. Thankfully, Chetan Parekh, Vice President & General Manager of Zevo at Procter & Gamble says Zevo has a proactive and effortless solution. “Bugs are inevitable, especially in the summer months, but our best-selling Flying Insect Trap continuously attracts and eliminates a variety of flying insects without disrupting your daily life – and helps you achieve a whole new level of clean and calm.”

Given fear and stress are commonly associated with bugs instead of the zen you can get from Zevo, it is no surprise that bugs impact everyday life. Many respondents shared their extreme reactions to spotting bugs at home and even at work. Survey respondents admitted*:

“I’ve ran down the street screaming at the top of my lungs, looking like a fool in front of a lot of people.” – 34 year old male

“I would not go back into my office at work (because I saw a roach) until a coworker showed me the corpse of that bug.” – 49 year old female

For those who suffer from bugxiety, bugs aren’t just “bugging” them. Forty-eight percent of Americans say it directly affects their daily life in more ways than one.4 For example, 1 in 3 Americans thought about burning their home after finding bugs.5 Crazy, right? However, there are effortless alternatives to help those suffering from bugxiety feel some relief and achieve a whole new level of calm. No need to react with fear or stress (or practice relaxation techniques!): just plug or spray and walk away.

So how can Zevo help Americans’ stress fade when bugs invade without having to touch the creepy crawlies?

Flying Insect Trap: Great for those who can’t stand flying annoyances, Zevo’s Flying Insect Trap uses a special blue & UV light system to attract and trap flying insects (e.g., house flies, fruit flies and gnats) on a strong adhesive pad, which can be easily removed and disposed of via a pull tab.
On-Body Mosquito + Tick Repellent: New On-Body repellent provides odorless, non-sticky and complete protection against mosquitos and ticks for up to 8 hours, so you can enjoy the outdoors unbothered by bugs and without the ick of traditional bug sprays.
Insect Killer Spray: For those who freak out when they see creepy-crawly pests, Zevo Insect Killer Sprays offer complete protection against spiders, roaches, ants and more. Simply spray directly on unwanted bugs and watch while Zevo targets and shuts down biological pathways found in insects, not in people or pets. Wipe away with a clean cloth or paper towel with no residue left behind…and that’s it.
Got Bugxiety? Zevo It! All of Zevo’s products are available for purchase online at zevoinsect.com and at the retailers you love across the U.S. To find a local retailer that carries Zevo products, visit Zevo’s store locator. For more information, visit Zevo online or connect on Facebook and Instagram and show us how you #ZEVOit.

About Zevo™

Launched in 2017, Zevo provides smart insect control products that kill bugs in and around your home in a different way. Part of Procter & Gamble, Zevo’s suite of household insect sprays, plug-in trap systems, and On-Body products control crawling, flying, and stinging insects, and are made to bother bugs, not your family. Zevo products are available for purchase online at zevoinsect.com and at all major retailers across the U.S. For more information, visit Zevo online or connect on Facebook and Instagram.

About Procter & Gamble

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always®, Ambi Pur®, Ariel®, Bounty®, Charmin®, Crest®, Dawn®, Downy®, Fairy®, Febreze®, Gain®, Gillette®, Head & Shoulders®, Lenor®, Olay®, Oral-B®, Pampers®, Pantene®, SK-II®, Tide®, Vicks®, and Whisper®. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit https://www.pg.comfor the latest news and information about P&G and its brands. For other P&G news, visit us at https://www.pg.com/news.

Methodology

Undertaken by Maru Public Opinion, this study was conducted by its sample and data collection experts at Maru/Blue 26th April – 2nd May, 2023 among a random selection of 1,066 adult Americans aged 25-50 who are Maru Springboard America online panelists. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size has an estimated margin of error (which measures sampling variability) of +/- 3.0%, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals when compared to the data tables are due to rounding.

Working in wind tunnels, software laboratories and work stations across America, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program (CCP) partners continue to make strides in advancing the designs of the American spacecraft and rockets that will carry humans safely and reliably into low-Earth orbit from U.S. soil by 2017.

Blue Origin, The Boeing Company, Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) and Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) are accomplishing milestones established through Space Act Agreements as part of the agency’s Commercial Crew Development Round 2 and Commercial Crew Integrated Capability initiatives.

CCP’s engineering team is working closely with its partners as they develop the next generation of crewed spacecraft and work toward challenging evaluations and tests this year. Ultimately, NASA intends to certify and use American-made commercial systems to fly astronauts from U.S. soil to the International Space Station, and back, ending our sole reliance on Russia to get to space.

“What we have seen from our industry partners is a determination to make their components and systems work reliably, and in turn they’ve been able to demonstrate the complex machinery that makes spaceflight possible will also work as planned,” said Kathy Lueders, Commercial Crew Program manager. “These next few months will continue to raise the bar for achievement by our partners.”

Boeing completed its most in-depth evaluation in April of the software planned to operate the CST-100 spacecraft. Called a critical design review, or CDR, the evaluation confirmed the computer coding can be used in flight tests. Spacecraft are increasingly dependent on computers that automate systems and perform split-second commands, making the software one of the most crucial elements of the spacecraft.

SNC put models of its Dream Chaser spacecraft through rigorous wind tunnel tests at facilities across America as it refined the design by studying its reaction to subsonic, transonic and supersonic conditions it will encounter during ascent into space and re-entry from low-Earth orbit. Several Dream Chaser scale model spacecraft were subjected to multiple wind tunnel tests in various configurations, including the integrated launch stack of Dream Chaser on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

SpaceX conducted an integrated critical design review in April of major hardware and software elements of the company’s Dragon spacecraft and Falcon 9 rocket. The critical design review took into account a host of previous reviews of the design of the vehicles along with the testing involved in verifying the systems.

