In this country, great change often starts at the grassroots level. Social activists lobby for a change they believe is needed. Individuals who agree with that belief join the movement. When there is a big enough groundswell, the government begins to adopt that change. Often, this takes years and years—although sometimes, it happens practically overnight. […]
Across the country and around the world, local, regional, and national governments are setting renewable energy goals. There are 100 percent renewable projects happening across the United States. From companies like Whole Foods and Google to towns like my hometown of East Hampton to large cities like San Diego, Boulder, and Salt Lake City. Around […]
Grassroots Movement in East Hampton In May of 2014, my hometown of East Hampton, New York, voted to adopt a remarkable goal: committing to 100 percent renewable energy. The proposal, called the Comprehensive Energy Vision, was put forward by the Town of East Hampton Energy Sustainability Committee, under my leadership as chair. With this Vision, […]
The true power of ICEMAN is that once it is implemented, its effects snowball. It creates a domino effect—a powerful positive feedback loop. The Carbon Factor Index casts a spotlight on manufacturers’ greenhouse gas emissions. After placing CFI certification labels on products, the market forces of competitive advantage will favor products that are closer to […]
ICEMAN is currently focused on manufacturing. However, it has the potential to be expanded across every industry. In some industries, it can operate exactly as it does for manufacturing. For example, in the food-processing industry, the emissions from the manufacturing process for foods can be measured and calculated the same way as any other manufacturing […]
As part of the ICEMAN mechanism, we will create a database to verify the certification of the Carbon Factor Index. This database, hosted on a website, will list the Index and will be searchable and open to the public. Through this database, consumers and wholesale buyers of products will be able to look up and […]
The Carbon Footprint Impact on Brand Image If there is one thing all companies can universally agree on, it is this: brand image is incredibly important. Especially in these days of “cancel culture”. There is rapid judgment and censuring on social media and companies are rightly very concerned with what people think of them. Everyone […]
Reducing Corporate Carbon Emissions In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled to restrict the EPA’s power to regulate carbon emissions, including mandating emission reductions. This is just the latest evidence that we cannot rely on government mandates to fight the climate crisis. Even in less politically fraught times than today, mandates will never work […]
Knowledge is Power: Mandating Carbon Emissions Data Mandating the reporting of carbon emissions data is not a new idea. The EPA already requires large corporations to report their emissions. Reporting is also required in Europe under the cap-and-trade system, so if a company sells their products in Europe, they are already reporting their emissions to […]
The Public-Private Partnership for Carbon Efficiency Implementing ICEMAN is not a difficult undertaking. However, the scope is very large, and it will require the expertise and experience found not just in the public sector, but in the private sector as well. For example, a private company will have greater success working across political party lines […]