Net Zero Leaders
05/31/23
More than 4,000 companies, representing over a third of the global economy’s market capitalization, had by the end of 2022 set targets to reduce or completely offset their carbon emissions to slow climate change—a goal…
BUSINESSES
BUSINESSES
The corporate world is aware of the costs of climate climate and they are aware of what needs to be done:
- slash carbon in energy-intensive industries, in operations, in transportation, and in buildings
- buy lots of renewable energy
- reduce waste, particularly in critical sectors such as food and agriculture
- expand the use of circular business models that minimize resource use
- embed climate change metrics in corporate systems and key performance indicators
- empower suppliers, customers and employees to drive change
- rethink their investments and business models
Even as Trump announced in May 2017 that he would withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement, dozens of states and Puerto Rico formed the US Climate Alliance vowing to uphold the US end of the Agreement. In April 2018, the business community, through its coalition, We Are Still In launched its We Are Taking Action campaign to encourage local, state and private sector leaders to take action to address climate change.
In February, 2021, as the United States returned to the Paris Climate Agreement under Biden, elected officials joined the business and nonprofit community to launch “America Is All In.” This coalition aims to collaborate with the federal government on the fight against climate change. Led by Mike Bloomberg, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Ambition and Solutions, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles, Common Spirit Health CEO Lloyd Dean and climate champions across the country, the coalition is working to cut U.S. emissions in half by 2030* and reach net zero emissions by 2050, while guarding against the impacts of climate disruption.
GM announced, in February 2021, that it would only produce electric vehicles after 2035, putting serious wind into the Biden administration’s sails.
6 THINGS YOU CAN DO TODAY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
- 1 PREPARE, IT'S CHEAPER THAN RECOVERING
Studies show that for every US $1 spent to mitigate risks, US $4 is saved on recovery costs. Time to assess climate risks and plan.
BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY - 2 SET SCIENCE BASED TARGETS
440 companies are taking science-based climate action and 122 companies have approved science-based targets. Make a commitment now.
SCIENCE BASED TARGETS - 3 DIVERT SUPPORT FROM FOSSIL FUEL COMPANIES
The San Francisco-based Bank of the West is withdrawing support for companies and business activities that are “detrimental to our environment and our health.” Instead, invest time and energy where it will have positive impacts.
DENVER POST - 4 CREATE SOLAR POWER PERKS
The Solar Community Initiative program works with corporations to provide discounts to employees on home solar. Expand your company benefits and perks to encourage climate conscious incentives.
THE NEW YORK TIMES - 5 SHIFT TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES
The transport sector accounts for 23% of gas emissions, and businesses own over half of all vehicles on the road. Lead the transition to electric.
WE MEAN BUSINESS COALITION - 6 PUT A PRICE ON CARBON
More than 1,200 global companies are adopting carbon pricing. Microsoft instituted their fee on carbon in 2012 and has since reduced emissions by more than 9.6 million metric tons.
The Washington Post
KEY RESOURCES
Integrity matters: Net zero commitments By businesses, Financial institutions, Cities and regions
12/09/22
Report from the united nations’ High-level expert group on the Net zero emissions commitments Of non-state entitiesReport from the united nations’ High-level expert group on the Net zero emissions commitments Of non-state entities
NASA, FEMA Release Comprehensive Climate Action Guide
07/09/22
NASA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) have released a guide that provides resources for adapting to and mitigating impacts of climate change. The guide, Building Alliances for Climate Action, includes various perspectives, stories,…
The world’s 60 biggest banks poured over 6 years into the fossil fuel industry, driving climate chaos & causing deadly local community impacts.
