Sunshine Burger makes certified organic, verified non-GMO vegan burgers with whole food ingredients free of major allergens. We use raw sunflower kernels and brown rice!

The leading national network of Community Development Financial Institutions, OFN shapes policy, conducts research, and creates partnerships and programs that deliver high impact in financially stressed communities.

'Through the lens of faith, ICCR builds a more just and sustainable world by integrating social values into corporate and investor actions.'

A community development financial institution (CDFI) that is a bridge between socially responsible investors and cooperatives, community-oriented non-profits, and worker-owned businesses in New England.

Calvert Impact Capital (CIC) is a proven market leader in the global impact investing industry, with over $2 billion raised through its unique and accessible fixed-income investment product, the Community Investment Note® (“Note”), which channels high impact investments into communities around the world. Note investors range from institutional, accredited, and retail investors, and Note purchases range from over $20mm to $20 (the minimum through CIC’s online platform). The Note blends financial, social, and environmental returns into one accessible product that offers global exposure to more than 100 countries including the US, as well as exposure across a multitude of sectors. The Note also includes robust reporting on social and environmental impact. Additionally, CIC offers loan syndications, where they originate, structure, and administer loans for institutional and accredited lenders seeking environmental and social impact. To date, CIC has syndicated and/or administered more than $300 million of capital for impact-oriented transactions.

Investment Thesis:

CIC invests to connect capital with the communities that need it most, demonstrating that private capital can be successfully invested in communities often overlooked and underserved by traditional finance in order to provide broad economic opportunity and protect our planet.

Investment Overview:

CIC prioritizes both financial resiliency and lasting impact, and its portfolio strategy is focused on creating more inclusive and accessible markets around the world. CIC helps its borrowers to build, grow, and sustain their portfolios, organizational strength, and impact that they have on the ground. CIC makes investments that create a positive, measurable impact as well as financial return across nine sectors including: small business finance, renewable energy, health, microfinance, sustainable agriculture, education, environmental sustainability, and community development. Each sector has a unique impact thesis and strategy that outlines the impact CIC seeks to affect in that sector, how impact is measured, and what role CIC’s capital plays in strengthening local markets. CIC conducts thorough due diligence on each organization to which it lends, and has rigorous credit quality and social performance standards.

Company Differentiator:

Calvert Impact Capital (CIC) is known for its 25-year track record of innovation, impact, and financial performance. Through the Community Investment Note®, CIC has a diversified portfolio across impact sectors and geographies, creating measurable social and environmental impact, that is managed by a team with deep credit analysis and risk management expertise. Complementing our strong portfolio performance is a capitalization cushion of over $100 million to protect investors against any potential portfolio losses, which has led to 100% repayment with returns to all investors to date. More than 5,400 individual and institutional investors, as well as financial advisors, have conveniently made investments ranging from $20 to $20 million via CIC’s online investment platform or through over 120 brokerage firms. Beyond the Note, CIC provides a syndications service, thought leadership practice, and other investor and industry resources that support moving investment capital toward creating an equitable and sustainable world.

Investment Example

One of our borrowers is Greenline Ventures ("Greenline"), a financial services company that specializes in serving the unmet capital needs of small businesses. Their objectives include job creation and retention, worker training, improving employee benefits, boosting minority and women-owned businesses, and reducing environmental impacts. In December 2016, Greenline launched a $20 million Small Business Capital Fund (SBCF I) to provide affordable loans to underserved small businesses in distressed census tracts throughout the US. SBCF I leverages federal tax credits with mission-driven capital to provide flexible, patient financing to small businesses. After the success of SBCF I, Greenline launched the SBCF II in 2018 with the same goal of creating quality jobs and wealth-building opportunities for low-income populations in under-invested communities. Calvert Impact Capital syndicated both funds and made a larger loan to Greenline's second fund to help them grow their impact. All of our borrowers can be found at calvertimpactcapital.org/portfolio/list.

Jewelry, belts and bags designed by Balinese artisans

Green alternative to AAA with 24-hour nationwide roadside assistance for autos and bikes. Discounts on hybrid car rentals, eco-travel, hotels. Trip routing, auto insurance, bicycle roadside assistance, and free maps. Supports a cleaner environment and alternative modes of transportation.

Everyone and anyone can be sustainable! Save time and money! Clean water and Air are best for our health, these are by-products of being sustainable. Make a plan, implement it, monitor and measure the plan and then review the plan!

Since 1987, crafting comfortable, durable, and Earth-friendly products for home, health, and comfort. Browse the selection of buckwheat, kapok, and recycled Sleeping Bean body pillows, reading, and head pillows. Great tools for Pilates, maternity, yoga, and meditation. Bean-bag chairs and floor comfort living products, shower curtains from hemp or cotton. Introducing contemporary upholstered furniture of hemp and organic cotton.

Highly specialized GOTS Certified sourcing consultancy. Offering consultancy and sourcing services for businesses in the organic and sustainable textile industries. Research, development, stock and custom sourcing, production and quality assistance, shipping and logistics coordination.

Green America urges everyone to end their relationships with big Wall Street banks and to “Break Up with Your Mega-Bank." Instead, open accounts with community investing banks and credit unions, which have a mission of lifting up low- and middle-income communities.

Why break up with your mega-bank?

Mega-banks often use your money to fund projects that may not be in line with your values— and nearly 40 of them are financially supporting the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL), including US Bank, JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and more. (See the graphic below from our allies at Food & Water Watch for a complete list.)

Break up with your DAPL-funding bank by:

• Following these 10 steps to find and switch to a socially responsible bank.
• Switching your credit card to one of these responsible credit cards.
• Find a socially responsible financial institution, loan fund, or credit card from our national database!

Victory!

DNB, Norway’s largest bank, sold its assets in the DAPL and is considering terminating the three loans it made to the project. DNB loans made up ten percent of the project’s costs, according to Reuters.

Image © Food & Water Watch
Sources and more info here.

Want to create a greener world that works for all people? One of the most important things you can do is vote with your dollar. Where you spend and invest your money is a powerful way of voting each day to support local communities, fair wages, and a healthy planet. 

Here at Green America, we’ve helped educate and mobilize consumers to use their money for a greener world, and we’ve seen the results in the growth of organic foods, fair trade products, clean energy solutions, and community banks and credit unions, just to name a few. Voting with our dollars works. 

When we talk about building the green economy, it's 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 to business owners. If many of us shift our spending at once – to preference non-GMO foods, for example – it can force large corporations to scramble and drop harmful ingredients from their products. And in the case of small businesses, it helps them stay afloat in a competitive, deal-driven market. 

Green America's mission of creating a green economy that works for all – one that preferences social justice, environmental preservation, and healthy communities, is one that we can participate in at any time. Like casting ballots in an election, decisions we make every day cast votes for our values. When people support small businesses with forward-thinking practices, we call that #VoteWithYourDollar.  Vote With Your Dollars is a powerful way to build the green economy we need, without Washington. 

One of the most powerful actions you can take to Vote with Your Dollar keeping your money in your wallet, to not buy what you don't need, and to not line the pockets of CEOs of big box stores you don't agree with. Our culture is obsessed with deals, but those deals are paid for by the people who work low wages in factories or in big-box stores. In the case of shopping on the biggest store, Amazon.com, well, its track record isn't the cleanest. Every dollar you don't spend, is a dollar you can put in a community bank or credit union, where your dollars will be used to finance jobs, housing and social services that every community needs.  Or, it can be donated to a charity that is helping those less fortunate, combating hate, or taking action on climate change. 

It’s unrealistic not to shop at all, and unnecessary. The money you use to buy necessities, treat yourself, or spend on gifts for others is a vote cast for your values. Here are our tips for feeling good about the products you buy, but also the businesses you support.

Vote with your dollar

• Every time you buy at a local business, you tell the world your community is worth more than a big-box store sale. 

• Every time you buy organic, you tell the world you want more farmers to grow healthy, safe food. 

• Every time you buy certified fair trade, you fight poverty. 

• Every time you buy from a business owned by women or people of color, you help build an inclusive economy. 

• Every time you don’t buy something, you tell the world you don’t need more stuff to have a good life.

Where do we go from here?

• Read more tips on what it's like to live green.
• Get yourself a better bank and make money moves with socially responsible investing! Voting with your dollars at a financial institution can have an outsized impact.
• Shop the Green Business Network, where our certified businesses are much more likely to match your values!
• Check out our Vote With Your Dollar Toolkit to find out how your dollars impact everything from clothes to forests and food.

In its newest push to encourage the magazine industry to use recycled paper, the nonprofit Green America’s Better Paper Project launched “One Million Trees” to encourage higher education institutions to publish alumni magazines on recycled paper.

One million trees a year could be saved if colleges and universities took this common-sense step for the environment.

According to the U.S. Census, there are almost 67 million people with higher education degrees across the country, with over three million new graduates joining alumni associations every year. These alumni receive up to four magazines throughout the year from their alma maters. These tens of millions of alumni magazines add up to significant environmental impacts, such as wasting enough energy to power a small town for an entire year.

