With rising global temperatures and an increasing number and frequency of extreme weather events, the toll of the climate crisis can be seen in towns and cities across the globe. As Green Americans, we have adopted our own sustainable habits to cool the planet, from installing energy-efficient appliances to prioritizing walking and biking and…
Farmers feed us. From the fresh apples we buy to the popcorn we toss in the microwave, our access to nutritious food is all made possible by the daily efforts of farmers across the nation and around the world.
But here in the US, farmers say bureaucracy makes it hard for them to grow food in a manner that is restorative for the environment.…
Plastic pollution is everywhere—in waterways and oceans, in food chains and the atmosphere, and even in our own bodies.
The Ocean Conservancy confirms that single-use plastic consumption is on the rise, growing at an estimated 2.7% per year, and the advocacy group Beyond Plastics says this rise is intentional. Fossil fuel companies are ramping…
13% of Americans reported facing economic hardship due to climate change in 2022, according to “The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances,” a recent US Department of the Treasury (DoT) report. Americans experienced these challenges during a year in which DoT calculated the cost of climate and weather disasters in the US to have…
Whether you call it “impact investing,” “socially responsible investing (SRI),” or the more recent term-of-art, “ESG investing” (with “ESG” referring to socially responsible impacts related to a company's environmental, social, and governance policies), investing in positive returns for people and the planet is a topic familiar to many Green…
What is the largest part of your carbon footprint: Is it a) your car, b) your furnace, c) your stove, or d) your bank account?
If you bank with or use credit cards issued by one of the four biggest US banks—JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, or Bank of America—or other conventional banks, the answer is likely your bank account.
That’s…
In 2023, the United States experienced a record number of weather- and climate-related disasters that each caused $1 billion or more in damages: 28 severe storms, floods, wildfires, winter storms, hurricanes, and droughts, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Since 1980 the United States has experienced 376…
HopeWorks Station in Everett, Washington, has been drawing attention for its multiple areas of socially conscious innovation. The LEED Platinum-certified development integrates 65 affordable apartments for low-income households and those recovering from addiction alongside supportive services, job training, a child-care center, and community…
If you own shares in publicly traded companies, you can use your investor power to shape corporate policy for the better.
As an owner of the company, you have the right to use your voice—and vote—through the shareholder resolution process to direct company management to make change.
When you vote in favor of social and environmental…
Green Americans imagine a future where all people have enough, communities are healthy and safe, and the abundance of the Earth is preserved for all the generations to come. Responsible entrepreneurs—including a recent spike in African American business owners—are working towards that future now, growing sustainable and inclusive companies that…
Public discourse around the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 put corporations in the spotlight for their failure to address systemic issues like workplace discrimination and racial inequities.
In response, many corporations came forward with public statements on anti-racism, pledging to fight discrimination and prejudice within and beyond…
Ready to start living your green life? The 5-Day Waste-Less Challenge is designed to help you kick start your green journey to zero waste!
Day 1: Conduct a Trash Audit
Before we can reduce our waste, we must first dig into the trash we make—both figuratively and literally.
If you have a full trash bin already, you can start immediately…
Cathy Cowan Becker, Green America’s responsible finance campaign director, works with an organization in Ohio to stop fracking in state parks. The state-wide Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission that will decide the matter recently held a public meeting in Columbus seeking input from citizens. But in order to provide your perspective as an…
Imagine if there were a store where all the items on the shelves were free—where you could grab a toaster, a textbook, or even a business suit, all without paying a dime. Sounds unlikely, right?
It’s not a dream. It’s a very real reimagining of our economy, one that centers giving, sharing, and community—a gift economy. Online BuyNothing…
We’ve all been there—a wedding, a job interview, that themed party you want to nail. You have to dress your best… but you’re also on a budget and a sustainable closet is important. Can both realities co-exist?
This was my exact situation in July. My cousin was getting married, and the dress code was “summer elegant.” I rifled through my…
We hope this issue of the Green American brings a smile of recognition to all of our readers who grew up with budget-conscious elders.
“Turn off the light when you leave the room.”
“Don’t waste food; someone else could eat that.”
“In my day we walked; you don’t need a car.”
Going green on a budget isn’t a new concept. In fact, in many…
WBeing more sustainable on a budget doesn’t just mean cutting down on costs – you can actually save money going green. To help you become more environmentally friendly while you save money going green, we’ve compiled this list of strategies to get you started.
