Paul Hawken's Path to Climate Solutions and Activism

Paul Hawken's journey to climate solutions and activism began with his experiences as an environmental activist in the 1970s. He was one of the founders of the Earth First! movement.

Growing up in Oklahoma, Hawken was exposed to the harsh realities of environmental degradation at a young age. He saw the devastating effects of pollution and deforestation firsthand.

Hawken's early activism was marked by his involvement in the anti-war movement and his work with the Sierra Club. He was a key figure in the fight to save the Redwood National Forest from logging.

Through his experiences, Hawken developed a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of environmental and social issues.

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Paul Hawken is an environmentalist, entrepreneur, and author who has dedicated his life to environmental sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment.

He has written eight books, including five national bestsellers, on topics such as ecology, commerce, and regeneration.

Paul has founded several companies, starting with Erewhon, one of the first natural food companies in the U.S. that relied solely on sustainable agricultural methods.

He has also co-founded Smith & Hawken, a retail and catalog garden company, and OneSun, an energy company focused on ultra low-cost solar based on green chemistry and biomimicry.

Paul has received six honorary doctorates and has been granted a Lifetime Achievement Award on Science, Service, and Leadership by the National Council for Science and the Environment in 2019.

He is the founder of Project Drawdown, a non-profit dedicated to researching when and how global warming can be reversed, and Project Regeneration, the world’s largest, most complete listing and network of solutions to the climate crisis.

Paul's work has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Today Show, Larry King, and Talk of the Nation, and has been profiled or featured in hundreds of articles, including the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek.

He has published nine books, including six national and NYT bestsellers, and has been translated into 30 languages, making his work available in over 50 countries.

Paul lives in Mill Valley, California, at the edge of wilderness in the Cascade Creek watershed with his wife Jasmine and a variety of wildlife, including coyotes, foxes, and birds.

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Paul Hawken's career has been marked by a commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship. He founded several companies, including Erewhon Trading Company, which became a leading natural-foods wholesaler.

Hawken's entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found the Smith & Hawken garden supply company in 1979, a retail and catalog business that likely appealed to gardeners and environmental enthusiasts alike. He also founded OneSun in 2009, an energy company focused on ultra low-cost solar based on green chemistry and biomimicry.

Hawken's work has also been focused on organizational sustainability, as he founded and headed up The Natural Step USA from 1994 to 1998, and served as co-chairman of The Natural Step International from 1996 to 1998.

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Hawken has authored seven books, including The Next Economy, Growing a Business, and The Ecology of Commerce, which was voted the #1 college text on business and the environment by professors in 67 business schools.

His book The Ecology of Commerce had a profound impact on businessman and environmentalist Ray Anderson, who credited it with his environmental awakening and started a crusade to reduce waste and carbon emissions.

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Natural Capitalism, co-authored with Amory Lovins, explores the idea of natural capital and direct accounting for ecosystem services and has been translated into 14 other languages.

Blessed Unrest, published in 2007, argues that a vast movement is forming involving environmental, social justice, and indigenous rights organizations, and has been compared to humanity's collective immune system.

Hawken co-created Project Drawdown in 2013 and was the co-creator, author, and editor of Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming, a collaborative effort involving 200 researchers and advisors.

His most recent book, Regeneration: Ending the Climate Crisis in One Generation, was a New York Times Bestseller in 2021 and has been published in over 50 countries in 30 languages.

Hawken founded several companies, starting with Erewhon Trading Company, a natural-foods wholesaler that relied solely on sustainable agricultural methods.

He took over a small retail store in Boston in 1967 and turned it into a thriving business.

Erewhon Trading Company had over 30,000 acres of organically grown food under contract by the time Hawken left in the 1970s.

He co-founded the Smith & Hawken garden supply company in 1979, a retail and catalog business.

In 1994, Hawken founded and headed up The Natural Step USA, a organization focused on teaching and supporting environmental systems thinking.

The Natural Step was founded in 1989 by Swedish scientist Karl-Henrik Robèrt to create shared frameworks for understanding sustainable development.

Hawken was also co-chairman of The Natural Step International from 1996 to 1998.

Hawken founded OneSun in 2009, an energy company focused on ultra low-cost solar based on green chemistry and biomimicry.

Before that, Hawken was the executive director of Project Drawdown, which is working towards the drawdown of greenhouse gases to reduce climate change.

Paul Hawken has received six honorary doctorates, a testament to his dedication to environmental leadership.

He was also awarded the Green Cross Millennium Award for Individual Environmental Leadership in 2003, a prestigious honor presented by Mikhail Gorbachev.

Hawken has given several hundred talks, including keynote addresses to major associations, companies, and government agencies.

He has also delivered commencement addresses at several prestigious universities, such as the University of California, Berkeley and Yale University.

One notable commencement speech was at the University of Portland in 2009, where he delivered the message "You Are Brilliant and the Earth Is Hiring".

Here are some of the notable institutions where Hawken has given talks:

Hawken has been awarded six honorary doctorates for his outstanding achievements.

He received the Green Cross Millennium Award for Individual Environmental Leadership presented by Mikhail Gorbachev in 2003, a testament to his dedication to environmental causes.

Being interviewed by a renowned duo like Funk and Shumate can be a thrilling experience, but it requires preparation and strategy to make the most of it.

One thing to keep in mind is that Funk and Shumate are known to ask tough questions, so it's essential to be prepared to think on your feet and provide clear, concise answers.

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Funk and Shumate have a reputation for being direct and to the point, so it's best to be prepared to answer their questions quickly and confidently.

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In their experience, the most memorable interviews are those where the conversation feels like a natural flow of ideas and discussion, rather than an interrogation.

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Paul Hawken's commitment to social justice is inspiring. In 1965, he worked with Martin Luther King Jr.'s staff in Selma, Alabama, preparing for the Selma to Montgomery marches.

As press coordinator, Hawken registered members of the press and issued credentials. He gave dozens of updates and interviews on national radio and acted as marshal for the final march.

Hawken's work took him to New Orleans, where he worked as a staff photographer for the Congress of Racial Equality. He focused on voter registration drives in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and the panhandle of Florida.

One of the most effective solutions to the climate crisis is transitioning to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 78%.

Solar panels are becoming increasingly affordable and efficient, with prices dropping by 70% in the last decade.

A study found that if the world were to switch to 100% renewable energy, it could prevent up to 2.5°C of global warming.

Wind turbines can generate enough electricity to power over 10 million homes.

In addition to renewable energy, reducing energy consumption is also crucial, and simple actions like turning off lights and electronics when not in use can make a big difference.

By adopting energy-efficient appliances and behaviors, individuals can reduce their energy consumption by up to 30%.

Electrifying transportation is another key solution, with electric vehicles producing zero tailpipe emissions and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 70%.

In 1965, Hawken worked with Martin Luther King Jr.'s staff in Selma, Alabama, preparing for the Selma to Montgomery marches.

As press coordinator, he registered members of the press, issued credentials, gave dozens of updates and interviews on national radio, and acted as marshal for the final march.

Hawken also worked in New Orleans as a staff photographer for the Congress of Racial Equality, focusing on voter registration drives in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and the panhandle of Florida.

Photographing the Ku Klux Klan in Meridian, Mississippi, after three civil rights workers were tortured and killed, was a pivotal moment in his activism.

Hawken was assaulted and seized by Ku Klux Klan members, but escaped due to Federal Bureau of Investigation surveillance and intervention.

This experience highlights the risks and challenges faced by activists working for social change.