The Net-Zero Challenge: Fast-Forward to Decisive Climate Action

The Net-Zero Challenge: Fast-Forward to Decisive Climate Action (image via World Economic Forum)

The World Economic Forum (WEF), in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), recently released a report that examines the current state of climate action by companies and governments and provides insights about the actions that corporations, governments, and civil society can take now, both collectively and individually, to limit global warming. 

The report, which will be presented at the WEF annual meeting in Davos-Klosters, is titled, The Net Zero Challenge, in recognition of the need to move to net-zero emissions globally by 2050.

The year 2020 marks the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement, which committed world leaders to limiting global warming to well below 2°C. However, greenhouse gas emissions have continued to rise at a rate of 1.5% per annum over the past decade. A reduction of >5% per annum is now needed through 2030 to limit the worst impacts of global warming and net-zero carbon emissions must be reached by 2050.

Business and Investors Should Accelerate Action—in Their Own Interest

All 20-plus CEOs and 14 climate experts who were interviewed for the report highlighted the need to accelerate climate action—both as a moral imperative and as a business opportunity. The analysis, based on the responses of nearly 7,000 companies to the CDP climate questionnaire, shows that not enough is being done by companies today, with only a small minority disclosing their emissions and even fewer setting any kind of emission reduction target.

The Net Zero Challenge examines the ways in which climate action can be seen as a source of competitive advantage for companies—as a means of reducing costs by increasing efficiency, fulfilling the needs of increasingly climate-conscious customers, and attracting the best possible talent. It emphasizes that businesses should be accelerating efforts to reduce the carbon intensity of their operations and that of their supply chains, to manage their climate-related investment risks, and to innovate to refocus their business models for growth in a decarbonized world.

The report shows how investors, too, need to play a pivotal role in triggering and facilitating climate action, as they have an inherent interest to "de-risk" the terminal value of their investments by pushing for more transparency and disclosure and by supporting longer-term corporate decarbonization plans.

Where financial or structural barriers prevent businesses from moving forward, ecosystem initiatives can enable collaboration among industry peers or along value chains to provide risk-sharing mechanisms and help accelerate the speed and scale of change.

"A Paris-compatible pathway implies a significant, sometimes existential, transformation for many companies. Innovation is needed, and many businesses can look for growth in new markets for lower-carbon products and services," said Cornelius Pieper, a BCG partner and coleader of the firm's Center for Climate Action.

A Call for Unilateral Government Action and Individual Leadership

Progress among policymakers has been limited to date. While 121 countries now have an ambition to be carbon-neutral by 2050, they together account for less than 25% of global emissions. None is among the top five emitters, and very few have enacted policies that are robust enough to produce the desired effects.

The report calls for accelerated unilateral policy action from governments to set the context needed for companies to decarbonize, such as by implementing carbon pricing and other sector-specific regulations and incentives.

"The good news is that governments can act unilaterally to reduce emissions, as many countries can benefit economically from carbon abatement investments. What is needed is an ambitious policy context that includes a meaningful carbon price, supported by incentives and other measures," said Patrick Herhold, a BCG partner and coleader of the Center for Climate Action.

The report also stresses that educated voters and consumers are a crucial enabler of the low-carbon transition - better information is needed across all channels about what it will take to achieve net-zero emissions, and communications need to focus on solutions and the benefits of change.

We each have a responsibility to deliver a safer world as leaders in business and in policy, and as parents.

"Climate action is still too often perceived as a cost or a tradeoff with other priorities," said Michel Fredeau, a BCG senior partner and leader of the firm's work in climate and the environment. "It should be viewed as an opportunity for businesses, countries, and individuals to create an advantage in building a better, more sustainable world."

The Net Zero Challenge concludes with actions that companies, governments, investors, and individuals can take to start reducing emissions in 2020.

The Net-Zero Challenge: Fast-Forward to Decisive Climate Action 

• A copy of the report can be downloaded here..

