The “One, Big, Beautiful Bill” that President Donald Trump signed into law in July leaves just months for consumers to claim tax credits for purchasing electric vehicles and make clean energy improvements to their homes.

These programs were initiated or enhanced through then-President Joe Biden’s landmark Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Their imminent elimination through the tax reconciliation bill is not a surprise, given Trump’s long-held antipathy for both clean energy programs, as well as for his onetime political foe and his continued promotion of the fossil fuels that are driving climate change. But the impact will be massive.

“The bill will raise energy costs and make it harder to keep the lights on,” said Steven Nadel, executive director of the nongovernmental American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), in a prepared statement after the Senate passed the legislation on July 1. “No one asked Congress to make their energy bills even higher. Taking away incentives for energy-saving improvements would raise monthly bills for families and businesses. It will only exacerbate the growing strain on the electric grid. And the bill goes out of its way to encourage automakers to produce inefficient cars that are costly to fuel.”

Among the programs coming to an end:

**Electric Vehicle Tax Credits**
Vehicles purchased after Sept. 30, 2025, will not qualify for the credits. The program, which provided up to $7,500 in federal income tax credits for purchasing a new EV or $4,000 for used vehicles, had been scheduled to continue until at least Dec. 31, 2032. (Earth Hero published an explainer on the program, which you can find [here](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-electric-vehicle-tax-credits/).)

Domestic sales of EVs rose by nearly 5% in the second quarter of 2025 from the preceding three-month period, to 310,839. This may signal that consumers are moving quickly to buy the vehicles before the incentives expire, Cox Automotive senior analyst Stephanie Valdez Streaty said in a[ market update](https://www.coxautoinc.com/market-insights/q2-2025-ev-sales/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgenerate&stream=top). However, the future is less promising, according to Streaty: “With government-backed incentives set to end in September and economic pressures mounting, the second half of the year will be a critical test of EV demand. Q3 will likely be a record, followed by a collapse in Q4, as the electric vehicle market adjusts to its new reality.”

Significant numbers of lower-and middle-class consumers will not be able to afford electric vehicles without the credits, noted Ingrid Malmgren, senior policy director for the advocacy organization [Plug In America, told the Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/electric-vehicle-tax-credit-congress-trump-cars-077b3852263f7b473dc3619030611649). That puts them back in the market for gasoline-powered automobiles—in 2023, U.S. motor gasoline and diesel fuel use for U.S. transportation is believed to have emitted nearly 1.5 million metric tons of energy-linked carbon dioxide, nearly one-third of the energy sector total,[ according to the federal Energy Information Administration.](https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=307&t=10)

**Residential Clean Energy Credit**
This program offers federal tax credits equal to 30% of the cost for eligible preparation, assembly, or installation of the following home clean energy projects: solar, wind, or geothermal power generation; solar water heaters; fuel cells; and battery storage technology.** **Originally scheduled to continue at least until 2034, the program now ends at the end of 2025.
For the 2023 tax year, $6.3 billion in Residential Clean Energy Credits were claimed through over 1.2 million tax returns—a $5,084 per-return average, [the U.S. Treasury Department said last year](https://home.treasury.gov/news/featured-stories/the-inflation-reduction-act-saving-american-households-money-while-reducing-climate-change-and-air-pollution). By far the most common project was rooftop solar, claimed on 752,300 tax returns for 2023.

**Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit** 
This program provided up to $2,000 annually in tax credits for installing heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves or boilers into homes. Separately, homeowners could receive a maximum of $1,200 annually for installation of energy-efficiency improvements, residential energy expenditures, and home energy audits. This program was planned to continue at least until 2032, but now expires on Dec. 31, by which time energy-efficiency products must be “placed in service”.

For the 2023 tax year, $2.1 billion in Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credits were claimed through more than 2.3 million tax returns—an $882 per-return average, according to the Treasury Department. That included 267,780 claims for heat pumps and 488,050 for central air conditioners. (Read Earth Hero’s explainer on residential energy tax credits [here](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-residential-energy-tax-credits/).)

“With or without the tax credit, these improvements bring energy savings that lower energy bills,” ACEEE Director of Federal Policy [Lowell Ungar told _Wired_ magazine](https://www.wired.com/story/congress-is-killing-clean-energy-tax-credits-heres-how-to-use-them-before-they-disappear/). “In some cases, improvements are going to be a no-brainer regardless.”

[The ACEEE has a comprehensive list](https://www.aceee.org/press-release/2025/07/congresss-megabill-would-raise-energy-costs-strain-electric-grid) of energy efficiency programs slashed by the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.

There are still many transportation actions individuals can use to reduce their carbon emissions. Earth Hero offers a list of actions [here](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/travel-and-transport/).


Clock Ticking for EV, Clean Energy Tax Credits

Carbon taxes (also known as pollution taxes) were introduced as a straightforward economic tool to tackle climate change. According to the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), a carbon tax works by charging emitters a set price for every ton of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions they release into the atmosphere; see [Carbon Tax Basics](https://www.c2es.org/content/carbon-tax-basics/). The idea is simple: put a price on pollution, and both consumers and businesses will find cleaner, more efficient alternatives to avoid paying that cost.

But do they work? The answer is yes… but not always for the reasons policymakers hope.

**A Noble Premise**
The premise behind carbon taxes is that when carbon-intensive activities like burning fossil fuels become more expensive, markets will naturally shift toward lower-emission alternatives. By 2024, 37 carbon tax programs had been implemented worldwide, from British Columbia to South Africa. In Canada, for example, the federal government charges $80 CAD per ton of CO₂ as of April 2024, and plans to increase it to $170 by 2030; see [How carbon pricing works](https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/pricing-pollution-how-it-will-work/putting-price-on-carbon-pollution.html). Sometimes, the revenues are returned to the public through rebates, aiming to ease the financial burden while keeping the incentive to cut emissions intact.

A 2017 study by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions estimated that a $49 per ton tax in the U.S. could raise $2.2 trillion in revenue over a decade, while significantly cutting emissions. In Canada, government projections suggest that carbon pricing (combined with other measures) could account for nearly half of the country’s emissions reductions by 2030.

**Incentives, Motivation and Behavior**
Charging people for pollution can indeed lead to lower emissions, but not because everyone suddenly becomes an environmentalist. Electric vehicles (EVs), for example, are often seen as a carbon-friendly alternative to gasoline-powered cars. But according to a 2024 Statista report, the top reason consumers buy EVs isn't climate concern, it’s high fuel prices. Only about a third of global consumers cite environmental concerns as a major motivator.

While carbon pricing sends a clear market signal, the real test is behavioral. Do people actually change how they live, drive, or shop out of a genuine desire to preserve the environment? Not exactly,  More often, it’s because it hits their wallets. High fuel prices, increased utility bills, and costlier goods drive shifts in consumption and investment.

Similarly, a McKinsey survey found that many European EV owners who are thinking about switching back to gas-powered vehicles care more about convenience and driving performance than ecological impact. Among some EV enthusiasts, sustainability isn’t always the top priority. See: [How European consumers perceive electric vehicles](https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/how-european-consumers-perceive-electric-vehicles).

Status plays a role, too. In many markets, EVs particularly from brands like Tesla, Polestar, or Lucid are perceived as high-tech status symbols. Their sophisticated design, and smart features appeal to buyers who view car ownership as an extension of personal style and social identity. For some, driving an EV isn't just about saving the planet, it's about being seen as forward-thinking, modern, and affluent.

**Challenges of Promoting Sustainable Behavior**
What does this tell us? The government needs to try other creative ways to encourage people to make greener choices. Carbon taxes help, but they’re not enough on their own. While economic tools like carbon taxes have their place, they must be complemented by strategies that tap into human psychology and social dynamics.

Social incentives, leveraging community norms and peer influence, can further promote sustainable behavior. Highlighting the growing adoption of green lifestyles and showcasing the benefits can encourage others to follow suit. This influence can be significantly amplified through celebrities, who serve as powerful role models. By endorsing eco-friendly products and lifestyles in social media campaigns and adverts, popular figures can shape trends, normalize sustainable choices, and inspire millions to adopt greener habits.

Introducing rewards programs that track and reward sustainable actions with points or recognition can also foster engagement and long-term behavior change. Ultimately, a well-designed incentive system, encompassing financial benefits, convenience, social influence, and engaging mechanisms, can effectively bridge the gap between environmental awareness and consistent eco-friendly actions, paving the way for a more sustainable future.

Also see these recent articles: [Electric Mobility: Sustainable Paths to a Future in Motion](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/electric-mobility-sustainable-paths-to-a-future-in-motion/), [Electric Vehicles: A Climate Savior or Just Noise?](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/electric-vehicles-a-climate-savior-or-just-noise/), and [Fix Laws, not just Litterbugs: The Power of Climate Policy](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/fix-laws-not-just-litterbugs-the-power-of-climate-policy/%5C). And take your own [Climate Action](https://www.earthhero.org/act/) today!


Do Carbon Taxes Reduce Emissions?

With climate headlines constantly competing for our attention, it's easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure about where to start. The key is to take the long view, with the understanding that progress doesn’t come from one-off posts or momentary fundraisers. It grows from people who commit to climate action together, over time. 

Reframe action against climate change as a marathon rather than a sprint. Engage with existing global or grassroots campaigns, sign up with [activism groups](https://www.earthhero.org/activism-groups/), and attend dedicated events—there are already plenty out there that are driving real change.

**Transform Inspiration into Meaningful Action**
Progress is built over time. It transforms from an inspiring idea or concrete agenda into something much bigger and better. International events like the [UN COP Conference](https://sdg.iisd.org/events/2025-un-climate-change-conference-unfccc-cop-30/) do a great job of raising awareness yet they don’t happen overnight. 

They do, however, generate media buzz and spark important conversations, and to make that energy last, we need consistent follow-up. When individuals and teams regularly share updates, circulate resources, and write about what they’ve learned, they help to keep climate action at the top of people’s minds.
Businesses do play a powerful role here too. By adopting sustainable practices and encouraging employee involvement, they lead by example and inspire others to follow. Beyond impact reports and monitoring programs, companies can spotlight the people behind the progress. [MPB](https://www.mpb.com/en-us/content/interviews/climate-crisis-photography-with-ragnar-axelsson), a global platform for used photo and video gear, did just that by interviewing photographer Ragnar Axelsson about his climate-focused work.

**Channel Commitment into Long-term Plans**
It’s not enough to set sustainability goals or support recycling and net-zero plans—we have to stick with them. While many organizations deserve credit for stepping up, their climate commitments need lasting support. For instance, although [half of U.S. corporations](https://zerotracker.net/analysis/new-analysis-half-of-worlds-largest-companies-are-committed-to-net-zero) have pledged to meet net-zero targets, sustaining those efforts over time remains the real challenge. 
That’s why businesses that treat environmental responsibility as a core value stand out. They show how climate action shapes decisions, budgets, and strategies year after year. Their commitment—and their partnerships—create a ripple effect, sparking new initiatives and long-term plans.

Like the circular economy an organization commits to, sustainable efforts must be perpetual. Some companies are leading the way by launching internal carbon pricing systems, sustainability education programs, and volunteer opportunities. These efforts give people the tools to make an impact both at work and in their everyday lives.

**Empower Individuals to Achieve Real Progress**
When enough individuals take small steps together, they create real environmental change. That’s why collective campaigns are so powerful—they provide structure, community, and a sense of purpose, even for people with full schedules who [volunteer](https://www.earthhero.org/get-involved/) in their spare time.

Take the U.S. Plastics Pact, for example. What started as a small initiative has grown into a global movement. Participants use the [Post Consumer Recycled Content (PCR) Toolkit ](https://usplasticspact.org/pcr/)and a roadmap toward circularity to take practical, accessible steps within a supportive network. Similarly, Project Drawdown connects everyday choices with scientifically backed climate solutions, helping people see how their actions contribute to the bigger picture.

**Harness Tech to Record Progress Over Time**
Digital tools make it easier than ever to understand and improve our climate impact. Many mobile apps now track personal data through carbon footprint calculators, highlighting areas for improvement and tracking progress over time.

The [Earth Hero app](https://www.earthhero.org/), for instance, recommends personalized climate actions based on your lifestyle. It also brings in a social element—users can compare progress with friends, join community challenges, and celebrate shared wins.
Social media adds another instant layer of impact. It’s a powerful tool for sharing real-time stories, statistics, and visuals that make the climate crisis feel urgent and immediate. These platforms help spread awareness at both grassroots and global levels—and offer an easy entry point for people keen to get involved who aren’t already.

For businesses, online platforms offer robust ways to measure emissions, report progress, and engage employees in ongoing sustainability efforts. Paired with [partnerships](https://www.climateactionnow.com/partners-projects/) and a shared sense of responsibility, these tools help turn ambitious goals into real, lasting change.

**Act Now for Long-Lasting Change**
Lasting change comes from collective accountability and steady improvement. Effective climate action blends quick, everyday decisions with deeper long-term shifts that reshape systems and lifestyles. Here are a few simple ways to start, then expand from there to find ways to influence others on a broader scale.

• **Financial choices:** Support sustainable businesses or donate to solutions that drive real impact.
• **Transportation:** Walk, bike, take public transit, or drive electric—it cuts emissions and often boosts well-being.
• **Energy:** Install solar panels, upgrade insulation, or switch to renewable energy providers to make a long-term difference.
• **Shopping habits:** Repair, reuse, and buy thoughtfully to reduce waste and conserve resources.
• **Diet:** Cutting back on meat, especially beef, significantly lowers your carbon footprint while supporting sustainable agriculture.

Climate action doesn’t have to be a moment. It can be a movement—steady, shared, and sustained. Whether you are volunteering, using climate apps, adopting sustainable habits, or leading change at work or in your part of the world, your efforts matter. Today’s awareness can fuel tomorrow’s solutions—and you don’t have to do it alone.