“Printing on recycled paper is a great way to achieve multiple environmental benefits all at the same time,” said Susan Kinsella, executive director of Conservatree, a nonprofit environmental organization that researches and strategizes paper production impacts. “Not only does recycled paper save trees and reduce greenhouse gases, but it also reduces the demand for water and energy, diminishes the production of solid waste, and quickly minimizes the paper production footprint on the environment. In fact, a recent life cycle analysis found that 100 percent recycled paper had considerably lower impact levels for over 140 environmental impact categories. And it’s top quality paper, as well.”

Green America is asking universities to participate in the One Million Trees campaign by making the Better Paper Commitment. By taking this step, universities would commit to starting with a minimum of 30 percent recycled content for alumni magazines and publications, as well as using Forestry Stewardship Council-certified fiber for any virgin content in the paper.

More on the goals of the campaign can be found at http://betterpaper.org/onemilliontrees.

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The right materials and know-how for your project.

Amicus is a new kind of home improvement store. We create fresh spaces--fresh designs, fresh air and water, and a fresh take on what our buildings can do for us.

No matter your goals or budget, our products and expertise can help you create a wonderful space that looks fantastic and feels great...whether it's a home, office, school, playspace, or whatever you have in the works.

You can breathe easier with Safecoat^® – we take your health seriously.

Paints, stains, cleaners, and protective sealers formulated without toxic chemicals. Designed to prevent or alleviate indoor air pollution. Safer even for the chemically sensitive.

All AFM building products — paints, primers, coatings, finishes, stains and more — are formulated for the least possible toxicity with high-quality performance. These are durable, long-lasting finishes that look good for years and also help seal in outgassing. No other product is as safe and enduring.

We Plant Trees — 875,000 and Growing

Amber Lotus Publishing is proud to be an independent, carbon-negative publisher with a dedication to environmental stewardship. We print our products on high-quality recycled stock and have planted 875,000 trees since 2008 to offset our carbon footprint.

We craft calendars, greeting cards, journals, and coloring books that illuminate the sacred dimensions of everyday life — mindfulness, healthy lifestyles, and earth awareness. We strive to consistently offer products that are authentic and distinctive to bring you a sense of the eternal by nurturing your heart, renewing your soul, and expanding your mind.

Back to the Vote With Your Dollar Toolkit

Get everything you need from the green economy, and the green economy will flourish instead of sweatshops and corporate polluters. Though not all of these stores will exist in your local community, it's possible to find everything you need from the green economy through our Green Business Network online listings— you can look for shops that are close to you or that will ship wherever you are. 

1. Eco-Friendly Body Care Store: Soap, lotions, cosmetics, and other body care items made without toxic chemicals. 
2. Eco-Friendly Children’s Store: Green toys, games, and clothes for kids. 
3. Nontoxic Cleaners Retailer: All the cleaning power without the harmful chemicals.
4. Organic, Fair Trade Clothing Store: Clothes made without toxins—and sweatshops.
5. Fair Trade Store: Coffee, tea, home decor, and more, made or grown by workers paid a living wage and working in healthy conditions.
6. Eco-Flooring Company: Eco-friendly and nontoxic carpets and hard flooring options.
7. Green Restaurant and Grocer: Fresh, organic food that’s healthy for you and the planet.
8. Eco-Furniture Store: Green furniture made from forest-friendly wood, recycled materials, organic fabrics, without toxins.
9. Green Architect: For help building green, efficient, and renewable structures and homes. 
10. Green Home Improvement Store: Paints, stains, sealers, and more—sans harmful chemicals. 
11. Green Home Goods Store: Organic sheets and towels, nontoxic pots and pans, and more for a green home. 
12. Green Transportation Company: Get from A to B while minimizing your global-warming footprint. 
13. Eco-Travel Agent: Plan vacations that don’t burden the Earth or locals. 
14. Responsible Bank: Fair loans and financial services that help build up communities. 
15. Social Investing Financial Planner: For help incorporating socially responsible investing concerns into your portfolio. 
16. Green Office Supplies Store: Recycled paper, pens, folders, sticky notes, and more.

Back to the Vote With Your Dollar Toolkit

If you’re not a buy-off-the-registry type of person, or you just want to give sustainable wedding gifts to a new couple, try these options. Our staff picked them as just a few of the standout choices offered by Green America member businesses.

“I like the idea of giving a couple of organic pillows. CozyPure has a lot of options, from mattresses to sheets and comforters, if you’re not sure what the couple would want.”

        —Scott Kitson, Membership Marketing Manager, Green Business Network®

“I like giving farmers’ market baskets. The Bolga Market Baskets from My Bolga Baskets are colorful, unique, and made with fair trade practices by weavers in Ghana.”

        —Dana Christianson, Director of Membership Marketing

“If you’re in the market for an engagement or wedding ring, try Naturaleza Organic Jewelry. They make recycled wood and metal rings with gorgeous stones. They work with you on custom rings to make sure its special for you and yours.”

        —Mary Meade, editor and digital content manager

“Some people don’t want more stuff—for them, planting a tree can be a nice way to celebrate them. Plant a Tree USA  has a few different options depending on your budget.” 

        —Todd Larsen, executive co-Director of Consumer and Corporate Engagement

Updated December 2022

On June 1, President Trump pulled the United States out of its voluntary commitment to the Paris Climate Accord, a decision that sent shock waves around the world. As the nation that is the second largest emitter of CO2, and the greatest cumulative emissions, the US should play an equally large role as a leader in the clean energy future. Instead, efforts of other countries to mitigate the effects of climate change may be negated by the US’s continued climate denial and greenhouse gas pollution.

After this historic and upsetting exit, it is time for states, cities, businesses, and individuals to take action to ensure the US meets its commitments, regardless of what Washington does. In addition to the 192 countries signed on to the agreement, 247 mayors representing 56 million Americans, 10 states, and many corporations (including Green America’s Green Business Network) are agreeing to adopt and uphold its standards.

You can be part of the clean energy future with them. Here’s how.

1.     Use your voice as an individual to encourage your city to join the growing number of entities standing by the accords.

2.     Work with communities. In whatever groups you’re already part of—schools, places of worship, or civic associations, encourage your group to commit to reducing emissions. You may be able to find a local 350.org chapter to join to help connect you to resources, pressure local government, and mobilize more people towards clean energy.

3.    Reduce your use of energy and water at home. Whether you’re a beginner who can’t spend a lot of time thinking about energy or someone who has been aware of phantom loads for years, we have tips for you to cut back (and probably not even notice the difference).

4.    Switch to wind and solar energy for your electric utilities. The same power will come through the same wires, but instead of supporting coal power plants every time you pay your bill, you’ll be supporting clean solar or wind energy. When the sun is shining, you may event send power back onto the grid. If your home is equipped for them, and gets enough sun, getting solar panels on your own roof has a higher upfront cost, but will lower your electric bill in the future. Project Sunroof is a tool that uses Google Earth to project how much you could save depending on the sunny-ness of your rooftop, and will help you get in touch with a local solar installer.

5. Share your favorite energy-saving and emissions-reducing tips and steps you take on social media and in conversations. The more people who see their friends and family taking action on climate change, the more likely they are to do so as well.

Solar and wind power are among the oldest sources of energy harnessed by humans. Ancient Egyptians used the wind to sail small boats on the Nile as early as 5,000 BC, and the Chinese were using crude windmills for grain processing by 200 BC. The Greek scientist Archimedes used an enormous mirror to reflect and focus sunlight, burning the invading Roman fleet in defense of the city of Syracuse in 212 BC.

Romans used solar as passive heating in their bathhouses; European colonialists in the 1500s  cooked food on small-scale solar collectors; the first solar water heaters and steam engines were created in the 1800s. Windmill technology for the processing of grains spread across the world and was widely used well into the 20th century. In 1954, a huge step towards clean energy was taken when scientists at Bell Labs created the first photovoltaic (PV) solar cell capable of producing small amounts of electricity for commercial use.

Due to high cost of energy utilities in the 1940s and again in the 1970s, passive solar became popular in the design of buildings and houses. Government and private investors saw value in wind and solar in the 70s and the industry grew quickly.

Global historical solar panel prices and installations. The decrease in the global price of solar is impressive, especially when graphed next to the increase in global capacity of solar. The explosive success of the solar industry both nationally and internationally is an indicator that renewables are the future, and we should be doing everything in our power to develop and scale wind and solar energy. Source: Earth Policy Institute/Bloomberg

The US led the world in renewable energy development and installations until the mid-90s, when cheap fossil fuel energy prices slowed down US investment in wind and solar, except in California, where market incentives kept renewables growing. At this time, Japan, Germany, and other countries began to invest heavily in photovoltaics and wind gained traction especially in Europe.

Despite lagging in the 90s, the US wind and solar industries are now growing at an impressive rate. During the early 2000's, Green America's Solar Catalyst Project issued several reports highlighting the potential for the price of solar power to come down dramatically and for installation to rise rapidly, countering the dominant narrative of the time that solar power would always be too expensive. In 2016, solar became the fastest growing source of energy in the US, and wind and solar represented almost 66 percent of all growth in energy capacity, surpassing natural gas at 29 percent, with the remaining 5 percent being made up of nuclear, hydroelectric, and petroleum power sources.

