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Community and Impact Investing |
Community investing directs capital to communities and people underserved by conventional financial institutions. It helps lift these communities economically through financing projects such as:
- Access to healthy food, education, or childcare
- Start-up funds for small business
Community investors may also seek to build sustainable neighborhoods through initiatives such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, parks and green space, recycling and composting, bike lanes and sidewalks, public transit, and transit-oriented development.
Community investing helps people and communities who are under-resourced due to systemic inequity begin to build generational wealth. It provides people and organizations with tools to improve the quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Options for Community Investing
Community investing can be done by both institutional and individual investors. Institutional investors and high-net worth investors have a few more options, but individual investors have plenty of options in two categories: cash-equivalents and fixed-income, or investments that pay a set level rate of return.
Community Development Banks and Credit Unions
If you have money at a community development bank or credit union, then you are a community investor. The mission of these banks and credit unions is to invest in their communities.
When you open a checking or savings account, certificate of deposit, or money market account with a community development bank or credit union, you are helping them support projects that build healthy communities – and your accounts are federally insured up to $250,000.
An example is Hope Credit Union’s Transformational Deposit, used to build financial health for families across the deep South through homeownership, entrepreneurship, education, health, climate resiliency, and more in one of the nation’s most economically distressed regions.
You can find a community development bank or credit union in your area on Green America’s Get A Better Bank map. Other resources include:
- Inclusiv, an organization of community development credit unions
Community Development Loan Funds (CDLFs)
Community development loan funds are a special type of CDFI that provides low-cost financing to businesses, organizations, and individuals in underserved communities. When you invest in a CDLF, you may be helping a developer build affordable housing or helping a first-time entrepreneur start a local business.
Investments in CDLFs usually start at $1,000. Interest rates are at or below market, and your money may be tied up for one to three years. These loan funds are not federally insured, but they use grant money and loss reserves to help protect individual investors.
You can find a CDLF in your area from Opportunity Finance Network’s CDFI Locator – search for Loan Fund and the area served.
Impact Notes
Besides federally designated CDFI loan funds, other organizations also offer pooled funds that support community development. One of the oldest is Calvert Impact’s Community Investment Note, which allows investors to start with as little as $20, with returns of 3.5% to 5%.
Since its inception in 1995, the Community Investment Note has raised over $2.6 billion from 20,000 investors to fund small business, renewable energy, affordable housing, sustainable agriculture and more. In 2023, Calvert Impact introduced the Cut Carbon Note to finance energy efficiency and renewable energy in commercial buildings, with the goal of measurably reducing carbon emissions.
Other examples of pooled funds include:
- CNote’s Flagship Fund, which works through CDFIs to support small business, affordable housing, and sustainable growth. 4% return, no minimum investment, 30-month term.
- Capital Impact Investment Notes, which has invested $3.2 billion in community health centers, charter schools, healthy food retailers, and affordable housing developers nationwide. $1,000 minimum, fixed interest rates, terms up to 20 years.
Green Bonds and Notes
A bond is issued by a government, company, or bank to raise money for specific projects. By purchasing a bond, the investor is essentially lending money to the issuer, which will pay back the principal with interest over a set period of time.
Green bonds are a subset of bonds used to finance environmental and sustainability projects such as renewable energy, energy efficiency, recycling, clean public transit, or parks, trees, and green space.
The World Bank issued the first green bond in 2008; by 2023, it had issued $42.2 billion in green bonds. Total green bonds sales reached $575 billion in 2023. The Green Bond Principles were established in 2014 to guide how green bonds can be spent, the process for selection, management of proceeds, and reporting requirements. The Climate Bonds Initiative has standards for certifying green bonds.
An example of a green bond available to individual investors is the Connecticut Green Bank’s Green Liberty Bonds and Notes. While Green Liberty Bonds must be purchased through a participating brokerage firm, the bank has held 11 offerings of Green Liberty Notes, which can be purchased for as little as $100 – essentially crowdfunding clean energy and energy efficiency investments.
Community Investing is Popular!
Community investing has grown exponentially over the past decade, according to the US Sustainable Investment Forum 2022 Trends Report. Total community development assets have risen from $64.3 billion in 2014 to $457.9 billion in 2022, a growth rate of over 700%.
The number of community development financial institutions rose from 880 in 2014 to 1359 in 2022, led by the addition of 332 new community development credit unions nationwide.
Source: US Sustainable Investment Forum 2022 Trends Report
Impact Investing
Community investing can be thought of as a type of impact investing. According to the Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), impact investments are “investments made with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and/or environmental impact alongside a financial return.”
Impact investing is defined by four elements:
- Intentionality. The investor’s intention is to have a positive social and environmental impact.
- Investment with return expectations. Impact investments are expected to generate a financial return on capital.
- Range of return expectations and asset classes. Impact investments financial returns range from below market to market rate, and investments can be made across asset classes.
- Impact measurement. A hallmark of impact investing is the commitment to measure and report social and environmental performance, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Impact investing can be done anywhere, but it is often thought of as investing in developing countries. It is often measured through the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals of addressing poverty, hunger, public health, education, gender equality, clean water, clean energy, and more.
An example of international impact investing is Shared Interest, founded in 1994 as an investment vehicle to reverse apartheid’s legacy of race-based economic inequality in South Africa. Shared Interest has catalyzed $131 million in lending through South African banks to almost 2.3 million Black entrepreneurs, farmers, and microfinance institutions. Investments start at $3000.
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Mutual Funds and ETFs |
Pooled investment funds
While 21% of American families have direct ownership of individual stock, 58% have some exposure to the stock market, according to the Federal Reserve’s 2023 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Most of this additional participation in the stock market is through pooled investment funds such as mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, usually through a retirement plan.
A pooled fund invests money from a lot of different people into stock from an entire portfolio of companies. Both mutual funds and ETFs are pooled investments managed by a professional fund manager who determines the mix of investments, which can also include bonds and other asset types.
By diversifying holdings into dozens, if not hundreds, of stocks, bonds, and other assets, mutual funds and ETFs reduce volatility and risk. The trade-off is the individual investor does not directly control what the fund invests in, as the fund is managed by a financial professional who makes these decisions.
Mutual funds and ETFs: What’s the difference?
The main difference between mutual funds and ETFs is how they are traded.
- Mutual funds can only be purchased at the end of each trading day based on the net asset value calculated from the closing market price of all the assets in the fund.
- ETFs can be traded throughout the trading day, similarly to individual stock.
Mutual funds have a long track record – the first U.S. mutual fund from Massachusetts Investors Trust launched in 1924. ETFs are much younger. The first ETF was the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust in 1993.
Mutual funds tend to be actively managed by a professional who makes investment decisions – and charges a fee for the service. ETFs are often passively managed index funds with much lower fees. However, recent years have seen more passively managed mutual funds and actively managed ETFs.
According to the Investment Company Institute’s 2023 Fact Book, 125 million Americans owned 8,763 mutual funds worth a total of $22.1 trillion and 2,989 ETFs worth $6.5 trillion – accounting for 48% of the world’s regulated funds.
Evaluating mutual funds and ETFs
As with company stock, the first step to evaluating mutual funds and ETFs is to know what you own, most likely through a retirement plan, college savings plan, or brokerage account.
Make sure you know how to log into any accounts you have that invest in mutual funds or ETFs, so you can create an inventory of which funds you hold. Then you can start researching these funds to see what they are invested in, as well as researching your plans to see what other funds are available.
Read the prospectus
Every fund has a prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that provides material information about the investment. Think of it as a “mission statement” for what the fund is investing in and why – including details about investment objectives, strategies, performance, fees, and risks.
The prospectus will include information about any socially responsible or ESG investing strategies that fund managers are using, if the fund is designed to be part of responsible investing.
The prospectus helps investors make informed decisions about whether to invest in a particular fund. It is important to read the prospectus of any fund before investing in it. If you cannot find the prospectus for a fund online, call your retirement fund manager or brokerage account manager.
Check fund ratings
Multiple organizations rate mutual funds and ETFs based on various criteria including sustainability. In the past you had to pay for most of these services, but now many of them are free.
Here are three free fund ratings tools we recommend.
As You Sow’s Invest Your Values
As You Sow’s Invest Your Values is a free online tool that analyzes the impact of thousands of US mutual funds, ETFs and 401(k) plans. You can look up almost any mutual fund or ETF by name, ticker, or fund manager to find its holdings and how it rates in seven issue areas:
Each issue area scores funds on different criteria; for example, Fossil Free Funds rates funds based on whether they hold any coal, oil, or gas, have a sustainability mandate, and invest in banks or insurance companies that fund fossil fuels. You can also find information about the fund performance.
Each issue area also lets you search for a list of top scoring funds, or a list of funds by fund manager such as Vanguard, TIAA, or Calvert. As You Sow also has retirement plan ratings for large companies.
Screenshot of top-rated mutual funds from As You Sow’s Fossil Free Funds
Natural Investments’ Heart Rating
Green America is pleased to partner with our Green Business Network member Natural Investments PBLLC, a leader in environmentally and socially responsible investing, to bring you the mutual fund Heart Rating.
The Heart Rating launched in 1992 as the first fund rating system that compares the breadth and depth of the environmental, social and governance criteria (ESG) used by fund managers to select the holdings. The rating looks at a fund’s research process, screening criteria, shareholder advocacy efforts, and cash investments in communities, particularly communities of color.
Screenshot of Natural Investments’ Heart Rating site
US SIF’s Sustainable Investment Mutual Funds and ETFs Chart
This chart displays all sustainable investment mutual funds and ETFs offered by US SIF's institutional member firms. This tool is meant for individual investors to compare cost, financial performance, screening and advocacy, and proxy voting records of competing funds. All listed funds are open to new investors. Financial performance data is provided by Bloomberg LP.
Screenshot of US SIF’s chart of sustainable mutual funds and ETFs
Want to use your dollars to invest for impact in your own community? Learn about community and impact investing.
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Company Stock |
What is stock?
Stock, issued in units called shares, represents ownership of a piece of the issuing corporation. Corporations issue stock to raise money for their business operations during their initial public offering (IPO). Stock can then be bought and sold on a market such as the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq (National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations).
Stock can generate a return (i.e. make money) for its owners in two ways:
- If the price of the stock goes up after you buy it, and you sell it for more than you paid.
- Through dividends, or payments to shareholders. Not all stocks pay dividends.
Over the last century, the stock market’s average rate of return is 10%. However, that average is for the entire market over time. Individual stocks can lose money, and corporations can go out of business. In addition, the return on the entire stock market can fluctuate. Market crashes are well documented; however, over time the market has regained and surpassed lost value.
Types of stock
Most individual investors own common stock, which entitles them to receive any dividends and vote on shareholder resolutions at the corporation’s annual general meeting. If you own stock in a company, we urge you to vote your shares. Find more information in Shareholder Advocacy.
Many institutional investors own preferred stock, which does not bestow voting rights, but is less volatile and provides a higher claim for dividends and any payouts if the company goes bankrupt. Institutional investors are organizations such as congregations, universities, or pension funds.
Stock can also be classified by market capitalization, which represents the total value of all company shares across the market. Large-cap corporations have more shares on the market, and their shares tend to sell at higher prices than shares for small-cap or mid-cap companies.
These classifications break down as follows:
| Company size | Market capitalization | | Large-cap corporation | $10 billion or more | | Mid-cap corporation | $2 billion to $10 billion | | Small-cap corporation | $250 million to $2 billion |
Large-cap corporations are mature companies -- household names like Apple, Amazon, or Walmart. Their stocks are less volatile but also subject to less growth. Small-cap and mid-cap stocks are more affordable and have more room for growth, but can also be more volatile.
Fractional shares
Fractional shares are parts of a single share in company stock – for example, half a share in Tesla. They typically occur as a result of stock splits, dividend reinvestments, or company mergers and acquisitions.
Fractional shares can help ordinary investors build a more diverse portfolio at a more affordable price. Some blue-chip stocks can cost hundreds, even thousands, of dollars per share; for example, as of this writing:
- A share in Coca-Cola costs $1,252.09
- A share in Costco costs $890.58
- A share in Microsoft costs $428.04
Fractional shares allow you to buy the amount of stock you can afford, whether it’s $5 or $500 worth of stock in a high-priced company. This lets you easily diversify your stock portfolio.
The main disadvantage of fractional shares is you can’t buy or sell them directly yourself – you need to go to a brokerage. This means they are difficult to transfer if you switch to a new broker. They also may not be available for all company stocks and do not typically include shareholder voting rights.
Evaluating company stock
Owning stock means you own a piece of that company – so deciding which companies you want to own shares in requires researching these companies.
Socially responsible investing or ESG investing can help. Responsible investing looks at both traditional considerations such as the company’s financial performance and additional data about the company’s environmental, social, and corporate governance practices.
In the past, information about a company’s ESG record was hard to find or cost money to access. Now there are many free resources.
Know what you own
The first step to evaluating company stock is to inventory any individual stocks you currently own through a retirement or brokerage account.
Once you know what you own, you can start researching these companies to decide if you want to keep their stock or find other companies you would like to invest in instead.
A good place to start is the company’s website. Check to see if the company has published:
- An ESG policies and performance report
- A report on diversity, equal pay, or worker safety and benefits
Keep in mind the company will be putting its best foot forward in these reports. Check for policies, projects, and statistics to back up their claims.
Financial performance
You can find information about the financial performance of the companies you own stock in from several sources:
Independent ratings and reports
Besides the company’s own reports, you can also find reports by independent organizations such as media outlets or nonprofits that rank companies on almost any basis imaginable.
Going back to your ESG wheel, search online for a report or ratings system for companies based on the issues most important to you.
Here are some examples of company ratings and reports for various issues:
Understanding how companies perform on the environmental, social, and corporate governance factors that matter to you will help you identify companies to invest in that align with your values.
Stock isn’t the only place you can practice responsible investing. Most people invest through mutual funds or exchange-traded funds. Learn how to find and evaluate mutual funds and ETFs
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Types of Responsible Investing |
In life there are many types of investing. You might invest your time by volunteering for a cause in your community. You might invest your energy by working out to increase your health.
In the world of finance, investing usually refers to the process of using your money to purchase assets that will increase in value to generate a profit, income, or gains.
Just as with conventional investing, for responsible investing you can choose between several types of investments, often referred to as asset classes. An asset class is a group of financial instruments that have similar characteristics and behave the same way in the marketplace.
The asset classes used most often in responsible investing are:
- Stock or shares in a company, also called equities
- Mutual funds or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which hold stock or shares in multiple companies
- Fixed-income securities, which usually mean bonds or notes
- Cash or cash-equivalents, such as a savings account or money market fund
Other asset classes not typically part of sustainable investing include commodities such as metals, energy, or agricultural goods; real estate; futures and derivatives; infrastructure; foreign currency; and cryptocurrency.
Click on the boxes below to find an explanation of each asset class commonly used in responsible investing, along with resources for evaluating your options within each type of investment:
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Performance & Popularity |
A common misperception about responsible investing is that it results in lower returns. Not true!
