Tag: Copenhagen (Page 1 of 2)

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

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

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.

Climate Change- Action for Renewable Energy Policy

March 2, 2010 / Suzanne Maxx / 2 Comments

By Suzanne Maxx ©

Although Anthropogenic Climate Change is hard to pronounce, it is an even greater challenge to present the information so more people can really understand.

The fact that average citizens still misunderstand this topic was demonstrated to me when I was walking in Malmo, Sweden for the train to Copenhagen, Denmark to the U.N.’s COP15. I met a middle-aged Texan who was travelling on business, while he helped me navigate my luggage through the snow, he said laughing loudly:

“It’s hard to believe there are these people in Copenhagen for a conference on global warming when there is record cold and snow fall, how silly! We had a snowball fight yesterday, and I kept thinking how could they be so foolish?”

This was one of the moments that I was feeling embarrassed about Americans’ lack of illumination on this subject. I tried to explain that it is the name, “Global Warming” that confuses people– Climate Change/Global Warming presents in extreme weather conditions. I wish I could have explained it to the Texan in Sweden as well as Al Gore did in the New York Times Op-Ed piece this past Sunday –and with as much patience.

Even if one doesn’t comprehend the science of Global Warming, what is hard to understand is how people can actually think that we can pollute our air, or our water, or land, without consequences. We live here and the earth is alive. It is our home.

To learn more about where we are with these issues check out “State of the Planet” 2010. I have been to this annual event over the past few years and it continues to be quite cutting edge: informative, plus this year they are actually going global. It is hosted by Columbia University’s Earth Institute, directed by Jeff Sachs to connect voices globally to meet the challenge on Climate Change and Economic Recovery.

EPA’s endangerment findings confirm that we now have massive amounts of scientific evidence validating that; “Green House Gases (GHG) are harmful to our health”. How can our future and our children’s future not be a priority? How can we better value our basic resources? We must realize that pollution doesn’t just disappear.

The peaceful warrior cry of the environmental movement is urging us to take action now since each of us has a role and can do something for our world and the future of humanity. The creation of strong climate/energy policy on both a national and international level is needed”

World Team Now is teaming up with many of our Clean Energy Week friends, and rallying together to ask you to call your Senators today (and for the next 72 hours) to express the importance of getting some solid “energy legislature” passed in Congress this year. This is a critical time to get Clean Energy Legislature in the USA. We are joining a powerful Clean Energy Campaign along with our allies, 1Sky and Alliance for Climate Protection and others…

Once we have solid legislation here in the USA that enables us to take responsibility for our actions, we may have a chance at gaining respect from the international community. From this position we will increase our chances of gaining cooperation on a global climate policy prior to 2012 when the Kyoto Protocol expires. Please act now and if you don’t know how to reach your Senators’ office click here.

Again, that daunting question, “How can humanity live in better balance with its resources?

We at World Team Now are focused on demonstrating clean energy solutions and raising public awareness. Show trust in our democratic process and take action so that the kind of clean energy solutions we spoke about on World Team Now’s Renewable Energy Interactive Teleconference, as part of Clean Energy Week can become both accessible and affordable.

Call your Senators and support not just World Team Now, but also our global environmental movement. This helps to create green jobs, better ecology for our local environment, and a cleaner earth. Ask for some solid Clean Energy Policy in order to make solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal more accessible. This in turn will eventually make it more affordable. Between now and Earth Day’s 40^th Anniversary, April 22^nd–let’s have more to celebrate!

Copenhagen ‘E-Race’ Erases CO2 Plus Other Civil Society Adventures

December 15, 2009 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

This article was published originally in ENS and distributed by World-Wire–with Courtesy here below;

By Suzanne Maxx

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, December 15, 2009 (ENS) – The CO2 E-Race was among the many extraordinary events in Copenhagen this week intended to wake up the world to a low-carbon reality. It was held Saturday to remind the public that the automotive industry is growing without fossil-fueled internal combustion engines. Electric vehicles are here, now – this time to stay.

Facilitated by the Danish Cultural Institute, the CO2 E-Race featured 70 cars. Most were electric, and there were some fueled by second generation ethanol made from straw, and one vehicle driving on air.

