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Solving the climate crisis will take all of us working together to build a safer, healthier, and more resilient future for all. We are therefore excited to become a part of the climate changemakers that are the We Don’t Have Time community. We had a great time at The Climate Hub at SXSW with We Don’t Have Time, and we are eager to continue contributing to the dialogue here and discuss how we move forward to achieve climate goals. Creating a bridge to a livable future for us on planet Earth is all about each of us taking the climate action that it is within our power to do. Let’s start off by telling you about four goals we are working hard to achieve. For decades, WWF has engaged with millions of Americans, leading businesses, and government leaders to address the climate emergency. At this critical moment, WWF is focusing its climate efforts in the places where it is well-positioned to make the most significant impact. Combining its global outreach with local expertise, WWF is leveraging capabilities across the organization to accomplish the following goals: - Support a more rapid transition of our economy to clean energy sources. - Promote the protection, management and restoration of nature as an effective means to mitigate climate change and to help protect communities from adverse impacts. - Ensure public and private funding streams that adequately support landscape-scale conservation efforts that deliver real climate benefits. - Adapt to the impacts which are already happening, where climate change is causing damage to our economy, our communities, and the ecosystems that support life on Earth. WWF Partnerships WWF has a long history of working with companies to encourage them to adopt climate-friendly goals and change their practices for the benefit of the planet. WWF's leadership is active within several coalitions and has already helped to move the needle on decarbonizing the US economy. Here are several of our partnerships that we are excited to be working with: - WWF is a partner in the Science Based Targets initiative, which helps companies commit to and achieve net zero emissions reduction targets. Last year, WWF helped develop the world’s first standard method for companies in land-intensive sectors to set science-based targets that include land-based emission reductions and removals, and has more recently helped launch Science Based Targets for Nature which additionally allow companies to set goals for nature conservation alongside their emissions targets. - The Climate Business Network (CBN) is a group of companies committed to transforming their businesses to dramatically reduce their emissions throughout their entire value chain. Each partner works both bilaterally with WWF climate experts and networks with other CBN members to drive forward on issues such as setting and implementing Science-Based Targets, engaging their supply chains and investing in emissions reductions beyond their value chain. - The Renewable Thermal Collaborative is the global coalition for companies, institutions, and governments committed to scaling up renewable heating and cooling at their facilities, which can dramatically reduce carbon emissions. The winner and recipient of a $10 million grant in the 2030 Climate Challenge, RTC has become a leader in renewable energy for industrial thermal processes, which are the third leading source of carbon emissions. - America Is All In is the largest coalition of non-federal stakeholders promoting the Paris climate goals — cutting U.S. emissions in half by 2030, and reaching net zero emissions by 2050, all the while reducing the impacts of climate disruption. The coalition is diverse and it includes states, tribal nations, cities, as well as academic, cultural and religious institutions and businesses. Nature’s greatest technology for combating climate change: Forests To make an immediate impact against climate change, we have a technology that is readily available, and has worked for thousands of years – forests. Forests have the natural ability to absorb carbon dioxide (CO2), and are already storing much of the world’s carbon emissions. With the climate crisis in full swing, we need to better protect Earth’s forests from deforestation and degradation so we don’t lose one of our best allies in fighting climate change. We must devote resources to the better management of our forests because scientists estimate that up to 13% of global carbon emissions come from deforestation. Here is how WWF is working to conserve and protect our forests — - WWF advocates for high integrity, high quality carbon markets. WWF recognizes that as we look for ways to encourage the use of nature to sequester excess carbon, it’s important to make sure that the tools being developed to do this secure real climate benefits, and also maximize co-benefits to nature and to communities. - WWF was one of the eight authoring organizations that issued The Tropical Forest Credit Integrity (TFCI) Guide. The TFCI has been developed for companies interested in purchasing carbon credits in the voluntary carbon market to differentiate among forest carbon credits by impact, quality, and scale. This will help move the market toward credits with high social and environmental integrity. - Curbing the flow of illegal and unsustainable logging. Forests will not survive unless the responsible management of them becomes the norm. WWF works to strengthen the US government’s ability to prosecute illegal timber cases; stop illicit logging in countries that export high volumes of timber; ensure full implementation of the Lacey Act; and design rural energy programs that rely on fuels other than firewood. - WWF and our partners developed the Carbon Credit Quality Initiative (CCQI). This tool allows participants in carbon markets and carbon credit transactions to obtain transparent information on the quality of carbon credits. This enables users to understand what types of carbon credits are more likely to deliver actual emission reductions as well as social and environmental benefits. - WWF works alongside nations as they accelerate and amplify conservation for a more sustainable, prosperous future for the people and planet through a collaboration called Enduring Earth. Central to our approach is Project Finance for Permanence, an innovative and proven model that fully funds conservation projects to ensure durable and scalable impact. Collaborative partners have applied this approach with five nations, conserving more than 90 million hectares and benefitting from thousands of people. Paying it Forward Achieving our climate goals and ensuring a livable future for our planet takes big ideas, committed collaboration, and, if we’re being honest, a lot of money. We have to make a lot of changes in how we handle the entire life cycle of nearly everything we use in our daily lives. We have to bolster the power of large landscapes to sequester carbon and meet our climate goals. And we have to make sure we have the right solutions in place to adapt to the changes global warming is already making to our