The Business Case for Speaking Up: Democracy, Climate, and the Cost of Inaction

​Please join the American Sustainable Business Network, Business Response to Authoritarian Threats, ClimateVoice, Sustainable Brands, and other hosts for an important discussion on how democratic backsliding and the ascendancy of political authoritarianism in the U.S are threatening the health of our economy, society and environment.

​Disregard of democratic norms, the rule of law, and science are undermining progress on building a just and resilient world. Such practices are reversing America’s status as a leading proponent of clean energy and climate policy, while reducing our global competitive advantage. Executive overreach from the white house, attacks on independent agencies, a disregard for science and efforts to sow doubt on the integrity of the election system are contributing to business uncertainty by increasing polarization and creating huge challenges to companies committed to ESG principles.

​Participants will hear perspectives from leaders in the field on the causes of democratic backsliding and the evolving systemic risks to our environment and our economic stability. The discussion will also focus on the critical role businesses and trade/professional associations can play at this historic moment in America.

​We will discuss potential solutions including the importance of upholding election integrity, continued clean energy and climate policy advocacy, opportunities for CEO advocacy and the importance of overcoming silence by collectively taking action.

​Panelists:

• ​Andy Behar, CEO, As You Sow

• ​Anne Kelly, Vice President, Government Relations, Ceres

• ​Hardy Merriman, Former President and CEO of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict

• ​Camilla Taylor, Executive Director, American Sustainable Business Network

• ​Andrew Winston, Sustainability Strategist, Best-selling author of Green to Gold and Net Positive

• ​Moderators:

  • ​Richard Eidlin, Founder of Business Response to Authoritarian Threats

  • ​Deborah McNamara, Executive Director of ClimateVoice