06/30/22
Bank funding for fossil fuels often brings dire threats to the lives and livelihoods of local communities around the world — harming Indigenous Peoples, Black and Brown communities, and poor and working-class communities first and…
The MSCI Net-Zero Tracker
06/29/22
The MSCI Net-Zero Tracker indicates the collective progress of publicly listed companies in the MSCI ACWI Investable Market Index (IMI) in keeping global warming well below 2°C. It also highlights the largest listed companies with…
How governments and businesses can supercharge decarbonisation
03/18/22
Taking the necessary action to stay within 1.5 °C is in essence neither a technology, nor an economic challenge. It's a leadership challenge. To enhance and deliver on the pledges made at COP26, immediate steps…
Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor 2022
02/07/22
Companies around the world are increasingly alert to the climate emergency, facing calls from a growing range of stakeholders to take responsibility for the environmental impact of their activities. Most large companies now have public…
Plastic Waste Makers Index
05/21/21
Find out which companies hold the fate of the world’s single-use plastic crisis in their hands and ask them to change.
Decarbonizing Space Heating with Air Source Heat Pumps
11/19/20
Air source heat pumps (ASHPs) are powered by electricity, using well-established technology to move heat from outdoor air to indoor air. When powered by zero-carbon electricity, ASHPs provide space heating with almost no greenhouse gas…
Modelling for Sustainable Development: New decisions for a new age
10/01/20
This book provides a detailed overview of models used in designing projects and policies that integrate sustainable development considerations and objectives.
Water: A human and business priority
08/14/20
Water is the lifeblood of humanity. With it, communities thrive. But, when the supply and demand of fresh water are misaligned, the delicate environmental, social, and financial ecosystems on which we all rely are at…
12 books on how climate change is transforming businesses and the global economy
03/20/20
The significant transformations required to meet the challenges posed by climate change are, from another perspective, fabulous opportunities. Inventors, entrepreneurs, and business strategists recognized this fact many years ago. Their activities have since been chronicled…
Major companies join new alliance to accelerate transition to electric vehicles
02/07/20
Ceres announces the launch of a new alliance to help companies accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, a key component of tackling the climate crisis.
Measuring Stakeholder Capitalism: World’s Largest Companies Support Developing Core Set of Universal ESG Disclosures
01/30/20
140 of the world’s largest companies support effort to develop a core set of common metrics and disclosures on non-financial factors to their investors and other stakeholders.
UN-convened Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance
01/30/20
We are an international group of institutional investors delivering on a bold commitment to transition our investment portfolios to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050.
Coalition seeks to engage business in climate action
07/02/19
Numerous international organizations announced plans yesterday to work in tandem for "business-nature" solutions to climate change. The Business for Nature coalition, composed of 13 organizations, promises to solidify a business-oriented approach to climate change in…
Aim for 100% renewable power
08/15/18
Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance (REBA) helps companies navigate options, contracts, Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) and more.
New Climate Advocacy Group Has CEO Pedigree
05/27/19
The CEO Climate Dialogue brings together a number of major companies as part of a coalition that aims to push the climate discussion forward. It comes as chatter around climate change is heating up.
World Business Council for Sustainable Development
05/18/19
WBCSD is a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. We help make our member companies more successful and sustainable by focusing on the…
The Climate Group
05/18/19
The Climate Group works internationally with leading businesses, states and regions to deliver a world of net zero greenhouse gas emissions and greater prosperity for all. We are at the forefront of ambitious climate action.…
Climate Path
05/18/19
ClimatePath helps organizations of all sizes develop innovative strategies for conservation and impact reduction, performs assessments of employee engagement with CSR activities, plan for a future of growing affluence and constrained resources, and connect to…
Cool Effect
05/18/19
We are a nonprofit dedicated to reducing carbon emissions around the world by helping businesses, universities, organizations, and individuals support projects that are verifiably reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are here to help your organization,…
MORE WAYS TO TAKE ACTION
China Leaves Everyone Behind in Race for Renewables Income
09/04/23
The biggest US companies are badly trailing their Chinese counterparts when it comes to generating income from solar, wind, nuclear and other types of renewable energy.
