Tag: 3BL

Rosario Dawson, a SU2C celebrity ambassador, joins American to launch this year’s fundraising campaign with a powerful new video alongside airline team members.Customers will earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles for donations made to SU2C during the six-week campaign.

FORT WORTH, Texas, August 21, 2024 /3BL/ – American Airlines, in collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), is launching its annual campaign to raise funds for innovative and life-saving cancer research and is inviting customers to contribute. The campaign kicked off with a powerful new public service announcement featuring actress, film producer and SU2C celebrity ambassador Rosario Dawson.

From now through Sept. 30, customers will receive 25 AAdvantage® bonus miles for every dollar they donate of $25 or more to Stand Up To Cancer.

Additionally, anyone who uses their AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card to contribute between $25 and $10,000 will receive 50 AAdvantage® bonus miles per dollar through Sept. 30, or until $3 million has been donated, whichever comes first. To donate, customers can visit SU2C.org/AA.

“Cancer affects countless lives, including many of our own team members and their loved ones. Our eight-year partnership with Stand Up To Cancer has become an important part of our airline. It truly allows us to live out our purpose of caring for people on life’s journey while supporting Stand Up’s vital mission of advancing life-saving research,” said Ron DeFeo, American’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer.

Since joining forces in 2016, American has raised more than $20 million through fundraising efforts to benefit SU2C. In 2019, American debuted a campaign that allowed those who donated the chance to honor a loved one by including their name on an Airbus A321 aircraft wrapped in a special SU2C livery.

This year, to further highlight the campaign and give customers an opportunity to support the campaign’s important cause, American will launch a limited-edition specialty amenity kit design created in collaboration with sustainable fashion brand Raven + Lily.

The new Flagship® First Class and Flagship® Business Class kits feature the SU2C yellow, orange and red colors, along with Raven + Lily’s recognizable zig-zag trim, while the Premium Economy kit features the SU2C yellow. The limited-edition kits will feature new skincare brands and offerings. Customers can scan a QR code within the kits to easily donate to the campaign. The SU2C specialty kits will take flight later this year. This kit marks American’s second limited-edition amenity kit since the airline launched a new amenity kit program earlier this year.

“Cancer is a terrible thing to face alone. That’s why Stand Up To Cancer is proud to join American Airlines to highlight the incredible stories of how showing up can mean so much during a cancer journey,” said Rusty Robertson, Co-Founder of SU2C. “We thank Rosario Dawson for lending her voice to this campaign, as well as American Airlines and its customers, whose generous donations are putting essential funding into the hands of the top minds in science working tirelessly to accelerate the research and save lives now.”

SU2C brings together the best and the brightest in the cancer community to help new therapies move from the laboratory to the patient quickly. By galvanizing the entertainment community, SU2C creates awareness and educates the public on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment and raises funds to support these efforts.

“I am one of the millions of people who have a loved one that’s been touched by cancer. This year, 2 million people will be diagnosed — that’s one person every 15 seconds. I’m hoping that when people watch this PSA, they will be encouraged to learn more, join us and rise to the challenge,” said Rosario Dawson, a SU2C ambassador. “With the help of donors like you, we are making incredible strides. Together, we could see the end of cancer as we know it.”

Learn more about the 2024 fundraising campaign and how to donate at SU2C.org/AA.

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

About Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and was initially launched as a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Established in 2008 by media and entertainment leaders, SU2C utilizes these communities’ resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, to increase awareness about cancer prevention, and to highlight progress being made in the fight against the disease. As of April 2024, more than 3,100 scientists representing more than 210 institutions are involved in SU2C-funded research projects.

As SU2C’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee, led by William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., conduct rigorous competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and provide expert review of research progress.

Current members of the SU2C Founders and Advisors Committee (FAC) include Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Kathleen Lobb, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, and Ellen Ziffren. The late Laura Ziskin and the late Noreen Fraser are also co-founders. Julian Adams, Ph.D., serves as SU2C’s president and CEO.

For more information visit StandUpToCancer.org, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Rosario Dawson, a SU2C celebrity ambassador, joins American to launch this year’s fundraising campaign with a powerful new video alongside airline team members.Customers will earn American Airlines AAdvantage® miles for donations made to SU2C during the six-week campaign.

FORT WORTH, Texas, August 21, 2024 /3BL/ – American Airlines, in collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C), is launching its annual campaign to raise funds for innovative and life-saving cancer research and is inviting customers to contribute. The campaign kicked off with a powerful new public service announcement featuring actress, film producer and SU2C celebrity ambassador Rosario Dawson.

From now through Sept. 30, customers will receive 25 AAdvantage® bonus miles for every dollar they donate of $25 or more to Stand Up To Cancer.

Additionally, anyone who uses their AAdvantage® Mastercard® credit card to contribute between $25 and $10,000 will receive 50 AAdvantage® bonus miles per dollar through Sept. 30, or until $3 million has been donated, whichever comes first. To donate, customers can visit SU2C.org/AA.

“Cancer affects countless lives, including many of our own team members and their loved ones. Our eight-year partnership with Stand Up To Cancer has become an important part of our airline. It truly allows us to live out our purpose of caring for people on life’s journey while supporting Stand Up’s vital mission of advancing life-saving research,” said Ron DeFeo, American’s Chief Communications and Marketing Officer.

Since joining forces in 2016, American has raised more than $20 million through fundraising efforts to benefit SU2C. In 2019, American debuted a campaign that allowed those who donated the chance to honor a loved one by including their name on an Airbus A321 aircraft wrapped in a special SU2C livery.

