The battle against climate change is no longer just an environmental or social issue. As shareholders demand corporations protect assets against climate change and the economic impact of environmental disasters suck billions of dollars out of the economy, capitalism itself has become an ally. The economic impact of climate change is rattling the foundation of our economy at its very core. It’s blowing up centuries-old industries from automobiles to oil and gas, creating new opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs. It’s costing Americans billions of dollars each and every year. And most importantly, it’s forcing politicians to pass long-overdue policies that will transform our businesses, our lives and our future like never before. The good news about this economic earthquake is that it just might be the thing that saves our planet.
This is the first book to lay out how climate change has become an economic issue above all and how that has changed everything from the business to politics to the outlook for the future. Bob Keefe, executive director of E2, a national, nonpartisan organization dedicated to providing business perspectives on environmental issues, shows readers how this new reality will impact their industries, businesses, jobs, and communities and transform our country’s economy. Climatenomics will be essential reading for anyone who cares about business, politics, or the future of our planet.
Bob Keefe is executive director of E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) a national, nonpartisan group of business owners, investors and professionals who leverage economic research and their business perspective to advance policies that are good for the environment and good for the economy. E2’s national network includes more than 11,000 business leaders spread across nine chapters stretching from New York to Los Angeles, and a staff of advocates who work on climate and clean energy policies at the federal and state levels. As part of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the world’s biggest environmental groups with more than 3 million members and online supporters, E2 is the foremost business voice on issues at the intersection of the environment and economy, and the leading authority on clean energy jobs in America.
Previously, Keefe spent nearly 25 years as a journalist, reporting for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Cox Newspapers chain, the St. Petersburg Times, and the Austin American-Statesman. He resides in San Diego, California
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgements
1. (Climate) Change Happens
2. Drowning Chickens, Soaked Marines, Bomb Cyclones and Paradise Lost
3. The Foundation of a New Economy
4. Reality, Intruding
5. Beyond Business as Usual
6. A Crisis of Crises
7. Climate Cabinet
8. The (Business) Plan to Build Back Better
9. Markets, Signaled
10. From Sacrifice to Shared Prosperity
11. Following the Money
12. Politics, Jobs and Saving the Planet
13. The World and All of U.S.
14. What We Don’t (And Do) Know
About the Author
4/22/22, The Hill: Bob Keefe penned an opinion piece about the devastating effects of climate change on our economy—and how we can save it.
5/13/22, WUSA9 DC: Bob O’Keefe was featured in a segment on the book.
5/17/22, NRDC Blog: Manish Bapna, head of NRDC, penned a piece in support of the book on its publication day, saying, “Put simply: we can no longer afford not to act. We don’t have time for Washington to delay any longer while the costs and risks of climate inaction continue to rise. Our environment, our health, our children can’t wait any more. Climatenomics makes it clear. We need our lawmakers to act—and act now. For the good of our environment, and the good of our economy.”
4/8/22, WISR-AM Pittsburgh: Bob Keefe discussed the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative and the book with host Tracey Morgan.
Link: https://anchor.fm/wisr/episodes/RGGI-e1gtrqs
4/9/22, KDKA-AM Pittsburgh: Bob Keefe discussed climate change in this segment.
Link: https://omny.fm/shows/kdkaam-on-demand/chris-moore-with-bob-keefe-of-e2
5/2/22, Solar Fit Renewable Energy Show: Bob Keefe talked about clean energy and the solutions outlined in his book.
5/24/22, Keeping Democracy Alive with Burt Cohen: Bob Keefe talked about the book and how the business community is leading the way on the issues of climate change.
Link: http://keepingdemocracyalive.com/capitalism-powerful-environmental-ally/
6/6/22, My Champlain Valley: Bob Keefe spoke about the climate crisis and the book is mentioned.
6/11/22, The Guardian: Bob Keefe and the book were featured in this article.
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jun/11/climate-crisis-inflation-economy-climatenomics-book
6/13/22, KTNG AM950 Radio (Minnesota): Brett Johnson interviewed Bob Keefe about the book.
Link: https://www.am950radio.com/brett-johnson-interviews-bob-keefe-6-14-22/
6/15/22, WJCT Action News: Bob Keefe discussed the book with Ben Becker.
6/19/22, LitHub: Bob Keefe’s conversation with Andrew Keen was featured on Keen On.
Link: https://lithub.com/can-american-capitalism-really-be-an-ally-in-the-war-against-climate-change/
6/29/22, Grist: Bob Keefe was interviewed about the book and how climate change is wreaking economic havoc.
