Why business and sustainability are crucial in climate reporting

Hello and welcome to the AP Climate Watch newsletter. I am Peter Prengaman , global climate and environment news director. Today I’m going to write about the intersection of businesses and sustainability, an area crucial to combat climate change but often overlooked in news coverage.

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When you hear the word “sustainability” in the context of climate change, I’m going to bet that you zone out.

The six-syllable word has a wonky ring to it, and its definition is broad enough that it can mean a lot of things. Adding to the problem is that journalists don’t write a lot of stories about sustainability, in part out of reluctance to be a booster for businesses, or worry they’ll be hoodwinked by environmental claims. There are so many claims being made that it can be hard, though not impossible, to sort out what is real and what is bogus. Some journalists also fear that readers won’t be interested in these stories.

No matter the reason, avoiding stories focused on business and sustainability isn’t the right approach. Why? Because the intersection of these areas is crucial. Many businesses of all kinds are huge emitters of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, which go into the atmosphere and heat the planet. Some multi-national businesses are so large that emissions from their operations rival that of entire countries.

Put another way, climate change can’t truly be addressed without businesses. No doubt, great strides are being made in a transition to renewable wind and solar power, which don’t produce planet-heating gases. But a true transition can’t simply be unplugging energies from fossil fuels—oil, gas and coal—and plugging in renewables. Instead, as business leaders serious about sustainability will say, there must be major shifts in how they operate. Sustainability goes way beyond just energy. It’s water use, materials to make products and how products are transported, among many other things.

The Associated Press has been steadily increasing sustainability coverage, as in today’s world it’s impossible to talk about business without also talking about climate change. We have looked at what major companies like Lego are doing to find more sustainable materials , how 星巴克 is trying to change the cups consumers use for coffee and the way detergent makers are reducing water by selling concentrated bottles, among many other things. We have also written stories about companies claiming more than they are accomplishing .

Strong journalism can be done on the sustainability efforts of businesses when reporters ask many questions—and walk away from a story if a company doesn’t want to answer. Consumers can and often do ask businesses for details of their operations, and as readers they can also have a role in pushing news organizations to increase their coverage.

So, what stories on sustainability and business do you want to read? Share your ideas in the comments below.

Check out all our climate coverage here

Here’s what else you need to know

? Tribes in Nevada are pushing to have the site of a massacre to be recognized as a national monument .

?? With an eye toward the elections, the Biden administration has delayed consideration of liquid natural gas projects .

One big number:

20 million tons

The amount of chilled natural gas per year that would be exported from Calcasieu Pass 2 project, or CP2 , along Louisiana’s Gulf Coast, if it goes forward. The Biden administration has paused consideration of it and other LNG proposals to better analyze climate change risks.

Thank you for reading this newsletter. We’ll be back next week. For questions, suggestions or ideas please email [email protected]

This newsletter was written by Peter Prengaman , global news director for climate and environment, and produced by climate engagement manager Natalia Gutiérrez .

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