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In the crooning voices of the Beach Boys: Let’s go surfing now, everybody’s learning how. It’s summer and the world beckons, from surfing to gardening and campfires to fitness. Whatever your favorite sunny day pastimes, though, it’s important to apply your green living experience and consider things like waste, carbon footprint, toxic chemicals, and more. Fortunately, Green Business Network members have everything you need for sustainable summer fun, whether that’s hiking or taking it easy. 

These products and ideas will take your sustainable summer fun to the next level. 

Downward Dog and Sidewalk Art 

There are so many ways to have fun and pass the time in the summer. 

From the Māori people of New Zealand, poi is a juggling performing art, as well as the name of the equipment. Try it for yourself with Flow Toys’ Podpoi® v2. Flowtoys produces quality, sustainable LED products that are designed to be durable, and have a lifetime warranty. All our creations are rechargeable and we do not support single use plastics or novelty glow products, and do not believe in planned obsolescence.

Take a little one out for a picnic with fresh watermelon and sunscreen and read Save The Bees!, a felt book from Daiseye. This adorable educational fabric book is 100% cotton and woven with yarn that is colored with AZO-free, PCP tested, eco-friendly dyes.

Take your hiking the recycled route with the Recycled Rolltop Backpack from Green Eco Dream. It's water resistant and made of 100% recycle plastic from the ocean.

Have a s’mores party wherever you go with What’s Good’s portable fire pit (that only needs rubbing alcohol to work) and reusable marshmallow skewers made of bamboo.

Fill a sandbox or make your own beach volleyball court with Safe Sand Company’s natural beach sand or white sand that is washed and sifted beach sand, always harvested in its natural state.

Book a visit to Bend, Oregon’s Nomadics Tipi Makers for a meditative experience in traditional Sioux-designed tipis based on the premiere text, The Indian Tipi by the Laubins. 

Treat yourself to a sustainable, culinary tour in locations around the world from Green Earth Travel. 

Go from Warrior 1 to Star Pose on EcoChoices’ cotton yoga mat, bolsters, or meditation cushions. 

Get creative with a 16 set of crayon rocks in a cotton muslin bag from The Green Corner Store. 

Stay Safe in the Sustainable Summer Sun 

Part of the joy of summer is the hours of sunshine, but never underestimate the intensity of the sun. 

First, protect your skin with sustainable and non-toxic sunscreens. 

Sol Intense SPF 30, a 100% all natural sunscreen, from SMB Essentials.

Comfrey Lip Balm from Super Salve, which contains organic ingredients to protect from the sun's rays.

Mineral Sport Sunscreen Spray and Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Lotion SPF 30 from Green Eco Dream, made from non nano zinc oxide and botanical ingredients, as well as being reef safe.

You can also fight the heat with the right clothing and bedding options. 

Avocado Green Mattress' organic hemp (one of the most sustainable textiles) sheets and duvet cover, which stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Scrunchies and caps from Terra Natural Designs, made from vegan materials and ethically sourced.

The Ikat bucket hat from Lucia’s Imports, made from handwoven Guatemalan ikat fabric.

Work on Your Green Thumb 

Summer is a great time to start or continue gardening, with the bees buzzing and plants soaking up the rays. 

Try out a Red Dragon Torch Kit from Flame Engineering to get rid of those pesky weeds once and for all. 

Make sure your plants are properly hydrated with a Squirrel and Snail Watering Stake from Serrv. 

Try Insecto’s insecticide made specifically for organic production. 

Plant all kinds of vegetables, flowers, and herbs from Turtle Tree Seed, including Dottenfelder Storage Cabbage Seeds. 

Summer officially began a week ago and now you can guarantee you’ll have a great one, one that’s good for both people and planet. 

The Green Business Network is the first and most diverse network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in the country, home to both rising social and eco enterprises and the most established green businesses around. 

Whether November's results tip towards red or blue, we can continue our work together for a green America!

Company Scorecard: U.S. Communications Industry Mostly Underperforming on Climate, Energy Justice Policies 

9 Out of 10 Major U.S. Communications Companies Received “C” Grades or Lower.

WASHINGTON, DC – JUNE 6, 2024 – A new analysis of 10 top U.S. communications companies found that T-Mobile was the best-performing company for renewable energy goals, renewable energy usage, greenhouse gas (GHG) goals, energy justice, transparency, and supply chain policy. The new report from Green America, titled Clean and Just Energy is Calling: The Communications Industry Needs to Listen, includes interviews with energy justice leaders on fostering a just energy transition, details the need to transition to renewable energy, reveals inequities that can be found within the renewable energy sector and steps for addressing them, and grades companies on whether their energy policies address the climate crisis and benefit Black, Latine, Indigenous and other communities facing environmental injustice.

In the first two editions of Calling for A Clean, Just Transition report, Green America analyzed the telecoms giants AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile on their adoption of renewable energy and the extent to which they were supporting energy justice through their clean energy purchases. The reports found that since the campaign launched in 2017, the three telecoms increased their clean energy purchases substantially, but the sector still has a long way to go to reach 100% procurement of renewable energy.

The new report broadened the number of companies evaluated to get a fuller picture of the communications industry’s GHG footprint, energy use, clean energy goals, and commitments to energy justice. To that end, Green America included cable and internet providers as well as telecoms.  

Dan Howells, climate campaigns director at Green America, said: “While some companies performed better than others, all of them need significant improvement. Zero companies received an overall ‘A’ grade, and in the category of energy justice specifically, no companies even scored better than a ‘B-.’ Across the board, the communications industry needs to do better on demanding a just energy transition.”

Key findings of the report include:

• The 10 companies profiled use at least 51 million MWh of energy annually, equivalent to powering 4.3 million homes.
• Most of the companies are sourcing less than 10% of their energy from renewable sources, with several companies reporting 0% renewables.
• Although T-Mobile continues to be a leader in the industry in the use of renewable energy, reporting 100% renewable energy usage, not all of that energy is putting new wind and solar power on the grid, since they are using unbundled renewable energy credit (RECs) for much of their energy. The company estimates that its transition to renewable energy will save the company $100 million over 15 years.
• AT&T and Verizon are entering into significant contracts for renewable energy.
• Comcast and Lumen have both taken minimal steps to adopt renewable energy, with renewables equaling 10% or less of their overall energy use.
• Much work remains to be done by the communications industry to leverage their market power to increase the use and availability of renewables and phase out fossil fuels.
• Many of the companies in the communications sector lack transparency regarding their environmental and climate impacts, adoption of renewable energy or clean energy goals, or any efforts to support energy justice or address human rights abuses in the renewable energy supply chain through their energy purchases.
• Energy justice is poorly addressed by most of the companies in the communications industry. Several companies have few, if any, publicly available policies addressing commitments to energy justice.

Elizabeth Silleck La Rue, report co-author and CEO of Silleck Consulting Services, LLC, said: “Similar to the movement for environmental justice, deliberate efforts to foster energy justice arise out of a historic pattern of injustice around access, affordability, participation in decision-making, and the distribution of burdens and benefits associated with energy production. In other words, the pursuit of energy justice is necessary because the ways in which energy is managed, produced and distributed follow existing patterns of systemic inequities which disadvantage and disempower communities, often based on race, class, and gender.” 

Naphtal Haya, practice lead of Alternative Energy Storage Technologies at DNV Energy Storage Advisory North America, said: “Out of necessity, the energy transition is bound to happen sooner or later. What’s not guaranteed is the nature of the transition - will it be equitable or will it perpetuate the mining industry’s historical injustices? Supply chain disclosure and third-party supply chain due diligence are key to ensuring a just energy transition for disadvantaged groups in the upstream, midstream and downstream sections of the supply chains of energy transition minerals.”

Charlotte Tate, advocacy lead, The Coalition to End Forced Labour in the Uyghur Region, said: “Addressing Uyghur forced labour is critical to creating a just energy transition. The use of Uyghur forced labour is a risk throughout the renewables industry, including solar panels and electric vehicles. All companies should urgently trace their entire supply chain, address any points of exposure to Uyghur forced labour, and fully exit the Uyghur Region. No industry, including the renewable energy sector, should be reliant on pervasive state-imposed forced labour.”

Company-specific findings

Green America reviewed publicly available information from companies, including reporting on climate to CDP and information provided in corporate socially responsible (CSR) reports and on company websites, in order to determine steps companies are taking on renewable energy and energy justice goals.

T-Mobile (B+) continues to lead among telecommunication companies in progress toward the use of renewable energy. While the company claims to buy 100% renewable power since 2021, much of that comes from unbundled Renewable Energy Credits, instead of directly from renewable energy projects. T-Mobile has a net zero goal, which is stronger than its competitors’ carbon neutral goals; carbon neutral targets can permit offsets, undermining true progress toward renewable capacity. The company is making some progress on environmental justice and supply chain policies. It estimates that its transition to renewable energy will save the company $100 million over 15 years.

AT&T (C) did make some progress in using renewable energy, but the company still lags far behind T-Mobile and is not investing in the wind and solar purchases needed from major companies to shift markets. The company is stronger than competitors in supporting diversity in its supply chains and preventing poor labor practices.

Verizon (C) did make some progress since 2021 with increased renewable energy contracts. The company has a long way to go to reach 100% renewable energy, and Verizon also has not publicly released its emissions or renewable energy data to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) since 2021, making it difficult to truly evaluate the company’s progress. Verizon’s record is mixed on energy justice and supply chain policies and practices.

Comcast Corporation (C-)does report to CDP and is using approximately 9% renewable energy with a goal of being carbon neutral by 2035. The company does not have a renewable energy portfolio goal, but it has put some energy justice measures in place. Comcast does have a supply chain policy, but it is weak on conflict minerals.

Lumen Technologies (D)does not have a clear clean energy or GHG reduction goal and is using a very low proportion of renewable energy. Green America did not find clear environmental justice policies, but the company does have limited supply chain and conflict mineral policies.

Charter Communications (D) does not report to CDP. The company does report out on its energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions through its own sustainability reporting. The company has a GHG reduction goal but no renewable energy portfolio goal. Green America could not find meaningful support for supplier diversity or a supply chain or conflict minerals policy. The company provides some support for entrepreneurial opportunities.

Frontier Communications Parent Inc (F) does not report to CDP and has no meaningful information regarding its energy usage, renewable energy goals or usage, GHG reduction goals, energy justice goals or efforts. It has minimal environmental justice and supply chain policies.

Dish Network/Echostar (F) does not report to CDP, nor does the company provide disclosures on its own website regarding GHG emissions or goals, energy usage, renewable energy usage or goals, energy justice goals or policies. It has a good supply chain policy, but a limited conflict minerals policy

Altice USA Inc. (F)does not report to CDP.The company provides data on its GHG emissions on its website and also reports having a 500 kW solar installation. It does not have a GHG goal, a renewable energy goal, does not appear to have policies supporting environmental justice, and does not have a supply chain or conflict minerals policy.

Cable One Inc. (F) does not have a clean energy or GHG emissions goal. It does not report to CDP.  The company does not report using renewable energy, nor does it appear to support energy justice or have a supply chain or conflict minerals policy.

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ABOUT GREEN AMERICA 

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

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

Green America investigated the clean energy use of major communications companies and whether the energy they use advances energy justice.

We shouldn’t have to compromise people and planet to stay connected.

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

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

Do you want the tea? Organic tea, that is! Then it’s time to take a trip to Arkansas and visit The Green Corner Store’s Tea Bar—or you can visit their website, of course. 

Treated like a sustainable crop, organic tea is made without chemicals like herbicides or chemical fertilizer and grown with regenerative practices like crop rotation. 

Loose leaf, matcha, oolong, iced—tea has been a beloved and global drink for millennia, with the first physical evidence found in the mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han in Xi'an of China’s Han Dynasty in the second century BC. 

But you’ve never seen tea like this. 

Three Green Americans Walk Into a Tea Bar... 

The Green Corner Store first opened in 2009, selling a variety of green products for personal care, home and kitchen, kids, and more to local Arkansans. Seven years later, in the fall of 2016, the Tea Bar opened. 

“It was the perfect complement to our eco-friendly corner store,” said founder and owner Shelley Green. “It seamlessly added a hospitality aspect to our customer experience.” 

Committed to staying local, The Green Corner Store’s anchor brand of tea is Arkansas-based Savoy Tea Co. 

Green says of Savoy: “They ethically source teas that are grown and produced by families and small producers. They have many organic teas and exclusive varieties blended in their very own Tea Lab in northwest Arkansas.” 

Though not every tea sold is organic, The Green Corner Store boasts over 35 different teas, some sourced from local tea suppliers who grow and forage their own leaves and herbs, and Green ensures customers never have to worry about stale tea. 

Organic Tea, Tea Lattes, and Kombucha on Tap 

“We’ve often heard from our customers that it’s difficult to find a place that caters to those who are enthusiastic about drinking tea,” Green says, noting it’s mostly coffee shops with tea. 

For those who may want to decrease their caffeine intake or simply explore the world of tea, the Tea Bar, or The Green Corner Store’s online store, is a perfect starting point. 

“We brew each cup to order, with hot and iced tea, matcha, tea lattes, and kombucha on tap,” Green describes. “Then there is the sheer enjoyment of having a cup of tea made for them and taking that first sip. We can make recommendations based on their preferences and then flavor accordingly. It’s an experience for the senses. Customers can see, smell, and taste our teas.” 

There really is tea for everyone—classics like Earl Grey, a tea latte if you’re a fan of more milk, or herbal for those who don’t want any caffeine, and teas infused with things like ginger or turmeric if you’re not feeling your best. 

“Discovering a new favorite is always fun, and our monthly Special-Tea Drink is a big draw,” says Green. 

Shopping Local Is Building Community 

On The Green Corner Store website, there’s a tab for “Arkansas Made,” and that is an important part of the business for Green. 

