Solutions - America's electric revolution - Environmental Defense Fund
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Solutions
Vol. 52, No. 2 / Spring 2021
America’s
electric
revolution
Page 8
GETTY
6 Top lawyer on 13 Getting the 16 Inspired by 18 Five steps
Trump rollbacks: lead out at faith, leading on to sustainable
Never again. Home Depot climate change investing
Safe passage The 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects 4 billion birds that pass through the U.S. every year, including these roseate spoonbills. The Trump administration gutted the act. At the urging of EDF and Audubon, the Biden administration has now restored it. EDF and allies used the act to win a settlement of $100 million from BP for the deaths of 1 million birds after the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Overall, BP paid an estimated $65 billion for causing the disaster. 2 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021
A new day in Washington
Early in the Biden administration, it’s clear
the United States not only talks about climate
and environmental justice, but is determined
to deliver. “Put simply,” a New York Times
editorial declared, “the richest and most pow-
erful nation in the world is back in the fight to Environmental Defense Fund’s mission
is to preserve the natural systems
rescue the planet from the fires, floods, fam-
on which all life depends. Guided
ines, rising sea levels, human dislocations by science and economics, we find
and other consequences of a warming globe.” practical and lasting solutions to the
most serious environmental problems.
The imperative to act on climate permeates
this administration. And American business is now coming on board. Our work is made possible by the
support of our members. Donate
The investment community is increasingly focused, and recently
online at edf.org/newsletter or by
General Motors announced its plan, which EDF helped develop, to mail: EDF, Attn.: Member Services,
manufacture only zero-emission light-duty vehicles by 2035. This 1875 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ste. 600,
will accelerate the global movement toward electric cars and trucks. Washington, DC 20009
The upshot is that we now have the best opportunity ever to dramati- On the cover:
cally curb U.S. climate pollution, create millions of good jobs and With new leadership
in Washington, EDF’s
assist low-wealth communities and communities of color that have
efforts to deliver more
suffered the most from climate change and industrial pollution. But clean energy, more
we have to act quickly and decisively. clean cars and trucks
and better health for
To reduce U.S. net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050, the ad- all communities are
ministration, having rejoined the Paris Agreement, should begin by moving into high gear.
pledging to cut emissions 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. To reach The clean electric future is finally on its
way. See what it will look like, and how
those goals, EDF is calling for electrifying transportation, decarbonizing EDF is making it happen, on page 8.
power production and slashing methane emissions from the oil and gas
industry and agriculture. Too little attention has been paid to cutting
emissions from trucks and buses, which represent less than 5% of reg-
istered vehicles but account for 28% of climate pollution from road
transportation and 57% of the soot from vehicles.
Solutions
Transportation and power generation cause more than half of U.S. Editor Peter Klebnikov
greenhouse gas emissions, and our cover story describes EDF’s accel- Senior Designer Anuranjan Pegu
erating efforts to clean up those sectors (see p. 8). We’re also helping Designer Tink Tank Studio
farmers become part of the climate solution by advancing legislation
Environmental Defense Fund
that supports climate-smart farming practices (see p. 14). 257 Park Ave. South
New York, NY 10010
As always, EDF is creating pathways that bring people together. That
Main number 212-505-2100
helps ensure durable progress. Today, with Congress closely divided,
Membership questions 800-684-3322
we are building bipartisan majorities for legislation that President or members@edf.org
Biden will need to realize his climate vision. More than a half-century
has taught us that this is the surest path to a better future. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU
Send feedback to address above or
email editor@edf.org
✿✿✿
CONNECT WITH US ONLINE
Twenty-one years ago, I wrote in these pages: “I am delighted to welcome edf.org
Peter Klebnikov as senior editor.” Since then, Peter has published more
than 100 issues as editor-in-chief of Solutions, and I’m sorry to say this ©2021 Environmental Defense Fund.
will be his last, as he moves on to pursue his dreams of writing about Published quarterly in New York, NY
wildlife and teaching. Over the two decades that Peter has covered EDF, ASSN 0163-2566
he always upheld the highest journalistic standards. We will miss him. New York / Austin / Bentonville, AR /
Boston / Boulder / Raleigh /
San Francisco / St. Petersburg, FL /
Washington, DC / Beijing / Jakarta /
La Paz, Mexico / London
EDF President
GETTY
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 3
FIELD NOTES
China launches world’s
largest carbon market
As the U.S. reengages on climate, China, in a major advance, has kicked off
its national carbon market. China’s National Emissions Trading System will
initially cover 2,225 power plants — about 40% of its carbon emissions —
before expanding to industries such as chemicals and steel. China is the
world’s number one emitter of greenhouse gases.
For EDF, this marks the culmination of 30 years of policy and technical
work with Chinese regulators. In preparation for the opening, more than
7,000 people trained on market simulation software developed by EDF.
“This is one of the biggest developments for the world’s largest carbon
market in the recent rollercoaster year,” says Zhang Jianyu, head of EDF’s
China program.
EDF introduced market-based solutions to solve environmental prob-
lems in China in the 1990s when we helped launch a sulfur dioxide trading
program. We then helped design pilot carbon markets for various cities and
40%
provinces. The carbon market is key to cost-effectively reducing emissions of China’s CO2
in China, which aims to reach carbon neutrality by 2060. emissions are
covered by the new
carbon market.
ALAMY
for International
A National Academies grant of Development to help
$1.2 million low- and middle-
income countries
will help EDF investigate how wetlands develop lasting clean
and other natural features could help air solutions. The
protect vital coastal habitats from flood- first two pilot cities
induced chemical spills on the Gulf Coast. in the five-year proj-
ect are Indore, India
(left), and Jakarta,
Indonesia, with WRI
leading the effort
in Indonesia.
EDF will work
BREAKTHROUGHS with the consortium
and local partners
New research from EDF’s Dr.
Daniel Zavala-Araiza and an to pinpoint local
international science team pollution sources
shows that climate-warming and build consen-
10x methane pollution from
onshore oil and gas facilities
in Mexico is at least 10 times
Clean air for global cities
sus around a
solution that has
broad support.
higher than official estimates. “Science and poli-
This finding will help inform Air pollution is a global health crisis, caus- cy alone won’t solve it,” says EDF’s VP for
Mexico’s efforts to reduce its
ing an estimated 6.7 million premature Health Sarah Vogel. “This is about collabora-
oil and gas methane emis-
deaths each year worldwide. EDF and tively building an understanding of where
sions 40%-45% by 2025.
