Executives Underestimate Investor Interest in Sustainability

Executives are out of sync with what investor interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics. There are dozens of ESG criteria, including greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, data protection, and corruption. Investors are increasingly attracted to sustainability because it contributes to financial performance.  Despite the unprecedented growth of sustainability focused investing and reams of evidence making the business case, executives still don't get it. Many executives under value investor interest in the ROI of ESG.  These execs are leaving money on the table as sustainability-oriented investment funds are now worth trillions of dollars.

According to a May 2016 report titled "Investing for a Sustainable Future" investors are increasingly interested in using sustainability-related data as a rationale for investment. The research and analysis for this report was conducted under the direction of the authors as part of an MIT Sloan Management Review research initiative in collaboration with and sponsored by The Boston Consulting Group. The report polled more than 3,000 respondents from commercial enterprises in more than 100 countries.

The report suggests that there is a communications gap between what a company's investor relations department is saying and what investors want to know about sustainability. The offshoot is that sustainability performance may not be highlighted in their communications efforts. This also has both strategic an operational implications that may disadvantage a firm. By failing to appreciate the interest in ESG a company may make tactical and long term planning decisions that are at odds with what investors want.

While 75 percent of senior executives in investment firms say performance related to sustainability is materially important when making investment decisions. However only 60 percent of managers in public companies share that view. Three quarters of investors say that improved revenue performance and operational efficiency from sustainability are strong reasons to invest.

Almost half of investors say they will not invest in a company with a poor sustainability record and almost two thirds (more than 60 percent) of investment firm board members say would divest from companies with a poor sustainability footprint.

There is also a disconnect between what companies think about sustainability and what they are actually doing. While 90 percent think a sustainability strategy is important only 60 percent of such companies have a strategy and only a quarter of companies have developed a clear business case related to sustainability.

According to a May 2016 report titled "Investing for a Sustainable Future" here are some steps a company can take to capitalize on the trend towards sustainability-focused investing:
  • Build awareness of sustainability challenges and programs with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Identify and analyze material issues and create alignment within the organization to ensure an integrated response.
  • Invest in and focus on tangible and measurable sustainability outcomes instead of positions on ratings lists.
  • Once tangible measures are established, formulate a strategy. Incorporate the sustainability strategy into the overall corporate strategy, including a clear business case or proof of value.
  • Engage a broad range of stakeholders to discuss sustainability strategy and progress.
To access the free report click here.

6 Steps to Building a Sustainability Focused Corporate Culture

A sustainability focused corporate culture seeks to preserve and protect vital resources for future generations. A corporate culture refers to beliefs and behaviors, it can be supported through white papers, charters, philosophies, vision and mission statements but it is ultimately about people. Sustainability is rooted in a sense of kinship with people, a deep affection for the planet and a keen focus on financial viability. However, there is an all important caveat that is also a key success factor. The viability of a sustainability focused corporate culture depends on being able to encourage employees to buy-in to a company's sustainability efforts.

1. People

Appointing a committed leader with good communication skills is essential. Getting a few passionate people to join this individual in spearheading the effort can make all the difference. Individuals who are passionately committed to sustainable solutions are more likely to create and adhere to programs, they are also more likely to inspire others. Interest is contagious, you cannot expect employees to be excited about getting on-board if the people directing the project(s) are not.  To be successful organizations must lead by example starting at the highest echelons.

2. Developing protocols

Once areas of interest are identified, department specific sustainability protocols must be created. Make sure to invest the time working with people who understand the nuances of each department before these protocols are crafted.

3. Quantification

Applying quantitative methods is essential to gauge progress and to motivate employees. People must be assigned to develop formulas to monitor, track and measure progress. Graphical representations of progress should be provided, particularly as it relates to intangibles like emissions reduction. Reporting is also common in other areas including energy, water, and waste.

4. Goals

Goals setting can occur before implementation or once a baseline has been established. When setting goals ensure that they are realistic and achievable. Some goals are easy and can be accomplished immediately other goals will require much more time. It is important to have a mix of short term goals that have immediate payoffs and longer term goals that may not offer any apparent immediate benefit.

5. Sharing

Success is contagious and companies can inspire action far removed from the workplace. By sharing the results of their efforts with employees and throughout their supply chains they are encouraging others to follow. While there may be leverage that can be exercised, just as the buy-in from employees must be carefully nurtured. This is not about demanding compliance with arduous requirements, this is about building mutually beneficial relationships with vendors and suppliers. The issue can be framed in the context of savings (eg energy usage, emissions, money).

6. Encourage ambition

People must be given license to make a grand effort and they must be rewarded for doing so (rewards can take many forms from recognition to bonuses). They must believe that they are doing their part to improve the world. Encourage them engage their passions while keeping them focused on the collaboration required to achieve the stated mission, goals and objectives.

Businesses Urge Trump to Respect the Paris Agreement

President-elect Donald Trump has said that he will pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Agreement and ramp-up domestic fossil fuel production, however, big business is urging him to stick with the UN accord. While installing climate deniers in some key positions Trump has claimed he will "keep an open mind" about the Paris deal. The election of Trump has cast a shadow over COP22 and world leaders warned the President-elect to respect the Paris Agreement. As reported by Chris D’Angelo in the Huffington Post, some leading names in the American business community wrote an open letter to the President-elect and other leaders. They say that withdrawing from the Paris Agreement "puts American prosperity at risk."

The letter was released at the COP22 climate negotiations in Marrakech, it was sent by more than 350 companies including Unilever, Patagonia, Nike, eBay, The North Face, IKEA, DuPont, Kellogg, Levi Strauss & Co., Mars Incorporated, Schneider Electric, Starbucks, VF Corporation, Gap Inc., General Mills, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Virgin. The letter said:
"We, the undersigned members in the business and investor community of the United States, re-affirm our deep commitment to addressing climate change through the implementation of the historic Paris Climate Agreement,” the companies wrote. “We want the US economy to be energy efficient and powered by low-carbon energy. Cost-effective and innovative solutions can help us achieve these objectives."
Matt Patsky, CEO of California-based Trillium Asset Management, said in a statement, "now is the time to remind the incoming administration that virtually every company in the Fortune 500 and over $100 trillion in investor assets has acknowledged the reality of climate change and the need to address it head on."