Link: https://grist.org/economics/whats-wrong-with-the-economy-climate-change-inflation-supply-chain/
7/5/22, C-SPAN Washington Journal: Bob Keefe talked about the book in this segment.
7/6/22, KPBS Midday Edition: Bob Keefe joined Andrew Bracken and Maureen Cavanaugh to discuss the book.
7/10/22, Viewpoints Radio: Bob Keefe joined the show to discuss the book and the cost of climate disasters.
Link: https://viewpointsradio.org/cost-of-more-weather-related-disasters
7/19/22, WJCT Action News: Bob Keefe joined Melissa Ross on First Coast Connect.
7/21/22, West Virginia MetroNews: Bob Keefe joined host Hoppy Kercheval to talk about the book and the economics cost of climate change.
Link: https://twitter.com/WVMetroNews/status/1550139272451313679?s=20&t=Dn7zpYqk74BSHffa494O7A
7/25/22, WMNF 88.5FM Tampa: Bob Keefe was interviewed by Seán Kinane on WMNF’s Tuesday Café.
Link: https://www.wmnf.org/climatenomics-new-book-examines-economic-benefits-climate-action/
7/26/22, Climate and Capital Media: The Summer Reading list included Octavia Butler, Vaclav Smil, and Bob Keefe’s book.
8/1/22, Irish Tech News Podcast: Bob Keefe was interviewed by Melanie Boylan.
Link: https://irishtechnews.ie/why-climatenomics-is-a-word-now-with-bob-keefe-of-e2/
8/6/22, CBS KPIX Bay Area: Bob Keefe was interviewed by Len Kiese.
Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/video/author-bob-keefe-talks-about-his-new-book-climatenomics/
8/7/22, Room Rater: Bob Keefe was featured on the popular Room Rater Twitter page.
Link: https://twitter.com/ratemyskyperoom/status/1556230391345856517?s=20&t=FYYeTYcxdVDrTyidYZ7wrA
8/11/22, Squeaky Clean Energy Podcast: Bob Keefe discussed the book and the Senate’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
With a journalist’s eye, an environmentalist’s passion and a storyteller’s skill, Bob Keefe lays out in Climatenomics the economic costs of climate change, the economic benefits of climate action and how policy and business are poised to rebuild our economy and help save our planet. It is a must read for businesspeople, policymakers, politicians and anyone who cares about our environment or our economy, and a manual for a cleaner, brighter, better future for all of us.
— Manish Bapna, president and CEO, Natural Resources Defense Council
This book is both timely and essential, coming at this most pivotal moment in the battle against the climate crisis. In Climatenomics, Bob Keefe boldly lays out a framework for Washington, Wall Street, policy and business to unite in an all-hands-on-deck-approach to tackling this crisis. This is a must read for everybody who has a stake in the future of our planet and our economy.
— U.S. Senator Ron Wyden, chairman, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance
Air pollution isn’t Republican, Democratic, or Independent. Luckily, the economic growth that good climate policy produces isnt either - it benefits everyone. What we learned in California is that we can protect our environment and grow our economy at the same time. As Climatenomics shows us, it takes government, business, and all of us working together, regardless of politics. Elected officials and all who care about our planet should read, learn - and take action!
— Arnold Schwarzenegger, 38th Governor of California
The clean power industry in America is reaching new milestones every year, but more needs to be done and at a faster pace to address climate change and the mounting economic costs that come with it. As Bob Keefe skillfully explains in Climatenomics, that’s going to take business and government working together. The good news is that by doing so we can build a clean energy future that creates jobs, drives economic growth and keeps America competitive with the rest of the world.
— Heather Zichal, CEO, American Clean Power Association; former Deputy Assistant to President Obama for Energy and Climate Change
We see the negative effects of climate change all around us, and they are accelerating. It is critical we take action, and good news is that there is a tremendous economic opportunity in that action. Few people understand the connection between environment and economy, Washington and Wall Street like Bob Keefe. As Climatenomics explains, we can blunt the economic and environmental costs of climate change while simultaneously driving one of the biggest economic transitions in our country’s history. Business and government leaders – and anybody who cares about our planet – should read this book.
— Jon Powers, president, Clean Capital Holdings; former Federal Chief Sustainability Officer, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Read this book, and try to become better informed about why green and clean energy is a no-brainer.
— Irish Tech News