World Resources Institute are co-leading the harm is coming from, and getting past
Clean Air Catalyst, a global consortium of the finger-pointing so people can thrive
organizations launched by the U.S. Agency while reducing pollution.”
4 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021
MEET EDF
GETTY
ALAMY
Dr. Ilissa Ocko
Climate scientist
Climate science is a huge topic.
How do you choose priorities?
You look for the biggest sources. Just
two greenhouse gases, CO2 and
methane, are responsible for 75% of
global warming today. Then you look
at where the majority comes from. It’s
not a long list: energy, transportation,
agriculture… Very quickly you can see
where we have to focus our efforts.
Then what?
My job is to help my EDF colleagues
determine what actions would
have the greatest impact, scientifi- Ticket to ride
55,000 cally. Then they work to see what
makes the most sense economically
MethaneSAT, built to locate and quantify climate-harming
environmental and politically. methane pollution from the oil and gas industry worldwide, will
enforcement officers be ready to launch in late 2022 on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket
have been trained by (above). It will have the best methane detection sensitivity of
Does science have a role in politics?
EDF and partners. any satellite. Public data from the project, led by EDF subsidiary
Science is critical for informing wise
decision making. But it’s data and in MethaneSAT LLC, will help governments and companies reduce
that sense it’s objective. It gets really emissions swiftly and transparently. Methane pollution is respon-
dangerous when science is manipu- sible for at least 25% of the warming we experience today.
lated, undermined or ignored to
confirm a particular agenda.
We can guess what you’re talking
about …
Casting a wide net(work)
IN THE COURTS The last four years were appalling, Across the globe, small-scale The Small-Scale Fisheries
worse than I could have imagined. fisheries are a vital source of Hub features case studies, tools
local nutrition and income: and forums designed to help
EDF and allies are They provide up to half the communities improve gover-
suing the EPA over And now?
world’s catch and 90% of nance, food security and ocean
the Trump administra- The Biden-Harris administration’s fishing-related jobs. and ecosystem health.
tion’s dangerously environmental agenda feels like However, especially in “The Hub enables com-
inadequate risk evalu- we’re in Narnia after the White Witch tropical zones, many face munities to connect and
ation for 1,4-dioxane, a was defeated. Everything that was
likely carcinogen found declining fish populations, collaborate like never before,”
dreary is now sunshine and hope!
in drinking water, air and under-regulation, unpre- says project director Alexis
consumer products. dictable markets and the Rife. Already, visitors from
The EPA grossly under- increasing impacts of more than 90 countries have
estimated the health climate change. accessed the site, which is
impacts of the multiple Now support is at hand. available in 20 languages.
exposures faced by EDF and a global coali-
millions of people. tion of nonprofits, to-
Texas must gether with small-scale
reduce pollution fishing communities,
in San Antonio after have developed a new
a court agreed with online resource where
EDF and ruled that the people can exchange
city’s air quality fails information about
to meet national stan- making their fisheries
dards for ozone. more sustainable.
SHUTTERSTOCK
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 5
INTERVIEW
A new era for administrator Andy Wheeler’s multiyear
effort to censor and suppress the EPA’s
reliance on the best public health sci-
environmental law
ence has completely failed. It will never
take effect. We are thrilled to turn the
page on this dark chapter.
And remember how Trump used to
By Joanna Foster boast at his rallies that he would destroy
Obama’s Clean Power Plan? Well, on
Trump’s last day in office, the U.S. Court
After facing down a four-year assault on our most of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit handed
important environmental protections, EDF’s general down a landmark decision striking down
his unlawful attempt to repeal the Clean
counsel Vickie Patton and her team are rolling up their Power Plan. That means President Biden’s
sleeves and ushering in the next generation of EPA has a clean slate to carry out its re-
sponsibilities under the Clean Air Act to
environmental safeguards. “General” Patton, as her reduce harmful carbon pollution from
colleagues call her, answered questions about how existing power plants.
we can rebuild stronger. Q. What are your priorities for rolling
back Trump’s rollbacks?
Q. Former President Trump took aim at forced out, and there is a tremendous
over 100 environmental initiatives. How amount of work to be done to rebuild the A. EDF is focusing on the biggest sources
would you describe the state of affairs ranks and morale at EPA and make sure of climate pollution — fossil fuel power
that the Biden administration inherited? the agency can fulfill its mission. Also, we plants, cars, trucks and buses and leaks
have lost precious time, which has real from oil and gas operations. These are
A. Thanks to the tenacity of the EDF consequences for the climate and for also the biggest sources of health-harm-
team, numerous environmental organi- neighborhoods that are unjustly afflicted ing pollution. Our nation has the legal
zations, state attorneys general and many by unhealthy air every day. We need to authority and the responsibility to take
more, Trump’s reckless rollbacks were leap ahead with new protections while action under clean air laws. The solutions
challenged at every turn, and the Biden- cleaning up the Trump era’s wreckage. are at hand to not just reinstate regula-
Harris EPA has a solid legal foundation tions but also ensure our country adopts
on which to carry out the urgent work Q. What progress has already been made stronger protections that save lives and
of protecting human health and the envi- in reversing the damage? address environmental injustice.
ronment. That said, the EPA itself has Among the new measures needed, we
been battered over the past four years. A. The good news is that some of the also want to integrate climate disclosures
Many people left the agency or were most damaging rollbacks that Trump pur- and climate risk management into finan-
sued have already cial regulation. We need to ensure that all
JOHN RAE
been struck down publicly traded companies are required
in court. to fully disclose their climate risk under
In a huge victo- federal securities law, and that banks are
ry for public health addressing climate risks in explicit ways
and EDF’s legal and stress testing our financial systems.
team, Trump’s cen-
sored science rule Q. What can be repaired quickly? What
was recently vacat- will take longer to unwind?
ed by a federal
court in Montana. A. The Biden administration has already
We’ve been fight- begun reversing Trump’s rollbacks. Any
ing this dangerous policy Trump reversed in an executive
rule since its incep- order can be reinstated with executive
tion and took the authority — like rejoining the Paris cli-
lead in holding the mate accord. Other Trump rollbacks were
EPA accountable undertaken through a rule-making pro-
for illegally rushing cess, so the administration will also have
it across the finish to act through public notice and com-
line before Trump ment rule makings. Regulations that were
left office. This not yet finalized can be paused immedi-
win is historic. ately. Regulations that were finalized may
It means that take a year or longer to unwind, but the
EDF’s top attorney, Vickie Patton, also known as "The General"
Trump EPA administration is making this a priority.
