Race For Water Reaches The Bermudas

(posted from Press Release)

To read in French go to Greening Paris

The "Race for Water Odyssey" reaches the Bermudas and continues its scientific analyses 

The Race for Water Odyssey (R4WO) arrived today in Bermuda, the second witness island of the expedition. The crew will stay on the British Archipelago for 6 days in order to collect scientific data, enabling an initial global assessment of ocean pollution caused by plastic waste.

After 7 days of turbulent navigation from the Azores due to the passing of a very lively weather front, the R4WO drew up, this Wednesday April 1st, in Hamilton. Present in Bermuda until April 5th, the expedition team will analyze the waste littering 6 strictly-selected beaches of the archipelago. In order to obtain comparable data, these analyses will be carried out according to the same scientific protocol as the one deployed in the Azores, working with local associations such as "Keep Bermuda Beautiful". In addition, visits of the "MOD70 Race for Water" trimaran will be organized for the public. During this stopover, the R4WO benefits from the support of the Fairmont Hamilton Princess Hotel.

Next stop: New York

The R4WO will finish its crossing of the Atlantic by then setting off for New York, next stage in its world tour. In the megalopolis, several events will be organized to raise awareness and to draw the public's attention to the problem of plastic waste in oceans. The R4WO will have the honour, amongst others, to talk about this crucial theme during a plenary session organized at the UN headquarters in collaboration with the UNEP.

 

About Race for Water Odyssey (R4WO)

Initiated by the Race for Water foundation, the "Race for Water Odyssey" is a unique expedition that aims to draw up the first global assessment of plastic pollution in the ocean by visiting island beaches situated in the 5 trash vortexes. In less than 300 days, over 40,000 nautical miles will be traveled, punctuated by 11 scientific stopovers and 9 outreach stopovers, involving a total of 13 countries. The Race for Water Odyssey benefits from the support of ISAF, Duke University, Oregon State University, senseFly, Swisscom and Swissnex.

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Race For Water Reaches The Bermudas

Local Governments For Sustainability World Congress

(posted from press release) 

Climate-KIC will be present at the Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) World Congress on 8 April in Seoul, Republic of Korea, to officially launch the Low Carbon City Lab programme and discuss new partnerships with cities and organisations from around the world. 

Greenhouse gas emissions in cities originate from a host of different sources, such as electricity production, transportation, commercial and residential buildings, as well as industry and waste. Reducing urban emissions is a shared effort by a large panel of city stakeholders. 
The new programme is part of a range of Climate-KIC programmes designed to help cities reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create new jobs for their low carbon economies. Climate-KIC is the European Union's main climate innovation initiative and supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). 

Low Carbon City Lab 

Cities account for 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities 

PARIS, FRANCE, 31 March 2015 – With all eyes on a global deal to reduce greenhouse gasses at the UN's COP21 conference in Paris later this year, EU initiative Climate-KIC will launch a new programme to help cities around the world unlock their emission reduction potential at a major global event in Seoul on 8 April 2015. 

Cities account for 70 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activities. According to the United Nations agency for human settlements and sustainable urban development, 75 per cent of the world population will be living in urban environments by 2050. The annual increase of the total world population is 1 per cent, while in the urban areas it is 1.8 per cent, almost twice as much.  Cities will continue to be the key nexus for climate action for years to come. 

Leveraging a diverse grouping of companies, research centers, technology experts, city networks and cities, Climate-KIC's new Low Carbon City Lab programme will aim to unlock the greenhouse gas emission reduction potential of cities, and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 1 gigatonne per year.

Strategies to reduce urban greenhouse gas emissions 

Thanh-Tam Lê, Director of Climate-KIC's centre in France, said "Our Low Carbon City Lab is an exciting example of how public-private partnerships can tackle climate change through both a market-led and an impact driven approach."  

