CLIMATE ACTION NEEDED NOW: CLIMATE STRIKE 2019

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For nearly a year, Greta Thunberg has led one of the largest social movements to mobilize students to walk out of classrooms in support of immediate climate action. Now B Corps and progressive businesses in Canada, the UK, and US, are joining students and calling for climate action now. 

There are 120+ signatories from CEOs and business leaders like us that have put their name to this statement for climate action.

Climate Action Now: Statement

The “Climate Action Now” statement is in response to the alarming and ever-growing threat caused by the climate crisis. While the International Panel on Climate Change highlighted that we have less than 12 years to avoid a climate catastrophe, there is a growing body of experts suggesting that we have less than 18 months to take urgent action, with 2020 being the deadline for global carbon dioxide emissions peaking if we’re to keep the planet below 1.5C.

Business leaders are stepping up to call for immediate climate action, recognizing that the climate crisis is not just a business and economic risk, but a humanitarian risk. While as a whole B Corps and progressive businesses are striving to be better for the environment and working to minimize our collective impact, it’s not nearly enough.

Given our climate emergency, it’s not enough for individual companies to buy offsets, put solar on roofs, or even to create internal carbon taxes or transition to regenerative agriculture. Rethinking entire business models is necessary, but also insufficient.

Our climate crisis requires action by policymakers to align incentives and to create a level playing field or a just transition to a low-carbon economy. It’s time to use our voice as business leaders to make that call to action to local, provincial and federal policy makers to take action.

Complete list of signatories:

Canada:

  • Active Impact Investments – Mike Winterfield, CEO (Vancouver)

  • Accerta – Peter Owsiany, President & CEO (Toronto)

  • Barrett and Welsh – Gavin Barrett, Founder/Chief Creative Officer (Toronto)

  • Better Narrative – Mayer Vafi, Founder (Montreal)

  • Boldt Communications Inc. – Lesli Boldt, President (Vancouver)

  • Calmura Natural Walls Inc. – Monty Chong-Walden, CEO & Founder (Vancouver)

  • Cathexis Consulting Inc. – Rochelle Zorzi, Partner (Toronto)

  • Cathexis Consulting Inc. – Melissa McGuire, Partner (Toronto)

  • CEHolmes Consulting Inc. – Charles Holmes, Owner (Vancouver)

  • Charity Agency – Chris Brandt, Founder (Vancouver)

  • Climate Smart – Elizabeth Sheehan, Co founder, President (Vancouver)

  • Community Savings Credit Union – Mike Schilling, President & CEO (Vancouver)

  • Credo – Christian Bélair, Co-Founder and CEO (Montreal)

  • Cove Continuity Advisors Inc. – Christie Geis, Partner (North Vancouver)

  • CEHolmes Consulting Inc. – Charles Holmes, Owner (Vancouver)

  • Ecologyst – Rene Gauthier, CEO (Victoria)

  • EventChain – Charlie Wang, Director of Business Development (Vancouver)

  • EventChain – Ashton Addison, CEO(Vancouver)

  • EventChain SmartTickets – Dino Bassanese, President (Vancouver)

  • Fairware – Denise Taschereau, Co-Founder and CEO (Vancouver)

  • Fairware – Sarah White, Co-Founder and COO (Vancouver)

  • Flow Office Wisdom – Crystal Wilson, Chief Buzz Builder, Partner (Guelph)

  • Forge & Spark Media Ltd. – Shannon Emmerson, President (Vancouver)

  • Forge & Spark Media – Shannon Emmerson, President (Vancouver)

  • Green Circle Salons – Satoko Nakajima, VP (North York)

  • Green Circle Salons – Shane Price, CEO (Toronto)

  • GreenStep Solutions Inc. – Angela Nagy, CEO (Kelowna)

  • GrowOya Plant Irrigation Inc. – Brant Cheetham, CEO (Vancouver)

  • Hemmings House Pictures Ltd. – Greg Hemmings, CEO (Saint John)

  • Hippie Snacks/Left Coast Naturals – Ian Walker, President (Burnaby)

  • Hoovie – Fiona Rauher, CEO (Vancouver)

