Tag: 3BL

Businesses around the world are facing stringent sustainability targets, from the Paris Agreement[1] – a legally binding international treaty on climate change – to decarbonisation strategies that aim to significantly reduce or eliminate carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas (GHG) from the atmosphere. While it’s often easy to focus on more obvious sustainability initiatives, Scope 3 emissions are also coming increasingly into focus.

Company emissions can be broken down into three different areas, known as ‘scopes’. Scope 1 covers the GHG emissions that a business makes directly, such as running vehicles or boilers. Scope 2 covers the GHG emissions that a business makes indirectly, such as the electricity or energy that it buys to heat its buildings. The organisation uses the energy, but somebody else is producing it.

Scope 3 is where things get a lot more interesting, covering all other GHG emissions that an organisation is indirectly responsible for, both up and down the value chain. This could be something as simple as the emissions produced through suppliers delivering products. Perhaps surprisingly, Scope 3 emissions can account for more than 70% of the value chain’s total emissions[2], reaching up to 100% for some industries[3].

It may seem easier for companies to focus on Scope 1 or 2 emissions, as they’re often within the organisation’s control. They can transition company vehicles to electric, for example, cutting down on direct GHG emissions, or reduce electricity consumption within the business. Tackling Scope 3 emissions can seem like a more daunting task, as it covers emissions that are outside the organisation’s control.

If businesses want to reach net-zero and contribute to limiting the planet’s temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as per the Paris Agreement, it’s critical that they get to grips with and reduce their Scope 3 emissions. After all, there’s a good chance that Scope 3 emissions contribute towards the largest proportion of the organisation’s total carbon footprint.

How technology partners can make a difference

As part of a value chain that may include hundreds of different companies, there are naturally a huge number of ways to reduce Scope 3 emissions. It’s important to start somewhere, so why not begin with your technology provider.

After all, you’ll be purchasing IT equipment as part of your regular business operations and buying more energy-efficient technology from a sustainability-conscious tech provider can help you to manage emissions across the value chain.

Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service is a great example of how you can reduce Scope 3 emissions, giving you the option to ship newly purchased IT devices via airfreight with a lower carbon impact. This is made possible thanks to Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) credits and the ability to allocate them to new IT purchases. You can report the resulting CO2 emissions reduction from airfreight against your own Scope 3 emissions.

SAF is typically produced from renewable sourced waste and residue raw materials, such as used cooking oil, rendered fats and greases. It is then converted into fuel that can power aircraft.

According to Transport and Environment, emissions from aviation have been growing faster than any other mode of transport and have more than doubled between 1990 and 2019. If unmitigated, aviation emissions could more than double again (compared to 2019) by 2050, consuming more than 10% of the remaining carbon budget[4] to stay below 1.5°C of warming[5].

Sustainable Aviation Fuel has huge potential to reduce CO2 emissions from airfreight transportation and help businesses to mitigate emissions. The use of SAF presents an ideal opportunity for companies to reduce Scope 3 emissions, with the potential to cut emissions across their lifecycle by 70% or more compared to conventional fossil jet fuel*. While the mode of transportation for new technology may seem like a small thing to consider, it’s steps such as these that will help organisations to meet stringent sustainability targets.

Focusing on all aspects of the value chain

Solutions such as Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Service can make a huge difference when it comes to promoting tangible climate action. Not only will a reduction in Scope 3 emissions help organisations on their journey towards realising their sustainability targets and net-zero ambitions, a more sustainable approach to business will also help to attract the next generation of employees.

The WEF points out that 51% of US business students would accept lower pay if a company is environmentally responsible[6], highlighting the importance of sustainable business practices. Of course, there are plenty of other ways that businesses can reduce their emissions and waste. Solutions such as Lenovo’s Asset Recovery Services help organisations to recycle IT assets in an environmentally conscious way, reuse parts and refurbish devices, and Lenovo’s CO2 Offset Service helps customers drive additional impact by offsetting emissions across the average lifecycle of their IT devices and support climate action projects verified by United Nations, Gold Standard®, and Climate Action Reserve.

Whatever route businesses take when it comes to sustainability, it’s clear that there’s a need to consider emissions across the entire value chain. Scope 3 emissions are every bit as important as Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, and while tackling the emissions of suppliers or other partners may seem like a daunting task, solutions such as Lenovo’s Reduced Carbon Transport Services can make a big difference.

[1] https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement

[2] https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/blog/closing-the-scope-3-ghg-emissions-data-gap-2/

[3] https://www.terrascope.com/blog/overcoming-challenges-in-understanding-and-quantifying-scope-3-emissions-for-large-enterprises

[4] https://globalcarbonbudget.org/

[5] https://www.transportenvironment.org/challenges/planes/airplane-pollution

[6] World Economic Forum, “Why sustainability is crucial for corporate strategy,” June 2022

* Approximate percentage LCA GHG reduction versus fossil jet based on feedstock used in SAF such as waste and residue lipids, oilseed bearing trees on low-ILUC degraded land or as a rotational oil cover crops. Indirect CO2 emissions reduction benefit is obtained through the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits. Lower carbon claim is based upon the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel credits and the resulting emissions reductions when compared to logistic service using conventional jet fuel.

