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Amy Brown

Based in Barcelona, Amy has covered sustainability for over 25 years, including for TriplePundit, Reuters Sustainable Business, Thomson Reuters Institute and Ethical Corporation Magazine. She also writes sustainability reports and thought leadership for companies. She is the ghostwriter for Sustainability Leadership: A Swedish Approach to Transforming Your Company, Industry and the World and editor of Beyond D&I: Leading Diversity with Purpose and Inclusiveness. Connect with Amy on LinkedIn.

Stories from Amy Brown

Lundberg Family Farms farmer releases ducks back into his field with his kids
Food + Farming

Rooted in Nature: How Three CPG Companies Are Scaling Regenerative Practices

Given the climate-fighting power of regenerative agriculture, a growing segment of farmers, land managers, and consumer goods companies are working to integrate more of these practices into the way they grow the world’s food and forest-based products.
Amy Brown
June 30
Two fire trucks cut through the hazy night air with their headlights and emergency lights while responding to the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles.
Justice + Equality

California Raised Wages for Incarcerated Firefighters, But Advocates Say There’s More to Be Done

California increased the hourly pay for incarcerated firefighters to $7.25 last year. It's a bittersweet victory for many, and the fight for fairness and more equitable conditions continues.
Amy Brown
March 30
A community health worker uses a lancet to test a patient's blood sugar via their finger.
Community Development

Camden Healthcare Workers Confront the Barriers Holding Back Their Neighbors’ Health

A community-based healthcare system in Camden, New Jersey, is improving patients' health by considering every aspect of their life a part of the treatment.
Amy Brown
February 27
Members of one of the Life Story Club groups sit together at a restaurant, eating, chatting and smiling.
Community Development

New Yorkers Keep Loneliness at Bay with Life Story Club

Loneliness is a silent epidemic among older people in the United States. Life Story Club proves that coming together to share stories can make all the difference.
Amy Brown
December 22, 2025
A student receives their to-go meal in a Usefull reusable, stainless steel bowl and scans the QR code on the bottom with their smart phone.
Food + Farming

Reusable Takeout Containers Are Taking Over College Campuses, With a 99% Return Rate

The University of Pittsburgh joined a growing list of U.S. colleges using a stainless steel takeout container system that runs like a library, managing checkouts and returns with QR codes and smartphones.
Amy Brown
November 17, 2025
(Image: dmncwndrlch/Pixabay)
Finance

How Philanthropists Can Help Keep the Climate Movement on Track

Philanthropy can have an outsized impact on pushing forward change. Despite uncertainty about the future of federal action on climate change, philanthropists continue to fund climate action, and public sentiment seems to be behind them.
Amy Brown
January 6, 2025
(Image: cottonbro studio/Pexels)
Justice + Equality

Facing Stigma and Lack of Awareness, Women Call for Menopause Support in the Workplace

There's a workplace stigma around menopause that leads many women to hide their experience with it. But women who are going through menopause are the fastest-growing demographic in the workforce, and they're calling for change.
Amy Brown
December 24, 2024
David Sepulveda
Corporate Responsibility

Equipping Gen Z for Green Jobs in Building Operations

Green job postings are growing faster than the number of workers who have the skills to fill them. Recognizing that need, Autodesk and the job training nonprofit Stacks and Joules created a training program for green building operator careers that looks to recruit young people who are often overlooked in the field.
Amy Brown
December 17, 2024
(Image: Tiago Fioreze/Unsplash)
Corporate Responsibility

As More Companies Disclose Their Impact on Nature, Transparency Can Drive Progress

Nature-related disclosures are becoming more common among companies in a variety of sectors around the world, but a new report shows there is still room — and need — for companies to better assess, disclose, and address their impacts on nature. Experts say continuing to increase transparency and reporting can drive necessary behavior change.
Amy Brown
December 9, 2024
(Image: RDNE Stock project/Pexels)
Voices for Change

A New Kind of Corporate Giving Gives Employees a Say

Phin is reinventing corporate donations, putting the decision making in the hands of employees and integrating philanthropy into the core of the business. As more people look to work for companies that align with their values, more thoughtful philanthropy has the added benefits of attracting talent and boosting retention.
Amy Brown
December 3, 2024
(Image: Irakli Janiashvili/Unsplash)
Environment

Tackling Potent Super Pollutants is the Bridge to a Cooler Future

Reducing the amount of super pollutants, like methane, that end up in the atmosphere can quickly reduce global temperatures. The Global Heat Reduction Initiative aims to incentivize companies to do just that.
Amy Brown
November 14, 2024
(Image courtesy of DonorsChoose.)
Community Development