6 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021
AMI VITALE
A focus on communities burdened by pollution makes communities — and environmental law — stronger.
On his first day in office, President Biden discharged by these vehicles — as well as Americans from climate and air pollu-
directed his EPA to promptly review doz- their climate pollution — then we will tion and ensure no community is
ens of Trump-era environmental actions. have protections that deliver climate and left behind. And we can do it by sup-
The rollback of the clean car stan- clean air benefits, save lives and are legal- porting domestic manufacturing and
dards is at the top of the list. President ly durable. high-quality jobs that rebuild shared
Biden gave the EPA and the Department Also, the real world has a huge say in economic opportunity.
of Transportation until July to address the permanence of regulation. Even if a Until now, we’ve never had a president
weakened federal standards. It is crucial future administration were to consider who ran explicitly on climate action and
that the administration then adopt next rolling back clean car standards, industry climate leadership. We’ve never had a
generation standards for cars, trucks and support just won’t be there if GM and president who ran on the imperative to
buses. Addressing Trump’s methane roll- Ford have already invested billions in advance racial justice.
backs are also high on Biden’s list and electric vehicles, as they’ve said they will. This is the time to reimagine American
something EDF has advocated, as is the environmentalism and make it far more
President’s commitment to address the Q. What gives you hope going forward? inclusive, equitable and lasting.
methane pollution from existing oil and It’s up to all of us to determine what
gas activities. A. This is the moment we’ve been work- this moment becomes. It is ours to
ing for and waiting for. It is the best seize and shape. It feels so good to get
Q. What can EDF do to make sure opportunity in my lifetime to protect all to work.
that Trump-style rollbacks never
happen again?
A. One key lesson learned from the
‘‘
Obama administration is that major policy
actions that were adopted at the begin-
ning of the administration often proved
This is the moment we’ve
to be the most durable. That’s partly because been working for and
there was time to defend them in court, so
they were really solidified in law before waiting for. It is the best
Trump took office. With this in mind, we are opportunity in my lifetime
’’
advocating that the Biden administration
adopt new climate and clean air standards to protect all Americans.
by the fall of 2022.
Another lesson learned is the impor- — EDF’s Vickie Patton
tance of addressing the full array of
harmful contaminants from major pollu-
tion sources like diesel trucks and buses.
If we enact limits on the deadly particu-
lates and smog-forming contaminants ISTOCK
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 7
America
goes electric
By Shanti Menon
Clean rides to school. Clean air for polluted neighborhoods.
A clean, modern electric grid, millions of electric vehicles —
and millions of jobs to build them. With new leadership in
Washington, EDF is racing to make this future a reality.
8 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021
COVER STORY
B
efore the shift to remote
learning, Jennifer Cantley drove
her two older sons to their Nevada
school rather than put them on the
school bus. She worried that diesel fumes,
which accumulate inside the bus, would
trigger their asthma. Both had been re-
peatedly hospitalized.
Last summer, when smoke from wild-
fires in California hung thick in their
valley, she woke up to find her son
Gabriel in the throes of a severe asthma
attack. “If I hadn’t woken up, he would
have died,” says Cantley. “As a mom,
thinking of leaving him on that school
bus...you want to protect them.”
For years, Cantley, a field organizer
for EDF affiliate Moms Clean Air Force,
has been pushing her state to protect the
climate and the health of children. In Lives in the balance: Jennifer Cantley and her sons fight for clean air in Nevada.
2019, she helped build bipartisan sup-
port in the Nevada Legislature to fund stabilize the climate and save lives, we Before the coronavirus hit, the clean
the purchase of electric school buses. need to get millions of clean cars, trucks energy sector was creating jobs 70% fast-
Now, she, EDF and others are taking the and buses on the road and prepare our er than the economy as a whole, and
effort nationwide. EDF is advising the electric system — built for fossil fuels and clean energy jobs were growing nearly
U.S. Department of Energy on how to predictable weather — to run them with five times faster than fossil fuel jobs. The
design an equitable zero-emission reliable clean energy. administration estimates that its plans
school bus pilot program, while Cantley With the administration committed to to tackle the climate emergency will
and Moms are urging Congress to pass climate action, and the momentum that create 10 million jobs overall, including
the new Clean School Bus Act, which EDF and allies have already achieved 1 million jobs in the auto industry alone.
would invest $1.2 billion in electric buses with states and businesses, the dramatic
and infrastructure. shift to electrify America is poised to take Pedal to the metal for carmakers
“Getting electric school buses for off. EDF’s goal is for all new cars sold to The fulcrum for transitioning to electric
every school in the country would be a be zero emission by 2035 and all new vehicles is the manufacturers. In 2017,
huge change in protecting children,” says trucks sold to be the same by 2040. even as automakers were lobbying the
Cantley. “Not to mention reducing emis- Trump administration to roll back U.S.
sions for everyone just walking by.” Tackling climate, jobs and justice and California clean car laws, EDF was
Turning yellow buses “green” is just President Biden has made clear his sup- hard at work urging them to deliver
one piece of a massive shift to electric port for clean energy and clean vehicles to climate pollution reductions. By 2020, the
vehicles that needs to happen in America not only confront the climate crisis, but tide had turned: Ford, Honda, VW, Volvo
— starting now. In order to clear the air, to create millions of jobs and reduce the and BMW agreed to abide by California’s
long-standing bur- clean car standards, and Ford set a goal of
den of pollution becoming carbon neutral by 2050. And
COURTESY CHARGEPOINT MEDIA
faced by communi- this January, General Motors, with help
ties of color and from EDF, announced that it would sell
low-income com- only zero-emission cars by 2035. This
munities. “Tackling decade, automakers plan to invest more
transportation than $257 billion globally to develop new
checks all the right electric models; more than $22 billion for
boxes for the Biden new or renovated plants in the U.S.
