Many years ago while in business school, we studied a company that failed because it ran out of cash during a particularly successful Christmas selling season. The paradox is that good profitable sales require expanded inventory, which temporarily ties up cash. This is a problem easily solved with a short term business loan, or a revolving credit, but they require a little foresight and planning. Remarking on the retailer’s foolish mistake, my classmate remarked, “The funny thing about Christmas is that it tends to come around every year,” and is EASY to predict. To be sure, Christmas is perhaps the most predictable thing in the world.
Another easily predictable condition is hotter and hotter summer weather. Here in the western United States it’s mid summer, and we bemoan how it’s all getting hotter and dryer, and how unfair it all is. Unfortunately, by the time late September rolls around our pained indignation will fade into the comfortable weather of early autumn, and we will forget to do anything about hot summers until next year.
What we SHOULD do about hot weather is of course quite different from what we ACTUALLY do about it. We SHOULD address the root causes of climate change with steady, active, resolve. BUT, most of us ACTUALLY walk over to the thermostat and bump the target room temperature down.
There is a pretty strong scientific consensus that climate change (and on average, rapid global warming) is a result of excessive greenhouse gasses in the air, including carbon dioxide. Even regular people are beginning to recognize this truth. Each of us can act on the imbalance caused by churning too much CO2 out. Here are some ideas for change:
Change our own behaviors, small and big: Small changes include bringing reusable bags to the supermarket, paying a little extra for direct flights, changing out light bulbs, and taking shorter showers. Big things include installing solar panels, driving an electric vehicle, biking more, and replacing some business trips with Zoom calls.
Influence others to change behaviours: Set up a Carbon Account (“coming soon from Let’s Own This!) and challenge a friend to a carbon reduction duel. Vote for candidates who support decarbonization programs. Patronize companies that have made net zero commitments and are steadily taking steps to meet them. Pressure your utility company to offer affordable green energy programs.
And a third thing, which I guess I’m kind of announcing here…
Invest in decarbonization efforts
I’m looking for a set of angel investors to help Let’s Own This! Remove millions of tons of CO2 from the environment in the coming ten years. We’ll start with about 10,000 tons in 2023 and expand rapidly from there. My goal is to organize two opportunities for angel investors: One is for lower risk profile investors hoping to earn a generous fixed rate of return over five years. The other is for equity investors hoping to grow their investment and their positive carbon influence over the coming fifty years.
Carbon parts per million are expected to double over the remainder of the century. I hope and pray this does not happen, and am willing to back this up with blood, sweat, tears, and cash. I invite you to join me. DM me if you are interested in participating!
Photo by Datingscout on Unsplash
