Objects in Mirror are Closer than They Appear

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 or other environmental challenges. 

So to wrap up 2021 and start off the new year, let’s take a quick stock of what has transpired, where we are now, and where we are headed. 

Here’s my assessment: 

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There’s good news. 

2021 saw many pledges and commitments by companies and institutional investors on the environmental front. We also saw huge amounts of capital flow to both startups focused on environmental problem solving, as well as to big ESG funds. People understand that we can’t just wait for the government programs and policy solutions we urgently need. Getting public policy right is the top priority, but since it's not happening as quickly as we need, we have to make progress in other ways. 

Turning to the private sector is a smart way to do so. Business can harness technology and access capital to innovate and solve big problems (and pursue big opportunities); business can also do a lot to bring about the public policy we need — i.e., regulation, taxes, incentives, R&D.

Moreover, as environmental problems compound and policy progress remains slow, we should expect people to push the private sector to play an ever bigger role. Where else would people turn? Pressure on the private sector will only increase.

Further, it won’t be “business as usual.” Times have changed (in very good ways). Business leaders know they need to be attentive to all stakeholders (shareholders of course, but also employees, customers, suppliers and community members), all of whom are demanding action on the environmental front. 

There’s bad news. 

None of this is easy. For example, look closely at corporate climate commitments — most pledges are back-end dated (i.e., net-zero goals are targeted for 2040 or 2050) and somewhat ambiguous. Such pledges are much better than nothing — after all, one needs to start somewhere — but mostly they are not yet resulting in reduced emissions and/or more protection for biodiversity.

There’s guidance. 

The top goal of this newsletter has been, and continues to be, to help businesses achieve environmental goals that are ambitious, nearer-term in focus, immediately actionable and fully aligned with positive business outcomes. 2022 will be an important year. Expectations are high for business leadership. Society needs to see results. Here’s some of my advice over the past year that has gotten the most traction:

Companies: First, look to the leaders. For example, study Patagonia. They show you how to do it. And second, think hard about exactly how you can make measurable progress over the next few years in ways that also make business sense. 

Private Equity Firms: It’s time to step up!

NGOs: Please build more capacity to guide and/or hold the private sector accountable.

Philanthropists: Help NGOs do this important work.

For COP participants: What can the private sector do to address rising global GHG emissions? Not by telling others what to do. Rather, innovate and show that decarbonization is the lower cost and economy-friendly best path forward.   

All: Make net-zero pledges climate-radical, business-friendly, socially-just and fully transparent. And don’t forget about biodiversity — make 30x30 succeed! 

And there’s gratitude. 

When I stop to reflect on where we’ve been, the long path ahead, and the rapidly growing number of people working together to achieve progress, I feel grateful and encouraged.

Thanks to all who recognize that optimism and realism can live side by side; that a sense of urgency for the work to be done does not contradict the value in recognizing the progress we’ve made thus far; and that environmental NGOs, the business sector, and government have more to gain from working together than trying to go it alone. 

Special thanks to Yuliia Lysachenko, our resident artist who turns out superb and fun artwork week after week. Special commendations for our readers’ favorite illustration — Jeff Bezos and me (in our tunics):  

And of course huge thanks to all of you – my fellow Instigators. Thank you for reading my newsletter and for all of the feedback and encouragement you provide. Environmental challenges are collective action problems. We will all have more success if we work together, build broad and diverse coalitions, and welcome challenges and input from people with different points of view. 

Indeed, I want to hear more from you. Please let me know:

• What topics should we cover in 2022? 

• Where do you see obstacles, greenwashing, ambiguity, trouble? 

• How do companies best achieve near-term environmental progress without sacrificing financial results?

• How do investors best engage with companies to encourage more rapid progress?

• Where can NGOs make the biggest difference?

• Where are the best opportunities to improve public policy? Who needs to do what?

• How can this newsletter help you make the progress you seek? 

We welcome your input.

In the meantime, I will wrap it all up by saying thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. As various environmental crises loom — loud and incredibly close — our goal is straightforward and important: accelerate private sector-led environmental problem solving. I’m looking forward to doing even more together in 2022. 

Happy new year and keep rocking the boat!