November 19, 2020

In roughly 60 days, Donald Trump will no longer be the President of the United States. What does a Biden presidency hold in store for the world, and for the future of purpose? This week, we look back on initiatives that fostered real change leading up to the presidential election, and look forward to movements that are pressuring governments, organizations and individuals to align actions with values. Read on for a potential glimpse of the next four years...  

INSIGHTS | What a Biden Win Means for Companies

Grist / Biodiversity Heritage Library / Amazon

DOWN TO BUSINESS

How a Biden administration could push companies further on climate

By Emily Pontecorvo on Nov 13, 2020

While the Trump administration loosened or outright erased climate policies in the US, corporations continued to announce commitments to go carbon neutral, net zero, and even climate positive. Given that climate is a key focus for President-elect Biden, many expect to see even more corporate environmental pledges in the next four years. Beyond climate, JUST Capital CEO Martin Whittaker says that – given that the majority of Americans believe in stakeholder capitalism – the new administration may rally companies to address pressing social issues, from racial inequality to a living wage. What potential do you see for the public and private sectors to collaborate on putting stakeholders first? Read on to spark your thinking.

DATA | Post-Election Motivators for Young People

The research initiative Cause and Social Influence tracked the motivations of young Americans one day after the 2020 election. It found that 76% of young people said they voted and almost 75% said that voting is extremely or very important. This aligns with the 10% increase in youth voter turnout. In cases where young people didn't vote, the top two reasons were because they weren't registered (25%) or they weren't eligible (21%). When it came to what motivated their vote, a significant percentage (60%) of respondents said they voted for Biden because of the Black Lives Matter movement, Covid-19, the economy, civil rights and social justice for minorities other than Black Americans, and healthcare reform. Read the full results, which could provide a sign of things to come. 

VOTING | Black Women Made History

Building on a rich legacy, Black women made the 2020 election results possible. According to exit polls, 91% of Black women voted for Biden, and Black women like Stacey Abrams and LaTosha Brown have been working for years to ensure that eligible voters can (and do) cast their ballot. Thanks to their large-scale mobilization efforts, Biden will be the next President and Harris will be the first woman, first Black woman, and first Indian-American woman to serve as Vice President. This moment demonstrates the collective power of Black women. At the same time, Black women want more than praise – many will look to hold Harris and Biden accountable for their respective tough-on-crime histories and for a forward-looking agenda that addresses their concerns. Read more about the role of Black women in this election. 

INSPIRATION | Positives from the Election

Despite the long uncertainty that followed Election Day, there was still plenty to celebrate. All four members of The Progressive Squad were reelected; America voted in Sarah McBride, the first openly transgender state senator; and more Native American women were elected to Congress than ever before. Meanwhile, not only were 100 million ballots cast through early voting, but a record-breaking surge of young people voted in this election, and +37,000 youth – many of whom were too young to vote – worked the polls through the Poll Hero Project. To safeguard democracy, companies and nonprofits across the country helped Americans exercise their civil rights and civic duty, via efforts ranging from voter information hubs to paying employees to work the polls to hosting voting stations. Get inspired by the good that came from this election season. 

VIDEOS WORTH WATCHING | How to Trust Net-Zero Pledges

If a Biden administration leads to more companies making net-zero commitments, how do we know if we can trust those promises? At its simplest, net-zero means removing as much carbon as you're putting into the atmosphere. Climate scientists say the world needs to go net-zero by 2050 to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. Grist outlines four details that we should pay attention to when it comes to net-zero promises: type of emissions, carbon offsets, near-term goals, and numbers vetted by Science Based Targets. Check out the video above for more insights. 

PURPOSE | CSR in the Time of Covid-19

Did you know that you can vote for Carol Cone's panel to be included in SXSW's Online 2021 lineup? Purpose Through Pandemic, which was originally recorded in May, explores how Covid-19 is closing the gap between “stated” and “activated” purpose, why brands should lead with “smart generosity," and how purpose-led initiatives can extend resiliency beyond the pandemic. Other panelists include Jennifer Granston from Zignal Labs, Steve O'Halloran from JPMorgan Chase & Co, and Elaine McCrimmon from Anheuser-Busch InBev. 

 

 

VOTE TODAY!

A “gold standard” for purpose-driven companies, Patagonia could be classed as an activist organization that happens to sell apparel and outdoors gear. In PURPOSE 360's latest episode, we speak with Corley Kenna, Director of Global Communications and Public Relations, about how stewardship of the Earth has been at the center of Patagonia since day one.

 

Listen for insights on:

  • How Patagonia developed and continues to evolve key purpose-led initiatives.
  • Why the business has thrived while taking sometimes contentious, and frequently unapologetic, ethics-based stances.
  • How employees are empowered to live the company’s values—and their own—through industry-leading initiatives and benefits. 

 

Other Recent Episodes: 

Episode 74: Cox Enterprises Puts People and Purpose First

Episode 73: Talking Leadership, Reinvention and Entrepreneurship with Dorie Clark

Episode 72: Pioneering an Industry with Levi Strauss & Co.

Episode 71: Igniting the B Corp Movement with Chris Marquis

SAVE THE DATE | The Purpose Calendar

We remain inspired by the organizations finding creative ways to connect digitally and continue the important work of collaborative, purpose-driven change. Please check each event's website for the most up-to-date information on Covid-19 related changes.

NOVEMBER

  • Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit, Nov. 30-Dec. 2, New York, NY, brings together business leaders and investors who aim to scale best practices in sustainable business and finance
  • SB Long Beach: We Are Regeneration, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Long Beach, CA, a global community of change-makers  share the latest developments in purpose-led brands and sustainable business

 

DECEMBER 

  • Sustainatopia, Dec. 15-16, virtual and in-person, Los Angeles, CA
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