21 October 2009 | New York, NY | National Climate Seminar at Bard College

Bard Center for Environmental Policy’s National Climate Seminar
PRESS:

• Triple Pundit “Hunter Lovins Speaks On Climate Change Action and Revamping the Economy” (By Gina-Marie Cheeseman) 29 October 2009

Triple Pundit
“Hunter Lovins Speaks On Climate Change Action and Revamping the Economy” (
By Gina-Marie Cheeseman)
29 October 2009
“Whatever you do, please take action…if we are going to solve this one [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][climate change], it’s going to require all of us,” Hunter Lovins said while speaking on October 21 at Bard Center for Environmental Policy’s National Climate Seminar. The founder and president of Natural Capitalism Solutions, and a founding professor of business at the Presidio School of Management, reminded listeners everyone can take action concerning climate change.
Lovins mentioned that since Pacific, Gas & Electric (PG&E) quit the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last month because of its stance on climate change legislation, other companies are “starting to flee.” She suggested two actions people can take:

1. Write to companies who are still members of the Chamber of Commerce, telling them you are not sure you want to do business with them.
2. Send a letter to the Chamber of Commerce telling them to stop obstructing efforts to mitigate climate change by going to the website, NewVoiceofBusiness.org, where such a letter exists, and click “send.”

Companies are taking action
If we mitigate climate change we will “unleash prosperity never known before,” Lovins declared. “What’s interesting is that while the citizens of the world have been wringing their hands, and governments of the world have said, ‘Oh dear, if we do anything about climate change we will bankrupt the economy at a time when the economy is in trouble,’ companies have been acting.”
Lovins cited Wal-Mart as an example of a company taking action. The largest retail corporation in the world recently released a scorecard to its suppliers. The first question asks suppliers if they are measuring their footprint. The second question asks if they are reporting their footprint to the Carbon Disclosure Project.
Lovins said:

If countries like Wal-Mart recognize climate change is real, that it hurts us, and that acting to forestall the worst of the climate devastation is actually in their economic interest, it is time for all of us to call upon our governments and all institutions to implement the sort of serious climate protection scientists are now saying is necessary.

How Lovins would make American industry sustainable
When asked what she would do to revamp American industry in a sustainable way, Lovins listed three things she would do:

1. Systemically analyze and eliminate all barriers to the market working as it should
2. Eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
3. Supply easy access to capital for everyone who wants to make their house energy efficient or put renewable energy in their neighborhood

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