Missed Climate Goals, Built In Tree Tech, Grid Unlock, Biochar & More

We begin Year 2 (VOLUME 2!) of The Green Way Newsletter on LinkedIn … with a reference to a recent post on LinkedIn (hah!) that speaks to the constantly shifting sand beneath the feet of GHG emissions efforts around the world.? ‘

We push forward in the face of change and consistent challenges to improve what we do for the betterment of the planet and those enterprises simply trying to understand (and evaluate, and respond to) what the hell is happening these days.

Recall our recent?LinkedIn post on American Airlines?and their refreshingly honest CEO acknowledging the challenges associated with meeting their 2030 GHG emissions targets. They might miss. This happens. Our experience regarding sustainability reporting is that the best reports simply state, this is what we do, and why we do it.? Even if the news isn’t rosy.

Accordingly, we respect American Airlines being straight up with their results. In addition, Air New Zealand stated pretty much the same when they completely?dropped their climate goals.

This is one of the challenges of setting goals.

The ability to meet these goals will depend on technology being available. It will depend on green products being available. It will require more than a little institutional backbone to stay the course. Or change course if necessary.

So we ask: Is today the right time to set goals?

And we answer: Maybe. It’ll depend on the demands being placed on your organization.

But in all cases, identifying critical components of meeting those goals makes good sense. Scope 1, 2 and – yes, ?3 – emissions.? Value chain.? Emissions. Efficiency.

We’re here to try and help you control what you can, quantify what you can’t, and make smart decisions today and tomorrow that make good business sense while potentially protecting, improving or even saving … the only planet we got.

Welcome to Volume 2 of The Green Way.

As it turns out, we didn’t really NEED science to tell us to plant more trees after all.

A recent study revealed that microbes living in tree bark are actually absorbing methane – a greenhouse gas with 20 times the potency of CO2 – from the atmosphere on a massive scale.

The story is available here on Yahoo News but has been sourced from a Business Insider report that sits behind a paywall.?You’re welcome.

Wait, what? More?opportunity for bipartisan action?moving forward our country’s interests in energy?

We can appreciate that Senator Joe Manchin has a knack for collecting bipartisanship support for meaningful legislation and is working on legislation focused on our energy infrastructure..

Recall him being able to push through our country’s?first serious investment?in infrastructure in who knows how long. Keep an eye on what happens with his work on energy with this latest legislative effort before he rides off into the sunset.

The attempt to get our country’s power grid upgraded and connected is serious and meaningful (see next story). It’s been pretty clear that this is an issue that needs to be addressed.

But truly demonstrating what it means to compromise??

Sen.?Martin Heinrich?(D-N.M.), who supports Manchin’s bill, said its reforms aimed at helping more power lines get built outweighs the climate damage caused by its pro-fossil provisions.?

Compromise means making hard decisions and understanding why we’re making them.

Given the previous story about power grid legislation, it’s appropriate for us to share news about products in development ... that prepare us for the addition of sustainable products.

Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. recently announced it will establish a new electrical distribution transformer production plant in Weirton, West Virginia – addressing the critical shortage of distribution transformers that is currently stifling economic growth across the United States.

If we’re going to add energy to our nationwide grid (sustainable or otherwise), then our grid needs serious upgrades!

We close with a Carbon Markets story that also fits under Technology and Sustainable Products as well.?

Because if this emerging technology works one day?? It’ll make a splash across the entirety of the GHG emissions reduction spectrum.?

Learn more about biochar carbon sequestering in this story from phys.org.

Want to learn more about where we come from??

(Greenway Steel, that is … not humanity itself).?

Less than two years ago, we began with a series of thought exercises from founder Randy Charles ... that became a full-blown series of articles ... that became a company with world headquarters in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.?

Check out the Greenway Articles here – and if you’re seeking carbon footprint calculation, decarbonization intelligence or GHG emissions guidance across metals manufacturing, distribution and beyond (with a laser focus on efficiency customized to your business) feel free to reach out to us!