Environmental Markets Network launched by Jon Anda, Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley

From Rod Beckstrom - The Starfish and The Spider

January 25, 2007

Today was one of the best days of my life. Environmental Defense announced that Jon Anda, the Vice Chairman of Morgan Stanley, was stepping down to lead and build the Environmental Markets Network (EMN).

The Environmental Markets Network was an idea I had developed early last year at the urging of David Yarnold, the COO of Enviromental Defense. David wanted to launch a bi-partisan network of business executives working on environmental issues in Silicon Valley and beyond. I reflected on my own experience in helping design various non-profit networks. I felt the concept needed to be refined and came up with the idea of a top level executive network specifically focused on supporting the creation of environmental market solutions for global warming. I thought a very narrow and clear focus would help make the network both more cohesive for the members and more successful in helping to solve the global warming problem.

I then advocated the concept inside and around E.D. and grabbed the URL as I felt the name was both clear and descriptive. David Yarnold and Fred Krupp, Executive Director of the organization not only picked up the concept and ran with it, but they recruited one of the most brilliant and powerful minds on Wall Street to make the network actually happen - Jon Anda. Jon is a world class financial markets expert with the smarts, clout, and expertise to make this effort a tremendous success. The world needs it. His formidable credibility should play well not only in attracting top business leaders to the network itself, but also in working with policy makers in Washington and around the world.

I could not be happier or feel more proud by association. What a thrill to see the network born with such powerful leadership. I also hope some of the concepts in our book, The Starfish and The Spider: The Unstoppable Power of Leaderless Organizations" prove useful to the new network. Jon shared that he enjoyed reading it. There are many network design issues which will naturally arise. I look forward to supporting Jon and the network moving forward. It is an exciting opportunity to get real traction on the global warming issue.

The hope and intention is that this network will make a concrete contribution to global warming by supporting the creation of binding limits on greenhouse gas emissions with fair and efficient pollution reduction markets. The network will provide support for politicians and policy makers who seek to understand how and why creating appropriate markets in pollution reductions is the greatest hope we have to reverse the concerning warming trend. May it blossom.

What do you think about the concept of the Environmental Markets Network?

Network Design Questions to consider when starting a new network.

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