SOURCE: Boston Consulting Group (BCG)

Related Stories:

• Burning Planet: Climate Fires and Political Flame Wars Rage [Video Included]
• What Boris Johnson's Government Needs To Do To Show It Is Serious On Climate Change
• Ways We Can All Live More Sustainably To Benefit The Environment
• 2050 Is Too Late – We Must Drastically Cut Carbon Emissions Much Sooner

Space Mission Names Embody Chinese Romanticism [Video Included]

Space Mission Names Embody Chinese Romanticism (screengrab)

The following is a news report by China Mosaic on the background stories of China's space mission names:

"Over the past few months, China's aerospace industry has witnessed many landmark events.

Apart from celebrating these scientific achievements and milestones, the public has also developed a growing interest in the missions' unique names, of which many are derived from China's myths and legends.

Here are some examples. China's spacecrafts are called Shenzhou. This literally means "heavenly ship" in Chinese, and is also a homonym for the Chinese words "divine land," which is a term used in literary works to refer to the country. China's moon exploration project and its lunar probe, which made the first-ever soft landing on the far side of the moon, are both named after a Chinese goddess of the moon, Chang'e. According to ancient legends, the goddess lived in solitude on the moon with a rabbit, known as Yutu. In 2013, the Chang'e-3 lunar probe landed on the moon and was carried around by a lunar rover called Yutu. The two names perfectly match the legend of the moon fairy and her pet.

Space Mission Names Embody Chinese Romanticism (screengrab)

In another example, the relay satellite for the Chang'e-4 moon exploration mission is called Queqiao, or "magpie bridge." The magpie bridge, in a Chinese folk tale, was formed by millions of magpies, so that a separated couple could meet each other despite the Milky Way. Likewise, the Queqiao relay satellite serves as a "space-bridge" for communication between the moon and the earth.

Space Mission Names Embody Chinese Romanticism (screengrab)

China's dark matter probe satellite, Wukong got its name through public solicitation. It was launched in 2015, and was named after the Monkey King (Wukong) from the classical Chinese novel "Journey to the West." This is because people hoped the probe could find dark matter in the vast reaches of space just like Wukong's "eyes of fire" from which nothing escapes.

Chinese people's aspiration to the universe dated back to ancient times. Besides typical Chinese poetry demonstrating their curiosity for the great and beyond, some even tried to explore. Lu Ban, a great inventor living in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC), made a flying bamboo bird, and Wan Hu, a legendary official in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), tried to shoot himself into space with a crude rocket.

On the one hand, Chinese people spared no effort to explore the laws of planetary motions to develop their lunar calendar. On the other hand, the ancient Chinese were also perplexed by the mysteries of space so they created many myths and legends, such as "Kuafu Chases the Sun," to explain phenomena that they could not explain. These traditional stories have become the source of inspiration for Chinese scientists in the naming of major space missions.

The famous spacecrafts and rovers built by the United States include the Challenger, the Opportunity and the Spirit, whose names reflect a positive and enterprising spirit. This is quite unlike how the Chinese name their spacecrafts, which reflects the Chinese people's sense of romance and awe for space as well as their efforts to pass down traditional culture and their ancestors' spirit of scientific discovery. Nevertheless, all these names, Chinese or foreign, showcase the dreams of humankind and our collective pursuit to discover the secrets of space.

We mentioned in a previous episode that when Apollo 11 prepared to land on the moon, the control center on earth told the astronauts onboard to "watch for a lovely girl with a big rabbit," which refers to Chang'e and her rabbit Yutu. With the stellar progress of China's aerospace industry, more and more Chinese stories embodying Chinese romanticism will be shown to the world."

The Video:

SOURCE: China.org.cn

Burning Planet: Climate Fires and Political Flame Wars Rage [Video Included]

Social instability - as seen in Hong Kong SAR - is one of the top-10 risks as identified by business leaders (image via World Economic Forum)

Economic and political polarization will rise this year, as collaboration between world leaders, businesses and policy-makers is needed more than ever to stop severe threats to our climate, environment, public health and technology systems. This points to a clear need for a multistakeholder approach to mitigating risk at a time when the world cannot wait for the fog of geopolitical disorder to lift. These are the findings of the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2020, published today. 

The report forecasts a year of increased domestic and international divisions and economic slowdown. Geopolitical turbulence is propelling us towards an "unsettled" unilateral world of great power rivalries at a time when business and government leaders must focus urgently on working together to tackle shared risks.

