B CORPS POISED FOR CLIMATE ADVOCACY

​WRITTEN BY VERONICA MORENO-NESTOJKO

In September of 2020 we wrote about the collaboration between B Local Boston and Ceres, focusing on climate resiliency locally and federally. Many organizations and business leaders may still be wondering what they can do to help this effort. If we aren’t writing the bills how can we effect change? We sat down with Ceres to discuss how individuals, employees, and business leaders can take action:

Pay attention to local and federal news on climate action

Over the last few years, a lot of attention has been paid to legislation efforts like the Green New Deal, but you might not be aware of local action to increase green spaces, make your city more walkable, or move to hybrid or electric public transit. You might have noticed when Cambridge banned plastic bags in 2016, but maybe you were not aware that the ordinance was up for a vote, or how many individuals and businesses tried to fight it. Paying attention to the local as well as federally efforts towards sustainability and climate resiliency is the first step in taking action.

Find organizations who are doing the work and get involved

There are many local, national, and international organizations who are doing work on climate policy. There are also lots of ways to get involved. You can volunteer your professional expertise on committees or board positions or just sign petitions and share resources to your personal network. Every action, no matter how small, is important.

Share business best practices 

B Corps have an ingrained focus on their sustainability practices that can be lacking in other businesses. By sharing your internal sustainability practices, goals, and progress with other businesses you can help them think more critically about their own practices and even learn new methods or ideas that you can apply at your company. Sustainability and climate justice is a group effort, and knowledge sharing is one way to help us all improve. 

Keep talking

Talk to your friends, family members, colleagues, and elected representatives. Share why climate resiliency matters to you, and how you plan to take action. This may inspire others to do the same. The B Corp community is in a unique position to blend the power and influence of the business community with the determination and care of activists and community leaders. 

There is a lot of exciting work going on with Ceres this year, including getting the Massachusetts 2050 Roadmap bill passed by Governor Baker, preparing for the April 22nd Climate Summit, and receiving support for a national sign on letter in support of an ambitious 2030 U.S. climate goal. There are many opportunities for B Corp leaders and community members to get involved, with more B Corp focused action coming in the future. 
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