administration,” Equally important is the electrifica-
says EDF’s head of tion of trucks and buses, which run largely
political affairs, on diesel and cause 28% of climate pollu-
Elizabeth Gore. tion and 57% of soot pollution from vehi-
“It’s an opportunity cles. California, with strong input from
to spur economic EDF, now requires that about 60% of
recovery, address trucks and buses sold in the state be
environmental clean by 2035. New Jersey is considering
injustice and adopting the same rule and has commit-
drive down clim- ted nearly $100 million to clean trucks
Charging stations: Build them and they will come.
ate emissions.” and buses. Both states are part of a
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 9
COVER STORY
15-state coalition, supported by EDF, that freight goods expected to increase 25% by Fast lane to a clean future
is working to make at least 30% of truck 2030, these inequities will get worse unless Electricity and transportation are responsi
and bus sales clean by 2030 and 100% we take decisive action now. The country needs to make big changes t
clean by 2050. EDF has developed a mapping tool A recent Princeton study suggested the fo
To spur change, EDF is working with to help states, companies, utilities and
truck manufacturers and fleet operators. carriers identify where to roll out electri-
Today, at least 125 clean truck and bus fication first. It overlays warehouse
models are in production or development. locations with local demographics and
Electric trucks are picking up garbage health information — data that will help
in Seattle, making deliveries for IKEA people advocate electrification in their
and ferrying goods to and from the neighborhoods and show state and local
ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. authorities where to encourage charging
Sales are poised to skyrocket as big infrastructure and prioritize enforce-
buyers such as Amazon, FedEx and gov- ment of clean air regulations. The tool is
ernments commit to electric vehicles. being piloted in North Carolina and
“Manufacturers are ready to make New Jersey, with plans for expansion.
these trucks,” says truck expert Jason We’re also encouraging businesses to
Mathers, who directs EDF’s vehicles strat- shift to clean transportation.“Transition-
egy, “and fleets are eager to drive them.” ing to zero-emissions delivery by 2025 is
a cornerstone of our climate commit-
A priority on health and justice ments,” said Steve Moelk of IKEA Retail 50 million 1 million
Thousands of pollution-belching fossil U.S. “EDF’s innovative clean shipping electric cars electric trucks
fuel-powered trucks rumble in and out of solutions are invaluable in helping us and buses
warehouses and distribution centers every navigate toward this ambitious goal.”
day, many of them — due to a history
of discriminatory policies and disenfran- A clean, modern grid
chisement — situated in low-wealth This winter’s catastrophic Texas freeze
communities and communities of color. exposed the grid’s vulnerability to
The resulting air pollution worsens condi- weather extremes and the urgent need
tions from heart disease to diabetes to to make infrastructure resilient while
asthma and raises the risk of complications cutting climate pollution. In order to
from COVID-19, contributing to thousands stop adding pollution to the atmosphere
of premature deaths a year. EDF analysis by 2050, we’ll need four times the wind
in North Carolina shows that people living and solar and 60% more transmission
within half a mile of some warehouses lines by 2030, according to Princeton
were more than twice as likely to have University. We’ll need more energy stor-
health problems that could be exacerbat- age to kick in during extreme weather or
ed by air pollution. With the amount of when wind and solar lag. We’ll need to
3 million 23%
public of homes with
GETTY
charging electric heat
ports pumps
4x 60%
more wind more
and solar transmission
Priority #1: Neighborhoods with heavy traffic need to see clean trucks first. lines
10 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021COVER STORY
ALAMY
ible for 55% of U.S. climate pollution.
to stave off the worst climate impacts.
ollowing priority actions by 2030:
Big benefits:
$5,300
saved for each EV buyer
Clean, affordable wind and solar should supply half of U.S. electricity by 2030.
in 2027, compared
to lifetime costs for a develop more clean energy sources such CEO of Roanoke Electric in North Carolina.
gasoline vehicle. as geothermal energy and use carbon- Rural electric co-ops serve 92% of the
capture technology. nation’s high poverty counties, and leading
For years, EDF has worked with utili- utilities among them are valuable partners
ties such as Xcel Energy and with state in EDF’s efforts to ensure an equitable
and federal regulators to clean up and energy transition. EDF is working with
modernize our sprawling, century-old Roanoke on several energy efficiency
grid. In order to ensure a clean, reliable and EV projects that will help inform advo-
electric system, utilities will need to pivot cacy for federal broadband funding.
from being one-way suppliers of electrici- From electric customers in rural North
ty to managing a two-way, decentralized Carolina to kids on school buses to factory
1 million system, with solar panels, wind farms and workers in Detroit, the shift to clean power
jobs will be created by batteries providing local power and send- and transportation will soon touch us all.
a transition to zero- ing it back to the grid. Electrifying America is a massive effort, but
emission transporta- Even electric vehicles can store and as businesses, states and, most important,
tion, according to the supply power — and move where needed. the federal government join to make the
Biden administration. “They’re batteries on wheels,” says transition, America is about to hum onto
Pamela MacDougall, an EDF smart grid the fast track to the clean electric future.
engineer who is helping reenvision Puerto Buckle up!
Rico’s energy system. live
If a storm knocks out power in some INSIDE SOLUTIONS web
event
areas, electric trucks or buses can be de-
ployed to plug into critical buildings and The electric
keep them running. MacDougall and EDF transportation revolution
attorney Larissa Koehler, a transportation Join the conversation with:
policy expert, are launching a pilot project
200,000–300,000 to test how electric school buses can pro- Tim O’Connor, EDF energy transition
director, on America’s electric future.
lives saved by a clean vide backup power for schools.
In Texas, EDF is urging officials to protect
U.S. economy that against devastating future blackouts by
Pamela MacDougall, EDF grid
modernization manager, on creating
produces zero net improving planning and hardening grid in- a clean, reliable, smart grid.
pollution by 2050. frastructure for extreme weather, expanding
Curtis Wynn, president and CEO
energy efficiency and other solutions.
of Roanoke Electric, on ensuring a
Another essential for an affordable, reli- just transition.
able modern grid is broadband, but at
least 14.5 million rural Americans don’t Moderated by Tasha Kosviner,
have it. “Rural America cannot be part managing editor, Solutions.
of this transition without it,” says Curtis
Sources: Princeton University Net Zero Wynn, former board president of the National May 19, 2021 2–3 p.m. ET
America study; EDF analysis Rural Electric Cooperative Association and Sign up at edf.org/InsideSolutions
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 11GETTY
Friendly skies, living forests
In a historic move, airlines get the go-ahead to offset
climate impacts by protecting tropical rainforests.
