Patagonia CEO: Business Leaders Must Do Better to Protect Our Planet
Society’s addiction to fossil fuels has caused a climate crisis that’s harming our health—particularly in frontline communities—causing an extinction crisis and creating frequent and deadly extreme weather events. This is not the first and most severe reminder that we have become too dependent on oil and other fossil fuels.
While many companies make promises about reducing the impact of climate change, few do enough to address the seriousness of the problem. It applies to carbon footprints and financial partnerships, as well as business advocacy groups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce or Business Roundtable. We need to hold companies and our elected leaders accountable—and we need to work together.
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To protect the planet and sustain thriving communities, systemic changes are necessary. Business leaders must address the root causes for the climate crisis in order to make a difference. There are many ways we can do this. The first is to eliminate virgin oil from our products by 2030. We also commit to investing in substantial removals of supply chain emissions and reductions, aligned with scientific targets. It’s also important for companies to evaluate their financial partners and commit to those partners who are contributing most to the global energy transition.
Corporate solutions may not always be the best. To help the most vulnerable communities, companies should partner with local groups. By supporting Indigenous and community-led efforts to restore water and land to sequester carbon, and to provide resilience for humans and nature, we can protect the environment.
Lastly, we must end corporate doublespeak: Your company’s political contributions and business affiliations should not sabotage the legislative work being done to tackle the climate crisis.
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