When climate disaster strikes, policyholders expect the property insurance they paid for to help them recover and rebuild. And as we’ve seen from the wildfires in Los Angeles and flash flooding tragedies in Texas to hurricane Helene destroying communities in and around Asheville, no one is immune to the risk of damage from extreme weather. What many don’t realize is the part insurance companies play in making the climate crisis worse.

According to The New York Times, over 1.9 million home insurance contracts have been “nonrenewed” nationwide since 2018, and the nonrenewal rate across 200 U.S. counties has tripled. At the same time, the nation’s largest insurers continue to both insure fossil fuel projects and invest billions in fossil fuel companies. Together the largest insurance companies have invested $582 billion in fossil fuels.

The largest insurance companies that fuel the climate crisis have raised rates sharply in the last few years, in part due to the climate crisis causing more disasters nationwide—a crisis those insurance companies are complicit in by investing billions in fossil fuels. Those practices are driving people to drop coverage or underinsure because they simply can’t afford to be properly insured.

But going without insurance simply isn’t an option for many people. For instance, home insurance is required to obtain a mortgage, and insurers pulling out of a community can trigger a wave of social and economic divestment that only puts people at further risk.

That’s why Green America created the Climate Smart Insurance Directory. It lists options for insurance companies in every state that do not insure fossil fuel projects and invest little to nothing in the fossil fuel industry. Cathy Becker, responsible finance campaign director at Green America, says the directory helps folks find alternatives to big corporate insurers for the policies they need.

Michi Trota: Obtaining property insurance isn’t an easy task to begin with. How can people know when it’s the right time to search for a new policy?

Cathy Becker: Any time is a good time to shop for property insurance—but it’s especially ideal when:

You are nearing the month for your annual insurance to renew; If your insurance rates have sharply increased, whether you have recently filed a claim or not; If your insurance company has informed you that it will not renew your policy.

Shopping for property insurance is easier than you might think. Start by calling three independent agents in your area and ask them for a quote from a regional mutual insurance company for home or renters and auto insurance.

Each agent works with different companies, so talking to more than one will give you a better idea of what is available in your area. There’s no obligation to buy a particular policy through a particular agent just because you get a quote.

Trota: Why should buyers consider going local for home, renters, or auto insurance instead of getting policies through large corporations like GEICO, Liberty Mutual, and State Farm?

Becker: Going local for insurance has similar benefits to buying from local businesses and banking locally:

Divesting from fossil fuels. Almost all of the household names in property insurance both insure fossil fuel projects and invest in the fossil fuel industry. While finding which companies insure a particular project can be difficult, their investments can be found at Investing in Climate Chaos, a resource from the German nonprofit Urgewald.

The numbers are stark. Liberty Mutual insures numerous fossil projects, such as several Gulf Coast LNG export terminals, and invests $1.8 billion in fossil fuels. State Farm has $20.6 billion invested in fossil fuels. Berkshire Hathaway, parent of GEICO, has $95.8 billion invested in fossil fuels, and it is the top investor in Chevron and Occidental Petroleum.

Investing in your community. Local and regional insurance companies have been quietly serving their communities for decades, some for more than a century. They may not be household names because they do not spend millions on advertising, but they are just as financially stable as their larger counterparts.

Saving money. While not guaranteed, going local for your property insurance can often save hundreds of dollars on the annual cost of a policy.

Trota: When evaluating policy options, what are the most important points that buyers should look for?

Becker: In comparing quotes from different insurers, look for:

• Cost. You may not go with the cheapest option, but cost is always a factor. You can cut costs by bundling home or renters’ insurance with auto insurance, paying in monthly installments, and asking for any discounts such as through AARP. Signing up for autopay options can also save on cost.
• Coverage. Make sure the quote covers the cost of rebuilding your home and/or replacing personal property, as well as temporary living expenses, medical payments, and liability claims. Keep in mind that the cost of building materials, furniture, clothing, and electronics is increasing. In addition, most policies do not cover floods or earthquakes, which require separate insurance.
• Financial stability. Look up the company’s rating on AM Best (you will need to create an account). Steer clear of companies with a rating below A-.
• Safety ratings. Weiss Safety Ratings indicate an insurance company’s ability to meet obligations to policyholders. Any A or B rating is acceptable.
• Denial rates. Weiss Ratings also has a list of property insurance denial rates. Steer clear of any company denying 40% or more of claims.
• Coverage requirements. Some insurance companies now require property updates that relate to climate and energy use, such as updated windows, roofing, and heating and/or hot water systems. Be sure to ask what, if any, requirements must be met and how much time you have to complete them to obtain coverage.

Trota: If it’s not possible to switch to an insurance company that doesn’t invest in fossil fuels, how can policy holders advocate for insurers to invest in their communities and the environment?

Becker: Find out how much your insurance company has invested in fossil fuels at InvestingInClimateChaos.org/data. Then call the company and tell them as a policyholder you expect them to do better and are canceling your policy because of their investment in fossil fuels. Insurance companies that must cover damage from the climate crisis should not be actively making the climate crisis worse. In most cases, fossil fuels are a small part of their investment portfolios. There’s no reason they cannot move that money elsewhere.

You can also call your state insurance commissioner to express your concerns. Insurance is regulated on the state level, but state commissioners rarely hear from the public. Your call can make an impression. Find your state insurance commissioner by going to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ website.

Find a green insurance company at Green America’s Climate Smart Insurance Directory!

When deciding on what to make for dinner—maybe grilling burgers or making chicken with a side of veggies—many of us think about how to balance making something affordable, delicious, and healthy. We’re less likely to consider whether child labor is involved in our meals. But increasingly, it likely is.

In recent years, numerous federal investigations have uncovered children working in dangerous conditions to create the food we eat from grocery stores to fast-food chains. Tyson Foods, Perdue, and McDonalds have all been found to have children working in their operations or franchisees. Many of these children are immigrants in precarious positions and unlikely to speak up when they are in danger. They need these jobs to survive, but these jobs put their lives at risk.

Children all over the country, some as young as 10, are working in industries like agriculture, roofing, restaurants, and meatpacking. Their jobs can be so dangerous that some children go to school with chemical burns from cleaning meatpacking facilities or burns from restaurants. In the last two years, at least three children have died on the job. There are an estimated 300,000-500,000 children working in the U.S. agricultural sector alone.  From 2015 to 2022, the number of minors employed in violation of child labor laws rose by 283%.

Politicians attempting to roll back child labor restrictions insist that children will benefit from these “opportunities to work,” but the truth is that child labor involves work that is harmful to children’s development or health. The risks include working so many hours that a child falls behind in school and may end up dropping out, cleaning dangerous machinery in a slaughterhouse overnight, or being exposed to hazardous chemicals. Far from preparing young people to have bright and productive futures, child labor hurts children’s potential to live healthy, happy, and successful lives.

And child labor causes harm beyond the children who are directly involved by negatively impacting their future families and communities. It increases the costs of local healthcare, education, and social services, institutions that are inevitably involved in caring for kids who are injured and failing to keep up at school. It also harms the labor market by depressing wages and puts businesses that actually abide by labor laws or ethical practices at a competitive disadvantage. For example, businesses can take advantage of loopholes in federal and state laws, such as “youth wage laws,” that allow businesses to pay children and teenagers less than adult wages for the first 90 days of employment, to increase their bottom line at the expense of children and community well-being.

In recent years, the Department of Labor issued multi-million-dollar fines and carried out investigations that were widely covered in the media, which served as a deterrent. But the new administration, which has vastly different priorities from its predecessor, remains unclear if enforcing child labor laws is a priority and if there will be enough dedicated resources to adequately enforce child labor laws.

States are also backsliding on child labor restrictions enforcement and legislation. In fact, many states are actively working to undermine child labor protections. These states are lowering the ages that children can work in unsafe jobs and increasing the hours they can work each day. According to the Economic Policy Institute, since 2021, 31 states have introduced bills to weaken child labor protections.

Comparatively few states are working to enhance child labor regulations.

Time and time again we have seen companies violate laws and basic rights when they know they can get away with it. While the new administration is sending a clear message that respecting human rights is nowhere on the list of priorities, we can ensure that corporations still feel pressure to prioritize human rights in their operations and supply chains.

Individuals can and have worked together to successfully hold corporations accountable in the past and force them to change their practices. At Green America, our collective work has led to some of the largest corporations ending abusive or harmful practices. Because of our Toxic Textiles campaign and the actions of thousands of consumers speaking up, Carter’s, a leading children’s clothing brand, is adopting a Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) to protect workers and communities in its supply chain. And we have seen major wins in our Hang Up on Fossil Fuels campaign thanks to consumer pressure—T-Mobile is now the leader in the industry in the use of renewable energy, reporting 100% renewable energy usage, and AT&T and Verizon are entering into significant contracts for renewable energy.

It is essential that we actively oppose injustices, make our voices heard, and demand change to the harmful status quo. Together, we can ensure that multi-billion-dollar companies, like McDonalds, don’t profit from the exploitation of children. Green America is pressuring JBS, Perdue, Cargill, and Tyson Foods to do their part in stopping child labor.

Making sure you and your family can enjoy delicious meals shouldn’t come at the cost of other children’s lives and futures. While others are trying to make child labor a permanent part of our lives, we can change reality for the better. Together, we can fight for a food system that isn’t built off exploitation but one that creates good and safe jobs.

Off the coast of Northern California, there is a swath of land bustling with ecosystems—redwood forests, coastal prairies, oak savannas, rivers. Crisp marine air blankets the Petaluma Gap, which runs from Bodega Bay, an inlet off the Pacific Ocean, to the tidal estuary of San Pablo Bay. Right in the middle lies Petaluma, California, chartered in 1858 and considered one of the state’s earliest cities, boasting a rich cultural and environmental history. I can still recall the sharp, briny taste of the sea air when I visited Sonoma County, where Petaluma resides, nearly a decade ago.

As a passionate environmental advocate, I’m thrilled that the city’s natural beauty and features remain sacred. The town created a Climate Action Commission in 2019, successfully converted over 4300 city lights to LEDs, and now limits urban expansion to preserve the surrounding environment through its Urban Growth Boundary policy.

In the growing climate crisis, local teamwork could be the key to securing a greener future. For its next eco-venture, Petaluma set its sights on reducing waste, and its weapon of choice was a purple cup.
The Petaluma Reusable Cup Project is the first of its kind in the U.S., involving residents and more than 30 local and global businesses to circulate over 200,000 reusable cups in lieu of landfill-headed single use cups. Spearheading the Reusable Cup Project is the NextGen Consortium, a collaboration managed by Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy that aims to reinvent food packaging and reduce waste.

I was drawn to its ambitious scope, which reflects my eagerness—perhaps even impatience—for the sustainability movement to meet people where they are, however imperfect the initial actions may be.

Reuse Programs are Accessible and Inclusive

Use a metal straw, drive an EV, compost organic waste—the advice on how we can lead more sustainability-driven lives is endless. It can be confusing, overwhelming, and frustrating to navigate sustainability as an individual. Everyone is somewhere different in their lives, with different needs and resources at their disposal—there is no one-size-fits-all green living solution. For a problem as expansive as single-use waste, accessible solutions and support for people to adopt new habits are key.

Identifying challenges that prevented previous waste minimization projects from succeeding was a crucial first step for NextGen to implement the reusable cup project. What they found was that many of those issues revolved around accessibility, inclusion, and motivation. The impact report commissioned by the project (available for download at returnmycup.com) singled out potential barriers like higher price points for sustainable pursuits, the pressure of adopting a new habit, desensitization to single-use packaging, health and cleanliness concerns about reusable food and beverage items, or even innocent unawareness.

“It was important for us to ensure that there is no cost to the customer to participate,” explains Carolina Lobel, Senior Director at Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy, the managing partner of NextGen Consortium and a leader in the circular economy space. “While deposit and penalty schemes have [been] shown to work for certain reuse systems, our previous tests have shown that they could add friction or pose both accessibility and operational challenges.”

The cup itself was also a challenge. After all, tossing things in trash bins is habitual and keeping a free cup is tempting, but that defeats the purpose of the program. NextGen also wanted to create a more environmentally friendly cup that was still affordable for the program. Using customer feedback, NextGen created the purple cup with a simple direction to remind people of its use: “Sip, Return, Repeat.”

“The Petaluma project is critical to identify which factors support customers in returning their reusable cups,” Lobel says. The project’s focus on ease of access, with no cost to the everyday person, is what excited me the most about its potential. In a world rife with greenwashing and bottom lines, a program designed to provide a community with the means to live a less wasteful life without any drastic changes to daily habits is very welcome.

The idea is simple:

• At your favorite restaurant, cafe, or other establishment (ice cream shops and milkshakes definitely count), get your delicious drink of choice in a purple reusable cup and go about your day.
• When you’ve downed the last drops, toss the cup in any of the 60 return bins placed around the city—whether in participating locations, or public areas like schools and parks.
• Returned cups are collected from the citywide bins and taken to be cleaned, inspected, and then sent back to vendors for use again. For any cups that don’t pass muster, they are recycled at Recology in Santa Rosa, CA.

Public outreach efforts ensured that Petaluma residents were well-informed about the project by the time it launched, and responses showed that users found it easy to partake in and understand (fig.1). According to Lobel, the project reached over 100,000 returns just six weeks after its launch.

Collaboration and Consideration are the Keys to Change

Caring for our planet is a monumental task, making it crucial we demand action from legislators, corporations, and others in power. However, it’s also important to provide incentives and resources for individuals to shift our habits as consumers. Change must also come from within communities themselves, and NextGen’s approach highlights the importance of creating buy-in through collaboration and consideration for the concerns of both consumers and local businesses.

“For some businesses in Petaluma, this was their first time offering reusable cups, while others built upon previous learnings,” says Lobel. “What they all had—and still have—in common is a goal of reducing waste.”

In addition to stressing the need for the food service industry to source, purchase, and use reusable packaging, the consortium directly offered businesses and individuals the resources and pathways to enable those changes.

Lobel points out that working in partnership with the project meant businesses didn’t shoulder the burdens of experimenting with waste reduction solutions on their own. The project spent a year and a half building up to its launch in August 2024 because, as Lobel explains, “a full city take-over required collaboration among a range of stakeholders across the value chain.”

Perfection Cannot Be the Enemy of Progress

In every conversation I’ve had with members of the Green Business Network®, their advice for entrepreneurs adopting sustainable practices is always the same: don’t strive for perfection, just start.

Too often, especially when something feels as high stakes as shifting daily habits out of environmental concerns, shame and fear of making mistakes can keep us from taking any action at all. But the Petaluma Reusable Cup Project had a vision and made it happen, including viewing any initial success not as stopping points but as opportunities for future improvement.

For instance, while the ideal is to strive for a plastic-free life, the project’s purple cups are still made of food-safe plastic, a decision that was informed by thorough research. The material was chosen for its recyclability in nearby facilities, compatibility with washing infrastructure and light weight—which ultimately reduces greenhouse gas emissions in transport. Cups for hot beverages were made of 100% lightweighted PP (polypropylene), which is used by similar reusable cup programs in Denmark and the UK. For cold beverages, the project used virgin HDPE (high-density polyethylene).* Both designs were BPA and phthalate free. Ultimately, the program relies on trusting customers to consistently return the cups after single use for proper sanitization and safety.

*Editor’s Note: While polypropylene is one of the safer known plastics, some studies have shown it can still leach plastic particles into food or beverages, especially when exposed to high heat, so putting any cups made from these materials in a microwave to reheat drinks is not advised.

A Note on Plastics and Heat:

To avoid any risk of plastics leaching harmful chemicals into hot food and beverages, here are some quick tips:

• Transfer frozen food or leftovers from plastic containers to glass or ceramic dishes before heating in a microwave or an oven. “Microwave safe” is a misnomer, there is no standard for microwave safe plastic packaging.
• Don't put hot beverages in plastic cups or water bottles or reheat beverages in plastic cups in a microwave.
• When in doubt, use glass or ceramic instead.

Given the project’s first wave of success, future iterations and growth are now more likely. Currently, Closed Loop Partners’ Center for the Circular Economy is taking the results from Petaluma, including the enthusiastic response from consumers and businesses alike, to develop even better long-term, permanent reuse programs in various cities across the country. So, I’m hopeful the project will evolve away from plastic cups entirely based on developing technologies and education, too.

In the meantime, programs looking to replicate the Petaluma Reusable Cup Project’s efforts can consider safer and more environmentally friendly alternative materials for their own reusable cups. Materials like stainless steel or silicone are more ideal than lightweight PP or virgin HDPE plastics and using them will avoid the risk of plastic particles leaching into hot or reheated beverages and food.

What I truly found inspiring was how the project showed it’s possible for us to create pathways, however initially imperfect, that allow communities to mitigate how consumer waste fuels climate change. Providing programs that anticipate known difficulties and offer resources for both consumers and businesses puts partnership at the forefront so we can solve problems together.

Trying to achieve a top-tier sustainable lifestyle is wonderful to aim for, but sometimes progress happens in steps, not leaps. We need to dream big and support each other through every failure and success.

Switching to reusable cups is just one way to start adopting sustainable habits—there are plenty of options to cut down on single-use waste and encourage your neighbors to do the same.

• Bring your own mugs or to-go cups and reusable straws to your favorite coffee, tea, or boba shop if they allow it. Often, they’ll even provide discounts for doing so!
• Getting takeout or bringing home leftovers? Provide the containers yourself by bringing BPA-free food storage and have the restaurant put your meal in those instead of typical Styrofoam and plastic.
• Invest in reusable utensils, straws, and cloth napkins for things like takeout, picnics, and more.
• At home, ditch the plastic wrap for beeswax wrap, plastic bags for reusable sandwich and shopping bags, and use your reusable containers to stock up on bulk items.

Check out the Green Business Network® directory to get started!

The environmental movement’s fight against plastic goes back decades. It has fueled everything from the push to curbside recycling in the 1970s, to the straw bans of the 2010s, to documentaries highlighting how much of the plastic water bottle industry is a scam, and much more.

I joined the anti-plastic movement around 2015. It started simply: I asked for paper bags instead of plastic at the grocery store. Soon after, I started carrying a reusable Nalgene water bottle. I learned about the zero-waste movement and began purchasing sustainable alternatives for everything from ear swabs and menstrual products to straws. I bought from bulk stores with my own cotton cinch bags to avoid plastic packaging. It became a daily puzzle to figure out and, at the time, an exciting challenge.

Ten years later, some of those changes stuck while others didn’t. After the isolation period of the covid-19 pandemic, I had to give up some of my habits. Eating inside a restaurant became risky. Bulk stores, with their barrels of rice and candies and oats, felt like a playground for contamination. So, I gave up on these habits—and after a year and a half, it was hard to pick them up again. The zero-waste ideology became less of a brain game and more of a burden.

Yet the plastic industry manufactured and manufactured and manufactured, regardless of my motivation. Microplastics—tiny plastic pieces sometimes the width of a human hair—entered public health and environmental conversations. Research studies discussed the prevalence of microplastics in everything. Water, soil, air, and even human bodies. And knowing that plastic can contain BPA, PFAS, and other under-researched chemicals, I could not help but be reminded of the mesothelioma commercials from the early aughts…

“If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma you may be entitled to financial compensation.”
Mesothelioma is a fast-growing and deadly cancer that results from asbestos exposure. Asbestos was a popular insulation material because of its nonflammable properties until its toxicity was made known in the 1970s.

Recent studies have shown that people under 50 are contracting cancers of the digestive tract more frequently and earlier than previous generations. Microplastics have been found in human placentas, colons, and the blood brain barrier. And while studies haven’t found definitive evidence that microplastics are carcinogenic, the correlation of increased cancer rates to the abundance of microplastics is one that gives me pause.

Just to be safe, I am now on a journey of eliminating microplastics from my life.