Years of research studies show that responsible investing generates returns as good or better than conventional investing, especially over the long term.
For example:
- Morningstar’s 2022 Sustainable Funds US Landscape Report found that “In 2021, most sustainable funds delivered stronger total and risk-adjusted returns ... than their respective Morningstar Category indexes.”
- Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Sustainable Investing study analyzed 3,000+ US mutual funds and ETFs, finding that sustainable equity funds outperformed non-ESG funds by a median of 4.3 percent in 2020.
- NYU Stern Center for Sustainable Business conducted a meta-analysis of 1000+ studies from 2015-2020: "59% showed similar or better performance for ESG funds relative to conventional investment approaches while only 14% found negative results.”
To see the actual performance of sustainable investing, look no further than the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index, the very first socially responsible index fund launched by Amy Domini in 1990.
Source: Green Money Journal
The KLD 400 Social Index has consistently outperformed the general index of large and mid-cap US stocks for more than 30 years – showing returns better than the market rate, especially over time.
Learn more about financial performance with sustainable investing from US SIF.
Responsible Investing is Popular!
Responsible investing has rapidly increased over the past three decades and is more popular than ever. According to the most recent US Sustainable Investment Forum Trends Report, sustainable investing accounted for $8.4 trillion in 2022 – or 1 in 8 dollars under management.
Source: US Sustainable Investment Forum
The outlook for responsible investing is strong. The Morgan Stanley Sustainable Signals 2024 report found that 84% of individual investors in the United States and 77% globally are interested in sustainable investing, with almost half in the United States saying they are very interested. Young people especially care about sustainable investing as a way to shape the world they will inherit.
 Source: 2024 Morgan Stanley Sustainable Signals: Understanding Individual Investors’ Interests and Priorities
Ready to get started with responsible investing? Learn about responsible investing in stocks, mutual funds, community notes, and more.
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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How Responsible Investing Works |
The terms responsible investing and socially responsible investing are comparable to terms such as sustainable investing, values investing, and ESG investing, or investing that takes environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors into account.
Responsible investing can generally be thought of as using your investments to boost companies that make a positive impact on society and do not have negative business practices.
ESG investing can be seen as more numbers oriented, using metrics such as risk analysis based on ESG factors, along with traditional measures such as financial performance, to inform investment decisions.
Understanding ESG Investing
Investing that considers environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors can span a wide range of issues. Broadly speaking:
- Environmental factors look at how well a company manages its environmental impact and addresses environmental problems in areas such as air, water, climate, pollution, agriculture, water, and animal welfare.
- Social factors look at how well a company treats all its stakeholders, including its diversity and equity practices, workplace conditions, community relations, and human rights.
- Governance factors look at how corporate power is checked and shared through such venues as political contributions, executive compensation, board diversity, board independence, transparency and disclosure.
You can see examples of ESG criteria in this ESG wheel from the US Sustainable Investment Forum. This is not an exhaustive list, and there may be other issues of importance to you.
Source: US Sustainable Investment Forum
While a company may excel in some areas, it may lag in others. Few companies do well in all areas. Knowing which ESG issues are most important to you will help guide your investment decisions.
This questionnaire from US SIF can help you identify your investment priorities.
How is ESG Investing Practiced?
Although socially responsible investing began as a way to exclude certain companies or industries from your investment portfolio, it has grown to also include companies and industries with strong policies and practices on sustainability and equity. This is known as screening.
- You can screen out companies with poor ESG track records or whose business model does not align with your values. Examples include fossil fuel companies, weapons manufacturers, tobacco and alcohol, private prisons, or industrial agriculture.
- You can also screen in companies whose products, policies, or practices help build a more sustainable and equitable world. This can be done by using ESG factors to benchmark corporations and identify best in class, or by using ESG to evaluate risk and return.
Screening out and screening in are sometimes referred to as divest and invest -- moving your money away from doing harm and toward doing good.
Additional resources
Is responsible investing as good as regular investing? The answer is Yes! Learn more about responsible investing’s performance and popularity.
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Evolution of Responsible Investing |
Socially responsible investing in the United States dates back to the 18th century when Methodists resisted investments in companies involved with the slave trade, smuggling, liquor, tobacco, or gambling. Later the Quakers forbade investments in slavery and war, and by 1928, the first socially responsible fund called the Pioneer Fund had similar restrictions.
By the 1960s, Vietnam War protesters demanded that university endowments divest from defense contractors, and in the 1980s, a broad movement developed to demand divestment from companies doing business with the apartheid regime in South Africa. Due in part to this movement, apartheid was officially abolished in 1991 and Nelson Mandela was elected president in 1994.
In 1990, Amy Domini launched the first socially responsible index fund, the Domini 400 Social Index, now called the MSCI KLD 400. Today there are literally thousands of socially responsible mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, as well as opportunities for community and impact investing.
In 2004, the term ESG first made an appearance in a United Nations Global Compact report called "Who Cares Wins." The report, endorsed by 23 financial institutions, explained how capital market stakeholders could integrate environmental, social, and governance factors into investment decisions.
Responsible investing now encompasses stocks, mutual funds and ETFs, community and impact investing, and more. Sustainable investing performs as well or better than conventional investing, and has grown to $8.4 trillion, or 1 in 8 dollars under management.
Read more about the history of ESG here. Read more about the history of impact investing here.
How does responsible investing work in practice? Learn about ESG investing, screening, and more.
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Responsible Investing Overview |
Responsible investing is a lot like conventional investing. You need to know things like:
What are your investment goals? Examples include a retirement plan or college savings plan – and for most Americans, these plans represent the largest investments of their lives.
How much can you afford to invest each month? Even a small amount invested regularly adds up to big money. Why? Because you are investing in a market with an average return of 10% each year. That means just $25 invested each month for 30 years could turn into almost $50,000!
What is your risk tolerance? Some years are great for your investments, and some are terrible – but history shows that even after big dips, the market has recovered and grown. How much can you stand to lose in a year? This may change as you get closer to retirement.
Responsible investing takes all these considerations into account but overlays another set of information: environment, social, and corporate governance (ESG) factors.
The purpose is to both generate long-term positive financial returns and create positive social impact.
Responsible investing can be done for all investment types, such as:
- Mutual Funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
- Loan Funds and Retail Notes
Click on the boxes below to learn more about responsible investing:
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Socially Responsible Investing |
Socially responsible investing goes by many names: sustainable investing, ESG investing, impact investing and more. Whatever it’s called, responsible investing helps you use your investments – including your retirement and college savings plans – to build a better world.
Responsible investing is different from responsible banking, credit cards, and insurance. For the latter three, once your money leaves your hands -- whether by opening a bank account, generating a transaction fee, or purchasing a policy -- it is no longer under your control. Someone else can use that money as they see fit without even consulting you. Your job, then, is to find a responsible bank, credit card issuer, or insurance carrier who will use your money in a way that aligns with your values.
With investing, YOU are in charge of what happens to your money. Even if you have a financial advisor, YOU decide which companies, mutual funds, or exchange-traded funds, to invest in, or other investments to make. We want to equip you with the information needed to make these decisions.
Many people don’t think of themselves as investors, but they are. For example, if you have a employer-sponsored 401(k) plan, you are an investor – and you can choose which funds to invest in from the range of funds included in the plan. Even a certificate of deposit can be thought of as an investment.
Learn more about responsible investing by clicking on the boxes below.
Racial Justice Investing (Coming Soon)
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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How to Switch to Responsible Insurance |
Even as the nation’s largest insurance companies – household names like Liberty Mutual, State Farm, or GEICO – are canceling or limiting policies in climate-vulnerable areas while raising rates, they are also supporting the chief cause of the climate crisis by insuring and investing in fossil fuels.
Fortunately, it is possible to find alternatives to the largest US insurance companies. Green America's Climate Smart Insurance Directory has suggestions for insurance companies in every state that do not insure major fossil fuel projects and are not major investors in fossil fuel companies.
Most companies in the Green America directory are regional mutual insurance companies – showing once again that the best option for responsible business is to shop in your local area. Our directory identifies options in every state for responsible home, renters, and car insurance companies.
Shopping for Insurance
Once you have some company names from our Climate Smart Insurance Directory, call three independent insurance agents in your area and ask them to quote costs and coverage for policies at those or other regional mutual insurance companies. Different agents work with different companies, so talking to more than one agent will give you a fuller picture of what is available in your area.
Regional insurance companies are no more risky than large insurers and could save you money on your premium for the same coverage. Many have been in business for decades, some for over a century. 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.
You can also call these companies directly yourself. Be sure to ask about a company’s holdings and policies before purchasing an insurance plan.
Next: Socially Responsible Investing
With banking, credit cards, and insurance, we give our money to someone else who can then use it as they see fit. Our job is to identify responsible players who will use our money in a way that aligns with our values. Investing is different: Whether you are buying stocks or setting aside money for retirement, you are in charge of how your money is used. Learn how you can use socially responsible investing to build a more sustainable and equitable world.
Back to Insurance Main Page
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Climate Smart Insurance Directory |
You don’t need to purchase insurance from companies that are supporting fossil fuels. Find responsible insurers that offer policies where you live.
State-By-State Directory
Green America’s Climate Smart Insurance Directory provides alternatives to the mega-insurance companies that are underwriting and investing in fossil fuels.
How it Works
For each state, we list insurance companies that:
- Have both home and auto insurance (with very few exceptions), so you can save by bundling the two together. Note: Most companies offering homeowners insurance also offer renter's insurance.
- Do not insure fossil fuel projects that we know of (this information is not always available).
- Have no indication of direct investments in the fossil fuel industry (Grade A), have investments under $200 million (Grade B), or investments under $500 million (Grade C), as listed in the Investing in Climate Chaos database by Urgewald, a German environmental and human rights NGO.
- Have a rating of A- or above for financial stability from AM Best.
This directory is an evolving list. If you find a great insurance company that does not insure fossil fuel projects and has little to no fossil fuel investments, and it's not in our directory, please let us know!
Endorsements
The Climate Smart Insurance Directory is endorsed by the following organizations:
Credits
Thank you to our insurance directory researcher Mike Moore, who combed through insurance company finances and reports to put together the data in this directory. Thank you to Michael Richardson of Rivers and Mountains GreenFaith, which provided half of the funding. Thanks to Alec Badalov on the Green America communications staff who created this page. And thanks to Todd Larsen and Cathy Cowan Becker, who oversaw this project. This directory would not be possible without all of you.
Ready to move to a responsible insurance company? Learn how to make the switch.
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Insurance on the Front Lines |
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).
The insurance industry stands on the front lines of this crisis. Every time a climate-related fire, flood, or storm damages or destroys a home or business, the policy holder expects their insurance company 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 areas.
Meanwhile, insurance prices are rising for everyone, whether or not they live in an area with heightened climate risk. Homeowners insurance premiums are now up 21% from a year ago and 35% from two years ago nationwide, according to the 2023 Policygenius Home Insurance Pricing report.
Shockingly, despite clearly increased climate risks, the largest US insurance companies continue to support the chief cause of the climate crisis – the burning of fossil fuels – in two ways:
- By insuring fossil fuel projects
- By investing billions of dollars in fossil fuel companies.
Insuring Fossil Fuel Projects
Without insurance, fossil fuel companies cannot get loans or investments for their notoriously risky projects. This makes insurance the “Achilles heel” of fossil fuel projects.
While most of the large US insurance companies have set restrictions on underwriting coal, almost none have restricted underwriting conventional oil and gas projects according to Insure Our Future, a campaign of environmental, consumer, and grassroots organizations that holds the insurance industry accountable for its role in the climate crisis.
Three of the top eight US insurance companies — including Berkshire Hathaway, which owns GEICO and AM Guard insurance — 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. The company’s CEO, Warren Buffett, has said climate change should not be a factor in its business decisions.
While it is difficult to find out which companies insure which projects, a recent report from Rainforest Action Network and Public Citizen identified 35 insurance companies underwriting liquified methane export terminal projects across the U.S Gulf South, including Chubb, Liberty Mutual, AIG, The Hartford, Travelers, Berkshire Hathaway, and Lloyd’s of London.
Investing in Fossil Fuel Companies
Insurance companies do not simply insure fossil fuel projects; they also invest billions of dollars from the premiums we pay into fossil fuel companies, according to the Investing in Climate Chaos database by Urgewald, a German environmental and human-rights NGO.
Berkshire Hathaway invests by far the most in fossil fuels of all US insurance companies, more than $95 billion. It is the 14th largest investor in fossil fuels overall and the top investor in Chevron and Occidenal Petroleum. Its subsidiary Berkshire Hathaway Energy owns 11 coal plants outright and has stakes in 18 more. Its railroad company ships coal across the country
State Farm has the second-most invested in fossil fuels of any US insurance carrier: $20.6 billion invested in 65 companies, including $10.7 billion in shares and $9.9 billion in bonds. It is the 15th-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 2023.
Other high-level investors include USAA, through its investing arm Victory Capital, at over $10 billion; AIG at over $9 billion; Nationwide at almost $7 billion; and Allstate at over $4 billion.
| Insurance Company | Shares (US$) | Bonds (US$) | # of Fossil Fuel Companies Invested In | Total Fossil Fuel Investments (US$) | | Berkshire Hathaway (parent of GEICO) | 95.4 billion | 0.3 billion | 8 | 95.8 billion | | State Farm | 10.7 billion | 9.9 billion | 65 | 20.6 billion | | USAA (through Victory Capital) | 8 billion | 3.2 billion | 282 | 11.2 billion | | AIG | 1.2 billion | 8.5 billion | 275 | 9.7 billion | | Nationwide | 0 | 7.2 billion | 77 | 7.2 billion | | Allstate | 7 million | 4.5 billion | 111 | 4.5 billion | | Travelers | 0 | 1.9 billion | 49 | 1.9 billion | | Liberty Mutual | 0 | 1.8 billion | 65 | 1.8 billion | | The Hartford | 166 million | 1.2 billion | 91 | 1.3 billion |
Investing in Climate Chaos database by Urgewald. Data collected in May 2024. Figures rounded to first decimal.
Ready to find better insurance? Check out Green America’s new Responsible Insurance Directory.
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Switch to a Responsible Card |
Green America Resources
Switching to a new credit card may not be as onerous as switching to a new bank, but it can still be a process depending on how many automatic payments are on your current card.
To switch to a new credit card, follow many of the same steps as breaking up with your megabank:
- Choose a new responsible credit card.
- Open a line of credit with your new card.
- Make a list of automatic payments on your old card.
- Move your automatic payments to the new card.
- Get or download copies of your old credit card statements.
- Make sure you have received and used any points, rewards, or cash back.
- Pay off your old credit card balance or transfer it to your new card.
- Close your old credit card account – or leave it open but stop using it.
- Tell your previous credit card issuer why you are leaving.
- Encourage organizations you are involved with to make the switch.
Credit Rating
Unlike your bank account, a credit card is essentially a loan, so switching credit cards may temporarily affect your credit rating. When you apply for a new card, the company will likely do a hard inquiry into your credit history, which could temporarily lower your credit score. Likewise, closing a long-held credit card may also temporarily lower your credit score.