This year, to further highlight the campaign and give customers an opportunity to support the campaign’s important cause, American will launch a limited-edition specialty amenity kit design created in collaboration with sustainable fashion brand Raven + Lily.

The new Flagship® First Class and Flagship® Business Class kits feature the SU2C yellow, orange and red colors, along with Raven + Lily’s recognizable zig-zag trim, while the Premium Economy kit features the SU2C yellow. The limited-edition kits will feature new skincare brands and offerings. Customers can scan a QR code within the kits to easily donate to the campaign. The SU2C specialty kits will take flight later this year. This kit marks American’s second limited-edition amenity kit since the airline launched a new amenity kit program earlier this year.

“Cancer is a terrible thing to face alone. That’s why Stand Up To Cancer is proud to join American Airlines to highlight the incredible stories of how showing up can mean so much during a cancer journey,” said Rusty Robertson, Co-Founder of SU2C. “We thank Rosario Dawson for lending her voice to this campaign, as well as American Airlines and its customers, whose generous donations are putting essential funding into the hands of the top minds in science working tirelessly to accelerate the research and save lives now.”

SU2C brings together the best and the brightest in the cancer community to help new therapies move from the laboratory to the patient quickly. By galvanizing the entertainment community, SU2C creates awareness and educates the public on cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment and raises funds to support these efforts.

“I am one of the millions of people who have a loved one that’s been touched by cancer. This year, 2 million people will be diagnosed — that’s one person every 15 seconds. I’m hoping that when people watch this PSA, they will be encouraged to learn more, join us and rise to the challenge,” said Rosario Dawson, a SU2C ambassador. “With the help of donors like you, we are making incredible strides. Together, we could see the end of cancer as we know it.”

Learn more about the 2024 fundraising campaign and how to donate at SU2C.org/AA.

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.

About Stand Up To Cancer
Stand Up To Cancer® (SU2C) raises funds to accelerate the pace of research to get new therapies to patients quickly and save lives now. SU2C is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and was initially launched as a division of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. Established in 2008 by media and entertainment leaders, SU2C utilizes these communities’ resources to engage the public in supporting a new, collaborative model of cancer research, to increase awareness about cancer prevention, and to highlight progress being made in the fight against the disease. As of April 2024, more than 3,100 scientists representing more than 210 institutions are involved in SU2C-funded research projects.

As SU2C’s scientific partner, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Scientific Advisory Committee, led by William G. Nelson, M.D., Ph.D., conduct rigorous competitive review processes to identify the best research proposals to recommend for funding, oversee grants administration, and provide expert review of research progress.

Current members of the SU2C Founders and Advisors Committee (FAC) include Katie Couric, Sherry Lansing, Kathleen Lobb, Lisa Paulsen, Rusty Robertson, Sue Schwartz, Pamela Oas Williams, and Ellen Ziffren. The late Laura Ziskin and the late Noreen Fraser are also co-founders. Julian Adams, Ph.D., serves as SU2C’s president and CEO.

For more information visit StandUpToCancer.org, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Originally published in Hershey’s 2023 ESG Report

VSLAs Help Local Businesses Grow

Madame Coulibaly has lived with her farming husband and 12-year-old son in Lôh-Djiboua, Côte d’Ivoire, since 2012. She opened a shop selling shoes, textiles, fabrics, bed sheets, mattresses, bags and more.

Looking for ways to grow her business, she joined a Cocoa For Good-supported VSLA in 2020. As a VSLA member, she accessed a series of loans of up to $1,000 each, which she used to strengthen her business and find new revenue opportunities.

In December 2022, she added a poultry business with a capacity of 1,250 chicks. This nets more than $2,500 per year in profit. In 2023, she expanded the poultry business to a second site, doubling her profit.

Being able to grow her business, using VSLA finance, has not only stabilized her shop and diversified her offerings, but has also enabled her to bring on an employee to help run it. She is currently working toward becoming a wholesale distributor of goods to supply other merchants in her region.

Village Savings & Loan Associations

VSLAs are championed by international humanitarian organizations as a way to raise incomes in rural areas where formal banking services are typically not available.

These community-based groups build social cohesion and increase economic stability through member-based savings and loans. Through VSLAs, CARE is supporting women and their families to increase:

Household savings and access to financeEntrepreneurial, leadership and financial literacy skills

In 2023, CARE assessed 298 VSLAs in Hershey’s supply chain, engaging 690 community leaders. They identified 200 VSLAs as functioning effectively and suited to further capability building. These VSLAs are managing savings and loans effectively, but can benefit from support linking them to the formal financial sector.

Read more

Originally published in Hershey’s 2023 ESG Report

VSLAs Help Local Businesses Grow

Madame Coulibaly has lived with her farming husband and 12-year-old son in Lôh-Djiboua, Côte d’Ivoire, since 2012. She opened a shop selling shoes, textiles, fabrics, bed sheets, mattresses, bags and more.

Looking for ways to grow her business, she joined a Cocoa For Good-supported VSLA in 2020. As a VSLA member, she accessed a series of loans of up to $1,000 each, which she used to strengthen her business and find new revenue opportunities.

In December 2022, she added a poultry business with a capacity of 1,250 chicks. This nets more than $2,500 per year in profit. In 2023, she expanded the poultry business to a second site, doubling her profit.

Being able to grow her business, using VSLA finance, has not only stabilized her shop and diversified her offerings, but has also enabled her to bring on an employee to help run it. She is currently working toward becoming a wholesale distributor of goods to supply other merchants in her region.

