Premiums for the Planet

Turns out the best way to network is in between karaoke songs, with puppies brought in for yappy hour, and in custom, matching Premiums for the Planet five-panel hats (thank you, Amber Dean)! ?????? Our first two days at Sustainable Brands '24 have been nothing short of incredible. From seeing creative climate solutions firsthand to the inspiring conversations with some of the industry’s biggest changemakers, this community is showing up in full force. The energy here is contagious, and the willingness to collaborate is what sets this event apart. It's no surpise that that we've meet attendees that have been coming back year after year for more than a decade. While the programming has been expectedly great (shout out to Damien Williamson for his stellar debut conference speaking enagement), some of our favorite conversations have happened serendipitously between sessions, meandering through the expo, and taking a "break" from networking on the beautiful grounds of the Town and Country Resort. We've found that one of the biggest hacks to networking is simply getting to know people. And in a place filled with so many good people working to change the planet, finding ways to collaborate might just be the easy part. As Saint Francis of Assisi once said, “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” That's the spirit we feel here—together, we're tackling what seemed impossible, one step at a time. Up next, don't miss Brad Stevenson and Francis Janes of Beneficial State Bank at noon today on the Expo stage as they have a short chat on climate finance levers. Then Brad will close out the conference at the Resilience Summit on Thursday alonside Eric Olson. #SB24SanDiego #ClimateAction #Collaboration #PremiumsForThePlanet

We’re gearing up for a jam-packed doubleheader in San Diego next week: Sustainable Brands ‘24 and 1% for the Planet’s Global Summit! We’re thrilled that our team has grown enough to tackle two conferences at once, and present on three panels along the way. Special shoutout to the ultimate connector KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, Founder/Chief Catalyst at Sustainable Brands (as well as a big thanks to Jessie R. and Michayla Herr for their logistical wizardry). Here’s where you can catch us: At Sustainable Brands: — Damien Williamson will speak on insurance as a powerful sustainability lever in “Leadership in Sustainability-Centric Governance” on Monday, Oct. 14. — Brad Stevenson has a double feature: “Divestment for Impact: New Approaches to Corporate Sustainability” on Wednesday, Oct. 16, plus “The State of Insurance and How to Influence It” during the Resilience Summit alongside Eric Olson on Thursday, Oct. 17. — We’re also looking forward to sessions by Nani Vishwanath and Roma A. McCaig from REI on DEI in sustainability and purpose-driven business, as well as connecting with folks like Tova Lobatz of SOCAP Global, Francis Janes of Beneficial State Bank, Ryan Spies from Alaska Airlines, Douglas Sabo, and Forum for the Future, At 1% for the Planet Global Summit: — We’re excited to connect with PFP members and friends Erin Melton of Experience Momentum (who will be hosting a yoga session on Wednesday!) as well as Sustainable Surf, Protect Our Winters, and The Conservation Alliance. — Can’t wait for “Financial Levers for Lasting Impact” with Zoe Schlag of Common Trust, @Gordon Seabury of Toad&Co, RAVI S MIKKELSEN of Atmos Financial, Cory Gumm of Search Inc., and Paul Moinester of Topo Finance. — Don’t miss “Maximizing Your 1% for the Planet Membership” with Charles Clark of Cotopaxi, Kaylee Duncanson of?1% for the Planet, Mackenzie Kline of Burgeon Beer, and Sam Mazzeo of Better APC. We’ll see you in San Diego—look for the team juggling conference badges and coffee cups like pros! ???? #SustainableBrands #1PercentForThePlanet #ClimateAction #InsuranceForGood #SustainabilityLeaders #PurposeDriven #PositiveImpact #ClimateFinance #Resilience

?? Exciting New Resource Guide from B Lab! ?? We get it—no one usually jumps out of bed excited about a free resource guide. But what if that guide could dramatically enhance your company’s sustainability impact with initiatives that don’t cost your business a dime? Introducing B Lab U.S. & Canada’s “Your Business Finances and Climate Action”—a must-read for businesses ready to kick off their climate finance journey. Earlier this year, Premiums for the Planet partnered with B Lab to help lead their Business Climate Finance Learning & Action Cohort, where 55 B Corps (with a combined revenue of about $6B!) learned how to make a lasting sustainability impact through their financial decisions—without increasing costs. Now, this guide can help your company do the same. ?? What’s in the Guide? The new e-book is packed with educational resources and actionable guidance. It outlines three key levers—banking, retirement plans, and insurance—that can help businesses align their financial practices with their values. With tips, real-world case studies, and stories from leaders in sustainable finance, this guide is a powerful tool to help businesses drive climate action without adding costs. You’ll find tips and quotes from our Head of Partnerships Nick Gardner, alongside Premiums for the Planet members, advisors, and climate-conscious Founders, CEOs, CSOs, COOs, and finance leaders, including: Patrick Flynn of Topo Finance and Switchboard Timothy R. Yee, AIF, CPFA?, C(k)P?, CHSA, NQPA, CSRIC?, RI(k) of Green Retirement, Inc. Cynthia Newell of City First Bank Darcy Shiber-Knowles (she/her) of Dr. Bronner's Emily McGarvey of Room & Board Chelsea Minola of Grain Lawrence T Mattern, CPA of Legacy Vacation Resorts, a Certified B Corp Zacharia Levine of The Synergy Company? Annie Nyborg of Peak Design Jordan Heeger, CPA of Omnidian ?? Download the guide here: https://lnkd.in/gDtxCTSB Together, we can harness the collective power of the B Corp movement to create a financial system that prioritizes people, communities, and the planet. ???? #SustainableFinance #BTheChange #ClimateAction #Bcorp #Sustainability #FinanceForGood #ClimateFriendlyFinance #PremiumsForThePlanet #BLab #Insurance #ClimateFinance cc: Kylie Nealis, Clementina Consens