For ideas and suggestions on specific measures you can take, please see our [Actions section](https://www.earthhero.org/act/). Also, many of our [Articles](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/) provide ideas for actions, and for organizations that can use your help!


Marathon Not a Sprint: The Value of Ongoing Climate Action

The world is on the move and increasingly, this movement is driven by clean energy. Electric mobility is not just a technological trend but a concrete step towards a healthier, more resilient, and fairer planet. In a time marked by climate challenges and accelerated urbanization, rethinking how we move around may be one of the most powerful decisions we make as a society.

**A new chapter in the history of transportation**
While for decades mobility was synonymous with burning fossil fuels, today we are witnessing a significant transformation. Electric vehicles (EVs) – from bicycles to trucks – offer a quiet, efficient, and non-polluting alternative, paving the way for cleaner cities and more sustainable lifestyles. The electrification of mobility is also an urgent response to the transportation sector, [responsible for around 25% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions (IEA, 2023)](https://www.iea.org/energy-system/transport/electric-vehicles). Replacing gasoline-powered vehicles with electric options can drastically reduce this impact. As electricity to charge EVs increasingly comes from clean sources, basically meaning not burning oil, gas, and coal, then less pollution ends up in our atmosphere.

**Growth that is already happening**
As most of us can see on the roads and elsewhere every day, the transition is already underway. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), [more than 14 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide in 2023, representing almost 20% of global new car sales](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/trends-in-electric-cars) – a jump from the 9% recorded in 2021. China is leading this movement, but countries in Europe, the United States, and even regions of the Global South have seen steady growth, driven by public policies, tax incentives, and greater environmental awareness. In addition, the variety of models available makes EVs accessible to different profiles and budgets. In many countries, an EV has already become the most cost-effective and better driving option thanks to technological advancements.

**Benefits that go beyond the environment**
Adopting an electric vehicle is also a choice that has a positive impact on everyday life. With a lower cost per kilometer driven and simplified maintenance, the driver's wallet will thank you. In addition, the lack of noise and smooth driving make the driving experience much more pleasant. Plus, some EVs have auto drive features that literally do 99% of the driving for you, which is a game-changer. Another important point is energy independence: when charged with solar or wind energy, EVs reduce our dependence on imported fuels and bring us closer to the much-desired energy sovereignty.

**Building a sustainable mobility ecosystem**
But electric mobility is not limited to private cars. In many cities, electric buses are replacing old fleets, and electric micromobility initiatives – such as shared bikes and scooters – are making urban transport more democratic and inclusive. Investing in charging infrastructure is also at the heart of this transition. According to the US Department of Energy, charging networks are expanding at a rapid pace: in the US alone, [there were more than 160,000 public charging stations installed by the end of 2024](https://afdc.energy.gov/fuels/electricity-locations#/find/nearest?fuel=ELEC), and with ultra-fast charging technologies, refueling a car could take less time than making a cup of coffee. Plus for many, it is much more convenient and cheaper to charge at home.

**An electric future that depends on all of us**
Electric mobility is a bridge between the present and the future. But its consolidation depends on conscious choices – from consumers as well as governments, companies, and communities. Every decision counts: supporting sustainable public policies, investing in renewable energy, and choosing vehicles with a lower environmental impact. Luckily, that is increasingly the easier choice to make with the technological advancements of EVs.

More than an innovation, electric mobility represents an opportunity. A chance to redesign our cities, reduce inequalities in access to mobility and ensure that the right to come and go is in line with the right to breathe clean air and live on a habitable planet. The engine of the future is already on. And it is electric.


Electric Mobility: Sustainable Paths to a Future in Motion

This Climate Glossary provides clear and concise definitions of key terms related to climate science, environmental change, and sustainability. It is designed to help readers better understand the language used in climate change discussions, from scientific reports to policy debates.

By familiarizing yourself with these concepts, you will be better equipped to engage with the challenges and solutions surrounding our rapidly changing planet due to burning oil, gas, and coal and cutting down forests.
 
**Adaptation:** Measures to prepare humans (from the individual to international levels) for present and future impacts of climate change. Examples include strengthening or building more resilient infrastructure, such as seawalls to counter sea-level rise or better drainage systems to manage flooding from more frequent and severe storms. It can also involve changing behaviors, including planting crops better able to withstand rising temperatures.

**Albedo:** The fraction of light reflected by a surface, up to 1 (all light is reflected). Earth surfaces—atmosphere, land, and oceans—reflect solar energy; lighter surfaces reflect more energy back into space, darker surfaces absorb more energy, thus contributing to global warming. As more snow and ice melts away from the Earth’s surface, the darker surfaces below absorb additional amounts of heat energy.

**Anthropogenic**: Environmental changes directly or indirectly connected to human activities.

**Atmosphere:** The layer of gases surrounding a planet or other celestial body. Earth’s atmosphere consists of the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

**Biodiversity: **The variety of all life on Earth and its interactions.

**Carbon Capture and Sequestration:** Using technologies to capture carbon dioxide emissions from facilities before they are released into the atmosphere, instead transporting the gas to inject and store it deep underground.

**Carbon Cycle: **The circulation of carbon atoms between Earth and its atmosphere, through natural and human processes including photosynthesis, decomposition, burning of fossil fuels, and land development.

**Carbon Dioxide (CO2):** A colorless and nonflammable gas (given normal temperatures and pressure) in which each molecule consists of one atom of carbon and two atoms of oxygen. One of the greenhouse gases.

**Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e): **A means for measuring and comparing the global warming potential (GWP) of greenhouse gases beyond solely carbon dioxide. Often includes CO2, methane, nitrous oxide (N2O), and various fluorinated gases. The formula is CO2e = (Mass of Gas) x (GWP of Gas).

**Carbon Footprint:** The amount of greenhouse gases emissions connected directly or indirectly to an individual, organization, event, or product.

**Carbon Neutrality: **An equal balance between emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and its removal from the atmosphere. (See also Net Zero).

**Carbon Offsets**: A strategy for counterbalancing the carbon dioxide emitted by a business. A company can buy offsets, with the money used to fund projects such as reforestation, building renewable energy facilities, or supporting carbon capture and storage.

**Carbon Sink: **Natural systems that absorb and hold carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, primarily the oceans, plants, and soil.

**Carbon Source: **Processes that emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, from burning of fossil fuels to decomposition of organic materials.

**Climate:** An extended weather pattern for a specific region.

**Climate Change:** An extended change in average weather patterns at the local, regional, and global levels. Changes identified since the middle of the 20th century in the Earth climate have been linked directly to human activities.

**Climate Justice: **The movement to acknowledge and address** t**he disparate impacts that climate change has on low-income communities and communities of color globally, often those who contributed least to the heating world. A branch of environmental justice.

**Climate Refugees: **Those who are forced to leave their homes due to climate change impacts, such as devastating weather events or reduced availability of food and water in a region.

**Climate Resilience: **The capacity for adaption to, preparation for, and recovery from the impacts of climate change.

**Decarbonization: **Ending reliance on carbon-emitting fossil fuels in energy and other sectors.

**Deforestation:** The intentional clearing of forest land for separate uses. Removes trees that otherwise absorb carbon dioxide.

**Desertification: **A process that primarily impacts dry grassland areas globally, in which the land degrades into desert status due to climate and human factors.

**Direct Air Capture:** Technologies to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for storage underground or use, to reduce its existing heating effect.

**Emissions:** The release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

**Extreme Event**: An instance in which temperature, precipitation, flooding or other weather, climate, or environmental conditions exceed a specific value that is at the high or low ends of historical measurements. Climate change has increased the likelihood of such events, according to research.

**Feedback:** Processes initiated by a change to the climate that either reinforce or restrain that change. Positive feedback enhances that change—an example being reduced albedo due to warming, which allows the Earth’s surface to absorb more solar energy, which further melts ice and snow. Negative feedback constrains the climatic change—an example being water evaporation from hearing that creates additional clouds, which reflect solar energy out of the atmosphere.

**Fossil Fuels**: Non-renewable sources of energy (primarily coal, oil, and natural gas) formed underground from organic materials over millions of years of heat and pressure. Burning fossil fuels for energy and other uses is the primary cause of climate change by releasing carbon dioxide and other gases that trap heat within the atmosphere.

**Geoengineering:** Using new technologies to counter climate change by manipulating the environment, including removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reflecting more solar energy away from Earth.

**Global Warming Potential (GWP**): The measurement of the amount of energy emitting 1 ton of a gas will absorb in a set amount of time, in comparison to that amount of carbon dioxide. A higher GWP indicates a higher amount of warming of the Earth relative to CO2.

**Greenhouse Effect:** The trapping of heat close to a planet’s surface by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.** **The process is natural and was necessary for life to exist on Earth. But human emission of additional greenhouse gases, largely by burning fossil fuels, has intensified the process and increased the average temperature by nearly 1.5 degrees Celsius since the industrial age.

**Greenhouse Gases:** Gases that trap heat within a planet’s atmosphere. The release of those gases is called emissions; Carbon dioxide represents more than three-fourths of greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through burning of fossil fuels. It is followed distantly by methane, nitrous oxide, and trace amounts of other gases.

**Methane:** A colorless and odorless greenhouse gas that is produced by natural processes such as decomposition of organic material as well as by human activities including agriculture and extraction of fossil fuels. It traps heat more effectively than CO2 but remains in the atmosphere for a much shorter time.

**Mitigation:** Addressing the causes of climate change with the goal of stopping and ultimately reducing rising greenhouse gas levels that are trapping heat in the atmosphere. This would primarily be done by ending burning of fossil fuels but could involve additional approaches such as carbon capture and sequestration.

**Net-Zero Emissions:** The point at which greenhouse gases are not added to the atmosphere. Given the likelihood of continuing emissions for the foreseeable future, that likely would involve removing gases in an amount equal to those being emitted.

**Ocean Acidification: **Increasing acidity of water as the oceans absorb roughly one-third the growing amount of carbon dioxide being released into the atmosphere, with impacts including reduced capacity of some fish to detect predators and reduced levels of carbonate ions that organisms such as oysters, clams, and more use to build their shells.

**Radiative Forcing: **The state in which the amount of energy that enters Earth’s atmosphere differs from the amount that leaves the atmosphere. In this case, the energy is solar radiation; when more enters than exits, this state warms the atmosphere.

**Renewable Energy:** Energy sourced from natural, non-finite processes such as sunlight, water, wind, and geothermal heat.

**Sea-Level Rise**: The rise in global mean sea level, primarily due to glacier melting and the expansion of water molecules as they warm. Both processes are linked to climate change.

**Sustainability: **An approach for meeting humanity’s needs while living within the boundaries of Earth’s natural systems. Sustainability has many aspects, from sustainable building to water conservation to stewardship of electronics.

**Tipping Point:** Thresholds in the climate system that, if breached, can lead to fast-moving and unstoppable changes in the system.

**Weather:** Atmospheric conditions at a particular time and place, encompassing heat, cold, wet, dry, and other statuses.


Earth Hero Climate Glossary

The search for sustainable alternatives to traditional plastic packaging is intensifying. While many innovative concepts have emerged, one solution looks really promising: leaf packaging. It is already a common practice in nations like China, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, and others, but it has not really been embraced by developed nations. The challenge therefore lies not in its newness, but in its widespread adoption by global corporations and consumers.

**The Urgent Need for Change:**

Conventional packaging is glamorous - focused on customer attraction and shelf appeal - making it the default choice for captivating consumers and enhancing brand visibility.  Its health and environmental costs are however undeniable. Research has found a significant relationship between the use of chemically processed packaging materials like nylons and polythenes, and an increase in cancer-related cases (see[ Plastic-and-Health-The-Hidden-Costs-of-a-Plastic-Planet](https://www.ciel.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/%20Plastic-and-Health-The-Hidden-Costs-of-a-Plastic-Planet-February-2019.pdf) and [plastics-and-health](https://www.genevaenvironmentnetwork.org/resources/updates/plastics-and-health/)).

Plant leaves are nature’s alternative. They can make for good packaging because they repel water, do not impart harmful substances into food, and can be attractive in their own right. Not all leaves are created equal, though. Below are some identified leaf varieties with promising packaging potential:

\- Banana Leaves: Renowned for their flexibility, water-resistance, and ability to impart a subtle flavor to food, banana leaves have a long history of use in tropical cuisines.

\- Lotus Leaves: Known for their natural water-repellent properties and aromatic qualities, lotus leaves offer a unique and elegant packaging solution.

\- Water Hyacinths: Researchers are exploring this fast-growing plant for packaging. Its initial laboratory results confirm it is uncontaminated and safe for use.

Leaves are of course biodegradable, naturally decomposing without releasing harmful substances. Their decay process enriches the soil with nutrients, making them an excellent source of compost, a double win for sustainability. Also, using leaves at scale could significantly reduce pollution levels caused by plastics, particularly in landfills and oceans.

A common concern surrounding leaf packaging is the potential for deforestation. The counter-argument is that trees are naturally regenerative, and the harvesting of leaves doesn't necessitate felling entire trees. Sustainable harvesting practices can ensure a continuous supply of packaging materials without compromising forest health.

The key to widespread adoption lies in bridging the gap between traditional practices and modern consumer expectations. Innovators will need to focus on developing leaf packaging that is not only environmentally friendly but also visually appealing and functionally comparable to its plastic and paper counterparts. This requires research and development into techniques that enhance the durability, aesthetics, and versatility of leaf-based packaging  (see[ packaging-made-plant-leaves](https://biooekonomie.de/en/news/packaging-made-plant-leaves) and [nigerias-street-food-adds-to-the-plastic-problem-green-leaves-offer-a-solution](https://theconversation.com/nigerias-street-food-adds-to-the-plastic-problem-green-leaves-offer-a-solution-203618)).