In the long run, however, how you use your new credit card is more important than switching to a new card for your credit rating. Taking these steps will help minimize any impact:
- Get a climate-friendly card with a credit limit equal to or higher than your old card.
- Pay your credit card bills on time.
- Follow these steps to cancel your old card – or keep it but stop using it.
If you are planning a major purchase such as a new house, or if you are a renter looking to move soon, you might want to wait until these processes are complete before canceling a long-held or high-limit credit card.
More resources
Sample Break Up Letter to Send to Your Megabank
Need some help telling your megabank why you are switching to a new card? Use our sample letter.
FAQs on Green Credit Cards
Before switching credit cards, many people have questions. Find answers to questions such as:
- How does a community development bank or credit union benefit if I use their credit card?
- If I end my airline credit card, will I lose my miles?
- Can I use a responsible credit card overseas?
Bank and Credit Cards Services Checklist
Credit cards may offer a lot of different services. Our friends at This! Is What We Did have developed a checklist to help you determine which services are most important to you.
Still need help?
This! Is What We Did offers Move Your Money Office Hours. You can sign up for a 30-minute appointment with a trained peer facilitator to ask questions and get personalized assistance in switching to a new bank or credit card. Sign up for a time here
Next: Responsible Insurance
Despite their position on the front lines of the climate crisis, many large insurance companies are canceling policies and raising rates, even as they continue to insure fossil fuel projects and invest in fossil fuel companies. Learn how you can find responsible home and auto insurance.
Back to Credit Card Main Page
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Finding a Responsible Credit Card |
The key to finding a responsible credit card is to find a responsible bank that issues the card. If your bank or credit union is not a major funder or investor in fossil fuels, and if it issues its own credit card, you may be able to use that card knowing the fees will not be disproportionately repurposed to drive the climate crisis.
However, you will need to make sure your climate-friendly bank or credit union is not outsourcing its credit cards to another institution that disproportionately funds fossil fuels. For example, over 300 credit unions and over 1300 banks have outsourced issuing and servicing their credit cards to Elan Financial – which is owned by US Bank, a major lender and investor in fossil fuels.
You can find hundreds of responsible banks and credit unions nationwide through Green America’s Get a Better Bank map. Many of these institutions offer their own credit cards. Check their websites for further information about who is issuing these cards, or call the bank or credit union directly to ask.
Responsible Credit Card Guide
If your responsible bank or credit union does not issue its own credit card, or if the card has been outsourced to a fossil bank, then you’ll need to look for a responsible credit card elsewhere.
That’s where our Responsible Credit Card Guide, developed with Rivers and Mountains GreenFaith and Third Act Upstate New York, comes in. This guide below lists the best options for obtaining a responsible credit card issued by a bank or credit union, along with other options.
If you find your credit card is issued by one of the worst options, our guide will equip you with the knowledge to find and switch to a responsible credit card.
Best Options – Credit Unions
Here are a few examples of the many credit unions that self-issue credit cards. Membership in most credit unions is limited to a specific location, but a few are available nationwide.
| Restricted membership | Open membership – nationwide
(states with branch locations) | | Self-Help Credit Union (NC, SC, FL) | Self-Help Federal Credit Union (CA, IL, WA, WI) | | SELCO Community Credit Union (OR, WA) | Hope Credit Union (MS, LA, AR, AL, TN) | | Lower East Side People’s Federal Credit Union (NYC) | Alliant Credit Union (online only) | | Greylock Federal Credit Union (Western Mass) | Tampa Bay Federal Credit Union (FL) | | Clearwater Credit Union (Montana) | MSU Federal Credit Union (MI) |
Many credit unions offer credit cards that feature their logo but outsource credit cards to another institution. The following credit card issuers are owned by credit unions and not involved in funding fossil fuels:
- America’s Credit Unions (formerly CUNA)
- CSCU - Card Services for Credit Unions
Best Options – Banks
Two non-fossil banks that issue credit cards are FNBO (First National Bank of Omaha) and TCM (Total Card Management), a subsidiary of the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), which issues the Green America credit card. There are no indications that either bank loans to or invests in the fossil fuel industry. Bank of Missouri also issues cards for several local community banks.
Here is a sample of some of the credit cards issued by these two banks (linked banks are listed in the Green America Get a Better Bank map):
| FNBO - First National Bank of Omaha | TCM Bank/ICBA | | Amalgamated Bank (NYC, DC) | Native American Bank | | Community Bank, N.A. (NY, VT, PA) | Abacus Federal Savings Bank (NY, NJ, PA) | | Flagstar (MI, NYC, FL) | BOM Bank (Bank of Montgomery) (LA, TX) | | Wintrust Bank, N.A. (Chicago area) | Evertrust Bank (CA) | | Glacier Bancorp (WA, MT, ID, UT, WY, CO, AZ, NV) | Farmers and Merchants Bank (MD) | | SEIU (labor union) | Green America |
Note: a few climate groups have downlisted credit cards issued by TCM due to an ICBA report on climate change regulation that said: “ICBA will oppose any climate risk regulation that adversely impacts community banks and their ability to support their communities and customers.” However, there are no indications that TCM or ICBA loan to or invest in the fossil fuel industry.
Corporate Options
Some credit cards are issued by large financial institutions that have no indication of loans to or investments in the fossil fuel industry. However, the fees from these credit cards are not used to build local community the way fees that benefit community development banks and credit unions do.
Corporate credit card issuers include:
- Diners Club (subsidiary of Discover)
- Bread Financial - formerly Comenity (issues store cards for 100+ large retail chains)
- Synchrony Bank (issues cards for Sam’s Club, PayPal, Venmo)
Worst options
The worst credit card issuers are the megabanks that lend and invest billions of dollars in the fossil fuel industry. Listed in order of financing by the Banking on Climate Chaos report, these US banks include:
| Bank Rank | Bank Name | 2023 lending and underwriting to fossil fuel industry (in billions) | Total lending and underwriting since Paris Agreement (in billions) | | 1 | JPMorgan Chase | $ 40.875 | $ 430.926 | | 2 | Citibank | $ 30.268 | $ 396.331 | | 3 | Bank of America | $ 33.682 | $ 333.159 | | 5 | Wells Fargo | $ 30.378 | $ 296.247 | | 14 | Goldman Sachs | $ 18.818 | $ 184.927 | | 15 | Morgan Stanley | $ 19.104 | $ 183.547 | | 25 | PNC Financial Services | $ 12.149 | $ 108.312 | | 27 | Truist Financial | $ 14.232 | $ 105.352 | | 28 | US Bancorp | $ 12.779 | $ 97.274 | | | Total for US megabanks | $212.29 | $2,038.80 |
Please note that many Canadian, European, Asian, and South American banks also do business in the United States. If the bank that issues your credit card is headquartered in another country, you can check the Banking on Climate Chaos report to see if it is one of the top 60 fossil banks.
Ready to move to a responsible credit card? Learn how to make the switch!
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Does Your Credit Card Fund Fossil Fuels? |
Just as your bank decides how to use your deposits, so does the bank that issues your credit card decide how to use the credit card fees.
If the issuer of your card is one of the US megabanks, then any fees you or merchants pay for your credit card purchases are being disproportionately loaned to or invested in the fossil fuel industry.
Megabanks support the fossil fuel industry in two ways:
- They loan money for fossil fuel projects
- They invest money in fossil fuel companies
Lending to fossil fuel projects
To find out if the bank that issues your credit card is a major lender to fossil fuel projects, check the Banking on Climate Chaos report. This report lists nine US banks that together have loaned more than $2 trillion to the fossil fuel industry since the Paris Climate Agreement:
| Bank Rank | Bank Name | 2023 lending and underwriting to fossil fuel industry (in billions) | Total lending and underwriting since Paris Agreement (in billions) | | 1 | JPMorgan Chase | $ 40.875 | $ 430.926 | | 2 | Citibank | $ 30.268 | $ 396.331 | | 3 | Bank of America | $ 33.682 | $ 333.159 | | 5 | Wells Fargo | $ 30.378 | $ 296.247 | | 14 | Goldman Sachs | $ 18.818 | $ 184.927 | | 15 | Morgan Stanley | $ 19.104 | $ 183.547 | | 25 | PNC Financial Services | $ 12.149 | $ 108.312 | | 27 | Truist Financial | $ 14.232 | $ 105.352 | | 28 | US Bancorp | $ 12.779 | $ 97.274 | | | Total for US megabanks | $212.29 | $2,038.80 |
Keep in mind that some of these banks may go by a shortened name on the back of a credit card. For example, JPMorgan Chase may be listed as “Chase,” Citibank is often listed as “Citi,” and US Bancorp is also known as “US Bank.”
Also keep in mind that a fossil megabank may have a subsidiary that issues credit cards. For example, US Bank owns Elan Financial, which issues credit cards for over 1300 banks and 300 credit unions – including some banks and credit unions that are otherwise sustainable.
Regardless of which logo is on the front of a credit card, it is critical to find out which bank issues the credit card.
Investing in fossil fuel companies
To find out if the bank that issues your credit card is a major investor in fossil fuel projects, check the Investing in Climate Chaos database, published by the German environmental nonprofit Urgewald. This resource pulls global investment data from the London Stock Exchange Group.
If your credit card issuer is not listed, great! If it is, keep in mind these are large institutional investors. Anything under $200 million is not considered a major investment in fossil fuels. If your credit card issuer is listed with a smaller investment in fossil fuels, call them to voice your concerns.
Ready to take charge of your card? Our Responsible Credit Card Guide can help!
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Get a Better Bank or Credit Union |
Where you bank matters. You can put your money to good use simply by banking with a community development bank or credit union. These institutions operate just like conventional banks, but focus on funding economic development in low- and moderate-income areas and supporting local economies, instead of simply investing to make their executives wealthier.
Green America’s Get a Better Bank Map
To help you find a community development bank or credit union in your area, Green America has created a Get a Better Bank map. This new standalone website lists almost 17,000 locations of over 3,000 banks and credit unions whose mission is to build their communities.
The map is fully searchable by location, bank name, and other filters. You can also find online only banks and credit unions, as well as information about why to switch, how to switch, FAQs, endorsing organizations, and a full explanation of how we selected the institutions to be listed.
The banks and credit unions included meet at least one of the following criteria:
Many banks and credit unions in our Get a Better Bank map meet more than one of these criteria for certifications and memberships, displayed as badges on the financial institution's page. Any minority or women ownership is also listed.
Benefits of Switching
Benefits of switching to a community development bank or credit union include:
- Banks and credit unions dedicated to community development help create good local jobs.
- They may support clean energy, fair labor, and food security in food deserts.
- They provide financial services to low-income individuals and/or supply capital for small businesses, affordable housing, and education facilities.
- They invest in their local economy – things like mortgage loans and small business.
- They have more accountability to individual customer members.
Other Better Banking Resources
Other organizations have also created resources to identify better banks and credit unions. Each resource is different, so using more than one can be helpful. These resources include:
- Bank for Good, which lists over 50 banks and credit unions that have signed a fossil-free commitment.
- Bank.Green, which rates banks and credit unions based on its ratio of clean energy vs fossil fuel financing.
- Better Banking Options, which scores over 10,000 banks and credit unions by how well they support their local communities.
- Mighty Deposits, which analyzes public data for what over 10,000 banks or credit unions in the United States invest in.
Consider Online Banking
In addition to seeking out better banking options above, consider online financial institutions:
- For any bank or credit union that interests you, ask if they offer paperless and online services.
Ready to move to a better bank or credit union? Learn how to make the switch!
Back to Better Banking Main Page
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How to Switch to a Better Bank or Credit Union |
If you have landed on this page, you likely understand how banking with one of the top 9 US megabanks disproportionately funds the fossil fuel industry, and you have checked out the Green America's Get a Better Bank map or another resource to find a better bank or credit union.
Understanding the problem with megabanks is the first step. Identifying a better bank or credit union is the second step. Now comes the third step: Making the switch.
Green America Resources
Switching to a new bank or credit union is a process, but Green America has several resources to help. Our resources include:
Break Up with Your Megabank in 10 Easy Steps
Learn the 10 steps for switching from a megabank to a community development bank or credit union:
- Choose a new bank or credit union.
- Open a new account.
- Make a list of automatic payments and withdrawals.
- Move your automatic deposits.
- Move your automatic withdrawals.
- Get copies of your old bank statements.
- Transfer remaining funds to your new account.
- Close your old account.
- Tell your megabank why you are leaving.
- Encourage organizations you are involved with to make the switch.
How to Break Up with Your Megabank poster
Does it help to have this printed out in one place? Use our poster with the 10 steps!
Sample Break Up Letter to Send to Your Megabank
Need some help telling your megabank why you are leaving? Use our sample letter.
Leaving Your Megabank for a Greener Option? FAQs
Before switching banks, many people have questions. Find answers to questions such as:
- Are accounts at smaller banks safe?
- Will switching to a new bank hurt my credit rating?
- I can’t find a truly green bank in my area. Now what?
Bank and Credit Cards Services Checklist
Banks and credit unions may offer a lot of different services. Our friends at This! Is What We Did have developed a checklist to help you determine which services are most important to you.
Still need more help?
This! Is What We Did offers Move Your Money Office Hours. You can book a 30-minute session with a trained peer facilitator to ask questions and get personalized assistance in switching to a new bank or credit card. Sign up for a time here
Next: Take Charge of Your Card
Closely related to getting a better bank is finding a responsible credit card. How do you do that? By finding a responsible bank or credit union that issues a credit card. Learn more here.
Back to Better Banking Main Page
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Why Megabanks are Bad News |
Since the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, when all nations of the world agreed to hold global warming to 1.5°C, the world’s 60 largest banks have plowed $6.9 trillion into fossil-fuel financing, including expansion projects, tar sands oil, Arctic and Amazon oil and gas, offshore drilling, fracking, liquified natural gas, and coal mining, according to the 2024 Banking on Climate Chaos report.
Of those 60 largest banks, nine are based in the United States. Those nine have plowed over $2 trillion into oil, gas and coal operations since the Paris Agreement -- about 30% of the world’s total bank funding for fossil fuels -- with over $212 billion in 2023 alone. Here are the nine largest U.S. banks and their lending and underwriting to the fossil fuel industry from 2016 to 2023:
| Bank Rank | Bank Name | 2023 lending and underwriting to fossil fuel industry (in billions) | Total lending and underwriting since Paris Agreement (in billions) | | 1 | JPMorgan Chase | $ 40.875 | $ 430.926 | | 2 | Citibank | $ 30.268 | $ 396.331 | | 3 | Bank of America | $ 33.682 | $ 333.159 | | 5 | Wells Fargo | $ 30.378 | $ 296.247 | | 14 | Goldman Sachs | $ 18.818 | $ 184.927 | | 15 | Morgan Stanley | $ 19.104 | $ 183.547 | | 25 | PNC Financial Services | $ 12.149 | $ 108.312 | | 27 | Truist Financial | $ 14.232 | $ 105.352 | | 28 | US Bancorp | $ 12.779 | $ 97.274 | | | Total for US megabanks | $212.29 | $2,038.80 |
Because banks use money that people have deposited to make loans, the money deposited in accounts at US megabanks is disproportionately being used to finance fossil fuel projects.