“What Climate First Bank is to banking, is what Premiums for the Planet is to insurance,” says Lauren Dubé, VP, Director of All Good Things, at Climate First Bank. “Working with them is the same as working with a typical insurance broker, but with someone who shares our values and excitement over our mission. They helped us find a broker that met our unique needs.” "Director of All Good Things" is perhaps one of the coolest titles around. And it's truly an honor to have member companies like this leading the change. Our community of climate-conscious companies is proof that the only way to create a better world is by doing so together... #climatecrisis #sustainability #finance #banking #fintech #climatechange #investment #ClimateFirstBank #GreenBanking #SustainableFinance #EcoFriendlyBank #RenewableBanking #ClimateSolutions #SustainableInvesting #Insurance CC: Kenneth LaRoe

Our Top 13 Climate Week NYC Takeaways What a whirlwind week! The panels were plentiful, the networking happy hours were numerous, and the inspiration was at an all-time high. It was also yet another stellar opportunity for some of our teammates from across the country—Nick Gardner (Seattle), Damien Williamson (Aspen), and Ann Boger (NYC)—to connect in person and catch up with members, partners, friends, and other professionals dedicated to creating a more sustainable world. ?? We're still processing all the info we took in. That, and working on a ton of follow-up emails... Here are our top takeaways from the week of events, in no particular order: ??♂? Citi biking across Manhattan is the only way to travel. It’s like urban mountain biking, and zooming past single-passenger cars stuck in traffic during Climate Week? ?? Chef’s kiss. ?? Data, education, and incentives are key to driving systemic change. ??? Dinner and drinks after events often lead to better conversations (and fewer slide decks). ? Divestment isn’t the (whole) solution. It moves the problem off your books—not out of the atmosphere. ?? Some sectors need to shrink to grow. Shedding assets can help fulfill your mission and ease the transition to a sustainable world. (Looking at you, oil & gas.) ?? Write down your one main takeaway from every event. Trust me, you’ll thank yourself later. ?? Small, dialogue-driven breakout sessions featuring stakeholders across the value chain of an industry—like the ones on insurance hosted by the Environmental Defense Fund and The Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University—get people talking about real-world solutions. ?? Networking is exhausting, but doing it with a teammate makes it way more fun. ? Sunlight is the best disinfectant—the more we can get insurance carriers to disclose their own involvement in climate, the better. ?? If you're stuck behind a presidential motorcade, at least being on the water side of the West Side Highway offers nice views and a breeze. ?? Events where you expect lots of food will have none. Events where you expect no food will be fully catered. Plan accordingly. ? Insurance can be transformative by using forward-thinking risk models to accelerate the shift toward Net Zero, with climate-aligned brokers helping businesses quantify the financial case for investing in a sustainable future. ?? Lastly, everyone in the sustainability space is incredibly generous with their time and resources. Be more like them. CC: As You Sow, Andrew Behar, Business Climate Finance, Impact Experience, ClimateVoice, Protect Our Winters, Erin Sprague, B Lab U.S. & Canada, Kylie Nealis, Topo Finance, Jason Parkin, Paul Moinester, Climate First Bank, Kenneth LaRoe, Forum for the Future, Project Drawdown, SeaTrees, Carolyn Kousky, Leslie Labruto, Haley Jain Haggerstone, Lina Taylor, OLY, Burton Snowboards, Kelly A. Burton #ClimateWeekNYC #Sustainability #PremiumsForThePlanet #ClimateAction #Networking

