Category: Climate Change (Page 3 of 4)

2015: A Year of Global Transformation

January 9, 2015 / Suzanne Maxx / 1 Comment

I think we all can agree that the time for change is here, now, and ripe! Next year, as the clock turns to 2016, may we look back on 2015 and realize we were able to take advantage of the freedom to play in the peaceful transformation of our world, and we indeed chose to take action and use our highest capabilities to imagine a better way forward.

Ready, set, CHARGE! Back when Electric Vehicle public chargers were just coming out in California, World Team Now helped the City of Malibu lead the EV charge. Screen the premiere of the edited footage of our “CHARGE”:

Jumping into the future we wish to look back and label 2015, as a year of “global transformation” –where our media platform; “World Team” became a tool to give all people the freedom and ability to play in the peaceful transformation of our world. World Team Now’s mission, vision and goals were better fulfilled. Beyond the division of language and culture all people began to see the possibility of our World Team project.

In 2015 we teamed up to support our partner organizations and campaigns, in the environmental movement focusing on #Action2015, and honoring the clock’s time here on earth sounding, TckTckTck, the science behind 350.org made sense, and through Avaaz, our voices sung in harmony reaching more people, as we all teamed up for stewardship of our planet. A year everybody embraced change— to live in better balance with our resources.

2015 was a year world leaders reached an agreement to take action with global policy, better serving our environment with respect for nature, and humanity. Pope Francis’s Environmental Encyclical connecting faith and science helped to move all people to better understanding and into climate action.

2015 events built the foundation for change in our structures; with actual buildings in “Getting to Zero”- National Forum, and uniting the nations in, Paris France at UNFCCC’s COP21 for climate action, resulting in global policy, that did justice to our planet’s situation.

Projects like Planet Solar, and the all solar airplane; Solar Impulse 2 succeeded in the around their world flight; and these projects also inspired many about the possibilities of renewable energy, like solar in 2015. The 10 Island Challenge, moved vulnerable island nations as examples of being powerfully responsible flexible and adaptive. All of this inspired us to take responsibility and really consider the triple bottom line— people and planet, along with profit.

2015 was a year we made a different choice as to what industries received subsidies, cut industries and projects that didn’t serve the collective stewardship of all people and for our world’s sustainability. Instead we chose to prioritized our collective resources for renewable energy. We were indeed “happy” inside ourselves, and our outer world reflected this happiness within ALL.

We imagined a better path forward in 2015, took action, and it became our reality. Are you willing to imagine, act, and team-up to make this possibility real?

May we all charge forward to live with love and stewardship for all species and our planet! We can imagine better possibilities of ways to live! Let’s team up for change in 2015 and realize our dreams!

As we look back at the year prior, and imagine the possibilities for the year 2015, we can let it inform us now. We wish you a wonderful year that is prosperous, healthy, and where love lives present.

Photo courtesy of Tcktcktck partner ©Greenpeace/Jeremie Souteyrat

IPCC Study Results Call for Urgent Global Action

April 14, 2014 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

Photo courtesy of Tcktcktck partner ©Greenpeace/Jeremie Souteyrat

World Team Now welcomes the launch of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) latest report in Berlin today which shows that avoiding catastrophic climate change is still possible, but only with rapid and sustained cuts to carbon emissions.

The report points to the benefits of increasing the use of alternative and renewable energy for power and phasing out fossil fuel in the long run. In addition to highlighting the need to transform the energy system globally, the IPCC says other solutions to the climate crisis include using energy more efficiently, with a focus on: the transportation, and building sectors, with renewable energy and technology. Investing in the retrofits and transformation of these industries sectors will be a key.

The IPCC makes it clear that climate action is needed now, and that it is time for us to take responsibility using the wisdom to choose what is needed, affordable, and beneficial for us all. This report validates what many of us realize – that we have the solutions to the climate crisis, and it’s our job, and thus our leaders’ jobs, to be stewards of our collective environment, and use this wisdom from science, so humanity can live in better balance with our resources.

To keep temperature rise below 2 degrees C by 2100, substantial shifts in annual investment flows between 2010 and 2029 will be required. Specifically, investment in fossil fuels, both power plants and extraction, would need to decline by 30 billion USD per year between 2010 and 2029. At the same time, investment in renewable energy supply would need to rise by 147 billion USD.