Unlike plastic packaging, microplastics are harder to sniff out and harder still to eliminate. But there are some golden rules: if something is made from plastic—whether that be soft, crunchy plastic packaging or hard, durable plastic—it probably sheds microplastics.

This rule has been enough to get started. I began in the area that felt most concerning: the kitchen. This is where I heat up plastic (spatulas and containers) and store things that go into my body (water bottles and utensils).

I swapped my plastic reusable water bottle for an insulated stainless steel one (which is vastly superior in keeping my drinks cold, too). I purchased glass Pyrex containers to store my leftovers. I acquired wood and silicone cooking utensils. I switched out my plastic scrub brush with a bamboo one and my plastic cutting board for a wood one.

The other major culprit of microplastics in our homes lies in our closets. Clothing made from polyester, acrylic, viscose, nylon, elastane—anything synthetic or a synthetic blend, really—are guilty of shedding microplastics every time they are agitated in the wash. I’ve made it my mission to acquire new clothing made from natural materials such as cotton, bamboo, silk, leather, and hemp. And if that’s not available, I shop at thrift stores so that I don’t spend my money in support of new, synthetic fashion. One day, I hope to install a microfiber filter in my washing machine to keep any microplastics from escaping to the wastewater streams—until then, I try to hand wash or gentle cycle my synthetic clothing, which releases less microplastics.

These individual steps give me a sense of control over my realm. And it didn’t start overnight—I began acquiring slowly to fit my budget. You can start here, too, by visiting the different rooms in your home to determine where you can eliminate or reduce plastic usage. And instead of buying items wrapped in plastic or made with plastic at the store, try choosing items that are naked or in cloth or paper wrapping.
When grocery shopping, I like to follow an 80/20 rule: I try to purchase 80% of my produce and groceries naked or without plastic. The 20% I do allow myself to purchase wrapped in plastic—such as toilet paper or frozen foods—leaves room for flexibility so that I can still get what I need. After all, I don’t have control over how the things I need are packaged and I refuse to be shamed by that. This kind of economic activism—conscious consumerism—puts power in my hands.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t stop the plastics industry from churning out more and more. What is necessary for large-scale permanent change is policy.

Policy change starts locally. Talking with neighbors, friends, and family about the issue of microplastics creates the necessary awareness to grow community action. In Colorado, my home state, 100% of Colorado water bodies tested positive for microplastics. In 2022, the Colorado Plastic Pollution Reduction Act went into effect, banning Styrofoam food containers and plastic bags in food establishments and grocery stores. The legislation was a huge win for our state and was made possible with the collective support of advocacy groups and individuals talking to their representatives about plastic and microplastic concerns.

This can be possible in your state, too, simply by increasing awareness amongst your peers and talking to your representatives about the environmental and health concerns of microplastics. It can start as small as your city and county elected officials, who are responsible for recycling and waste management programs in your neighborhood.

Creating regulations to reduce plastic at the top of the production chain—and thus keeping plastic producing companies accountable to their waste—is a job for Congress. In 2024, the Biden administration released a strategy to reduce plastic pollution. Various bills have been proposed in the House and the Senate regarding the reduction of plastic pollution and plastic toxicity, but Congress, backed by the Trump administration, has halted a lot of legislation that would work to remedy these issues. It is as important as ever for individuals like you and me to keep the pressure on our representatives to continue supporting new and existing legislation, including landmark legislation like the Clean Water Act and PFAS standards in drinking water. You can find your Congressional representatives’ contact information online or by calling the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and asking for your representative by name. There is also an app called 5 Calls which helps you stay on top of changes in legislative priorities and make calls.

There is a long way to go. Every action and voice counts.

A light goes out in the ceiling, but you can’t reach it without a ladder. You head to the hardware store to buy a ladder, but even the smallest four-step folding ladder is $265. You don’t have a garage, so there’s no point in buying the eight-foot ladder, even though it’s the same price…and are you even going to use it enough to justify the $265 sticker price?

This is a situation Jessa Wais, Director of Library Services at Station North Tool Library in Baltimore, Maryland, has seen again and again. The Station North Tool Library is a library that lends tools—from drills to mowers and everything in-between. In fact, Wais says that “it’s really common for first [time lenders] to borrow a ladder just to reach that one thing one time.”

Tool libraries are a manifestation of the sharing economy, a concept built on the philosophy that there is more than enough stuff to go around. Little free libraries, free stores and markets, community pantries, and BuyNothing groups make it possible for people to share equipment and resources with each other, preventing waste, clutter, and overconsumption while redistributing goods for public need. Tool libraries make it possible for people of all skill levels and income ranges to access and use tools.

Loans and Learning

Tool libraries exist all over the country—from Atlanta to Boise and Cincinnati to Phoenix. The Station North Tool Library offers 3,000 tools for lending, 30 educational classes, and dedicated workspaces for woodworking, repair, and DIY projects. It began as a volunteer-run project in 2013 and has since grown into a 501(c)3 with roughly 2,200 members.

“We are all about decreasing barriers to tool access,” says Wais. “We really believe you don’t have to buy everything that you use. There are many items that lend themselves really well to sharing.”

While many people come in to borrow a tool for one-time use—like a ladder, for example—others come to take an educational class. For Wais, that introduction was woodworking. They enjoyed the space so much that they applied for a job at the tool library and have now been there for five and a half years.

Across the country in Denver, Colorado, Tyler Hurula is the tool library manager at the Denver Tool Library. Hurula says that many folks hear about the library’s class offerings—such as Auto Basics, Wood Turning, and Sewing 101—through word of mouth. Once they arrive, they soon learn that the library offers more than classes and tool lending. It offers a community.

A Safe Place for Community

The parfum of workshop spaces is a motley aroma of oil, grease, metal, solvents, and burning fuel. Garage workspaces, mechanic shops—these spaces are perceived as masculine, places that society assigns to men in the “provider” and “fixer” roles, whereas women are assigned “domestic” responsibilities like housework and childrearing. But spaces don’t have genders, and any person can handle these responsibilities—women can work a lawnmower or a drill, and men can wash laundry and put the baby to sleep. Tool libraries counter the narrative of gendered societal roles by creating an open space for learning with built-in communities and classes.

If a member has a question, tool librarians are there to help without judging anyone’s skill level. Clarifying the process, increasing access to expensive tools and workspaces, and collaborating on ideas are all part of the allure of the tool library.

“No gatekeeping here,” says Hurula. “We get a lot of women and a lot of queer folks. We get a lot of people who don’t know where to start and have felt intimidated coming into a typically [masculine] space. And then they come in here and it’s not scary.”

Wais says that “people view the tool library as this third space.” Third spaces are important social environments outside of home and work where people interact with each other, learn, and play. Social media is a digital third space; physical third spaces can be commercial or public facilities, such as parks, coffee shops, bars, and public libraries. These venues make it possible to meet new people, learn new ideas, and grow a community.

Every year, the Station North Tool Library hosts the Fix It Fair, a free community repair event. It’s one of Wais’ favorite events.

“People bring in broken items—it can be a wobbly chair, clothing that needs mending, instruments that need restringing—and we have a team of fixers who not just try to fix your item but try to demystify the process,” says Wais.

In 2024, over 280 people attended. Over 300 items were repaired and usable again. “A cool part of engaging with a local tool library is it [offers a] community for you,” says Wais. “That human-to-human interaction is super valuable and fun.”

Tool Libraries Are for Everyone

The ethos of tool libraries is built on sharing. Unlike the competition-mindset of hardware stores, tool librarians want more tool libraries around the world. Both the Denver Tool Library and the Station North Tool Library started as volunteer-run projects, with people donating tools, time, and knowledge. The Denver Library celebrated its 10-year anniversary in April, demonstrating that tool libraries are needed today as much as ever.

Hurula says that a great way to support tool libraries is firstly, through being a member, and secondly, through donating. Whether that is donating tools, time, or dollars—it all helps. Additionally, financial donations help subsidize membership to folks with financial needs or barriers.

If you don’t have a tool library near you, start one! You can take a note from the Station North Tool Library and the Denver Tool Library and start out of an alley warehouse, garage, or a work with a local space willing to host. Eventually, through grassroots funding and volunteers’ elbow grease, these became the tool libraries we know today in Denver and Baltimore.

Even then, it doesn’t have to be a fully fleshed out organization—informally sharing tools amongst friends and neighbors counts. There are lots of ways to participate, whether you are next door to a tool library or live states away.

“Come up with community spaces, talk to people about projects they’re working on,” Hurula says. “Find ways to be in community with people. Trade tools and knowledge and experience. That is all in the spirit of the tool library also.”

Picture this: a school gymnasium, alive with basketball games, pep rallies, and… an abundance of fresh food coming from the roof? It’s a future many want to see become reality—our community spaces reimagined and transformed to serve us better, like a sprawling garden on top of a school gym.

No matter where you live, growing fresh food is possible. Yes, even in urban areas, where people garden on balconies, in rec centers, and, of course, rooftops.

Urban gardens have many benefits. One is helping areas that suffer from heat island effects like increased energy consumption to counter higher temperatures, negative health impacts, and air pollutants. According to the EPA, green roofs can make surface temperatures 56°F lower than conventional roofs and reduce nearby air temperatures by 20°F, thereby opposing the buildings, roads, and concrete absorbing heat to create heat islands. Another is that they teach gardening fundamentals—and everything that goes along with gardening, like nutrition and climate—to anyone and everyone, especially at public buildings. Plus, they’re great for people living in apartments, condos, or other housing without much outdoor space.

In some places, in fact, the benefits of green infrastructure like green roofs are even making their way into legislation, like the Excess Urban Heat Mitigation Act of 2025, a bill that has been introduced in the Senate and House directing the government to “establish an urban heat mitigation and management grant program” for eligible projects like green roofs. In San Francisco, the ordinance "Better Roofs: Living Roof Alternative" mandates certain new buildings’ rooftops install energy-saving systems like solar panels and living roofs.

Additionally, both cities and states like New York City and Oregon offer grants and incentives for green rooftops (any rooftop covered with vegetation, including gardens, grasses, and flowers), while in 2009 Toronto became the first city in North America to require green roofs for certain new buildings.

And crucially, growing fresh food in a community can be an empowering way to decrease food insecurity while providing more opportunities to strengthen ties among neighbors.

In 2023, more than one in 10 U.S. households experienced food insecurity. On average, 47 million Americans face hunger, including one in five children. For one of the wealthiest countries boasting over 300 million acres of cropland, this is unacceptable—and something green roofs, urban gardens, and other green infrastructure can help fix.

Aren’t There Grocery Stores Everywhere?

For those who have never had difficulty accessing a wide variety of food, it can be easy to assume that no matter where someone lives, there must be a grocery store nearby, including access to fresh produce and other healthy options.

Yet in the United States, more than 23 million people, most of them low-income, live in communities that are under-resourced and regularly denied easy access to nutritious, affordable food. Just as safe water is crucial in any environment, so too is the availability of food wherever someone calls home.

“Food security requires addressing not just immediate hunger but also the systemic issues that cause it,” says Erin Meyer, Founder & President of Basil’s Harvest, a nonprofit that engages the power of local, regenerative food systems to promote human and planetary wellbeing, and member of the Soil & Climate Alliance, a program within Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions.

Commonly referred to as “urban food deserts,” the USDA defines these areas as places with “no ready access to a store with fresh and nutritious food options within one mile” and a rural food desert as somewhere “10 miles or more from the nearest market.”

However, the term “food desert,” first officially used by the Low Income Project Team of the UK’s Nutrition Task Force in 1995, is not entirely accurate. Many activists and community organizers instead prefer the term “food apartheid,” to make clear that the lack of access to healthy, nourishing food is not a naturally occurring phenomenon, but rather a consequence of racist and discriminatory systems.

“Food insecurity disproportionately affects certain populations,” Meyer says. "Communities of color experience disproportionate levels of food insecurity due to the continued impact of systemic racism and discrimination."

This is to say nothing of nutrition. In low-income areas, stores like Dollar General and local bodegas offer the easiest access to groceries, but they stock cheaper items, which tend to be processed foods with very little nutritional value.

Meyer describes food access and nutrition as “deeply connected.” Food insecurity at all is linked to higher healthcare costs, while nutritional access and quality is crucial for physical and mental health, with studies showing nutritious foods playing a role in alleviating symptoms of depression and mental health struggles.

Communities Can—and Should—Have Multiple Pathways to Food

Food access depends on a complex system affected by many things. Climate change impacts the very soil of our planet, while global conflict can disrupt supply chains and trade agreements, destroy farmland, and displace farmers. These issues, happening both abroad and at home, impact the affordability and accessibility of nutritious foods throughout the U.S.

Fortunately, there are many ways to get involved with food access in your community. Meyer details six ways anyone can start acting (fig. 1), including volunteering at a food pantry or advocating for legislation that promotes nutrition and food access.

“Legislation creates the framework that determines food access for millions of Americans through strategic funding mechanisms and policy implementation,” says Meyer. Until recently, legislation supported programs like the Farm Bill and SNAP, which provided food assistance to low-income people. With the passing of the Trump Administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” however, $186 billion in funding will be cut from SNAP by 2034 and critics warn it could worsen food insecurity across the country.

You can also take a hands-on approach to feeding your friends, family, and community, and solutions to food access aren’t limited to rooftops.

Climate Victory Gardens are personal and communal gardens prioritizing regenerative practices, like restoring soil health to draw down carbon, that can radically improve a community’s intake and access to fresh foods. Green America’s Climate Victory Gardens program has over 30,000 gardens registered nationwide, including private gardens and public ones, like school and community gardens, and each new garden is a new source of food and planet health.

“Climate Victory Gardens strengthen communities both literally and figuratively,” says Emma Kriss, Food Campaigns Manager at Green America.

Kriss notes how the gardens can help protect human and environmental health when tended without the use of pesticides and fertilizers. Gardening provides the opportunity for light exercise, forging connections among neighbors, and can bolster mental health. The gardens themselves help reduce flooding by creating healthier soil that can absorb more water and offer safe havens for pollinators.

“One of my favorite stories comes from one of our gardeners who is also a beekeeper,” says Kriss. “When his neighbor observed that his own crops were doing better once the bee colony was established, the [gardener] was able to convince [the neighbor] to change his pesticide use to help protect the bees!”

Building a brighter future requires creativity, innovation, and partnership. Although food insecurity is a global and profound affair, we can still make a lot of progress at local levels. Our efforts can help ensure that our neighbors have food on their table, kids have access to healthy school meals, and every community can easily obtain nutritious and affordable groceries.

Think about the different ways you can help feed your neighbors, or advocate for those most at risk of food insecurity, and then go tell the local high school’s principle and city council that it’s time for an abundant garden space, wafting with the smells of fresh soil and ripening berries in the sun, to grace the school gymnasium’s roof.

The constant stream of small-minded, xenophobic, and greedy orders coming from the White House is exhausting. Which, as several Trump advisors have said, is exactly the point—their intent is to keep us so overwhelmed that we have little to nothing left over after making it through our day to day lives. They want us to feel like we have few, if any, options to fight for our rights, our health, an equitable economy, and a healthy, sustainable planet.

But the current administration and the big corporations and billionaires who back them aren’t the only ones capable of wielding economic power—we, the people, have both considerable individual and collective power, too. Most of all, investing our time and money in the welfare of our neighbors, local businesses, and community institutions builds vital bonds of trust and care, which is itself a revolutionary act. Especially in the face of selfish public figures and predatory corporations whose success depends on cultivating our mistrust of and unwillingness to work with the world around us.

This is what Green America’s community does best—your collective actions encourage responsible corporate policy and the adoption of economic solutions that benefit us all. Together we are making a real difference for people and the planet when it comes to renewable energy, regenerative agriculture, and fair labor. Your support has helped us save crucial forest acres in California from biomass logging efforts, expanded our guides for climate-friendly banking and climate-smart insurance options, grown the Climate Victory Gardens program, and much more.

The articles in this issue of Your Green Life explore the various ways we can use the power of our money and efforts to strengthen our own communities in ways that can reverberate beyond the borders of our daily lives. Whether it’s a waste reduction program that worked to meet both consumers and businesses where they are, a personal journey to remove microplastics from use, protesting eased restrictions on child labor in supply chains, encouraging the expansion of tool lending libraries, shifting your money away from megabanks, or exploring regional property insurance providers, this edition of Your Green Life is dedicated to the idea that there are myriad ways for everybody to use their money, time, and energy for the betterment of their communities and the planet within their own means.

The public backlash against companies that dropped their diversity, equity, and inclusion commitments after the current administration issued executive orders dismantling federal DEI programs are a stark reminder that our choices and actions matter. When we work together, we can ensure that corporations and powerful people still face consequences for their actions. Just look at how Target was subjected to multiple boycotts after it backed away from its corporate DEI initiatives in January—the company was forced to cut its financial outlook for the year after anticipating further declines in sales.

Our American economic system relies on constant generation of profit and growth at the expense of communities and the environment, so making intentional choices to put our money and energy to work for us is an important way of encouraging collective action that can benefit the planet. Using our economic power in service of our principles and for the common good is especially impactful under a federal administration—not to mention state governments— aggressively gutting social supports and services in favor of tax breaks for the rich and relaxed regulations on corporations.

When we put our money, time, and energy into building strong local economies, we create resilient, sustainable communities that build momentum for sweeping global actions. In times of economic, social, and political uncertainty, choosing to trust each other and support local businesses, organizations, and institutions can have positive impacts that extend far beyond the people and places we see every day.

One of my favorite writers, Charlie Jane Anders, wrote in her newsletter about how the stories we see in pop culture often paint the struggle for justice and a better world as one that relies on a final proverbial straw to trigger a massive collective action that makes everything fall into place in the end. It makes for heart-pounding storytelling, but Anders argues that it ignores how in real life, our reaction to a single, overwhelming crisis alone isn’t what brings change. It’s also the thousands of individual choices to do better and strong community bonds among people who might otherwise have been strangers that provide the momentum for success and fertile ground for justice to take root.

Everyday actions in our own neighborhoods and townships—from where we choose to bank to how we spend our money, the ways we participate in civic life, the causes we volunteer for, how we manage our consumption and waste, and the ways we care for each other—are vital to creating a safe, healthy, and sustainable future for ourselves and our planet.

Leveraging communities to create a vibrant and healthy world.

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 22, 2025 – Green America and the Child Labor Coalition launched a new anti-child labor campaign focused on fast-food companies with a track record of child labor violations from the U.S. Department of Labor. The campaign will organize thousands of consumers urging McDonald’s, Chick-fil-A, Baskin-Robins, Jersey Mike’s Subs, and Sonic to address child labor violations, citing specific instances at franchise locations across the country.   

Charlotte Tate, Labor Justice Campaigns Director at Green America, said: “We’re seeing patterns of DOL Child Labor Violations – thousands over recent years – and it’s egregious that major fast-food chains are allowing it to happen. These companies must engage in a productive dialogue and take leadership roles in eradicating child labor and labor violations in the food production industry.” 

Child labor in the U.S. is a growing problem. From 2015 to 2022, the number of children employed in violation of child labor laws rose by 283%. There have been nearly six times as many child labor law violations in the food service industry in the last ten years. 

Reid Maki, Child Labor Advocacy Director for the Child Labor Coalition and National Consumers League, said: “For many teens, working in fast food is their first job. It is critical for it to be a good experience, free from exploitation and work dangers, like operating fryers. Their hours must be restricted to ensure that they are not damaged by working too many hours. We know from academic research that teens who work more than 20 hours a week during the school year, see their grades drop and their chances of graduating go down significantly.”  

McDonald’s 

• McDonald’s  had more than 2,300 child labor violations at more than 13,000 restaurants since 2013.  

• One franchise operator “employed 24 minors under age 16 to work more than legally permitted hours”, including “two 10-year-old children who were employed -- but not paid -- and sometimes worked as late as 2 a.m.”  