  • impak Finance – Paul Allard, CEO (Montreal)

  • Junxion Strategy – Mike Rowlands, President and CEO (Vancouver)

  • Kent Employment Law – Wendy Woloshyn, COO (Vancouver)

  • LBN Brand Management Inc – Kurstin Leith, Owner & Director of Brands (Vancouver)

  • LightTrail Consulting – Greg Tooke, Co-founder (Vancouver)

  • Lunapads – Suzanne Siemens, CEO (Vancouver)

  • Manoverboard – Andrew Boardman, Designer (Winnipeg)

  • Momentum Magazine Ltd – Tania Lo, Co-Founder (Vancouver)

  • Nature’s Path Foods – Manuel Gorrin, Sustainability and Stewardship Manager (Richmond)

  • Nada – Brianne Miller, CEO (Vancouver)

  • New Society Publishers – Julie Raddysh, Publisher (Gabriola Island)

  • Ocean Brands – Ian Ricketts, President (Richmond)

  • Offsetters – Phill Cull, CEO (Vancouver)

  • OpenConcept Consulting Inc. – Mike Gifford, CEO & Founder (Ottawa)

  • Openly – Lisa Watson, Co-Founder & CEO (Guelph)

  • Organic Ocean – Guy Dean, President (Richmond)

  • Pearl Street Communications – Curt Hammond, Chief Listening Officer (Ontario)

  • Pela – Matt Bertulli, CEO (Kelowna)

  • Phil Communications – Kim Fuller, Founder & CEO (Montreal)

  • Phox Foods – Jordan Birch, President (Port Moody)

  • Plenty + Spare – Kate Duda, Owner (Vancouver)

  • Public Inc. – Phillip Haid, Co-Founder & CEO (Toronto & NYC)

  • Persephone Brewing Co – Jenn Vervier, CEO (Gibsons)

  • Rain City Props – Amanda Webster, Owner/Manager (Vancouver)

  • Rally Assets Inc.- Upkar Arora, CEO (Toronto)

  • Realize Strategies – John Kay, CEO (Vancouver)

  • REfficient – Stephanie McLarty, CEO (Hamilton)

  • Relish New Brand Experience – Suzzane Braun, President (Winnipeg)

  • Rhiza Capital – Brian Smith, CEO (Sechelt)

  • Royal Printers – Chelsea Gieschen, Director, Business Operations (New Westminister)

  • Salt Palm Development – Jared Meyers, Chairman (St Petersburg)

  • Sea to Sky Removal – Cinci Csere, Co-Founder (Vancouver)

  • Sea to Sky Removal – Chris Arkell, Co-Founder (Vancouver)

  • SES Consulting – Scott Sinclair, CEO (Vancouver)

  • Silver Chef – Robert Phelps, President (Vancouver)

  • SMAK – Healthy Fast Food – Brendan Ladner, CEO (Vancouver)

  • Spud – Peter VaanStolk , CEO (Vancouver)

  • Strandberg Consulting – Coro Strandberg, President (Burnaby)

  • Sustainable – Pearl Chan, Architectural Designer (Toronto)

  • Summerhill Pyramid Winery – Ezra Cipes, CEO (Kelowna)

  • Sustainable – Josh Reiniger, Architectural Designer (Toronto)

  • Sustainability Advantage – Bob Willard, Author and Founder (Toronto)

  • Synergy Enterprises – Jill Doucette, CEO (Victoria)

  • The Earth Group – Matt Moreau, Founder (Edmonton)

  • Tiffinday Inc. – Seema Pabari, CEO (Toronto)

  • Technologies Ecofixe inc – Marisol Labrecque, CEO (Laval)

  • TUX Creative Co. – Dominic Tremblay, CEO & Founder (Montreal)

  • Wakefield Productions – Donna Cheung, CEO (Vancouver)

  • Wirefire Solutions – David Wood, President (Vancouver)

  • Vancouver Bike Share – DBA “Mobi by Shaw Go”​ – Samuel Cawkell, Marketing Manager (Vancouver)

  • VREC Solar – Rob Baxter, Co-Owner (Vancouver)