The third installment of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5 WG#3) involves over 800 scientists synthesizing the latest findings in the field which raises pressure on government leaders to act as it has outlined how cutting pollution now will be cheaper and more effective.

The challenge is levels of climate change-causing carbon emissions will rise across the globe, so it’s clear that more needs to be done and faster, to accelerate the transition to alternative and renewable energy, ideally 100% renewable energy systems, along with owning the responsibility to protect the lungs of our planet, the rain forests, and the seas from acidification.

All around the world people are facing the real impacts of climate change.

The transition to renewable energy will provide massive benefits ranging from energy security, new jobs, good business and improved public health. Climate change is a global problem. Addressing it requires international cooperation together with effective local, national, and regional policies.

We, at World Team Now, will be looking to President Obama, and Secretary of State John Kerry, along with the rest of the world leaders, to commit to increasing climate action at the United Nations’ Secretary-General’s Climate Summit in September. Ideally, this will lay the groundwork for a strong global treaty that we visualize being signed at the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (UNFCCC COP 21).

Coming of Age? – The United Nations UNFCC COP19

November 26, 2013 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

In Warsaw, Poland the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC ) COP19 just wrapped up this past week end and in the extended final hours there was action on much needed global climate policy. Here is a summary from the COP 19 U.N. website, the U.N.s’ point of view, including other U.N. COP 19 document resources, and the closing press release, excerpt:

“The Warsaw Climate Change Conference 2013 concluded successfully! Key decisions adopted at this conference include decisions on further advancing the Durban Platform, the Green Climate Fund and Long-Term Finance, the Warsaw Framework for REDD Plus, the Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and Damage and other decisions”

COP 19’s success depends on ones perspective. Many of us feel these baby steps seem too little, too late – especially in the face of another significant catastrophe like, Haiyan. As usual there was considerable tension at the UNFCC conference, this year it was palpable with the Philippines chief negotiator, Yeb Sano’s, very enrolling heartfelt opening remarks, with a call to the United Nations for action on climate change now. Activism through the global community took root on Tuesday afternoon when Sano delivered a 590,000+ person campaign organized by Avaaz calling for climate action directly at these negotiations in Warsaw. The Polish Governments’ disturbingly comical choice to allow a World Coal Summit to happen simultaneously augmented the tensions of COP19. Midway through the conference NGO’s and Civil Society walked out – representing the voice of the people, and then continued to protest, “Stop Climate Madness”. World Team Now is part of the TckTckTck a campaign named after the sound of the clock. The 400 member campaign on Climate Action is a start for “teaming-up” as the timing is critical. How much this tension actually helps during the conference is debatable.

There seems to be a decrease of international press attendance at these United Nations COP conferences, to reach out to masses of people, at least by certain “Developed” country’s media to get the big news outlets to send reporters, to cover or at least write original content and not just rely on the associated press’s coverage. The live feed from the UNFCCC has made it easier for all of us to at least follow the conference virtually. Here are some of the articles to give you a more rounded perspective on COP19, from sources worth considering:

Left out of the U.N. statement is the internal tensions between those who have resources, and those who do not. The side action prevalent at the U.N. COPs continues to be protests growing, not just driven by the dissatisfaction of the slow pace of the talks, but truly based on the urgency we as a world face with climate change, and our ability to act:

Work plan for Paris 2015: Nations reached a compromise on a new work plan to get ready for the Paris Summit in 2015. A number of countries, including the US and EU, had been calling for a clearly defined timetable through to 2015 that would see countries make clear climate change “commitments” by a deadline of early 2015. However, China led a push back by a group of developing nations, arguing for more flexibility for poorer nations – a move that drew an angry response from the US who accused China of rolling back a previous agreement to ensure all nations make some form of commitments through the 2015 treaty. “I feel like I am going into a time warp. That is folly,” US lead negotiator Todd Stern was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Rich and poor tensions: The summit once again saw tensions between developed and developing nations laid bare, with poorer countries responding angrily to moves by Japan, Australia and Canada to water down previous climate commitments. There was also frustration at US opposition to the loss and damage mechanism and the failure of industrialized nations to make fresh emission reduction and climate financing commitments.
Not Enough Done: Green groups condemned the final agreement for failing to make sufficient progress towards an ambitious new climate treaty in Paris in 2015. There was a walkout or about 800 people Thursday 21 November included people from organizations including Greenpeace, WWF, Oxfam, 350.org, Friends of the Earth, the Confederation and ActionAid.

