Confirming Our Commitments
Shortly after writing a blog post about Our Values in February 2015, I also wrote a blog post about Our Commitments. After Revisiting Our Values last week, I thought it would be helpful to confirm our commitments as well.
Although the current administration is apparently still unsure if it will confirm our nation’s commitment to the Paris Agreement, we still believe acknowledging and addressing climate change is important. And that belief informs much of our work and guides many of our decisions. But our commitments are broader than "just" climate change: they relate to the way we approach energy and environmental challenges and they inform our client and partner decisions.
Taking a look at this list, and thinking about the current debate on US leadership on climate policy and energy and environmental issues, we’ve realized we need to update Our Commitments to reflect the world in 2017. With the benefit of hindsight (and a bit of a reaction to the current political environment), we’ve expanded our thinking a bit. Here’s the original list from 2015:
We affirm the need for existing energy resources such as natural gas along with the continued development of the energy marketplace to enable growth and enhanced deployment of a wide range of renewable and other clean energy technologies including: wind, solar, marine, hydropower and geothermal energy; energy storage, fuel cells and battery technology; electricity, biofuels and related cleaner transportation technologies; along with increased energy efficiency of products, systems, buildings and networks.
We support efforts by governments and the private sector to boost research and development and deployment of advanced energy technologies that address our environmental challenges, reduce emissions, enhance waste disposal and contribute to economic growth.
We recognize the need for the development and health of responsible electricity markets, new business models and the adoption of clean energy.
We advocate for responsible, effective legislative and regulatory efforts to foster innovation and seamlessly incorporate new or improved technologies that can benefit society, the economy and the environment.
We promote infrastructure development and responsible economic activities that consider environmental protection and social needs without sacrificing appropriate growth and development.
We respect our shared history and believe in the value of historic preservation programs to honor the natural and manmade landmarks that form the legacy of our nation.
We pledge to work with clients and partners who share our view that climate change is a significant global problem that requires proactive action to address its harmful impacts.
And here are our new commitments:
We understand the relevance of broader environmental, economic and societal issues and inputs on business decisions and public policy.
We share the concerns of business, consumer, industry, labor, advocacy, NGO and academic organizations about the impact of doing nothing or going backwards on important climate, energy, environmental and economic policies.
We commit to adding our voice to those of others supporting responsible policies and practices that advance useful technologies and protect and preserve our environment and economy.
As I wrote in February 2015, these commitments form “the core of our approach to energy and environment communications.” That is true today and will be true tomorrow.
What’s your view? What are your commitments? Share your thoughts in the comments or find us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to let us know what you think.