A
nnie petsonk has aviation in emissions reductions at the scale of are home to 50% of the world’s terrestrial
her blood. The daughter of a con- entire regions or countries rather than biodiversity. They are also being destroyed
servation-minded engineer, she of stand-alone projects. EDF has for at the rate of one football field every six
grew up hearing her father’s tales of years promoted this jurisdictional ap- seconds. Ending forest loss and pursuing
flying an open-cockpit biplane in rural proach to protecting tropical forests. restoration and reforestation efforts
Pennsylvania and watching him work “These programs are the gold stan- could reduce annual global greenhouse
with farmers to try to turn corncobs into dard,” says Pedro Piris-Cabezas, EDF’s gas emissions by as much as 25% with
biofuel. So when the International Civil director for sustainable international a concerted effort over the next couple of
Aviation Organization recently took an transportation. “Instead of protecting decades. Despite this enormous oppor-
important step in tackling airline emis- patches of forest here and there, these tunity, forest preservation efforts receive
sions, the victory was particularly sweet transparent and verifiable programs less than 3% of global funding to reduce
for Petsonk, EDF’s longtime aviation ex- ensure net reductions in deforestation climate change.
pert who was recently tapped to serve at and degradation at a scale massive “You can’t solve climate change without
the U.S. Department of Transportation. enough to make a real climate impact.” ending deforestation,” says EDF’s Steve
In a major move, ICAO, the United Schwartzman, senior director for tropical
Nations agency that sets standards for Protection on a massive scale forest policy. “ICAO’s decision sends an im-
global aviation, as part of a package of Before the pandemic, international avia- portant signal that protecting and restoring
measures to cap emissions, allowed air- tion, if it were a country, would have forests is a global priority and gives interna-
lines to offset emissions by paying to been the sixth-largest emitter of green- tional recognition to the highest quality
protect imperiled tropical forests. This house gases, between Japan and Germany. programs.”
marks the first time that credits from More efficient airplanes, better opera- Even as the airline industry recovers
funding forest conservation have been tional practices and alternative jet fuels from the pandemic, EDF is pushing for big-
accepted as part of an international car- are on the way, but for now carbon off- ger cuts in its future emissions. And we’re
bon market. The program, Reducing sets are key to ICAO’s goal of carbon working through a nonprofit market inter-
Emissions from Deforestation and neutral growth. mediary, Emergent, to increase private
Forest Degradation, is known as REDD+. EDF’s work on airline emissions is markets for tropical forest protection to
The two forest carbon credit pro- just part of our broader effort to slow deliver at least a billion tons of annual emis-
grams approved by ICAO measure climate change by stopping the destruc- sions reductions from high-quality forest
tion of the world’s carbon credits by 2025.
remaining forests. “The planet needs us to make forests
THE WILSON LEGACY Tropical forests worth more alive than dead,” says
This feature honors the memory of Robert W. Wilson, a have an unparal- Schwartzman. “If our current system can’t
longtime EDF supporter and champion of harnessing market
forces to drive environmental progress. See edf.org/wilson leled capacity to do that, we need to change the system.”
store carbon and Joanna Foster
12 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021LEGAL ACTION
Home Depot
ALAMY
forced to
take action
on lead
R
obert rickett remembers the
day he was called to an old house
in Belgrade, Maine. Rickett, a now-
retired lead abatement specialist, recalls
that the homeowner, five months preg-
nant and raising a two-year-old, told him
she was worried. The Home Depot con-
tractors she’d hired to replace windows
seemed careless.
“We collected 10 dust samples, and
eight of them came back above the lead-
safe level,” Rickett says. “One memory that
sticks with me is the toddler’s room. You
could actually see the kid’s finger marks in
the dust inside the crib. When I saw that,
my heart broke.” surface layers of paint. Repairs can release urging agencies to take action, we wouldn’t
It was far from an isolated incident, lead in the form of paint chips and dust, even know about many of these situations,”
according to the Environmental Protection which can cause health problems ranging says Tom Laubenthal, technical chief at
Agency, which recently announced from learning disabilities to seizures and The Environmental Institute in Marietta,
that Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. will pay death. Even small amounts can be devas- Georgia. “A great many contractors weren’t
$20.75 million for failing to ensure that tating to children’s developing brains and paying much attention to the lead-safe
its contractors safely handled lead when nervous systems. rules, because it’s cheaper to ignore them.
renovating customers’ homes in more But this settlement has sent ripples. Every-
than 25 states. Calling out the Trump EPA one is paying attention now.”
The civil penalty is the largest to date EDF, allied with other watchdog groups, Tom Clynes
under the Toxic Substances Control Act, began actively monitoring the Home
the chemical safety law that EDF was Depot case shortly after learning that the
instrumental in strengthening in 2016. EPA had started a criminal investigation LEAD SAFETY FOR YOUR
Home Depot, whose contractors perform of the company in 2017. WHOLE FAMILY
thousands of jobs daily, also agreed to en- Over the next few years, although
act procedures to protect customers from complaints about negligent practices A tiny amount of lead dust is enough
lead exposure in the future. continued to pile up, the EPA took no to poison a child and put your family
The U.S. banned residential lead-based action. In response, EDF’s chemicals poli- at risk. When renovating:
paint in 1978, but it remains in an estimat- cy director Tom Neltner wrote to the • Insist on an EPA-certified lead-safe
ed 34.4 million older homes, often under agency last year urging action. “We are renovator if old paint will be disturbed
particularly concerned that children and ask to see the contractor’s train-
JOHN RAE
may be harmed by ongoing violations by ing certificate.
Home Depot while the investigation • Get an explanation of how the con-
continues,” Neltner wrote. tractor will minimize lead hazards.