This political process with the UNFCCC will continue, with annual conferences and with key mile stones intending to be met. COP19 had a “Cha, Cha” going on with two steps back and one forward.

It brings to question whether the action needed for our species to be more in balance with our planet can come through the organization of this process within the United Nations conferences. The challenge of this governmental process and its bureaucratic structure may not be aligned to reflect the truth that serves all people.

Humanity has the gift of choice and to use wisdom taught though nature, and respect the science pointing to the fact it is important to understand the consequence of how anthropocentric gasses affect climate change. If there is still not enough evidence based on witnessing these super storms, consider reading the leaked IPCC report (story here, report here), with alarming scientific facts about the state of our planet. Yeb Sano put a face on Climate Change, and may our world better understand the responsibility of humanity and use wisdom.

We are grateful there was global policy approved at COP19, and are eager for more actions to be taken, and disheartened at the present time, that our primary international structure uniting nations cannot do more. We hope the UNFCCC can ultimately be a path towards global transformation reflected in active international policy perhaps “coming of age” by COP21?

It is a challenge to trust this process and where we are in our world at this time. May we be able to see clearly by 2020, and ideally much before.

The LA Auto Show 2013- Driving Our “Eco” Future

November 25, 2013 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

By Suzanne Maxx

Innovation, technology, and “ECO” are the themes driving the LA Auto Show, now open to the public through December 1st.

Ford C-Max Energi-a leading PHEV

Both “eco”nomy and “eco”logy continue to be in focus and more traditional brands are moving into the alternative “ECO” drive space. Leaders and original “first movers” like; Tesla, Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi, have carved out this market in the USA and continue to build on their innovative brands, by not just improving their staple vehicles, but adding more. Their competition grows from Porsche, GM (again), BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Fiat, Honda and more OEMs- all with alternative, “ECO” vehicles using a wide spectrum of energy options (see AltExpo blog).

The area where there is the most “play” (besides the literal gaming vehicle the Mercedes-Benz AMG Vision Gran Turismo to be experienced on a PlayStation) is in the growth of the plugin hybrid (PHEV) and hybrid technology in the SUV, sports and luxury markets from traditional OEMs. U.S. sales of plugin electric vehicles were up 147 percent between August 2012 and August 2013. The advantage of the PHEV is the flexibility and freedom that comes with the option to choose your source of energy – both a personal and collective freedom is found driving a PHEV.

Suzanne Maxx with the Porsche Panamera S E-Hybrid

There is the option to be spontaneous to drive a long distance (without range anxiety), and also the option to plugin and charge from renewable energy which has the “ECO” advantage. There are many new PHEVs in this transition period with infrastructure still ramping up. PHEVs allow traditional fossil fuel or electricity from a renewable energy source. The PHEV choices now include new sporty SUVs that are PHEVs; most designed with an onboard generator, or dual engines.

Porsche, was actually the first with the hybrid automobile, the Lohner-Porsche Mixte Hybrid from 1900(!), and with a variety of hybrid and PHEVs now; the 918 Spyder a mid-engined sports plug-in hybrid , the Cayenne luxury crossover, the Panamera S E-Hybrid luxury four-door sedan and the Macan compact crossover SUV— making its world debut at the LA Auto show.

Porsche 918 Spyder

With the new Panamera PHEV, you can either stop and plug in after your initial all electric 22 miles, or allow it to charge when driving with innovative ways to recoup energy, and not just from regenerative braking – it generates energy by simply driving this fast vehicle.

Nissan’s Pathfinder, arguably the best SUV ever made, is now a PHEV. With mileage of 25/28 this PHEV improves on the old Pathfinder’s MPGs. (Okay, I’m slightly Nissan biased here, as what I have witnessed with this vehicle is sustainable over time in the realm of maintaining working order, doing its job, and lasting over decades with minimal repair.) The new Pathfinder Hybrid is powered by a supercharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine combined with a 15-kilowatt electric motor for a total output of 250 hp.