As in building a house or other complex structure, these advancements set the stage for upcoming accomplishments on the path to a completed space transportation system. Blue Origin is closing in on an interim design review for the subsystems of its Space Vehicle design, a biconic spacecraft the company is developing to carry humans into low-Earth orbit.

Boeing will complete a critical design review that will cover all elements of the crewed spacecraft, rocket, as well as ground and mission operations in the coming months.

SNC is preparing to share its results from a series of tests of the reaction control system motors for the Dream Chaser spacecraft at a subcontractor facility, and main engine motor tests at SNC’s Poway, California, facility.

SpaceX continues to develop hardware for a series of flight tests later this year that will put the Dragon’s launch abort system through simulated emergencies to make sure it will perform for astronauts in the unlikely event of a mishap during launch or ascent into orbit.

Milestones achieved by CCP’s partners continue to advance commercial spacecraft and transportation systems from design to reality. The successes of NASA and American aerospace companies are ushering in a new generation of space transportation capabilities, which will enable new opportunities for humans to live and work in space.
This news is courtesy of www.nasa.gov

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2021 — Leaders of seven of the 10 largest economies in the world united today in an ambitious agenda for the conservation of the planet, recognizing the critical role of nature in rebuilding the global economy in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a joint statement, the heads of state from the G7 nations agreed to conserve or protect at least 30% each of the land and ocean on Earth by 2030 to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. The communique also included support for conserving the biologically rich waters of the Antarctic Southern Ocean, tackling marine plastic pollution, addressing unsustainable and illegal activities negatively impacting nature, and mobilizing sustained financing to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss. The G7 finance ministers pledged to approach these measures with a commitment to an “inclusive global recovery that builds back better and greener.”

The G7 communique comes during a pivotal year for global conservation. In July, World Trade Organization members will meet to negotiate an agreement to end harmful fisheries subsidies; in August, the United Nations will open the third and final round of negotiations on a draft of its post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, which maps out conservation targets for the next decade; in September, the U.N. General Assembly will assess progress of the Leaders Pledge for Nature; in October, at the Convention on Biological Diversity, Parties to that international treaty are expected to agree on an ambitious new plan to safeguard life on Earth; later in October, the members of the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources have the opportunity to deliver nearly 4 million square kilometers of ocean protection in Antarctica’s Southern Ocean; and in November, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will meet to assess progress against the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Tom Dillon, head of environment for The Pew Charitable Trusts, issued the following statement:

“Nature underpins human health, well-being, and prosperity, all of which have suffered during the global pandemic. But we can recover, in part by putting biodiversity, climate, and the environment at the heart of COVID-19 recovery strategies and investments.

“By uniting in this effort, the G7 is investing in an environmentally progressive response to the current health, climate, and economic challenges—using our planet’s natural capital as a means to help our communities, our economy, and nature emerge from this period, stronger than they were before.

“Action by the G7 to protect or conserve 30% of the global ocean is a vehicle for nature-based solutions for climate; where fisheries thrive, marine life has the space to rebound and recover, and we sustain the economic, cultural, and life-supporting benefits of a healthy marine environment. Robust and well-managed marine protections can deliver adaptation and resilience benefits, which are critical for people and nature to survive climate shocks and stresses such as drought, flooding, and sea-level rise.

“We’re at a tipping point for our planet, where the actions of governments could influence the conservation of our planet for decades to come, and drive benefits for people and nature. The first stop is the World Trade Organization next month, where we could see the much-needed shift from pledges to action—to members delivering a meaningful and robust agreement to end harmful fisheries subsidies. If successful, this would be one of the single biggest actions to end overfishing in our ocean.

“For many of us involved in global conservation, we have learned several lessons since the Aichi Targets and Sustainable Development Goals were agreed upon a decade ago. Today we recognize the critical need to ensure that financial and technical resources are mobilized to deliver the targets that are agreed; that we work with all stewards of land and sea to deliver inclusive, equitable, and just conservation goals; and that our approach is informed by robust science that also focuses on the quality of protection.

“We also have the benefit of new mechanisms for protecting the planet. And, unlike in 2010, governments, multilateral development banks, market leaders, and coalitions are coming together to put financial resources into achieving global biodiversity targets for the next decade and beyond.”

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Learn more at www.pewtrusts.org/30×30

Laura Margison, +1.202.849.0272, lmargison@pewtrusts.org

SOURCE The Pew Charitable Trusts

Related Links
www.pewtrusts.org

NEW ORLEANS—September 29, 2014—GE (NYSE: GE) and PurposeEnergy Inc. today announced a collaboration whereby GE’s new anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology and PurposeEnergy’s Tribrid-Bioreactor™ will be combined as a solution to reuse industrial wastewater while also turning waste into energy.

GE’s new AnMBR, which was introduced today at WEFTEC, utilizes its ZeeWeed* 500 membranes in combination with an anaerobic bioprocess. As industrial customers seek lower operating cost and increased efficiency while at the same time facing more stringent discharge limits, AnMBR offers the ability to generate renewable energy and produce superior effluent quality for reclamation and reuse.

PurposeEnergy’s Tribrid-Bioreactor is an anaerobic digester engineered specifically for food and beverage industry byproducts. It converts organic waste into clean water and energy, leading to a reduction in carbon footprint, cost savings and on-site production of renewable energy. Unlike traditional anaerobic digesters, the Tribrid-Bioreactor separates hydraulic retention time from solids retention time. The result is greater than 99 percent reduction in organic load for not only wastewater, but also for solids and slurries that are generated during food and beverage manufacturing.

