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With the right technology, carbon can be transformed into profitable end products and services that create jobs and support local economies — a win-win for the environment and the economy.

Carbon-to-value technologies use carbon dioxide to create valuable products for carbon-intensive industries, and they’re attracting global interest from profit-focused investors. As a result, there’s been an uptick in startups focused on carbon conversion, or the reuse of carbon as an end product or a component of new materials, representing a critical transition for the industry. Essentially, we’re creating a pathway that enables the conversion of captured carbon into fuels, chemicals, building materials, plastics, food, medical products, cosmetics and more — turning a harmful chemical compound into economic value. 

Looking at available technologies to capture excess carbon, the industry has seen a scale-up of solutions such as carbon capture and storage and direct air capture. These processes can mitigate climate change and environmental impacts by either capturing carbon from the atmosphere or preventing entry into the atmosphere altogether and storing it. 

Point-source carbon capture technologies stop carbon dioxide at the source. Companies like Climeworks can remove carbon dioxide from the air through direct air capture and storage technologies. The captured carbon is then processed and safely stored deep underground where it mineralizes and can be contained for thousands of years. 

In comparison, carbon capture and utilization has the potential to help prevent and reduce atmospheric carbon while also finding lucrative uses for the captured carbon. These technologies will capture or store carbon, and utilization locks it away in new, economically viable products -— contributing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering a circular economy where carbon becomes a valuable asset. 

Technologies that mineralize and convert captured carbon dioxide into profitable, high-value products are particularly promising because they are carbon neutral, have an ultra-low energy penalty and serve large global markets. For example, CarbonFree Chemicals’ patented technologies capture carbon dioxide from emitters and transform it into carbon-neutral chemicals such as baking soda, precipitated calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid. Continuing with the momentum across the industry, CarbonFree recently announced a partnership with U.S. Steel to deploy its SkyCycle platform at U.S. Steel’s plant in Gary, Indiana, its largest facility in North America.

Capturing carbon’s potential

The momentum behind carbon storage and utilization efforts started in 2017 when the U.S. Department of Energy Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) introduced the idea of carbon emissions as a carbon feedstock at the Engineered Carbon Reduction Listening Day.

“Feedstocks are materials used directly in manufacturing processes and transformed into an intermediate or finished material,” according to the U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. For many decades, the chemical industry has used fossil-fuel-derived feedstocks like natural gas to manufacture building block chemicals, such as ethylene and propylene, which are used to produce everything from plastics to fertilizer. 

When carbon dioxide is captured and used as a building block for useful products such as concrete, plastics, carbonated drinks or fuel for cars, we reduce reliance on fossil fuels while limiting carbon emissions. The value here lies in creating products that provide economic value while slowing climate change. 

The predicted market potential is enormous. The addressable market of “carbon tech” companies totals $1 trillion annually in the U.S. and $5.9 trillion globally, according to Carbon 180. 

The three most promising product areas that could utilize captured carbon dioxide are fuels, chemicals and building materials. Despite the broad range of possible end products, these three sectors will likely have the largest addressable markets and, thus far, have been the most active. 

The challenge? Public acceptance 

One of the major challenges to the carbon-to-value movement is the public’s acceptance of products, such as carbonated water, created from carbon captured from a power plant's smokestack. 

Approximately 69 percent of consumers were open to carbon capture and utilization-based products, according to a study completed in 2021. We expect favorability to continue to rise as carbon-based products become more popular, but there are a few things to keep in mind while that happens. 

Carbon use, or reuse, is needed in addition to carbon reduction. More than emissions reductions are required to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Ultimately, the end goal should be to reduce our carbon footprint, so there’s less of it to deal with. Combining carbon conversion technologies with carbon reduction initiatives will result in the best long-term outcome. 

Useful products are not the only benefit of carbon capture and utilization. Creating a pathway to address the need for clean, reliable energy sources is critical to addressing climate change. In addition to the useful products we can produce, the main benefits of carbon capture and utilization are the prevention of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere as well as its removal from the air — which reduces overall emissions, especially in hard-to-abate industries. 

Initial infrastructure costs remain high. The value and impact of carbon-based products must outweigh the associated costs. Scale-up is exceptionally challenging for first-of-a-kind technology projects. In addition to capital and infrastructure, expertise is necessary to get it right to avoid expensive delays and loss of investor support. 

