Lauren Singer

Actionable and impactful. NYC with Mayor Adams is proving that one dedicated city leader and his team can have a hugely positive impact on food choices. The Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge aims to Reduce Food-Related Carbon Emissions by 25 Percent by 2030 and the city is leading ahead. Between Fiscal Year 2019 and Fiscal Year 2022, the total greenhouse gas emissions from food served in city agencies decreased by 26.7 percent, ahead of schedule to reduce emissions by 33 percent by 2030! The commitments made by Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge partners have the potential to reduce emissions by nearly 40,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year — the equivalent of removing approximately 100 million car miles from New York City streets or planting 45 thousand acres of forest. Committed companies like Aramark and Good Eating Company (US) have joined and will drive this change. Im so excited to see other cuties follow this work. Congrats to Greener by Default for being the cities partner on this mission. #sustainablepolicy #changeispossible #foodchange

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Did you know that 20% of New York City's overall emissions come from production and consumption of food? And that worldwide, food systems are responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions? Ahead of #EarthDay, The Rockefeller Foundation is signing on to the city's Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge to tackle this problem. Through this initiative, we are committing to reducing our food-related emissions by 25% by 2030. It feels especially personal to see the Foundation taking action in my own community here in New York. I hope this commitment inspires more partners and more action on climate. The Rockefeller Foundation is in this fight, but it's only possible when we work together. There is plenty more to come. https://lnkd.in/ejJV-3v5

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Climate Capital Guidebook: The Biden-Harris Administration is releasing a new Climate Capital Guidebook to provide a simple, comprehensive map of capital programs across the federal government that are available to climate-related start-ups, small- and medium-sized businesses, and their investors. While larger, institutionally-backed climate companies may have the resources to identify and access federal funding opportunities, smaller enterprises may face greater challenges in navigating these federal programs. https://lnkd.in/eJ3QV4Fw #climatechange #climatetech

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Discussing a #Carbon Tax with Dr. Gilbert Metcalf: https://j.mp/2VkgEyb Rate It Green spoke with economist Dr. Gilbert Metcalf of Tufts University about carbon taxes, the Green New Deal, role of the EPA, border carbon adjustments, and bringing others to the table on climate change. His perspective was enlightening in terms of how to curtail emissions and smoothly transition to a clean energy-based economy. Dr. Metcalf, Professor of Economics and the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service, is the author of Paying for Pollution: Why a Carbon Tax is Good for America (2019). His primary research area is applied public finance with particular interests in taxation, energy, and environmental economics and has taught at Princeton University, the Kennedy School of Government, and MIT. A carbon tax has seemed like a practical solution and a pretty good idea since Dr. Metcalf first studied environmental economics and learned about externalities, consequences of activities or commercial that aren't factored into costs. It seems like solving this problem with a market mechanism if possible ought to be a pretty widely appealing idea... right? So, let's discuss why we don't have a carbon tax yet. Add your opinion! @GibMetcalf @TuftsUniversity #carbontax #energy #economy #business #fossilfuels #environment #sustainability #incentives #tax #renewableenergy #bipartisan #policy #emissions #SDGs #GHGs #politics #climatechange

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Discussing a #Carbon Tax with Dr. Gilbert Metcalf: https://j.mp/2VkgEyb Rate It Green spoke with economist Dr. Gilbert Metcalf of Tufts University about carbon taxes, the Green New Deal, role of the EPA, border carbon adjustments, and bringing others to the table on climate change. His perspective was enlightening in terms of how to curtail emissions and smoothly transition to a clean energy-based economy. Dr. Metcalf, Professor of Economics and the John DiBiaggio Professor of Citizenship and Public Service, is the author of Paying for Pollution: Why a Carbon Tax is Good for America (2019). His primary research area is applied public finance with particular interests in taxation, energy, and environmental economics and has taught at Princeton University, the Kennedy School of Government, and MIT. A carbon tax has seemed like a practical solution and a pretty good idea since Dr. Metcalf first studied environmental economics and learned about externalities, consequences of activities or commercial that aren't factored into costs. It seems like solving this problem with a market mechanism if possible ought to be a pretty widely appealing idea... right? So, let's discuss why we don't have a carbon tax yet. Add your opinion! @GibMetcalf @TuftsUniversity #carbontax #energy #economy #business #fossilfuels #environment #sustainability #incentives #tax #renewableenergy #bipartisan #policy #emissions #SDGs #GHGs #politics #climatechange

