Responsibility Is Cool

Despite the loud complaints of climate change deniers that taking action to combat climate change will kill jobs and hurt companies, many companies are already finding ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. 

"Compiled by the nonprofit group Climate Counts, the survey of 90 big American companies found that most were addressing the issue, either by cutting their energy use, measuring their output of greenhouse gases, adopting policies to reduce emissions or pushing for federal legislation to do the same."  (source: http://climatesolutions.org/news/u.s-companies-confront-climate-change)

Turns out taking steps to fight climate in your business model pays too:

"A Goldman Sachs report found that leaders in social, environmental, and governance policies outperformed their peers by some 25%." (source : http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/04/27/5-companies-profiting-while-fighting-climate-chan/ )

Some of the notable companies who are reducing their emissions include Coca Cola, Nike, Levi Strauss, UPS, and PG &E.

Sadly investors are slow to pick up on this information, (source: http://mobile.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-24/climate-friendly-companies-have-more-in-common-than-carbon-cuts.html)

Thankfully, even in the absence of a Federal carbon tax or other climate strategy, companies  (plus some states and cities) are taking action on their own. 

Just yesterday I was grocery shopping at Hannaford, which seems to be emerging as a regional company leading in green initiatives. They have had signs outside their stores for years now reminding people to bring in their reusable bags. Just recently they have added stickers on their freezer cases highlighting some of their energy saving strategies and encouraging shoppers to help them save energy too.

Check them out:

Go, Hannaford! Yet another reason I prefer them to other grocery stores.