Factors that fall under the umbrellas of both EHS and ESG are vital considerations for organizations undergoing mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

A Deloitte report revealed that nearly 70% of M&A professionals surveyed consider ESG (environmental, social, and governance) factors to be of “high strategic importance” in their decision-making processes. Additionally, EHS (environmental, health, and safety)  considerations are becoming crucial due to legal and financial risks associated with non-compliance.

Still, these high-risk factors may be overlooked during the M&A process for reasons ranging from inadequate frameworks to data availability and quality. Fortunately, new advancements in AI and machine learning are making it easier to discover, gather, and process relevant data.

Let’s explore how the mergers and acquisitions field is employing AI solutions to meet the demands of EHS and ESG due diligence, and how this explosive technology will change the work of M&A in the near future.

How AI Is Used in M&A?
AI use in the field of M&A is not as widespread as other sectors – yet. A report by Bain found that only 16% of M&A professionals are employing generative AI today. However, within three years that number is expected to reach 80%. According to the report, “the early adopters are primarily in technology, healthcare, and finance, and they tend to be larger companies with moderate M&A activity of three to five deals per year.”

M&A professionals reported a significant reduction in manual effort, with a downstream impact of accelerated timelines and reduced costs.

But AI technology encompasses more than just generative AI. Here are some examples of how AI can improve the integration of EHS and ESG considerations in M&A.

Due diligence
AI tools significantly streamline the EHS and ESG due diligence process by automating the review of large datasets. These tools can swiftly identify potential issues, such as non-compliance with environmental laws, safety violations, or lapses in governance. AI-driven natural language processing (NLP) technologies can analyze unstructured data from various documents, including sustainability reports, safety records, and regulatory filings.

Strategy and target identification
Companies can leverage AI to analyze vast amounts of data related to market trends, financial health, and operational efficiencies of potential targets. This analysis includes a deep dive into ESG and EHS metrics, ensuring that targets not only align with financial goals but also adhere to environmental, social, and governance standards. AI’s predictive capabilities enable firms to forecast future market developments and assess how well a target would integrate within the existing business structure.

Risk identification and modeling
Predictive risk modeling and scenario analysis AI models can analyze historical data to forecast future risks, such as the likelihood of a company’s non-compliance with environmental regulations based on past issues, and estimate the potential impact on regulatory fines or remediation costs. Additionally, AI can simulate various scenarios to evaluate how environmental factors or regulatory changes might affect the merger.

Post-merger integration
Following a merger, AI plays a vital role by facilitating the seamless integration of systems, processes, and cultures. AI algorithms can suggest the best approaches to merging IT systems and databases, reducing downtime and minimizing disruptions to business operations. These tools can also be employed to monitor the integration’s progress in real time, enabling managers to promptly address any issues that may arise.

Challenges and Limitations of AI in Mergers and Acquisitions
While AI offers numerous advantages in the M&A process, it also introduces specific challenges that organizations must navigate carefully to fully leverage its potential.

Data privacy
One of the foremost concerns when implementing AI in M&A is data privacy. As AI systems require access to a vast array of sensitive information to perform effectively, there is an inherent risk of data breaches or unauthorized access. This risk is compounded by the complex legal frameworks surrounding data protection, which vary significantly across different jurisdictions. Companies must ensure that their AI systems comply with all applicable laws, such as the GDPR in Europe, which mandates strict guidelines on data handling and consumer privacy.

Potential biases
AI systems are only as unbiased as the data they are trained on. This presents a challenge in M&A activities, where biased historical data can lead to skewed analyses and decisions. For instance, if an AI system is used to evaluate potential acquisition targets but is trained on data that reflects historical prejudices or incomplete information, it may inadvertently favor or exclude certain opportunities. This can result in poor investment decisions and potential misses in strategic alignment.

Regulatory hurdles
Navigating global regulations presents another significant challenge when integrating AI into M&A. The use of AI can trigger scrutiny under various regulatory standards, particularly concerning antitrust laws, where the use of algorithms in decision-making processes must be transparent and justifiable.

Industries such as healthcare or finance face stricter regulations regarding AI applications, posing additional compliance challenges. Companies must stay informed of current and emerging regulations to ensure their AI use does not result in unintentional violations.

Future Trends in AI Technologies for M&A
Emerging AI technologies are poised to make even more significant impacts on M&A strategies.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)
NLP technology is particularly useful in the M&A field due to its ability to analyze and interpret vast amounts of unstructured data quickly. As M&A activities often involve the review of complex documents such as contracts, legal filings, and due diligence reports, NLP can automate and expedite these tasks with high accuracy. Future applications of NLP could include more sophisticated sentiment analysis to gauge public perception and employee sentiment regarding potential and completed mergers, or to derive insights from financial reports.

Augmented decision support
Augmented decision support systems combine AI with traditional decision-making processes. These systems provide data-driven insights and predictive analytics, offering scenario planning tools that help strategists visualize the outcomes of various M&A strategies under different market conditions. In the future, augmented decision support could incorporate real-time data streams, allowing M&A teams to adjust their strategies dynamically as market conditions change.