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🚀 Thrilling News In The World Of Climate Tech! 🌍💡 The latest report from PitchBook reveals a staggering $8.1 Billion raised by climate tech startups in Q1 of 2024. 📈 This near-record amount signals a robust resurgence after a quieter end to 2023, indicating that the slowdown may have been just a blip. Despite a slight decrease in the number of deals, the value soared by nearly 400%, with investors showing keen interest in materials like green steel and battery minerals. 🔋💰 Leading the charge were early-stage firms like Climate Capital, Lowercarbon Capital, and SOSV, with notable deals including H2 Green Steel's $4.5 Billion raise for sustainable steel production and Ascend Elements' $162 Million boost for battery recycling. 🌱💰 These investments are not only bolstering innovative technologies but also paving the way for a greener future. As we continue to navigate the "valley of death," lessons learned from companies like H2 Green Steel and Ascend Elements will shape the trajectory of climate tech investments. 💡💼 With the world's transition to net-zero carbon emissions on the horizon, the opportunities for investors and founders alike are immense. 🌍💸 Let's keep pushing forward towards a more sustainable tomorrow! 🌱🔋 https://lnkd.in/gvPUaNgU #ClimateTech #Sustainability #InvestmentOpportunity #ClimateFinance #GreenFinance

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🇺🇸 The U.S. Federal departments and offices have just released the "Voluntary Carbon Markets Joint Policy Statement and Principles”. We at International Carbon Registry celebrate more clarity on the direction of this important market and its role in the climate crisis. Notable developments include: • The emergence of multi-stakeholder initiatives that have set out standards and principles for high-integrity credit development and responsible credit use; • Improvements to key crediting methodologies, their guiding standards, and tracking systems; • New and improved analytical products and services that aim to strengthen credit transparency and quality comparability, such as carbon credit rating services; • Technologies to support robust measurement, monitoring, reporting, and verification (MMRV); • Multilateral rules, guidance, and procedures developed under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and the international aviation sector's global carbon market-based measure, which shape certified emissions reductions and removals that often find their home in VCMs'; and • Advances in the development of market infrastructure to improve transparency and liquidity, as well as the integrity of market transactions.

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Great to hear reflexions from funders and collaborators on how this work has focused on a largely neglected field in which we need to make progress urgently. There is no way to reaching 1.5C, or any climate goal without substantive emission reductions from livestock methane by 2050. We need more solutions in more places, with lower costs, and benefits to farmers, for it to really scale. That is the EFA methane moonshot.

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Hey folks: If you've listened to any of the 17 episodes of the Everyday Climate Champions podcast (https://lnkd.in/gcsd5iw7) and wondered "What is an easy way to support this?" - have I got an idea for you! You may have heard our brief (15-minute) interviews with Logan Evasco, Mira Hapsari, Anu Ramamurty, Marcia Pugsley, Shaandiin Cedar, Abbe Hoenscheid Clemons, Ravinder Sehgal, Sean Armstrong, Ambrose Carroll, Peri Plantenberg, Aditi Anand, Pete Kronowitt, Jennifer Silverstein, or many others. We're collecting brief notes of support from our listeners. Might you be able to write a few sentences about your experiences/takeaways from the podcast? A few things you might touch on: - Choice of local guests like me ("everyday people") - Choice of topics that interest me - Rotating team of different local hosts (adults and teens) - Episodes of only 15 minutes - Transcripts/blog posts are helpful - Show notes offer good resources - Production value (I enjoy the music, sound effects, and/or sound quality) - Frequency (currently about once a month) - Recommend it to others in my life Below are some examples of what we've gotten thus far: • "This podcast is one of the best examples of solutions-based locally focused climate content. It's rare to find such a great amalgam of best practices all in one program." • " I think this podcast will help me reorient my thinking…I tend to think climate action is done at the high policy level and I’m often frustrated. I think: 'what can I really do?'” • "I had an ‘aha’ moment! …That relatable, local story is what stood out." • "It gave me ideas and hope." Thanks *so much* for considering this! Just type in your comment below.

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Stand.earth and 80 leading NGOs urge Science Based Targets initiative to keep the science in SBTi and not sell out to companies looking to short cut reducing their climate pollution. SBTi has been a reputable org helping set real targets so one can only hope this disaster by the CEO (who is now leaving by the end of July) and the SBTi Board will be averted and the SBTi reputation rehabilitated. What is this all about? In the most simple terms here is what SBTi proposed: Let's say you are a fashion brand. You have structured your business so other companies actually make your products in Asia (thus this pollution is Scope 3). But the pollution created is your responsibility and you must work to reduce it with your manufacturers. This is really important bc, for example, many fashion brands have 95-99% of the pollution they create in Scope 3! OR..... under the new SBTi proposal, you could just buy cheap offsets and while they do little to nothing to actually reduce climate pollution, you can now claim you are net zero. Hmmm - that's bad enough. But let's think about how this could be gamed out. What if Amazon, rather than build its own server farms, structures its business so those server farms are run by contractors so Amazon doesn't "own" them. Magically this is now Scope 3 pollution! And it could just be offset cheaply and easily rather than having to run that server farm on renewables in order to be climate neutral. This is a climate crisis - real action, not gaming the system, is what is required. https://lnkd.in/gZKkwhtw

