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March 2021 Newsletter

The big announcement this month is that the CC is seeking a new Executive Director, and we want your help finding the best candidate out there! You can find the job ad here. Please share it on your LinkedIn and through your personal networks. We know this community has fabulous relationships with leaders who could usher our work into its next phase, so we thank you in advance for helping us in this search! I'll be stepping back in late April to take on a new role with the Rocky Mountain Institute as their Corporate Engagement Director, and I will truly miss working with every one of you!

However, this won’t be slowing down our programming or work around that transition, starting with a fabulous virtual climate programming session at Expo West--RSVP here if you haven't already! You can also expect to continue hearing from us about new resources, webinars, and advocacy opportunities. Our fantastic team of Caitlin Oleson, Programs and Operations Manager, CC intern Mackenzie Marcotte, CC Co-founder and Advisor Nancy Hirshberg, and our fantastic board, will be carrying our work forward until our new leadership steps in. 

I can't wait to see what's next in our work--you have all given me so much hope in our collective ability to transform how the food system tackles climate change. Thank you for being part of this community!

Have a great weekend, and take care,

Erin

SNAPSHOT


Welcome to the newest companies making commitments, True Purpose Brands, Ancient Nutrition, LesserEvil, and Willy Street Co-op! Click here for a complete list of the companies that have made commitments to date.

SPOTLIGHT: Keeping Climate a Top Priority Amid COVID: An Interview with Outpost Natural Foods

 

Our 2020 National Co+op Grocers Climate Collaborative Awards looked a bit different last year as we pivoted to a virtual celebration. We're continuing the celebration by profiling our 2020 winners. Our second interview is with Kurt Baehmann, Sustainability Manager of Outpost Natural Foods, winner of the 2020 Outstanding Company Award. Read their profile here to hear their past year in climate action!

JOB OPENING

Last week, Erin Callahan shared exciting news on the next steps in the Climate Collaborative’s work. In late April, Erin will be stepping back from the CC to take on a new challenge and adventure. Alongside that, we are excited to announce that we are seeking a new Executive Director. This person will be taking on leadership of a thriving nonprofit amid its busiest year yet; to meet that challenge, we are seeking an experienced, energetic, positive leader with a strong background in corporate climate issues. You can see the full job description here. Feel free to share it far and wide.

RESOURCES

 SME Climate Hub Offers Small Companies a Global Platform to Act

This April, the U.S. is expected to formally announce a new climate commitment, adding an official target (called a nationally determined contribution or NDC) to back up our January reentry into the Paris Climate Accords. The CC is proud to be a resource and outreach partner in the hub, co-hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, the We Mean Business coalition and the United Nations Race to Zero campaign. It will formally launch this September at Climate Week in New York, and we're giving CC-committed companies a special chance to be part of it. Learn more here!

 

Feedback on a Collaborative Renewables Project

 

For companies that have made a renewable energy commitment, we'd like to know how we can help you advance your renewables goals. Can you take 2 minutes to complete this short survey? Your feedback will be so helpful in shaping our work over the next year!

 

Recording: Regenerative Rising - Regenerative Advocacy in Action Panel

Erin Callahan hosted a moderated panel for Session 3 of the Regenerative Earth Summit with:

  • Bethany Davis, Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs, MegaFood
  • Britt Lundgren, Director of Organic and Sustainable Agriculture, Stonyfield
  • Bryce Lundberg, VP of Agriculture, Lundberg Family Farms

This panel explored the key avenues and best practices for companies looking to move beyond supply chain work on regenerative agriculture by supporting systems change at the policy level. Watch the recording here!

 

 

Recording: Exclusive Training - Weeding out Waste with ReFED's New Food Waste Insights Engine

Don't miss this recording with ReFED for a session diving into new best practices and insights around food waste reduction and prevention! The ReFED Insights Engine is a data and solutions hub for food loss and waste, designed to provide anyone interested in food waste reduction with the information and insights they need to take meaningful action to address the problem. Watch the recording here!