Helping Teachers Support America’s Newest Students

Teachers spent an average of $610 of their own money on classroom supplies last school year. The nonprofit DonorsChoose helps teachers in the United States create funding campaigns for classroom supplies and experiences. Its new campaign directly supports students who are new to America.
Amy Brown
November 11, 2024
Fairtrade cocoa farmer Salamatu Katta is featured in a mural on the Leevers Locavore grocery store in Denver
Justice + Equality

Ethical Sourcing Campaign Sows the Seeds of Change for Fairtrade Farmers

This year, Fairtrade America's annual campaign celebrating Fairtrade farmers is focused on the ethical sourcing of coffee and cocoa. The organization is partnering with brands like Hu Kitchen and Gimme Coffee to educate consumers about the people who grow their food.
Amy Brown
October 24, 2024
Billie Eilish performing at the Pukkelpop music festival in Hasselt
Food + Farming

Billie Eilish Fans Take a Bite out of Climate Change with Plant-Based Pledge

Billie Eilish actively engages her fans to act on social and environmental issues. Concertgoers can pledge to eat one plant-based meal a day for 30 days through Support and Feed, for example. Founded by Eilish's mother, Maggie Baird, the organization calls for a shift to an equitable, plant-based food system.
Amy Brown
October 17, 2024
(Image: Jsme MILA/Pexels) 
Voices for Change

Solving the Caregiving Crisis is a Collective Endeavor

The U.S. faces a caregiving crisis of immense proportion. Support for the care workforce is severely lacking while America enters an elder boom, with all baby boomers turning 65 or older by 2030. It doesn’t have to be this way. Solutions for creating a care economy that works for everyone exist today.
Amy Brown
December 26, 2023
Leadership at Estée Lauder Companies strike a pose with Alberto Ruiz (back
Corporate Responsibility

How Estée Lauder Blew Past Its Supplier Diversity Goals

For companies that are falling short of their supplier diversity goals, it can be illuminating to look at how a business like Estée Lauder Companies — which owns brands like Estée Lauder, Aveda, Clinique and Smashbox — approached the challenge, exceeded its goals and continues to raise the bar.
Amy Brown
December 14, 2023
(Image: Tim Mossholder/Unsplash)
Finance

Entrepreneurs of Color Are Less Likely to Turn a Profit. Understanding Why Could Boost the Economy.

In the U.S., entrepreneurs of color are significantly less likely to end their business profitably. Many end up losing money. This is not only devastating for business owners, but it also contributes to the racial wealth gap.
Amy Brown
December 8, 2023
Young people repair clothes at a pop-up event on the sidelines of Climate Week in September. (Image: The Climate Group/Flickr)
Voices for Change

Storytelling Empowers Young and Underrepresented Voices in the Climate Movement

Climate action and climate justice movements don’t always feel like spaces that recognize or welcome folks from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds. Effective storytelling can create a sense of belonging and inspire real action on the ground.
Amy Brown
November 21, 2023
Members of an employee resource group (ERG) at the intelligent power management company Eaton strike a pose while volunteering in their communities. ERGs are just one way for companies to create intentional spaces for diversity and inclusion. (Image: Eaton)
Corporate Responsibility

Want a Better Company Culture? Make More Space for DEI

Making the time for DEI within the regular workday is one of the most effective solutions to truly change company culture, experts say.
Amy Brown
October 19, 2023
The roof of the Javits Center includes a one-acre rooftop farm and 6.75-acre green roof that includes 11 species of succulent plants that help with storm water retention and reducing energy consumption.
Energy

A Hurricane’s Wrath Sparks the Vision for a Net-Zero Convention Center

In 2012, Hurricane Sandy left up to a foot of contaminated water inside the Javits Center in New York City, one of the nation’s busiest convention centers. The building's transformation from a flood-damaged behemoth to a model of sustainability for the net-zero built environment a story worth watching.
Amy Brown
October 17, 2023
Demonstrators gather in Washington
Voices for Change

As Abortion Restrictions Mount, Companies Work Behind the Scenes to Ensure Reproductive Rights for Their Employees

It may be happening quietly behind the scenes rather than emblazoned in public statements, but hundreds of companies are showing their support for reproductive rights more than a year after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, ending the right to abortion.
Amy Brown
August 1, 2023
Sustainable Living

Community-Powered Food System Brings Plant-Based Fare to New York’s Bodegas

Plantega makes it easy for small New York City bodegas to add plant-based foods to their quick-serve menus, while offering more sustainable options to busy customers. Plantega items account for 20 percent to 60 percent of deli counter sales at participating bodegas — and the service is catching on fast, says CEO Nil Zacharias.
Amy Brown
July 10, 2023
Corporate Responsibility