- Every $1,000 in savings at a U.S. megabank is roughly equivalent to the direct emissions generated by flying from New York to Seattle every year, according to Project Drawdown.
- Just $62,500 at a U.S. megabank could be responsible for as much carbon (about 8 tons) as all the heating, driving, flying, cooling and cooking an average American does in six months, according to Kat Taylor of Beneficial State Bank and Bill McKibben of Third Act.
Please note that many Canadian, European, Asian, and South American banks also do business in the United States. If your bank is headquartered in another country, you can check the Banking on Climate Chaos report to see if it is one of the top 60 fossil banks.
Ready to find a better bank or credit union? Our Get a Better Bank Map can help!
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Find Responsible Insurance |
The Climate Crisis is an Insurance Crisis
Just as where you bank and what credit card you use play a role in the broader financial system, so too does where you get your home, renters, and auto insurance. The role of property insurance has become painfully clear in recent years, as large insurance companies cancel or limit policies for people in climate-vulnerable areas while raising rates for the rest of us.
Yet even as they push climate losses onto policy holders, the nation’s major insurance companies continue to support the chief cause of the climate crisis -- the burning of fossil fuels – by issuing insurance policies for fossil fuel projects and investing our premiums into fossil fuel companies.
Check out the resources below to learn how the largest US insurance companies are insuring and investing in fossil fuels – then look for better insurance in Green America’s first-of-its-kind Climate Smart Insurance Directory. Finally, see our guide on how to make the switch.
Ready to find better insurance? Check out Green America’s new Climate Smart Insurance Directory.
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A Better World with Every Swipe |
How Credit Cards Work
Take a look at the front of your credit card. What you’ll likely see is the branding – maybe a bank logo, store brand or nonprofit organization. Now turn your card over and look at the back. What you may find in small print is the issuer of your credit card. That’s who you send your payments to each month.
Sometimes the brander and issuer of the card are the same, but often they are not – and the issuer is who determines whether the fees associated with using the card align with your values.
Those fees include:
- Annual fees you pay to use the card (not all credit cards have this).
- Interest fees you pay if you carry a balance from month to month (often quite high).
- Transaction fees that merchants pay (usually around 3% of the purchase price).
This means that even if your credit card has no annual fee, and you pay it off in full each month, your purchases are still responsible for transaction fees that go to your credit card issuer.
How can you make sure these fees are used in a way that aligns with your values? Find a socially responsible issuer for your credit card, usually a responsible bank or credit union.
Learn more by clicking on the resources below.
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Better Banking |
Where You Bank Matters
When you open a bank account, how do you choose what bank to use? Maybe it’s the one with ATMs close by, or the one your family has always used, or the one that offered you a good deal on a product. But green financing is crucial to an ethical economy, and better banking, aligned with your values, is always possible.
Here’s how it works: When you put your money into a bank account, it doesn’t just sit there. The bank uses the money to make loans. Community development banks and credit unions use the money to finance community needs such as small businesses or mortgages. But the biggest banks use the money to finance major projects -- including disproportionately the fossil fuel industry.
Learn more by clicking on the resources below.
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Finance |
These are challenging times.
Our freedom to invest our retirement and college funds in companies that align with our values is under attack. Politicians and companies funded by Big Oil are running campaigns to obstruct our ability to find a company’s greenhouse gas emissions, support companies that prioritize diversity and equity, or bring and vote on shareholder resolutions.
Now more than ever, it’s critical that we use every tool available to protect people and the planet.
We often think of using our power as activists, community-builders, voters, and as green consumers, to make change in society. We don’t always think of our power as bank account holders and investors.
You might wonder, “Can my finances make a difference to struggling communities, corporate conduct, and the environment?” Yes, they can! Through Green America's Responsible Finance campaign, we will show you how.
Strategies to vote with your dollars can be used by anyone, no matter where you fall on the spectrum of wealth. Even if you have only $50 in the bank, it can be in an account that supports the world you want to live in as a Green American.
Learn more by clicking on the resources below.
Guide to Socially Responsible Investing and Better Banking
Empty heading
Green America’s Guide to Socially Responsible Investing & Better Banking can help you use your money – no matter how much or how little – to build a more sustainable and equitable world.
Your money has the power to create significant, positive change -- or contribute to the destruction and exploitation of people and planet.
Even $100, put in the right place, can make a difference. In the Finance section of this website, you can find resources to help you:
Take the pledge to Align Your Money with Your Values in our Responsible Finance Action Center!
You can also find Fossil-Free Products and Services and financial planners and advisors who are members of our Green Business Network.
Ready to get started? Click any of the boxes or links above.
Green America is not an investment adviser, nor do we provide financial planning, legal, or tax advice. Nothing in our communications or materials shall constitute or be construed as an offering of financial instruments or as investment advice or investment recommendations.
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Google adds fossil-free fund to its 401(k) plan |
Thanks in part to the actions of 8,400 Green Americans, Google has now added a fossil-free fund to its 401(k) plan!
The new addition is the Parnassus Core Equity Fund, which has no direct fossil fuel holdings. The fund started in 1992 with the aim of outperforming the S&P 500 index through a portfolio of 40 high-quality large-cap stocks selected for their growth potential and business resiliency.
This move by Google came after a report by the University of Waterloo and As You Sow showing that Google employees could have earned an estimated $1.15 billion in additional returns if their retirement plan had divested from fossil fuels 10 years ago.
The report analyzed Google’s employee 401(k) plan, estimating cumulative 10-year returns with and without fossil fuel investments, and found a difference of 9.15%, or 0.879% per year invested, in favor of fossil free portfolios.
Shortly after the report, Google employees mobilized to ask their company to add fossil-free options to their retirement plan.
“While Google has made progress towards net zero, Google’s 401(k) retirement plan is not yet climate safe,” reads a letter to management signed by more than 1,000 employees. “Google has the
opportunity to be a climate leader, and employees are ready for a retirement plan that aligns with their values, our organizational commitments, manages climate risk, and helps achieve a net zero
future.”
In tandem with a push from employees inside Google, Green America and other coalition groups organized letters from tens of thousands of consumers through the Google Fix Your Funds campaign, asking the company to offer fossil-free options.
A great start, but more must be done
Google has now added one fossil-free option to its retirement plan portfolio. One is not enough, but most 401(k) plans offer NO fossil-free options. Nationwide, workers are unknowingly investing an estimated $320 billion in fossil fuel companies through their 401(k) plans.
If we add pension funds and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to the mix, American workers are putting an estimated $870 billion into fossil fuel companies each year!
As a $2 trillion company with over 183,000 employees, Google has a responsibility to offer a sustainable retirement plan. Adding the Parnassus Core Equity Fund is a great start, but there is more Google could do.
Google should offer socially responsible options in all asset classes so that employees who want to invest for their retirement with 100% sustainable funds can do so.
Google should also make a sustainable target date fund series, or a another set of fossil-free funds, its default choice for employees who do not designate where their investments should go.
Currently 66% of Google plan assets are held in the company's default option, the Vanguard Target Date Retirement Fund series, which ignore climate change as an investment factor. Vanguard is the world's No. 1 investor in fossil fuels, at $444 billion in 2024.
While adding a fossil-free fund a great step forward for Google, the company must do more to address the climate crisis, by drastically reducing the financed emissions of their employee retirement plan.
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Anti-ESG legislation stalled on state, federal levels -- but fossil fuel agenda remains |
By Cathy Becker, Responsible Finance Campaign Director
In September, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a pair of bills targeting investing that considers environmental, social, and corporate governance, or ESG, factors.
These two bills rolled together eight previous bills that attacked all aspects of responsible investing, including disclosure requirements, shareholder advocacy, banking regulations, and retirement plans.
HR 4790, “Prioritizing Economic Growth over Woke Policies Act,” would in part:
- Require disclosure only on “material” factors and allow companies to decide what is material
- Create an “advisory committee” for the SEC made up of corporate executives but not shareholders
- Allow corporations sole discretion on whether to include a shareholder resolution on their proxy ballots
- Significantly increase requirements to resubmit a shareholder resolution within five years
- Require banking regulators to submit extensive reports to Congress, including any interaction with an NGO on climate-related risk
HR 5339, “Protecting Americans’ Investments from Woke Policies Act,” would in part require retirement plans to:
- Separate “pecuniary” and “non-pecuniary” factors, which legal experts say is impossible
- Vote on shareholder resolutions based only on profit
- Label certain fund options as “prudently selected” and others as “not prudently selected”
HR 4790 passed 215-203, on a party line vote with three Democrats – Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Jared Golden (ME-2), and Marie Perez (WA-3) -- joining Republicans in favor. HR 5339 passed 217-206 with three Democrats – Jared Golden (ME-2), Mary Peltola (AK-at large), and Marie Perez (WA-3) -- joining Republicans in favor.
Rep. Bill Huizenga (MI-4), leader of the House Republican ESG working group, claimed in a press release that HR 4790 “corrects the misguided social policies that have been weaponized by rogue regulators and liberal activist investors at the expense of financial returns."
However, the fact is that anti-ESG legislation is based on the false premise that climate is not a "material” factor and investing with climate in mind will lower returns. Nothing is more material than hurricanes and wildfires destroying American homes and cities, making large swaths of the country uninsurable and raising insurance rates on everyone else. Such legislation is designed not to help American families prosper, but to prolong the profits of the fossil fuel industry while stymieing the transition to a clean energy future.
Fossil fuel agenda
Although these bills are not expected to pass the Senate – and would face an almost certain veto from President Joe Biden if they did – their floor vote in Congress shows that attacks on responsible investing are not going anywhere.
Why? Because the people and organizations behind these attacks have close ties and large amounts of funding to carry out the fossil fuel agenda.
Take the two key witnesses in a House subcommittee hearing held the week before the vote titled “The Fall of ESG: Scrutinizing the Failed Use of Environmental, Social, & Governance Standards and the Influence of Proxy Advisors”:
- Charles Crain, vice president at National Association of Manufacturers, whose board of directors includes representatives from ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell, Continental Resources, Devon Energy, Koch Industries, Energy Transfer, Dow, Southern Company, Dominion Energy, and Ariel Corporation.
- Tim Doyle, founder of Doyle Strategies, who has worked for organizations funded by the oil and gas industry, including the American Council for Capital Formation, a free market think tank that has taken $1.6 million from ExxonMobil, $600,000 from Koch foundations, and $350,000 from the American Petroleum Institute.
In addition, right-wing judicial activist Leonard Leo told the Financial Times he is behind these attacks, launching a $1 billion crusade to “crush liberal dominance” across corporate America.
“Expect us to increase support for organizations that call out companies and financial institutions that bend to the woke mind virus spread by regulators and NGOs, so that they have to pay a price for putting extreme leftwing ideology ahead of consumers,” Leo said.
State legislation
These legislative attacks on sustainable investing aren’t limited to the federal arena. In discussing the two anti-ESG bills that passed the House, Rep. Sean Casten, co-founder of the Sustainable Investment Caucus, pointed to similar legislation which has cost billions of dollars in several states.
“If states are the laboratories of democracy, then we are taking the wrong lessons from the anti-woke agenda,” Casten said at a press conference organized by Unlocking America’s Future.
- In Texas, legislation blacklisting certain companies for their supposed boycott of fossil fuels could cost the state as much as $821.1 million and 8,800 jobs by the end of this year, according to a report by the Perryman Group.
- In Oklahoma, a law prohibiting pension funds and cities from doing business with financial firms accused of boycotting fossil fuels cost over $180 million. Judge Sheila Stinson issued a permanent injunction barring enforcement of the law in July.
- In Indiana, the state budget office found that a bill forcing pension funds to divest from asset managers who consider ESG factors would cost $6.7 billion over the next decade in sub-par returns.
Due in large part to these material costs, states passed many fewer anti-ESG bills this year than last year, according to research and advising firm Pleiades Strategy.
- In 2024, 161 anti-ESG bills and resolutions were proposed in the states; of those, only six passed.
Sustainable investing is financially sound
The failure of anti-ESG laws in the states highlights the importance of taking climate risks into account, especially for long-term investments such as retirement and college funds.
Sustainable investing performs as well or better than conventional investing, especially over time, while fossil fuel stocks have underperformed for the past decade.
Perhaps this is why voters overwhelmingly oppose efforts to limit ESG investing and disclosure. For example, a poll by Penn State and ROKK Solutions found 63% of voters do not believe the government should set limits on corporate ESG investments.
Another poll by Public Citizen found voters oppose limiting the information corporations must disclose to retirement fund managers and would reward politicians who support requiring corporations to disclose ESG information to investors and the public.
What can you do?
While the onslaught of anti-ESG state and federal legislation may feel overwhelming, there is a lot you can do to push back:
- Use the Green America Get a Better Bank Map to move your money from big banks that finance fossil fuels to a community development bank or credit union
- Use our guide to find a credit card issued by a bank that doesn’t disproportionately finance fossil fuels
- Find out where your retirement funds are invested, and if you don’t have access to fossil-free options, use our guide to ask your employer for sustainable funds
By aligning our money with our values, we can signal to financial institutions that it’s time to move the money pipeline away from fossil fuels and toward building a more sustainable and equitable world.
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Pizza Night with Sustainable Kitchen Products? That’s Amore |
A birthday party, a movie night, a Halloween party, game night, a day that ends in “y.” Pizza nights are always in (yes, even if you like pineapples on your pie) and they’re made even better when you use sustainable kitchen products, including your food and kitchenware!
All these products come from our certified Green Business Network {GBN)} members.
Are You Cheese Only or Piles of Toppings?
Let’s start with the base. Because the crust is one of the most important parts. Do you prefer thin crust, cheese-filled, or something else?
Whatever crust you like is great, including pre-made ones, check out your local farmer’s market, CSA, or grocery co-op for organic dairy and baking ingredients. If you’re in or around Montgomery County, Maryland, check out Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op!
Next come toppings, and there are so many to choose from!
If you’re someone who likes meat on pizza, look no further than Kol Foods. They produce “the only regenerative, 100% grass-fed, kosher beef and the only heritage kosher chicken in the United States”. You can also get experimental with your toppings and try their lamb, turkey, duck and salmon.
 Get fancy with pizza night by adding duck to your pie. Photo: Kol FoodsOkay, okay, fine. You can put mushrooms on your pizza. Northwest Wild Foods has mushrooms three ways—dried, fresh, and frozen fresh. If you want lox pizza-style, the smoked salmon is perfect.
Add a little crunch to your ‘za with various nuts from Braga Organic Farms.
Don’t forget to jazz up your slice with seasonings and drizzles. Online green retailer What’s Good has a generous collection of oils and vinegars that will be perfect for your pizza, no matter the flavor profile.