Nissan Pathfinder Hybrid

The Pathfinder is likely to lead the sporty “ECO” PHEV, SUV market. The older traditional OEMs are moving at a pace that might help the larger population adapt, with many people being more comfortable with gradual change. However Nissan has lead this “ECO” “Shift” driving down a path with vehicles for the early innovative adopters with the all-electric, Leaf. Now Nissan’s trustworthy staple SUV as a PHEV, the Pathfinder crossover looks to be a win for Nissan. The vehicles are now made in the USA, with the new Tennessee plant ramping up production to meet the rapid demand of “ECO” vehicles, that many people are call for, and this supports our “eco”nomy. It is respectable for an OEM to manufacture in the country sold, and Nissan is a leader in this regard.

The good old traditional USA Ford is becoming a serious new contender. As predicted at the AltCar Expo earlier this year, Ford has taken the lead in sales in plugin hybrids in October with 2,179 Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi vehicles sold. This fall, Ford launched one of the first dealership training programs for better public adoption of EVs – (it may be working), a lead all OEMs could follow for better sales and to benefit the public.

The amount of vehicles that Ford is offering in diverse classes moves it fast forward (see our blog on the LA Auto Show 2012 which features Ford/Lincoln’s series of hybrids and PHEVs).

It isn’t just that the Ford’s C-MAX series with C-Max Energi and Fusion models are becoming rapidly popular by the mainstream consumer – they also drive well, and are affordable– plus they are demonstrating leading “ECO” values, not just with the vehicles themselves, but with their company’s new approach to “Teaming Up” for “ECO”.

Ford is “Teaming Up” with Coca Cola to use Coca Cola’s PlantBottle Technology for bio-based fabric used in the Fusion Energi

It is inspiring is to see large corporations “Teaming Up” to go a deeper shade of green like global icons Ford and Coca-Cola. Most people think of these corporations’ brands around good ole’ America virtues, with traditional staple products made in the USA. It’s surprising to think of Ford leading alternative vehicles like the C-MAX Fusion Energi, and Coca-Cola with not just its Odwalla brand of juice successfully produced by Coca-Cola for the masses, transported in electric refrigerated trucks, but also their R&D with “ECO” plastics and fabric. They are “Teaming Up” with Coca-Cola’s innovative PlantBottle bio-based fabric made up of 30% plant-derived material and 100% recyclable bottles to be used in the production of Ford’s Fusion Energi. But both companies have other surprising commonalities besides their willingness to grow and change – which is not an easy task for corporations of this size. They both are demonstrating their commitment to environmental stewardship for the sustainability of our planet. Both have bold corporate sustainability programs with emission targets, funds designated, climate action plans, and partner programs for stewardship for our future.

The 2nd Generation PlantBottle Technology will be 100% plant based. Teaming-up for “green” the Bioplastic Feedstock Alliance was created with Ford; World Wildlife Fund, The Coca-Cola Company, Danone, H.J. Heinz Company, Nestle, Nike, Procter & Gamble and Unilever. The synergy of these type of efforts could benefit these companies, and potentially us all.

The United Nations UNFCCC now ending in Warsaw began to see the light of this possibility with victories with countries starting to “Team Up” for change with REDD+ and with “Losses and Damages” on climate change (will blog on COP19 next).

Chevy is getting up there too with the PHEV Volt and the all-electric Spark. The Spark may catch fire, in a good way, by spreading through Hertz’s leading programs that allow all people to rent many of the leading hybrids, PHEVs, and EVs. This is a great way to really test out these new vehicles with the Altima, Leaf, Volt, C-MAX, and now the Spark in their arsenal of vehicles available to rent. Hertz too is “Teaming Up” with other brands to better promote.

Audi A3 e-tron- photo by Volkswagon of America

Volkswagen had half of the new all electric vehicles debuting at the LA Auto show with eGolf, and their luxury division’s Audi, rolled out the Audi A3 e-tron. The two other EV debuts were BMW’s i3 and Cadillac’s ELR– both claiming to rival Tesla. Tesla, Honda, and Toyota continue to have power stances in their respective vehicles and classes. This was the first year Tesla joined the LA Auto Show for Press Days, and they had the Model S at the Ride and Drive. Tesla’s strong leadership into new territory inspires innovation – radically changing the transportation game. Tesla’s EVs are so far ahead of the rest of the traditional OEM’s with their vehicle offerings including the original roadster, and now the Model S. Tesla is now taking orders for its all electric Model X SUV.