Village Savings & Loan Associations

VSLAs are championed by international humanitarian organizations as a way to raise incomes in rural areas where formal banking services are typically not available.

These community-based groups build social cohesion and increase economic stability through member-based savings and loans. Through VSLAs, CARE is supporting women and their families to increase:

Household savings and access to financeEntrepreneurial, leadership and financial literacy skills

In 2023, CARE assessed 298 VSLAs in Hershey’s supply chain, engaging 690 community leaders. They identified 200 VSLAs as functioning effectively and suited to further capability building. These VSLAs are managing savings and loans effectively, but can benefit from support linking them to the formal financial sector.

Read more

Environment Analyst held an annual Sustainability Delivery Summit in June 2024, where some of our global team members attended along with the Sustainability Awards Ceremony. The purpose of this summit was to bring together the community of Environment and Sustainability consulting firms to collaborate and learn from each other to instigate an acceleration of momentum towards a more sustainable future with our clients and communities.

The event covered a wide range of topics across multiple days including resilient infrastructure, future-ready workforces, embedding sustainability into day-to-day operations, digital and technology value adds, nature-based solutions, just energy transition, and more. We have gathered a few key insights from our team in attendance.

Meeting Companies Where They Are 

In this fast-paced evolution of sustainability goals, frameworks, and solutions it’s imperative that we meet companies where they are both on their sustainability journey but also physically where they are geographically. Many countries and regions are at different places in their regulations and expectations are evolving through supply chains and key stakeholders. The local understanding and cultural awareness is crucial in helping companies and communities to meet their goals.

Embracing the Ecosystem Model, Partner for Progress

To solve the complex problems we face, our clients of tomorrow are expecting a multidisciplinary approach using systems based thinking. Collaboration is key with embracing an ecosystem or partnership model to bring viable solutions to the table as the only way to progress many of these global goals. An advantage of an Alliance is that if the company doesn’t have the exact expertise, they can learn from many other diverse partners who may have approached the challenge in a different way and bring innovative solutions to the end client. This could be in technology or digital solutions, technical approaches, or just in a very diverse different approach in thinking to come to a different solution in bringing together different geographies. Many times we need to partner with competitors to be able to make progress and deliver much needed results. This approach demands new ways of thinking and working to not just benefit a company but to benefit all for a better future.

Turning Lofty Sustainability Goals into Reality

The value environmental and sustainability consultants can often bring to stakeholders, clients or projects, is turning lofty goals and visions into action with technical expertise, boots on the ground and specific actions and plans that are science-based and data-led. We can figure out how to collect the data, simplify the process, audit to ensure compliance, and build a foundation of security that the goals that are set are being achieved and backed by data and financials to translate to real business momentum.

Preparing the Next Generation

With our current and prospective future need for action to meet net zero goals as climate change impacts become a local reality globally, there is a huge workforce gap. It was reported that 105k new experts are needed in this space of environment and sustainability services with 51% in North America. We will need more upcoming experts to be trained in these areas but also to bring new innovative ideas and understanding as our up and coming experts are also the ones who will be living with the results. It was said at the conference “the solutions are in the grey, if we focus on only black and white nothing will happen.” We need to be flexible in approaches, tailoring to different industries, cultures and geographies with solutions that are presented. While technology is needed to help solve global problems, human expertise still matters and technology will never replace the need for E&S consultants.

Angelique Dickson, President of Inogen Alliance, recaps her key takeaways and how we are positioned in this new future state:

The pace of change in the last few years has muddled the lines around what we do in the environment and sustainability consulting space. As the ecosystem has responded to the urgent need to deliver sustainability in the marketplace, we, as have other industries rallied to respond to that call. So, what makes us different, what value do we bring? As an example, let me share a few recent experiences. I was in Dubai last week, meeting with our current Associate and talking with a potential new Associate on how to meet and navigate the flood of demand for sustainability services in the Middle East. This is not just what services we offer, but also how to successfully work in the region. I was in Romania meeting with a new partner to discuss collaboration on data collection and support of a multinational client. And I ended my week with our partners for central, southern and eastern Europe to hear their annual report on how they are helping clients protect and utilize biodiversity services and prepare for the CSRD requirements. The Inogen Alliance believes that the value we offer is a global perspective with local implementation. It is foundational. When you look at our industry, although there is strength in the resources and power that comes from large environmental and sustainability consulting firms, we also believe that diversity brings value to this space. Small, local, diversly-led companies that are agile, responsive and can focus on bespoke solutions while partnering with some of the best-in-class to offer superior results. The EA Sustainability Delivery Summit was an excellent opportunity to hear our values reflected, and be inspired by our peers and their impact on our collective journey.

Some of our global teams were able to meet in person again at this Summit with Antea Group USA, denxpert, HPC AG, and Tonkin + Taylor. This included multiple short-listed award categories as well as one with for Transportation Project of the Year for Tonkin + Taylor, read more about the awards portion of the event and project submissions from Inogen Alliance here.

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.

Environment Analyst held an annual Sustainability Delivery Summit in June 2024, where some of our global team members attended along with the Sustainability Awards Ceremony. The purpose of this summit was to bring together the community of Environment and Sustainability consulting firms to collaborate and learn from each other to instigate an acceleration of momentum towards a more sustainable future with our clients and communities.

The event covered a wide range of topics across multiple days including resilient infrastructure, future-ready workforces, embedding sustainability into day-to-day operations, digital and technology value adds, nature-based solutions, just energy transition, and more. We have gathered a few key insights from our team in attendance.