Then check out Foods Alive for every kind of seasoning, including sesame seeds or Himalayan salt. They also have a variety of nuts you can toast and sprinkle over your pizza.
To finish off your pizza feast, enjoy some bottles from Frey Premium Organic & Biodynamic® Wines, from reds to whites and beyond.
Don’t Stop with Food for Sustainable Pizza Night
It also matters what you’re cooking with and the products in your kitchen, including cookware and tableware.
bambu is your one-stop shop for bamboo products, which are especially useful for pizza nights outside in the summer air. But bambu doesn’t stop with plates and utensils. They also offer serving products, like the Classic Bamboo Cutting & Serving Boards and cork bowls.
On top of that, you can also find camping and compostable products, as well as cleaning items like bamboo pot scrapers.
If you like the wood aesthetic, then Maple Landmark is your go-to.
For the cooking process, try the herb stripper, made of maple and finished with teak oil, or the oven rack push-pull.
To avoid damage or burns from those piping hot pies, check out their wooden trivets made of high-quality birch plywood and a water-based finish and lazy Susans with non-toxic ink for serving.
We all know dishes and clean-up are the worst part of dinner, but these products will make it easier by knowing you’re doing well by the planet and not contributing to waste.
Food Huggers are 100% FDA food grade silicone to keep your leftover produce and cheese fresher in the fridge.
What’s Good also boasts a broad selection of kitchen products, including composting items, unbleached and recycled parchment paper and foil, and stainless-steel food storage.
 Try a plastic-free dish cleaning brush next time in the kitchen. Photo: Hill+House
For all your fabric needs, like Swedish dish cloths and napkins, Hill+House has a variety of items to perfectly round out pizza night.
And don’t forget to tell your friends all about having a sustainable dinner party themselves using certified green products.
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.
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Setas Eternal Living |
Coming soon.
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Be Your Favorite Pop Culture Icon with These Sustainable Halloween Costumes |
Impress everyone with your culturally relevant and sustainable Halloween costumes this year! From the hottest songs of 2024 to the biggest global sporting event, you don’t need to stress over your costume, because there are no tricks here, just treats.
Try to use what you already have in your closet, but if you need help, shop green. All parts of the costumes come from our certified Green Business Network {GBN)} members.
Be The Tennis Trio
Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers was one of the buzziest films of the year and perhaps one of the easiest costumes—effortless but iconic.
For the trio’s first night spending time together, the PJ looks also have the added benefit of being comfy.
To channel Zendaya’s tennis prodigy-turned-coach, check out the lounge shorts at Faerie’s Dance. There’s the Paradise Short or the Latex Free Organic Unisex PJ Shorts, which are free of chemicals, synthetics, and toxins.
Then don a cute hoodie, like the Striped Hoody in Cardinal Red, and some Merino Urban Hiker Sock from daiseye.
If you’re dressing up as Art or Patrick, then some basics are all you need.
Find the perfect heather grey shirt from Dash Hemp, made entirely from organic cotton and hemp or fair trade certified 100% organic T-shirts from The Good Tee.
A pair of patterned organic boxers—specifically the Men's Organic Cotton Boxers - White Flores—from Natural Clothing Company completes the look.
Patrick, meanwhile, dons a simple button down and black shorts, and Faerie’s Dance has both items ready for Halloween with the Senna Stripe Shirt and Black Latex-Free Drawstring Boxers, with no elastic and colored with non-toxic, low-impact dye.
That’s That Me Espresso
The song of the summer, perhaps even the year, was Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” heard everywhere from the grocery story to the clubs and radio.
You’ll want to be in a warm climate (or at least inside!) for this costume, a beautiful and classic white one-piece bathing suit and pink silk scarf.
Faerie’s Dance has the lovely Jolie One Shoulder Swimsuit, which you can pair with Soul Flower’s Printed Crystals Sun Scarf in Coral.
Rep Team USA as Pommel Horse Guy (aka Stephen Nedoroscik)
We couldn’t take our eyes off Team USA’s high-flying gymnasts, including Stephen Nedoroscki who dominated the pommel horse event.
All you need is a dark blue tank top, like the Organic Cotton Fitted Cropped Tank Top – Navy from Soul Flower and bright red leggings, like Texture Clothing’s Gusset Leggings in Ruby Red.
You can also don your own gold medal at least somewhat convincingly with the Labyrinth with Lapis Necklace from Faerie’s Dances.
On Halloween, We Wear Pink
Two movie musicals with fierce protagonists and signature colors?! Sign us up.
Grab your besties and get ready to go as Glinda from Wicked or the Plastics from Mean Girls.
Faerie’s Dance has a lot of cute pink clothing, like the Halter Dress in Strawberry and the Bianca Peek-a-boo Top.
If you want to elevate your costume game to the next level you’ll have to accessorize. Fair trade business Just Creations has gorgeous, handcrafted pink earrings like Pink Clam Shell Elongated Teardrop Earrings or Pink Mother of Pearl Hearts Earrings.
25 Years of Britney
This year marked 25 years since Britney Spears released her iconic single, “...Baby One More Time.”
Dress up like the pop star’s album cover with three simple pieces starting with Natural Clothing Company’s Linen Sleeveless Blouse with Collar in Salmon.
Then, pick your preferred white shirt like Fair Indigo’s Organic Reversible 2 in 1 Tank Top and pair it off with Texture Clothing’s Comfy Skirt® – Mini in black.
Now you’re ready for All Hallow’s Eve—the sustainable way!
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.
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Keeping Your Closet Sustainable: How to Find Green Gear |
Whether you’re enjoying time outdoors or relaxing on the couch, leisure wear plays an important part in our day-to-day comfort. But as the scale of fast fashion’s detrimental environmental impacts grows, it can be difficult to find and afford green clothing. Here are a few things to look out for to reduce your carbon footprint and keep your wardrobe sustainable.
Shopping Secondhand
Before looking for something new, consider shopping pre-owned leisure gear from thrift shops, consignment shops or other resale outlets. 4-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions come from the fashion industry. According to the 71 Percent, it takes about 400 gallons of water to produce a cotton T-shirt, and 1,800 gallons for a pair of jeans, resulting in a large amount of energy, labor, and natural resources expended for the sake of new products. Buying secondhand reduces the demand for new products that require more energy, resource depletion and pollution. It also eliminates excessive packaging that comes with purchasing new clothing items.
Go Natural
The production of synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, and spandex are energy intensive and require large amounts of petroleum and other fossil fuels. They do not decompose, taking 500-1,000 years to degrade, and shed microplastics throughout their lifecycle that can enter waterways, oceans, and even animals and humans. Swap synthetics for clothing made with natural fibers like cotton, wool, and linen. These fibers are biodegradable and more easily recycled and reused. Natural-fiber clothing can also be more breathable, durable, and gentler on the skin. Find organic natural fibers from companies with fair labor practices through the Green Business Network®.
Econscious Clothing offers classic, comfortable, and long-lasting outdoor pieces made from recycled fabrics and natural fibers gathered from organic farming. The brand works with factories committed to creating quality products and an ethical, healthy work environment for employees.
Beckons Yoga Clothing has manufactured with organic cotton and sustainable fibers locally in Idaho since 2006. The company donates all end-of-season merchandise to charity organizations to ensure reuse, and donates to the Samburu Tribe of Africa and Women’s Resource Network.
Find organic cotton T-shirts, bags, headbands and plus-size clothing at Soul Flower. This “Earth-loving, hippie” brand uses
organic and recycled fabrics to create its pieces. The pieces are unique, ethically made, and fair trade certified.
Quality Over Quantity
Once textiles are discarded, they are incinerated, releasing harmful greenhouse gases like methane, or sent to landfills, where they will take hundreds of years to decompose. Instead of overbuying clothing to fit in with the latest trends, shop for pieces you like and will wear for several years. High-quality clothing lasts longer, is easily repaired, and requires less frequent replacement, thus preventing overconsumption. It is also often produced with more sustainable materials and ethical labor practices. Investing in well-made, durable clothing will save you money in the long run and discourage wastefulness.
Shop Sustainable Brands
Eco-friendly fashion brands promote natural resource conservation, carbon footprint reduction, and fair labor practices. Shopping sustainable brands help support the environment and the people creating your favorite products. Keep an eye out for green certifications, like Green America’s Green Business Network Certification, assuring the company’s commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility. Large retailers like REI and Patagonia also sell used gear.
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Why Pick Your Own Produce? |
I have been fortunate enough to have yearlong access to fresh fruits and vegetables from the grocery store, but I have rarely questioned how they’re sourced. Stuck in the weekly routine of grocery shopping, meal planning, and cooking, I tend to forget how the food that nourishes my mind and body does not originate in the neatly stacked aisles of a chain grocery store.
The summer berries and stone fruits that I cherish are grown through extensive labor and love, which is easy to overlook in the isolated environment of grocery stores. In fact, it can be difficult to pinpoint the specific origin of produce when shopping at large grocery stores, because it is sourced from different suppliers all over the world. American supermarkets rely heavily on complicated supply chains, industrial farming practices, high-emission cold storage, and carbon-intensive transportation facilities year-round. Our food system currently emits over 30% of global greenhouse gases, while large-scale farming ventures threaten the displacement of natural ecosystems and local communities. In the process, we are steadily disconnected from the land and the community that grows our food.
But there is a way to go straight to the source and munch on delectable, organic fruits in season while connecting with your community—pick-your-own-produce farms! If you live in an area where local farms allow the public to pick their own fruits and vegetables, then don’t miss out on the fun. Grab a cute, handwoven, fair-trade basket from Baskets of Africa, put on a hat, and lather on some sunscreen before heading out to a local farm to do the right kind of cherry-picking. Children can enjoy running around in an open space, picking fruit, and learning more about how our food is grown. It is also a great activity for a date or a day out with friends. Bring a bottle of wine, some cheese and sandwiches, fill up your basket, and have a picnic!
I will forever savor the memory of the first time I had a blueberry fresh off the bush—the layered, complex flavor, the deep purple color, and the bursting, juicy texture was unlike anything I have ever tasted in plastic-packaged fruits that have been sitting in the cold storage. I gained a renewed appreciation for blueberries from that experience, especially since I also got to learn about the science of growing berries. Each type of berry grown at the Appalachian farm I visited peaked at different times—blueberries were available all summer, but blackberries were at their best in July, and raspberries could be harvested in late summer. As a lover of plants, I had a great time noticing differences between the bushes (blueberry bushes are tall and do well on top of hills, while blackberries are thorny and trailing). This whole experience was made even better with the company of my friends and other community members of all ages buzzing about.
Not only does picking your own produce at a farm minimize your involvement in carbon-intensive supply chains, it also brings you closer to your community and supports local agriculture. For your next weekend activity, pay a visit to your local farm. Enjoy a day in the sun, frolic in the fields, and get to know the land and the people involved in growing the food you consume. You will leave with a renewed appreciation for the labor and love that goes into growing the food that nourishes us. It is a true farm-to-table experience as you can collect a large inventory of produce to cook, bake, and make into jams and jellies, and share with your friends and family.
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Climate victory: EPA passes rule on HFC gas leaks |
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on September 23, 2024, the final rule to further reduce potent greenhouse gases called HFCs. This new rule establishes the Emissions Reduction and Reclamation (ER&R) program and sets requirements to reduce leaks of gases in refrigerators and improve practices to curb emissions of refrigerants at end of life, including at supermarkets.
According to the EPA, this rule will avoid emissions equivalent to 23.7 million homes’ electricity usage for one year (120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) by 2050) and at least $6.9 billion in net incremental benefits from 2026-2050.
Huge supermarket chains – like Kroger and Safeway – are primary sources of these emissions, with large refrigeration systems prone to HFC leaks. Hence, Green America has been pressuring supermarkets through our Cool It campaign for the past few years to switch to not only repair the leaks in all their stores but also switch to climate-friendly gases in their refrigerators.
Thanks to Green Americans taking action with us, Kroger announced making the switch to natural refrigerators in its new stores.
Green America and our colleagues will continue to pressure major chains like Kroger and Safeway to phase out of the use of HFCs, which are a major contributor to the climate crisis.
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Declutter and Donate Responsibly |
Prepping for travel often includes buying things you need: an international wall adapter, a tent, packing cubes, puffy jackets, or beach dresses. And while many of these items can continue to have a purpose after your trip, others end up collecting dust.
When it comes to decluttering, it’s important to be honest with yourself about where you are in life. Were you an avid camper ten years ago, but now you’re more of a homebody? Did you buy a ski outfit for a trip to Mt. Hood, just to learn that skiing is not for you?
When an item is no longer serving you, and you don’t foresee it serving you in the future, it’s time to pass it along to someone else who will use it and love it.
Clothes
Clothes may be one of the easiest places to start when it comes to decluttering—not because it’s easy to choose what to give up necessarily, but because the change is tangible. Picking through items one by one and sorting them into different piles can make a big dent in the haphazard mess of a closet bursting at the seams.
For clothes, start by making four piles: keep, donate, sell, and toss (or upcycle if you’re willing to get crafty). That ski jacket that you’re not ever going to use again as a beach-loving Floridian? Or that old pair of skinny jeans that are not your style anymore? It might be time to donate, sell, or swap if they’re in good condition.
Gear
Depending on the type of travel adventure you like to embark on, it might be time to consider decluttering your gear closet. Outdoor recreation sports often require specific gear—ropes and harnesses for rock climbing, paddles and life vests for kayaking, bike racks for mountain biking. If these sports don’t call to you anymore, it might be time to pass gear along to another.
For gear that is in good working condition, try selling it on online marketplaces. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are common options for local trading. If you’re an REI Co-op member, you can return your purchase to the store, where it will join the REI Garage Sale area for used gear. If you’re not a member, try selling it to an outdoor consignment shop. The shop will take a percentage, but you won’t have to deal with the stress of selling it yourself.
Timing is an important part of selling gear since lots of outdoor sports are tied to the seasons. For instance, in states that get snow, mountain biking peaks during summer months when the trails have dried. Don’t try to sell your bike in December—it will take much longer to get a bite.
Travel Souvenirs & Home Decor
One of the fun things about traveling is getting souvenirs and home goods to remember the trip. Souvenirs can be cute knick knacks, a bottle of regional wine, shoes, earrings—anything under the sun, really.
When decluttering these items, similar rules apply: Does this item still bring me joy? Does it still serve a need or want in my home? Or is it taking up space and doesn’t belong anymore?
Lots of travel souvenirs and home goods are cute in the moment, but if you’ve walked into any Goodwill, you’ve probably seen the rows of kitschy knick knacks from bygone vacations. While thrifters will often walk out with functional items—like glassware and clothes—many souvenir décor items may gather dust on secondhand store shelves.
For items you already own, try to find a home for them by passing them along to other people in your life. Does your uncle or nephew really like birds? They could be a good candidate for that bird tchotchke from that vacation five years ago.
