Month: May 2017

Uniting forces to protect the next generation

Father and Daughter

Last month, 3Degrees and Origin Climate united to expand our comprehensive range of renewable energy and climate solutions for clients worldwide. As the leader of our environmental markets business, I am especially excited about this news for two reasons: 1) my personal passion to protect the next generation from the worst impacts of climate change and 2) the opportunity to develop and expand robust markets to protect the environment and create economic prosperity.

Our Commitment to Protecting the Next Generation

In January, my family welcomed a new addition. There is perhaps nothing more humbling than looking at a newborn and realizing how this tiny, vulnerable being is dependent on you and your partner for survival. Whether it is engaging in the slowest, most careful driving in my life as we transported our precious cargo home or taking a more measured path through traffic as I bike to work, parenthood is a poignant reminder of our own mortality and the legacy we bequeath to our children.

When my parental leave ends, my daily work will continue to remind me about the need to protect the next generation. Through my work at 3Degrees, I pursue my personal passion towards harnessing the power of business to solve the environmental, economic, and social issues that climate change presents. The reality and risks of climate change are stark. According to the World Economic Forum’s 2016 Global Risks Report, the failure to mitigate and adapt to climate change is the “most impactful risk for the years to come,” surpassing the risks of weapons of mass destruction and water shortages.

Without fast action, the next generation will inherit a financial burden from climate change that will diminish their opportunities and quality of life. An analysis by the think tank Demos and liberal advocacy group Next Gen projects a loss of $8.8 trillion in the lifetime income of the rising generation—vastly overshadowing even the $1 trillion student college loan debt.

We stand in awe of the tremendous responsibility and opportunity to create an alternative, more sustainable future for our children to inherit.

Despite current politics, markets can drive real change

During my economics courses in graduate school, I was drilled about how negative externalities – like environmental degradation – are passed on to others who did not choose to incur that particular cost. Climate change highlights the inter-generational responsibility to address these externalities at the source – namely the burning of fossil fuels today.

Given this reality, the recent political tone from the top is concerning – particularly that our country needs to choose between creating jobs and protecting the environment. Over the course of my studies and career, I have seen firsthand how the creation of robust markets for renewable energy and carbon can drive investment toward solutions that create jobs, promote growth, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Case in point: the renewable energy sector has been a major source of job growth. The solar workforce increased by 25% in 2016, while wind employment increased by 32%, according to the 2017 U.S. Energy and Employment Report produced by the Department of Energy.

Effectively Navigating and Managing Risks for the Environment

3Degrees has over a decade of experience helping corporations, utilities and other load-serving entities (LSE) understand the risks and opportunities of environmental markets. Underlying this work is the simple goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through support of renewable energy generation and carbon mitigation projects. The addition of the Origin Climate team broadens and deepens our ability to help our customers make an impact.

Together, our efforts fostered meaningful emissions reductions AND economic prosperity. Together we are prepared to tackle the increasingly complex challenges ahead.

We stand at a critical moment in history given the threats to pull out of the Paris climate agreement and renege on the United States climate commitments. This is also the exact opposite of what a majority of Americans want, as noted by our colleagues at NRDC in their observation that “71% of Americans, including 57% of Republicans…support U.S. participation in the accord.” The choice we each have is to take action even in the face of this uncertainty. What we do today will define the world my (mostly) sleeping newborn will inherit.

3Degrees in the news

3D-in-the-news-banner

Fast Company

 

Etsy offsets the entire carbon footprint of its shipping—and it wants other retailers to do the same

04.28.2020


GreenBiz

GreenBiz

 

Corporate renewable energy in the age of COVID-19

03.27.2020


Environment + Energy Leader

 

 

Apple, eBay, Samsung, and Sprint Sign Agreement to Use Power Generated from New Texas Wind Farm

11.6.2019


Smart Energy Decisions

 

 

Apple, eBay, Samsung, Sprint join on Texas wind project

11.5.2019


KTVB logoChannel 7, KTVB 

 

Tamarack Resort operating on 100% clean energy

10.29.2019


OregonLive

 

 

Here are 99 great places to work in Oregon and SW Washington: Top Workplaces 2019

09.26.2019


marketplace logoMarketplace

 

As climate change looms, a booming market for carbon offsets

09.13.2019


Fortune Change the World

Fortune – Change the World

An online retailer makes a carbon-offset promise, and others follow suit.