planet. These things all cost money. WWF is focused on using its substantial knowledge of global markets and nature-based solutions to drive funding for climate action, specifically for the nature-based solutions that we need to help us reach net zero. Here's what WWF is doing to “secure the bag” for climate and secure our planet’s future: WWF is an Accredited Entity of the Green Climate Fund, which means we work to find and facilitate climate projects that can be funded by the GCF. Our most recent success is securing over $45 million from GCF to complete the funding portfolio for the HECO Columbia project, which will create a large landscape conservation project that will sequester more than 46.3 metric tonnes of carbon emissions reduced or avoided. WWF’s Nature-based Solutions Origination Platform has selected five landscapes to begin its pilot program. The Platform is designed to leverage both public and private finance to create large landscape conservation projects that exemplify the principles that maximize the benefits for climate, people and nature. They are to become the living examples of our supply and demand side blueprints for high-quality, high-integrity carbon interventions. Adapting to a Changing World and Bringing an End to the Fossil Fuel Era Until climate solutions are scaled globally, it's vital that we simultaneously support and protect communities and ecosystems that are feeling the brunt of climate disruption. WWF works with communities, governments, businesses and humanitarian and development organizations to help people adapt to climate change in harmony with nature. To do this we: - Partner with communities to design and implement locally-led adaptation solutions that utilize and reduce pressure on nature. - Integrate environmental considerations into disaster recovery, reconstruction, and risk reduction. - Engage the private sector to invest in solutions that build resilience for communities and the ecosystems they rely on. - Test innovative ideas that help wildlife in a changing climate through on-the-ground projects in places we work. If you’re interested in our work, we encourage you to follow us on We Don’t Have Time and check out our website. Let us know what you think and what you want to see from us next in the comments. Stay in the loop with the climate team at WWF by following Marcene Mitchell on her Twitter and LinkedIn, and WWF’s other social channels on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
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Most people have heard about reducing emissions by switching to electric cars or replacing fossil fuel plants with renewable energy parks. But there is another clean energy technology that isn’t talked about: green hydrogen. Green hydrogen can enable sectors such as heavy-duty transport and industry to transition away from fossil fuels, where they previously could not. However, some speed bumps in the way of its adoption need to be overcome through policy and business initiatives. While most fossil fuels can be phased out through electrification and renewable electricity, there are exceptions. Certain industrial processes and modes of transport cannot be electrified and are therefore reliant on fossil fuels like natural gas. This has long been a thorn in the side of the energy transition, but a solution is emerging that can solve this issue: Green hydrogen. What is Green Hydrogen? Hydrogen is already used for a lot of industrial processes like the production of ammonia and methanol. Through a reaction called steam methane reforming, natural gas is heated to separate hydrogen and release CO2 as a byproduct. This process creates what is typically called grey hydrogen since the process relies on fossil fuels and releases CO2. In contrast, green hydrogen is produced by passing an electric current through water, separating the hydrogen while only leaving oxygen as a byproduct. If the electricity produced comes from renewable energy sources, the process is entirely fossil-free and therefore green. This hydrogen can not only replace the grey hydrogen currently used in making methanol, ammonia, and more, but it also holds a lot of renewable electricity that can be used for heavy industry and heavy-duty transportation. - Hydrogen can be combusted at temperatures of over 2000°C, making it viable for industrial processes that require higher temperatures than current electrification technology can otherwise provide, such as the production of steel and cement, two of the world’s most used products. - Since hydrogen can store a lot of energy compared to a battery of the same weight, vehicles that need to travel long distances without stopping to charge can be powered by hydrogen fuel cells. This is important for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks but also for marine transportation, two sectors that are in desperate need of clean fuels in the short term. Green hydrogen has a lot of potential, but it needs to be supported by policymakers and businesses alike. For green hydrogen to help phase out fossil fuels, deliberate efforts are needed in policymaking, infrastructure, and financial incentives. Paving the Path for Green Hydrogen: Obstacles to Overcome Green hydrogen can be used in a lot of different ways, but that doesn’t always mean it should be. While the technology to develop hydrogen through renewable electricity continues to improve, the supply of green hydrogen will be limited in the near term. Since the electrolysis process involves a significant energy loss, it should only be used when there are no other viable alternatives for electrification, such as the previously mentioned cases of steel and cement production and heavy-duty transportation. These are also the sectors that are more likely to pay the extra cost of adopting and producing green hydrogen, due to the lack of alternatives. This increased cost can be an obstacle to adoption, but it’s mitigated in multiple ways. Aside from technological innovation reducing production costs, the Inflation Reduction Act provides the 45V Hydrogen Production Tax Credit, a tax credit for clean hydrogen that is based on emission intensity. This means that the tax credit for green hydrogen can be as high as $3 per kg of hydrogen produced. Compared to the production cost of $5-6 per kg of green hydrogen, the tax credit can reduce the price by more than half, supporting the adoption of this technology significantly. If technological innovation, policy support, and demand from customers all fall into place, green hydrogen has a bright future ahead of it and can be scaled to be a crucial part of the energy transition. There are, however, some things that have to be considered to make this scale-up sustainable and beneficial for a carbon-free society. Making Sure the Hydrogen Stays Green In late 2023, the United States Treasury released a set of guidelines outlining demands that the hydrogen industry must meet to get the tax credit on hydrogen production. The main issues that the production needs to address are “three pillars” related to the electricity used to produce the hydrogen: temporal