The EPA quickly responded to Neltner’s Be sure it includes specifics about
letter, and emphasized that reduction of protective equipment and cleanup.
children’s exposure to lead was a priority. • Request references from at least
A few months later, the agency announced three recent jobs involving buildings
the settlement, filed in a federal court in built prior to 1978, and ask how the
Georgia. The agreement is a big win for contractor dealt with lead paint.
children’s health and a template for other • For more information, read the EPA
guide to hiring a lead-safe renova-
companies to follow. EDF is also encour-
tor: bit.ly/RenovateRite
aging Lowe’s, Menards and other firms to
• Doing a renovation yourself?
develop rigorous lead paint policies.
bit.ly/RenoRepair
“If it wasn’t for groups like EDF, who are
EDF chemicals expert Tom Neltner
paying attention to these issues and
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 13Changing landscapes
GETTY
By Tasha Kosviner
America’s farmland feeds us, provides a
livelihood for millions and can protect us from
storms. Can it also be a key weapon in the
fight against catastrophic climate change?
C
ori wittman stitt, a farmer’s erosion and rebuilds depleted soils,
daughter who grew up planting planting cover crops to lock in nutrients
and harvesting, was 13 before she or restoring wetlands to absorb excess
saw her first plow. “I didn’t know what rain, farmers are warming up to changes
this piece of equipment was,” Stitt, now that can both fight climate change and
38, recalls. “When I asked my dad, he protect their land and their bottom line.
just beamed!” EDF is helping them accelerate progress.
That’s because the family farm, a thriving
18,000-acre crop, cattle and timber opera- A historic first
tion set in the steep terrain of north central The evolution in the fields is also reso-
Idaho, has proudly practiced no-till farming nating in Washington, D.C. In a historic
— which improves soil conditions by grow- first, the vast majority of America’s farm-
ing crops without plowing — for 30 years. ers, ranchers, forest owners and others
When they began, the Wittmans were who manage working lands have come an industry that has, in the past, avoided
outliers. In a business where margins together to lobby the federal government using the phrase “climate change.”
are thin even in the best of years, many for support of climate-smart farming “We are proud to have broken through
farmers considered any changes to con- techniques. The Food and Agriculture historical barriers to form this unique
ventional techniques to be risky. Climate Alliance, which EDF helped alliance,” said Zippy Duvall, co-chair
But that story is changing. As climate found with the American Farm Bureau of the new alliance and president of the
change intensifies storms, fires and Federation, the National Farmers Union American Farm Bureau Federation.
droughts, exposing the fragility of our and others, is calling for the financial and “I’ve never seen momentum like
global food supply, America’s 2.6 million policy support farmers need to adopt this,” adds EDF’s director of agricultural
farmers are urgently seeking new ways to new farming techniques that will tackle policy, Callie Eideberg, who helped
protect their land and livelihoods. both the causes and effects of climate launch the alliance and negotiate its
Whether that’s no-till, which limits change. This effort marks a huge shift for policy recommendations.
The movement will find an open
door at the White House, where the
Biden-Harris administration has
pledged to make agriculture a corner-
stone of its ambitious climate agenda.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture,
not historically a key player in climate
policy, is poised to become a linchpin of
the administration’s strategy. Helping
guide the process is USDA senior advis-
er for climate Robert Bonnie, who led
EDF’s work on agriculture for more
than a decade, developing opportuni-
ties for farmers to benefit from conser-
vation practices.
The administration is already explor-
ing the creation of a carbon bank that
would offer credits to farmers for
sequestering carbon through sustain-
able practices. The White House is also
looking to better direct the USDA’s bil-
lions of dollars in conservation funding
toward practices that reduce green-
Idaho farmer Cori Wittman Stitt: Looking after the land for the next generation.
house gas emissions from agriculture.
14 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021GETTY
The science of success ability over thousands of acres of farm-
So far, the administration’s plans reflect land. Our scientists have also created a
EDF’s recommendations. Now we need to
refine the science so we can accurately
methodology to assess how much nitrous
oxide, a potent greenhouse gas, is lost
Protect the
calculate the carbon storage potential of
millions of acres of farmland.
from fields, part of a suite of resources to
drive emissions reductions on farmland,
environment
“The USDA wants to move very quickly,
and we applaud that,” says Eideberg. “But
for example, through more targeted use
of fertilizers. We’re also working with and receive a
we need to ensure carbon credits are rigor- lenders to develop products that offer
ous and scientifically sound.”
EDF scientists are developing standards
incentives to farmers who adopt sustain-
ability practices.
lifetime
that reliably quantify net emissions reduc-
tions related to land management.
Climate-smart land management doesn’t
just help slow climate change. No-till, cover income.
“It’s very difficult to measure incremen- cropping and other conservation practices
tal changes in soil carbon against the high also reduce drought impacts and erosion, Contact us today to request a
background amount that’s already there,” improve soil health, reduce the need for free, no-obligation custom
says EDF scientist Dr. Doria Gordon. “Once pesticides and fertilizers, protect clean Charitable Gift Annuity
we improve our ability to cost-effectively water and provide habitat for millions of
monitor that, we’ll really be able to quantify migrating birds.
illustration under current rates
agriculture’s contribution to the climate On the windswept gradients of Wittman – including your potential
solution and value it in the marketplace.” Farms, the payoff is undeniable. “We’ve income tax charitable
At the same time, two popular biparti- lived through some pretty wet storms, but deduction and our annual
san bills that EDF helped introduce in the I can’t even recall the last time we had an payments to you for life.
last Congress are expected to resurface very erosion event,” says Stitt, who recently tes-
soon. The Growing Climate Solutions Act tified at a Senate hearing on how farmers
would establish the role of independent, can be part of the climate solution. We’re here to help you explore
private sector certifiers to work with farm- “There is so much room for collabora- what’s possible.
ers to verify carbon credits. And the Cover tion,” she adds. “As farmers, we care about
Crop Flexibility Act would rethink federal protecting resources and our best resource
crop insurance, so it no longer inadvertently is the land. We’re just looking after it for the
disincentivizes cover crops. next generation.”
Toll-free: 1-877-677-7397
A more resilient land COMMON GROUND This piece is the first in a Legacy@edf.org
But we aren’t waiting for federal action. series exploring how America’s farms, forests
edf.org/legacy
EDF is working with the National Corn and coasts have become the new frontier in the
Growers Association to improve sustain- battle against climate change.