“We are pleased to be working with GE to bring these innovative technologies to the food and beverage industry. The solutions we are deploying treat organic byproducts, reduce the discharged volume of wastewater by 80 percent and generate renewable heat and power. GE’s AnMBR is helping PurposeEnergy set the new standard for food and beverage byproduct management,” said Eric Fitch, CEO of PurposeEnergy.

Combining PurposeEnergy’s Tribrid-Bioreactor and GE’s AnMBR technology solves the issues associated with traditional anaerobic processes for food and beverage manufacturers. This breakthrough design results in complete retention of biomass and prevents the discharge of both organic and inert solids. The result is a significant improvement in final effluent quality with zero suspended solids.

Anaerobic digestion is a biological process in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. One of the end products is biogas, which can be combusted to generate electricity and heat. Advantages of anaerobic treatment include energy savings by not requiring oxygen, reduced sludge production and reduced footprint. However, the traditional anaerobic processes have disadvantages such as lesser effluent quality, process sensitivity, slow biomass growth rate, retention of methanogens and difficult-to-settle sludge.

“When AnMBR—GE’s newest membrane technological advancement—is paired with PurposeEnergy’s Tribrid-Bioreactor digester technology, industrial users can reap the benefits of recycling wastewater and generating renewable sources of energy. It is the embodiment of GE’s commitment to energy neutrality,” said Yuvbir Singh, general manager, engineered systems—water and process technologies for GE Power & Water.

About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.

About GE Power & Water
GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.
Follow GE Power & Water and GE’s water business on Twitter @GE_PowerWater and @GE_Water.

WILMINGTON, NC— —The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has selected GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) to lead a research and development project to support advanced reactor technology development. GEH will receive a multi-million dollar federal investment to develop an updated safety assessment of the company’s PRISM sodium-cooled fast reactor.

The research investment is part of a program through which DOE partners with industry in developing next generation nuclear technology that has the potential to achieve significant advances in safety, efficiency and economics. The funding will enable GEH and Argonne National Laboratory to partner in developing and modernizing next-generation probabilistic risk assessment methodologies for PRISM.

Probabilistic risk assessments examine how the pieces of complex systems work together to ensure safety. The assessments allow risk to be quantified in order to identify factors that could potentially impact safety. This effort will build upon assessments of PRISM that were developed in the early 1990s.

“PRISM is an exciting technology that has the ability to close the nuclear fuel cycle,” said Jay Wileman, GEH Senior Vice President, Nuclear Plant Projects. “Updating the safety assessment of PRISM will be important in supporting licensing efforts worldwide.”

The PRISM high energy neutron reactor design uses a series of proven, safe and mature technologies to recycle nuclear waste – reprocessed uranium and unused fuel from past nuclear reactor programs – while generating carbon free electricity. The reactor can disposition plutonium stockpiles and harness the remaining energy potential of spent nuclear fuel and surplus plutonium.

In 2013, DOE authorized a $1 million research investment for GEH to develop new insulation material for the PRISM electromagnetic coolant pump. This project is expected to conclude successfully next year.

In January 2014, the United Kingdom Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) noted that, on the information provided, PRISM’s fourth generation nuclear power technology was considered a “credible option” for managing the nation’s plutonium stockpile. In July 2014, GEH and Iberdrola Generación Nuclear S.A. entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate towards further advancing the proposal for UK deployment of PRISM.

GEH Selected for Advanced Reactor R&D Project
PRISM is based on the successful Experimental Breeder Reactor II that began operating in 1964, as well as on the Advanced Liquid Metal Program, which lasted for 10 years.

To learn more about how PRISM works visit GE Reports http://www.gereports.com/post/101863876380/this-advanced-nuclear-reactor-feasts-on-radioactive or www.gehitachiprism.com

For more information about the DOE announcement visit http://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-announces-new-investments-advanced-nuclear-power-reactors-0

About GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GEH is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in June 2007, GEH is a part of a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety.

Poplar trees are widely used in commercial products, but, like several other tree species, they emit gases to the atmosphere that worsen air pollution and alter climate. Now field trials in Oregon and Arizona show that poplar trees, which emit trace amounts of the gas isoprene, can be genetically modified to leave air quality unharmed.
The NSF-funded findings, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, are important because poplar plantations cover 9.4 million hectares (36,294 square miles). Poplars are fast-growing trees that are sources of biofuels and other products, including paper, pallets, plywood and furniture frames.
Poplars and other trees used in agroforestry, including palms and eucalyptus, produce isoprene in their leaves in response to climate stress such as high temperature and drought. The isoprene alleviates those stresses by signaling cellular processes to make protective molecules; however, isoprene is so volatile that millions of metric tons leak into the atmosphere each year.
The emitted isoprene reacts with gases produced by tailpipe pollution to produce ozone, a respiratory irritant. The net effect of emitted isoprene is to worsen respiratory health and, most likely, warm the atmosphere.
Scientists at the University of Arizona and other institutions genetically modified poplars to produce no isoprene, then tested them in three- and four-year trials at plantations in Oregon and Arizona.
The researchers found that trees whose isoprene production was genetically suppressed suffered no ill effects in terms of photosynthesis or biomass production. The trees were able to make cellulose, used in biofuel production, and grow as well as those that produced isoprene.
“This research demonstrates the importance of studies that span cellular to ecosystem processes in developing strategies to enhance biomass production, while reducing potential harmful effects on the environment,” says Liz Blood, a program director in NSF’s Division of Environmental Biology.
— NSF Public Affairs, researchnews@nsf.gov

National Science Foundation
Research.gov

CANBERRA, Australia, — Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals are critical tools for industries requiring exact precision and high confidence. Now, Geoscience Australia, an agency of the Commonwealth of Australia, and Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) have entered into a collaborative research project to show how augmenting signals from multiple GNSS constellations can enhance positioning, navigation, and timing for a range of applications.

