Joan Davidson, who has died at age 96, "was a visionary supporter of civic-minded advocates from all walks of life, a role model for women of valor, and a spark plug for creative environmental progress across New York State," writes the Natural Resources Defense Council in a tribute to her.
"She was also an early and anchoring member of NRDC's Board of Trustees, a generous supporter of our New York regional team, and a friend, advisor, and inspiration to many staff members."
Davidson, who headed the JM Kaplan Fund, "was knee-deep in the creative effort to preserve former industrial buildings along Manhattan's lower West Side and transform them into Westbeth affordable housing for artists and their families," writes the NRDC.
"And she was instrumental in the fight to preserve two beloved, historic Broadway theatersthe Helen Hayes and the Morosco....
Joan and the Kaplan Fund buttressed those seeking to preserve the historic structures that are so important to the soul and character of the city."
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The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published the first of three volumes of its fifth Assessment Report (AR5). The findings of the report show that mainstream businesses have become greener, with an emphasis on reducing carbon emissions which are the key sectors for impact investment.