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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

PURCHASE, N.Y., Aug. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Today, PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) announced its ambition to become “Net Water Positive” by 2030, aiming to replenish more water than the company uses, which would place it among the most water-efficient food or beverage manufacturers operating in high-risk watersheds.

With safe water access a critical component of the holistic water stewardship agenda, The PepsiCo Foundation is also launching a new $1 million program with leading NGO and long-term partner, WaterAid to bring safe water to families in Sub-Saharan Africa – expanding its 15-year, more than $53 million safe water access initiative that reaches over 20 countries and has helped more than 59 million people since 2006.

“Time is running out for the world to act on water. Water is not only a critical component of our food system, it is a fundamental human right – and the lack of safe, clean water around the world is one of the most pressing issues facing our global community today,” said Jim Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer at PepsiCo. “Water scarcity is directly linked to the climate crisis, and at PepsiCo we believe a global effort to be ‘net water positive’ is essential. We’re focused not only on making sure people around the world have access to this vital resource, but ensuring that we are also prioritizing water stewardship in our operations everywhere.”

Bold new goals will guide tangible operational action towards PepsiCo’s “Net Water Positive” ambition to reduce absolute water use and replenish back into the local watershed more than 100% of the water used at company-owned and third-party sites in high-water-risk areas.

Reduction efficiencies are to be met through the adoption of operational best-in-class or world-class water-use-efficiency standards[1] covering more than 1,000 company-owned and third-party facilities, with nearly half located in high-risk watersheds. Raising the efficiency standard at company-owned sites in high-risk watersheds alone will allow PepsiCo to avoid using more than 11 billion liters of water a year,[2] a 50% reduction[3] in the amount of water the company uses at these sites[4]. PepsiCo also aims to adopt the Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard[5] in all high-water risk areas where it operates by 2025.

Additionally, PepsiCo’s holistic “Net Water Positive” vision looks to deliver safe water access to 100 million people by 2030.

The PepsiCo Foundation’s new investment with WaterAid is focused on Sub-Saharan Africa and will help improve water infrastructure, build new water supply systems and equitable sanitation facilities, and promote hygiene education. It will also empower women and girls to become water, sanitation and hygiene stewards in their communities by providing them with the funding and training to maintain water access points and sanitation facilities for years to come.

This new program comes at a critical time as the COVID-19 Delta variant spreads worldwide, posing a particular risk to water-stressed communities. Many nations, like those in Sub-Saharan Africa, lack the water infrastructure or supply to prevent and treat illnesses – for instance, nearly 70% of homes in the region don’t have places for families to wash their hands with soap and water. Given the importance of handwashing and sanitizing to combat the pandemic, this leaves communities highly susceptible to spikes in COVID-19. This issue is compounded given the slow pace of vaccine distribution in the region.

“We learned quickly at the onset of the pandemic that handwashing and proper hygiene were critical to slowing its spread, but for millions around the world, access to water remains a luxury. As a result, millions of lives remain in jeopardy and until we address this crisis the region will remain especially susceptible to viruses like COVID-19,” said C.D. Glin, Vice President, Global Head of Philanthropy at PepsiCo. “Not only does this disparity in water access contribute to the severity of the pandemic, but it also affects many other developmental goals of the region, including food production, gender equality, climate resilience and poverty alleviation. We’re proud of our continued partnership with WaterAid to bring this program to the region and are excited to be investing in the water-scarce areas that need this resource most.”

The investment in Sub-Saharan Africa represents an expansion of The PepsiCo Foundation’s long-term work with WaterAid, a leading international organization with over 40 years of experience bringing clean water, sanitation and hygiene to communities worldwide, including active programs in Colombia, India and Pakistan in partnership with The PepsiCo Foundation. This partnership is a cornerstone of The PepsiCo Foundation’s safe water access program, which has generated more than $10 in impact for every $1 invested since 2005 and catalyzed nearly $700 million in additional funding for safe water access investments in partnerships with non-profits worldwide.

