Sobouh Rahimi https://sobouhr.com/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:38:21 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 A five-minute exercise that can transform your life – a word of the year. https://sobouhr.com/2024/a-five-minute-exercise-that-can-transform-your-life-a-word-of-the-year/ https://sobouhr.com/2024/a-five-minute-exercise-that-can-transform-your-life-a-word-of-the-year/#respond Wed, 28 Feb 2024 23:28:54 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=19065 New Year's resolutions are ineffective and a waste of time - it doesn't take a genius to know that. So what can we do to make the change we want to see in ourselves, easily, and without much effort?

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What is a word of the year?

While there are many ideas that I can credit my growth to, there has yet to be one as powerful, simple, and transformative as a “word of the year.”

I learned this idea from one of my mentors, Whitney Johnson, a director for a program where I’d mentored other students at the University of Houston. During an annual planning exercise, she had me pick my first word in 2019 for the upcoming year.

That year, I’d felt absent. My grandmother was ill, my mother was undergoing chemo, and my academics weren’t going well. So naturally, I blurted out “Present” as my word. What happened next, we all know… In 2020, the theme of being present kept me afloat when I needed it the most when the entire world underwent a major collective stress of a pandemic. Being present meant being present for my mother until her last breath, refocusing on my academics, and putting in continued effort. It was transformative.

In 2022, “Intention” helped me land an internship in one of the world’s largest software technology companies, earn a congressional certificate of recognition for energy education advocacy, build my personal brand, and create this blog.

I’m now in my fifth year of doing this exercise… Why? Because IT WORKS.

While reflecting on the prior year, I journaled that in 2023, I needed “to connect with my mind, body, spirit, work.” so I made 2023 the year of “Connection.”

2023: Lessons on Connection

Beginning Within:

When selecting my new word, I first reflected on the previous year. I saw what I lacked the most and where I needed to make room for improvement. In 2022, I’d just graduated and entered a fully remote role. My peers, too, had begun their careers or moved away. I’d spent most of my time at home – lacking connection. I had very little of the true, genuine connection you can only experience when you are at arm’s length of someone.

Engaging with Curiosity:

Suddenly, I noticed “connection” popping up everywhere, where I’d never expected. On the covers of books I’d normally pay no attention to, in work meetings, on social media, and in everyday conversation. (Hey Google, what’s the Baader-Meinhof Phenomenon?)

I read books that helped me learn more about my word. A favorite was “Belonging: The Science of Creating Connection and Bridging Divides” where Stanford professor of social psychology Geoffrey L. Cohen, discusses the power of “situation-crafting” and how it can highlight our underlying human connections.

I took up daily meditation and journaling. I experimented with different times and methods of doing so and landed on a routine I now use daily.

I attended events that changed my life, all to connect with my interests and like-minded people. Climate Week NYC, for example – where I attended over 14 panels and conferences and connected with many professionals in my field of interest.

 

At each step of decision-making… When I was presented with two options – I decided based on which afforded me most connection with others, or myself.

And when the right time came, taking a huge leap of faith.

When my brother called and told me that my 96-year-old grandfather was coming to visit him in the Republic of Georgia from Iran, I knew I had to go, too. This was the first time I had a chance to see him in over 16 years. (I could not visit Iran as it is a risk to my life)

This decision wasn’t as easy as it appears now – my company was undergoing organizational restructuring, I couldn’t just pause my life here, it was all so last minute, and very expensive. But I knew what I had to do. It was the best opportunity for me to connect, with myself, my family, and my roots. Then, a teary-eyed moment, four generations of Rahimi all gathered in our ancestral homeland – Georgia… that was a once in a lifetime moment.

On my way to Georgia, I traveled to 8 other countries in Europe, visiting my coworkers in Copenhagen and Barcelona – finally connecting with them beyond the Zoom call chit-chats and coffee hours. (Consider that to be the cherry on top)

Choosing your word of the year:

The word of the year is a guiding pinnacle, a northern star, for your actions in the upcoming year. It is neither a goal nor a resolution. In the best sense of the word, it is vague – it can be applied anywhere. The best part? It’s never too late or early to start. 

While some in the top percentile have great success with resolutions, a significant majority forget about them far too soon. Just look at how many “Days” are devoted to forgetting resolutions in January and February… (Think: “Jan 17: National Ditch Your Resolutions Day”, “Feb 14: Quitters Day”, and if you’re still hanging on, there’s “Feb 28: Discouragement Day”)

Conversely, it is not a replacement for specific and measurable goals. While those are inarguably more important, they require greater commitment and planning. For some, a word of the year encapsulates their goals in a digestible way – acting as a simple and clear reminder to help you stay on course.

Take a moment to think and jot down where you want to be and what you wish you could improve upon in the next year. The word will jump at you as you write or think to yourself – and done! At each step of the way, consider how your actions can guide you closer to achieving your word, and by extension, your goals!

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2024/a-five-minute-exercise-that-can-transform-your-life-a-word-of-the-year/feed/ 0 The Carbon Challenge Ahead: From Neutral To Negative https://sobouhr.com/2023/the-carbon-challenge-ahead-from-neutral-to-negative/ https://sobouhr.com/2023/the-carbon-challenge-ahead-from-neutral-to-negative/#respond Thu, 26 Oct 2023 22:28:50 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=19038 Logitech’s COO, Prakash Arunkundrum Described It As A Race Where Companies “Want To Be First To Be Second.” What’s Next For The Companies That Are Already Carbon-Neutral?

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With many of the first-mover companies having met or exceeded their early carbon goals – some, like IKEA and Logitech, are looking at the challenge ahead, moving their companies from solely carbon neutral to one that is carbon negative, too.

Who was a standout at climate week this year?

IKEA. They made their presence known at Climate Week NYC 2023 via its parent company, Ingka Group. They sponsored and hosted panels at the Fast Company Innovation Festival, Climate Week NYC, and their own “Actions Speak Summit,” all taking place the same week. At each event, they reinforced their commitment to being climate-negative by 2030 (or 2050 at the latest). How?

How Have Companies Reached Carbon Negative?

Ingka Group cited their consumption of 100% renewable energy with the help of offshore wind and solar and a commitment to completely reevaluate their footprint at each step of their value chain, starting with its biggest emitter: materials.

IKEA is not alone in its carbon negative by 2030 goal. Microsoft has set an even loftier goal: they’ll be climate-negative by 2030 and remove their carbon legacy by 2050. I expect that in the coming years, we will see other companies follow in Microsoft’s footsteps and create plans to remove their historical carbon emissions, something widely unheard of today.

Although not very present at Climate Week this year, Google claims to have entirely eliminated its historical carbon emissions, all the way back in 2020. Sundar Patchai of Google announced that they were the first major company to eliminate its carbon legacy via a purchase of “high-quality carbon offset projects.” After sifting through their 2020, 2021, and 2022, sustainability reports, the claim does not appear to be substantive, and no further information was included.