What’s Next for AI in M&A
As AI technologies continue to advance, they will likely become more integral to the M&A process, providing companies with a competitive edge in identifying, evaluating, and integrating acquisition targets. This evolution will also enhance the integration of ESG and EHS considerations into M&A strategies, helping organizations undergo more financially, environmentally, and socially beneficial mergers and acquisitions.

Learn more about how Inogen Alliance can assist with your M&A needs

Inogen Alliance is a global network made up of dozens of independent local businesses and over 6,000 consultants around the world who can help make your project a success. Our Associates collaborate closely to serve multinational corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations, and we share knowledge and industry experience to provide the highest quality service to our clients. If you want to learn more about how you can work with Inogen Alliance, you can explore our Associates or Contact Us. Watch for more News & Blog updates here and follow us on LinkedIn.

May 13, 2024 /3BL/ – To set the stage for the forensic discussion, the presentation will briefly explore the characteristics of what defines an emerging contaminant and provide the current regulatory status of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), microplastics, produced water, and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs).

The presenters will discuss how the development of cutting-edge forensic techniques and methods around these emerging contaminants can be utilized to mitigate risk to the insurance industry. These advancements are crucial in assessing both historical and emerging environmental liabilities, providing comprehensive insights for effective environmental stewardship, risk management, and site remediation.

Join us Wednesday, May 29th at 1pm ET for our webinar, Advanced Environmental Forensics in Emerging Contaminant Detection and Site Remediation.

We hope to see you there!

Register Here!

By Kimberly Lewis Inkumsah and Jason Hartke, Ph.D.

As we close out a sunny week in southern California, the energy is electric.

The 2024 WELL Conference featured a rich array of sessions, from envisioning the next frontier of healthy buildings to amplifying the importance of diversity in shaping healthier spaces. Roundtables provided the opportunity to zero-in on industry trends, from sustainable finance to measuring health impact. And a unique-project type panel profiled SFO’s Harvey Milk Terminal B, the Petinelli Curitiba, a hospital that provides cost-free care to 80% of patients, as well as a manufacturing facility–all of which earned WELL Certification.

“What an incredible journey it’s been! Over the past three days, the WELL community harnessed the immense power of people-to-people, face-to-face connection while engaging in remarkable content,” said Kimberly Lewis Inkumsah, Executive Vice President of Equity, Engagement, and Events at IWBI. “From championing equity and inclusivity in design to exploring AI’s influence across industries, attendees are now able to weave well-being into their lives in new ways. And we’re not done yet–I can’t wait for what the rest of our WELL 2024 | RECHARGE series holds!”

Read on:

Public Health Icons Take Center Stage
Dr. Richard Carmona, 17th Surgeon General of the United States, Dr. Michelle Williams of Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Kenneth Mendez of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, and Dr. Esther Sternberg, author of Well at Work, brought awe and inspiration as icons of public health, demonstrating evidence to action. The panel was punctuated with the unveiling and signing of IWBI’s International Healthy Building Accord—a global call to action outlining the imperative for healthy buildings, key focus areas and strategic policy actions necessary to accelerate healthy buildings worldwide.

“In the role of Surgeon General, we would issue a call to action when the nation’s health, well-being or safety was at risk. This is a similar situation and precisely why we are uniting under the banner of the International Healthy Building Accord, a global call to action urging the world’s leaders to take key policy actions to accelerate change,” said Dr. Richard Carmona, the 17th Surgeon General of the United States. “And considering we spend 90% of our lives indoors, it is imperative that our buildings protect, support and enhance our health, such as providing clean air to breathe and clean water to drink.”

Smart Buildings: Balancing Health and Innovation
At another MainStage session, pioneering leaders of the healthy building movement explored just how “smart” buildings can be and how that intelligence can be aimed at supporting healthy, more resilient and more sustainable buildings. From discussing the trajectory to net zero and fostering climate resilience to exploring transformative solutions at the intersection of health and decarbonization, the spotlight on the future of high-performance buildings was shining bright. Our own Rachel Hodgdon led the lively conversation with Eran Chen of ODA, Emily Watkins of the Instant Group, George R. Oliver of Johnson Controls International and Rick Fedrizzi, IWBI Executive Chairman.

Oliver, CEO and Chairman of Johnson Controls, shared the need for buildings to become more strategic: they have been historically viewed as part of the balance sheet, the time is now to change that.

Chen, Founder of ODA, spoke about his approach to design, including how he strives to integrate the indoors and outdoors to improve health outcomes.

There was talk of healthy workplaces–once considered a nice-to-have, healthy workplaces have become a must-have in real estate, especially in coworking and flexible workspaces. And evidence-based health interventions help support workplace satisfaction, comfort and productivity, while also helping organizations better attract and retain talent. Which is why IWBI and The Instant Group, the largest global marketplace for flexible workspace, of which Watkins serves as Chief Client Officer, recently formed a strategic partnership to spur health and well-being practices in coworking and flexible workspaces.

The partnership will encompass a range of joint efforts aimed at elevating health, including opportunities to advance innovative solutions to better support people-first spaces.