“The PepsiCo Foundation is a stalwart partner of WaterAid across three continents,” says Kelly Parsons, CEO, WaterAid America. “They are funding critical programs, providing flexibility to respond to the pandemic, and shouting loudly and clearly about the importance of safe water access for the billions who lack it. We are proud to partner with The PepsiCo Foundation and are committed to doing all we can to support their goal of reaching 100 million people by 2030. Their aspiration helps us reach further and work harder on behalf of those in need.”

For more information on PepsiCo’s sustainability agenda, please see the 2020 Sustainability Report, with media assets available for download at https://pepsi.co/media.

Media Contact: pepsicomediarelations@pepsico.com

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Tropicana, and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales. Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About The PepsiCo Foundation
Established in 1962, The PepsiCo Foundation, the philanthropic arm of PepsiCo, invests in the essential elements of a sustainable food system with a mission to support thriving communities. Working with non-profits and experts around the globe, we’re focused on helping communities obtain access to food security, safe water and economic opportunity. We strive for tangible impact in the places where we live and work—collaborating with industry peers, local and international organizations, and our employees to affect large-scale change on the issues that matter to us and are of global importance. Learn more at www.pepsico.com/sustainability/philanthropy.

About WaterAid
WaterAid is working to make clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene a reality for everyone, everywhere within a generation. WaterAid works in more than 30 countries to change the lives of the poorest and most marginalized people. Since 1981, WaterAid has reached 25.8 million people with clean water and 25.1 million people with decent toilets. www.wateraid.org.

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

BRUSSELS, July 19, 2021 /CNW/ — The leading CEOs of the global wind industry have united to call on G20 members to show leadership in the climate crisis by raising national ambitions and urgently laying out concrete plans for increased wind energy production to replace fossil fuels.

Representing the Global Wind Energy Coalition for COP26, 23 CEOs have sent an open letter to leaders of the G20 acknowledging that while some progress has been made in the energy transition, current net zero pledges from G20 countries still put the world on a 2.4C global warming pathway, well beyond what is needed to avoid the worst impacts of climate change.

Meanwhile, wind energy and renewables installations are currently falling well short of the trajectory needed to meet international climate goals, requiring urgent action to improve energy policies.

“G20 member countries represent more than 80% of global energy-related carbon emissions – so the leaders of these countries hold the power and public duty to transform the world’s energy system,” said GWEC CEO Ben Backwell. “These countries need to get serious about renewables, and in particular wind energy as the clean energy solution with the most potential to help the world meet its Paris Agreement targets.”

The letter is signed by the leaders of the largest wind power companies – including Vestas Wind Systems, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, Orsted, SSE, RWE, and Mainstream Renewable Power, and associations representing the industry in key geographies such as the UK, Brazil, China, Mexico, and South Africa.

The signatories highlight that the recent roadmap from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows that annual wind deployment must quadruple from 93 GW in 2020 to 390 GW in 2030 to meet a net zero by 2050 scenario. Both the IEA and IRENA are aligned in the total wind energy capacity required for a net zero scenario which is compatible with a 1.5°C warming pathway, foreseeing a need for 8,265 GW and 8,100 GW by 2050, respectively.

If current growth rates for wind energy persist, the letter argues that global wind capacity will fall dramatically short of the volumes required for carbon neutrality by 2050, with installation shortfalls of as much as 57% by 2050.

“G20 countries have huge amounts of untapped wind power potential which can fulfil significant portions of national electricity demand, but they are barely scratching the surface of what they can deploy. With the current pace of wind power installations across the world, forecasts show that we will only install less than half of the wind power capacity needed to get to net zero by 2050,” said Rebecca Williams, Director of COP26 at GWEC.

To reach this necessary level of deployment, the open letter calls on G20 nations to:

Raise ambition for wind power at national level.
Implement effective policy and regulatory frameworks for procurement and delivery of renewable energy.
Commit to planification of clean energy infrastructure including grids and transmission.
Agree effective and credible carbon pricing mechanisms.
Align national and regional finance flows with benchmarks for a net 1.5°C-compliant pathway.
Develop cohesive and inclusive policies which dedicate public resource to the shift to a net zero economy.
In the last 20 years, wind energy has demonstrated its ability to increase production exponentially while reducing costs, create millions of skilled jobs and spur large-scale infrastructure investment.