The vehicles drove a route through the streets of Copenhagen designed to make aerial art of the letters and number that spell out “CO2,” the chemical symbol for carbon dioxide, the chief greenhouse gas.

Electric car in the CO2 E-Race (Photo © Thomas Mortensen)

People did not need to be airborne and viewing the CO2 E-Race from above to have seen this glowing display, the race organizers explained. The race was shown on large monitors at the Bright Green Expo, in the Klimaforum09 and on the globe monitor at City Hall Square where each color-coded GPS point was digitally displayed on a map of Copenhagen.

Photographers of the race vehicles were all encouraged to upload their pictures to Google Maps/Earth.

An alternative energy project in more ways than one, the CO2 E-Race project came to life without any money involved. Instead, collaborators Jacob Fuglsang Mikkelsen, a photographer and a self proclaimed relational artist, and Michael Wolffhechel, a lawyer and environmental activist, worked together to produce the event.

Mikkelsen said, “The meaning of relational art is that carrying it out is as much a work of art as the art itself. I had an idea in my mind for two years, knowing it is impossible to make it happen, but still continuing against all odds, without any money – no budget, and now look it happened.”

“Especially in the climate issue, as an individual I can do something by leading by example,” Mikkelsen said.

Finn Andersen, secretary-general of the Danish Cultural Institute assisted the project by giving Mikkelsen and Wolffhechel an office where they conducted the preparation and coordination of the CO2 E–Race.

Bus driver Thorkild Nielsen with a new hybrid bus (Photo © Thomas Mortensen)

The electric vehicles are charged by renewable and alternative energy – here in Copenhagen it comes from wind power – there is no fossil fuel used, and the vehicles move without emitting a sound or any exhaust gases. There were the sexy Teslas, mini electric Hummers, EV scooters and electric buses.

A bus driver since 1975, Thorkild Nielsen resigned his job because he was was tired of breathing diesel exhaust and compromising his health to keep driving. He explained, “I was number 29 in the parade, should be last one, as I was the last one on to drive the actual route. Almost a year ago I had resigned.”

But now a new generation of fuel efficient and environmentally friendly Volvo Hybrid buses is operated by Arriva, the largest private bus operator in Denmark. This recent transformation from diesel to electric has turned Nielsen back into a bus driver who loves his work.

The public is just beginning to realize that electric vehicles are here, they’re on the market, practical and fun, and can be charged by alternative energy sources.

Many other innovative solutions were on display at the Bright Green Expo, hosted by the Confederation of Danish Industry, the largest parallel event during the United Nations climate summit.

Held December 12 and 13 at Forum Copenhagen, the Bright Green Expo featured exhibits by more than 170 companies from 19 countries showing their cutting-edge products. “There is no need to wait for the technological revolution that will provide the remedies to climate problems. It is already here, and it is bright and green,” said Thomas Bustrup, deputy director general of Danish Industry.

The Bright Green Expo featured speeches by political leaders, the Danish Crown Prince and climate experts. Cities, Energy, Business and Living were the four exhibition themes. Visitors enjoyed the Energy Aware House, the test track for Segway personal transporters, a Rocking Silver physics experiments show, and a Water to Life 3D movie.

An overview of Bright Green Expo (Photo by Claus Petersen)

Swedish exhibitor Green & Cool produces environmental friendly and energy efficient ready-to-go refrigeration units and systems that use ordinary CO2 as a refrigerant, turning the greenhouse gas from an environmental burden to a replacement for ozone-destroying refrigerant gases.

Among the speakers at the Bright Green Expo were Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and American entrepreneur Dean Kamen.

The Confederation of Danish Industry today signed a cooperation agreement with the National Confederation of Industry of Brazil at the Bella Center, in the exhibition hall of Climate Consortium Denmark.

“We enter into this collaboration agreement because our two business sectors have a lot to offer each other – both in the technological and commercial fields,” said Thomas Bustrup, deputy director general of Danish Industry. “We as business representatives stand together behind a comprehensive, global and binding agreement here at COP15.”

Green Party leaders were onstage this weekend at Klimaforum09, the alternative climate summit, the global civil society counterpart of the official UN conference taking place in the Bella Center.

