There are many reasons to believe the re-election of Donald Trump will be a major setback to climate progress. His previous record, recent campaign, ties to the fossil fuel industry, and perpetuation of misinformation, like the strange idea that wind turbines kill whales, all suggest we’re in for a radical reversal of America’s climate commitment. 

I’ve had many conversations with climate leaders since the election and a different narrative beyond this obvious fear became clear: Climate change doesn’t care who is President. Its impacts will be impossible to ignore. Business leadership and global competitiveness are now inextricably linked to navigating the climate transition. And, a robust ecosystem of influential actors domestically and abroad makes a complete abandonment of climate action unlikely. 

Today, I’m joined by two people who bring policy expertise at the federal, state, and local levels. Zach Friedman is the Senior Director of Federal Policy at Ceres, a nonprofit organization that works alongside investors and companies to advocate for sustainability. Caroline Spears is the Founder of Climate Cabinet, an organization that helps local candidates become successful climate champions. I found this conversation to be full of nuance and more uplifting than I expected.  

Our new reality is sobering and there’s no denying we face new challenges. There is hope, however, and it comes with the fortitude and savvy people like Zach and Caroline have already been demonstrating. This savvy will require telling different stories about climate, the undeniable business case, and the power of all of us who stay invested.

In today’s episode, we cover:

• [03:55] Background on Caroline’s & Zack’s roles at Climate Cabinet & Ceres
• [06:35] Potential challenges & opportunities for federal climate policy under the new administration
• [10:21] The implications of the U.S. potentially disengaging from international climate agreements
• [13:44] The critical role of state and local governments in driving climate progress
• [19:24] Priorities of Climate Cabinet & Ceres in the wake of the election results
• [26:11] How to support climate progress

Resources Mentioned

• Ceres
• Climate Cabinet

Connect with Zach Friedman & Caroline Spears

• Connect with Zach on LinkedIn
• Connect with Caroline on LinkedIn

Connect with Jason Rissman

• On LinkedIn
• On Twitter

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