Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility

Cority

US Coalition on Sustainability

The Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility Announces Two CEOs From American Consumer Goods Companies To Participate in Its Annual CEO Roundtable

Cority Acquires ESG Performance Software  Platform and Consultancy, Reporting 21

US Coalition on Sustainability Partners With Leading Alliances To Create the World’s Largest Sustainability Action Platform

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d00a13ca-554d-438f-ae07-55bdb87acdb3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/1toast_planetwater_092322.jpeg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>MetLife Foundation and Planet Water Foundation - First AquaTower project in La Cal, Jalisco</figcaption></figure>September 26, 2022 /CSRwire/ - Planet Water Foundation has announced a collaboration with MetLife Foundation through which the organizations will bring access to clean, safe drinking water to 30 communities across Mexico between 2022 and 2024. 
According to the U.N., access to clean drinking water is a pressing issue, with 2 billion people (approximately 26% of the world’s population) lacking safely managed drinking water services in 2020[1]. In addition, 2.3 billion people (approximately 29% of the world’s population) lacked a basic handwashing facility with soap and water at home, which puts them at increased risk of transmittable diseases, including COVID-19[2]. Rates of water poverty are even higher in areas of Mexico, where 57% of people do not have access to a safely managed water source[3].
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6aec0d6c-212f-42e4-849a-2bdcc883e8ed" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/2smiles_planetwater_092322.jpeg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>AquaTower project in La Ladera, Jalisco</figcaption></figure>To provide access to clean, safe drinking water to over 50,000 people in Mexico, Planet Water Foundation will construct 30 AquaTower water filtration systems in communities in Chiapas, Jalisco, Mexico State, Oaxaca, Puebla and Veracruz. Employees and partners of MetLife Mexico will volunteer their time to help with the construction. 
The AquaTowers will be located in public elementary schools – the heart of each community – to provide access to safe water to school children and members of the surrounding communities.
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="building the tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5ad96fb6-90c0-4010-b2aa-c8fc73d7cafb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/3building_planetwater_092322.jpeg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>AquaTower project in La Ladera, Jalisco</figcaption></figure>Through the Planet Water Foundation and MetLife Foundation collaboration, each community will receive:

<ul><li>An AquaTower water filtration system, providing 1,000 liters of clean, safe drinking water per hour, or enough to support the drinking water requirements of up to 1,800 people.</li>
	<li>Handwashing facilities that are integrated into the base of each AquaTower, including liquid soap dispensers.</li>
	<li>Planet Water’s Water-Health &amp; Hygiene education program, which is designed to create a change in behavior, beliefs and knowledge on life-saving hygiene practices.</li>
</ul>Alfredo Esparza, President of Fundacion MetLife Mexico, said: “MetLife has a longstanding commitment to building healthy, resilient communities, and we recognize the important role that access to clean water plays in people’s wellbeing. We are proud that MetLife Foundation and volunteers from MetLife Mexico will support Planet Water Foundation’s mission to bring this important resource to communities that need it most.”
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="team posing in front of the AquaTower project in La Ladera, Jalisco" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="22c98a5b-d39f-4424-9e64-b31031ff8c75" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/4team_planetwater_092322.jpeg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>AquaTower project in La Ladera, Jalisco</figcaption></figure>“We are looking forward to the impact we will be making in Mexico together with MetLife Foundation over the next 24 months” said Mark Steele, Founder &amp; CEO, Planet Water Foundation. “In particular, we are excited that this partnership gives us the opportunity to expand our reach in Mexico into Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, and Veracruz, where our AquaTower solution will help transform the health and well-being of school children and community members by providing access to clean, safe drinking water.” 
The first projects of the partnership were deployed in Jalisco State in La Cal and La Ladera communities. 
Planet Water’s AquaTower system employs a three-stage water filtration system and, to date, has been deployed in over 1,500 communities across 15 countries. About Planet Water Foundation 
Planet Water Foundation is a non-profit organization focused on bringing clean water to the world’s most impoverished communities through the installation of community-based water filtration systems and the deployment of hygiene education programs. Planet Water Foundation projects are focused on children, schools, and rural/peri-urban communities across Asia and Latin America. Since 2009, Planet Water has deployed more than 1,600 projects that provide clean water access to more than three million people across 15 countries. For more information, visit <a href="http://www.planet-water.org" target="_blank">www.planet-water.org</a> About MetLife Foundation 
At MetLife Foundation, we are committed to expanding opportunities for low- and moderate-income people around the world. We partner with nonprofit organizations and social enterprises to create financial health solutions and build stronger communities, while engaging MetLife employee volunteers to help drive impact. Our financial health work has reached more than 17.3 million low- and moderate-income individuals in 42 countries. Learn more at <a href="https://www.metlife.com/sustainability/MetLife-sustainability/MetLife-Foundation/" target="_blank">MetLife Foundation</a>.

Media Contact: 
John Deotrakul <a href="mailto:john@planet-water.org" target="_blank">john@planet-water.org</a> 
Jorge Hernandez <a href="mailto:jorge.hernandez1@metlife.com.mx">jorge.hernandez1@metlife.com.mx</a> 
Alejandro Luna <a href="mailto:aluna@cuadrante.com.mx">aluna@cuadrante.com.mx</a>

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<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /><div id="ftn1">
[1] <a href="https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/water-sanitation-and-hygiene/" target="_blank">Water, Sanitation and Hygiene | UN-Water (unwater.org)</a>.
</div>

<div id="ftn2">
[2] <a href="https://www.unwater.org/water-facts/handhygiene/" target="_blank">Handwashing/Hand hygiene | UN-Water (unwater.org)</a>.
</div>

<div id="ftn3">
[3] <a href="https://washdata.org/data/household#!/mex" target="_blank">JMP (washdata.org)</a>.
</div>
</div>

Planet Water Foundation Collaborates With MetLife Foundation To Bring Clean, Safe Water to Over 50,000 People Across Rural Mexico

<img alt="Tersano Booth 2248 at ISSA Show North America 2022" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="713030c6-950d-43db-8caf-839708c21d21" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/header_tersano_092022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />September 23, 2022 /CSRwire/ - This October, get ready to meet the next generation of cleaning technologies: <a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a>.

Cleaning innovations company Tersano will present new innovation at <a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank">Chicago’s ISSA</a> from October 10-13th, 2022. From a wearable backpack sprayer to a dashboard interface that logs product usage and sustainability targets, Tersano brings to market technologies that prioritize safety, sustainability, and efficiency in the way we clean.

The Show

The International Sanitary Supply Association (ISSA) hosts the <a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank">ISSA tradeshow</a> in North America each year. It opens the exhibition floor for businesses to present emerging cleaning technologies to target brands, organizations, and consumers.

World-renowned as one of the leading tradeshows of the cleaning industry, ISSA attracts thousands of attendees annually, connecting categorized products and services to buyers who are actively searching to innovate their cleaning programs and processes with the latest and greatest technologies.

This year, <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> makes headway with plans to present three new products designed to make cleaning more efficient, sustainable, and safe for all industries: SAO2GO, iClean® Dashboard, and iClean® Hands.

About Tersano

<a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a> is a Canadian-based, privately held innovations company that manufactures sustainable cleaning technologies. Tersano’s mission is to reinvent cleaning using technology that maximizes sustainability, safety, and efficiency.

As an engineer, Tersano’s CEO, <a href="https://tersano.com/pages/our-mission" target="_blank">Steve Hengsperger</a>, recognized the negative impact that harsh cleaning chemicals have on the environment, human health, and workplace efficiency. In 2001, he responded to his observation by establishing Tersano, an organization that would soon be destined to Change the Way the World Cleans.

Tersano is recognized for the scientific breakthrough of <a href="https://tersano.com/blogs/tersano/what-is-stabilized-aqueous-ozone" target="_blank">Stabilized Aqueous Ozone</a>, popularly referred to on the market as simply SAO. The solution is an all-in-one cleaner, sanitizer, and deodorizer that kills an astounding 99.999% of germs – yet, it has no harsh chemicals, volatile organic compounds, or toxins. Instead, it uses the power of ultra-safe ozone to obliterate germs, including those responsible for the novel coronavirus diseases.