The need to manage carbon emissions remains high. To address rising concerns and worsening climate impacts, we must better understand how to reduce and utilize the excess carbon that is entering, and already present in, the atmosphere. The demand for carbon conversion technologies increases daily as our reliance on fossil fuels accelerates the negative impacts of climate change. By increasing the number of carbon-negative and carbon-neutral products available and encouraging their acceptance, we can reduce reliance on fossil fuels while stimulating the economic environment. 

Hundreds of leading brands and other companies stopped doing business in Russia after its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Despite the boycott, the war dragged on for more than two years with no end in sight. In that context, it may be fair to ask if the boycott has had an impact. However, the real question is whether businesses have any choice but to act as best they can when confronted by authoritarian power.

Two options: Boycott, or stay and risk a takeover

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin summarily seized companies belonging to the agribusiness AgroTerra. The company's assets were placed under the temporary management of the Russian federal property management agency Rosimushchestvo, Bloomberg reported.

AgroTerra operates within Russia, but it is owned by the U.S. investment firm NCH Capital as part of a longstanding interest in Eastern European agriculture. Founded in 2008, AgroTerra operates farms in the fertile Central Black Soil region south of Moscow that provide commodity and specialty crops to food processors. 

Arguably, companies that support important food systems have ethical reasons to continue operating, regardless of wartime. An April 9 report by Reuters suggests that AgroTerra falls into that category. As of May 2023, the company was listed among the top 20 agricultural landholders in Russia.

As of this writing, Putin’s new decree has not impacted AgroTerra operationally. The company told Reuters “it was operating as usual" and was primarily focused on sowing seeds for the coming season. 

Still, the takeover is the most recent example of the risks that can come with a shift toward authoritarianism.

So, is the brand boycott against Russia working?

The news about AgroTerra and NCH is also important because it provides further evidence that the voluntary boycott has had a significant impact on Russia’s financial ability to wage war.

Days after Russia launched its attack on Ukraine in 2022, the Yale School of Management began keeping a meticulously researched database of non-Russian companies doing business in Russia. So far, almost 1,000 of the 1,500 companies in the Yale database are listed as completely withdrawn. Others have cut back their operations, while some receive an “F” grade for continuing business as usual.

By May 2022, the Yale team gathered enough data to conclude that those withdrawing from Russia realized long-term financial benefits, despite the risk of loss. “We find that equity markets are actually rewarding companies for leaving Russia while punishing those that remain behind,” they summarized on May 31, 2022.

A few months later, the team noted evidence that the voluntary boycott was working in support of international sanctions against Russia. “Far from being ineffective or disappointing, as many have argued, international sanctions and voluntary business retreats have exerted a devastating effect over Russia’s economy,” they reported.

Still, as the war entered its second year, skeptics continued to dispute the effectiveness of the boycott. In December, for example, the New York Times published an article under the headline, “How Putin Turned a Western Boycott Into a Bonanza,” which argued that Russia has profited from the boycott.

The Yale team promptly disputed this account, arguing the article merely amplified propaganda from top Russian officials. “The last word is given to Dmitri Medvedev, the unhinged former Russian president who casually and regularly threatens to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine,” the team wrote in a rebuttal published by Fortune. “No wonder the Russian government is enthusiastically tweeting out the NYT article across official accounts."

In an eerily prescient observation, they also argued that Russia survives “merely by seizing assets" from foreign entities as well as Russian companies and citizens. “The increasingly state-dominated economy is cannibalizing its own companies to maintain Putin’s war machine,” they wrote. 

In a more recent sign the Russian government is desperate for cash, in February Putin signed a new law formalizing and extending the confiscation of “money, valuables and other assets” from Russian citizens.

Pressure builds on the U.S. Congress to support Ukraine

The new confiscation law specifically applies to anyone “convicted of spreading ‘deliberately false information’ about the country’s military," the Associated Press reported. 

While these factors indicate Russia's war coffers are running low, the conflict is likely to continue until Ukraine receives enough aid to repel the invaders and restore its legitimate boundaries. In the face of that resistance, a voluntary boycott is not enough.

