Impact Interview: Nabha Rege

Name: Nabha Rege

Role/Function: Founder and Sustainability Consultant, Your Carbon Steps

What are you working on these days?

My focus at Your Carbon Steps is on helping companies implement initiatives that address global warming. One of the first steps for corporations is to understand their carbon footprint. Once they understand their footprint and the sources of emissions, they can set emission reduction goals and implement a decarbonization strategy. This addresses global warming and helps companies reduce costs by being energy efficient or transitioning to renewable energy sources. I help companies through the entire process, from data collection and measurement to reporting, verifying and disclosing their emissions.

What was the “aha” moment that sparked your interest in social impact? 

Hurricane Uri hit Austin in February 2021, bringing over a foot of snow and causing major disruption. This brought home the urgency and need for speed and scale in climate action.

Climate action can be approached at many levels, from individual lifestyle changes to government policy. With my experience in technology and innovation, I strongly believe that companies have a role to play in climate action, providing consumers with sustainable products and services that consider the impact on the environment and society. 

How did you break into the social impact space?

My journey into the impact space began with learning about the science of climate change and the various frameworks that guide companies in evaluating their businesses through a sustainable lens. The goal is to consider the value to all stakeholders instead of focusing solely on shareholders.

In addition, I had numerous conversations with sustainability professionals. I was amazed at the multifaceted nature of their jobs, balancing disclosure requirements and planning forward-looking climate actions, garnering support from management and every employee, and creating business plans that capture the tangible and intangible benefits of sustainability initiatives.

My first project came through the relationships I built with the incredible community of sustainability professionals.

Working in social impact is often about driving change. What is the skill or trait that has been most important for your work as a change agent? How did you learn or hone it?

An optimistic mindset and a belief in our ability to tackle complex problems are fundamental to working in the impact space. In addition, my educational grounding in a systems approach helps me think holistically about transformations, weigh the trade-offs in the short term versus the long term and tackle the tough problems in this space.

I recognize that transitions are hard; they involve emotions and behavioral change as much as they involve adopting technology, so I have learned to be patient and to take practical steps that move companies in the right direction.

What most excites you about the social impact space right now?

We are facing challenges in the fight against climate change. But I see opportunities in the challenges to redesign and transform how we live, work, and exist in harmony with nature. As we transform, we can be more regenerative in our approach instead of extractive and make it equitable for everyone, including the multitude of other species we share this world with.

In terms of specifics, I see positives in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, the movement towards circularity in manufacturing and product design, improvements in building technology that focus on the quality of human health, transportation systems that are getting electrified, cities transforming to serve their citizens better and changes on so many fronts.

Ultimately, I choose to remain optimistic that we will move towards a better future for all.

This season, our Impact Interviews series features members of the Change Hub, our membership community for busy sustainable business professionals. Tap into trainings, tools and a trusted network of fellow impact practitioners (including Nabha!) by JOINING US HERE.