Science Meets Tech

One pillar of SAO’s sustainability is that it reverts to water and oxygen after use. SAO remains a certified sanitizer for up to 24 hours and a cleaner for up to 6 days. After that, the solution turns back to water and oxygen, naturally reverting into the environment without posing any harm, damage, or adverse effects.

Tersano’s SAO is created on-site and on-demand. With on-site generation, gone are the days of shipping, mixing, and batching harsh chemicals. Instead, Tersano’s commercial and consumer devices convert ordinary tap water into SAO instantly. The only necessary ingredients are cold tap water, electricity, and Tersano’s patented SAO cartridges.

Tersano’s all-in-one SAO solution eliminates the need for traditional cleaning products, allowing for product consolidation. Versatile SAO can be safely and effectively used on virtually all surfaces: floors, countertops, windows, walls, stainless steel, and even food-contact surfaces, making the need for harsh chemicals obsolete.

Standing the Test of Time

Regulatory organizations have extensively tested and certified SAO throughout the years, confirming its effectiveness, sustainability, and safety. Tersano’s SAO solution is approved by world-renown changemakers like <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/Green_Seal_Tersano_Recertification_Letter_Certificates_16-Aug-22_87_cd983187-72a9-4887-9437-14e1395b0477.pdf?v=1663090320" target="_blank">Green Seal</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/EcoVadis_Certificate.pdf?v=1656508811" target="_blank">EcoVadis</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/ASSE1055-2009_ApprovalLetter.pdf?v=1594765153" target="_blank">CSA Group</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/HACCP_2021_Certificate.pdf?v=1620994029" target="_blank">HACCP</a>, <a href="https://ca.tersano.com/pages/compliance" target="_blank">LEED</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/TUVCert_April2015.pdf?v=1594765155" target="_blank">TUV</a>, <a href="https://ca.tersano.com/pages/compliance" target="_blank">Boma Best</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/WM_Certificate_2019.pdf?v=1600282991" target="_blank">Watermark</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/EUO3TA_Membership.pdf?v=1600785999" target="_blank">EUO3TA</a>, and more. In addition, SAO complies with regulations and standards slated by the <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/EPARegulationPestControlDevices.pdf?v=1594765159" target="_blank">EPA</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/FDA_RulesRegulations.pdf?v=1594765153" target="_blank">FDA</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/ARF-20220404_NF152236_NF152236_C0257802_NF1_001.pdf?v=1649258795" target="_blank">NSF</a>, and <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/NOPOzoneApproval.pdf?v=1594765153" target="_blank">USDA NOP</a>.

Because cleaning is a critical function for all facilities, there is no neat and tidy industry in which SAO best serves. Instead, the solution is widely adopted by organizations across various industries: education, travel and transport, healthcare, daycares, convention centers, and foodservice, among many others.
<img alt="Tersano products" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5592cfa3-08ca-488d-8727-2d7bf7d37adc" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/products_tersano_092022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Where It All Began

Tersano’s technologies have always been beyond their time. Tersano’s novelty dispenser is the <a href="https://tersano.com/products/sao-dispenser" target="_blank">lotus® PRO SAO dispenser</a>, a wall-mounted system that instantly turns water into SAO for staff to dispense directly into reusable spray bottles, mop buckets, and cleaning equipment. Cleaning staff simply flip a switch and turn water into SAO on demand with no mixing, batching, or diluting required.
<img alt="Tersano products" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="efe1dc7f-e5cc-4bef-9c6a-644230a4cb0a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/products2_tersano_092022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />The next wave of innovation for Tersano came in the form of the <a href="https://tersano.com/products/iclean-mini" target="_blank">iClean® mini</a> – the new size of clean. Like the lotus PRO, the iClean mini instantly converts water into a sanitizing cleaner. Users add water to the base then dispense SAO with the push of the trigger. The <a href="https://tersano.com/products/iclean-mini" target="_blank">iClean® PRO</a> was the next evolution, a still-miniaturized version of the lotus® PRO but featuring a larger water-holding reservoir than the mini and a higher ppm.

Now, with innovation tightening its belt around the cleaning industry, Tersano is ready to Change the Way the World Cleans again, launching new products at ISSA.

The Next Generation

At <a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank">Chicago’s ISSA</a> tradeshow, Tersano appoints three new technologies to the showcase floor: SAO2GO, iClean Dashboard, and iClean Hands. The first two technologies focus on efficiency, while the third emerges as a response to the demand for hand sanitizers.
<img alt="Tersano products" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5edcf72d-e96e-46a6-8522-76d82ca82727" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/products3_tersano_092022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />SAO2GO is a wearable backpack system for cleaning on the go. Cleaning operatives strap on the remarkably featherlight equipment, and the backpack turns water into SAO instantly. Cleaning staff dispense SAO from a wand in a fine, steady stream for ultimate coverage and continuous runtime.
<img alt="Tersano app" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4222d0cc-e472-4ae6-8817-4c45b730f1d1" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/app_tersano_092022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />iClean Dashboard tells the other side of the sustainability and efficiency story. Through the internet of things, the iClean Dashboard tracks SAO usage and produces sustainability reports that communicate how many liters of harsh chemicals SAO has helped the user keep out of the environment.
<img alt="Tersano products" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1f10d32a-5eb5-4eeb-a990-bda01aa327b6" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/products4_tersano_092022.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Finally, Tersano rolls out iClean Hands in response to the demand for safer, more effective hand sanitizing. Like all Tersano’s technologies, iClean Hands converts water into a sanitizer on demand. Alcohol-free with no harsh chemicals, iClean Hands is safer for people and the planet but highly effective against germs, killing 99.999%.

A New Message for ISSA 2022

<a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> has been a longtime exhibitor of ISSA tradeshows. This year, they’re shaking up the routine with a new spin on their product positioning: cost-savings.

With the world turned on its heels due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry is bloated with emerging brands and cleaning competitors. To Tersano’s advantage, SAO has many legs supporting its distinction from the competition: from increased safety and sustainability to versatility of applications and simplicity of use.

Nonetheless, with Tersano entering its third decade of business, their name and products are well-known on the market for their sustainable edge. However, an unsung hero to their solution is the inherited cost-savings resulting from on-site generation, product consolidation, and of course, not having to buy harsh chemicals anymore.

This ISSA, <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> will focus on the cost-savings benefit of SAO to give brands the added incentive to do away with harsh chemicals once and for all. To learn more, attend ISSA and visit Tersano at <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">booth #2248</a> – you might even get a demonstration on why they call SAO magic water!

When: October 10th – 13th, 2022 Where: The McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL Get the Details:<a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank"> www.issashow.com</a> <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Add Tersano to Your ISSA Show Planner</a>

Cleaning Innovations Company To Present New Innovation at ISSA, Chicago 2022

<img alt="sao2go backpack" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a2e109e4-b86c-4cf6-9bc4-5c56baca337c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/backpack_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Cleaning innovations company <a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a> launches a new technology that increases productivity, safety, and sustainability: SAO2GO, a backpack that instantly turns ordinary tap water into a cleaner, sanitizer, and deodorizer.

Tersano will present SAO2GO at North America’s leading cleaning trade show <a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank">ISSA</a>. The event occurs from October 11th-13th at McCormick Place Center in Chicago, Illinois. Attracting thousands of attendees each year, Tersano invites anyone looking to improve their cleaning program’s efficiency, safety, and sustainability to meet them at <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">booth #2248</a> at this year’s ISSA and discover the power of SAO2GO.

About Tersano

As an engineer, Tersano’s CEO, <a href="https://tersano.com/pages/our-mission" target="_blank">Steve Hengsperger</a>, recognized the negative impact that harsh cleaning chemicals have on the environment, human health, and workplace efficiency. In 2001, he responded to his observation by establishing Tersano, an organization that would soon be destined to Change the Way the World Cleans.

