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Opinion

19 Sep 2017

Author:
Jillianne Lyon, Intern & Christen Dobson, Senior Project Lead & Researcher, Business & Human Rights Resource Centre

As the US government steps back on climate change, here are a few actions business should take to protect our planet

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Business and government leaders are gathering in New York City for the UN General Assembly week and Climate Week NYC, and there is a lot to be discussed. President Trump’s announced withdrawal from the Paris Agreement in June marked a profound setback in the fight against climate change, and US companies now have a greater responsibility to “step up” where the US government has stepped back.

The consequences of inaction are high. The destruction in the US gulf caused by Hurricane Harvey killed at least 82 people and tens of thousands were displaced. There is increasing evidence that the severity and frequency of natural disasters are at least in part linked to human activity. Hurricane Irma followed only two weeks later, setting a record for the second strongest hurricane winds in recorded history.  Its destructive path up the coast of Florida marked one of the largest evacuations in US history, nearly 7 million people were warned to seek shelter. Record-breaking storms like Harvey and Irma are expected to become the new norm in a world of climate change. On average, models predict an increase in the strongest (Category 4 and 5) hurricanes by late this century.

Extreme weather disproportionately impacts those who are most marginalised and have the least access to resources in our societies. Discriminatory housing policies often place low-income families and people of color in flood-prone areas with deficient infrastructure. Houston, one of the most racially segregated cities in America, spent more money on infrastructure in wealthier neighborhoods than in poorer ones. Poor and marginalised communities often lack the financial means, social connections, and support to safely evacuate. Individuals with disabilities rarely have their needs met away from home, and immigrants who are undocumented may fear deportation if they seek assistance.

Some American politicians continue to deny any link between the severity of these hurricanes and climate change. Scott Pruitt, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, stated that discussing climate change amidst the storms was ‘insensitive.’ In abandoning its climate responsibilities, the American government is contributing to even greater risks for those most affected by climate change, at home and across the globe. The urgency surrounding global warming will not hold for gradual shifts in policy or administrations.

There are many ways for the private sector to prioritize sustainability and mitigate climate change. A simple first step? Disassociate from trade groups and organizations that actively lobby against environmental protection and human rights. Companies like Apple, Google, and Facebook publicly criticized President Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement; CEOs of Disney and Tesla quit Trump’s advisory board as a result. However, many companies claiming to respect environmental rights still hold ties to coalitions that lobbied for the pullout in the first place. The Industrial Energy Consumers of America (IECA), alleging to represent trillions of US dollars in member companies, was one of these coalitions. When contacted, several companies like Alcoa, Dow, and Kimberly-Clark reaffirmed their commitment to sustainability. Notably, Eastman Chemical Company discontinued its IECA membership, as it couldn’t reconcile continued participation in the coalition with its own commitment to sustainability.

Companies should join positive associations that recognize the private sector’s role in transitioning to a low carbon economy. “We Are Still In,” “We Mean Business,” and “Low Carbon USA” are examples of coalitions that represent trillions of US dollars committing to the Paris Agreement terms. These associations pledge to reduce carbon emissions, scale up renewables, and drive the business sector towards renewable energy.

However, membership only goes so far. Businesses also need to set ambitious goals to reduce their own contributions to negative environmental impacts. Mars Inc has committed to invest $1 billion in its “Sustainable in a Generation Plan”, a new initiative to further cut greenhouse gas emissions across its supply chain, reduce poverty in the production of its crops and make new commitments to scientific research. According to Mars’ CEO Grant F. Reid, “If we are to help deliver on the targets agreed in Paris and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, there has to be a huge step change. While many companies have been working on being more sustainable, the current level of progress is nowhere near enough.”

These are just three recommendations for companies to make critical contributions to protecting our planet and respecting human rights. By disassociating from coalitions whose positions are incongruous with their own sustainability commitments, collaborating with their peers to make progress toward a low carbon economy, and strengthening their own commitments to environmental protection and human rights, US businesses can help prevent irreversible damage to our planet and worsening negative impacts on those most affected by climate change.