If you’re tired of looking at your souvenirs on a shelf and can’t bring yourself to declutter, try giving them new life as something else. Perhaps your uncle or nephew has enough bird knick knacks already. Can you add a little string and make that small bird tchotchke into a Christmas tree decoration? Getting creative can help declutter your shelf without ridding you of that precious memory.
Additionally, if you have a crafty disposition, try reworking that souvenir blanket into a new item. Not only will you have a one-of-a-kind dress, shirt, or purse, you’ll be creating new memories out of something old. Let your imagination run wild!
Save Yourself the Heartache: Not Buying is a Sustainable Act
It’s easy to fall into the trap of buy, buy, buy—especially when we are on the vacation high. But what’s better for the planet, your wallet, and eventually your heart when it comes to decluttering down the line is to simply not purchase unnecessary items. You love it because it is cute right now, but will you love it later when you return home? Is this purchase an impulse, or do you foresee it being a long-term joy?
When purchasing, the rule of thumb is to buy only what you love or what will have a function in your home. If you have an eclectic interior design style, then purchasing wall art or unique bookends are a great addition to your home. If you’re more of a minimalist, then perhaps these aren’t for you—but a hand-carved Swiss army knife might be!
Taking a breath and asking yourself if you really want it, is a healthy act. Because if it is an impulse purchase, you are saving yourself the eventual heartache of decluttering later.
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Green Activities at Home |
Traveling is a popular choice for people looking to relax, but leisure time doesn’t always have to involve leaving the comfort of your own home. As a bonus, staying in means you can relax without expanding your carbon footprint—and maybe take the time to plan responsible travel options. In the meantime, here are some suggestions for games, puzzles, and creative kits you can enjoy either solo or in good company while giving your brain a bit of a workout, no travel required.
Card and Board Games
The gaming industry has seen a proliferation of games that combine education and enjoyment in high quality sets. Wingspan (Stonemaier Games) takes the basic “build and collect” model and mixes lovely renderings of different bird species with facts about habitats, diet, and behaviors. It’s more appropriate for older children and up (especially given the game uses smaller pieces), but younger players might enjoy following along just for the bird facts and art.
For younger players, Fish ’n Flip (Helvetiq) challenges participants to save ocean animals from trawling nets. Notably, players can choose whether to play competitively or cooperatively, where everyone works to free all the fish, not just their own. The game even includes information about overfishing and ocean life conservation.
Block Puzzles
Puzzles can offer opportunities for both solo play and sharing among multiple people. Block puzzles are especially fun for young children and can help with developing fine motor skills, problem solving, and pattern recognition, although adult puzzle collectors will also find a lot to appreciate about their craftmanship. For instance, Hazelnut Kids offers a variety of wooden building block sets and simple nesting puzzles that are durable, easy for little hands to handle, and often brightly colored.
For players with a little more hand to eye coordination, Staka (Helvetiq) is a building block set and game in the vein of Jenga. With multiple stacking options and different levels of difficulty, it can be enjoyed alone or with other players.
Craft Kits
Not all at home activities need to be competitive. Simple DIY craft sets offer a chance to create with your own hands and produce unique items to keep or share as gifts. Bella Luna Toys has a variety of options appropriate for young children to adults, whether you’re interested in painting, embroidery, sculpting, or other crafts.
For instance, their DIY Screen Printing Kit provides you with all the basics you need, including five stencils, five acetate sheets, and three vibrant paint colors, to print your own tote bags, clothing, and other items. And if handmade jewelry strikes your fancy, Bella Luna Toys offers a Crafters Clay Jewelry Kit appropriate for ages 7 and above. The kit includes forms for earrings and a necklace, and crafters can experiment with six colors of polymer clay to make your own unique pieces. And by shopping with a certified Green Business Network member like Bella Luna Toys, you can rest assured that the materials are nontoxic and safe to use as directed for developing children.
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Alternative Modes of Travel |
Consider planning trips that intentionally cut out the carbon when you move from point A to point B. If you are able, choose options that move you from place to place on calorie-power, rather than carbon-power, and give you a chance to slow down, observe, and appreciate the world around you when you travel. For example:
Walking Tours
Active-travel companies reported a surge in bookings of hiking and walking trips following the emergence of the covid-19 pandemic. Walking tours are low-carbon and offer a way to get exercise and experience the great outdoors, while also allowing covid-careful travelers to remain safely socially distanced. You can plan your own hiking adventures along long-distance routes like the Appalachian, Continental Divide, or Pacific Crest Trails, or book group or guided tours through companies like backroads.com, rei.com, and wildlandtrekking.com.
You can find shorter planned walking tours within cities from companies like Washington Walks, which offers walking tours of historic neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., or consult with your destination’s local visitor’s center on how to plan a walking tour of your own. If you’re looking for tours tailored for vegan diets, Green Earth Travel can help.
Biking Tours
“There are already more than 40,000 miles of multi-use trails across the U.S., including the developing Great American Rail-Trail, the nation’s first cross-country route that will one day link Washington, D.C., and Washington State. With some preparation, it’s never been so easy to get out and explore America by trail,” says Kevin Belle, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Great American Rail-Trail project manager.
To plan a long-distance bike trip, find resources from Rails-to-Trails, American Trails, and the Adventure Cycling Association. Consider joining Warm Showers, a free global cyclist community that helps long-distance cyclists find convenient overnight home-share lodging. You can even bring your bike with you on an Amtrak train to cover more ground and scenery.
Paddling Tours
Two of the oldest forms of water transportation, canoeing and kayaking, offer a carbon-free way to experience the natural beauty of the nation’s waterways. Among the top US destinations, Paddling Magazine recommends the Northeast Forest Canoe Trail in New England (the longest mapped water trail in the US), the Salmon River in Idaho, the Everglades in Florida, and the Lake Superior Coast in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Local paddling companies can help with planning.
BONUS: Train Travel
If safety concerns or physical constraints make the above options less possible for you or your travel companions, consider climate-friendly train travel instead. Trains offer you the chance to relax and enjoy your free-time traveling down the tracks without the stress of being behind the wheel, or the hassle of the airport. You can traverse the entire country via train and the West coast routes are scenic.
A 2022 Department of Transportation study compared the real-world carbon emissions of several trips within the United States, demonstrating the amount of carbon that could be saved by avoiding cars and airplanes. For example, train travel from St. Louis to Chicago produced nearly one-quarter of the emissions of driving or flying, while train travel in the even more efficient Northeast corridor between Boston and New York produced less than one-fifth of the emissions.
While not every part of the country is currently served by trains, Amtrak’s proposed 2035 expansion plan would bring service to previously unserved cities like Columbus, OH; Nashville, TN; Wichita, KS; and Las Vegas, NV. If you would like to see these expansions and more become a reality, contact your representatives to voice your support.
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Staying Green on Your Vacation |
Whatever a website might claim, your best bet is always to ask your own questions before booking, and to look for the greenest independent options first. Try these steps the next time you travel:
Choose a home-exchange instead
Save money and develop connections within the communities you visit when you join a home-exchange service. You offer your own home as lodging for others in exchange for the opportunity to stay in someone else’s home at your destination. Popular home-share programs include homeexchange.com, livekindred.com, and homelink.org.
 A frame on the Montfair Resort.Look for local options
Keep more of your travel dollars circulating within the communities you visit when you choose a locally owned-and-operated bed-and-breakfast or inn. Green America’s greenpages.org specializes in small, locally owned businesses. Here are some examples of green choices you will find in the Green Pages:
Montfair Resort Farm; Crozet, VA: A family-owned cluster of lakeside cottages in the Shenandoah Valley, Montfair invests in its local utility’s green-power program, uses all energy-efficient appliances and low-flow plumbing, and is a member of the Virginia Green Travel Alliance. “We encourage our guests to get outside and explore nature,” says owner Leora Vicenti. “Canoe along the lake’s edge, identify native plants, and experience the joy of the outdoors and land preservation firsthand.”
Shadowcliff Mountain Lodge; Grand Lake, CO: Located along the route of the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado, Shadowcliff can serve as a way station for hikers who left their car at home. “We maintain a ‘Laws of Nature’ trail on-site,” says Kimberly Carmitchel, Shadowcliff General Manager, referring to a Shadowcliff trail marked with signposts reminding hikers of nature-based wisdom, such as “Nature Favors Diversity,” “Nature Rewards Adaptation,” and “Nature Uses Only the Energy It Needs.”
Thyme in the Country Cottages; Hudson, NY: “We never touch plastic, we use solar panels to heat water and for electricity, and our water comes from our well,” says Mary Koch, owner of Thyme in the Country, a farmhouse inn with outbuildings that Koch is converting into cottages. Other sustainable features include composting toilets, in-season fruits and vegetables for guests, and Koch’s latest addition, a new fence so she can bring in sheep and goats to replace her gas-powered mower.
Ask questions when you book a conventional hotel
To start, check whether the workers at the hotel in question have access to a union, indicating that they enjoy workplace representation and the opportunity to collectively bargain for living wages and improved conditions. Find a unionized hotel by reviewing the listings at fairhotel.org, maintained by UNITE HERE, the US/Canada hospitality union. Then, ask to learn more about the hotel’s environmental sustainability practices when you book. If you can, ask and pressure the hotel to go beyond practices that save them money—such as not laundering sheets and towels daily—and take more ambitious steps like switching to clean energy.
Keeping such questions in front of hotel management not only helps you make your informed decision about where to stay, but also reminds companies that their guests care about the sustainability choices they make.
Safe travels to wherever your journeys take you!
- Does the hotel derive any portion of its energy from renewable sources? Has the company invested in any energy efficiency measures, or follow a long-term plan to reduce its energy-use or shift to renewables?
- Does the hotel offer single-use disposable plastic toiletries? Does the company have a plan to reduce plastic use, manage food waste, or reduce its output of waste overall?
- Does the hotel offer single-use disposable plastic toiletries? Does the company have a plan to reduce plastic use, manage food waste, or reduce its output of waste overall?
- Are any of the hotel’s furnishings upcycled, are any organic or regenerative fibers used in towels or linens, are the walls painted with low- or no-VOCs paints, and are any of the on-site food choices organic or local?
Engage your lawmakers in greening the hotel industry
To try to curb hotels’ reliance on single-use plastic packaging, lawmakers in some states have begun to act. In 2019, California passed the first US law banning hotel distribution of plastic single-use personal care products, beginning with large hotels in 2023, and phasing in smaller hotels in 2024. New York followed suit in 2021, with its law also coming into full effect in 2024, and Washington state passed a law in 2023 that will come into effect in 2027. As of September 2024, the Illinois House of Representatives was debating a similar bill already passed by the Illinois State Senate. If your state has not yet taken on the hotel industry’s plastic waste, consider pointing your legislators toward the bills in California, New York, Washington, and Illinois as examples of what is possible.
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Sustainable Surf Promises Global Reclamation for Pacific Islanders |
Waves crest and crash in echoing booms as the morning mist floats over the water. In wetsuits and boards under arm, surfers step on to the beach, anticipatory exhilaration burning in their lungs. The power of the ocean beckons—loud, massive, and inviting. Walking deeper, their bodies disappear into the depths as they take part in a centuries-old art form connecting Pacific Islanders to the oceans surrounding their homes.
Over the years, surfing as an art form has weathered many storms. Its cultural origins have been diluted to serve corporate interests and appropriated to titillate Western fantasies of “island life” while surfing related tourism and competitions damage local ecologies and economies. In recent years, however, surfers, largely from Pacific Islander communities, have actively worked to restore the original connections between people and planet, fusing modern sustainability practices and ancient relationships with nature to protect the art and the oceans it depends on.
Surfers like Michael Stewart, cofounder of Sustainable Surf, are passionate about dispelling the ways surfing has been distorted by commercialism and cut off from its origins in Pacific Islander culture.
“Most brands have been using [surfing’s] undeniable attraction globally for the last century to sell us everything under the sun,” he states.
He calls it “the real tragedy of the history of modern surfing culture,” lamenting how people have lost sight of what riding the waves truly means.
“Native Hawaiian culture that gave the gift of surfing to the world, originally infused sustainability and regeneration into all facets of surf culture,” Stewart says. “It was simply another expression of their own deeply sustaining cultural traditions that truly valued the health of the land, the sea and their own communities.”
 Duke Paoa Kahanamoku standing with his surfboard. This style of board is known as a “Waikiki board.“ c. 1910-1915. Source: Malama Pono Ltd. Image from Wikipedia.The Origins of He’e Nalu
Early evidence of surfing dates to 12th century Polynesia, in cave drawings depicting people riding waves. Polynesians brought surfing to Hawai’i and the sport became deeply integrated with Hawaiian life.
But as white American settlers and Christian missionaries began forcibly occupying the islands, they shunned and oppressed Hawaiian culture and religion, including the art of he’e nalu, or “wave sliding.” It wasn’t until the turn of the century, and the explosion of tourism and birth of Duke Kahanamoku in 1890, that surfing began making its comeback.
“The Duke,” as he was nicknamed, was an accomplished surfer and Olympic swimmer. In the early 1900s, after retiring as an Olympian, Kahanamoku toured a swimming exhibition. From Australia to California, he showed off his prowess, and began adding surfing to his exhibitions.
For many Asian and Pacific Islander surfers, however, this art was always a part of their lives. Filipino surfer and writer Camille Pilar refers to the balangay, a wooden canoe-like vessel originating in the Philippines, that a person could ride over waves, not unlike a surfboard.
“I believe that Filipinos have always been wave-riders and voyagers,” Pilar says. “Building a surfing community therefore involves reviving this narrative so that Filipino surfers can remember that wave-riding is in our blood.”
Following America’s illegal annexation of Hawai’i and co-opting of the sport, systemic racism stamped out the fire of its cultural history and surfers’ intimate relationship with nature, including caring for the waves they rode. Millions watched surfing during the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games amongst the islands that originated surfing—in Tahiti, colonized by France during the 19th century and still part of the overseas collective known as French Polynesia.
The Western world’s commercialization and co-opting of surfing—like the Olympic spectacle that hasn’t recognized surfing’s cultural origins or history of conservation—has led to a surge of negative effects.
Surfing’s popularity can pose environmental risks like “impacts on local flora and fauna due to trampling over sand dunes or encroachment on bird nesting areas,” according to a 2022 study in Science of the Total Environment. Additionally, a 2021 study in Front Sports Act Living by Tommy Langseth and Adam Vyff revealed most surveyed surfers (51%) bought a new surfboard and/or wetsuit every year, or every other year. Modern boards and wetsuits are made of non-biodegradable materials like plastic and neoprene, a synthetic rubber, which are not environmentally friendly.
Due to the resulting damage, advocates within surfing communities are using their love of the sport to change the tide.
Going Back to the Depths
When Stewart co-founded Sustainable Surf in 2011, his goal was to create a nonprofit that could harness the “unstoppable appeal” of surfing to heal the oceans.
Sustainable Surf heads two global projects: SeaTrees, which plants and protects coastal ecosystems; and ECOBOARD, which certifies the creation of high-performance surfboards.