Tersano is recognized for the scientific breakthrough of <a href="https://tersano.com/blogs/tersano/what-is-stabilized-aqueous-ozone" target="_blank">Stabilized Aqueous Ozone</a>, popularly referred to on the market as simply SAO. The solution is an all-in-one cleaner, sanitizer, and deodorizer that kills an astounding 99.999% of germs – yet, it has no harsh chemicals, volatile organic compounds, or toxins. Instead, it uses the power of ultra-safe ozone to obliterate germs, including those responsible for the novel coronavirus diseases. As an all-in-one solution that effectively replaces traditional cleaning products, SAO is swiftly making the need for harsh cleaning chemicals obsolete.

Since its founding in 2001, businesses across various industries have adopted Tersano’s technologies: education, travel and transport, healthcare, daycares, convention centres, and food service, among many others. At the same time, worldwide regulatory bodies have approved Tersano’s solution for its safety, sustainability, and effectiveness, including, but not limited to: <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/Green_Seal_Tersano_Recertification_Letter_Certificates_16-Aug-22_87_cd983187-72a9-4887-9437-14e1395b0477.pdf?v=1663090320" target="_blank">Green Seal</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/EcoVadis_Certificate.pdf?v=1656508811" target="_blank">EcoVadis</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/ASSE1055-2009_ApprovalLetter.pdf?v=1594765153" target="_blank">CSA Group</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/HACCP_2021_Certificate.pdf?v=1620994029" target="_blank">HACCP</a>, <a href="https://ca.tersano.com/pages/compliance" target="_blank">LEED</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/TUVCert_April2015.pdf?v=1594765155" target="_blank">TUV</a>, <a href="https://ca.tersano.com/pages/compliance" target="_blank">Boma Best</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/WM_Certificate_2019.pdf?v=1600282991" target="_blank">Watermark</a>, and <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/EUO3TA_Membership.pdf?v=1600785999" target="_blank">EUO3TA</a>. In addition, SAO complies with regulations and standards slated by the <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/EPARegulationPestControlDevices.pdf?v=1594765159" target="_blank">EPA</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/FDA_RulesRegulations.pdf?v=1594765153" target="_blank">FDA</a>, <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/ARF-20220404_NF152236_NF152236_C0257802_NF1_001.pdf?v=1649258795" target="_blank">NSF</a>, and <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/NOPOzoneApproval.pdf?v=1594765153" target="_blank">USDA NOP</a>.
<img alt="sao2go backpack" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a53406a-a828-41bc-b72d-7bd750725a79" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/closeup_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />SAO2GO: The Backpack that Changed Everything

Tersano’s technologies have always been beyond their time. Tersano’s traditional fleet of SAO devices includes a wall-mounted system called the <a href="https://tersano.com/products/sao-dispenser" target="_blank">lotus® PRO SAO dispenser</a> and two handheld devices, the <a href="https://tersano.com/products/iclean-mini" target="_blank">iClean® mini</a> and <a href="https://tersano.com/products/iclean-pro" target="_blank">iClean® PRO</a>. Tersano’s devices feature interior technologies that instantly convert ordinary tap water into SAO on-site and on-demand, an all-in-one cleaner, sanitizer, and deodorizer.

Today, Tersano introduces a new technology that maximizes cleaning efficiency, safety, and sustainability even further: SAO2GO. The wearable backpack system converts water into SAO during use. Ordinary water runs through a stabilization cartridge equipped with the backpack. The stabilized water then continues through a handheld wand attachment with an internal, authentic diamond. The inner diamond splits the oxygen atoms in the water (H2O) to create ozone (O3). This instant process converts ordinary water into a cleaning solution that utilizes natural active oxidizing to effectively remove dirt, grime, germs, and bacteria.
<img alt="sao2go backpack as it relates to neck health" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3ad968b-cd1e-4b76-b958-fcfb421c7505" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/neck_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Unrivalled Cleaning Efficiency and Performance

SAO2GO is easy on the eyes and the back: while packed with tech, the unit is compact and featherlight for ultimate comfort and performance. It contains a sprayer wand, a backup battery, tangle-free water and electric lines, a paper towel dispenser, and a pouch for the water reservoir – an ordinary 1-litre reusable water bottle.

Staff simply fill the water bottle with cold and clean tap water and equip the system to their back with the easy slip-on-slip-off straps. Then, they engage the spray button on the device’s wand, and the backpack converts the ordinary water into SAO on demand.

SAO2GO outputs the solution in a fine stream for expanded surface coverages. With portability and on-demand dispensation, SAO2GO grants cleaning operatives continuous runtime and increased performance and efficiency.

Increased Efficiency Translates to Cost Savings

Beyond the need for safer, more sustainable cleaning, <a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a> also understands the need for businesses to save costs, especially for their target markets of building service contractors, facility maintenance managers, and commercial and residential contract cleaners.

With SAO2GO, simplicity translates into cost-savings for businesses. Most of Tersano’s clients report a 25% average return on their investment when switching from traditional cleaning chemicals to SAO. The cost-savings inherited in Tersano’s technologies result from on-site generation, product simplicity, product consolidation, and of course, not having to buy harsh chemicals anymore.
<img alt="show booth info" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d441409d-a783-438c-9c6d-02618af21d91" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/show_tersano_091922_0.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Meet Tersano

As <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> acts on their third decade of business, they continuously evolve and transform the way we clean with their innovation and certified safe and sustainable solution. Now, <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> invites the public to attend ISSA North America 2022 to meet their staff, explore and discover their technologies, and join their mission to reduce the use of harmful cleaning chemicals.

When: October 10th – 13th, 2022 Where: Booth #2248, McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL Get the Details:<a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank"> www.issashow.com</a>

<a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Add Tersano to Your ISSA Show Planner</a>

Cleaning Innovations Company Launches Backpack System To Increase Productivity, Safety, and Sustainability

<img alt="Person using a laptop" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b471b34d-9a90-4132-8f4c-e4f3f1365e4c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/MacBook_Pro_Aura%20air-min.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="1066" loading="lazy" />As students return to the classroom for the new school year, hundreds of schools and school bus operators are installing Aura Air’s advanced air quality management systems to keep them safe and healthy.

After two years of disruptions to in-person classes and growing concerns about student absenteeism, schools are determined to stay open safely this year. Yet many face a shrinking teacher pool, plunging public school enrollment, and the need to recover from learning losses, even as COVID-19 cases continue and flu season approaches.

In 2020, the federal government made $122 billion in pandemic relief funding available to educational institutions, schools, and universities across the United States. They are using the funds to install indoor air quality monitoring systems to lower the risks and impacts of poor indoor air on teachers, faculty, and students.

Aura Air devices have successfully contributed to a significant improvement in air quality in hundreds of classrooms and school buses where the systems have been installed. Aura Air’s system improved VOC levels in classrooms by 50%, helping reduce health risks such as headaches, poor coordination, nausea, and cancer. Additionally, PM 2.5 levels improved by more than 10% and overall air quality by more than 12%.

Following a series of successful pilot programs, the Aura Air system has now been installed in some of the largest school districts across the country, including:

<ul><li>Meriden Public Schools in Connecticut</li>
	<li>Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi</li>
	<li>Legends Charter School in Maryland</li>
	<li>Highline Public Schools in Washington</li>
	<li>Jacksonville University in Florida</li>
	<li>Touro University in New York</li>
	<li>Southwest College in Mississippi</li>
	<li>City of Cambridge in Massachusetts</li>
</ul>“Aura Air is honored to provide clean, safe indoor air to thousands of students and faculty in the U.S. just as we do in classrooms and government institutions worldwide,” said Roei Friedberg, CEO of Aura Americas. “Aura Air’s innovative air management system helps prevent infections and clears the air of harmful airborne particles including viruses, bacteria, and VOCs, improving the health and wellness of teachers, faculty, and students.”

“Indoor air quality in our schools continues to be a top concern for parents and teachers,” said Leslie Boggs, former National Parent Teacher Association President. “Aura Air’s technology is scientifically proven to eliminate 99.99% of COVID and flu particles from the air we breathe. Their platform enables schools and universities to monitor and purify indoor air quality in real-time across campuses to keep educators and students healthy.”

Using the Aura Air web platform, superintendents, educators, and school bus operators leverage a fleet management solution to maintain the highest indoor air quality standards in public spaces. The new platform provides an extensive set of tools for users to manage and monitor multiple Aura Air purification systems in real time at once by controlling every aspect of indoor air quality. It detects and alerts administrators on air pollution-related risks, including viruses, allergies, mold, and other health-related concerns.