Design and the Future of the Human Experience
We were on the edge of our seats as Cheryl Durst of IIDA, Maya Bird-Murphy, of Mobile Makers, Gabrielle Bullock of Perkins&Will and Yiselle Santos Rivera of HKS shared emerging trends in creating spaces that promote both physical well-being and inclusivity. The critical role design plays in fostering belonging, justice, equity and inclusion was the focal point.

The all-women panel shared their personal definitions of human health and wellness, citing psychological safety and a sense of belonging to the ethos of architects, historically rooted in health, safety and welfare. An environment that provided the ability to thrive was a must for all.

Gabrielle Bullock reminded us that true equity in design transcends the conventional. It’s about crafting environments that authentically reflect the diverse identities of those who inhabit them. “Equity isn’t just a wellness room and gender-neutral bathrooms,” she emphasized. “It’s about designing spaces that resonate with everyone’s unique identity in the workplace.”

And from the upcoming “clash of generations,” to intergenerational living, there was palpable excitement about changing challenges into opportunities through transformative design centered around people and shared values.

As Durst put it: “Design is about what is on the receiving end. At the receiving end of design is human beings.”

And during the Design for Inclusion and Belonging roundtable, Durst also spoke to the need to design for the “the longevity revolution,” per the UN, how by 2050, the number of people reaching age 100 is increasing to 4 million. This is compounded by the fact that age is also psychological, and sedentary lifestyles invite such effects as back pain at younger and younger ages, when we’re expected to live longer and longer.

Equity Driving Impact
“Equity is fundamental to the work that we are doing no matter who we are. It is fundamental to justice, well-being and building a sense of trust for the shared future,” said Stephen Huddart, Adjunct Professor, University of Victoria.

What shapes who we are and can become? Thanks to Cindy Blackstock of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society, Dr. Courtney Howard of the Global Climate and Health Alliance and Stephen Huddart of the University of Victoria, we further know that embracing equity leads to meaningful and lasting impact, fostering a more inclusive and just society for all. The panel explored the deep vulnerabilities of the youngest generations in indigenous Canadian cultures, including the stark inequities they have faced, and how the work of courageous advocates who came together to beat the odds to create lasting change. Feeling connected to land, to structures, is a critical piece in supporting equitable solutions, and ensuring that land contributes to well-being.

As Dr. Howard shared, “Buildings are a gift to the next generation, if we do them well.”

In the Yellowknife region of Canada, there was a near 3-month bout of wildfire smoke, the worst on earth. Clean air shelters were one opportunity to enhance equity in the community–but the standards set for clean air shelters were set at a different time.

And hear from Cindy Blackstock on the underpinning of being a true advocate for equity, and implementing solutions: https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/recharging-minds-and-missions-takeaways-from-the-2024-well-conference/ 

Inspiring PechaKucha Storytelling
Eight visionaries who represent all walks of life–from the wellness space and real estate to tech experts, Olympians and business owners–brought the house down with stories of courage, innovation and heart, all centered on health and well-being. In PechaKucha-style, each storyteller told their tale using: 20 slides with 20 seconds per slide, for a 7-minute story.

The stories featured pioneers, investors, parents, innovators, Olympians, Olympian parents–specifically the first-ever mom to win a gold medal in swimming. Our storytellers got real, discussing health challenges, work challenges and life challenges. There was a connection throughout each story, as the critical link of health and well-being won the day–something relatable and inspiring for everyone in the audience.

“I realized I needed to develop self worth not linked to performance. I thought winning a gold medal and breaking a world record would make me feel like enough, but it didn’t.” – Dana Vollmer-Grant, Assoc AIA, WELL AP, CBSM, 5x Olympic Gold Medalist, Associate, Programming Specialist, ELS Architecture and Urban Design

Wellness as a First Line of Defense, with WELL for residential on the Horizon
It was a privilege to have the Honorable Brendan Owens, Chief Sustainability Officer for the Department of Defense, on the MainStage. Responsible for more than 500,000 military buildings across the world — from housing to aircraft hangars, from the Pentagon to training campuses — Mr. Owens highlighted scores of agency priorities, as well as the role of buildings in keeping U.S. armed forces at the top of their game.

Owens also shared that the Department of Defense is a part of the WELL for residential pilot, which will provide technical credibility to underpin decisions the agency is making to form policy for its properties.

IWBI’s Rachel Hodgdon celebrates Caplow Manzano’s achievement of the WELL for residential designation for its CM1 project in Miami. The project was recently featured on the front page of the Miami Herald. Caplow Manzano was one of the 25 pilot participants of the WELL for residential program, a new roadmap in the WELL ecosystem for architects, designers, builders, developers and operators to create healthier, more resilient homes.

The WELL Conference, a recharge moment for the mission, left an indelible mark on attendees near and far, sparking ideas and initiatives that will continue to propel the healthy building movement forward–because we all benefit when we come together to advance people-first places.

The fun isn’t over: check out our global series and join a WELL Recharge local summit.

View original content here.

The City of Angels (Los Angeles) welcomes millions of visitors each year and is an important market for FedEx in the United States. In a continued effort to drive career and leadership training for the next generation, FedEx recently hosted a group of FedEx-HBCU student ambassadors in Los Angeles for a career immersion experience.