This innovative research project aims to demonstrate how a second-generation Satellite-Based Augmentation System (SBAS) testbed can – for the first time – use signals from both the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Galileo constellation, and dual frequencies, to achieve even greater GNSS integrity and accuracy. Over two years, the testbed will validate applications in nine industry sectors: agriculture, aviation, construction, maritime, mining, rail, road, spatial, and utilities.

“Many industries rely on GNSS signals for accurate, safe navigation. Users must be confident in the position solutions calculated by GNSS receivers. The term ‘integrity’ defines the confidence in the position solutions provided by GNSS,” explained Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand Chief Executive Vince Di Pietro. “Industries where safety-of-life navigation is crucial want assured GNSS integrity.”

Ultimately, the second-generation SBAS testbed will broaden understanding of how this technology can benefit safety, productivity, efficiency and innovation in Australia’s industrial and research sectors.

“We are excited to have an opportunity to work with Geoscience Australia and Australian industry to demonstrate the best possible GNSS performance and proud that Australia will be leading the way to enhance space-based navigation and industry safety,” Di Pietro added.
Basic GNSS signals are accurate enough for many civil positioning, navigation and timing users. However, these signals require augmentation to meet higher safety-of-life navigation requirements. The second-generation SBAS will mitigate that issue.

Once the SBAS testbed is operational, basic GNSS signals will be monitored by widely-distributed reference stations operated by Geoscience Australia. An SBAS testbed master station, installed by teammate GMV, of Spain, will collect that reference station data, compute corrections and integrity bounds for each GNSS satellite signal, and generate augmentation messages.

“A Lockheed Martin uplink antenna at Uralla, New South Wales will send these augmentation messages to an SBAS payload hosted aboard a geostationary Earth orbit satellite, owned by Inmarsat,” explains Rod Drury, Director, International Strategy and Business Development for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. “This satellite rebroadcasts the augmentation messages containing corrections and integrity data to the end users. The whole process takes less than six seconds.”

By augmenting signals from multiple GNSS constellations – both Galileo and GPS – second-generation SBAS is not dependent on just one GNSS. It will also use signals on two frequencies – the L1 and L5 GPS signals, and their companion E1 and E5a Galileo signals – to provide integrity data and enhanced accuracy for industries that need it the most.

Partners in this collaborative research project include the government of Australia. Lockheed Martin will provide systems integration expertise in addition to the Uralla radio frequency uplink. GMV-Spain will provide their ‘magicGNSS’ processors. Inmarsat will provide the navigation payload hosted on the 4F1 geostationary satellite. The Australia and New Zealand Cooperative Research Centre for Spatial Information will coordinate the demonstrator projects that test the SBAS infrastructure.

Lockheed Martin has significant experience with space-based navigation systems. The company developed and produced 20 GPS IIR and IIR-M satellites. It also maintains the GPS Architecture Evolution Plan ground control system, which operates the entire 31-satellite constellation.
For additional GPS information, photos and video visit: www.lockheedmartin.com/gps.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

DETROIT – General Motors plans to generate or source all electrical power for its 350 operations in 59 countries with 100 percent renewable energy — such as wind, sun and landfill gas — by 2050.

“Establishing a 100 percent renewable energy goal helps us better serve society by reducing environmental impact,” said GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “This pursuit of renewable energy benefits our customers and communities through cleaner air while strengthening our business through lower and more stable energy costs.”

This new renewable energy goal, along with the pursuit of electrified vehicles and efficient manufacturing, is part of the company’s overall approach to strengthening its business, improving communities and addressing climate change. GM is also joining RE100, a global collaborative initiative of businesses committed to 100 percent renewable electricity, working to increase demand for clean power.

In 2015, GM required 9 terawatt hours of electricity to build its vehicles and power its offices, technical centers and warehouses around the world. To meet its new renewable energy goal, GM will continue to improve the energy efficiency of its operations while transitioning to clean sources for its power needs.

Today GM saves $5 million annually from using renewable energy, a number it anticipates will increase as more projects come online and the supply of renewable energy increases. In addition, the company anticipates costs to install and produce renewable energy will continue to decrease, resulting in more bottom-line returns.

The new renewable energy commitment builds on GM’s previous goal to promote the use of 125 megawatts of renewable energy by 2020. The company expects to exceed this when two new wind projects come online later this year to help power four manufacturing operations.

“This bold and ambitious commitment from General Motors will undoubtedly catch the attention of the global automotive industry,” said Amy Davidsen, North America executive director at The Climate Group. “GM has already saved millions of dollars by using renewable energy, and like any smart business that recognizes an investment opportunity, they want to seize it fully. We hope that through this leadership, other heavy manufacturing companies will be inspired to make the switch too.”

Scaling the commitment
GM is in the process of adding 30 megawatts of solar arrays at two facilities in China. Its Jinqiao Cadillac assembly plant in Shanghai will feature 10 megawatts of rooftop solar and 20 megawatts of solar carports, which will cover 8,100 parking spaces at the company’s vehicle distribution center parking lot in Wuhan.

GM has pioneered the use of renewable energy for more than 20 years, saving $80 million to date. The company has 22 facilities with solar arrays, three sites using landfill gas and four that will soon benefit from wind. This experience will help GM scale renewable energy use to all facilities globally.

GM is in a unique position to meet this renewable energy goal given its electric vehicle battery expertise. Energy storage can ultimately address the intermittency or reliability of wind and solar energy. GM is now using Chevrolet Volt batteries for energy storage at its Milford Proving Ground data center office.

