National Co+op Grocers and nearly 30 partners within the natural/organic foods industry have made a $143,575 contribution to Project Drawdown, a nonprofit coalition that brings people together from 22 countries and six continents to identify climate solutions and catalyze worldwide action to bring those solutions to scale.

Project Drawdown—which recently released Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming—features scientists, policy makers, advocates and others from across the globe who are working together in international partnership to disseminate rigorously researched information about real world climate solutions that “draw down” carbon from the atmosphere, restore balance to Earth’s natural carbon cycle and show practical promise for reversing global warming. To support this important work, NCG selected Project Drawdown as the 2017 Co+nvergence fundraising beneficiary, contributing an initial $65,000 and together with its industry partners raising the full $143,575.

Co+nvergence is NCG’s annual grocery and wellness conference, held July 17–20 in St. Paul, Minn. More than 350 retail food co-op grocery and wellness buyers attended, joined by nearly 600 representatives from natural and organic grocery and wellness companies. The theme for this year’s conference was “Growing Our Impact.”

The funds raised will support Project Drawdown’s ongoing research fellowship program; future development of school curriculums based on the Next Generation Science Standards to inform and inspire K–12 students; and collaboration with the Commonwealth of Nations, which has adopted Drawdown as a template for its ongoing work to reverse global warming through regenerative development.

“Co+nvergence brings together stakeholders from throughout our supply chain to learn and engage on big picture issues, like climate change, where we can work together to grow our impact,” said Robynn Shrader, chief executive officer, NCG. “We are honored to have the opportunity to connect co-op staff with Project Drawdown’s positive message about real world solutions to global warming, and in turn, support its work to reverse it, empowering everyone from students to world leaders to take action.”

“There has never been a more urgent time to deploy global solutions to bring carbon dioxide gases back home to Earth,” said Paul Hawken, executive director, Project Drawdown. “We are grateful to NCG and the natural/organic business community for this vital financial contribution, which will enable us to collaborate with more individuals and organizations to take part in Project Drawdown’s mission.” 

In addition to spearheading Project Drawdown, Hawken also serves as an advisor for the Climate Collaborative, of which NCG is an active member and major sponsor.

NCG extends its appreciation to all Co+nvergence sponsors, including Nature’s Path, which donated $15,000 in matching funds as part of its commitment to sustainability. Donating partners included:

Ancient Nutrition

Attune Foods

Bascom Family Farms

California Olive Ranch

Country Life Vitamins

CV Sciences

Feel Good Foods

Fig Food Company, LLC

Five Star Organics, dba OCHO Candy

Frontier Co-op

Hiball Energy

Justin’s LLC

KeVita

Kite-Hill

Lotus Foods

Luna & Larry’s Coconut Bliss

Lundberg Family Farms

Nature’s Path

New Barn

Nutraceutical

Redwood Hill Farm/Green Valley Organics

Once Again Nut Butter Collective

Oregon’s Wild Harvest

ORGANIC INDIA

Rebel Green

Ripple Foods PBC

RX Bar

Sky Valley Foods

Source: National Co+op Grocers