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 15Lift every voice
By Shanti Menon
Across the political spectrum, religious leaders and people of faith are taking action on
the environment as never before. Political and business leaders are listening.
D
elivering the inaugural about loving our neighbors,” she says. to urge support for clean car laws. Today,
benediction for President Biden, “And then I would sit at an EDF board Ford is a leader on clean cars and has set
Rev. Silvester Beaman, pastor of meeting and hear about how we were a goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal polluting our neighbors’ air. But no one In 2020, IPL took a big step and
Church in Delaware, called for healing in church was talking about it.” launched its first national voter mobiliza-
and asked God’s help to “become greater Troubled by that disconnect, Bingham tion campaign. “We felt if we did not get
stewards of your environment.” embarked on a 10-year journey to be- climate champions elected, we were
For many people of faith — nearly a come a priest. In 1998, with support from dooming ourselves and the planet,” says
third of American adults attend religious EDF, Rev. Bingham (top) launched a cli- IPL President Rev. Susan Hendershot. The
services weekly, and more than half report mate movement of Episcopalian churches group created a voter guide to help peo-
praying daily — the concept of environ- in California that grew into Interfaith ple of faith evaluate candidates on
mental stewardship is not new. But today, Power & Light, an influential
a growing number of religious Americans coalition that today reaches
from a multitude of faiths want action on some 22,000 congregations,
climate and environmental justice. With including Christian, Jewish,
support from EDF, they are reaching out Hindu, Muslim and others —
to their congregations — and to the 6 million people in 40 states.
secular world — to achieve the change IPL helps houses of worship
they seek. become more energy efficient
“Faith can penetrate politics,” says and adopt clean energy. The
Steve Murchie of EDF’s political affairs group was also instrumental in
team, which partners with many faith winning support for California’s
groups to advocate climate action. “There landmark clean car law and has
is a broad spectrum of groups out there, consistently championed fed-
especially young people, who are really de- eral clean car standards along-
livering on climate advocacy. Lawmakers side EDF.
are listening.” While EDF made the busi-
ness, legal and scientific case
Building the connection for clean cars, IPL and other
Sally Bingham joined the EDF board in faith groups visited dealerships
1985. She was a regular churchgoer who and even delivered a petition to
felt a deep connection to nature. “Every Ford Motor Company’s head-
Tina Spencer-Smith, right, is greening her church.
week I would sit in the pew and hear quarters in Dearborn, Michigan,
16 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021climate, racial justice and more, reach- growing among this largely
ing 1.1 million voters in six states. conservative group.
Reverend Kyle Meyaard-
A community focus Schaap, now VP of the
When EDF affiliate Moms Clean Air Force Evangelical Environmental
launched its Community Rx program, ded- Network, is the former
icated to clean air and climate advocacy in spokesperson for Young
Black communities, Tina Spencer-Smith Evangelicals for Climate
was one of the first to join. Spencer-Smith, Action, a national organiza-
a certified green buildings expert and ad- tion that has engaged some
ministration minister for Zion Hill Baptist 30,000 young people since
Church in Atlanta, invited Moms to partici- its founding in 2012.
pate in Zion Hill’s annual health fair and “Our whole generation
spoke alongside environmental justice feels like our future is at
leaders at a Moms’ Juneteenth webinar on stake,” says Meyaard-Schaap.
clean air justice. “YECA gives evangelicals a
Spencer-Smith works across Zion space to take action because
Hill’s 70 ministries to reduce their envi- of our faith, not in spite of it.
ronmental footprint and helped launch I was taught to love Jesus
the church’s first environment ministry, and love my neighbor. When
Planet Preservers, to raise awareness of I look at how climate change Testifying: Evangelical climate activist Elysia Moy
environmental issues. is affecting people, I see
When a landfill in nearby South Fulton climate action as a deeply faithful response.” “When I say I am here because I am
caught fire and burned for months, Zion The group works with Defend Our Christian, that’s a unique perspective for
Hill offered space for community meet- Future, an EDF affiliate that trains young legislators,” says Moy. “For me to represent
ings, where some church members climate leaders. YECA advocates reach my faith while speaking to environmental
learned for the first time that their com- out not only to their peers but to elders action, I just feel so empowered.”
munities were disproportionately exposed in their community who have ignored or Meyaard-Schaap says that many young
to landfill pollution. One congregation even doubted climate change. The group evangelicals are reconsidering the tradi-
member was shocked to discover five land- convinced the National Association of tional connection between their faith and
fills in his quiet, green neighborhood. Evangelicals, which represents more conservative politics.
“Historically our communities have than 45,000 churches, to affirm climate “Let’s not beat around the bush,” says
been excluded from environmental dia- change as a gospel priority and call upon Meyaard-Schaap. “I’m not sure the commu-
logue,” says Spencer-Smith. “By getting its members to act on climate. nity as a whole is moving forward on climate.
involved in these issues we are carrying The young evangelicals also urge fed- But the younger people I interact with are
out our mission. We are enhancing our eral and state lawmakers to embrace repulsed by this marriage of faith and party
ability to protect God’s creation.” climate policy. Such a message, coming politics. Our faith doesn’t fit neatly on one
from an unexpected source, packs a side of the aisle or another.”
A new path for evangelicals punch. Last year, Elysia Moy, a pastoral “We may not be traditional environ-
One-quarter of American adults identify intern at Boston Chinese Evangelical mental allies,” he adds, “but many of us
as evangelical or born-again Christian, Church, testified before the Massachusetts get it, and we’re in this work with you.
and calls for environmental action are legislature in support of carbon pricing. We want to get to the same place.”
The imperative to care for all of creation.
GETTY
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 17GREEN LIVING
Build your
nest egg
while
building a
better world
N
ot long ago, if you told your
financial adviser that you wanted
your investments to have a posi-
tive impact, she might have replied that
your principles were admirable — but
they would cost you. Today, you’d likely
get a more enthusiastic response.
