Measuring What Matters: How Global Emissionairy is Helping DC Climate Week Walk the Talk
At DC Climate Week, we believe climate action must start with accountability—including our own. That’s why we partnered with Global Emissionairy, our official Carbon Solutions Partner, to rigorously analyze and mitigate the environmental footprint of the entire week. From attendee transportation and venue energy usage to vendor operations, catering, and logistics, Global Emissionairy is quantifying the full carbon impact of the week’s activities.
But measurement is just the beginning. Using this data, Global Emissionairy will contribute Verified Carbon Units (VCUs) from Recycling Roadways (VM0039)—an innovative carbon offset project that reclaims and recycles roadway materials, including the very streets many of us used to get to Climate Week. These VCUs not only reduce our net impact, but also symbolically root our climate commitment in the infrastructure that connects us.
In this guest post, Global Emissionairy shares their approach, key takeaways from this year’s analysis, and how carbon accountability can accelerate more sustainable events—and a more sustainable future.
Remember that incredible energy at DC's first Climate Week? That shared focus on deployment and the vital community we need to build around real, impactful change was truly inspiring. It was clear that the time for talk is over; the era of action is here.
Left to Right: Cameron Beckman, Ben Devine, Harold Green, David Antonioli, and Theo Brandon
We at Global Emissionairy felt that spirit deeply. For 50 years, our roots have been in paving – literally laying the groundwork for communities. But like many of you, we recognized the need for a profound shift in philosophy. Partnering with the forward-thinking minds at the University of Maryland (the nation's first net-neutral university!), we embarked on a mission: to address the embodied carbon and scale the reclamation of asphalt.
This mission is about tangible results: deploying real, large-scale U.S. carbon solutions that provide significant offsets. Through rigorous life-cycle analyses and environmental product declarations, we've developed solutions like our roadway reclamation methodology, VM0039. Think about it: transforming how we rebuild critical U.S. infrastructure generates significant carbon credits. These credits empower companies to mitigate emissions that their own insetting efforts can't yet cover, helping them achieve their climate goals while supporting the very fabric of our nation.
The power of carbon finance is a critical, proven tool to accelerate this transition – a point underscored by David Antonioli, former CEO of Verra and our current strategic advisor, during a panel at the Urban Development Hub. It’s what helps bridge the gap between innovative ideas and on-the-ground deployment.
Consider this: reclaiming just 100 miles of a two-lane roadway using advanced methods can mitigate approximately 20,000 tonnes of emissions. That's a tangible impact. Carbon finance for these verified credits helps cover the real-world costs of deploying more of the right equipment, moving us away from reliance on virgin asphalt and bitumen and their associated pollutants from extraction and processing. It’s about making the sustainable choice the smart economic choice.
Global Emissionairy is on a quest for a sustained future, driven by the same realization that brought so many of us together at DC Climate Week: we need all the solutions, and we need to scale them with measurable, verified impact. The path to a cooler planet is paved with innovation, collaboration, and the courage to deploy.
Let's keep the momentum going!
Do you have a potential carbon project in mind, or need expert support with Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs)? We'd love to connect and explore how we can help. Email theo@globalemissionairy.com
Want to follow our journey? We'd love for you to join our community as we continue to develop and deploy solutions for a more sustainable world. Follow Global Emissionairy on LinkedIn
Let's continue to build, innovate, and deploy – together.
Warmly,
The Team at Global Emissionairy