  • Yulu PR – Melissa Orozco, CEO (Vancouver)

U.S.:

  • A Show For A Change – Jared Milrad, Founder and President (Los Angeles)

  • Blue Dot Advocates, PBC – Seth Henry, Impact Chair (Denver)

  • ChicoBag & To-Go Ware – Lucas Crowley, Director of Sales and Marketing (Chico)

  • Cotopaxi – Annie Agle, Director of Brand and Impact (Salt Lake City)

  • Danone North America – Deanna Bratter, Senior Director of Sustainable Development (Broomfield)

  • Do good well consulting – Kristin Joys, Consultant (Gainesville, FL )

  • FeelReal Co. – Andy Swindler (Chicago)

  • Florida for Good – Jared Meyers, Co-Founder (Orlando)

  • GreenSpark Solar – George McConochie, Chief Operations Officer (Rochester)

  • Happy Family Organics – Katie Clark, Director of Sustainability (Boise)

  • Invincible Unicorn – Gabriella Kay, CEO (Los Angeles)

  • Legacy Vacation Resorts – Jared Meyers, Chairman (Orlando)

  • MMercer Consulting – Mike Mercer, Principal (Portland)

  • Namasté Solar – Geri Mitchell-Brown, Director of Employee Experience (Boulder)

  • Pachama – Diego Saez Gil, CEO (San Francisco)

  • PV Squared – Jonathan Gregory, General Manager (Greenfield)

  • RoundPeg – Polina Pinchevsky, Founder (Silver Spring)

  • StraightUp Solar – Dane Glueck, President (St. Louis)

  • The Green Engineer, Inc. – Chris Schaffner, CEO (Concord)

  • Wanderlust – Sean Hoess, CEO (New York)

  • Way to B: Sustainability Consulting – Andrea Chase, Chief Sustainability Analyst (Los Angeles)

  • W.S. Badger Company – Rebecca Hamilton, Co-CEO (Gilsum, New Hampshire)

U.K:

  • Artfinder – Emily Sparshot, Senior Content Manager, Environmental Lead (London)

  • Beauty Kitchen – Joanne Chidley, Co-Founder (Wishaw)

  • Delphis Eco – Mark Jankovich, CEO (London)

  • Do Nation – Hermione Taylor, Co-Founder (Chamonix / Edinburgh)

  • E.C.One – Jos Skeates, Managing Director (London)

  • Flooglebinder – Brad Frankel, Co-Founder (Buckhurst Hill)

  • Forster Communications – Amanda Powell-Smith, CEO (London)

  • Freestar Drinks Ltd – Charlie Crawley, Co-Founder (London)

  • Good-Loop Ltd – Daniel Winterstein, Director (Edinburgh)

  • Green Element – Eilliam Richardson, CEO (London)

  • GreenSpark Solar – George McConochie, Chief Operations Officer (Rochester)

  • Humankind research – Tom Silverman, Founder (London)

  • Kung Fu Accounting – Scott Johnson, Founder (Stroud)

  • L&Co – Paul Barlow, Founder & Creative Director (London)

  • Living Alive- Rupert Hutchinsons, Co-Founder (Edinburgh)

  • Living Alive – Elle Adams, Co-Founder (Edinburgh)

  • On Purpose – Tom Ebbutt, Managing Director (London, Paris, Berlin)

  • Pentameter – James Brain, Director (Manchester)

  • Pentameter – Annalise Lewis, Co-Founder (Manchester)

  • Profit Through Ethics Ltd / Responsible 100 – Michael Solomon, Director (London)

  • REAL Fundraising – Tom Ward, Onboarding Director (London)

  • Represent Me – Ed Dowding, CEO (London)

  • Toast Ale – Louisa Ziane, Chief Brand & Sustainability Officer (London)

  • Twentyfifty ltd – Luke Wilde, Chief Executive (Frome)

  • Stroud Brewery – Greg Pilley, Managing Director (Stroud)

  • Wholegrain Digital – Tom Greenwood, Managing Director (London)



Sea to Sky Removal Recognized as a “Best For The World” B Corp Honoree

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Our company, Sea to Sky Removal, a Certified B Corp, has been named a Best For The World honoree in recognition of our environmental performance and sustainable business practices. Ranking in the top 10% of all B Corps for our environmental responsibility!