Meeting Companies Where They Are 

In this fast-paced evolution of sustainability goals, frameworks, and solutions it’s imperative that we meet companies where they are both on their sustainability journey but also physically where they are geographically. Many countries and regions are at different places in their regulations and expectations are evolving through supply chains and key stakeholders. The local understanding and cultural awareness is crucial in helping companies and communities to meet their goals.

Embracing the Ecosystem Model, Partner for Progress

To solve the complex problems we face, our clients of tomorrow are expecting a multidisciplinary approach using systems based thinking. Collaboration is key with embracing an ecosystem or partnership model to bring viable solutions to the table as the only way to progress many of these global goals. An advantage of an Alliance is that if the company doesn’t have the exact expertise, they can learn from many other diverse partners who may have approached the challenge in a different way and bring innovative solutions to the end client. This could be in technology or digital solutions, technical approaches, or just in a very diverse different approach in thinking to come to a different solution in bringing together different geographies. Many times we need to partner with competitors to be able to make progress and deliver much needed results. This approach demands new ways of thinking and working to not just benefit a company but to benefit all for a better future.

Turning Lofty Sustainability Goals into Reality

The value environmental and sustainability consultants can often bring to stakeholders, clients or projects, is turning lofty goals and visions into action with technical expertise, boots on the ground and specific actions and plans that are science-based and data-led. We can figure out how to collect the data, simplify the process, audit to ensure compliance, and build a foundation of security that the goals that are set are being achieved and backed by data and financials to translate to real business momentum.

Preparing the Next Generation

With our current and prospective future need for action to meet net zero goals as climate change impacts become a local reality globally, there is a huge workforce gap. It was reported that 105k new experts are needed in this space of environment and sustainability services with 51% in North America. We will need more upcoming experts to be trained in these areas but also to bring new innovative ideas and understanding as our up and coming experts are also the ones who will be living with the results. It was said at the conference “the solutions are in the grey, if we focus on only black and white nothing will happen.” We need to be flexible in approaches, tailoring to different industries, cultures and geographies with solutions that are presented. While technology is needed to help solve global problems, human expertise still matters and technology will never replace the need for E&S consultants.

Angelique Dickson, President of Inogen Alliance, recaps her key takeaways and how we are positioned in this new future state:

The pace of change in the last few years has muddled the lines around what we do in the environment and sustainability consulting space. As the ecosystem has responded to the urgent need to deliver sustainability in the marketplace, we, as have other industries rallied to respond to that call. So, what makes us different, what value do we bring? As an example, let me share a few recent experiences. I was in Dubai last week, meeting with our current Associate and talking with a potential new Associate on how to meet and navigate the flood of demand for sustainability services in the Middle East. This is not just what services we offer, but also how to successfully work in the region. I was in Romania meeting with a new partner to discuss collaboration on data collection and support of a multinational client. And I ended my week with our partners for central, southern and eastern Europe to hear their annual report on how they are helping clients protect and utilize biodiversity services and prepare for the CSRD requirements. The Inogen Alliance believes that the value we offer is a global perspective with local implementation. It is foundational. When you look at our industry, although there is strength in the resources and power that comes from large environmental and sustainability consulting firms, we also believe that diversity brings value to this space. Small, local, diversly-led companies that are agile, responsive and can focus on bespoke solutions while partnering with some of the best-in-class to offer superior results. The EA Sustainability Delivery Summit was an excellent opportunity to hear our values reflected, and be inspired by our peers and their impact on our collective journey.

Some of our global teams were able to meet in person again at this Summit with Antea Group USA, denxpert, HPC AG, and Tonkin + Taylor. This included multiple short-listed award categories as well as one with for Transportation Project of the Year for Tonkin + Taylor, read more about the awards portion of the event and project submissions from Inogen Alliance here.

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.

During the Climate Vault nonprofit’s 2023 RFP round for Innovative Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) projects, the Climate Vault Tech Chamber selected not one, but two, outstanding winners for the 2023 Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Innovation Award. This marks a significant milestone in Climate Vault’s CDR journey as this is the first time the Tech Chamber’s rigorous standards for first-of-their-kind CDR solutions have ever been met.

Picture this: wood vaults, meticulously engineered to house sustainably-sourced woody biomass, effectively sealing away its carbon footprint for good. This is exactly what our honoree, Carbon Lockdown, is on a mission to do. Carbon Lockdown collects sustainably-sourced woody biomass and buries it in a “wood vault”, a specially-engineered underground structure that prevents the decomposition and the re-release of the biomass’ embodied CO2 back into the atmosphere. Carbon Lockdown’s wood vault is pioneering carbon removal.

Dr. Ning Zeng, the founder of Carbon Lockdown, has been conducting research on wood harvesting and storage (WHS) via wood vault for over 15 years. He is credited as the originator of the idea of carbon sequestration via wood burial. He is also a professor at the University of Maryland and a climate scientist specializing in the global carbon cycle.

In the interview below, Dr. Zeng shares about Carbon Lockdown’s unique approach to CDR and the verifiable impact Carbon Lockdown’s wood vault is having on the fight against climate change. You can also register to attend Climate Vault’s upcoming webinar on September 4 to hear from Dr. Zeng firsthand about Carbon Lockdown’s first-of-its-kind wood vault.

What was the inspiration behind launching Carbon Lockdown and pursuing innovative carbon removal solutions, such as the wood vault?

I was particularly inspired by young people’s effort at fighting climate change, including my own children. I got out of my “ivory tower” in academia to implement solutions that help to solve the climate change problem. The concept behind WHS/WV is simple: sustainably-sourced woody biomass is buried underground a few meters below the surface. The biomass will be preserved for a thousand years or longer because of the oxygen-free condition.