A record-breaking 14.8 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity was installed in 2016 in the US, bringing the total US capacity to 42.4 GW, enough to power 8.3 million American homes. In fact, one new solar installation was completed every 84 seconds in 2016. In 2017, the capacity of wind power in the US is 84.1 GW, with utility-scale projects operating in 42 states and territories. The US industry is projected to more than double to 100 GW of capacity over from 2017-2022. Wind energy supplies 5 percent of US power, and the Department of Energy says it has the potential to supply 35 percent by 2050, and has laid out a plan for how to get there.

Falling prices of solar and wind are one of the main drivers of the growth the industries have seen over the last decade, during which time solar prices have dropped across the supply chain by an astonishing 60 percent. Prices are falling quickly for two main reasons: better technology, and growing demand leading to growing economies of scale. By 2025, solar is set to be cheaper than coal-fired energy as well as energy combined cycle gas turbines (CCGT), which run on natural gas, diesel, or biofuels. In some areas, wind is already cheaper per megawatt hour than coal or natural gas, and is projected to continue its downward trend in price.

Although solar isn’t new, it’s much newer than coal and other fossil-fuel technologies. Due to the sophistication of photovoltaics, making them commercially viable has required a significant amount of research and development. Current residential and commercial solar panels are between 14 and 22 percent efficient, meaning they can convert 14 to 22 percent of the energy they receive from the sun into electricity. However, researchers have achieved up to 34.5 percent efficiency, and new breakthroughs are happening all the time.

Although not as drastic as the solar industry, wind power technology has also seen significant advancement making turbines cheap and efficient. This has kept the price of wind energy low, and since renewables like wind and solar have no fuel cost, utility companies can lock in low rates for as long as 20 or 30 years without worrying about fluctuating fuel costs due to economic issues or social unrest.

As with any developing industry, the price of solar and wind has fallen significantly due to advances in technology and growing demand. As they get better, they also becomes cheaper, which is why it’s important to continue to invest in renewables and move away from 20th century sources of power like coal.

Solar and wind are also important drivers of the economy. Currently, the solar industry employs 374,000 Americans, which is more than double what is was in 2012 and is expected to continue to add jobs through 2021. In 2016, the US wind industry employed 102,000 people, 20 percent more than the year before. Solar and wind employ more people in the generation of electricity than the coal, petroleum, natural gas, and nuclear sectors combined. While some parts of the fossil fuel sector are seeing growth, like natural gas, coal and petroleum are expected to lose jobs as other technologies become cheaper and more available.

       Employment in U.S. energy generation by sector in 2016. Source: US Department of Energy

Climate change is a serious issue, and our decisions about how we source our energy going into the future will drastically affect the severity of its impacts. In addition to the greenhouse effects of fossil fuels, they also pollute our air and water during extraction, transportation, and combustion harming both humans and ecosystems. There is no doubt that the continued use of fossil fuels will be catastrophic for the planet and human health.

Despite the falling costs of wind and solar, the required shift from reliance on fossil fuels to renewables will take significant investment. However, risk assessments including one from CERES (an NGO that works with corporations and investors on environmental issues) show us that the upfront costs of renewables are worth the reduced long-term risks. Even if fossil fuels are cheap now, the costs down the line will be unbearable on the planet. As a result of our fossil fuel use we face air pollution, mining hazards, oil spills, and the destruction of local communities through mountaintop removal mining. We must consider fossil fuels' effects on public health, climate change, and national security when we evaluate risk. In order to take on the climate crisis, we need to advance energy solutions that reduce emissions, create jobs, and drive the economy. Wind and solar have proven fulfill those goals while providing affordable electricity to consumers and businesses.

We provide promotional products to North America's leading changemakers.

We specialize in cool, ethically sourced promotional merchandise. Clients include Aveda, Patagonia, and ETSY. If you're a change-maker and you need merchandise, we're your people. B Corporation and Fair Labor Association Licensee.

Changemaker Series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNx-2LN-Hx0

At Ecowood Retail Display Systems we create displays systems from post-consumer and post-industrial recycled lumber, perfectly blending the beauty of real wood with the ethic of sustainable reuse.

Eco-friendly screen printing with water-based inks. American-made, organic and recycled t-shirts, sweatshirt, and apparel. Specializing in creative t-shirt design and eco-friendly screen printing for clothing labels, retail stores and green businesses. Affordable design & printing for the planet.

Feeding The World Without GMOs from Gringo Starr Productions on Vimeo.

Here is what we can do to end hunger:

1. Overturn Citizens United v. FEC.

Citizens United is a Supreme Court case that removed limits on campaign contributions by corporations allowing for unfettered financial influence of US politicians. This has major implications for agriculture and the food system within the US and worldwide as US companies and policies tend to have an international ripple effect.

2. Prevent harmful trade agreements.

The US is currently negotiating two major trade agreements, the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP); both of these agreements further entrench our current failing food system. They will increase worldwide income disparities, increase GE crop production and pesticide use, and continue to spread the poor western diet abroad

3. Increase programs that work on education and poverty alleviation worldwide.

As discussed above, hunger is an issue of equity and poverty. Until these issues are addressed it does not matter how much food is in the world; there will always be unequal distribution and hunger.

4. Petition Congress to make a better farm bill that supports regenerative farming methods and increase funding for it.

There has already been an international call for a change in farming practices. The International Assessment Agricultural Knowledge, Science, and Technology for Development (IAASTD) found it essential that we embrace methods of regenerative agriculture.

5. Support international food sovereignty.

Food sovereignty is the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through sustainable methods and their right to define their own food and agriculture. Not all regions are the same and they require diverse agricultural and food systems. We must support this movement for developing countries to establish their own systems that allow them to grow cultural foods and sustain their local environments and people.

6. Switch to a plant-based diet.

The more meat we consume as a planet the greater demand we are putting on its precious resources. We should all cut back on our meat consumption, eaten only occasionally if at all. There are lots of wonderful plant-based options and alternatives to meat and other animal products.

Green America (www.greenamerica.org) is a nonprofit, membership organization whose mission is to harness economic power – the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace – to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Our Climate Action Program has produced several groundbreaking reports on solar power; combated the dirtiest forms of energy, which helped stop the construction of 15 coal-fired power plants in the US; and engaged hundreds of thousands of people in actions to promote corporate responsibility and government action on climate change.

We are seeking a climate fellow with outreach and organizing skills, excellent writing skills, social media experience, and an interest in climate change issues. The focus of the Climate Action Fellow will be to further our corporate responsibility campaigns on climate as well as to promote federal action on Clean Energy Victory Bonds (which would create financing for clean energy nationwide).

An ideal candidate will:

• Have strong writing skills and experience writing content for various platforms including blogs, webpages, formal letters, and reports;
• Have excellent oral communication skills and be willing to call congressional offices, NGOs, business leaders, and others to build interest and support for Clean Energy Victory Bonds and track responses;
• Have excellent organizing skills and be able to help coordinate events;
• Be familiar with social networking platforms and draft content for Facebook and Twitter
• Assist with research and mobilization on clean energy and other energy-related projects as needed;
• Be able to work independently and take initiative.
• Graphic design skills a plus.

Green America is an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status. Women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.

To apply:
Please email a resume and cover letter to: Todd Larsen.
Email: toddlarsen@greenamerica.org. Please use the subject "CLIMATE Fellow: First Name Last Name"

No calls please.
Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not respond to every application we receive. If we wish to contact you for an interview you will hear from us by phone or email.

If you have skills in online communications, simple web development, and/or web production platforms, and you want to make a difference in the world, check out this internship.

Green America is a national nonprofit based in Washington, D.C. Since 1983, we’ve been working to create a green economy defined by environmental restoration and sustainability, social and economic justice, thriving and inclusive local communities, and personal health and well-being. We inform people’s choices, organize consumer collective action, and bring together businesses and other stakeholders to achieve system-wide change.

We seek someone to work with our Communications Team to engage and educate online by producing and publishing content for our websites, blog, email blasts, and social media. This position can also assist with performance metrics, online marketing, and/or graphic design, if desired and able.

This position provides an excellent career-building opportunity, especially for someone wanting experience in web content production, online communications, frontend web development, advocacy, or online marketing.

Some of the job responsibilities can be flexible depending on candidate’s skills and desires.

Responsibilities

• Put up and maintain content on Green America’s multiple websites including articles, blog posts, campaign materials, news, etc.
• Build advocacy actions for our campaigns using an online platform (Salsa).
• Create and monitor Google Adwords.
• Assist with collecting and reporting on metrics for various communication channels.
• Optimize web content for search engines to increase website.
• If desired and able, create graphics for emails, websites, and social media.
• Work in a collaborative environment where creativity is encouraged.

Qualifications

• Experience with website CMS and/or advocacy tools
• HTML and CSS skills
• Some knowledge of online marketing or JavaScript/JQuery a plus but not required
• Great attention to detail
• Ability to proofread content and ensure no mistakes or typos
• Comfortable with multiple tasks and deadlines

To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to skarimi@greenamerica.org with subject line: Online Communications Intern

This position is at Green America’s headquarters at 1612 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington DC 20006.