Leaf packaging is more than a return to old-world practices; it is a forward-thinking step toward a sustainable future. By embracing innovation, addressing concerns, and promoting collaboration between researchers, businesses, and policymakers, we can unlock the vast potential of leaf packaging and create a healthier, more environmentally responsible world.


Packaging with Leaves: A Forward-Thinking Concept

The words “climate-resilient towns and cities” may not immediately bring to mind pictures of playgrounds, skate parks, or climbing walls. Yet, rethinking how human spaces are designed to address climate change also opens the door to creating dynamic, interactive environments. Around the world, cities are seizing opportunities to transform climate adaptation efforts into a chance to inspire joy and outdoor exploration.

By strategically integrating climate-smart features—like permeable surfaces, natural shading, or greenspace into parks and recreational areas, these spaces can mitigate flooding and help manage urban heat. Making places more walkable also reduces transportation carbon pollution. Plus it can enhance local biodiversity. It is a great opportunity to invite people to actively engage with nature, fostering a sense of stewardship for our environment.

**[Growing Up Boulder](https://www.growingupboulder.org/), Colorado, USA**
Parks and playgrounds are central to childhood, yet how often are children invited to imagine what they would like to experience in these spaces? The nonprofit _Growing Up Boulder_ empowers children to co-design parks in their community. From bold requests for zip lines to whimsical nooks for plants and insects, the children’s visions result in engaging play areas alongside valuable lessons in civic involvement. Children who see their ideas take shape gain a sense of ownership and responsibility, fostering a new generation of engaged, conscious citizens.

**[Underpass Park](https://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/our-projects/underpass-park), Toronto, Canada**
In Toronto, a gray, unremarkable underpass has been transformed into a playground hidden beneath the city’s highways. Basketball courts, skateparks, and public seating bring people together to relax and play in a spot that used to be full of dust and shadows. A mirrored art piece suspended on the bottom of the overpass reflects light and colors, brightening the area. The project integrates permeable surfaces to manage water runoff, reducing flood risks and protecting Lake Ontario’s health. As the success of Underpass Park shows, no place is beyond redemption.

**[CopenHill](https://www.copenhill.dk/en), Copenhagen**, **Denmark**
Wondering where to go for a day of skiing, hiking, and climbing? Residents of Copenhagen, Denmark visit their local waste-to-energy plant. Once an industrial area avoided by locals, the roof of CopenHill has been converted into a ski slope and the sides have been transformed into a huge climbing wall drawing people to visit this spot for a day of outdoor adventure. The original design’s 100 plant species have doubled, thanks to seeds carried by foraging birds. As a naturally flat country, Denmark’s first ski slope provides a novel, local opportunity for an exhilarating and sustainable experience.

**[The High Line](https://www.thehighline.org/), New York City, USA**
Urban expansion often leaves little room for new green spaces, but New York City's High Line shows how even the constraint of tight spaces can be overcome using a little creativity. This 1.4-mile park is built on an abandoned elevated railway, offering a lush walking path with over 500 species of plants, spots to rest, different views to enjoy, and unique art installations. The High Line park is practical as well as beautiful, incorporating sustainable water management techniques and ecologically mindful landscaping. Between pollinators and pedestrians this railway is alive with activity again - a reminder that even neglected infrastructure can transform into a community treasure.

**[Gardens by the Bay](https://www.gardensbythebay.com.sg/), Singapore**
Few places embody the fusion of nature and technology as seamlessly as _Gardens by the Bay_. Its towering Super trees, vertical gardens which rise up to 50 meters, collect rainwater to store as a resource for potential droughts while generating solar energy for the park’s needs. Ranked among the world’s top attractions, the Gardens reflect Singapore’s commitment to an enjoyable present and a resilient future. This urban landscape is a harmonious balance of beauty, utility, and sustainability.

**Creating Climate-Resilience**
Resilience is not limited to large-scale projects—individual actions can spark meaningful change. Here are practical steps you can take to foster sustainable design in your community:

**1. Engage Locally:** Attend community meetings and advocate for sustainable, inclusive green spaces. [Research and vote](https://www.earthhero.org/act/287-research-and-vote-accordingly/) for candidates in your area who will support climate resilience.

**2. Collaborate Across Generations:** Involve children, seniors, and people with disabilities in planning [discussions](https://www.earthhero.org/act/168-talk-about-climate/).

**3. Promote Sustainable Design:** Support initiatives featuring [renewable energy](https://www.earthhero.org/act/78-switch-electricity-to-clean-energy/), [regreening your area](https://www.earthhero.org/act/711-re-green-your-area/), and water-efficient landscaping.

**4. Volunteer Your Expertise:** Artists, engineers, gardeners, and organizers can play pivotal roles in transforming spaces.

**5. Host Events:** Create opportunities for community engagement through workshops, cleanups, and outdoor gatherings such as a [sustainable BBQ](https://www.earthhero.org/act/763-host-a-sustainable-bbq/).

**6. Support Resilient Infrastructure:** Advocate for public investments in stormwater management and renewable energy solutions.

**7. Celebrate Wins and Take Time for Whimsy**: It’s important to [turn off the bad news](https://www.earthhero.org/act/861-take-a-break-from-bad-news/) sometimes and make intentional space for fun.

By reimagining community spaces, we can weave joy into the ways we address climate challenges making our neighborhoods more resilient, exciting, and full of life.


Building Climate Resilience: Where Function Meets Fun

Busyness is a significant barrier that prevents people from advocating for political action aligned with climate science or from making sustainable changes in their own lives. Many of us are preoccupied with our own lives as the [cost of living rises](https://www.boston.com/community/community/2024/08/19/mass-residents-share-impact-of-secondary-income/) and the [pressures of parenting](https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4851621-us-surgeon-general-warns-parenting/) become overwhelming. After a long day or a stressful week, the last thing we want to think about is climate change or activism.

While it is unrealistic for most people to dedicate extensive time and energy to climate activism, setting aside just 5-10 minutes a day or once a week for a single action can make a difference. This could involve signing petitions, writing to politicians, educating yourself, or choosing to purchase [chemical-free products](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/greener-self-care--clean-up-your-routine-with-ewg/). Creating a habit to think about and take action to build momentum is important.

Additionally, it is important that we stay aware of for-profit corporate efforts to vie for our attention and free time, often to persuade us to buy things we don’t need, which ultimately harms the environment.

Here are some quick climate actions to consider:

**[Sign petitions](https://www.earthhero.org/act/196-sign-climate-petitions/)**: Signing petitions lets our representatives know where we stand on social and environmental issues, how we want them to vote, and what types of bills we want created. You can sign up to receive petitions from [Stand.earth](https://stand.earth/), [NRDC](https://www.nrdc.org/), [Greenpeace](https://www.greenpeace.org/international/), [Sierra Club](https://www.sierraclub.org/), [Friends of the Earth](https://foe.org/), and other environmental organizations that interest you.

**[Discuss climate change](https://www.earthhero.org/act/168-talk-about-climate/)**: Start conversations with friends and family to raise awareness about climate and ecological breakdown and actions we can take to prevent more environmental harm. It’s helpful to personalize it and talk about how climate will directly affect them, their children, and their health and safety. Research has shown that it can be helpful to focus on [stories](https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/climate-health-and-equity/storytelling#:~:text=Personal%20experience%20makes%20you%20your,stories%20generate%20empathy%20and%20understanding.) that elicit empathy and less on data and science.

**[Write to your representatives](https://www.earthhero.org/act/180-write-your-representatives/)**: Let your [representatives](https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials) know that you care about climate policies and that you expect them to create and vote for legislation that protects the environment and is in line with climate science. Get started by looking up the contact info for your local, state, and federal representative. You can schedule a meeting with your rep, call them, send an email, or mail a handwritten postcard or letter. Politicians have said that receiving a phone call, handwritten letters/postcards, and meeting in person are much more effective than emails and petitions. Elders Climate Action offers help with letter writing [here](https://www.eldersclimateaction.org/sendaletter/).

**[Research and vote for climate-aware candidates](https://www.earthhero.org/act/287-research-and-vote-accordingly/)**: Voting for candidates who are informed about climate change and ecological breakdown is one of the most important actions we can take to ensure that our society moves towards renewables and urgent protection of critical ecosystems. 

**Buy reusable and sustainable products**: Buying a [reusable travel mug](https://www.earthhero.org/act/49-use-a-refillable-water-bottle/), bringing reusable bags to the store, buying products made of wood, glass, metal, etc. and other small changes set a good example for people around us and shift the culture towards sustainability and environmental awareness. Avoid [fast fashion ](https://www.earthhero.org/act/561-avoid-buying-fast-fashion/)and other products that are only intended for short-term use. 

**Limit social media and be wary of advertisements**: There is a lot of money that goes into advertising on the internet that is designed to convince us that we need to buy more, upgrade our tech, and keep up with the latest trends. Reducing exposure to ads can help reduce impulsive consumption, comparison, and give you more time for other hobbies and in-person connection with family and friends. 

This results in a society that is under social pressure to buy and spend more than we ever have in the past to “keep up with our neighbors.” Even if it’s less popular, it’s important that we collectively transition away from [excessive consumption](https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/30/capitalism-is-killing-the-planet-its-time-to-stop-buying-into-our-own-destruction) and energy use and individually and collectively respect planetary boundaries.

**Share articles about climate change on social media**: Posting an article about climate change on social media can educate others and normalize talking about climate change, which so many people still avoid, minimize, or deny. 

**[Buy second-hand](https://www.earthhero.org/act/140-get-clothes-second-hand/)**: Consider thrift shops or [online marketplaces](https://buynothingproject.org/) instead of buying new. This will help reduce waste and normalize gifting and a circular economy over the current linear economy which pushes trashing perfectly good things, buying new, and infinite resource extraction on a finite planet. 

**[Listen to a climate podcast](https://www.earthhero.org/act/509-listen-to-a-climate-podcast/),[ ](https://www.earthhero.org/act/509-listen-to-a-climate-podcast/)[read a book](https://www.earthhero.org/act/558-read-books-about-climate-change/), or watch a documentary: Continue to educate yourself about climate change and share your knowledge with others! **

Also see the Actions available on the Earth Hero website, and articles such as, “[30 Easy Ways to Kickoff a Sustainable Lifestyle](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/30-easy-ways-to-kickoff-a-sustainable-lifestyle/)” and “[5 Easy Tips to Start Working and Living More Sustainably](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/5-easy-tips-to-start-working-and-living-more-sustainably/)”.

**Additional Resources**
-[ Climate Action for Busy People](https://islandpress.org/books/climate-action-busy-people#desc) by Cate Mingoya-LaFortune
\- Amnesty International,[ The busy person’s guide to taking action for human rights](https://www.amnesty.org.au/busy-persons-guide/)



Quick Climate Actions for a Busy Life

Earth Hero Interview: Scientist Rebellion

Decarbonization is becoming increasingly common in companies, as part of carbon reduction goals and the creation of a greener production chain. The damage of climate change caused by large greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere (burning oil, gas, and coal, plus deforestation) has stimulated the mobilization of society in search of improvements. The conclusion is that decarbonization is essential, especially for highly polluting companies and sectors, such as transport and industry.

In North America, more than 6,800 companies have already set or are in the process of validating science-based emissions reduction targets, supported by the [Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)](https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action). The region has a significant number of companies committed to targets aligned with the 1.5°C limit set by the Paris Agreement, but significant challenges remain, especially in the financial services and communications sectors, where only about 20% have set targets. In addition, while many sectors, such as energy, materials, and utilities, are leading the effort with more than 40% adherence, the energy transition faces obstacles in engaging more carbon-intensive sectors.

Companies recognize the importance of the energy transition and NET Zero goals, [with approximately 21% of U.S. companies having set such goals, although the majority still focus on direct emissions (scopes 1 and 2)](https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/amid-urgent-climate-warning-from-ipcc-few-companies-globally-have-net-zero-targets). Less than half of companies have clear strategies for indirect emissions (scope 3), which represents a significant challenge, as these emissions often constitute the largest portion of a corporation’s carbon footprint.

Despite the growing number of decarbonization commitments, the transition to a low-carbon economy still requires concrete and sustained action. Talk is easy, but implementing structural changes to achieve climate goals is challenging. For example, [in 2021, Shell announced that it would reduce its ambition to reduce oil production](https://www.ft.com/content/df0190ce-3b73-485c-abc7-d0add5a944ff) by 20% from 2016 levels by 2030, 45% by 2035, and to net zero by 2050, but in 2024, shareholders backed the oil major’s move to weaken climate targets, contradicting previous decarbonization commitments. Furthermore, a study by Influence Map revealed that while many global corporations promote sustainability goals, [less than 10% genuinely align their lobbying strategies with the goals of the Paris Agreement](https://influencemap.org/site//data/000/024/Corporate_Climate_Policy_Leaders_2023.pdf).

For-profit corporations are almost always primarily focused on increasing the company's shareholder value, which is driven by the ability to increase profits. If decarbonization does not increase revenue or decrease costs (the drivers of profits) then decarbonization is unlikely to be carried out unless there is government regulation or laws encouraging it.

Sustainability promises without implementation can undermine credibility and public trust, however, putting global efforts to combat climate change at risk. Companies need to demonstrate tangible progress to avoid being seen as simply engaging in “greenwashing”. This can negatively impact brand perceptions and impact sales (i.e. revenue).

**Why is it important to decarbonize companies?**

The Assessment [Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change](https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/syr/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_SYR_LongerReport.pdf) (IPCC), published in 2023, highlighted that the average global temperature has already increased by 1.1°C due to human activities, compared to pre-industrial levels. This warming is already resulting in more frequent and intense extreme weather events, such as droughts, heatwaves, and floods. The document reinforces that each fraction of the increase in global temperature will intensify the risks and damages.

