First held in 1974, World Environment Day (celebrated on June 5th each year) is a day for raising awareness about environmental issues that need our attention including, human overpopulation, global warming, pollution, and conservation.
Patty DiOrio, VP of US Strategy, National Grid, appeared as a speaker on a panel hosted/moderated by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) to briefly discuss Climate Innovation 2050 repository, which produced three alternative scenarios for achieving an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Her participation mainly highlighted National Grid’s efforts to assess and advance long-term climate goals (Northeast 80x50 Pathway and internal GHG targets) for the power, transportation and heating sectors.
National Grid is a longtime supporter of developing the workforce of the future. The most recent example of these efforts is working with Northland Workforce Training Center to achieve its remediation targets at its 683 Northland Ave. headquarters and training facility. The training center opened last year in a building located on about 35 acres in an historic manufacturing district on Buffalo’s East Side. Prior to doing so, Northland needed to redevelop the building and nearby streetscape.
The demonstration featured a model, live electricity pole similar to those in place in most residential neighborhoods and presentations on the dangers of live electricity wires and how fences and other materials can become energized. Dig Safely New York also offered tips on damage prevention by calling 8-1-1 before doing any outside ground work and the hazards caused by digging into underground facilities.
Moya Elementary School in Southwest Phoenix has a new community garden and soccer field plus other improvements thanks to Rebuilding Together Valley of the Sun and 150 volunteers from Republic Services.
Girls Inc. of Worcester is one of six Girls Inc. affiliates that participates in Girls Inc. and National Grid’s innovative STEM partnership. Since 2011, National Grid has generously provided funding to support impactful STEM programming and experiences to thousands of girls in the Northeast. To hear more about the direct impact National Grid’s support has on Girls Inc. girls, we spoke to Brenda Nikas-Hayes, the Director of Eureka! STEM & Leadership program at Girls Inc. of Worcester. Brenda shared how her team is preparing girls to pursue STEM education and careers!
Barbara Whye, Intel’s diversity and inclusion chief, will tell lawmakers at a House Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation hearing this morning that Intel has found success in developing clear diversity hiring goals while investing in strategies to retain employees -- like a confidential tipline that allows employees to report situations making them uncomfortable in the workplace.
Smithfield Foods strengthened its commitment to sustainability through a new zero-waste-to-landfill initiative. The company will reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills by 75%, and turn 75% of their facilities into zero-waste-to-landfill operations by 2025. Currently, one quarter of Smithfield Foods' facilities are certified as zero-waste-to-landfill, and reuse or recycle at least 50% of all waste generated.
To kick-off the busy summer travel season while keeping carbon offsetting top of mind, JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) today announced it will offset the carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) for all JetBlue customers flying throughout the month of June. JetBlue is partnering with Carbonfund.org Foundation, an environmental non-profit organization, to offset CO2 for all scheduled JetBlue flights from June 1 to June 30, 2019.