Climate Change Is A Social Justice Issue

Flooded town due to climate change

It’s time for CEOs and business leaders to start their transition to clean energy. Now

This is because climate change is not only an environmental problem that is heating up our planet, it is fast becoming a safety and health problem for millions of Americans living in every part of our country. And this makes it a social justice problem.

Many company leaders in the private sector assume that climate change is too big a problem for them to solve, and therefore take the position that our federal, state, and/or local governments should assume this responsibility.

However, as these leaders learn that employees, customers, and stakeholders want other social justice issues to be addressed in the workplace, they would do well to get ahead of the coming storm on climate injustice too.

Taking a passive approach to the growing climate crisis may say several unintended things about you and your leadership: You don’t believe in science. You don’t want to be part of the solution. You don’t care about our children and future generations.

Climate change is overwhelmingly scientifically proven, and we are seeing more evidence every year in the form of intense droughts, heat waves, wild-fires, storms, floods, and hurricanes – as well as increased property losses and human casualties.

Thousands of Americans are losing their homes and businesses and being hurt – and even killed – by these events. And most are not the ones burning the preponderance of coal, oil, and natural gas. Large companies and wealthy executives are profiteering at everyone’s expense.

More ominous though, is what this means for our future as we continue to pump billions of tons of carbon dioxide into the air from burning fossil fuels. Our planet will continue to heat up and the mentioned weather extremes will get worse and worse.

Like so many social problems, government can only do so much. It takes commitment and action within our communities – at our homes, schools, and businesses – to achieve the change and results we want and need.

We shouldn’t delay just because someone else isn’t doing it – that’s not leadership. We can’t argue the economics don’t make sense when that narrative has been proven false over the last 10 years. And we mustn’t surrender to politics when the solution is right in front of us.

Yes, solar and wind power, electric cars and battery storage, and smart homes and buildings are not only the way of the future … they are here and now. In fact, combined, they represent the greatest opportunity of the 21st Century.

So, get off your duffs and stop complaining that you have to deal with another social injustice problem. Like other problems, these are really opportunities for those who want to lead people and brands to new heights. And in this case, create more sustainable enterprises.

The sooner you begin, the more you’ll reap the rewards. And the better our chances of saving the world.

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steve melink author headshot

Founder and CEO of Melink Corporation

Melink’s headquarters consists of two Net-Zero Energy office buildings, and a growing fleet of electric cars. Steve is a national expert and speaker on sustainability, clean energy, and zero-energy buildings.…

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