Beyond Ingka Group and Microsoft, numerous companies in attendance of all sizes emphasized their commitment to becoming carbon-negative… eventually.

Lisa Conway from Interface (a company midsize company that produces carbon-negative construction products and carpet tiles) sat alongside the COO of Logitech, Prakash Arunkundrum, at a Capgemini-sponsored panel. As first-movers, both of their companies are already carbon neutral. Following a similar strategy to Ingka Group, they’re “baking sustainability into business models.” They do this by evaluating systems focusing on reducing waste and experimenting with materials along the entirety of their value chains.

Watch Microsoft's Explainer on Reaching Carbon Negative:

What's to Come?

Supply Chain Emissions

This isn’t new. To reach carbon negative, companies are reevaluating their scope 2 and 3 emissions, in addition to their direct carbon use (scope 1). But how will business leaders go about encouraging a supply-chain-wide change? As has already been the case, larger companies will bring on initiatives to support their suppliers via incentives and development programs. Projects that, if successful, may be widely adopted by the broader business community.

Circular Economy

The circular economy is a business model that challenges the present “take-make-dispose” pattern (linear economy). Take-Make-Dispose is what got us in this mess to begin with, and so – the discussion around a circular economy is inherently connected to the carbon conversation. Companies focused on becoming carbon-negative are already building on strategies to reduce emissions and minimize waste. The next step in the waste overhaul is creating a closed-loop system, where products and materials are reused, repaired, remanufactured, and recycled, thereby reducing the strain on natural resources and minimizing manufacturing emissions.

When I asked the COO of Logitech, Prakash Arunkundrum, about their circularity initiatives, he mentioned their collaboration with Ifixit for self-repairs, which reduces carbon emissions from product disposal and addresses the supply chain challenges of product repairs.

Shantanu Nurayen, CEO of Adobe

"Carbon is the new Calorie"

Prakash Arunkundrum, Chief Operating Officer, Logitech

Broader GHG Emissions Reduction

Although Carbon remains the dominant driver of long-term climate change, a growing concern for other greenhouse gasses has erupted in the past few years. These other greenhouse gasses include Nitrous Oxide and Methane. Methane is considered to be more potent than carbon dioxide, with 80x more warming power than carbon. Some companies are already taking big steps:

Waste Management is building important infrastructure to convert landfill methane into usable natural gas.

Danone, the french dairy giant, has committed to reduce its methane emissions by 30% by 2030. Achieving this via “holistic regenerative farming approaches” and methane inhibitor technologies.

Mind the Language, Please:

There are many words being thrown around in the climate conversation, and it’s making things complicated. They don’t have to be.

 

Here’s a rough rundown of the language used this climate week:

  • Carbon: Carbon typically refers to carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas, which is a contributor to climate change. It can be released into the atmosphere from human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
 
  • Carbon Legacy: Carbon legacy is the cumulative carbon emissions or carbon footprint associated with past activities, such as historical emissions of a company or organization.
 
  • Greenhouse Gases (GHG): Greenhouse gases are gases in the Earth’s atmosphere that can trap heat and contribute to the greenhouse effect, leading to global warming and climate change. Common greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and water vapor.
 
  • Decarbonization: Decarbonization is the process of reducing or eliminating carbon emissions to mitigate climate change. It involves transitioning to cleaner, low-carbon, or carbon-free energy sources, technologies, and processes.
 
  • Carbon Neutral: When an entity is carbon neutral, it means that any CO2 emissions they release into the atmosphere are balanced by an equivalent amount of CO2 being removed or offset through various measures like reforestation, carbon capture, or purchasing carbon credits.
 
  • Net-Zero Carbon Emissions: Net-zero carbon emissions is the state where an activity releases no more carbon emissions into the atmosphere than it removes or offsets. It aims to balance the emissions and removal of carbon, typically through sustainability measures that focus on abatement rather than offsets.
 
  • Climate Neutral: Achieving climate neutrality means not only reducing all greenhouse gas emissions to zero (including carbon dioxide, methane, and others) but also eliminating all other negative environmental impacts that an organization may cause. It goes beyond carbon neutrality by addressing a broader range of environmental concerns.
 
  • Carbon Negative: A carbon-negative activity or entity goes beyond achieving net-zero carbon emissions by removing additional carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This results in a net reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere, creating an environmental benefit.
 
  • Carbon Positive: same as carbon negative. Purely marketing lingo, meant to give a positive spin on the term and can sometimes create confusion.
 
  • Climate Positive: Along similar lines to Carbon Negative. A Climate-positive organization goes beyond achieving carbon neutrality. It means that the entity takes measures to reduce not only carbon emissions (CO2) but also other greenhouse gases, and has a generally positive set of climate initiatives. This term is also marketing lingo, too broad, can create confusion and should be avoided.

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2023/the-carbon-challenge-ahead-from-neutral-to-negative/feed/ 0 Adobe is pulling ahead in the AI race: A look at innovations Adobe MAX https://sobouhr.com/2023/adobes-winning-ai-gtm-strategy-how-its-pulling-ahead/ https://sobouhr.com/2023/adobes-winning-ai-gtm-strategy-how-its-pulling-ahead/#respond Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:50:40 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=18981 This week, Adobe hosted its annual showcase event, Adobe Max. Adobe publicly released its innovations during the conference and gave a sneak peek of what's to come. A company that was once behind in its AI innovations is now ahead of the game by a longshot - how’d they do it?

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“Let the robots do the work.” – a quote heard over and over at Adobe Max this year

Adobe is not new to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) game. But with the innovation boom of the last year, it appeared that the legacy software was trailing far behind. Today, with the innovations revealed at Adobe Max, the story is much, much different. 

For some context...

In September 2022 Adobe announced its acquisition of a crowd favorite design platform – Figma. This followed other similar, but much smaller, acquisitions in prior years of frame.io and workfront. For a brief two-month period following this announcement, collaborative design seemed like the next big thing.

Why only two months? Because only two months after this acquisition, much to everyones surprise, OpenAI publicly released their generative AI chatbot, ChatGPT. The platform’s release was a disruptive event that set off a modern-day space race – an innovation boom comparable to that of the steam engine.

Adobe had been working on Artificial Intelligence for some time already. Designers have been working with its “Content-Aware Fill” and other intelligent features for some time. But that wasn’t enough. The capabilities of other generative illustration programs like DALL-E and Midjourney forced an accelerated innovation timeline for Adobe, where it seemed, at least briefly, that Adobe was old news.

So what's new in 2023?

Just a touch-up, please!

A couple of months ago, Adobe released a series of generative AI features in Photoshop – the program that it claims “Over 90% of the world’s creative professionals use.” “Generative Fill” is an enhanced version of Content-Aware Fill (a popular tool since 2018 that used AI, too), which now creates realistic imagery based on your text input instead of relying only on surrounding visuals. 

