ClimateVoice

?? This time of shifting political headwinds and escalating energy demands are shining a spotlight on Big Tech companies’ backpedaling on climate commitments.?As Big Tech bows to President Trump, employees should ask themselves if they are willing to fall in line to support the billionaire autocracy fossil fuel grab or instead use their influence to engage coworkers and press their leaders for action. ??? Latest opinion piece from Deborah McNamara and Bill Weihl in Fast Company. ??

Happy to have the opportunity to speak with Bill Weihl for ClimateVoice. Check out our conversation here??

As other entities relinquish the responsibility of holding corporations to account on climate issues, these states are stepping into the breach. ??

The photo below features key negotiators of the Paris Agreement: Laurence Tubiana Christiana Figueres Ban Ki Moon and Laurent Fabius.?See the joy on their faces. Less than two years later, President Trump yanked the U.S. out of the pact, and 30 big-name CEOs at companies ranging from 3M to The Walt Disney Company published a letter urging him to change his mind. ? So far, there has been no such coordinated response to Trump’s executive order on Jan. 20 pulling the U.S. out of the multinational climate treaty for a second time — nor does there appear to be a plan for one. To be sure, some are?finding ways to use their voice?— 11 of the companies, including The Coca-Cola Company DuPont and Johnson & Johnson are among the 3,000 business signatories to America Is All In, a coalition that champions the goal of cutting U.S. emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. But the silence on the Paris reversal is striking.? ? ?? Trellis reached out to the 30 companies to inquire about plans for a fresh response to the January pullout. ?? Three of them — Harris Corporation JPMorganChase and Morgan Stanley— declined to comment. ?? DuPont and Salesforce spokespeople said they were not aware of plans for a similar, coordinated letter. ?? Two other companies, Allianz and Virgin, said they support previously published plans for emissions reductions. The rest did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Yeah, I'm not surprised either. More context: https://lnkd.in/e3qN9a5x

While the silence from business leaders on the need for action on climate change is deafening, some of these companies are finding ways to use their voice — 11 are among the 3,000 business signatories to America Is All In, a coalition that still champions the goal of cutting U.S. emissions in half by 2030 and reaching net zero by 2050. They include: 3M, Cargill, The Coca-Cola Company, Dow, DuPont, Johnson & Johnson, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Royal DSM, Salesforce, Tesla and Unilever.

42 companies in Michigan – including Ford Motor Company and General Motors who represent the over 120,000 workers – called for protections for the IRA's clean energy tax credits. Without these tax credits, the companies say their “ability to expand (their) businesses, support Michigan families and communities, and maintain (their) competitive edge—both nationally and globally—would be at risk." America’s economic leadership depends on investing in U.S. manufacturing, workers, and products. If Congress backtracks, we risk falling behind global competitors. That’s why companies are urging Congress: protect the tax credits powering American jobs. ?? Letter of business support: bit.ly/letter42businesses ??? ?? : Ford seeks help to save IRA tax credits via POLITICO – https://lnkd.in/gREfHW3v

This year more than ever, it will be essential to hold the line on climate policy advocacy and ensure trade groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable are addressing the legal and material risks when it comes to the cost of inaction in addressing the climate crisis. Employees should urge their companies to hold fast and firm to their commitments and not back down – and act in alignment with stated values. There has never been a more important time for employees and company leaders to speak up in support of clean energy, the economic opportunities of the clean energy transition, upholding climate commitments, and defending climate policy solutions. 3M Amazon Apple Cisco The Coca-Cola Company Ford Motor Company Google Johnson & Johnson Meta Microsoft PepsiCo Pfizer Qualcomm Salesforce Visa

Thank you Dana R. Fisher for joining us for a ClimateVoices interview this week! "Based on the findings from numerous studies I’ve conducted over the past 25+ years, the most reasonable path to achieving the types of systemic changes that we know are needed to address the climate crisis will require that civil society mobilize and pressure the state and the market to take more aggressive action. Unfortunately, there’s ample evidence that the government and many businesses have been captured by these fossil fuel-connected interests who have privileged access to resources and power..." What can we do? Use use multiple levers to push for climate action, participate politically and civically, get involved in our local communities and pay attention to what is happening there. "While it is extremely difficult to get fossil fuel funding out of politics at a national level, it is much easier to build consensus and put pressure on local electeds and governmental offices to change their behaviors."

In this issue of #ClimateVoices, I’m pleased to be talking with Dana R. Fisher, a dynamic speaker and author who writes about activism, democracy, and climate policy. She calls herself an "apocalyptic optimist" based on her research on social movements, democracy, and climate politics. Dana has authored over eighty research papers and book chapters and has written seven books, including her most recent in 2024 entitled “Saving Ourselves: from Climate Shocks to Climate Action.” She is the Director of the The Center for Environment, Community, & Equity (CECE) and a Professor at American University School of International Service. Her current projects include evaluating the ways that nationally coordinated service corps programs are working on disaster response, recovery, and resilience, as well as the effects of all sorts of activism, engagement, and protest. Fisher is a Nonresident Senior Fellow with the Governance Studies program at The Brookings Institution and the chair of the Political Sociology section of the American Sociological Association. She served as a Contributing Author for Working Group 3 of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Sixth Assessment Review (IPCC AR6) writing about citizen engagement and civic activism.

?? New GRI analysis sheds light on #transparency gaps in corporate #lobbying. Lobbying plays a significant role in shaping #publicpolicy, but global transparency remains inconsistent. Our latest research explores how fragmented lobbying practices,?regulations & definitions can create risks, such as delayed action on #climatechange and?global challenges??? The publication offers recommendations for organizations to enhance accountability in their #politicalengagement, such as: ? Disclosure of lobbying activities that goes beyond legal compliance ? Aligning lobbying efforts with their sustainability commitments ? Establishing board-level oversight of lobbying activities The research supports an ongoing project to update #GRI206: Anti-competitive Behavior, which covers the impacts of organizations on institutions regulating economic exchanges??? Download the research publication ??https://lnkd.in/dpZ2ZMRq