But the letter emphasises that achieving the scale and speed of deployment needed to tap into these benefits and achieve net zero ambitions is unrealistic under the present “business as usual” conditions, and unachievable without decisive and urgent policy change across the G20 countries.

The open letter to the G20 heads of state was also shared with a number of government, energy, finance and institutional leaders, including the leaders of COP26, UNFCCC, IRENA, IEA, IMF, WEF and a number of multilateral development banks.

Annex

– The full list of CEO signatories:

GWEC : Ben Backwell, CEO
RenewableUK: Dan McGrail, Chief Executive
SSE: Alistair Phillips-Davies, CEO
Orsted : Mads Nipper, CEO
Mainstream Renewable Power: Mary Quaney, Group CEO
Vestas Wind Systems: Henrik Andersen, Group President & CEO
Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy: Andreas Nauen, CEO
Bachmann: Bernhard Zangerl, CEO
RES: Ivor Catto, CEO
Aker Offshore Wind: Tove Roskaft, COO
RWE Renewables GmbH: Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, CEO
BayWa r.e. AG: Matthias Taft, CEO
Principle Power: Aaron Smith, Chief Commercial Officer
AMDEE (Mexican Wind Energy Association): Leopoldo Alberto Rodríguez Olivé, President
ABEEolica (Brazil Wind Energy Association): Elbia Gannoum, CEO
SER Colombia (Renewable Energy Association of Colombia): Germán Corredor Avella, CEO
Akselos: Thomas Leurent, CEO
CEA (Argentina Wind Association): René Vaca Guzmán, President
DNV: Ditlev Engel, CEO, Energy Systems
EDPR: Miguel Stilwell d’Andrade, CEO, EDP and EDPR
Glennmont Partners from Nuveen: Joost Bergsma, CEO
South Africa Wind Energy Association: Ntombifuthi Ntuli, CEO
CWEA (Chinese Wind Energy Association): Qin Haiyan, Secretary General
– For an online press kit, including the G20 Letter, statistics on wind energy, photos, quotes and subject matter experts available for interviews, please click here.

About GWEC

GWEC is a member-based organization that represents the entire wind energy sector. The members of GWEC represent over 1,500 companies, organizations and institutions in more than 80 countries, including manufacturers, developers, component suppliers, research institutes, national wind and renewables associations, electricity providers, finance and insurance companies. See https://gwec.net/.

Keep up to date with GWEC and receive the latest data and insights on the global wind industry on Twitter, LinkedIn and by subscribing to the Newsletter, https://gwec.net/newsletter-sign-up/.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1575244/Global_Wind_Energy_Council_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)

CONTACT: GWEC Sofia Russi sofia.russi@gwec.net +32 491 71 74 98

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

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.

DALLAS, April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Dynata, the world’s largest first part data and insights platform, today released Global Consumer Trends: The Green Economy, a global look at emerging economy surrounding green energy and sustainability. The report, part of Dynata’s ongoing Global Consumer Trends research series, also revealed that nearly half of consumers worldwide believe that whoever leads the Green Economy will lead the world.

Using responses more than 11,000 consumers in 11 countries, Dynata’s Global Consumer Trends: The Green Economy sought to uncover attitudes and behaviors toward the Green Economy. At a global level, key findings on the Green Economy include:

Consumer enthusiasm & optimism is high
More than three in four agree green energy is the best energy source to power our modern lifestyles.
Consumers are bullish on both the potential of the Green Economy to spur economic growth (62%) and create more jobs (54%).
Expectations for governments are high, too
Nearly three in four believe governments should prioritize green energy programs and incentivize green economy participation amongst their country’s citizens.
Political parties and candidates should heed this belief; 57% of consumers acknowledge renewable green energy policy positions will influence their vote during elections.
The leading voices of green energy & green economy
Greta Thunberg, the 18-year-old Swedish climate activist, is named as the world’s leading voice in green energy and climate advocacy, picked by 29% of respondents.
Microsoft founder Bill Gates (20%) finished second; US President Joe Biden is the highest global leader at 14% (fourth overall).
“Our Global Consumer Trends report series homes in on the trends driving consumer behaviour, illustrating the changing attitudes and opinions shaping our world every day,” said Gary S. Laben, CEO, Dynata. “The Green Economy, reaching across industries and crossing borders around the world, is one of those trends, and holds enormous promise for the future of our planet, our economies and our daily lives. Our research demonstrates the ways in which it is shaping the economic and lifestyle choices consumers make every day, offering guidance to governments and brands as they create policy, enable participation, and deliver products and messaging around the Green Economy.”