Sustainable Surf’s self-produced World’s 1st Life Cycle Assessment study for surfboards revealed it’s not just materials that have a negative impact on the environment, but the building process, too. According to its 2023 report, poly boards pose numerous environmental pitfalls. Each produces twice its weight in waste (anywhere from 12-30lbs), create a significant carbon footprint, and are made to be disposable.
 Alex King of Bosiny Surfboards puts the final touches on one of their handmade high performance wooden surfboards. The crew at Bosiny are so confident in the quality of their sustainable surfboards they even offer a “no snap guarantee,“ which is a rarity in the surf industry. Photo from Sustainable Surf.Using a list of 20 Qualified Materials and third-party documentation, Sustainable Surf works with both manufacturers and surfboard builders to certify environmental claims and determine if a board meets the qualifications to be an ECOBOARD. Since its inception in 2012, around 500,000 boards have been manufactured and certified as ECOBOARD.
Pilar thinks it’s the perfect time for this conversation: “We need to educate the young surfing community about alternatives to the surf craft and accessories we use.”
For example, Pilar notes how there are now local surf wax makers who produce organic wax as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional waxes that contain harmful ingredients like paraffin, a by-product of petroleum, and carcinogens like acrolein.
Stewart agrees that educating surfers about the environmental costs of commercially manufactured surfing equipment and gear is pivotal.
“The real sense of community, all based on a shared love of riding waves in our one global ocean, can be harnessed to not only enjoy the ocean, but to restore and protect it,” he says.
Building Community in the Swell
Gentrification and the pursuit of profits at the expense of community well-being and environmental justice doesn’t just threaten the beaches and coastal waters of the surfing world, they put our entire co-existence with the natural world at risk. Pilar says that without developing an intimate relationship with nature and giving oneself over completely to the raw power and impartiality of the ocean, humans “cannot develop a relationship with nature.”
For Pilar and others, surfing provides that opportunity. Thanks to their efforts, surfing is on the precipice of reclaiming its rightful place amongst its history and culture, proudly shared and properly attributed. By rebuilding the connections between surfing, culture, and environmental stewardship, Pacific Islanders are exploring their personal relationships with their identities, communities, histories, and the world at large.
“Last year, Rogelio ‘Jay-R’ Esquivel Jr. Became the first Filipino to qualify for the World Longboard Tour,” Pilar says. “He awakened a community of Filipino surfers in the diaspora and they realized they were good enough to surf globally and win.”
She continues: “Beach cleanups have become a welcome addition to many event programs in La Union. Before, only a few local players would take up the initiative (La Union Surf Club, Project curma). Now, just about anyone can organize a beach cleanup in line with their brand activations, bar promotions, and other related beach events. (Learn how to organize your own beach clean up on p. 24.) And to look outside of La Union, this practice is also being practiced more in other surf spots and beaches around the Philippines.”
It represents the hopeful future of this sport, and people’s interest in the honest nature of surfing, including our relationship with the planet.
Sustainable Products for Sun Protection
Whether you’re surfing or simply going to watch people catch waves, skin protection is non-negotiable. For sunscreen, opt for reef-safe and natural products, like these from Green America’s Green Business Network members:
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Voting is Self-Care |
From fire-spinning to knitting, self-care can take many forms. Another form that Green Americans like to practice is “action.”
Action can look like volunteering, calling on our senators to support environmental and socially just legislation, and protesting unjust policy and corporate practices.
This November, join Green America in taking action for democracy. First, register to vote in your state; if you are registered, make sure your information is up-to-date. Second, make a plan to vote. Are you going to vote early, send in a mail-in ballot, or vote on Election Day? Do you know your polling location?
While the Presidential Election is often the main event on Election Day, don’t forget that your county and state may have local candidates and initiatives on the ballot. Make sure you know how you are voting on all of these important items! You are welcome to bring notes to the polls in case you forget. Local and national nonprofits may have Q&As with candidates or host debates where you can learn more about issues and candidates on the ballot.
If you are all set with your registration status, please help others set up theirs! Make sure your family and friends check that their registration is correct. Doing this early prevents potential issues on Election Day. Share the Election Checklist on the other side of this page to make sure they don’t miss a thing. You can also volunteer as a poll worker or drive people to the polls on election day to help out, too.
If you are unable to vote due to immigration status, citizenship, age, disability, or crime conviction, you can still take action by being vocal for legislation and candidates you support, sharing educational materials, and volunteering at the polls or offering food and drinks to voters in line at the polls. Check your state and local laws for more information.
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Hiking for Haters |
Truth be told, I did not touch grass until my late twenties. Being in nature felt unnatural—I grew up in the world’s fourth most densely populated city, Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. With over 60,000 people in each square mile, there is not much room for nature to thrive in the megapolis. There are trees, shrubs and bushes, even a couple of grassy fields strewn around the more planned areas of Dhaka, but none of it was for me—I spent my childhood stuck in the concrete walls of my family home.
If I wanted to take a walk, my mother told me to do laps along the long hallway of the house, under certain conditions. I had to wear modest clothes and remain alert so that I would not bump into the many male guests visiting my grandfather for business. I was taught to hide myself and my body, for safety, modesty, religion—all placeholders for misogyny and patriarchy. The teachers in my P. E. class were only concerned if every girl had their uniform ironed and their nails trimmed. Sometimes we were divided into groups of ten to race in the parking lot. I was chubby, unathletic, and I was laughed at whenever I attempted to run. I ended up with an underdeveloped sense of spatial awareness and extreme feelings of shame about my body, and I retreated into books and computer games.
My relationship with nature and movement—two core facets of hiking—was fraught. The thought of being in nature, struggling in nature, made me uncomfortable. Then I went to graduate school in a sleepy little college town nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Surrounded by vast, uninterrupted forests and very few people, I felt like I was on a different planet.
Learning to Live Within Nature
A day after I arrived in Blacksburg, VA, I went to the neighborhood bank to open an account. The manager asked me how I liked the place. “I am in shock… it’s so empty and silent,” I said. Having lived in Chicago, he understood my shock and gave me a few recommendations for things to do around town. “It’s not a big city, but when you live in Blacksburg, you learn to appreciate nature,” he assured me, and I let out a huge sigh. Enjoy nature? Step on mud? Get poked by thorny branches? Trip on a rock? A city slicker like me could never!
I remained a hater during my first year in Blacksburg and spent my weekends missing the cacophony of Dhaka’s streets. By my second year, I had grown accustomed to the silence, and I began taking walks around my neighborhood—an unfamiliar luxury. I was surrounded by mountains that changed colors at different times of the day. There were little critters hopping by—a squirrel here, a ladybug there. I heard birdsongs more clearly than ever. I noticed things. The oddballs and strange occurrences that I loved to observe in my hometown of 20 million people were replaced by the calm and beauty of, dare I admit, nature. I was in awe of the Appalachian Mountains and for the first time in my life, I wanted to get closer. I wanted to know what lay hidden inside the old growth forest that hugged Blacksburg.
 Red mushroom emerging after a rain. Photo by Aanila Kishwar TarannumFrom Hater to Hiker
This desire to level up my walks could only be satiated if I took a hike, but I was still scared and made excuses. I am not fit enough! I have asthma! My lungs will dry out! I walk weirdly and everyone will laugh at me! In reality, the main obstacle was that I did not have a car (it is ironic that hiking can be inaccessible without a car). So, I acquired my Hyundai Sonata from Facebook Marketplace, and drove out to Pandapas Pond, a recreational nature reserve bordering Jefferson National Forest.
I took baby steps to accustom myself to hiking, literally and figuratively. At first, I would follow the flat boardwalk around the pond. Then I decided to try the easier trails inside the forest, and I was enthralled by the rhododendron groves and little creeks. After that, I attempted hikes with higher elevation gain and caught some breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was not easy. I panted, cussed, turned red, almost cried—but I persisted. The crisp mountain air gave me new life instead of triggering my asthma. No one laughed at me, no one cared what I was doing. I was free! I felt safe in the embrace of nature, frolicking in the meadows, jumping over creeks, experiencing the beauty of the world like I never had.
 Red eft newt crossing the rocky trail. Photo by Aanila Kishwar Tarannum.Nature Is For Everyone!
Hiking seems much more intimidating than it is. There is no shame in opting for easy and/or short hikes. There are trails of all difficulty levels, and I do not expect to trek Mount Everest. The beauty of hiking, as opposed to running a race in my school parking lot, is that there are no winners or losers. To me, hiking has been about observing, being mindful, and taking things slow. It has been about falling in love with nature and appreciating my body for doing its best. Over time, hiking has allowed me to develop a healthier relationship with exercise. It can be intense, but once you reach the top, the feelings of satisfaction and triumph are unmatched.
If you are a hiking hater like I was, then I hope my story inspires you to attempt a short hike. I will leave you with some advice:
First, stay hydrated. I recommend opting for a reusable, cute water bottle from Elemental Bottles instead of plastic bottles.
Second, ditch your tote bag for a backpack, because it is much more comfortable and does not restrict your movement. If you are planning to invest in a backpack, Lux and Nyx has sturdy, functional pieces that are perfect for rough use.
And finally, keep pushing through. Remember, hiking is not a sprint. You can and should take your time to smell the rhododendrons on your way to the top.
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Your Green Life |
Green America's largest magazine covering the issues important to traveling and living sustainably, and advocating for rest and joy.
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Climate Smart Insurance: New 50-state search tool locates home, auto policies from providers that don’t invest billions in fossil fuels |
WASHINGTON, DC – OCTOBER 9, 2024 – Green America launched a first-of-its-kind searchable directory to connect consumers with insurance companies that do not underwrite fossil fuel extraction projects or invest heavily in the fossil fuel industry. With options in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, the Climate Smart Insurance Directory lists local and regional home and auto insurance providers that offer competitive pricing and opportunities for policy-bundling, but without contributing to the climate crisis that is raising rates and limiting coverage options.The Directory provides consumers with climate smart insurers that:
- Offer home, renters and auto insurance (with very few exceptions), so consumers can save by bundling.
- Do not insure fossil fuel projects (per publicly available information).
- Have no indication of direct investments in the fossil fuel industry (Grade A), have investments under $200 million (Grade B), or investments under $500 million (Grade C), as listed in the Investing in Climate Chaos database by Urgewald, a German environmental and human rights NGO.
- Have a rating of A- or above for financial stability from AM Best.
Most states have at least four climate smart insurers listed that consumers can compare. Many of the companies are regional insurers or mutuals that do not spend large amounts of money on advertising. The announcement comes as the online real-estate marketplace Zillow rolls out new climate risk data so home shoppers can view flood, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality risks, for considering specific insurance needs and costs in risk-prone areas.
Bill McKibben, founder of Third Act and 350.org, said: "No one really enjoys buying insurance—but this new tool helps make it both easy and constructive. This is the industry that should really understand risk; let’s support the companies that are using their knowledge to help not hurt."
Cathy Becker, Responsible Finance Campaign Director at Green America, said: “As the U.S. continues to see a record-shattering onslaught of extreme weather disasters fueled by climate change, insurance companies are seeing the most immediate impact through increased claims. So the fact that the very largest insurance companies are also investing billions of dollars in fossil fuels is a puzzling example of an industry directly funding its own downfall. Consumers are taking note, and they’re taking their business elsewhere.”
The insurance industry stands on the immediate front lines of the climate crisis. Every time a climate-related fire, flood, or storm damages or destroys property, policyholders expect their insurance policy to help foot the bill. But as natural disasters become more common, major insurance companies have begun to cancel or restrict coverage in climate-vulnerable states like Florida, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona and others. Hurricane Helene is just the latest multibillion-dollar superstorm to test the already-battered private insurance industry.
Despite increasing climate risks, the nation’s major insurance companies continue to support the chief cause of the climate crisis: the burning of fossil fuels. By insuring risky fossil fuel projects and investing billions of dollars in fossil fuel companies, major insurance companies are financially entangled with an industry whose interests conflict with the interests of its own customers.
Below are the U.S. insurance companies with the most total fossil fuel investments:
| Insurance Company | Total Fossil Fuel Investment | | Berkshire Hathaway (parent of GEICO) | $95.8 billion | | State Farm | $20.6 billion | | USAA (through Victory Capital) | $11.2 billion | | AIG | $9.7 billion | | Nationwide | $7.2 billion | | Allstate | $4.5 billion | | Travelers | $1.9 billion | | Liberty Mutual | $1.8 billion | | The Hartford | $1.3 billion |
Source: Investing in Climate Chaos database by Urgewald. Data collected in May 2024. Figures rounded to first decimalMichael Richardson, co-founder of Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith, which co-sponsored the project, said: “The scientific and moral imperative is clear: climate scientists have issued a clarion call to immediately stop all new fossil fuel projects if we are to avert critical tipping points in the climate system. So, we must ask why the insurance industry continues to insure and fund new projects. At long last consumers have the Climate Smart Insurance Directory to connect them with insurance companies that are contributing the least possible into the money pipeline leading to climate chaos. This tool is one more way to mobilize people to take environmental action by making something we all have to do just a little easier – shopping for insurance.”
In 2023, the United States experienced a record number of weather- and climate-related disasters, causing $95 billion in damages. Meanwhile, average property insurance premiums increased 21% nationwide, even in places without heightened risk. Some states were hit harder than others. Homeowners insurance premiums increased the most in Florida (35%), Idaho (31%), Colorado (30%), South Dakota (28%), Louisiana (27%), Texas (27%) and Oklahoma (27%).
According to a recent report by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), 7.4% of all homeowners in the country are currently uninsured, resulting in $1.6 trillion in unprotected market value, with many forced to go without insurance because they can’t afford rising premiums. Known as “going bare,” CFA warned that the problem of uninsured homes will worsen without significant investments in climate change adaptation and stronger oversight of the insurance industry.
Fourteen organizations have endorsed the Climate Smart Insurance Directory, including: Third Act, GreenFaith, American Sustainable Business Network, Stand.earth, Rainforest Action Network, Oil and Gas Action Network, Intentional Endowments Network, BankFWD, Center for International Environmental Law, Climate First!, Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith, Environmental Advocates NY, 350 Conejo San Fernando Valley, and Divest Washington.
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ABOUT
Green America is the nation’s leading green economy organization. Founded in 1982, Green America provides the economic strategies, organizing power and practical tools for businesses, investors, and consumers to solve today’s social and environmental problems. http://www.GreenAmerica.org
Third Act is a growing community of Americans aged 60 and older determined to change the world for the better. Third Act harnesses an unparalleled generational power to protect our climate and safeguard our democracy. Using our life experiences, skills, and resources, we unite to tackle the unfinished work of our lifetimes and ensure a safe and stable planet for generations to come. https://thirdact.org
Rivers & Mountains GreenFaith, based in the Hudson Valley of New York, acts in coalition with Third Act and GreenFaith to mobilize climate and environmental action to end the era of fossil fuels and transition to a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. It participates in national, regional and local coalitions in forums, rallies, demonstrations and other actions directed at financial institutions to stop funding climate chaos. https://www.rivers-mountains-greenfaith.org
MEDIA CONTACT: Max Karlin for Green America, (703) 276-3255, or mkarlin@hastingsgroupmedia.com.