“From the start, we wanted to showcase the creativity of our region and bring in local art and products,” she explains. “Just as customers are wanting more and more to shop locally, our makers want to buy locally, too. We love introducing our farmers to makers that can use what they grow and building community this way.” 

Running her business this way, Green notes they’re less focused on a competitive environment and instead take pride in seeing others succeed. When she first opened her store in Little Rock, she says there weren’t many establishments in the neighborhood but now, it’s an area popular for tourists and residents alike. 

“We have worked diligently to build a successful company that gives back to the community.” 

The Green Corner Store sources its products from local festivals, trade shows, and customers’ recommendations. “We source goods from companies that share our values,” Green adds. “We look for clean, non-toxic ingredients, ethical practices, recyclable and upcycled materials, and minimal and eco-packaging.” 

The establishment also hosts a “Meet the Maker” series where local vendors come and talk to customers. 

Consider the Environment in Every Aspect 

Just as the makers and businesses they source from, The Green Corner Store commits to their own eco-friendly and sustainable business practices. It’s in “every aspect” of the store, according to Green, from package-free products to help close the loop and encourage their customers to move towards zero-waste and plastic-free lifestyles, and non-toxic cleaning products for general housekeeping. 

“At the Tea Bar,” Green notes, “we encourage our customers to bring their own reusable containers and after brewing, we keep the tea leaves to donate them to the nearby community garden’s compost pile.” 

By prioritizing local products, the business can lessen its carbon footprint from long-distance shipping. The benefits of locality don’t stop there, as Green says other local businesses donate their unwanted bags, labels, and other materials instead of tossing them. 

Located in a 120-year-old historic building, they rely on ceiling fans, large windows with natural lighting and shades, and open doors to lessen the use of energy-sucking appliances. 

Green says she grew up with an “intense love” of nature and as she explored books about the environment and alternative health practices, she had her “AHA” moment. 

“I connected the state of the environment with my personal health, and I knew I had found my passion and wanted to share it with others,” she says. Her education continued as she worked for community development nonprofits, an environmental center on a college campus, and beyond. “With my background in education and retail, I decided to open my store as a place where others could learn what it means to have an eco-lifestyle.” 

Most of all, Green says she is happy to run a business that people trust, a workplace that values its employees, and a friendly “hello” to all who work through the doors. 

As one customer-turned-staff member said: “Being at The Green Corner Store is being part of the community. It brings me joy to be working at the heart of it all.” 

The Green Corner Store is one of thousands of businesses who have been certified as a Green Business Network member, a designation given to businesses which meet or exceed Green America’s standards for social and environmental responsibility.    

Instead of passing the buck on to the rest of us and our most vulnerable citizens, big insurance companies must use their leverage and clout to push the energy transition to a more sustainable future.

Cathy Cowan Becker, Guest columnist

This column was originally published by the Des Moines Register on May 23, 2024.

As the planet warms, the insurance industry finds itself at a crossroads, entangled in a paradox of its own making. On one hand, insurers bear the immediate brunt of climate change through increased claims from natural disasters. On the other, they perpetuate the crisis by backing the fossil fuel projects driving global warming. This duality not only exposes a glaring hypocrisy but also raises fundamental questions about the role of insurers in our collective future.

A recent article in The Hill highlighted the insurance industry’s losses due to inadequate housing policies exacerbated by climate change. But it missed a critical piece of the puzzle: Even as insurers withdraw from climate-vulnerable regions, they continue to invest in and insure fossil fuels ― the very industry at the heart of the climate crisis. This omission points to a larger, uncomfortable truth about the insurance sector’s complicity in the crisis of our time, leading us to an uninsurable future.

In 2023, the United States was pummeled by a record number of climate-driven weather disasters, each inflicting over $1 billion in physical damage. Since 1980 the United States has experienced 376 of these billion-dollar events, with damage totaling $2.6 trillion and, tragically, 16,340 associated deaths.

These catastrophes underscore the increasing volatility we all now face. As frontline responders, insurers are tasked with picking up the pieces ― a role that grows more daunting with each passing extreme event and year.

Yet, despite this clear threat to their bottom line ― and by extension to all of us ― major insurers are doubling down on the fossil fuel industry and have begun to cancel or restrict home coverage in our most vulnerable states.

In May, State Farm — the largest insurer in California — stopped accepting new applications for homeowners insurance due to “rapidly growing catastrophe exposure.” In June, Allstate followed suit. In July, Farmers stopped offering home and auto policies in Florida, forcing 100,000 ratepayers to find new insurance. In October, Nationwide canceled policies for 10,500 homeowners in coastal North Carolina.

As the pool shrinks and risks increase, insurance prices rise for everyone else. Nationally, homeowners insurance premiums are up 21% from a year ago and 35% from two years ago, according to the 2023 Policygenius Home Insurance Pricing report.

Despite increasing climate risks, insurers prop up risky oil and gas projects that, without their backing, would struggle to find the financing and insurance required to proceed. Moreover, they’re sinking billions into these climate-polluting fossil fuel companies, embedding the sector deeper into the fabric of our economy.

Take Berkshire Hathaway, for example, a conglomerate that owns Geico, Guard, and General Re insurance companies, along with extensive holdings in coal, oil, and gas. Its CEO, Warren Buffett, downplays the financial risks of climate change, a stance increasingly out of touch with the realities facing people and the planet.

The insurance industry’s support for fossil fuels is not just a matter of corporate autonomy but a direct contradiction of its role as risk assessors. Insurers meticulously evaluate the risk wildfires or floods pose to homes, yet seem to ignore the broader, more devastating risk their investments in and insuring of fossil fuels pose to the rest of us.

This cognitive dissonance was starkly highlighted by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, Ron Wyden and Bernie Sanders in a letter to State Farm, which has $18.2 billion in fossil fuel investments:

“It seems nonsensical at best — and complicit at worst — for State Farm to carefully factor climate risk from wildfires into its homeowner’s insurance policies, refusing in some cases to provide such policies at all, while apparently ignoring the heightened climate risk that its investment portfolio is helping to create,” the senators wrote.

The financial data is just as damning. Nine U.S. insurance companies invest anywhere from $1.2 billion to $46.2 billion in fossil fuels ― enough to pay for the 28 billion-dollar climate disasters in 2023 several times over.

It’s a hypocrisy that cannot stand. Insurers, by the very nature of their business, should be leading the charge against climate change, not underwriting and financing its acceleration. Their dual role as protectors against risk and investors means they are uniquely positioned to influence the shift toward a sustainable future.

Yet, as it stands, the insurance industry is choosing short-term profits over long-term viability ― which likely explains why few insurance companies have announced they would drop or reduce coverage for oil and gas projects, much less divesting from fossil fuel companies. The insurance industry must stop feeding the money pipeline that threatens to make our world uninsurable and uninhabitable.

Instead of passing the buck on to the rest of us and our most vulnerable citizens, big insurance companies must use their leverage and clout to push the energy transition to a more sustainable — and insurable — future.

Cathy Cowan Becker is the Responsible Finance Campaign Director at Green America.

Instead of passing the buck on to the rest of us and our most vulnerable citizens, big insurance companies must use their leverage and clout to push the energy transition to a more sustainable future. Column by Responsible Finance Campaign Director Cathy Cowan Becker

Thanks to pressure from thousands of consumers taking action with Green America, B&G Foods – the owner of iconic brands like Green Giant, Cream of Wheat, and Spice Islands – is taking initial steps on pesticides, including evaluating 20 crops for pesticides and encouraging suppliers to use Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This is an important start, but much more needs to be done.

Across the United States, industrial agriculture techniques like monocropping and overuse of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers contribute to topsoil depletion, biodiversity and pollinator loss, water pollution, and the climate crisis. In addition, pesticide exposure harms farmworkers and rural communities.

As a major food manufacturer, B&G Foods has the power to drive adoption of regenerative agriculture – a holistic approach that rebuilds soil health, sequesters carbon, increases yields sustainably, reduces pollution, and mitigates climate change. That's why we are asking B&G Foods to transition its entire supply chain to regenerative agricultural practices, including cover-cropping, no-till farming, and crop rotation. With healthy soil as the foundation, regenerative techniques reduce reliance on pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

Additionally, B&G Foods must implement an integrated pest management (IMP) plan, required by all suppliers of all crops, to reduce and phase out all highly hazardous pesticides, starting with those that endanger farmworkers, rural communities, and ecosystems.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has issued a "final warning" – we must transition away from extractive industrial agriculture to regenerative techniques that heal farmland and act as a solution to the climate crisis.

Learn more about regenerative agriculture and it's importance for the health of the planet, pollinators, and us.

Climate change is real. Some solutions are not. This is true when it comes to the wood pellet controversy: cutting down forests, burning the trees, and then claiming forest destruction is a renewable energy source.

That is what industry and some governments are claiming. Known as biomass or wood pellets, many countries burn wood pellets for electricity, claiming it’s green. The industry is dominated by two major companies, Enviva and Drax, that receive massive subsidies to turn forests into fuel, while claiming to be green.

But here’s the truth:

1. Wood pellets release more carbon than coal when burned!
2. The carbon stored in trees chopped down for biomass won’t be sequestered again for decades since it takes that long for trees to regrow.
3. One study shows deforestation from wood pellet biomass harms local drinking water and at-risk species.
4. Making pellets releases harmful particulate matter damaging the health of nearby communities and disproportionately affecting marginalized communities, mostly located in the US Southeast.
5. Wood pellet Biomass plants run at all hours, creating noise pollution that keeps local residents awake all night.
6. The trees cut down and processed into pellets are then exported, often long distances internationally, emitting more greenhouse gases and worsening the climate crisis.
7. Communities in the US are being harmed so that foreign governments can claim to be using green energy from wood pellet biomass.

Despite this and emerging scientific consensus against biomass energy as a climate solution, the EU, UK, Japan, and South Korea give billions in renewable energy subsidies to these energy companies.

The companies also claim to use only forest scraps for their operations. However, they have been exposed to using whole trees including old growth. Over a million acres of forest have already been cut in the US to feed the wood pellet biomass industry, releasing millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. At the end of 2020, 88 million tons of carbon dioxide was emitted from the production and combustion of biomass from US trees.

And the industry continues to grow. The U.S. Forest Service announced in June 2023 around $10 million in grants in support of a range of startup biomass-burning projects in states such as Alaska, California, Washington, Colorado, Kentucky, New Hampshire and Virginia.

“The companies are already destroying forests in the Southeast and now they’re coming for the West Coast and beyond,” said Dan Howells, Green America Climate Campaigns Director. And residents are pushing back.

Join Green America and our many colleagues who see the forest for the trees to oppose current and proposed projects touting the wood pellet controversy, which is cutting down forests as a solution to the climate crisis.

Across the United States, the wealth gap is seen and felt in various areas, from wages to investment funds, and all aspects of owning and improving property. BIPOC and low-income Americans struggle in specific ways because of the wealth gap, including a lack of equity, savings, and access to clean environments. Clean Energy Credit Union (CECU) {GBN} is seeking to change that with the Clean Energy for All loan program. 

“The Clean Energy for All Program will help underserved communities afford energy-saving, home and transportation upgrades, saving individuals money on utilities bills and creating a cleaner environment,” says CEO Terri Mickelsen. 

“Opening the door to more equity, economic mobility, and opportunities for those impacted by credit or income challenges due to systemic racism or other injustices, and disproportionately affected by the climate crisis, is our goal.” 

How Does the Loan Program Work? 

After soft launching with over $800k loans financed in 2023, CECU is officially launching the program for everyone. Its overarching goal is to ensure everyone, regardless of income and barriers due to systemic discrimination, has access to affordable clean energy. 

The program is an established special purpose credit program, authorized by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and implemented by Regulation B, to meet the credit needs of those previously underserved and frequently denied. 

Through this program, BIPOC and low-income borrowers can receive a 0.50% discount on CECU’s standard loan rates. Loan types related to clean energy include: 

• Solar panels 
• Geothermal heat pumps 
• Green home improvements 
• Electric vehicles 
• Electric bicycles 

Clean Energy for All also aims to help people facing credit challenges. 

To ensure a fairer chance of loan approval, CECU looks beyond traditional credit scores to factors like rental history, utility payments, and employment stability. Further, if borrowers have a credit score below 680, they can qualify for a discounted rate, which can sometimes be more than the offered 0.50% discount. 

Wealth Cannot Dictate a Safe and Healthy Life 

With increasing inflation and stagnant wages, people across the United States are feeling the pressure from the cost of living. According to a 2022 Pew report, incomes have steadily risen for the upper class since 1970 but plunged for those in the middle class over the same period. 

From 1971 to 2021, the middle class dropped from 61% of all US adults to just 50%. Aggregate income held by the middle class has also dropped—from 62% in 1970 to 42% in 2020, while the upper class's aggregate income increased by 21 points. 

These chasms of inequality are felt more acutely by different communities across the country. 

According to the latest data from the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, the wealth gap between the median white household and the median Black household rose to $240,120, a nearly $50k increase from 2019. 

In 2022, median Black wealth topped out at $44,890. Non-white Latino or Hispanic households had a median $62,000, while white households’ wealth median was a staggering $285,000. 

Wealth gaps like these lead to a significant difference in quality of life, with those at the top likelier to have equity such as homeownership, investments and savings, and live in nicer and healthier neighborhoods and environments. 

In another 2022 Pew report, nearly three-fourths of all adult Black Americans said they have just enough money to meet their basic needs, or “a little left over for extras.” One in seven Black adults are working more than one job to meet their basic needs. 

When things like safety nets and clean air are not inherent rights, but “perks” for only those who can afford them, society has undeniably failed people and planet. 