From witnessing a special delivery of horses by FedEx plane to participating in a boardroom style meeting with FedEx leadership to gain career advice, student ambassadors experienced empowerment, engagement, and education, which are three main components of the FedEx program. Student ambassadors also toured FedEx operations at the Los Angeles International Airport, and received an opportunity of a lifetime attending the 55th annual NAACP Image Awards, an organization and event FedEx sponsors.

“I believe this trip may have opened more doors for me than I could have anticipated. I will forever be grateful for this opportunity,” said Keith Jordan, Lane College (Jackson, TN).

The FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program launched in 2022 as part of a five-year commitment to eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country. The initiative is part of a more than 20-year collaboration between FedEx and HBCUs. The program helps prepare HBCU students for the workforce after college, engaging students in unique learning experiences that help build leadership and career-ready skills.

HBCUs participating in the FedEx-HBCU Student Ambassador Program include: 

Jackson State University (Jackson, Miss.)  Tennessee State University (Nashville, Tenn.)  LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis, Tenn.)  Mississippi Valley State University (Itta Bena, Miss.)  Lane College (Jackson, Tenn.)  Paul Quinn College (Dallas, Texas)  Miles College (Fairfield, Ala.)  Fayetteville State University (Fayetteville, N.C.)   

To learn more about the program and FedEx support of HBCUs visit the FedEx HBCU report here.

By Dana Obrist

In recognition of Earth Day, Regions is sharing a series of articles that highlight how teams and associates across the bank are contributing to our commitment to operate in environmentally sound ways that make life better for all.

We’ve all heard that carbon dioxide (or CO2) in the environment is cited as a contributing factor to climate change – a topic that has been making headlines around the world for decades.

A lesser-known topic is one of the solutions positioned to reduce the effects of climate change and provide opportunity for large landowners: carbon sequestration.

What is Carbon Sequestration?

Carbon sequestration is the process of capture, removal and storage of carbon dioxide from the earth’s atmosphere. It has been recognized as a key method for removing excess CO2 from the environment. By capturing carbon at the industrial emission source before it enters the atmosphere, the process often referred to as carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) leverages a suite of technologies enabling the mitigation of CO2 emissions.

Carbon sequestration is yet another way for our clients to put their land to work for them by creating an additional revenue stream with possibly less impact to the surface of their land than more traditional oil and gas exploration.

Joseph Collier, Regions Natural Resources and Real Estate group mineral manager

Collier has been a mineral manager with Regions for 16 years. He and his team are at the forefront of the bank’s work with trust, agency and consulting clients seeking to better understand carbon sequestration and opportunities on their land.

Delivering Industry Knowledge

“As mineral managers, we negotiate oil and gas leases for clients in an effort to achieve top market prices for lease bonus payments and royalty percentages, as well as ensuring that the leases include provisions to protect the client’s land and mineral right,” said Collier.

Collier and his team leverage their experience in the oil and gas industry by applying the same principals and skillset to negotiating CCUS contracts for clients.

“We based our contracts and the structure of monetary compensation on the same principals used in drafting and negotiating oil and gas contracts,” Collier noted.

Regions entered this space in 2021, closing the first deal in late 2022. That project could see its first carbon injection as soon as 2027.

“It takes time – up to several years – to obtain permitting and get everything in place to begin the carbon injection process,” noted Collier. “From a financial perspective, we’re able to structure annual rental payments until the injection process begins, then defining the amounts of payments going forward based on volume of CO2 injected.”

The interest has grown significantly, and the team is currently working across the wealth management and commercial banking sectors to help connect landowners and business operators to reap the benefits of carbon sequestration.

Carbon Capture Gaining Traction on the Gulf Coast

Louisiana State University is getting in on the action around carbon capture. The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded nearly $5 million to an LSU-led consortium to study the feasibility of building a carbon capture hub in Louisiana.

The school began offering a first-of-its-kind concentration in carbon capture, utilization and storage through its Craft and Hawkins Department of Petroleum Engineering in the fall of 2022.

“This is a new industry that is seeing a lot of traction on the Gulf Coast in recent years,” said Stephanie Coln, Private Wealth Management leader for Regions in Louisiana, who recently worked with a client who owns several large tracts of land. “Through our extensive networks, we had a company very interested in the carbon capture process and were able to negotiate financial terms benefitting both the client and the company.”

An ideal location for carbon sequestration is large, contiguous acreage, typically 2,000-plus, within close proximately to CO2 emitters or existing CO2 pipelines. It’s also beneficial if little or no existing active oil and gas wells or leases are present.

“With these projects, the client retains full control over the decision making throughout the process,” noted Collier, adding that Regions’ role is to market the client’s land to CCUS operators and negotiate all terms and provisions of CCUS contracts.

Carbon Sequestration: Exploring the Tax Benefits

There is a tax benefit to carbon sequestration, as well.

The U.S. federal government provides tax credits to taxpayers that capture carbon dioxide in qualified processes, in accordance with rules laid out in Section 45Q of the Internal Revenue Code.