U.S. aid for Ukraine has been held up in Congress for months amidst opposition from Republican representatives. The holdup from GOP lawmakers garnered rebukes from members of their own party. Outside researchers and Congressional colleagues including U.S. Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Michael McCaul (R-Texas) say many of the lawmakers opposed to the aid package repeat Russian talking points and disinformation in their arguments against it on the House floor.  

In his annual letter to shareholders earlier this month, JPMorgan Chase CEO and Chairman Jamie Dimon is the latest to voice support for an aid package for Ukraine and take aim at the chaotic state of Congress. 

"America and the free Western world can no longer maintain a false sense of security based on the illusion that dictatorships and oppressive nations won’t use their economic and military powers to advance their aims — particularly against what they perceive as weak, incompetent and disorganized Western democracies," Dimon wrote. "America’s global leadership role is being challenged outside by other nations and inside by our polarized electorate. We need to find ways to put aside our differences and work in partnership with other Western nations in the name of democracy." 

In particular, he singled out Ukraine as "the front line that needs immediate support" and argued "providing that support is the best way to counter autocratic forces."

Dimon’s warning of a “weak, chaotic and disorganized” democratic process rings all the more true this week, as Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson attempts to bring a long-delayed Ukraine aid package to the floor for a vote even while facing calls to resign from members of his party. If Republican representatives are having a hard time finding common ground to unite behind their own speaker, perhaps it would help if other business leaders would speak up with the same clarity and force to help them find a way.

A growing segment of consumers are looking to purchase more sustainable products, but many aren't sure how to determine which products are sustainable. It's hard to blame them, as the ever-increasing volume of sustainability claims creates confusion and makes it harder to differentiate verifiable product attributes from marketing fluff. 

Third-party verification labels can help point consumers in the right direction, but only if people know what these labels mean and why they should look for them on the products they buy. Product certifiers, brands and retailers all have a role to play in building awareness of green labels so they have a greater impact on consumer purchasing. 

More consumers want to shop sustainably: Green labels can help

More than half of U.S. consumers say social and environmental considerations have more influence on their purchases today than they did a year ago, TriplePundit found in the $44 Billion Sustainability Opportunity report, published this spring in partnership with our parent company 3BL, the research technology platform Glow and panel partner Cint. 

Of the consumers who don't factor in social and environmental considerations significantly when they shop, a quarter said it’s because they “don’t know enough about the sustainability credentials of brands.” Another 18 percent don’t see “any significant difference” in sustainability performance across brands, while around a fifth said they don’t trust brand sustainability claims. 

If consumers recognize them and perceive them to be valid, third-party verified green labels can help to address all of these concerns and unlock more consumer spending based on sustainability. Already, sustainability-driven brand switching added up to more than $44 billion across 12 industries in the U.S. alone last year, according to our research. 

"People are increasingly conscious of their purchasing habits and want to make sure they are shopping for products that match their values," said Nicole Condon, U.S. director at the Marine Stewardship Council, a nonprofit certifier of sustainable seafood. "We’re seeing that consumers are growing more aware of how their purchasing habits impact the environment, and, when given the information to make a more sustainable choice, they’re doing just that."

Labels, labels everywhere 

Take a walk through any store, and you'll find no shortage of sustainability claims on product packaging. Some claim the product is "green" or "eco-friendly," while others tout attributes like "natural," "low-waste" or "low-carbon." 

But it's important to distinguish between marketing claims and those that are verifiable and substantiated by third parties. Claims like "green" and "natural" are not regulated by the government in most countries, meaning any brand could slap these labels on any product without consequence. "Consumers are bombarded by product sustainability claims," Condon said. "This makes it increasingly difficult to identify which labels are credible."

Some products bearing these claims may indeed be healthier or come with a lighter impact on people and the environment, but it's impossible for consumers to differentiate a product that's truly more sustainable from another that's sleekly marketed based on these labels alone. While countries including those in the European Union moved to ban claims like these without evidence, those regulations don't come into force until 2026 or later.

In the meantime, third-party verification labels can help point consumers toward products with specific attributes that reduce their impact on people and the planet. 