Everyone Deserves a Home and Clean Environment 

One major area where Americans are feeling the tight squeeze is affordable housing. A 2022 Pew survey showed that 85% of all Americans consider the availability of affordable housing either a major or minor problem in their community, compared to 14% who said it isn’t a problem at all. Black Americans also largely outrank other groups and communities surveyed saying that affordable housing is a “major problem.” 

There are several benefits to owning a home, including building generational wealth, equity, and credit, as well as benefits from community and for a family’s health. Housing discrimination means not everyone gets to enjoy these benefits at the same rate. 

Only 41.7% of Black households own their homes—the lowest homeownership rate nationally among any group. The Black-white homeownership gap exceeds 30% in 37 states and 40% in 10 of those states. 

Much of this is due to the wealth gap leading to disproportionate loan rate denials, something CECU wants to help fix. 

According to the most recent Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data and the Urban Institute, Black Americans are denied all housing loan types, including home improvement loans for things like green projects, at higher rates than every other race or ethnicity group. 

Denial rates also disproportionately affect those with lower incomes and credit scores, according to BankRate, and Black Americans are amongst those with the lowest incomes and credit scores. 

Renewable and clean energy provides many benefits, from job creation to a more reliable and secure power grid. For homeowners and residents, the benefits are crucial. Making energy improvements to a house can help lower costs and make energy more accessible for remote, coastal, or isolated communities. 

The Clean Energy for All program wants to see all Americans receive these economic benefits—but that’s not all. 

Clean energy also helps reduce carbon emissions and air pollution, which can be fatal. Cancer Alley is a stretch of land along the Mississippi River in Louisiana that is home to 150 petrochemical plants and refineries—and higher rates of cancer compared to the national average. 

For people living in majority Black and low-income areas of Cancer Alley, their cancer risk is over 10% higher than in majority-white areas. This is not a coincidence, but instead an example of environmental racism. 

While making a home more energy efficient won’t solve every problem, or fix places like Cancer Alley, it can do a lot and deserves to be enjoyed by all. 

In early 2024, CECU hit $1 million in clean energy financing, with more on the way. 

“We are committed to building a more equitable and sustainable future,” says Mickelsen. “The Clean Energy for All Loan Program is just one step in that direction.” 

Clean Energy Credit Union is one of thousands of businesses who have been certified as a Green Business Network member, a designation given to businesses which meet or exceed Green America’s standards for social and environmental responsibility.  

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

Pro bike racing is no stranger to protests. Activists for causes of all stripes routinely use the platform the sport provides to spread messages about climate change, political causes, and a variety of issues. But a protest that happened recently in Belgium at the Tour of Flanders was unusual for two reasons. 

Medium- and heavy-duty (MHD) trucks are part of the backbone of our economy. Yet, the majority of these vehicles are polluting and expensive to run and maintain. Fossil fuel engines emit concentrated amounts of dangerous pollutants harming human health and the environment. Much of that pollution is disproportionately affecting disenfranchised communities, including low-income residents and people of color who often live near ports, busy highways, and truck depots. And of course these trucks are exacerbating climate change.  

Research shows that zero-emission, electric heavy-duty trucks and buses are cheaper to own and operate over the lifetime of the vehicle compared to a polluting version, saving fleets money. U.S. fleets operating zero-emission trucks today are already seeing these benefits, and zero-emission truck and bus manufacturers are continually improving their vehicles’ range, capabilities, and reliability. In addition, drivers love them — they’re quieter, smoother, more stable and faster when quick bursts of speeds are needed. 

Help is on the way to tackle the pollution generated by trucks and buses. Soon the EPA is expected to finalize the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles, Phase 3 standard. The Biden Administration could take another vital step to reduce climate pollution from our country’s trucks, buses, and other heavy-duty vehicles.  

The proposed standards will apply to heavy-duty truck vehicles for upcoming model years 2028-2032. Phase 1 and 2 of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions Standards for trucks were implemented in 2014 and 2017, respectively. Those standards reduced greenhouse gas emissions from medium- and heavy-duty vehicles by 11% and 14%, respectively, below 2010 levels by 2021. The new Phase 3 standards will, by 2032, likely reduce GHG emissions from heavy-duty vehicles significantly more than that (though possibly not enough to truly protect health and the climate). The proposed standards will apply to a wide range of heavy-duty vehicles, including trucks, buses, and trailers. They will be phased in over time and will likely get stronger in the later years. 

A strong rule on the heavy-duty transportation industry could ensure that the United States continues to make strong progress in cutting pollution from our most polluting sector. This new standard will also lead to greater availability and sales of zero-emission vehicles in the U.S. through economies of scale. 

Some industry players support these new coming standards. For example, more than 100 influential businesses, including Siemens, ABB, Verizon and Best Buy, came together to support the strongest proposed greenhouse pollution standards for heavy-duty vehicles. These companies, which collectively operate more than 2.5 million fleet vehicles to deliver goods across the country, have worked with experts at CALSTART, Ceres, and the Electrification Coalition. 

Other truck manufacturers and the oil industry have been advocating to weaken EPA’s pollution standards on heavy-duty trucks, despite saying publicly that they’re committed to cutting their emissions and despite the trucking industry’s main trade group, the Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association, signing an agreement with California regulators saying publicly they would comply with the state's plan to phase out diesel-powered trucks. The Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association (EMA) has advocated to weaken numerous key aspects of the EPA's proposed "Phase 3" GHG emissions standards for trucks. In June 2023 comments to the EPA, the association said that without substantial revision, including slower timelines, the standards would be "arbitrary, capricious and wholly unreasonable." It also advised the EPA to reopen and reduce the ambition of the phase 2 standards.  

Green America hopes the Biden Administration takes the right road to cleaning up the pollution from heavy duty trucks and protects communities with strong clean truck standards.  

INVESTIGATION: FACTORY FOR HANESBRANDS, SPECIALIZED BICYCLE COMPONENTS FAILED TO PAY WORKERS $2 MILLION 

As Unpaid Workers’ Families Go Hungry, Green America Urges Companies to Step in;  

To Date, Hanes Has Offered “Miniscule” Support, Specialized Totally Unresponsive to Pleas for Help. 

WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 20, 2024 – A new report by the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) found that 831 employees of the APS factory in El Salvador were wrongfully denied US $2 million in compensation after the factory shut down in August 2022. The workers, who were manufacturing products for Hanesbrands (Hanes) and Specialized Bicycle Components (Specialized), were legally owed unpaid wages, severance and other terminal benefits as determined by the Salvadoran Ministry of Labor. 

Following initial engagement by the WRC, two lesser-known brands committed to paying the workers two thirds of the unpaid total, US $1.34 million. While US $659,000 of the unpaid compensation currently remains outstanding, Hanes has offered a “miniscule” amount of money, and Specialized has offered nothing.  

Green America, a member of the Clean Clothes Campaign (CCC), has delivered 10K petitions and signed on 30 organizations in support of the APS workers. It urges Hanes and Specialized to help the people in their supply chains through meaningful financial contributions. After Green America activists delivered petitions directly to the Specialized headquarters in Morgan Hill, California, the company blocked email domains of several organizations that attempted to reach out on behalf of the workers. 

Jean Tong, Labor Justice Campaigns Director at Green America, said: “We stand in solidarity with the garment workers of El Salvador to advocate for wage justice. At Green America, we believe in the collective power of consumers. By choosing where we spend our money, we can encourage businesses to adopt fair labor practices. We urge Specialized and Hanes to immediately join other companies that have committed to accountability and pay the workers for their labor.”   

Eric Arce, former Specialized Ambassador, said: “As cyclists, we have a powerful platform to advocate for justice within the bicycle supply chains. Wearing a Specialized bike jersey should symbolize our commitment to the sport and our trust in the company, including its value to promote human rights along its supply chain. No rider wants to be complicit in workers' exploitation. By speaking out against wage theft and demanding transparency, we contribute to a cycle of respect and dignity for all workers involved in making our rides possible.” 

According to the report, during the more than one year since the APS factory closed, workers have reported experiencing significant hardships as a result of the nonpayment of their owed wages, severance, and other terminal compensation. Workers testified to the WRC that they were unable to pay rent, utility bills and children’s school fees. Many also told the WRC that they were not able to pay for medical care or buy enough food to eat for their families. 

Salvadoran labor law explicitly states that when a factory closes, its workers must immediately receive all unpaid wages and terminal compensation that are legally due. According to calculations prepared by the Salvadoran Ministry of Labor, the 831 former employees at APS were owed US $2 million. Moreover, the supplier codes of conduct of major apparel corporations like Hanes uniformly require that workers at their supplier factories receive all legally required wages and benefits. 

“We are waiting for APS to pay us the money they owe us,” said Rhina, a former worker at APS.  

Another worker, Patricia, is struggling to put food on the table for her family: “My kids and I are only able to eat rice, beans and eggs.” 

On its sustainability webpage, Specialized claims to promote human rights in its supply chain. Hanes claims to directly manage the social practices in its supply chain to stay connected with the communities that are part of its global business. However, both companies’ willingness to see these standards violated and refusal to engage with the vulnerable workers who made their products suggest otherwise. 

ABOUT 

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

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

This is a guest blog from Green Business Network member Longwave Financial.

Tax season is often a time of year that can bring complexity and stress to even the most spirted and seasoned entrepreneurs. Yet, amid the pressure and seemingly endless paperwork, there’s an opportunity to turn challenges into strategic advantages, especially for those committed to sustainability. There are specific strategies you can undertake to capture tax benefits in areas aligned with the values shared by your organization and stakeholders. Here’s a few tips to help your business pave the way towards a successful and socially responsible future.

Green Business Credits

Federal and local governments reward businesses actively engaged in sustainability through green tax credits. These incentives, designed to recognize eco-friendly initiatives, can be leveraged for investments in energy-efficient equipment, renewable energy projects, and green certifications. You can utilize these credits strategically to not only reduce your tax burden, but also underscore your dedication to socially responsible business practices.

Energy-Efficient Investments

The heartbeat of many businesses lies within their places of work. As a sustainable business, you can capitalize on the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) to capture potentially significant tax benefits, particularly for solar panels and other renewable energy practices such as LED lighting and even energy-efficient appliances. Beyond the immediate financial incentive, incorporating renewable energy projects into your business model can help position your organization as a leader in sustainability within your respective industry.

Home Office Deductions

It’s no secret the rise of remote and hybrid work environments is here to stay. These workplace settings have recently brought attention to home office tax deductions for the many out there who blur the lines between living rooms and headquarters. Designating a home office not only qualifies for tax benefits but also reduces the need for daily commuting, reducing the need for everyday transportation and potential carbon emissions.

Employee Incentives

Whether you’re in the process of building your dream team, or already have employees, you can foster a culture of sustainability by offering benefits for environmentally friendly commuting. Consider providing incentives such as public transportation passes or bicycle programs. Certain employer sponsored programs for green commuting can qualify for tax benefits for both you and your employees.

As sustainably focused principles become an integral part of everyday business operations, incorporating these strategies into your business’ tax planning is a natural progression. Leveraging the various tax incentives for green practices gives you a distinctive opportunity to weave your commitment to the planet into the financial picture of your organization. These strategies can help further lay the groundwork for a future where prosperity is measured not only in the bottom line, but also in the positive impact you have on the world.

Brennen Ramos is a financial advisor and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER ™ Professional at Longwave Financial. He works with clients in the NY region as well as throughout the country. He lives in Harrison New York with his fiancé Taylor and his puppy Stella. Growing up in the Hudson Valley has made him an outdoors fan for life and when he’s not working, he’s hiking or fly fishing. If you have any questions or would like to know more, you can reach him directly at Brennen@longwavefinancial.com or connect with him on LI.

Securities and advisory services through Commonwealth Financial Network®, member FINRA/SIPC, a Registered Investment Adviser. Additional advisory services offered through Longwave Financial LLC are separate and unrelated to Commonwealth. Commonwealth Financial Network® and Longwave Financial do not provide legal or tax advice. You should consult a legal or tax professional regarding your individual situation.

420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 845 New York, NY 10170 212-279-9121

Green America Offering New Gardening Resources and Free Webinars to Welcome Spring.  

WASHINGTON, DC – March 11, 2024 – As spring approaches, Green America’s Climate Victory Gardens campaign is offering new tools and information to help beginner and advanced gardeners gear up. Climate Victory Gardens help fight climate change through regenerative agriculture techniques, an approach to gardening that fosters healthy soil that can draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Restored soil can capture 25-60 tons of atmospheric carbon per acre.

Nearly 25,000 gardens already have been tracked on Green America’s interactive map. For new climate victory gardeners, Green America is holding a series of free webinars featuring Perla Sofia Curbelo-Santiago, Ocean Robbins and the TransPlanter Rafaela Crevoshay, and Ashlie Thomas “The Mocha Gardener.”

Emma Kriss, Food Campaigns Manager at Green America, said: “Climate Victory Gardens offer a rewarding way to support endangered pollinators, heal the planet by sequestering atmospheric carbon, and grow food that’s more nutritious than typical store-bought produce. They’re also a great way to seed cross-generational relationships. As a variety of factors continue to reshape the housing market and the economics of cohabitation, fostering conversations about climate victory gardens on shared spaces opens opportunities for parents, children, landlords and tenants to work together for the good of people and the planet.”

Green America’s Climate Victory Garden resources cover 10 carbon-capturing practices:

1. Grow Edible Plants - Grow food, not just grass and ornamentals. This decreases your grocery bills, encourages seasonal eating, and helps you and your family establish a closer relationship with your food.

• Keep Soils Covered - Protecting soils is the first step to improving their health. Physically covering exposed ground in your garden decreases water needs, curbs erosion, maintains topsoil, and protects soil microbes.

• Compost - Organic materials combined with healthy microbes create a strong fertilizer. This reduces waste going to methane-releasing landfills (greenhouse gas), increases your soil quality, and improves nutrition levels in the foods you grow.