The 45Q tax credit has been expanded a number of times since it was initially established in 2008, with the primary purpose to incentivize investment in carbon capture, utilization and storage projects. In 2020 and early 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS published guidance that addressed several open questions about how the credit works, providing additional confidence for investment in CCUS.

This information is general in nature and is not intended to be legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and irs.gov for current tax rules. The purchase of an insurance product through Regions Bank or any of its affiliates is completely optional. Regions Bank may not condition an extension of credit or the provision of other services on either: 1) the purchase of an insurance product through Regions Bank or any of its affiliates, or 2) an agreement not to obtain or a prohibition on obtaining, an insurance product from an entity not affiliated with Regions Bank.

Regions provides links to other websites merely and strictly for your convenience. Linked websites are operated or controlled by a third party that is unaffiliated with Regions. The privacy policies and security at the linked website may differ from Regions privacy and security policies and procedures. You should consult privacy disclosures at the linked website for further information.

Trust and investment management services are offered through Regions Private Wealth Management, a business unit of Regions Bank. Investment advisory services are offered through Regions Investment Management, Inc. “RIM”. RIM is a Registered Investment Adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Bank, which in turn, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Regions Financial Corporation.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 13, 2024 /3BL/ – Global edtech leader Discovery Education and a selection of corporate partners recently released an array of new, free dynamic digital resources that nurture student curiosity and support student achievement.

The newly launched resources are designed to help educators keep students engaged in learning as they approach the end of the school year by connecting classroom learning to the real-world. The new content available includes:

Virtual Field Trips

The Innovators for Impact Virtual Field Trip from STEM Forward, a program with Panasonic and Olympian & Presidential Medal of Freedom award winner Katie Ledecky, is designed to help educators inspire student innovation in STEM. Travel virtually to Japan with Katie Ledecky to meet and interact with Panasonic STEM specialists who are exploring innovative ways of living and working today, and in the future. A 3-time Olympian, 7-time Olympic Gold Medalist (10-time Olympic Medalist), and 21-time World Champion, Katie is a proud STEM advocate.The Game Plan for the Future: A Virtual Field Trip with the NBA for students in grades 3-8 showcases how STEM concepts are helping the NBA think about sustainability in its arenas and offices and spark an individual’s interest in sustainability to improve the communities in which they are located.

Virtual and Augmented Reality Resources

Educators can discover more Immersive Learning solutions from Discovery Education here.

The Reach for the Sky Virtual Reality experience from Reach for the Sky – designed with Edge at Hudson Yards – is a one-of-a-kind experience in which students can control their journey and interact with their environment as they explore learning hotspots, visit a weather observation station, and take flight with a drone through the New York City skyline.Discover the wonders of prehistoric Earth in this immersive learning experience with TimePod Adventures, a program created with Verizon. Available through a 3D virtual desktop experience and free in app stores, students go back 67 million years to the Late Cretaceous Period to uncover topics such as evolution, fossilization, paleontology, and more! Throughout, students are guided by an AI assistant named ADA, who provides additional information. Keyboard controls and mission objectives are always visible. Get ready for an adventure that transcends time! 

Ready-to-Use Activities

Educators can find new lesson plan bundles from Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World—an educational initiative produced in partnership with Itron. The resources inspire students to explore water conservation, energy, and smart cities while the accompanying educator guides make it easy to integrate these resources into classroom activities.A series of classroom activities from Better for Earth, Better for Us, an educational program from LG that takes students into the world of animal adaptations to observe snow leopards in real-time. With these resources, students are empowered to collaborate with their peers to create a project of their choice.From Amazon Career Tours comes ready-to-use classroom activities exploring the cutting-edge careers of the future and the intriguing people and technology behind Amazon’s innovations. Resources include a space innovation tour, an exploration of a robotics fulfillment center, a tour of a data center, and more.

Engaging Videos

The new Financial Sense video series from Discover’s Pathway to Financial Success in Schools covers important topics such as saving, balancing spending, how people get paid, and taxes in age-appropriate videos and classroom activities. This continuously updated series is designed to help students in grades 2-5 make sense of their dollars and cents.Anatomy of a Hit Song from Working in Harmony, a partnership with the Country Music Association, takes students behind the scenes of Country Music production to learn what goes into the making of a hit song. Students will go on a virtual tour exploring the making of a song and learn how STEAM is an essential ingredient every step of the way.The new Defying the Digital Dilemma video from the Creative Visions Classroom program shows students that taking a break from social media doesn’t necessarily mean missing out on what’s happening in the world while also addressing the potential downsides of social media. Students hear from peers who took ownership over their social media use and learned to have a healthier, more engaged social life away from the algorithm.

“As the school year begins to wrap up, we wanted to ensure that educators had in hand some new, creative, and engaging ways to foster student curiosity,” said Amy Nakamoto, General Manager of Corporate Partnerships at Discovery Education. “This selection of content showcases relevant and appealing resources that cover important topics and use cutting-edge technologies to attract and sustain student attention.”