Collaborating to make renewable energy more accessible
GM joins 69 companies that have made the RE100 pledge. As a founding member of the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance and Business Renewables Center, and one of the first signatories of the Renewable Energy Buyers’ Principles, GM helps scale the availability and adoption of renewable energy. These organizations, spearheaded by the Rocky Mountain Institute, the World Wildlife Fund and the World Resources Institute, work to identify barriers to buying clean energy and develop solutions to meet the growing demand.

GM will continue to work with cities, policymakers, renewable energy developers, utilities, NGOs and other stakeholders on the transition to a clean-energy economy.

For more information on GM’s environmental commitment, visit its sustainability report and environmental blog.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

WILMINGTON, North Carolina—May 23, 2017—Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) announced today that its newest fuel product, GNF3, has completed the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) approved process for new fuel product introductions.

Based on evolutionary design changes and advanced technology developed by GNF, the GNF3 fuel assembly is designed to offer customers improved fuel cycle economics, increased performance and flexibility in operation and further improve on the reliability of GNF’s previous product lines.

“We designed GNF3 aiming to safely and reliably deliver more power while reducing overall fuel cycle costs, saving utilities money by reducing batch fraction and lowering the average enrichment in fuel reloads.” said Amir Vexler, CEO of GNF. “We are seeking to deliver substantially enhanced debris resistance with this newest fuel design, which includes the latest Defender™ filter technology and an innovative spacer.”

GNF3 lead use assemblies are currently operating in three U.S. nuclear power plants. Representative assemblies were recently inspected and are operating as designed. The assemblies were reinserted during recent outages for continued operation.

GNF3 is fabricated with GNF’s latest materials at the company’s state-of-the-art facility in Wilmington, N.C.

About GNF
Global Nuclear Fuel (GNF) is a world-leading supplier of boiling water reactor fuel and fuel-related engineering services. GNF is a GE-led joint venture with Hitachi, Ltd. and Toshiba Corporation and operates primarily through Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas, LLC in Wilmington, N.C., and Global Nuclear Fuel-Japan Co., Ltd. in Kurihama, Japan.

About GEH
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy (GEH) is a world-leading provider of advanced reactors and nuclear services. Established in 2007, GEH is a global nuclear alliance created by GE and Hitachi to serve the global nuclear industry. The nuclear alliance executes a single, strategic vision to create a broader portfolio of solutions, expanding its capabilities for new reactor and service opportunities. The alliance offers customers around the world the technological leadership required to effectively enhance reactor performance, power output and safety. Follow GEH on LinkedIn and Twitter @gehnuclear.
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At a virtual meeting today, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC committed to take forward crucial work to tackle climate change under the umbrella of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), despite the COVID-19 crisis.

The 11 members of the Bureau are nominated by each of the five United Nations regional groups and Small Island Developing States, and provide advice and guidance regarding the ongoing work under the Convention, the Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, the organization of their sessions and the relevant support by the UN Climate Change secretariat.

Since the last meeting of the Bureau in April, the work of the UNFCCC secretariat has not slowed, with several initiatives launched in order to drive momentum, showcase continuing climate action and urging greater climate ambition from all segments of society.

UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa, said: “Our efforts to address climate change and COVID-19 are not mutually exclusive. If done right, the recovery from the COVID-19 crisis can steer us to a more inclusive and sustainable climate path. We honor those whom we have lost by working with renewed commitment and continuing to demonstrate leadership and determination in addressing climate change, and building a safe, clean, just and resilient world.”

In addition to several technical meetings organized by the UN Climate Change secretariat, key political events have taken place this year, for example the Petersberg Climate Dialogue and the Placencia Ambition Forum.

From 1 to 10 June 2020, a series of online events will be conducted under the guidance of the Chairs of the UNFCCC’s  Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and with the support of the UNFCCC secretariat, the June Momentum for Climate Change.

The June Momentum events offer an opportunity for Parties and other stakeholders to meet virtually and continue exchanging views and sharing information in order to maintain momentum in the UNFCCC process and to showcase how climate action is progressing under the special circumstances the world is currently facing.

This will include advancing technical work under the constituted bodies, as well as providing a platform for information exchange and engagement on other work being done under the UNFCCC, including on adaptation, mitigation, science, finance, technology, capacity-building, transparency, gender, Action for Climate Empowerment, and the preparation and submission of nationally determined contributions.

Formal negotiations and decision-making are not envisaged for these events and will take place at the UNFCCC Subsidiary Body sessions which are scheduled for October of this year.

The Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, with the UK and its Italian partners today also agreed new dates for the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference, which will now take place between 1 and 12 November 2021, in Glasgow.

The conference was originally set to take place in November 2020, but had been postponed due to COVID-19.

See also the corresponding press release from the UK COP Presidency.

About the UNFCCC

With 197 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 2015 Paris Climate Change Agreement. The main aim of the Paris Agreement is to keep a global average temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius and to drive efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The UNFCCC is also the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The ultimate objective of all agreements under the UNFCCC is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system, in a time frame which allows ecosystems to adapt naturally and enables sustainable development.

SHANGHAI, — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd. will use Callidus advanced flares and low-nitrogen oxides (NOx) burner technology at its refinery and petrochemicals complex, one of the largest in China, at Changxing Island in Dalian City.
Honeywell will provide a 5,000 ton-per-hour flare system that will be the largest in Asia. In addition, Honeywell will provide more than 1,400 Callidus® low-NOx burners to provide heat for refinery processes, as well as process design and procurement services, key mechanical equipment and instrumentation.

“Callidus’ advanced burner technology helps refineries and petrochemical plants reduce NOx emissions, better control carbon monoxide emissions and achieve higher fuel efficiency, while our low-VOC flare technology provides excellent combustion performance,” said Henry Liu, vice president and general manager of Honeywell UOP China. “These technologies offer excellent economics and will help Hengli comply with stricter environmental regulations in China.”