The report concluded that it is technically feasible to limit global warming to 1.5°C, but this requires greenhouse gas emissions to peak before 2025 and be reduced by 43% by 2030. Models indicate that without significant changes, warming could exceed 3°C (5° F) or more by the end of the century. That will require a fortune to adapt to, harm lives, and cause [over a million species to go extinct](https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/climate-change/a-third-of-earths-species-could-become-extinct-by-2100-if-climate-change-isnt-curbed?utm_source=chatgpt.com). This reinforces the urgency of a global transition to clean energy and a low-carbon economy.

Therefore, organizations must commit to decarbonization to reduce climate change and the impacts that GHGs have caused. Furthermore, a crucial factor is the increase in investor demand for ESG objectives, which requires companies to be more transparent about their obligations and measures to reduce emissions.

For example, several companies have committed to becoming NET Zero by 2050. This implies that they will achieve carbon neutrality, balancing carbon dioxide emissions with the reduction or elimination of emissions from their production, throughout the chain involved. These measures are expected to be intensified in the coming years, with the emergence of various technologies to help these companies adapt and plan.

Personal commitment and the common good must be at the forefront of these signatures because most for-profit companies are unlikely to fully decarbonize unless it also serves as a way to grow profits. Because businesses exist primarily to generate profits, investors are often resistant to strategies that reduce profitability. This reality is partly why companies abandon ambitious targets. However, if decarbonization can be aligned with cost reduction or increases sales, then it becomes a mutually beneficial approach. For example, implementing energy-efficient systems such as LED lighting or optimized heating and cooling can lead to significant savings while simultaneously reducing emissions.

Recent examples include Walmart and Unilever, which have invested heavily in renewable energy projects and supply chain efficiency. [Walmart’s move to 100% renewable energy by 2035 not only reduces emissions but also cuts operating costs](https://corporate.walmart.com/content/dam/corporate/documents/esgreport/a-message-from-our-chief-sustainability-officer/fy2023-walmart-esg-highlights.pdf). Similarly, [Unilever’s efforts to reduce energy consumption in its manufacturing facilities have resulted in cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint](https://www.unilever.com/sustainability/climate/).

These cases demonstrate that decarbonization, when implemented strategically, does not have to come at the expense of profitability. Instead, it can drive innovation, reduce costs, and meet growing regulatory and consumer demands for sustainability.

**What can a company do to become more sustainable?**

Decarbonization involves reducing the carbon footprint of a specific context, such as a company, entity, or region. The carbon footprint refers to the total carbon emissions of a system, which includes the use of fossil fuels, waste, changes in land use, and other direct and indirect emissions.

This transformation can be achieved by switching from fossil fuels or energy sources to low-carbon sources. For companies, this process involves implementing changes in the production of their products and services, thus reducing their carbon footprint.

Investing in decarbonization can provide several advantages, in addition to environmental ones, such as increased attractiveness for investors, greater customer satisfaction, and strengthening credibility throughout the production chain.

Decarbonization can be achieved by implementing carbon savings objectives, setting targets and deadlines for all participants. It is feasible to segment the phases into four stages:

1\. **Conducting a diagnosis**: Identifying the organization's carbon footprint, including all resources used from the beginning to the end of the process, including internal consumption, energy acquired or generated, and fuel used in the processes. Carrying out a complete inventory helps identify which phase presents the highest emissions.

2\. **Analysis and solution-finding**: Once an organization understands its carbon footprint, it can look for solutions and set goals. Options might include improving efficiency, changing business partners, or starting a renewable energy project. Goals need to be achievable so that organizations can improve their environmental performance over time. More ambitious goals might involve total decarbonization, where the organization will aim to achieve zero carbon emissions.

3\. **Implement solutions**: These could include changing the type of fuel used in a fleet or increasing energy production. The solution implemented should be the one that provides the best cost-benefit for the organization's overall objectives.

4\. **Monitoring and maintenance**: Since environmental objectives require years of implementation, it is crucial to maintain monitoring and maintenance to ensure that established expectations are met.

Decarbonization is crucial for combating climate change and offers businesses opportunities to innovate while meeting regulations and consumer demands. By aligning sustainability with profitability, companies can contribute to a healthier planet and ensure long-term success.


Decarbonization for the Corporate Sector

With President-elect Donald Trump signaling continued hostility toward efforts to address the climate crisis, the best opportunities for domestic progress in the next four years may be at the state and local levels, according to leading climate and environmental organizations. That does not mean, though, that the fight at the national level will stop, they say.

Trump’s track record in this sphere is undeniably oppositional—to start, [he withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement](https://2017-2021.state.gov/on-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-paris-agreement) on climate change in his first term, though his successor. Joe Biden, reversed that act upon taking office. However, Trump is reportedly preparing to again withdraw the nation from the accord. Other signs of his pro-fossil fuel stance are equally apparent, from pledging to [“drill, baby, drill”](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/13/nx-s1-5181963/trump-promises-more-drilling-in-the-u-s-to-boost-fossil-fuel-production) to [selecting fracking services CEO Chris Wright as his secretary of energy](https://www.npr.org/2024/11/16/nx-s1-5191868/trump-energy-secretary-chris-wright).

In this atmosphere, climate groups “will need to adapt their approaches to activism to counter the Trump administration’s opposition effectively,” said Seth Nelson, deputy communications director for Evergreen Action. “Our advocacy must emphasize state and local leadership, strengthening coalitions with governors, legislators, and grassroots organizations to enact and defend climate progress at the state and local levels. That will require expanding cross-movement solidarity—aligning with labor, environmental justice, and public health advocates to amplify our collective power.”

Earth Hero reached out to leaders of four U.S. and international climate groups to get their perspective on their mission over the next four years:

- **Allie Rosenbluth, U.S. Campaign Manager, [Oil Change International](https://oilchange.org/)**
- **Seth Nelson, Deputy Communications Director, [Evergreen Action](https://evergreenaction.com/)**
- **KD Chavez, Executive Director, [Climate Justice Alliance](https://climatejusticealliance.org/)**
- **Stephen F. Eisenman, Co-Founder and Director of Strategy, [Anthropocene Alliance](https://anthropocenealliance.org/)**

The following are their responses to our questions:

**_For climate activist organizations, what is the best target audience to continue driving emission reductions assuming the U.S. federal government is effectively out for at least four years?_**

**Rosenbluth:** There is so much to be done at the state and local levels, whether that’s working to end fossil fuels by getting state permits denied for a nearby pipeline, or passing policies through your city council to transition your community off gas stoves. 

Trump’s election shouldn’t be taken as a reason to stop fighting for climate on the federal level. The stakes are too high for us to stop engaging on that level for the next four years. We need to continue to get fossil fuel money out of politics – especially from Democratic politicians who claim to be concerned about the climate crisis but still take donations from the fossil fuel industry. We need to work to have more and stronger congressional climate champions to block the worst of Trump’s agenda and win progress when power is back in our hands.

**Nelson:** In the absence of federal leadership, the best target audience for both countering the new administration and driving continued climate leadership is state and local governments. Both have a proven track record of advancing ambitious climate policies during federally hostile administrations, and leveraging tools like litigation and state collaboration to push back on federal efforts to move us backward on climate. States regulate key sectors like utilities, transportation, and building codes, giving them substantial control over reducing climate pollution.

By accelerating clean energy deployment, defending federal climate investments, and highlighting local benefits—such as energy cost savings and job creation—state and local governments can maintain momentum, signal U.S. commitment to global climate goals, and give us a fighting chance of hitting our climate targets. Their commitment to preserving U.S. climate leadership while aggressively holding the Trump administration accountable is essential in building a thriving clean energy future.

**Chavez:** I'm seeing three major areas of focus right now. First, we need to continue to organize collectively around safeguarding our communities every way we can at the municipal and state levels. We also need to work with our allies internationally to pressure the US on the global stage. Finally, there's also going to be the need for a lot more corporate accountability work as regulations decrease. Luckily we have some good wins recently to draw inspiration from, like the [big Chevron settlement in Richmond, Calif](https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/03/richmond-california-chevron-oil-00176922).

**_Do climate organizations need to change their approaches to activism in that period in the face of the Trump administration’s opposition? If so, what new or different approaches are needed?_**

**Chavez:** During the last Trump administration he lit fires everywhere, and our communities rushed to put them out. He’s also been very clear about his plan to use his powers to suppress opposition. We need to be ready for that to happen by planning for this within our communities, reinforce mutual aid networks that have always served our communities when the federal government hasn’t, make sure we’re doing the self- and community-care needed to stay resilient, and focus on building new things like worker-owned cooperatives and community-owned energy projects that meet the needs of our communities.

**Nelson:** Yes, climate organizations will need to adapt their approaches to activism to counter the Trump administration’s opposition effectively. Our advocacy must emphasize state and local leadership, strengthening coalitions with governors, legislators, and grassroots organizations to enact and defend climate progress at the state and local levels. That will require expanding cross-movement solidarity—aligning with labor, environmental justice, and public health advocates to amplify our collective power.

Additionally, we’ll work to hold corporations accountable for their climate commitments while pushing for voluntary agreements that reinforce decarbonization in key sectors. Litigation, media campaigns, and public mobilization will remain essential tools to pressure state leaders, protect federal investments, and ensure progress amid federal rollbacks.

**Rosenbluth:** Under a Trump administration, immigrants, people of color, LGBTQ+ people, and women will all face escalating attacks on their rights. Climate organizations must stand in solidarity with every community targeted by the administration, because the struggles for racial, immigrant, and gender justice are inextricably connected to the struggle for climate justice. All of our movements want the same thing—a better, more sustainable, more equitable world where all can thrive. We’ll only be able to win that world if we support each other’s struggles and build the largest possible coalition.  

We also need a renewed focus on local organizing and doing the real work of base-building. To prevent the worst impacts of the climate crisis, the climate movement needs to scale up and build power. That begins locally. 

**_In this environment, how can individuals best contribute to efforts against climate change?_**

**Nelson:** In this environment, engaging in collective action is more important than ever to tackle the systemic drivers of climate change. The most effective contributions will come from organizing and pressuring leaders at every level of government to adopt ambitious climate policies. Individuals can join grassroots campaigns, support climate-focused organizations, and advocate for equitable clean energy solutions that benefit frontline communities. By amplifying their voices through collective efforts—whether pushing states to implement clean energy standards, holding corporations accountable for reducing climate pollution, or defending federal investments in climate progress—individuals can help drive systemic change at the scale needed to continue combatting the climate crisis.

**Rosenbluth:** The best thing we can do as individuals is to work collectively. Join a local organization or campaign, or start one if none exist near you. Local grassroots movements have had massive wins to stop fossil fuel expansion and transition towards a just renewable energy system even when federal support is lacking. If we get organized now, we’ll be ready to win federal climate action when the moment comes. 

All of our communities are at risk from the escalating impacts of the climate crisis, such as more destructive hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. Join a mutual aid project and help prepare systems of support for when disaster happens. We must build strong local networks to keep our communities safe when climate disaster strikes.

**Chavez:** We need to think in terms of both addressing climate change and building resilient communities. Find the grassroots, environmental and climate justice communities near you and join them however you can. Work to build local resilience and actualize a Just Transition that will really reduce emissions at home and around the world. By joining the fight for climate and environmental justice, you’re able to do both things at once. 
If you can't give time, give resources to nonprofits working on climate justice efforts.

**Eisenman:** Individual consumers have very little role in the fight against climate change. Corporations are so adept at shaping demand that consumers making private, ethical decisions about purchases, can’t impact the overall trajectory of the marketplace. Even organized consumer boycotts have only limited impact because when successful, they are subject to counter-demonstrations by opponents of change.

The only thing that will deflect the dangerous path we are on is mass organization, especially of those most affected by rising seas, floods, heat, fire, wind and other unnatural disasters: the U.S. working class, which comprises 70% of the U.S. population. Don’t agonize, organize.

_There are many actions people can take to advocate on behalf of the climate and environment. Earth Hero offers a list of options [here](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/advocacy-and-choice/)._


State and Local Climate Actions Take Center Stage as Trump Returns

The bioeconomy is based on the responsible and sustainable use of biological resources to create products and services that reduce dependence on non-renewable resources. This economic model combines agricultural, forestry, fishing and aquaculture practices with technological advances to establish a value chain that honors natural cycles and promotes biodiversity.

Energy efficiency is one of the cornerstones of the bioeconomy, with the aim of maximizing the use of each resource. For example, transforming agricultural and food waste into energy or other valuable byproducts increases the energy efficiency of production systems. Furthermore, the use of biomass to generate clean energy illustrates how the bioeconomy helps to build a more sustainable energy matrix.

Another key feature of the bioeconomy is waste reduction. Through advanced technologies and improved procedures, we can convert previously discarded waste into new materials or energy, fostering a circular economy. These actions not only reduce the impact on the environment, but also provide a path to sustainable economic development, where every component is appreciated and nothing is wasted.

**Bioenergy and Its Contribution to the Energy Transition**

Bioenergy includes forms of renewable energy originating from biological resources and is crucial for a sustainable energy transition. The most relevant types of bioenergy include biofuels, biomass and biogas, each with a distinct function in the energy matrix.

Raw materials for biofuel production include sugar cane, corn and vegetable oils. In Europe and the United States, biodiesel is widely produced from vegetable oils such as rapeseed (canola), soybean and sunflower oil, as well as waste products such as used cooking oil and animal fat. This type of biodiesel, produced from renewable raw materials, helps to reduce dependence on petroleum, as it is a more sustainable fuel alternative. Though the fossil fuels that go into producing the crops much also be accounted for.