These businesses support cost-effective, innovative solutions. Failure to build a low-carbon economy puts American prosperity at risk. But the right action now will create jobs and boost US competitiveness. These businesses see value in efficiency and low carbon energy and they see themselves as playing a key role is pushing the new administration to act responsibly.
"The Paris agreement was a vital step forward, but its power is in our collective action,” Lara Birkes, chief sustainability officer at Hewlett-Packard Enterprise added. “Business and government leaders must urgently work together to drive a thriving, low-carbon economy."
At COP22 the Obama administration announced a long-term goal of reducing emissions by at least 80 percent compared to 2005 levels by 2050. Businesses are driven first and foremost by profitability and clearly there is a strong case that can be made for efficiency and transitioning to a low carbon energy infrastructure. The letter says:
"Continuation of low-carbon policies to allow the US to meet or exceed its promised national commitments. Investment in the low-carbon economy at home and abroad in order to give financial decision-makers clarity and boost investor confidence. Continued US participation in the Paris climate agreement to provide the long-term direction needed to limit global warming."
Government policy informed by science is crucial to climate action but the Trump administration appears to be stalwartly anti-science. Despite the position of the Trump administration, more than 200 companies are calling for science-based emissions reduction targets.

We have seen a number of market indicators suggesting that the transition to low carbon energy has tremendous momentum that will be hard to stop. Every year since 2010 investments in renewable energy have surpassed investments in fossil fuels every year since 2010. States and cities across America are investing in renewable and putting a price on carbon.

As reported by Oliver Milman in a Guardian article, "the shift to a low-carbon economy already has its own momentum, however, with the cost of solar and wind power tumbling in recent years. Nearly 100 coal power plants were retired in 2015, with renewables accounting for two-thirds of all new electricity generation."

There is an undeniable momentum to the market forces that are driving the low carbon economy forward, We can expect to see the Trump administration's agenda countered by business and investors. However, we must also acknowledge that on their own market forces are insufficient. We will not be able to keep us from warming more the upper threshold limit of 2 degrees Celsius.

Nonetheless, a darkness is about to fall over America and cast a shadow around the world. However, as reviewed in this article, some leading members of the business community offer a glimmer of hope.

While many hope that Trump will see the economic value of climate action, as Nick Aster points out in a Triple Pundit article that is unlikely because:
"Donald Trump is not a real businessman. He's a simple con artist, likely as bewildered at his recent success as he is emboldened. The con-job will soon become obvious and Trump's influence will begin to whither...One thing we have a lot more faith in is the ability of the motivated and forward-thinking people in business to continue pushing for positive change in the world."
We need to face the hard truth about what Trump means for the planet, his administration is a kakistocracy that will push us past tipping points and invite hell on Earth.

Related
Exposing the Fantasy of Trump's Policy Positions on Energy and the Economy
Trump Promises to Kill Climate Action in RNC Speech: The False Flags of Fear and Division
Trump's Climate Ignorance Would be Laughable if the Implications weren't so Serious
GOP Platform Augurs Environmental Destruction and Runaway Climate Change
A Trump Presidency Would Kill Climate Action and Push us Past Irreversible Tipping Points
Trump Could Win and We All Could Lose
Trump Wants to Mine Coal Frack for Gas and Drill for Oil
Climate Doomsday Clock Advances as Trump Wins the Republican Nomination

Event - Workshop on Financing for Renewable Energy in Small Island Developing States

This event will take place on December 1 – 3, 2016 in Nadi, Fiji. The event is co-organised with Japan’s Ministry of the Environment, the USA’s Departments of Energy and State, the Pacific Community, the Asian Development Bank, and the Green Climate Fund, IRENA will host a three-day workshop on renewable energy finance, in Nadi, Fiji.

Aimed at government officials, public finance institutions, international organisations, utilities, research centres, and other Lighthouse Initiative partners, the workshop will seek updates on the projects identified and discussed in 2015; identify key challenges and barriers in each stage of project development and discuss ways to overcome and prevent them in the future; identify new project opportunities and ideas, and explore practical steps to develop them into bankable proposals; and conduct an in-depth discussion on renewable energy financing that goes beyond the traditional direct funding approach.

Islands, disconnected from mainland electricity grids, are vulnerable to price fluctuations for imported fossil fuels upon which they are reliant for their energy. But small island developing states (SIDS) can overcome such challenges, as well as play their part in the global effort to mitigate climate change, through renewable energy deployment. Although SIDS are generally not short of donor funding, such opportunities are often unmet with its potential due to the lack of an investment-ready project pipeline. At the same time, public finance institutions are trying to find more efficient ways to leverage private investment in SIDS, moving beyond traditional financial instruments such as grants and concessional loans.

In July 2015, the U.S. Government, the Pacific Community (SPC), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) co-hosted a renewable energy workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii to help accelerate the energy transformation of Pacific islands. Fourteen Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) and the State of Hawaii were represented at the event, from senior officials to representatives from energy ministries, power utilities, regulators, the private sector, and development partners.

Also in August 2015, the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ), and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) organized a workshop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where seventeen SIDS and eight international organisations were represented. Discussions and bilateral meetings provided an avenue for SIDS and development partners to identify main financing options available and accessible to SIDS, and for public finance institutions to learn about renewable energy project opportunities on these islands.

In early August 2016, the Green Climate Fund held a workshop in Suva, Fiji with a focus on developing a credible project pipeline to feed into the fund over the coming months.

This workshop, organized by the U.S. Departments of State (State) and Energy (DOE), Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOEJ), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Pacific Community (SPC), in collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) is designed to provide greater clarity on the process for accessing resources from international financial institutions for renewable energy programmes and projects.

The objectives of the workshop are to:
  • Conduct a status update on and review of projects identified and discussed in 2015 Identify key challenges and barriers in each stage of project development and discuss ways to both overcome and prevent them in the future
  • Identify new project opportunities and ideas and explore practical steps to develop them into bankable proposals
  • Conduct an in-depth discussion on renewable energy financing that goes beyond the traditional direct funding approach
The issue of developing and providing power to small islands is an existential concern for these states. Island states are especially vulnerable to climate change particularly flooding from sea level rise. These states need energy to power things like pumps that evacuate water during storm surges, they also need energy to storm walls.

To show what can be done, Elon Musk just converted the island of American Samoa from diesel generators to renewable energy. Tesla and Solar City created a microgrid of solar energy panels and batteries on the island.

Flooding of island states has taken an economic toll and it has already created refugees with many more are expected in the years to come.

For more information click here

Event - Global Renewable Energy Forum 2016

Global Renewable Energy Forum 2016 will take place on December 1 2016 in Bonn, Germany at the Hilton Hotel, Berliner Freiheit 2, 53111 Bonn.