Over 750 global experts and decision-makers were asked to rank their biggest concerns in terms of likelihood and impact and 78% said they expect "economic confrontations" and "domestic political polarization" to rise in 2020.

This would prove catastrophic, particularly for addressing urgent challenges like the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and record species decline. The report, produced in partnership with Marsh & McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group, points to a need for policy-makers to match targets for protecting the Earth with ones for boosting economies – and for companies to avoid the risks of potentially disastrous future losses by adjusting to science-based targets.

For the first time in the survey's 10-year outlook, the top five global risks in terms of likelihood are all environmental. The report sounds the alarm on:

1. Extreme weather events with major damage to property, infrastructure and loss of human life.
2. Failure of climate-change mitigation and adaptation by governments and businesses.
3. Human-made environmental damage and disasters, including environmental crime, such as oil spills, and radioactive contamination.
4. Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse (terrestrial or marine) with irreversible consequences for the environment, resulting in severely depleted resources for humankind as well as industries.
5. Major natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and geomagnetic storms.

It adds that unless stakeholders adapt to "today's epochal power-shift" and geopolitical turbulence – while still preparing for the future – time will run out to address some of the most pressing economic, environmental and technological challenges. This signals where action by business and policy-makers is most needed.

Burning Planet: Climate Fires and Political Flame Wars Rage (screengrab)

"The political landscape is polarized, sea levels are rising and climate fires are burning. This is the year when world leaders must work with all sectors of society to repair and reinvigorate our systems of cooperation, not just for short-term benefit but for tackling our deep-rooted risks," said Borge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum.

The Global Risks Report is part of the Global Risks Initiative which brings stakeholders together to develop sustainable, integrated solutions to the world's most pressing challenges.

Systems-level thinking is required to confront looming geopolitical and environmental risks, and threats that may otherwise fall under the radar. This year's report focuses explicitly on impacts from rising inequality, gaps in technology governance, and health systems under pressure.

John Drzik, Chairman of Marsh & McLennan Insights, said: "There is mounting pressure on companies from investors, regulators, customers, and employees to demonstrate their resilience to rising climate volatility. Scientific advances mean that climate risks can now be modeled with greater accuracy and incorporated into risk management and business plans. High profile events, like recent wildfires in Australia and California, are adding pressure on companies to take action on climate risk at a time when they also face greater geopolitical and cyber risk challenges."

To younger generations, the state of the planet is even more alarming. The report highlights how risks are seen by those born after 1980. They ranked environmental risks higher than other respondents, in the short- and long- terms. Almost 90% of these respondents believe "extreme heat waves", "destruction of ecosystems" and "health impacted by pollution" will be aggravated in 2020; compared to 77%, 76% and 67% respectively for other generations. They also believe that the impact from environmental risks by 2030 will be more catastrophic and more likely.

Burning Planet: Climate Fires and Political Flame Wars Rage (screengrab)

Human activity has already caused the loss of 83% of all wild mammals and half of plants – which underpin our food and health systems. Peter Giger, Group Chief Risk Officer, Zurich Insurance Group warned of the urgent need to adapt faster to avoid the worst and irreversible impacts of climate change and to do more to protect the planet's biodiversity:

"Biologically diverse ecosystems capture vast amounts of carbon and provide massive economic benefits that are estimated at $33 trillion per year – the equivalent to the GDP of the US and China combined. It's critical that companies and policy-makers move faster to transition to a low carbon economy and more sustainable business models. We are already seeing companies destroyed by failing to align their strategies to shifts in policy and customer preferences. Transition risks are real, and everyone must play their part to mitigate them. It's not just an economic imperative, it is simply the right thing to do," he said.

• The Global Risks Report 2020 has been developed with the invaluable support of the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Advisory Board. It also benefits from ongoing collaboration with its Strategic Partners Marsh & McLennan and Zurich Insurance Group and its academic advisers at the Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford), the National University of Singapore and the Wharton Risk Management and Decision Processes Center (University of Pennsylvania).

Annex

Respondents were asked to assess: (1) the likelihood of a global risk occurring over the course of the next 10 years, and (2) the severity of its impact at a global level if it were to occur.