Biodiesel offers environmental benefits, as its combustion can generate fewer greenhouse gas emissions and significantly reduces local pollutants when done in sustainable ways. In addition, European and North American policy encourages the use of biofuels through regulations and incentives, such as [the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)](https://afdc.energy.gov/laws/RFS.html) in the US and [the Renewable Energy Directive (RED)](https://energy.ec.europa.eu/topics/renewable-energy/renewable-energy-directive-targets-and-rules/renewable-energy-directive_en#recommendations-and-guidance-notes) in Europe, which aim to reduce carbon emissions and promote the use of renewable sources. In Brazil, sugarcane ethanol has a major positive impact on reducing carbon emissions when compared to gasoline. According to the Sugarcane Industry Union (UNICA), Brazilian ethanol emits up to 90% less greenhouse gasses compared to fossil fuels, thanks to the efficiency and sustainability of its production process.

Biomass includes organic resources, such as wood, agricultural and forestry residues, which can be transformed into energy through combustion or pyrolysis processes. In several European nations, biomass is used for heating and electricity production, contributing to the replacement of fossil fuels and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Biogas is generated from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste, such as agricultural residues, sewage sludge and animal excrement. This energy source is usually used to produce electricity and heat, but it can also be purified and used as a gas. For example, in Germany, biogas plants are part of [the national renewable energy strategy](https://www.fnr.de/fileadmin/allgemein/pdf/broschueren/broschuere_basisdaten_bioenergie_2020_engl_web.pdf), helping to reduce waste and generate clean energy.

These bioenergy sources play a crucial role in global energy sustainability, contributing to reducing emissions, managing waste and promoting a more circular economy.

**Technological Innovation in the Bioeconomy**

Remarkable advances in bioengineering, biotechnology and nanotechnology are transforming the bioeconomy. These technologies enable the manipulation of living things at the molecular and genetic levels, generating effective and innovative solutions for the sustainable generation of energy and other resources.

Bioengineering and biotechnology are at the forefront of creating plant and microorganism cultures capable of generating biofuels and chemicals with high productivity and low environmental impact. For example, genetic engineering has enabled the development of algae capable of efficiently converting sunlight and CO2 into bio-oil.

Nanotechnology is also transforming the bioeconomy, particularly in improving the biomass transformation processes. Nanoparticles are used to catalyze chemical reactions that break down biomass molecules more efficiently, optimizing energy production and reducing operating costs.

The impact of these technologies goes beyond production efficiency, also affecting the sustainable use of energy. By improving efficiency and reducing the use of resources, these innovations can promote a less polluting production chain that is more in line with global sustainability principles if they can be deployed in a low-cost, scalable manner.

The bioeconomy plays a key role in promoting a sustainable and clean energy matrix, combining the use of biological resources with cutting-edge technologies to implement more sustainable solutions. This strategy not only meets contemporary energy needs, but is also in line with the demands of environmental conservation and economic sustainability. As we look to the future, the bioeconomy is expected to continue to grow on a global scale, supported by technological advances and enabling policies. This progress aims to consolidate economies, improve energy security and reduce environmental impacts, building a more sustainable future for all.

To be part of this movement and together we can achieve a sustainable future for everyone, [here you can find various ways to get involved!](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/energy/)


Bioeconomy 101: Improving Clean and Sustainable Energy


Hydrogen, the lightest, simplest, and most abundant element in the universe, found in water and air, has been referred to as the “fuel of the future” due to its potential importance in the energy transition, in line with the [Paris Agreement’s 2015](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:22016A1019(01)) goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.

However, not all hydrogen has environmental benefits. In the context of reducing carbon emissions to curb climate change, green hydrogen, also referred to as H2V, has emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to address global energy challenges.

**Why is Green Hydrogen receiving so much attention?**

Green hydrogen is a type of renewable energy generated from natural resources. Unlike conventional hydrogen, which usually comes from fossil fuels, green hydrogen is produced using electricity from renewable sources, such as solar or wind power, to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process known as electrolysis. The result is an ecological and sustainable fuel that can be used in a variety of applications, from fueling vehicles to providing energy for industrial sectors.

The Ronald Reagan International Trade Center in Washington D.C. is a center of discussions on this new energy matrix, thanks to the [Hydrogen Americas Summit & Exhibition](https://www.hydrogen-americas-summit.com/hydrogen-americas-2024-executive-summary/). This initiative, which involved academia, industry, government, and society, focuses on the theme of green hydrogen and its importance in the global energy landscape.

The meeting, promoted by leading entities in the sector, is intended not only to discuss the opportunities and obstacles of green hydrogen, but also to stimulate trade and inform society about the energy change underway. Several research projects and academic papers related to H2V were presented. These studies addressed a variety of topics, ranging from the manufacture and storage of hydrogen to its distribution, certification, and safety. As part of this effort, the government has implemented initiatives such as the [Hydrogen Shot Initiative](https://www.energy.gov/eere/fuelcells/hydrogen-shot), which aims to significantly reduce spending on green hydrogen production by 2030.

In addition, public-private partnerships are being encouraged to establish regional hydrogen infrastructure and hubs, with an emphasis on regions with high potential for renewable energy, such as Texas and California. These initiatives seek to make green hydrogen a viable alternative for decarbonizing industrial and freight transport sectors, such as steel manufacturing and freight transportation.

**Obstacles and Opportunities**

The United States faces obstacles, however, such as the need to build a solid infrastructure and reduce costs for the production and distribution of green hydrogen. Yet the country has a great chance of leading the global market, especially if it can scale up production effectively. Green hydrogen can play a key role in decarbonizing areas that are difficult to electrify, promoting the energy transition not only in the United States but globally.

Keep in mind that knowledge of climate change is essential to comprehending its consequences on our Earth and helping to reduce those effects via sound decision-making. [Check out various ways to get involved!](https://www.earthhero.org/act)


Green Hydrogen: A Path to the Age of Renewable Energy

Earth Hero Interview: Climate Justice Alliance

As the world races toward a greener future, electric vehicles (EVs) are often hailed as a solution for reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. With “zero emissions” advertisements plastered on their exteriors, EVs have captured the imagination of governments and environmental advocates alike. But are they truly the climate savior they are marketed to be, or does the hype exceed reality?

The good news is that EVs are better for our environment and health than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, which run on burning oil. [EVs are roughly half as polluting as ICE vehicles.](https://www.factcheck.org/2024/02/electric-vehicles-contribute-fewer-emissions-than-gasoline-powered-cars-over-their-lifetimes/) However, this does not negate that their production and operation still contribute to carbon emissions and environmental impact. For instance, [a report](https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/how-much-co2-emitted-manufacturing-batteries) by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) revealed that the manufacturing of electric vehicle batteries, particularly the extraction and processing of materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, all of which are significant raw materials used in the production process, produces significant emissions.

According to this report, although EVs create fewer emissions over their lifetime compared to ICE cars, the initial production phase of EVs, especially the battery, results in 80% more emissions than conventional vehicles, which indicates the need for more sustainable battery technologies and cleaner energy sources for both production and charging.

Another critical aspect that should be examined is the environmental impact of cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which houses the majority of the world's cobalt reserves (also see [Exploitation in our Phones: How the World Failed Congo](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/exploitation-in-our-phones--how-the-world-failed-congo)). While cobalt is a key component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, contributing to the global push for renewable energy, the mining process itself raises serious environmental and ethical concerns. 

Reports have highlighted that cobalt extraction often leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and contamination of water sources, severely affecting local ecosystems. Moreover, the improper disposal of mining waste contributes to air and water pollution, which not only harms biodiversity but also poses health risks to nearby communities. This paradox highlights the environmental costs of sourcing materials necessary for green technology, underscoring the need for sustainable mining practices in the transition to clean energy.

A [report](https://globalforestcoalition.org/the-dark-side-of-technology-coltan-mining-in-the-drc-and-its-human-rights-and-environmental-impacts/) by the Global Forest Coalition revealed that extensive research has linked the mining of coltan, or columbite-tantalite, a metallic ore used in many modern electronic devices in the DRC to large-scale environmental degradation, with devastating consequences for the region. Other research by the [Global Forest Watch](https://theconversation.com/what-coltan-mining-in-the-drc-costs-people-and-the-environment-183159) platform revealed that the DRC has lost 8.6% of its tree cover since 2000, and coltan extraction has been identified as a major driver of deforestation. 

Also, the manual process of separating minerals involves washing them in streams and rivers. This is done by using chemicals that pollute water bodies and produce radioactive substances harmful to aquatic life and human health according to [GCF reporting](https://www.globalforestwatch.org/dashboards/country/COD/).

Another important consideration is that the manufacturing process, particularly for the large lithium-ion batteries that power EVs, generates substantial carbon emissions. For instance, producing an 80 kWh lithium-ion battery, like the one used in a Tesla Model 3, can release between 2.5 and 16000 kg of CO2, depending on the energy source used in production. This means that building an EV can result in up to 80% more emissions than manufacturing a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle.

Consequently, the environmental impact of EVs must be assessed not only in terms of their operational emissions but also through the full lifecycle of production, from mining raw materials to battery disposal. In other words, electric vehicles (EVs) may not emit greenhouse gasses from their tailpipes, but their "zero emissions" label is not entirely accurate. This highlights the need for greener energy sources in battery manufacturing to truly realize the benefits of EVs for environmental sustainability.

More research needs to be conducted to discover alternative ways of producing batteries, such as using more sustainable materials like sodium, sulfur, or even solid-state batteries, which are less dependent on scarce and ethically problematic resources like cobalt and lithium. These alternatives could significantly reduce the environmental and human costs associated with current battery production, paving the way for greener and more ethical energy storage solutions for electric vehicles.

In the short term, EVs may not offer the perfect zero-emissions solution. But in the long run, they are a part of the strategy to reduce carbon pollution and mitigate climate change. So, are they the true climate savior? Perhaps not on their own, but they are undoubtedly a step in the right direction.

**What then can we do? **
There are alternatives to driving, in some instances. They include walking more, as trekking can reduce carbon emissions by minimizing the use of vehicles. Walking not only reduces personal carbon footprints but also promotes healthier living. Another option is cycling, which offers similar benefits to walking while being faster and still emission-free. The recycling of EV batteries will also reduce carbon footprints while also generating recycling revenue as revealed by [various research studies](https://trellis.net/article/ev-battery-recycling-is-building-a-circular-economy-from-scratch/).

Additionally, increasing the use of public transportation can significantly lower overall emissions, as buses and trains carry more passengers, reducing the number of individual vehicles on the road. These methods, when adopted on a larger scale, contribute to reducing our environmental impact and easing the strain on our planet.


Electric Vehicles: A Climate Savior or Just Noise?

Many people may not care enough about climate change to do something about it, but there is hope. The German research institute _[NewClimate](https://newclimate.org/) _assures that several changes in behavior have occurred in the last decade, reflecting growing awareness and policy momentum. For example, reports like the [Climate Change Performance Index](https://newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-change-performance-index-2024) reveal that while the world still faces major challenges in limiting global warming, many countries have made progress in adopting renewable energy and setting climate targets, even if more drastic changes are needed.

While global action remains insufficient so far to meet the goals of the [Paris Agreement 2015](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:22016A1019(01)), countries and sectors are increasingly focusing on policies, research, and actions that can reduce emissions. This progress is unfortunately uneven, and many governments are still not on track to meet the necessary targets. But for the authors of a recent study on social and technological progress in implementing the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, some trends give confidence that global warming can still be limited to 1.5ºC.

**Climate Awareness**
The report states that before the Paris Agreement, awareness of the risks of global warming was limited. Since then, the issue has gained popularity and is discussed in all segments of society. In addition, the media is providing more information on climate issues, even as fake news has increased.

One consequence of this shift in consciousness is a steady increase in climate protests. In particular, young people involved in activist movements such as [Fridays for Future](https://fridaysforfuture.org/), [Extinction Rebellion](https://rebellion.global/), [Just Stop Oil](https://juststopoil.org/) and [Letzte Generation](https://letztegeneration.org/en/) are calling for immediate action. These calls are ultimately forcing politicians to respond.

And then there are the lawsuits against states and corporations, which are becoming increasingly frequent. The proponents of the lawsuits are demanding the implementation of national climate and environmental protection laws, and have been successful in several cases. As a result of a climate lawsuit in 2021, [the German Supreme Court ordered the federal government to reduce emissions more rapidly by the year 2030.](https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2021/bvg21-031.html)

At the same time, scientific studies on climate attribution help to understand the extent to which extreme weather events—and the damage they cause—can be associated with climate change.

**Zero-Emissions Target**
Before the Paris Agreement was signed, the main focus was on reducing emissions. Today, there is general agreement that “all nations should have zero emissions,” according to the _[NewClimate Institute](https://newclimate.org)_. The goal of achieving a climate-neutral economy is the new norm for nations, regions, and cities, including in the Global South – a significant step forward.

**This zero emissions target shows there has been a “significant change”**. Currently, national climate targets are quite ambitious and could contribute to slowing global warming in the medium term. These goals are not yet supported by sufficient action. Overall, however, it is clear that the world is moving in a much more promising direction than before the Paris Agreement.

**Sustainable investments**
Global warming is now an increasingly risky business. Environmentally-friendly investments have become more attractive not only in economic terms, but also because companies are facing greater social pressure.

Many companies are disclosing their own climate risk, partly on their own initiative and partly in response to new regulations. [According to the rating agency Standards and Poor, more than 70% of the 500 largest publicly traded companies in the United States disclose their emissions.](https://www.spglobal.com/esg/insights/featured/special-editorial/after-sec-rulemaking-assessing-the-us-climate-disclosure-landscape) "_While sustainable investing used to be a segment, it is now the norm in the financial world_," the researchers conclude.

**Expansion of Solar and Wind Energy**
Two decades ago, wind and solar energy were considerably more expensive, especially in the Global South, where they were often perceived as an unattainable and uncompetitive luxury. This has undergone a complete transformation; renewable energy has become the new standard. It is no longer a question of if, but when. At the same time, energy production from solar, wind, and biomass is becoming increasingly decentralized, enabling more adaptable models, including for domestic use.

