Nothing has given me more hope this year than seeing how this community has continued to push forward on climate action. Amid an incredibly eventful and challenging year, hundreds of companies from this network still showed up for the largest ever business climate advocacy day, advocacy trainings, webinars, and more.

We can’t stop now! For better or worse, the next year will set the stage for how we respond to climate change over the next decade—which scientists agree will be the most important decade for taking serious steps to curb global emissions. The election this November will be decisive in shaping the U.S. response—as will be the strength of voices from companies and citizens speaking out in support of ambitious action. We’ll be providing pathways to get involved in advocacy and action; you can check out our resources here.

The single most important thing you can do this fall for the climate within your company is to do everything you can to get out the vote.

We need every individual mobilized and ready to vote for the climate this fall, letting policymakers know that this is an issue their constituents care about. We are seeing good progress on companies making voting accommodations:

• In June, CC committed company Blue Apron announced they are making election day paid time off for staff.
• More than 600 companies have signed on to Time to Vote—founded by Patagonia as a “nonpartisan, business-led initiative to help ensure employees across America don't have to choose between voting and earning a paycheck.”
• ElectionDay.org has also seen 250 businesses sign on to make accommodations for their employees, and has laid out a set of voter-friendly policies they recommend for companies looking to do their part.

Ben & Jerry’s work builds on studies by Harvard Business Review showing that nonpartisan, pro-voting messages on getting out the vote are effective at strengthening customer relationships without the risk of alienation. Focusing on participation and carrying out even small efforts can make a difference.Companies like Ben & Jerry’s are going one step further than staff engagement, by urging their consumers to vote for climate action this fall, and giving them the resources to do it. You can see their great blog on it here, which lays out five steps that people can take to vote for climate action this year—starting with registering to vote and running though ways to support candidates and issues that align with the company’s mission on climate. Best of all, it’s written in the authentic, fun tone that has come to be a trademark of their communications.These platforms provide resources and a community for companies to work together to make accommodations for staff to ensure their voice is heard in elections. And we know this community will be out to vote on vital climate issues. We hope your company is signed up already and if not, that you’ll consider joining one of these initiatives before November and making associated accommodations for employees.

Credit: Ben & Jerry's

There are lots of resources out there to help companies interested in doing their own work in this area: Vote.org allows anyone to check their registration status, read up on election guidelines and deadlines for their state, and more. Companies can share that with consumers along with messages and hashtags that call for #climateactionnow and a #justrecovery to COVID-19—in your own authentic voice. If you need assistance pulling together employee or consumer get out the vote (GOTV) messaging or campaign, reach out to us at [email protected]. 

Share what you’re doing with us! We want to hear from you—email us and join our advocacy and action group here. We’ll “see you” at the polls!

“We do not have government by majority. We have government by the majority who

participate.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Someone struggled for your right to vote. Use it.” – Susan B. Anthony