|
The US government released the 4th National Climate Assessment on the day after Thanksgiving. The scientists, economists and others who prepared this extensive report provide a range of scenarios and likely impacts by region. They also recommend responses for mitigation (lowing GHG emissions) and adaptation (preparing for and coping with impacts such as increased heat, drought, severe storms, health impacts and rising sea levels. The report sets forth in clear terms the urgency of the crises that result from unfettered dumping of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into our atmosphere and the opportunities that can result from sustained and focused investment and action. The federal administration has made statements undermining the importance and veracity of the report. But others in all levels of government, here and around the world, as well as leaders in businesses, communities, academia and the civic sector know that time is short and change is necessary. The catastrophic fires and storms this year are harbingers of the worse impacts we will face if action is delayed or not at the scale needed.
Closer to home, the City of Mountain View Council will reviewing the recommendations of the Environmental Sustainability Task Force submitted in June 2018 on Tuesday, December 4th. Staff has reviewed the task-force recommendations and scaled them back so much that it is unlikely that the City will meet its goal of reducing GHG emissions by 40% by 2030. This illustrates how difficult it is to implement meaningful change. It requires courage, money, time and good policy. Change is hard and inconvenient. But the alternative of failing to reduce absolute emissions on a city by city basis means that our children will face a world with more conflict, disease, famine, flooding and economic disruption as capital is diverted to disaster recovery and away from positive investments in innovation and regenerative solutions for a healthy society and economy.
To bring tidings of gladness and joy, it will take enormous courage from our leaders and from each of us. Here is to a greener and more regenerative 2019.
|
|
|
|
Minerva Ventures welcomes BioForceTech Corporation as a new client. BioForceTech is a pioneer in transforming waste biomass into energy and sequestered carbon. Their team designs, build and operates the most advanced biomass management systems that transform biosolids, green-waste, manure, food waste and other biomasses, into energy and soil amendment. For example, they upcycle sewage sludge into biochar, a useful soil amendment that increases the ability of soil to store water and carbon. In the process they eliminate 90% of the weight of the material, resulting in fewer truck trips and removing the need to apply sludge to fields, where it releases methane and leachate. This is an innovation that solves multiple problems and increases community resilience.
|
|
|
Join Ice911 at the St. Francis Yacht Club, for a party with panoramic views, live entertainment, and delicious drinks and appetizers. Together, we will celebrate Ice911’s whirlwind 2018, the year ahead, and the donors who are helping fund Ice911 to save Arctic Ice and stabilize the climate. Donate here. |
|
|
|
COP 24 in Katowice, Poland, December 2-14
Action Hub Event on Dec. 6 at 1pm: The Village of Hope
Minerva's Karl Van Orsdol, on behalf of the Rockies Institute, will be heading a multi-faceted media presentation on the process for braiding indigenous and scientific expert knowledge on adaptation. The session will present highlights from the Village of Hope that brought IPCC scientists together with indigenous knowledge experts on climate adaption. The sessions will also consider their next project which aims to address wildfires.
|
|
|
Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) is accepting nominations for its annual 2019 Sustainability Awards, which are presented to individuals, community groups and businesses that have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to sustainable practices. The 2019 awardees will be celebrated at SSMC’s 20th Annual Awards Dinner on April 4, 2019.
Application forms and criteria for the awards are available on SSMC’s website. Please apply by 5pm on December 7. Sponsorship opportunities for the 2019 Awards Dinner are also listed on the website.
|
|
The Global Resilience Summit
December 11-13, 2018
Breakers Hotel and Resort in Palm Beach, Florida
The Summit will bring together a wide variety of stakeholders, especially in the private and academic sectors, to share ways in which collaboration and partnership can be fostered around resilience themes. This symposium will use case studies of resilience in coastal communities and it will focus on opportunities for attendees to come away from the Summit with the beginnings of significant impacts based on working together.
For more information and to register, please click here.
|
|
|
Holiday Happy Hour by Menlo Spark
(with Sustainovation & Green Drinks Palo Alto)
Wed, December 12th, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
The Dutch Goose (Back Room), 3567 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park
Let’s celebrate another year of working together towards a sustainable future, with new victories to toast. If you’re feeling anxiety over recent climate reports with stark warnings, join this eco-friendly gathering to turn angst into action for 2019. See you there! RSVP Here
|
|
|
|
Save the Date
Prospect Silicon Valley's 2019 Innovation and Impact Symposium: Transforming California with Clean Technology is happening on June 19, 2019 at the Zero Net Energy Center in San Leandro.
|
|
|
|
Sustainable Electricity is edited by Jessica Fox and Morgan Scott of EPRI, published in October 2018 by Springer. Minerva founder, Marianna Grossman wrote Chapter 9, on Silicon Valley Innovations, featuring case studies based on personal interviews with HP, Inc., VMware, Facebook, Google and Stanford University. Find about the extensive action that each company is taking to meet their goals for carbon neutral energy. Available online now.
|
|
|
Minerva Ventures is a member of Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2).
We have signed the Clean Jobs Pledge.
Please join us if you or your firm are working in the Clean Economy.
Help voters and elected officials see the value of green jobs to their communities and to the economy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minerva Ventures is a consulting firm that works with established and new companies, communities and leaders from all sectors to create strategies and to implement plans that will help them thrive in an uncertain future. We bring insights from systems thinking to drive towards solutions that enhance resilience and success.
For more information visit our updated website: minervaventures.com
|
|
|
|
|