Renewable energy is increasingly becoming the most cost-effective choice. Operating wind turbines and newly commissioned solar projects are currently 40 percent more cost-effective than fossil fuel installations. According to the analysis, the growth of solar energy has been much faster than expected globally. However, there are still barriers to expanding wind power in many places.

**Electric Cars and Heating**
Electricity is becoming increasingly important in the transport and heating sectors. And unlike before 2015, the industry is now also involved in creating "models to prevent the release of CO2". 

According to the [European Heat Pump Market Statistics Report](https://europeanclimate.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/heat-pumps-summary-report-ehpa-ecf.pdf), heat pumps that use electricity are becoming the "key technology for the decarbonization" of building heating systems. There was 38% growth in Europe in 2022. 

Global sales of electric vehicles have grown faster than anyone had predicted a decade ago. According to the [International Energy Agency (IEA)](https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/trends-in-electric-cars), by 2023, 18% of all new vehicles sold will have an electric motor. In some countries, it is already considered a market standard. All major automakers plan to make electric cars the norm in the coming years, and countries and regions such as the European Union, California, Canada, and Chile have already set dates for phasing out combustion engines in new vehicles.

To date, the growth in the number of electric vehicles has been mainly in developed countries and China. In these countries, the use of electric trucks and buses is increasing. However, the expansion of battery charging stations is lagging behind in many places, and in many countries.

And the lowest polluting forms of transportation, such as walking, biking, and public transit, have lots of room to grow in many parts of the world.

Finally, it is important to highlight that significantly greater efforts are needed globally to implement the climate agreement. However, in the face of major global challenges, we can “build on the many positive changes” that the world has already made to remain united in this fight.

See more measures to address climate change that you can take [here](https://www.earthhero.org/act).


Five Signs of Hope: How the World Is Moving Towards Limiting Global Warming

Imagine standing in the bathroom looking at a bottle of body wash or tube of [toothpaste](https://www.earthhero.org/act/499-use-tubed-toothpaste-alternatives). It’s easy to think of these objects as neutral, but they play a role in the well-being of our planet. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, has been on a mission since 1993 to help people make smarter, greener choices. EWG’s databases have become trusted tools for those seeking healthier options for themselves and the natural world.

**EWG Databases: Safety Ratings for Self-Care**

EWG has created several tools that empower people to make informed, sustainable decisions:

**One of the most popular is the [Skin Deep® Database](https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/)**. This resource gives an ingredient safety rating to personal care products such as soap, shampoo, sunscreen, and makeup. The beauty and personal care industry commonly uses petrochemicals—ingredients derived from oil and methane. Petrochemicals used in personal care products don’t vanish after use; they end up in our water, soil, and ecosystems.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are also found in many commodities including personal care items. These substances interfere with hormones and can lead to serious long-term health issues for humans and wildlife. When EDCs enter waterways, they disrupt aquatic habitats causing problems for fish and other animals, while potentially degrading human water supply. Goods that contain petrochemicals or EDCs pollute throughout their entire lifecycle. Swapping them for safer alternatives can make a big difference for public and planetary health.

**The [Dirty Dozen™ list](https://www.ewg.org/consumer-guides/ewgs-dirty-dozen-guide-food-chemicals-top-12-avoid) showcases fruits and vegetables that tend to carry the highest levels of pesticide residues.** Choosing organic options for these items reduces exposure to harmful additives and supports more sustainable farming practices. In addition to avoiding synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, [regenerative farming](https://www.earthhero.org/act/56-buy-from-regenerative-farms) does not till the soil, which means they do not release stored carbon. Regenerative farming also means planting more diverse crops. This contributes to robust ecosystems that are better equipped to handle the challenges of climate change.

**If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in your tap water, the [EWG Tap Water Database](https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/) offers some eye-opening insights.** This tool uncovers potential tap water contaminants often linked to industrial and agricultural activities. With this knowledge people can protect themselves from harmful substances and advocate for stronger water system protections by [writing to representatives](https://www.earthhero.org/act/180-write-your-representatives/), [commenting on proposed regulations](https://www.earthhero.org/act/197-comment-on-government-regulation), and [voting for politicians](https://www.earthhero.org/act/287-research-and-vote-accordingly) that prioritize protecting water. Reducing runoff from substances like pesticides and fertilizers helps prevent harmful algal blooms that deplete oxygen in water and contribute to greenhouse gasses.

**The [Healthy Cleaning Database](https://www.ewg.org/cleaners/) sheds light on the hidden dangers of conventional household cleaners.** Many contain oil-based agents that pollute the air inside homes and contribute to environmental contamination. When consumers choose safer, greener alternatives they push manufacturers toward using more sustainable ingredients, ultimately cutting down on fossil fuel reliance.

**The Ripple Effect of Choosing EWG-Certified Items**

By exploring EWG’s guides and databases, anyone can check the safety ratings of produce or products before bringing them home. When something raises concerns, a less toxic, greener alternative is often a click away. EWG also features a certification program known as **EWG VERIFIED™**, which identifies goods that are free from harmful chemicals and meet the highest standards for transparency. 

Packages displaying the mark of EWG verification use only the safest ingredients. Brands that take the time to obtain verification for their merchandise often rethink other areas of their production process, as well. Some are switching to [biodegradable](https://www.earthhero.org/act/315-use-biodegradable-toothbrush), compostable, or refillable containers, which help reduce plastic waste and lower carbon emissions. Others are creating products that are [reusable](https://www.earthhero.org/act/503-go-for-reusable-cotton-swabs). Soap and shampoo makers reduce waste by offering [bars](https://www.earthhero.org/act/482-use-bar-soapcomma-shampoocomma-and-more) instead of liquids. 

Unfortunately, some businesses manipulate marketing to [greenwash](https://www.earthhero.org/act/468-recognize-greenwashing) their products so consumers believe purchasing them aligns with safety and sustainability. Searching for a product in one of the EWG databases cuts through deception of this nature.

By [supporting](https://www.earthhero.org/act/212-review-eco-friendly-businesses) climate-forward brands, consumers collectively influence demand in the market. Imagine the collective impact if every household started choosing safer products that help the environment; those small actions add up over time to become large cultural movements.

**Tackling Climate Change at its Roots**

Chemical-heavy industries and agricultural practices harm humans and contribute to climate change by polluting the environment and releasing greenhouse gasses. Companies that embrace non-toxic, sustainably sourced ingredients, and low-impact manufacturing are making a difference. Supporting these businesses leads to fewer emissions and a cleaner environment for everyone.

Each individual choice, no matter how small, has the potential to inspire others. Especially when combined with pushing our politicians for stronger regulations and laws to limit pollution. Together, those choices drive change across entire industries. By tapping into EWG’s resources and making informed decisions, it’s possible to transform everyday routines into powerful tools for a safer, healthier world.


Greener Self-Care: Clean Up Your Routine with EWG

Energy transition is one of the most important issues surrounding the climate crisis. This process involves shifting energy sources from fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas, and coal to renewable sources including solar, wind, hydropower, and biomass, aiming for a cleaner and more sustainable energy mix. A successful energy transition relies on the advent and adoption of various technologies and economic, social, and political considerations.

**Current and Future Technologies**

**Solar and wind power** have seen their deployment costs drop significantly, making them more accessible for widespread adoption. [Global Market Outlook For Solar Power 2024 – 2028](https://www.solarpowereurope.org/insights/outlooks/global-market-outlook-for-solar-power-2024-2028) reports global solar PV growth of 87% in 2023 compared to the previous year. 447 gigawatts (GW) of capacity were installed, bringing the total global capacity to 1.6 terawatts (TW). This substantial increase reflects the continued global growth in the adoption of solar technologies, mainly due to cost reductions and technological advances that are making solar energy an increasingly affordable and viable option. In addition, one of the fastest-growing sources of wind energy in the world is wind power, which uses the power of the wind to produce electricity. By 2023, global wind power capacity will reach 1,210 gigawatts. This shows that wind power is set to continue growing and that appropriate policies and investments are essential for a cleaner, more sustainable future. According with [2024 Global Wind Report](https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2024/) from the Global Wind Energy Council, the rapid growth of the wind power sector is expected to continue, with a record 117 gigawatts of wind power installed in 2023. To meet the goals set at COP28, the industry expects to reach at least 320 gigawatts per year by 2030.

**Hydropower** generates electricity using flowing water and is one of the most sustainable sources of renewable energy. In the United States, it accounts for about 6-7% of the country’s total electricity generation, according to the [U.S. Energy Information Administration, EIA](https://www.eia.gov/renewable/). Recent reports from the EIA indicate that while hydropower is one of the largest sources of renewable energy in the United States, it represents a smaller share of total electricity generation. Compared to other energy sources such as natural gas and nuclear power, hydropower accounts for a larger share of total electricity generation.

**Biomass**, which is made up of organic materials such as wood and agricultural waste, is a renewable energy source that can be used sustainably without compromising natural resources. This type of technology is particularly promising in places where agricultural and forestry resources are abundant. However, if biomass is not using left-over waste from other processes, it is not as clean.

**Geothermal** energy produces electricity and heat from heat stored beneath the Earth’s surface. Countries such as Iceland and New Zealand make extensive use of this technology, taking advantage of their abundant geothermal resources to efficiently and sustainably meet a large portion of their energy needs.

**Economic, Social and Political Considerations**

The global journey known as the energy transition involves not only replacing technologies, but also reviewing economic and social policies to encourage the adoption of clean energy. To promote sustainable development worldwide and tackle climate change, this joint effort is essential. To coordinate these efforts and ensure that all countries contribute to a common goal, international initiatives such as the Paris Agreement are essential.

The rapid development of energy storage technologies has the potential to completely transform the energy market. Advanced battery systems to store energy from intermittent sources such as solar and wind power improve the reliability and stability of power grids. To overcome the challenges of the transition and ensure a constant and affordable energy supply, this sector requires continuous innovation.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including CO2, is essential to limiting global warming, and is one of the main goals of the energy transition. The ultimate goal of international efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels is to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are responsible for global warming and climate change. The increasing adoption of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind means that our dependence on fossil fuels will decrease. In addition, carbon capture and storage technologies are becoming increasingly important, enabling large companies and energy facilities to reduce their emissions. Targets set out in international agreements such as the Paris Agreement aim to keep global temperature rise below 2°C above pre-industrial levels through these strategies.     

The application of decarbonization techniques generates economic and environmental benefits. Companies that use clean technologies often benefit from tax incentives, government subsidies and a better corporate image, which can attract environmentally conscious investors and consumers. In addition, the opening of new clean energy markets is boosting the economy and increasing the country’s energy security.

Moving to a low-carbon economy is not only an environmental responsibility, but also a strategic opportunity to ensure long-term economic sustainability and financial resilience.

In addition, remember that information about climate change is crucial to understanding its impacts on the planet and making informed decisions that help mitigate its effects. [Earth Hero offers several suggestions on how to get involved](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/energy).


The Future of Energy: How the Energy Transition Can Redefine Global Sustainable Development

Ever witnessed someone [litter](https://www.earthhero.org/act/429-recycle-in-all-the-right-places) and felt a surge of frustration? Confronting them might seem like a good idea. Changing a person’s behavior through a single encounter sometimes works, but shifting individual habits requires repeated exposure to new information, and many people are not receptive to advice from strangers. Especially when approached in anger. But what if positive change could be scaled up to a much bigger level?

Individual action is important, but it must be accompanied by systemic change. We need laws and regulations that push industries and governments to be more responsible and sustainable. When new or updated policies are adopted, their impact extends to many individuals and organizations at once. Without structural changes, personal efforts will fall short of the scale needed to stop cheaters of the system. As Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless."

According to a [report](https://carbonmajors.org/briefing/The-Carbon-Majors-Database-26913) by the global nonprofit InfluenceMap, 80% of fossil fuel and cement emissions between 2016 and 2022 came from just 57 sources. Individual action is important in the climate movement (especially with millions of us working together), but focusing on preventing small-scale behaviors such as convincing a single person to stop littering can distract from holding these large polluters accountable. It can delay implementation of the regulations needed to reduce environmental harm and address climate change.

**The Inflation Reduction Act: A Landmark in Climate Policy**

A prime example of impactful policy is the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). Passed in 2022, it is one of the most substantial legislative investments in climate in the history of the United States. The IRA was developed through the collaborative efforts of lawmakers, scientists, activists, and other advocates who recognized the pressing need for large-scale climate response. Community organizers and local volunteers were instrumental in passing the IRA, rallying support through [letters](https://www.earthhero.org/act/180-write-your-representatives/), phone calls, and meetings with [representatives](https://www.earthhero.org/act/808-help-elect-key-climate-leaders). Their collective efforts highlight the power of democratic engagement in shaping powerful climate legislation.

**Key Points of the IRA**:

**_Investing in Renewable Energy:_**
The IRA provides generous tax incentives for [anyone investing in renewable power sources](https://www.earthhero.org/act/78-switch-electricity-to-clean-energy) such as solar, wind, or geothermal. These incentives are aimed to make renewable energy a financially smart choice.

**_Saving Power for a Rainy Day:_**
To address the challenge of storing renewable energy, the IRA invests heavily in advanced battery technologies, ensuring a steady power supply even when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing.

**_Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Tackling Methane:_**_ _
[Methane](https://www.earthhero.org/act/165-call-natural-gas-methane) is a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, but it is often overlooked. The IRA imposes stricter regulations on methane leaks and funds new technologies to curb this heat-trapping gas. By imposing a fee on companies for excess methane emissions, the IRA incentivizes reducing emissions. The funds raised are invested back into climate initiatives, creating a cycle of improvement. 

**_Boosting Efficiency:_**
The IRA promotes energy efficiency through incentivizing the modernization of buildings to reduce their power use. It sets new standards for appliances and offers grants and rebates, making these upgrades more affordable. Energy-efficient devices such as [heat pumps](https://www.earthhero.org/act/241-heat-with-electricity) and [electric](https://www.earthhero.org/act/240-cook-with-electricity) or induction stove tops reduce household energy use, lower utility bills, and decrease reliance on fossil fuels.