At Adobe Max’s “Sneaks” panel, they also previewed “Project Fast Fill” and “Project Stardust” – the successive evolutions of Generative Fill. 

AI meets Ai

(That’s Artificial Intelligence meeting Adobe Illustrator)

This week, the newest update to Illustrator’s beta programs announced at Adobe Max included impressive generative AI capabilities that should not be ignored.

They’re calling it “Text to Vector Graphic” 

See Text-to-Vector in action, realtime:

How is it different from other generative illustration tools? Unlike most other programs today, which only offer flat (think: pixelated) designs – Adobe’s new Text to Vector Graphic tool created fully editable, scalable graphics from text alone.

These innovations are not limited to Illustrator. Adobe has been launching an entire lineup of “x-to-y” tools, including “Text to template” for Adobe Express, “Text to Video,” and even “image to video” in Adobe Firefly.

Video editing is now a breeze

 

Other exciting announcements included automatic enhanced speech, text-based video editing, filler word detection and filtering, and an unexpected sneak peek of “Dub, Dub, Dub.” (a tool that lets you seamlessly dub different languages in the video)

These tools addressed one of the most significant pain points for marketing content managers – the complexities of video editing.

What Makes Adobe's AI GTM different?

A slurry of companies have been competing in the “modern-day space race.” Some haphazardly plugged ChatGPT APIs into their technology and spun it as their own. (looking at you, Snapchat’s creepy AI Companion…) Others have tried to release their minimum viable products in record time, hoping to cash in early. (ahem, ahem, Bard, Bing AI and every other company)

But Adobe’s approach is noticeably different.

For starters, adobe’s innovations aren’t just cool projects. There were two common problems that almost all of their new tools solved. On one end they addressed the anxiety of a “blank page”, and on another they removed a great deal of the busy work. These are intelligent tools that solve real problems that creatives deal with every day. 

The timeline is also important. Adobe has been working on AI since the 2016 release of Sensei. Its intelligent editing features and analytics tools were ahead of their time for the late 2010s. Today, they’ve erupted into rapid boiling – pushed over the edge by the latest innovation boosts. This means that they’re bringing to surface projects that have been years in the making.

Another major differentiator? Adobe hasn’t ignored the risks. In their most recent 10-K report, Adobe outlined the risks associated with its AI business – “The rapid evolution of AI will require the application of resources to develop, test and maintain our products and services to help ensure that AI is implemented ethically in order to minimize unintended, harmful impact.” 

Adobe claims that their AI models are trained on content that does not infringe on artist’s work, and has put in place safeguards to protect artists personal styles. Shantanu Narayen, the Chair & CEO of Adobe, has also publicly pushed for a ” nutritional label” equivalent for content published online via metadata and data hashing, citing its Content Authenticity Initiative, which the company announced in 2019. Adobe is a member of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) and has signed the White House’s voluntary commitments along with OpenAI, IBM, Salesforce, Nvidia, and others.

 

Shantanu Nurayen, CEO of Adobe

"Every Person has a fear of a blank page"

Shantanu Narayen, Chair & CEO, Adobe

What's to come?

 

I’ve taught myself the entire Adobe suite since I was 12 (that’d be over a decade ago – wow); why? Because there is nothing more infuriating to me than having a vision and an inability to express it – a feeling that I and other creatives know too well.

Narayen described the purpose of Adobe’s innovations as a solution to precisely this. “Every person has a fear of a blank page” he said in an interview with The Economic Times and AI capabilities will allow “Creation for the billions.” 

As more of such technologies become readily available, they will welcome an era of unprecedented and democratized creativity more efficiently and faster than ever. Designers can now reduce time to value and allow stakeholders to preview design options and guide direction in literal minutes instead of weeks. 

Who are the biggest winners here? In my opinion, its small businesses, entrepreneurs, and creatives: the cost and time to value for creative assets just got slashed, big. Visionaries and entrepreneurs can put their ideas to work quicker, without the need for technical hindrances. This all means that now is an exciting time to start bringing your ideas to life and live by my motto “let’s make something great.” – because the tools are already at your disposal.

 

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2023/adobes-winning-ai-gtm-strategy-how-its-pulling-ahead/feed/ 0 Call It Anything But “ESG”: Sustainability As A Strategy. https://sobouhr.com/2023/call-it-anything-but-esg-sustainability-as-a-strategy/ https://sobouhr.com/2023/call-it-anything-but-esg-sustainability-as-a-strategy/#respond Fri, 13 Oct 2023 01:52:20 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=18924 How Did Leaders At Climate Week React To The New Wave Of Political Backlash Against “ESG”? Now That Companies Like Budlight And Target Saw Real Dints In Their Financial Reporting, The Mood Was Tense.

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If you were to ask anyone about it last year – they’d say that “ESG” (Environmental, Social, & Governance – when it comes to financial reporting) is the next big thing. For accountants, it was supposed to be as big as SOX, (that’d be the Sarbanes-Oxley Act – the law that holds executives accountable, and redefined financial reporting standards). Marketers were already greening and queering their marketing, and business leaders were boasting about it. When the SEC announced in early 2022 that it was creating a framework for ESG reporting, consulting and advisory firms were preparing guidance measures – ready to pounce at the opportunity.

This year, the conversation is a little different. 

Much like the other 3-letter acronyms under attack, “ESG” is the latest addition to the likes of “CSR,” “CRT,” and “DEI.” (that’s Corporate Social Responsibility, Critical Race Theory, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion). These acronyms and what they represent are now caught in the middle of a cancel culture-fueled politics by the right-wing extremes calling themselves anti-”woke.”

A real "oh sh*t" moment

In the last year, the backlash became real and close to home for many companies.

A series of laws passed by Texas and Florida governments limited ESG considerations for pension funds and insurance companies.

The Supreme Court’s reversal on Affirmative Action threatened corporate DEI initiatives.

Target and BudLight’s rainbow capitalism did not bode well with either end of the political spheres. First sparking boycotts, then being blamed for performative activism after they flip flopped their original support. In what could only be best described as a big mess, both companies’ sales dropped by double digits, at least briefly.

These were all material dints. It meant that if not done right, ESG initiatives could hurt companies where it hurts the most, their pockets.

Another “oh sh*t” moment? Tobacco companies crushing their ESG reports, coming up on top in rankings when compared to other industries. Something a global tobacco industry watchdog called “an inherent contradiction” in a recent 2022 brief, referenced by some panelists.

What leaders are saying:

How did the political pushback manifest at NYC Climate Week? It was clear at the panels I attended  that most leaders chose to tiptoe around the politics, signaling a noteworthy tonechange in the climate conversation.

Although some have played off these pushbacks as political theater, the shift is real and fundamental. Business leaders now face a tough dilemma: succumb to the politics and backtrack on their prior commitments, cut through the noise and push forward, or tiptoe around the whole situation.

