Demystifying Decarbonization: Taking Action One Step at a Time with Emma Cox, ClimeCo
How ClimeCo’s Emma Cox Is Making Climate Action Simpler for Businesses of All Sizes
Sustainability. ESG. Carbon offsets. Insetting. If those words make your eyes glaze over, you're not alone.
That’s exactly why Emma Cox, Executive Vice President of Commercial at ClimeCo, is on a mission to simplify sustainability—and help companies create real, measurable impact without drowning in technical jargon.
On a recent episode of The Wild Party Podcast, host Stefanie LaHart sat down with Cox for a deeply insightful conversation about how climate action can be practical, profitable, and even fun. From helping global corporations reduce emissions to empowering small businesses through ClimeCo’s eco-committed program, Emma is redefining what it means to build a sustainable business in the modern world.
From Lead Certifications to Leading Strategy
Emma’s personal journey into sustainability began early. Raised in Massachusetts by progressive parents, she was drawn to causes larger than herself. That passion eventually took her from Columbia University to the U.S. Green Building Council, and ultimately into PR and strategy roles where she helped major brands tell authentic sustainability stories.
Now at ClimeCo, Emma is helping companies tackle their carbon footprints through custom decarbonization strategies. And that often starts with two misunderstood terms: offsetting and insetting.
“Offsetting is when you invest in decarbonization projects outside your supply chain,” she explained. “Insetting is when you fund carbon-reduction projects within your own value chain, like helping suppliers switch to clean energy.”
ClimeCo develops both types of projects, ranging from planting trees to installing emissions-scrubbing tech on industrial smokestacks. Every solution is custom-fit for a business’s operations, goals, and even brand story.
The Eco-Committed Program for Small Businesses
While ClimeCo works with major corporations, Emma is equally passionate about helping small businesses take meaningful action. That’s where their eco-committed program comes in—a hands-on partnership where ClimeCo calculates your emissions, helps you offset them, and provides a badge and marketing kit to showcase your sustainability efforts.
“We become your in-house sustainability team,” Emma said. “And we make it easy.”
Shipping offsets, renewable energy sourcing, and consumer-friendly tech integrations are just a few of the ways small businesses can start today.
Storytelling That Works
Understanding that “infotainment” is key, Emma also led the launch of Insights for Impact, a creative video series that uses stop-motion animation to break down complex climate concepts into fun, 30-second lessons.
“Our goal is to give sustainability teams the tools to tell their story and get buy-in from decision-makers.”
Whether you're a small shop or a Fortune 500 company, Emma believes change starts by demystifying the language and creating a clear path forward.
Empowering Women and the Next Generation
Emma also spoke passionately about women in leadership, urging those in power to “reach down” and mentor others.
She shared a pivotal moment in her own career, when a senior executive advocated for her to present to the CEO as a young manager. That experience shaped her belief in lifting others as we rise.
Want to reduce your business’s footprint or simply understand what sustainability really means?
Learn more: https://www.climeco.com/
