Bloomberg Green’s EV Ratings Guide, Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots, C40 Cities

BLOOMBERG GREEN’S EV RATINGS GUIDE

A couple of years ago, Bloomberg launched Bloomberg Green—dedicated to reporting on all things climate change, with a focus on tech and industry. This month, it launched Bloomberg Green’s Electric Vehicle Ratings.There used to be just Tesla and some other one-off models from brave ICE car makers. Today, dozens of EVs exist for the plucking. Given so many choices, it now makes sense to develop an EV ratings guide.

The guide does not rate an EVs carbon footprint. The reality is no EV is net zero. After all, car manufacturing is intensely carbon-negative, and post-purchase, where the car is operated determines how green it is, too. For example, EVs driven in cold climates are less efficient than in warmer weather. And if your electricity is generated from coal-fired or natural gas sources, your EV is still less green than if it’s charged from solar power or wind-derived electricity.

According to its website, Bloomberg Green decided instead to focus on “simplicity and equity”—developing an equation that was relatively easy to comprehend, quick to apply to current and forthcoming EVs, while also a tool for evenly applying the climate cost of EV ownership across all present and future models.

So, their “Green” model is based on two metrics: driving economy, which captures just how well a car uses its resources to get down the road, and battery size, which serves as a proxy for the carbon cost of actually making the vehicle. And why does this matter to us? Because I’m sure you want to know which EVs currently rank top five. At #5—the Tesla Model Y (of course); #4—the Chevy Bolt EV; #3 the Tesla Model S; #2 the Lucid Air; and #1—Tesla’s Model 3. 

If you’re curious how the formula was derived, check out the link in the Deeper Dive Section of this story at theclimate.org/episodes. 

DEEPER DIVE: Bloomberg Green EV Ratings, BG Methodology, Atlas Public Policy, Union of Concerned Scientists, BloombergNEF

JANE GOODALL INSTITUTE’S ROOTS & SHOOTS

According to legend, in 1991, local youth gathered on Jane Goodall’s front porch in Tanzania and expressed how they felt powerless against the problems in the world around them. As the students told stories and offered ideas, Jane realized the solution was right in front of them: their power to create change. The Roots & Shoots program was born.

Its mission is to empower young people to affect positive change in their communities. Roots & Shoots provides the resources to encourage and motivate young people to take action on issues that matter to them. The Roots & Shoots model focuses on employing the best practices in Service Learning to grow compassion and action in young changemakers. To do that R&S has a four step formula—get engaged about understanding issues in the youth’s community; observe one’s own community; take action by planning and implementing one’s project; and fourth, celebrate your project’s completion!

For youth, there’s a Roots & Shoots Toolkit, service learning plans, and even a “Projects-in-a-Box” section. Designed for folks uncertain on where to begin, “Projects-in-a-Box” offer ways to just do it. For educators there are online/at home learning resources, lesson plans and the opportunity for professional development. 

Why does Roots & Shoots matter to us? The Roots & Shoots Model and curriculum allows students and educators to guide both through the 4-Step Formula to identify projects, grow compassionate traits, and teach skills to cultivate a generation of changemakers inspired to take action like Dr. Jane Goodall. 

The organization claims the tools and support offered through the program empower youth in all 50 states and over 60 countries to use their voices and ideas to address the issues that matter most to them in their communities. It claims there are over 2,100 registered groups nationally encompassing over 63K youth.

DEEPER DIVE: Roots&Shoots, Jane Goodall Institute, Jane Goodall, Good for All News

C40 CITIES

The United States has the Climate Mayors. Climate Mayors is a bipartisan network of more than 470 U.S. mayors demonstrating climate leadership through meaningful actions in their communities. Representing 48 states and 74 million Americans, the Climate Mayors coalition reflects U.S. cities’ commitment to climate progress. 

And the rest of the world has C40 Cities. “It’s a global network of mayors taking urgent action to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone can thrive,” according to its website. Over 100 cities are members of C40. It was founded in 2005 by then London mayor Ken Livingstone. Originally, C40 was called the C20 in honor of the 18 other representatives of global megacities convened to cement an agreement to cooperatively reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

C40 operates by Raising Climate Ambition—supporting cities wanting to implement climate action plans consistent with the Paris Agreement target of 1.5 C ; Influencing the Global Agenda by creating new green jobs within an inclusive economy and offering career paths transitioning from high-carbon to decarbonized industries: also Building a Movement and Scaling Up Climate Ambition.

Why does C-40 matter to us, aside from the obvious need for cities to take charge of implementing plans to decarbonize, to help their citizens avoid the worst effects of climate change, build resilience and adaptation strategies? Its emphasis on bringing Youth into the equation. The C40 heard the call and created a Global Youth and Mayors forum. It’s a platform where both groups can collaborate to shape the vision of the Global Green New Deal, a key component of C40 Cities. 

During the 2021 forum, the forum produced the C40 Youth Engagement Playbook to help strengthen meaningful youth engagement in climate action in cities worldwide. The playbook is available in English, French, Mandarin, Portuguese and Spanish. Click on the links in the Deeper Dive Section of this story at theclimate.org/episodes to get your copy. 

DEEPER DIVE: C40, C40 Youth Playbook