Under the Chinese government’s Emission Standard of Pollutants for the Petroleum Refining Industry, emissions of nitrogen oxides from industry furnaces are required to drop 33 percent, from 150 milligrams per cubic meter in 2015 to less than 100 this year. These pollutants are a primary cause of acid rain and increased surface ozone concentration, which have serious and direct impacts on public health and the environment.

Honeywell UOP’s Callidus low-NOx burner technology and customized burners will allow Hengli Petrochemical to reduce NOx emissions to half the limit prescribed under the new emission control regulation. The burners are customized to meet requirements of all types of applications at Hengli, including refinery heaters, reformers, ethylene crackers, and CCR (continuous catalytic reforming) and propane dehydrogenation process heaters.

“Hengli Petrochemical is committed to becoming one of the best petrochemical complexes in the world, and advanced flares and burners are essential to that mission,” said Chen Xinhua, vice chairman of Hengli Petrochemical Company. “We chose Honeywell UOP Callidus as the sole supplier for all burners in the complex and the flare system for the refinery because these technologies meet our criteria for performance and environmental requirements.”

Honeywell recently expanded its China combustion test facility to evaluate the performance of flares. The center, located in Luoyang in Henan Province, is China’s only center capable of testing flare emissions for volatile organic compounds, or VOCs.

Hengli Group, founded in 1994, manufactures petrochemicals, polyester, and advanced materials, with operations in weaving, thermal power, machinery, finance, hotels and real estate. In 2010, the company built the Hengli Petrochemical (Dalian) Refinery Co., Ltd. Hengli Petrochemical is one of the largest refinery and petrochemical projects in China, with a processing capacity of 20 million tons per year and more than 25 processes in operation.

As part of Honeywell UOP, Callidus Technologies provides total solutions for process heater burners, flares, flare gas recovery systems, thermal oxidizers and selective catalytic reduction units.

For more information about Callidus’ low NOx emission burner technology, please visit https://www.uop.com/equipment/callidus-combustion-equipment/callidus-burners/.

Honeywell UOP (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Honeywell UOP is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com), a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced a Clean Water Act settlement requiring the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and seven East Bay communities to conduct extensive system repairs aimed at eliminating millions of gallons of sewage discharges into San Francisco Bay. Under today’s agreement, EBMUD and the communities will assess and upgrade their 1,500 mile-long sewer system infrastructure over a 21-year period. The work is expected to cost approximately $1.5 billion. The entities will pay civil penalties of $1.5 million for past sewage discharges that violated federal environmental law.

Since 2009, EPA, state and local regulators and environmental groups have worked to reduce sewage discharges from East Bay communities. During that period, interim actions required EBMUD and the East Bay communities to improve their sewer maintenance practices and gather information to identify priorities for investment.

The San Francisco Bay covers 1,600 square miles and is the largest Pacific estuary in the Americas, a host for millions of migratory birds and a hub of commerce and recreation for more than 7 million Bay Area residents.

Unfortunately, the Bay is under threat from many sources of pollution, including crumbling wastewater infrastructure that allows sewage to escape from the system. During rainstorms, in particular, older sewer systems can be overwhelmed, releasing rivers of sewage before fully treated.

In addition to polluting waterways, raw and partially treated sewage can spread disease-causing organisms, metals, and nutrients that threaten public health. Sewage can also deplete oxygen in the bay, threatening fish, seals and other wildlife.

“For many years, the health of San Francisco Bay has been imperiled by ongoing pollution, including enormous discharges of raw and partially treated sewage from communities in the East Bay,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “Many of these discharges are the result of aging, deteriorated sewer infrastructure that will be fixed under the EPA order.”

Today’s settlement is the result of a Clean Water Act enforcement action brought by the EPA, U.S. Department of Justice, State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board, San Francisco Baykeeper and Our Children’s Earth Foundation.

“This settlement will result in major reductions of sewage discharges into the San Francisco Bay,” said W. Benjamin Fisherow, Chief of Environmental Enforcement in the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “These improvements will help reach our goal of eliminating pollution in the neighborhoods in these cities and in the Bay so that citizens may rest assured that they reside in a safe, clean environment.”

The seven East Bay communities in the EBMUD settlement are:

City of Alameda
City of Albany
City of Berkeley
City of Emeryville
City of Oakland
City of Piedmont
Stege Sanitary District (serving El Cerrito, Kensington, and a portion of Richmond)

“The public has been required to repair their own sewer laterals for over two years now, so it is past time that the local agencies aggressively repair their sewer systems,” said Bruce Wolfe, Executive Officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Board. “This settlement spells out how the agencies will work with the public over the next 21 years to do just that and protect the Bay.”

“Baykeeper will be watching the progress of these repairs closely to ensure that pollution of San Francisco Bay is reduced and eventually eliminated, and we will take action if the repairs fall short,” said Baykeeper Executive Director Deb Self.

On an annual basis, hundreds of millions of gallons of raw and partially treated sewage are discharged directly to San Francisco Bay. Also, as much as 600,000 gallons of raw sewage from community sewer systems is first discharged onto streets and other public areas—through outlets such as manhole covers—before it drains to the Bay.

As part of the agreement, EBMUD and the seven communities will:

repair and rehabilitate old and cracked sewer pipes;
regularly clean and inspect sewer pipes to prevent overflows of raw sewage;
identify and eliminate illegal sewer connections;
continue to enforce private sewer lateral ordinances; and
ensure proactive renewal of existing sanitary sewer infrastructure.

EBMUD will also immediately begin work to offset the environmental harm caused by the sewage discharges, which are expected to continue until these sewer upgrades are completed, by capturing and treating urban runoff and contaminated water that currently flows to the Bay untreated during dry weather.

