Christian Thalacker’s Post

Thank you to Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) for bringing together a terrific panel of experts from Maryland Department of the Environment, American Forest Foundation, American Forests, and Woodwell Climate Research Center for an important conversation about the role of science and policy in making carbon markets work. "We need approaches to implementing natural climate solutions that are scalable, while ensuring both sustainable and equitable flows of capital to the ground, to the places, and to the people where these solutions can be implemented," said Woodwell's Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Wayne Walker. Carbon markets have immense potential to meet this need. Currently, carbon markets face intense scrutiny for very real problems with integrity and transparency. But these problems are not insurmountable. Science and governance are the keys to developing a solution that works for climate, people, and nature. #COP28UAE #ScienceForSolutions #ClimateScienceForChange

Last week, I got to attend the inaugural Bloomberg Green Festival here in Seattle! Coinciding with the end of PNW Climate Week, it was a jam-packed few days filled with diverse voices and leaders like Melanie Nakagawa, Governor Jay Inslee, and Pattie Gonia. As part of the #BBGGreenFestival, I also had the chance to watch a series of TED Talks with TED Countdown, TED Conferences’ global climate initiative. The talks ranged from the current state of climate to rethinking the economy to the interplay of climate and democracy. Some of my biggest takeaways from the conference: 🏛️ Climate policy is critical to the transition. The stakes of the upcoming election could not be higher. The results will determine the next few years—or even decades—of climate policy and regulation. (Stacey Abrams) ✒️ Regulation is not the enemy of business. We just need thoughtful regulations that align economic interests with environmental protections. (Sally Jewell) 🔥 Businesses are increasingly recognizing that there are fewer profits to be made in a world that’s on fire… forcing us to realize the limits of capitalism as our current economic system. (Akshat Rathi) 📉 The goal of our current economic system is growth. Our choice is whether the end of growth will come by disaster or by design. (Gaya Herrington) 🫱🏻🫲🏼 With intentional design, the climate fight has the power to be the biggest unifying movement on the planet... and a key opportunity to bring together our increasingly polarized global society. (Mayor Bruce Harrell) 🌎 As a global society, we must consider our future choices in the context of our colonial past, and prioritize climate solutions that are just and equitable for all. (Joshua Amponsem) 💚 Climate solutions may sound difficult to achieve, but we’ve proven we can do hard things. We just need to look for the opportunities and find the optimism to act. (Jim Coulter) On that note… LET'S GO. #sustainability #esg #climatechange 

Corporate #accountability is a non-negotiable. The SEC's ruling can serve as a starting point for some companies to assess and manage their #nature impact in line with other standards but there is more work to be done to align a a global accountability framework that works for nature and #climate.

#greenwash in #climate and #nature is under attack in #usa and #europe as well as in many other national legal systems because it is #anticompetitive and #badbusiness. Substantiated claims by #business will lead to better #corporate #accountability. GCA Accountability Accelerator

Climate change is a pressing issue requiring immediate action. Social sciences can help understand barriers to change, accelerating our transition to sustainability. Recent research highlights the decline in methane-targeted abatement technologies, emphasizing the need for better integration of climate action and sustainable development. Climate change impacts education, human rights, and vulnerable communities, necessitating a social science lens. Policymakers must implement effective social norm interventions to achieve climate-resilient development. #climatechange #greenenergy #ev #greenhydrogen https://lnkd.in/dXP6bxQQ

Corporate #Accountability on the actions that impact our natural systems is crucial to ensuring a just and safe future. 🌍 🌎 🌏 The SEC's new climate disclosure rule marks a step towards greater transparency in corporate climate actions. But as former Vice President Al Gore points out, this is merely the beginning. A comprehensive accountability system, encompassing both #climate and #nature, is essential. Enhancing corporate accountability for nature over the next decade is a critical priority. We need a cohesive web of accountability actors globally to collectively deliver ambitious actions and disclosures. That's why the Accountability Accelerator is deploying our resources and capabilities to build this web of accountability stakeholders and strengthen an accountability ecosystem for nature that scales and accelerates corporate action. Global Commons Alliance Science Based Targets Network Earth Commission

Some great ways to help make your 2024 a year of impactful climate action!

While widespread decarbonization is essential for securing a safe climate, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has made clear that carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is also required to achieve climate targets—and, thus, a sustainable blue economy. But questions remain about whether and to what extent CDR approaches, including marine #carbonremoval (mCDR), can feasibly and safely scale. Today at the 11th Annual World #OceanSummit, Ocean Visions CEO Brad Ack took the stage alongside moderator Oliver Morton (The Economist) and fellow panelists Julie Pullen (Propeller), Brett Molony (CSIRO), and Chris Vivian (GESAMP Working Group 41) to unpack related challenges: ℹ Gathering full information about the safety and efficacy of mCDR, and its impact on ocean health 💲 Setting up and funding controlled trials in the ocean with third-party monitoring 🤝 Acknowledging the roles of governments, policymakers, the private sector and NGOs 🌎 Addressing social and ethical concerns LEARN MORE: Ocean Visions recently developed a comprehensive program to advance the science, technology, and policy priorities needed to rigorously evaluate mCDR: https://lnkd.in/grNy_h4f

Great Kickoff to Climate Week. I was honored to moderate a 3 hour roundtable conversation on carbon offset markets and their impacts on communities in the global south, particularly vis-a-vis land rights and lack of prior informed consent. Lots of solutions proposed which gives me hope. Looking forward to working together with so many who attended to implement these ideas. #climatejustice #carbonmarkets #carbonoffsets #landjustice #FPIC https://lnkd.in/eDzH-n2z

Aside from investing in verified carbon projects, there are tons of ways to take action for the planet in 2024 — and this #climateaction handbook is a great guide to making a real impact this year.