In light of the adoption and entry into force of the Paris Agreement, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Bonn Office, and its partners will convene a one-day expert conference to identify innovative ways to realize a swift transformation towards a low-carbon energy industry.

Divided into three modules, the day’s events will cover aspects of renewable energy policy, renewable energy finance, and renewable technology and innovation.

Click here to register for this event. Register to attend the event here.

Event - Panel Session at the PV Operations & Maintenance and Asset Management USA Conference

This conference will take place on December 6, 2016 at the Hotel Kabuki, 1625 Post Street, San Francisco, CA, United States.

This conference will put O&M under the spotlight, and eliminate the challenges that are preventing your plant reaching its full potential. The experts speaking at PV O&M USA have extensive experience in the market, and exclusive knowledge of the O&M workings of their industry-leading companies – if you want to grow your O&M strategy, improve your knowledge and get the most out of your PV plants, this is the conference for you!

Speakers

Chris Hinton
Sempra U.S. Gas & Power
Solar Portfolio Manager

Chad Sachs
Radian Generation
CEO

Drew Worts
NRG Solar
Director, Asset Optimization

Tequila Smith
Southern Company
Renewable Energy O&M Manager

Rue Phillips
365Pronto
CEO

Mike Moone
SunPower Director,
Energy Assurance

Don't Miss the Panel Session: O & M Impact on LCOE: Stabilizing Energy Generation and Maximizing Project Financability

Investors need to accurately forecast and factor in actual O&M costs when they analyze and invest in a solar project. The panel will discuss best practices, learnings and experiences to effectively reduce risks and better anticipate future costs for a consistent return in solar PV projects.

Panel Presenters
  • Charles Pimentel, CEO, Solar Frontier Americas Development
  • Miguel Anel Guerrero, Engineering Manager of North America, Enertis
  • Evan Riley, Vice President of Development Operations, Cypress Creek Renewables
  • T.Q. Smith, Renewable Energy Operations & Maintenance Manager, Southern Power
Here are just a few of the questions panelists will address:
  • What new best practices has your organization implemented on O&M to reduce costs and risks? What valuable lessons/experiences from the projects would you share? 
  • How has your budget changed over the past year in estimating O&M costs? 
  • How has O&M impacted the LCOE of projects? 
  •  
Click here for the agenda.
Click here to register (only 9 places left)

Event - Isolated Power Systems Connect 2016

This ISP forum will take place from November 28 to December 2nd 2016, on Flinders Island in Australia. This 5 day Isolated Power Systems Connect technical event is organized by Hydro Tasmania and The University of Tasmania. IRENA will facilitate a session on ‘Planning the operation of grids in small island developing states’ and sponsor the participation of five engineers from power utilities of Member Countries from the Pacific Islands.

The issue of developing and providing power to small islands is an existential concern for these states. Island states are especially vulnerable to climate change particularly flooding from sea level rise. These states need energy to power things like pumps that evacuate water during storm surges, they also need energy to storm walls.

To show what can be done, Elon Musk just converted the island of American Samoa from diesel generators to renewable energy. Tesla and Solar City created a microgrid of solar energy panels and batteries on the island.

Flooding of island states has taken an economic toll and it has already created refugees with many more are expected in the years to come.

Click here to see the full event description and agenda (PDF).

What We Have to be Grateful for this Thanksgiving (Videos)

As this is the last Thanksgiving before we enter the dark days of a Trump presidency many are feeling hopeless. However, this is a good time to take stock of just how far we have come on climate and environmental action. So many dedicated people and organizations have fought hard to get where we are today.  Before the Trump administration assumes power we should reflect on what has been accomplished, what we stand to lose and we must strive to defend.

Paris Climate Agreement

First and foremost there is the Paris Agreement. This historic agreement was signed by almost 200 countries and it has recently come into force. The deal commits the world to unprecedented emissions reduction. President Obama played a leadership role to broker the deal at COP21 last December and it formally came into force this fall.





Clean Energy

Our energy mix is changing and getting a lot cleaner. The EPA's Clean Power Plan has contributed to the prodigious growth of renewable energy in the US and around the world. Reports suggest this growth will continue. We have also seen signs that suggest renewables are growing faster and replacing fossil fuels. As reviewed in the following video, clean energy is sure to become an even bigger part of the energy mix going forward.




Investors

We are seeing tremendous growth in environmentally and socially responsible investing. Investors continue to be drawn to low carbon investment opportunities that combat climate change. There are powerful forces driving sustainable and responsible investing. In the following video industry expert Sara E. Murphy presents the history, drivers, and industry trends.





Business

We have seen sustainability leadership from the business community which includes the decoupling of growth and emissions. There are a number of reasons why sustainability has gone mainstream not the least of which is a plethora of studies that show benefits to a firms ROI. In 2016 businesses are thriving with sustainability and risk dying without it. In following video Walmart, Kroger, Henkel, PepsiCo discuss the ways that they are creating market opportunities through sustainability leadership



President Obama

Led by the Clean Power Plan, the Obama administration has enacted a raft of sustainability focused actions. There have also been a number of efficiency focused initiatives for federal agencies. However if Trump adheres to his campaign promises all of these will be undone. EPA director Gina McCarthy says she is proud of Obama's climate and environmental legacy however all of these accomplishments are at risk from the Trump administration (click here for a comprehensive summary of Obama's achievements).

Mustering Thanksgiving Gratitude

This year the United States celebrates Thanksgiving under the dark cloud of President-elect Trump who has promised to stop climate action and roll back environmental protections. Being grateful this year is harder than ever. However, we have reason to celebrate the Paris Agreement and the climate leadership of President Barack Obama. We can be thankful for more traditional reasons like the fall harvest and the bounty that nature provides.

We can also remember the origins of this holiday, specifically how the early European settlers were welcomed by Native peoples who helped them to survive and showed them how to live in harmony with nature. Although white people have proven to be very poor students, indigenous people continue to show the way, this includes ongoing efforts to protect the planet from the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).

While we have reason to be thankful for the Paris Agreement, we also have reason to be concerned that Trump will deliver on his promise to back out of the deal. Even here there is cause for optimism. Trump has recently indicated that he may be softening his stance on climate change. He said he is keeping an open mind on whether or not to back out of the deal and he appears that he now acknowledges some degree of anthropogenic warming.