Due the volume of applications we receive, we will not respond to every application.

Green America (www.greenamerica.org) is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating a just and sustainable society by harnessing economic power for positive change. Our unique approach involves working with consumers, investors and businesses on both the supply and demand sides of the market to build and economy that prioritizes the well-being of people and our planet. Our workplace reflects our goal of creating a more cooperative, environmentally sound economy. We have a participatory decision-making process, which aims to build consensus within the departments and teams.

The Center for Sustainability Solutions at Green America supports several innovation networks, focused groups of stakeholders with the objective of making significant, industry-wide system change. The program team of the Center for Sustainability Solutions provides the strategic direction, stakeholder engagement program, facilitation and coordination services, and program management for participating individuals and companies in each working group.

The Central States Dairy market initiative is a specific application of our Innovation Network methodology to the supply chain that serves dairy production in the central midwest. Green America will be working with a wide range of stakeholders throughout the supply chain, from seed to cow, to develop an orderly, cost-effective transition to non-GMO feed for large dairies.

Reporting to the Manager, Central States Dairy, the Associate Project Manager will support a wide range of activities to refine the market initiative and translate it into action. Specific tasks may include: conducting landscape and targeted research to understand market dynamics or market opportunities, designing and evaluating research programs, supporting the planning and implementation of stakeholder meetings, coordinating the efforts of external subject matter experts, contributing to project reports, maintaining accurate meeting notes and project records, and other tasks.

Strong candidates for this position will have experience with and passion for developing robust, sustainable food systems. Demonstrated experience in agricultural extension, relationship development, stakeholder engagement and collaborative project work is highly relevant for this position. Experience with supply chain management, field research, dairy systems, or process consulting a significant advantage.

The position may involve occasional domestic travel (3-4 times per year). The position would be based in Washington, DC at the Green America offices or in Boston, MA. Remote work is not available for this position. This is a two-year, grant-funded position.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The overall objective of this role is to support and coordinate the implementation of Green America’s supply chain partnership in the midwest. As the Associate Program Manager, this person will work closely with the Manager, Central States Dairy, the Director of Sustainable Food Supply Chains, other Center and Green America staff, and working group participants.

Coordinate Central States Dairy market initiative:

1. Support efforts to identify and invite participants to the Initiative.
2. Support research efforts aimed at understanding non-GMO dairy market dynamics, mapping existing supply chain design, assessing agronomic models for non-GMO feed regimes, and identifying industry leaders to engage or follow. May involve on-line research, scheduling and conducting interviews by telephone.
3. Participate in outreach to farmers, growers, policy makers, and other key stakeholders.
4. Establish professional working relationships with key players in the network.<
5. Provide administrative support the Central States Dairy Design Team (support meeting planning and scheduling and ensure Design Team notes are taken, distributed and filed)
6. Track project progress against goals and timelines using work management software.
7. Participate in the creation of accurate, high quality deliverables.
8. Maintain appropriate project confidentiality and manage proprietary information with care.

Participate in activities of Center for Sustainability Solutions:

1. Attend and contribute to Center meetings.
2. Attend and contribute to Green America Staff meetings and processes.
3. Regular reporting to Manager, Central States Dairy and Director, Sustainable Food Supply Chains. Updates to the Center Director or other staff as needed.
4. Keep accurate records of time and expenses for client billing purposes.

You will be a good fit for this position if:

• You believe passionately in the importance of making positive changes to the agricultural system.
• You have strong stakeholder engagement skills.
• You have excellent communication skills (written and spoken).
• You understand the positive impact that a large corporate supply chain can have, and you are eager to help make changes within it.
• You understand that system change is hard and you are eager to work with all willing partners to make progress.
• You have urgency to get things done, and you also understand that sometimes change is neither linear nor immediately obvious. You are comfortable with uncertainty.
• You are comfortable working in an environment with many remote stakeholders.
• You can manage multiple demands with a cool head and poise.
• You have a growth mindset and see every situation as an opportunity to learn.
• You use your resourcefulness to find creative solutions.
• You like a good laugh. You take your work seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.

Qualified candidates will have:

• At least two (2) years of experience in program management, agricultural program management or extension, management consulting or network coordination.
• Bachelor's Degree
• Key skills:
• • Research skills to effectively and efficiently complete complex research tasks and synthesize findings (e.g. assess relationship between agronomic practices for soil health
  • Ability to earn trust of farmers and extension services providersExcellent soft skills around relationship management, distributed and shared leadership, and creative problem solving (essential)
  • Confidence and poise when working with senior corporate leadership
  • Ability to professionally represent market initiative to a diverse set of stakeholders
  • Demonstrated written communications and marketing skills
  • Strong work ethic and organizational skills (work accurately to deadlines)
  • Flexibility to enable working effectively in a highly collaborative environment

Knowledge:

• Working knowledge of dairy policy or operations; soil science, agronomy, or farming; industrial food supply chains; or non-GMO advocacy (highly desirable)
• Demonstrated familiarity with current and emerging trends in the agriculture sector, sustainability metrics or measurement, or CSR (desirable).
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite and experience with customer relationship management processes and tools. (essential)
• Familiarity with Zoho or other CRM; experience with Wrike or other comparable work management platform. (desirable)

Send cover letter and resume to CentralStatesDairy@greenamerica.org or to Green America, 1612 K Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20006.

No calls, please.

Green America is an equal opportunity employer.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we will not respond to every application we receive. If we wish to contact you for an interview you will hear from us by phone or email.

So you’ve realized that a diet free from animal products is better for the planet, your health, and your wallet, not to mention it can be enjoyable and it doesn’t have to be hard? Great! Now you're ready for a plant-based diet.

Before you embark on a new way of eating, try these tips to make it as smooth a transition as possible. If you follow these, you will have a much easier time sticking to a vegan or vegetarian diet, but remember: the goal is simply to reduce dollars spent on animal products. Slip-ups in your diet aren’t a big deal. No one’s perfect and you’re new at this!

1. Start your Plant-Based Diet Slowly 

If you’re currently eating a diet that includes meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products, going directly to a vegan diet will be a huge shift from what you’re used to. Starting out with a vegetarian diet or even just giving up one kind of meat at a time (for example, beef this month, chicken next month) will help you transition easily.

If you’re currently vegetarian and looking to begin a vegan diet, you might begin by eating vegan only when you cook at home, one day a week, or on the weekends. You can learn what kinds of plant-based meals you like during these periods and then use them as you expand your vegan diet into the rest of the week!

Replacing every product in your kitchen (condiments, dressings, etc.) with a plant-based version can be costly, and will contribute to food waste. A better idea would be to replace non-vegan items as they run out with their vegan counterparts. This will make it an easier transition both financially and mentally.

Above all, be forgiving and kind to yourself. You are trying your best for yourself and the planet. Progress is not always linear and if you keep at it, you will get there!

2. Make a meal plan and shopping list

To get meal inspiration, look on the internet or in cookbooks for some meat-free recipes that appeal to you. For healthy, allergy-friendly and delicious plant-based recipes try Minimalist Baker, Oh She Glows, and Veganuary. You can write down ingredients from these recipes and create a shopping list.

If you prefer to go a simpler route, just make a shopping list of some veggies you like, tofu or tempeh, and your favorite beans, legumes and nuts. Add a whole grain and a healthy oil like organic coconut oil or extra virgin olive oil.

You can mix and match these ingredients to create simple grain bowls topped with roasted veggies, fresh greens, and tahini or curry sauce. Pasta dishes are another great way to tie in a bunch of colorful veggies without using a bunch of dishes. Soups and salads are also simple, tasty, and healthy options.

3. Shop smart 

A plant-based diet can be far more cost-effective than one containing animal products. If you know how to shop properly, you’ll wind up saving tons on groceries. Here’s how:

• Buy from bulk bins if your store has them
• Stock up on staples like lentils, beans, grains and rice
• Shop at the farmers market and shop seasonally whenever possible
• Cook and prepare things yourself as much as possible (more processing = higher prices)
• Grow your own food (start a Climate Victory Garden!)

4. Always bring a plant-based snack

While it’s likely that there will be plant-based options (or simple modifications you can make to menu items) there will inevitably be times when you are away from home without a vegan option. Always having a snack or two in your car or bag allows you to avoid being hungry in situations where there is no plant-based snack or meal. Some great options are nuts, fruit, popcorn, and crackers with peanut butter or hummus.

5. Be kind to others

Just like you want people to respect your decision to eat ethically, going plant-based will be a lot more enjoyable if you withhold judgment. Everyone is in a different place in their life when it comes to living sustainably. Have patience and inform other people about the environmental benefits of a meat-free diet when they show curiosity or inquire. Preaching will only make people defensive. The best way to encourage others to eat better for the planet and themselves is to focus on your own delicious, nourishing food and how great it makes you feel. Being such a great example, you’ll be sure to inspire others.

by Jamie Landa, Food Campaigns Intern

One of the most important things we can do as consumers to lessen our impact on the climate is to reduce the amount of animal products we eat. Raising animals for food produces over 51 percent of global greenhouse gas emission in addition to using more water and creating more pollution than growing plants.