When asked whether ESG is seeing a retreat at a panel during Fast Company’s Innovation Festival, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg described it as not a retreat but instead calling it “logical decisionmaking that considers all stakeholders” in doing the right things. He noted that although the backlash has caused other leaders to shy away from these conversations, it hasn’t changed anything operationally for Verizon. This is because according to Versberg, their focus on society is “100% connected to [their] strategy,” which may not be the case for other companies.

At another panel hosted at Capgemini’s “Climate Connect” event, CSOs from financial services companies, including Fidelity and BNP Paribas, shared how they’re navigating the political landscape. Here, the leaders spoke about fully integrating sustainability into a company’s strategy – seeing this transition as a logical business opportunity, too, much like Verizon. No one mentioned “ESG” by name, but they did acknowledge that sustainability is being self-censored due to political backlash. Is ESG – or at least the main ideas behind it, going anywhere? No. But the way we are talking about it is certainly different.

In April 2022, when asked about the role that sustainability should play for “The Green Insider,” Podcast, I said that “sustainability to me is just common sense.” It seems that leaders agree. 

What's to come?

The days of “ESG” for the sake of “ESG” may be numbered, along with diversity for diversity’s sake. Forward-thinking companies are already incorporating logical climate decisions into their business models and core strategies, as opposed to a report. Companies will integrate sustainability into their strategy as a whole but may have to stick to advocacy that pertains to benefit their business and stakeholders.

Of course, in the case of the Environment, it pertains to everyone. As for the “S & G” the Social & Governance – the story is yet to be fully told. One thing is clear – inclusion and sustainability are not going anywhere.

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2023/call-it-anything-but-esg-sustainability-as-a-strategy/feed/ 0 5 Major Shifts in Climate Talks: Takeaways from NYC Climate Week 2023 https://sobouhr.com/2023/climate-week/ https://sobouhr.com/2023/climate-week/#respond Thu, 12 Oct 2023 22:44:40 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=18880 Climate Week NYC is a whirlwind of independent high-profile events, conferences, and forums where participants discuss topics like renewable energy, sustainable business practices, climate policy, and environmental innovation. Hosted during the UN General Assembly, the events provide a platform for leaders to announce new climate-related commitments and initiatives - while bringing the worldwide climate community together.

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“Burning Man for Climate Geeks” That’s how Cara Buckley of the New York Times describes late September in New York City.  Scheduled around the UN General Assembly, there are literally hundreds of events in the span of just one week. This was the second year that I attended – and this time, I came prepared. I had an itinerary packed with over forty-five panels, networking events, receptions, dinners, expos and more.

NYC’s Climate Week is my opportunity to feel the pulse of the broader climate conversation. Coming from my hometown of Houston, the world’s energy capital, I was excited to do so. I carefully listened to and jotted notes from prominent CEOs, political figures, and diplomats as they spoke about their main painpoints and reflected on their experiences.

Here, I’ve connected the dots, compiled my five main takeaways, noting the significant shifts in the climate conversation, and I’ve made them available for you in a five-part series:

Call it anything but “ESG”: Sustainability as a Strategy.

How did leaders at Climate Week react to the new wave of political backlash against “ESG”? Now that Companies like Budlight and Target saw real dints in their financial reporting, the mood was tense. Read On >

The Carbon Challenge Ahead: From Neutral to Negative

Logitech’s COO described it as a race where companies “want to be first to be second.” What’s next for the companies that are already carbon-neutral? Read on >

Move over Science, let the Arts talk… or, erm, sing.

Do people listen to the science as much as we hope for? This year, the artists made their case – they have the power to transform the way we approach the climate crisis, and they want a seat at the table. Coming Soon >

"Derisking" is all the rage, but what does it actually mean?

Derisking took center stage at many of the panels at Climate Week this year, whereas it was almost unheard of before. What’s “Derisking” and what’s behind its boom? Coming Soon >

"Transition" is not enough: Time for an Energy "Revolution."

Despite the Politics, The consensus is clear: reliance on oil and gas is waning in favor of a balanced portfolio of energy resources. but some worry the transition is not fast enough. Coming Soon >

Conclusion

While last year’s climate week was a lot of wishful thinking, marketing speak, and yapping. This year, the discussions were vibrant, and I walked away with a nuanced snapshot of the ever-evolving landscape of the climate conversation. I was surprised to hear practical solutions to practical problems instead of farfetched ideas.

This year, leaders know that Carbon Neutrality is within reach and are yearning to go further. They are learning to balance social politics and their imperative to social and sustainable initiatives. The arts are emerging as a powerful force in mobilizing people for climate action, integrating science into their impactful storytelling. But most importantly, progress is being made in the energy transition. Major catalysts like derisking strategies and new technologies are leading an energy revolution. There is a promising shift towards meaningful action in the ongoing battle against climate change.

Many other topics covered this year inspired me, but I could not sum them up in this post.

  • Heat is no longer ignorable – some cities are creating a new role: Chief Heat Officers.
  • Supply Chain Traceability and blockchain technologies legitimize and empower waste pickers, allowing for a better circular economy.
  • There is a rising demand for business reporting on biodiversity
  • Is the water crisis being ignored? Why the UN says water cannot be commodified.

 

If you’d like me to explore these topics in-depth, comment below!

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2023/climate-week/feed/ 0 Untaming Nature: creating a sustainable climate innovation mindset. https://sobouhr.com/2022/untaming-nature-creating-a-sustainable-climate-innovation-mindset/ https://sobouhr.com/2022/untaming-nature-creating-a-sustainable-climate-innovation-mindset/#respond Fri, 29 Apr 2022 02:02:00 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=18492 Our environment has been taken out of context and domesticated in every aspect. Human dominance has been normalized and has subsequently created an unbalanced power dynamic. We’ve reached a point where we must address this power dynamic before creating truly equitable climate innovations and solutions. This reflection will do just that – it will address […]

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Our environment has been taken out of context and domesticated in every aspect. Human dominance has been normalized and has subsequently created an unbalanced power dynamic. We’ve reached a point where we must address this power dynamic before creating truly equitable climate innovations and solutions. This reflection will do just that – it will address the domestication and institutionalization of our ecologies and analyze the power dynamic between humans and nonhumans to guide more equitable climate innovation.

It is essential to distinguish between the three main types of domestication. This reflection will focus on the domestication of our ecologies for entertainment, specifically — entertainment in the form of parks and exploitative use of wildlife, pets, and even houseplants. The second form of domestication is for education – namely through laboratory research, zoos, aquariums, and national parks. This form of domestication is hotly contested and will not be discussed at length, although to some extent, it also provides entertainment. Lastly, the domestication of ecologies for our survival, for basic needs like food and shelter, will not be discussed, despite its significant role in our ecological impact.