matching, incrementality, and deliverability. Temporal matching refers to the requirement to match the amount of electricity being used in hydrogen production to the amount of zero-carbon electricity being produced within a specified time period. If the energy used for hydrogen production equals the supply of zero-carbon electricity, the hydrogen can not be considered fully green. To begin with, the matching period will be annual, but due to the variance of renewable energy supply over the year, this will not necessarily mean that every kg of hydrogen will be produced using clean energy. Coal and natural gas generation will be used for hydrogen production when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. Therefore, the Treasury has proposed a phase-in of hourly matching starting in 2028. All hydrogen projects, including those built before 2028, will be required to meet hourly matching requirements to be eligible for the highest-level credits from 2028 onwards. Incrementality, or additionality, requires that electricity used for green hydrogen production is new and explicitly dedicated to hydrogen production. The proposed guidance requires new renewable generation or new carbon capture and storage (CCS) installed at existing fossil fuel power plants within three years of hydrogen production, to ensure that hydrogen production does not take away clean energy that would otherwise be used for reducing emissions elsewhere. Finally, deliverability focuses on the geographic boundaries – how close hydrogen production needs to be to renewable electricity generation. The guidance requires them to be in the same region as defined by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Transmission Needs Study, which is mapped to balancing authorities. Aside from these requirements, hydrogen molecules can easily pass through most materials due to their small size, meaning that leakage is a significant risk in hydrogen production. This is a concern because hydrogen combustion, like any combustion reaction that heats air to high temperatures, creates harmful pollutants called nitrogen oxides. These are linked to smog, acid rain, and damaging health impacts such as asthma and respiratory infections. To address these issues, more stringent environmental, health, and safety standards need to be implemented throughout green hydrogen production, storage, transportation, and use. It is also important to consider that historically, communities of color and low-income communities are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change and air pollution. To ensure that the hydrogen market is growing in a just and equitable way, local communities and affected workforces should be meaningfully engaged and included in the design and development of hydrogen projects. The potential for green hydrogen as an enabler in the clean energy transition is important in the short and long term if given the right conditions to scale. If you want to learn more about this potential, check out this article and this podcast episode on the WWF website.
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Wow love this looking forward
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An exciting development is on the horizon – a story of innovation and collaboration that unites nature and technology to protect mangroves and coastal communities from the impacts of climate change. Crafted by WWF’s dedicated adaptation team and generously supported by Google’s philanthropic arm, ManglarIA is set to revolutionize our approach to conserving mangrove ecosystems. ManglarIA, which means "AI for Mangroves" in Spanish, is more than just a tool – it's a dynamic initiative that embraces advanced technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), to gain a better understanding of how climate change impacts mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are instrumental in capturing and storing carbon, with the ability to sequester up to four times more organic carbon per hectare than other types of forests. Their conservation is critical to mitigating climate change, as the loss of mangroves results in a disproportionately high release of greenhouse gas emissions, and at the same time, mangroves act as an important adaptation measure through their role in protecting coastal communities against storm surges and sea level rise. In Mexico, the project team is working tirelessly to protect and restore these crucial ecosystems and their substantial contributions to local livelihoods and economies. The threats they face, from coastal development to shrimp farming, are compounded by the additional challenges posed by climate change, such as more frequent hurricanes, shifting rainfall patterns, and rising sea levels. Nevertheless, our understanding of how mangroves respond to shifting weather and climate patterns remains limited, hindering the development of effective conservation strategies. Critical questions remain: how long does it take for mangroves to recover from tropical storms? Which sites are most suitable for restoration given changing environmental conditions? How does the evolving climate affect mangroves' capacity to store carbon? And how are economic activities that depend on mangroves influenced by these changes? To bridge this gap, we need data – and this is precisely what ManglarIA offers. Over the next three years, WWF and partners, including local communities, research institutions, and government bodies like CONABIO, will deploy a network of sensors, encompassing automated weather stations, CTD (conductivity, temperature, and depth) devices, LIDAR-equipped drones, camera traps, and more, in biosphere reserves along Mexico's Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. This sensor network will provide real-time data, enabling the continuous monitoring of environmental variables crucial to mangrove health, with AI playing a pivotal role in analyzing this data. In Mexico, ManglarIA will offer robust data to support the country's climate change mitigation and adaptation commitments under the Paris Agreement. The knowledge gained through this initiative will also be widely shared with academic and conservation communities. This will allow governments to benefit from a model that leverages existing technology to provide actionable climate risk information for protected area management plans. Companies interested in supporting nature-based solutions will also gain confidence that their investments will yield long-lasting climate and community benefits. The vision for ManglarIA is clear: with the knowledge gained, a powerful, replicable model will be available to inform the restoration and management of critical ecosystems worldwide. Perhaps that's why this remarkable project has secured a coveted $5 million grant from Google.Org's Impact Challenge on Climate Innovation, symbolizing the growing trend of enhancing nature-based solutions with state-of-the-art technology. ManglarIA represents a powerful ally in closing our information gap, paving the way for durable nature-based solutions that combat climate change and safeguard lives and livelihoods.
