April 22, 2014

! This year you started bringing bags with you to the grocery store. This year you donated to the Sierra Club. This year you started a recycling program at work. You started to take mass transit or walk to work and you planted some trees or a garden. Thank you. Take pride in what you’ve done. Just don’t pat yourself on the back too hard.!

! Today is Earth Day 2014 and we need to have a serious conversation about the impact you’re making. You know that climate change is a problem and you’ve made efforts to lessen your impact and that’s good. More people should do the kinds of things that you’re doing. Unfortunately, your impact has been limited and that’s worrisome. It’s worrisome because the first commandment of addressing the climate crisis is “Thou Shall Not Fool Thyself.” The time has come to tell you that the world needs you to make a bigger impact. This is your guide to three things you can do, now, that will have a lasting, meaningful impact on the environment and that can inspire other people to do the same. Ready? !

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by Brian Reynolds Corporate Sustainability & Resilience Strategist

email: gps.llc@icloud.com | tweet @BrianofNJ

It’s NOT about planting trees.!Three things you can do this Earth Day that will make a real impact on climate change.

April 22, 2014

1: Let your money do the talking. If you’ve gotten stuck in the market deciding if the expensive “green” detergent is the better option you’re focusing on the wrong thing. Here’s a better strategy: Let your investments not your purchases speak for you. Most of you reading this have some investment set aside for retirement. A 401k, an IRA, some mutual fund, etc. Chances are your investment advisor has some of your money invested in carbon companies: oil, coal & natural gas (or their infrastructure) and carbon is the biggest single driver of climate change. Why is your retirement savings going to support companies that are making your retirement years more risky? Think about it. It’s kind of like planning to get in shape while you put ice cream on the shopping list.!

Action: Contact your investment advisor and tell him you

want a safe alternative to fossil fuel companies. No need to be risky. No need to invest in untested start-ups. Just reallocate from companies that are making the planet worse to companies with a practical view of the future. If you’re really ambitious tell your advisor to prioritize companies that are hedged against climate change and have a price for carbon on their books.!

Why: Like it or not our economy is based on the investment

markets. When those markets value something they become a far more potent agent for change than any single consumer action. The shift away from fossil fuels has to be made at that level. You may spend hundreds of dollars this year making environmentally-conscious consumer purchases but you’ll make a much bigger impact if you shift the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars you may currently have invested away from fossil fuels. This process, divestment, was credited by Nelson Mandela as having played a key role in ending apartheid in South Africa because it puts the enormous pressure of the market on the problem.!

It also highlights the obvious. How exposed you are to a shock to your savings as more and more cities, states & countries put regulations in place to curb the use of fossil fuels. Why park your life savings with companies that are making your life harder?!

Be safe. Be smart. Get out of fossil fuels.!�2

April 22, 2014

2: Pick up the phone. Tired of promises from politicians? Me too. Tired of feeling like the economy and politics are rigged to serve only deep-pocketed donors? Me too. The thing you can’t forget is that those deep pockets are needed to buy ads to win votes. So although money in government is a problem, the threat of losing votes is an even more powerful motivator.!

Action: Call up your Member of Congress and Senators.

The numbers are easy to find. When you connect with the office:!

A. Politely introduce yourself.!

B. Ask the candidate’s position on solving the climate crisis.!

C. Let them know you vote on this issue and ask that s/he introduce or support a bill that regulates carbon emissions.!

E. Let them know that you’ll be calling back and that if the !Legislator doesn’t take some action that you’ll be changing your vote and volunteering for the campaign of a challenger.!

F. Follow up. Reward them by volunteering some time to their next campaign or punish them by changing your vote.!

Why: This is one time in life when the proverbial squeaky

wheel does actually get the grease. Yes, money pollutes politics and well-monied donors do have exceptional influence but ask yourself a simple question. “How many people (that you know well) have a relationship with their Member of Congress?” The number isn’t high. Become one of those people. Ask politely for action from the people we’ve elected. Hold them accountable by telling them what you’re doing for them (or because of them). This strategy works, indeed it’s the only thing that’s guaranteed to work.!

Our Senators and Members of Congress don’t live in ivory towers. Often the only calls they get are from an angry public. Those calls are frustrated and brief. Build a relationship and when you do remind them that you have lots of friends that vote just like you. Active citizenship will strike fear into the heart of a politician faster than the threat of a donor pulling out. Give your legislator cover to do the right thing.

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April 22, 2014

3: Talk about it at dinner… …and the BBQ, and the PTA meeting, and in restaurant, and with your kids, and anywhere else. The climate crisis grows with our silence and shrinks with our conversation. !

Action: One big ally of those that oppose action on climate

change is that they rely on us not talking about the future. They rely our silence and our short-sightedness. Change that.!

It’s ok to talk about the future; to worry out loud over a hamburgers and fries. Let people know that you’ve changed the way you invest because it’s more powerful than making a donation. Let them know you’re building a relationship with the local congressional staff and that you’ll be telling everyone soon whether Congressman So-And-So is a “man of the people” or a jerk who doesn’t know how to listen to his district.!

It’s ok to question if your farm will survive, if your town will have enough water or if your state will be prepared for the changes in flood, fire, drought & storm patterns. Where is all the disaster relief going to come from, anyway? Not only is it ok to ask, it’s patriotic. You do no one a favor by shrinking, holding your beliefs close and not talking openly with neighbors, family and co-workers.!

Why: The biggest insurance companies in the world have (and

continue to) change their policies and rates to adjust for the risks of climate change. The US military has (and continues to) changed it’s threat assessments and readiness posture to adjust for the risks of climate change. The stock markets & Securities and Exchange Commission have (and continue to) revise rules that govern how a company must expose it’s climate-related risks to investors.!

One of life’s elegant truths is that there’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. Speaking liberates others to speak themselves. It gives them the unconscious permission to ask the same questions and that… that is what the earth needs in great measure.

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Like this? Hate it? Feel free to reach out and let me know. My name is Brian Reynolds. I’m a business consultant that specializes in Climate Resilience, Sustainability & Innovation. I’d be delighted to hear from you. My email is right at the top.

Thank you for reading, I really appreciate it.