2023 marked the primary yr that carbon emissions declined within the U.S. for the reason that COVID period — however they aren’t falling quick sufficient, and they’re nonetheless rising globally. So how will we velocity decarbonization and obtain the “transition” from fossil fuels agreed to eventually yr’s COP28 assembly? One key group that may assist velocity local weather progress is sustainability professionals — and all staff who’re working to advance sustainability efforts at their workplaces. Along with their vital work on decarbonizing operations, sustainability professionals can and may use their affect to maneuver firms to advocate for sturdy local weather coverage — some of the vital levers in creating significant systemic change. Local weather professionals have a vital function to play in accelerating progress.

The excellent news is that the ranks of the sustainability occupation are swelling quickly, and it’s a broad cadre that reaches far wider than simply essentially the most seen roles reminiscent of chief sustainability officer. Many of those professionals are setting formidable objectives and doing terrific work in lowering emissions in operations — and they’re the primary to know that assembly company objectives would require daring and binding public coverage that permits the change we’d like. Everyone knows that public coverage is without doubt one of the largest and highest leverage alternatives to scale back emissions at velocity and scale. That’s the place sustainability professionals’ function as catalysts is available in.

Up to now, GreenBiz chairman and co-founder Joel Makower not too long ago instructed us in an interview, “All of us — these inside firms and people exterior — spend an excessive amount of time celebrating incremental change in an period the place audacious step-change is required.” He asserts that “we have to be sure that firms align their sustainability commitments and achievements with their coverage stances.” So simply precisely how do sustainability professionals assist make that occur?

Step one is talking out in regards to the very important significance of public coverage to addressing the local weather disaster, as one in every of us (Invoice) did in his latest remarks on the GreenBiz 24 convention (made with the assistance of AI know-how to generate speech from a “clone” of his voice, given his lack of ability to talk due to ALS). Greater than 480 present and former sustainability professionals quickly responded by signing a joint assertion urging firms to “again coverage motion on the velocity and scale required to satisfy our world objectives and avert the worst outcomes.” The LEAD Assertion, nonetheless open to signatures, units out 4 particular steps firms ought to take to align their coverage objectives with their local weather goals:

• Go away obstructing commerce associations;
• Elevate local weather coverage as an organization precedence;
• Advocate publicly for efficient binding local weather insurance policies; and
• Display actual dedication to the collective motion wanted to attain the simply and equitable transition from fossil fuels agreed on at COP28.

We’ve written right here in regards to the large local weather coverage obstruction posed by the Chamber of Commerce and different commerce associations, and the disconnect when pro-climate firms proceed to ship them membership dues. Firms should, as Step 1, weaken this obstruction by leaving these commerce associations and counter their unfavourable affect by main by way of public statements in help of local weather coverage progress at each flip. Sustainability leaders might be a part of bringing firms into alignment on commerce associations, and shouldn’t draw back from the difficulty.

Along with distancing themselves from obstructing commerce associations, firms should, as Step 2, play a way more proactive function on local weather coverage at this essential turning level. (Observe: Steps 1 and a pair of needn’t — and shouldn’t — be sequential. They need to be pursued in parallel.) For a highway map to approaching coverage alternatives, sustainability leaders can take a look at nice instruments such because the Ceres Coverage Outlook 2024. It highlights an “spectacular array of latest coverage victories, which we should battle to protect in 2024 and past.” Ceres factors out that “this isn’t the time to lose sight of the local weather and sustainability dangers that threaten company efficiency and the whole economic system. As an alternative, the private and non-private sectors should redouble our shared effort.”

When climate-forward firms step up extra successfully within the coverage area — as Apple, Google, Salesforce and Microsoft not too long ago did within the battle for a robust local weather disclosure regulation in California — it might make all of the distinction for coverage progress. The local weather coverage agenda for subsequent yr is filled with actions which can be important to construct on the spectacular clear power momentum of the Inflation Discount Act and defend that historic invoice from a number of repeal makes an attempt. We’d like firms — not simply sustainability professionals, however CEOs, different executives, staff, lobbyists — to point out up and be a part of the battle.

Along with their work on decarbonizing operations, sustainability professionals can and may use their affect to maneuver firms to advocate for sturdy local weather coverage — some of the vital levers in creating significant systemic change.

In the event that they converse up, sustainability professionals can play a key function in getting firms to step up on local weather coverage. They’ve devoted their careers to combating local weather change, and a rising quantity are saying out loud that they imagine that each one firms should leverage their energy and affect to speed up local weather coverage progress. Alone, this could possibly be a tough message, however the group of local weather professionals can increase a robust voice collectively. Should you’ve been quiet or on the sidelines, or not actively advocating for local weather coverage progress — now’s the time to step up and lift your voice for significant coverage motion and help. 

Listed here are 3 ways to study extra and take motion:

1. Signal onto the LEAD Assertion and be a part of the rising group of sustainability professionals “including their voices to the refrain calling for firms to interact forcefully and responsibly with public coverage to speed up local weather motion.”
2. Assessment the Ceres Coverage Outlook for 2024 and decide to elevating as many of those priorities as potential this yr.
3. Assess your organization’s commerce affiliation relationships and start talking as much as counter the rampant commerce affiliation obstruction of local weather coverage progress, particularly by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. A key situation to regulate this quarter is the chamber’s stance on the forthcoming SEC disclosure guidelines. Be certain that your organization is on the correct facet of historical past relating to sturdy local weather guidelines — and guarantee your organization speaks up when the chamber and different commerce associations are blocking local weather coverage progress.