Aura Air Equips Thousands of Classrooms With Air Quality Management Systems

<img alt="jars of coins with seedlings growing out of them" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9ff1df16-910f-4e55-a472-9c491210fd84" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/jars%20of%20coins_Tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a> is a Canadian-based, privately held company that manufactures sustainable cleaning technologies. Through their innovative products and solution, they make cleaning safer for people and the planet, while helping businesses significantly reduce costs, time, and labor every step of the way.

Tersano manufactures devices that convert ordinary tap water into an all-in-one cleaner, sanitizer, and deodorizer on-site and on demand. The best part? Tersano’s solution contains no harsh chemicals. Instead, it harnesses the natural oxidizing power of ozone infused in water to eliminate 99.999% of germs, including those responsible for the novel coronavirus disease.
<img alt="hexagons with words Innovation and Tersero in them" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d243fa88-5afc-44c7-afd2-2248f82a21ef" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/chemical_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="1250" loading="lazy" />The Need for Innovation

Having a clean space is more than a function of aesthetics – it prevents the spread of germs and keeps building occupants healthy. However, cleaning with harsh chemicals can also be harmful to human health and the environment.

For humans, excessive or unsafe exposure to <a href="https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Health%20Issues%20and%20Environmental%20Impact%20of%20Cleaning%20Agents-189.pdf" target="_blank">traditional cleaning products</a> can irritate the eyes, skin, upper respiratory tract, and throat. In more severe cases, shortness of breath and poisoning can occur when these harsh solutions are ingested.

In addition,<a href="https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/Health%20Issues%20and%20Environmental%20Impact%20of%20Cleaning%20Agents-189.pdf" target="_blank"> traditional cleaning products</a> negatively impact the environment. As noted by Novelty Journals, the chemical contents of conventional cleaning products can act as an endocrine disruptor to wildlife, contribute to water and air pollution, and even bioaccumulate in plants and animals.

Moreover, traditional cleaning products require extensive training, prepping, shipping, handling, and processes that can reduce workplace efficiency and increase operational costs.

Thus, with the need for innovation looming, <a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a> set out in 2001 to Change the Way the World Cleans.
<img alt="cleaning technology" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bd52eb7b-6a07-4eaf-aff8-0300191d6f63" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/tech_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />SAO Bridges the Gap Between Sustainability and Profitability

In the early 2000’s, Founder and current CEO of Tersano Steve Hengsperger invented and patented <a href="https://tersano.com/blogs/tersano/what-is-stabilized-aqueous-ozone" target="_blank">Stabilized Aqueous Ozone (SAO®)</a>, a cleaning solution scientifically proven to kill 99.999% of germs without harsh chemicals.

SAO is certified and accredited by world-leading sustainability changemakers like<a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/Green_Seal_Tersano_Recertification_Letter_Certificates_16-Aug-22_87_cd983187-72a9-4887-9437-14e1395b0477.pdf?v=1663090320" target="_blank"> Green Seal</a> and<a href="https://files.constantcontact.com/3afdb80e301/83e936e2-d246-4711-a974-19dff5d946ea.pdf?rdr=true" target="_blank"> EcoVadis</a>. Moreover, SAO is trusted and used worldwide every day – even benchmark brands like Google, Nestle, and Ford Motor Company have adopted the solution. As more and more brands and names convert to SAO, the need for harsh chemicals becomes increasingly obsolete.

Outside of sustainability, Tersano’s world-renowned SAO solution has many benefits: improved safety for staff and guests, reduced labour costs, cleaner environments, simplicity, and more. However, one of the most significant benefits for businesses is the cost savings. Through on-site generation, reduced health and safety risks, less resource consumption, and decreased chemical usage, SAO bridges the gap between sustainability and profitability.
<img alt="closed loop chart" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0d304b0-2959-47f8-b8cb-5f28d5698824" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/loop_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="1250" loading="lazy" />Shorter Supply Chain, Less Costs

<a href="https://tersano.com/blogs/tersano/what-is-stabilized-aqueous-ozone" target="_blank">SAO</a> is a unique solution in that it reverts to water and oxygen after usage. SAO remains a certified sanitizer for up to 24 hours and a certified cleaner for up to 6 days before reverting naturally into the environment. <a href="https://tersano.com/" target="_blank">Tersano</a> does not ship the SAO solution in plastic bottles. Instead, their devices let businesses and consumers instantaneously convert ordinary tap water into SAO on-site and on-demand.

The cleaning industry recognizes this concept as on-site generation (OSG) and it is an effective method for reducing carbon emissions and plastic use. However, Tersano’s technologies and solution differ from conventional OSG technologies as the operator merely flips a switch on the device to make the conversion. There is no mixing, batching, or wasting, and it is all accomplished with only water, on-site, on-demand, and within seconds.

On-site generation isn’t only better for the planet – it’s better for profit. OSG, predilution, and on-demand dispensing significantly reduce time and labour. Meanwhile, eliminating the need for single-use spray bottles keeps plastics out of our planet’s landfills, helping businesses reduce their waste output.
<img alt="risk v profit words" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33a47527-a07e-44a8-8caf-79f45208ae70" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/risk_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Reduced Risks, Increased Profits

With a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) rating of<a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0298/2389/3557/files/Tersano_SAO_CANADA_USA_V8.00_NA-en_1.pdf?v=1663090335" target="_blank"> 0-0-0</a>, Tersano’s SAO solution poses no harm to the planet or human health. Safer cleaning for the environment and people also translates into cost savings: by eliminating the need for hazardous material training, businesses save time, labour, and resources.

Because SAO reverts to water and oxygen after use, it is completely safe to dispose of down the drain. SAO does not require being ‘chased’ with water down the drain, saving time and resources for staff while also protecting our waterways.

In addition, SAO is residue-free. Using SAO to clean floors also increases safety by reducing the risks of dangerous slip-and-fall accidents. For example, a Tersano hotel client who switched to SAO found a 70% reduction in the number of lawsuits from slip-and-fall related accidents on their site, which additionally translated into saved costs.
<img alt="save with piles of quarters" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3d0eb48-0051-4974-8912-788a228769e4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/quarters_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Less Resources, More Savings

When surfaces are cleaned with hazardous chemicals, rinsing the surface with water afterwards is often required. SAO eliminates this step.

As a no-rinse, residue-free solution, SAO helps businesses and consumers save water, time, and costs in one fell swoop. Reducing water usage not only serves the environment – it serves utility bills.

Tersano’s <a href="https://tersano.com/pages/case-studies" target="_blank">clients</a> have reported saving thousands of liters of water a month which translated into reduced utility expenses. Meanwhile, they calculated additional labour savings from eliminating the added step of rinsing surfaces with water after cleaning.

As a no-rinse solution, SAO preserves one of the planet’s most vulnerable resources, thus bridging the gap between sustainability and cost savings once again.
<img alt="x through traditional cleaning products, circle around new technology" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="031f2639-e067-4b14-b6ea-f21c8903d80c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/cleaning_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Fewer Products, Maximized Profit

Tersano’s <a href="https://tersano.com/blogs/tersano/what-is-stabilized-aqueous-ozone" target="_blank">Stabilized Aqueous Ozone</a> is an all-in-one, all-purpose, no-rinse solution. Unlike traditional cleaning chemicals and other on-site generation technologies, Tersano’s devices dispense just one solution that is safe, suitable, and effective for virtually all applications: surfaces, glass, floors, stainless steel, high-touch points, and even food-contact areas.

In fact, many of Tersano’s clients have reported replacing over 90% of their harsh cleaning chemicals with SAO, helping them significantly reduce time with fewer products to manage as well as costs on all the harsh chemicals they no longer must buy.