Tesla’s lead is complimented now by other OEMs trying to compare their brands and vehicles to Tesla. Tesla’s been the game changer, as I attested to in this test drive of the Model S year ago. Both the Cadillac ELR and the BMW claim to present rivalry. In all ways, Tesla is outside the box with their standard for innovation, technology and being all electric with its own built EV infrastructure for charging along freeways to handle distance. Tesla also markets electric power train components, including lithium-ion battery packs, to other automakers, including Daimler and Toyota. Their entrepreneurial independent lead has changed the auto industry, raising the bar for what a vehicle could be – they welcome others as Tesla’s Elan Musk wants EVs to dominate. Tesla focuses on pure battery electric propulsion technology, even for larger vehicle segments and real-world ranges greater than 200 miles. The “ECO” advantage is not just about saving money – it also gives our planet cleaner air, creates more freedom, with better security, by being more energy independent. Elon Musk is indeed a pioneer for the planet – he was acknowledged with the 2010 Automotive Executive of the Year Innovator Award for hastening the development of electric vehicles throughout the global automotive industry.

There are now enough OEM’s with alternative models to give hope to the concept of a more secure, healthy planet independent of fossil fuel, and the many negative repercussions of continuing to choose this source of energy for our future. We at WTN still stand firm with Elon Musk and others – that electric charging to a renewable energy source is the ideal way to go. But the hydrogen fuel cells like the Hyundai’s (with the Tucson hydrogen fuel cell crossover, unveiled at the LA Auto Show), bio-diesel, and natural gas are some of the other energy modalities considered “ECO” that WTN chooses not to focus on. These energies each have side effects or repercussions that may not be in our best interest long run, considering the whole cradle to cradle cycle of “ECO” with our energy and our planet’s resources, but still probably better than fossil fuel. For example the Hydrogen Bubble we predict will burst with the combustion aspect of hydrogen, as well as the fact it is a highly energy intensive process to produce hydrogen from electrolysis of water or the dirty alternative from fossil fuels, and, natural gas is still a fossil fuel, and has water and air quality issues when it is sourced from shale gas with sloppy production practices – the debate around hydraulic “fracking”, and bio diesel has environmental impacts as it still burns fuel, which produces CO-2.

“Teaming Up” to “green” isn’t just a World Team Now concept. Companies are just coming together to brand around the environment they are also co-branding around innovate technology, for the health of both products, people and our planet. Mercedes-Benz and Google are “Teaming Up” on hardware – the automaker is developing an in-car integration for Google Glass. Innovative technology is used not to just better direct drivers, but to also prevent accidents and aide people with automated self-driving vehicles. Technology that allows vehicles to communicate with other vehicles is being developed. People buying EVs or PHEVs represent a growing eco-consciousness. Technology can help bring the world to a place where we are better stewards of the earth and now days this means connected technology. Aware of this, the organizers of the LA Auto Show created the Connected Car Expo. It was a one-day conference and three-day expo on connecting the car to its greater environment – the driver, other autos, and the home or office for enhanced safety, comfort, entertainment, and most importantly realizing the full ecological value of EVs and PHEVs. The connectedness to the greater surroundings means collaboration with other manufactures and interests so headlines like “Ford Teams Up to Save Energy with MyEnergi Lifestyle” appear. This teaming is with unlikely companies such as Eaton, SunPower and Whirlpool, Infineon, and Nest Labs.

The Public Days’ Ride and Drive grew with many vehicles this year to test out what is green and innovative. Some the Technology demo-ed;

Adaptive-cruise control
Automatic park-assist
Blind-spot monitoring
Front-crash mitigation
Radar-based object detection systems

Ford has branded their take on this as the MyEnergi Lifestyle. The Ford solution to off peak charging – value charging – is available on all Ford plug-in vehicles with the MyFord Mobile app.