• Another franchise operator “allowed 242 minors between age 14 and 15 to work beyond the allowable hours.” The Department of Labor assessed the employer with $143,566 in penalties for the violations.  

Baskin-Robbins 

• Baskin-Robbins locations across Utah violated federal law by “allowing 64 minor employees, ages 14- to 15-years-old, to work too late in the day and too many hours in a week while school was in session.”  

• The eight locations were in American Fork, Bountiful, Clearfield, Layton, Salt Lake City, Sandy, West Jordan and West Valley.  

Sonic Drive-In 

• “An Atlanta-based private equity firm that operates 60 Sonic Drive-In locations, including eight in South Carolina -- employed 36 children, ages 14 and 15, to work illegally.”  

• Another operator with “locations in Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia — employed 55 children, ages 14 and 15, to work outside of legally allowed hours.” 

• Six Nevada locations illegally employed 14- and 15-year-old teenagers to work beyond allowable hours, and “assigned them to operate manual deep fryers, a task considered a hazardous occupation.”  

Chick-fil-A 

• In Utah, investigators determined  two franchises illegally employed 237 minors, allowing “14- and 15-year-old employees to work past permitted hours, and for too many hours in a day.”  

• Investigators found a North Carolina operator “allowed three workers under the age of 18 to either operate, load or unload a trash compactor, all violations of federal child labor regulations that prohibit employing minors to perform hazardous jobs.”  

Jersey Mike’s Subs 

• In Northern Virginia, four locations employed “more than a dozen employees under the age of 16 to perform dangerous tasks and work longer than permitted in violation of federal child labor regulations.” 

• In four different locations in South Carolina, a franchise allowed “14 minor-aged children to operate power-driven meat slicers, a hazardous occupation under federal law.” That same franchise operator also had children working longer hours than allowed.  

Green America is a non-profit organization representing over 250,000 individual members and 2,000 small businesses. Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. 

The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) represents millions of Americans through 37 organizations that fight to protect worker rights, human rights, and child rights. CLC members include the nation’s largest union, the National Education Association, the National Consumers League, Human Rights Watch, and the Fair Labor Association, as well as numerous groups that are also concerned about the welfare of vulnerable children at risk of child labor exploitation. 

In April, the two groups launched a separate anti-child labor campaign aimed at four top U.S. meat processing companies (Perdue Farms, JBS, Tyson and Cargill) including launching a consumer petition and engaging a network of allied grassroots groups on the ground across the country. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: Parke Qua for Green America, (216) 276-2476 or pqua@hastingsgroupmedia.com. 

ABOUT  

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org  

WASHINGTON, DC — July 14, 2025 — Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) has officially released its Commitment & Verification Standard, Version 3.0 – a game-changing framework that revolutionizes how regenerative agriculture is measured and verified. The enhanced standard builds on SCI’s proven success working with over 160 farms across 350,000 acres in 27 states. 

"Our Standard bridges the critical gap between farm realities and marketplace confidence," said Kristen Efurd, SCI Verification Director. "Version 3.0 simplifies requirements while maintaining scientific rigor, making regenerative agriculture accessible to diverse production systems while giving consumers confidence in their food choices." 

The revamped standard centers on seven essential regenerative pillars: 

1. Minimizing soil disturbance 

2. Maintaining living roots in the ground year-round 

3. Keeping year-round soil coverage 

4. Maximizing diversity above and below ground 

5. Reducing synthetic inputs 

6. Continuous learning 

7. Appropriate integration of livestock 

SCI’s innovative four-tier verification system requires farmers to progressively advance their practices every three years, acknowledging regenerative agriculture as a journey of continuous improvement rather than a fixed destination. 

SCI’s independent verification program, administered by internationally recognized third-party verifier SCS Global Services, delivers a practical, science-based framework incorporating both in-field and laboratory soil testing to monitor improvements over time. For food and fashion brands, this creates credible product claims when sourcing ingredients from verified farms. 

"We meet farmers where they are," said Adam Kotin, SCI’s Managing Director. "By establishing clear milestones and requiring measurable outcomes, we're helping farmers build healthier soils and resilient operations while giving consumers and brands confidence in their regenerative choices." 

The SCI Commitment & Verification Standard Version 3.0 is now available at www.soilclimateinitiative.org/standards. 

SCI, a nonprofit, farmer-first program, was originally launched in 2019 (formerly the Soil Carbon Initiative) in collaboration with farms, companies, NGOs, and soil scientists. Its mission is to accelerate the transition of agricultural acres under regenerative management by supporting and engaging every link in the supply chain. SCI offers a holistic suite of services, such as farm planning and agronomic support, soil testing, supply chain engagement, reporting, and third-party verification. These efforts help drive measurable improvements in soil health outcomes, carbon sequestration, biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience, food security, farm profitability, and the overall well-being of rural communities. 

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ABOUT 

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) is a not-for-profit, farmer-first regenerative agriculture transition program with options for third-party verification. SCI empowers farmers, suppliers, food and fashion brands, investors, and landowners to scale regenerative agriculture management and maximize soil health outcomes, biodiversity, carbon storage, water quality, climate resiliency and farm economics. www.soilclimateinitiative.org   

Green America, founded in 1982, is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Green America provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s most pressing social and environmental problems. www.greenamerica.org 

SCS Global Services (SCS) is a global leader in third-party certification, auditing, verification and standards development for over 40 years.  Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in climate mitigation, food and agriculture, green building, product manufacturing, forestry, consumer products, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe, and Africa. SCS is a California-chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. www.scsglobalservices.com 
 

MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin, (703) 276-3255 or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com 

We can help you move your money to support your community

By Cathy Becker, Responsible Finance Campaign Director

Earlier this year, Green America released its expanded and upgraded Get A Better Bank map, with 17,000 branches of 3,000 mission-driven banks and credit unions. These banks and credit unions invest in affordable housing, sustainable agriculture, small green businesses, lending to minority communities, and many other community-building activities.  

Our bank map is needed now more than ever, after the publication of Banking on Climate Chaos Fossil Fuel Finance Report 2025. The report spotlights how the largest banks in the world are profiting from fossil fuels that are driving us off the climate cliff. 

In its 16th edition, this year’s Banking on Climate Chaos report analyzes lending and underwriting by the world’s 65 largest banks for corporations involved in the extraction, transportation, transmission, distribution, combustion, trade, or storage of fossil fuels. The report is authored by Rainforest Action Network and seven other environmental nonprofits. 

The findings are stark:  

• These 65 banks committed $869 billion to fossil fuel companies in 2024 -- $162 billion more than the previous year.  

• Of that amount, $429 billion went to companies expanding fossil fuel production and infrastructure.  

• Over 2/3 of these banks (45 of 65) increased fossil fuel financing from 2023 to 2024. Even more (48 of 65) increased finance for fossil fuel expansion. 

As in previous years, U.S. banks play a key role in fossil fuel finance, with 10 among the 65 highest fossil fuel financers.  

The longer-term numbers are even worse: 

• The 65 largest banks have committed $3.3 trillion in fossil fuel financing since 2021 -- the year the International Energy Agency published its Net Zero by 2050 roadmap, which found no room for any expansion of fossil fuels. 

• The 65 largest banks have committed $7.9 trillion in fossil fuel financing since 2016 -- the year the Paris Agreement went into effect, when all nations of the world committed to keeping global heating to no more than 1.5° C (2.7° F).  

Last year, 2024, was the world’s hottest year on record, with the 10 warmest years occurring in the last decade. Last year also saw 27 climate disasters costing $1 billion or more in the United States.  

This year, 2025, has already seen the deadly Los Angeles wildfires estimated to cost $250 million in damages and economic loss. Climate change made these fires 35% more likely, according to an attribution study .  

How Wall Street banks see our climate future 

Yet the world’s largest banks are not only knowingly financing this destruction, they are looking to profit from it.  

Recent reports from Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase show that top Wall Street financial institutions think the world will blow through the 2°C upper limit set by the Paris Agreement. “We now expect a 3C world,” the Morgan Stanley report states.  

At 3°C (5.4°F) of global warming, scientists predict 600 million people will be forced to migrate due to flooding from rising seas, food production will drop by half, and wildlife habitats will suffer devastating loss.  

As Gunther Thallinger of Allianz Insurance says, at 3°C “risk cannot be transferred (no insurance), risk cannot be absorbed (no public capacity), and risk cannot be adapted to (physical limits exceeded). That means no more mortgages, no new real estate development, no long-term investment, no financial stability. The financial sector as we know it ceases to function. And with it, capitalism as we know it ceases to be viable.” 

Yet Morgan Stanley sees 3°C as a business opportunity, predicting the growth rate for the $235 billion air conditioning market from 3% to 7% by 2030.  

Whether due to market predictions or the well-funded and coordinated anti-ESG campaign, Wall Street banks are walking back their previous climate commitments. 

This year, all six US members of Net Zero Banking Alliance, founded in 2021 to unite banks on climate action, left the alliance – even after it had weakened its goal from 1.5°C to 2°C of warming. Wells Fargo went the furthest, abandoning its 2030 and 2050 climate goals entirely. 

One thing is clear: We can no longer rely on voluntary action by big banks to address the climate crisis. Nor have they responded to years of customer pressure.  

As this year’s Banking on Climate Chaos report says, “Banking regulators, supervisors, and policymakers must take measures to align financial activities with climate goals for economic stability in the face of the worsening climate emergency.” 

Unfortunately, US policymakers and regulators are not likely to require these banks to change anytime soon 

What can you do?  

Fortunately, you don’t have to participate in a system that feeds global destruction. If you have a bank account in or credit card issued by one of the 10 US banks or another bank tracked by Banking on Climate Chaos, you can move your money.  

Green America’s Get A Better Bank map lists community development banks and credit unions across the United States. Wherever you are, you can find one near you.  

These banks and credit unions have a mission to serve their communities – whether that’s helping first-time home buyers obtain a mortgage, supporting local entrepreneurs to launch a new business, or financing a city park or community center.  

Making the switch is easier than you think. Our 10 steps to Break Up with Your Megabank shows you how – and stories of people who have made the switch offer inspiration.  

If you have already made the switch to a better bank or credit union, please tell us about it!  Fill out our Share My Story form.  

If you have not already broken up with your megabank, the time to make the switch is now. If it seems daunting, start with one account and then move the others over time. Allowing Wall Street banks to continue using your money to knowingly and deliberately destroy people and planet is not an option.  

On the frontlines

Among the frontlines of fossil fuel financing is my home state of Ohio, the only state to lease its state parks and public lands for oil and gas extraction. So far thousands of acres of the state’s largest and most iconic park, Salt Fork, have been leased for fracking, along with six wildlife areas: Valley Run, Zepernick, Keen, Leesville, Egypt Valley, and Jockey Hollow. In many cases these lands were donated or purchased with the understanding they would be protected in perpetuity. All 10 US megabanks finance the oil and gas companies given leases to frack Ohio public lands, including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Truist, PNC, US Bancorp, and Capital One.  

Photo: Aftermath of the Groh frack pad explosion near Salt Fork State Park, Guernsey County, Ohio.

Thanks to opposition from Green America and our members joining with local and national allies, two industrial-sized biomass plants proposed for California were defeated in late June 2025. The two plants, that would have been run by the international wood pellet company Drax, would have destroyed up to 1.3 million acres of forests, polluted communities and exacerbated climate change while doing nothing to mitigate wildfires.  The wood pellets would have been burned overseas to generate electricity that was marketed as renewable.  

Facing immense community opposition and financial uncertainty, Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR), the entity trying to get the plants approved, canceled their plans. This is a historic victory for forests, the climate, and the residents of California.  
  
A coalition of grassroots, national, and international groups used public engagement, earned media, and social media to fight the plans to build destructive wood pellet plants in the central Sierras in Tuolumne County and in Northern California in Lassen County, as well as a a storage and export terminal in Stockton, California.   These plants would have threatened important forest ecosystems and polluted local communities. 

While this is a major victory, we are not completely out of the woods yet. GSNR is considering large-scale wood chip production which could still irrevocably harm California forests, communities, and climate, and could increase air pollution, particularly around sensitive communities. But for now, it’s a victory for the planet and communities. 

SACRAMENTO, CA (June 25, 2025) – Facing immense community opposition and financial uncertainty, Golden State Natural Resources (GSNR) today canceled plans to build two industrial-scale wood pellet plants, a historic victory for forests, the climate, and the residents of California. 
 
A coalition of grassroots, national, and international groups fought the plans to build destructive wood pellet plants in the central Sierras in Tuolumne County and another in Northern California in Lassen County, as well as a storage and export terminal in Stockton, California. 

Today, GSNR announced plans “to explore alternative approaches for implementing their project” at its board of directors meeting, effectively canceling plans to build the controversial wood pellet facilities and export terminal. The company cited: 

• The amount of input received during the California Environmental Quality Act Process with the draft environmental impact report (DEIR), which reached 50,000 comments in opposition 

• Current biomass market conditions, which have weakened after governments turned away from subsidizing the industry and accompanying facility closures 

California communities in the impact zones of the proposed pellet facilities and the export terminal as well as campaigners have sounded the alarm on GSNR and its false solutions for over two years.  

GSNR’s board voted on three options and chose to pursue wood chip production, which effectively means it will go back to the drawing board, recirculate a revised impact statement, and give the public another opportunity for comment. 

Large-scale wood chip production could still irrevocably harm California forests, communities, and climate, and could increase air pollution, particularly around sensitive communities. For years, the biomass industry has deceived customers about their sourcing and climate impacts, destroyed forests, and polluted communities. At this time, it is apparent that GSNR’s wood pellet plans are shelved no matter what. The wood pellet biomass industry has been stopped from getting a foothold in California. As GSNR reimagines its product development from wood pellets for export to domestic wood chipping, the company’s history of shoddy public involvement provides strong warning to Californians. 

The coalition will be waiting for GSNR to recirculate its DEIR and look forward to reviewing and commenting.  

Here is what coalition members are saying:  
 
Gloria Alonso Cruz, Environmental Justice Advocacy Coordinator with Little Manila Rising in Stockton: “There’s absolutely no room for false climate solutions at the only inland port in California’s Central Valley: Stockton. For generations, industrial activity and the ongoing failure to seek community input on environmental compliance have worsened socioenvironmental conditions for South Stocktonians. We’re the 35^th asthma capital in the world! We see the cost of industrial pollution firsthand when our loved ones experience the devastating impacts of chronic respiratory conditions. With this announcement, vulnerable communities in South Stockton can breathe a sigh of relief knowing we’ve protected our community from GSNR. We remain committed to supporting and standing in solidarity with communities that could be impacted by GSNR’s shift. While our port missed this opportunity to say ‘no’ to this harmful project, we now turn our attention to its leadership—to demand commitment to development that values advocates’ input and does not threaten our community’s health.” 

Megan Fiske, Environmental Advocate at Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch in Tuolumne County: “Rural communities like Tuolumne and Calaveras counties have made it clear they want businesses that support the local economy, not big boom and bust industrial pursuits like those posed by GSNR’s project. It is a shame so much time and taxpayer money was wasted waiting for GSNR to realize what rural Californians already know - big biomass is a boondoggle. Fire resiliency starts at home, and we could’ve spent millions of dollars far more effectively protecting homes and neighborhoods in our communities instead of ignoring the voice of the public and allowing GSNR to pursue this oversized, counterproductive business scheme.  Yes, we need different forest management to protect our communities but it should be driven by the community, not corporate interests looking to make a profit off rural communities’ hardships.”  

Shaye Wolf, Ph.D., Climate Science Director at the Center for Biological Diversity: “Stopping this dirty, dangerous wood pellet export project is a big victory for communities, the climate and our forests. Our forests shouldn’t be fed to the woodchipper for polluting biomass pellets shipped overseas. Unfortunately, the new proposal to sacrifice forests and communities to make dirty biomass products here in California is still bad for the climate, public health and wildlife. We’ll continue to fight to protect our forests from being industrialized for corporate profit.” 

Matt Holmes, Project Director for Valley Improvement Projects: “California's Environmental justice communities are worried that GSNR will now seek allies among the tidal wave of new energy projects ravenously applying for federal and state carbon capture credits. Those carbon credits are predictably propping unnecessary industrial facilities promising unproven results, categorically increasing pollution almost exclusively in our most vulnerable communities.”  

Nick Joslin, Policy and Advocacy Director, Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center: “We have watched for decades as the dirty biomass industry has been buoyed by taxpayer subsidies and then collapsed once this corporate welfare runs dry. We are not surprised to see GSNR pivot away from their colossal pellet scheme as planned that required subsidies at every step of the process and left our communities with more pollution, greater fire risk, and our forests ravaged by increased logging.”  

Gary Hughes, Biofuelwatch, Americas Program Coordinator: “As Golden State Natural Resources pulls the plug on their poorly conceived proposal to bring global wood pellet industry villains like Drax to California, our organization Biofuelwatch celebrates the results of an amazing statewide, nationwide and worldwide campaign that has successfully put a spotlight on the threats that the dirty biomass energy sector represents to forest ecosystems and local communities."  

Mary Elizabeth, M.S., R.E.H.S., Delta-Sierra Group Conservation Chair, Sierra Club: “Having to learn more about biomass collection, pellet production, and international markets for a project that would increase harm to the Stockton community, I learned about how words can be twisted such as calling the project “Golden State Natural Resources Forest Resiliency Demonstration Project.”  We hope that any revised draft environmental document will fully consider the greenhouse gas emissions (pollution) and harms to ecosystem resilience, along with more open collaboration to discuss local and regional efforts that will reduce wildfire impacts.”  

Dan Howells, Climate Campaigns Director at Green America: “Californians exposed the false solutions of biomass and have hopefully put an end to the industry coming for our forests. Today’s announcement that GSNR is no longer considering biomass for export comes after tens of thousands of people told GSNR and Drax that California’s forests and communities are better off without industrial scale biomass destruction and the pollution that comes with it. Now, we need to ensure that California doesn’t pursue in-state biomass energy and instead pursues true renewable energy and wildfire mitigation for homes and communities.”   

Maya Khosla, Sonoma County Climate Activist Network (SOCOCAN!): “We have objected to the GSNR project from its inception and our voices have been heard. Using wood from forests as source material for bioenergy or biofuels is the dirtiest form of energy. Using forest wood also results in the opposite of forest resiliency – dried-out soils and depleted forests – creates massive emissions from the processing, transportation and smokestacks, leads to health and safety risks to communities near and far. The emissions from extractions far exceed wildfire emissions (by a factor of 5 or more) and include greenhouse gases (GHGs) that are not being counted as emissions. Inevitably, the emissions worsen the climate crisis and create conditions for even worse wildfires. To deal with the emissions, industries are now proposing to pump the carbon dioxide underground, a process called “carbon capture and storage” (CCS), which is potentially dangerous, has resulted in serious accidents and injuries, and comes with no guarantee that the carbon dioxide will remain underground. The efficacy of CCS has been questioned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and others. We need to move away from bioenergy and biofuels.”  

Esther Mburu, Carbon Policy Analyst, Restore the Delta: "The Delta begins in the Sierra Nevada forests, and what happens upstream directly affects water quality downstream. We're relieved that the export terminal appears to be off the table, but shipping wood pellets overseas was never about clean energy. It was about propping up dirty coal plants abroad while degrading the watershed that feeds California's water supply. As GSNR considers domestic alternatives, we'll continue advocating for real solutions that protect both our interconnected waterways and the communities that depend on them."   

Mary Booth, Director, Partnership for Policy Integrity: “Scientists and advocates keep trying to explain to policymakers that burning trees isn’t going to help the climate. Advocates will continue fight this multi-million-dollar climate con in its new incarnation.” 