SAO: The Solution to Cost and Eco-Efficiency

Tersano’s innovative cleaning solution and technologies show no trade-off between sustainability and cost-efficiency. Instead, Tersano demonstrates how cost savings and environmental servitude can go together, producing positive results for all facets of importance: people, planet, and profit.
<img alt="tersero show booth info" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fcd120-e267-46c7-b7f0-0841e68228e1" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/show_tersano_091922.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />Meet Tersano

As <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> acts on their third decade of business, they continuously evolve and transform the way we clean with their innovation and certified safe and sustainable solution. Now, <a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Tersano</a> invites the public to attend ISSA North America 2022 to meet their staff, explore and discover their technologies, and join their mission to reduce the use of harmful cleaning chemicals.

When: October 10th – 13th, 2022 Where: Booth #2248, The McCormick Place Convention Center, Chicago, IL Get the Details:<a href="http://www.issashow.com" target="_blank"> www.issashow.com</a>

<a href="https://issashowplanner.com/8_0/exhibitor/exhibitor-details.cfm?exhid=198559" target="_blank">Add Tersano to Your ISSA Show Planner</a>

Cleaning Innovations Company Demonstrates How Cost-Savings and Sustainability Go Hand-in-Hand

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="34abebed-b90c-4c90-a065-1c6e2a9785ac" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/AC4A0142_v2_0.jpeg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Recent PAESMEM Awardees with OSTP’s Dr. Alondra Nelson and Dr. Quincy Brown in May 2022</figcaption></figure>WASHINGTON, September 21, 2022 /CSRwire/ - Nominations and applications are now open for this year’s <a href="https://bit.ly/CSRWirePressRelease2223" target="_blank">Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM)</a>. Individuals and organizations who are engaged in STEM mentorship in industry, government, corporations, military, nonprofits, foundations, or academia are all eligible to be honored for their outstanding work. 

This prestigious award was created in 1995 to identify and recognize those who have contributed outstanding efforts in mentoring and have enhanced the participation of individuals across a wide demographic array. The award is administered by the National Science Foundation (NSF) on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). 
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2ab26d4b-358b-4fa4-ae79-ddc743eec84b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/AC4A0162_0.jpeg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Recent PAESMEM Awardees at the EASE Recognition Ceremony at D.C.’s historic Warner Theatre in May 2022</figcaption></figure>“The individuals and organizations who win this award are crucial to the present and future of STEM careers in the United States,” said Robert Mayes, Program Director of the Excellence Awards for Science and Engineering (EASE) Program at NSF. “Past winners have made significant contributions, especially for those who might not otherwise had access to opportunities in STEM.” Over 330 individuals and organizations have received this distinguished Presidential recognition, serving as exemplars to their colleagues and as leaders in the national effort to develop the nation’s human resources in STEM fields.

Awardees receive: 

<ul><li>A certificate signed by the President of the United States </li>
	<li>A paid trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities </li>
	<li>A $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation </li>
	<li>An opportunity to build lasting partnerships with fellow award-winning mentors from across the nation </li>
</ul>“The Presidential Award is the honor of a lifetime. It sends the message that our nation's underrepresented and underserved people deserve our support to access myriad wonderful opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Eve Ann Riskin, 2020 PAESMEM Awardee. “For too long, engineering has lacked diversity in so many dimensions. Finally, as a woman in electrical engineering, the Presidential Award sends me the message that the past 40 years I spent working against so many obstacles has made a difference.” 

Nominate a deserving individual or organization or start an application yourself today at <a href="https://bit.ly/CSRWirePressRelease2223" target="_blank">paesmem.net</a>. You could be the next Presidential Awardee! 

Nominations close January 1st, 2023, and applications are due by February 1st, 2023.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring Applications Are Now Open

<img alt="space with math overimposed" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c68c7602-e603-4656-8d40-89bb87af2d8c" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Three_New_Business_Models_to_Achieve_Carbon-Reduction_Goals-IS22-026-960.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="540" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/markets/energy" target="_blank">Energy</a>

Tetra Tech’s Rodrigo Chaparro, senior climate advisor, looks at three Cooperative Approaches as a market-based path toward net zero in advance of the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

This is the second in a three-part series exploring how Article 6 of the Paris Agreement can spur the clean energy transition.

The most recent <a href="https://report.ipcc.ch/ar6wg3/pdf/IPCC_AR6_WGIII_SummaryForPolicymakers.pdf" target="_blank">Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report</a> indicates that around 2,400 gigatons (Gt) of net CO2 emissions were generated globally from 1850 to 2019. More than 1,000 Gt (42 percent) occurred in the last 30 years.

We can only afford another 500 Gt in the next 80 years if we want to limit global warming to 1.5 °C by 2100. This target seems unlikely given current emission reduction pledges set forth in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

<blockquote>
“Our best hope for deep emission reductions lies with the energy sector. Cooperative Approaches provide a market-based path forward.”
</blockquote>

Our best hope for deep emission reductions lies with the energy sector. Countries must cut or eliminate fossil fuels, deploy low-emission technologies, transition to alternative energy sources, and prioritize energy efficiency. They also will need new business models that support CO2 reductions, such as the Cooperative Approaches defined at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in <a href="https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/resource/Art._6.2%20_draft_decision.pdf" target="_blank">Article 6, paragraph 2</a> of the <a href="https://unfccc.int/files/meetings/paris_nov_2015/application/pdf/paris_agreement_english_.pdf" target="_blank">Paris Agreement</a>.

Developed countries are interested in using the Cooperative Approaches to acquire supplementary CO2 emission reductions. Developing countries stand to benefit from receiving technical assistance and the transfer of costly advanced technologies that will help them meet the conditional targets defined in their NDCs. The <a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/markets/energy/news-and-insights/using-carbon-markets-to-fuel-the-energy-transition" target="_blank">Cooperative Approaches provide a market-based path forward</a> and can take many forms, including the three models outlined below.

Model 1—Joint Crediting Mechanism

Japan instituted the <a href="https://gec.jp/jcm/jp/publication/JCM2021Oct_En_Web.pdf" target="_blank">Joint Crediting Mechanism</a> (JCM), a pioneering project-based option under Article 6 to cooperate with developing countries on greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions and sustainable development. Japan works with 17 partner countries under the JCM to facilitate uptake of leading low-carbon technologies. Each project’s resulting emission reduction is assessed as a contribution by both the partner country and Japan and produces a tradable credit.

Each country is committed to maintain a registry, issue credits in a timely manner, and refrain from using JCM mitigation projects for any other international climate mitigation mechanisms to avoid double counting. The goal of the JCM is to reach a cumulative GHG emission reduction of 100 million tons of CO2e by 2030.

Through the JCM, the Thai company, SNC Former Public Company Limited, installed 3.4 megawatts of rooftop solar at six factories that produce air-conditioning components. <a href="https://gec.jp/jcm/projects/16pro_tha_07/" target="_blank">The project</a> uses high-durability crystalline silicon photovoltaic modules produced by Sharp Energy Solutions, a Japanese corporation with more stringent standards than those of the International Electrotechnical Commission. The solar power displaces electricity generated by fossil fuel-based power plants, contributing to GHG emission reductions. Participants jointly establish the distribution of verified credits generated by the project and may allocate part of the credits to their respective countries.

Japan’s Ministry of the Environment partially supported the project in this case, aiming to understand the operational aspects of the mechanism, acquire JCM credits toward Japan’s NDCs, and promote the transfer of low-carbon technologies. Both the Japanese technology manufacturer and the Thai company benefit, creating net GHG emission reductions.

Most JCM projects involve renewable energy and energy efficiency, but there are also some waste-to-energy and transport projects. As more countries adopt Cooperative Approaches, the diversity of projects, types of support, and partnership models could extend to areas like electromobility, green hydrogen, and advanced technologies where utilities can play an important role. The current phase is key to building the necessary infrastructure in developing countries so Cooperative Approaches can operate smoothly.

Model 2—Utility-Transportation Partnerships

Companies like <a href="https://corporate.enelx.com/en/stories/2021/05/driving-emobility-transition-latin-america?msclkid=c00a3740a54211ec9e088369d125a2ff" target="_blank">Enel X</a> are leading partnerships using models that offer financing, intelligent charging solutions, and green certificates. Enel X’s successes include delivering six electro-terminals and 401 electric buses in Bogota, Colombia, and 11 electro-terminals, 40 smart bus stops, and 245 chargers in Santiago, Chile.