The domestication of our landscapes and ecologies for entertainment normalizes our dominance of the planet far more ferociously than any other form of domestication. When we institutionalize ecological dominance, we do so anthropocentrically. We, therefore, organize these ecologies in a manner that dodges any form of discomfort and encourages complacency. Nature is comfortable for us. Nature, even the word “Nature,” is comfortable for us. As Timothy Morton, a philosopher and a professor at Rice University, put it, “In the idea of pristine wilderness, we can make out the mirror image of private property.” Pristine wilderness is perhaps the quintessential concept in understanding what domestication of ecology is. We have developed parks: a version of wilderness we deem pristine that relies solely on human intervention to maintain its existence. Morton describes this as a “special kind of private property, without an owner, exhibited in a specially constructed art gallery.”

Domesticated animals are not wild animals anymore; they are now almost entirely man-made. The same is true about nature preserves, local, and even national parks: these places were once wild lands but are now tamed by human beings into something more civilized and controllable. “Nature has turned out to be a plastic knockoff of the real thing,” Morton says. These examples show how we are starting to see Nature as something separate from ourselves, which can be controlled and used for our benefit — a very dangerous mindset when dealing with climate change.

We take a wild plant into our home; now what? The houseplant is detached from its roots, i.e., its habitat, and now serves to entertain humans. Keeping it alive, at this point, relies entirely on the human. This is the power imbalance in question. A houseplant, however, isn’t as ferocious as other forms of ecological dominance.

By definition, zoos, aquariums, and laboratory facilities domesticate animals by creating a reliance on humans. According to Lori Gruen, a scholar in animal studies and philosophy, these institutions can help us better understand animals and their relationship with empathy. She cites several examples in which zoo animals exhibited empathy towards each other and later claims that Zoos also allow children who visit them to develop empathy towards the animals through “a capacity to distinguish self and other”.

Some studies suggest that children owning pets could contribute to more environmentally conscious behaviors. These behaviors, however, are primarily self-serving, anthropocentric and fade as children grow older. (Torkar, Fabijan, and Bogner). We have yet to empirically measure whether exposure to these institutions of human ecological domestication has impacted the human perception of our ecologies and whether we seek to dominate them further.

Empathy is a critical function in creating better climate change solutions. To some degree, I agree with Gruen’s thinking – and although we can create empathy through exposure to domesticated ecologies, we must also ensure that the power imbalance in these spaces is acknowledged. That the participants understand the void of consent in the pristine wilderness with which they interact. Does this mean having a pet is problematic? No. Should we feel guilty when going to a park? Not for one second. What we should realize, however, is that these are entirely manufactured and artificial. Depending on ecology’s role in our development, it could lead to more harm than good.

Undeniably, our early development impacts how we view ecology later in life. For example, if you grow up in a city surrounded by concrete buildings and tall skyscrapers, then it’s likely that you will only know about Nature through your pets and parks. However, in their current form, these institutions do not necessarily encourage an intimate relationship with Nature as much as they show how humans can manipulate it for their benefit. A zoo, for example, does this well. So does a park. A park brings a contrast to city life, something disconnected from it. Both are experiences where you, as the human, have absolute control and power that the other lifeform does not. When children grow up in environments in which humankind is in control, the idea of them no longer having this control directly challenges their core beliefs and triggers mechanisms to defend this notion. This is considered one of the primary roots of climate change denialism, which persists today.

This mindset also inspires climate technology projects that imitate the Lorax – lab-made cans of oxygen to combat pollution, plastic turf grass to mitigate floods, artificial chemical-reliant technologies for agriculture, and countless more. In Morton’s words, these solutions display the “violent, repetitive actions of someone desperate to restart a broken machine.” These solutions blatantly ignore the processes of Nature that have long occurred without human intervention. Do massive new facilities sucking up carbon dioxide in the middle of the desert mitigate climate change more than trees? Does a Tesla tunnel fix our reliance on cars compared to our agrestal urge to walk? Does a newly built platinum LEED-certified building do more good for our planet than repurposing existing structures?

These inventions are all ways human beings try to maintain this power balance. Again, in Morton’s words, “one of the things that modern society has damaged, along with ecosystems and species and the global climate, is thinking.” We think we are in control, and therefore we must do anything imaginable to stay in control. We think humans compete with nonhumans, which is not very accurate in the age of Anthropocene. We think Nature is the wastewater reservoir at the end of our subdivisions because that is the only Nature we’re exposed to. We think we must continue to live the way we live now.

So, as we look at climate solutions, we must understand that we must first shift our understanding of the power dynamic between humans and nonhumans. Even further, to discourage the distinction between the two. We then must acknowledge that doing so would bring discomfort to the complacent way we live now.

To conclude, the demise of our habitable planet will be determined by whether we choose to make a lackluster effort to further control and domesticate it or rather succumb to it or be part of it. We require a change in perspective. We must question how these institutions affect our relationship with Nature and seek more practical approaches to making an intimate connection with the natural world.

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2022/untaming-nature-creating-a-sustainable-climate-innovation-mindset/feed/ 0 2022: An Intentional Sail on Rocky waters. https://sobouhr.com/2022/the-2022-rebrand-explained/ https://sobouhr.com/2022/the-2022-rebrand-explained/#respond Fri, 01 Apr 2022 19:09:02 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=18181 A note to the reader : I publish this piece in the beginning of april, though the majority of the writing was done in my personal journal closer to January. As I finished the initial frameworks of this website, I felt the need to be vulnerable and share the more personal aspects of my life. […]

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A note to the reader :

I publish this piece in the beginning of april, though the majority of the writing was done in my personal journal closer to January. As I finished the initial frameworks of this website, I felt the need to be vulnerable and share the more personal aspects of my life.

Inspirations for the yearly rebuild.

I draw many inspirations for this annual project. 


I’m inspired by one of my longtime mentors, Whitney Johnson, who instilled in me the value of annual reflection and goalsetting. She, during our team meetings, had us pick our word of the year. Over many teary-eyed meetings with her, we set goals together, and reflected on my past.


I’m inspired by the University of Houston’s chapter of the American Marketing Association. An organization that rebrands itself with each new officer team. Their rebrands, sometimes hits, sometimes misses, provide a valuable lesson on design and self-improvement. Regardless of its success.


I’m inspired by the several rebranding efforts I’ve led. Rebrands that had me reflect on the core purpose and mission of the organization. 


I’m inspired by my friends and colleagues who, despite the coronavirus pandemic, rose from the ashes of uncertainty and rebuilt themselves. This rebuild made us all tougher. 


By rebuilding myself every year, I’m using this opportunity to reflect on the previous year, close that chapter, and open the door to the new year. 

The Word of the Year.

In one of Whitney’s group meetings in December 2019, we were tasked with choosing the word of the year for 2020. A panic intensified within me as my turn drew closer. I could not think of a word. Then, when it came my time to speak, I blurted “present.” 


That year, I’d felt absent. My mother was undergoing chemotherapy, my grandmother was ill. I felt disconnected from my father, and my academic performance wasn’t as good as I knew it could have been. 


What happened next, we all know. Throughout 2020, I carried that word with me. Being present meant being there for my mother until her last breath. Being present meant taking my academics seriously, and putting in effort to continue my connections with friends. Being present meant being there when I was needed the most. 