For more information about Discovery Education’s award-winning digital resources and professional learning solutions visit www.discoveryeducation.com, and stay connected with Discovery Education on social media through X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

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About Discovery Education 
Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. Through its award-winning multimedia content, instructional supports, innovative classroom tools, and corporate partnerships, Discovery Education helps educators deliver equitable learning experiences engaging all students and supporting higher academic achievement on a global scale. Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 100 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and trusted organizations to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

Contacts 
Grace Maliska 
Discovery Education 
Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com

By James Pollard

Read the Full story on AP news.

Common Impact leverages the increased power of corporations in society by connecting their employees with community groups. CEO Leila Saad describes it as the corporate version of legal pro bono work.

More workplaces are bolstering their volunteer programs, especially as employee demands grow for socially responsible employers and engagement. Nearly three in five companies surveyed by the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals reported increased opportunities for group volunteering last year.

With National Volunteer Week in the rearview mirror, coworkers buoyed by recent acts of kindness might be looking for ways to integrate service more regularly into their professional schedules. They stand to benefit themselves, too. Recent University of Oxford research suggests organized volunteering is one of the most effective workplace programs for improving workers’ well-being.

But not all corporate volunteering is created equal. The following advice from experts and nonprofit leaders provides some best practices for anyone interested in building or strengthening an officewide culture of service.

Continue reading on AP News

Connect with Leila Saad on LinkedIn. For more social impact content, follow Common Impact on LinkedIn and sign-up for our monthly newsletter. Ready to learn more about skills-based volunteering? Reach out.

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About Common Impact 

Common Impact is a national nonprofit that fosters meaningful partnerships between purpose-driven Fortune 500 companies and nonprofits worldwide to propel social good. Since 2000, Common Impact has generated over 205,000 hours of skills-based volunteering and $40 million in resources. Common Impact is dedicated to helping nonprofits expand their capacity, improve efficiency, and deliver on their mission with customized and impactful projects through corporate partnerships. Learn more about Common Impact’s services, impact, and clients.

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Media Contact

Elizabeth Cross, Obviouslee Marketing 
common-impact@obviouslee.com

Growing up in rural Georgia, Shirley Sherrod never planned to stay in her native South. All that changed when her father, a farmer and a church deacon, was shot by a white farmer and died later that week. Sherrod was 17 at the time, about to graduate from high school.

“The thought occurred to me then, as I prayed and asked for help, that I could give up my dream of living my life in the North,” Sherrod said. “I could stay in the South and devote my life to working for change.”

Shirley Sherrod, 76, has spent the past half-century working for change. With her husband Charles Sherrod, a well-known civil rights leader, in 1969 she co-founded New Communities, Inc., the country’s first collective land trust, creating a safe haven and a position of power for Black farmers removed from their land. When the organization lost its land to foreclosure in the 1980s, Sherrod went to work for the Federation of Southern Cooperatives, where she was tasked with helping Black farmers keep their land.

The Sherrods devoted their lives to advancing voting rights, solidarity, and wealth building through land ownership. But for a new generation of housing leaders like Devin Culbertson, their story is much more than a history lesson. It’s an urgent call to action.

“Movements must evolve and adapt to the current landscape and challenges. And the foundation of the Sherrods’ land ownership model remains more relevant than ever,“ said Culbertson, vice president of innovative finance at Grounded Solutions Network.

The legacy of the Sherrods’ work has spread far beyond the farmlands of southern Georgia, with the community land trust model gaining traction across the country, even in urban areas.

Together with his team at Grounded Solutions Network, Culbertson is building on that model with the support of a $3 million grant from the Housing Affordability Breakthrough Challenge led by Enterprise and the Wells Fargo Foundation. Their winning financing innovation, the Homes for the Future Fund, aims to promote homeownership and upward mobility in Black and brown communities, while keeping homes affordable in perpetuity. Culbertson likens the grant to venture capital, critical support that offers bold leaders flexible resources and a network of expertise to advance their solutions.

Culbertson recently spoke with Shirley Sherrod about the power and potential of the community land trust movement. Here are excerpts from their conversation.

Devon Culbertson: New Communities Inc. – the organization you founded in 1969 – is the starting place for the community land trust movement. What made you feel this was the right work to focus on?

Shirley Sherrod: Our work started with the Civil Rights Movement and organizing here in rural southwest Georgia. As we were helping people to exercise their rights, they would get kicked off the land owned by white people. “Our goal was to try to acquire land so that we would never lose it. And that’s why we chose the community land trust model so that we would all own it together. No one person could mortgage anything so that we could lose it.”

We were really trying to look at how to get this land and hold it forever, for everyone’s use.

DC: What has kept you focused on this movement over the years, given the headwinds you have faced? What has kept you there on a personal level?

SS: I did not intend to live my life on the farm, and I didn’t intend to live my life in the South. Everything changed in one night – the night my father was murdered by a white farmer, who was not prosecuted, even though there were witnesses. I’m the oldest of six children and I was 17 and a senior in high school on that night. My mother was pregnant with my brother.

As the oldest, I needed to come up with a plan. I had no idea what I would do then – it unfolded through the years; initially, it was trying to integrate schools. Then it was trying to get the right to vote.

At a certain point, we were also looking at how the local county committee would target Black landowners. If they were trying to borrow money or get access to programs through USDA, they would be denied. The land was targeted, and Black landowners would end up losing it. Around 1910, Black farmers owned over 15 million acres and we’re down to less than 2 million acres now.