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Certainly a great input towards solving the climate crisis.
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Putting the power of tech to use in the right locations - great!
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The modern Technology is very powerful an useful in impacting our environment
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America is all in
In all fifty states, at every level of government, and across every sector of the economy, we must go all in to solve the climate crisis.
https://www.americaisallin.com/
We Don’t Have Time recently caught up with Elizabeth Lien, the newly appointed Senior Director of Federal Climate Policy at WWF, to discuss the latest developments within ‘America is All In’. As we approach COP28, the conversation sheds light on the coalition's fresh leadership and upcoming initiatives. Elizabeth, can you help us understand the origins and objectives of America is All In? “America is All In launched in 2017 after the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Agreement. [The coalition] included subnational partners, such as governments, the private sector, academia, and later, higher education institutions, tribes, religious institutions, and other groups. [This coalition] doubled down on the climate agenda and said, ‘We Are Still In,’ even though the federal government, at that time, was taking a step back. Since the Biden administration came into office, the [‘We Are Still In’] Coalition rebranded as ‘America is All In’ to focus on climate ambition and climate action in a significant way. We focus on coalition services such as education and technical assistance. We also do a lot of convenings and storytelling to bring folks together for tent-pole events like New York Climate Week and COP.” You mentioned some rebranding of America is All In. Tell us more. “On President Biden’s first day in office, the administration returned to the Paris Agreement. It became clear that climate would be a significant priority for this administration, and ‘America is All In’ recognized this. The coalition saw the administration as a partner needed to make progress at the subnational level and focused on subnational work in partnership with the federal government. It also acts as a model to other international partners thinking about ways to enlist subnational partners for climate action. That's created several other subnational programs that WWF International helps support in several countries around the world.” Managing domestic efforts in the United States and serving as a model for other countries is a big task. Beginning with the domestic front, could you provide examples of subnational initiatives that America is All In supported? How do you see the impacts on communities? “There are a couple of examples that I could point to. I am going to raise two. One is Oak City Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, which has a long history and dynamic community. They invested in solar panels because they liked having independence off the grid to maintain power during blackouts. With financial support from the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA] and some state incentives, they can pay off the balance of their debt owed on the solar panels after five years. Yet, solar panels have a lifespan of 15 to 20 years. In essence, there will be free power after those five years. Those savings are reinvested in the parish and the community, which is significant. The other example is in Erie, Pennsylvania. Here, the [city] had more to think through – as a way to provide emergency services in the event of power blackouts or brownouts. The city figured out who had the most real estate on a roof, and a fire station [was chosen] to invest in solar power and battery backup systems. Folks could bring their insulin or other medications to the fire station to refrigerate for up to four days. So that's another example of using IRA resources and a city’s ingenuity to ensure they fully utilized space.” Looking internationally, what are some of the subnational programs that excite you? “When I was at the Treasury Department, I worked on negotiating the Just Energy Transition Partnerships, the first of which was with the South African government. South Africa is at an interesting point where the federal government is going through a significant energy transformation to shift from coal to renewable energy. The dynamics within the country are such that provinces and communities are engaged and vocal about the transition. With communities included in the process, it ensures that the energy transformation is equitable. That sort of partnership has been wonderful to see. In my current position, there's this through-line of supporting communities to decide what their future will look like in a way that aligns with their climate goals. I want to highlight these other subnational groups because ‘America is All In’ is a model that has worked. It sprang up by communities, businesses, and states saying, ‘We are not okay with the direction of travel of the federal government, and we are going to stand up to say that this is unacceptable from our standpoint.’ We need to voice what this coalition believes is the right path forward. So it's been helpful to understand the international context in order to translate the US model to partners who are trying to think through these issues now.” Community involvement is a key for you, and America Is All In. Is there anything you are excited about for how to approach grassroots community action compared to top-down policies? “I'm excited about our partnership with the Bullard Center. Dr. Robert Bullard is the father of environmental justice in the United States. Their focus is on the communities that have received the brunt of environmental pollution in the past or are at more risk. These communities need to be a part of the conversation so that the economic benefits of federal programs, like the Inflation Reduction Act [IRA], can benefit them. Thinking through how to bring in those voices as we convene mayors, governors, business leaders, and everyone else is critical and a throughline in all our work. It has to be community-led and community-defined. It really cannot be top-down. What is helpful to be top-down are resources as part of the IRA that provide critical investment for companies to recognize and invest in environmental justice issues.” How do you see America Is All In’s role in the upcoming climate negotiations in Dubai? “COP28 is going to be very interesting. Bloomberg Philanthropies and the COP 28 Presidency have created the Local Climate Action Summit, and ‘America is All In’ will design some of the events. The summit will highlight US leadership to provide opportunities for US mayors, governors, private sector leaders, and other social leaders to compare notes and discuss how to further climate action in their communities to be