?? Day One of Climate Week NYC! ?? The energy in NYC is always electric, but it’s even more intense this week as #ClimateWeekNYC collides with the UN General Assembly. We kicked off the week of events last night with an incredible talk and rooftop reception at Ethic, co-hosted with Big Path Capital. The event, titled "Where Your Money Sleeps at Night," featured climate finance champions Paul Moinester of Topo Finance and Kenneth LaRoe from Premiums for the Planet member company Climate First Bank. The conversation was a powerful reminder at the start of Climate Week that how we manage our collective finances can have an even bigger impact on the climate than our operational footprints, and served as an urgent call to action for all of us to rethink how our money works behind the scenes. We also loved reconnecting with familiar faces like Jason Parkin from Compose[d] and Andreas Wallendahl from Tenet—both proud members of Premiums for the Planet. It's already been a whirlwind as we bike our way across the city from event to event, but we're feeling inspired by the incredible leaders we've met who are equally committed to climate action. We can't wait to see how these vital conversations unfold throughout the week! Up next today: Climate Finance Day with As You Sow “Cashing Out of Carbon” at the Burton Snowboards flagship store? Climate Action Happy Hour with ClimateVoice “Discover How NYC’s Top Brands Address Sustainability” at Brooklyn Brewery hosted by OnePointFive (opf.degree) #PremiumsForThePlanet #SustainableFinance #ClimateAction #NYCClimateWeek #EthicalInvesting #ImpactFinance

?? Big things are happening in carbon removal, and we love seeing Premiums for the Planet member company Capture6 right at the center of it all. Recently, Alphabet Inc., H&M Group, Shopify, and Stripe came together to commit $4.5 million in carbon removal pre-purchases for nine companies working on breakthrough solutions. ?? Companies like Capture6—which is developing an electrochemical system to capture carbon dioxide from industrial waste streams—are true game-changers as we continue finding collaborative climate change solutions. Each startup will receive upfront payments of $500,000, with the potential for commercial contracts through Frontier, the corporate buyers group co-founded by Alphabet, McKinsey & Company, Meta, Shopify, and Stripe, if they reach key milestones. We love seeing our members thrive in partnerships like these, where good corporate stewardship supports innovative solutions for a sustainable future. Read more at Trellis Group: https://bit.ly/3zxmuTK CC: Jake Eubank, Ethan Cohen-Cole #CarbonRemoval #CorporateStewardship #ClimateAction #Sustainability #PremiumsForThePlanet #CollaborationForThePlanet

The insurance industry has long been a male-dominated field, which makes us even prouder to see our recently appointed Head of Insurance Ann Boger at the glass-shattering frontier. She will be speaking at the Women in Insurance Tech Conference #WITC2024, presented by AltaWorld, in Boston this week September 18-19! ??? With over 15 years of experience as a mission-driven leader, Ann brings a diverse background in insurance, tech products, healthcare, advocacy, and strategic planning. Her expertise in product design, change management, regulatory compliance, and strategic communications positions her as a trailblazer shaping the future of insurance. Ann is also the CEO of Bramble and Bird Consulting. At the conference, she will share her insights on how to build a tech-savvy workforce with 250+ insurance decision-makers while diveing into key topics like AI, ML, Big Data, and IoT. As Ann reconnects with some of her fellow glass-breaking leaders, we’re excited to be part of the conversation on driving digital transformation in insurance. Will you be there? Then be sure to connect with Ann! ?? #WomenInInsurance #DigitalTransformation #TechInInsurance #PremiumsForThePlanet #Leadership #WomenInTech #SustainabilityInInsurance

?? What if fiduciary duty extended beyond a single beneficiary to also include the wellbeing of the planet and society? If that resonates with you, then don’t miss next week’s webinar from our climate finance partner-in-impact As You Sow: "Fiduciary 2.0: Introducing My Money My Vote." Presented alongside Premiums for the Planet partner Carbon Collective and shareholder voting platform iconik, this webinar will explore My Money My Vote (MMMV)—a tool that gives retirement plan holders direct proxy voting power. Individuals can now use their money to send a message to every company in their portfolio, rather than simply voting the way management does. Imagine if every U.S. retirement plan adopted MMMV. That’s 100 million Americans with $10 trillion in assets amplifying their voices to demand a livable planet and just society. We, obviously, support any initiative that amplifies the voices of individuals and companies for lasting environmental and social justice impact. So join on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 12 PM ET to learn how your company can drive employee engagement, reduce fiduciary risk, and make your retirement plan a force for good. ???? Let’s shape the future of finance together. Register here: https://bit.ly/47xXrfZ #SustainableFinance #ProxyVoting #MyMoneyMyVote #ClimateAction

???? Big news from Premiums for the Planet! ???? We’re beyond excited to share that our CEO Brad Stevenson and Head of Communications Damien Williamson will be speaking at Sustainable Brands '24 in San Diego Oct. 14-17! They’ll both be diving into the pivotal role insurance can play in tackling climate change, how businesses can easily turn their insurance spend into a force for sustainability, and how to build resilience today to future-proof your business for tomorrow. Attending SB24? We’d love to connect! Be sure to catch their sessions to learn more about how we’re turning premiums into powerful drivers of change. Full schedule here: https://bit.ly/3TnOZKz #SustainableBrands #SB24SanDiego #ClimateAction #InsuranceForGood #PremiumsforthePlanet #Sustainability #Leadership