Rita Vaughan Frost, Forest Advocate at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): “We spelled out the writing on the wall: GSNR’s biomass boondoggle is not welcome in California communities. Californians raised their voices to show they want real clean energy and real solutions to wildfires, not to see their forests ransacked, and communities poisoned just to export climate-busting wood pellets overseas. As GSNR reinvents itself, NRDC remains steadfast in our commitment to stand by communities that have won this hard-fought victory over the wood pellet biomass industry. While they may be donning the new clothes of wood chip production, we are ready to analyze the climate, forest, and community impacts of this newest iteration." 

# # # 

Little Manila Rising (LMR) serves the South Stockton community, developing equitable solutions to the effects of historical marginalization, institutionalized racism, and harmful public policy. LMR offers a wide spectrum of programs that address education, environment, redevelopment, and public health. LMR values all people’s unique and diverse experiences and wishes to see the residents of South Stockton enjoy healthy, prosperous lives.   

Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch (EPFW) works to protect, promote, and restore heathy forests and watersheds to maintain the quality of life in the Sierra Nevada. Ebbetts Pass Forest Watch supports responsible forest management and logging methods. 

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.7 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.   

Valley Improvement Projects (VIP) strives to reach-out to low-income and working class communities, communities of color, immigrants, Spanish-speakers, LGBTQ community, religious minorities, indigenous communities, youth, elders, people with disabilities, houseless community, and many others who carry the extra burdens of our society.   

Since 1988, the Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center has played a pivotal role in preserving the integrity of Mount Shasta and its surroundings. Our bioregional perspective encompasses not only natural interconnected systems but also their cultural layers that constitute the human relationship to the land. We work through public education, science-based public policy and advocacy, legal challenges, restoration, watershed monitoring, forest stewardship, building partnerships and alliances, and engaging the local community to connect with and protect our bioregion."  

 Biofuelwatch provides information and undertakes advocacy and campaigning in relation to the climate, biodiversity, land and human rights and public health impacts of large-scale industrial bioenergy.  We are a small team of staff and volunteers based in Europe and the USA.   

The Delta-Sierra Group of the Mother Lode Chapter is a regional unit of the Sierra Club that organizes outdoor activities and focuses attention on environmental issues. We all agree to practice the Sierra Club motto that you should "Explore, Enjoy and Protect the Planet."   

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems.   

SOCOCAN (www.SonomaCountyCan.ORG), is an umbrella for 50 organizations and 300 individuals.    

Restore the Delta works in the areas of public education, program and policy development, and outreach so that all Californians recognize the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta as part of California’s natural heritage, deserving of restoration. We interface with local, state and federal agencies to advance this vision.  

The Partnership for Policy Integrity (PFPI) uses data-driven advocacy and litigation to fight for forests, communities, and the climate. 

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Established in 1970, NRDC uses science, policy, law and people power to confront the climate crisis, protect public health and safeguard nature. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Beijing and Delhi (an office of NRDC India Pvt. Ltd).     

In 2021, Juneteenth became a national holiday- and for many this was their first time hearing about the holiday. But this day isn’t about a free day off work or no school. This holiday has been celebrated by Black Americans for years. The legacy of Black Americans is often overlooked by this country which is why July 4th is not the day that marks their independence - June 19th is! 

Juneteenth marks the 19th day in June 1865, when Black people in Galveston, Texas were informed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — that slavery was abolished, and the civil war ended. This brought liberation to Black Texans (and Black Americans everywhere). The significance of Juneteenth is more relevant now than ever, because “freedom” is represented in Black communities through their influence, art, music, and cultural foods.  

We hope the information, events, actions, and suggestions of Black-led organizations to support will strengthen your commemoration of Juneteenth. 

History/ Community /Social Justice

History of Juneteenth  

History of Juneteenth: Information for kids  

From Juneteenth to Reparations: Reclaiming Our Stolen Stories 

Juneteenth Virtual Toolkit – Smithsonian  

Juneteenth Foods and Traditions 

Juneteenth: Teaching Outside the Textbook 

Celebrating Juneteenth: Books from Penguin Random House 

Economy:

How Systemic Racism Keeps Black Americans Out of Investing 

Shop Black Owned: Green America  

How One City Beat the U.S. to Making Juneteenth an Official Paid Holiday 

Realizing Reparations – YES Magazine Series 

Environment:

8 Black Leaders Who've Revolutionized the Climate Movement 

Black Americans’ Connection to Land Leads to Serenity 

Maine Public Radio – Living on Earth Juneteenth Special 

Events:

Search “Juneteenth” and your city or state to find celebrations and ways to volunteer near you 

Juneteenth Festival 2025 – Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission 

Central Park Conservancy – Celebrate Juneteenth 

A Guide to Philly Juneteenth Celebrations 

10+ Uptown NYC Events Celebrating Juneteenth 

How to Celebrate Juneteenth 2025 in Chicago 

Juneteenth Events in Virginia 

NBC – Honoring Juneteenth in Los Angeles 

Black Women for Wellness – Juneteenth Boots on the Ground Celebration in LA 

MFA Boston – Juneteenth Open House 

Header photo: Three young women celebrate Juneteenth in Grant Park, Chicago on June 19, 2020. Photo by Antwon McCullen.

Comcast may entertain but all those streaming programs and entertainment comes at a cost – climate change.

Walmart has a huge climate problem. Refrigerators in the companies’ stores are using potent super-pollutant gases, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), that are leaking and accelerating the climate crisis.

529 savings plans

The cost of college has more than doubled in the 21st century. Currently the average in-state student at a public university spends over $27,000 per year, while the average private university student spends over $58,000 per year.  

Educational savings plans, known as 529 plans after a section of IRS code, are tax-deferred savings plans that can be used to pay for educational expenses. The District of Columbia and all states except Wyoming offer 529 plans.  

While 529 plans are usually used to pay for college costs, recent legislation allows them to cover K-12 education and apprenticeship programs, student loan repayments, and Roth IRA contributions. 

There are two types of 529 plans: college savings plans and prepaid tuition plans.

College savings plans 

By far the most common type of 529 plan, college savings plans allow anyone – but typically a parent or grandparent – to establish a savings and investment account for a beneficiary – typically a child or grandchild.  

The account holder contributes to the plan and chooses what to invest in. Investment options vary by state, but most states offer mutual funds including target-date funds and index funds. Some but not all states also offer socially responsible funds. 

Anyone including friends and extended family can contribute to a 529 plan. You can open a 529 plan in any state, not just the state where you live, but tax benefits vary.  

Maximum contribution limits also vary by state, from $235,000 in Mississippi and Georgia to over $500,000 in Pennsylvania, New York, and California. 

College savings plans can be used to pay for any qualified expense, including tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Because funds are contributed post-tax, withdrawals are tax free. 

Prepaid tuition plans 

Prepaid tuition plans allow you to lock in college or university tuition at the current rate for a beneficiary who will not be attending for years. Only nine states participate -- Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, Texas, Virginia, and Washington – and the money can only be used to pay tuition. 

Prepaid tuition plans are a great hedge against the rising cost of tuition if you live in one of the nine states and your beneficiary knows they want to attend college in state. However, unlike college savings plans, the money cannot be used to pay for books, fees, room or board; nor can it be used for K-12 education or repay student loans. 

Socially responsible 529 plans

Investing for a child's education means investing in the future -- and you can use your investments to help create a better world for the children of today to inherit when they grow up.

Unfortunately, socially responsible funds are not available in every state 529 plan -- so you may have to look for an educational savings plan outside your state.

Fossil Free California lists several states that offer fossil-free or nearly fossil free options through three funds: the Parnassus Core Equity Fund (PRBLX), the Vanguard FTSE Social Index Fund (VFTAX), and the Fidelity Climate Action Fund (FCAEX).  

Many 529 offer age-based "enrollment date" funds that shift from aggressive to more conservative portfolios as the child nears college age. California offers the only age-based ESG fund made up of several Nuveen and TIAA mutual funds. However, these funds are not fossil free. You can find out what a mutual fund or ETF holds by using As You Sow's Fossil Free Funds.

Your investments can be used to build a more sustainable and equitable world. Racial justice investing can help.

Next: Racial Justice Investing

Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations. 

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How to open an IRA

If you are self-employed or don’t work for an employer that has a retirement plan, you can still save and invest for retirement on your own through an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), a tax-advantaged account that helps you save and invest for retirement.  

Steps to open an IRA account include: 

1. Decide how to manage your IRA investments

Unlike a pension, 401(k), or 403(b) plan, which give you little to no say on your investment options, an IRA lets you invest in whatever stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, and other assets you want. But the dizzying array of investment options can be overwhelming.

You can manage your IRA’s investments by working with an online broker or a robo-advisor.

• An online broker will provide a wide-ranging menu of investment options. They can help you set up your account and answer questions, but you are responsible for choosing what to invest in.
• A robo-advisor is an algorithm-driven investment platform. It will ask you a series of questions to identify your financial goals, time frame and risk tolerance – then it will select and manage your IRA investments for you based on your answers.

2. Decide where to open an IRA

You can open an IRA at a brokerage firm such as Charles Schwab or Fidelity, as well as at some banks, mutual fund companies, or life insurance companies.

Look for factors like management fees, investment minimums, available investments, planning tools, educational resources, and customer service. Some IRAs even match your contributions up to a certain amount.

3. Choose an IRA account type

There are two main types of IRAs, each with different tax implications:

• Traditional IRA. You contribute money pre-tax, which brings down your tax liability now – but when you withdraw your funds later, those payments are taxed. This could be preferable if you will be in a lower tax bracket at retirement. You can start withdrawing from an IRA at age 59½, and you must start withdrawing by age 73. Withdrawals before age 59½ are subject to a extra 10% tax penalty.
• Roth IRA. You contribute money after-tax. You can’t withdraw funds for five years, but then you can withdraw the initial contributions tax-free and penalty-free as long as you meet certain requirements. After age 59½, all withdrawals are tax-free.

4. Open an IRA and fund your account

Usually you open an IRA account online. You’ll need personal documentation to prove your identity as well as financial information such as your bank account. 

Once your account is set up, you can fund it in a variety of ways:  

• Roll over a 401(k), or 403(b) retirement account from a previous employer or roll over funds from a different IRA account. 
• Transfer funds from your bank account one time or set up auto-transfers 

You can contribute up to $7,000 to an IRA account in 2025, with an additional catch-up contribution of $1,000 for people ages 50 and up. 

Socially responsible options

Individual Retirement Accounts hold $14.5 trillion in assets worldwide; of that, an estimated $435 billion is invested in fossil fuels.

Fortunately, it is much easier for IRA holders to invest in socially responsible funds than for pension fund members or 401(k) / 403(b) plan participants. However, managing an IRA may require more engagement.

• Start by defining your values and goals. Do you want your investments to make a difference in climate change? Affordable housing? Racial equity? Knowing which issues are most important to you will help guide your investment decisions. This questionnaire from US SIF can help.
• Learn how responsible investing works in practice, and about its performance and popularity.
• Research socially responsible and ESG funds. Look for funds that align with your values and have a track record of strong performance. As You Sow's Invest Your Values rates funds on a variety of issues and lets you compare performance to a benchmark fund.

If researching socially responsible options for your retirement plan becomes overwhelming, you don't have to go it alone. You can find a financial advisor. Green America has several listings of financial advisors who understand socially responsible investing and can help you make the most of your investments.

Are you looking to save for a child's college education? An educational savings plan can help.

Next: Educational Savings Plans

Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations. 

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Perhaps you are nearing retirement, or maybe retirement seems like a long way into the future. Either way, now is a good time to start saving.

If you are just starting out, you can use the runway of time to your advantage. Investing is most effective when you have a long time. The longer you have, the less you need to set aside each month.

If you are nearing retirement but have fallen behind, you can add a catch-up contribution to your retirement account. The closer you are to retirement, the higher the limit on catch-up contributions.

Types of employer-sponsored retirement plans

Either way, it's important to know how your retirement plan works. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) covers two main types of employer-sponsored retirement plans:

• Defined benefit plan, which promises a certain monthly benefit at retirement paid to you for the rest of your life, such as a pension.  
• Defined contribution plan, which invests contributions into a fund the employee can draw from at retirement, such as a 401(k) or 403(b) plan. 

In both types of plans, both the employer and employee can contribute – often the employer will match employee contributions up to a certain amount or percentage of their salary. Also in both cases, the money is invested into a portfolio of assets – stocks, bond, mutual funds, ETFs, and sometimes other asset classes.  

The main differences are:  

• Employees can usually choose from a limited range of investment options for a 401(k) or 403(b) plan, but have no input on how a pension fund is invested. 
• Employees know what the benefit for the pension will be, but the benefit for the 401(k) or 403(b) depends on how the market performs. 

Take the free money!

If you are lucky enough to work for a company or organization that has a retirement plan with an employee match, take them up on it! At least contribute enough to get the employer match – that's free money set aside to work for you until your retirement. 

If you leave your current employer, you can always roll over your contributions and whatever employer contributions you are vested in tax-free to another employer’s retirement plan or an individual retirement account. 

The limits on how much you can contribute to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan are quite high: $23,500 in 2025, with a catch-up of an additional $7,500 for people ages 50 to 59 or 64+, and $11,250 for people ages 60 to 63. The total contribution limit for both employee and employer contributions is $70,000.

Getting responsible funds into your retirement plan

The main disadvantage of an employer-sponsored retirement plan, whether a pension or 401(k) / 403(b), is the lack of choice of the funds you can invest in. Even worse, most invest billions in fossil fuels.

Pension Funds

With more than $46 trillion in assets worldwide, pension funds are among the largest institutional investors in the fossil fuel industry, holding nearly 30% of all fossil fuel shares, according to Climate Safe Pensions Network. Among the largest holders are:

• California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS) with $13.8 billion in fossil fuel investments
• Washington State Investment Board (WSIB) with $8 billion in fossil fuel investments
• New York State Teachers' Retirement System (NYSTRS) with $7.6 billion in fossil fuel investments
• Minnesota State Board of Investment (MSBI) with $7 billion in fossil fuel investments
• State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) with $6.5 billion in fossil fuel investments

Pension funds are typically managed by a state investment board and governed by state law. But citizens in many cities, counties, and states have joined together to launch divestment campaigns.

Some campaigns have successfully advocated for passing state laws such as Maine LD 99 of 2021, which required the state to divest from fossil fuels, and Oregon's COAL Act of 2024, which required the state to divest from coal.

401(k) and 403(b) Plans

Defined-contribution plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s hold $11.3 trillion in assets; of that, an estimated $339 billion is invested in fossil fuels. Unfortunately, most employer-sponsored retirement plans have few to no socially responsible fund options, according to As You Sow's Invest Your Values 401k Scorecard.

Among the large companies with no sustainable fund options are tech giants Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Netflix, Nvidia, and Oracle; insurance companies Chubb, Progressive, and State Farm; and retailers Dollar Tree, PetSmart, and Target.

The strongest voice to advocate for a company to add more sustainable fund options to its retirement plan are its employees. In 2024, over 1,000 Google employees sent a letter to management asking for fossil-free options. As a result, the company added the Parnassus Core Equity Fund.

You can learn how to advocate for your company to add socially and environmentally responsible funds to your retirement with Green America's Plan for a Better Future guide. This will show you how to research socially responsible fund options, bring in other employees, and take your proposals to Human Resources and company management.

What if you don't work for a company that has a retirement plan or pension fund? Individual Retirement Accounts can help.

Next: Individual Retirement Accounts

Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations. 

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Social investing in the long-term

Most people invest to meet a goal, whether for themselves or someone else. 

• Investing for yourself may mean funding your retirement, whether through an employer-sponsored plan or individual retirement account.
• Investing for someone else may mean funding a child’s or grandchild's education.  

Whatever the goal, investing even a small amount each month can really add up thanks to compound interest – especially if your goal is years in the future. The best time to start investing was yesterday, but the next best time is now. 

Click on the boxes below to learn about employer-sponsored retirement plans, individual retirement plans, and educational savings plans. 

Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans

Individual Retirement Accounts

Educational Savings Plans

Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations. 

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In 2025, Pride Month is more important than ever. Five years ago, legislators introduced just over 100 bills targeting LGBTQ+ people. In 2025, activists are tracking over 900, a majority of them aimed at the transgender community. LGBTQ+ rights and safety are facing major setbacks, both in the United States and abroad.   

LGBTQ+ people have always existed, but in the US, those identities were not just unaccepted but criminalized throughout history. The Immigration Act of 1917 prohibited LGBTQ immigrants, classifying them as “persons of constitutional psychopathic inferiority.” This remained in place in the 1952 Immigration Act. One year later in 1953, an Executive Order included “sexual perversion” for the first time as a basis to fire someone from federal employment.  

There was a turning point in June 1969, when patrons, led by transgender women of color, at the New York City gay bar The Stonewall Inn fought back when police attacked them during a routine raid of gay bars. Protests where activists demanded the right to live openly popped up in New York and around the country. In June 1970, the one-year anniversary of Stonewall, pride marches took place for the first time in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.   

LGBTQ+ rights came to the forefront but still faced objections. The 1986 Supreme Court case Bowers v. Hardwick upheld a ban on consensual, homosexual sex acts, and it was only in 1990 that homosexuality was removed as grounds for exclusion from immigration to the US. The Clinton Administration allowed LGBTQ+ people in the military but discriminatorily made them remain closeted. There have been some successes since then. In 2015, the Supreme Court declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states and Stonewall was named a national monument in 2016—two victories that are under attack once again.  

We must remember, though, that Pride Month is also a time for joy and celebration. The LGBTQ+ community has continually met resistance with resilience and those who are members of the community, and the allies who love them, deserve to take pride in who they are. The state of the world may only get harder for LGBTQ+ people in the coming years, so it is vital we continue to fight, protect, and uplift everyone in the community. Transgender people disproportionately are targets for discrimination, bullying, hate speech, violence, and legislation that strips them of their rights. Over 1.6 million people aged 13+ in the US identify as transgender - they are our brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, teachers, colleagues, and beyond - and they deserve to live in a safe, loving, and just world.  

As with all heritage months, we celebrate our differences, acknowledge historical victories and setbacks, and fight for justice for people who may be of different backgrounds than oneself. This month brings us together to remember, honor, and be inspired by LGBTQ+ pride and history as well as the countless individuals of those backgrounds who have made tremendous contributions to our country.   

To help enhance your celebration with content you can use all year long, Green America is pleased to share Pride resources that highlight accomplishments, and the justice still needed in society, the economy, and the environment. We do this as a reflection of our vision: “to work for a world where all people have enough, where all communities are healthy and safe, and where the abundance of the Earth is preserved for all the generations to come.”    

Together, let’s celebrate and recommit ourselves to building a just society.   

History/Community 

Untraditional Bonds, Unconditional Care  

What is Pride Month and the History of Pride? 

Economy 

Why LGBTQ Inclusivity Is Good for Business   

LGBTQ ECONOMIC SECURITY   

America’s LGBT Economy Report  

Social Justice 

Take Action with Trans Equality  

Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures in 2025  

Supporting the Transgender People in Your Life: A Guide to Being a Good Ally  

PFLAG: Join the Fight  

The Art of Queer Joy  

The Risk of Gentrifying Queerness  

A Call for Liberation 

Environment 

Queering Outdoor Spaces Heals People and the Earth   

We Grow Where We Go: LGBTQ+ Farmers Put Down Roots  

Striking a Pose in Sustainable Drag  

Nature is queer. Queer ecologists want us to learn from it.  