Looking closer at electric/hybrid/fuel-efficient vehicle-related findings:

Almost three in 10 consumers globally have purchased one of these vehicles as part of their Green Economy participation.
If all things were equal – cost, efficiency, fuel/battery availability, comfort features, etc. – consumers report they would be 3x more likely to choose an electric vehicle (63%) vs. one powered by gasoline/petrol (21%).
Concerns over access to charging stations (55% agree with this) and belief that repairs/maintenance for an EV would cost more over time (34%) seem to be holding back consumer choice of electric vehicles.
“Climate change is the single biggest issue of our age and now is the time to focus on sustainable, circular and economically viable business models that benefit the planet, nations, communities and individuals,” said Tom Bird, President, Bureau of International Recycling. “This report highlights just how ready people are when it comes to making greener choices and, more crucially, what will drive – or stop – them making them. The Bureau of International Recycling knows how important transparency is, as we look to share the work recyclers do with the communities that they serve and the positive impact that recycling has on climate change. We support businesses in all their efforts to help educate the general public in order to make green decisions easy ones.”

To access a copy of the Global Consumer Trends: The Green Economy report, visit Dynata’s Global Consumer Trends hub at www.dynata.com/resources/dynata-global-trends-report.

About Dynata
Dynata is the world’s largest first-party data and insights platform. With a reach that encompasses over 62 million consumers and business professionals globally, and an extensive library of individual profile attributes collected through surveys, Dynata is the cornerstone for precise, trustworthy quality data. The company has built innovative data services and solutions around its robust first-party data offering to bring the voice of the customer to the entire marketing continuum – from strategy, innovation, and branding to advertising, measurement, and optimization. Dynata serves nearly 6,000 market research, media and advertising agencies, publishers, consulting and investment firms and corporate customers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Learn more at www.dynata.com.

Global Consumer Trends: The Green Economy Research Methodology
Dynata’s Global Consumer Trends: The Green Economy report surveyed 11,239 consumers across 11 countries – the USA, Canada, UK, France, Spain, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy, China, Japan and Australia – from March 1-8, 2021. Participants were selected across all Dynata’s research panel assets, and the samples quota-controlled to reflect the population on Age, Gender and Region. Given these sample sizes the margin of error (at the 95% confidence level) is +/- 3% at the country level, +/-1% at the total level.

SOURCE Dynata

CONTACT: For more information, contact: Christian T. Potts, Dynata, christian.potts@dynata.com

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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

BEIJING, March 30, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, “Sinopec”) announced its 2020 turnover and other operating income of CNY2.11 trillion (US$321.22 billion) and profit attributable to shareholders of CNY33.1 billion (US$5.04 billion) at its annual performance press conference hosted on March 29 in Beijing via video conferencing.

Taking a leadership position among the world’s major integrated petroleum and petrochemical companies, Zhang Yuzhuo, chairman of Sinopec, announced that Sinopec guarantees to reach carbon emissions peak before China’s goal and strives to achieve carbon neutrality 10 years ahead of China’s target.

Sinopec also released its earnings preannouncement by March 28, with the net profit attributable to shareholders of the parent company in the first quarter of 2021 expected to be CNY16 billion to 18 billion (US$2.43-2.74 billion), getting off to a flying start.

Facing the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, particularly the decline in oil prices and sharp decline in demand, Sinopec’s quick response and proactive actions to coordinate pandemic prevention/control and production/operation propelled the company to achieve exceptional results and promote reform and development of the company at the same time.