Australian Green Senator Christine Milne (Photo courtesy Office of the Senator)

Leaders of the Green Party came together at KlimaForum09. They included: Marina Silva of Brazil, Nobel Peace Laureate Wangari Maathai of Kenya, MEP Jose Bove of France, Senator Christine Milne of Australia, Elizabeth May of Canada and MEP Rebecca Harms of Germany, co-president of the Group of the Greens/European Free Alliance. The event was the only time they have shared a stage, outlining their views on what a meaningful climate agreement is and how it can be achieved.

“The Global Greens are concerned that rich nations are building loopholes into the official agreement to give the appearance of strong targets without the reality,” said Senator Milne.

“Land-use and forestry in particular are being used as let-out clauses to avoid actual emission reductions,” she said.

“Copenhagen is up against real deadline, not just those set by international diplomats,” said Elizabeth May leader of the Green Party of Canada. “The real deadlines are in the risk of run-away global warming.”

“The atmosphere is not negotiating with humanity,” said May. “To save ourselves and future generations, greenhouse gas levels globally must stop rising no later than 2016. Copenhagen cannot be allowed to fail.”

While the official UN climate conference ends Friday, December 18, Klimaforum09 continues through December 20. The last two days are reserved for movement building, with the ambition to build the foundation for a new global climate movement capable of taking the struggle for a socially just, sustainable future into the 21th century.

Now is the Time-Copenhagen COP15

December 8, 2009 / Suzanne Maxx / 2 Comments

By Suzanne Maxx

The Count Down to Copenhagen which we had posted on World Team Now’s Website is over, now is the time…. Left with dusty remnants of older blog conversations, “Think Global, Act for All, preparing for COP15. Now you too, have the opportunity to participate at Copenhagen; at the bottom of our home page there are links to take you to Copenhagen, COP15 webcasts and bring you virtually there, without the travel.

The much anticipated COP15 conference officially began yesterday, for us at World Team Now, and all others committed to the environmental movement this event holds the possibility of bearing witness to a historical moment in our world; The possibility of a global treaty’s framework around Climate Change agreed to by 192 Countries around the world, is present—with our future at stake.

The meeting could be named “Last Chance for Humanity” but the official title is the 15th Conference of the Parties — in reference to all part of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) referred to commonly as, COP15. Let’s hope the force of “COP15” can regulate like the acronym’s word, in regards to environmental justice.

More than 15,000 people made up of delegates, NGO’s and press gathered in Copenhagen for the opening of the conference. Cultural experiences gave those good feeling chills, with inspirational speeches, a performance of “All life is your life”, composed and accompanied by legendary Danish jazz trumpet player Palle Mikkelborg, and a short film, “Please Help the World,” about the nightmare of non-action- from a child’s perspective.

Unfortunately for much of the world, the understanding of Climate Change, and the way it has been presented in the media, has left most people at best confused, thinking that this UN Conference in Copenhagen might be futile; however the exact opposite may indeed be true. As if to highlight the point at the start of the Copenhagen climate conference, 56 newspapers from around the world published a joint editorial on Dec. 7th that urged world leaders to take steps that can limit rising temperatures.

“Kicking our carbon habit within a few short decades will require a feat of engineering and innovation to match anything in our history,” says the joint editorial. “But whereas putting a man on the moon or splitting the atom were born of conflict and competition, the coming carbon race must be driven by a collaborative effort to achieve collective salvation.”

Life happens, and I had planned to be there in Copenhagen today for the conference opening, and to be aligned with President Obama’s originally scheduled visit, on assignment for ENS. It was fortunate President Obama changed his schedule participation to the 18^th of December. But I did not anticipate a press conference held right here in the US by EPA’s Administrator Lisa Jackson, to be the place of action today, so here’s to timing! This was bold action timed well to motivate the world to get down to some specific measurable results—for transformation. Lisa Jackson spoke with clarity about the Climate Challenge in her speech today, (click here);

“The overwhelming amounts of scientific study show that the threat is real – as does the evidence before our very eyes. Polar ice caps crumbling into the oceans, changing migratory patterns of animals and broader ranges for deadly diseases, historic droughts, more powerful storms, and disappearing coastlines”.