As reported by Reuters Trump Says He's Keeping an 'Open Mind' on Pulling Out of Paris Climate Accord. Earlier this week Trump said: "I’m looking at it very closely. I have an open mind to it." Trump told the New York Times that he thinks there is "some connectivity" between human activity and global warming. According to a Tweet from the New York Times reporter that interviewed him, Trump is looking at the implications for American competitiveness by examining "how much it will cost our companies."

Independent of what the forthcoming administration will or will not do,  we have reason to be grateful for this planet upon which we depend for our lives and our happiness. With gratitude comes the responsibility to protect, preserve and restore nature's bounty for ourselves and for future generations. Let us also remember those who work to advance climate action and protect our environment.

The struggle may be more difficult, but so is the urgency to act.

The Green Market Oracle is grateful for your readership and together we will continue to work towards a more sustainable future.

Wishing you all a happy holiday full of hope and environmental gratitude.

Richard Matthews
Owner and Principle Writer
The Green Market Oracle

Engaging Boards of Directors on Sustainability is a Key Success Factor

Boards of directors can play an invaluable role helping a company to inculcate sustainability into their DNA. Because of their unique position, boards of directors are well placed to integrate sustainability into business strategies and practices. This supports both the long-term profitability and the viability of an enterprise.

However, there is a disconnect between what is good for a firm and what they are actually doing. Most boards of directors are not engaged in sustainability even though almost all managers and directors think they should be.


Benefits
Companies that have engaged boards of directors are more than twice as likely to successfully accomplish their sustainability initiatives. Sustainability has become a mainstream phenomenon and benefits of sustainability have been well documented. This includes a plethora of research that demonstrates strong ROI.  While success is correlated with companies where colloboration was supported by boards, the success rate is cut in half when company boards where not involved.


Failure to engage

Despite the benefits, many boards of directors are not getting involved in sustainability. The disconnect between what is good for a company and what they are actually doing represents a missed opportunity. Research conducted by MIT Sloan Management Review, The Boston Consulting Group and the UN Global Compact, indicates that 87 percent of managers and executives think boards of directors should be engaged in sustainability yet the research suggests that only 10 percent are actually engaged.  An annual report from The Conference Board titled CEO Challenge suggests that CEOs are not turning to their boards of directors to address sustainability challenges.

Collaboration

Almost all managers and executives (9 out of 10) say that sustainability requires collaboration. According to these executives and managers, collaboration serves reputation and brand building, innovative products and services and the transformation of markets towards sustainability. Collaboration between companies, workers, governments, civil society, investors, and academia can augur a range of societal benefits including putting pressure on suppliers to develop a responsible global supply chain.

Antidote to short termism

One of the problems associated with sustainability is the failure to lay out a long-term strategic view. Getting boards of directors to engage with sustainability enables a company to develop long-term` strategic thinking. This includes longer term forecasting, planning, and preparation. It also enables companies to do a better job of zeroing in on risks and opportunities. Together this contributes to a focus on long term success.

Take-away

The take-away is clear, boards of directors should be given explicit oversight of sustainability issues and boards need to allocate time to sustainability issues. It is also highly desirable to have board members with expertise in the sustainability particularly those areas that are most material to the company.

Resources

Two years ago the UN Global Compact launched a program to help "move sustainability issues from the backroom to the boardroom". This program is tailored to the needs of the individual company and delivered in-house by a roster of international experts.

The UN Global Compact Program helps Boards to:
  • Align on the strategic imperative and materiality of corporate sustainability as critical for the company’s long-term viability
  • Realize the integral role that Board members can and should play in overseeing, incentivizing and driving corporate sustainability, by embedding it into Board duties, composition and structure
  • Take action to demonstrate leadership on Board adoption and oversight of corporate sustainability with investors, employees, customers and other stakeholders

For more information and strategic guidance consult the following documents from the UN Global Compact:

Joining Forces: Collaboration and Leadership for Sustainability
A New Agenda for the Board of Directors: Adoption and Oversight of Corporate Sustainability
Corporate Sustainability: An Important Agenda for Boards Of Directors


Related
Businesses are Thriving with Sustainability and Risk Dying Without It
Why Corporations are Embracing Sustainability
The Business of Sustainability Reaches a Tipping Point in 2015
Corporate Sustainability in 2016: The Rise of the CSO
Businesses Adopting Science Based Emissions Reduction Targets
2016 Corporate Sustainability Leaders
The Business Case for Sustainability
Carbon Reduction Makes Good Business Sense
Sustainability is a Business Opportunity
Sustainability Best Practices Case Study

The Coming Darkness: What the Election of Trump Means for our Planet

We need to take stock of where we are if we are to have any chance of getting to where we need to go. After years of slow but steady climate action, the U.S. now has a climate and environment destroying president and legislature. Although Hilary Clinton won the majority of votes, under the collegiate system --which was designed to protect slave owning states--Donald Trump won the election and will be president. Under Trump, Republicans will reverse everything that President Obama has achieved on energy, the environment, and climate. While this is bad, it gets worse, far worse.

Consider that president-elect Trump called global warming "bullshit" and a Chinese-invented hoax. Although this may seem like a surreal reality show it is actually a living nightmare, a cataclysm of America's own making. Trump has promised to double down on fossil fuels, kill climate action and withdraw from the Paris Agreement. He will gut the EPA and eliminate $100 billion in climate-related federal funding over the next eight years.

Far worse than you think

The Trump administration will open the climate floodgates and this is a grave threat to all life on Earth. Americans have voted for a President and a party that will augur mass starvation, coastal flooding, megadroughts, unprecedented super-storms, ocean acidification, widespread conflict, climate refugees and worse. The military and intelligence community recognize that climate change is a national security threat of epic proportions.

Many environmental groups are trying to offer a positive spin on the election of Trump. The Pollyanna perspective of many environmentalists may be due to the fact that they are suffering from their own brand of denial or it may be a pragmatic attempt to invite more financial support. Either way, this view is hopelessly disconnected from reality. They speak to the need for climate action but they fail to mention that it has become almost impossible to achieve the required level of emissions reductions with Trump and the Republicans in control of the U.S. A Think Progress article by Joe Romm made the point succinctly with the following words:

"[T]he damage and delay that even a one-term President Trump could do will make the already difficult task of keeping total warming well below 2°C essentially impossible."

The Trump administration will end science-based policy decisions and create a climate Kakistocracy.  While defiance in the face of such a dire predicament is both noble and necessary, it is crucial that we understand what this administration will do so that we can develop cogent counter-strategies.