Going vegan or vegetarian can seem inconvenient, expensive, and just plain not-fun. But it doesn't have to be—it can be easier and more enjoyable than you think. In fact, there are many benefits of vegetarian diets that can make it feel like a daily accomplishment for both people and planet.

Cutting down on animal products doesn’t mean you need to adopt a label. Holding yourself to a standard like veganism or vegetarianism can mean setting yourself up for failure. It helps to go into a meat-free life with the attitude that nobody’s perfect and the less animal products you consume, the better for the Earth. And if you’d like a label that gives you some wiggle room, you can always be a reducetarian.

Once you get past the fear that you need to be perfect, eating a plant-based diet can be fun and easy. Here’s 5 reasons why it’s exciting to ditch animal products from your diet:

1. Try new things 

It’s easy to get stuck in a food rut, we all do it. Cooking and ordering the same dishes day after day can become a bore. Cutting out meat means changing up your diet and trying interesting new restaurants and meals.

Whether it means learning to cook with plant-based proteins like tofu and tempeh or trying that new vegan spot in town, going vegetarian/vegan continually exposes you to new foods. Even better, these new options can be healthy, satisfying, and just as flavorful.

2. Get healthy 

According to the American Heart Association, vegetarians have a lower risk of obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain kinds of cancer than meat-eaters. Some people fear that they will struggle to get enough protein on a vegetarian or vegan diet, but there are plenty of plant-based protein sources including nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, soy, quinoa, hemp, and vegetables. Furthermore, this worry over vegans’ protein levels isn't necessary since many people may be getting too much protein.

A diet free of animal products can also result in weight loss. Provided you steer clear of vegan junk food, (Oreos are accidentally vegan) a diet rich in greens, colorful vegetables, and whole grains will keep you fit and full of energy!

3. Save money 

Want to save over $700 dollars a year on food? Reducing the meat in your diet can get you there. Eating a vegan or vegetarian diet often is looked at as overpriced and designated for a privileged few. The reality is that if you shop consciously, you can end up saving money on a meat-free meal plan. A diet focused on whole and minimally processed foods is often the most economical. In-season vegetables and fruits as well as grains, nuts, and seeds can be found at very low prices compared with animal products and prepared foods.

4. Stop the guilt

Factory farmed animals often suffer prematurely short lives in terrible conditions. To make the most profit, factory farms confine large numbers of animals into small spaces, restricting their movement. This also creates unclean conditions in which animals can easily get sick.

To prevent this, large amounts of antibiotics are administered regularly. The livestock industry uses 24.6 million pounds of antibiotics annually. This overuse of antibiotics has led to antibiotic resistance in humans as well as the development of drug-resistant “superbugs.” Large chains like Starbucks use milk and meat sourced from factory farms, making it difficult to avoid supporting these operations unless you buy items free of animal products.

Giving up animal products means you no longer are using your money to support animal cruelty, human health damage, and environmental harm. Being able to enjoy your meals guilt-free makes them so much more enjoyable!

5. Eat delicious food 

There are so many great vegetarian/vegan recipes out there. Check out all the recipe links found in the captions of the tasty-looking photos in this post. More great recipes for yummy vegetarian/vegan meals can be found at Minimalist Baker, Organic Authority, and MindBodyGreen. Happy cooking!

As early as the 1930s and 1940s, doctors confirmed that asbestos was causing serious illnesses among factory workers who handled the heat-resistant mineral. But that did not stop companies from continuing to use the material in building construction and household items.

Up until the late-1970s, asbestos was used in products to help you cook your food, get ready in the morning and even grow the plants in your garden. But it wasn’t until 1989 that the EPA banned asbestos and created a timeline for phasing it out. In 1991 that ban was overturned by a federal appeals court in New Orleans, making the substance legal in limited uses today. Although regulations regarding asbestos use are much tighter today than they were 40 or 50 years ago, the dangerous material may still be in your home.

All forms of asbestos can cause serious illnesses like asbestosis, mesothelioma, and ovarian, lung, or laryngeal cancers, though they may take decades after exposure to develop. If you do find items in your home that you think might be contaminated, don’t try to remove them on your own. Make sure to have a licensed professional remove the asbestos for you. Searching "asbestos removal" on a search engine should give you local results.

5 Everyday Products that May Have Asbestos

1. Crock Pots

Crock pots made prior to the mid-1970s contained asbestos, both as an insulator found in the lining between the inner and outer pots and around the power cord to help prevent electrical fires. Due to its excellent insulation abilities, crocidolite asbestos (also known as blue asbestos), was likely used as the insulation for the cords, mainly because the products would be plugged in for long periods of time.

2. Home Appliances

Asbestos wasn’t just in the kitchen. You could find asbestos-laden items all over the house, including hair dryers, ironing board covers and popcorn poppers. In the case of hair dryers, the Consumer Product Safety Commission called some of the biggest hair dryer manufacturers together to get those containing asbestos off shelves and out of homes. Unfortunately, a voluntary recall in 1979 only recovered a fraction of the 18 million affected dryers sold.

3. Toys

In 2015, CNN reported that asbestos was found in several boxes of crayons and two toy crime lab kits tested by a lab hired by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Action Fund. In each case, the toys were produced in China and imported to the US. This wasn’t the first time the mineral has been found in these toys. Similar tests in 2000 found traces of asbestos in crayons, and a 2007 test by the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization found the substance in toy fingerprint exam kits.

4. Vermiculite Insulation (Zonolite)

Vermiculite is a lightweight and fire-resistant mineral that can expand between 8-30 times its size when exposed to high heat. For that reason, it found its way into attics, walls and other insulated areas. However, from 1919-1990, about 70 percent of the vermiculite sold in the U.S. was mined near Libby, MT, and was contaminated with asbestos. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home (usually sold by the brand name Zonolite), you can assume asbestos is there too.

5. Potting Soil

Vermiculite found in potting soil is great for seedlings because it absorbs water and helps retain moisture. It’s also inert, which helps protect seedlings from fungus and other killers. The problem is that the vermiculite used in some soils was also mined in Libby, MT, where asbestos contamination took place. Today’s vermiculite is much safer to use, though some gardeners now also use perlite, which has many of the same qualities but retains air and offers better drainage.

Asbestos has largely been removed from our daily lives in favor of much safer alternatives, though the mineral has still not been banned in the U.S. With that said, you may not have to look as hard as you think to find an asbestos-containing product in your home, and perhaps even find it in something you use every day.
 

About the author:

Charles MacGregor is a health advocate with the Mesothelioma.com working to spread awareness about the disease and advocate for a ban of asbestos in the United States.

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You can help grow Green America’s work for generations to come with Planned Giving.

Planned giving, either through one’s will or a financial instrument, is a way to ensure that our work together for a more just and sustainable society continues into the future.

Include Green America in your will. 

In your will, you may leave a specific amount or designate a certain percentage of your assets to Green America. You can also indicate assets of a particular type or reserve a portion of your estate that remains after taxes and expenses are paid. The following bequest language can serve as a guide for including Green America in your will:

• “I hereby bequeath to Green America, a non-profit corporation, headquartered in Washington, DC, and with a tax identification number 52-1660746, __________ (insert percentage of estate or dollar amount) to be used for general purposes as determined by the Board of Directors."

Also, Green America has recently partnered with FreeWill to give all of our supporters a free and easy way to make a legally valid will in 25 minutes or less. Making a will is one of the best ways to support the people you love and the causes you care about the most. Many people like to include a gift to Green America to be an important part of the transformation to a socially just and environmentally sustainable nation.

Designate Green America as a beneficiary. 

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To discuss your planned giving options, or let us know you have already arranged for a gift to Green America, contact Rob Kraemer, Donor Engagement Manager, at 202-872-5339 or  rkraemer@greenamerica.org.

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Making a stock gift is quite simple.  Below are the details your broker will need in order to make the stock transfer. 

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The reaction to President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement was swift Thursday evening.

In a press conference at the White House today, President Donald Trump announced that, although the U.S. will no longer participate in the accord, it will begin negotiations to possibly re-enter the Paris Agreement or work on a new accord with terms that he believes are more fair to the United States.

"So we are getting out but we are starting to negotiate and we’ll see if we can make a deal that’s fair," Trump said.

Reactions from politicians, business leaders and environmental organizations came quickly across social media.

Politicians

President Barack Obama

Obama issued a statement saying he believes the U.S. should be at the "front of the pack," leading the remaining nations that will "reap the benefits."

"A year and a half ago, the world came together in Paris around the first-ever global agreement to set the world on a low-carbon course and protect the world we leave to our children," Obama said.

He expressed confidence in Americans to continue to lead the way to protect the environment.

"But even in the absence of American leadership; even as this Administration joins a small handful of nations that reject the future; I’m confident that our states, cities, and businesses will step up and do even more to lead the way and help protect for future generations the one planet we’ve got," Obama said.