Workplace Weight Discrimination is an Overlooked, Critical Aspect of DEI

Weight discrimination is a common but under-identified aspect of workplace inequity that is finally getting some attention as organizations look to embrace a more holistic definition of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Addressing the problem isn’t just the right thing to do, experts say — it is a fundamental aspect of social justice.
Amy Brown
July 3, 2023
Finance

This Company Wants to Rebuild Trust in Carbon Offsets

Despite skepticism, Aspiration argues carbon offsets are a necessary part of the path to net-zero and trust in the carbon credit market can be rebuilt with patience, global standards and learning from the past.
Amy Brown
June 22, 2023
Demonstrators at the 2020 March for Science in New York City. (Image: Chris Boese/Unsplash)
Corporate Responsibility

Why It Makes Sense for Companies to Scale Back Unrealistic Net-Zero Targets

With growing evidence that nearly all companies will miss their net-zero targets unless they double emissions-reduction rates, some companies are biting the bullet and revising their targets. But is that necessarily a bad thing?
Amy Brown
June 9, 2023
Finance

These Venture Capitalists Are on a Mission to Put Companies on Path to Net Zero From Day One

Can venture capital save the planet? The industry is betting a serious amount of money in climate tech startups to prove it can — or at least do its part. Hence the recent launch of the Venture Climate Alliance, a coalition of firms looking to build an industry-wide movement to combat climate change and transition to net zero.
Amy Brown
May 12, 2023
Finance

This Consultancy Connects Diverse Startups with Legacy Companies to Drive Innovation

VentureFuel offers a fresh take on traditional innovation models. It connects established companies with diverse startups to tackle two problems at once: stifled innovation within larger companies and abysmally low levels of diversity in startup funding.
Amy Brown
May 4, 2023
Sustainable Living

With Indigenous Roots, Cheekbone Beauty Celebrates Sustainability and Representation

Cheekbone Beauty makes high-quality, cruelty-free products with low environmental impact. Inspired by the founder's Anishinaabe roots, the upstart brand's sustainability journey looks to blend Western science with Indigenous wisdoms.
Amy Brown
April 24, 2023
Vladyslava Terekhovych (center)
Voices for Change

Social Enterprises Help Ukrainian Refugees Secure Dignified, Long-Term Employment

In Poland and Romania, social enterprises supported by the impact investing firm NESsT are helping to provide dignified employment to Ukrainian refugees as they look to restart their lives in a new home.
Amy Brown
March 20, 2023
Corporate Responsibility

Few Companies Are Ready for the New SEC Climate Disclosure Rules, But Experts Say It’s Not Too Late

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has yet to release its climate disclosure rules for public companies, leaving many business leaders to speculate on their eventual leniency. We spoke with supply chain expert Alex Sari about why that is not a good idea — and how companies can proactively prepare instead.
Amy Brown
March 13, 2023
Sustainable Living

Take a Bite Out of Climate Change With Aloha’s New Climate-Resilient Ingredient

Aloha just released a special-edition protein bar that includes Ponova oil. The oil, which is made from the pongamia tree, represents a welcome move toward utilizing more climate-resilient species in the food system.
Amy Brown
March 3, 2023
Finance

Contradicting Skeptics, New Research Links ESG Performance to the Bottom Line

New research from the Center for Sustainability and Excellence points to the benefits of environmental, social and governance performance. We spoke with Nikos Avlonas, president of CSE, about what the research means for businesses that take ESG seriously.
Amy Brown
February 27, 2023
Image © Stephanie Keith / Greenpeace (press use only)
Energy

Jane Fonda Lends Star Power to Last-Ditch Effort for U.N. Ocean Treaty

Jane Fonda is adding her star power and activist clout to a last-ditch effort to sign a U.N. Ocean Treaty that would ban fishing in 30 percent of the world’s oceans and turn them into marine sanctuaries.
Amy Brown
February 27, 2023
Corporate Responsibility

‘World’s Broken Workplaces’ Need to Prioritize Engagement

“The world is closer to colonizing Mars than it is to fixing the world's broken workplaces,” Gallup's annual State of the Workplace Report reads bluntly. So, what are leaders doing wrong, and how can they do things differently?
Amy Brown
February 13, 2023
Finance

More Investment is Needed for For Sustainable Aviation To Take Off

"We're beginning to see the kind of commitment we need for sustainable aviation to really take off," but more outside capital is key to push things forward, says Niklas Lund, CEO of aviation investment group Rockton.
Amy Brown
February 6, 2023
Food + Farming