Best For The World recognition is administered by B Lab, the global nonprofit that certifies and supports Certified B Corporations, which are for-profit companies dedicated to using business as a force for good. Today there are 3,000 Certified B Corporations across 64 countries and 150 industries, unified by one common goal: to redefine success in business. 

B Corps meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. B Corp Certification doesn’t just evaluate a product or service, it assesses the overall positive impact of the company that stands behind it—like us. 

Using the B Impact Assessment, B Lab evaluates how a company’s operations and business model impact its workers, community, environment, and customers. To achieve the B Corp Certification, a company must achieve a score of at least 80 points on the assessment. 

We answered questions about our transportation, distribution channels and the environmental impact of our supply chain. The assessment also measures whether our services are designed to solve an environmental issue; reduce waste in the construction industry.

“We’re incredibly proud of this year’s Best For The World honorees,” says Anthea Kelsick, Chief Marketing Officer of B Lab. “These inspiring companies represent the kinds of business models and impact-driven business strategies that are building a new economy—one that is inclusive, regenerative, and delivers value to all stakeholders, not just shareholders. To that end, B Corps like Sea to Sky Removal are redefining capitalism and showing that it actually can work for everyone.”

The 2019 Best For The World honorees are determined based on the verified B Impact Assessments of Certified B Corporations. The full lists are available on: https://bcorporation.net/2019-best-for-the-world including other companies leading the way toward a more sustainable and regenerative planet, these companies including ours put the environment first in their everyday business practices: https://bcorporation.net/2019-best-for-the-world-environment

Sea to Sky Removal Joins Business Coalition for a Clean Economy

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Forty leaders in British Columbia’s corporate sector, including us are calling on Premier John Horgan to keep B.C. at the forefront of climate action and clean economic growth.

In a new open letter, the businesses say B.C. has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create jobs, encourage innovation, build healthy and safe communities, and reduce waste.

Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, Hootsuite, Nature’s Path Foods, Vancouver Film Studios, MEC, Persephone Brewing, Modo Co-operative, Carbon Engineering, and Earnest Ice Cream are among the companies endorsing the letter. The diverse signatories represent the brewing, clothing, construction, cosmetics, energy, film and television, food, financial, investment, manufacturing, outdoor recreation, technology, transportation, and other industries.

Today’s release of the letter coincides with the launch of the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy, a network of 40 companies that believe building a clean economy, powered by renewable energy, is key to ensuring B.C.’s future prosperity in a rapidly changing world.

Arc’teryx, Climate Smart Businesses, Innergex Renewable Energy, the Insurance Bureau of Canada, and Vancity are the founders of the Business Coalition, which is supported by the Pembina Institute.

The Business Coalition is inviting more companies operating in B.C. to join the network.

Quick facts

  • The Business Coalition for a Clean Economy’s 40 member companies earn more than $3.4 billion in combined annual revenues.

  • These companies employ more than 11,000 workers.

Quotes

“Sea to Sky Removal grew out of our vision for a better world. Our company was founded on the principal that business can do good, drive change, and ultimately help save the world. We saw a problem, construction waste, and decided that we could change it. We understand that it’s much more than diverting construction waste; it’s a cultural shift, one that requires companies to get loud about their performance. The Business Coalition for a Clean Economy is a community of leaders like us, who will work together to drive a movement of using the power of business as a force for good, resulting in a positive impact for their employees, communities, and the environment.”