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Conscious Choices for All |
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Pennsylvania School Boards Association |
Founded in 1895, PSBA is a private, nonprofit membership association dedicated to serving Pennsylvania’s elected school board directors. We provide our members with services, support and counsel as they lead their districts, navigate relationships and promote public education across Pennsylvania.
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Green America harnesses economic power — the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace — to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. Together, we can protect our beautiful planet and all its people!
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Get Off to a Sweet Start this Fall with Sustainable Honey Products |
As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows crisp, there’s no better time to celebrate the sweet and sticky wonder of honey. September is National Honey Month, a perfect moment to highlight honey’s diverse benefits and appreciate the importance of honeybees and their contribution to agriculture and biodiversity. This fall, Green America encourages you to make mindful honey products that support both your health and the environment.
Celebrate National Honey Month with these products from our certified Green Business Network {GBN)} members.
Raw, Sustainable Honey Products
Raw honey is valued for its natural properties, health benefits, and versatility in culinary, medicinal and cosmetic uses. It’s unprocessed, nutrient-rich, antibacterial and can soothe stress and inflammation in the body. See more benefits at the National Institutes of Health.
Find totally unprocessed honey at Really Raw Honey Inc. A company committed to advocating environmentally sound beekeeping, it packs honey straight from the hive at beekeeper’s homes and farms.
Indian River Bee Company offers 100% raw honey from the Indian River area of Florida, famous for some of the best honey, grapefruits, and oranges in the world.
Bath Products and Soaps
A popular ingredient in hair and skin products, honey is a natural moisturizer. According to Vogue India, it is soothing, healing and non-irritating, keeping skin and hair healthy and soft. Incorporating honey into your daily self-care routine promotes natural cosmetic health.
 The Harmony Oat and Honey Soap from 4 Elements Bath Products boasts an intriguing scent of mandarin orange, ginger and spices. Photo Credit: 4 Elements Bath Products
What’s Good, an online market for eco-friendly and socially responsible products, offers locally-sourced honey skin balms, shampoos, and conditioners.
Beeswax Products
Beeswax is a popular sustainable alternative to toxic ingredients in candles, sealants, cosmetic products, and much more.
Essential Wholesale & Labs offers natural and organic hair and body care, including balms containing beeswax and honey in its lotions.
Daddy Van’s creates all-natural beeswax furniture polish and finishing wax. These wood and countertop care products are non-toxic, chemical free, and safe for both people and the planet.
If you’re looking for more environmentally friendly candle options, try out beeswax candles. They produce clean fumes with little smoke and are completely biodegradable.
 The woodland collection of beeswax candles from Big Dipper Wax Works will look great for the darkening days. Photo Credit: Big Dipper Wax WorksBig Dipper Wax Works makes handcrafted beeswax candles produced in small batches. Committed to sourcing from ethical farms, beeswax is collected from Northwest beekeepers, an area where crops rank the lowest in exposure to pesticides in North America.
What’s Good also sells pure beeswax candles, including birthday candles, and beeswax tapers.
As you’re shopping for your favorite Fall products this season, remember to add some sustainably sourced honey into the mix!
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.
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Little Hands and Nature |
Coming soon.
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Winkaffe Global Travel |
Coming soon.
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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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U.S. News |
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Looking for an insurer that isn't driving the climate crisis? We've got a tool for that |
In the wake of the home mortgage crisis of 2008, Green America launched its Get A Better Bank map, listing hundreds of community development banks and credit unions as alternatives to the megabanks that tanked the economy and heavily finance fossil fuel projects.
Now in the wake of the home insurance crisis, Green America is launching a similar tool: its Climate Smart Insurance Directory to connect consumers with insurance companies that do not underwrite fossil fuel projects or invest heavily in the fossil fuel industry while leaving homeowners in the lurch when climate disasters strike.
With options in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, this first-of-its-kind directory lists local and regional home and auto insurance providers that offer competitive pricing and opportunities for policy-bundling, but without contributing to the climate crisis that is raising rates and limiting coverage options nationwide.
The directory provides consumers with climate-smart insurers that:
- Offer home, renters and auto insurance (with very few exceptions), so consumers can save by bundling.
- Do not insure fossil fuel projects (per publicly available information).
- Have no indication of direct investments in the fossil fuel industry (Grade A), or have investments under $200 million (Grade B), as listed in Investing in Climate Chaos by Urgewald, a German environmental and human rights NGO.
- Have a rating of A- or above for financial stability from AM Best.
Most states have at least four climate-smart insurers listed that consumers can compare. Many of the companies are local and regional mutuals that have been serving their communities for decades but do not spend large amounts of money on advertising.
Why this directory?
In 2023, the United States experienced a record 28 climate-related disasters, causing a total of $95.1 billion in damages. So far 2024 has seen 20 such events, including tornadoes, hail storms, winter storms, wildfires, and a major hurricane, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The insurance industry stands on the front lines of this crisis. Every time a climate-related fire, flood, or storm damages or destroys property, policyholders expect their insurance company to help foot the bill. Unfortunately, as climate events become more common, major insurance companies are canceling or restricting coverage in Florida, California, Louisiana, North Carolina, Iowa, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Utah, Texas, and other states.
Despite increasing climate risks, the nation’s major insurance companies continue to support the chief cause of the climate crisis: the burning of fossil fuels. By insuring risky fossil fuel projects and investing billions of dollars in fossil fuel companies, major insurance companies are financially entangled with an industry whose interests conflict with the interests of its own customers.
Here are fossil fuel investments for nine major U.S. insurance companies:
| Insurance Company | Total Fossil Fuel Investments | | Berkshire Hathaway (parent of GEICO) | $95.8 billion | | State Farm | $20.6 billion | | USAA (through Victory Capital) | $11.2 billion | | AIG | $9.7 billion | | Nationwide | $7.2 billion | | Allstate | $4.5 billion | | Travelers | $1.9 billion | | Liberty Mutual | $1.8 billion | | The Hartford | $1.3 billion |
Source: Investing in Climate Chaos by Urgewald. Data collected in May 2024. Figures rounded to first decimal.
Information about which companies insure fossil fuel projects is more difficult to find, but is available from organizations like Insure Our Future. For example, eight Gulf South LNG terminals, each the carbon bomb equivalent of dozens of coal plants, are insured by Liberty Mutual, AIG, Chubb, The Hartford, Travelers, Lloyd's of London, and more.
Premium price increases
Meanwhile, average property insurance premiums increased 21% nationwide, even in areas without heightened risk. Some states were hit harder than others. Homeowners insurance premiums increased the most in Florida (35%), Idaho (31%), Colorado (30%), South Dakota (28%), Louisiana (27%), Texas (27%) and Oklahoma (27%).
According to the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), 7.4% of all homeowners in the country are now uninsured, resulting in $1.6 trillion in unprotected market value. With so many people “going bare” -- forced to go without insurance because they can’t afford rising premiums -- CFA warned that the problem will worsen without investments in climate change adaptation and stronger oversight of the insurance industry.
While companies in the Climate Smart Insurance Directory were not vetted for price, several people have experienced saving hundreds of dollars by switching from a major national insurance company to a local or regional mutual that doesn’t pay advertisers.
What else can you do?
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 consumers seeking home and auto 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. Be sure to ask about a company’s holdings and policies before purchasing an insurance plan.
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Pressure Is Making Anti-ESG Bills Crumble Across the Country |
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles are key for a just financial and sustainable future. They are a tenet of the free market, ensuring individuals have all the necessary information before making decisions about where to invest their money. Across the country, however, state legislators and executives are risking a safe future for people and planet by pushing anti-ESG bills across the country.
“Research shows that returns on socially responsible investing are on par or better than investing not based on ESG principles, especially over the long term,” says Cathy Cowan Becker, Responsible Finance Campaign Director at Green America.
With clear and proven benefits of ESG principles, Green Americans understand how important this fight is. And across the country, anti-ESG bills and resolutions are failing from the pressure of this understanding.
There have been a lot of victories in stopping anti-ESG actions, but Republicans continue to paint investing freedom as a threat to profits—specifically the profits of the fossil fuel industry. And they’re not wrong. Using your voice, and your dollar, is a great way to fight for a greener future.
Crushing Anti-ESG Bills and Resolutions
In 2023, political critics of ESG investing introduced 198 bills and resolutions in 38 states attacking investors’ freedom and prohibiting considerations of things like fossil fuels, firearms, agriculture, timber, and animal products, according to researching and advising firm Pleiades Strategy. State officials issued a further 44 executive actions targeting ESG investing. Overall, 31 laws and resolutions passed.
In 2024, politicians have introduced 108 anti-ESG bills across the country. There have also been 27 executive actions, comprising orders, letters, issuing rulings, and lawsuits.
What’s to account for the 10% drop in anti-ESG success rate? People are fighting back.
In Texas, a 2024 report from The Perryman Group showed anti-ESG legislation could cost the state $821.1 million and nearly 8,800 job-years by the end of the year. Since these laws’ introduction in 2021, Texas has lost $700 million in local economic activity.
North in Oklahoma, a district court judge Sheila Stinson issued an injunction on an anti-ESG law prohibiting “pension funds and localities from doing business with financial firms accused of boycotting fossil fuels.”
 Fighting back against fossil fuels investing is a global endeavor, shown by protesters in Calgary, Canada. Photo: Flickr, Visible HandThe people testifying against anti-responsible investing legislation and resolutions are “everyday investors, local bankers, local insurance, state retirement plan officers, city administrators, etc.,” says Becker. “They say these bills would cost them a lot of money, and indeed they have.”
Inside the Crusade for Anti-ESG Bills
Pleiades Strategy’s reports for 2024 shows the continuation of targeted attacks on ESG investing. Most anti-ESG bills fall into specific categories, such as:
- Limits on Public Pensions: 13 bills in 2024 seek to ban consideration of “non-pecuniary” factors, or “fiduciary commitment,” particularly the consideration of long-term investment risks posted by hazardous industries.
- Bans of ESG Scores: 4 bills seek to prohibit the private sector from using ESG scores in risk assessment for loans and insurances.
- Contracting Bans: These bills, 23 from this year, would block state and local governments from contracting with financial institutions that consider ESG factors, mostly through blacklists.
State executives like attorney generals and state treasurers do their part to stop ESG investing in its tracks. Their strategies include federal opposition to pro-ESG laws and nominees, threatening the private sector’s freedom to “guide their own business strategies” through withdrawn funds and canceled contracts, and bullying and regulating the private sector with legal interventions.
Many bills are evolving from previous iterations.
The 2023 “Fair Access to Financial Services” bill failed in every state in which it was introduced, so this year Republicans replaced it with the “Equality in Financial Services Act.”
This bill promises the “threat of widespread civil litigation, significant fines and damages, and harassment from state attorneys general to coerce companies into ignoring risk when offering financial services.” The justification is the “discrimination” against select industries, despite their proven harm.
What You Can Do, Right Now
Only six states have active anti-ESG legislation at play, but the bills could do a lot of harm.
| State | Bill | Summary |
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| Michigan | HB 5310 | Bans state agencies from signing a contract with financial institutions that are currently not doing business with firearms dealers, advocacy groups, and manufacturers; fossil fuel companies; and agriculture producers or timber companies. | | Michigan | HB4344 | State agencies cannot contract with companies on the construction of state property if the company does and will not boycott a business enterprise. | | Michigan | HB 4381 | Investment fiduciaries can only consider pecuniary (money) factors when evaluating investments. | | New York | AB 4090/SB 6472 | Trustee(s) of retirement and social security funds cannot use ESG criteria as a screening method. | | Ohio | SB 6 | Trustees and board members of public employees retirement funds, police and fire pension funds, and state teachers retirement funds can only make investment decisions based on maximizing the return and not influencing ESG factors. | | Ohio | HB 4 | To declare the General Assembly's intention to enact legislation regarding financial institutions and other businesses that conduct economic boycotts or discriminate against certain companies or customers based on certain factors. | | Pennsylvania | HB 334 | Requires fair access to financial services; imposing powers and duties on the Department of Banking and Securities; and imposing penalties. | | Arizona | SB 1167 | Bars financial institutions from discriminating in providing financial services and must provide explanation for a denial based on business with particular industries. | | Arizona | SB 1337 | Bars financial institutions from discriminating in providing financial services for failing to accept targets of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), perform racial and gender audits, and facilitate and assist employees with obtaining abortion or gender affirming care. | | Arizona | HB 2443 | The state cannot require financial institutions to consider social credit score when considering lending money to a customer. | | Arizona | SB 1014 | Financial institutions, insurers, and credit reporting agencies cannot discriminate based on political affiliation, ESG scores | | Arizona | HB 2213 | Government entities, including universities and community college districts, must base investment decisions solely on pecuniary factors. | | Arizona | HB 2457/SB 1013 | Financial fiduciaries and proxy voters may not consider non-pecuniary factors, including ESG goals, when evaluating investments. | | Arizona | SB 1195/House Resolution 2040 | Bans public entities from spending money on an organization that advocates for the reduction of meat and dairy consumption; replacing motor vehicle travel with walking, bicycling, and public transportation; limiting airplane travel; reducing GHGs and global temperature; replacing private ownership with a circular economy; or furthering Marxist ideologies. | | Arizona | Sen. Resolution 1007/House Resolution 2011 | Bans public entities from doing any business that discriminates against the firearm industry. | | Illinois | Sen. Resolution 1003 | Reaffirms a commitment to oversight and accountability of state investments to prioritize the well-being and prosperity of all residents above political, partisan, or ESG considerations in all investment decisions. Demands transparency of rationale behind every investment decision. |
Current active anti-ESG bills across the country. (As of 9/4/24)If you live in one of the states currently considering bills and resolutions that would limit responsible investing, the most effective thing you can do is contact your state legislator to voice your disapproval.
- Find your state legislators by inputting your address at openstates.org
You can also support responsible investing by:
- Supporting bills protecting ESG investing, like Oregon’s COAL Act, making the Beaver State the third in the US (after Maine and California) and fourth in the world (after Ireland) to pass fossil fuel divestment legislation.
- Reach out to GBN members who assist with socially responsible investment strategies, including but not limited to:
Conservative anti-ESG strategies, Becker says, encompass the “third stage of climate denial.” Through varying levels of legislation and Congressional resolutions, ESG investing faces an onslaught of pushback.
By actively preventing people from investing based on their morals, politicians are effectively picking winners and losers, supporting planet-harming industries like gas, oil, and fossil fuels. The priority is and will remain lining the pockets of corporate executives, with no consideration for a safe and healthy future.
Since money talks, investing is one of the most powerful tools in the fight against the climate crisis and deserves protection.
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6 Sustainable Banking Options |
Your bank is more than a place to put your money. Banks can use the funds you deposit to create loans or make investments. And in some cases, that may mean using your money to invest in fossil fuels that can harm the environment. Sustainable banks are working to change this model, giving consumers the ability to deposit their money with a company that doesn't engage in unsustainable practices.
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