distilled, encapsulated, and shared with the broader COP community. We also have a suite of programming where we highlight all of the fantastic work that is going on in the United States. We have new data on the uptake of renewables deployment in the United States since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. Climate Power recently came out with this report that points to a significant uptick in the number of jobs created, projects announced, and investment dollars out the door to support the renewable energy transition. We [also] have three days of programing in the WWF Panda Pavilion or the ‘America's All In’ Pavillion. It is a great opportunity to hear from experts on everything ranging from agricultural issues to environmental justice to the US federal view of the future of the EV market.” Within your suite of programming, what are you personally most excited for? “I am really excited about a couple of panels. One focuses on the coal-to-clean transition, where we would like to highlight the US story and hear from other communities around the world transitioning from coal to clean. COP28 provides that opportunity to learn from each other in a way that other events don't. We have a lot to share and a lot to learn. These international climate meetings allow us to have conversations we often don't prioritize daily. I am also excited about the Local Climate Action Summit. Mayors in the United States have so much experience charting paths and being practical in using tools at their disposal and creating tools along the way. Mayors around the world are the same in that way. You just have to be super creative. Sharing experiences will provide that spark [creativity] that can carry things forward in many instances. We are currently updating the strategy for ‘America Is All In’ to think about how to be most impactful for our members. COP is the sponge to learn what others are doing and then readjust to consider how you can be most impactful. This is the decade of action. If the United States doesn't act as a leader and show progress by 2030, we will not be able to meet our climate commitments. All of our partners must be laser-focused on making progress and implementing programs as quickly and as effectively as possible.” You mentioned some reworking of strategy. What can we expect to see in 2024 for America Is All In? “I can give some high-level themes. When it comes to the ‘America Is All In’ leadership, we are extraordinarily lucky to have Gina McCarthy as the managing co-chair. She is engaged, dynamic, and thoughtful about working with us to ensure the strategy is as impactful as possible. By bringing in Lisa Jackson from Apple, we now have a voice from the private sector and the tech industry. We also have Vi Lyles, mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, Michael Bloomberg, and Jay Inslee, Governor of Washington State. We are identifying coalition gaps and bringing those voices from other economic sectors to have a more balanced view. We are also enhancing our coalition services. We partner with the Ceres and RMI to determine where investment can make the most impact. We will continue to provide the technical services that our members lean on, like the Federal Climate Funding Hub, which updates deadlines for IRA applications, and other federal programs to help interpret some of those programs. We will continue this focus on convenings and events to foster peer learning and celebrate milestones. Then, we will ensure that all our communications and storytelling focus on highlighting stories that show impact and share diversity.” Speaking of engagement and narratives, where can people tune in to watch the discussions happening in your Pavillon at COP28? “We have a dedicated website on the ‘America Is All In’ platform dedicated to COP28 activities. All of our events, except for private discussions, will be live-streamed. We will have some social media kits coming out beforehand to get folks excited for what I think will be a very dynamic COP.” Follow ‘America is All In’ here! Thank you, Elizabeth Lien, for taking the time to speak with us! https://www.americaisallin.com/
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I am impressed with the work that America Is All In is doing to address climate change at the subnational level.
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This is the kind of news we want to hear the commitment towards climate change.
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Beautiful news
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Amid the electrifying atmosphere at Climate Week NYC, Marcene Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Climate Change at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), unveiled the transformative potential of WWF’s Green on Green initiative. With a focus on expediting the transition to renewable energy, Mitchell's message underscored the urgency of addressing climate change, the importance of responsible implementation, and the critical role of community engagement. On September 19, Marcene Mitchell joined the We Don't Have Time Media Lounge from the Nest Climate Campus to shed light on WWF's initiative to combat climate change through renewable energy. Mitchell explained that the Green on Green initiative is a strategic move to transition from fossil fuels while prioritizing nature conservation and community benefits. She emphasized the concept of "green on green," which signifies the transition to green renewable energy while ensuring the well-being of green nature. The Green on Green Initiative: Accelerating Strategically A central goal of the Green on Green initiative is to speed up the transition to renewable energy. Mitchell stressed the pressing urgency to move away from fossil fuels, especially with the upcoming global stocktake for COP, which serves as a barometer for the Paris Agreement's goals. She remarked, "As you can suspect, we are not doing so well." She posed a question critical to reversing this trend: "How do we double between now and the next seven years?" Currently, the United States relies on renewables for about 40% of its energy needs. Rapid and substantial progress is essential to meet the 2030 target of 80% renewable energy and the 2035 goal of 100%. “That's what the Green on Green is about. It's about accelerating that,” Mitchell emphasized. Balancing Speed and Responsible Implementation At the heart of the Green on Green initiative lies the commitment to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy sources while minimizing their adverse environmental effects and maximizing benefits for communities. Mitchell expressed, "What I call Green on Green is my way of saying that we need to accelerate green, but we need to also be careful and make sure we're not impacting nature and that we're bringing benefits to people." Mitchell went on to stress the imperative of learning from the mistakes made during the fossil fuel era when implementing