People ask me if I believe Net Zero goals will keep us from destroying more of our environment if more companies and governments sign on. My answer is, unfortunately: No.
But there is something that I believe will address the ecological and societal harms caused by corporate activities, enabled by governments at all levels. In this podcast episode, I share what is needed for Net Zero and other climate goals to have a positive impact.
I also provide evidence to back up my answer, using real-life examples with my own federal government and a couple global companies I have examined up close.
This is a podcast version of a written post. The original post with all references (and the comfy blankie made from that mess of knots) is linked below.
I mention a couple asterisks in the podcast that feel important to write out here, too:
* I do not currently have any commercial relationship with the second company I mention, Suzano. However, I conducted several rounds of sustainability-related advisory work with Fibria (which later merged with Suzano) between 2014 and 2018, and I am friends with several people either formerly or currently in strategic roles within the company. They did not know I was writing this piece and had no editorial input. ***
** It can be hard to find investor presentations but I have a go-to spot, Seeking Alpha. Instead of wasting time scratching around company websites, I go straight there. This is an affiliate link. If you sign on to the premium version (which I did years ago and have been very happy with it—hence becoming an affiliate) I earn a small commission.
*** I hope they still want to be friends.
Erratum: In the final mention (@15:29) of Suzano’s 179.4 hectares of restored habitat, I say “acre” when I should have said “hectare”.
Net Zero: a knot of naught
People ask me if I believe Net Zero goals will keep us from destroying more of our environment if more companies and governments sign on. My answer is, unfortunately: No. There is one thing I believe will help to address the ecological and societal harms that are playing out through our industrial activities, enabled by many governments at all levels. I’ll share it off the top so you can take it or leave it. (I expect most will leave it. If you stick around you get a nice cozy handknit blankie as a reward, though.)
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