If the world is to thrive for many years to come, it must take action against climate change as soon as possible before it is too late. Corinna Bellizzi sits down with Jared Blumenfeld, President of Waverley Street Foundation, who pioneered a spend-down strategy in climate philanthropy to make green energy and regenerative food more accessible to the public. He talks about the role of solar energy to empower local communities, allowing them to adopt regenerative farming, improve food distribution and production, and initiate affordable climate solutions. Jared also explains how individual efforts can give birth to massive collaborative movements and emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature to build a more equitable future.About Guest:Jared is the president of Waverley Street Foundation, where he is tasked with spending the organization’s $3 billion endowment by the year 2035. Waverley is particularly focused on regenerative agriculture and renewable energy and invests in solutions emerging from communities experiencing the worst effects of climate change. Prior to joining WSF, he was California Secretary for Environmental Protection under Governor Gavin Newsom. In this role, he led the charge to implement California’s environmental agenda, including expanding access to safe and affordable drinking water, banning toxic pesticides, and advancing environmental protections for clean air and water. Before that, he served under President Obama as Regional Administrator of the U.S. EPA for the Pacific Southwest.Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredblumenfeld/Guest Website: https://www.waverleystreet.org/Guest Social: https://www.instagram.com/waverleystreet/Show Notes: Raw audio02:32 - How Jared Found Himself Into The Climate Philanthropy Space05:08 - How Individual Action Can Lead To Collective Results09:33 - How Regenerative Agriculture Prioritizes Soil Health16:11 - Empowering Local Economies For Better Food Distribution20:25 - Why We Must Not Tolerate Terrible School Lunches28:40 - How Waverley Street Foundation Works Within Two Pillars Of Energy33:35 - Why People Are Looking For Proof Of Concept36:26 - Addressing The Crumbling Electrical Delivery System47:28 - Ensuring Every Investment Reflects Community-Driven Priorities52:21 - Balancing Local Context With Global Scalability56:20 - What We Can Learn From Farmers And Indigenous Communities01:01:48 - Making Climate Change A Less Complicated Topic For Everyone01:04:28 - Finding Purpose In Connecting With Other People01:08:55 - Episode Wrap-Up And Closing WordsBUILD A GREENER FUTURE with CARE MORE BE BETTER🌴 Subscribe to our newsletter, and we’ll plant a tree in your honor!🌲 Subscribe and rate us wherever you listen, and we’ll plant another tree🌱 Together, we’ve planted 24,251 trees in 2025 through our partnership with ForestPlanet. Follow, subscribe, or join our newsletter to help us keep growing!Follow us on social media:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/caremorebebetter TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@caremorebebetterInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/caremorebebetter Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetter LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-better