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Planet Now
Blog on Effective Environmental Communication
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Food waste is a problem due to its scale and environmental impacts. According to the USDA, about 30-40% of food is wasted (USDA 2020). The largest source of food waste in the United States is fruits and vegetables. Food waste has been a significant source of household waste since pre-industrial times, but interest in food waste reduction increased in the 2010s as food waste and its impact on climate change continued to grow as a problem. This week’s blog looks a little different since it comes in infographic form! I created an infographic on this topic for my public policy course. Food waste is one area where individuals have some control over their environmental impact, so I'm excited for you to learn about the issue and increase your self-efficacy to deal with it appropriately. As we continue to think about different mediums for environmental communication (see last week’s blog on art and music), this infographic exemplifies a visual way to communicate about environmental issues.
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In my media law class, I have studied how the SEC may require companies to share their climate mitigation plans, so I asked the panelists about the role of government requirements for ESG. They said that the government has a role in requiring ESG reporting when companies would otherwise not have to do so; however, it would be more efficient to also increase public-private partnerships that help companies share ESG information clearly and consistently . Next, I asked how people outside companies can encourage companies to be more transparent about how they are mitigating their climate impacts, especially if they are not legally required to share this information. Dr. May said people have power to create change both by being intentional consumers and through their careers. Throughout the conference, the panelists had lots of insight to share about ESG. Here are some of the key takeaways I had:
As some companies pollute and greenwash their efforts to slow climate change, people who care about the future of the planet must hold companies accountable. In March 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission proposed rules that would require public companies to share certain information about their climate change responses and greenhouse gas emissions. Some of this information includes how companies are managing risks related to climate change and possible financial impacts of climate-related natural disasters and changes in energy availability.
Many environmental organizations have advocated for implementation of the rules. A letter from 77 organizations, mainly environmental organizations like the Sierra Club, explained that many companies do not voluntarily disclose enough information about their efforts to respond to climate change in order to hold them accountable. Companies may say they are committed to reducing their contributions to climate change but not share specific plans, progress, or emissions metrics. Requiring this information to be public would pressure companies to follow through on commitments to help the environment. More transparency about climate risks would also help investors make informed decisions. However, the First Amendment may limit the government’s ability to compel speech about climate change. Scholars have shared varied views on whether the SEC has the power to require climate disclosures. Some scholars, like Sean Griffith and Justin Hicks, have said that making rules about climate change and greenhouse gas emissions is too far outside the scope of the SEC’s role to protect investors. On the other hand, scholars such as Robert Post believe that the First Amendment should not be used to prevent commercial regulation and that the First Amendment would not prevent the government from requiring disclosure of facts that are important for making investment decisions. The SEC has set this April to finalize its climate disclosure rules. If the SEC does not implement its rules, environmentalists will have to find new ways to further hold companies accountable for climate change. This case may also set a precedent regarding compelled speech as securities litigation around ESG is likely to increase in the coming years, so this is an important case to follow. Not many teenagers get to meet members of the U.S. Congress. Before she even began college, Caitlin Flanagan used her voice to encourage federal policymakers to fight climate change. Some of the policymakers included Rep. Ted Budd (NC-13), former Rep. Mark Meadows (NC-11), Rep. David Price (NC-04), and Sen. Thom Tillis (NC). For this week’s blog post, I spoke with Flanagan to learn about her climate work and advice for climate advocacy. Now a sophomore at UNC-Chapel Hill, Flanagan is involved in many efforts to slow climate change at and beyond her college campus. She is president of the UNC chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that pushes for federal policies to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. She is leading the chapter to involve more people in grassroots efforts like text banking to encourage President Biden to include a carbon price in budget reconciliation. Plus, Flanagan’s organization is attempting to collaborate with a conservative group on campus to promote climate policies. Flanagan is a great example for other people who want to lead change through their institutions. Flanagan’s Background Growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Flanagan valued environmental preservation since her dad is a wetland ecologist. When she reached middle school, she learned more about climate change and felt strongly that it was a problem caused by humans. Flanagan got involved in climate advocacy her junior year of high school. Feeling nervous about climate impacts, like heat and hurricanes, she attended a Project Drawdown climate summit that brought together students who were passionate about creating environmental change. At the event, she learned about CCL and decided to jump into lobbying because it sounded fun. Through CCL, she traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak with Congresspeople. “I had a really great time immersing myself and getting to know the ins and outs of interacting with Congresspeople and communicating about climate in a bipartisan way that builds relationships,” Flanagan shared. At UNC, she became the vice president for the UNC CCL chapter as a first-year student. She helped lead the chapter in building relationships with UNC faculty to get endorsements for the university to pass a climate plan. Recommendations for Climate Advocacy Through her climate leadership, Flanagan has learned key lessons that can benefit people who are beginning their climate advocacy journeys.
Flanagan said that no matter a person’s career focus, they can find ways to use their interests and skills in climate advocacy. As a student majoring in environmental studies and public policy, she said she is thinking about being a legislative director or researcher for a climate advocacy organization. She is also interested in doing policy work for clean energy companies. I am thankful for Flanagan’s efforts to fight climate change and look forward to seeing what she does next. Who inspires you to advocate for the environment? Look for people in your community who are climate leaders, and reach out to see what you can learn from them! |
Welcome to my blog! It is a combination of posts from my strategic writing (spring 2022) and personal branding (spring 2023) courses at UNC. I hope you will enjoy reading the posts and learning about the environment and communication.
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