The Marine Stewardship Council, for example, uses a set of standards to verify that wild fisheries do not impact marine ecosystems and that seafood supply chains are free of human rights issues like forced labor. Other third-party verified labels include Fairtrade certification for supply chain worker rights, Energy Star certification for energy efficiency, and Bluesign certification for sustainable clothing and textiles, among many others used around the world. 

Raising awareness of third-party verification labels

While they aren't regulated either, third-party verification labels indicate a product has met a set of standards for sustainability and social responsibility based on auditing from the certifier.

Sustainability advocates sometimes question whether various third-party certifiers go far enough. But importantly, the standards they use are publicly available, giving consumers information and the power to decide for themselves. Still, that doesn't mean much if consumers don't recognize third-party green labels or know what they mean. 

Every year, the Marine Stewardship Council teams up with Fairtrade America and the Non-GMO Project for the Little Labels, Big Impact campaign to raise awareness of third-party verified green labels and why they are important. 

"The Little Labels, Big Impact campaign educates shoppers about the rigor behind third-party verification around product claims,"  Condon said. "These 'little labels' help shoppers avoid greenwashing — also known as deceptive marketing claims that make products seem sustainable — highlighting more sustainable products that support producers and preserve nature’s integrity." 

The campaign looks to inform consumers about what brands must do in order to use the MSC blue label for sustainable seafood, the Fairtrade America label for worker compensation and rights, and the Non-GMO Project Butterfly seal for avoidance of genetically modified organisms. 

"Transparency lies at the heart of this initiative," Condon said. "Participating organizations uphold transparency by openly sharing their standards, data and financial information on their websites. Furthermore, they actively ask for input from stakeholders to create accountability."

Beyond messaging on social media, the campaign looks to engage retailers and brands to educate their customers about why green labels are important through email and social media marketing, as well as messaging on-pack and in-store. The campaign reached more than 2.6 million people in the U.S. last year, according to the Marine Stewardship Council. 

When consumers are aware of green labels, research indicates they're more likely to seek them out while shopping. Nearly 70 percent of U.S. consumers who recognize the Fairtrade label prefer to shop at retailers that carry certified products, according to 2023 polling conducted by GlobeScan on behalf of Fairtrade America. Similar research from GlobeScan and the Marine Stewardship Council indicates that 65 percent of U.S. consumers are looking for third-party verified labels from brands and at retailers.

While the Little Labels, Big Impact campaign offers an example to follow, of course it's just the start when it comes to helping consumers tell fact from fiction while shopping for sustainable products. Retailers like Aldi and Whole Foods Market and brands ranging from outdoor gear label REI to ice cream favorite Ben & Jerry's message regularly about the green labels their products carry and what they mean for consumers, supply chain workers and the environment.

Meanwhile groups like the Marine Stewardship Council look to shake up their messaging throughout the year to reach new audiences with this information. "We’re excited to work with some of our commercial partners on an Earth Month themed campaign in April and use World Ocean Day in June to raise awareness about the important role sustainable fishing plays in a healthy ocean," Condon said as an example. "We’ll continue supporting certified fisheries and work with fisheries interested in getting certified, as well as support our commercial partners along the supply chain."

Avocado trees are native to southern Mexico, where they grew as wild cultivars for thousands of years before the Aztec and Maya people began growing the crop domestically. Today, avocado production is an economic powerhouse for the region. 

The avocado industry has enjoyed record-breaking growth in recent years, and per-capita consumption in the U.S. has steadily climbed, as well as avocado imports from Mexico. The dramatic growth in avocado imports has been good for the U.S. economy, according to a report from researchers at Texas A&M University’s Agribusiness Food and Consumer Economics Research Center in partnership with Avocados From Mexico. In fiscal year 2021-2022, U.S. imports of Mexican Hass avocados added $6.1 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product and created 58,299 jobs. On the Mexican side of the border, hundreds of thousands of people earn their living from the prized fruit.

Michoacán, a Mexican state on the western coast, is at the heart of the country's avocado sector and produces 73 percent of all avocados grown in Mexico. It is also where Martin Mendoza calls home and where he has been growing avocados since he was 16 years old. “My mother started our family’s farm in 1980, and my brothers and I started growing avocados then,” he told TriplePundit.