“To build a world-leading clean energy chemical enterprise, Sinopec will actively embrace the energy revolution and industrial transformation and firmly implement a pioneering development strategy to form an industrial layout that’s built on energy resources, winged by clean oil products and modern chemical engineering, and supported by the key growth pillars of new energy, new material and new economy,” noted Mr. Zhang.

Accelerating energy transition to build “the largest hydrogen energy company”

Sinopec will make hydrogen energy the main goal of its new energy businesses, making full use of its industry and network advantages to vigorously promote clean fossil energy and scaled operations of clean energy, fully participate in the construction of charging and battery replacement infrastructure networks, and accelerate the development of hydrogen energy.

In the next five years, Sinopec plans to construct 1,000 hydrogen or oil-hydrogen refueling stations and build “China’s largest hydrogen energy company” at the forefront of the industry in promoting business demonstration.

Propelling industrial upgrading to become a comprehensive energy service provider for “oil, gas, hydrogen, electricity and non-oil services”

Sinopec’s new industrial landscape shows a business map of its transformation and upgrading. The company will consolidate its “one foundation” to lay a solid basis for energy resources and effectively increase oil/gas reserves as well as primary energy production capacity, strengthen the “two wings” of improving clean oil quality and modern industrial development, and expand the “three news” – exploring new energy, new material and new economy to achieve the conversion of new and old kinetic energy.

Within the field of new energy, Sinopec will cement its leading advantages in the hydrogen energy sector and accelerate the strategy of building the company as a comprehensive energy service provider for “oil, gas, hydrogen, electricity and non-oil services” and forge a strong and efficient industrial chain.

Promoting technological innovation to speed up the building of a technology pilot company

Sinopec will continue to deepen the reform of its science and technology system, boosting R&D funding to focus more on basic and applied research and strengthen core technology research to achieve quick translation of results and rapid product iteration, enhance independent and original innovation capabilities, cultivate more innovative talents to speed up the building of a technology pilot company and provide strong scientific and technological support for transformation development and industrial upgrading.

Charting a low-carbon course to achieve carbon neutrality 10 years ahead of China’s goal

For the first time, Sinopec has incorporated “cleanliness” into the company’s vision and goals to carry out a green development path to build core competitiveness. Sinopec will step up in substituting natural gas and electricity, vigorously develop green hydrogen production and increase the proportion of low-carbon raw materials to develop a recycling economy and reduce the carbon footprint of products throughout the entire life cycle.

By 2025, Sinopec’s methane emission intensity will be reduced by 50 percent and megaton-level CCUS demonstration projects will be built, as Sinopec develops carbon-neutral forests, carbon-neutral gas stations and other distinctive models to make the new image of Sinopec green and clean.

In the context of China proposing to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality targets by 2060, Sinopec will march towards net zero emissions to ensure reaching peak carbon emissions before the targeted year, and achieve carbon neutrality 10 years in advance, making new contributions in tackling global climate change.

For more information, please visit Sinopec.

SOURCE Sinopec

The fabled Silk Road — the 4,000-mile stretch between China and Western Europe where trade flourished from the second century B.C. to the 14th century — is responsible for one of our favorite and most valuable fruits: the domesticated apple (Malus domestica).

Snack-packing travelers would pick apples at one spot, eat them and toss their cores many miles away. The seeds grew into trees in their new locations, cross-bred with wild species, and created the more than 7,000 varieties of apples that exist today.

Hybridizations with wild species have made the apple genome very complex and difficult to study. A global team of multi-disciplinary researchers — co-led by Zhangium Fei, a scientist at the Boyce Thompson Institute — tackled this problem by applying cutting-edge sequencing technologies and bioinformatics algorithms to assemble complete sets of chromosomes for the domesticated apple and its two main wild progenitors.

The researchers, funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation, discovered that the apple’s unique domestication history has led to untapped sources of genes that could be used for improvements in size, flavor, sweetness and texture.

“Plant breeders could use this detailed information to improve upon traits that matter most to consumers, which today is primarily flavor,” says Fei.

“Perhaps more importantly,” he adds, “the information will help breeders produce apples that are more resistant to stress and disease.”

