Some sobering news on climate change was released this past month. A new report warns that the temperature goals set in Paris will become nearly impossible to reach should emissions continue to rise beyond 2020, giving us three years to make some serious changes.

There can be no lingering questions about the importance of our work together. The time to address climate change is right NOW.

The momentum continues! Fourteen new companies have stepped up to make climate commitments in the last month. We are thrilled to welcome the following companies to the fold:

It’s encouraging to see so many retailers engaging in bold climate action because they serve as a crucial link between the consumer and the manufacturer! A big thank you to these fourteen companies - and all the rest of you - for doing your part to help reverse climate change.

Click here for a complete list of the companies that have made commitments to date.

This month we are spotlighting the climate practices of Annie’s, makers of organic and natural products sold across the U.S. and Canada.  Annie’s commitment to the environment dates back to 1989 when Annie Withey co-founded the company with a mission to nourish people and planet through honest foods. Since then, Annie’s has tackled various environmental issues and has prioritized climate change through policy, industry leadership, and most importantly, in their own supply chain.  “As a food company, we recognize our dependence on thriving natural resources to grow the food that goes into our products every day. Agriculture is one of the biggest drivers for climate change, but it can also be one of its greatest solutions. We strive to be part of the solution,” states Shauna Sadowski, Annie’s VP of Sustainability and Industry Relations.   Read More Here

		According to Climate Central, May set a record for the highest recorded atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2). ”Carbon dioxide peaked at 409.65 parts per million for the year, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration… Prior to the Industrial Revolution, carbon dioxide stood at roughly 280 ppm.”
		Volvo goes ELECTRIC! Big news from Volvo who recently announced that it will put a “historic end” to manufacturing cars with only internal combustion engines, vowing to switch all its models to either all or partially battery-powered by 2019. Learn More
		Trump Administration’s attempt to slow methane rule shot down. A court recently ruled that the Trump administration must begin enforcing the methane rule passed by the Obama administration that limits methane emissions from oil and gas operations while also giving drillers the incentive to capture and sell that fuel to manufacturers and chemical makers. This regulation is an excellent example of the HUGE impact policy can have in reducing global warming gases. Learn more here.
		Did the Trump administration’s decision to quit the Paris Agreement actually boost interest in fighting climate change?! If this chart is accurate, it appears that the White House’s decision to pull out of the Paris Agreement may have sparked more widespread interest in fighting climate change than ever before… Learn more

In partnership with Rethink Food Waste Through Economics and Data (ReFED) and with support from The Rockefeller Foundation, Food Tank will present Focusing on Food Loss and Waste, a one-day summit in New York on September 13, 2017. Learn more and register here.

If you missed last month’s webinar, The Fast and the Furious: A Food Company’s Guide to Reducing Transportation Emissions, you can view it here.

Register Now for the Next Climate Collaborative Webinar!

Right Side Up: The Lowdown on Packaging Lifecycle Climate Impacts and Opportunities

Tuesday, August 1st, 1:00 PM EDT/10:00 AM PDT

REGISTER NOW

Packaging is a top environmental concern of consumers, and a significant contributor to a product and company’s climate impact. In this webinar, Nancy Hirshberg of Hirshberg Strategic will brief attendees on the climate impact of packaging across its lifecycle, and identify strategies to address the impacts. She will share examples of company initiatives to improve the climate performance of packaging and discuss the challenges balancing improving the climate performance of packaging with other needs such as meeting consumer expectations and advancing other aspects of sustainability of packaging. This 1.5 hour webinar will provide attendees with a deep dive into these topics while providing ample time for Q&A. We look forward to having you there!

Register for the FREE August 1st webinar here.

Look for the Climate Collaborative at the following events:

• 2017 INFRA Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN, July 15-17, 2017
• National Co+Op Grocers Convergence, Minneapolis, MN, July 17-19, 2017
• Natural Products Expo East, Baltimore, MD, September 13-16, 2017

Share Your Story

Have you had any climate impact successes you think we should know about? Send them our way and we’ll make sure that your lessons learned benefit the whole community. 

Send us any blog or social media posts your company publishes about your experience reducing your impact on the climate and we’ll spread the word!

If you haven't already made a commitment to Climate Action please visit the Climate Collaborative web site and check out the nine areas in which your company can make a commitment to bold climate action.

We are extremely grateful to the generous donors who make it possible to keep participation in the Climate Collaborative completely free of charge. This month we are thrilled to welcome Cheer Pack N.A. as a Climate Collaborative Leader level donor! Cheer Pack is a manufacturer of spouted pouches used in the packaging of baby food, children’s snacks, yogurts, pet foods, dressings, condiments and other food and non-food items. Since most of our industry’s climate impact is in the supply chain, having suppliers like Cheerpack at the table is vital and we’re very excited to have them on board. “Cheer Pack N.A. is excited to support Climate Collaborative and do our part to assist your great efforts!” says Al Madonna, Cheer Pack’s Director of Marketing. Thank you so much for your support, Cheer Pack!

We are also honored to announce an additional contribution of $20,000 from Decker and Jessica Rolph Fund of RSF Social Finance. Not only is Jessica one of the co-founders of the Climate Collaborative, the generous financial support that she and her husband, Decker have provided has also been truly instrumental in making everything we do possible. Thank you, again!