• Encourage Biodiversity, Above and Below Ground - Diverse plants support diverse soil communities and make for beautiful gardens. Biodiversity helps your garden grow nutritious food, create habitat and balanced ecosystems, and keeps pests in check.

• Plant Perennials - These crops reduce soil disturbance and save you time, because they do not need to be replanted each year. Perennials protect your garden from the elements, control weeds, and provide habitat.

• Ditch the Chemicals - Synthetic chemicals like herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers kill beneficial organisms in the soil. Gardening chemical-free reduces your input costs, ensures safety for you and your family, and decreases pollution—from factory production to run off.

• Integrate Crops and Animals - Plants and animals evolved to coexist. Having animals in your garden or yard—like chickens, goats, or pigs—helps decrease pests and allows for natural fertilization. You may even get some eggs or milk out of the deal! If you can’t have animals, consider adding manure to your compost. Encourage pollinators and birds to enjoy your garden.

• Use People Power, Not Mechanization - Ditch the machines and use your hands! It’s hard work, but this helps reduce your dependency on fuel, decreases emissions, and lessens your costs. It eliminates the possibility of your soil being contaminated by spilled oil. And, you can build human relationships by asking for help from others.

• Rotate Plants and Crops - It’s important to move crops around in your garden and plant new varieties each season. This confuses pests, ensures soil nutrients stay balanced, and reduces your need for chemical inputs.

1. Get to Know Your Garden - This goes beyond simply familiarizing yourself. Studying your garden helps you identify planting zones and determine how water, inputs, and other management can be applied most efficiently.

“As we learn more about the dangers of pesticides present on many fruits and vegetables we purchase at the grocery store, planting a Climate Victory Garden gives consumers a way to grow food they know is safe,” said Todd Larsen, Executive Co-Director of Green America. “And foods grown regeneratively are shown to have higher nutritional value as well.”

Climate Victory Gardens were inspired by the “Victory Gardens” campaigns during WWI and WWII that produced 40% of the fresh produce consumed in the U.S. at the time, and they empower Americans to grow gardens with regenerative agriculture techniques to help address the climate crisis. To add your own Climate Victory Garden to the map, visit: https://greenam.org/garden.

ABOUT GREEN AMERICA

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

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

Hours: 32 hours/week, flexible 4-day work week (full time)
Salary: $95,000-$105,000
Benefits: Excellent benefits package, including health insurance, dental and vision coverage, paid leave, socially responsible retirement plan, and a friendly and collaborative work environment with an option to work remotely.
Supervisor: Director of Development & Organizational Advancement

Organizational Background

Green America harnesses economic power – the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace – to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.  Our niche is economic action, and we work to shift our economy to one that works for all people and our planet. Our economic strategies deploy solutions to our society’s most pressing problems – from climate change to social injustices.

We direct our efforts within three strategic hubs: 1) our Consumer & Corporate Engagement Programs where we activate individual consumers and investors to create change within corporations and economic systems; 2) our Green Business Network which was the first network of businesses in the US focusing on the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit; and 3) our Center for Sustainability Solutions which brings together diverse stakeholders through Innovation Networks that aim to shift entire industries towards sustainability and solve for supply chain and other economic system issues that no one business or organization can solve alone. Active networks and key initiatives within the Center include the Soil & Climate Alliance, Soil & Climate Initiative, and Clean Electronics Production Network.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

We are searching for a dynamic senior level development professional with an entrepreneurial spirit and partnership development experience to join our team.

The Grants and Partnerships Director will play an essential role in supporting various programs and projects within Green America’s Center for Sustainability Solutions, with a primary focus on grants and partnerships management. 

Responsibilities will span the entire spectrum of grants and partnerships management, from identifying new funding and partnership opportunities, to participating in the development of project concepts and plans, to submitting proposals and impact reports. Specific duties include:

• Lead the management, cultivation, and stewardship of the Center’s foundation supporters and partnerships, grow the pipeline for all revenue streams, and manage a portfolio of $3.5M+ in active grants
• In concert with the President & CEO and the Center’s senior staff, assist team with developing new programs and initiatives as relevant funding opportunities are identified, moving from basic concept to full plan and proposal
• Identify and build both the potential partnerships and program concepts that can attract new sources of funding
• Maintain and build on relationships with current funders via tailored outreach, program update meetings with Center staff, and impact reports
• Identify and work to develop relationships with prospective foundations, government funders, corporate donors, and other partners related to funding
• Ensure the timely submission of grant reports, financial updates, and renewal proposals for active funders
• Craft and submit grant proposals and letters of inquiry for new sources of foundation and corporate support to help meet or exceed the Center’s financial goals
• Attend Center and Development team meetings, lead fundraising-focused meetings, and serve as Center liaison to rest of Development Team
• Participate in cross-departmental teams [such as our Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) team, May Retreat planning team, Holiday Party team, etc.] as time and interest allows.

Desired Skills and Experience

• You have an entrepreneurial and curious spirit.
• You thrive working with continuously evolving and growing programs that spawn new initiatives on a regular basis.
• You can play a leading role in program strategy discussions and develop detailed action plans and funding proposals.
• You have exemplary communications and interpersonal skills, and experience building long-term relationships with senior foundation executives, business leaders across a range of sectors, nonprofit allies, and other potential partners.
• You possess a Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years of foundation and corporate/business  fundraising experience.
• You can demonstrate a track record of meeting 7-figure annual fundraising goals.
• You always meet deadlines, have strong project management skills, and possess competence in working with constituent relationship management software (Raiser’s Edge and Sales Force familiarity a plus).
• You can craft compelling, effective messaging for letters of inquiry, proposals, sponsorship requests, and progress reports.
• You possess funder research skills and the ability to effectively identify, segment, and prioritize prospective supporters.
• You are able and willing to travel: The position involves travel time of up to 25% for network meetings, conferences, meetings with funders, and other purposes.
• You have a passion for creating a more socially just and sustainable society, including personal interest and/or experience in Green America’s issue areas.
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) certification a plus.

How to Apply:

Send your resume, a cover letter, and a writing sample to: partnerships@greenamerica.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

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

Public discourse around the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020 put corporations in the spotlight for their failure to address systemic issues like workplace discrimination and racial inequities.

In response, many corporations came forward with public statements on anti-racism, pledging to fight discrimination and prejudice within and beyond their workforce. As a first step, AirBnB, Uber, TikTok, Amazon, Intel, Netflix, Peloton, and many other companies made donations to anti-racism-focused nonprofit organizations like Equal Justice Initiative and Minnesota Freedom Fund. They also made commitments to pursue anti-racist policies and increase diversity in the workplace.

Research shows that such commitments, if fully realized, would represent a boon for corporations. Diversity—racial, ethnic, ability, gender, and more—is linked to more creative and innovative workplaces. As You Sow’s November 2023 report, “Capturing the Diversity Benefit: Workplace Diversity Linked to Financial Performance” demonstrated that diverse management outperforms all-white management on eight key metrics related to companies’ financial health.

Workplace diversity also increases profit margins. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal found that the top 20 companies with the most diverse employee populations in the S&P 500 index had higher operating profit margins compared to the 20 least diverse companies.

Given both the ethical and financial reasons for companies to pursue greater workplace equity, how have US corporations performed on their diversity commitments?

While some companies have made progress, there is much to still be done. As You Sow’s September 2023 Racial Justice Scorecard evaluated companies on five key areas of their racial-justice efforts:

1. publishing a prominent racial justice statement,
2. corporate responsibility by the CEO and inclusion of diverse voices within the company,
3. acknowledgement of systemic racism (and other key concepts related to racial justice),
4. presence of a functioning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) department, and
5. collection and disclosure of DEI data.

The scorecard shows that improvements have not been consistent and most companies have provided limited disclosure of the steps they have taken. Across all sectors, As You Sow determined that utility and communications services companies were performing best, while the energy sector performed worst.

Overall, As You Sow found that most corporations studied were not taking an active stance on racial issues, either verbally or in practice. Alphabet, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, McDonald’s, and Nucor Corp. received the lowest possible scores for their operations having disproportionately negative effects on BIPOC communities.

Corporations can have outsized impacts on racial justice due to their size and influence. It’s important to pressure companies to adopt clear racial justice commitments, stick to them, and disclose their outcomes transparently.

If you own shares in a company that is lagging on racial justice, voting your proxies is an excellent way to exercise your voice on any racial justice or diversity measures that appear.

If you buy from a company or use their services, your voice as a customer matters as well. Consider contacting companies that need to hear about their customers' concerns about racial justice, and provide them with information about how making a commitment to workplace diversity is not only the right thing to do, but also can have a positive effect on their bottom line. Rally your faith group, school group, or neighborhood to demonstrate collective consumer power with companies that need to improve. Your voice can make a difference!

Extreme weather events such as 10-foot blizzards in California and 70-degree days with overnight tornadoes in the Midwest – all in the past week -- demonstrate the fact that climate risk is financial risk.   

That's why Green America was pleased to see the Securities and Exchange Commission take up a climate disclosure rule. Consumers, investors, and retirement savers have made it clear that under the current voluntary standards, public companies are not providing them with transparent, reliable, and comparable information on climate-related financial risks and opportunities.  

Last year more than 15,000 Green America members and supporters signed our petition supporting the Securities and Exchange Commission’s draft rule requiring companies to disclose their carbon emissions. 

Unfortunately, due to pressure from dark money front groups and fossil-fuel interests that oppose investing that includes environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors, the SEC’s original proposal has been so watered down that it could cause companies currently disclosing emissions to backslide.

Here are three areas where the final climate disclosure rule falls short: 

Scope 3 emissions. While the proposed rule required disclosure of Scope 3 emissions (or emissions from the supply chain and customer use) when material, the final rule removes Scope 3 emissions altogether. This is problematic because Scope 3 makes up 70% of the average company’s greenhouse gas emissions at the root of the climate crisis – and up to 90% of emissions for fossil-fuel companies whose customers burn their products, and Wall Street banks that lend billions of dollars for fossil-fuel projects. 

Scope 1 and 2 emissions. While the proposed rule required disclosure of Scope 1 (direct emissions from company operations) and Scope 2 (emissions associated with the purchase of energy) in all cases, the final rule requires this disclosure only if the company deems these emissions to be “material.” This ill-defined metric opens the door to endless greenwashing, which consumers and investors are already complaining about and which the climate disclosure rule was supposed to solve.  

Who must disclose what and when. While the proposed rule required all publicly traded companies to disclose emissions, the final rule requires only large companies (known as large accelerated filers and accelerated filers) to disclose only Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and only if they deem these emissions material. Thousands of smaller companies are exempt -- and some companies that were issuing voluntary disclosures may cease doing so. Further, it requires financial reporting only for physical risk – the cost of extreme climate events – and not the risks to their business from the transition to a low-carbon economy. Finally, it phases these requirements in over time, with some reports not due for another 10 years.  

It is unfortunate the SEC is bending to pressure from corporate interests to substantially weaken the climate disclosure rule. Legal experts have made it clear the SEC has the legal authority, granted by Congress in the 1930s, to require reliable and consistent disclosures that investors can use to compare companies, including disclosures of greenhouse gas emissions. 

Opinion polls show American consumers and investors support strong and transparent climate disclosure requirements. A recent survey by Data for Progress and Unlocking America’s Future finds that two-thirds of voters -- including 80% of Democrats, 65% of Independents, and 55% of Republicans – support the strong SEC rule as originally proposed.  

Finally, a weakened climate disclosure rule puts the United States out of step with other major global economies, including California, the European Union, Canada, Japan, India, China and Singapore -- all of which have climate disclosure rules that include Scope 3 emissions. Because the requirements in these jurisdictions affect the majority of U.S. companies, it makes no sense for the SEC to create a patchwork of regulations by significantly departing from the direction the rest of the world is going. 

Due to all these shortcomings, the SEC’s final climate disclosure rule can only be seen as a first step to providing the transparent, reliable, and comparable information that consumers and investors deserve. We look forward to working with the SEC, investors, unions, retirement and pension fund managers, and other stakeholders to strengthen and improve the climate disclosure requirements in the future.

A groundbreaking label from Green America’s Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) will soon arrive in grocery stores, and with it an inspiring vision of a thriving, sustainable future for our food system.

“The Soil and Climate Health Initiative Verified label represents a measurable commitment to farming systems that seek to restore the land that feeds us,” said Adam Kotin, Managing Director of the SCI.

Green America has been working toward this moment over the past three years, and is excited to announce the first products to successfully complete the independent verification process. These products are made using ingredients from farms with confirmed commitments to actions to implement regenerative agriculture—a farming approach that prioritizes healthy, living soil.

Farmers in the Soil Carbon Initiative are taking action to:

• Capture carbon in soils, helping the climate crisis
• Build biodiversity above and below ground
• Reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
• Improve water retention in soils

In order to earn verification, farms track soil health outcomes, use practices that protect and nourish the soil, and commit to continuous improvement.

PACHA, a buckwheat bread company based in Vista, California, uses sprouted buckwheat and sea salt with organic herbs and spices to make their vegan and gluten-free products. PACHA sources its buckwheat from verified regenerative farms for all four of their hearty Sourdough Bread products including Buckwheat Loaf, Garlic Rye, Cheesy Herb, and Buckwheat Buns.

“PACHA is dedicated to nourishing the health of people and our planet through regeneratively grown foods. We are so grateful for the farmers making changes to provide our buckwheat, and for SCI’s work that is making our mission a reality,” said Maddie Hamann, director of marketing and co-founder of PACHA.

Roots Chips, a family-run farm-to-bag potato chip company based in Aberdeen, Idaho uses simple and natural ingredients for its farm-fresh products. Roots Chips sources its potatoes from their very own SCI-Verified regenerative farms for all five of their savory kettle potato chip flavors including: sea salt, barbecue, purple sea salt, jalapeño, and sea salt and vinegar.