Why Climate Justice Must Include LGBTQ+ Justice  

Climate Solutions Need Queerness 

Check Out These 4 LGBTQI Environmental Organizations 
 

Events

• DC Pride - World Pride  

• Baltimore Pride Fest 

• NYC Pride  

• NY Public Library Pride Events 

• Chicago Pride  

• Atlanta Pride  

• Charlotte Pride  

• Twin Cities Pride  

• Houston Pride  

• Austin Pride  

• San Francisco Pride  

• LA Pride  

• Portland Pride  

• Seattle Pride  

• Denver Pride  

• Boston Pride  

• Find more cities, in the US and around the world here: 2025 Global Gay Pride Calendar  

• Find your local LGBTQ+ Community Center: Find a CenterLink Member in our LGBTQ Community Center Directory (lgbtqcenters.org)  

Virtual Events: 

A Photographic History of LGBTQ+ Pride: from Protest to Celebration - Wednesday, June 18  

United We Thrive: Pride, Wellness, and Community – Multiple Days  

Understanding & Addressing Anti-Trans Hate: Pride Month Lunch & Learn – Friday, June 27  

Intersections of LGBTQIA+ and Disability – Wednesday, June 11  

The Ally Starter Pack: Gender, Identities and Language – Multiple Days  

Blooming Workplaces, Cultivating 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusive Spaces – Monday, June 23  

Beyond Pride: Strengthening Economic Opportunity for LGBTQ+ Entrepreneurs – Tuesday, June 17  

Books:

 We are Everywhere By Matthew Riemer and Leighton Brown  

 Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin  

Fairest by Meredith Talusan  

 How to Live Free in a Dangerous World by Shayla Lawson  

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni  

All My Mother’s Lovers by Ilana Masad  

Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride  

First Time for Everything by Henry Fry  

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe  

Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde  

All About Love by bell hooks  

Angels in America by Tony Kushner  

Transgender History by Susan Stryker  

A Queer History of the United States by Michael Bronski  

Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride  

The Stonewall Reader, Edited by New York Public Library and Jason Baumann  

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Green America harnesses economic power — the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace — to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Together, we can protect our beautiful planet and all its people!

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Victories

Take Action

Looking to grow your Climate Victory Garden with confidence? Whether you’re just starting out or ready to dig deeper, this curated index offers trusted tips, guides, and tools to support your journey. You’ll also find an alphabetical version of this resource for easy browsing.

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Gardening Resources - Alphabetical Index

By Cathy Cowan Becker, Responsible Finance Campaign Director

On May 7, Cameron Hamilton, acting administrator of FEMA, told Congress, “I do not believe it is in the best interest of the American people to eliminate the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”  

Within a day, Hamilton was out, replaced by Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary David Richardson, who told agency staff, “Don’t get in my way ... because I will run right over you” in enacting an agenda of pushing disaster relief to the states.  

That same day, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced it would discontinue updating its Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters database, widely used by insurance companies, city officials, and more. 

The database -- which shows an ever-increasing number and severity of natural disasters in recent years -- draws from both public and private data shared by industry and nonprofits, so is not easily replicable.  

Public opinion 

All of this is the opposite of what the American people want, according to two recent opinion polls by Data for Progress.  

One poll conducted in March 2025 for the Insurance Fairness Project found 67% of likely voters across party lines are concerned about increasing extreme weather events, and 74% believe a property insurance crisis will affect them personally. Yet 61% think the federal government is not doing enough to address this crisis.

Another poll in January 2025 found that 67% of likely voters prefer funding public insurance over allowing private insurance to charge higher premiums to cover increasing storm damage. Policies with voter support include: 

• Funding disaster prevention and resilience at the community level (74%) 

• Paying some costs of home insurance for low- and moderate-income households (71%) 

• Creating a national insurance fund to cover damages from extreme weather events (68%) 

• Providing home insurance coverage to Americans directly from the federal government (67%). 

Likely voters blame the current property insurance crisis most on CEOs of insurance companies (85%), climate change (72%), and inflation (83%) -- but fewer (62%) connect it to the fossil fuel industry driving more frequent and intense storms of the climate crisis.  

The data are clear

Thanks in part to the actions of over 5,400 Green Americans, in January the Federal Insurance Office released a trove of zip-code-level data on how climate change has affected property insurance, with reporting on 250 million policies by 330 insurance companies from 2018 through 2022.  

Now allied organizations Revolving Door Project and Public Citizen have used this information to create Mapping the Home Insurance Crisis, showing property insurance trends on an interactive map. You can see how metrics such as average premium, average claim amount, and claim frequency change in zip codes across the United States.  

The results show home insurance is becoming less available and more expensive across the nation. Nor is the crisis limited to coastal states like California, Florida, and Louisiana – it is spreading across the Midwest into areas once thought to be climate havens.  

Another report by Consumer Federation of America analyzes purchased proprietary data to find property insurance premiums have increased an average of 24% over the past three years – an extra $21 billion in price hikes for Americans.  

A typical homeowner with a mid-range credit score and a $350,000 home replacement value paid an average premium of $3,303 in 2024 -- $648 more than in 2021.  

States with the greatest increase in premiums were Utah (59%), Illinois (50%), Arizona (48%), and Pennsylvania (44%). States with the greatest premium hikes in absolute dollars were Florida ($2,118 increase), Louisiana ($1,775), and Kentucky ($1,426). 

Such significant increases in property insurance premiums have ripple effects across the economy:  

• Because mortgage loans typically require borrowers to have home insurance, some homeowners may sell their homes or default on their mortgage. A premium increase of $500 is linked to 20% higher likelihood of mortgage delinquency. 

• Some homeowners settle for inadequate insurance with high deductibles, less coverage, and more exclusions.  

• Some homeowners “go bare” -- meaning they do not buy property insurance. As of 2021, 7.4% or 6.1 million homeowners were uninsured, leaving them one major disaster from losing everything. 

• Young people and first-time homebuyers are less able to buy homes, leaving them out of an important pathway to building financial stability. 

• Neighborhoods with many uninsured homes see more damaged and vacant properties, leading to a downward spiral of property values and tax base.  

Case study: California 

Although the property insurance crisis affects the entire country, one of its epicenters is California, where January's climate-fueled wildfires in Los Angeles are estimated to cost over $250 billion. The fallout is impacting both public and private property insurance.  

Everyone pays into the FAIR Plan 

California’s FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan, the state’s public insurance plan of last resort, had already grown by 40% since 2023 with people abandoned by major insurance companies not renewing policies. At the time of the wildfires in January, the FAIR Plan had just $377 million to pay over 4,800 claims.  

Unlike private insurance, FAIR plans can raise money by charging private insurers when they are short on funds to pay claims. In February, California regulators allowed the FAIR plan to charge $1 billion from private insurance companies doing business in the state.  

However, recent concessions to the industry now allow these private insurance companies to pass on up to $500 million of this cost to all policyholders in the state – meaning everyone will pay, whether they were affected by the wildfires or not.  

State Farm seeks emergency rate hike 

In 2023 State Farm stopped accepting new applications for property insurance in California; then in 2024 it raised rates by 20%. State Farm is still California’s largest property insurance company, holding 3 million policies or about 20% of the market.  

After the Los Angeles wildfires, State Farm received provisional regulatory approval for an emergency rate hike of 17% for homeowners, 38% for landlord policies, and 15% for renters and condominiums. Insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara granted final approval on May 13.

The rate hike means average State Farm policyholder in California will pay $841 more for home insurance in 2025 than they did in 2023, according to a report by Center for Climate Integrity. About 30% of communities will pay $1000 or more, while 5,000 policyholders in six counties will pay over $3,000 more in premiums. In one zip code, 1,700 policyholders will see premiums increase by $7,553, or 72%.  

On April 17 the Eaton Fire Survivors Network called for an investigation of State Farm over widespread delays, denials, and unresolved claims, urging state leaders not to approve the rate increase request. “Most people assume that if you pay your premiums, your insurer will be there when disaster strikes,” group leader Joy Chen said. “But for many State Farm policyholders, the fire was just the start of their trauma. Each day since then, their financial and emotional devastation has grown because of State Farm's actions.” 

Meanwhile, State Farm is the nation’s second-largest insurance investor in the fossil fuel industry that is driving the climate crisis, with over $20 billion invested in 65 fossil fuel companies. These investments help shore up insurance company profits in years when they pay more in claims than they take in premiums, but they also multiply the problem.  

Policy solutions 

An issue as large as the climate-fueled property insurance crisis requires policy action. Reports by Consumer Federation of America, Center for American Progress, and Public Citizen make several overlapping policy recommendations, including: 

Public funding 

• Increase public funding for climate resilience on both the property and community levels.  

• Require insurers to consider home hardening expenses in setting prices.  

• Create national public reinsurance, or insurance for insurers, that lowers risk for comprehensive coverage of homeowners. 

Accountability 

• Prevent insurers from passing on costs to consumers while they insure and invest in fossil fuels. 

• Strengthen regulatory oversight of rates and underwriting, including non-renewals. 

• Require insurers to have adequate reserves. 

Data gathering 

• Create a national climate modeling tool and establish routine data reporting. 

• Model insurance data collection on the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA), which requires public disclosure of data on the census tract level. 

• Ensure homebuyers and renters know their exposure to climate risks. 

Protecting yourself 

Unfortunately, an administration pushing disaster relief to the states just before hurricane season is unlikely to implement these policy solutions anytime soon.  

Here’s what you can do in the meantime: 

• Check out Green America’s Climate Smart Insurance Directory, which lists options in every state for insurance companies that do not insure fossil fuel projects and invest little to nothing in the fossil fuel industry. 

• Shop around. Call three independent insurance agents and ask them to quote costs and coverage at regional mutual insurance companies. Different agents work with different companies, so calling more than one will give you a fuller picture of what is available in your area. Regional insurance companies are no more risky than large insurers and could save you money for the same coverage.  

• Seek adequate coverage. The quotes you get should cover the cost of rebuilding your home and replacing personal property, as well as temporary living expenses, medical payments, and liability claims. Keep in mind the cost of building materials, furniture, clothing, and electronics is rising.  

• Don’t go without. Property insurance protects your investments, not just from natural disasters but also someone else’s negligence. You can cut costs by bundling home and auto insurance, paying in monthly installments, and asking for any discounts such as through AAA or AARP.  

• If your policy is canceled, ask for an extension so you have time to shop for new insurance. Ask for a written explanation including any photos or videos. File an appeal if the evidence provided is not accurate. Make any repairs your insurance company asks for, but start shopping right away in case you need to switch. 

In the heart of Bloomington, where liberal ideals often clash with systemic realities of poverty and injustice, People’s Cooperative Market (“People’s Market”) has been cultivating more than just crops – it’s been nurturing a vision of food sovereignty that challenges deeply ingrained economic and racial structures.

As part of a long legacy of Black food sovereignty projects, the People’s Market has positioned itself as an agent of change. Its work goes far beyond simply distributing food; it's a radical act of reimagining economic systems and community support. The co-op operates under democratic principles building toward consensus, equity, cooperative economics, and collective values. In practice, this might look like voting on vendors; or receiving input from producers, vendors, organizational partners, and buyers.   Most recently, to decide how to use grant funds, the co-op members incorporated input from families that receive free Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) shares, when they voted on which producers to purchase from. 

The market operates using a sliding scale, supplying some Bloomington families with weekly CSAs at no cost. One can be a CSA member, ordering week to week (versus the traditional model of paying up-front at the beginning of each season), or folks can drop by the market and purchase locally-produced fruits and veggies, eggs, meat, bread, and more separately.  A suggested sliding scale is on display for purchasers to choose what they pay based on their circumstances.  When one enters the market, they will notice that all of the produce is displayed on one table, unlike the traditional farmers’ market model where each farmer sets up their own table.  In this way, farmers, many of whom drive two hours to reach Bloomington, simply have to drop off their produce instead of selling for hours as well.  There are also vendors with prepared foods, including baked goods, and artisans. There’s Colombian empanadas, coconut rolls, cakes, meat and vegan hand-pies—all delicious.  There are also one-off special events like a clothing exchange or used book sale.  Each vendor and event is chosen by keeping in mind the needs of the community.    

"People often don't understand why we give food away for free," Lauren McCalister, the co-op’s incorporator, explains. "There's a misconception that free food undermines the economy. But that's wildly untrue."  Her work is driven by a deeper understanding of economic resilience – one that recognizes how spaces of redistribution, from co-ops to consignment stores, actually increase the quality of life in communities. Low-cost to free food has a positive impact on the economy by increasing purchasing power for low-income individuals, stimulating local businesses through increased food spending, and improving workforce productivity by reducing hunger-related health issues, ultimately leading to a more stable economy, especially during economic downturns.  In short: If an individual or family doesn’t have to worry about getting enough food and nutrition, they can focus on taking care of their lives in other ways and can allocate more of their spending to things beyond food.

An important aspect of its mission is a commitment to regenerative agricultural practices that heal both land and community. In its own greenhouse, the co-op uses—and encourages its partnering farmers to use—minimal tillage, crop rotation, and cover crops that restore soil health, rebuilding the ecosystem with each season. They prioritize chemical-free growing methods, recognizing that soil health is intrinsically linked to community health.  Many of the farmers use organic, regenerative practices—or, “farming!” as McCalister would say—though they may not have gone through the expensive certification process. McCalister has personally visited the farms to learn more about their operations and to create real relationships with the farmers. 

Last year at the RAFI (Rural Advancement Foundation International) conference, McCalister discovered a striking data point. A map showing food security between 2010 and 2020 revealed a stark truth: areas with Walmarts experienced less food security. Inspired, she challenged the researchers to create the inverse map – demonstrating how co-ops might be a solution (research in-progress).

The work is not without its challenges. In Bloomington, a town that prides itself on liberal values, McCalister has experienced firsthand the resistance to confronting systemic racism. "We've been positioned as the antagonists," she notes, reflecting on how the People’s Market’s very existence is often seen as a threat to the established order. The more traditional farmers’ market vendors claim that using a sliding scale (including $0) undermines their own business.  However, the Bloomington Farmers Market is thriving, attracting thousands each Saturday morning.  Those who benefit from a sliding scale and those who believe in a different model from the traditional capitalist one, find their way to the People’s Co-op.  Community members are also welcome to visit and support both markets, as each has different vendors and meets different needs.

The co-op’s approach goes beyond individual interactions, recognizing the broader systemic conditions that shape food access and community health. "You can't just use food without acknowledging its political, social, and racial implications," McCalister asserts. Each low-cost or free assortment of produce, eggs, and bread—each cooperative interaction becomes an act of resistance and reimagining. 

The People's Co-op represents more than a food distribution system. It's a model of community resilience, a challenge to economic assumptions, and a testament to the power of mutual aid and collective action. In a landscape where food can be a weapon of economic control, People’s Market is turning it into a tool of liberation.

As Bloomington – and the nation – continue to wrestle with questions of equity and food access, People’s Market stands as a beacon of hope, proving that another way of organizing our food systems is not just possible—it’s essential.

Learn more about the People's Co-Op Market here.

In the town of Ellettsville in southern Indiana, where suburbia fades into farmland, Lauren McCalister's farm stands as a testament to resilience and community. The black-owned farm, situated at a unique crossroads of American life – nestled in a right-leaning intersection between a McMansion, a 300-acre Land Trust of corn and soybeans, and a trailer park– tells a story of transformation and purpose.

"I got into farming because of poverty," Lauren shares candidly. But what began as a means of survival has blossomed into a family operation. The farm operates primarily as a family affair, with Lauren, her husband, and their children working the land together. Occasionally, they welcome eager learners who want to experience farm life firsthand.

The property's history runs as deep as its limestone foundation. The original farmhouse, thoughtfully positioned with its front door facing due north, was built by a cattle farmer who quarried the limestone himself. This attention to detail and connection to the land didn't go unnoticed when McCalister sought to purchase the property. The previous owner, daughter of the original farmer, had declined numerous offers over two years, paying taxes on an empty house while waiting for the right buyers. When she learned the McCalisters planned to continue farming the 40 acres, she finally agreed to sell.

"She drives by sometimes," Lauren says with a smile. "When we see her, she tells us how happy it makes her to see the sheep there and someone farming."

The farm began with just three sheep—a wedding present from a friend looking to “call [Lauren’s] bluff” on wanting to husband sheep; hence the name “Three Flock Farm”.  Today, the name is still apt as they have three flocks of sheep, goats, and chickens, totaling about 100 animals. Through trial and error, Lauren learned what grows best on the farm; namely:  blueberries, sweet potatoes, and mushrooms. 

The farm's impact extends beyond its fences. They sell their meat to Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard (a food pantry and community hub for access to healthy foods) and the People's Cooperative Market, ensuring that quality, locally-raised meat and eggs remain accessible to those who might otherwise go without. But perhaps their most beloved community contribution is their annual tradition of bringing lambs to the public library for children to hold.

"There are very few things in my life that I'm like... adorable," Lauren admits, "but watching kids meet the lambs is one of them." The visits have become so popular that they now require breathing exercises before introducing the lambs, as children literally shake with excitement at the prospect of holding them. "There's always at least one kid that, after holding the lamb, declares 'I want to be a sheep farmer!'" Lauren recounts with pride.

The farm operates with minimal outside help and follows what would be considered as “regenerative organic practices”.  Lauren explains that they knew they didn’t want to spray any synthetic chemicals.  She then observed that the sheep happily ate and trampled down her fields of cover-crops, in which she then directly planted her crops, later learning that this technique is considered “crimping”.  Lauren pointed out that what she does is farming.  It’s what others are doing that is the issue (destroying the land and lessening the nutritious quality of our food), such as using harmful pesticides, mono-cropping, or rototilling.  

The McCalister farm represents more than just a business or a means of survival. In a time where the distance between farm and table grows ever wider, their story reminds us of the power of personal connection to the land and the community it feeds.

Washington, DC – The American Sustainable Business Network and Green America applaud the reintroduction of the Clean Energy Victory Bond Act, H.R. 2946, in the House of Representatives by Representatives Zoe Lofgren (CA-18) and Doris Matsui (CA-07) and U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR). This legislation represents an opportunity to showcase our nation’s commitment to fostering clean energy innovation by leveraging investments that support clean energy technologies and job creation. 

The Clean Energy Victory Bonds bill aims to empower everyday Americans to invest in the future of our planet and communities nationwide by purchasing bonds that directly fund renewable energy projects. This innovative approach supports the transition to a sustainable energy economy and offers a secure investment opportunity for individuals who are passionate about combating climate change.

“We are thrilled to see the reintroduction of this vital legislation,” said Michael Green, Senior Advisor on Climate and Energy, American Sustainable Business Network. “Clean Energy Victory Bonds offer a unique opportunity for individuals to contribute to the growth of clean energy infrastructure, driving economic growth and environmental stewardship.”

“Millions of Americans are excited about clean energy technologies and want to see more solar and wind power installed across the country that will lower climate emissions, create cleaner air, and grow local economies,” said Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director, Green America. “Clean Energy Victory Bonds would allow any American to safely invest in the clean energy future we need.”

ASBN champions collaborations between the public and private sectors in achieving climate goals. The Clean Energy Victory Bonds bill exemplifies how innovative financial instruments can mobilize capital for sustainable development, creating jobs and fostering a resilient economy.

We urge Congress to support this bill and encourage all stakeholders to join us in advocating for a cleaner, more sustainable future. Together, we can harness the power of clean energy to build a healthier planet for generations to come.

For more information, please contact Anayana White, Head of Communications, at anayana@asbnetwork.org

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American Sustainable Business Network (ASBN) amplifies the collective voice of sustainable business to lead the way to a regenerative economy that is stakeholder-driven, just, and prosperous. As a multi-issue, membership organization advocating on behalf of every business sector, size, and geography, ASBN works to advance its mission to inform, connect, and mobilize sustainable business leaders, transforming the public and private sectors toward a just and regenerative economy. 

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems.

Building the green economy is about more than being informed about corporations—it’s about actually supporting businesses that have adopted green practices, are growing the local economies, and pay suppliers fairly. Where you shop and what you buy when you do sends a direct message. So vote with your dollar!

Child labor in slaughterhouses is shocking, and it’s something we have the power to stop. Join us in demanding JBS, Perdue, Cargill, and Tyson Foods stop child labor.