House Speaker Paul Ryan

"The Paris climate agreement was simply a raw deal for America," said Ryan. "Signed by President Obama without Senate ratification, it would have driven up the cost of energy, hitting middle-class and low-income Americans the hardest. In order to unleash the power of the American economy, our government must encourage production of American energy. I commend President Trump for fulfilling his commitment to the American people and withdrawing from this bad deal."

Hillary Clinton

 Follow

Hillary Clinton ✔@HillaryClinton

A historic mistake. The world is moving forward together on climate change. Paris withdrawal leaves American workers & families behind.

7:38 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Former Secretary of State John Kerry

Kerry wrote a Facebook post and called the move to withdraw from the Paris agreement a "big mistake" that "isolates the United States after we had united the world."

"The President who promised 'America First' has taken a self-destructive step that puts our nation last," Kerry said. "This is an unprecedented forfeiture of American leadership which will cost us influence, cost us jobs, and invite other countries to walk away from solving humanity’s most existential crisis."

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell

"I applaud President Trump and his administration for dealing yet another significant blow to the Obama Administration’s assault on domestic energy production and jobs," said McConnell. "President Obama made commitments in this deal based off a costly power plan that we knew at the time was on shaky legal ground. By withdrawing from this unattainable mandate, President Trump has reiterated his commitment to protecting middle class families across the country and workers throughout coal country from higher energy prices and potential job loss. Today’s move builds on action Congress took to rebuff then-President Obama’s regulatory rampage, which put American jobs at risk. When the previous administration signed America up for this unattainable mandate, we made it clear we would fight this unilateral action any way we could, and this day could not have happened soon enough. President Trump has once again put families and jobs ahead of left-wing ideology and should be commended for his action."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer

"President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is a devastating failure of historic proportions," said Schumer. "Future generations will look back on President Trump’s decision as one of the worst policy moves made in the 21st century because of the huge damage to our economy, our environment and our geopolitical standing. Pulling out of the Paris agreement doesn’t put America first, it puts America last in recognizing science, in being a world leader and protecting our own shore line, our economy and our planet. It’s now crystal clear President Trump is comfortable both ceding the moral high ground and the economic upper hand to countries like China, and endangering the future of our planet.

Former Vice President Al Gore

Gore called the decision an "indefensible action" that "undermines America’s standing in the world and threatens to damage humanity’s ability to solve the climate crisis in time."

"But make no mistake: if President Trump won’t lead, the American people will," Gore said. He called on "civic leaders, mayors, governors, CEOs, investors and the majority of the business community" to take up the challenge.

"We are in the middle of a clean energy revolution that no single person or group can stop," Gore said. "President Trump’s decision is profoundly in conflict with what the majority of Americans want from our president; but no matter what he does, we will ensure that our inevitable transition to a clean energy economy continues."

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo

Cuomo called the decision "reckless," adding that it will have "devastating repercussions" for the planet.

"New York State is committed to meeting the standards set forth in the Paris Accord regardless of Washington's irresponsible actions," Cuomo said. "We will not ignore the science and reality of climate change, which is why I am also signing an Executive Order confirming New York's leadership role in protecting our citizens, our environment, and our planet."

Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

"Americans are not walking away from the Paris Climate Agreement. Just the opposite – we are forging ahead... As a sign of our commitment, Bloomberg Philanthropies, in partnership with others, will make up the approximately $15 million in funding that the U.N.’s Climate Secretariat stands to lose from Washington. Americans will honor and fulfill the Paris Agreement by leading from the bottom up – and there isn’t anything Washington can do to stop us.”

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh

Walsh called the move to withdraw from the Paris agreement "irresponsible" and "a setback."

"This damages our nation's reputation as an international leader and puts future generations at risk to the threat of climate change," he said. "Boston will not standby given what's at stake."

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto

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bill peduto ✔@billpeduto

As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy & future. https://twitter.com/presssec/status/870367903337644032 …

4:03 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

California Gov. Jerry Brown

The governor of California said Trump has "chosen the wrong course."

"California will resist this misguided and insane course of action," said Brown. "Trump is AWOL but California is on the field, ready for battle."

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee

The governor of Washington said Trump's announcement will leave "full responsibility of climate action" to states and cities.

"While the president’s actions are a shameful rebuke to the work needed to protect our planet for our children and grandchildren, states have been and will continue to step up," said Inslee.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio

The mayor of New York City also vowed to commit to the Paris climate agreement, saying New Yorkers are "already experiencing hotter summers, more powerful storms and rising seats, which disproportionately affect already vulnerable communities."

"President Trump can turn his back on the world, but the world cannot ignore the very real threat of climate change," de Blasio said. "This decision is an immoral assault on the public health, safety and security of everyone on this planet."

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker

"While the decision by the Trump-Pence Administration to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is disappointing, the Commonwealth is committed to working with our partners around the nation and world to reduce carbon emissions," said Baker. "Despite today’s announcement, Massachusetts is aggressively working to exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement on the state level, while growing our economy through clean energy innovation and environmental stewardship. In Massachusetts and around the world, climate change is a shared reality and our ability to rise and respond to this challenge will shape future generations."

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin

"While I believe that the United States and the world should continue to pursue a cleaner energy future, I do not believe that the Paris Agreement ensures a balance between our environment and the economy," said Manchin. "To find that balance, we should seek agreements that prioritize the protection of the American consumer as well as energy-producing states like West Virginia, while also incentivizing the development of advanced fossil energy technologies."

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz

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Ted Cruz ✔@tedcruz

I commend @POTUS for putting American jobs first. This is great news for the TX economy & for hardworking Americans https://www.facebook.com/tedcruzpage/posts/10155243015687464 …

3:56 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul

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Senator Rand Paul ✔@RandPaul

This action by @realDonaldTrump is great news for the economy and could save as many as 6 million U.S. jobs.

3:52 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy

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Chris Murphy ✔@ChrisMurphyCT

Dear planet, we're sorry. Please just hang on for three and a half more years and we'll fix this. We promise.

3:16 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Maine Sen. Susan Collins

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Sen. Susan Collins ✔@SenatorCollins

Climate change requires a global approach. I'm disappointed in the President's decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement #mepolitics

3:44 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Business Leaders and Businesses

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

Apple CEO Tim Cook

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Tim Cook ✔@tim_cook

Decision to withdraw from the #ParisAgreeement was wrong for our planet. Apple is committed to fight climate change and we will never waver.

 

CEO of SpaceX Elon Musk

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Elon Musk ✔@elonmusk

Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.

4:02 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Chairman and CEO of General Electric Jeff Immelt

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Jeff Immelt ✔@JeffImmelt

Disappointed with today’s decision on the Paris Agreement. Climate change is real. Industry must now lead and not depend on government.

 

Salesforce CEO Mark Benioff

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Marc Benioff ✔@Benioff

Deeply disappointed by President's decision to withdraw from ParisAgreement. We will double our efforts to fight climate change.

 

Google CEO Sundar Pichai

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Sundar Pichai ✔@sundarpichai

Disappointed with today’s decision. Google will keep working hard for a cleaner, more prosperous future for all.

5:08 PM - 1 Jun 2017

 

Microsoft

"We believe that climate change is an urgent issue that demands global action," said Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith. "We remain steadfastly committed to the sustainability, carbon and energy goals that we have set as a company. Our experience shows us that these investments and innovations are good for our planet, our company, our customers and the economy. While we are disappointed that the White House has chosen to exit the Paris Agreement, we will continue our work to support a resilient, sustainable low-carbon future for everyone on the planet."

Mars Incorporated

"Mars stands by the Paris Climate Agreement," said Mars CEO Grant Reid. "We remain committed to work with all governments and our supply chain partners around the world to achieve the carbon reduction targets the planet needs."

Shell

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Shell Oil Company ✔@Shell_US

Our support for the #ParisAgreement is well known. We will continue to do our part providing more & cleaner energy. http://go.shell.com/2rpFagR 

3:43 PM - 1 Jun 2017

Our work to address climate change - Shell Sustainability Report 2016

A greater role for natural gas; Government-led carbon pricing mechanisms; Carbon capture and storage; Low-carbon energy and biofuels

reports.shell.com

Foreign entities

France, Germany and Italy

In a joint statement, the heads of state for France, Germany and Italy said they "take not with regret the decision by the United States of America to withdraw from the universal agreement on climate change."

"The Paris Agreement remains a cornerstone in the cooperation between our countries, for effectively and timely tackling climate change and for implementing the 2030 Agenda sustainable development goals," the statement read. "We deem the momentum generated in Paris in December 2015 irreversible and we firmly believe that the Paris Agreement cannot be renegotiated, since it is a vital instrument for our planet, societies and economies."

The United Nations

Stéphane Dujarric, spokesman for the secretary-general of the U.N., said the decision to withdraw is a "major disappointment for global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote global security" and that it is "crucial that the United States remains a leader on environmental issues."

"The Paris Agreement was adopted by all the world’s nations in 2015 because they recognize the immense harm that climate change is already causing and the enormous opportunity that climate action presents," Dujarric said. "It offers a meaningful yet flexible framework for action by all countries."

Environmental groups

Green America

In a statement, nonprofit Green America denounced the decision to reject the Paris Climate Agreement.