What makes Carbon Lockdown’s approach to carbon removal so unique and credible?

Fundamentally because it hits a sweet spot of natural and engineered solutions. Photosynthesis is ‘free’ carbon capture. Wood vault technology ensures durable preservation of buried biomass, and is akin to the first step of fossil fuel formation. That’s why some people call it ‘reverse coal’. The engineering needed to bury biomass is well established. The whole process is simple, practical, and can be done at very low cost.

How do you envision your project contributing to mitigating climate change on a global scale?

Each year, the terrestrial biosphere alone captures six times more CO2 than fossil fuel emissions. Utilizing only 5% of that captured CO2 in the form of biomass and storing it durably can offset 10 gigatons of CO2 (GtCO2), or one-quarter of the current fossil fuel emissions. This is also the negative emissions needed to reach net zero goal by 2050. The 10Gt scale requires major forest management. One to two gigatons of carbon removal can be achieved by utilizing currently unexploited wood residual alone.

Are there other potential benefits, environmental or otherwise, of widespread adoption of your project?

Yes. For example, the wildfire problem in the American West is becoming flammable, literally. A recent study from the Yale Carbon Containment Lab suggests that 0.5-2 GtCO2 equivalent of biomass needs to be thinned in the next 10 years. Most of these thinnings are typically pile burnt, resulting in the release of the biomass’ embodied CO2 back into the atmosphere. Burying them in wood vaults locally may be a low-cost solution with carbon removal co-benefit.

Another potentially larger opportunity is waste wood in the eastern and southern US where forests are highly productive. For instance, in the DC-Baltimore Metro area where I live, many trees are dying—most prominently white oak—the valued Maryland state tree. This is ironically in part due to extreme climate events caused by ‘atmospheric rivers’. The dead wood typically ends up as mulch or goes to landfill, but there is not enough demand for mulch so they are piled up everywhere, generating methane as they decompose, while also posing a fire danger. Our Potomac Project utilizes such urban waste wood from Camp Small, Baltimore.

The highest potential exists in tropical countries where wood vault can be implemented as an element of mixed-use forest management strategies. It can benefit global south countries as local communities control and manage their resources sustainably for livelihood while benefiting the climate.

What have been some key milestones or breakthroughs for Carbon Lockdown?

Two earlier projects: the Gemstone Project and the Montreal Project, conducted by research at the University of Maryland, demonstrated the high durability of buried wood. Carbon Lockdown is a tech spinoff from research. These projects laid the foundation for the development of a woody biomass burial project methodology, under which Carbon Lockdown’s 5,000 tonne Potomac Project was the first listed.

The Potomac project is considered the world’s first commercial-scale wood vault implementation. Carbon Lockdown is working with local NGOs, university, state legislators and agencies to develop a permitting process specifically for wood vault.

Carbon Lockdown’s effort at implementing the Potomac Project has put the idea of biomass burial on the radar screen of CDR platforms including the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), XPRIZE, DOE/FECM, and the State of CDR. Last July, Carbon Lockdown sold its first 1,000 tonnes to Kinnevik AB. Last November, attendees of the DOE BiCRS/WHS workshop had the opportunity to visit Potomac Project sites.

Can you share some of the main challenges you’ve encountered during the development of your project and the lessons you have learned along the way?

A major challenge has been to communicate the validity and efficacy of this apparently simple idea. A typical response is dismissal as either too crazy: ‘What a waste? Why don’t I use [the wood] for furniture’, or the solution is simply ignored as not ‘techy’ enough to be attractive. It tends to fall through the ‘crack’ of nature-based methods and technology-based methods, but this is changing. The simple answer to the first question is ‘by all means, but there is still more wood residual of no good use and is valuable as carbon storage’.

While the idea of wood vault is conceptually simple, we have encountered major obstacles in practice, including funding and permitting. Additional research will also be needed to support the continued evolution of best practice.

Given that it’s “easily applied” (quote National Academy of Sciences), a good strategy is to “quickly implement a number of pilot projects” (quote Rudy Kahsar of Rocky Mountain Institute) to test out different wood sourcing and burial conditions because this is a very local thing.

Another characteristic of this method (and hybrid nature-engineering method in general) is the finite biospheric productivity. Only a fraction each year can be utilized sustainably, but if we don’t use it, the carbon goes back into the atmosphere.

An analogy I like to use is: we are raising chickens not just for the chicken, but for the eggs. Keeping our chicken (forest) healthy is a prerequisite, but if we don’t harvest the eggs, the opportunities are wasted.

What is your hope for the future of carbon removal technologies, and how does Carbon Lockdown fit into that vision?

A safe climate will require multi-gigaton carbon removal, which would be a trillion-dollar industry. I think biomass burial can contribute a big ‘wedge’. Carbon Lockdown has been a trailblazer in this area, and will continue to do so. We also support other implementers via partnership.

Here at Climate Vault, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Carbon Lockdown as one of the inaugural CDR solutions to have their technology validated by the Climate Vault Tech Chamber as trustworthy for credibly removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Carbon Lockdown stands as a true trailblazer in the realm of carbon capture and removal. We can’t wait to see the impact we have together on combating the worst effects of climate change in the coming years.

Want to learn more about Carbon Lockdown and its potential impact on the CDR space? Register to attend Climate Vault’s upcoming webinar and hear from Dr. Zeng firsthand about the first-of-its-kind wood vault. 