“The SCI team has developed an amazing regenerative framework for both farmers and brands that we are thrilled to be a part of. We look forward to this tremendous opportunity to work side by side in this initiative,” said Ladd Wahlen, CEO of Roots Chips and fourth-generation potato farmer.

With more brands and farmers currently working toward verification, look for the Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified label on additional products at your local grocery store later in 2024!

From the most recent issue of our magazine, Green American, where we update readers on the progress we've made over the last quarter on climate, finance, food, labor, social justice, and more.

Green America’s New Verification Label: Regenerative Agriculture Hits the Grocery Aisle

A groundbreaking label from Green America’s Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI) will soon arrive in grocery stores, and with it an inspiring vision of a thriving, sustainable future for our food system.

“The Soil and Climate Health Initiative Verified label represents a measurable commitment to farming systems that seek to restore the land that feeds us,” said Adam Kotin, Managing Director of the SCI.

Green America has been working toward this moment over the past three years, and is excited to announce the first products to successfully complete the independent verification process. These products are made using ingredients from farms with confirmed commitments to actions to implement regenerative agriculture—a farming approach that prioritizes healthy, living soil.

Farmers in the Soil Carbon Initiative are taking action to:

• Capture carbon in soils, helping the climate crisis
• Build biodiversity above and below ground
• Reduce the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
• Improve water retention in soils

In order to earn verification, farms track soil health outcomes, use practices that protect and nourish the soil, and commit to continuous improvement.

PACHA, a buckwheat bread company based in Vista, California, uses sprouted buckwheat and sea salt with organic herbs and spices to make their vegan and gluten-free products. PACHA sources its buckwheat from verified regenerative farms for all four of their hearty Sourdough Bread products including Buckwheat Loaf, Garlic Rye, Cheesy Herb, and Buckwheat Buns.

“PACHA is dedicated to nourishing the health of people and our planet through regeneratively grown foods. We are so grateful for the farmers making changes to provide our buckwheat, and for SCI’s work that is making our mission a reality,” said Maddie Hamann, director of marketing and co-founder of PACHA.

Roots Chips, a family-run farm-to-bag potato chip company based in Aberdeen, Idaho uses simple and natural ingredients for its farm-fresh products. Roots Chips sources its potatoes from their very own SCI-Verified regenerative farms for all five of their savory kettle potato chip flavors including: sea salt, barbecue, purple sea salt, jalapeño, and sea salt and vinegar.

“The SCI team has developed an amazing regenerative framework for both farmers and brands that we are thrilled to be a part of. We look forward to this tremendous opportunity to work side by side in this initiative,” said Ladd Wahlen, CEO of Roots Chips and fourth-generation potato farmer.

With more brands and farmers currently working toward verification, look for the Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified label on additional products at your local grocery store later in 2024!

Clean Electronics Production Network Develops Chemical Safety Trainings

Green America’s Clean Electronics Production Network (CEPN) has begun work on a new project to develop chemical management and safety trainings that protect the health of workers in electronics supply chains. The trainings will be provided to facilities that may not have previously had access to such health-and-safety information, and will provide workers with crucial guidance on how to protect themselves and their coworkers from harmful chemicals.

CEPN will seek commitments from companies to support deployment of the trainings to both workers and management at electronics component manufacturers and final assembly facilities and will make training materials available publicly on the CEPN website.

The project is funded by a grant from the Initiative for Global Solidarity, a program of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH. CEPN is seeking further funding for the next phase of the project: direct deployment of trainings for as many as 30 facilities in Vietnam and Malaysia.

The Faces of Green America

We’re excited to launch this new Q&A series profiling the talented Green America team enacting our green-economy mission. First up is Cathy Cowan Becker, Green America’s responsible finance campaign director, who brought her valuable expertise and thought-leadership on green and equitable finance to the development of this issue of the Green American.

What excites you most about responsible finance and community investing?

Responsible finance is an opportunity to use your money not just to stop doing harm but to actually do good. Take the financial commitments you probably have anyway: a bank account, credit cards, insurance, and retirement plan. What if you could use these everyday instruments to build a more sustainable and equitable world? The good news is, you can!

What challenges are you facing in this work?

The first challenge is a lack of knowledge. Many people don’t know how to find a community development bank or credit union, responsible credit card issuer, regional mutual insurance company, or social investment fund. Once you learn about these solutions, it’s a process to move your money to align with your values. It’s very personal—this is your money! But once you learn how to pull your own money out of a system designed to prop up climate chaos and racial inequality and move it into building community, you can help others—including any institutions you are part of such as a house of worship or nonprofit board.

What would you say to someone who’s on the fence about moving money to align with their values?

First, understand this is a process. Take our 10 Steps to Break Up With Your Megabank—it will take a few months to go through that process, and the same is true for moving your credit cards, insurance, and investments. Start with research for where you want to move your money to—Green America has resources to help such as our Better Banking map, a series of responsible finance webinars starting in April, and a responsible insurance directory coming soon. You can also consult a socially responsible financial planner or financial-services member of our Green Business Network.

What are the most powerful actions people can take with their money/investments?

No one thinks that moving your personal bank account, credit card, insurance, or investments out of fossil fuels will by itself bring about the end of the fossil fuel era. But what it will do is make continued investment in fossil fuels by big banks, insurance, and investment firms less socially acceptable—it’s one more step in pushing big financial players to do better and removing Big Oil’s social license to operate. Plus, it builds your local community—a win-win for everyone!

What do you enjoy doing when you are not at work?

I’m a founding board member for Save Ohio Parks, which fights fracking in our state parks, wildlife areas, and public lands. I swim five to six miles per week, go to an occasional concert or show, and I like lounging around with my husband and two cats.

Green Americans imagine a future where all people have enough, communities are healthy and safe, and the abundance of the Earth is preserved for all the generations to come. Responsible entrepreneurs—including a recent spike in African American business owners—are working towards that future now, growing sustainable and inclusive companies that build social impact for their communities, both locally and abroad.

Black Entrepreneurship on the Rise

Over the last few years, entrepreneurship by Black business leaders has boomed.

Many people lost their jobs during the pandemic and were unsure of when their industry would bounce back. Some decided this was the time to become their own boss—new business applications increased more in 2020 than they had in the past 15 years, according to data from the US Census Bureau. Black entrepreneurs accounted for 26% of all new microbusinesses (businesses with ten employees or fewer), up from 15% pre-pandemic.

In 2020, the city of Pittsburgh’s Urban Redevelopment Authority gave out 350 loans—nearly half of which went to Black-owned businesses. This is a huge spike compared to previous years, when 30 to 50 loans a year overall was the average. It’s a trend that is appearing across the country—between February 2020 and August 2021, African American business owners increased 38%, according to research from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

In fact, Black entrepreneurship has doubled since 2019, according to the Small Business Association. There are currently more than 2 million Black-owned small businesses in the US.

Brewing Bold Change

It wasn’t just the pandemic that triggered change for businesses after 2020. The spotlight that the Black Lives Matter movement shone on racial injustice put pressure on corporations. Many of the country’s largest corporations pledged to do better and work toward racial justice and established Black-owned businesses reported experiencing a surge of support after the murder of George Floyd.

African American entrepreneur Margaret Nyamumbo says she noticed the change in 2020, when she says her company’s coffee became the first from a Black-woman-owned business to appear on the shelves at Trader Joe’s. Her direct-trade company, Kahawa 1893, sells African coffee beans grown and harvested by African women producers.

More recently, with the awareness-raising of 2020 receding into the past, Nyamumbo says she has detected a decline in support. She is hopeful that support for Black businesses will become stronger over time, while pointing out that Black communities shouldn’t have to experience trauma for Black-owned businesses to be seen as valuable.

To further build support, Kahawa 1893 participates in the 15% Pledge, an organization working to promote Black-owned brands beyond 2020. The idea is that, since African Americans make up 15% of the population, 15% of shelf space at retailers should be dedicated to Black-owned brands. Macy’s, West Elm, and Nordstrom, and several other large retailers have committed to the pledge, stocking their shelves with Black-owned brands like Kahawa 1893. Green America has supported this pledge via outreach to retailers like CVS and Target who subsequently engaged in dialogue with the 15% Pledge.

Nyamumbo has high hopes for the growth of her business, especially after securing a deal from the sharks on Shark Tank in 2023.

"Respect the drip:" Margaret Nyamumbo (front) with a Kahawa employee serving coffee (in truck). Coffee beans come from a plant that has its origins in ancient forests in East Africa. Kahawa 1893's name combines "kahawa," the Swahili word for "coffee" with the year East Africans began commercially selling coffee into the global market.

The Scoop on Social Impact

Small businesses, including Black-owned businesses, are uniquely positioned to give back to their communities, and may model their business with this in mind. For example, for Nyamumbo, it’s important for Kahawa 1893 to give back to the continent that birthed coffee and the women producers that cultivate it. Every bag of Kahawa coffee has a QR code, which buyers can scan and send tips directly to women coffee producers.

Similarly, Kai Nortey, co-founder of kubé, built an ice cream brand based on her own values and vision for a healthier society. Nortey and her husband are both lactose intolerant, a fate they share with 65% of the US, according to the National Institute of Health. But when looking for dairy-free ice creams on grocery shelves, the Norteys discovered that many of them contain GMOs. So together, they created a creamy vegan ice cream, made from scratch with organic ingredients, so that vegans and lactose-intolerant folks can enjoy ice cream again.

“Kubé is really a story about food justice and the realization of how ‘necessity is the mother of invention,’” says Nortey.

Nortey chooses whole-plant-based foods for kubé's ingredients and refuses to use any chemicals. The coconuts, which are the basis for the full-fat coconut cream in the ice cream, are pressed in-house at a shared commercial kitchen facility. The same can be said for the variety of flavors they offer, from key lime to coffee, which are extracted from organic fruits and plants.

Investing in wholesome ingredients is just as important as investing in people and community for Nortey. In 2023, Nortey hired formerly incarcerated mothers and survivors of domestic violence to make the ice cream, paying $22 an hour.

“Social impact looks like giving people economic opportunities for them to thrive,” says Nortey. Such opportunities are incredibly valuable to the more than 1 million people employed by Black-owned small businesses.

What is more, on average, nearly 53% of dollars spent at a local independent business is recirculated in the local economy, compared to less than 14% at chain stores—that means money you spend at a local independent bookseller is used for employee payroll, which may go to groceries from a local farmers market, and so on, enriching the lives of the everyday American.

For Nortey, not only does that look like hiring locally from underserved populations, but it also means giving to local food producers. Coconut shreds are a byproduct of the production process and are a great addition to soil. Nortey donates coconut shreds to Deep Medicine Circle, a nonprofit with several urban farms, and Planting Justice in east Oakland, which grows food for low-income families.

For now, kubé ice cream can be purchased in California at the Grand Lake Oakland farmers market in the summer months, where you can buy directly from Nortey herself. Kubé ice cream is also stocked on the shelves at Berkeley Bowl West and Mandela Grocery Cooperative in the Bay Area.

Struggles for Black Business Owners

Despite the positive statistics, the United States has a long history of racism that cannot be dismantled in a short time. Kubé has not been spared from this fact.

“A CEO of a popular plant-based food company… asked me if I would work for his company. He offered to pay a high salary to do product development, because I’ve created such a phenomenal product,” recalls Nortey. “And I said, ‘Why don’t you just invest in my company?’ They love what I’m making, and they intentionally choose to try and take what I have … it’s a form of sexism and racism because they think I’m designed to build their empire.”

Systemic racism within financial circles results in inequities for African American customers. Redlined communities remain to this day a result of housing discrimination, where neighborhoods were divided by race when banks denied mortgages to Black homebuyers. When it comes to starting a business, Black borrowers are still rejected at higher rates than white borrowers. Black entrepreneurs therefore often rely on personal savings and funding from family and friends instead of seeking a loan from financial institutions.

For example, in 2018, Nortey and her husband raised over $100,000 to purchase industrial ice cream machines on crowdfundmainstreet.com, a public benefit corporation that shares projects in need of funds from startups. She recommends small businesses raise capital on regulation investment crowdfunding sites like crowdfundmainstreet.com, which attract everyday investors. This option allows Nortey to keep control and leadership of kubé, which wouldn’t happen if the company was bought outright.

One day, Nortey envisions kubé as a storefront, maybe next to another Black-owned restaurant, “where trusted relationships can flourish again, where people can feel dignified and honored because they can finally access vibrant and delicious ice cream that respects their allergies and food restrictions,” she says.

Racial Equity in the Hands of Consumers and Investors

Nortey and Nyamumbo agree that people can best support their companies by purchasing their products. They point to how the original Buy Black movement during the Great Depression worked because it sustained emerging Black businesses when the economy sank. Nortey also states that because building capital is the toughest challenge small businesses face, supporters should consider investing in Black-owned businesses. Take these steps to support and invest in Black entrepreneurship:

Patronize Black-owned businesses: Look for businesses in your community to support! Find more Black-owned businesses from these directories:

• EatOkra.com, for finding Black-owned restaurants.
• BlkGrn.com, for hair- and skin-care products, and wellness and home-cleaning items.
• GetTheBag.biz, for subscription boxes of products from mostly Black-women-owned brands. (GetTheBag recommended Kahawa 1893 and kubé for this article.)
• Coastapp.com/shopblackowned, for Black business directories in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Seattle.
• Miiriya.com, an app for finding Black-owned fashion, home décor, beauty and hair-care products, and art.

Invest in Black-owned businesses: For as little as $100 or so, crowdfunding sites like crowdfundmainstreet (which helped fund the kubé launch) offer opportunities to invest in startups. That seed money is crucial for Black businesses that are skeptical of lending with banks. Additionally, banking with community development banks and minority depository institutions can help fund Black-owned startups. It’s often part of the mission of these financial institutions to support Black entrepreneurs through low-interest loans and financial resources.