"This move is exactly the wrong direction for our nation and world," said Fran Teplitz, Green America’s executive co-director. "There is tremendous urgency –- for the sake of our communities, human health, the environment, and the economy –- to expedite the transition to a clean energy economy that works for everyone. Trump’s decision to support the fossil fuel industry over the interest of people and the planet is an historic failure."

Green America @GreenAmerica

194 countries
1000s of climate scientists
100s of business leaders
vs. Trump’s climate deniers. #ActOnClimate

 

Environment Entrepreneurs

Withdrawing from the Paris Agreement will hurt American workers and businesses, said Environment Entrepreneurs, which describes itself on its website as a nonpartisan group of business owners, investors and others who advocate for policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment.

"President Trump is ceding American leadership and sending a message to clean energy investors to look elsewhere for opportunities," said Bob Keefe, executive director of Environmental Entrepreneurs. "It will inflict real financial pain on millions of American workers who earn their paychecks every day in the clean energy and clean transportation sectors. This action ignores strong public support for the agreement voiced by American businesses, big and small, in every state and every industry."

Sierra Club

The Sierra Club, a New York City-based nonprofit, said that generations from now Americans will look back at Trump’s decision as “one of the most ignorant and dangerous actions ever taken by any President.”

“Trump’s decision to ignore the vast majority of the American public and the scientific community will harm our country, costing us lives, jobs and our role as a world leader,” said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. “Trump has isolated our country on the world stage, ceding our leadership position and our economic advantage on clean energy to India and China, and justifying it all by chanting a slogan from a baseball hat.

Many socially responsible mutual funds screen for diversity and/or equal employment opportunity (EEO). In fact, in US SIF's Mutual Fund Performance Chart (the association for socially responsible investment professionals and institutions), there are 17 mutual fund companies that have funds that either seek investments with positive impacts in this area, or seek to avoid poor performers.

Some companies, however, are taking a more proactive approach. The companies listed below stand out as the mutual funds most directly involved in women’s empowerment. These remarks are intended to give readers an idea of each company’s special take on women’s diversity, but are not an exhaustive description of a company’s policies. Company Web sites and prospectuses offer additional information.

Calvert Investments

Engaged in socially responsible investing (SRI) since 1982, Calvert has also been committed to promoting diversity and women’s empowerment for many years. Calvert’s Women's Principles, which define a global code of conduct on empowering women and date back to 2004, were used as the basis for the UN's Women's Empowerment Principles, which came out in March 2010. Calvert also developed model charter language on board diversity that companies can use to “formalize their commitment to an independent and inclusive board.”

Calvert advocates for women’s empowerment through actively voting its proxies, bringing shareholder resolutions and conducting dialogues with corporate leadership. In 2010, for example, Calvert filed 14 resolutions on diversity and women in the workplace, resulting in eight companies changing their board of directors selection criteria to include race and gender diversity, as noted in its 2010 Shareholder Advocacy Report.

For more information, visit http://www.calvert.com/sri-women.html.

Domini Social Investments

Domini’s investment standards include a commitment to diversity in the workplace, which states in part, “ We therefore look for companies that have substantial representation of women and minorities among management-level positions, in particular among their senior line executives; companies that have created a notably open work environment for minority groups—for example, for gay and lesbian employees; and companies with strong programs for training on sexual harassment and respect for diversity. Conversely, we view with concern companies that have a record of diversity-related controversies and regulatory sanctions, including those related to sexual harassment and discrimination.”

Domini’s Proxy Voting Guidelines also state that the company will vote against boards of trustees that do not include women or people of color.

Domini’s commitment to diversity can be found here; Domini investment standards can be found here, and Domini Proxy Voting Guidelines are here.

Neuberger Berman 

The “Social Investment Guidelines” for the NB Socially Responsive Fund include, in part, the following statement on diversity: “ The Fund strives to invest in companies that are leaders in promoting diversity in the workplace. Among other things, it will look for companies that: promote women and people of color into senior line positions; appoint women and people of color to their boards of directors; offer diversity training and support groups; purchase goods and services from women- and minority-owned firms; and have implemented innovative hiring, training, or other programs for women, people of color, and/or the disabled, or otherwise have a superior reputation in the area of diversity. The Fund attempts to avoid companies with recent discrimination lawsuits related to gender, race, disability, or sexual orientation….” It also notes, “While the Fund encourages companies to have diverse boards of directors and senior management, the absence of women and minorities in these positions does not warrant a company’s exclusion from the Fund.”

For more information, call 800/223-6448 or click: https://www.nb.com/

Parnassus

“For all our Parnassus Funds, we consider diversity, including minority and women’s representation at different levels in the company, and equal opportunity, which includes policies and practice towards employees from underrepresented groups, including women, racial minorities, GLBT, and religious groups,” says Nancy Reyes, director of advisor relations at Parnassus Investments. “We fully support attention that women in the workplace are getting in the U.S. and abroad in the press and proxy season. However, we also think that a wider lens on the issue of diversity is important to our research.”

In information on proxy-voting policies, Parnassus notes, “We will vote for resolutions to improve the representation of women and ethnic minorities in the workforce, particularly at the executive level. We will also vote for proposals to issue reports on a company’s efforts to increase diversity and to assure that all women and ethnic minorities are paid comparably with their counterparts.”

The Statement of Additional Information for Parnassus Funds dated May 1, 2010, is available here. For more information, go here.

Pax World Investments 

Pax World has been a key player in promoting women’s empowerment and diversity through investing. Recently, Pax World published a paper on “Gender Equality as an Investment Concept,” by Joe Keefe, president & CEO of Pax World. In the report, Keefe writes about the “mounting evidence that gender diversity has positive financial consequences.”

In October of 2007, Pax World bought the Women’s Equity Fund, and later renamed it the Pax World Global Women’s Equality Fund (PXWEX). It is uniquely focused on investing in companies that are “global leaders in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.” In May of 2010, Pax World reconfigured and relaunched the fund, “making it more global and imposing higher standards,” according to the company. Pax World is also active in voting proxies, filing shareholder resolutions and conducting corporate dialogues to promote corporate diversity and women’s empowerment.

For more information, go here.

Praxis Mutual Funds

Praxis Mutual Funds (formerly MMA Praxis), managed by Everence Capital Management, don’t have a diversity screen per se. “But are we concerned about these issues? Yes,” says Mark Regier, director of stewardship investing at Everence Financial. Praxis reviews a company’s financial strengths as well as its ability to reflect certain core social values, such as “respecting the dignity and value of all people” and “demonstrating a concern for justice in a global society,” notes the mutual fund prospectus.

Regier adds that Praxis has taken on some challenges related to women’s empowerment in that it is pursuing shareholder actions against practices of modern slavery, including human trafficking. For example, last year Praxis participated in a shareholder dialogue with global hotel chain Wyndham Hotels to improve training and procedures to protect people from human trafficking on hotel grounds. Praxis was also involved in a shareholder dialogue that recently lead to Delta Air Lines becoming the first US airline to sign the tourism Code of Conduct, known as “The Code,” an initiative done in collaboration with ECPAT International that aims at protecting children (often girls) from sexual exploitation in travel and tourism.

For more information, click here.

Walden Asset Management

Walden’s investment approach is to “work with clients to prioritize their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns and to translate them into individually tailored investment guidelines.” Strengths Walden would look for in a company would include strong equal employment opportunity programs and policies, diverse representation in management and on boards of directors and “above-average employment policies encompassing benefits, work-life,” according to a summary of its screening procedures. At the same time, concerns would include a history of systemic discrimination, among other things. Walden is also active in shareholder engagement initiatives, including advocating for inclusive non-discrimination policies.

For more information on shareholder engagement, call 800/282-8782, x.7050, or click here:

http://www.waldenassetmgmt.com/social/action/library/SummResChart_Summ10.pdf http://www.waldenassetmgmt.com/social/action/library/WaldenSummer5.pdf http://www.waldenassetmgmt.com/social/action/library/resolutions08.pdf

Dear Commissioners of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,  

Green America, with outreach to 200,000 individual members and 3,000 business members, is writing to comment on the proposed Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project, Docket number CP17-80-000.  Based on our review of the proposed project, and the risks that it poses to drinking water for people throughout the National Capital Region as well as threats to the natural environment, air quality, and local landowners and businesses, Green America strongly urges FERC to reject this project. 

Green America is concerned that FERC is only assessing the TransCanada/ Columbia Gas portion of a much larger project that is on both sides of the Potomac River. The pipeline needs to be assessed in full across all the affected states. FERC should assess the diverse impacts of the entire pipeline, including a full environmental impact statement, with public hearings. 

The potential harms of this project are alarming: 

1. Leakage to Groundwater Supply 

The geology of the pipeline’s path is such that any leaks from construction or use of the pipeline could be devastating to the water sources of the local population. The pipeline would sit on top of a type of bedrock called Karst, which is highly porous and would allow discharges to enter groundwater supplies. Additionally, the area is prone to sinkholes, which is a further risk to integrity of the pipeline. This would clearly create environmental harm, and would also harm residents and local economies.  

