From the Ground Up: Voices of the Carbon Market Premiers at New York Climate Week

Beyond Alliance Partners with Global Citizen to Debut Short Documentary Film

NEW YORK, Sept. 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Beyond Alliance, a dynamic organization of companies, NGOs and technical experts driving climate solutions for business, is proud to announce the premier of the short documentary film, From the Ground Up: Voices of the Carbon Market, at this year's New York Climate Week. The narrative-driven short film explores the perspectives of American farmers, landowners and families working at the forefront of the voluntary carbon market in the U.S. to achieve lasting impact and legacy.

Beyond Alliance has teamed up with Global Citizen, the world's leading international advocacy organization on a mission to end extreme poverty, to premiere the film on Wednesday, September 24, 2025. The event, which will include a screening of the short film along with a panel discussion featuring several of the people profiled in the film, is part of the Global Citizen NOW: Impact Sessions, an action-focused, high-level convening of leaders from government, civil society, philanthropy and the private sector, working together to take tangible action on the world's most urgent challenges across climate, development and finance.

"For years, debates about the carbon market have focused on technical details and political ups and downs, with little space for the voices of the people delivering impact on the ground. Too often, their stories and agency have been left out," states Luke Pritchard, Director, We Mean Business Coalition. "This short film is about changing that — reminding us that behind every carbon credit are communities and individuals doing meaningful work."

From the Ground Up: Voices of the Carbon Market brings attention to the often-overlooked yet essential community of people shaping the U.S. carbon market. It highlights individuals and families from diverse backgrounds who are working hand-in-hand with organizations to turn their land into a force for climate action. By transforming their acreage into carbon-capturing landscapes, they are not only helping combat climate change but also fostering land regeneration and creating new pathways for economic resilience. Some examples of people and organizations that are featured in the film include:

• Tammy Cheely, County Extension Agent (and landowner) from Georgia forms an unlikely bond with Arjun Dürr, American Forest Foundation, to bring reforestation projects to farmers throughout Cheely's county
• Father and son duo, John Maus (landowner) and Stephen Maus from Arkansas, talk about their family legacy, which is tied to their land, and became the inspiration for Stephen's career path and professional work with Chestnut Carbon
• Kirsten Love, CMO of Tradewater explores the prevalence of orphaned oil wells and the work of plugging and capping them to stop the release of methane gases

An additional panel discussion and screening of the short film's trailer will take place earlier in the day on Wednesday, September 24 in partnership with Solutions House. 

To learn more about From the Ground Up: Voices of the Carbon Market please visit www.beyond-alliance.org/from-the-ground-up/ or on Instagram @vcmvoices.

To learn more about Global Citizen, please visit www.globalcitizen.org.

About Beyond Alliance
Beyond is a dynamic alliance of companies and NGOs scaling corporate climate finance through high-integrity, market-based mechanisms. Founded in 2020 and hosted by the We Mean Business Coalition secretariat since 2024, Beyond unites diverse partners to drive systemic climate solutions.

We foster partnerships, build knowledge, champion bold advocacy, and amplify voices for meaningful change. Guided by integrity and innovation, we are moving further and faster toward a zero-carbon future. Together, we are accelerating collaboration, finance, and impact. Visit our website at beyond-alliance.org.

SOURCE Beyond Alliance