These are the top 5 risks by likelihood over the next 10 years:

1. Extreme weather events (e.g. floods, storms, etc.)
2. Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation
3. Major natural disasters (e.g. earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, geomagnetic storms)
4. Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
5. Human-made environmental damage and disasters

These are the top 5 risks by severity of impact over the next 10 years:

1. Failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation
2. Weapons of mass destruction
3. Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse
4. Extreme weather events (e.g. floods, storms, etc.)
5. Water crises

Global risks are not isolated, and so respondents were asked to assess the interconnections between pairs of global risks.

These are the top most strongly connected global risks:

1. Extreme weather events + failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation
2. Large-scale cyberattacks + breakdown of critical information infrastructure and networks
3. High structural unemployment or underemployment + adverse consequences of technological advances
4. Major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse + failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation
5. Food crises + extreme weather events

Short-term risks: percentage of respondents who think a risk will increase in 2020:

1. Economic confrontations = 78.5%
2. Domestic political polarization = 78.4%
3. Extreme heat waves = 77.1%
4. Destruction of natural resource ecosystems = 76.2%
5. Cyberattacks: infrastructure = 76.1%

The World Economic Forum, committed to improving the state of the world, is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

The Forum engages the foremost political, business and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas

SOURCE: Marsh

Heineken Unveils "No Time To Die" TV Commercial Starring Daniel Craig

Daniel Craig features in the latest Heineken Ad in the lead up to James Bond’s No Time To Die

Heineken has launched its latest James Bond TV commercial featuring Daniel Craig. The launch comes ahead of the April release of the 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die. 

The TV commercial, which will be shown in over 75 countries, gives a fresh perspective on Daniel Craig's iconic portrayal of James Bond. Focusing on the premise that Daniel Craig will always be James Bond in the eyes of fans around the world. 

Daniel Craig features in the latest Heineken Ad in the lead up to James Bond’s No Time To Die (Screeengrab)

• Watch the new commercial here.

Starting with a high-speed taxi sequence, Daniel Craig is constantly recognised as James Bond by surprised locals as he hunts down his missing passport, before enjoying a cold refreshing Heineken. The new commercial launches worldwide today.

Gianluca Di Tondo, Senior Director, Global Heineken Brand said; "Heineken has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the James Bond franchise for over two decades, covering the last eight films. Ahead of the release of No Time To Die, we wanted to bring a twist to the iconic character and show how Bond lives beyond the film – as we believe, once James Bond, always James Bond. In addition, as we do with our other partnerships such as UEFA Champions League and Formula One, we have developed a dedicated Heineken 0.0% element to the campaign. This part of the campaign, as well as outlining the consumer choice available in our portfolio, has already created significant media debate." 

Daniel Craig features in the latest Heineken Ad in the lead up to James Bond’s No Time To Die (Screeengrab)

• Watch the Heineken 0.0% content here.

In addition to the commercial, which can be viewed on TV, online and across social media, Heineken is also activating consumer promotions as well as limited edition packaging.

James Bond - No Time To Die (image via IMDb)

No Time To Die, is the twenty-fifth James Bond film from EON Productions and will be released globally from April 2, 2020 in the U.K. through Universal Pictures International and in the U.S on April 10, from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios via their United Artists Releasing banner.

More About James Bond - No Time To Die:

(via Wikipedia)

Some time after the capture of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, James Bond has left active service. He is approached by Felix Leiter, his friend and a CIA officer, who enlists his help in the search for a missing scientist. When it becomes apparent that the scientist was abducted, Bond must confront a danger the likes of which the world has never seen before...

SOURCE: HEINEKEN

New Patent To Transform Entertainment Industry -- Holograms Can Now Move Into Restaurants, Private Events And Our Homes

Donald Spector, Inventor

WorldIPI.com President Lisa Pamintuan announced patent #10,536,496 has been issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office to Donald Spector, one of the world's most prolific inventors.

"Spector has opened several billion-dollar industries in the past and we believe this addition to our world class patent portfolios will change the landscape of the entertainment industry forever. With lower cost and our new patented holographic streaming system, the equipment can be set up in venues as small as a restaurant or home and broadcast visuals and sounds indistinguishable from live entertainment! Previously holography has been used in large scale auditoriums and concert venues. Our patents will now allow streaming holography to go mainstream."