Sustainable (also called ethical or socially
responsible) portfolios outperformed
GETTY
their traditional counterparts in 2020,
and they now represent a third of the ■ The companies you keep Investment Mutual Funds and ETFs Chart
professionally managed assets in the To start, take a look at your current portfo- to search for 401(k) funds that get high sus-
United States. lio. You may discover that the funds you’ve tainability marks, even though they haven’t
As economies move toward a low- chosen, often from your retirement plan’s publicly signaled an ESG focus.
carbon future, the smart money is limited offerings, include companies and
betting on companies that are prepared industries whose values are at odds with Finally, organize co-workers to insist that
to respond to climate change and other your own. Use the online tools on the you have access to ethical choices.
urgent issues. Invest Your Values site to screen funds Employers are often unaware that their
So, what’s the best way to build your against your most important issues. Fossil plans are not in alignment with the com-
retirement funds while building a better Free Funds provides a letter grade and car- pany’s stated values. When they find out,
world? Though we can’t recommend bon footprint metric for each fund. MSCI they may take action to encourage a future
specific investments, and nothing in ESG Fund Ratings goes even deeper, with world for company retirees that’s more
this article should be construed as assessments of carbon intensity, diversity sustainable and equitable — not to men-
investment advice, we can offer ideas of boards of directors, green vs. brown rev- tion prosperous.
to help you align your investments with enue and more. Tom Clynes
your values.
■ Catalyze change through your INVEST SMARTER
■ There are plenty of ways to financial adviser
green your portfolio Your financial adviser can guide you through Invest Your Values
You don’t have to choose individual com- the range of options using tools, such as bit.ly/InvestYourValues
panies to get into the arena. Mutual funds, Your Stake, that help advisers fine-tune hold-
MSCI ESG Fund Ratings
exchange-traded funds, bonds and even ings to client priorities. Also, consider your
bit.ly/ESGFundRate
money market funds that focus on your adviser’s power to press for change. One
sustainability interests are all available. shareholder may not sway a company to Fossil Free Funds
accelerate its move to a lower-carbon mod- fossilfreefunds.org
■ Real sustainability el, but your adviser may have 100 or more
It’s easy to talk about sustainability. To see clients. By starting a conversation, you may Your Stake
through greenwashing and exaggerated be able to mobilize action. YourStake.org
claims, you can consult a variety of free
tools that compare investments in terms ■ Company-sponsored US SIF’s Sustainable Investment
of ESG, which refers to the three central retirement accounts Mutual Funds and ETFs Chart
criteria — environmental, social and gov- Many 401(k) or 403(b) plans have limited charts.ussif.org/mfpc
ernance — that measure a company’s socially responsible choices. But there are
sustainability and societal impacts. Keep other options. Consider switching to a bro-
If you’re wondering how you can couple
in mind that standards and metrics are kerage platform to access ESG investments. sustainable investing with your charitable
still evolving, and ratings can overlook If that’s not a possibility within your plan, giving, contact EDF’s gift planning team at
important nuances. use a tool such as US SIF’s Sustainable 1-877-677-7397 or legacy@edf.org.
18 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021EDF COMMUNITY
ASK AN EXPERT
How do I launch my That will help you decide where to start
gaining experience. This could be through
TIPS AND TRICKS
Your college careers office is a great
environmental volunteering, taking classes, networking and
gaining professional certifications or intern-
resource. Here are a few others:
• Find hundreds of tips and resources at
career? ships, such as with EDF’s Climate Corps
fellowship program.
sustainablecareerpathways.com
• Get the inside track on career trends
If you don’t see your dream job adver-
Alexandra Grayson, Howard University at greenbiz.com/tag/state-profession
tised, don’t despair. The skills required to
student and climate activist, asks: • Listen to experts on EDF’s Degrees
drive sustainability from within, like navigat-
Many young people would like to dedicate podcast, available on Apple, Google
ing corporate politics or pitching for big
our careers to helping address the world’s budgets, are best learned on the job. That’s and Spotify
urgent environmental challenges. Where why joining a team you want to influence • Check out EDF’s Climate Corps program
are the biggest opportunities and how do and learning the corporate culture is as im- at business.edf.org/categories/
we begin? portant as getting the perfect job right away. climate-corps
And while you wait for
Yesh Pavlik Slenk, host of EDF’s planet- that critical opportunity, you
saving careers podcast, Degrees, replies: can still make a difference.
Lately, we’ve seen notable growth in It’s often employee activism
environmental commitments in tech, that shifts a company toward
food, finance and other industries — and more sustainable practices.
there’s a rising demand for talent to real- Consider lobbying your
ize those goals. company to support climate
There are multiple ways you can get policy advocacy. Check out
involved. My recent podcast guest, Trish EDF’s guide to employee
Kenlon, of Sustainable Career Pathways, action at bit.ly/3c92Bd for
advises starting by identifying the sector, in- tips on how to start.
dustry, role and issue you’d like to focus on. Good luck!
GETTY
GETTY
WE ARE EDF THANK YOU, EDF MEMBERS!
A community speaks for itself
In Ronald L. Jones’ documentary, Again, “It’s easy to reduce these communities
Together, Delores McGruder talks about her and their struggles to numbers and sound
childhood in Houston’s Fifth Ward. “I was bites,” says Jones, a Houston resident and
shown nothing but love,” she says, reminisc- interdisciplinary artist. “I wanted the people
ing on her front porch. Her neighborhood, to speak for themselves.”
she says, “was a village.” Jones’ 13-minute film, made in collabora-
You won’t hear that perspective in stories tion with Houston’s One Breath Partnership
that outsiders tell about this historically Black (of which EDF is a co-founder), gives voice
neighborhood, where residents confront to residents of Houston communities unjust-
a legacy of racism and deadly pollution. ly burdened by pollution. Their stories, from
cancer clusters to Hurricane
RONALDLJONES.COM
Harvey to COVID-19, reveal
hard truths about environmen-
tal racism.
“You think you know but Power in
you don’t,” says Jones. “I cried
a bunch.” numbers
There is hope, too, in the vi-
sion of community leaders who 102,000 of you signed Power Up,
never stop fighting for a better America! The People’s Climate
future. “I hope when folks Petition. Thanks to you, we’ve
watch it they feel motivated, as delivered a forceful call to the
I have been,” says Jones. “Be- Biden-Harris administration to
cause this is everyone’s fight.”
speed the transition to 100%
WATCH›› clean power and transportation.
Filmmaker Ronald L. Jones
bit.ly/3BpX7
Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2021 19You can also read