The research is described in a paper published in Nature Genetics, with authors from BTI, Cornell University, Cornell AgriTech, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

In the current work, the researchers sequenced, assembled and compared the full reference genomes for three species: Gala, the European crabapple and the Central Asian wild apple. The latter two species are the apple’s two main wild progenitors, which together account for about 90% of the domesticated apple’s genome.

The results provide apple breeders with detailed genomic roadmaps that could help them build a better apple.

“This is an excellent example of how advances in DNA sequencing technologies and comparative genomics have revealed the tremendous genetic potential hidden in wild species, and of how breeders have used these resources to develop an economically important and nutritious crop,” says Diane Okamuro, a program director in NSF’s Division of Integrative Organismal Systems.

— NSF Public Affairs, researchnews@nsf.gov

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

PHOENIX (PRWEB)

With 11 compost facilities in five states, Republic Services is doing its part to help divert yard and food waste away from landfills and to contribute to the circular economy.

Yard and food waste currently make up about 30 percent of the municipal solid waste that’s sent to landfills, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. However, by diverting this material to compost facilities, that waste can be recycled into a nutrient-rich soil amendment that helps plants grow.

Republic Services processed 1.7 billion pounds of yard and food waste at its organics facilities last year, creating more than 275,000 tons of compost. This compost is marketed and sold to landscapers, golf courses and farmers, as well as residential customers.

Many of Republic’s composting facilities are technologically advanced, using mechanical aeration to speed up the biological process and reduce odors. The facility at the Otay Landfill in Chula Vista, Calif., is a unique example – it’s completely off the grid, using solar-powered fans and a cover technology that requires little energy consumption and traps odors, dust and emissions. The Otay facility is one of six in California, where there is a greater demand due to legislation mandating the diversion of organic waste from landfills.

“Organics diversion is being debated across the country, and legislation is driving this material out of landfills,” said Chris Seney, director of organics operations. “Organics is an emerging industry with an enormous amount of opportunity, and Republic Services is proud to be taking the lead.”

About Republic Services

Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal. Through its subsidiaries, Republic’s collection companies, transfer stations, recycling centers, landfills and environmental services provide effective solutions to make responsible recycling and waste disposal effortless for its customers across the country. Its 36,000 employees are committed to providing a superior experience while fostering a sustainable Blue Planet® for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer and healthier world. For more information, visit RepublicServices.com, or follow us at Facebook.com/RepublicServices, @RepublicService on Twitter and @republic_services on Instagram.

For the first time in history, NASA astronauts have launched from American soil in a commercially built and operated American crew spacecraft on its way to the International Space Station. The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley lifted off at 3:22 p.m. EDT Saturday on the company’s Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

“Today a new era in human spaceflight begins as we once again launched American astronauts on American rockets from American soil on their way to the International Space Station, our national lab orbiting Earth,” said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. “I thank and congratulate Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, and the SpaceX and NASA teams for this significant achievement for the United States. The launch of this commercial space system designed for humans is a phenomenal demonstration of American excellence and is an important step on our path to expand human exploration to the Moon and Mars.”

Known as NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2, the mission is an end-to-end test flight to validate the SpaceX crew transportation system, including launch, in-orbit, docking and landing operations. This is SpaceX’s second spaceflight test of its Crew Dragon and its first test with astronauts aboard, which will pave the way for its certification for regular crew flights to the station as part of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

“This is a dream come true for me and everyone at SpaceX,” said Elon Musk, chief engineer at SpaceX. “It is the culmination of an incredible amount of work by the SpaceX team, by NASA and by a number of other partners in the process of making this happen. You can look at this as the results of a hundred thousand people roughly when you add up all the suppliers and everyone working incredibly hard to make this day happen.”

The program demonstrates NASA’s commitment to investing in commercial companies through public-private partnerships and builds on the success of American companies, including SpaceX, already delivering cargo to the space station.

“It’s difficult to put into words how proud I am of the people who got us here today,” said Kathy Lueders, NASA’s Commercial Crew Program manager. “When I think about all of the challenges overcome – from design and testing, to paper reviews, to working from home during a pandemic and balancing family demands with this critical mission – I am simply amazed at what the NASA and SpaceX teams have accomplished together. This is just the beginning; I will be watching with great anticipation as Bob and Doug get ready to dock to the space station tomorrow, and through every phase of this historic mission.”