**_Supporting Clean Transportation:_**
[Electric vehicle adoption](https://www.earthhero.org/act/235-replace-a-gas-car-with-an-electric) has become more attractive under the IRA, with tax credits and expanded charging stations making them more accessible.

**_Fostering Innovation and Research:_**
The act funds research and development in clean energy and sustainable practices, supporting universities and startups in creating the next generation of climate solutions.

**_Improving Wages and Creating Apprenticeships:_**
By establishing higher wage standards, particularly for clean energy jobs, the IRA enhances worker well-being and fosters economic stability and growth within the sector. It also supports [career](https://www.earthhero.org/act/36-make-climate-your-career) preparation through apprenticeships that provide practical experience and theoretical knowledge, making a career in clean energy more accessible and ensuring a steady supply of skilled workers.

**_Advancing Climate Justice:_**
Certain communities face higher environmental risks and have fewer resources to adapt to climate impacts. The IRA aims to rectify this imbalance by allocating targeted funding and resources for [environmental justice](https://www.earthhero.org/act/683-learn-about-environmental-justice). This includes projects that enhance [resilience](https://www.earthhero.org/act/5-be-resilient!), improve air and water quality, and provide access to clean energy technologies.

**_Supporting Small Businesses:_**_ _
As they shift to green technologies, small businesses can take advantage of grants, subsidies, or low-interest loans to help cover the costs of implementing energy-efficient systems or adopting eco-friendly practices. This allows these businesses to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.

**The Impact of the IRA**
The IRA has dramatically escalated investment in clean energy technology in the United States, increasing funding from under $5 billion in 2022 to over $70 billion in 2024. This surge demonstrates the profound impact that a well-designed climate policy can have on both the economy and the environment. Beyond the financial boost, the IRA is expected to generate valuable economic and social benefits. According to [data](https://www.bluegreenalliance.org/site/jobs-from-climate-action-the-inflation-reduction-acts-impact-on-state-job-creation/) from the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the IRA will create more than nine million jobs in the clean energy sector over a decade.

**The Importance of Collective Action**
Passing strong policy is more effective than requesting each person or organization to change their practices one at a time. Staying [informed](https://www.earthhero.org/act/682-engage-in-climate-change-education) and [voting](https://www.earthhero.org/act/287-research-and-vote-accordingly) for environment conscious candidates are essential first steps, but there is more that can be done. When individuals come together to actively participate in [local environmental groups](https://www.earthhero.org/act/233-join-a-climate-action-group), engage in [public comment periods](https://www.earthhero.org/act/197-comment-on-government-regulation) for new regulations, [sign petitions](https://www.earthhero.org/act/196-sign-climate-petitions), and support climate-forward policies in local meetings, the impact of their effort is significantly amplified. These collective measures to promote climate legislation establish a foundation for policies that balance economic progress with environmental stewardship. As we face the urgent challenges of climate change, the IRA stands as a powerful example of how unified advocacy can lead to a transformative and lasting impact on both society and the environment.

**_Additional Sources:_**
\* U.S. Department of the Treasury. (n.d.). Impact and stories. Retrieved August 7, 2024, from[ https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/inflation-reduction-act/impact-and-stories](https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/inflation-reduction-act/impact-and-stories)



Fix Laws, not just Litterbugs: The Power of Climate Policy

Technology evolves rapidly, and our efforts to make it sustainable often lag behind. While the carbon pollution footprints of industries like transportation and manufacturing are now widely acknowledged, the tech sector—especially software development—has flown under the radar as a significant contributor to global energy consumption and carbon emissions. Organizations such as [The Green Software Foundation](https://greensoftware.foundation/) and [The Sustainable Digital Infrastructure Alliance](https://sdialliance.org/) believe it’s time to shine a light on this and embrace green coding practices. Developers can create software that’s kind to our planet by enacting energy-efficient coding strategies. When these practices are implemented at scale, their impact multiplies, significantly reducing the tech industry's environmental footprint.

**Understanding the Impact of Software on the Environment**

Tech giants such as Google, Facebook, and Amazon rely on enormous facilities, known as data centers, to manage the colossal amounts of data they handle. Data centers are rooms or sometimes entire buildings that house thousands of servers that operate around the clock. They are notorious for their hefty energy consumption due to all the electricity needed to power and cool these servers. According to the [International Energy Agency](https://www.iea.org/) (IEA), data centers account for about 1% of global electricity demand. As our reliance on digital services and AI grows, this number is only set to increase.

Although some [power](https://www.earthhero.org/act/744-check-your-power-usage-regularly) in these facilities goes to [temperature control](https://www.earthhero.org/act/69-turn-down-the-air-conditioning), security, and fire prevention, most of the energy is consumed by the software. If the software is inefficient, the computer's central processing unit (CPU) consumes more resources. This increased energy consumption also produces more heat, which means more power is needed for cooling. By writing efficient code, developers can reduce the energy required to run their applications, which lowers the overall carbon footprint of their software. Practicing good code hygiene also saves companies money. While some companies already have coding standards and policies in place, it’s worth analyzing where improvements can be made.

**Practical Steps for Coding**

**_1. Manage Resources Wisely_**
A person packing for a trip only takes what they need rather than hauling along everything they own. Similarly, in coding, optimal use of memory and processing power prevents waste. For example, "lazy loading" is a technique that loads only the data or components needed at the moment, rather than everything at once. This approach minimizes unnecessary processing and conserves energy.

**_2. Use Energy-Saving Languages_**
Coding languages can either be compiled or interpreted. When languages are interpreted the computer translates the code in real time. On the other hand, compiled languages like C, C++, and Rust are already converted into machine code that the computer understands directly, making them more energy efficient. If it's an option, choosing the right language for the task can have a large impact on power usage.

**_3. Leverage Local Processing_**
Imagine if turning the [lights](https://www.earthhero.org/act/83-turn-lights-off-when-not-in-use) on at home required sending a request to someone far away. It would be much faster and more straightforward to flip the light switch yourself. Similarly, performing computations on the user’s device instead of sending data to a remote server can be more energy-efficient. Processing locally reduces the energy used and keeps data closer to the user, enhancing privacy. This lets the user [prioritize what to store](https://www.earthhero.org/act/498-clean-up-your-digital-trash), rather than storing duplicates in the cloud. 

**_4. Profile and Monitor_**
Analyzing how code uses resources identifies areas for improvement and ensures that it runs effectively. Regular performance monitoring highlights instances when performance unexpectedly regresses (gets worse). When developers are alerted to potential problems early, they can respond to issues sooner, keeping software performing optimally.

**_5. Keep Up With Global Energy and [Climate Reports](https://www.earthhero.org/act/418-explore-global-climate-reports)_**
Regularly reviewing the latest global energy and climate reports allows developers and companies to adjust their practices so that they align with evolving standards and contribute more effectively to global environmental goals.

**The Broader Impact of Green Coding**

The benefits of green coding extend far beyond individual applications. On a larger scale, adopting energy-efficient coding practices can lead to significant reductions in data center energy consumption, which helps cut down on carbon pollution. As the demand for data processing continues to rise with the popularity of smart devices, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics, green coding practices become even more impactful.

Coding sustainably also improves user experience. Energy-efficient applications often run faster and more smoothly. For mobile devices, optimized software can lead to longer [battery life](https://www.earthhero.org/act/77-use-rechargeable-batteries), a practical advantage that users will appreciate.

As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital technology, the environmental impact of software cannot be ignored. Green coding presents an opportunity for developers to contribute to sustainability efforts. Implementing these practices saves on operational costs, making it a financially sound strategy to maintain high standards for efficient coding. By adopting these practices and optimizing their software, companies can help reduce the tech industry’s environmental footprint and contribute to a more sustainable digital future.

\*International Energy Agency. (n.d.). _Data centres and data transmission networks_. International Energy Agency. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from[ https://www.iea.org/energy-system/buildings/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks](https://www.iea.org/energy-system/buildings/data-centres-and-data-transmission-networks)

\*\*Wikipedia contributors. (2024, July 15). _Data center_. In _Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia_. Retrieved July 21, 2024, from[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data\_center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_center)


Green Coding: How Efficient Programming Reduces Global Electricity Demand

Climate reporting by today’s top newsrooms is far better than it once was. Gone are the days when a leading daily newspaper like _The New York Times_ or wire service like Reuters believed it needed to incorporate climate-change skepticism into its reporting for the sake of “objectivity”. The larger news organizations now have entire teams of journalists dedicated to climate coverage.

There is room for improvement, of course. As an example: In June, the [climate-focused newsletter _Heated_](https://www.emilyatkin.com/heated) analyzed 133 breaking-news articles covering heat waves and flooding that month in the United States. While scientists have found direct connections between climate change and the frequency and severity of heat waves and events that are likely to exacerbate flooding, _Heated_ found that only 44% of the articles cited climate change or global warming, and only 11% mentioned the burning of fossil fuels that are the lead contributor to climate change.

“In cases like these, the climate change omissions were so glaring that they seemed intentional. However, reporting breaking news on deadline is difficult; sometimes you just miss things. It happens all the time, including here,” wrote _Heated_ journalists Emily Atkin and Arielle Samuelson. “But when over half of breaking news articles about climate-fueled weather don’t mention the climate crisis, one has to wonder whether there are forces other than sheer ignorance driving these omissions.”

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to this situation. Dig deeper than the best-known news organizations and you’ll find a wealth of publications that are providing diverse, important reporting on the climate crisis.

The list that follows is by no means comprehensive. To keep it manageable, we are excluding obvious selections and any organizations where climate or environmental reporting are part of a larger journalistic mission (e.g., The London_ Guardian_ newspaper or_ _science journals). But this can be a useful place to start:

[Canary Media](https://www.canarymedia.com/) – Published beginning in 2021 as a branch of the research organization RMI, [Canary Media as of July 2024](https://rmi.org/press-release/canary-media-takes-flight-becoming-independent-of-rmi/) provides fully independent reporting on the clean energy transition. Highlighted topics include solar, heat pumps, electrification, electric vehicles, and hydrogen.

[Climate Central](https://www.climatecentral.org/) – Along with providing data and content resources, this nonprofit organization [partners with local newsrooms](https://www.climatecentral.org/partnership-journalism) to offer journalism on the impacts of climate change to specific areas.

[Climate Home News](https://www.climatechangenews.com/) – A U.K. company with a stated mission to cover and analyze major developments in climate action at the global level, including speaking truth to power and giving voice to those who suffer the most from the climate crisis.

[DeSmog](https://www.desmog.com/) – The London-based organization, founded in 2006, is committed to clearing “the PR pollution that is clouding the science and solutions to climate change,” with coverage of energy, science denial, finance, false solutions and other topics.

[Earthsight](https://www.earthsight.org.uk/) – Founded in 2006 as a research organization that provided information that drove investigations by other organizations, the nonprofit now publishes its own investigations on the dark sides of fashion and furniture making, among many other topics.

[EcoWatch](https://www.ecowatch.com/) – This Ohio-based newspaper-turned-digital publication has provided coverage of environmental issues, causes, and solutions since 2005.

[Energy News Network](https://energynews.us/) – Originating in 2010 with a focus on the Midwest, this nonprofit now covers the clean energy transition across four distinct regions: Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and Western.

[ExxonKnews](https://www.exxonknews.org/) – The subscription-based newsletter provides regular coverage of Big Oil’s historic and ongoing efforts to obscure the climate crisis.

[Floodlight](https://floodlightnews.org/) – The three-year-old nonprofit newsroom works individually and with partner organizations (including NPR, the _Los_ _Angeles Times_, _Mother Jones_ magazine, and more) to shed light on government and corporate obstacles to addressing climate change.

[Food & Environment Reporting Network](https://thefern.org/) – A nonprofit organization reporting on food, agriculture, and environmental health.

[Grist](https://grist.org/) – Dating to 1999, _Grist_ is something of an elder statesperson of climate coverage. Along with daily coverage of energy, justice, and issues it provides ambitious enterprise projects like _State of Emergency_, a study of how climate disasters impact elections.

[Heated](https://heated.world/)_ _– The tag to this subscription-based Substack newsletter might tell you all you need to know: “A newsletter for people who are pissed off about the climate crisis.”

[Heatmap](https://heatmap.news/) – With a deep bench of experienced climate and environment journalists, _Heatmap_ covers climate issues as well as politics, the economy, and culture with a climate angle.

[Inside Climate News](https://insideclimatenews.org/)—Dating to 2007, _Inside Climate News_ could fairly be called among the biggest names in climate journalism, and not only for its[ 2013 Pulitzer Prize](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15042013/insideclimate-news-team-wins-pulitzer-prize-national-reporting/) for its investigation of a 2010 oil spill into the Kalamazoo River.

[Mongabay](https://news.mongabay.com/)—This global conservation and environment science news nonprofit provides a wide array of content, encompassing daily and enterprise reporting, special projects, and podcasts.

Being informed is just part of the battle against climate change. [Earth Hero offers many recommendations on opportunities to get involved](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/advocacy-and-choice).


Go Beyond the Headlines of Climate Journalism

In an era of corporate greenwashing, how can you identify companies with real commitment to environmental sustainability and countering climate change?

The venerable news magazine _Time_ and global data specialist Statista believe they know how, and the result is a list of the [World’s 500 Most Sustainable Companies](https://time.com/collection/worlds-most-sustainable-companies-2024/) as of 2024.

The purpose of the project,[ according to _Time_](https://time.com/6990715/worlds-most-sustainable-companies-2024-methodology/), is to “recognize and reward” companies that have demonstrated their adherence to sustainability. The list can serve as an example for other businesses to emphasize environmental well-being in their operations, the magazine said. It also sends a message to consumers who want to support sustainable businesses, added Wenke Krützfeldt, team lead for market analysis at the Statista R division of its parent company.