I did not have a word for 2021. Perhaps if I had one, in reflection, it would have been something like “respite” or “restore.” 


That year, I was off-balance. I’d developed an eating disorder and spent the majority of my time feeling guilt for many of the wrongs in my life.


This year, my word is:

Intention.

What being intentional means :

Until now, I’ve lived sporadically. I joined organizations because they were free to join, not because they interested me. I did things that were not self-serving.

     I just went with the flow.

Don’t get me wrong, going with the flow is great. Going with the flow is fantastic, until the currents get rough. Until you’re up to the edge of a waterfall and see that the flow only goes into a sharp, deadly descent. 

Going with the flow is great until the flow no longer flows as smoothly as it had before. 


The flow of water is life. We’re all on it. Some of us, on yachts, others hanging on to floating logs. Tenacity keeps us floating. We’re all technically going with the flow here. (think: covid) This year, however, I’m adding a sail to my raft. The sail gives me direction. The sail is intention.

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]]> https://sobouhr.com/2022/the-2022-rebrand-explained/feed/ 0 Renewable Energy & The Biden Administration https://sobouhr.com/2021/renewable-energy-the-biden-administration/ Thu, 22 Apr 2021 13:27:37 +0000 https://sobouhr.com/?p=18479 Written by Abigail Culver, Sobouh Rahimi, and Faith Walton for Case Studies in Energy & Sustainability Capstone, April 22, 2021. Ever since the first Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970, people have become more concerned about humanity’s impact on the environment yet have become increasingly reliant on the energy sources that pollute our ecosystems. Renewable […]

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Written by Abigail Culver, Sobouh Rahimi, and Faith Walton for Case Studies in Energy & Sustainability Capstone, April 22, 2021.

Ever since the first Earth Day on April 22nd, 1970, people have become more concerned about humanity’s impact on the environment yet have become increasingly reliant on the energy sources that pollute our ecosystems. Renewable Energy has become an all-encompassing solution to combat both concerns at once. The U.S. government has become increasingly involved in protecting our environment by creating the Environmental Protection Agency and implementing policies that have pushed for environmental conservation through innovation. Thus far, the Biden Administration has proven to be pro-renewable energy with the introduction of the two trillion dollar Infrastructure Bill.

Both President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and many other administration members focused on climate change as a part of their platforms. Their multifaceted solutions included transitioning to renewable energy, building “green” buildings and residential areas, repairing and creating infrastructure, decreasing waste and emissions, and more. Compared to the prior administration, Biden has made significant strides to push the country toward renewable energy being the norm and to actively combat human-driven climate change. On his first day in office, president Biden rejoined the Paris Climate Accord – one of the first steps to his commitment to renewable energy. The agreement, signed by heads of several other countries, started a five-year cycle of ambitious actions to combat climate change (United Nations Climate Change Committee 2020). One of those actions included the transition to renewable energy. President Biden has recently proposed The American Jobs Plan. This two trillion-dollar infrastructure bill outlines ways renewable energy will become a much more significant part of how the United States runs.

Some of the aspects of the plan that incorporate renewable energy are retrofitting, repairing, and building commercial spaces, schools, federal buildings, etc., for efficiency. In this case, solar panels could be used on these buildings to shift to renewable energy. Renewing the country’s grid is another aspect that boosts the renewable energy industry. By innovating and connecting the grid throughout the country, it would be much easier to use wind and solar—most likely—and perhaps hydropower to power homes or commercial areas in places where those sources are geographically viable. Another objective is adding a considerable increase in manufacturing, research and development, and energy industry jobs. When asked for more detail, President Biden said that many jobs would be added in the renewable energy sector. These include jobs focusing on energy storage, hydrogen, nuclear, off-shore wind, biofuel, and quantum mechanics. Transportation infrastructure is another primary objective in the plan. Although not explicitly outlined in great detail, solar energy will play a role in this component. Biden also includes tax incentives for private companies and local governments that modernize their energy sector using clean, renewable energy. Through this bill, the Energy Efficiency and Clean Electricity Standard will cut electricity costs and pollution using nuclear and hydropower. The end goal is to use energy that is free of carbon pollution by 2035. This bill also indirectly helps transition the county toward renewable energy by plugging all abandoned oil and gas wells and cleaning up old mines, establishing more protections for undeveloped land from drilling (White House 2021).

         While the infrastructure plan is full of objectives incorporating and supporting renewable energy, President Biden has implemented other policy changes as well. In an executive order, the president ordered a doubling of energy produced by wind turbines by 2030 (Matt Mcgrath 2021). In another executive order, Biden called an end to all fossil fuel subsidies, started the transition to a fossil-free energy industry by 2035, and increased renewable energy production on federal lands (Jennifer Dlouhy, Ari Natter 2021). Biden has also created a slew of committees and task forces to focus on specific areas of the climate change crisis like modernizing the energy sector, protecting public lands, using government buying power to leverage renewables, monitoring renewable resource research and development, etc. (White House 2021). Furthermore, he ordered a shutdown on the Dakota Access Pipeline construction indefinitely. On an international level, Biden is working on creating a plan to help low-income countries combat climate change and shift toward renewable energy. Biden is also encouraging China to mitigate its pollution and trash levels with carbon-capturing technology and using emissions from landfills and other plants to power their country, and joining the fight to end human-driven climate change (Olivia Rosane 2021).

         The climate was an essential topic of the 2020 presidential debates. When asked about the existence of a climate crisis, both Joe Biden and Kamala Harris agreed that significant steps are necessary to combat it. They also both supported the Green New Deal, to an extent, which outlined a drastic shift toward renewables, and, outside of that, both repeatedly referred to transitioning towards renewable energy via repairing and building infrastructure as a way to do it. However, as the campaign trail narrowed, the two candidates started to back off the progressive climate actions they were promising and supporting earlier on in the race to gain popularity with the more moderate democrats. Once Biden secured the democratic ticket and Harris was added on as his vice president, both of them backed off again, this time to please Republican voters, they needed to convince to vote across party lines. The flip-flopping is typical of a politician and seems to have successfully secured the election. Since many of Biden’s first actions reflect his and Harris’ earlier, more progressive views on climate change, there is no reason to believe they have changed their views since the election.

Even during his time as vice president during the Obama Administration, Biden’s personal views on climate change were the same. Now, maybe because of public pressure or new scientific findings, Biden seems to be more ardent about the climate crisis and getting the US to be a leader again in combating the crisis and leading the world in renewable energy development and environmentally-friendly innovation. However, while he is eager to move the country towards cleaner energy, He has promised workers and companies in oil-heavy states that he is not shutting down the oil and gas industry or ending it entirely any time soon.