SpaceX controlled the launch of the Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy’s Launch Control Center Firing Room 4, the former space shuttle control room, which SpaceX has leased as its primary launch control center. As Crew Dragon ascended into space, SpaceX commanded the spacecraft from its mission control center in Hawthorne, California. NASA teams are monitoring space station operations throughout the flight from Mission Control Center at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

The SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft is scheduled to dock to the space station at 10:29 a.m. Sunday, May 31. NASA Television and the agency’s website are providing ongoing live coverage of the Crew Dragon’s trip to the orbiting laboratory. Behnken and Hurley will work with SpaceX mission control to verify the spacecraft is performing as intended by testing the environmental control system, the displays and control system, and by maneuvering the thrusters, among other things. The first docking maneuver began Saturday, May 30, at 4:09 p.m., and the spacecraft will begin its close approach to the station at about 8:27 a.m. Sunday, May 31. Crew Dragon is designed to dock autonomously, but the crews onboard the spacecraft and the space station will diligently monitor the performance of the spacecraft as it approaches and docks to the forward port of the station’s Harmony module.

After successfully docking, the crew will be welcomed aboard the International Space Station, where they will become members of the Expedition 63 crew, which currently includes NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy. NASA will continue live coverage through hatch opening and the crew welcoming ceremony. The crew will perform tests on Crew Dragon in addition to conducting research and other tasks with the space station crew.

Three astronauts aboard the International Space Station will participate in a live NASA Television crew news conference from orbit on Monday, June 1, beginning at 11:15 a.m. on NASA TV and the agency’s website.

Behnken is the joint operations commander for the mission, responsible for activities such as rendezvous, docking and undocking, as well as Demo-2 activities while the spacecraft is docked to the space station. He was selected as a NASA astronaut in 2000 and has completed two space shuttle flights. Behnken flew STS-123 in March 2008 and STS-130 in February 2010, performing three spacewalks during each mission. Born in St. Anne, Missouri, he has bachelor’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington University in St. Louis and earned a master’s and doctorate in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Before joining NASA, he was a flight test engineer with the U.S. Air Force.

Hurley is the spacecraft commander for Demo-2, responsible for activities such as launch, landing and recovery. He was selected as an astronaut in 2000 and has completed two spaceflights. Hurley served as pilot and lead robotics operator for both STS‐127 in July 2009 and STS‐135, the final space shuttle mission, in July 2011. The New York native was born in Endicott but considers Apalachin his hometown. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Tulane University in New Orleans and graduated from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in Patuxent River, Maryland. Before joining NASA, he was a fighter pilot and test pilot in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Mission Objectives

The Demo-2 mission is the final major test before NASA’s Commercial Crew Program certifies Crew Dragon for operational, long-duration missions to the space station. As SpaceX’s final flight test, it will validate all aspects of its crew transportation system, including the Crew Dragon spacecraft, spacesuits, Falcon 9 launch vehicle, launch pad 39A and operations capabilities.

While en route to the station, Behnken and Hurley will take control of Crew Dragon for two manual flight tests, demonstrating their ability to control the spacecraft should an issue with the spacecraft’s automated flight arise. On Saturday, May 30, while the spacecraft is coasting, the crew will test its roll, pitch and yaw. When Crew Dragon is about 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) below the station and moving around to the docking axis, the crew will conduct manual in-orbit demonstrations of the control system in the event it were needed. After pausing, rendezvous will resume and mission managers will make a final decision about whether to proceed to docking as Crew Dragon approaches 20 meters (66 feet).

For operational missions, Crew Dragon will be able to launch as many as four crew members at a time and carry more than 220 pounds of cargo, allowing for an increased number crew members aboard the space station and increasing the time dedicated to research in the unique microgravity environment, as well as returning more science back to Earth.

The Crew Dragon being used for this flight test can stay in orbit about 110 days, and the specific mission duration will be determined once on station based on the readiness of the next commercial crew launch. The operational Crew Dragon spacecraft will be capable of staying in orbit for at least 210 days as a NASA requirement.