Congressional Leaders Revive Legislation Aimed at Justice for Black Farmers

Aimed at addressing a history of bias within agriculture, the proposed legislation includes provisions to support a new generation of Black farmers while protecting Black farmers who are at risk of losing their land.
Amy Brown
February 2, 2023
Energy

Long-Duration Energy Storage Could Solve the Dilemma of Harnessing the Sun

New technological developments on the long-duration energy storage front are poised to address the fickle nature of solar and wind.
Amy Brown
November 5, 2021
Corporate Responsibility

At First Ever U.N. Food Systems Summit, Many Left the Table Hungry for More Substantive Change

The United Nations Food Systems Summit had lofty aims, but many stakeholders left the table still hungry for change — among them smallholder farmers, indigenous groups and the U.N.’s own special rapporteur on the right to food.
Amy Brown
September 28, 2021
Sustainable Living

In the Race to Scale EVs, New Entrants Push the Pedal on Ultra-Fast Charging Technology

A new charging technology for electric vehicles promises a breakthrough, necessary if EVs will be able to scale up over the several years.<br />
Amy Brown
August 16, 2021
Community Development

For Farmers Surviving the Pandemic, Timely Federal Grants and CDFIs Made All the Difference

As the pandemic took its toll, Maine farmers' fortunes quickly changed as one of the state's leading CDFIs administered millions in CARES Act assistance.<br />
Amy Brown
May 7, 2021
Finance

Is Agriculture the Missed Opportunity in Climate Investment?

Almost $1 trillion that flows into the food and ag sector each year could be channeled into investments that would scale up climate-smart agriculture.
Amy Brown
April 29, 2021
Energy

Regenerative Agriculture Gains Traction in Southeast Asia

Harmless Harvest, a maker of coconut-based products, has launched an effort to scale up regenerative agriculture for coconut farms across Thailand.
Amy Brown
March 9, 2021
Sustainable Living

A Wellness Products Company Built on the Heels of Personal Tragedy

Personal tragedy inspired this family to launch a wellness products company that focuses on personal care items and natural juices.
Amy Brown
March 5, 2021
Corporate Responsibility

Sober Mood at Davos as Business Leaders Ill-Prepared to Pivot and Adapt in A Post-COVID World

Given the daunting set of problems confronting society, was the prevailing mood during this week's virtual Davos Agenda of resolve or despair?
Amy Brown
January 29, 2021
Community Development

The Inequality Virus Rages Alongside the Pandemic, and Demands Business Takes Notice

As the pandemic accelerates inequality worldwide, business and government both face a small and shrinking window of opportunity to secure a just economy.
Amy Brown
January 29, 2021
Community Development

This Brand Is Out to Tackle Hunger and Racial Disparities in U.S. Agriculture

Hellmann’s has taken on problems in U.S. agriculture with a fund that has so far committed $1.5 million to help those most in need in New York City.
Amy Brown
January 19, 2021
Technology

Putting Consumer Digital Banking at the Heart of Philanthropy

This new new fintech platform is designed to scale up donor-advised funds by making philanthropy about as easy as online banking.<br /> <br />
Amy Brown
January 19, 2021
Energy

The Shifting Ground Beneath Our Feet Gets Overdue Attention

World Soil Day reminds us of the unsustainable weight we are putting on the ground beneath us - and how we can better manage this undervalued resource.
Amy Brown
December 4, 2020
Finance

As Venture Capital Overlooks Women Entrepreneurs, They Find New Sources of Finance

Venture capital firms say they've pledged to fund startups led by women of color, but reality means these entrepreneurs often look elsewhere for capital.
Amy Brown
November 24, 2020
Finance

Bridging the Barriers to Finance for Women Entrepreneurs of Color

Women entrepreneurs started 42 percent of new U.S. businesses, and of those, women of color launched 89 percent of startups - yet finance still eludes them.
Amy Brown
November 23, 2020
Energy

The Agriculture Climate Partnership: Developing Evidence-Based Action

A new vision for agriculture will require a strong evidence base for solutions that will work effectively and with economic viability for everyone involved.
Amy Brown
November 19, 2020
Energy

Planting the Seeds for a More Resilient, Climate-Smart Agriculture System

Have the challenges to global agriculture during the pandemic planted the seeds for a future with sustainable, resilient climate-smart agriculture?
Amy Brown
November 17, 2020
Finance

A Conversation on the Challenges of Growing ESG Investing Worldwide

We continue our conversation on the convergence between corporate sustainability and ESG investing as together, they help drive systemic market changes.
Amy Brown
September 30, 2020
Finance

