It’s Never Too Late to Show Up: Why Leadership Matters in the Climate Crisis Countdown

With scientists increasingly worried that we’ll fail to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels — a limit they have long warned could have dire global consequences once crossed — it’s tempting to take on an attitude of nihilistic detachment. After all, we’ve gone so far in the wrong direction. It must be too late to show up.

But the truth is, the only thing worse than a missed goal is no goal at all. If we give up now, certain that we’re too far gone to make a change, we’ll doom ourselves to the direst warnings of climate alarmists. There is a better future waiting for us, if we choose to build it. There is a premium on leadership that knows how to make that choice.

Don’t Be Afraid to Show Up Late

Attendees of the “Fighting Food Loss & Waste for a Resilient Future,” segment of NY Climate Week might have expected this doom and gloom attitude to prevail. After all, with the world’s food system responsible for almost a third of energy consumption around the globe, reducing food’s emission intensity is critical to the conference’s stated goal of achieving a net zero world by 2050, and there’s still such a long way for us all to go.

It’s true that among some conference attendees, a sober attitude prevailed. As we edge closer and closer to 2025, the year some of the first goals were set for, we are faced with the disappointing reality that we’re still far from where we need to be. While discouraging, there was also reason for continued optimism as some who are short of their goal still see it within striking distance.

Nevertheless, there is definitely a shared sense of urgency and realization that we have to act based on where we are now. Helpless to change the decisions of the past hundred years of industrialization, it’s more important than ever to look to the future, to what we can do now. What levers are in front of us for us to pull?

As we face the specter of climate change, we need leaders who can show us the way. Two companies, Carnival Corporation & plc. and Rivian, give us models of how to do just that.

Carnival Corporation & plc: An Abundance Mindset

During her panel discussion at the “Fighting Food Loss & Waste for a Resilient Future,” at NY Climate Week, Jan Swartz, EVP, Strategic Operations of Carnival Corporation & plc, shared what she had learned about reducing food waste on the cruise operator’s family of ships.

Swartz explained that many cruise guests tend to be highly value-motivated and expect a strong return on their vacation investment. Cruises include meals and entertainment in the purchase price so guests enjoy many culinary delights from breakfast buffets to midnight snacks.?

It’s hard to celebrate abundance without waste, as cruisers pack their plate with more than they will actually eat, or are handed treats and nibbles they don’t really want by conscientious staff members looking to care for their guests.

Swartz and the Carnival Corporation team members tackled this issue of food waste on board by starting with their company culture. Because all the environmentally friendly decision making in the world will fall short without a deeper culture shift.?

So on Costa Cruises, one of their nine cruise line brands, the leadership started with the culture. They trained their teams on new ways to care for guests while reducing waste by re-designing menus, optimizing buffet layouts and using technology to identify patterns. Internal campaigns like “Food too good to waste” helped educate and motivate the team. This culture-first approach has enabled Costa to meet their good reduction goals and become a more responsible way to indulge onboard cruise ships.

Rivian: Embrace the Inevitable

Culture is critical, but what do we do when we face challenges along the way? For answers, we looked to R.J .Scaringe, the CEO of Rivian. As a leader in the world of electric cars, Scaringe finds him repeatedly faced with the same question over and over: how do your account for the slowdown in the purchase of electric cars?

In reality, we know that the end of internal combustion cars as the standard option is coming sooner than most people think. When we take a long-term view, electric cars aren’t only necessary, they’re the right way to drive in a world where cars release approximately 1.5 billion metric tons of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere every year.

That’s why Scaringe keeps his eye on the big picture, framing quarterly performance and financial results in context of the long-term investments, decisions and questions that will matter down the line. How are they positioning themselves to be leaders in an electrified world? This focus on preparing for, and responding to, a brighter future, rather than focusing on the day-to-day struggles of sales metrics and data is what makes Scaringe a true leader, rather than just a manager, and is central to what we can learn from him about forging ahead during these dark days.?

We need to make a change as a society, as companies and as humanity as a whole. We need leaders like Swartz and Scaringe to do it. And by concentrating on those big picture goals and keeping our focus on the things that really matter, we’ll be able to move towards a more sustainable future for us all.