The Trump Administration’s tariffs are causing market gyrations.  They could increase inflation and cause a recession.  Tariffs also harm people with lower incomes in the US the most and people in poorer countries as well – the same people who are also being harmed by the Administration’s cuts to the federal government and overseas aid. 

Even with the recent rollback of many tariffs for 90 days, there is an overall tariff in place of 10 percent on all countries, high tariffs on several imported materials and products, and a 145 percent tariff on many products from China, our third-largest trading partner.  No one can predict what’s next: each day, the Administration’s tariffs change.

You may be understandably worried about rising prices and falling 401Ks.

Here’s 6 steps you can take as a consumer to go green and save green ($): 

1. Start a garden 
   Tariffs will result in rising prices for many goods.  Some of them, like the Nintendo Switch, we can live without, or put off purchasing, but we can’t go without food.  One great way to cut down on food costs is to grow your own; you can save hundreds of dollars per year growing your own food, and it will be more nutritious. Green America’s Climate Victory Garden campaign will show you how to grow organic foods that also fight climate change.  Or, work with your neighbors to start a Climate Victory Community Garden.  If you grow more food than you need, you can donate it to a local food bank or share with your neighbors. 

2. Support a CSA or farmer markets 
    A great way to support the local economy while eating healthy is to sign up for community supported agriculture (CSA), where you will receive fresh produce every week directly from a local farm.  Or, visit a local farmers market to choose between several farms.  Either way, you’ll save money and get fresher produce. 

3. Buy used clothes or do a clothing swap 
    Thrifting and swapping clothes is a fun way to get a new look while saving money. When you purchase used clothing, you extend the life of that shirt, blouse, or suit, and prevent it from going to landfill or getting dumped overseas. Many used clothing and goods stores support charities, so you are also doing good in the community.  Or, you can set up or take part in a clothing swap, where you can meet people while trading clothes out of your closets.  

4. Take part in or start a lending library for tools, household goods, toys 
    When you need a shovel, band saw, carpet cleaner or other tools or goods occasionally, why buy them?  Instead see if you can set up a lending library with your neighbors.  On a list serve or social media page, people can post what they need and borrow it.  Some local libraries have set up lending libraries for many items other than books – you can borrow a tool or a game and pick up a book to read as well!  

5. Buy a used car or go car-less 
    Tariffs on imported cars will likely drive up prices for many new cars, so it makes sense to buy used cars, where even late-model cars are much cheaper than new.  Or, you can take this time to see if you can go car-less. The ready availability of electric bikes (some which can carry significant loads), car-sharing apps and services, and public transportation might meet all your transportation needs while eliminating a major source of climate emissions.  

6. Repair instead of replace 
    A great way to reduce your purchases is to make current stuff last. When appliances break, see if you can repair them instead of replacing – sometimes the repairs are cheaper than you think.  You can mend clothing, or have someone repair it.  Well-made furniture is always worth repairing.  Keep your car in good repair with regular maintenance. 

You can find more ideas from our Green American magazine issue "Going Green on a Budget". 

And, don’t forget to support businesses that integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) into their operations, and steer your money away from companies like Walmart, Amazon, and Target that walked back their commitments to DEI.  Instead, make sure to support the greenest businesses across the country for the products you need to purchase new! 

These steps are just a handful of the ways you can go green and save money.  As you work to save money and save the planet, you’ll create new skills and forge relationships with people in your community.  We can all learn from each other how to be more resilient and create mutual support during these hard times. 

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 10, 2025 – Green America and the Child Labor Coalition launched a new campaign aimed at eradicating child labor and labor violations in the food production industry, with a focus on the four top U.S. meat processing companies. The campaign will focus on child labor and labor violations at Perdue Farms, JBS, Tyson and Cargill, including launching a consumer petition and engaging a network of allied grassroots groups on the ground across the country. 

Once thought a relic of the past, child labor is on the rise in the United States. Major U.S. corporations are putting children as young as 13 to work in dangerous jobs they are too young to perform and that are hazardous to their health. An estimated 300,000 to 500,000 children are working in the agriculture industry alone.  

In January, Perdue Farms and JBS, two of the country’s largest meat-packers, were fined a combined $8 million for relying on children to work in their slaughterhouses. Children also have been reportedly working in dangerous conditions at Tyson and Cargill facilities. To make matters worse, 31 states have worked to loosen child labor and safety laws since 2021. 

Charlotte Tate, Labor Justice Campaigns Director at Green America, said: “In the United States today, illegal child labor is resurgent because of the irresponsible business practices of corporations, including some of the top meat-packing companies. It’s appalling that multi-billion-dollar meat producers are profiting from children carrying out dangerous work cleaning in their facilities. Cargill hit record profits of up to $6 billion in recent years. JBS is even bigger, with a reported $20 billion profit last year alone. While companies are taking steps in response to federal investigations, more needs to be done to protect children from child labor and unsafe working conditions throughout their entire supply chains.” 

Reid Maki, Child Labor Advocacy Director for the Child Labor Coalition and National Consumers League, said: “Children’s lives are on the line and there is no time to waste. In just the last two years, the U.S. has experienced fatalities and permanent, traumatic injuries involving children working at dangerous and exploitative jobs in meat-processing facilities. Companies have a legal and moral obligation to eliminate child labor in the food production industry.” 

Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director at Green America said: “Sadly, there have been several reports of minors who suffered injuries that included mangled arms and chemical burns in food processing facilities cleaned by contractors hired by meatpacking companies. These children are working long hours, often late in the night, to do work that should only be performed by adults.”  

JBS – JBS is the world’s largest meat processor. The Department of Labor recently uncovered serious child labor violations at multiple JBS facilities, revealing minors as young as 13 years old working in hazardous working conditions. These violations were found in locations in Grand Island, Nebraska; Greeley, Colorado; Worthington, Minnesota; and Marshall, Minnesota. The Department of Labor report states that these minors were exposed to and cleaned hazardous machinery during overnight shifts. JBS paid $4 million in fines in January 2025 for child labor violations in several states. 

Tyson – Tyson is the second-largest meat processor after JBS. The Department of Labor recently found minors as young as 13 working in hazardous conditions at Tyson Foods facilities in Green Forest, Arkansas and Goodlettsville, Tennessee. The Department of Labor also began investigating Tyson for child labor violations at two poultry processing plants in Arkansas. 

Perdue – The Department of Labor recently found children as young as 13 working in hazardous conditions in a Perdue Facility in Virginia. Tragically, while sanitizing power-driven meat-processing equipment, a child working an overnight shift was traumatically injured when his arm was caught in a machine that he was cleaning and cut to the bone in February 2022. Perdue recently agreed to pay $4 million in fines based on investigations of child labor in Virginia. 

Cargill – Cargill is the world’s largest ground beef producer. The Department of Labor recently uncovered child labor violations at Cargill facilities in Dodge City, Kansas and Fiona, Texas. The investigation of Packer Sanitation Services Inc. (PSSI), which was contracted by Cargill and other meatpackers, found children working with hazardous chemicals and cleaning equipment such as brisket saws and “head splitters,” often on overnight shifts.  

Green America is a non-profit organization representing over 250,000 individual members and 2,000 small businesses. Our mission is to harness economic power—the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace—to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. 

The Child Labor Coalition (CLC) represents millions of Americans through 37 organizations that fight to protect worker rights, human rights, and child rights. CLC members include the nation’s largest union, the National Education Association, the National Consumers League, Human Rights Watch, and the Fair Labor Association, as well as numerous groups that are also concerned about the welfare of vulnerable children at risk of child labor exploitation. 

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MEDIA CONTACT: Parke Qua for Green America, (216) 276-2476 or pqua@hastingsgroupmedia.com. 

ABOUT  

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org  

Nothing is more threatening to those who crave absolute power than an engaged public that knows and exercises their rights to the fullest extent. Which is why the Trump administration has clearly set its sights on uprooting decades of social, political, and economic programs providing resources and support for historically marginalized communities.

Let’s be clear: the intent behind pressuring corporations, organizations, and institutions in both private and public sectors to drop anything the administration deems DEI is to completely erase trans and other queer people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, immigrants, refugees, disabled people, poor people, working class people, Muslims, and other marginalized communities from public life.

Nowhere is this more apparent than the vicious and intense targeting of transgender people, from denying trans youth life-saving gender affirmative care to forcing the National Park Service to remove any mention of transgender people from the Stonewall Memorial. These cruel, petty acts aren’t just about ignoring the history that bigots in power don’t like—they’re specific, traumatic attacks that deny the very existence of trans people.

Their message to marginalized communities can’t be any clearer: We don’t see you. We don’t hear you. We don’t speak to you. Because you don’t matter at all.

All the while, we continue to face escalating climate and environmental crises that we cannot hope to address without applying the full force of skill and innovation that comes from embracing a fully integrated, equitably resourced, and diverse talent pool. By banning DEI programs and practices, the administration is deliberately hamstringing our ability to create a sustainable, stable, and safe world for us all. Despite all the data pointing to the multiple ways diversity, equity, and inclusion focused practices benefit us socially, economically, and politically, the administration and its allies persist in promoting the lie that we must choose between diversity and quality.

This is a false choice—diversity and quality are not opposites, not unless you accept the underlying belief that “diversity” (meaning anything outside the white supremacist status quo) is inherently less qualified until proven otherwise. Green Americans already know that cultivating communities of diverse thought, abilities, lived expertise, and experiences increases opportunities for qualified people to show their merit, regardless of their identities.

Which is exactly why JEDI principles (justice, equity, diversity, inclusion) are foundational to Green America’s mission and work culture. The articles in this issue of Green American reflect our steadfast belief that these practices are both a moral imperative and good business, and that ending them puts everyone at risk. Critics like to claim that DEI is about vague ideology, not concrete actions, so one of our goals in this issue was to offer accessible, practical advice for how to implement or strengthen DEI policies in your own spaces, as well as suggest businesses you can support. We hope these articles provided you with useful roadmaps for having these important discussions in your own networks, whether you’re advocating for how understanding the ongoing impacts of historic discrimination is essential to provide impactful resources for sustainable entrepreneurs, why we need to support island states—including U.S. territories—in building climate-resilient economies and infrastructure, or why immigration justice and labor protections are green issues.

No matter the rhetoric or spin, the simple fact remains that diversity is our strength. It’s communities working together by including multiple voices and integrating new ideas to create a stronger whole. It’s acknowledging the wrongs of the past and present to create an equitable and just future where our collective resilience ensures that we won’t just survive—we’ll thrive.

Climate change and the need for developing environmentally sustainable systems of business, food supplies, power production, and so forth, are issues that affect communities worldwide. Disabled people are particularly vulnerable to how climate change exacerbates inequitable access to resources like disaster relief, health care, and housing, yet disabled voices and perspectives are marginalized, if not outright ignored, in discussions shaping public policies and in implementing solutions. And under the current administration’s attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion focused programs, disabled people face even higher barriers to access of critical resources and support.

Disability Culture Lab is the first nonprofit media and narrative lab created to shift the ways disability is commonly perceived and understood by an ableist society. In this interview, founder and director Meier Galblum Haigh shared their thoughts with Green America about common myths pitting the needs of disabled people against environmental sustainability, how disability communities are building climate resiliency, and why disability justice is an essential part of climate advocacy.

The following text has been edited for clarity.

Green America: Disabled people are twice as likely as non-disabled people to be harmed by the effects of climate change—we’ve seen this horribly reflected in the aftermath of recent disasters like the wildfires in Los Angeles, but U.S. sustainability policies often don’t prioritize the needs of disabled communities. What are some common misconceptions about the relationship between disability justice and environmental sustainability?
 
Meier Galblum Haigh: There is a myth that disability justice and environmental sustainability or climate change are at odds. That myth has been fueled by billionaire-friendly campaigns that pit accessibility devices against sustainability. In reality, climate justice, environmental justice, and disability justice are one fight: It’s the people vs. corporate greed. 

Disabled people face regular harassment over access to basic life. It benefits fossil fuel companies and corporations to push a false narrative of “personal responsibility” environmentalism over public health and pollution regulations. That harassment extends to plastic straws, pre-cut vegetable packages, grocery delivery, and more. The result: Everything we need to survive becomes the target, rather than the disabling actions they take to get and stay rich.

Pollution, fossil fuel extraction and processing, and climate disasters like wildfires and super storms are all disabling. Disabled people are left behind in disaster planning and response, and it gets worse as the frequency and intensity of storms increases.  

GA: How can we proactively disrupt these false choices pitting disability needs against environmental concerns in our advocacy? 

Haigh: We need to remind folks who the real villains are: corporations who have made billions of dollars polluting our air, water, and climate—and [are] lying about it. 

Disabled folks should be a core constituency in the climate movement, but the inaccessibility of most climate and environmental advocacy means so much power is left on the table. If we want to win in this fight of people vs. [corporate] power—we need all of us. 

For too long, environmental justice and climate activists have practiced the same sacrifice zone politics of fossil fuel companies, picking and choosing which communities are worthy and which to leave out. But there is too much at stake. It’s time to make space for a new wave of organizing where we all get free together—because we can’t afford to leave power on the table. 

GA: Community-led innovations are vital to a thriving green economy. What are some key insights that sustainability movements are missing by not integrating the lived expertise of disabled people from the start? 

Haigh: First, we need an accessible Green New Deal. We need clean, accessible cities and towns across the U.S. that are walkable and rollable for all. That looks like protected bike lanes for power chairs and scooters and Deaf/hard of hearing cyclists—not just able-bodied cyclists. Folks want to see transit for all, not for some. 

Second, we can’t pit people against people. Sustainability activists too often take the corporate bait and blame individuals—too often poor and disabled folks—for billionaires’ corporate greed. We should be going after fossil fuel companies and mega-retailers, not disabled folks’ straws. We should push car companies to make EVs, and politicians to build a better EV grid—not attack disabled parents who need food delivery to feed our families.

GA: Representation matters but even when disabled people are included in the decision-making process and policy implementation, what are some common pitfalls that can happen? What steps can we take to help the impact of proposed solutions align with their intentions? 

Haigh: It’s important that we don’t tokenize. We need disabled representation that represents the needs of disability communities, not just one disabled person at one table. 

We need accessible climate and environmental justice movements and organizations that ensure as many disabled people can participate at every level as possible. We don’t just need CART and ASL and wheelchair access—we need a commitment to radical inclusivity that puts disabled ideas and brilliance at every table. And we need funding for our organizations to join those tables. 

GA: Information accessibility is just as important as accessing resources, especially at a moment when the spread of dis/misinformation through news and other media channels, as well as social networks, is a real danger. How have disabled folks been affected by dis/misinformation about issues like climate change, green economies, and sustainability movements? 

Haigh: There is a huge dis/misinformation pipeline targeting the disability community online. Especially young disabled white men—just like other young white men across the country have been targeted by influencers who spread misogynistic, racist, and transphobic rhetoric. We need a lot more funding and a lot more research on where our folks are being targeted, how, and how to combat that dis/misinformation.

GA: The negative impacts of pesticides, microplastics, fossil fuels, monocropping, and other environmental issues compound the already considerable difficulties of existing in our ableist systems. What are some of the solutions and resources disabled communities have developed as a result that “green” movements should be learning from? 

Haigh: One piece of disability community organizing that I think “green” movements should learn from is the practice of access—working to make all actions, events, aid, and anything else we do as accessible as possible to as many people as possible. 

We include questions about access needs in event invitations, and shift resources to meet them. We post access information in advance—parking, stairs, food and allergy restrictions, distance, scent sensitivities, ASL, CART, etc. We try to meet people where they are at, rather than expecting people to meet us where we are.

Environmental injustice is disabling. Climate injustice is disabling. The reality is, just as “green” movements have fallen short on access, inclusion, and the embracing the power of disabled people, our government has fallen short as well. In response, many disability communities have developed tight-knit mutual aid networks to deal with the massive gaps in care infrastructure. Other movements would do well to follow suit.

We need organizing, mutual aid, and a lot of cultural change work to get us through what’s coming. Let’s make it happen. Together.

To learn more about Disability Culture Lab’s work, visit disabilityculturelab.org

While the Trump administration demonizes diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts and many large corporations fold to political pressure by walking back prior commitments to support minority-owned businesses in their stores and supply chains, Green America’s Green Business Network® members are preserving and celebrating their heritage. By supporting artisans, upholding traditional practices, and promoting fair trade, they sustain cultural identities while fostering economic resilience and empowering communities. Their efforts are increasingly vital given the ongoing impact of the administration’s hostility to immigrant communities and providing foreign aid.

Grounds for Change merges a passion for coffee with a commitment to sustainability and social equity. Offering certified organic, fair-trade coffee, they support small-scale farmers in Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia. By promoting traditional farming methods that respect the land and community, Grounds for Change uplifts these farming cultures while fostering a sustainable future for both people and the environment. Kitsap County, Washington | Ships Worldwide | groundsforchange.com

Gilden Tree celebrates cultural craftsmanship through its handcrafted personal care products, including soaps, lotions, and bath accessories. Collaborating with artisans from regions like the Mediterranean and Asia, the company preserves time-honored techniques in soap-making and skincare. Their high-quality offerings not only reflect these traditions but also provide economic support to the artisans behind them. Omaha, Nebraska | Ships Worldwide | gildentree.com

Velasquez Family Coffee celebrates its Guatemalan roots by producing premium, ethically sourced coffee grown on their family farm in the highlands of Guatemala. Using sustainable, traditional methods passed down for generations, the family prioritizes environmental stewardship, community well-being, and quality. By paying fair wages to farmers and fostering long-term relationships, they ensure their cultural legacy and coffee expertise endure. Comayagua, Honduras | Ships Worldwide | vfamilycoffee.com

Prabhuji’s Gifts honors the spiritual traditions of India by offering an array of products inspired by Hinduism, Buddhism, and other practices. From incense and jewelry to meditative tools and clothing, their offerings reflect the depth of Indian cultural heritage. Through fair trade partnerships, they support artisans creating these handcrafted items, preserving centuries-old techniques while promoting mindfulness and peace. Catskill Mountains, New York | Ships Worldwide | prabhujigifts.com

Mayan Hands works to sustain the cultural richness of Guatemala’s Mayan communities by providing fair wages to artisans crafting traditional woven textiles, pottery, and handmade goods. By emphasizing the use of natural dyes and intricate weaving techniques, the organization helps preserve the artistic traditions and vibrant patterns unique to Mayan culture. Their efforts also strengthen the local economy and empower Indigenous artisans. Guatemalan Highlands | Ships Worldwide | mayanhands.org

African Market Baskets showcases the artistry and cultural heritage of African weaving traditions. Each basket is a testament to generations of craftsmanship, and the company’s focus on fair wages empowers women artisans while celebrating their skills. Through these partnerships, African Market Baskets helps preserve and share the diverse weaving techniques and artistry that are central to African culture. Upper East Ghana | Ships Worldwide | africanmarketbaskets.com

Minga Fair Trade Imports highlights the creativity and craftsmanship of Latin American artisans by offering handmade goods such as textiles, pottery, and jewelry. Their commitment to fair trade ensures artisans receive equitable pay, preserving traditional skills and driving economic growth within Indigenous communities. By supporting marginalized groups, Minga champions cultural heritage and sustainable development in the region. South America | Ships Worldwide to Retailers | mingaimports.com

Seeds to Sew International uplifts women and communities in East Africa through the creation and sale of handcrafted textiles, clothing, and accessories. Their mission focuses on celebrating African heritage, preserving traditional sewing techniques, and fostering sustainable practices. By providing fair wages and educational opportunities, the organization empowers women and promotes community development. Hopewell, New Jersey | USA Shipping | seedstosew.org

Canaan Palestine honors Palestinian traditions by supporting local artisans and sustainable practices in the West Bank. Through the sale of handmade olive wood carvings, intricate embroidery, olive oil, and other crafts, they ensure that Palestinian heritage thrives while providing vital income for families. Their commitment to fair trade guarantees artisans fair compensation and their products share the rich stories, culture, and artistry of Palestine with the world. Burqin, Palestine | Ships worldwide | canaanpalestine.com

Friends of the Third World Inc. supports artisans from developing nations by offering a marketplace for handcrafted goods from various cultures in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. By focusing on fair trade practices, they ensure artisans receive equitable pay while safeguarding the unique artistic techniques and cultural identities that define their communities. Fort Wayne, Indiana | Ships Worldwide |
friendsofthethirdworld.org

Committing to a successful DEI program at your business and reaping the benefits is no small task. Truly impactful DEI programs create committed leadership, employee engagement, integrate DEI practices into organizational operations, use needs-based training and education, and have clear metrics to measure success and ensure accountability.