Gary Salzman, President of Big Management says, "I've seen this technology in action and it's absolutely amazing. This is truly the future."

"The entertainment industry and the public have been waiting to see and do more with Holography. Audiences love holograms that they have seen at concerts and trade shows throughout the world. With HoloRama, our new technology, the audience will not know what is live or what is a hologram until sets come alive, acts appear and disappear and dancers pop out of thin air," Lisa Pamintuan explained.

"HoloRama can do the impossible for artists and producers; it can have higher production value at venues of all sizes with lower costs, and be indistinguishable from reality. Our newer patents now are being developed for one of the fastest growing fields at the juncture of sports and entertainment, E-Sports."

Donald Spector added, "Having been an executive producer on Broadway, the excitement of working with this new venture is the most exciting of my life. Live events are great, but they have not been able to compete with the higher production value of movies. This technology gives the best of both. The economics of having a superstar perform at private events has been reserved for the super-rich or large corporations. This technology provides world class entertainment by allowing headliner acts to perform almost live in intimate venues and gives the audience a close-up experience with their favorite artist. The general public can now afford to pay for a star to perform in HoloRama at almost any social event including weddings, birthdays and anniversaries."

Hologram Records will be selecting artists to be featured on its tours that can perform around the world simultaneously. Hologram Records will also be producing synthetic acts.

Additionally, this new technology will be able to offer holograms of special effects like waterfalls, giant pop out cakes and Christmas trees in HoloRama as indistinguishable new screen savers, when not being used for performances. Karaoke will change as singers will be able to have famous singers perform with them at parties and nightclubs.

• The company is planning a virtual traveling pop up tent circus that can set up at county fairs and events everywhere.

SOURCE: WorldIPI.com

How To Take Your Medical Career To The Next Level

How To Take Your Medical Career To The Next Level (image via Pexels)

If you work in medicine, you possibly have one of the hardest, yet most satisfying careers on the planet. Whether you are a doctor, nurse, or a background hero that works in a laboratory, you play an integral role in the lives of so many people.

While you may have a certain degree of career satisfaction, it may also be the case that you continuously strive for betterment. In this post, we are going to look at some of the best things you can do if you would like to take your medical career to a brand new level.

When Is The Right Time To Advance?

One of the most commonly asked questions in every career path is when is the right time to expect to advance, and the answer isn’t a clear cut as most people think.

The truth is, when you are ready to advance, it will generally be a natural thing unless you purposely hold yourself back. If you reach a stage in your career where you know that it’s time for you to move up the ladder, then don’t be afraid to approach the right people and ask the question.

If the people you approach agree with you, then you’ll get that promotion; if they don’t, then ask them what you need to do to achieve your goal.

Advancing Your Medical Career

When it comes to developing your career, it can often be challenging, but one career path that can be easier than others to climb the ladder in is healthcare. While most people may presume it is, in fact, a lot harder to advance in the medical world, providing you take the right steps, you can’t really go wrong.

The first thing when it comes to managing your career mobility is that you will always need to be improving your knowledge base in the world of medicine. No matter what part of the healthcare system you find yourself in, there will always be a course, certification, or some level of training that is out there that will help you get onto the next rung of the ladder.

As somebody that works in healthcare, it will matter not whether you are support staff or a doctor; the path to progression will always be the same. The path involves requirements being put in front of you, and then you meet these requirements so you can achieve the promotion you desire.

Medical Advancement Time Frame

While we briefly touched on time frames earlier, this section is going to help squash the myth that in the medical world, you can only achieve a certain goal after a specific amount of time.

The truth is, if you take the requirements that are expected of you and you manage to complete them in a shorter time frame than expected, you can go through the processes to advance at the very moment you are ready.

With most roles in healthcare, the process that is laid out will involve a few things. So, you should notice that you may have to complete a portfolio, a verification and then you will also have to undergo an interview with your employer to ensure that your knowledge base will suit your advanced role.

If you are confident that you will be able to complete all of these with ease, then getting started towards your promotion can be as easy as speaking to your medical training officer and asking to get started.

Why Is It Important To Advance?

