Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund with Environment Montana host panel discussion about growing movement of businesses who have pledged to act on climate
Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund with Environment Montana recently co-hosted a panel discussion in Bozeman to showcase a growing movement among businesses within Montana who have signed onto the We Are Still In pledge campaign. The event was concurrent with the latest UN climate change conference (COP24 12/3-14).
We Are Still In is a coalition of more than 3,500 mayors, businesses, governors, college presidents and other leaders committed to continuing to act on climate despite the U.S. withdrawl from the Paris Agreement on climate mitigation. Highlighting those who have taken the We Are Still In pledge, the panel included Mayor Cyndy Andrus of Bozeman, the owner of Wild Joe’s Coffee Spot Erica Brubaker, and Founder and CEO of KERBspace Electric Vehicle Charging Bill Clem.
“Climate change is one of the most urgent issues of our day. The city of Bozeman is committed to addressing carbon pollution,” said Mayor Cyndy Andrus. “Some ways we are doing this is by streamlining our solar permitting processes, offering small grants to businesses for energy efficiency and renewable energy, and working alongside our utility to advance community solar.”
“At Wild Joe’s we are committed to social and environmentally responsible practices to promote a healthy local and global community, which is why taking the We Are Still In pledge was a no brainer,” said Erica Brubaker owner of Wild Joe’s Coffee Spot in downtown Bozeman. “Every day we continue to act on climate by recycling, composting and offsetting 100% of our energy consumption with wind power.”
“Climate change affects us all,” said Bill Clem, CEO and Founder of KERBspace Electric Vehicle Charging. “As a part of the business community, we have a responsibility to provide leadership through our actions, products, and services to mitigate the effects of climate change and influence our communities and government to work toward a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.”
From reduced snowpack to worsening wildlife seasons that result in what seems like endless days of smoke, climate change continues to impact Montana’s tourism, our economy and way of life. Montanans know climate change is real and Montana’s businesses are taking it upon themselves to act on climate even if their federal government will not.
For more information on the We Are Still In campaign, visit www.WeAreStillIn.com.
Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund is a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to educate citizens and organizations in the basic techniques of effective civic engagement to further environmental and conservation goals. MCVEF programs educate the public about critical environmental and public lands issues; promote greater non-partisan citizen involvement in the democratic process; and provide strategic tools to conservation organizations to be more effective. Learn more at www.mtvotersedfund.org.