Ford’s Green Wall at the 2013 LA Auto Show

More innovation competed at the LA Auto show with the fast pitch competition for innovators with concepts to take to the connected auto market. The FASTPITCH Competition winner, Estify, was announced by Robert Herjavac of ABC’s “Shark Tank”. Estify won with a platform to streamline collision repair. With innovative and green technology, “Biomimicry & Mobility 2025 – Nature’s Answer to Human Challenges” was another of the many interesting events> Contests and awards such as; “ Innovation Car of the Year”(There was a tie for the winner by two light weight vehicles) and “Green Car of the Year”– the Honda Accord.

At the LA Auto Show, together the innovation, technology, “Teaming Up” for “ECO” make this event that not only drives the transportation section but is indeed inspiring change for all – reaching an expected 900,000 thousand people who plan to actually attend.

The Puma– the antithesis of “ECO. It only gets up to 14 miles per gallon.

I left with both a tear and laughter upon seeing the “Puma”, a vehicle that is the antithesis of our “ECO” – it gets an ideal 14 MPG (more realistically 7 MPG) and is priced at over a million dollars.

This vehicle, The Puma is named after the threatened species. We are thankful vehicles like these are rare, and if they make all people laugh or cry they will help us all from becoming an endangered species.

The Puma

But with more and more hybrids, PHEVs and ideally straight EVs, we could all benefit from being aware of “ECO” and choosing to be better stewards of our resources in our homes and with by we choose to drive.

Across America 2013:Final leg from Washington DC. to New-York City. Final Approach © Solar Impulse |Revillard| Rezo.ch

The Solar Impulse— Living Dreams of Transformation

July 14, 2013 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

Pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, the pilots for the all-solar plane, had the dream for The Solar Impulse— the first manned flight to fly both day and night. When we first met, it was a model plane and now it has made history. There are few people who choose to live their lives by pioneering inspirational projects that prioritize the global dream of transformation; in that spirit we are united. In this way, even when I met Bertrand Piccard and André Roschberg for the first time in Copenhagen, Denmark 2009 at the United Nations conference COP15, they shined the light through their eyes, with words and ultimately deeds of inspiration.

Bertrand Piccard and André' Roschberg of the SolarImpulse at The United Nation's Conference COP15 Copenhagen, Denmark 2009 when the SolarImpulse was a model and a dream.

Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg of the Solar Impulse at The United Nations Conference COP15 Copenhagen, Denmark 2009 when the Solar Impulse was a model and a dream.

The Solar Impulse when it was a model at COP15 in 2009.

The Solar Impulse when it was just a model at COP15 in 2009. Now its mission has been accomplished — to demonstrate that flight can be done in a totally sustainable way. Now on to the second Solar Impulse airplane, the HB-S1B, in 2015!

Bertrand would say, “Life is not governed by chance, but by encounters”. We shared about realizing dreams against seemingly impossible challenges; we shared visions, and together laughed louder than the chorus’ that sang songs of cynicism and doubt, and knew this was an important time for our planet. A time where human’s challenge to live in balance with our natural resources needed demonstration. The Across America journey was then a distant dream. From San Francisco to Texas to Arizona to St. Louis to Washington DC and ultimately to New York. The Solar Impulse the all-solar airplane follows in a rich tradition of risky aviation demonstrations from the Wright Brothers to Lindberg’s hop over the Atlantic. These pioneers used their flights to push the dream into reality, launching new industries by piloting courageous first flights for the public to witness. Bertrand’s family has a lineage of this type of pioneering legacy as well, with a message. But it is more than the technology, it is a model for a path that is needed—and each major step is a metaphor not just for realizing aviation dreams but also for a demonstration project about renewable energy to combat climate change. It’s more than teaming-up unique pioneers like Bertrand and André. Herein, this project is a marriage of innovative technology and sustainability, both needed to come together for real change at a rapid rate with public adoption, for global transformation. We at World Team Now watched from afar as the plane became a reality, as it was tested and flown in different parts of the world—following, promoting to the public, sharing, blogging, tweeting and holding the light that we would unite, and all of our dreams would indeed be realized. We watched and followed the stream in real-time through the pilot’s journeys watching one major step after another.

In the tone of realizing dreams, and being an inspiration for the Wall Street financial world at REFF Wall Street our friends André and Bertrand, the Pilot’s of the Solar Impulse airplane teamed-up for a game-changing keynote speech.

