Unleashing the Power of Corporate Sustainability: Lessons from CEBA Summit

At the CEBA Summit in May, Bill Weihl, founder and chief strategic adviser of ClimateVoice, shared insights on the evolution of corporate sustainability and clean energy work over the past two decades. Weihl highlighted the success story of CEBA (Clean Energy Buyers Association), formerly known as REBA (Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance), as a testament to the power of collaboration, growth, and impact in driving private action on climate change.

Before 2010, companies primarily sourced clean energy through on-site solar installations or purchasing unbundled RECs. However, the landscape changed in 2010 when Google, Facebook, and other companies ventured into power purchase agreements (PPAs) for clean power. This shift highlighted the challenges of negotiating individual deals with utilities lacking standard clean energy tariffs.

The launch of REBA in 2016 aimed to facilitate the purchase of 60 gigawatts (GW) of additional renewable energy by 2025 through green tariffs. The collective effort of companies advocating for clean energy access led to significant progress, surpassing the initial goal with 77 GW of clean energy procured voluntarily since 2014.

Despite the growth in corporate clean energy purchases, global emissions from fossil fuels and industry continue to rise, underscoring the urgency for accelerated climate action. Weihl emphasized the need for policy support to drive systemic change at scale, particularly in sectors like transportation, buildings, and industry.

While the electricity sector has made strides in emissions reduction, challenges remain, such as the rapid increase in gas-fired power generation and the need for policy reforms to transition to clean energy swiftly. Weihl called for a broader focus on decarbonizing all sectors of the economy and emphasized the crucial role of policy in driving progress.

Weihl outlined specific calls to action for individuals, companies, and trade associations to advocate for climate and energy policy, including signing the LEAD Statement, engaging with organizations like We Mean Business and Ceres, and supporting regulatory initiatives for clean energy transition.

In conclusion, Weihl urged sustainability professionals and companies to amplify their voices, collaborate with industry groups, and advocate for policy changes to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. The time for action is now, with the opportunity to drive transformative change across all sectors for a sustainable future.