“There’s a number of considerations [when it comes to DEI programs],” says urbanist and social entrepreneur Nicholas Lalla, author of the book “Reinventing the Heartland.”

Additionally, DEI programs, which are completely legal, can often prevent lawsuits and legal troubles. A culture of respect is much less likely to foster discriminatory behavior that results in lawsuits.

Experts and business managers weigh in on first steps curriculums should consider for true gains and progress.

Step One: Start Today

“Start with something simple, educate yourself, educate your coworkers,” says Mike Houston. “You don’t need to start with a full staff training, but it’s important to begin your educational journey.”

Houston is the general manager at Takoma Park Silver Spring (TPSS) Co-op, a local grocery store founded in 1981 as a vegetarian storefront. The business had a focus on equity long before Houston arrived, he says.

“We have 45 staff members from 22 different countries. We translate trainings into Spanish and Amharic, because we have staff members more comfortable receiving information in those native languages.”

Lalla adds it is key to “ask yourself why you’re pursuing a DEI initiative” and be honest and realistic. This helps the program avoid what Lalla calls the “theatre” of symbolic efforts and lip service with no real impact.

Perhaps most importantly, starting today means accepting inevitable mistakes. If a business owner refuses to implement a DEI program until it’s perfect, it will never be implemented at all, and that inaction will inevitably harm your employees and your business.

Step Two: Be Specific—And Broad

DEI initiatives are not one-size-fits-all. Success hinges on specificity, tailoring a program to consider a business’s industry, the number of employees, goals, and more.

Houston describes what this looks like for TPSS, including educating employees specifically about redlining’s effect on grocery stores and food access.

“The more you learn, the more you understand that those policies were intentional and can only be undone with intention,” he explains. “We’re connected with hundreds of co-op grocers all over the country and this topic has been discussed for years as co-ops look to open in areas without a full-service grocer. We know we need to help support these stores with resources and knowledge because their success will help bring grocery stores to communities that need them.”

Identifying what a business’ goals are for a DEI program also helps narrow what the program looks like in practice. The initiatives worth anything “move the needle,” Lalla explains, and businesses must set quantifiable goals and a system to monitor them. He recommends going “a step further” by tying DEI goals to executive and Board goals.

It’s why TPSS moved to an EBIA framework for its program—equity, belonging, inclusivity, and accessibility. The co-op’s goals are making the store a welcoming place, encouraging a diversity of languages spoken by employees, products representing vast cultural preferences, and an accessible space for every shopper, all the results of intentional thinking.

While everything must be done with intention, Lalla says a common misstep is “thinking one program or initiative is sufficient.”

“Inclusion is a value that needs to permeate all aspects of a company,” he further adds. “Where the company is located (is it accessible via public transportation), remote work policy (is it flexible), hiring practices (do you prioritize skills over degrees), benefits (do you provide health insurance and retirement savings), security (is it safe but not overly policed), leadership (does the executive team look like the community), etc. Companies need to think about it more comprehensively and not just a single initiative that checks a box.”

Step Three: Commit

The road to equity may be paved with good intentions but it’s not a smooth one—mistakes and critics can interfere with progress, which makes commitment all the more important.

“An organization must first be ready to welcome diverse perspectives and change to accommodate new voices,” insists Houston. “If your organization is not ready to incorporate diversity into decision-making and your organizational culture, then you’re not ready to proactively seek it out. I think that’s the trap a lot of organizations have fallen into in the last few years.”

To stay accountable, Lalla recommends a DEI consultant to make suggestions and help keep a business on track.

Despite critics’ claims that DEI programs are illegal and harm white people, the results speak for themselves. In fact, according to a 2019 report by global nonprofit Coqual, white women have been the biggest beneficiaries of DEI initiatives.

“80% of our staff has been with us three or more years, and 60% have been here five years or longer,” Houston says, crediting TPSS’ commitment to equity and inclusion.

Retention is not the only success. On average, more diverse and inclusive teams outperform gender-homogenous and less inclusive teams by 50%, according to Gartner.

“To stay competitive in an increasingly innovative and disruptive business world, companies need talented teams full of a diversity of perspectives—talents who are empowered to help solve problems, create opportunities, and add value,” Lalla concludes.

Solutions and success require ingenuity, and we are more powerful when not only is everyone welcome at the table, but everyone’s voices are heard and considered.

Ready to Hire a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant?

Green America’s Executive Co-Director: Culture, Strategy & Green Business Planning, Dr. LaKeisha Thorpe, has some advice for businesses looking to hire a DEI consultant.

• Define your business’ goals and needs with specificity and clarity to find the right DEI consultant
• Determine your business’ timeline and budget for DEI work
• Find someone who not only has subject matter knowledge, but lived experience in a marginalized body and is willing to share their journey
• Ask about their education (formally or informally) and study of DEI tenets
• Ensure the consultant will be honest and frank, while practicing understanding and solution-oriented aid.

As Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Wesley Lowery says in his book “American Whitelash,” white Americans have historically reacted to racial progress in a “three steps forward, two steps back way”—and this time, the scapegoat is corporate DEI policy.

Companies claim that rolling back DEI programs are about “ensuring our executive incentives are tied to business performance” (Molson Coors); are related to the evolving “external and legal environment related to political and social issues” (Ford Motor Co.) and are based on “many years of data” (Target).

Those claims are highly suspect, coming on the heels of tantrums thrown by an unpredictable and openly racist Presidential administration. But what is clear is that by rolling back DEI, these businesses are taking an ill-advised gamble on long-term success—over a decade of research demonstrates that sticking to DEI policies is better for bottom lines, workers, and buyers. While CEOs and corporate leadership may reap short-term rewards from bowing to pressure from anti-DEI spokespeople, it’s everyday Americans who are paying the price for their greed and cowardice.

Withdrawing DEI Commitments Is a Spineless Act

In 2024, right wing critics generated transphobic outrage to Budweiser’s partnership with transgender celebrity Dylan Mulvaney. Budweiser responded with lukewarm platitudes about bringing people together over American beer and eventually lost $1.4 billion in sales for parent company Anheuser-Busch. Other companies with conservative consumer bases like Harley-Davidson, Tractor Supply, and Ford Motor Co. feared similar backlash and ended any commitments they’d previously made to address diversity, equity, and inclusion issues.

The current political landscape is increasingly hostile to LGBTQIA+ people, Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, the economically disadvantaged, disabled people, and immigrants. Major U.S. companies caving to right wing harassment for actions as simple as partnering with a young trans woman for a single online ad spot doesn’t just put profits at risk, it puts whole communities—many of whom contribute considerably to the very profits these companies are so eager to protect—in even more vulnerable positions. It’s impossible to separate Anheuser-Busch’s refusal to clearly condemn the harassment Mulvaney was subjected to from the onslaught of state and federal laws targeting trans people from accessing basic health care, legal protections, and general participation in public life as their full, authentic selves.

Similarly, Walmart made bold promises to rectify decades of inequitable corporate practices after the murder of George Floyd and subsequent mass public protests in 2020. After a mere four years, Walmart executives changed their minds on progressive corporate policies last November, including stopping its initiative to increase supplier diversity; halting participation in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual benchmark index measuring workplace inclusion of LGBTQIA+ employees; and ending racial equity training programs for staff. The ending of those policies will negatively impact Walmart’s workers and the communities those stores serve far more than its corporate leadership. It will also harm the marginalized-owned and operated small businesses that relied on those initiatives to bring their goods to a wider audience in a market that’s already stacked in favor of multinational conglomerates.

According to Walmart’s 2024 Annual Belonging, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report, people of color make up over 50% of its hourly U.S. workforce, with Black and Latino workers at roughly 20% each, but only 26% of Walmart officers (senior and executive leadership) are people of color, with Black and Asian officers at just under 10% each. Meanwhile, studies show that while being one of the largest employers in the U.S., Walmart offers some of the lowest pay and contributes to high area unemployment, often by putting smaller, local competitors out of business.

Walmart also cut off donations to its philanthropic arm, the Center for Racial Equity, established in 2020 and dedicated to addressing the root causes of inequality for African Americans by offering grants to 501(c)3 nonprofits working on these issues. Walmart’s 2024 Annual Belonging, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report stated that “the Center for Racial Equity has invested more than $80 million” in nonprofits that work to “create equitable outcomes for Black and African American communities.” Those funds have helped nonprofits like Code the Dream provide support for people in tech apprenticeships, and Unlock Potential provide career opportunities for young people ages 16 to 24 at risk of incarceration.
This swift corporate U-turn shows how tenuous corporate DEI commitments can be when they’re made without conviction, especially if leadership believes that doing the opposite will protect their bottom line. And repealing DEI policies doesn’t just put a company’s long-term stability at risk, doing so also harms the very communities those corporations claim to care about.

DEI Commitments Create Long-Term Success

In early 2025, both Apple and Costco refused to humor attempts to abolish their DEI programs and commitments, asserting their DEI policies have been, and continue to be, good for business.
Their claims aren’t coming out of thin air. According to Boston Consulting Group, in research based on data covering 27,000 employees in 16 countries, company leadership that prioritizes DEI can slash attrition risk by 50% and increase employee motivation by nearly 25%. Workers who stick around and want to work reduce hiring and training costs, ultimately saving the company money and increasing innovations.

In fact, anti-DEI campaigners and the companies that cave to their demands are not the majority in the marketplace, they’re the outliers. In an annual survey released in 2024, the Association of Corporate Citizenship Professionals reported that 83% of respondents said their organization’s commitment to DEI remains consistent. Another 13% said their commitment increased compared to last year. In the State of Sustainability report published by Teneo, 43% of companies continue to maintain and promote DEI goals, and 80% of those goals remain unchanged since 2023; 70% of companies maintain supplier diversity programs; and 67% have programs seeking diverse talent.

While news coverage may uncritically repeat the story that brand name companies are backing out of DEI commitments, the reality is that most companies are standing their ground.

Sticking to DEI also makes sense in the long term as younger generations enter the workforce and become regular buyers. Gen Z will represent 30% of the workforce by 2030, and 28% of that workforce identifies as LGBTQIA+. According to a Human Rights Campaign survey, more than 75% of LGBTQIA+ adults view companies that rollback diversity initiatives dimly, and many of those folks would quit or look for a new job if their employer ceased implementing DEI policies.

The strength of green businesses—or companies that utilize sustainable and socially responsible practices in their workplaces and supply chains—also demonstrate that a commitment to DEI pays dividends and supports local communities.

Gloria Ware, CEO of Get the Bag{GBN}, has been sourcing from Black women-owned businesses across the country for the company’s subscription box service for years. Takoma Silver Spring Co-op{GBN} started an in-house DEI training in 2019 because the company’s board believed it had value for its employees—and general manager Mike Houston agrees.

“It’s been powerful,” Houston says for the Green Business Network blog. “You can’t help but connect these things back to current politics and policies, so, again, historical context is important for understanding the world that we exist in to do business.” (Read more about Takoma Silver Spring Co-op’s efforts on p. 28.)

DEI Is Here to Stay

DEI advocates recognize that the consequences of centuries of racism, wealth inequality, corporate greed, misogyny, and other injustices won’t go away just because we stop talking about them. We want sincere commitment and dedication to change, regardless of political headwinds. And we know the push back we’re seeing now is nothing new. There was plenty of reactionary protest to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the establishment of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which made it illegal for companies to discriminate based on race, gender, national origin, religion, or age in their hiring practices.

Modern DEI programs have their roots in private sector attempts to address areas that federal policy hadn’t yet covered, such as the persistence of discriminatory internal barriers to advancement and preferential treatment in business partnerships and supply chains. There is a direct line connecting the early efforts of employees filing discrimination lawsuits with the EEOC in the 1960s and 1970s and the normalization of companies adopting diversity training into their regular business models to corporate responses to social movements like Black Lives Matter including commitments to address racial inequity in their supply chains and workplaces in 2020.

It’s because DEI policies foster cultures of belonging by acknowledging the harm caused by discriminatory practices and committing to fair and equitable reparative actions that we continue to advocate for them. They are not just viable business strategies—they celebrate both individuality and belonging, and they uphold the American belief in a merit-based achievement system by sharing opportunities with all people. They help to create an environment—both in and out of the workplace—where people can show up as their whole selves, feel safe to share new ideas, and create breakthrough achievements.

By weaponizing racism, misogyny, and other forms of bigotry, anti-DEI campaigners are convincing people to destroy the very policies that all of us have actually benefited from. White women have been the biggest beneficiaries of diversity initiatives. Many veterans benefit from multiple programs halted by President Trump’s executive orders to “end the scourge of DEI in the federal government.” And countless small farmers across the country are in danger of losing their livelihoods thanks to the administration’s sweeping federal funding freezes.

The only ones who benefit from ending DEI programs are those whose hoarded power and wealth are threatened by just practices and equitable policies that recognize real merit. Making DEI practices integral to company policies and goals is setting a solid foundation for long-term success and will better serve not only shareholders, employees, and customers, but also our society and planet.

At the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) about Small Island Developing States (SIDS), U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres addressed the disproportionate risks their communities face in the era of the climate crisis and the shared challenges to sustainable development, including limited resources, susceptibility to natural disasters, excessive dependence on international trade, and beyond. In the Caribbean, home to a majority of SIDS, islands are seven times more likely to be hit by a hurricane than larger states, and SIDS’ GDP cost of disasters is four times that for larger nations.

“You have every right to be angry, and I am too,” Guterres said. “You are on the sharp end of a colossal injustice.”

Five of these states are unincorporated territories of the United States: Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa. The spoils of America’s imperialist ambitions, these unincorporated territories are completely subject to the federal government—participation in presidential elections end after the primaries, they have no senators, and only one non-voting member in the U.S. House of Representatives. Aside from American Samoa, whose residents are considered U.S. nationals and not citizens, if someone from the other four territories lives in and has formal residency in one of the 50 states or Washington D.C., they can vote in presidential elections beyond the primaries.
Like other SIDS, they are also pivotal in the global fight for environmental justice and yet too long neglected. Essayist Doug Mack wrote in his book “The Not-Quite States of America”:

A century or so ago, Americans didn’t just know about the territories but cared about them, argued about them. But what changed? How and why did they disappear from the national conversation? The territories have made us who we are. They represent the USA’s place in the world. They’ve been a reflection of our national mood in nearly every period of American history.

Prioritizing the welfare of places and people forcibly annexed in Western countries’ pursuits of empire and now at disproportionate risk to climate change is not only a moral imperative for humanity, but also a necessary part of the road to climate resilience and sustainability.

Fragile Environments, Resilient People

SIDS take up a small amount of landmass space on our planet—just 0.5% of the world’s surface area. Their environmental contributions though, are massive, boasting 20% of the world’s biodiversity and 40% of the world’s coral reefs. Between this scale of ecological diversity and Indigenous practices that eschew the exploitive treatment of available resources characterizing most mainland economies, these communities are often overlooked as leaders in the development of climate sustainability.

The U.N. fears low-lying islands could become uninhabitable by the end of the century, leading to mass population displacement. While these territories inflict minimal damage on the planet, they suffer the consequences of our shifting environments on a far more intense scale than the countries who contribute the most to climate change. 75% of their coral reefs are threatened by climate damage, annual costs of natural disasters are typically 1% to 8% of an island state’s entire GDP, and electric costs are the highest in the world because of imported fossil fuels. Most (94%) of residents live within 100km of a coral reef, a main source of food security, economic revenue from tourism and recreation, shoreline protection, and biodiversity.

Dr. Hiroshan Hettiarachchi, dean and professor of civil engineering at the University of Guam, says the context of size is critical to understand the environmental reality of our neighbors. Unreliable and unstable climate activities wreak disastrous havoc to infrastructure and livelihoods, and island states’
isolation and limitations are “huge barriers to a fast recovery.”

Facing an uphill battle, these small but resilient communities are some of the most ambitious and aggressive leaders in the climate space. In 2023, 40 SIDS met and exceeded climate goals, installing 8.7 gigawatts of renewables capacity. In 2018, the Republic of Seychelles launched the world’s first sovereign blue bond, a financial tool that helps raise capital for marine and ocean conservancy projects. Across the Indian Ocean, the Maldives saw a decrease in plastic pollution after launching the Maldives Authentic Crafts Cooperative Society, a women-led program empowering women with paid opportunities to produce reusable cloth bags and reduce single-use plastics.

Most of these successes were partially funded by the Global Environment Facility, a multilateral environmental fund, and future success won’t be possible without continued aid. Support of this aid is especially crucial. During Biden’s administration, $4 billion of a pledged $11.4 billion dedicated to climate projects helped low-income countries with things like renewable energy and protection from natural disasters. This money came from USAID, which is now under attack from the Trump administration.

Demand Action, Leadership, Justice

Aid from larger countries is not only vital to contending with climate change, but also part of a much larger debt that these island communities are owed.

“Economically powerful countries have benefited from exploiting natural resources in the world while emitting carbon dioxide and methane for over 250 years,” Hettiarachchi explains. “The damage they have caused to the environment for their economic gain is now felt by all of us. It’s only fair they take the lead in helping other nations.”

In May 2024, the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS4) adopted The Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS)—a Renewed Declaration for Resilient Prosperity. This declaration aims to help island states achieve Sustainable Development Goals and lists necessary help from the international community.

Economically powerful countries have benefited from exploiting natural resources in the world while emitting carbon dioxide and methane for over 250 years.”

— Dr. Hiroshan Hettiarachchi

Hettiarachchi emphasizes how those who don’t live in vulnerable states have a responsibility to understand the unique risks and challenges those communities are grappling with. For Hettiarachchi, his work as a civil engineer helped broaden his understanding about the effects of climate change. He recalls how despite growing up in Sri Lanka, which is itself an island, it “took years” for him to understand how the neighboring Maldives was affected more severely than his home.

“But wealth or power means nothing if the majority in those countries do not understand the real issues SIDS are facing currently,” Hettiarachchi says.

At COP29, however, the international community did not step up. Less wealthy countries will receive $300 billion annually through 2035 for environmental help, which is far less than the amount needed: $1.3 trillion annually through 2030.

“Developing countries have been forced to accept half-measures, COP after COP,” said Chandni Raina, a negotiator for India at COP29. “These half-measures push the costs of climate change on to the people least responsible but suffering the worst consequences.”

A Responsibility to Each Other

Cancer, asthma, cardiovascular disease, lead poisoning. All of these and more are health risks associated with environmental damage and bad environmental policies. Those who come from communities like the Marshall Islands know from lived experience how severe the impacts of environmental racism—often in the name of national security and scientific discovery—can be.