Fossil fuels

Trump has vowed to dig for coal, mine for oil and frack for gas. President Trump, along with a Republican legislature has effectively given the keys of government to the fossil fuel industry. This means the end of government efforts to protect the environment and reign in climate change. As promised by Trump, he will support private sector energy infrastructure projects. This means that pipelines and coal export terminals will be built. Fossil fuel pipelines projects that will be approved include the Dakota Access (DAPL) and the Keystone XL will be resurrected from the grave. Ongoing Republican support for fossil fuel subsidies and public money for related research and development will continue in earnest.

Emissions

Trump's fossil fuel focused energy policy will increase U.S. emissions. Lux Research, recently said, "estimated emissions would be 16 percent higher after two terms of Trump’s policies than they would be after two terms of Clinton’s, amounting to 3.4 billion tons greater emissions over the next eight years." The only way that Trump will be able to reduce emissions is by causing a protracted global depression. Economists concede that this is very likely if he implements his economic plan. Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman bluntly stated that Trump's presidency heralds, "a global recession, with no end in sight."

Key positions

Trump appointed a climate denier to a senior environmental position in his transition team and on January 20, 2017, climate deniers and fossil fuel advocates will take over all branches of government. Trump is being advised by people like Myron Ebell who said global warming is "nothing to worry about". He has also openly denied the veracity of peer reviewed climate science. Oil billionaire Harold Hamm is another Trump advisor and he advocates ramping-up of fossil fuel production. His other energy advisers include coal magnate Robert Murray and pro-fossil fuel Rep. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. Then there is Sarah Palin who infamously called fossil fuels, "things that God has dumped on this part of the Earth for mankind’s use." Whoever Trump picks to run key government departments it is a safe bet to assume that they will open oceans and federal lands to various forms of extraction including fossil fuels. There is about 279 million acres of public land and water thought to hold oil and gas. The Trump transition team turned to Koch lobbyist Mike McKenna for advice on the Energy Department. Although the reality star is staffing his administration with lobbyists and industry insiders.

Regulations

Hamm has reportedly told Trump to "just scrap" Obama's regulations. Polls suggest that Americans care about dirty air and water, and to a lesser extent climate change. However, under a Trump administration, Americans may see the protections in place disappear. EPA, which was created by Richard Nixon, will be a shadow of its former self as its budget will be radically reduced and its powers scaled back. The Clean Power Plan will be replaced and in the interim states are likely to be given waivers that will exempt them from having to comply. The Obama administration's fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks are also likely to be revoked. Other regulations in jeopardy include rules pertaining to oil and gas drilling, methane, smog, mercury, coal pollution, pesticides, wildlife protections and oil spills.

Legal challenges

The climate-killing changes Trump has promised may take some time to implement. In the interim, we can expect legal challenges. However, the power of the highest court in the land will be stymied when Trump stacks the Supreme Court with anti-regulation, pro-fossil fuel conservative judges.

Cleantech

Billions of dollars in federal government support for clean energy will be withdrawn. cut funding for the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program. Federal tax credits for solar and wind are unlikely to be renewed (the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar and the production tax credit (PTC) for wind). Trump has also indicated that he will end America's cleantech leadership in terms of both research and development. The absence of public money for research will undermine America's ability to benefit from the golden opportunity associated with cleantech for many years to come.

Paris agreement

Global cooperation on climate action will face major opposition as the wealthiest nation in the world ignores the Paris Climate Agreement. Make no mistake about it, just as the US under President Obama was critical in securing international climate cooperation, opposition to climate action and doubling down on fossil fuels will undermine global climate efforts. We must remember that even if the US respected its commitments, we needed to see bigger emissions cuts to keep global temperature averages from rising above prescribed limits. Ratcheting up ambitions in 2020 seems very unlikely. Although states assembled at COP22 are trying to put a brave face on climate action, the Trump administration will have serious global repercussions.

Climate finance

Under Trump the US will not contribute to global climate finance, meaning that poorer nations will be less likely to be able to afford the robust action that is needed. In addition to slashing aid for development related to climate change including the UN's green finance, the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. He will also end adaptation and resilience grants and subsidies to support local government.

Federal Agencies

Efforts to make federal agencies use more renewable energy and be more energy efficient will also come to an end. So will the environmental oversight that now must be part of all new projects in federal agencies.

Democratic Senators

While the Republicans were obstructionist for their own partisan gains, Democrats in the Senate will be obstructionist on behalf of current and future generation. The only tool that Democrats have to oppose Republican action is the filibuster. A total of 60 Senators are required to end a filibuster. Only 41 of the 47 Democrats in the Senate are required to make a filibuster impervious. However, some think that Republicans will simply get rid of the filibuster as they need only 50 votes to do so. Now that Republican legislators are in control they could use their majority to support environmental measures that affect the federal budget into budget reconciliation bills. Such bills only need 51 votes to pass.

We the people

The repercussions of a Trump administration will be felt for decades after Americans come to their senses. Their misdirected rage and petulance has caused them to cut their nose to spite their face. The savage irony is the world will suffer in the wake of their angry effort to send a message by giving more power to obstructionist Republicans that are responsible for Washington being broken in the first place.

Those who voted Republican will come to rue the day that they handed the most powerful office in the world to the least qualified candidate ever to win the presidency. We must not let them forget what they have done, we must ceaselessly remind them of the hell that they have unleashed on the world. This is not retribution, this is about accountability.

Although businesses and investors will counter the climate-killing efforts of the Trump administration, market forces alone will not be enough to keep us from surpassing tipping points from which we will not be able to recover.

Conclusion

China’s Vice Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin reminded the new administration that climate negotiations began in the 1980s under popular Republican president Ronald Reagan. History will record that Republican president Donald Trump opened the door to catastrophic climate change when he slammed shut the window of opportunity for climate action in 2017.

This is a bitter pill to swallow but we must be fully aware of what we are up against if we hope to do what we can to counter this looming dystopia.

Source: Global Warming is Real

Managing Sustainability Data: Challenges and Resources

Sustainability data can deliver meaningful results to organizations’ sustainability initiatives. Sustainability data has the ability to profoundly alter the economy in the future. Globally big sustainability data can help us tackle some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues. Sustainability data that has the capacity to dramatically improve business and sustainability initiatives.

Sustainability professionals face a number of challenges. It is not always easy to know how to use data to develop a strategy and track their sustainability efforts. To help with these efforts there are now a number of tools, technologies, and data used to measure program success.

As reported by the Network for Business the NBS's tenth Business Challenges for Sustainability report offers a synthesis of the top seven sustainability issues facing Canadian business in 2016. It is also NBS's last report of this kind.