During her term as senator and on the campaign trail, Kamala Harris championed sustainability and environmental justice. Several times, she has paired racial justice and environmental justice together as intertwined issues and talked about how important it is for the U.S. to start changing and improving now. She supports a transition to renewable energy to combat these issues and sees the economic and social benefits that it could bring (Merchant, Emma 2020). Based on her track record, Harris is the more passionate supporter of environmental activism. In a recent visit to a North Carolina electric bus manufacturing plant on Monday, April 19th, 2021, Kamala Harris expressed concern for the toxic diesel fumes inhaled by millions of children riding to and from school. Her speech exemplified the intersectionality of racial, economic, and environmental justice. Her visit was a part of a tour to promote the American Jobs Act, which focuses significantly on electric vehicles and increasing renewables.

Still, both Harris and Biden are on the same page of needing to take action now, not only for the sake of US citizens but also for the world as a whole. These new policy changes and plans are also about putting the United States back on top globally, which addresses a criticism brought up by Biden, Harris, and many other political figures and pundits during the Trump Administration.

President Biden’s announcement of two new White House positions, the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, chaired by John Kerry and the National Climate Advisor, chaired by Gina McCarthy, distinctly displays his intentions to put climate change action at the forefront of national and foreign policy. John Kerry will meet with foreign leaders and advocate for climate-forward policies on the global state, while Gina McCarthy will handle domestic matters with oversight of federal agencies. John Kerry has a long and tenuous history of climate action. As a senator, he introduced one of the most ambitious climate legislation, which ultimately failed. During the Obama Administration, in his role as the Secretary of State, Kerry was a key negotiator of the Paris Climate Accord. In 2019, he launched World War Zero, a bipartisan climate coalition to address increasing carbon emissions. (Jeff Turrentine 2020)

Kerry’s goals as the “Climate Czar” make the United States a clear world leader on climate action. Follow through on the Paris Climate Accord, and advocate for renewable energy abroad. In a newly established initiative, Kerry is working alongside the Vietnamese government on the diversification of their energy sources and a decreased reliance on coal-fired power. (Amy Harder 2019) In conversation with the Vietnamese Prime Minister in the summer of 2019, he encouraged increased investment in renewable energy before his role as the Presidential Envoy for Climate. Thus far, he is reportedly in talks with large financial institutions to aid the administration in supporting sustainable development. (Hannah Miao 2021) In doing so, it would mark a tremendous collaborative effort between the government and the private sector to reach Biden’s ambitious net-zero emission goal.

The head of the EPA during the Obama Administration, Gina McCarthy, is the president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The NDRC is a non-profit environmental advocacy group that has fought and won many lawsuits for reducing greenhouse emissions during the Trump Administration. In her current role, she will ensure climate-forward thinking across all federal government sectors and advocate for clean jobs. Whereas John Kerry, her Co-Climate Czar, will focus on international matters, McCarthy’s role will address domestic climate policy. Currently, her plans include setting renewable energy standards, carbon capture, nuclear power, and she doesn’t rule out a carbon tax, either. 

It is apparent that a majority of relevant cabinet members under the Biden administration support the renewable energy transition. Many of them have had a history of their own climate advocacy. This advocacy is apparent in their recent push to sell the American Jobs Act. Pete Buttigieg, the secretary of transportation; Jennifer Granholm, the Secretary of Energy; along with Gina McCarthy and John Kerry have been hitting the trails. They have appeared in countless interviews, visits, and speeches advocating for renewable energy, electric vehicles, and the American Jobs Act.

 Michael S. Regan, the current head of the EPA, has had over 20 years of experience in environmental advocacy. In his role as the Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, he led the transition to clean energy in the state, with the ultimate aim to reach carbon neutrality by 2050. This goal is paralleled by president Biden’s current plans to eliminate the United States’ carbon emissions by 2050, as announced on April 22nd, 2021, at a virtual climate summit with 40 world leaders. In his time at the Environmental Defense Fund, Regan served as the vice president for clean energy. As the southeast regional director of EDF, he advocated for economically viable, pragmatic solutions to combating the climate crisis; this included conversations with business leaders and entrepreneurs to reduce emissions, switch to renewables, and lower their environmental impact. It is apparent that in his role as the head of the EPA, he will continue with such a mindset when discussing the clean energy revolution.

Pete Buttigieg, a former 2020 democratic presidential candidate turned secretary of transportation, had grand ambitions during his presidential campaign for renewable-led infrastructure. During the primaries, he disclosed a 17-page plan to infuse 1 trillion dollars in sustainable infrastructure by boosting renewable energy, new science-based standards, and audit of the electric grid. Although his run for the presidency was short-lived, some of his policies are reflected in the current proposed American Jobs Plan. (Kelsey Tamborrino 2020)

Jennifer Granholm, the Secretary of Energy under the Biden Administration, is focused on the scientific advancements necessary to transition to renewable energy work. In her second term as the governor of Michigan, she devoted herself to requiring at least 25% of Michigan energy to be renewable by 2025. This standard is attributed to tens of thousands of jobs in Michigan from over 40 renewable energy companies. Michigan, in part due to her commitment, now produces at least one-third of electric vehicle batteries in North America. (Department of Energy 2021) Through investment in engineers, entrepreneurs, and scientists in the field, she hopes to deploy technologies that will deliver the clean energy revolution.

The government has been moving towards renewable energy since well before Biden became president. In 2018, 10.23% of the electricity used by federal agencies came from a mixture of different renewable energy sources (Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy 2018). When reviewing data provided by agencies like the IPCC, the NOAA, NASA, the EPA, and the EIA, it is evident that the technology to switch to renewable energy is nearly developed. When looking at the Biden Administration’s Infrastructure Bill, the proposed focus on wind and solar seems reasonable. For years, wind energy has become more efficient and significantly cheaper, with onshore wind prices dropping 39% and offshore wind prices dropping 29% since 2010 (IRENA). When looking at solar energy, another major player in the Infrastructure Bill, prices for solar photovoltaics have dropped by a staggering 82%, and prices for concentrated solar power have dropped 47% since 2010 (IRENA 2019). The advances made in wind and solar technology, coupled with the drop in prices, make renewable energy sources competitive with oil and gas. 

While oil and gas reliably provide consumers with power whenever needed, rain or shine, the fact remains that wind and solar power outputs depend on cooperating environmental conditions. The problem of not having power at night or during low wind is still a significant hurdle to jump when moving to large-scale implementation of these power sources—the solution to this problem: advanced battery technology. Currently, utility-scale batteries are being used worldwide to extend the range of electricity generated by wind and solar and account for around 44% of battery storage worldwide (IRENA 2017). Another developing battery storage technology is behind-the-meter (BTM) batteries. These batteries are installed along with rooftop solar panels to store excess electricity produced during the day to be used at night (IRENA 2017). With these battery technologies and falling costs, wind and solar can be easily implemented through the Infrastructure Bill. 