“The U.S. carried out several nuclear tests in the Marshall Islands from 1946 to 1958, making devastating
consequences for the health and environment of the islands and their inhabitants,” Hettiarachchi says.
The islands’ population during this time was between 11,000 and 14,000 people, all suffering from the equivalent of 1.6 Hiroshima bombs being detonated every day for 12 years, according to UNHCR. Jeton Anjain, previously Minister of Health and a senator of the Marshall Islands Parliament, recounted the fallout from Castle Bravo, the largest test: “The atoll was covered with a fine, white, powder-like substance. No one knew it was radioactive fallout. The children played in the ‘snow.’ They ate it.”
The National Cancer Institute revealed in 2005 that for people exposed to the fallout of these tests, the risk of contracting cancer was greater than one in three. Seen as disposable because of the islands’ remote location and “sparse” population, the U.S. military did not pause to consider the wellbeing of the Marshallese. As of 2018, about a third of the Marshall Islands’ population has relocated to mainland U.S., mostly due to unemployment (rates hover around 40% and a 1986 law called the Compact of Free Association, which granted the Islands independence from the U.S., allows Marshallese citizens to live and work in the U.S. without visas or work permits) and climate change.

“Punishing king tides combined with persistent drought have wreaked havoc on dwindling fresh water supplies,” Mike Taibbi reported for PBS NewsHour. “The view among climate experts, and many here who keep rebuilding their sea walls against the warming, rising Pacific, is that the islands are sinking, if not disappearing.”

As powerful, more developed countries have historically justified their occupation of small island states by citing reasons of national security and scientific study, they also bear the responsibility to provide the funding, time, energy, and resources those communities now need to build and maintain systems of climate resiliency to ensure their safety.

“The objective of any help should be focused on improving island sustainability,” Hettiarachchi recommends. “Globalization has given many good things to the SIDS, but it has also taken away sustainable living practices the island communities have practiced for thousands of years.”

Climate change is bigger than all of us, but especially for small island communities that contribute the least to environmental disaster but face insurmountable public debt due to disproportionate damage and neglect. The ingenuity and practices already exist among these diverse and astonishing places to care properly for our planet, it is resources and support that are sorely needed.

In a rolling farmland in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where generations have coaxed life from the earth, Cheryl Alston walks through her fields with a knowing smile. She runs her hands through the dark, nutrient-rich soil and plucks a bright, firm tomato from the vine. 

“Can you imagine eating a tomato so sweet you might call it a piece of candy?” Alston says. “It all comes straight from the field, from the best soil in the world. It’s just wonderful.” 

For farmers like “Mama Cheryl” Alston, regenerative agriculture isn’t a trend—it’s tradition. Across the
country, Black women have long practiced sustainable farming methods, nurturing their soil with techniques passed down through generations. In the face of industrial farming’s extractive practices, they have persisted in growing food in a way that prioritizes soil health, biodiversity, and community resilience.

The Benefits of Regenerative Agriculture

Regenerative agriculture is a holistic approach that focuses on restoring and enhancing ecosystems, particularly soil health. Unlike conventional farming, which often relies on synthetic inputs and intensive monoculture, regenerative practices emphasize balance—cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, reduced tillage, and agroforestry—to build resilience from the ground up.

“It’s better-quality products that are better for our bodies,” Cee Stanley, CEO of Green Heffa Farms says. “Healing our Earth and our bodies at the same time.” 

One of the key components of regenerative agriculture is increasing organic matter in the soil. Cover
cropping, for example, involves planting specific crops during the off-season to protect and enrich the soil, prevent erosion, and suppress weeds. Crop rotation improves soil nutrients and disrupts pest cycles, reducing the need for chemical inputs. Meanwhile, agroforestry—integrating trees and shrubs into farmland—enhances water retention and supports wildlife habitats.

These methods not only produce healthier crops but also sequester carbon, making regenerative agriculture a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.

“We’ve Always Done It This Way”

For many farmers, regenerative agriculture is not a new direction but a steadfast tradition. Farming practices rooted in ancestral Indigenous knowledge and African traditions have always emphasized working in harmony with nature. 

“I’ve been doing those kinds of things all along, but hadn’t put a name to it. I had no idea folks were calling it ‘regenerative farming,’” Alston says. “Now I’m reaching another level, replenishing this incredible soil and growing this healthy food.” 

Yet, these farmers often find themselves left out of mainstream agricultural conversations, despite their deep understanding of soil stewardship.

“Black women occupy a really unique and kind of sacred space in farming that’s not often respected,” Taylor Herren, farm program specialist with Green America’s Soil & Climate Initiative says. “These ladies are growing real food and owning Black businesses that are really good for both people and the planet.”
While regenerative agriculture is gaining traction in sustainability discussions, the financial and structural barriers to transitioning away from extractive farming practices remain high. Many Black farmers operate on smaller-scales and face difficulties accessing loans, land, and market opportunities from long-standing racist inequities in banking, commerce, and real estate practices. Programs like Green America’s Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) aim to bridge this gap.

Soil & Climate Initiative: Making Regenerative Farming More Accessible

SCI helps farmers access resources, funding access, and knowledge-sharing platforms that can empower them to adopt regenerative methods. SCI’s program aids small and medium-sized farms transition to regenerative practices by connecting growers with grants covering the costs of cover crops, composting, and soil analysis, while also offering technical training and data tracking tools.

“There are a lot of barriers built into the system, both traditional farming and regenerative, that keep all kinds of people out of it,” Stanley says. “We need new, diverse groups of people getting involved to make change.” 

One of the biggest challenges farmers can face is the time it takes to see financial returns on regenerative investments. SCI’s data-driven approach helps farmers track improvements in soil health, water retention, and yield increases, allowing them to demonstrate progress and secure better market opportunities.

Marginalized farmers are at a further disadvantage. Historically, Black women have had less access to support that could aid in this transition, such as personal savings or generational wealth. This lack of assets is often used to penalize these women when applying for loans.

“These family farms are good folk who are working hard are getting crushed by corporate interest,” Herren says. “Usually, if you’re doing what’s best for the environment, it’s harmful to business. Getting this change to happen on the ground is difficult, but it’s really beautiful.”

Collective Power: Farmers Helping Farmers

Beyond SCI’s direct support, Black women in regenerative agriculture are creating their own networks, sharing resources and knowledge to uplift their communities. Cooperative farming models and land-sharing initiatives are gaining momentum, allowing farmers to reduce costs, increase efficiency, and contribute to the stability and development of rural communities. This ensures that sustainability is not just about the land but also about strengthening the people who steward it.

“I want everybody to do better and live better,” Stanley says. “Everybody can do it. We just have to help and support each other.”

In addition to hands-on farming, education plays a vital role in expanding the reach of regenerative agriculture. Alston, a passionate advocate for sustainable practices, has dedicated her efforts to teaching the next generation of farmers and environmental stewards. 

As a garden curriculum coordinator, she works with K-6 students to plan and implement school gardens. Alston helps certify students as junior master gardeners who can bring what they’ve learned back home. 
“Hopefully [the trend of regenerative farming] will extend and move as far as it can go,” she says. “You are what you eat, you know.”  

The Future of Farming

As public demands for agricultural industries to use more sustainable practices increase, regenerative agriculture is becoming more than a movement—it’s an economic and environmental necessity. By working with SCI to cultivate partnerships with brands and food companies, farmers increase their chances of securing long-term viability and connect with more markets that value sustainability. With over 100 farmers across 23 states participating in SCI’s programs, these farmers are proving that regenerative farming can be both profitable and practical.

“We want more farmers to practice regenerative agriculture, so we help in the ways that we can, on the farm side and on the business side,” Herren says. “It’s a journey but it’s a good one.” 

For Black women in agriculture like Alston, regenerative practices are more than soil deep or merely a means to create profit. They represent a reclamation of ancestral knowledge, a commitment to community, and a promise to the Earth. As Alston stands in her field, surveying the crops she has nurtured, she sees not just the harvest before her but the legacy she will leave behind.

“It’s the best. This good taste on the food coming straight from the field,” Alston says. “It’s just wonderful.”

The raging fires in Los Angeles, made more likely and more uncontrollable by dry conditions exacerbated by climate change, destroyed the homes, communities, and livelihoods of tens of thousands of people. The impacts affected people of all races and incomes. Yet some Angelenos, including immigrants, were among the hardest hit.

Thousands of immigrants lost their housing, including in the diverse Altadena neighborhood. In addition to losing housing in the fire, many immigrants instantly lost employment. When wealthier homeowners lose their homes, housekeepers, landscapers, and nannies are suddenly unemployed, sometimes permanently. And business that largely employ immigrant cleaning staff may shutter offices that burned. While wealthier residents may be able to work from home while they are displaced, the burned out homes and offices were the only workplace for many immigrants.

The Latino Policy & Politics Institute estimates that at least 35,000 jobs held by Latinos were at risk of temporary or permanent displacement. Since many of the immigrants holding these jobs are undocumented, they won’t receive any government assistance. This is part of a larger pattern: government and private assistance generally benefits those who are already better off, while people with lower incomes often slide further into poverty after disasters. Research demonstrates that both GoFundMe campaigns and FEMA relief direct dollars to people who are wealthier and better connected, reinforcing and exacerbating income inequality rather than narrowing it.

In many ways, the L.A. fires shed a spotlight on an ongoing truth: climate change often impacts those who are in the most precarious position, and in the U.S., that includes immigrants. It’s not just headline-worthy climate disasters posing a threat. In their day jobs, immigrants are greatly impacted by rising temperatures and other consequences of the climate crisis.

That’s definitely the case in the fields and slaughterhouses creating the nation’s food supply. Immigrants are the backbone of U.S. agriculture, making up 73% of the agricultural workforce. Agricultural workers perform back-breaking work for an average of 46 hours per week with no overtime pay, often in sweltering temperatures, with few breaks. They are 35 times more likely to die from heat-related stress than workers in other occupations.

And when forest fires break out, it is immigrant workers that often suffer the most, since they often work outside in farming, landscaping, and construction jobs. Wildfires produce smoke laden with fine
particulate matter. Smoke inhalation can exacerbate existing health conditions and is linked to increases in heart attacks, stroke, and cancer.

The Trump Administration’s executive orders on climate change and immigration will make the
situation worse. Pulling out of the Paris Climate Accords, opening more federal lands to drilling, and increasing natural gas export terminals are just a few of the ways that the Administration will accelerate
climate emissions. And orders deploying the military to the border while attempting to end birthright
citizenship and engaging in raids on undocumented workers makes the situation of millions of immigrants more precarious. The more precarious their legal situation, the harder it is for immigrants to seek protection for themselves from climate impacts and other hazards on the job, since they risk deportation if their employers turn on them.

As green economy activists, our support for immigrants in L.A. and elsewhere who are unlikely to get government aid is vital. In the aftermath of the fires, there are many opportunities for us to take immediate action. For instance, Inclusive Action for the City launched a fund to support outdoor workers impacted by the fire. The Fund already has a wait list of 8,000 workers and needs donations so it can
provide $500 payments to workers in need. The National Domestic Workers Alliance has also set up a fund to support domestic workers harmed by the fires.

In the long run, we can urge local and state officials to protect immigrants in our communities. We can also support federal and state laws and rulemaking that provide protections for domestic, caregiving, agricultural, landscaping, and construction workers, while opposing the roll backs of existing protections in states like Texas and Florida.

Make no mistake, immigration and worker protections are green issues. All advocates for the
environment and climate need to stand up for the rights of people on the front lines of climate change, and who are essential to keeping our economy running, when they are under attack.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are fundamental to creating a truly just and sustainable world. The Civil Rights Era brought greater equity and justice to the U.S. over half a century ago—but the new administration is determined to dismantle that progress.

In this issue of Green American, we present the moral and business cases for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives—as well as what these concepts look like in practice and what they’re meant to achieve.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Are Tools

DEI programs and policies aren’t just philosophical concepts—they’re tools to help organizations, institutions, and businesses achieve more just, fair, and accessible practices that work regardless of changes in leadership or political alliances. They operate as safety nets because no matter how well-intended people might be, we all have different experiences that may shape our decisions and perspectives in harmful ways we’re not always aware of.

Diversity asks us to be aware of who is in the room and what that means for the perspectives being shared and those that are missing.

Equity is about more than equal treatment—it means understanding both the barriers and advantages people have faced to be even considered for entry into that room, including an organization’s own history of discriminatory practices, as well as the impacts to communities who have been discriminated against historically.

Inclusion merges our awareness of who is (and isn’t) in the room and what they’ve likely experienced so that policies and practices can be implemented to ensure a sense of belonging, safety, and welcome.
Let’s apply these principles to a simple analogy. I’ve decided to buy lunch for everyone in my organization, regardless of who they are, how they identify, or the role they hold at the organization. By asking each person about their dietary preferences without judgement, I ensure the provided meal will meet their specific needs. Finally, my invitation to lunch is tailored in a way that communicates how everyone is welcome to attend, underscoring the nonjudgmental way people were asked about the food they can eat and how reflecting those choices help them feel valued as people, not just placeholders on staff.

In short, DEI takes a holistic view of who is part of a business or organization and how historically discriminatory practices in both public and private sectors have shaped who’s been included and excluded, so that real, lasting changes can be made to ensure the implementation of more just and equitable practices moving forward.

Direct Action, Not Just Declarations

Treating humans with respect and care is how we build affinity, loyalty, and involvement within diverse communities. Any good marketing professional can attest that those three traits are the gateway to major profits. And people know when those overtures are merely performative, not transformative … just ask Target.

When companies make press statements about “hearing concerns of discrimination in the workplace” but don’t change how employees are hired or advanced in their careers, people notice. When organizations create new “diversity-focused roles” but fail to provide the people they’ve hired with support and resources to do the job, we see that as a set-up. And when companies prominently feature Black, disabled, queer, and other marginalized folks in their ad campaigns but don’t bring marginalized-owned businesses into their supply chains or pay workers living wages, we recognize that as tokenism.
Those half-baked approaches only further prime the public to take a cynical view of DEI, in which people and organizations only support DEI initiatives for appearances. And underlying it all is the implication that if DEI is “just for show,” then anyone hired or appointed in part because of DEI-influenced practices is inherently unqualified unless otherwise proven.

But when implemented correctly, these programs help create real, lasting changes that dismantle discriminatory policies and cultures in practice, not just as a vague set of principles. In doing so, hiring, promotion, and the provision of support and resources are more likely to be based on fair recognition of merit and potential. In short, DEI ensures justice.

It’s About Quality AND Quantity

The idea that DEI means “choosing diverse applicants (people who aren’t white, men, straight, able-bodied, etc) over qualified applicants” is an age-old lie at the heart of the opposition to DEI. Having these practices shape how we decide who to hire, award grants to, or accept into a coveted program has never meant automatic approval for applicants from marginalized backgrounds. What they do mean is that we can’t ignore how biases and prejudices—whether we’re aware of them or not—have influenced who has historically been granted or denied access to opportunities and resources to build safe and healthy lives as valued members of our communities and then changing our practices to do better.

It asks us to reconsider what we think of as “the right qualifications” for a job or what we mean by “the right culture fit” for an organization to ensure that our candidate pools are diverse in identifying characteristics, skill sets, and personal, academic and professional experience. Because it’s not just marginalized people whose lived expertise is shaped by our identities. No one’s identity is negative—all of us can contribute to society.

DEI holds us accountable to make sure folks are given an equitable chance to fulfill the requirements during their application and interview process. It means candidates’ skills and qualifications are assumed from the get-go and that they are considered holistically, not just as a potential tick in a list of identities.
Those of us from underrepresented populations are all too familiar with the stigma that comes with being successful and different. Too many people still believe we haven’t earned our achievements and don’t acknowledge how hard we work to keep them at all. We battle both individual slights and discriminatory policies while our voices aren’t always heard or respected—sometimes our work is even stolen, and we’re left with little recourse for compensation, credit, or justice.

No matter what detractors claim, DEI has never meant giving someone something they have not earned simply because they are marginalized in some way. Nor has it made us worse off as a country—the simple truth is that when marginalized communities have the chance to succeed, we all benefit from the diversified talent pool and visions of leadership.

This is why, at Green America, we choose to call our DEI mission JEDI—standing for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Because through all our programs—every initiative, every policy, and every action—the goal is always justice. We seek meaningful transformation that addresses the systemic inequities of our society and develops pathways for all people to thrive on a healthy planet.

As you explore the stories and insights throughout this issue, we hope you will be inspired to advance justice in your own communities, social groups, and workplaces. The challenges ahead will require all of us working together.

As we like to say at Green America, the JEDI force isn't just with us—it is us, collectively creating the better future that is possible for all people.

Just as diversity is crucial to healthy ecosystems in Mother Nature, diversity is crucial to healthy and joyous communities and people.

WASHINGTON, DC – April 2, 2025 – Green America launched an updated version of its searchable directory of banks that don’t finance fossil fuels, engage in predatory practices that hurt consumers, or do business with destructive industries. The expanded Get A Better Bank directory has added thousands of new listings for local and regional banks and credit unions, allowing consumers to find financial institutions that support local entrepreneurs, serve community non-profits, create affordable housing, and finance renewable energy.

The directory includes a searchable map with listings for over 3,000 community development banks and credit unions, with almost 17,000 locations in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. It is the largest resource of community development banks and credit unions available.

Bill McKibben, founder of Third Act and 350.org, said: “The Get a Better Bank directory makes it easy for consumers to find local banks or credit unions that are engaging in responsible business practices. Just imagine if every American suddenly stopped banking with financial institutions that harm people or the planet. We could change the world!”

Cathy Cowan Becker, Responsible Finance Campaign Director at Green America, said: “The world's largest banks have plowed over $7 trillion into expanding fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement. It's time for people to vote with their dollars by moving their money out of US megabanks and into local banks and credit unions whose mission is to build their communities. Green America's Get a Better Bank map provides options for mission-driven financial institutions in every community, along with guidelines for how to make the switch. This is how each of us can use the banking we do every day to build a better world.”

Banks and credit unions in the Get a Better Bank directory include:

• Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which specialize in lending to people, organizations, and businesses in under-resourced communities.
• Minority Depository Institutions (MDIs), in which the majority of ownership or membership and the community it serves are minority groups such as Black, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, or Women.
• Low-Income Designation (LID) credit unions, for which over half their membership has a family income of 80% or less of the median family income for the metropolitan area.
• Membership in Inclusiv, a federation of community development credit unions whose mission is to help low- and moderate-income people and communities achieve financial independence.
• B Corp certification, a designation that a bank meets high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency.
• Membership in the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), an international network of frontrunner banks and credit unions that use finance to serve people and the planet.
• Green America Green Business Network certification, the first and most diverse network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in the country.

What sets Green America’s Get a Better Bank map apart from other bank listings is its focus on financial institutions that work to build their communities. Each bank or credit union has a mission of building their communities through mortgage, car, small business, and social service financing. They do not engage in lending that harms people or the planet.

The top nine US banks have plowed over $2 trillion into fossil fuel development since the Paris Agreement, financing methane gas plants, coal mining, fracking, liquid gas export, tar sands oil, and more. Megabanks also lent billions in predatory subprime mortgages that their borrowers could not repay, leading to the housing market crash in 2008. Almost 10 million Americans lost their homes. Consumers file thousands of complaints each year against megabanks over fraudulent practices, deceptive lending, and predatory fees.

By choosing a community development bank or credit union, Americans can ensure that their money helps to build stronger communities and a better world.

ABOUT 

Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses, investors, and consumers to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org 

Third Act is a growing community of Americans aged 60 and older determined to change the world for the better. Third Act harnesses an unparalleled generational power to protect our climate and safeguard our democracy. Using our life experiences, skills, and resources, we unite to tackle the unfinished work of our lifetimes and ensure a safe and stable planet for generations to come. http://thirdact.org 

MEDIA CONTACT: Parke Qua for Green America, (216) 276-2476 or pqua@hastingsgroupmedia.com

The communications industry contributes at least 2.5% of our global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes an enormous amount of electricity from fossil fuels each year. And Comcast is a big part of that.

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Green America is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination regarding: actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, related medical conditions, breastfeeding, or reproductive health disorders), age (18 years of age or older), marital status (including domestic partnership and parenthood), personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, disability, matriculation, political affiliation, citizenship status, credit information or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Harassment on the basis of a protected characteristic is included as a form of discrimination and is strictly prohibited.