During the Climate Vault nonprofit’s 2023 RFP round for Innovative Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) projects, the Climate Vault Tech Chamber selected not one, but two, outstanding winners for the 2023 Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) Innovation Award. This marks a significant milestone in Climate Vault’s CDR journey as this is the first time the Tech Chamber’s rigorous standards for first-of-their-kind CDR solutions have ever been met.

Picture this: wood vaults, meticulously engineered to house sustainably-sourced woody biomass, effectively sealing away its carbon footprint for good. This is exactly what our honoree, Carbon Lockdown, is on a mission to do. Carbon Lockdown collects sustainably-sourced woody biomass and buries it in a “wood vault”, a specially-engineered underground structure that prevents the decomposition and the re-release of the biomass’ embodied CO2 back into the atmosphere. Carbon Lockdown’s wood vault is pioneering carbon removal.

Dr. Ning Zeng, the founder of Carbon Lockdown, has been conducting research on wood harvesting and storage (WHS) via wood vault for over 15 years. He is credited as the originator of the idea of carbon sequestration via wood burial. He is also a professor at the University of Maryland and a climate scientist specializing in the global carbon cycle.

In the interview below, Dr. Zeng shares about Carbon Lockdown’s unique approach to CDR and the verifiable impact Carbon Lockdown’s wood vault is having on the fight against climate change. You can also register to attend Climate Vault’s upcoming webinar on September 4 to hear from Dr. Zeng firsthand about Carbon Lockdown’s first-of-its-kind wood vault.

What was the inspiration behind launching Carbon Lockdown and pursuing innovative carbon removal solutions, such as the wood vault?

I was particularly inspired by young people’s effort at fighting climate change, including my own children. I got out of my “ivory tower” in academia to implement solutions that help to solve the climate change problem. The concept behind WHS/WV is simple: sustainably-sourced woody biomass is buried underground a few meters below the surface. The biomass will be preserved for a thousand years or longer because of the oxygen-free condition.

What makes Carbon Lockdown’s approach to carbon removal so unique and credible?

Fundamentally because it hits a sweet spot of natural and engineered solutions. Photosynthesis is ‘free’ carbon capture. Wood vault technology ensures durable preservation of buried biomass, and is akin to the first step of fossil fuel formation. That’s why some people call it ‘reverse coal’. The engineering needed to bury biomass is well established. The whole process is simple, practical, and can be done at very low cost.

How do you envision your project contributing to mitigating climate change on a global scale?

Each year, the terrestrial biosphere alone captures six times more CO2 than fossil fuel emissions. Utilizing only 5% of that captured CO2 in the form of biomass and storing it durably can offset 10 gigatons of CO2 (GtCO2), or one-quarter of the current fossil fuel emissions. This is also the negative emissions needed to reach net zero goal by 2050. The 10Gt scale requires major forest management. One to two gigatons of carbon removal can be achieved by utilizing currently unexploited wood residual alone.

Are there other potential benefits, environmental or otherwise, of widespread adoption of your project?

Yes. For example, the wildfire problem in the American West is becoming flammable, literally. A recent study from the Yale Carbon Containment Lab suggests that 0.5-2 GtCO2 equivalent of biomass needs to be thinned in the next 10 years. Most of these thinnings are typically pile burnt, resulting in the release of the biomass’ embodied CO2 back into the atmosphere. Burying them in wood vaults locally may be a low-cost solution with carbon removal co-benefit.

Another potentially larger opportunity is waste wood in the eastern and southern US where forests are highly productive. For instance, in the DC-Baltimore Metro area where I live, many trees are dying—most prominently white oak—the valued Maryland state tree. This is ironically in part due to extreme climate events caused by ‘atmospheric rivers’. The dead wood typically ends up as mulch or goes to landfill, but there is not enough demand for mulch so they are piled up everywhere, generating methane as they decompose, while also posing a fire danger. Our Potomac Project utilizes such urban waste wood from Camp Small, Baltimore.

The highest potential exists in tropical countries where wood vault can be implemented as an element of mixed-use forest management strategies. It can benefit global south countries as local communities control and manage their resources sustainably for livelihood while benefiting the climate.

What have been some key milestones or breakthroughs for Carbon Lockdown?

Two earlier projects: the Gemstone Project and the Montreal Project, conducted by research at the University of Maryland, demonstrated the high durability of buried wood. Carbon Lockdown is a tech spinoff from research. These projects laid the foundation for the development of a woody biomass burial project methodology, under which Carbon Lockdown’s 5,000 tonne Potomac Project was the first listed.

The Potomac project is considered the world’s first commercial-scale wood vault implementation. Carbon Lockdown is working with local NGOs, university, state legislators and agencies to develop a permitting process specifically for wood vault.

Carbon Lockdown’s effort at implementing the Potomac Project has put the idea of biomass burial on the radar screen of CDR platforms including the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), XPRIZE, DOE/FECM, and the State of CDR. Last July, Carbon Lockdown sold its first 1,000 tonnes to Kinnevik AB. Last November, attendees of the DOE BiCRS/WHS workshop had the opportunity to visit Potomac Project sites.

Can you share some of the main challenges you’ve encountered during the development of your project and the lessons you have learned along the way?

A major challenge has been to communicate the validity and efficacy of this apparently simple idea. A typical response is dismissal as either too crazy: ‘What a waste? Why don’t I use [the wood] for furniture’, or the solution is simply ignored as not ‘techy’ enough to be attractive. It tends to fall through the ‘crack’ of nature-based methods and technology-based methods, but this is changing. The simple answer to the first question is ‘by all means, but there is still more wood residual of no good use and is valuable as carbon storage’.