At the conclusion of the mission, Behnken and Hurley will board Crew Dragon, which will then autonomously undock, depart the space station, and re-enter Earth’s atmosphere. Upon splashdown off Florida’s Atlantic coast, the crew will be picked up by the SpaceX recovery ship and returned to the dock at Cape Canaveral.

NASA’s Commercial Crew Program is working with SpaceX and Boeing to design, build, test and operate safe, reliable and cost-effective human transportation systems to low-Earth orbit. Both companies are focused on test missions, including abort system demonstrations and crew flight tests, ahead of regularly flying crew missions to the space station. Both companies’ crewed flights will be the first times in history NASA has sent astronauts to space on systems owned, built, tested and operated by private companies.

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.

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

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)

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

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.

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.

CINCINNATI–Even in 2019, period myths, miseducation and stigma are limiting Black women from receiving the information about their bodies, and their periods, they deserve. In fact, a new study by Tampax Radiant found 25 percent of African American women who prefer pads said they prefer them because they were not taught how to use tampons. Moreover, 2 in 5 African American women wish they started using tampons sooner in life and 55 percent said additional information on how to properly use a tampon would be useful.

“Unsafe, uncomfortable, only for sexually active women. After talking with women in the Black community across the country, we saw these are some of the common myths associated with tampons,” said Melissa Suk, Tampax Associate Brand Director, at Procter & Gamble. “We found that 42 percent of Black women want to learn more about their periods from African American media and brands. We knew we needed to drive change, but in the right way – with the support of and knowledge from Black women themselves.”

Answering the call to provide information tailored to the community, Tampax Radiant launched #LiveRadiant – a campaign curated for Black women by Black women – and tapped menstrual advocate CeCe Jones-Davis and OB-GYN Dr. Kiarra King to aid in reversing cultural taboos and reinforce the importance of having the right information while encouraging the community to have open and honest dialogue about periods.

“So many women are scared to speak up about their periods, especially if they’ve been managing menstrual related problems for years,” affirmed Dr. Kiarra King, OB-GYN. “It is shocking to see the number of women who come to my practice and either don’t know how to use tampons, or aren’t considering using tampons because of incorrect information or myths they’ve heard. I’m a huge proponent of educating and empowering women so they know their options.”

Tampax Radiant’s commitment to educating and empowering Black women includes the How to #LiveRadiant Playbook, a digital guide that provides step-by-step information on how to use tampons and dispels common myths about periods and period products in the community so nothing, not even her period, can dim her shine. The playbook comes to life with illustrations by color-obsessed visual artist Jade Purple Brown.

“The only way to break down these barriers is to build awareness of the issue and encourage more Black women to learn, talk, write and share info about periods and women’s bodies. I am proud to partner with Tampax Radiant to do just that,” said CeCe Jones-Davis. Through #LiveRadiant, Tampax Radiant is committed to meeting Black women where they are, both online and in person, with a goal of creating safe spaces that remove the limitations that come with not having the right reproductive information.

For the third year in a row, Tampax Radiant will be heading to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the country to provide interactive educational experiences conceptualized and executed by HBCU alumnae. The #LiveRadiant HBCU Tour will be making stops at four HBCU Homecomings, including Florida A&M University (October 5), Texas Southern University (October 12), Clark Atlanta University (October 19), and North Carolina A&T State University (October 26). At each #LiveRadiant HBCU Tour stop, attendees can learn the facts about tampons, ask experts CeCe Jones-Davis and Dr. Kiarra King all the questions they’ve always wanted to know about their body and their period, and pick up a sample of Tampax Radiant. Tampax Radiant will also be extending efforts to 14 additional HBCUs to provide access to period products and tampon education to college students when they need it most.

To learn more about Tampax Radiant and the #LiveRadiant campaign, follow @Tampax on Instagram and Twitter. Tampax Radiant tampons are available in stores across the country and online.

SURVEY METHODOLOGY
MSL conducted 618 interviews of African American women aged 18-35 between August 8-14, 2019 on behalf of Tampax Radiant. The margin of error is +/-3.9% and higher for subgroups.

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