Uncovering Powerful Solutions to the Climate Crisis

A few weeks ago, P&G announced that we’ve reached a significant sustainability milestone – we’ve achieved our 2020 sustainability goal of purchasing 100% renewable electricity in the U.S. and Canada ahead of schedule and extended it to Western Europe. Coming on the heels of September’s UN Climate Week in New York, the announcement inspired me to reflect on what struck me most about the discussions I engaged in with global leaders, and about our shared vision for the future.

I spent that week surrounded by my peers in the private sector, and a range of critical partners who help make our work in sustainability even more meaningful. I ended the week inspired by our collective efforts so far, and by our ability, our potential, to do even more. Of all the thoughtful conversations I had the privilege to join, there were three big areas that stood out to me as major drivers to accelerate the pace and scale of solutions to fight the climate crisis: cities around the world, nature itself, and passionate employees.

The Power of Cities – Leading the charge of sustainable and inclusive growth

Over the past several weeks, I have had the honor of meeting incredible and inspiring leaders from cities and local governments around the world, including Fernando Medina, mayor of Lisbon (winner of the 2020 European Green Capital Award); Gavin Newsom, California state governor; Mark Chambers, director of the New York City Mayor’s Office of Sustainability; Diana Alarcón, Mexico City international affairs coordinator; former Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson, now global ambassador for the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, and Mark Watts, executive director of C40 Cities.

In meeting, and sharing ideas, with this group of sustainability leaders, it became even more evident to me that cities will be the ignition points for major system transformations. At a time when challenges to intergovernmental dialogue are mounting, cities are stepping up together in powerful networks to share best practices for sustainable action, and to find practical, livable solutions to the planetary challenges that are now at their very doorsteps, and to become cleaner, more regenerative and more inclusive. 

As organizations continue to explore new pathways and partnerships that minimize our collective global footprint and create a brighter future for urban populations, we are relying more and more on the agility and ingenuity of cities to help drive critical actions and pilot game-changing initiatives, such as P&G’s 50L Home program.

The Power of Nature-Based Solutions – Forests are taking center stage

While our planet is experiencing the impact of climate change, it can play a significant role in enabling solutions. Not only do we rely on nature to help produce more energy from renewable sources like wind, solar, hydro or geothermal, we can also count on nature-based solutions to help address challenges with water and air. Research published in 2017 by 16 institutions, led by the Nature Conservancy, indicates that natural climate solutions, such as preserving and restoring our forests and peatlands, can provide up to 37% of the emissions reduction needed by 2030 to ensure that our global temperature increase stays below the 2-degree mark. Forests also provide answers to water quality and quantity, inviting rain and helping to filter rainwater.

At P&G we are focused on how we can help protect and enhance the forests we depend upon. Just this month, our Family Care brands announced industry-leading sustainable forestry commitments, including increasing the number of forest acres that are FSC-certified, increasing our use of recycled fibers, investing in researching and developing fiber alternatives that can be used in our products and helping the Arbor Day Foundation plant 2 million trees as part of the California Wildfire Restoration Project.  

The Power of Our People – Unleashing employee activism

At P&G, employees in every part of the company are pushing us to do better every day. In just the past few months, I’ve received an unprecedented number of emails from employees with suggestions about how P&G can accelerate progress to become a force for good and growth around the world.  

An example of employee activism that I love to share is Sarah and Sunny, two women engineers who designed a simple, vinegar-based formula that inspired a whole line of household cleaning products named 9 Elements. Their innovation all started when Sarah was on maternity leave and became determined to create products that would be more suitable at home and work. Sunny, having a background in biomedical engineering and personal experience with alternative and holistic medicine, was passionate about solutions that could help others. After realizing that the idea of simplicity in products was resonating with others, Sarah and Sunny joined forces and after six years, many names and a variety of formulas, 9 Elements was born.

Sarah and Sunny prove that the days of top down “employee engagement” are counted. At all levels, we must enable employees to be true agents of change and to recognize the role they play in driving empowerment and accountability. Long live employee activism!

Using Our Powers for Good

As I continue to reflect on all that was shared and learned during UN Climate Week, I am filled with hope for our future. There is so much power in our hands – as individuals, as leaders, as partners and as stewards of this planet – to do good and enact positive change. With each new goal we set, each milestone we achieve and each new opportunity to do more and do better, I grow more confident in our shared power to create a more sustainable world for generations to come. I invite businesses of all sizes to practice courageous leadership and push the envelope in identifying solutions to climate change – only together can we accelerate progress and realize the future we all hope for.