 

 

2021 Committed Company Badge

For committed companies interested in sharing their climate commitments in annual reports and on their website, we've updated our Climate Collaborative Badge for you to use in 2021! It looks great in sustainability reports, web copy, and other communications around your company's climate actions. If you would like a copy to use or have questions around use of the badge or other Climate Collaborative branding issues, please email [email protected].

 

The Organic Center - Maximizing Carbon Sequestration in Organic Systems

Organic agriculture's proven ability to lock carbon away in the soil is a critical tool for combatting climate change. Now a new study directed by the University of Maryland in collaboration with The Organic Center, digs down into the specific ways that organic farmers can take their climate change fighting power to the next level. Download the report here.

 

IN THE NEWS

There's a Global Plan to Conserve Nature. Indigenous People Could Lead the Way.

Predicting the Importance of Global Warming as a Voting Issue Among Registered Voters in the United States

Global Action Is 'Very Far' From What's Needed to Avert Climate Crisis

How does the $1.9 trillion stimulus package impact food and farming?

Why Regional and Long-Haul Trucks are Primed for Electrification Now

Food systems are responsible for a third of global anthropogenic GHG emissions

INDUSTRY IN ACTION

Organic Valley Launches National Clean Energy Fund for its Farmers

A look at soap company Dr. Bronner's path to climate positivity

How Bay Area Farmers could give Biden a blueprint for fighting climate change

20 natural companies named 'most innovative' by Fast Company

Share your good news with us! In this new section of our newsletter, we want to share out climate-related progress, announcements and good news from our community in action. Send us an email at [email protected] to contribute to next month's section.

Upcoming Events

Save the Date: Expo West 

Monday, May 24 12 PM ET // 11 AM PM CT // 10 AM MT // 9 AM PT

This Expo West, we'll be bringing world-class climate speakers and insights on climate change--you won't want to miss this virtual session. We've got exciting new project announcements, thought leadership keynotes, and leading industry voices lined-up for the session. You'll hear new insights and gain expertise on approaching supplier engagement, consumer engagement, climate justice, and more. 

Be sure to follow us the next few weeks for speaker announcements and a full agenda.

RSVP here!


Partner Event: Regenerative Earth Summit Season 4

April 20 & 21, 2021

The 4th in our Regenerative Earth Summit Series will focus on Regenerative Narrative: Media, Messaging, and Education. Over the course of two days, this Summit will dive into the underlying narrative that serves as the baseline for regenerative approaches and to examine how to use this narrative with compelling storytelling to educate consumers and amplify authentic regenerative engagement. The summit will explore opportunities for storytelling through food, the power of restorative partnerships, evaluate what is transparent marketing, and address key talking points to help educate consumers about regenerative approaches. Learn more and register here!


Partner Event: Stop Food Waste - Driving Awareness to Fight Food Waste

Monday, April 28 2 PM ET // 1 PM CT // 12 PM MT // 11 AM PT

Register now (FREE) and join us as we commemorate Stop Food Waste Day on Wednesday, April 28th, with an incredible event featuring more than 25+ luminary leaders discussing the importance and offering solutions in how we solve food loss and food waste. Learn more and register here!


Partner Event: Cool Farm Alliance Presents - Agriculture Fit for our Future - Solutions in Action 

Tuesday, April 29 12:00 - 5:00 PM BST // 6:00 - 11:00 AM EST

Please join us for a day of learning and sharing that focuses on individual and collective actions that drive sustainable transformation in value chains. This event, open to the public, is hosted by the Cool Farm Alliance as part of its two-day 2021 Annual Meeting. The program will showcase examples of carbon mitigation solutions at varying scales from around the world. Learn more and register here.


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!

Twitter: @climatecoll     Instagram: @theclimatecollaborative    Facebook: /climatecollab

COMMIT TO CLIMATE ACTION

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

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