The path to net zero: 5 moves for CEOs
08/09/23
Net zero has become an organizing principle for business. How can CEOs lay out credibly how they will deliver their transition to net zero while simultaneously building and reinforcing resilience against the certain volatility of…
What real climate policy looks like
08/07/23
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) turns one year old next week — and unless you’ve just woken from a Rip Van Winkle-style slumber, you know it’s the United States' most momentous climate legislation in a…
A new framework for how firms can manage climate risks
04/20/23
As the climate crisis worsens, it will bring substantial risk to businesses’ assets and operations. Many firms have yet to implement a comprehensive framework and take company-specific, preventative measures to protect themselves. With threats ranging…
United States Supermarket Scorecard 2022
04/06/23
EIA scored the biggest U.S. supermarket chains on their actions to reduce emissions of climate super pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Each company is scored on actions in three categories of technology adoption, refrigerant management, and policy…
Why seniors are blocking entrances to the four largest U.S. banks
03/21/23
Climate activists on Tuesday will protest four banks — Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank and Wells Fargo — that help finance the fossil fuel industry....
Destination: Net Zero – Six Steps Companies Can Take To Address Climate Goals
02/02/23
Increasingly, companies around the world are under pressure to respond to global climate change, but many are struggling to meet ambitious climate goals because there is no clear framework to help them set and track…
What To Know About Home Depot’s New Energy Deal
01/06/23
With the effects of climate change becoming more apparent, it's only natural that a renewed focus on green energy has shifted to the forefront. Many individuals have taken it upon themselves to live sustainably, whether…
Everything you need to run a world-class climate program
12/05/22
Watershed’s carbon data engine analyzes emissions for every line item of your business. We measure Scope 1, 2, and 3 of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and have developed state-of-the-art methodologies for remote work, cloud computing,…
Apple calls on global supply chain to decarbonize by 2030
10/25/22
The company accelerates work with suppliers to decarbonize Apple-related production, and expands investments in clean energy and climate solutions around the world
Corporate pushback against climate action is getting desperate
09/28/22
As net zero commitments reshape the world economy, and as the impacts of climate change accelerate, climate politics is getting existential. Vulnerable communities are fighting to survive. This month, one-third of Pakistan, a country of…
GETTING GOING
09/27/22
In our Getting Real report for Climate Week NYC in 2021, we set out a blueprint for a commercially smart climate transition. What we heard back from practitioners was that the blueprint was a valuable…
As temperatures rise, industries fight heat safeguards for workers
08/09/22
In the nearly two decades she has worked in South Florida’s plant nurseries, baking under greenhouse plastic covers, Sandra Ascencio has seen more than her share of misery. Ascencio remembers seeing the body of a…
Spotting green business opportunities in a surging net-zero world
08/01/22
This interactive timeline presents a hypothetical scenario and is not meant to serve as a projection or prediction. It explores the uneven changes in spending, output, and job creation that could potentially occur in the…
Clean-energy workers demand assurances on abortion care benefits
07/19/22
On Monday, a coalition of women working in clean energy called for companies to step up support for employee access to abortion and reproductive health care. Last month’s Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson…
Walmart’s EV deal blocks Amazon as rivalry expands
07/19/22
Canoo cannot design, manufacture or sell EVs to Amazon, and the company is also blocked from any deal that would transfer company control to the e-commerce giant. Any termination of the agreement, which lasts for…
White House announces $700M in private investments for EV charging
06/28/22
The Biden administration announced Tuesday that a number of companies are planning to invest more than $700 million to boost U.S. manufacturing capacity for electric vehicle charging.