Michoacán: The global center of avocado production

Today, Mendoza and his four brothers manage a 250-acre operation, where they grow 15,000 avocado trees, divided into five orchards. “Our farm is spread out at diverse elevations between 1,400 and 2,700 meters above sea level,” Mendoza explained. “The difference in climates at the various locations allows us to harvest avocados year-round.”


Michoacán is a lush environment, with rainforests, pine forests and deciduous forests spread throughout the state. “From my orchards, you can see the volcano Paricutín. In the past few weeks, it has had snow on top of it that we can see from the farm,” Mendoza reflected.

Mendoza typically starts his day on the farm around 7 a.m. When his employees arrive, they go over their plan for the day and address any production problems before any other work begins. While the farm’s full-time work crew consists of 20 employees, during times of heavy harvesting, they also manage outside picking crews.  

Approximately 90 percent of avocado imports in the U.S. come from Mexico, and until recently, Michoacán was the only Mexican state to meet the rigorous requirements of the U.S. export program — which includes certifying the fruits are free from pests and plant disease, among other requirements. “We have participated in the export program since its inception, and we export mostly to the U.S.,” Mendoza said of his farm.

Ensuring sustainability and safety

Mendoza has spent decades learning about the needs of avocado trees. For example, avocado trees are highly sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation. With much of Mexico experiencing drought, farmers are conscious of water use. “Climate change has affected our entire region,” Mendoza said. “However, in Michoacán we are blessed with a lot of rainfall. It rains most months of the year, and the rich, volcanic soil in Michoacán holds moisture and keeps the avocados alive without the use of irrigation.” 

In Mendoza’s orchards, 80 percent of his trees rely solely on rainfall and soil moisture, and only 20 percent require additional irrigation. To ensure maximum uptake and avoid runoff, Mendoza utilizes micro-sprinklers and drip irrigation. These microirrigation technologies allow for greater precision by directing water only to the trees that need supplemental irrigation. Additionally, Mendoza harvests rainwater during the months with higher rainfall to use for irrigation during dry seasons. 

The farm also invests in food safety and quality, and for Mendoza, that starts with the health of his employees. All employees undergo regular testing to ensure that nobody is sick while handling the avocados, and the Mendozas provide medical services for all employees working in their orchards. 

They also monitor their water supply and ensure that any agricultural product that touches the avocados is environmentally-friendly and safe for consumers. “The guidelines for the export program are very strict, and they cover employees, tools, chemicals and more. We have to be impeccable,” Mendoza said.

Mendoza’s farm also carries additional responsible agriculture certifications, including Global GAP, and they employ a monitor who ensures that all outside picking crews and other employees are following responsible farming practices in each of the five orchards. 

“We are very careful about the environment,” Mendoza said. "We take care of the land because we depend on it. Responsible farming practices are generally a key characteristic of Michoacán.”

Family farmers in Michoacán drive the avocado sector

The avocado sector in Michoacán provides an economic boost to the entire region through employment opportunities and additional outside investments, but this vibrant local economy would not be possible without the hard work of family farmers.

About 80 percent of avocado growers in Michoacán are smallholders with less than 12 acres, Mendoza said. “The avocado industry benefits thousands of farming families. There are 180,000 hectares in the avocado export program, but they are mostly the small family farms that support this industry.”

Running a larger farm in a sector that provides so many in the community with a livelihood is a lot of responsibility, but Mendoza said he embraces it. 

“Avocados are the main economic engine of our state in terms of job creation and the economy,” he said. “My main challenge as a grower is to continue to export and continue to grow so I can generate employment for my community, but I am motivated by the challenge of making a good name for avocados from Michoacán. I am very proud to be Michoacáno.”

This article series is sponsored by the Avocado Institute of Mexico and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

Images courtesy of the Avocado Institute of Mexico

This story is part of From the Frontline, a guest-contributed column where we hear directly from climate justice advocates and those who are impacted by climate change. If you're interested in contributing your perspective to this column, please get in touch with us here. 

When U.S. President Joe Biden stepped up to deliver what might be his last State of the Union address last month, the growing partisan divide was hard to ignore. The indiscriminate impact of climate crises, as witnessed through record-breaking heatwaves, devastating wildfires and increased domestic climate migration, underscores that climate concerns transcend partisan lines. 

