Draft:Brian P. Barnes

• Comment: I'm sorry- none of your sources show you meet our notability criteria for people. qcne (talk) 16:53, 6 December 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: The tone is not neutral. E.g., there are many sentences that structurally look like this one "Barnes was instrumental in aligning business goals with environmental standards." This isn't cited and tends to promote the subject of the article. The whole thing reads like a resume rather than an article. If you are Brian Barnes (judging by your account name), I strongly recommend you leave it to someone else to write an article about you. MarcGarver (talk) 18:28, 20 November 2024 (UTC)

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Brian P. Barnes

Brian Barnes is an American businessman, veteran, climate advocate, and former political candidate. He is the founder of South of 2 Degrees, an organization focused on climate communication. In 2012, he ran as the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district. His career includes work in corporate leadership, public policy, and environmental advocacy. Barnes has received recognition for his contributions, including the 2023 and 2024 Anthem Awards for Sustainability.

Early Life and Education

Brian Barnes was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He graduated from Stillwater High School (Oklahoma) and attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where he earned degrees in Nautical Science and Marine Engineering. He later completed an MBA at Washington University’s Olin Business School.

Career

Corporate Leadership

Brian Barnes has held executive roles in various industries, focusing on the maritime sector. From 2007 to 2016, he led the marine division at Cummins Inc., where he contributed to the development of hybrid and electric marine propulsion systems.

In 2016, Barnes founded Barnes Technologies LLC, focusing on the development and prototyping of technological systems.

Political Campaign

In 2012, Brian Barnes ran as the Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party candidate for Minnesota's 3rd congressional district, challenging Republican incumbent Erik Paulsen. His campaign focused on environmental policy, economic development, and social equity. At the Minnesota DFL Convention, Barnes delivered a speech addressing these issues and calling for leadership on climate change.

During a debate on Minnesota Public Radio, Barnes criticized Paulsen for stating that he did not understand the science behind climate change, emphasizing the need for informed leadership. Barnes' campaign included grassroots outreach and engagement with labor organizations, environmental advocates, and small business owners. In the general election, Barnes received 159,937 votes (41.8%), while Paulsen won with 222,335 votes (58.1%).

Candidate		Party	Votes	%
	Erik Paulsen	Republican	222,335	58.10
	Brian Barnes	Democratic-Farmer–Labor	159,937	41.79
	Write-in	Independent	433	0.11
Total			382,705	100.00
Source: Minnesota Secretary of State, 2012 General Election Results

Climate Advocacy

Brian Barnes is the founder and Managing Director of South of 2 Degrees, an organization focused on climate communication and advocacy. The organization’s podcast has reached audiences in over 100 countries and ranks among the top 2.5% of podcasts globally, according to ListenNotes.

In 2023, Barnes received the Anthem Award for Sustainability, Environment, and Climate in the category of “Podcast or Audio” for Dr. Sylvia Earle: An Interview with the Voice of Our Oceans. In 2024, he received the Silver Anthem Award in the category of “Best Use of Artificial intelligence” for South of 2 Degrees: The Science Behind Climate Change.

The podcast has featured guests such as Bill Weir, CNN’s Chief Climate Correspondent, and Surangel Whipps Jr., the President of Palau. Barnes was invited to deliver a keynote presentation at NASA’s Interagency Forum on Climate Risks, Impacts & Adaptation in April 2021, where he discussed strategies for communicating climate change.

Barnes’ work has also been featured in educational initiatives. The organization 2811 developed the Climate Action Academy course, which integrates his methodologies to promote climate action.

Military Service

Brian Barnes served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve and the United States Merchant Marine. He participated in Pacific missions aboard the USNS Victorious (T-AGOS-19). While stationed at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, he received the Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal for his service aboard the M/V SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Awards and Recognition

• Eagle Scout (1995): Earned the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America.
• Merchant Marine Expeditionary Medal: Awarded for service aboard the M/V SSG Edward A. Carter Jr. while stationed at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia during Operation Enduring Freedom.
• 4th Place in Australian J111 Sailing Championship (2018): Competed aboard the Playlist in competitive sailing.
• Anthem Award for Sustainability, Environment, and Climate (2023): Recognized in the "Podcast or Audio" category for Dr. Sylvia Earle: An Interview with the Voice of Our Oceans.
• Induction into the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (2023): Honored for contributions to climate advocacy and sustainability through digital media.
• Silver Anthem Award for Best Use of AI (2024): Awarded for South of 2 Degrees: The Science Behind Climate Change.