If you work in the medical world, you will often find that you are there because of your desire to help people. While this may be your primary focus when working in healthcare, you will often find that you want to do more and achieve more the longer you work in the industry.

Also, why you may be driven by your love of people and your compassionate nature, these things alone cannot take care of your bills. So, if you really want to thrive in the healthcare industry, you need to put as much focus as you can on climbing the ladder in your selected role.

When it comes to your role, you will find that there will be much in the way of opportunity, and you will never really have to lose the ability to do your primary job role. So, if you plan to work in healthcare on a long term basis, from the outset, you should be looking at how you can advance and what steps you will need to take to make this career, one for life.

AARP The Magazine Celebrates 19th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards in Los Angeles

(L-R) Don Johnson, Adam Sandler, and Jamie Lee Curtis attend AARP The Magazine's 19th Annual Movies For Grownups Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for AARP)

AARP The Magazine's 19th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards were held Saturday night at the Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, celebrating 2019's standout films with unique appeal to moviegoers 50+ and recognizing the inspiring artists who make them. 

For nearly two decades, AARP's Movies for Grownups program has championed movies for grownups, by grownups, by advocating for the 50-plus audience, fighting industry ageism, and encouraging films that resonate with older viewers. 

Host Tony Danza speaks onstage during AARP The Magazine's 19th Annual Movies For Grownups Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AARP)

Hosted by iconic screen and stage performer Tony Danza, the star-studded awards ceremony included a touching tribute to Career Achievement Award honoree, Annette Bening. Bening spoke about the power of shared purpose, vulnerability and comraderie in filmmaking as Tinseltown's elite turned out to laud her.

Annette Bening accepts Career Achievement onstage during AARP The Magazine's 19th Annual Movies For Grownups Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AARP)

Other highlights of the evening included a special appearance by Diane Ladd, who presented Best Supporting Actress award to daughter Laura Dern for her performance in "Marriage Story," returning a gesture daughter gave to mom at MFG four years ago. Rock and pop legend Linda Ronstadt earned a prolonged standing ovation for Best Documentary, "Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice," presented by her friend of three-plus decades Maria Muldaur. Conan O'Brien hilariously cut down Adam Sandler, as the "desperate" Best Actor awardee descended on the stage before O'Brien could finish talking up Sandler's performance in "Uncut Gems." And Finn Wittrock presented the Best Actress award to Renée Zellweger for portraying "Judy" 80 years after Garland starred in "The Wizard of Oz."

Martin Scorsese (R) accepts Best Director for 'The Irishman' from Juliette Lewis onstage during AARP The Magazine's 19th Annual Movies For Grownups Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AARP)

• The Awards ceremony will be broadcast by Great Performances for the third consecutive year on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020, at 6 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), and will be available to stream the following day on pbs.org/moviesforgrownups and the PBS Video app.

Linda Ronstadt (R) accepts Best Documentary for 'Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice' from Maria Muldaur onstage during AARP The Magazine's 19th Annual Movies For Grownups Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on January 11, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for AARP)

The complete list of the 19th Annual Movies for Grownups Awards Winners:

• Career Achievement: Annette Bening
• Best Picture/Best Movie for Grownups: The Irishman
• Best Actress: Renée Zellweger (Judy)
• Best Actor: Adam Sandler (Uncut Gems)
• Best Supporting Actress: Laura Dern (Marriage Story)
• Best Supporting Actor: Tom Hanks (A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood)
• Best Director: Martin Scorsese (The Irishman)
• Best Screenwriter: Noah Baumbach (Marriage Story)
• Best Ensemble: Knives Out
• Best Intergenerational Film: The Farewell
• Best Foreign Language Film: Pain & Glory (Spain)
• Readers' Choice: A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
• Best Time Capsule: Harriet

Consumer Cellular is proud to be the presenting sponsor for the Movies for Grownups Awards. Event proceeds benefit AARP Foundation, which works to end senior poverty by helping vulnerable older adults, in Los Angeles and across the country, build economic opportunity and social connectedness.

About Movies for Grownups:

AARP's Movies for Grownups advocates for the 50-plus audience by fighting ageism in the entertainment industry and encouraging films that resonate with older viewers. With weekly news and reviews, nationwide screenings and an annual awards event, AARP champions movies for grownups, by grownups.

