Q&A with W&A Senior Associate and Organic Industry Leader Katherine DiMatteo

Wolf & Associates' Senior Associate and Organic Industry Leader Katherine DiMatteo is passionate about taking care of the planet, and climate change mitigation has been on her mind. Our June 2022 newsletter included this Q&A:

Climate change has been in the news a while. What brings this to the fore now? 

So much has changed in the eight years between the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report, Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change, and its Fifth Assessment Report in 2014. For example, average annual greenhouse gas emissions during 2010-2019 were higher than in any previous decade, and atmospheric CO2 levels as measured on the Mauna Loa volcano in Hawaii went from 397 to 420 parts per million. North America continues to have among the world’s highest per capita net greenhouse gas emissions. Meanwhile, near universal participation in the Paris Climate Agreement has led to policy development and target setting at national and sub-national levels, in particular in relation to mitigation, as well as enhanced transparency of climate action and support. There has been an increased interest in the climate impacts of US government policies, especially in agriculture, and since the change in Administrations. If organic agriculture is to be broadly recognized as the truly climate smart agriculture many of us know it to be, we would do well to absorb the information in this report and use it confidently to bolster our arguments, inform our opinions, and educate myriad stakeholders. A report of this magnitude must catalyze significant change, or we’ll face yet more climate impact facts trending in the wrong direction. 

You’re on the board of the Climate Collaborative, which seeks to leverage the power of the natural products industry to reverse climate change. What are some actions businesses can take to help mitigate climate change? 

The good news is businesses have lots of options. Encouraging organic agriculture through ingredient sourcing and procurement is just the beginning, though. Getting involved in organizations like the Climate Collaborative and the Organic Trade Association’s Sustainable Food Trade Action Council can provide inspiration, real-life examples, and access to other businesses working to cut emissions, reduce waste, reverse deforestation, and find alternatives to non-biodegradable plastic packaging. Your business influence can also be used to advocate for strong climate policies at the Federal and State level. For more detailed advice, a good consultant can offer invaluable guidance and support for your business. 

The challenge feels almost overwhelming. What gives you hope and keeps you fighting for climate change mitigation? 

The crisis is so acute, but the voice of climate-change deniers has been overwhelmed by the preponderance of scientific facts and direct experiences with disasters caused by fluctuating climatic patterns. Businesses and investors are calling for government to act boldly and to act now because they recognize the short and long-term costs associated with the risks caused by the changing climate. The younger generations give me hope as they recognize this is a battle for their future and are organizing, supported by Boomer organizations like The Third Act. How can one not continue to fight when there is such a diverse coalition working towards the same goal? 

Katherine DiMatteo, Senior Associate, brings breadth and depth to challenges facing businesses and not-for-profit organizations in the organic community. While she was a partner at W&A, her projects included business and strategic plans, U.S. and international regulatory analysis and advice, educational and training programs, market analysis, technical review, product development and assessment, and triple bottom line evaluations.