“The climate and energy challenge will not be solved by any single solution, company, or government in isolation. We are going to need collaboration across industries, sectors, and geographies if we hope to make a real difference to climate change and provide a bright and prosperous future for the next generation. As a B.C. company pioneering the commercialization of clean energy technologies, we are delighted to join the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy and look forward to contributing to a shared voice for climate action.”
— Steve Oldham, CEO, Carbon Engineering

“For the last 10 years, Climate Smart has had the privilege of working with close to 1,000 businesses to better understand and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. From our perspective, we see that businesses are key partners in building a clean economy and accelerating innovation. The Business Coalition for a Clean Economy is giving Climate Smart businesses a policy voice and another channel to share the business case for reducing carbon emissions.”
— Elizabeth Sheehan, cofounder and president, Climate Smart Businesses

“Hootsuite is pleased to join the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy. Climate action is important to our employees and we are committed to supporting the communities we live and work in, including advocating for a clean economy.”
— Heidi Rolston, vice president for learning, community, diversity, and inclusion, Hootsuite

“Innergex Renewable Energy is proud to be a founding member of the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy. Our mission to produce 100 per cent renewable energy has always been driven by the belief that we can achieve a more sustainable economy today without jeopardizing the needs of future generations. Our almost 30 years in the renewable energy sector has shown us that embedding the health of our communities and natural environment into economic development not only facilitates growth, but is the way to a more sustainable future. The Business Coalition is a forum for likeminded businesses to come together in support of one another and, working with government, take meaningful steps to address climate change and shape the economy of tomorrow.”
— Colleen Giroux-Schmidt, vice president for corporate relations, Innergex Renewable Energy

“Climate change is a clear and present danger that costs Canadians more than $1 billion in insured damages each and every year, due to storms, floods, and wildfires. Clearly, much more must be done to mitigate and adapt to the new weather reality that we face. The Insurance Bureau of Canada is pleased to be a founder of the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy, and to work with like-minded business to seek solutions to this challenge through sound climate and energy policy.”
— Aaron Sutherland, vice president for the Pacific region, Insurance Bureau of Canada

“We share this planet. The effects of climate change impact all of us as individuals, businesses, and communities. Whether prolonged droughts effect the food on our tables or the raw ingredients in our supply chain, we all have a responsibility to lead the transition toward a clean economy.”
— Katrina Shum, sustainability manager for North America, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics

“At Nature’s Path, we see firsthand the impact of droughts and severe weather changes caused by climate change to family farms and how we source our organic ingredients. We are excited today to join other B.C. businesses as a force of good to advocate for climate change solutions and bring positive change to our planet.”
— Jyoti Stephens, vice president for mission and strategy, Nature’s Path Foods

“B.C. is a hub for sustainable innovation, social responsibility, and climate solutions, and businesses are key to B.C.’s success on these fronts. From beer to buildings, film to finance, and cosmetics to concrete, the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy brings together an incredible diversity of B.C. businesses to champion climate leadership and the transition to a cleaner economy.”
— Karen Tam Wu, B.C. director, Pembina Institute

“Persephone is excited to join the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy because legislators need pressure from the private sector to enact policies that will protect our planet and communities from the worst impacts of climate change. Our influence is greater when we speak with one voice. Being a farm-based brewery, making an agricultural product, the changing climate will have a direct impact on our B.C.-based supply chain.”
— Jenn Vervier, CEO, Persephone Brewing

“We see climate change as a threat to the health and well-being of our communities, so we’re doing everything we can to show leadership in environmental sustainability. The Business Coalition is shaping a vision of a sustainable economy powered by clean energy. We encourage other businesses to join us in creating a brighter future for everyone in our province.”
— Christine Bergeron, chief member services officer, Vancity

“The film and television industry has grown rapidly to become a major part of our economy in B.C. — this has led to an increased use of resources and greater impact on the environment. It’s important and exciting for Vancouver Film Studios to join like-minded companies in the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy and work together towards a sustainable future. Lights, camera, climate action!”
— Pete Mitchell, president and CEO, Vancouver Film Studios

To see what other business leaders are saying about the Business Coalition, read the media backgrounder, which follows.

Watch a video about the Business Coalition: pembina.org/BCCE

Download the open letter and media backgrounder: pembina.org/pub/bcce-letter

Join the conversation on Twitter: #CleanBCBiz

About the Business Coalition for a Clean Economy

The Business Coalition for a Clean Economy (BCCE) is a network of leading B.C. businesses and organizations aligned behind a vision for a clean and prosperous economy and climate action. We believe that strong climate and energy policy provides certainty and is good for business. Learn more: pembina.org/BCCE