Global utilities could use the carbon market mechanism under Article 6 to develop an entirely new business model that links power utility know-how with local public transportation operators and companies launching electric transportation fleets.

The scheme can be used at a global or regional scale as it is structured to promote South-South cooperation as well. For example, a foreign or regional utility could establish a contract with a local bus concessionaire to build or finance a renewable energy plant that delivers clean electricity and the required charging infrastructure. In exchange, the utility could receive a share of the CO2 emission reductions associated with the project, which that utility’s country can use to meet NDC targets. This type of agreement also helps distribute the project risks, facilitating access to finance.

Model 3—Utility-Green Hydrogen Partnerships

The hydrogen supply chain is key for developed economies in achieving decarbonization goals, especially in light of the expected steady increase in carbon taxes. Drivers of green hydrogen market growth include concerns related to the security of the fossil fuel supply, the drop in renewable energy costs, and hydrogen’s ability to increase demand-side flexibility through storage applications. <a href="https://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/green-hydrogen-market-to-hit-us-417-5-million-and-grow-at-cagr-11-5-during-forecasts-period-2022-2028-sgh2-energy-siemens-gas-and-power-engie-fuelcellsworks-unipe" target="_blank">The market is predicted to reach $417.5 million</a> by 2028 from an estimated $223 million in 2022.

In advanced economies, green hydrogen can play a role in the clean energy transition as an enabler for integrating higher shares of renewable energy in the power sector. It also supports sectors struggling to decarbonize, such as trucking, aviation, shipping, heating, and other energy-intensive industries. In most developing countries, green hydrogen is not seen as a competitive source of energy in the short term, but it can certainly become a valuable export.

<blockquote>
“A Cooperative Approach could be used to facilitate international deployment of technology, bring concessional climate finance to investors, and structure the exchange of carbon credits.”
</blockquote>

Utilities also are exploring new international avenues with green hydrogen. The <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/01/americas/hif-haru-oni-chile-efuel-spc-intl-scn/index.html" target="_blank">Haru Oni</a> pilot project in Chile will harness the strong winds of Chile’s Magallanes region to produce green hydrogen that will be used to create a synthetic fuel for export. The project combines the experience of an Italian utility subsidiary of Siemens, a petroleum company, and German car manufacturer Porsche, which will use the fuel in its motorsports fleet. A Cooperative Approach could be used to facilitate international deployment of the technology produced in Germany, bring concessional climate finance to the investors, and structure the exchange of carbon credits.

Most of the CO2 emission reductions would be transferred to Germany. Chile would benefit not only from the export of hydrogen but also from introducing more renewable energy to the grid.

Inventing new models for the new normal

As decarbonization leaders, many power and utility companies are looking to reinvent themselves, experimenting with new business models that serve the energy transition and the bottom line. While the details of partnerships between sectors and countries are diverse, there is a common thread—planning, innovation, and international collaboration. The Cooperative Approaches can play a pivotal role in these initiatives by also facilitating access to new technologies, climate finance, and carbon trading.

How can Tetra Tech help clients use Cooperative Approaches?

Tetra Tech’s <a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/markets/energy" target="_blank">energy consulting</a> and technical implementation experts can support governments and private sector clients in the following areas.

Deploying new carbon markets

<ul><li>Advise governments on regulations for energy projects under Cooperative Approaches and the <a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/markets/energy/news-and-insights/using-carbon-markets-to-fuel-the-energy-transition" target="_blank">Sustainable Development Mechanism (SDM)</a> (e.g., project eligibility, compensation mechanisms, financing, monitoring and verification, legal advice)</li>
	<li>Build clean energy portfolios with carbon offsets that can be traded internationally via the Cooperative Approaches and SDM markets</li>
	<li>Ensure carbon market compliance and maximize the potential to lower emission reduction costs</li>
</ul>Designing and implementing decarbonization pathways for utilities and private corporations

<ul><li>Analyze the market and identify low-carbon financing and investment opportunities</li>
	<li>Deploy the technology necessary to carry out decarbonization strategies</li>
	<li>Assess quality offsets that can supplement emission targets, with services including screening projects, performing financial and commercial due diligence, and negotiating with project developers</li>
</ul>Read more from Rodrigo about how Article 6 of the Paris Agreement can spur the clean energy transition:

<ul><li><a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/markets/energy/news-and-insights/using-carbon-markets-to-fuel-the-energy-transition" target="_blank">Using Carbon Markets to Fuel the Clean Energy Transition</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/markets/energy/news-and-insights/four-ways-development-agencies-can-advance-carbon-markets" target="_blank">Four Ways Development Agencies Can Advance Carbon Markets</a></li>
</ul>

Tetra Tech’s senior climate advisor Rodrigo Chaparro looks at Cooperative Approaches as a market-based path toward net zero. 

Three New Business Models to Achieve Carbon-Reduction Goals

<img alt="wind turbines at sunset" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="95619962-5301-4209-8d65-eb96403a8bae" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/chinawindturbines_ab_091422.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="608" loading="lazy" />ESG in Action

China has pledged to reach carbon neutrality by 2060, and state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are responsible for half the country’s CO2 emissions. Yet SOEs are also major players in China’s renewable and other low-carbon energy industries. It’s important for investors to understand the ecosystem in which SOEs operate to gain insight on the macro and microeconomic challenges that will determine whether China’s long-term carbon-neutrality plans are successful.

The Issue

SOEs account for half the country’s emissions and are an integral part of the carbon-neutrality equation. Market-based incentives for green reform such as carbon taxes may not work as effectively in the Chinese context.

The Investment Case

Understanding how SOEs fit into China’s green reform agenda can help investors identify companies that are driving change—and stand to benefit from efforts to combat climate change.
<img alt="china is integral to climate action charts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="779c021e-734c-47b4-951d-929d6da582f6" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/chinaintegral_ab_091422.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="989" loading="lazy" />Engagement Goals

Discussions with management teams of SOEs and private companies in China help provide insight into ESG behavior. While SOEs are controlled by the government, they’re often attuned to the ESG concerns of foreign investors. China’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are huge CO2 emitters. But they’re also an essential component of efforts to reduce greenhouse gases in the world’s biggest emitter and second-largest economy. Investors must understand the role of SOEs in the economy and what drives these companies to gain insight into opportunities being created by China’s carbon-neutrality plans.

Global efforts to combat climate change won’t be successful without China. Throughout the 21st century, China’s rapid economic development has fueled a steady rise in energy consumption, in contrast to the US and European Union, where it has plateaued and even started to fall (Display). SOEs generated about six gigatons of CO2 per year, accounting for about half of China’s emissions—much more than all the emissions of the US or the EU.

Deciphering the Environmental Agenda

The good news is that China’s government has put environmental issues high on the national agenda. President Xi Jinping announced in 2020 plans to target peak CO2 emissions by 2030 and to transition toward carbon neutrality by 2060. But <a href="https://www.alliancebernstein.com/corporate/en/insights/investment-insights/deciphering-chinas-2060-carbon-neutral-plan.html" target="_blank">deciphering the details of environmental efforts in a vast, state-run economy isn’t easy</a>. And since SOEs account for a significant share of China’s business activity and an even bigger share of its emissions, they are an integral part of its carbon-neutrality equation.

To gain insight into China’s decarbonization efforts, AllianceBernstein (AB) has partnered with the Columbia Climate School at Columbia University in a workshop program entitled The Making of a Green Giant: Decarbonization with Chinese Characteristics. The webinar series aims to help investors explore the intersection of technology, investment opportunities and the energy transition in China. Experts from Columbia and AB tackle topics such as energy policy, solar and wind energy, electric vehicles and industrial manufacturing. The workshop began in June as part of AB’s ongoing collaboration with the Columbia Climate School, where AB is the founding member of the school’s Corporate Affiliate Program. The collaboration aims to help investors learn about the science of climate change, which promises to affect companies around the world.