The programme provides a series of tools, consulting and services to develop urban climate mitigation strategies:  

• 3D software to visualise greenhouse gas emissions in cities. We also help cities bring together the data from sources across their urban areas.
• Experts to verify greenhouse gas inventories according to the recently launched Greenhouse Gas Protocol standard and to prioritise actions.  
• Help to boost cities' business generation activities including support for start-ups  
• Tools enabling the monitoring of emissions from the transport sector.  
• Services including training and summer schools, with courses focusing on climate finance for cities and the latest developments in greenhouse gas monitoring approaches for cities.  
• Contribution to the definition of climate finance frameworks for cities (NAMAs, VNAMAs) 

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Local Governments For Sustainability World Congress

Path To Paris - Environment California Says, Bonjour!

(posted by Paige Donner)

SAVE THE DATE!
Environment California's 11th Annual Spring Event: Path to Paris

Saturday, May 16th, noon to 2:00 pm 
at the lovely Brentwood home of actor Donna Mills

RSVP: EnvironmentCalifornia.org/SpringEvent

Please join Environment California for lunch, drinks and stimulating conversation to help elevate California's global warming solutions leading up to the 2015 UN Climate Change Conference in Paris.

Special guest speaker: Sen. Fran Pavley, climate solutions leader and author of California's game-changing Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32

The Path To Paris

Global warming is the most critical issue of our time. With the U.N. Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris this December, there is a sense that if the world can unite around solving global warming, we can stave off the worst impacts.

In the lead-up to Paris, Gov. Brown and the leaders of the California legislature have outlined an aggressive path by which California can continue its leadership with these statewide goals:

• Increase the amount of electricity from renewable sources to 50 percent;
• Reduce the amount of petroleum used by our vehicles by 50 percent; and
• Increase the energy efficiency of existing buildings by 50 percent—all by 2030.

But the oil companies and the utilities are fighting every step of the way. Environment California is working this year to build the public support needed to pass legislation to turn these critical climate goals into reality — for our health and our future. Join us for a provocative conversation on how we can lead the way!

Sponsorship Opportunties

Ambassador to Paris $15,000 (Includes 10 event & 10 VIP reception tickets)
Partner $10,000 (Includes 8 event & 8 VIP reception tickets)
Friend $5,000 (Includes 6 event & 6 VIP reception tickets)
Supporter $2,500 (Includes 5 event & 5 VIP reception tickets)
Host $1,250 (Includes 5 event tickets)
Individual Ticket $200

HOST COMMITTEE (in formation)  Join the hosts of the 2015 Spring Event and other friends of Environment California.
Ed Asner Ed Begley, Jr. Barbara Bosson Peter Coyote Chayse Dacoda Glen Dake, Renee Dake Wilson & Brian Wilson Rosario Dawson Fran Diamond Frances Fisher David Freeman Catherine Geanuracos Anna Getty Tom Hayden & Barbara Williams Marshall Herskovitz Peter Horton Wendy James Katharine King Sharon Lawrence	Rachelle Lefevre Mia Lehrer Debbie Levin Wendie Malick Wally Marks Sara Nichols Chris Paine Douglas H. Phelps John Quigley Akasha Richmond & Alan Schulman Jamie Rosenthal Wolf, David Wolf, Rick Rosenthal & Nancy Stephens & the The Rosenthal Family Foundation Kyra Sedgwick Amy Smart & Carter Oosterhouse Barbra Streisand Margery Tabankin & Earl Katz Tom & Janet Unterman Wendy Wendlandt & Cliff Latimer Roger & Nori Wolfson
Environment California is a nonprofit, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) environmental advocacy organization dedicated to protecting California's air, water and open spaces. Contributions or gifts to Environment California, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Donations may be used for political purposes such as supporting or opposing candidates. No funds will be earmarked or reserved for any political purpose. More information about Environment California, Inc. may be obtained by contacting the organization at: 3435 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 385, Los Angeles, CA 90010.

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Path To Paris - Environment California Says, Bonjour!