One of the challenges identified is measuring & reporting sustainability. The report states that in light of the proliferation of sustainability rankings and reporting standards, businesses need to know how to streamline reporting to reduce redundancy, resolve inconsistencies, and produce a positive impact.

Other challenges include public policy and climate change (this has become particularly prescient in the wake of Donald Trump's victory in the recent US election), collaboration, aboriginal rights, sustaining sustainability programs (defining sustainability), educating consumers and creating a Long-term orientation.

Here are some insightful resources for organizations struggling to use big data. These resources are designed to help you to understand and manage data for sustainability. The first is a slideshow tittled Data Analytics for Environmental Sustainability.

The second is from Urjanet and it was published in Energy Manager Today. The Urjanet sustainability data resource ebook is titled, The Downstream Benefits of Improved Data Management. This ebook addresses some key topics such as:
  • Why Data Holds the Key to Sustainability Program Success 
  • Sustainability Data Management Challenges
  • How to Bridge the Data Management Gaps.

The Implications of the Trump Administration's Disdain for Science

Prior to the Trump administration, science informed government policy decisions. Nowhere is a science-based approach more necessary than in the realm of climate action. However, president-elect Trump has made it clear that he has a very little understanding of both science and scientists.

Consequently, climate scientists working for government agencies in the US are bracing for budget cuts and interference from the incoming administration.

Michael Lubell, director of public affairs for the American Physical Society in Washington DC said, "Trump will be the first anti-science president we have ever had...The consequences are going to be very, very severe."

Despite the views of the Trump administration, with 97 percent agreement among climate scientists the veracity of the research on anthropogenic warming is clear. However, there is well-warranted concern among scientists about the incoming administration.  Many of these scientists are calling Trump's presidency a disaster for the planet.

As reported by Oliver Milman in the Guardian, "Leading scientists say the climate denier’s victory could mean ‘game over for the climate’ and any hope of warding off dangerous global warming....never before has the arrival of a White House administration placed the livability of Earth at stake."

Milman quotes leading climate scientists as saying some pretty frightening things.

"A Trump presidency might be game over for the climate,” said Michael Mann, a prominent climate researcher. “It might make it impossible to stabilize planetary warming below dangerous levels." Kevin Trenberth, a senior scientist at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research, added: "This is an unmitigated disaster for the planet."

"Millions of Americans voted for a coal-loving climate denier willing to condemn people around the globe to poverty, famine and death from climate change," said Benjamin Schreiber, climate director at Friends of the Earth US.

The Trump administration is also likely to have dire implications for federally funded scientific research in the U.S. Scientists at Nasa and NOAA are expecting cuts, particularly those research programs related to climate change.

"As president, Donald Trump will pretend climate change does not exist," said Prof Tom Lyon of the University of Michigan’s business school. "This is an increasingly untenable position, even for committed climate skeptics...His energy policy will encourage investment in high-carbon energy sources that will look foolish in retrospect. And he will anger much of the rest of the world by reneging on policies designed to address global challenges."

Scientists working in federal science agencies are concerned about budget cuts and interference from the Trump administration. As reported by Ian Johnston in an Independent article, a senior Nasa scientist told Trump that he is wrong about climate change. He tweeted a graph of October's record-breaking temperature, along with the following words: "Global warming doesn’t care about the election."

Dr Gavin Schmidt, is the director of Nasa’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies said that government scientists are "not going to stand" for any interference with their work. He threatened to resign if Trump tries to manipulate the agency's findings.

"The science doesn’t go away, the evidence doesn’t go away, just because you refuse to look at it," Schmidt said.

The Trump Administration and the Coming Kakistocracy

As of January 20, 2017, the most powerful nation on Earth will be governed by the least qualified and most unprincipled citizens in the land.  It did not take long for Trump to be accused of corruption. Daily Kos reports that within a week of his victory the president-elect has created a scheme to make money from foreign diplomats who want to curry favor. These "guests" are charged a fee to stay at one of Trump's hotels.

A Vox article by David Roberts and Brad Plumer acknowledges the gravity of the threat posed by the incoming administration. As stated in the article, "Most people are wildly underestimating what Trump’s win will mean for the environment."

While the president-elect may not be able to stop the clean energy revolution, he can undermine American leadership and make it impossible to achieve the goals set out in the Paris Agreement. Trump will increase America's greenhouse gas emissions and make it impossible for the world to stay within the upper threshold temperature limit.

Like most environmental groups the Sierra Club's Michael Brune has promised to fight the climate-killing efforts of the Trump administration, however, he conceded that "This could be devastating for our climate and our future."

Now is the time to sound the alarm about the seriousness of the climate crisis not to look for silver linings. In a Triple Pundit article, Emilie Mazzacurati points to the "good news" that financial markets offer.  Growth in the low carbon economy is being driven by businesses and investors, however, in the absence of government support these market forces are unable to auger the scale of change we need to see.  Trump's plan to double down on fossil fuels pushes even the remotest hope out of reach.

Being hopeful is one thing, but being disconnected from reality is another.  As we face the implications of a Trump presidency, now is not the time to abandon unwarranted optimism in favor of the kind of pragmatic realism that enables us to do the most with the tools that we have at our disposal. We need to explore every recourse within the law to slow Trump's climate-killing agenda.

A Think Progress article by Joe Romm (who almost always seems to get it right) referred to, "a turning point in the history of climate action," and then he asked, "Will Trump go down in history as the man who pulled the plug on a livable climate?" He answered his rhetorical question with the following warning: "The fate of humanity is in the hands of a denier who pledged to kill domestic and global climate action and all clean energy research."

What the Trump administration does and doesn't do will have consequences that are "irreversible on a timescale of a thousand years." Romm concludes by laying out the painful truth, "the damage and delay that even a one-term President Trump could do will make the already difficult task of keeping total warming well below 2°C essentially impossible."

Related
The Coming Darkness: What the Election of Trump Means for our Planet

Event - The Sustainability Summit 2017

This Summit will take place on March 23-24, 2017 in London. What does COP21 and the push for greater environmental sustainability mean for business? The Sustainability Summit will bring together key thinkers, policymakers and business leaders, who will deliver strategies, ideas and solutions to decision makers, helping them to turn challenges into new opportunities and prepare for the future.

The issue of sustainability is a multifaceted one, and cannot be tackled by policy alone; international business must also rise to the challenge of reversing the damage that we have wrought on our environment. But how can businesses evolve and develop their practices to improve their footprint? Is it possible to make adjustments that have a net positive impact on revenue? And what are the challenges that multinational companies face in implementing such changes across borders?