What a surprise to learn that both Bertrand and André Borschberg who I just followed virtually from St. Louis to Washington DC, would be the keynote speakers for Renewable Energy Financing Forum (REFF) -Wall Street. REFF-Wall Street, an event World Team Now participated in as a supporting organization is held in New York City, and they, us, and the event would all be in New York. Their key note’s message to the extremely traditional Wall Street financial brokers was that “green” was not just good for the ecology; it was also good for the economy, stimulating new industries, and many green jobs. The Solar Impulse’s approach to financing going beyond traditional methods was indeed an entrepreneurial approach with integrated marketing partners, branded with their technology and services within the Solar Impulse, patrons, angels, and other fundraising mechanisms. This all hit home harder when President Obama gave a speech on his plan to fight climate change which echoed similar sentiments that were spoken by the innovators of the Solar Impulse team. When we connected after the keynote, I learned of the challenges of the last leg to New York with what was then an exact unknown departure date and time; there were still formidable obstacles. To top it off, it was a surprise to see Bertrand and André again on the same day during NY Clean Energy Week’s event at the Tesla showroom celebrating along with other innovators. We at World Team Now worked diligently to find a way to support the last leg’s landing of the Across America from Washington to New York, and through our contacts at the Governor’s office were able to team-up people and bring in the Port Authority to participate and contribute to helping overcome some of the obstacles.

Visit our gallery of the Solar Impulse JFK Landing by clicking on the picture.

We were honored to participate in a slice of history and be present for the successful landing of the Solar Impulse at JFK on Saturday, July 6^th 2013 at 11:09 pm. This “dream come true” moment was ineffable. To be in the presence of all who made the living dream of transformation a true reality, to share in the moment of completion of the Across America Journey with them and be there to see with one’s own eyes is an indelible moment that lives in many lives, besides mine. There was only a small group of us VIPs, journalists, and 50 lucky contest winners allowed to this special historic event. Not only was aviation history written in New York, but it was such a victorious event, as the plane continued to fly even after a rip in the fabric about 8 feet occurred in flight, forcing the plane to land early and modify their originally intended route and landing time. Had the plane crashed, instead of the one in San Francisco, of course, all eyes would have been on the Solar Impulse (a commentary about our society’s present values). Those of us that bore witness to this historical moment were so elated; a spirit that was contagious with looks of awe in the silence and lack of noise, with clean fresh breathable air free of burned jet fuel, with a wingspan (208 ft / 63.4m) a bit larger than a 747 ‘s (195 ft 8 in / 59.6 m) when it landed a few feet in front of us on the tarmac where we waited. We met others who were equally blown away by this moment and also captured it here in Roland Pabst’s blog. The media impressions surpassed expectations with 8.3 billion thus far—which is significant, especially given the poor presence of traditional media sources at the New York landing. The public at large has had a hard time truly understanding the full potential of solar energy and other renewables as well as the importance of the change to a more balanced energy source. So when people can see that the all-solar plane flies at night they begin to really understand the battery storage concept— the choice to be able to feed energy back into the electrical grid and/or store energy, and even sell it back to the grid or use it. As Bertrand explained, “Our plane, Solar Impulse, was never designed to carry passengers, but to carry a message”. We learned more about the message at the press conference on Monday; events continued reaching the public like the opening of NASDAQ where Tom Werner from SunPower rang the bell with Bertrand and André. Then the meeting at the U.N. where the Clean Tech flag was planted—hopefully, this will further inspire the U.N. towards a binding climate treaty— finally (especially after the horror of Copenhagen) — we are long overdue for global action for collective energy and for our one environment, our one world. The people of New York got other opportunities to share in the gift of the Solar Impulse at the various other community events hosted by sponsors, such as Schindler at the Intrepid. We hope this inspires you to see for yourself and take advantage of the Solar Impulse’s Public Day. If you miss the Solar Impulse this time, keep it on your radar, as they will return during their World Tour in 2015. Say good-bye to this airplane yourself— it is for all people to see here in the USA at JFK now for the public, click here to find out more. Be an ambassador for our future, and go and see the beauty and possibility the Solar Impulse represents.

2015: A Year of Global Transformation

IPCC Study Results Call for Urgent Global Action

Coming of Age? – The United Nations UNFCC COP19

The LA Auto Show 2013- Driving Our “Eco” Future

The Solar Impulse— Living Dreams of Transformation

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