Author name: Mark Tercek

Most climate advocates (including me) agree what we need most to accelerate climate progress is more ambitious public policy. Things like:  High and rising carbon taxes or cap and trade programs (with measures to address regressive impacts) Mandates (like renewable portfolio standards)  Incentives (like tax breaks for home heating electrification or CCS), and  Border adjustment […]

And a Shout Out to Enviro Hero Margaret Atwood Dear newsletter readers,  Sorry about the recent lag between issues. As you know, my day job is encouraging business leaders to pursue environmental opportunities in the most ambitious way they can. I’ve been especially busy these past few weeks doing just that – working on the very

Reporting from the GreenBiz 22 ESG Conference Editor’s Note: It’s difficult not to be distracted and discouraged right now by the terrible war underway in Ukraine. Our hearts go out to everyone in harm’s way, including Yuliia, our illustrator. We must do everything we can to support efforts to end this aggression ASAP. At the same

Or How do you get to Carnegie Hall? There’s an old joke most people know that goes like this: A visitor gets lost in New York City and is late for a concert. He sees a man on the street carrying a violin case. Assuming he is a musician, the visitor stops him and asks,

2022 Will Be a Critical Year for Environmental Initiatives by Business It’s been easy to lose track of time during the prolonged pandemic. Even as we tried to resume a sense of normalcy in 2021, the overall feeling seemed to be of time standing still. But time waits for no one, and neither will climate

It was great to see the world pay close attention to the climate crisis during the UN’s Annual Climate Summit held last month in Glasgow. We have a long way to go, but the various pledges, commitments, and new coalitions are reasons for cautious optimism. But now is not the time to relish in our accomplishments (modest

Will The New (Green) Corporate Raiders Accelerate Progress? Say you’re the CEO of a publicly-traded company in the Fortune 500. Chances are you’ve already made a net-zero commitment with a 2050 deadline. Thank you. Your company has also likely taken some real action. You’ve told your team to pursue all of the low-cost, obvious climate friendly moves.

Saul Griffith’s new book provides a clear climate crisis game plan “What’s the game plan?” is a question I get a lot. “How exactly should we address climate change in the United States?”  It sounds like a challenge. Those posing the questions imply that climate-concerned leaders have dithered and failed to put forth a credible

A few weeks ago, I posted a Wall Street Journal article on LinkedIn about the availability of zero-carbon steel but at significantly higher prices.   I asked the question: “Who will pay these higher costs?”   The consensus reaction from my environmentally-concerned LinkedIn friends was: “We all should.” I agree. We all share the responsibility to address the climate challenge.  But now

Climate Influence Starts at Home Over the summer break, some friends who subscribe to The Instigator challenged me with the following question:  “What about China? Even if business leaders in the US follow your advice and pursue the ambitious corporate strategies to address climate change that you recommend, will it even matter? China keeps building coal plants. Unless