For China, decarbonization considerations are tightly tethered to economic development and continued growth. China is a “<a href="https://www.energypolicy.columbia.edu/research/report/china-still-developing-country-and-why-it-matters-energy-and-climate?utm_source=Center+on+Global+Energy+Policy+Mailing+List&amp;utm_campaign=f9fb330904-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_09_24_06_19_COPY_01&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;" target="_blank">hybrid superpower</a>,” meaning it has many attributes of both an advanced economy and a developing economy.1 This combination of attributes, and notably its developing country characteristics, matter for energy consumption and policy, as projections by specialized energy agencies consistently point to further increases in energy demand for China, in stark contrast to advanced economies.

SOEs Are Everywhere

SOEs are at the heart of China’s green reform story. Wherever you look in China’s carbon-driven economy, you will find SOEs, from coal-fired utilities to oil suppliers, heavy industrial players, transportation groups and financial firms.

Yet SOEs are also dominant in China’s renewables and other clean energy industries. The rapid proliferation of solar, wind and hydroelectric power in China couldn’t happen without them.

Critics might say that SOEs are inefficient and poorly managed. But that reputation misses the point: SOEs are key players in China’s effort to decarbonize its economies and, like private companies, aren’t created equal and should be judged on their merits. What’s more, SOEs account for about a third of listed Chinese shares, so they can’t really be avoided by investors seeking to allocate to China’s equity markets.

When it comes to green reforms, the ecosystem in which SOEs operate is a web of interlinked entities that underpin the implementation of government policy. Mechanisms of interaction between the government, regulators, shareholders and company management will shape the environmental shift.

In economies dominated by private companies, incentivizing reform is relatively straightforward. Private shareholders want to maximize profits, so policies such as emissions-trading systems and carbon taxes can be very effective. Businesses that don’t proactively adjust will pay a price—and earnings will suffer.

Government shareholders have much broader objectives. Despite its rapid development, China still faces the huge challenges of a developing economy, including major income disparities between regions and the lack of access to clean cooking for 400 million people. The government’s policy goals include economic development, social development and access to energy, which must be considered along with efforts to reduce CO2 emissions. As a result, we believe market-based policies are too one-dimensional for the Chinese system and won’t necessarily achieve the desired objectives.
<img alt="Economic Analysis of a Chinese Power Plant chart" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a3bcf5bd-ca98-42d3-8f34-6e44e2d100a2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/chinapowerplant_ab_091422.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="1101" loading="lazy" />Case Study: Stranded Assets and the Economics of a Chinese Power Plant

These differences can be more sharply examined by analyzing the economics of a Chinese power plant and stranded-assets risk.

Stranded assets are a common theme in investment analysis of the global energy transition. It refers to the possibility that investors may overinvest in fossil fuels and not be able to recoup investments at a reasonable rate if green regulation curtails operations of dirty plants. Yet concern about stranded assets manifests itself very differently for private sector investors in publicly traded companies than for government holdings in SOEs. These differences help explain why China continues to build coal-fired power plants alongside increasing its decarbonization efforts.

In China, building a state-owned coal-fired power plant involves many SOEs (Display). These include a bank, local construction company, coal supplier and grid purchaser. Their relationships must be factored into the government’s financial analysis of the power plant.

For our example, Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy has modeled the cost of electricity and capital costs by assuming an 80% debt/20% equity leverage ratio and capital and operating costs consistent with the Chinese market.2 To evaluate stranded-assets risk, the key question is: How long does it take to generate an overall positive return to the company?

For a private plant, it could take more than 20 years. So if a coal-fired plant is forced to shut down 12 or 15 years after it was built, investors would get stuck with stranded assets and a negative return on their investment (Display). This is a real risk in the rapidly evolving regulatory environment.

The Chinese context is completely different. That’s because the shareholder of the power company is the government, which also owns multiple entities tied to the plant—and didn’t build the plant only to generate profits for the utility. The broader goal is to supply cost-effective electricity to households, businesses and consumers.

Seen through this lens, the Chinese SOE plant generates a much higher return than a privately owned plant. It turns an economic profit for the government shareholder by year seven in the modeled (albeit simplified) illustration above. As a result, assets would be stranded only if the plant shuts down in year eight or thereafter—a highly unlikely scenario. This helps explain why even though some Western analysts say <a href="https://carbontracker.org/40-of-chinas-coal-power-stations-are-losing-money/" target="_blank">many Chinese plants are unprofitable</a>, the Chinese government is not losing money on those facilities.

Based on this simulation, in a <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14693062.2022.2062285" target="_blank">recent article published by Climate Policy</a>, researchers Alex Clark, Philippe Benoit and Jonathan Walters argued that the standard metric for analyzing the cost of electricity production is too narrow for the Chinese reality. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is a well-known measure to determine whether it is economically sensible to invest in coal, solar or wind power through a standardized comparative analysis. But for China, the study proposed a levelized economic cost of electricity (LECOE) as a complementary and in some ways more appropriate way to gauge the government’s broader cost-benefit analysis. The LECOE incorporates key inputs (such as domestic versus foreign financing costs, import fuel prices versus domestic production costs, and taxes) in the evaluation using country-level economic methodologies, rather than traditional financial tools (Display).
<img alt="Evaluating the Economics of a Chinese Power Plant graphs" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b62fe1c4-9185-4595-b54d-9721cdaea9fe" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/evaleconCPP_ab_091422.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="977" loading="lazy" />Integrating ESG Issues in China’s Top-Down Economy

Why does this distinction matter for investors? Because once we acknowledge the systemic difference between a Chinese government-owned power plant and a private plant, we can ask the right questions about how companies fit into China’s carbon-neutrality plans. Beyond the example above, the SOE framework is found in many other areas and industries that will participate in China’s green reforms.

Investors must realize that much of the impetus for environmental efforts in China comes from a top-down approach that starts with its political leadership. As a result, analyzing the green credentials of Chinese companies requires a different ESG approach than investors typically apply to Western companies.

For example, consider corporate governance. Standard ESG ratings tend to give Chinese SOE companies low scores on governance. Most boards aren’t composed of 50% independent directors. Compensation isn’t usually disclosed. Related-party transactions—because of the SOE ecosystem—are commonplace.

Government control of companies also means that top-down policy changes on environmental issues can have a profound effect on business decisions. We believe that China is serious about the long-term need to address climate change because its own economy and population will benefit. Listening closely to the policy noises in China can provide important clues about how companies will behave.

Investors can discover how this is playing out by engaging with company management teams. AB’s China Equities team has found that SOEs are often more comfortable talking about climate goals than private companies are. Private companies in China are also subject to a degree of government influence (a relationship that has fluctuated over time), yet they are driven by profit motives similar to those of their Western peers. Some have not yet embraced the idea that going green is good for shareholders.

Engaging with Management: SOEs Are Listening

As active managers, AB’s China Equity team routinely engages with company management. These efforts help us gain insight on a company’s ESG commitment, behavior and impact on the business. In part, given the weight of the government shareholder, it’s harder to influence the managements of Chinese SOEs than publicly traded Western peers’. However, private investors (both equity and debt) do have a role to play.

First, Chinese SOEs—and their government shareholders—are generally keen to attract foreign investment and increase their share prices; they want to hear what shareholders have to say. Second, in the Chinese corporate and finance system, SOEs are meant to be responsive to capital markets where possible; this includes considering international private capital as a prospective source of funding. Third, engaging with management can help investors learn which companies are more conscious of ESG issues in their operations and how to distinguish between good and bad ESG actors.

Through these engagements, AB has discovered that responsible companies don’t neatly align with the SOE or non-SOE labels, or with the preconception that SOEs might be laggards on ESG issues. For example, we recently engaged with one very large, privately held technology company and found that it was far behind the curve, devoting few resources to ESG.

In contrast, China Yangtze Power, a large SOE, is quite proactive on sustainability issues. The company is best-known for its Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power–generating facility. In our conversations with management, we discovered that even though the company is a hydroelectric generator, it produces CO2 emissions and is working on plans to improve transparency and disclosures on environmental issues. The company has also taken significant biodiversity initiatives, including the establishment of an institute to help protect Chinese river sturgeons. Though China Yangtze is an SOE, it is attuned to investors’ ESG concerns and, of course, reputational issues for itself and its shareholder, the government.