Keeping raw sewage and contaminated storm water out of the waters of the United States is one of EPA’s National Enforcement Initiatives.

The proposed settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.

Read the settlement at: http://www.usdoj.gov/enrd/Consent_Decrees.html

Learn more about EPA’s national wastewater enforcement initiative at: http://go.usa.gov/5pak

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J.– Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that it has entered into a supply agreement with Asahi Glass Company Ltd. (AGC) to increase production for HFO-1234yf, a new refrigerant for automobiles with a global warming potential (GWP) of less than 1. This GWP is 99.9 percent lower than that of the current refrigerant in use, HFC-134a, and even lower than the GWP of carbon dioxide.

AGC will manufacture HFO-1234yf in Japan, and Honeywell will market the product to customers in the U.S, Europe and Asia. Under the agreement, AGC’s production is expected to begin in mid-2015.

“Honeywell’s supply agreement with AGC will help us meet immediate demand for HFO-1234yf, which is steadily increasing in response to concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and the need to comply with regulations,” said Ken Gayer, vice president and general manager of Honeywell Fluorine Products. “We continue to work with our customers to anticipate long-term demand, which will be met by a new high-volume manufacturing plant we will build in Geismar, Louisiana. Manufacturing locations in both the U.S. and Asia will provide automotive customers with improved supply chain reliability and security.”

Last month, Honeywell announced that the company and its suppliers would invest about $300 million to increase capacity for HFO-1234yf, including building a new manufacturing plant for the refrigerant at Honeywell’s existing Geismar location. The plant will use new process technology and is expected to be fully operational in 2016. The exact size of the plant will depend on supply agreements that Honeywell is putting in place with major customers.

HFO-1234yf is being implemented by automakers in part to meet the EU MAC Directive, a landmark piece of legislation that aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions of air-conditioning systems in passenger cars and light commercial vehicles. The directive requires that refrigerants in all new vehicle types sold in Europe after Jan. 1, 2013, have a global-warming potential (GWP) below 150.

GWP is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere, with carbon dioxide setting the comparison with a GWP of 1. HFO-1234yf offers a GWP that is less than 1, giving it even less of an environmental impact than carbon dioxide. (See “Comparison of Greenhouse Impact” table below.)

All cars sold in Europe after 2017 must meet the new GWP requirement of less than 150. HFO-1234yf, with a GWP below 1, not only meets this requirement but is more than 99 percent below the new, stricter regulation.

Automakers in the U.S. are also adopting HFO-1234yf to help comply with Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) and vehicle greenhouse gas standards, which aim to improve the average fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with cars and light trucks. Because HFO-1234yf has an extremely low environmental impact (a GWP of less than 1 compared with a GWP of 1,300 for the current refrigerant, HFC-134a), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows automakers to receive credits for using HFO-1234yf.

Nearly half a million cars are on the road today safely using HFO-1234yf, and by the end of 2014, the number of vehicles is expected to exceed 2 million. Third-party data shows that HFO-1234yf’s widespread adoption globally would have the greenhouse gas equivalent of permanently removing more than 30 million cars from the road worldwide, or about 3 percent of the total global fleet.

HFO-1234yf has the proven ability to perform as an effective automotive refrigerant in all regions of the world, and Honeywell continues to develop a global infrastructure to support its global customer base.

This Press Release is courtesy of www.honeywell.com

DES PLAINES, Ill., Nov. 20, 2017 — Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced that EagleClaw Midstream Ventures, LLC will use UOP Russell modular cryogenic equipment to process 200 million standard cubic feet per day of natural gas at its gas processing facility in the Permian Basin in Reeves County, Texas.

UOP Russell customized the gas processing plant for the West Texas location, including a modular design that reduces project schedules and delivers a custom, gas-specific plant with proven uptime and reliability.

“EagleClaw has chosen to go with UOP Russell for its last three plants — totaling 600 million cubic feet per day — due to excellent project execution and service offerings, and the advantages of integrating EagleClaw’s existing fleet of UOP Russell plants,” said Craig Ranta, business director, UOP Russell. “We’re delivering a customized plant to match the rich feed gas composition in the basin, while the high NGL recovery makes EagleClaw more competitive capturing contracts from producers.”

Cryogenic gas processing plants cool natural gas until the heavier and more valuable NGLs form into liquids. These liquids – including propane, ethane and butanes — can be used as fuels, fuel blending components and other valuable petrochemicals.

The plant is designed to accommodate the NGL-rich gas in the Permian’s Delaware Basin. Its low capital and operating expense, coupled with high NGL recovery, allowed EagleClaw to offer gas producers more favorable processing terms, positioning the company to recover high levels of NGLs as prices for them continue to rise.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. production of ethane will increase from about 1.25 million barrels per day (b/d) last year to 1.7 million b/d in 2018. The increased ethane produced is forecast to be consumed by the U.S. petrochemical industry and exported to other countries.

EagleClaw Midstream Ventures, LLC is headquartered in Midland, Texas, and develops midstream infrastructure opportunities in the Permian Basin of West Texas. EagleClaw provides natural gas and crude oil producers with a wide array of midstream services including gathering, compression, treating, processing and transportation.

Honeywell UOP (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. Honeywell UOP is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com), a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom.

JOHANNESBURG, – Honeywell (NYSE: HON) Process Solutions (HPS) today announced a five year agreement to provide comprehensive services and support for the control systems of the world’s largest coal-to-liquids (CTL) plant through its new Assurance 360 Services program.

HPS will support Sasol’s synthetic fuels and chemicals complex in Secunda, South Africa, providing diagnostic system monitoring, automated incident management, technical assistance, parts management, site-based support and ongoing system upgrades for the facility.

