Climate Change Roadmap
The Nature Conservancy
Economic Resilience
The Nature Conservancy is an international non-profit organization that advocates for nature-based solutions that support a low-carbon economy. The Nature Conservancy Indiana, based in Indianapolis, directs TNC programming across the state.
Over the past few years, carbon emissions have been declining in Indiana. Despite this momentum, recent state legislation rolled back clean energy incentives, making it more difficult for businesses and households to invest in clean energy and climate-positive actions. The Nature Conservancy seeks to understand and demonstrate Hoosiers’ perspectives on effective carbon-reduction policies. They also want an economic analysis of potential policy revisions that will help inform the general public and policymakers going forward.
Our Approach
Fourth Economy and Bellwether developed a phone-polling questionnaire to collect input from 600 Hoosiers. Fourth Economy also reviewed existing state-wide carbon reduction policies in the nation and then modeled the economic impacts such policies would have in the State of Indiana.
The Results
The Results
The analysis showed that Indiana can build the economy of the future by supporting cleaner energy that provides jobs for Indiana residents. Adding more renewable energy will promote more energy security, where decentralized renewable energy generation makes the state less reliant on a few large generators. Investing in clean energy and natural climate solutions in Indiana will:
Accelerate leadership to generate economic
Retain investment capital and attract out-of state investors
Support a triple bottom line.
The report, Indiana’s Climate and Energy Future, was utilized to educate elected officials and other policy makers regarding the benefits of the renewable energy sector to the State of Indiana and its residents.
Location
Indiana