renewable energy projects. She cautioned, "There's always an impact whenever you're putting in infrastructure; whenever you're doing major changes, you're going to have some impacts. But the idea is that we need to make sure we're not making the same mistakes that we made in the fossil fuel era where we just extracted and used." Responsible implementation that minimizes harm to nature while delivering tangible benefits to affected communities is paramount. Mitchell describes, “We can do this better. We can do it right. We can limit the impacts on nature. We can increase the benefits to the people and the communities that are affected. So that's what we hope to do.” Community Engagement and Nature-Positive Projects Community engagement, as articulated by Mitchell, is a cornerstone of success in renewable energy deployment. As she positioned it, "Renewable energy deployment is actually a local story, right? It's really at your state or your city or your county level that approves this deployment. And so it really is important that local groups and community members have a voice on it." Mitchell went on to say that it involves "reaching out to communities, getting them to understand that this could have some positive impacts for their lives that have their voices met, and not to do the same old thing that we've done in the past." Mitchell encouraged a more streamlined approach in addressing the challenges of electricity grid connectivity and the sometimes tedious aspects of renewable energy implementation, such as permitting and zoning. She pointed out, "The hard part about once we get to the implementation, it's really boring stuff, right? We're talking about permitting and spacing and zoning, but we have to start getting good at boring stuff." Mitchell highlighted that success in these less glamorous aspects is a sign of doing things effectively, but that there also exists the need for a more streamlined approach, saying, "No longer can we take 8, 10, 12 years to put up a facility. Not if we're going to reach our goals. But there's a way to do it. And I think if we work together, we can get there." A Brighter Future with Clean Energy In a world where the alternative is a climate catastrophe driven by continued fossil fuel use, Marcene Mitchell's emphasis on clean energy and its benefits couldn't be more relevant. She passionately noted, "So many people, we don't recognize how many people die from air pollution, and that can be avoided with these new renewable technologies." As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change, the Green on Green initiative stands as a beacon of hope, offering a responsible and community-focused approach to accelerate the transition to renewable energy while safeguarding the natural world. Marcene Mitchell's insights serve as a call to action, reminding us that the time to act is now, and the path to a sustainable future lies in our collective efforts to embrace green energy solutions. Watch the full interview by Marcene Mitchell at the Nest Climate Campus during Climate Week NYC here: https://www.wedonthavetime.org/events/thenestclimatecampus2023#/search/nvve6mbqgrxuetcigvpws4smou4xgmkz?q=marcene%20mitchell
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It was great to hear from Marcene at NYC Climate Week! Right on point, we can't have a green transition without protecting biodiversity!
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@sarah_chabane I strongly agree with you
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Together as one with one purpose.
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Imagine a world where industries thrive without compromising the environment, where sustainability is not a luxury but a norm. At the moment, reality is starkly different. The industrial sector is a major contributor to the growing greenhouse gas emissions crisis, responsible for a quarter of the United States' emissions. And its emissions have only been increasing since 2010. But a promising route is emerging– one that not only addresses the challenges but also offers tangible solutions. Industrial thermal energy creates many of the products we use in our everyday lives. Manufacturers apply heat throughout the production process: when washing, drying, steaming, sterilizing, etc.—generating approximately 13% of all total US emissions. And a majority of this thermal energy and heat originates from fossil fuels. Enter the game-changing Renewable Thermal Vision Report, a collaborative effort between Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the Renewable Thermal Collaborative (RTC). The crux of the Vision Report lies in its actionable solutions to map out the trajectory towards a sustainable industrial sector, mostly driven by renewable energy sources. That’s because this report unearthed a game-changing revelation: nearly 80% of these emissions arise from low and medium heat processes, providing a tangible opportunity for change. Low and medium heat processes are less energy intensive and therefore may be more easily electrified with cost-competitive technologies, such as industrial heat pumps and thermal energy storage. This offers a pragmatic and impactful opportunity to curtail greenhouse gas emissions so that industry can act now, even as other solutions, such as green hydrogen, become more commercially available over time. The conversion of low and medium energy has the potential to slash US industrial thermal emissions by nearly 80%, making substantial strides towards industrial decarbonization as a whole. The Vision Report offers potential pathways forward for the US industry by analyzing the six industry sectors that produce the most thermal emissions– Cement, Chemicals, Food, Iron & Steel, Paper, and Refineries. The unique characteristics and challenges of each require tailor-made solutions to reduce thermal emissions and transition to low-carbon fuel sources. - Cement Sector: Cement production is the sixth largest source of thermal emissions in the US industrial sector, and over 80% comes from high heat processes. Typically reliant on coal for kiln fuel, cement producers should displace fossil fuels with increased use of waste biomass, renewable natural gas, and green hydrogen as supplies become available and costs come down. - Chemicals Sector: Diverse in its outputs, the Chemicals sector spans plastics, fertilizers, and pharmaceuticals. Production processes like cracking, drying, and distillation represent a balanced mix of high, medium and low temperature heat, requiring several simultaneous paths to decarbonize. These include the electrification of low and some medium temperature applications, the use of green hydrogen and waste biomass, and renewable natural gas for medium and high heat applications. - Food & Beverage Sector: Food processing is the fourth largest source of thermal emissions in the US industrial sector. Low-temperature processes such as drying, baking, and pasteurizing dominate