Lego to invest over $1 billion in first U.S. brick plant
06/15/22
Toymaker Lego said on Wednesday it will invest more than $1 billion in its first factory in the United States, which will be carbon-neutral, to shorten supply chains and keep up with growing demand for…
Accelerating toward net zero: The green business building opportunity
06/14/22
Getting to net zero will require tremendous, rapid change and large-scale technology deployment across industries. The transition will create massive opportunities to build entirely new businesses. A recent McKinsey report found that reaching net zero…
Forbes Global 2000 Firms Judged ‘Alarmingly Weak’ On Climate Plans
06/13/22
Just a third of firms on the Forbes Global 2000 list of publicly traded companies have net zero emissions targets, and almost two thirds of those pledges fall far short on necessary detail, leaving major…
GHG Reduction Programs & Strategies
06/06/22
A wide range of strategies are available to help organizations reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Below are a list of resources and guides to help your organization identify and implement GHG reduction opportunities.
Big Fossil’s disaster capitalist response to Russia-Ukraine
05/25/22
The industry moved quickly to capture the narrative, going from disinformation blitz to policy wins within a matter of weeks.
Stanford Gets $1.1 Billion for New Climate School From John Doerr
05/04/22
John Doerr, one of the most successful venture capitalists in the history of Silicon Valley, is giving $1.1 billion to Stanford University to fund a school focused on climate change and sustainability. The gift, which…
Four Strategies Businesses Can Deploy to Slash Food Waste
05/02/22
As discussed in the first part of this two-part series on food waste solutions, food waste has consequences for all populations, from economic to social and environmental. Because there are many ways in which food…
Building a green business: Lessons from sustainability start-ups
04/27/22
Green tech and climate technology companies are rapidly altering the competitive landscape. With sustainability now a business imperative, incumbents need to move quickly—or risk being left behind.
Sustainability
04/25/22
A healthy environment is more than a nice goal—it’s crucial for our business and the beautiful destinations you visit. Our goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040, and we are setting clear…
Major Technology Companies To Provide Nearly $1 Billion Building Market Demand For CO2 Removal
04/13/22
Stripe, with funding from Alphabet, Meta, Shopify and McKinsey, has launched Frontier, which plans on investing $925 million in carbon removal technologies over the coming decade. Opening the opportunity to the market, tens of thousands…
What Is the Electrified Economy and Why Should Businesses Care?
04/11/22
As energy transitions to 100% clean electricity, energy users that go all-in on electricity can meet emissions targets, cut costs and climate proof their operations. Learn how to prepare for an electrified economy.
Learn with the Climate Solutions Accelerator Program
04/05/22
Every organisation has a role to play in helping to address climate change. Those who are not sufficiently familiar with the issues and, importantly, the main solutions, will not be able to make the diffference…
You’ve heard Bitcoin fuels the climate crisis,but did you know a software code change could clean it up?
04/01/22
And it’s quickly surpassing more countries, according to the University of Cambridge. Unless its price is decoupled from its energy use, Bitcoin will drive devastating climate impacts.
Statement by Martin J. Gruenberg, Acting Chairman, FDIC Board of Directors On the Request for Comment on the Statement of Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions
03/30/22
Today, the FDIC Board approved a proposed Statement of Principles for Climate-Related Financial Risk Management for Large Financial Institutions (Statement of Principles). The proposed Statement of Principles provides a high-level framework for the safe and…
Most Climate Action 100+ Companies Are Failing on Emissions
03/30/22
An investor alliance with a combined $68 trillion of assets has issued a damning report about the world’s biggest polluters, revealing that less than one-fifth have actually mapped out a meaningful path toward net-zero emissions.
ESG Reporting: How Transparent Are You?
