Sustainability Professionals Sign a Joint Statement: “Time for All Companies to Lead” on Climate Policy

Phoenix, AZ – At GreenBiz 24, a national sustainability conference, over 300 sustainability professionals joined former sustainability executive and ClimateVoice founder Bill Weihl in signing a powerful statement asserting that it is “time for all companies to lead” on climate policy. The “LEAD” Statement was unveiled yesterday by Weihl, speaking to thousands from the main stage with the help of an AI-generated voice in light of his recent ALS diagnosis. More signatures continue to be added on a dedicated website.

“We all know that our companies have voices – powerful ones,” said Weihl. “But if we are to make that transition from fossil fuels the world endorsed at COP28, companies need to do more than pipe up about their latest innovative work, as vital as that is. They need to speak up for policy progress. Loudly. Again and again.” (A recording of the plenary session is available here.)

As the signature tally continued to grow during his presentation, Weihl was joined onstage by key leaders in the sustainability community – a growing part of the workforce with an important role to play in addressing climate change. “All of you with us today are the world’s leading experts on corporate sustainability,” Weihl said. “Together, our collective voice carries real weight. Our collective voice can make it easier for companies to do what we need them to do.”

Among the prominent leaders who have signed the LEAD statement (see text immediately below) are: Joel Makower, Chairman and Co-Founder of GreenBiz Group; Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and co-author of Net Positive; Patrick Flynn, Former Head of Sustainability at Salesforce; Brian Janous, former VP of Energy at Microsoft; Andrew Winston, sustainability strategist and co-author of Net Positive; Auden Schendler, SVP of Sustainability at Aspen One; and Kathrin Winkler, former CSO of EMC Corporation.

Text of the LEAD statement:

As sustainability professionals dedicating our careers to combating climate change, we believe that all companies must leverage their power and influence to accelerate climate policy progress. We believe that it is time for companies to back policy action at the speed and scale required to meet our global goals and avert the worst outcomes. We are united in our concern, our commitment and our confidence in the power of corporate leadership.

Specifically, it’s time for all companies to LEAD:

• Leave obstructing trade associations;
• Elevate climate policy as a company priority;
• Advocate publicly for effective binding climate policies; and
• Demonstrate real commitment to the collective action needed to achieve the just and equitable transition from fossil fuels agreed on at COP28.

Together, we and our companies can meet this moment.

🎥 Watch the full recording of Bill’s keynote at GreenBiz

📸 Photo Credit: Burgundy Visuals