CONTACT: Julia Robey Christian, PIO, (202) 741-0842 desk, (202) 450-7878 cell, [email protected]
PARIS, FRANCE, December 4, 2015—With the UN climate change conference under way, a dozen teams of young innovators hailing from six continents will meet in Paris today to pitch technological and social innovations to counter climate change. The District of Columbia will be represented by a local team based out of George Washington University.
The young innovators, from countries as diverse as Australia, China, England, and Ethiopia, have been invited by a European Union climate innovation initiative, Climate-KIC, to pitch their ideas to investors at a special session in central Paris. Teams from 20 major cities participated in a 24-hour long “climathon” on June 18, 2015 to develop initial concepts.
The event was a joint effort by George Washington University and the DC’s Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE). Experts from both institutions coached teams from initial idea formation into feasible solutions to address climate change. DC’s team will present Raw Food Rescue, a logistics management public-private partnership focused on redistributing food resources to reduce food waste and divert emissions that contribute to climate change.
“This project is a great example of how one innovative solution can address multiple problems. Removing food from the waste stream reduces greenhouse gas emissions, lessens the need for waste hauling and disposal by the District, and gets fresh, healthy food to some of our most vulnerable residents,” said DOEE Director Tommy Wells. “This is exactly the kind of partnership we are working to develop at the agency as part of our sustainability plan, Sustainable DC.”
"Eliminating food waste not only reduces the burden on waste removal infrastructure and facilities, it also reduces carbon emissions and opens opportunities to those who need it” said team member and George Washington University student, Charlotte Dreizen. “Our solution facilitates the transfer of food previously designated for trash to be reclaimed from sources ranging from groceries to restaurants and conveniently connects it with food pantries and community centers.”
"GW and DOEE’s expertise and mentorship have been invaluable throughout this project. Tackling these issues is no simple task, but with stakeholders’ commitment and support, we have been able to validate our concept and further our model,” said team member Christina Bowman, who is representing the team at the final competition in Paris. The team also includes Shannon Kennedy and advisors Eleanor Davis, James Ingle, and Robin Daswani.
“There’s a real hunger to succeed and a desire to have impact that we have so far seen with the Climathon contestants. This highlights the unprecedented opportunity we have to create a prosperous zero carbon future, driven by innovation, jobs, and investment,” says Ebrahim Mohamed, Climate-KIC’s education director.