A post-election rallying cry for corporate sustainability professionals

It took a while to find my voice this morning, but the photo from my trip last July to Glacier National Park heading this column helped. The image reinforces why I write about corporate climate action and climate tech solutions. It’s simple, I care about preserving nature and biodiversity for future generations.

There are so many things I want to say in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s re-election as President of the United States — especially about how I feel about my value as a woman after this vote — but I’ll stick to one narrative. It’s this: Corporate sustainability professionals have seen this movie before, and they stayed the course through Trump’s first term. I remember because I was around writing about a lot of great corporate work. Just three examples:

• Microsoft launched its “carbon negative” agenda, which helped spur early adoption of credits for carbon removal solutions.
• Walmart adopted its zero emissions plan.
• Corporations funded the addition of more than 142 gigawatts of solar and wind power to the U.S. grid from 2017 to 2022.

Time to write a different script

I’m clear-eyed about the struggles many companies face in actually reducing their greenhouse gas emissions without the help of creative carbon accounting. Microsoft is far behind its 2030 ambition but it’s holding firm to its target, because its customers and employees expect that. 

I’m confident strategies to address corporate risks related to climate change — emissions reductions, water conservation, waste management, and nature conservation and restoration — will become even more mission-critical during the next Trump presidency.

There’s simply too much corporate value at stake. Missing the Paris Agreement goal of holding global temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius could result in an 18 percent hit to global GDP by 2050, according to the Boston Consulting Group. The world’s biggest companies face a risk of $1 trillion, suggests separate research from CDP.

But the script sustainability professionals have been using for the past decade needs revisions. Three initial thoughts about what to prioritize, plus I’d suggest re-reading the piece I wrote about transition planning when Trump was first elected in 2016. It holds up.

Communicate with clarity and optimism

The public is sick of doom and gloom. It’s exhausted with negativity. Sustainability professionals need to demonstrate, unequivocally, that emissions reductions and the clean energy transition are good for people and for the economy.

That’s true both internally and externally. As someone shared on my LinkedIn feed: “May I not become intoxicated with despair, disgust, rage, or revenge, and instead allow my reactions to be a gateway to empathy and wise compassion for all beings.” 

Both greenwashing and greenhushing are real, and both need to stop. The Securities and Exchange Commission disclosure rule is probably on permanent hold. The European Union’s leadership in requiring a more standard form of transparency through the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive will level the playing field.  

Tie emissions reductions to business innovation

A few years ago, heating, ventilation and air conditioning company Trane Technologies promised to help its customers cut 1 gigaton of emissions by 2030 through changes to its equipment. So far, it’s already delivered 157 million metric tons while posting double-digital sales growth over the past two years.

Another example I’m studying is Philips, which is winning sales with hospitals because of its emissions reduction features. One of its accounts expects to cut emissions 47 percent by replacing patient monitors. Another facility anticipates a per-exam reduction of 24 percent from using Philips imaging technology.

There are many more examples of how sustainability can drive sales. I want to report on them.

Speak up on policy, especially at the subnational level

The president-elect will roll back as many federal environmental regulations and incentives as possible. He’ll fire brilliant experts across all government agencies, according to the blueprint he’s likely to follow from Project 2025. There will be fights in Congress over the Inflation Reduction Act, although it should survive. But states can and will step into the breach, not just California and New York, to name two usual suspects. Lean into these realities and make your position known. 

As of August, 23 states and the District of Columbia had set economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions targets. Illinois, Minnesota and Washington stand out for support of sustainable aviation fuel. Georgia and Nevada are negotiating new clean power tariffs with the likes of Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Nucor. Moreover, despite the red wave, a number of notable state measures were approved on Nov. 5 including:

• A transportation sales tax in South Carolina that will support $94 million in land conservation.
• A Louisiana measure that directs federal revenue from energy production to coastal protection and restoration.

As we all process this new reality, I’d love to hear how corporate sustainability leaders are rewriting their scripts. Will your company prioritize differently? Stay the course? Send your comments and ideas to heather@trellis.net.

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