ESG Pioneer Georg Kell on the Power of a Crisis to Shake Up Markets

More money than ever is pouring into sustainable ESG investments - we interviewed the author Georg Kell to learn about what's fueling this trend.
Amy Brown
September 29, 2020
Community Development

Philanthropy, Race and Overcoming Lack of Access to Networks

One barrier that people of color often confront within the U.S. philanthropy community is difficulty in building strong rapport with funders.
Amy Brown
September 15, 2020
Community Development

New Fund Seeks to Put Racial Equity at the Center of Philanthropy

The world of philanthropy wields powerful influence, yet too often people of color seeking their share of funding to scale social innovation are left out.
Amy Brown
September 14, 2020
Community Development

Women Are Being Left Out of Solutions for the Global Hunger Crisis at a Huge Cost to Society

A new report from CARE reveals how the international community is failing to solve the global hunger crisis by ignoring the role of women and girls.
Amy Brown
August 18, 2020
Energy

How Sustainable Agriculture Emerged as a Huge Investment Opportunity

Sustainable agriculture could feed a world of 10 billion people by 2050, help tackle climate change - and provide huge investment opportunities.
Amy Brown
August 18, 2020
Sustainable Living

Can the Circular Economy Save Us? Experts are Betting on It

For this leader at Accenture, the circular economy offers the world a blueprint for a long-term economic recovery, and there’s no time to waste.
Amy Brown
August 18, 2020
Finance

Against All Odds, It’s a Boom Economy for Sustainable Investing

A new report indicates that sustainable investing rebounded strongly after the initial pandemic-induced market sell-off, and shows no signs of tapering off.
Amy Brown
August 14, 2020
Corporate Responsibility

U.S. Companies Are Lagging on Stakeholder Capitalism

Despite the pandemic's fallout, U.S. business leaders are out of step with the rest of the world when it comes to accepting stakeholder capitalism.
Amy Brown
August 6, 2020
Finance

Racial Equity Fund Backed by NAACP Bridges Capital to Cause

Backed by the NAACP, this fund is giving investors a lens for evaluating companies with strong racial and ethnic diversity policies.
Amy Brown
July 27, 2020
A Winn-Dixie storefront in South Carolina.
Community Development

Winn-Dixie Reverses Itself in the Mask Wars, Revealing Cultural and Political Divides

Winn-Dixie, once saying masks were a "highly charged issue with our customers,” has now joined retailers like Walmart and Costco to require face masks.
Amy Brown
July 22, 2020
Community Development

The Effort to Stamp Out Systemic Racism in the U.S. Food System Gains Momentum

One area overlooked by many is how the food on our plates in the U.S. is emblematic of a food and agriculture system rooted in systemic racism.
Amy Brown
July 14, 2020
Energy

Pandemic is Wake-Up Call for a More Resilient Global Food System

This pandemic has unmasked the global food system's weaknesses, given a wake-up call to food and agriculture and has led to threats of growing hunger.
Amy Brown
July 2, 2020
Finance

ESG Investing Appears Pandemic-Proof: Will It Last?

Despite the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, ESG investing has proven so far to be pandemic-proof in terms of investor optimism.
Amy Brown
June 22, 2020
Energy

Rights for States, Tribes Doused in Latest Assault on Clean Water Act

Another assault on the Clean Water Act curbs Indigenous tribes’ rights to bar local water sources from projects that could harm local access to safe water.
Amy Brown
June 4, 2020
Energy

Like a Well-Planted Tree, Corporate Sustainability with Deep Roots Will Outlast the Pandemic

Will corporate sustainability fade during this pandemic? If so, that's news to this NGO, which partners with companies on reforestation efforts worldwide.
Amy Brown
May 25, 2020
Community Development

As Companies Sing Praises of Remote Work, Employee Engagement Questions Arise

It’s time to discuss how the private and public sectors can work together to reduce inequalities so more workers can reap the benefits of remote work.
Amy Brown
May 20, 2020
Finance

Farmers Find Opportunity in a Disrupted Food Supply Chain

Shifting toward direct to consumer instead of restaurant, processor or retailer, farmers say they must innovate and find a new role in the food supply chain.
Amy Brown
May 15, 2020
Community Development

New Reporting Framework Highlights Employee Health and Well-Being

Companies feel intense pressure to show that employee health is a high priority as they make plans to reopen for business - this new framework could help.
Amy Brown
May 13, 2020
Technology

Tech Companies Step Up to Help Domestic Violence Victims

More tech companies are offering ways to help domestic violence victims reach out for help even as they are shut inside their homes during this pandemic.
Amy Brown
May 6, 2020