Companies like these are vital to China’s decarbonization efforts. They also offer investors a window into how the government will navigate decarbonization challenges over time. While the government has pledged to combat climate change, it’s balancing a precarious macroeconomic agenda and the need to foster domestic GDP growth, so there will be ebbs and tides in policy implementation.
<img alt="Government Objectives chart" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="171abe2f-8a30-4f50-b52d-fa63c11a8deb" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/GovObjectives_ab_091422.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="656" loading="lazy" />Can the Climate Agenda Succeed?

Success, in particular within the broader international capital market context, will depend on several factors. First, investors and energy policymakers must acknowledge that China’s economic structure warrants a different approach. Free-market incentives such as emissions-trading systems and carbon taxes are less effective at delivering results in China, in our view.

Second, China needs a climate policy toolkit that is appropriate for its reality. Shadow carbon pricing, for example, which incorporates environmental costs into the analysis of energy and industrial projects, is well suited to SOEs that need to navigate the broad economic goals of their government shareholder with their own corporate-level financial objectives and could help persuade decision-makers to opt for green projects.

Third, more research is needed in areas such as the impact of growing affluence on energy and emissions and, by extension, on SOEs that have remained critical strategic actors in the government’s economic growth strategy. This in turn has implications on how SOEs can finance their low-carbon transition. Gauging the true costs of power and stranded-assets risk can also support sound green decision-making by government owners.

With the right policy guidance and financing, we believe that SOEs can help China make progress on the road to carbon neutrality. Investors who apply an ESG mindset and independent research to China’s unique circumstances will be able to identify companies driving change that stand to benefit as efforts to combat climate change gather momentum. 1Philippe Benoit and Kevin Tu, Is China Still a Developing Country? And Why It Matters for Energy and Climate, Columbia University Center on Global Energy Policy, 2020. 2Alex Clark, Philippe Benoit and Jonathan Walters, “Government shareholders, wasted resources and climate ambitions: why is China still building new coal-fired power plants?” Climate Policy, April 2022.

The views expressed herein do not constitute research, investment advice or trade recommendations and do not necessarily represent the views of all AB portfolio-management teams. Views are subject to change over time.

View original content <a href="https://www.alliancebernstein.com/corporate/en/corporate-responsibility.html?syn:pan-emea:brand:3bl:eu942" target="_blank">here</a>.

It’s important for investors to understand the ecosystem in which SOEs operate to gain insight on the macro and microeconomic challenges that will determine whether China’s long-term carbon-neutrality plans are successful.

AB: China's State-Owned Enterprises Hold Keys to Carbon Neutral

<img alt="youth soccer team" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="300ba540-3718-49c3-a814-e8d79ec581a3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/soccer_dicks_092222.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="720" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://investors.dicks.com/news/sideline-report/blog-story-details/2022/A-TEAM-EFFORT-INTRODUCING-THE-2021-PURPOSE-PLAYBOOK/default.aspx" target="_blank">Originally published on DICK'S Sporting Goods Sideline Report</a>

Great teams are driven by core values that inspire individual responsibilities and collective goals. That’s the philosophy guiding our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy, and we're proud to say that our teammates and our values have led us to new goals, continued progress and a shared vision of a better future.

Today, we are pleased to announce the publication of our <a href="https://s27.q4cdn.com/812551136/files/doc_downloads/2021/playbook/DSG_2021ESGReport_Final.pdf" target="_blank">Purpose Playbook</a>, our annual sustainability report, which highlights the incredible work done by our 50,000 teammates in 2021 across our four major pillars and introduces two new goals.

<img alt="" src="https://www.3blmedia.com/sites/www.3blmedia.com/files/images/Clearing-Hurdles_dicks_092222.png" style="width: 700px; height: 466px;" />

<ul><li>What do we do when we achieve a goal well ahead of schedule? Go even bigger! We've committed to giving another 1 million kids the chance to play by 2025, doubling our initial goal of supporting 1 million under-resourced youth athletes by 2024, which we achieved two years ahead of schedule. To do so, we're starting in our own backyard through our continued support of <a href="https://investors.dicks.com/news/news-details/2022/THE-DICKS-SPORTING-GOODS-FOUNDATION-AND-MCKEESPORT-AREA-SCHOOL-DISTRICT-ANNOUNCE-HISTORIC-PARTNERSHIP/default.aspx" target="_blank">UNITED at Twin Rivers school and the McKeesport Area School District</a> in the Pittsburgh area. That’s in addition to criss-crossing the country on <a href="https://www.sportsmatter.org/#HelpUs.HelpThem." target="_blank">Sports Matter Giving Truck Tours</a>, partnering with numerous organizations that <a href="https://ussoccerfoundation.org/press/the-u-s-soccer-foundation-and-the-dicks-sporting-goods-foundation-team-up-to-get-more-girls-and-female-coaches-in-the-game-in-underserved-communities/" target="_blank">build up communities</a> and <a href="https://investors.dicks.com/news/sideline-report/blog-story-details/2021/Dream-Team-The-DICKS-Foundation-Teams-Up-With-Every-Kid-Sports-To-Fund-The-Pursuit-Of-Athletic-Dreams/default.aspx" target="_blank">support athletes</a>, and <a href="https://investors.dicks.com/news/sideline-report/blog-story-details/2022/Highlight-Reel-2021-Giving-Efforts/default.aspx" target="_blank">so much more</a>. Since 2014, we've committed more than $150 million to youth athletes through our Sports Matter initiative. 
	 </li>
	<li>We've also committed to our first-ever supplier diversity goal. We plan to achieve this goal ($300MM in annual spend by 2025) by partnering with diverse-owned businesses owned by minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. It's an important move to ensure that our products and services best reflect our athletes and communities that we serve.</li>
</ul>​<img alt="" src="https://www.3blmedia.com/sites/www.3blmedia.com/files/images/Leveling-the-Playing-Field_dicks_092222.png" style="width: 700px; height: 466px;" />

<ul><li>Our work in creating an <a href="https://www.dickssportinggoods.jobs/inclusion/" target="_blank">inclusive and diverse workplace</a> continues to thrive. New players are added to our roster every day. As an example, we see an opportunity to grow our technology team by creating career pathways and entry-level opportunities for under-represented groups. We’re committed to ensuring a sense of belonging for all teammates while working to fill 30% of leadership roles throughout the company to include under-represented groups by 2025.</li>
</ul>​<img alt="" src="https://www.3blmedia.com/sites/www.3blmedia.com/files/images/Raising-the-Bar_dicks_092222.png" style="width: 600px; height: 900px;" />

<ul><li>In 2021, we launched a social compliance campaign to protect the health, safety and rights of our teammates. As our vertical brands continue to grow, we’re also committed to 100% participation in the <a href="https://apparelcoalition.org/higg-facility-tools/" target="_blank">Higg FEM</a> for these brands by 2025. Little things can also make big differences, such as rethinking the products and processes of our product tags.</li>
</ul>​<img alt="" src="https://www.3blmedia.com/sites/www.3blmedia.com/files/images/Protecting-Our-Home-Court_dicks_092222.png" style="width: 700px; height: 466px;" />

<ul><li>Less is more. We reduced our kWh consumption by 29% – even as our physical footprint expanded by 7% – by retrofitting our stores with LED lights. We recycled more than 44,000 tons of cardboard, paper, plastic and metal from our stores in 2021 – good for a diversion rate of 70%. Our partnership with <a href="https://investors.dicks.com/news/news-details/2022/DICKS-Sporting-Goods-Expands-Resale-Partnership-with-SidelineSwap/default.aspx" target="_blank">Sideline Swap</a> allowed athletes to trade-in old gear and keep it out of landfills. Plus, we’re still committed to removing single-use plastic bags from stores by 2025 (stores that opened in 2021 are paper-only), and we’re on track to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030.</li>
</ul>There’s so much more in our <a href="https://s27.q4cdn.com/812551136/files/doc_downloads/2021/playbook/DSG_2021ESGReport_Final.pdf" target="_blank">Purpose Playbook</a>. Be sure to check it out for an in-depth look at how we serve our athletes, support our teammates and protect our planet.

Great teams are driven by core values that inspire individual responsibilities and collective goals. That’s the philosophy guiding our ESG strategy.

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