While the idea of wood vault is conceptually simple, we have encountered major obstacles in practice, including funding and permitting. Additional research will also be needed to support the continued evolution of best practice.

Given that it’s “easily applied” (quote National Academy of Sciences), a good strategy is to “quickly implement a number of pilot projects” (quote Rudy Kahsar of Rocky Mountain Institute) to test out different wood sourcing and burial conditions because this is a very local thing.

Another characteristic of this method (and hybrid nature-engineering method in general) is the finite biospheric productivity. Only a fraction each year can be utilized sustainably, but if we don’t use it, the carbon goes back into the atmosphere.

An analogy I like to use is: we are raising chickens not just for the chicken, but for the eggs. Keeping our chicken (forest) healthy is a prerequisite, but if we don’t harvest the eggs, the opportunities are wasted.

What is your hope for the future of carbon removal technologies, and how does Carbon Lockdown fit into that vision?

A safe climate will require multi-gigaton carbon removal, which would be a trillion-dollar industry. I think biomass burial can contribute a big ‘wedge’. Carbon Lockdown has been a trailblazer in this area, and will continue to do so. We also support other implementers via partnership.

Here at Climate Vault, we couldn’t be more excited to welcome Carbon Lockdown as one of the inaugural CDR solutions to have their technology validated by the Climate Vault Tech Chamber as trustworthy for credibly removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Carbon Lockdown stands as a true trailblazer in the realm of carbon capture and removal. We can’t wait to see the impact we have together on combating the worst effects of climate change in the coming years.

Want to learn more about Carbon Lockdown and its potential impact on the CDR space? Register to attend Climate Vault’s upcoming webinar and hear from Dr. Zeng firsthand about the first-of-its-kind wood vault. 

Our people making a difference is a series featured throughout Owens Corning’s 2023 Sustainability Report.

As a leader in both Human Resources and EHS (Environmental, Health, and Safety), Victor Garcia believes he has the best job at Owens Corning — as he puts it, he has people in his hands and in his heart. Victor is also the head of the Latin American Inclusion and Diversity Council, so he has the opportunity to help ensure that the plant in Tlaxcala, Mexico, is truly living our company’s core values. The plant’s commitment to caring is exemplary, as evidenced by the fact that they were recently recognized by the Human Rights Commission of Tlaxcala.

On receiving recognition from the Human Rights Commission of Tlaxcala 

It’s a milestone for us because we’re talking about human rights at a higher level than the sense of paying wages or not hiring children. The award recognizes that we care for our employees and our communities, and we make sure that inclusion, equity, and diversity are part of our policies and part of our culture. We went through an audit, so they could see documents, walk our floors, and hear testimony demonstrating that our company is actually beyond just complying with the law — we’re making the employee experience something better than normal. In the employee life cycle, from being a candidate to retirement, Owens Corning Tlaxcala offers the possibility for people to make a future for themselves and their families while creating the materials that make the world a better place for our children.

On initiatives designed to increase equity in manufacturing 

We have what we call Pink Coffee on a weekly basis, where the Plant Director and I sit with frontline employees and have a friendly conversation where they can speak freely without fear of retaliation. Once a month, those Pink Coffees are just for women, where we ask them how they feel they’re being treated by the men in the company. Their standard answer is that it’s a good environment, and they feel they are treated well. This is important to me because we have had an ethics program in place for the last five years, making sure that the message is sent that we must have a positive culture without discrimination or harassment.

On taking steps toward a better future for everyone 

We can start by educating our children — or nieces, cousins, or friends if we don’t have children — and disseminate the message of respect as an act of consciousness and the love of everybody. We are all on the same rock called Earth, and the things we do affect other people. If I do something good, that small chain reaction can create a wave where everyone benefits. With education, we can drive our values, and eventually maybe society will be in a very different shape than it is today. I am sure the younger generations will do better than us. They’re thinking in a good direction toward respect and a better planet for everybody. We can continue to teach them by example the importance of doing something, because doing nothing is the same as going backwards.

International Olympic Committee news

As the Olympic Games Paris 2024 enter their second week, Rio de Janeiro marks the eighth anniversary of the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2016, whose impacts continue to shape the city.

Rio 2016, with its spectacular sporting performances, set new records for global visibility with half of the world’s population watching the coverage of the Games. The hosts wowed visitors by showcasing their best assets: vibrant culture, captivating music and stunning natural beauty.

The Opening Ceremony, held at the Maracanã Stadium, one of the world’s most famous football venues, set the tone with a spectacular display of Brazilian music and a tribute to the Atlantic rainforest. The iconic Copacabana Beach hosted beach volleyball, triathlon and marathon swimming, blending sport with urban natural scenery.

One of the biggest moments was Brazilian footballer Neymar leading his team to a historic gold medal in men’s football, igniting celebrations across the country. Just as she has done in Paris, Simone Biles captivated audiences with her extraordinary performances, and Usain Bolt’s triple victory, with gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, solidified his legacy as one of the greatest sprinters in history.

Beyond spectacular sport, the Games served as an opportunity to accelerate transformation in the city. While governance challenges delayed the full realisation of Rio 2016’s legacy plans, their positive impacts are visible today, proving that the Games helped lay the groundwork for new economic, social and environmental development.

For Rio, the Games were the beginning of a renewed future. Although it has taken some years for the legacy plans to come to fruition, the Games have brought tangible benefits, which have helped transform the city and improve the lives of its citizens.

