Technology

CGTN: How to protect wetland and build a shared future for all life on Earth?

Published

3 years ago

November 6, 2022

BEIJING, Nov. 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — More than a billion people across the world depend on wetlands for their livelihoods – that’s about one in eight people on Earth. However, these lands are Earth’s most threatened ecosystem.

According to the United Nations, 35 percent of the world’s wetlands have disappeared since 1970.

Themed “Wetlands Action for People and Nature,” the 14th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties (COP14) to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands is being held from November 5 to 13, with its main venue in China’s Wuhan, and a parallel session in Geneva, Switzerland, in both in person and online formats.

This meeting gives us an opportunity to raise awareness, strengthen cooperation, and scale up wetlands action across the world, Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed on Saturday when delivering his speech via video at the opening ceremony of the events.

Xi vowed China will pursue modernization of harmony between humanity and nature, promote high-quality development in the wetlands conservation cause and promote international exchanges and cooperation.

What China has done?

With four percent of the world’s wetlands, China has met the diverse needs of one-fifth of the world’s population for wetland production, living, ecology and culture.

In his speech, Xi noted that historic achievements have been made in wetlands conservation in China. The country has increased the area of wetlands to 56.35 million hectares, put in place a protection system and enacted a Wetlands Conservation Law, according to Xi.

Since it acceded to the Ramsar Convention in 1992, China has established and improved its legal framework for wetland protection as well as systems for protection management, project planning, and investigation and monitoring. It has also fulfilled its obligations under the convention and continued to expand international cooperation in this regard.

The central government has spent 19.8 billion yuan (about $2.73 billion) on over 4,100 projects to advance wetland protection and restoration across the country since 2003.

China now has 64 wetlands of international importance and 29 wetlands of national importance, as well as 901 national wetland parks.

Last month, China released a plan for wetland protection for the 2022-2030 period, aiming to increase its wetland protection rate to 55 percent by 2025, while increasing the number of wetlands of international importance and national importance by 20 and 50, respectively.

The Chinese president also introduced China’s further plan of incorporating 11 million hectares of its wetlands into the country’s national park system, adding a national wetlands conservation plan and major conservation projects will be implemented.

Path to global ecological conservation

The Chinese president Saturday urged efforts to build global consensus on prizing wetlands, advance the global process of wetlands conservation and enhance people’s well-being globally by leveraging the role of wetlands.

China will build an international mangrove center in Shenzhen and supports the convening of a conference of the World Coastal Forum, Xi announced.

According to China’s white paper on biodiversity conservation, the country has provided support for more than 80 developing countries in biodiversity conservation under the framework of South-South cooperation.

China has also made ecological cooperation a key part of Belt and Road cooperation. In 2021, China launched “the Belt and Road” Green Development Partnership Initiative with 31 partner countries, calling for international cooperation to achieve a green and sustainable economic recovery and promote low-carbon, resilient and inclusive economic growth post-epidemic.

Moreover, China has taken an active part in international conferences and activities, including the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity and the Leaders’ Summit on Climate, giving impetus to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

These cases are a microcosm of China’s concrete steps to promote global ecological cooperation, with the notion of building a shared future for all life on Earth as the underpinning.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2022-11-05/Xi-addresses-COP14-on-wetlands-conservation-1eIkUeITohW/index.html

SOURCE CGTN

Technology

Chaberton Energy RFP Seeks Farming Partners for two Maryland Agrivoltaics Projects

Published

46 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Agrivoltaics co-locates solar facilities and agricultural activity while creating access to lower-cost energy for community members during a time of spiking prices.

Chaberton is partnering with Okovate Sustainable Energy to select farmers for the Montgomery County, Md., projects.

ROCKVILLE, Md., April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Chaberton Energy invites Maryland farmers to respond to two requests for proposal (RFPs) to farm up to 27 acres of land in Montgomery County as part of an agrivoltaics initiative. Agrivoltaics is the practice of co-locating solar power projects with farming activities.