Green Home Incentives
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed in…
It can be hard to eat organic food on a budget. But we have some tips on how to prioritize the foods least contaminated by pesticides, increase your access to healthy, organic food on a budget, and even build community along the way.
The good reasons to do so go beyond protecting your health and the health of your family. Prioritizing organic…
Do you want to increase the vegetarian component of your diet, whether for budget reasons, health reasons, or to protect the climate?
Maybe you are one of 7 in 10 Americans already doing your best to trim your personal greenhouse gas emissions—driving an electric car, putting up solar panels, or composting at home. None of us can do everything…
Few things bring people together like food. Steaming casseroles, warm noodles, smokedveggies—and while we all wish we could eat great food every night, the reality is that leftovers can be monotonous, and cooking can be exhausting.
Cooking cooperatives can take the stress out of cooking several nights a week and can bring exciting flavors to…
Sleek, efficient, and quiet; in a growing energy crisis, electric cars are quickly becoming the it alternative to fossil fuel vehicles. Almost half of Americans said they would consider an electric car as their next vehicle, according to a poll by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and the Associated Press. Before asking…
Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) is an approach to investing that is becoming more common and increasingly attacked by right-wing foes. With dominating headlines, it’s important to understand ESG investing myths and why they’re dangerous.
ESG criteria considers three issues before investing in a company:
Environmental:…
Green America and the certified Green Business Network members mentioned in this article, which meet or exceed Green America’s standards for social and environmental responsibility, are here to help.
Sustainable companies that promote green practices can support you and your community to work together to promote positive environmental…
From product labels to marketing tactics, there are many commonly used sustainability buzzwords that can quickly become hard to decipher.
When determining where to spend your money, it can be easy to get lost in the cloud of common sustainability-related terms. Using claims that sound good but are tough to verify is a common marketing tactic…
1977
Exxon researchers determined that the burning of fossil fuels emits greenhouse gases. These human-caused emissions would warm the planet and have grave consequences. James Black wrote an internal briefing paper called “The Greenhouse Effect.”
1990
The first Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Assessment Report…
“People often ask me what one thing I would recommend to restore the relationship between land and people. My answer is almost always, ‘Plant a garden…its power goes far beyond the gate.’”
Community gardens are public spaces for community events, activism, and learning. Like-minded people across the country have transformed neglected public…
Libraries have always been a place to explore the magic of books, but that’s far from all they do. Around the country, libraries are responding to community-building needs, offering more items and services than just books or a hush—proving what’s good for the Earth is good for people and vice versa.
Get inspired by libraries whose offerings…
A number of IRA incentives are geared towards helping people with modest incomes to make sure that everyone benefits from going green.
If you were thinking of updating your home—from A/C to hot water heater to stove—now is the time to take advantage of tax credits that will save you money as you help to save the planet.
Over a year after…
Growing up, kids spend a lot of time at school—learning, honing talents, and extracurricular activities—so why not add environmental advocacy and literacy? There are many ways to make sustainable schools a reality and encourage students, parents, teachers, and administrators alike to consider sustainability in all they do.
A is for…
Sustainable foods are a great way to make an impact in your daily life—in your own way. Finding your true green is all about the intentional choices you make in your unique sustainability journey. What you bring into the kitchen is no exception—in fact, it is a powerful way to lower your household’s carbon footprint.
“Carbon emissions” might…
Mid-century modern, bohemian, colorful, or minimalist—furniture companies cater to our tastes by selling a gluttonous amount of furniture every year. The e-commerce furniture market was worth more than $27 billion in 2021—and a report from Next Move Strategy Consulting projects that it will surpass $40 billion by 2030.
But many of those…
Having a sense of style is free, but unfortunately, the environmental and social costs of the fashion industry are high. There are always new players arriving in the $1.5 trillion industry, with compelling ads on social media and slick branding making us want the trends, now. Where fast fashion adds hundreds of styles a month, drop-shipping means…
When someone asks, “what are you wearing?” would you respond with “plastic”?Probably not.But there is plastic in many of the clothes we wear.
One way we express ourselves is through clothing—our style can say who we are, what we like, and sometimes, how we like to spend our time. Florals are fun; athleisure is comfortable and workout-ready;…
Not all banks are created equal. Whichever bank you use, your money will be there when you want it. But while it’s in your account, the bank can use your money how it wants, which could be aligned with your values, or not.