• For more information go to aarp.org/moviesforgrownups

About Great Performances:

Great Performances is produced by THIRTEEN PRODUCTIONS LLC for WNET. Throughout its more than 40-year history on public television, Great Performances has provided viewers across the country with an unparalleled showcase of the best in all genres of the performing arts, serving as America's most prestigious and enduring broadcaster of cultural programming.

About AARP The Magazine's Movies For Grownups Awards' Philanthropic Goals:

The annual Movies for Grownups Awards raises funds for AARP Foundation, AARP's affiliated charity, which helps vulnerable older adults around the country transform their lives through programs, services and vigorous legal advocacy. AARP Foundation works to increase economic opportunity and social connections to prevent and reduce senior poverty.

About AARP:

AARP is the nation's largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With a nationwide presence and nearly 38 million members, AARP strengthens communities and advocates for what matters most to families: health security, financial stability and personal fulfillment. 

AARP also produces the nation's largest circulation publications: AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin.

SOURCE: AARP

DHL to Host Jessica Minh Anh's Sustainable Catwalk at the JFK International Airport in New York [Preview Video Included]

Jessica Minh Anh chose DHL facility for the iconic J Winter Fashion Show 2020 (PRNewsfoto/DHL)

Fashion show producer and supermodel Jessica Minh Anh will make history with the first ever catwalk centered on the globally sustainable supply chain.

Powered by DHL Express U.S., J Winter Fashion Show 2020 will premiere the most exquisite fashion collections, while highlighting the modern upcycling and delivery process in a creative and sustainable way. 

• Part of Jessica's iconic Fashion x Sustainability series, the high-profile event will be held February 6 at the DHL Express John F. Kennedy Gateway and follows the international successes of previous enviro-fashion phenomena atop Hoover Dam, Gemasolar power plant, and the Race For Water solar-wind-hydro powered vessel.

"Since shipping and logistics is such a big part of the fashion industry, I believe it is crucial to minimize environmental impacts by using green logistics solutions. What drew me to DHL is its great commitment to sustainability. From optimizing transport routes and rolling out alternative fuel vehicles, to operating energy efficient warehouses, DHL is reducing transport related CO2 emissions. It is important for me to partner with a company that prioritizes the health of our planet," said Jessica Minh Anh.

In preparation for the grand outdoor catwalk, Jessica Minh Anh visited DHL facilities and met with top executives at John F. Kennedy airport earlier this week to outline the vision of the show. The fashion icon also modeled exclusive haute couture designs by Rami Kadi, Kujta & Meri, Pnina Tornai, VUNGOC&SON, Ella Gafter and Cristina Sabatini against the epic backdrop. No stranger to mind-blowing catwalks at the most challenging locations, Jessica will not only present innovative fashion and luxury collections, but also explore how fashion and the global supply chain can be more sustainable. Like her previous iconic productions, J Winter Fashion Show 2020 will celebrate diversity, unity, creativity and sustainability alongside fashion from Europe, Asia, Australia, and America. 

Jessica Minh Anh

"We are very excited to join forces with Jessica Minh Anh in this historic project," said Reiner Wolfs, Vice President and General Manager, Northeast Area, DHL Express U.S. "Her powerful message of motivating the younger generation to take action for a better future aligns perfectly with our vision for zero emission logistics."

The official list of participating fashion houses will be revealed closer to the show. With an environmentally conscious approach, Jessica has selected official partners who put sustainability as a priority, including IWG's brand Spaces, Veestro, Warren Tricomi, scheimpflüg, Cream Ridgewood, Tone House, and Gotham Hotel among others.

A TEDx keynote speaker and a representative of the environmentally engaged younger generation, Jessica's passion cuts to the heart of the global challenge, making sustainable living a lifestyle choice. More than a modern fashion statement, J Winter Fashion Show 2020 will stimulate a global conversation about sustainability triggered by a unique and visually impressive experience. 