Ask retailers to commit to the 15% pledge: Ask the owners and managers of companies where you shop to increase the representation of Black-owned businesses on their shelves. Call or write to other businesses and take the pledge yourself using 15% Pledge’s consumer commitment guide.

It’s a long road to racial equity in our society and we all have a role to play in lifting up historically marginalized communities. Black business-owners like Nyamumbo and Nortey are doing their part, by helping African farmers reach American markets, and hiring from within marginalized communities. Green Americans can do their part as well, by supporting these and other Black-owned businesses.

If you own shares in publicly traded companies, you can use your investor power to shape corporate policy for the better.

As an owner of the company, you have the right to use your voice—and vote—through the shareholder resolution process to direct company management to make change.

When you vote in favor of social and environmental progress at the companies in which you own stock, you are joining powerful shareholder allies who have a track record of shifting the priorities of corporate America.

While companies were once resistant to even examining their social and environmental effects, increasing shareholder and consumer focus over time on such issues has made the issuance of a “corporate social responsibility” report commonplace in 2024. Shareholders have demonstrated succcess in persuading companies to address issues as varied as product safety; waste management; the climate crisis; and diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities.

Every proxy season, Green America tracks resolutions for environmental, social, and governance matters. We compile these so our readers that happen to also be direct shareholders can learn more about what is on their proxy ballot.

So, what happened in the 2023 season?

The State of Climate

Climate resolutions have become more ambitious in scope in recent years, consistent with the scale of the problem, pushing companies to do more than just issue reports, but to actually reduce emissions, strengthen their climate risk management, or begin phasing out their reliance on fossil fuels overall.

Climate-related resolutions were the biggest category of resolution filed in 2023; shareholders voted on 60 resolutions. Notable successes included 47.4% support for a resolution asking PACCAR Inc., the commercial truck manufacturer, to issue a report on how the company’s climate lobbying aligns with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change; and 36.6% support for a resolution asking ExxonMobil to measure its methane emissions.

Heidi Welsh, founding executive director of the Sustainable Investments Institute—a nonprofit research firm analyzing organized efforts to influence corporate behavior—says that historically, ambitious resolutions that require a serious change to a company’s business model may take longer to achieve majority support.

Welsh cited a resolution asking JP Morgan Chase to restrict lending to fossil-fuel companies as an example.

“You’re asking companies to completely restructure their lending portfolios to phase out a cornerstone of the current modern economy, which is based on fossil fuels,” says Welsh, who points out that more modest resolutions also took time to build support in the past. To plan for a fossil-free future, it remains important for shareholders to keep pushing for their clear vision of corporate transformation on climate issues, year after year.

The State of Diversity

Bank of America, Ford Motor, and Target all faced resolutions requesting these companies to report on the success of their diversity programs; all resolutions were withdrawn prior to a shareholder vote. Welsh notes that withdrawal is usually a positive outcome.

“A withdrawal in almost every instance comes because the proponent and the company have sat down to talk about the issue,” says Welsh. “The company has agreed to do enough to persuade the proponent that the company is moving forward and doing at least some of what the proponent has asked for.”

The shareholder advocacy organization As You Sow, which tracked the resolutions’ progress, reports that for each proposal withdrawn, filers and the company reached an agreement on next steps.

Welsh notes that investors are interested in making decisions based on hard data, which, in the case of diversity-related resolutions, demonstrates that a commitment to company diversity will pay dividends for investors. For example, a 2020 McKinsey report demonstrated that companies committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in management are more profitable. Similarly, a November 2023 As You Sow report, which analyzed more than 1,600 publicly traded US companies, found greater diversity in corporate management to correlate with many benefits to the company, including income after taxes, and long-term growth.

“Simply put, a diverse workforce led by a diverse management team performs better financially,” said Andrew Behar, CEO of As You Sow.

The State of Racial Justice

Shareholders at Alphabet, Amazon.com, AT&T, Bank of America, Altria, and BlackRock filed resolutions requesting that these companies report on racial justice impacts and plans. None of these resolutions achieved majority support, and some did not appear on the ballot.

However, a resolution doesn’t need to win the majority to provoke a company to respond with improvements.

Cathy Cowan Becker, Green America’s responsible finance director, says that a resolution that garners at least 20 to 30% support could lead to company to take action anyway. While not a majority percentage, such a vote still represents millions or billions of dollars of investor leverage, and companies are likely to listen.

For the racial justice resolutions that did make it to the proxy ballot (AT&T, Amazon.com, and Altria), they garnered between 21% and 30% of the shareholder vote. With votes like that, companies may recognize that concerns about their racial justice outcomes will not go away and will consider ways to enact new policies.

Looking Ahead to the 2024 Season

As You Sow’s 2024 Proxy Preview and Green America’s look at shareholder resolutions will be released in March. Use these resources to find information on upcoming resolutions; if you are a shareholder, you have the opportunity to vote.

Already one 2024 development reflects the recent ESG backlash. In February, ExxonMobil filed suit against investors who proposed a resolution calling on Exxon to reduce its emissions. Exxon’s unusual lawsuit alleges that the resolution is driven by an “extreme agenda” and does not serve investors’ interests. “This amounts to tactics of intimidation and bullying” of investors, said Natasha Lamb, chief investment officer at Arjuna Capital, which filed the resolution.

Most importantly, however, Welsh reminds us that making change in the shareholder arena is a long game, and in that long game, shareholders are powerful, “There are trillions of investor dollars behind efforts to get companies to do the right thing.”

HopeWorks Station in Everett, Washington, has been drawing attention for its multiple areas of socially conscious innovation. The LEED Platinum-certified development integrates 65 affordable apartments for low-income households and those recovering from addiction alongside supportive services, job training, a child-care center, and community meeting space. People who were once homeless and struggling with alcohol- or drug-related issues live on the upper floors and go downstairs to work at Kindred Kitchen, a catering business and community café, or at the business next door, RENEW Home & Décor—all within the same complex.

The innovation behind HopeWorks extends to how it was financed. Affordable housing is usually funded by multiple sources, including large investment companies through Low Income Housing Tax Credits and other federal programs. HopeWorks was financed through a mission-driven nonprofit organization, Enterprise Community Partners, which included financing from its Enterprise Community Loan Fund, a community development financial institution (CDFI).

Individuals interested in investing in innovative projects that reflect their values, like HopeWorks, can do so through financial products offered by CDFIs, like Enterprise. Enterprise's Community Impact Note helped finance the HopeWorks project. Proceeds from the Impact Note support the organization’s general lending work (about 70% goes to affordable housing), with money loaned to nonprofit and mission-aligned for-profit developers.

HopeWorks Station represents a meaningful case study to Anna Smukowski, director of the Enterprise Community Loan Fund, because it shows how CDFI funding works alongside other more conventional sources of capital from Enterprise. “We’re providing funding to communities but also allowing individual people to get more invested in their communities, people who want to live their values through their investments,” Smukowski says.

Investment in the Enterprise Community Impact Note is open to people around the country, for a minimum investment of $5,000. However, many CDFIs and community-focused lenders offer even lower entry points for their financial products—including as little as $20 (see box on p. 21).

The Role of CDFIs and Community-Focused Lenders

Environmental and social impact investing has become part of the investment mainstream recently, and CDFIs have an important role, according to the “CDFIs and the Capital Markets” white paper, cowritten by Smukowski, alongside other writers from Enterprise and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation.

“CDFIs now have the opportunity to position the industry as the ultimate impact investment, capable of addressing key social and environmental issues like the acute affordable housing crisis; persistent racial health, wealth, and opportunity gaps; and environmental sustainability measures in low-income and historically underserved communities,” Smukowski and her co-authors say. CDFIs are required to report on impacts on a regular basis, an opportunity to tell the stories about how communities are affected by these investments.

When you invest in community-focused products like the examples in this article, you can earn a rate of return for yourself, while also supporting important community-building projects. For example, the Connecticut Green Bank, which accepts minimum investments of just $100, works with families, businesses, houses of worship, and other community groups to develop clean-energy solutions from solar photovoltaic installations to energy-efficiency retrofits and green-building projects.

The Benefits of Impact Investing

With socially responsible investing, you can align your investments with impacts you care about whether it’s creating affordable housing, mitigating climate change, or supporting business owners who have been left out of conventional lending. Sometimes multiple issues that investors care about intersect in one responsible project, such as the HopeWorks project combining affordable housing, sustainable design, proximity to transit, job training, and reducing homelessness.

Brady Quirk-Garvan of Natural Investments, a social investing advisory group, described how he has helped some investors combine their interest in affordable housing with a desire to support business ventures led by women, such as Shortstack Housing in Portland, Oregon: “It’s woman-owned and run and focuses on ‘missing middle’ housing [such as duplexes and townhomes] … that is affordable, near public transit, and that will remain affordable for decades.”

How to Get Started with Impact Investing

An easy first step for getting involved with community investing is to first open a checking or savings account with a CDFI or other responsible bank or invest in a certificate of deposit (CD).

As a next step, consider investment vehicles with lower minimum requirements, like the Community Investment Note, issued by Calvert Impact Capital, a community development organization that supports and partners with CDFIs. This gateway investment for individuals getting started with impact investing offers an entry point of just $20. In Calvert Impact’s 2022 survey of their investors, 54% said it was their first cause-based investment.

Capital from the note has supported a wide range of projects including Artspace, affordable live-work spaces for artists across the US; Central City Concern, which offers housing, health, recovery, and employment support in Portland, Oregon; and Self-Help Enterprises, which provides home-ownership support to farmworkers and other hard-working families in California’s San Joaquin Valley.

The Connecticut Green Bank’s Green Liberty Bonds and Notes—inspired by Green America’s Clean Energy Victory Bonds campaign—offers similarly accessible investments priced at $100 and $1,000, to fund local clean-energy projects. The Enterprise Community Impact Note is another effective way to get started investing with a community development financial institution.

Finally, if you have the means, and wish to directly invest in specific responsible community-building projects, consider consulting an individual investment advisor, like Quirk-Garvan at Natural Investments, who can match options with your values and the amount you plan to invest.

Whichever vehicle you choose, you can feel confident when you seek out a mission-focused financial product that your investment dollars are doing good in the world.

In 2023, the United States experienced a record number of weather- and climate-related disasters that each caused $1 billion or more in damages: 28 severe storms, floods, wildfires, winter storms, hurricanes, and droughts, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Since 1980 the United States has experienced 376 of these billion-dollar+ events, with damages totaling $2.6 trillion, and tragically, 16,340 associated deaths.

The insurance industry stands on the front lines of this climate crisis. Every time a climate-related fire, flood, or storm damages or destroys an insured person’s home or business, they expect their insurance policy to help foot the bill for repairs and rebuilding. Unfortunately, as climate events become more common, major insurance companies have begun to cancel or restrict coverage in climate-vulnerable states.

In May, State Farm—the largest insurer in California—stopped accepting new applications for homeowners insurance in the wildfire-prone state due to “rapidly growing catastrophe exposure.” In June, Allstate followed suit. In July, Farmers Insurance stopped offering home and auto policies in hurricane-prone Florida, forcing 100,000 ratepayers to find new insurance.

As major insurers limit coverage, prices continue to rise for everyone else. In California, State Farm has raised prices for the homeowners policies it still holds by 20%. In Florida, the average homeowners insurance premium is now $6000—up 200% from 2019.

In fact, according to the 2023 Policygenius Home Insurance Pricing report, the cost of homeowners insurance has risen for 94% of people surveyed. Premium costs are now 35% higher nationally compared to two years ago for all homeowners, whether or not they live in an area with heightened climate-related risk.

Underwriting and Investments

Unfortunately, despite the insurance industry paying policyholders for an increasing number of climate disasters and then passing these costs onto policyholders, many of them continue to support one of the chief causes of the climate crisis: the burning of fossil fuels.

Major insurance companies continue to support the fossil fuel industry in two ways, according to Insure Our Future, a campaign comprising environmental, consumer protection, and grassroots organizations that hold the US insurance industry accountable for its role in the climate crisis:

• By underwriting—that is, insuring—new fossil fuel projects
• By investing billions of dollars in fossil fuels

In fact, US insurance companies invested $582 billion in fossil fuels in 2019, the most recent year for which composite figures are available. However, the International Energy Agency has since stated that investors must not finance any new coal, oil or gas projects if we are to hold the rise in global temperatures under 1.5ºC. The Paris Climate Agreement set 1.5ºC as the goal for limiting global warming to prevent catastrophic and irreversible climate damage.

While most of the large US insurance companies tracked by Insure Our Future have set restrictions on underwriting coal, few have restricted underwriting conventional oil and gas projects. Three of the top eight US insurance companies—Berkshire Hathaway, W.R. Berkley, and Starr—maintain no policies whatsoever to limit underwriting and investment in fossil fuel projects, whether coal or oil and gas.

Berkshire Hathaway is especially notable: It fully owns 11 coal plants, partially owns 13 more, and ships millions of tons of coal by rail. Its CEO, Warren Buffett, has said climate change should not be a factor in the company’s decision-making.

Underwriting Notorious Fossil Fuel Projects

Without insurance, fossil fuel companies cannot get loans or investments for their notoriously risky projects. At the same time, the riskier the project, the higher the premium—and resulting profits—for the insurance company involved.