But now after public response, Lisa Jackson demonstrated EPA is ready for action signing two distinct findings on December 7th, “ I’m proud to announce that EPA has finalized its endangerment finding on greenhouse gas pollution, and is now authorized and obligated to take reasonable efforts to reduce greenhouse pollutants under the Clean Air Act.
She explained, “In 2007, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down perhaps the most significant decision ever reached in environmental law. The Court ruled that the Clean Air Act, the landmark 1970 law aimed at protecting our air, is written to include greenhouse gas pollution.

This administration will not ignore science or the law any longer, nor will we avoid the responsibility we owe to our children and grandchildren. Today this long-overdue finding cements 2009’s place in history as the year when the United States Government began seriously addressing the challenge of greenhouse gas pollution and seizing the opportunity of clean-energy reform.

This action by EPA today says literally and symbolically that the US is taking Climate Change seriously, by proving that Green House Gasses (GHG) are indeed a public health threat and under the clean air act this gives EPA the authority and jurisdiction to regulate. This declaration holds the possibility of power being exerted from top down, if it can’t be done from the ideal bottom up legislature on energy. An Energy Bill has gone through the House, but the Energy Bill is stuck being debated in the Senate. The US needs more than image now, calling for action and now it looks to be within EPA’s power to regular not vehicles, and new construction, but also on new manufacturing facilities, if necessary.

I doubt that many anticipated this kind of bold action here on Climate Change from the US, who has a history of holding the rest of the world back from ratifying our first global agreement signed by all countries of our world since two generations of President Bushs’ (beat it around the..), when it was first named “The Climate Treaty,” at The Earth Summit in Rio, and when it grew into “The Kyoto Protocol”. May EPA inspire all working for an agreement in Copenhagen with the confidence that bigger forces are at work, and anything is possible in the US now..

“Every positive announcement will improve our chances of staying below the 2°C target,” said Danish minister Connie Hedegaard, who is presiding over the Copenhagen summit. “But we all know only too well, we are not there yet.

The set up leading to President Obama’s interaction at the end with the Conference with a team of policy experts all working towards an agreement, and the US.gov with EPA team hosting over 70 events in Copenhagen, is quite a strategy for something powerful..

The US is taking steps to redeem global respect. The possibility is a “home run”, with the bases loaded from the preceding work done. Inside the hearts of many who empower President Obama with high virtues, virtues that collectively inspired great leaders of the USA to write the documents like, “The Constitution of the United States“, virtues that are at the core of “The Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, virtues that could reflect the soul of our world striving to live in balance with our resources. Could the US inspire now? The stage will be set after this period of the conference for Obama to take a swing at global transformation having just received this Noel peace prize with the world’s eyes on him, he will have the opportunity to demonstrate his stand for peace, and change with ideals he founded his campaign with, “Yes, we can”, by taking action at COP15 when many had given up on any specific measurable results. He will have a chance to lead with the Light of respect, with the spotlight of the global stage shining on COP15 to stand for the highest good of our world.

Now for humanity’s sake let’s hope our timing and our efforts made, to come up with the first binding global treaty, that the whole world adopts, happens in time to bring future generations a world they deserve.

Global Climate Action a Success- Now for More!

November 12, 2009 / Suzanne Maxx / 0 Comments

The global day of Climate Action orchestrated by 350.org was indeed a success if measured by the people and venues around the world who all participated. What a fun way for the public to learn about climate science, through community team work. We at World Team Now had our “O” make it into the North America 350 Montage, and were excited to be on the team that produced events. We all have to celebrate our moments of success especially now. The tasks are daunting with the USA energy policy facing Congress, and with the hopes of a Global Energy Treaty coming out the upcoming international COP15 UN conference. It is time for our world to create policies with the best interest for all and commit to a plan of action for humanity to live in balance with our resources. This seems impossible, but knowing our future is at stake, based on Climate Science presses the urgency of protecting our natural resources now while we can make a change. But the steps occurring, now like the funding for smart grid projects, electric vehicles, incentives and programs supporting green buildings & jobs, and alternative energy projects are all good places to begin a huge transformation.