Jessica Minh Anh - Fashion x Sustainability

SOURCE: DHL

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On the 81st Anniversary of the Most-Watched Movie of All Time, 1500 Students in 24 School Districts Produced The Wizard of Oz, as an Animated Movie

To celebrate the 81st anniversary of The Wizard of Oz 523 students at the Wilder School District in Idaho collaborated with Wonder Media to produce an animated adaptation of the most popular movie of all time. It's called the The WonderGrove Wizard of Oz and it's the first feature length animated movie made by kids.

To celebrate the 81st anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, the nation's top EdTech studio, Wonder Media has collaborated with school districts nationwide to produce an animated adaptation of the most popular movie of all time. It's calledThe WonderGrove Wizard of Oz.

The script was divided into 27 sequences and sent out to the 172 school districts nationwide that use the Story Maker animation production tool in their classrooms. Twenty-four school districts in 10 states came on board to work collaboratively on this feature length film.

Story Maker is a project-based teaching tool that was co-created by Terry Thoren, the former CEO of Klasky Csupo, Inc the company that produced The Simpsons, Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys. 

To celebrate the 81st anniversary of The Wizard of Oz Wonder Media collaborated with 24 school districts in 10 states to produce an animated adaptation of the most popular movie of all time. It's called the The WonderGrove Wizard of Oz and it's the first feature length animated movie made by kids.

• Story Maker was created based on research about "Phenomenon Based Learning." Students are more engaged in the learning of a phenomenon when it comes from the real world and is relevant to their daily lives. 

The participating students wrote scripts, drew storyboards, cast their fellow students into the character roles, acted each role, recorded the voices, sang and recorded the songs, and used their own drawings to create beautiful backgrounds. What began as a dream, culminated with a national premiere at the famed Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. 

"Animation is the most popular form of entertainment in the world. Educators are discovering that students who have a difficult time applying themselves to formal teaching methods are blossoming with the use of Story Maker," said CEO of Wonder Media, Terry Thoren. "Students are learning authentic life skills like communication, collaboration, compromise, critical thinking and team building. It is a joy to watch classrooms come alive with enthusiasm."

Local premieres of each school's interpretation of Oz will take place in 24 cities throughout the nation including: Dallas, Texas; Chicago, Illinois; Long Island, New York; Lancaster, California; Boise, Idaho; Columbus, Mississippi; Wilson County, Tennessee and Ballard, Iowa.

SOURCE: Wonder Media

Warner Bros. To Open First Ever Harry Potter Flagship Store In New York

Harry Potter New York Flagship - Concept

Warner Bros. today announced that it will open the first official Harry Potter flagship store in the heart of New York City next to the iconic Flatiron building at 935 Broadway.

Opening in Summer 2020, the store will house the largest collection of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts products in the world under one roof with everything from personalised robes and Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans to a brand-new range of house wands with a design exclusive to the New York location.

Spanning three floors and over 20,000 sq. ft., the space will provide fans with a number of exciting retail experiences that evoke the magic of the Wizarding World.

Sarah Roots, SVP Worldwide Tours and Retail, Warner Bros. said: "This will be the largest dedicated Harry Potter store in the world and will become a must-visit fan destination where Harry Potter enthusiasts can engage with interactive experiences and numerous photo opportunities as they step into the magic.

We are very excited to be opening in New York. It's the ideal city in which to launch with so many dedicated Wizarding World fans, a cutting-edge retail environment and a community that embraces innovative experiences."

Harry Potter New York Flagship - Concept

About Wizarding World

More than two decades ago, a young Harry Potter was whisked onto Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station, and readers everywhere were swept along with him into a magical universe, created by J.K. Rowling. In the years since, the seven Harry Potter bestsellers have inspired eight blockbuster movies, an award-winning stage play, and, more recently, the start of the Fantastic Beasts five-film series. People of all ages have been enthralled by these extraordinary adventures, set within an expanding universe, inspired by the vision of J.K. Rowling.

For today's growing worldwide fan community, and for generations to come, the Wizarding World welcomes everyone to explore more of this magical universe — past, present and future. The Wizarding World also provides fans with an instant, trusted kite-mark of quality and authenticity.

Harry Potter New York will be part of an expanding portfolio of Warner Bros. owned Wizarding World experiences that include Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and Platform 9 ¾ retail shops.

SOURCE: Warner Bros. Studio Tour London