Take Action as an Employee
With/without having to stand out of the crowd, you can become a climate champion in your workplace by pushing for low-carbon solutions and inspiring others with your actions.
Why is this important?
Businesses big and small are essential in achieving a zero-carbon future and you can be an incredible driver for systemic change in your workplace.
There is so much you can do - you can use the power of your position, your retirement savings and your voice to make a real difference for the planet and also benefit your company.
Sustainability expert Bill Weihl, who has worked with some of the largest companies, says the voice of a single employee is a more concentrated, present voice for management than thousands of customers. Use your voice.
Key Actions
Join the climate voice movement
ClimateVoice is an exciting new initiative mobilizing employees to urge their company to enact achievable climate policies. Led by Bill Weihl (ex-Google and Facebook), they have great tips for you and their newsletter will help you stay up to date.
Action:
Sign the ClimateVoice pledge.
Explore ClimateVoice’s mission.
Join the climate voice movement
ClimateVoice is an exciting new initiative mobilizing employees to urge their company to enact achievable climate policies. Led by Bill Weihl (ex-Google and Facebook), they have great tips for you and their newsletter will help you stay up to date.
Action:
Sign the ClimateVoice pledge.
Explore ClimateVoice’s mission.
Be a voice for the climate, in appropriate meetings
Leadership can be as simple as mentioning the urgency of climate change and how it relates to your workplace in meetings like asking, “have we considered ways to reduce the carbon impact of this?” or “Are we doing this as efficiently as possible in terms of resources?”.
Action:
Investigate if your workplace has a sustainability plan or use this database to find if your company’s sustainability strategy is on the GRI database. If not, write to your manager to request the creation of such a strategy.
Ask if your product procurement or supply chains have sourcing standards to encourage sustainability and if not, ask your manager for this policy change.
Encourage the use of online meetings to avoid air travel and offset the carbon of air travel needed.
If moving offices or workplace, request prioritizing sustainability or energy efficiency in the new building. This will save your business’ bottom line as well.
Ask about the Social Responsibility Staff’s role with regard to sustainability in your company. If you are not satisfied with their responsibilities, consider suggesting improvements.
Be a voice for the climate, in appropriate meetings
Leadership can be as simple as mentioning the urgency of climate change and how it relates to your workplace in meetings like asking, “have we considered ways to reduce the carbon impact of this?” or “Are we doing this as efficiently as possible in terms of resources?”.
Action:
Investigate if your workplace has a sustainability plan or use this database to find if your company’s sustainability strategy is on the GRI database. If not, write to your manager to request the creation of such a strategy.
Ask if your product procurement or supply chains have sourcing standards to encourage sustainability and if not, ask your manager for this policy change.
Encourage the use of online meetings to avoid air travel and offset the carbon of air travel needed.
If moving offices or workplace, request prioritizing sustainability or energy efficiency in the new building. This will save your business’ bottom line as well.
Ask about the Social Responsibility Staff’s role with regard to sustainability in your company. If you are not satisfied with their responsibilities, consider suggesting improvements.
Team up with other employees for the climate
We can be powerful and change the climate impact of the companies where we work when we connect and work together either formally or informally.
Action:
Ask if your workplace has a sustainability committee you can join and if not, request if one can formally be established to focus on developing a sustainability plan for the business.
Get together with other employees who want to work towards climate solutions in your workplace and meet regularly to share information and develop plans - like a social club, but for the planet. You can find such inter-organisational groups here -
In a tech job? Join ClimateAction.Tech a global network of tech professionals supporting climate solutions.
Writing? Incorporate climate change into your narratives or reporting to help inspire others to action.
Involved in economics? Get involved with Economists for Future a group created to mobilize economists to avert the climate crisis.
Teaching? Access high quality cross-curricula resources developed by teachers to help pupils understand climate change.
Creative? Follow Climate Designers who have a climate career guide specific to you.
Read this article how workers are confronting the climate crisis in their companies.
Team up with other employees for the climate
We can be powerful and change the climate impact of the companies where we work when we connect and work together either formally or informally.
Action:
Ask if your workplace has a sustainability committee you can join and if not, request if one can formally be established to focus on developing a sustainability plan for the business.
Get together with other employees who want to work towards climate solutions in your workplace and meet regularly to share information and develop plans - like a social club, but for the planet. You can find such inter-organisational groups here -
In a tech job? Join ClimateAction.Tech a global network of tech professionals supporting climate solutions.
Writing? Incorporate climate change into your narratives or reporting to help inspire others to action.
Involved in economics? Get involved with Economists for Future a group created to mobilize economists to avert the climate crisis.
Teaching? Access high quality cross-curricula resources developed by teachers to help pupils understand climate change.
Creative? Follow Climate Designers who have a climate career guide specific to you.
Read this article how workers are confronting the climate crisis in their companies.
Switch your retirement fund to green providers
Shifting your portfolio away from companies that are causing climate change weakens the financial and political power of the biggest polluters who continue to invest in fossil fuel extraction and stifle new climate policies.
Action:
Make sure your retirement fund is green and if it is not, make a plan to make the switch today.
In the US learn more through the Sustainable Investment ETF and Green America guides.
In the UK learn more through these two Ethical Pension Funds & Ethical Pensions guides.
In Australia learn more through this Greenfinder guide.
In New Zealand learn more through this Kiwisaver guide.
Switch your retirement fund to green providers
Shifting your portfolio away from companies that are causing climate change weakens the financial and political power of the biggest polluters who continue to invest in fossil fuel extraction and stifle new climate policies.
Action:
Make sure your retirement fund is green and if it is not, make a plan to make the switch today.
In the US learn more through the Sustainable Investment ETF and Green America guides.
In the UK learn more through these two Ethical Pension Funds & Ethical Pensions guides.
In Australia learn more through this Greenfinder guide.
In New Zealand learn more through this Kiwisaver guide.
How it adds up
By improving your company’s sustainability measures, you’re improving your company’s value for investors and improving ESG outlook for customers.
You as an employee are your company’s most important resource. Your voice can sway consumer demand and stakeholder engagement discussions.
Amazon launched a $2 Billion Climate Change Fund after hundreds of employees took a stand against Amazon’s climate change policies (Source).
According to LinkedIn's 2018 Workplace Report, 86% of millennials would consider taking a pay cut to work for companies whose values aligned with their own (Source).
Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, HP and Walmart have all made Climate Pledges and/or are taking Climate Action by changing their infrastructure as a result of employees rising up. (Source).