Another concern the general public has in making the switch to renewables is the loss of jobs. People who have been employed at coal plants for years are worried about their job security. Currently, coal power is essential and kept the electric grid functioning during the winter storm blackouts in February 2021. With the construction of new wind and solar farms, however, coal plants around the nation have been slowly shutting down over the past 20 years. With new plants using renewables coming online, the jobs lost in the coal industry will be made up for in the renewable sector.  If every laid-off coal worker finds a job in the solar photovoltaic field, retraining each worker will cost $4,295 per person with an overall cost of $148 million (Louie et. al 2016).

Another item on the Infrastructure Bill is getting more electric vehicles on the road. Currently, the average cost of one gallon of gas at the pump in the U.S. is $2.79, which means it would take around $40 to fill up a 14-gallon tank in an average-sized car. To fully charge an electric vehicle, the average cost is around $9 (U.S. Department of Energy). The average range of a Tesla is approximately 120 miles on an open highway. One thing to consider is the practicality of an electric car in remote places like West Texas. Such remote places do not have easily accessible gas stations, much less any charging stations. This is one of the biggest concerns when purchasing an electric vehicle, thus causing range anxiety. If more charging stations are put in place, more consumers may switch since charging an electric car is cheap. Another issue that the Biden Administration might run into when pushing for electric vehicles is getting consumers to give up their current vehicles and invest in an electric one. Therefore, government incentives are necessary to encourage electric vehicle use instead of gas vehicles.

Some renewable energy sources not discussed in the Infrastructure Bill have real untapped potential. Most of these renewable sources are already being integrated into the grid. An interesting renewable source of energy comes from our country’s garbage dumps. Landfills are the third-largest source of human-related methane gas in the United States and create a 50:50 mixture of carbon dioxide and methane gas (EPA 2021). There are currently companies that capture the gas created by the landfill and convert that gas into a renewable energy resource to power the grid and fuel vehicles. In 2012, companies specializing in capturing landfill gasses produced 14.8 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity and captured 102 billion cubic feet of landfill gas (National Waste and Recycling Association 2020). Not only does this reduce the amount of greenhouse gasses being pumped into the atmosphere, but it provides another source of energy that is consistent (landfills put off these gasses 24 hours a day). The Biden Administration should not dismiss such energy sources as they can potentially be both economical and environmentally friendly.

Bruce Usher, the author of “Renewable Energy: A primer for the Twenty-First Century,” suggests that the U.S. government should move forward with renewable energy sources due to their increasing cost-efficiency. In looking back to the transition from wood to coal, Usher notes the similarities in the new Energy revolution, especially regarding how it was impacted by economics. For the United States to reap the economic benefits of renewables, it must be the world leader in advancing technology. His findings are consistent with the current administration’s outlook.

The Biden Administration’s policies are on track to make the United States a leading force for positive change and combating climate change. Upon analysis, the Politeia Group recommends that the administration continue to push for more electric vehicles and building infrastructure for a renewable-powered grid. We also recommend that the administration looks into some of the less conventional renewable energy sources, such as capturing landfill gases, to expand the country’s energy sector while providing more jobs for those displaced from the coal, oil, and gas industries. With these recommendations, President Biden will reach the climate goals outlined in his campaign promises and mitigate the adverse effects human activities have created.










References

Department of Energy (2021). Jennifer M. Granholm https://www.energy.gov/contributors/jennifer-m-granholm Accessed 18 Apr 2021

Dlouhy, Jennifer and Natter, Ari (4 March 2021). Biden Climate Plan Includes Oil-Lease Pause.  Subsidy Review. Accessed 20 April 2021.

Harder, Amy. (2019, April 08). Exclusive: Inside John Kerry’s quest to get Vietnam off coal. https://www.axios.com/john-kerry-vietnam-diplomacy-climate-change-5912b5f6-27aa-474b-b129-56180427f821.html Accessed 16 Apr 2021.

International Renewable Energy Agency (2020). Battery Storage Paves Way for a Renewable-powered Future. https://www.irena.org/newsroom/articles/2020/Mar/Battery-storage-paves-way-for-a-renewable-powered-future. Accessed 20 Apr 2021.

International Renewable Energy Agency (2019). Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019. https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2020/Jun/IRENA_Costs_2019_EN.pdf?la=en&hash=BFAAB4DD2A14EDA7329946F9C3BDA9CD806C1A8A. Accessed 20 Apr 2021.

Louie, Edward, Pearce, Joshua (2016). Retraining Investment for U.S. Transition from Coal to Solar Photovoltaic Employment. https://www.eenews.net/assets/2016/08/10/document_gw_01.pdf 

McGrath, Matt (28 January 2021). Biden signs ‘existential’ executive orders on climate and environmental. BBC. Accessed 20 April 2021.

Merchant, Emma Foehringer (12 August 2020). “What the Kamala Harris VP Pick Means for Biden’s Energy and Climate Platform.” Greentech Media, Greentech Media. www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/what-the-kamala-harris-vp-pick-means-for-bidens-energy-and-climate-platform. Accessed 21 April 2021.

Miao, Hannah. (2021, March 04). Biden climate envoy John Kerry talking to banks, asset managers about mobilizing capital for clean energy. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/04/climate-change-john-kerry-talking-to-banks-asset-managers-about-clean-energy.html Accesssed Apr 21 2021.

National Waste and Recycling Association (2012). Landfill Gas Renewable Energy Fact Sheet. http://www.beginwiththebin.org/images/documents/landfill/Landfill-Gas-Renewable-Energy-Fact-Sheet.pdf. Accessed 20 Apr 2021.

Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (2018). Federal Agency Use of Renewable Electric Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/femp/federal-agency-use-renewable-electric-energy. Accessed 20 Apr 2021.

Rosane, Olivia (2021). Biden Signs Sweeping Executive Order on Climate and Science. Ecowatch. Accessed 21 April 2021.

Tamborrino, Kelsey., & Mintz, S. (2020, January 10). How Pete Buttigieg would address infrastructure. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/10/pete-buttigieg-2020-infrastructure-plan-096976 Accessed 20 Apr 2021

Turrentine, J. (2020, December 11). America’s Top Climate Diplomat: John Kerry. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/americas-top-climate-diplomat-john-kerry Accessed 18 Apr 2021

United States Department of Energy. Charging Plug-In Electric Vehicles at Home. https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity_charging_home.html#:~:text=If%20electricity%20costs%20%240.13%20per,to%20reach%20a%20full%20charge. Accessed 20 Apr 2021.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (2018). Basic Information About Landfill Gas. https://www.epa.gov/lmop/basic-information-about-landfill-gas. Accessed 20 Apr 2021.

White House (27 January 2021). Fact Sheet: President Biden Takes Executive Actions to Tackle the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, Create Jobs, and Restore Scientific Integrity Across Federal Government. Briefing Room. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/01/27/fact-sheet-president-biden-takes-executive-actions-to-tackle-the-climate-crisis-at-home-and-abroad-create-jobs- and-restore-scientific-integrity-across-federal-government. Accessed 21 April 2020.

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