08.19.2019


CNBC logo CNBC’s Mad Money

 

Etsy CEO says its second-quarter results will prove to be a ‘breakthrough quarter’

08.06.2019


Sustainable Brands

 

 

Q&A: How Akamai, VPPAs Are Paving the Way for a Corporate Clean Energy Future

08.6.2019


Fast Company

 

The 100 Most Creative People in Business 2019: Erin Craig

05.22.2019


Allure Magazine LogoAllure Magazine

 

7 Influential People on Environmental Advocacy in the Beauty Industry

04.22.2019


Fast Company

 

The newest Silicon Valley perk: your own personal carbon offset

04.22.2019


GreenBiz

GreenBiz

 

Here’s how Etsy is tackling e-commerce emissions, a largely unaddressed problem

03.05.2019


MPR News

 

How Etsy is offsetting carbon from its shipping

03.14.2019


wired-logo

Wired

 

Etsy crafts a plan for carbon-neutral online shopping

02.27.2018


Fast Company

 

Etsy just became the first global e-commerce company to offset all of its shipping emissions

02.27.2019


adweek-logoAdweek

 

How Etsy Leapfrogged Amazon in the Race to Go Carbon Neutral

02.27.2019


environmental-leader-logoEnvironmental Leader

 

Etsy Offsets 100% of Carbon Emissions From Product Shipping

03.01.2019


LA Times logo

Los Angeles Times

 

Can climate-friendly cuisine help save the planet? Welcome to Zero Foodprint week

09.12.2018


Mother Jones

 

This Company Wants to Use Cow Manure to Offset Aircraft Emissions

11.25.2018


wired-logo

Wired

 

Stop worrying about buying carbon offsets for your flights

11.20.2018


Curbed Atlanta

Curbed Atlanta

 

 

Partnership aims to put more electric vehicles in Atlanta’s rideshare market

11.01.2018


GreenBiz

GreenBiz

 

Meet Lyft’s first head of social impact and its first sustainability director

10.22.2018


GreenBiz

GreenBiz

 

Can Lyft reclaim cities for people, not cars?

08.21.2018


Fast Company

 

Lyft: “We are now a fully carbon-neutral company”

09.11.2018


GreenBiz GreenBiz

 

Apple, Akamai, Etsy and Swiss Re get together to buy clean power

08.09.2018


energy-manager-today      Energy Manager Today

Apple, Akamai, Etsy and Swiss Re Announce Renewable Energy Agreement, Plan to Build Wind and Solar Farms in the US

08.07.2018


renewables-now      Renewables Now

Apple-led group plans 290 MW of renewables in Illinois, Virginia

08.07.2018


9to5-mac-logo      9 to 5 Mac

Apple partners with Akamai, Etsy, and Swiss Re to push renewable energy efforts in Illinois and Virginia

08.06.2018


Smart Energy Decisions     Smart Energy Decisions

Apple, Akamai, Etsy, Swiss Re collaborate on RE aggregation

08.06.2018


bloomberg-news     Bloomberg News Online

Lyft Says Every Ride Will Be Carbon Neutral With Clean-Air Plan

04.19.2018


the-atlantic      The Atlantic Online

Why Lyft Is Going Carbon-Neutral, and Uber Isn’t

04.19.2018


cnn-online     CNN Online

Lyft makes its trips carbon neutral in bid to fight climate change

04.19.2018


use-today      USA Today Online

Every Lyft ride to be offset by a carbon credit to reduce global warming

04.19.2018


     U.S. News & World Report

Lyft to Offset Emissions From Rides With Projects Combating Climate Change

04.19.2018


     Mashable

Lyft offsets carbon emissions, but still relies on gas-guzzling cars

04.21.2018


the-verge      The Verge

Lyft will invest “millions” in effort to become completely carbon neutral

04.19.2018


      SF Gate

Lyft cleans up; Hulu worth $8.7 billion; bogus Starbucks coupons

04.20.2018


tech-crunch      TechCrunch

Lyft invests millions of dollars to offset its effect on climate change

04.19.2018