In March 2016, The Economist Events’ Sustainability Summit in London delivered an alarming prognosis: adapt or die. This year we will be evaluating progress and the scalability of sustainability initiatives while asking the crucial question: what does COP21 and the push for greater environmental sustainability mean for business? Bringing together key thinkers, policymakers and business leaders the Sustainability Summit will deliver strategies, ideas and solutions to decision makers, helping them to turn challenges into new opportunities and prepare for the future.

Speakers

Bob Collymore
Chief Executive Officer, Safaricom

Daniel Franklin
Executive Editor,
Editor The Economist

Helen Hai
Chief Executive Officer,
Made in Africa

Miranda Johnson
Environment Correspondent
The Economist

Greg Lowe Global
Head of Resilience and Sustainability,
Aon

Jeremy Oppenheim
Programme Director,
Business and Sustainable Development Commission

Steve Waygood
Chief Responsible Investment Officer,
Aviva Investors

Mark Wilson
Chief Executive Officer,
Aviva

Why attend? Questions that will be answered

What steps can we take to break the prevailing short-termism which dominates the markets and begin to act with an eye to the future? How can policy-makers better address market failings and encourage a move toward a circular economy? In what ways do our current, global regulatory frameworks account for climate change? How can we leverage the capital markets and big business to create a more sustainable economy? Where should investors direct their capital in order to make the biggest impact? From source to shelf, how can businesses take better stock of natural capital and ensure resource efficiency all the way across their supply chains? Could technological innovation provide some of the solutions we need to deliver sustainable growth? And, how can we scale the green tech that already exists? How can we further the social components of the SGDs and create a more inclusive marketplace around the world?

Attendees will
  • Network with more than 200 international leaders from business, finance and government Make connections with those at the forefront of the sustainability effort and discover new opportunities for cross-border and cross-sectoral collaboration
  • Shape the evolving dialogue on sustainability and share ideas with decision-makers and innovators
  • Get to grips with practical steps businesses are taking to scale-up action and create the swift change we need to realise the transition to a two degree world
  • Gain a fresh perspective on sustainability as a value driver and differentiator for business and finance
  • Join the global effort to create an inclusive and environmentally sustainable marketplace

To register click here.

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Event - PV O&M and Asset Management Conference and Exhibition

The 3rd Annual PV O&M and Asset Management Conference and Exhibition from PV Operations & Maintenance USA will take place on December 6-7, 2016 in San Francisco, California.

The event is Subtitled, O&M and Asset Management to Optimize Performance and Maximize ROI.

Maintaining profits in O&M

With a bumper year for new assets coming online, and an existing fleet of mature assets aging, O&M is now in the limelight as the key element to maintaining your PV asset’s profitability. Preventing failure and maximizing output is essential to protect your asset’s value.

Grid operators and PV plant owners are looking for asset management solutions that are reliable and have robust analytics that can provide actionable intelligence once the plant enters its operational phase. Whereas O&M providers must focus on more detailed supply chain management, as well as predictive maintenance, to provide value in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

With solar companies and investors willing to pay more for higher-value software and hardware solutions to reduce risk from their operating assets and deliver higher lifetime value, the higher demand for portfolio-level asset management tools, PV error analysis, and monitoring software technology means big business for PV O&M suppliers. Strike while the iron is hot

At PV O&M USA 2016 the established experts and disruptive innovators in the industry are meeting for two days of interactive sessions and exclusive debate to establish first-class O&M practices that will optimise performance, improve reliability and maximize overall return.

Asset optimization

Increase your asset revenue through using system, strategic and performance analysis to identify cost-effective optimization opportunities Improve performance:

Maximize your asset’s energy output through intelligent monitoring and data analytics, and the experience of the best-performing operators O&M strategy:

Develop a better O&M strategy and make effective budgetary decisions, through understanding the scope of work required and being able to benchmark different O&M providers Troubleshooting:

Ensure a rapid return to full production by pre-empting failure and mitigating the impacts Inverters and BOS:

Understand your options for maintaining the inverter and BOS post-warranty, to ensure maximum productivity from your system

The U.S. installed 1,665 MW of solar PV in the first quarter 2016, increasing 24% over the previous year, bringing the cumulative number of U.S. solar installations now on-line to 27.5 GW according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).

The sharpest rise has and will continue to come from the utility sector, but there will also be stronger growth in the commercial and residential markets. By the end of 2016, the US is forecast to have 41 GW of PV capacity online. At the end of 2016, the 30% federal ITC is scheduled to step down to 10% for utility, commercial, and third- party-owned residential PV, and expire altogether for residential PV customers, hence the gold rush now. O&M market to triple in next five years

The global market for megawatt scale operations and maintenance (O&M) and asset management is forecast to triple in the next five years, to 488 GW by 2020. The market is, however, in a state of flux. Increased competition in the O&M market has seen a growing number of independent providers coming on to the scene and there has also been consolidation via mergers and acquisitions as well as portfolio-level contracting.

Speakers

Chris Hinton
Sempra U.S. Gas & Power
Solar Portfolio Manager

Chad Sachs
Radian Generation
CEO

Drew Worts
NRG Solar
Director, Asset Optimization

Tequila Smith
Southern Company
Renewable Energy O&M Manager

Rue Phillips
365Pronto
CEO

Mike Moone
SunPower
Director, Energy Assurance

Their mission: to put O&M under the spotlight, and eliminate the challenges that are preventing your plant reaching its full potential.

The experts speaking at PV O&M USA have extensive experience in the market, and exclusive knowledge of the O&M workings of their industry-leading companies – if you want to grow your O&M strategy, improve your knowledge and get the most out of your PV plants, this is the conference for you! We look forward to welcoming you to the conference in San Francisco!

Latest speakers added

Anand Narayanan, Technical Sales Manager, O&M, First Solar Evan Riley, Vice President of Development Operations, Cypress Creek Renewables Miguel Anel Guerrero, Engineering Manager of North America, Enertis Andy Walker PhD PE, Principal Engineer, NREL Jesse Atkinson, VP Marketing and Business Development, Alion Energy Ron Corio, Founder & CEO, Array Technologies Pramod Krishnani, Manager, Performance Engineering, Sustainable Power Group Patty Liao, Regional Operations Manager, Recurrent Energy Stephen Goodbody, Senior Vice President - Engineering and Operations, Soltage LLC

Latest sessions added

Mapping the future of the PV O&M market Applying Utility Best Practices to Solar Solar asset value and the need for O&M evaluation during the design phase Warranty Management and the Spare Parts Inventory Optimizing the Human Element New Inroads in Monitoring Panel Maintenance O & M Impact on LCOE: Stabilizing Energy Generation and Maximizing Project Finance Sustainability’s Triple Bottom Line - Economic Prosperity, Social Equity and Environmental Stewardship Challenging the Status Quo: Customizing the Scope of Work to maximize your business model Latest sponsors and exhibitors: Alion energy Array Technologies Heliolytics Locus Energy World, Wind & Solar Alencon Systems LLC ISO-CAL North America Phoenix Renewable Services Solv

Only 13 spaces remaining, click here for more information and to register.