You can put your money to good use simply by doing your banking with a community development bank or credit union to meet…
The Norfolk Southern train derailment disaster in East Palestine, Ohio, in February 2023 illustrates why socially responsible investing is so important.
Norfolk Southern, owned 63% by institutional investors including Wall Street banks, ranks poorly on corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) guidelines, and the company’s conduct…
With roots in the civil rights, anti-poverty, and other progressive movements, the mission of Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) is to create more equitable access to financial products and services, particularly for low-income neighborhoods and communities of color which have faced discriminatory financial policies. CDFIs…
When coronavirus arrived in 2020, it hit the food sector hard—including Urban Growers Collective, a Black- and women-led nonprofit in Chicago working to build a more just and equitable food system.
With eight operating farms on 11 urban acres and almost 30 employees, the Urban Growers Collective needed a Paycheck Protection Program loan to…
Green America and the certified Green Business Network members mentioned in this article, which meet or exceed Green America’s standards for social and environmental responsibility, are here to help.
If you want to
Get problematic industries like tobacco, fossil fuels, weapons, and others out of your portfolio.Invest in forward-thinking…
You know by now that socially responsible investing (SRI) does make a difference in the world, but perhaps you’re wondering what kind of financial difference it will make in your portfolio. Will you sacrifice financial returns if you align your investments with your values?
The evidence, amassed through hundreds of studies, shows that…
Now is the time to break up with your megabank. Find a community development bank or credit union on our Get a Better Bank map.
What if you found out the money in your bank account was being used to fuel fires and floods, leading to contaminated water from fracking or coal mining, or air pollution where you live? If you bank with…
Shareholder action or shareholder activism, describes the efforts investors use to influence corporate behavior. Today, shareholders are more concerned than ever about how companies are being held accountable on issues such as climate change, reproductive health, political influence and human rights.
These environmental, social and governance…
If you own shares of stock in any publicly traded company, you have a voice in how that company is run.Each year, hundreds of shareholder resolutions are filed on a wide range of environmental, social, and governance issues at companies across all sectors of our economy. Examples include asking companies to set goals to reduce greenhouse gas…
If you ask multiple financial advisors for generalized advice on money matters, they’ll likely tell you that every person’s finances are different and ever-changing based on goals and plans. If they’re advisors who specialize in socially responsible investing (SRI), they’ll also agree that no matter how much money you have, you can use your money…
Don’t think child labor in the US is a thing of the past. In 2022, the US Department of Labor (DOL) discovered over 100 children, aged 13-17, employed in dangerous jobs at meatpacking plants across the country by Packers Sanitation Services Incorporated (PSSI).
“This isn’t kids working at Dairy Queen for too many hours, it’s kids working in…
In the exasperated words of Dolly Parton, “Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living!”
The world of work is evolving, such as strictly in-office workspaces becoming hybrid-remote, to robots in the workplace. Many of today’s workers seek to bring personal interests and causes to their job.
It is possible to bring these interests in…
In March 2020, our country experienced a profound shift. Streets emptied, classrooms turned virtual, office buildings closed—and a spotlight turned brightly on a workforce that had been historically overlooked and undervalued.
“For the first time ever, frontline workers were a central part of the picture,” says Gina Falada, associate director…
Pressure is rising, creating real progress. Workers are pushing for unions and an end to poor treatment at some of the country’s most recognizable companies. Meanwhile, workers in every sector of the economy are recognizing a need for work/life balance and interest in the four-day workweek is growing.
At the same time, there have been alarming…
In movies, robots oscillate between good and evil. Wall-E cleaned up trash on an abandoned planet while childlike M3gan committed murder without remorse.
In the workplace, robotics issues looks more like 2019’s Oscar winning documentary “American Factory,” which shows automation bringing an Ohio glass-making factory back to life, but not…
Anna Ortega is a lifelong resident of San Bernardino, California. That city is part of the “Inland Empire” north of Los Angeles, once known for its agricultural industry, now known for being a center for warehousing, trucking, and shipping. In April 2021, Amazon started air operations at the San Bernardino airport. In November of that year,…
The economy can thrive without harming the environment or the beings that call our planet home. This is at the heart of Green America’s mission and why we work for a green economy. Yet that vision seems hard to reach when good jobs and workers’ rights are pitted against the environment—a narrative that doesn’t have to be true.Historically,…
