Emily Menz

ENTRE 372
Personal Grand Challenge

Tackling Climate Change through Innovative Economic Policy

Introduction
From a young age, I have felt a strange responsibility for the worlds problems. I often told my
mom and dad that I was going to save the world when I grew up. Since then I have learned that
saving the world is not something I can accomplish by myself or in one lifetime. I will have to
choose one part of the world to work on improving. I often found myself torn between wanting
to save humans or save the planet. In first grade I fell in love with cheetahs. When I learned they
were going extinct I decided to collect small donations from my friends and family to send to the
Cheetah Conservation Fund. Then, when I was eleven I started a project to hand-sew stuffed
bears and donate them to Childrens Hospital for kids going through surgery. I hoped to expand
this into a business someday where I would have a one-for-one model and for each bear I sold
locally I would donate one to a child in need in a third-world country. As I spent more time
exploring my world outside, I decided that while I still care about social justice issues, without
an Earth there would be no people. So I decided to dedicate my life toward saving the planet.

Challenge and Opportunity

In my life, I want to address the grand challenge of climate change. I care about this problem
because I have directly experienced the benefits of nature the human aspects of ecosystem
services. When I am outdoors, I feel connected to something greater and I fear that we are losing
our crucial relationship with the Earth.

My purpose in addressing climate change will be to better humanity in social, economic, and
environmental sustainability. My values include creativity, grit, and unity. My mission is to
develop metrics that will encourage economic and environmental sustainability and help nations
to move forward on climate change solutions.

Three guiding questions:

1) What kind of work fulfills me?
2) How am I making an impact?
3) What steps can I take right now?

I want to attempt a few types of solutions creation of knowledge, implementation of policy, and
empowering others. First I want to get involved with research in environmental economics,
either in quantifying ecosystem services or developing alternative metrics for GDP. Then I want
to work in developing effective environmental policies. Finally, I want either become a professor
or leader of a sustainable business that empowers others to create change as well.

Mission Statement
I strive to tackle climate change through innovative policy measures driven by creativity, grit,
and unity.
My solution will attempt to innovate a new economic framework that includes environmental
considerations. Many people see economic security and environmental preservation as mutually
exclusive, but I believe we just need to redefine success. Organizations tackling climate change
include the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, UW Climate Impacts Group, and
Environmental Entrepreneurs. My organization will differ by incorporating environmental
economics research as well as science to advise climate policy.

Skills and Education

I need expertise in climate change, economics, and policy. I also need a graduate degree as well
as research experience and leadership skills. I am working towards these skills now by adding an
Economics major to my Environmental Studies degree and studying abroad in Iceland and
Greenland this fall researching climate change. In addition to a Masters or PhD in Environmental
Economics and Policy where I will gain research experience, I want to attend Law School to
study environmental law and advocacy.

For my team, I am looking for climate scientists to forecast future climate scenarios, computer
scientists to compile data and run models, policy experts who can advise implementation of
plans, environmental entrepreneurs to network with, and government leaders in multiple
countries to carry out our plans.

Risks and Mitigation

Key milestones include completion of my undergraduate degree, completion of my graduate
degree, my first paid internship at an environmental policy firm, and becoming a leader in
environmental business. I would define success as feeling fulfilled and completing steps that lead
to my larger goal.

External factors that affect my success include my financial situation, connections with the right
people, job openings at the right time, and the willingness of those I want on my team to
participate in my grand challenge.

Dream Team
1) Morris Udall Congressman and environmental champion throughout the 1960s-70s. Mo
went through Law School and also saved over 100 million acres of wilderness in Alaska
through his legislative acts.
2) Bob Keefe Executive Director of Environmental Entrepreneurs. Bob leads a national
business organization that connects entrepreneurs dedicated to an environmentally
sustainable economy.
3) Karen Litfin Professor of Political Science at the University of Washington with a
special focus in global environmental politics. Karen has immense wisdom surrounding
environmental policies.

Conclusion
My current plans for solving my grand challenge remain very broad. I hope to narrow my scope
further as I progress through my undergraduate years so that I can go into graduate school with a
more specific vision. I know that I want my solution to involve using policy to build an
environmentally sustainable economy by collaborating with diverse teams.