The market intelligence firm Insuramore estimated gross direct premiums from insuring the fossil fuel industry at $21.25 billion in 2022. Top US fossil fuel insurers include Chubb, which took an estimated $700 million in fossil fuel premiums, Zurich (parent of Farmers), which took $600 million, and AIG, which took $550 million.
While it is difficult to find out which companies underwrite which projects, climate activists have uncovered the insurers of two of the most notorious fossil fuel projects:

• Freeport LNG—This Texas facility will be capable of exporting 15 million tons of liquified natural gas per year when it is fully online. The plant has been cleared for full operation in 2024, following a settlement with the EPA in Dec. 2023 related to an explosion at the plant. AIG, Chubb, and Liberty Mutual, among others, insure Freeport LNG.
• The Trans Mountain Pipeline—When fully operational, this pipeline will ship 590,000 barrels per day of tar sands oil to British Columbia. Chubb, AIG, and Liberty Mutual insure this pipeline.

Investing in Climate Chaos

Insurance companies do not simply insure fossil fuel projects; they also invest billions in fossil fuel companies, according to the Investing in Climate Chaos database by Urgewald, a German environmental and human-rights NGO.

Berkshire Hathaway, the parent company of Geico, invests the most in fossil fuels, compared to all US insurance companies. The company has invested more than $9.4 billion in coal and $45.7 billion in oil and gas. Berkshire Hathaway is the top investor in Chevron.

State Farm is second in fossil fuel investments among US insurance companies, with $18.2 billion, including $7.9 billion in coal and $10.3 billion in oil and gas. It is the 12th-largest investor in Exxon.

“It seems nonsensical at best—and complicit at worst—for State Farm to carefully factor climate risk from wildfires into its homeowner’s insurance policies, refusing in some cases to provide such policies at all, while apparently ignoring the heightened climate risk that its investment portfolio is helping to create,” Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D, RI), Ron Wyden (D, OR), and Bernie Sanders (I, VT) wrote to State Farm in June.

Popular home and auto insurance company Amica has invested $86 million in fossil fuels, not enough to appear among the top investors, but still significant.

What Can Policyholders Do?

The good news is that it is possible to find alternatives to the largest insurance companies that continue underwriting and investing in fossil fuels, and to take action to push the worst companies to improve.

Take Action! Tell over 70 executives at Berkshire Hathaway/Geico/Guard, State Farm, AIG, Nationwide, Allstate, Liberty, Mutual, Travelers, and The Hartford to insure our communities, not fossil fuels!

Seek out regional mutual insurance companies: The best option for ratepayers seeking a more responsible company for home or car insurance is to shop in your local area. Call three independent insurance agents and ask them to quote costs and coverage for policies at regional mutual insurance companies, or speak with companies directly.

Different agents work with different companies, so talking to more than one will give you a fuller picture of what is available in your area. Regional insurance companies are no more risky than large insurance and could save you money on your premium for the same coverage.

Examples of responsible regional mutuals include American Family Insurance based in Wisconsin, Grange Insurance based in Ohio, and Utica Mutual Insurance based in New York. Be sure to ask about a company’s holdings and policies before purchasing an insurance plan.

Push the biggest companies to do better: If you hold an insurance policy with a company that may be underwriting or investing in fossil fuels, call them up, send a letter, or otherwise make your disapproval of fossil-fuel investing known. Explain how your concerns are in the insurance companies’ best interest, given their exposure to the effects of climate disasters.

Stay tuned! While several resources list alternatives to megabanks that fund fossil fuels, no such directory exists for insurance—yet. Green America and Rivers and Mountains GreenFaith have begun working to close that gap. We are conducting research and compiling a responsible insurance list that we will release as a directory later this year.

The insurance market is just the latest financial sector to hear from Green Americans, climate advocates, and others about the need for change. The same strategies that have shifted other industries—speaking up for improvements, boycotting irresponsible companies, and organizing with others for change—can shift the insurance industry as well.

What is the largest part of your carbon footprint: Is it a) your car, b) your furnace, c) your stove, or d) your bank account?

If you bank with or use credit cards issued by one of the four biggest US banks—JPMorgan Chase, Citi, Wells Fargo, or Bank of America—or other conventional banks, the answer is likely your bank account.

That’s because these four banks have plowed $1.37 trillion—that’s trillion with a T—into coal, oil, gas, fracking, pipelines, and other dirty fossil fuel projects since the Paris Agreement in 2015, as documented by the “Banking on Climate Chaos” report. This report—researched by seven climate-finance organizations—has been endorsed by more than 600 groups including Green America.

If you hold a balance of $1,000 at one of these banks, the resulting annual carbon emissions are equivalent to those generated by flying from New York to Seattle. If you hold $62,500 in one of the Big Four banks, your money is producing as much carbon as all the driving, heating, cooling, cooking, and flying the average American does in six months.

Want to stop your bank from using your deposits to fund climate-destroying projects that go against your values? Get a better bank and better credit card.

Finding a Better Bank

Green America’s “Get a Better Bank” map can help you find a bank that will not only minimize the carbon emissions associated with your account, but also actively use your money for good. The map’s more than 6,000 bank and credit union locations nationwide follow a social-justice mission to invest in low- to moderate-income people, serve communities of color, or finance sustainability projects, among other positive goals, rather than prioritizing lending to the fossil fuel industry or other polluting mega-corporations.

To appear on the Green America map, banks and credit unions must be confirmed to be at least one of the following:

• Federally certified Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI)
• Member of Inclusiv, a group of community development credit unions
• Member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)
• FDIC-identified Minority Depository Institution
• Certified by the Green America Green Business Network

Other organizations offer similar better-banking directories. For example, Bank for Good and Bank.Green list 30 to 50 banks and credit unions that have signed a fossil-free pledge, and Mighty Deposits uses federal reporting data to pinpoint the percentage of investments a bank or credit union is making in its local community.

By using a mix of these resources, while keeping in mind the services you need, you can find a bank or credit union that’s right for you, your community, and the planet.

Finding a Better Credit Card

Your credit card purchases also make a difference, and can do harm or good, depending on the activities of the underlying bank. To understand how, it is helpful to know how credit cards work.

Credit card issuers make money—which they may invest in projects you don’t support—in three ways:

• The annual fee. Credit card annual fees can run $100 or more and may include perks like travel assistance. Not all credit cards have an annual fee.
• Interest payments. If you carry a balance on your card, you know how exorbitant interest rates are. Credit card debt in the United States is a serious problem, totaling over $1 trillion at the end of 2023, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
• Transaction fees. Even if you have a card with no annual fee, and you pay your bill in full every month, your purchases will still earn the credit-card issuer the majority of each transaction fee. This fee—usually around 3%—is deducted from the payment to the merchant for each credit card charge.

Next, it’s important to understand the difference between the branding of a credit card and its issuer. The branding is the name on the front of the card. The issuer is usually on the back in small print. The issuer is the financial institution that receives your monthly payments.

Sometimes the branding and issuer of the card are the same—such as when a bank or credit union issues its own card. If your responsible bank or credit union issues its own card, then you can use that card knowing the fees you pay will help the institution invest for good.

If your responsible bank or credit union does not issue its own credit card, then you’ll need to look elsewhere—and the key is to find out which bank is issuing the card (it may be one of the Big Four). You may need to read the fine print in the application, research the card online, or call the phone numbers provided on the application to ask questions. For example, some banks and credit unions have issued credit cards through Elan Financial, which is owned by US Bank, an investor in the fossil fuel industry.

If you hold an American Express card, according to a Forbes article published in January 2024, American Express “does not appear to reflect the investment-heavy models of many banks.” American Express claims to have been carbon-neutral since 2018, and made a public commitment to net-zero operations globally by 2035. However, American Express cards often require a higher annual fee than cards issued by responsible, mission-focused banks.

Some more responsible credit-card issuers include:

• Beneficial State Bank, a Green Business Network member, a B-Corp, CDFI, and fossil-free bank on the West Coast. Their Climate Card offers points that can be redeemed for merchandise, cash back, or charitable donations.
• First National Bank of Omaha, a Green Business Network member and a family-owned independent bank dedicated to investing locally. Their Evergreen card offers 2% cash back.
• Hope Federal Credit Union, a Green Business Network member and a community development bank that invests in under-resourced communities in the Deep South, offers a Platinum Rewards Visa card to members.

In addition, consumers often carry credit cards from other branded categories such as:

• Store or airline cards, which are branded for a merchant where you may do a lot of shopping, or an airline you fly regularly. Many are issued through Synchrony Bank or Community Bank, which specialize in providing store cards and do not invest in fossil fuels. However, some popular store cards are issued through fossil banks. For example, Costco’s card is issued by Citibank, a major funder of fossil fuels. Green America has joined with allies to urge Costo to either pressure Citibank to stop financing fossil fuels or drop Citi as its issuer.
• Affinity cards, which let you support your favorite nonprofit through purchases on your credit card—usually half a percent is donated. It’s critical to know the issuer of these cards. For example, the Green America card (see box at right), is issued through TCM Bank, which is the credit-card-issuing arm of Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA). Sadly, some other nonprofit cards are issued through big fossil banks, undermining the very good the nonprofit is trying to do in the world.

Using the information in this article, you can choose a credit card that puts your money to work for your community and the planet. The card does not have to be issued by the bank or credit union where your bank account is—any card issued by a responsible bank or credit union is a good choice.

Adelia Moore, a psychologist and author in upstate New York, chose the Climate Card from Beneficial State Bank. “I’d been casting about for some way to act on my fears for the planet,” Moore said. “It was a small step to get my ‘green’ card, but each time I use it, I am taking action for the climate—and that feels great!”

When you align your banking and credit cards with your values, and move away from the biggest fossil-fuel-investing banks, you’re aligning yourself with a global movement that has divested $40.6 trillion from fossil fuels, according to the Stand.Earth Divestment Database.

Your values-aligned banking makes an impact! When each of us shifts our accounts to support responsible finance, that momentum builds into something big. Together, our collective deposits become an engine for change to propel finance in service of people and planet.

Whether you call it “impact investing,” “socially responsible investing (SRI),” or the more recent term-of-art, “ESG investing” (with “ESG” referring to socially responsible impacts related to a company's environmental, social, and governance policies), investing in positive returns for people and the planet is a topic familiar to many Green Americans.

Responsible investing has been used to pursue positive outcomes for society since at least the 1960s, when conscious investors sought to influence companies in favor of emerging movements for civil rights and women’s equality and against the Vietnam War. The first shareholder resolution focused on social issues came in 1970, when Ralph Nader’s Project on Corporate Responsibility purchased enough shares of General Motors stock to file a resolution calling for a corporate responsibility report.

Other early SRI campaigns included withholding investments from companies making harmful products, such as firearms, tobacco, and weapons of war, as well as the well-known—and successful!—campaign to divest from companies supporting the apartheid government in South Africa.

As the power of responsible investing has grown, its strategies have become more accepted in the mainstream, and investors have extended the scope of their ambitions (such as pushing companies to pursue workplace diversity and mitigate the climate crisis). As a result, the “ESG” movement has experienced a backlash.

A 2023 Congressional resolution—supported by 50 senators and 216 House members, but vetoed by President Biden—would have prevented pension-fund managers from considering critical factors such as companies’ effects on the climate crisis, worker safety, and other environmental and social issues in their investment decisions. At the state level, legislatures in Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas succeeded in enacting their own anti-ESG bills, with other states—including Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio, and South Carolina—pursing similar bills in 2024.

The good news is that a broad coalition of investors and activists—including Green America—are pushing back to protect everyone's freedom to invest as they see fit. As an individual interested in responsible finance, you still have many options for how to use your banking and investing dollars for good.

Among the strategies Green America recommends are to:

Move your money to a better bank: your checking and savings accounts (and even your credit cards!) can be tools for positive progress.

Screen your investments and divest from unsustainable industries: Add positive industries like renewable energy to your portfolio, and remove sectors like the weapons and fossil-fuel industries. A socially responsible financial planner can help. Divestment is a powerful and growing responsible-finance tool, with institutional investors committing to divest more than $40 trillion from fossils fuels as of December 2023.

Align your banking and credit card with your values

Invest in communities: Find inspiration on how you can invest in people and the planet (for as little as $20!) at the local level. Investment options include CDs, money-market funds, community investing loan funds, and community development venture capital funds.

What responsible investing can do

Vote your proxies: If you own stock directly in publicly traded companies, you have a say in how they are run. Use your proxy ballots to vote on issues you care about at companies in your portfolio to improve their ESG records.

The state of shareholder activism

Invest directly in responsible diverse businesses: Small businesses are a crucial and innovative part of our economy. You can help entrepreneurs underserved by conventional banks finance their businesses and achieve their responsible-business dreams.

Supporting Black entrepreneurship

Consider the impacts of your insurance policies: Insurance is the newest emerging responsible-finance arena. Individuals can push back on conventional insurance companies that are financing or underwriting the climate catastrophe and seek out companies that better match your values.

The next frontier in climate finance: property insurance

Inspire others! If you are already well into your responsible investing journey, please use the ideas and resources on these pages to get others involved in investing for a better future.

Whatever strategies you choose, your banking, investing, and other financial decisions will always affect the world around us—paying dividends for people and planet, as well as for your pocketbook. To ensure a positive return for communities, the environment, and a sustainable future, consider getting involved in one or more of these strategies today.

13% of Americans reported facing economic hardship due to climate change in 2022, according to “The Impact of Climate Change on American Household Finances,” a recent US Department of the Treasury (DoT) report. Americans experienced these challenges during a year in which DoT calculated the cost of climate and weather disasters in the US to have totaled more than $176 billion—the third most costly year on record.

With climate hazards projected to get worse in the coming years, it is more important than ever for all of us to prepare our household finances for the possible effects of climate change—and find ways to help our neighbors.

Financial strain on households can lead to especially negative outcomes for vulnerable and marginalized communities—including BIPOC, lower-income, disabled, and older individuals. These communities are most susceptible to post-disaster financial hardship, often due to their historic location in areas already suffering environmental degradation.

So, where to start?

