Climate Action

As I look back on this past year, I am struck by the energy and power generated by the concern for trees. Our members, corporate partners, and planting partners are joining together with the Arbor Day Foundation every day and making great positive changes through our stewardship programs. Our vision of being a worldwide leader in the recognition and use of trees as a solution to global issues is being realized through these united efforts.

Planting trees is core to the Arbor Day Foundation mission. It’s what we’ve always done. Because trees help to improve people’s lives. In fact, they provide the necessities of life itself: clean air, healthy water, a tolerable climate, people’s health and wellness.

LIXIL Group Corporation, a global leader in the housing and building industry, has received validation from the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative for its greenhouse gas emissions target. LIXIL is the first company in the building products sector globally to have its targets approved by the SBT initiative.

The targets approved by the SBT initiative outline how LIXIL Group will reduce its environmental footprint in order to achieve its Environmental Vision, comprising a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 15% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 compared to fiscal 2015 levels. To achieve these targets, LIXIL Group is increasing energy efficiency in its operations, introducing renewable energy, and promoting energy efficient products and services.

Don't get caught short-sighted. Watch this short film from the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) to learn about how important it is to value your company’s relationship with nature. You’ll also see how some businesses are already leading the way.

Tetra Tech collected and analyzed data for a recent Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report analyzing food waste trends in urban areas of the United States to identify ways to reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills.

Global beverage industry leaders convened October 17-19, 2017 in Guadalajara, Mexico for the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) semi-annual meeting. Hosted by Brown-Forman, this three-day meeting’s agenda tackled pressing environmental sustainability issues such as performance in watershed context, energy and climate change, regenerative agriculture, and transparency and disclosure.

I know, I know. I haven’t written to you in a while. And I’m so sorry I’m writing to you this week, when everyone is saying “thanks.” I shouldn’t need Thanksgiving to remind me to be grateful to you, someone who has given and taught me so much! I hope you’ll forgive me, and that these words will still earn a smile or two.

Experts have predicted the amount of energy used by data centers will triple in the next decade, and as a responsible cloud computing company, iomart has started its journey to sustainable growth through lower energy consumption across its data centers. The company turned to Schneider Electric to lower energy use, meet energy compliance standards, and manage volatile energy costs.

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation has just issued its quarterly newsletter. Check it out to learn more about our key funding initiatives and Ray's legacy.

The Georgia Department of Transportation, The Land Institute, and The Ray have implemented a pilot demonstration on the right-of-way: perennial wheat farming. For the next three years, the pilot project, which uses KernzaⓇ perennial grain, will be monitored by The University of Georgia's Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Program Director and a Master of Landscape Architecture student from UGA.