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World Reacts to Trump's Win and Warn Him to Respect the Paris Climate Agreement (Videos)

Following Donald Trump's unexpected win, world leaders are warning the president-elect to honor US climate commitments

The world was shocked by the news the Trump was to be the next head of the most powerful nation on the planet. It almost seemed as though there was a moment of stunned silence as people around the world tried to fathom what the world will be like under a Trump administration. When the news of Trump's victory broke markets tumbled and world leaders issued muted and conditional congratulatory messages.




Some European newspapers heralded the news as one would welcome an apocalypse.

"The unthinkable – a nightmare – therefore becomes a reality: So on Jan. 20, the world’s biggest military and economic power will be helmed by a racist, erratic, isolationist president," French news magazine Le Nouvel Obs wrote. "Europe wakes up wondering, stunned if the big brother who protected her in 1945 will continue to defend her."

Trump has already cast a shadow over the proceedings at COP22. French leader Francois Hollande has warned Trump that the Paris Agreement is "irreversible" in both "law and conscience". "The US must respect the commitments they have undertaken," he said. Ban ki-Moon told Trump the climate deal is "unstoppable". Former French president Sarkozy said that Europe should impose a carbon tax on the US if Trump pulls out of the Paris Pact.



German Chancellor Angela Merkel was quick to remind Trump about America's historic role in the global community. As a climate leader, Germany does not welcome president-elect Trump's promise to kill climate action. Germans are also concerned that the wave nationalism and isolationism that has swept across France, the UK and the US could also be a major force in German elections next fall.

More than anything, uncertainty that Trump's forthcoming presidency.  It is hard to know what to expect from the most atypical president-elect in the nation's history.

Many are struggling to get a handle on what Trump will do. Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, offered an ominous warning: "One thing is clear. The world must get ready for big changes because the American election has injected an overdose of unpredictability into world politics."

While the US electoral outcome has been met with very little enthusiasm in most of the world, Trump's victory has been celebrated by the heads of state in Russia, North Korea and Iran. None are more pleased with Trump's victory than anti-Muslim far-right nationalists in places like the Netherlands, France, and the UK.

Many are weaving Trump's win into the wider nationalistic narrative that appears to be gaining momentum.  Far-right candidates have been elected in France and anti-immigration sentiments have fueled the Brexit vote in the UK. Voters in Germany may very well replace Angela Merkle's centrist government with right-wing conservatives next year.

"2016 is…going to be the year of two great political revolutions," said Brexit advocate and Trump supporter Nigel Farage. "I thought Brexit was big, but boy, this looks like it’s going to be even bigger."

Russian President and fellow demagogue Vladimir Putin was among the first to congratulate Trump. Putin is alleged to have helped Trump to get elected by hacking into the DNC and strategically releasing information to influence the electoral outcome.

Similar sentiments of shock and revulsion  were in evidence in the Americas. One Mexican website bluntly stated:

"The United States voted for the wall and Donald Trump’s lies," proclaimed Mexican website El Economista,

Brazil's Marcelo Rubens Paiva, commented in O Estado de S. Paulo saying the election result was an effort to, "make America white again….The blonds return to power."

China railed against Trump's absurd allegation that they invented climate change. A Chinese Communist Party representative said, "the most dark, chaotic and negative [election campaign] in the past two centuries…has undeniably revealed the dark side of so-called democracy in the U.S."

In the Middle East, the Abu Dhabi-based newspaper The National called Trump’s election "a profound shock that threatens tumultuous consequences for his country and the international system as a whole."

A Trump administration could unleash catastrophic warming and this increases the urgency of climate action.  Some have optimistically suggested that world leaders could convince Trump of the veracity of anthropogenic global warming and the need for urgent climate action.

We know that world affairs vascilate back and forth between various poles. One step forward is often followed by two steps back.  However, when it comes to climate change we can't afford another backward step.

Facing the Truth About What A Trump Administration Means for Climate Action

I have always been an optimist, in fact I have railed against pessimism. Despite the progress we have made, the election of Donald Trump has crushed any hope that we may be able to reign in climate change. Even if we get back to sensible government in four years time we will likely be too late.

I realize that this is not what climate advocates want to hear at this time. However, we have to be real if we are to develop cogent strategies and tactics. Perhaps if enough people make the case, we can find a way influence this administration. At the very least Trump's supporters need to be continually reminded that they have invited a climate apocalypse.

Climate activists are trying to articulate a hopeful message. However, to do so they are exagerating the prospects for climate progress.

Just as some climate deniers are simply too terrified to listen to scientists, after Trump's victory, some people on the front lines of climate advocacy appear to be too distressed to acknowledge that this means game over for conventional efforts to engage climate action in the US.

It is a tragic turn of events, but now that we are saddled with an administration that has a mandate to repeal US climate action, it really is game over for the current strategy based on the Paris Climate agreement. Trump's victory has already cast a shadow over the COP22 climate talks in Morroco.

While hope is always a good thing, relying on dishonest talking points to rally the troops is unconscionable at this time. The climate movement has to get their messaging right and that means they must tell the truth about our current situation. Sadly they are reflexively reverting to the same old strategy that is unlikely to produce results under the Trump administration.

Before Trump was elected we knew that the current levels of INDCs were insufficient to keep us within the upper threshold warming limit. The election of Trump means that the world's second largest emitter will increase its emissions and this will have global repercussions.

We can expect that market forces will contribute to more climate action. We can anticipate ongoing efforts from states, cities business and investors, however, these efforts will not be enough to keep us below the critical threshold.

We should not give up hope, but hope alone won't get us to where we need to be. In addition to hope we need to come together and focus on new approaches that can produce results.

In the absence of climate leadership from the white house there is even more urgency to find a strategy to reduce emissions. In addition to adaptation efforts we need to consider strategies that advance carbon capture technologies and geoengineering.