2. Risk of Explosions  

The main component of natural gas is methane, which is highly combustible, leading to dangerous explosions. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) collects data on all reported incidents for gas pipelines. Between 1996 and 2015, there were 11,192 incidents costing $6,678,631,880. These incidents killed 371 people and injured another 1,378. We are opposed to the construction of this dangerous and expensive energy source. 

3. Violation of Private Property Rights 

Green America is opposed to the way that energy companies have coerced or intimidated individuals into selling their property. We strongly oppose energy companies’ right to invoke eminent domain as this project serves no public interest. 

4. Threat to the Potomac River 

The Potomac River is the fourth largest river along the Atlantic coast and the 21st largest in the United States. It drains 14,670 square miles of land area from four states and Washington DC. The proposed pipeline will go under the Potomac River in an area listed as sensitive on the Nationwide Rivers Inventory. The method used to drill under the river could destabilize the bedrock. Even without a catastrophic accident during construction or operation of the pipeline, this increases the risk of serious spills. A spill would have devastating effects on the health and livelihoods of the more than 6 million people who live within the Potomac watershed. 

The creation of the Rover Pipeline in the Midwest, approved by FERC a few months ago, already resulted in the spill of 2.5 million gallons of drilling fluids into pristine wetlands in Ohio. Those wetlands will never be the same. That’s why FERC needs to do more rigorous environmental impact statements, based on real risk analyses. 

5. TransCanada’s Poor Safety Record 

Natural gas production in the United States has greatly increased over the last decade. Pipelines are being rushed and built with fewer quality controls. The failure rate of new pipelines is on par with those constructed as far back as the 1940s. 

TransCanada is known for explosions, leaks, poor materials, and for ignoring its own safety inspections and quality controls. We cannot allow our natural resources, health and safety, and personal livelihoods to be in the hands of such a company. 

6. Methane Emissions and Climate Change 

Methane is a greenhouse gas many times more potent than carbon dioxide over the short term in terms of trapping heat. New evidence is showing that methane leaks from natural gas infrastructure like pipelines is a much more severe problem than we thought in terms of climate change. The climate and polluting effects of methane endangers public health and welfare.  

In addition to the above, Maryland recently enacted a ban on fracking, which received strong support from the public. Residents of Maryland oppose fracking and do not want additional fossil fuel infrastructure construction in their state. 

In closing, our nation needs to move away from fossil fuels and to invest with all due speed in the further development of our clean energy-based economy. Investment in renewable energy creates jobs and provides clean, climate-smart energy and energy security. Rejecting the Eastern Panhandle Expansion Project is a wise decision for the Potomac region and our nation. 

Sincerely yours, 

Todd Larsen 

Executive Co-Director, Green America

Trade is essential for any economy—or community—to thrive, but not all trade is equal. Our globalized economy makes it easy for companies to use the cheapest labor they can find anywhere in the world, even through means of exploitation, while also making it harder for people to know anything about the conditions under which their goods were made. Together we can change that.

Tomatoes

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No more GMOs in your Cheerios.

General Mills Inc. said it is no longer using genetically engineered ingredients to make its signature cereal.

The switch comes after a nearly yearlong campaign by a consumer activist group to pressure General Mills to drop genetically modified organisms, known as GMOs, from the popular breakfast staple.

The food giant said Thursday that it has stopped sourcing bioengineered corn starch and sugar cane for its original Cheerios. Whole grain oats, the chief ingredient in the cereal, are not affected by the change because they are not available in genetically modified varieties, the Minneapolis firm said.

The company maintains that government-approved genetically engineered foods are safe to eat. And it denied that outside pressure motivated the change. The only explanation given by company officials was that they believed the new formulation would be popular.

"We believe consumers will embrace it," General Mills spokesman Mike Siemienas said.

GMO Inside, an anti-GMO campaign, was quick to claim victory. Organized by members of Green America, a Washington-based nonprofit advocating environmental sustainability, GMO Inside encouraged thousands of people on Facebook to urge General Mills to make Cheerios free of genetically modified organisms.

"We decided General Mills and Cheerios were a good place to focus our energy because a huge company like that could have a major impact," said Elizabeth O'Connell, director of the campaign.

The effort came on the heels of the failed 2012 ballot initiative in California known as Proposition 37 that called for labeling of many genetically engineered foods. Supporters of GMO labeling were stung again by a similar loss in Washington state in November known as I-522.

But O'Connell said consumers are doing what governments have failed to do by threatening to take their grocery dollars elsewhere.

"This shows consumers that their voice does make a difference," she said. "Collective action makes a difference. The ballot actions added awareness and created frustration. Having a win is a great way to show we do have power against these huge corporations."

Genetically modified food is one of the most divisive issues in America's culture wars. Farmers have always bred crops for special traits such as drought tolerance. But genetic engineering takes place in a lab where plant genes are altered.

Proponents laud the innovation as a way to boost yields, build disease resistance and feed hungry nations. Today, 93% of all soybeans and 90% of all corn grown in the U.S. are genetically modified varietals, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Up to 80% of processed foods in America contain genetically engineered ingredients, according to the Grocery Manufacturers Assn.

There is no definitive science showing such foods are harmful to human health when consumed. But critics say that more time and testing are required to ensure safety, and that the process is unnatural and makes farmers beholden to a handful of seed manufacturers.

A June ABC News poll found that 93% of Americans favored GMO labeling laws and more than half believed GMOs to be unsafe.

There are no national labeling laws in the U.S. But 64 countries, including all those in the European Union, Japan and Australia, require food manufacturers to indicate to consumers if their products contain GMOs.

General Mills represents the largest brand to remove genetically engineered ingredients, but others too have made similar moves to meet consumer demands.

Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's said last year that it would strike the controversial ingredients from its products. Restaurant chain Chipotle said it would phase out GMOs this year. Whole Foods has pledged to label all products in its stores with genetically engineered ingredients by 2018. Last month the grocer said it would stop selling the popular Chobani Greek brand yogurt because it contained GMOs.

General Mills' decision to drop GMOs from Cheerios is an attempt to burnish its reputation, according to Colin O'Neil, director of government affairs for the Washington-headquartered Center for Food Safety. The company spent nearly $2 million defeating the labeling initiatives in California and Washington, an effort that angered many consumers.

"I think grass-roots pressure to change some ingredients is one of the pressure points," O'Neil said. "The real pressure is that the industry has to spend millions on every state to defeat labeling. And we'll get to the point sooner rather than later when these major companies recognize their brand reputation is on the line the more they funnel money into these anti-consumer campaigns."

Oregon and Colorado could be the next to put GMO labeling initiatives on the general election ballots this year.

General Mills opposes state-by-state labeling laws because it would be too costly but supports a national initiative.

The company said it was relatively easy to exclude genetically engineered ingredients from its original Cheerios because the recipe calls for only a small amount of corn starch and sugar.

The cereal maker said it could not do the same for its other products such as Lucky Charms and Cinnamon Toast Crunch because genetically engineered foods were so pervasive in the food system.

"For our other cereals, the widespread use of GM seed in crops such as corn, soy, or beet sugar would make reliably moving to non-GM ingredients difficult, if not impossible," the company said on its website.

Siemienas, the General Mills spokesman, declined to say whether the company was considering dropping bioengineered ingredients from its other foods.

The Cheerios victory would be short-lived if General Mills didn't expand its list of non-GMO products, said O'Connell of Green America.

"If time passes and General Mills hasn't increased its commitment, then perhaps this was just for PR," she said. "We're hoping this is just the first step."

david.pierson@latimes.com

Groups Say Ellis Unfit to Serve, Citing “Xenophobia,” “Lack of Regard for Human and Civil Rights.”

WASHINGTON, DC – May 18 2017– Green America and The Child Labor Coalition issued the following statement of concern regarding the consideration of Curtis Ellis for the position of Deputy Undersecretary in charge of the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB):

“We express deep concern that Curtis Ellis is a contender to serve as Deputy Undersecretary of the Department of Labor’s Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB). ILAB plays a vital role in advancing the United States’ positions addressing the important issues of child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking worldwide. The Deputy Undersecretary position for which Mr. Ellis is being considered serves as the Department of Labor’s top diplomat; the position requires great tact and the ability to work with diverse countries and groups. However, Mr. Ellis’s stated views on issues of race, refugees, and immigration demonstrate a level of xenophobia and lack of regard for human and civil rights that make him unsuited to serve as the leader of ILAB and the voice of the United States on important labor and human rights issues

“The denigration of groups based on race, ethnicity, or national origin is racist and directly contrary to the vital role of addressing the rights of workers overseas. For this important position, the United States needs a person who demonstrates professionalism and the desire to uphold the rights of all people worldwide. It is essential that those who espouse white supremacy not be elevated to positions of authority in the federal government, much less a position as vital as the Undersecretary of ILAB. A white supremacist should not be setting policy on child labor, forced labor, and human trafficking – issues which are often dependent on exploitation of people based on race, ethnicity, and national origin.”

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA

Green America is the nation's leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America (formerly Co-op America) provides economic strategies and practical tools for businesses and individuals to solve today's social and environmental problems. www.GreenAmerica.org

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