Omega Center for Sustainable Living & Project Drawdown Join Forces to Catalyze Global Education Coalition to Reverse Global Warming by Year 2050

Landmark Gathering “Drawdown Learn” October 19-21, 2018, Marks First Event in Multiyear Commitment to Advance 100 Solutions

Rhinebeck, NY -- Last year findings were published from a group of 200 scientists and researchers with an unprecedented purpose: to map and model the 100 most effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, and to demonstrate how overall levels could begin to decline within three decades. This research was detailed in the New York Times bestseller Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, edited by Paul Hawken. Today the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) and Project Drawdown announced a multiyear commitment to Drawdown Learn, an initiative to develop tools, training, and curriculum that will apply the rich learning opportunities of Drawdown and its data.

“‘Drawdown’ is that point in time when atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases peak and decline on a year-to-year basis. When you set bigger goals, everything opens up. Omega shares that ethos—pursuing our potential, the best of who we as humans can be. This is a natural partnership to advance Drawdown Learn,” said Paul Hawken, author, activist, and executive director at Project Drawdown, based in Sausalito, California.

A key component of the work ahead will be to create structure and provide support for a growing network of educators, organizations, and communities that wish to integrate Drawdown Learn within K-12 and higher education, as well as cross-sector and community efforts. Working together with Project Drawdown, the OCSL is teaming up with dozens of partner organizations—including the New York Library Association, Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES Center for Environmental Education, the Northwest Earth Institute, and the Cloud Institute for Sustainability Education—to share learning and resources. Drawdown Learn’s inaugural gathering will take place October 19-21 on Omega’s Rhinebeck, New York, campus.   

“Project Drawdown is perhaps the most unexpected and hopeful development to date in the critical effort to reverse global warming,” said Laura Weiland, director of the OCSL. “There is great need to increase awareness and use of this vital information. Omega is excited to bring together early adopters of the Drawdown solutions from schools and communities to share knowledge, resources, and experience so we can accelerate the reversal of global warming.”

This 3-day collaborative event with the Project Drawdown leadership team will include interactive sessions throughout the weekend, including content designed for higher education, K-12, and community engagement. The event will begin with an in-depth overview of Project Drawdown by executive director Paul Hawken and colleagues that will be live-streamed for free on the evening of October 19th.

“Self-organized action is taking root worldwide—led by individuals and institutions as diverse as the Drawdown solutions themselves. What unites these growing efforts is a common goal, but also a common spirit of possibility,” said Katharine Wilkinson, vice president of communication and engagement at Project Drawdown and lead writer of Drawdown. “Educators may be humanity’s most effective self-organizers. Through our partnership with Omega, we hope to foster a broad network of schools, communities, and organizations—those teaching Drawdown and activating its blueprint of possibility.”

There are several ways organizations can participate and get involved:

·       Register as an event partner.

·       Attend in person with a team of your colleagues or others from your community.

·       Become a satellite site and host a remote viewing of the live stream.

·       Help spread the word about the gathering and event live stream.

·       Become an event sponsor.

Space is limited. Those wishing to attend in person should register early.

To learn more about the upcoming Drawdown Learn event, visit eOmega.org/Drawdown or call 800.944.1001. Join the conversation at Facebook.com/ProjectDrawdown and Facebook.com/Omega.OCSL

About Project Drawdown

Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organization and global coalition united by a singular goal: to reverse global warming. As a living research and communication initiative, Project Drawdown analyzes the potential of solutions already in hand, amplifies humanity’s ongoing efforts and collective wisdom, and advances the understanding, imagination, and conviction needed to reach drawdown. drawdown.org

About the Omega Center for Sustainable Living

Founded in 2009, the Omega Center for Sustainable Living (OCSL) originated as the first green building in America to achieve both LEED^® Platinum and Living Building Challenge^™ certification—the highest standards currently available in sustainable architecture. Located at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, in Rhinebeck, New York, the OCSL is an environmental leader, offering programs that teach the regenerative thinking and environmental practices modeled by the building. eOmega.org/OCSL