this sector and are well-suited for electrification in the immediate and long term. An in-depth report can be found here. - Iron & Steel Sector: Iron and steel production is the third largest source of emissions in the US industrial sector. While more than two-thirds of US steel facilities today are electrified, the remaining conventional blast furnaces generate three-quarters of the thermal emissions for the sector. To decarbonize, the sector should deploy green hydrogen in direct reduction iron-electric arc furnaces to accelerate the phase-out of conventional furnaces. - Paper Sector: Production of paper products is the fifth largest source of emissions in the US industrial sector. The sector's low-temperature processes, such as drying and pulping, constitute 75% of the sector’s thermal energy use. Electrifying these processes and optimizing waste biomass as a low-carbon fuel source offer an effective decarbonization strategy. - Refineries Sector: Oil refining is the largest source of thermal emissions in the US industrial sector. About two-thirds of thermal energy used in refineries originates from refining process byproducts; therefore, although renewable natural gas, biomass, and green hydrogen can potentially displace fossil fuels, their supplies may have a higher impact in other sectors, and carbon capture may be the key decarbonization strategy as global fossil fuel usage (and refinery energy consumption) diminishes between 2030 and 2050. Each of these actionable solutions can be seen as one of the five parallel pathways, each a viable route to decarbonization by 2050: 1. Electrify industry processes: Swap fossil fuels for electricity through innovative technologies such as heat pumps and electric steam boilers, effectively reducing emissions in low and medium temperature operations. 2. Green the grid: Transition to a carbon-free electric grid by harnessing renewable power sources and leveraging creative solutions like virtual power purchase agreements. 3. Deploy renewable fuels: Embrace sustainable alternatives like renewable natural gas and biomass, as well as high-heat industrial processes powered by green hydrogen. 4. Deploy renewable technologies: Scale up solar thermal and thermal storage paired with intermittent renewables, amplifying clean technology combinations for emissions reduction. 5. Capture and store carbon: Implement carbon capture and storage solutions, including direct air capture, to secure emissions reduction in select sectors as a bridge in transition to clean processes. These pathways offer a comprehensive array of options, empowering the industrial sector to close the emissions gap. By embracing these strategies, the sector can not only contribute to a more sustainable future but also set an example for others to follow. Through actionable advice, it paints a vivid picture of an industrial sector poised for transformation. By heeding its insights, we embark on a journey toward a greener, more sustainable world—one that holds promise not only for the industrial sector but for society as a whole. The time for action is now; let us chart the course toward a brighter, more sustainable future.
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Very interesting, the thermal energy industry is not something we hear about very often, but it has a real impact!
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We can do it 💪
WWFUS
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Seaweed farming allows us to revolutionize how we think about ocean health, climate mitigation, and food security. Seaweed doesn’t need fertilizer, pesticides, or farmland to grow, and its production has doubled over the last decade, resulting in an annual harvest of over 30 million tons and creating a market worth $11.8 billion. In the fight against the global decline in biodiversity and climate change, the preservation and growth of global seaweed forests are vital since they pack a mighty punch — estimates point to seaweed accounting for nearly 200 million tonnes of CO2 sequestered each year, while providing crucial habitat for marine biodiversity and building up resilience for fish stocks. However, the world’s wild seaweed forests face various challenges, such as pollution, overharvesting, coastal developments, heatwaves, and ocean warming. By safeguarding seaweed forests, we provide support to marine life and the economies of coastal communities. Additionally, we invest in a powerful solution for biodiversity and climate preservation, all while ensuring the conservation of fisheries resources. WWF is working with organizations, scientists, and local communities on the frontlines of protecting and growing seaweed forests to support their reforestation. One organization that we are particularly proud to work closely with is SeaForester, which is on a mission to “restore the forgotten forests in our ocean.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEYSbf0sDx0 SeaForester's biodiversity and climate solution is innovative, and we will walk you through how it’s transforming underwater ecosystems. SeaForester first begins with the seeding of small stones with seaweed spores. After these stones spend time in a nursery on land, where conditions mimic the local aquatic environments, the seeded stones are scattered from a boat into the ocean. There, they continue to grow, forming a new seaweed forest in just a few years. This process of seeding seaweed spores onto stones, called ‘Green Gravel,’ is a low-cost and scalable solution to reforesting the ocean’s seaweed forests, and it doesn’t need divers or technical equipment. To maximize the results of their biodiversity and climate solution, SeaForester is also active in educating the broader public and involving coastal communities in their projects. Together with their partners at MARE-IPLeiria, they continue to optimize their solution and make it ready for application to other coastal regions worldwide. Last year, SeaForester was a finalist in The Earthshot Prize, which their nomination focused on reviving the Earth’s oceans. Click here to read more about SeaForester’s profile in The Earthshot Prize competition. WWF is proud to be supporting SeaForester’s work. Supporting two SeaForester projects has allowed us to witness firsthand their transformative influence on the environment and local communities, leaving us with a deep appreciation. More about WWF’s work with Farmed Seaweed: As a result of generous support from partners, WWF is investing in innovative companies focusing on scaling seaweed production to meet conservation and societal challenges. To fully capitalize on the economic and climate benefits, they need to be scaled up in a big way. WWF’s Senior Director of Impact Investing and Ecosystems Services, Aquaculture, Paul Dobbins, came out of retirement to work on this important task of scaling seaweed sectors around the North Atlantic rim and the Eastern Pacific. You can read about Paul Dobbin and his work here.