This opportunity will provide selected farmers with access to land at no cost as well as compensation for vegetation management at the site. Chaberton is working with Okovate Sustainable Energy to solicit and evaluate proposals from farmers interested in using the land under and between the projects’ rows of solar panels for crop farming and/or animal grazing.

The RFPs come at a time when Maryland imports more than 40% of its electricity, leaving ratepayers exposed to volatile wholesale prices. These projects bring distributed solar closer to the communities that need it most, providing lower-cost energy to nearly 1,000 local households while supporting agricultural businesses in the area.

“These projects are among Montgomery County’s first agrivoltaics projects,” said Ryan Boswell, vice president of development for Chaberton Energy. “Everybody benefits when farmers, communities, local governments and energy developers work together toward a shared set of goals.”

The solar projects align with Maryland’s renewable energy and agricultural sustainability goals. Selected farmers will develop tailored farming plans for each site and seek the required review from the Montgomery County Office of Agriculture.

“Together we’re building out the energy network we need while keeping agricultural land productive,” said Miles Braxton, CEO and co-founder of Okovate. “This is an opportunity to provide land access to local farmers looking to expand or start their operations, while also leasing land for solar that helps meet the growing energy demand.”

Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf in Dickerson, Md., will have a generating capacity of 5.23 megawatts. It spans 19 acres, with 16 acres covered by the solar array and a 3-acre buffer zone. Approximately 10 acres of land in between solar panel rows and a total of 13 acres are available for agricultural use.

Chaberton Solar Ramiere in Poolesville, Md., is a 3.88 megawatt project spanning 11 acres, with approximately 8 acres covered by the solar array and a 2-acre buffer zone. Approximately 5 acres of land in between solar panel rows and a total of 7 acres are available for agricultural use.

Farmers or agricultural operators responding to the RFPs must submit a proposal that provides a clear vision for how they will utilize one or both agrivoltaics sites and outlines their approach to vegetation management, agricultural production and sustainable practices. Complete information as well as application forms are available at chaberton.com/RFP26.

About Chaberton Energy
Chaberton Energy is a public benefit corporation developing community-scale energy projects, with a focus on distributed solar and battery energy storage. A national developer with roots in the communities it serves, Chaberton is a two-time Inc. 5000 awardee, ranking in 2025 as the No. 53 fastest-growing private company in America and the No. 2 energy company on the list. With a commitment to creativity, excellence, and humanity, Chaberton’s team develops distributed solar and battery energy storage projects that improve grid reliability and resilience while lowering electricity costs for community members and businesses.

Media Contact
Lia Morrison
lia.morrison@chaberton.com
412-573-9095

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chaberton-energy-rfp-seeks-farming-partners-for-two-maryland-agrivoltaics-projects-302752253.html

SOURCE Chaberton Energy

Technology

Empire Asset Finance Adds Katharine Rudzitis as Vice President, Direct Originations

Published

46 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

Empire Asset Finance, LLC (“Empire”) has added Katharine Rudzitis as Vice President, Direct Originations, further expanding the firm’s direct origination capabilities as it continues to scale its equipment finance platform serving middle-market, private equity-sponsored, and non-sponsored companies.

NEW YORK, April 23, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Empire Asset Finance, LLC (“Empire”) has added Katharine Rudzitis as Vice President, Direct Originations, further expanding the firm’s direct origination capabilities as it continues to scale its equipment finance platform serving middle-market, private equity-sponsored, and non-sponsored companies.

Rudzitis brings more than a decade of experience originating and executing asset-backed transactions for North American businesses. She partners closely with corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, and advisors to deliver flexible, tailored equipment financing solutions across a wide range of company stages and credit profiles.

Prior to joining Empire, Rudzitis spent ten years at Macquarie Group, where she focused on providing equipment finance solutions for clients across the manufacturing, industrial, commodity, and technology sectors.

“Katharine brings deep experience navigating complex equipment and asset-backed transactions and a thoughtful, solutions-oriented approach to serving middle-market clients,” said Rick Rockhold, CEO of Empire. “She understands how to deliver flexible capital solutions that align with sponsor and borrower objectives, and we are excited to have her join Empire as we continue to grow our direct origination platform.”

