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3M, Cisco, Jackson Family Wines, Kimberly-Clark and other major companies announced new commitments to install solar power as part of a new White House initiative. The Obama administration and local governments also announced a series of new policies to speed the deployment of solar across the nation.

PepsiCo announced that its transportation fleet reduced fuel consumption by 24% from 2010 levels, enabling the company to avoid 55,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. PepsiCo also announced new efforts to seek lower-carbon fuels from suppliers, join the Business for Social Responsibility's Future of Fuels program, purchase additional electric delivery vehicles, and help to develop appropriate U.S. fleet fuel efficiency standards.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced plans to invest $900,000 in sustainable infrastructure projects across the City of Detroit. The firm will also retrofit over 70% of its Detroit-based Chase branches with LED lights and new building management systems. https://www.jpmorganchase.com/corporate/news/pr/jpmc-announces-investments-to-support-detroit-economic-recovery.htm

Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi announced that India would work towards ratifying the Paris Agreement by the end of this year, following a meeting with President Obama. The state leaders also launched two initiatives to deploy $20 million to provide clean and renewable electricity to as many as 1 million households by 2020 and deploy $40 million to support small-scale renewable energy projects in India.

Nestlé has introduced new 2020 sustainability and development targets, building on its first set of 2020 goals announced in 2013. The company also announced long-term ambitions in support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including helping 50 million children lead healthier lives, helping to improve 30 million livelihoods in communities directly connected to its business activities, and striving for zero environmental impact in its operations

Target announced its new forest products policy, which sets guidelines for the company's purchasing decisions to ensure wood-based products in it's owned-brand products are sourced from forests that are well-managed and credibly certified. Separately, the company also announced plans to work with its value chain to phase out polystyrene foam use in e-commerce packaging.

Walmart announced in April that it has removed 95 percent of the 10 highest priority chemicals targeted by its pioneering Sustainable Chemistry Policy. This is striking progress, as Walmart announced its goal to eliminate these chemicals just two years ago.

Ford Motor Company announced intentions to deliver a fully autonomous vehicle for ride sharing by 2021. The company also announced 4 new investments and collaborations that expand its autonomous vehicle research, and set out plans to double its Silicon Valley Research and Innovation Center team by the end of 2017.

McDonald's achieved its 2017 goal to phase out the use of medically important human antibiotics in its U.S. chicken supply a year ahead of schedule. The fast food chain also announced plans to remove artificial preservatives and high fructose corn syrup from select menu items.

PepsiCo has announced it will restore and protect a handful of watersheds in Latin American countries in which it operates, including Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Guatemala. The company announced plans to "replenish" all the water used during manufacturing in high water risk areas by returning it to the watershed from which it was taken.

Poultry company Perdue Foods became the target of animal welfare organizations after an undercover investigation by Mercy For Animals (MFA) revealed illegal animal abuse at two of the company's contract farms. Almost 182,000 people signed a petition urging Perdue to adopt better animal welfare standards. After negotiations with MFA and other groups, Perdue announced new animal welfare policies this week. And animal welfare organizations are praising the company's new policies. MFA described it as the "most comprehensive animal welfare policy ever adopted by a major chicken producer." Perdue is one of only four companies that control most of the chicken industry.

Archers Daniels Midland (ADM) said it would announce details of a new "No Deforestation" policy for soy and palm oil at its May 7 annual meeting. The move follows pressure from investors Green Century Capital Management and the New York State Common Retirement Fund.

After less than two intensive months of campaigning for change in the foodservice industry, The Humane League has proudly announced further progress. Compass Group has announced it will join Aramark and Sodexo, the nation's largest foodservice companies, in making major changes to their animal welfare policies.

-The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Unilever announce a research collaboration to develop ground-breaking scientific approaches to better assess the safety of chemicals found in some consumer products without using animal data.

President Obama announced that an additional 15 U.S. cities (19 cities were committed prior to this update) have signed onto the Compact of Mayors-a global platform that helps cities accelerate their sustainability and climate change resiliency efforts. The president set a goal to have at least 100 U.S. cities signed onto the Compact of Mayors by the end of November 2015.

Cosmetics company Revlon announced plans to remove two preservatives and a formaldehyde-releasing chemical as ingredients in its products. The announcement is in response to a petition signed by over 100,000 people.

Transport for London has today (Wednesday 27 August) announced that it is to trial innovative technology that will enable specially designed buses to wirelessly charge their batteries while they wait at bus stands.

The Hershey Company announced plans to switch some of its popular chocolate products to "simpler ingredients," which includes a transition to non-GMO ingredients in its Hershey's milk chocolate bars and Hershey's kisses by the end of 2015.

The joint announcements set a powerful precedent for other countries to emulate, and could foster ambitious international action in the near term. Many have their eye on international climate negotiations in Paris next year, where the U.S. and China's bilateral cooperation could lay necessary groundwork for a potential future international climate treaty.

Home appliance company Whirlpool announced plans to build an $18 million on-site wind energy project to offset 22% of its electricity consumption at its Ohio-based manufacturing facility, in partnership with OneEnergy.