03/25/22
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is working on a new rule that will require U.S.-listed companies to provide investors with detailed disclosures on how climate change could affect their business. Europe recently announced…
How Corporate Collaboration Can Slow the Flow of Microplastics into the Environment
03/22/22
At this year’s Consumer Technology Association conference, Samsung — maker of phones, laptops, refrigerators and more — announced a lineup of sustainability initiatives for its home appliances. Among the initiatives was a collaboration with outdoor…
Google to Cut Food Waste at Facilities through Sourcing Changes, Kitchen Improvements
03/09/22
Search engine giant Google announced plans to reduce food waste at its facilities earlier this week spanning the entire lifecycle of food served at Google, from where it’s produced to how it’s consumed and what…
Here’s what Super Bowl ads say about climate change
02/14/22
Toyota debuted its hybrid Prius for the first time at the Super Bowl in 2005, calling it “good news for planet Earth.” In 2006, there were two Super Bowl ads for new hybrids: one for…
Climate Pledges of Amazon, Google, Walmart, Others Found to Have Low Integrity
02/08/22
The Corporate Climate Responsibility Monitor, a collaboration between sustainability research institute New Climate Institute and climate policy advocate Carbon Market Watch that evaluates the transparency and integrity of companies’ climate pledges, released an analysis today…
Innovating to net zero: An executive’s guide to climate technology
10/28/21
New technologies represent a critical part of the world’s decarbonization tool kit—and the world does not yet have all the technologies that it would need to solve the net-zero equation by balancing sources and sinks…
Google bans ads on content, including YouTube videos, with false claims about climate change.
10/07/21
Google said it will no longer display advertisements on YouTube videos and other content that promote inaccurate claims about climate change.
Big Business Is Bankrolling an Effort to Kill the Democratic Climate Bill
10/01/21
The trade group that represents Apple, Walmart, Nike, and dozens of other companies is trying to kneecap the U.S.’s final chance to meet its 2025 climate goals.
API targets climate legislation with Facebook ad blitz
09/30/21
Two lobbying groups for the oil and gas industry have bombarded Facebook with hundreds of ads opposing climate legislation in Congress that have been viewed 23 million times. The American Petroleum Institute and the American…
Walmart calls for “strong climate policy now,” backs campaign to kill strong climate policy
09/30/21
In a new post on LinkedIn, Walmart's Chief Sustainability Officer, Kathleen McLaughlin, underscored the company's commitment to addressing climate change. But McLaughlin noted, correctly, that "even the most ambitious voluntary individual and collective actions are…
Microsoft tweets concern for Ida victims while funding climate deniers in Congress
09/07/21
The world's second-largest company is still bankrolling climate deniers' re-election campaigns, and defending the practice.
Maine Will Make Companies Pay for Recycling. Here’s How It Works.
07/21/21
The law aims to take the cost burden of recycling away from taxpayers. One environmental advocate said the change could be “transformative.”
Opinion: The SEC must require companies to disclose their risk from climate change
07/12/21
In July 1934, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s first chairman addressed the National Press Club. In the perilous wake of the Great Crash of 1929, he was there to reassure American families, policymakers and businesses that the…
The ESG Imperative: 7 Factors for Finance Leaders to Consider
06/10/21
The pressure on organizations to meet environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria is more widespread than most finance leaders might realize — 85% of investors considered ESG factors in their investments in 2020. Recent Gartner…
5 ways businesses can be more aggressive about climate change
04/22/21
This Earth Day, President Biden will bring together government leaders from around the world for a climate summit aimed at accelerating efforts to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. It's expected that the president…
Executives Call for Deep Emission Cuts to Combat Climate Change
04/13/21
More than 300 businesses, including Google, McDonalds and Walmart, are pushing the Biden administration to nearly double the United States’ target for cuts to planet-warming emissions ahead of an April 22 global summit on climate…
FedEx On the Road to Become Carbon-Neutral by 2040
04/06/21
FedEx recently announced it will be carbon-neutral by 2040, nearly ten years earlier than what is required by the Paris climate accords. This initiative is impressive given FedEx’s enormous transportation footprint with 84,000 vehicles globally. Also,…
Plastic Bank Celebrates Stopping Its 1 Billionth Bottle of Ocean-Bound Plastic, Partnership With SC Johnson Accounts for Half of the Total
04/04/21
Plastic Bank®, a social enterprise revolutionizing the global supply chain for recycled ocean-bound plastic, announced today it has reached the significant milestone of stopping 1 billion plastic bottles from entering the world’s oceans. Plastic Bank’s…