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A big thank you to everyone for all the positive feedback and our partners at WWF US for their continued support in bringing back the forgotten forests in our ocean. SeaForester will soon expand to other affected coastlines across the world, creating impact for local communities and restoring the health of our one ocean.
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We love all that SeaForester team does - also the yummy Seaweed Solutions 😋
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It's fantastic to see WWF's work in protecting our oceans and supporting organizations like SeaForester, who have an awesome climate solution!
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This is a great move by WWF
WWFUS
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“How do we take care of each other? What is our responsibility to the next generation? That’s why the climate crisis is hard because it affects people far away and it affects people who aren’t even born yet. Those are going to be moral choices that we are going to have to make, but money is not the bottom-line issue. We can’t take on the whole world, but we can take on the changes within our sphere of influence. You and I can’t decide about renewable energy policy, but we could put a solar panel on our roof. We can do the things that we can do. We can buy the car, we can influence people, we can vote, we can lobby, and we can be at that local school meeting or local city council meeting.” - Marcene Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Climate Change, World Wildlife Fund. Although we're in a climate crisis, we shouldn't feel hopeless. We’ve seen the passing of some historic climate action legislation such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS Act, to the recent Inflation Reduction Act, with billions of tax incentives earmarked toward climate solutions. However, while large financial commitments toward historic climate action have made waves in the media, their immediate effects may not be felt enough to where average Americans know that their life or community is benefiting from the climate legislation. Marcene Mitchell, Senior Vice President of Climate Change at the World Wildlife Fund, joined The Climate Hub at SXSW in the Financing the Just Transition segment to break down the historic climate legislation and explain why American households should be taking notice. The Road to the Just Transition For decades, the World Wildlife Fund has engaged with leading businesses, government leaders, and millions of Americans to prepare for inevitable change and reduce the emissions that drive climate change. WWF recognizes the influential role that the United States has in fighting the climate crisis. Marcene shared, “We just passed three important pieces of legislation – the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS Act. Together, these three acts make for $800 billion in the clean economy. It will reduce our emissions by up to 41% by 2030.” So what does $800 billion in the clean economy look like in your everyday life and how will it impact the community you live in? - Americans can now take advantage of a $7500 tax credit, making electric vehicle ownership more affordable than ever before. Given that the transportation sector is one of the leading GHG emitters in the US, it's crucial to encourage more Americans to own an electric vehicle. The adoption of electric vehicles and the decarbonization of American transportation will have significant positive impacts on reducing air pollution, mitigating climate change, and improving public health. - $3200 in annual tax credits exist for Americans to make their homes and buildings more energy efficient and less reliant on fossil fuels. Establishing more climate-friendly buildings and homes will be important since the heating and cooling of buildings add up to nearly 43% of all energy use in the US. Americans can tap into these tax credits by improving building energy efficiency through measures such as heat pump installation, insulation, and electrical panel upgrading. - Tax credits are also available for businesses that purchase solar energy systems. Alongside governments, industries are a vital part of reaching climate targets. Tax credits for businesses that use renewable energy can further reinforce the need for society to shift away from fossil fuels. The more businesses that adopt clean energy, the lesser the carbon footprint. The $800 billion allocation towards the clean economy, tax credits, and other incentives is a great start. Yet, we must ensure that the benefits of electric vehicles and other climate incentives also are available to low and middle-income individuals and families, and not just the wealthy. Combating the climate crisis is a group effort. Building a Greener Tomorrow Takes Hope Marcene broke down the importance of the recent historic climate legislation, and how American families can expect to benefit from it, but she wanted to make sure the unwavering message of hope remains a beacon to younger generations — especially in the face of the climate crisis. She said, “Hope is non-negotiable. Sometimes people say ‘failure is not an option’, but the reality is that failure happens all the time. Yet, losing hope is not an option for us. Hope is for this planet – there’s no giving up on this, there’s no slowing down, there’s no stepping back and giving into depression or denial. That’s what I ask for the younger generation – is to have hope.” A greener tomorrow starts with the hope and courage to act on climate action today. The time to act is now. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpBK0a0RpTs&t=3102s Stay in the loop with our climate action! WWF is on We Don’t Have Time, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You can follow Marcene Mitchell on Twitter and LinkedIn.
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Change begins with everyone taking initiative even in their small ways
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Thank you for explaining how the $800 billion will impact everyday Americans. It was really interesting to learn. I'm excited to follow you on We Don't Have Time!
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Everybody should remain hopeful and take the necessary actions. Thank you Madam Mitchell.
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Great to have you with us hoping to learn from you.
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So glad to have you here 💚 WWF is such an emblematic organisation for the environmental movement!
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Welcome!