Tania Braga
IOC Head of Olympic Games Impact and Legacy

Revitalising the heart of Rio

Organisers were determined to use the Games as a catalyst for structural and impactful projects to address Rio’s urban quality of life, infrastructure and social cohesion. Today, this legacy is most visible in the port region. Suffering from neglect, with decaying infrastructure and abandoned buildings, the area saw a spectacular revitalisation. The Porto Maravilha project transformed five million square metres of urban space. The demolition of the Perimetral Elevated Highway, cutting it off from the waterfront, finally unveiled the scenic beauty of Guanabara Bay, and reconnected this part of the city with its stunning waterfront.

The project replaced the elevated highway with tunnels, improved road infrastructure and created high-quality public spaces. It introduced a mixed-use neighbourhood, blending commercial and residential areas and reversing suburbanisation trends. Preserving and restoring its historic and monumental heritage, the area is a blend of modern and old.

Key attractions, including the Museum of Tomorrow and the Rio Art Museum, now draw millions of visitors, turning the area into a bustling cultural district. The transformation was achieved through public-private partnerships. Porto Maravilha now serves as a vibrant public space enjoyed by all layers of Rio’s society, showcasing the city’s commitment to preserving its history while fostering change and development.

Mobility and connectivity

The Games accelerated the development of Rio’s public transport infrastructure, helping to address the city’s long-standing issues with traffic congestion and inadequate public transport.

The creation of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Light Rail Vehicle (VLT) networks, the construction of Line 4 of the city subway and upgrades to the SuperVia rail network combined to reduce commute times significantly, while the daily number of trips taken on high-capacity transport more than doubled.

The BRT network, featuring over 150km of dedicated bus lanes, has benefitted residents in the previously underserved north and west zones in three main corridors – Transoeste, Transcarioca and Transolímpica. More recently, a fourth corridor – Transbrasil – was added to the network. The VLT system further complements the BRT network by providing an efficient and eco-friendly transport option in the downtown and port areas.

The upgrade to the SuperVia rail network added or refurbished stations, increasing passenger capacity by 25 per cent. This network serves the most socially vulnerable neighbourhoods of the Rio metropolitan area.

Integrating the various modes of metropolitan transport in Rio de Janeiro was one of the main improvements. In addition to 20 new public transport interchange hubs, a new transport ticket led to considerable cost reductions for those using multiple modes of transport.

Sustainable urban development

Rio’s commitment to long-term sustainability was showcased through the “nomadic architecture” concept, designing Olympic venues with their adaptive post-Games reuse in mind. The Arena of the Future, for example, a temporary sports venue located in the Barra Olympic Park, hosted handball and goalball competitions. It was constructed using modular components that could be easily dismantled and repurposed. Eight years after the event, it was transformed into four public schools, providing state-of-the-art facilities for 2,000 students.

Similarly, the swimming pools from the Olympic Aquatics Stadium were dismantled and reassembled. Three pools were relocated near the cities of Manaus, Salvador and São Paulo in 2019. The main swimming pool of the Aquatics Stadium was set up in Parque Radical in Inhoaíba in 2024, creating new recreational facilities for local communities.

Combining environmental and social benefits, the development of large green spaces such as Parque Madureira provided much-needed recreational areas and improved urban biodiversity. Parque Madureira was built along the railway line in a previously degraded area where electricity transmission towers used to stand, becoming a vital recreational hub and green space for over 1.4 million residents in the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The golf course was designed to maximise the presence of native vegetation, restore dunes within previously degraded areas and limit the turf grass to 38 per cent of the area. The result was the creation of 443,210m² (44 hectares) of new native vegetation, home to over 100 species of birds and over 263 species of mammals, frogs, snakes and lizards.

In what was a major sanitation improvement, the construction of the Waste Treatment Centre in Seropédica replaced the Gramacho landfill, significantly improving the city’s waste management system and reducing the pollution of Guanabara Bay.

Economic benefits

Organisers prioritised social inclusion and economic development. Access to basic services, employment, income for the poorest households and other issues relating to the city’s quality of life were improved, according to several studies on the economic and social impact of the Games.

An independent 2018 study by Brazil’s Institute of Applied Economic Research (IPEA) showed that the city’s gross domestic product would have been 7.5 per cent lower had it not hosted the Games. It also demonstrated that the income of Rio’s poorest five per cent of people grew by nearly 30 per cent in the pre-Olympic period (2012-2015), while the city’s unemployment rate was halved during the same period.

Additionally, the tourism sector experienced a substantial uplift, with Rio welcoming over 1.17 million tourists during the Games, generating an estimated USD 1.2 billion in revenue. The increase in tourism not only provided immediate economic benefits but also positioned Rio as a prime global destination for future events.

Education

Rio 2016 harnessed sport as a catalyst for change in Brazilian education. The Rio 2016 education programme benefitted more than eight million students nationwide before the Games. As of 2024, two legacy programmes – Transforma and Impulsiona – continue to deliver teaching support to over 77,000 schools. They have brought about positive behavioural change among students, and led to an increase in physical activity and the number of sports played at Brazilian schools.

For their part, Rio de Janeiro’s 12 Olympic Education High-schools (GEOs) provide full-time schooling for thousands of children across the city, allowing them to improve their sporting skills while receiving the best education in the classroom.

Some Rio 2016 competition venues have also been converted into public schools. The venue for Olympic taekwondo and fencing and Paralympic judo in 2016, Carioca Arena 3, is now a sports education institution offering an enhanced sports curriculum for 900 students, while Carioca Arena 2, the setting for Olympic judo and wrestling and Paralympic boccia, will open as a branch of the Federal Institute of Technical Education in 2025.

To find out more about Rio 2016 legacy click here.