Despite the pressing nature of climate change, it often ranks lower on the list of priorities for voters globally, overshadowed by immediate economic concerns. However, here in the United States, a noteworthy shift is emerging within the conservative demographics, particularly among younger Republicans, who increasingly view climate change as a critical issue. 

This shift among younger conservatives and the consistent climate concerns from liberal voices presents an opportunity for both the Republican and Democratic parties. By working together across political and socioeconomic lines, we have an incredible chance to tackle the biggest environmental and economic challenges facing our nation.

The green transition isn’t partisan; it’s inevitable. As clean technologies become increasingly affordable and drive down costs, public and private investment in climate solutions will bring unprecedented economic benefits to red, blue and purple states. From creating well-paying green jobs to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and improving public health, these investments hold promise for creating a more resilient economy while reducing costly carbon emissions. 

Climate investments are set to skyrocket even further in 2024 with the rollout of substantial funds from the Inflation Reduction Act, like the $20 billion in climate finance awards the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced last week. These awards will increase access to financing for green projects for households and businesses in communities across the country. The initial $20 billion is expected to yield more than $250 billion in combined public and private investment over the next 10 years and create 1 million direct jobs, according to a recent study. This rapid growth will create a green market that lowers energy costs, bolsters economic development, and positions the U.S. as a global economic power. 

Despite the historic economic growth that’s on the horizon, the current polarized political landscape makes common ground increasingly difficult to find.

The looming contest for the White House between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump underscores this dilemma. While Biden's campaign resonated with young climate voters in 2020, the issue has since receded from the forefront of political discourse in 2024. And that’s not all that surprising. In an early poll of young voters, only 26 percent identified climate change as one of the top three issues on the ballot, while 53 percent were concerned about the cost of living and inflation. 

However, it’s important to note that the environment and the economy go hand in hand. For young voters on both sides of the aisle, there is a vital opportunity for Democrats to educate voters about the economic opportunity that an inclusive green economy will provide, especially the imminent expansion of green bank financing. Republicans should also listen carefully to the unique concerns of green conservatives and remain curious and creative in evolving the Republican platform to be inclusive of climate issues. 

Businesses, local governments and families nationwide are showing an unprecedented appetite for climate solutions. Green technologies are now more cost-effective than fossil fuels, driving this demand. As the world continues to seek low- or zero-emission technologies, states across the political spectrum are attracting billions in clean energy and electric vehicle manufacturing, resulting in millions of new jobs. 

To ensure no one is left behind in the green transition, we need to bridge knowledge gaps, work across divisions and create a shared vision of a more equitable, sustainable future. Some communities have already started that difficult, critical work like Fresno, California.

Thanks to Inflation Reduction Act funding, diverse stakeholders in Fresno are working together to create a climate plan that reduces pollution, expands clean energy, and promotes economic growth. Representatives from both sides of the aisle and across sectors have a seat at the table to build a healthier, more sustainable roadmap for their community. As Republican Mayor of Fresno Jerry Dyer puts it, “During heat waves, Republicans and Democrats both sweat the same.”

This kind of deep, bipartisan collaboration is critical for communities like Fresno that are most impacted by climate change but least likely to be a part of the solutions. While environmental and economic injustice is often prevalent in communities of color, these same patterns of disparity are felt by poor rural communities in red states as well.

Republicans and Democrats alike need to uplift the concerns of their constituents that have been left unheard. They should also meaningfully engage communities to adequately advocate for their unique needs and address knowledge gaps. At all levels of government and across sectors, leaders should turn toward each other through unlikely partnerships and build the inclusive green economy our planet urgently needs and our communities rightly deserve. 

The opportunity for transformation doesn’t stop there, and the need for unity extends beyond Capitol Hill and our nation’s borders. In our families and communities, we should seek ways to bridge divides and find common ground on climate. This bipartisan approach to change-making is also needed at a global scale. At the 2023 United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28), participants from across the globe emphasized the critical role of cross-sector partnerships and collaborative innovation in meeting global climate goals. 

As a Latina climate justice activist with progressive values, I believe in the importance of working with unlikely allies to create sustainable change. We can embrace our collective experiences, safeguard our planet and pursue solutions that foster a fairer, more sustainable future. If we unite and seek common ground, 2024 can mark a significant leap forward in climate action.