We are so excited to bring you the 2021 Tracking Progress Report. This report assesses how companies are progressing on the climate action commitments they have made through the Climate Collaborative. Our hope is that the information shared will help inform the work of the Collaborative and our broader community as we work together to find and activate solutions to the climate crisis.

This year’s report reflects the growing urgency that companies are feeling about the need to take bold climate action. The number of companies involved in the Climate Collaborative year jumped from 463 companies in 2020 to 728! 63% of companies reported that they are actively progressing with their commitments and the remaining 37% of companies are either in active planning stages or have not yet determined how they will implement their commitments. We are seeing the most progress in packaging and renewable energy, and deeper engagement in policy. This is the first year we have asked about net-zero commitments, and we were amazed to see that 25% of respondents have already set a net-zero commitment, and 40% are exploring it.

In the qualitative responses to the survey, it was heartening to hear that the resources the Climate Collaborative provides are helping participants connect to the tools they need and better navigate the challenges they are encountering as they develop innovative climate solutions within their organizations. Respondents asked for even more tools and resources, including webinars and case studies, along with greater opportunities for pre-competitive networking to learn and collaborate with peers. We look forward to developing programs that meet these needs in the coming year!

As we close out 2021, it is clear that the urgency to act has only grown. This is the decisive decade. This year we saw a 20% increased involvement in climate policy action by companies that have made a policy commitment through the Climate Collaborative. If your business has not made a commitment to engage in climate policy, we encourage you to take that step right now. I invite you to:

• Up your policy game today! Please consider making a policy commitment within the Climate Collaborative
• Join hundreds of your fellow businesses by signing on to the letter to lawmakers urging them to support bold action on climate. With historic climate legislation being considered in Washington, the voice of every business matters.

Lastly, during this holiday season, please consider including the Climate Collaborative in your end-of-year giving plans. The Climate Collaborative’s deep commitment to removing all barriers to climate action, including paywalls and membership fees, is critically important because we need everyone mobilizing to help shift our current climate trajectory. However, to do this we need your support. With just two full-time staff, we work hard to ensure your donation drives real action with measurable impacts.

Many thanks for your continued support of the Climate Collaborative!

With gratitude,

Courtney Pineau

Climate Collaborative Executive Director

WE NEED YOU TO GET HISTORIC CLIMATE INVESTMENTS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE

With the Build Back Better Act (BBBA) passed by the House and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill signed into law, we are finally seeing progress in Washington in addressing climate change.

But we cannot rest until the BBBA – with its historic $555 billion in clean energy investments – is signed into law. Support from leading businesses has been vital to secure the robust climate provisions in the BBBA and will be just as important to get those provisions across the finish line. Now the bill goes to the Senate. At this point, a vote is expected just before Christmas.

Please consider taking any one or all of the following steps to make climate history:

1. Join 300+ other companies in signing a letter of support for bold climate action.
2. Join a briefing webinar with our partners at Ceres next Thursday, December 9^th at 1 pm ET/10 am PT.
3. Call or write to your Senator urging support of these historic climate investments.

Stay tuned and watch your inbox for more information and resources in the coming weeks. We are so close. Let’s work together to enact the strongest climate protections in American history.

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RESOURCES

		Webinar Recording: The Role of Offsets in a Credible Net Zero Action Plan This past July, we heard from our webinar attendees the challenges of navigating the world of offsets as part of your net zero commitment. Don't miss this recording of our November webinar, where we dove into this topic with Claire Lafave at Native, Jim Giles at GreenBiz, and Elysa Hammond of Clif Bar. Watch the recording here!
		Join the SME Climate Hub! The Climate Collaborative has joined forces with climate organizations around the globe to ask small and medium sized businesses (SMEs), those under 500 employees, to make a net zero commitment through the SME Climate Hub. If you are considering a net zero commitment, now is a great time to take the leap and go public with it. There is no cost to participate.

Completing the Picture - How the circular economy tackles climate change

This paper highlights the indispensable role that the circular economy plays in tackling the climate crisis. It aims to demonstrate how applying circular economy principles significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 

How businesses can play a crucial role in climate justice

On Nov. 10, Natural Products Expo Virtual hosted a seminar with Raj Aggarwal, president and founder of Provoc. This article highlights key takeaways from Aggarwal's presentation. 

Poll: 52% of Americans say they've experienced effects of global warming

According to new results from a national poll from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, a record high of seven-in-ten Americans said they are at least "somewhat worried" about global warming. This beats out the findings from the same question dating back to 2008. 

Straus Dairy Farm and Blue Ocean Barns Demonstrate a Dramatic Climate Change Solution in Dairy Farming

First U.S. commercial trial using red seaweed (asparagopsis taxiformis) successfully reduces enteric methane emissions from cows, proving potential for immediate climate impact.

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.

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

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.