Needs of the Neighborhood

The DoT report identifies awareness-raising about local and regional climate risks as one of the first steps. While it is important to understand the range of climate threats that affect us across the country, it is even more crucial for each of us to know the dangers most likely to impact our specific area, such as flood exposure in Appalachia, wildfire exposure in the West and in border regions near Mexico, and heat exposure in the plains and Mississippi River areas.

“Climate Mapping for Resilience & Adaptation” helps you understand climate risks for your area. Use their address search tool to get historical data and find major climate risks for your household.

The related “US Climate Resiliency Toolkit” offers more resources like nationwide climate mapping, case studies of community resilience projects, and step-by-step guides for boosting climate readiness skills for those with influence in state, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofits, and the business world.

Between both sites, you can map risks for your location, learn how others have increased resilience, and build your capacity to prepare. They make climate adaptation practical and accessible.

Once Aware, Time to Prepare

Once you’ve built up your knowledge on the most pressing climate risks for your household, what’s next? Here are some steps you can take to address the concerns outlined by the DoT report and fortify your household’s finances in case of future emergency:

Make a plan.

Having a plan in place for your household in the event of a climate hazard can reduce real-time panic and ensure that you are as ready as possible to respond to anything that may come your way. Ready.gov provides an entire “Make a Plan” section that includes resources for building financial readiness, assembling a physical preparedness kit for your home, and planning for an evacuation, among other steps. The tool includes customized resources for older adults, people with disabilities, and households with pets and animals.

Review your property insurance.

Property, auto, and flood insurance can provide a safety net in the event of a future climate hazard. However, standard home insurance policies often will not cover flooding, earthquakes, or landslides and may also exclude coverage for other specific disasters, so it is crucial to investigate your current coverage to find out what may be missing.

The Insurance Information Institute, an insurance industry association, provides helpful resources for consumers to better understand how their insurance works, industry trends relative to the climate crisis, and further resources on disaster preparedness.

Get your home to do the saving for you.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) created tax incentives that can provide benefits for eco-friendly home upgrades. For example, the DoT report recommends pursuing available tax rebates for installing solar panels or upgrading heating-and-cooling systems to reduce energy and utility bills when faced with rapidly rising temperatures. The upgrades help mitigate rising greenhouse gas emissions and the cost savings can help build your financial resilience for the future.

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) also provides financial assistance for energy upgrades to qualified households.

Seek further support.

Several assistance programs exist to help your household with climate-hazard recovery and resilience. Some major programs and resources to look into appear in the box below.

Using these strategies for disaster preparedness can help protect your finances and alleviate some of the potential climate-consequences on household financial security.

Plastic pollution is everywhere—in waterways and oceans, in food chains and the atmosphere, and even in our own bodies.

The Ocean Conservancy confirms that single-use plastic consumption is on the rise, growing at an estimated 2.7% per year, and the advocacy group Beyond Plastics says this rise is intentional. Fossil fuel companies are ramping up production of plastics, to counter wider use of renewable energy and electric vehicles. “Plastics is Plan B for the fossil fuel industry,” says Judith Enck, founder and president of Beyond Plastics.

If we don’t counter this push and reduce demand, the result would be nearly six billion metric tons of single-use plastic between now and 2050.

This enormous amount of trash is a huge problem for both people and planet. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), current trends indicate that by 2040, we will see a 50% increase in macroplastics leakage, one of the leading causes of water pollution (30 million tons per year).

Humans ingest plastic pollutants in the form of microplastics—tiny particles of plastic less than 5 millimeters in size—from contaminated seafood, tap and bottled water, salt, and even the air we breathe. And plastics production alone accounts for more than 3% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (1.8 billion tons, and set to more than double by 2060).

What is more, recycling remains an imperfect solution for dealing with plastic waste—one that the plastics industry promotes, while knowing that many plastic products cannot (or will not) be recycled. Different municipalities have adopted various systems of recycling, making it complicated for the average person to effectively recycle their waste. Instead, most plastic ends up in landfills or in the ocean and takes years to degrade while leaking microplastics and toxins into our water and food.

Learning about your municipality’s recycling system is a good start, as is finding reuse options for items before they go into your recycling bin. Even better are options for avoiding plastic purchases altogether, and the following tips can help.

Laundry

Many conventional detergent products result in plastic waste. For example, conventional detergent containers are often made with plastic, while conventional dryer sheets are often made from non-recyclable polyester.

Laundry day, therefore, often involves using far too many non-biodegradable and non-compostable products.
Green Eco Dream has everything you need for the next laundry day: detergent powder and strips, two of the most sustainable detergent options, and dryer balls, which are crafted from natural and organic materials like wool, can be used multiple times, and are compostable.

Washing clothes also comes with the unfortunate side effect of shedding microplastics. Washing synthetic clothes in home washing machines account for 35% of the global release of microplastics, according to the International Union of Conservation of Nature.

You can reduce these plastics by investing in clothes made of plastic-free fabrics, like organic cotton or linen, and by using products like the Cora Microfiber Laundry Catching Ball, which you can also find at Green Eco Dream, or the Lint LUV-R Filter at Environmental Enhancements. According to a 2019 study by the nonprofit Ocean Conservancy in Marine Pollution Bulletin, these items reduced an average of 26% and 87% of total microfibers, respectively, keeping fewer of these particles from entering wastewater.

Food Storage and Cleanup

In the kitchen, it’s easier than ever to avoid chemicals from plastic contaminating your food.

The chemicals included in many conventional kitchen products, like bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), can leach into food and ultimately our own bodies, when released by heat or even rough treatment from a sponge or dishwasher. When storing food, you can avoid plastic by investing in glass or bamboo containers. If you need to cover a bowl with no lid, or wrap leftover produce, consider plastic alternatives like Bee’s Wrap or Food Huggers, rather than plastic wrap.

For kitchen cleanup, basic sponges are often made with plastics (or at least come in plastic packaging) and conventional household cleaners are sold in plastic packaging.

Shop the sustainable retail stores at the Green Pages online to find plastic-free cleaning products, including biodegradable and compostable Swedish dish cloths, walnut scrubber sponges (reusable and washable, made of plant-based cellulose, recycled fibers, and crushed walnut shells), and more.

You can also make your own cleaner with water, castile soap, vinegar, and essential oils and keep it in a glass bottle.

Reuseable Water Bottles, Cups, and To-Go Containers

A new study published in January 2024 by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science (PNAS) revealed a startling new statistic. Researchers found water from single-use plastic bottles can contain from 10 to 100 times more nano-plastics than previously estimated. When we drink from plastic-bottled water, these nano-plastics enter our bodies, and can migrate into our lungs or bloodstream.

If that’s not reason enough to avoid plastic water bottles, according to a 2023 report from the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, one million plastic bottles of water are sold every minute globally. These sales resulted in 25 million tons of plastic waste in 2021, and 85% ended up in the landfill, where they can take up to 1,000 years to degrade. Plastic bottles also accounted for 12% of plastic ocean waste in a 2021 study.

That’s why it’s so important to care for reusable water bottles throughout their lives—to avoid sending even more unwanted items to join plastic bottles in the landfill, or in our oceans.

To keep your reusable bottle clean, consider regular overnight treatments with natural ingredients: one-part vinegar and one-part water. Then, rinse the bottle thoroughly with warm water and let it dry fully. There are also several sustainable cleaning tools you can use—check out Bottle Bright natural cleaning tabs or a wood bottle brush.

Remember to also bring your own coffee cup, sustainable straws, and reusable to-go containers to your local café or restaurant for take-out items.

Note: Reusable water bottles depend on a reliable, clean water source, making them less useful for some communities and why we need to fight for accessible clean water for all.

Bath Products

The bathroom, like the kitchen, is another area full of plastics, from shampoo and lotion containers to cleaning products.

Consider ditching the shampoo bottle and body wash container and switching to good, old-fashioned bars.

Tangie offers zero-waste shampoo, conditioner, shaving, and soap bars, as well as a drying disk to keep your bars hygienically in the shower—wet soap can be a breeding ground for bacteria and allowing soap to dry between uses extends its lifespan.

Lobby Business Owners and Legislators

Don’t let businesses using too much plastic off the hook.

A powerful way to take on plastic pollution is by demanding less plastic usage from business owners or lobbying legislators to recognize the problems with plastic pollution and then to act.

The next time you’re at your favorite bar or restaurant, talk to a manager about making the switch to more sustainable materials for straws, bags, to-go containers, or other items. Ask them to switch to plant-based materials (bamboo, reed, mushroom), glass, and bags made of natural fibers, and note that you’d be willing to pay a little extra for them. (Check out Holy City Straw Company, which helps restaurants upgrade to greener materials.)

Then get in touch with your city council and encourage them not only to adopt a single-use plastic ban, thereby mandating businesses make changes, but also to enforce such bans. Provide evidence to support your requests—statistics on the damage plastic is doing to our planet—while offering sustainable alternatives.

Finally, consider contacting your US senators and representatives about the federal Break Free From Plastics Act, introduced in both the House and Senate in October 2023. This bill would ban certain single-use plastic products (including those that are not recyclable), establish minimum recycled content requirements for plastic packaging, and prohibit plastic waste from being shipped to developing countries, among other provisions. Green America is working with other NGO allies to support this bill.

Your choices on how to engage with plastic, both at home and in your community, matter. Together, we can reduce the plastic in our lives, and surround ourselves with natural, sustainable, reusable, less-polluting alternatives.

Plastics is Plan B for the fossil fuel industry.

Judith Enck, founder and president of beyond plastics

My goal as a Certified Financial Planner is to simplify my clients’ lives by organizing their financial matters so that they can live their lives fully and enjoy every moment. Areas of my expertise include ESG and impact investments, retirement and legacy planning, college planning, investment management, and insurance.

First Two Food Brands Achieve Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verification

WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 28, 2024 – A groundbreaking label is about to arrive in grocery stores, and with it an inspiring glimpse at a thriving, sustainable future for our food system. PACHA and Roots Chips will be the first two companies to carry the Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified label and will be available in stores nationwide. Over the next 12 months, a growing selection of Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified products are also slated to hit grocery shelves.

Adam Kotin, Managing Director of the Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI), said: “The Soil & Climate Health Initiative Verified label represents a holistic, science-based commitment to farming systems that seek to restore the land that feeds us.” 

PACHA, an organic food company based in Vista, California, uses sprouted buckwheat and sea salt with organic herbs and spices to make their vegan, gluten-free breads. PACHA sources its buckwheat from verified regenerative farms for all four of their hearty Sourdough Bread products including: Buckwheat Loaf, Garlic Rye, Cheesy Herb, and Buckwheat Buns.

Maddie Hamann, Director of Marketing and Co-Founder of PACHA, said: “PACHA is dedicated to nourishing the health of people AND our planet through regeneratively grown foods. We are so grateful for the farmers making changes to provide our buckwheat, and for SCI's work that is making our mission a reality!” 

Roots Chips, a family-run farm-to-bag Idaho potato chip company based in Aberdeen, Idaho, uses simple and natural ingredients for its farm-fresh products. Roots Chips sources its potatoes from their very own SCI Verified regenerative farms for all five of their savory kettle potato chip flavors including: Sea Salt, Barbecue, Purple Sea Salt, Jalapeño, Sea Salt and Vinegar.

Ladd Wahlen, Co-Founder of Roots Chips and fourth-generation potato farmer, said: “The SCI team has developed an amazing regenerative framework for both farmers and brands that we are thrilled to be a part of. We look forward to this tremendous opportunity to work side by side in this initiative!” 

The Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI), a project of the non-profit Green America, is excited to announce the first products to successfully complete the independent verification process. These specific products are made using ingredients from farms practicing regenerative agriculture – a farming approach that prioritizes healthy, living soil to drive powerful outcomes in carbon drawdown, biodiversity, climate resiliency, and farm prosperity. To earn verification, farms track soil health outcomes, use practices that protect and nourish the soil, and commit to continuous improvement over the long-term. An independent third-party verifier confirms that on-farm activities and monitoring meet the requirements of the program.

Farmers worldwide are on the frontlines of climate change, as they face increasingly erratic weather patterns and shifting temperatures. At the same time, we face stunning losses of the fertile topsoil that sustains food production.

Restoring soil health and its natural ability to draw down atmospheric carbon is a critical step to addressing these climate and soil crises. SCI’s science-based commitment and verification program gives food producers and manufacturers the ability to measure soil health improvements and works to empower the entire food supply chain to scale the transition of acres under regenerative agriculture management.

SCI’s partner program, the Nutrient Density Alliance, will soon launch a report this March focusing on recommendations for food and agriculture brands to make verifiable nutrient density claims related to their use of regenerative agriculture practices.

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ABOUT

Soil & Climate Initiative (SCI), a project of Green America, is a holistic program that empowers and incentivizes farmers and the food supply chain to scale the transition of acres under regenerative agriculture management in order to maximize regenerative outcomes. www.soilclimateinitiative.org  

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

Nutrient Density Alliance (SCA), a project of Green America, is a program focused on making meaningful nutrient density metrics widely and directly accessible to everyone — from farms to families — that will drive demand for a healthy food system by deepening awareness that human health, including the wellbeing of the soil, water, biodiversity of life above and below the ground, and the welfare of the human beings growing our food. www.nutrientdensityalliance.org

At PACHA, we consciously pick ingredients that contribute to soil health. We chose buckwheat for its deliciously hearty flavor, its numerous health benefits, and its utility in regenerative farming. As a cover crop it helps to prevent erosion and is tilled back into the earth to become fertile soil. Its numerous flowers also promote biodiversity and allow farmers to cut out pesticides.  www.livepacha.com

Our focus at Roots Chips is on regenerative potato farming. Since our first year farming, we have focused on practices that are beneficial to soil health. We are continually improving our sustainable and regenerative practices on our farm. www.rootschips.com  

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

From retirement accounts to insurance companies, are you putting your money in accounts that care about people and the planet?