“Her institutional background and disciplined approach to sourcing and executing transactions are highly aligned with how we operate,” said Mike Miroshnikov, Chief Operating Officer and Chief Credit Officer of Empire. “Katharine brings a strong ability to navigate complex situations, combined with a structured, process-driven mindset that supports consistency and high-quality outcomes across a wide range of client needs.”

In her role, Rudzitis will focus on expanding Empire’s direct origination efforts and deepening relationships with private equity sponsors, corporate borrowers, and advisors.

Rudzitis holds a BA in Mathematics, English, and Classics from Amherst College.

About Empire Asset Finance, LLC

Empire Asset Finance, LLC is a direct private credit lender focused on mid-to large-ticket equipment financing solutions for underserved middle-market companies. Backed by Arena Investors LP, Empire delivers flexible capital structures, white-glove service, and technology-driven execution that empowers businesses to grow while preserving liquidity.

About Arena Investors, LP

Arena Investors, LP is a global institutional asset manager founded in 2015 by Daniel Zwirn, a veteran investor with over two decades of experience building alternative asset platforms. Arena is a global multi-strategy investment firm with approximately $4.6 billion of assets under management and programmatic capital as of June 30, 2025. The firm is a subsidiary of Arena Investors Group Holdings (“AIGH”). AIGH, along with its affiliate, Ceres Life Insurance, comprises the Westaim Corporation (TSXV: “WED”), an integrated asset management and life insurance and annuity provider.

Media Contact

Rick Rockhold, Empire Asset Finance, LLC, 1 7189643439, rrockhold@empireassetfinance.com, http://www.empireassetfinance.com/

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/empire-asset-finance-adds-katharine-rudzitis-as-vice-president-direct-originations-302751354.html

SOURCE Empire Asset Finance, LLC

Technology

OverActive Media to Host Fourth Quarter 2025 Conference Call

Published

46 minutes ago

April 23, 2026

TORONTO, April 23, 2026 /CNW/ – OverActive Media Corp. (“OverActive” or the “Company”) (TSXV: OAM) (OTC: OAMCF) (WKN: A3CSPU) (FSE: 0RB), a global digital media, esports and entertainment company for today’s generation of fans will report its fourth quarter 2025 results after market close on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. The Company will hold a conference call the following day, call hosted by Adam Adamou, CEO and Co-Founder.

WHAT: Q4 2025 Earnings Conference Call

WHEN: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. ET
Please connect at least 15 minutes before the conference call.

PARTICIPANT INFORMATION

To join the conference call without operator assistance, you may register and enter your phone number at https://emportal.ink/4tu24C0 to receive an instant automated callback.

You can also dial directly to be entered into the call by an operator.

Call Details: 416-945-7677 or 1-888-699-1199

The conference call will be webcast live in its entirety at 9:00 a.m. ET at https://app.webinar.net/lqrNZlWd29V, and it will be archived for three months.

Links to SEDAR filings and press releases are available on the investor website at https://overactivemedia.com/pages/filings.

TELEPHONIC REPLAY

Call Details: 289-819-1450 or 1-888-660-6345
Encore Replay Entry Code: 96797 #
Encore Replay Expiration Date: Wednesday, May 6, 2026

About OverActive Media

OverActive Media Corp. (TSXV: OAM) (OTC:OAMCF) (WKN:A3CSPU) (FSE:0RB) is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with operations in Madrid, Spain and Berlin, Germany, is a premier global esports and entertainment company for today’s generation of fan. OverActive Media owns team franchises in professional esports leagues, including the Call of Duty League, operating as the Toronto KOI, the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC), operating as Movistar KOI, operating as Movistar KOI in other professional esports leagues and competitions. OverActive also operates ActiveVoices, an AI-driven content localization and monetization platform that enables creators and brands to expand their audiences globally and unlock new revenue streams through automated translation, dubbing, and distribution.

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Overactive Media Corp.