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Mayor Eric Adams is spearheading a groundbreaking partnership to tackle food-related carbon emissions head on. Introducing the Plant-Powered Carbon Challenge! 🌍💚 Did you know? 20 oercent of NYC's emissions stem from food production and consumption. But together, we're aiming to slash that number by 25% by 2030. How? By committing to more plant-based foods! 🥦🍅 These eco-friendly options have a much smaller carbon footprint compared to animal-based foods. 🌱✨ The impact? HUGE! We're talking about potentially reducing emissions by 40,000 tons of CO2 yearly. That's like taking 100 million car miles off NYC streets or planting 45,000 acres of forest! 🚗🌳 Mayor Adams says it best: "To tackle the climate crisis, we need to take control of our plates." 🍽️💪 #PlantPoweredNYC #ClimateAction #SustainableEating https://ow.ly/7g4e50Rl6n1

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“Climate change is an existential threat to the city’s fiscal stability and infrastructure, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events cause injury and damage and disrupt critical city services. We must be proactive and do our part to take on one of the greatest challenges the city has faced.”  Jacques Jiha, Ph.D.  “Our climate and our health are interconnected - Addressing climate change will require innovation, ingenuity, and intention. It will also require courageous pragmatism to consistently evaluate what works and pivot based on what is most effective” Dr. Ashwin Vasan #ClimateHealth #GreenCities #UrbanNature #InclusiveDesign #NatureCities #ESG #BNG #NatureBasedSolutions #HolisticApproach #Preparedness #Prevention #HealthAndSafety #ClimateResilience

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🌎 California's second carbon market auction of the year has raised significant revenue at a critical time for climate funds! 💰🌿 The latest Western Climate Initiative auction results show continued demand for allowances and confidence in the program's stability. This auction is expected to generate approximately $1.1 Billion for the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), which funds initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and building climate resilience. 🌱🚉 📈 Key Highlights: - All 51,589,488 current vintage allowances were purchased, marking the 15th consecutive sold-out auction. - The current auction settled at $37.02, significantly above the $24.04 price floor. - All 7,211,000 future vintage allowances offered were sold, settling at $38.35. 💼🌟 Over the past decade, investments from the GGRF have reduced California's emissions by 109.2 million metric tons—equivalent to removing 80% of the state's gas cars from the road! These funds have supported zero-emissions transport, affordable housing, and other critical projects. 🔥 As California faces another summer with heightened wildfire risks and evident climate change impacts, the importance of the GGRF is clearer than ever. Despite the slight dip in settlement prices, strong demand continues, reflecting the market's stability. 🌿🌍 Let's continue to invest in a sustainable future and support initiatives that make a real difference! https://lnkd.in/grvTCJ-y #ClimateAction #Sustainability #GreenFuture #CaliforniaClimate #CarbonMarket

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The U.S. presidential election will affect climate policy. Here’s how to talk about it: 🔗 How to talk with (just about) anyone about climate and the 2024 elections https://lnkd.in/eCgWzqqF

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The latest data on the plastics pileup from Crunchbase: as plastic waste soars, so does investment in solutions. Over $300 million has been invested in the last year in companies developing greener consumer products, alternative materials, and improved waste management techniques. Notable solutions include CA based ZenWTR (creating water bottles from recycled ocean-bound plastic), and with Travis Kelce as a lead #investor, Tel Aviv startup UBQ Materials (straddling both waste & alt. material categories), and Hamburg based traceless materials (creating plant based, plastic-free and home compostable materials from leftovers of ag food production). #Sustainability #Startup #Green

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Forest Trends' Ecosystem Marketplace is thrilled to announce the publication of our flagship report, 2024 State of the Voluntary Carbon Market, which offers insights into key trends and developments related to international voluntary carbon credits: https://lnkd.in/g4K_S33Z

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🌍 New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced that climate considerations will now be integrated into all budget decisions. This bold move reflects a strong commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility. By including climate impact assessments in budgeting, New York City is setting a powerful example for other cities worldwide. This initiative recognizes the urgent need to prioritize climate action in all aspects of governance. Such actions demonstrate that sustainability is not just a goal but a fundamental part of responsible governance. Few insights from climate budgeting cycle: 1. The city's current climate actions are aimed at meeting emissions targets by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 with additional effort. 2. The most impactful city actions include setting emission limits for private buildings (Local Law 97) and electrifying for-hire vehicles through the Green Rides program. 3. New York City is on track to surpass its Local Law 97 targets by 2030 through investments in energy efficiency, electrification of buildings and vehicles, and sourcing 100% renewable electricity. 4. City initiatives, along with state commitments for a clean electric grid and reduced gas vehicle use, are crucial for achieving long-term climate goals. 5. Capital projects funding fossil fuel-powered equipment provide opportunities to explore greener alternatives like electrification and electric vehicles. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNC6s_7m #ClimateAction #Sustainability #NewYorkCity #Governance #Budgeting #ClimateChange #EnvironmentalResponsibility #Leadership

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