Drawdown – what is it? and what is Project Drawdown?

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“drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline.

From Project Drawdown : The World’s Leading Resource for Climate Solutions

Founded in 2014, Project Drawdown® is a nonprofit organization that seeks to help the world reach “drawdown”—the future point in time when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline.

Since the 2017 publication of the New York Times bestseller Drawdown, the organization has emerged as a leading resource for information and insight about climate solutions. We continue to develop that resource by conducting rigorous review and assessment of climate solutions, creating compelling and human communication across media, and partnering with efforts to accelerate climate solutions globally.

Cities, universities, corporations, philanthropies, policymakers, communities, educators, activists, and more turn to Project Drawdown as they look to advance effective climate action. We aim to support the growing constellation of efforts to move climate solutions—and the world—toward drawdown as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.

A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Project Drawdown is funded by individual and institutional donations.

INTRODUCTION

Before you begin

Employees hold tremendous power—you and your colleagues are instrumental to how your company functions, innovates, and survives through uncertainty. For many employees, the importance of climate action has taken center stage, but it can be hard to know where (and at which levels) to accelerate climate action in the workplace, and how to bring your own skills to the table. If your company leadership is serious about its climate ambition, then they will welcome employees to the work of helping them get there and holding them accountable. We see the consequences of working against climate-concerned employees: added pressure, higher attrition, a lack of morale, public protests, and more. Worker engagement on the all-encompassing climate crisis doesn’t just sound good, it will actually help your company succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Today’s definition of business climate leadership centers on companies doing less harm, gradually reducing their emissions—and the damage they cause— over time. Employees can demand a more expansive view, one that taps every company’s leverage points and the passion of every employee to scale climate solutions available right now, dramatically boosting expectations for business climate leadership around the world.

Project Drawdown’s research shows the world can reach drawdown by mid-century, if we make the best use of all existing climate solutions. Reflect on this graphic. What are the climate solutions most relevant to your business? Your industry? Which resonate with you most personally? To scale them quickly enough, every person must be able to find their inroad, and every job must become a climate job. To learn more about climate solutions, check out Drawdown’s free online course, Climate Solutions 101.

Companies must be fully aligned in the pursuit of drawdown—the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline (see Reaching “Drawdown”). Working through how to reduce private sector emissions as quickly as possible has grown into something bigger: How can companies—in partnership with passionate employees—use their full resources, scale, influence, and broader community to help the world reach drawdown quickly and safely, and with equity at the heart of the transition?

Companies must be fully aligned in the pursuit of drawdown—the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline (see Reaching “Drawdown”). Working through how to reduce private sector emissions as quickly as possible has grown into something bigger: How can companies—in partnership with passionate employees—use their full resources, scale, influence, and broader community to help the world reach drawdown quickly and safely, and with equity at the heart of the transition?

DEFINING A DRAWDOWN-ALIGNED BUSINESS

A drawdown-aligned company leverages all aspects of its business— its social, political, and financial capital—to reduce emissions well beyond its own operations and help secure a just climate future for all.

Getting to work

Inside most companies, only a handful of people with “sustainability” roles consider climate issues part of their workday. But in this most all-encompassing challenge in human history, every job must be a climate job.

Asking your employer for any type of change—from new coffee makers to comprehensive action on climate—can be intimidating, especially when the request targets something core and systemic to the business, and may not be supported
by leadership. But there are tangible, collaborative ways to harness your employee influence and spark climate action at any company. Bottom line: All action is valuable, and the climate crisis calls on every person to find their inroad.

1. Form groups with like-minded colleagues focused on creative brainstorming, identifying company leverage points, and instigating collective action. Whether through “green teams,” employee resource groups, or under- the-radar organizing, employees can pull from a variety of teams and skills, promote active participation, and set priorities and goals.

2. Conduct power mapping with colleagues to identify networks inside (and outside) your company that can be tapped for change. When considering requests to company leadership, these types of mapping exercises can help you understand where influence sits in your company. Rather than bringing a request to the most powerful decision maker, this process helps identify a more accessible staff member with the right type of leadership influence.

3. Join action-oriented groups like Climate Changemakers, Terra.do, or ClimateAction.tech (for those in the tech industry) to share resources and build community.

4. Learn the latest about global climate solutions and explore ways to work climate into your own job responsibilities.

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