We wrapped up our gathering of the Fortune Impression Initiative yesterday, whereas Floridians have been streaming into Georgia to flee the affect of Hurricane Milton. Atlanta wasn’t in danger, however mayor Andre Dickens informed attendees that he’d inspired metropolis residents to work remotely to maintain the roads clear. Such is the ripple impact of a storm that’s more likely to batter its manner throughout an space with greater than $1 trillion in business properties.
As veteran meteorologist John Morales defined days earlier than his emotional climate replace on Milton’s development, there’s no query that warming oceans are fueling stronger tropical cyclones. Insurers perceive the devastating possible outcomes of local weather change, as do buyers like Tom Steyer and leaders of companies large or small. It’s a scientific actuality and shared problem for humanity, leading to pure disasters that ought to carry us collectively as a substitute of being weaponized and distorted to tear individuals aside.
Throughout a panel dialogue in regards to the U.S. election yesterday, I requested the three audio system to rank local weather change as a precedence challenge, from 1 (‘it’s not necessary’) to 10 (‘it’s an important challenge’). Georgia State Senator Sonia Halpern, a Democrat, gave a rating of 7-8 whereas Trump senior marketing campaign surrogate Bruce LeVell gave a rating of two. It was Dennis Lockhart, former CEO of the Atlanta Fed, who ranked it highest at 9-10, saying “I think climate is the defining challenge of our age.”
That doesn’t imply ignoring different urgent points or promising alternatives. In Atlanta, company leaders mentioned how one can obtain range targets amid a public backlash, with Microsoft chief range officer Lindsay Ray-McIntyre taking inspiration from smaller firms. My colleague Kristin Stoller talked about stopping gun violence with the households of rap artist Quavo and his late nephew Takeoff. We debated the brand new KPIs for fulfillment with leaders from Goldman Sachs, Akoya, EY, Colgate-Palmolive, L’Oréal, Hole, Dell, IBM, and others.
What’s inspiring is the optimistic social affect we’re seeing from startups, innovation and new schooling fashions, which is what drives the initiative’s founding accomplice EVERFI by Blackbaud. Slutty Vegan founder and CEO Pinky Cole got here together with her husband Derrick Hayes, who based Large Dave’s Cheesesteaks, each of whom are giving again whereas constructing into new markets.
Stated writer, activist and former Georgia state consultant Stacey Abrams in our closing dialog: “We should be talking about protecting each other. How do our stories unite us? What’s the American dream?” Extra information beneath.
Extra information beneath.
Diane Brady
diane.brady@fortune.com
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