Through the years, marrying Charles Sherrod and getting deeply involved in the civil rights work and working with farmers, we realized that the only way to hold on to land was to own it together.

DC: Land meant so many things then and it means different things now – stability for families, source of political agency, the ability to vote, and economic opportunity. What did land mean to you and why did holding that land become so powerful?

SS: Land was a path to independence – as much as we could, as Black people, have independence in the Jim Crow era. Land meant having a path to getting an education. We have doctors and lawyers and so forth, because that base of land was purchased. And many of them didn’t stay on the farm – I didn’t intend to stay there either.

At New Communities we didn’t just work on acquiring land. We also made the decision that we would not operate in the normal way of a big boss and everybody working under that. We decided we would have committees – for example, there was a farm committee, there was also an education committee, a health committee, and an industry committee.

We looked to the land to help move us forward as we worked together. But we had that added layer of racism and discrimination to deal with. And that ultimately caused the failure of our project.

DC: That really resonates. We see situations where people go through foreclosure and become renters in their own homes. How do we use our understanding of how the deck can be stacked against us to better serve people?

SS: I’ve worked with farmers for years and had to convince them in the earlier years, it’s no longer possible for you to work your farm without working with other farmers and forming cooperatives. At one point I helped a group of farmers learn how to raise seedless watermelons. The markets in the area were not open to us. So we connected with a group in Boston and we were shipping seedless watermelons from Georgia to Boston. People had to understand it’s no longer possible for them to be on that little plot of land and not interact and work with other farmers.

DC: What do you see as lessons for creating broader economic benefit through this type of cooperation and solidarity?

SS: When people come together, truly committed to working with each other, the sky is the limit in terms of ideas and things they can do together to create their own jobs and income stream. A good example for us was in the 1990s, when Ben and Jerry’s wanted to do something to help with Black land loss. They said they would buy product from Black farmers to go in their ice cream. So, I organized farmers into a co-op that we called Southern Alternatives. We faced a lot of opposition because it was hard to find a white-owned sheller who would process our pecans for us. And in the end, Ben and Jerry’s had to strong arm their major supplier to get them to do it.

When you are working together and people see you working together, opportunities surface. Even when folks look across town and feel that they don’t have the resources to get started – they can’t let that stop them.

Taco Bell blog

The month of May celebrates Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. AANHPI is a wide-ranging term used to describe all cultures across the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia – representing approximately 50 ethnic groups and 100 languages.

This month was specifically chosen to honor the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. (May 1843), as well as to acknowledge the tremendous contribution Chinese immigrants made in completing the transcontinental railroad (May 1869).

With this year›s monthly theme of “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation,” we hope to elevate visionaries and trailblazers who continue to shape the AANHPI legacy at The Bell.

“A fun fact is that I get to celebrate three New Nears; American New Year in January, Chinese New Year in February, and Thai New Year in April.”

Tippy is a first-generation Chinese and Thai American who grew up in L.A. Like many Asian American families, education and hard work became Tippy’s priorities at a young age.

“Growing up with a single Asian mother, I found myself focusing on education as a ticket to greater opportunities. When I wasn’t busy studying at school, I was helping my mother with her salon, restocking shelves and washing customers’ hair. For me, being Asian meant that family and education together kept you on path to a better future.”

Being a daughter of an immigrant mother meant Tippy had to figure out the ins and outs of getting in to and going to college all by herself. Fortunately, she had amazing teachers and mentors who guided her along the way. Throughout high school and college, she also found herself repeatedly taking on the role of peer counselor, but it wasn’t until a post-college conversation with an old friend that made her realize her calling was HR.

“I always thought HR was just managing payroll and regular office stuff. It was my mentor who told me that my love for helping people get access to information or being someone who could steer peers in the right direction was an HR function.”

Thus, Tippy embarked on her career journey in HR! From Disney to NBCUniversal to Panda Express, Tippy worked in various HR roles on projects such as mergers and acquisitions. Soon after, she found her way to Taco Bell, where she currently leads Taco Bell’s HR Business Partners. Since joining, Tippy has continued to pursue her passion of helping others inside and outside of her role. Recently, she joined Girls Inc. Orange County for one of Santa Ana College’s Development Days, providing high-school girls with workplace experiences on a variety of subjects such as resumes, interviewing, networking and more.

“I relate to the community of first-generation Americans who have working-class parents and don’t know how to navigate the corporate setting, because I was that same girl. My mother could barely read English, so I didn’t have the privilege of having parents who could speak the language and know the college process in the United States. I see myself in those teens facing the same language and educational barriers, which is why I want to help as much as I can.”

Now a mother herself, Tippy shares her cultural heritage with her daughter.

“Kids that are my daughter’s age love pizza, but for her, it’ll be the traditional egg omelet from my childhood that I’ve introduced her to. This just goes to show that food is a great way to create a cultural connection.”

Tippy would love to see the future generations who identify with AANHPI community be authentic and comfortable using their voice.

“As Asian Americans, being comfortable with the unique perspective you bring to those around us, but authentic to share and talk about challenges and struggles to grow.”