The Secunda facility converts coal into synthetic crude oil to produce fuels and a broad range of chemicals. It is one of the largest users of Honeywell automation technologies, which are used to control and monitor operations.

“Assurance 360 is a game-changer for services support in the industrial processing industry,” said John Rudolph, vice president of Honeywell Process Solutions. “Performance metrics are defined at the beginning of the program and the results directly impact the contract. In essence, the plant’s success is our success. Assurance 360 will give Sasol peace of mind knowing that its critical control systems will not only be maintained as with traditional service agreements, but also keep them updated and supported.”

Honeywell’s Assurance 360 services are multi-year cooperative service arrangements to maintain, support and optimize the performance of Honeywell control systems regardless of the industry or size of operations. These services transform how plant assets are managed, focusing on system performance and outcomes while allowing users to focus on operations. Honeywell performance specialists help reduce unplanned events, resolve problems faster, and improve performance to help create a more efficient plant. Industrial customers, such as Sasol’s Secunda plant, are able to customize the level of service they need or want, based on their requirements.

HPS has provided process automation technology and field equipment to many of Sasol’s facilities for more than 35 years, including the initial installations at the then Sasol II and Sasol III complexes in Secunda, South Africa.

In addition to HPS technologies, Honeywell’s UOP, which licenses technology to the refining, petrochemicals, gas processing and major manufacturing industries, has supplied technology and ongoing support to Sasol Synfuels since 1980. Sasol has licensed a number of technologies, including the UOP Benfield™ process to treat syngas, and the UOP CCR Platforming™ process to produce high-octane gasoline blending components.

Assurance 360 is an innovative approach to service management that offers two levels of support to meet different user needs:
Assurance 360 Optima offers dedicated resources for preventive and corrective maintenance, replacement parts in the event of a failure, system updates, cyber security tools and servers, and pre-defined risk sharing if the site experiences either a loss of control or loss of view due to covered system failures.

Assurance 360 Performa provides oversight on all aspects of system management with a focus on meeting or exceeding performance metrics through visualization, planning and targeted support when needed. Honeywell performance experts help and guide site personnel in preventive and corrective maintenance tasks as well as hardware and software upgrades.

Honeywell Process Solutions (www.honeywellprocess.com) is a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas; refining; pulp and paper; industrial power generation; chemicals and petrochemicals; biofuels; life sciences; and metals, minerals and mining industries. Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes UOP, a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.

DES PLAINES, Ill., — UOP LLC, a Honeywell (NYSE: HON) company, announced today that its licensee, China’s Wison (Nanjing) Clean Energy Co. Ltd., has produced more than 360 million pounds of light olefins at a plant in Nanjing, China, using UOP’s breakthrough methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process technology.

The plant, the first commercial-scale facility to use the UOP/Hydro MTO process technology, has been operating since September 2013 and is successfully meeting expectations for the quality and quantity of light olefins, as well as other performance criteria.

“MTO technology allows countries and regions that are rich in coal or natural gas to cost-effectively and efficiently convert those resources into high yields of valuable petrochemicals to meet growing world demand,” said Pete Piotrowski, senior vice president and general manager of Honeywell’s UOP Process Technology and Equipment business unit. “Our technology offers the lowest operating cost, quick and efficient start-up, and operational reliability. Wison is the first of four manufacturers that have licensed UOP MTO technology, and we continue to see great interest in this technology in China and elsewhere.”

The Wison facility is using UOP’s Advanced MTO process that combines the UOP/Hydro MTO process and the Total/UOP Olefin Cracking process. The combination significantly increases yields and feedstock efficiency. The process converts methanol, which can be derived from low-cost raw materials such as coal or natural gas, into ethylene and propylene. Based on proprietary UOP catalysts, the Advanced MTO process provides high yields with low operating costs. MTO also offers flexibility in the ratio of propylene to ethylene produced, so operators can adjust plant operations to most effectively address market demands.

The Wison plant, designed by Wison Engineering, the largest private sector chemical engineering, procurement and construction management (EPC) service provider in China, has an annual production capacity of 300,000 metric tons per year of ethylene and propylene. UOP provided technology licenses, basic engineering, catalysts, adsorbents, specialty equipment, and technical services for the plant.

“This new production facility is an important milestone for the technology, Wison and China, facilitating the coal-to-chemical industry development roadmap in China,” said Liu Haijun, senior vice president and executive director of Wison Engineering. “The close cooperation between Wison Engineering and UOP on the technological front has pushed forward the development of MTO technology and the upgrading of the modern coal-to-chemicals industry.”

The UOP/Hydro MTO process technology was successfully demonstrated in a semi-commercial-scale unit built and operated by Ineos (then Norsk-Hydro). The Total-UOP OCP process technology was developed jointly by UOP and Total Petrochemicals and demonstrated in an integrated MTO-OCP semi-commercial-scale unit built and operated by Total in Feluy, Belgium.

Since 2011, UOP has announced four licenses for MTO technology in China. Shandong Yangmei Hengtong Chemicals Co. Ltd., expected to start up later this year, will use the technology to produce 295,000 metric tons per year of ethylene and propylene, and Jiutai Energy (Zhungeer) Co., expected to start up in 2015, will use it to produce 600,000 metric tons per year of ethylene and propylene.

Jiangsu Sailboat Petrochemical Chemicals is also building what is expected to be the largest single-train MTO unit in the world, producing 833,000 metric tons of ethylene and propylene per year.

UOP LLC (www.uop.com) is a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries. UOP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc. and is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell Process Solutions, a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation and services for the oil and gas, refining, petrochemical, chemical and other industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide with aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes and industry; turbochargers; and performance materials. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell’s shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywellnow.com.