“Statista strives to exclude companies that could be accused of greenwashing,” Krützfeldt told Earth Hero. “However, it is important to acknowledge that greenwashing can be complex and multifaceted, requiring continuous diligence to maintain the integrity of the assessments.”

**Picking the Winners**

Statista and _Time_ began their project in summer 2023 with a list of 5,225 companies around the world selected based on market capitalization, revenue, and public prominence, Krützfeldt said. They then used four broad metrics, encompassing over 20 data points, to winnow the list down to 500.

This year’s top-ranked business is French energy technology company Schneider Electric; the highest-ranked U.S. company, at No. 5, is genomics firm Illumina; the highest-ranked U.S. company that many consumers un the United States know, at No. 10, is healthcare provider Cigna.

The four steps in arriving at the winners were:

- Eliminating companies in fossil fuel, deforestation, or other clearly non-sustainable sectors, alongside those with troubling operations or histories; for example, a connection to an environmental disaster.

- Analyzing companies using a host of “external sustainability ratings and commitments from reputable organizations.” That encompassed the businesses’ [environmental disclosure scores](https://www.cdp.net/en/scores/cdp-scores-explained) from the nonprofit organization CDP; involvement in the [Race to Zero](https://climatechampions.unfccc.int/system/race-to-zero/) (emissions) campaign from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and inclusion in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook.

- Assessing the value of the companies’ sustainability reporting, including: whether the businesses issued environmental, social, and governance (ESG) reports in 2022; that the reports underwent external review; and that they met international reporting standards from organizations including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board.

- Analyzing important environmental and social metrics from the companies’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports, such as emission intensity, emission reduction rates, energy intensity, gender diversity in board and leadership positions, and work safety.

For the companies that remained in consideration after the initial exclusion process, 40% weight for final scoring was given for both commitments and ratings and stewardship, with the remaining 20% for reporting and transparency, Krützfeldt said. The top possible score was 100; Schneider Electric came in well below that, at 88.86.

“We were not surprised that none of the companies scored 100 points,” she said. “The targets set by Statista are ambitious and even for the most dedicated companies there is still room for improvement.”


**Value in the Numbers**

There is real-world value in highlighting lists like this, Krützfeldt added: “For consumers and the public, the list of CSR ranking can help in making informed decisions/choices, allowing them to support companies that align with their values. It can also help investors to consider CSR performance to make more sustainable long-term investment decisions - (to) guide them towards companies that are socially responsible, and not only profitable.”

In September 2023, Statista surveyed 17,000 U.S. residents about their positions on a business’s CSR policy. Less than a quarter of customers (23,7%) said the issue is not important to them in any way. The remaining expressed some level of support for those policies: 14.1% identified them as “really important to me;” 29.2% said they strive to select socially responsible companies; and 32.9% said when given a choice they lean toward socially responsible companies.

In a corresponding poll of employees, Statista found that 27.1% said the company’s CSR policy was not important to them. An even 58% said it is important that a company operates in a socially responsible manner and 14.9% said they would only work for a company that adheres to CSR measures.

Statista hopes to prepare an annual list of the world’s most sustainable companies and believes a new list will be published in 2025, Krützfeldt said. _Time_ magazine, though, will make the final call, she noted.  A representative for _Time_ did not respond to a query.

Earth Hero also offers a [wide variety of actions](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/all-actions) that can help individuals become more sustainable consumers and influence shifting society to better ways of living, including [avoiding fast fashion](https://www.earthhero.org/act/561-avoid-buying-fast-fashion), [buying an electric vehicle](https://www.earthhero.org/act/235-replace-a-gas-car-with-an-electric), and [reducing use of bottled beverages](https://www.earthhero.org/act/262-avoid-bottled-beverages).


Assessing Corporate Sustainability

Cities are built for people, but we aren’t the only ones living there. As climate change disrupts traditional habitats, many species are migrating to urban areas to find food and shelter. Cities and towns worldwide are reimagining what it takes to become more resilient and inclusive of biodiversity.

**3D Printing for Habitat Creation**

[Urban Reef](https://www.urbanreef.nl/), a design company in Rotterdam, uses advanced 3D printing technology to create crevice-covered structures inspired by the complex geometrical shapes of natural coral formations. These habitats are made of clay or mycelium\* (the “roots” of [fungi](https://www.earthhero.org/act/757-learn-about-and-support-fungi)) and have surfaces for moss and mushrooms to grow, cavities that can be used by nesting birds, and indentations for insects.\*\* 

Once installed and given time to flourish these urban reefs host plants that absorb pollutants and produce oxygen. The vegetation supported by urban reefs can lower a cities heat island effect by providing cooling through transpiration (the process by which water moves up from the roots through the plant’s internal pathways and is released as water vapor), creating more comfortable living conditions for city residents.

Urban-Reef’s vision is to make cities more “bio-inclusive,” that is, supportive of both human and non-human life. Designers and policymakers taking a bio-inclusive approach would consider how their decisions affect wildlife and people, being mindful that our well-being is interconnected. When a diverse range of species thrive, humans benefit by living in a more stable and resilient ecosystem with natural climate regulation, pollination, pest-control, and increased mental health benefits.\*\*\*

The people at Urban Reef are not the only ones leveraging technology to build habitats that support biodiversity. Many organizations use 3D printing in their efforts to restore [coral reefs](https://www.earthhero.org/act/394-adopt-coral-fragments). For example, [SECORE International ](https://www.secore.org/site/home.html)creates what they call “seeding units”, which are 3D-printed foundations that provide stable surfaces for coral larvae to settle on. The seeding units are placed inside of incubators with coral larvae. Once the larvae settle onto the seeding units, they are gradually transferred to an outdoor aquarium and eventually to the ocean. These seeding units do not need to be installed in the ocean by hand which saves a lot of human labor and cost.\*\*\*\* Instead, they are sprinkled over natural reefs where they land and hook into existing crevices. 

Healthy coral benefits nearby cities and towns by improving water quality, preventing erosion and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Reefs offer habitat for a wide range of species making coastal cities more attractive for anyone who enjoys snorkeling and diving. Sustainable fisheries supported by healthy reefs provide locals with a source of food and economic opportunities.

Other cities are using different methods to achieve more bio-inclusivity. Portland, Oregon restored a single block using a natural spring and native plants to be more like the landscape that existed before the city, while New York City repurposed a railway line to become a narrow walking park, and Ohio made more space for native plants and animals on the Scioto River.

**Rolling Back the Concrete**

Tanner Springs Park in Portland offers a glimpse into the natural history of the area. This block-sized natural oasis is inspired by the landscape as it existed before the city was built, while also including pathways and benches for visitors to enjoy. The park features native plants and a natural wetland area, offering a sanctuary where wildlife in the heart of the city can access water. Residents can experience close encounters with nature without leaving their neighborhood. Tanner Springs Park is cared for by local volunteers who tend to the plants and make efforts to control and remove invasive species. 

**From Rails to Trails**

The High Line Park in Manhattan was built on a disused elevated railway track, and features diverse plant species creating a green corridor that weaves between the brick buildings and loft apartments of the West Side. The park provides habitat and connectivity for birds, insects, and other wildlife, while also offering recreational space for residents and visitors. The High Line can be seen as a model for transforming neglected urban infrastructure into vibrant green spaces.

**A Buffer Zone Between Land and Water**

The Scioto Mile project in Columbus, Ohio added 5.4 acres of “riparian” (or waterfront) habitat, equivalent to four football fields, creating a lush corridor along the water's edge. The riparian edge serves as a natural buffer between the river and urban development. Widening this area and increasing the diversity of native plants provided habitat for wildlife, improved water quality through natural filtration processes, and offered recreational opportunities for the community.\*\*\*\*\*

**Bring Bio-inclusivity to Your Neighborhood**

In order to preserve biodiversity and make our communities as resilient as possible in the face of climate change, we will need to innovate more unique ways to include nature in urban spaces. Here’s how to get started:

**1. Get Involved Locally:** Participate in biodiversity projects or support similar initiatives in your area. [Encourage local governments](https://www.earthhero.org/act/180-write-your-representatives/) to incorporate green infrastructure and biodiversity-friendly policies into urban planning by [commenting on regulations and policies](https://www.earthhero.org/act/197-comment-on-government-regulation). Help [elect climate leaders](https://www.earthhero.org/act/808-help-elect-key-climate-leaders). 

**2. Volunteer:** Join organizations working on urban greening, wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and [building climate resilience](https://www.earthhero.org/act/233-join-a-climate-action-group). Get involved in [community science](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/embrace-nature--apps-for-connecting-with-the-great-outdoors).

**3. Advocate for better planning**: Work with others to influence city planners and how they design your area and the projects they focus on. Push for more green spaces and places that people can enjoy, which will naturally support biodiversity.

**4. Plant Native Species:** Contribute to urban biodiversity by planting native species [in your yard](https://www.earthhero.org/act/405-plant-a-pollinator-friendly-garden) or a [community garden](https://www.earthhero.org/act/474-start-or-join-a-community-garden). Turn life-less concrete or unnatural spaces into green ones where you can.

**5. Attend Workshops:** Take part in educational programs in your area or [facilitate a workshop](https://www.earthhero.org/act/682-engage-in-climate-change-education) yourself.

**6. Support Sustainable Materials:** Advocate for the use of biodegradable and recycled materials in urban planning.

Providing critical habitats for wildlife also enhances the quality of life for urban residents. By embracing bio-inclusive approaches and engaging local communities in conservation efforts, cities worldwide can continue moving towards more sustainable urban environments that benefit both people and the planet.

**Additional sources:**

\*Holland.com. (n.d.). Urban Reef. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from[ https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/get-inspired/bring-yourself/urban-reef-1](https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/get-inspired/bring-yourself/urban-reef-1)

\*\* Urban Reef. (n.d.). Blog. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from[ https://www.urbanreef.nl/blog](https://www.urbanreef.nl/blog)

\*\*\*National Center for Biotechnology Information. (n.d.). The importance of greenspace for mental health. _Scientific Reports, 13_, 12571. Retrieved from[ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5663018/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5663018/)

\*\*\*\*Nature Publishing Group. (2017). Seeding units: A novel approach to coral reef restoration using 3D-printed settlement substrates. _Scientific Reports, 7_, Article 17555.[ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17555-z](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-17555-z)

\*\*\*\*\*Landscape Architecture Foundation. (n.d.). Scioto Mile and Greenways. Retrieved July 13, 2024, from[ https://www.landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/scioto-mile-and-greenways](https://www.landscapeperformance.org/case-study-briefs/scioto-mile-and-greenways)



Embracing Biodiversity Fosters Climate Resilient Cities

Corporations can be persuaded to do the right thing for the world when that is also the right thing for their business. This idea is at the heart of the mission of [As You Sow](https://www.asyousow.org/), a nonprofit organization dedicated to applying the power of company shareholders “to create lasting change and align investments with values” in areas encompassing climate change, environmental health, social justice, and biodiversity.

The 32-year-old group, based in Berkeley, CA, might be best known for spearheading [resolutions](https://www.asyousow.org/resolutions-tracker) at corporate shareholder meetings to press executives to take a certain action, with As You Sow as the stock owner or more often representing a like-minded shareholder. The resolutions are non-binding but can catalyze change by demonstrating support of a publicly traded company’s owners for that act. It’s a popular approach to advocacy, with roughly 400 resolutions filed annually by organizations ranging from the[ Ceres Investor Network](https://www.ceres.org/networks/investor) to [New York City public pension funds](https://www.responsible-investor.com/new-york-city-funds-return-to-us-banks-with-new-green-financing-ratio-proposal/#:~:text=New%20York%20City%20public%20pension%20funds%20have%20filed,JPMorgan%20Chase%20and%20Royal%20Bank%20of%20Canada%20%28RBC%29.).

In one recent case, As You Sow was the lead filer for a [resolution](https://www.asyousow.org/resolutions/2023/12/26-alphabet-systemic-climate-risk-retirement-plan-options) voted on in June by shareholders of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, demanding it disclose the steps taken to ensure that current investments in companies with high carbon emissions do not harm beneficiaries of its retirement plan. The resolution argues that investing in companies that contribute to climate change and deforestation is bad for employees (risking their life savings) and for Alphabet itself (potentially making it harder to recruit and keep employees).

Only 3.8% of all voting shareholders supported the resolution, but in many cases a low vote percentage can still represent a win, says [CEO Andrew Behar](https://www.asyousow.org/staff/andrew-behar). Core to its goals are research and conversations that can occur before or after the vote. “Even if you get a really high vote, you're still going to go sit down with the company and say, you know what, 60% of your shareholders think this is important, or 20% that this is important, and you have that conversation,” he told Earth Hero. “So we've gotten some of our biggest wins with a 6% vote. The votes are not really as significant as people might think. It's really kind of just a step on the path.”

Executives often come to meetings with As You Sow with open minds, with oil companies being a major exception, according to Behar. “They somehow think they're going to just get every last drop out of the planet. I don't know what they think about their own children and their grandchildren.”

In the following Q&A, Behar discusses As You Sow’s history, its expansion into climate and energy issues, its approach to corporate change, and the mechanics of shareholder resolutions. The interview has been edited for length and clarity:

**Has shareholder advocacy always been at the core of As You Sow's mission and why was that the approach that the organization led with to help generate change at the corporate, national, and international levels?**

As You Sow was founded in 1992, and its mission has always been corporate accountability and through the lens of shareholders. We started as a plaintiff, doing cases around carcinogens and reproductive toxicants in products. So we were addressing corporations in that way through the legal system. And what happened is we won a lot of those cases and some of that settlement money was then used to develop a staff to say, ultimately, we believe that corporations have an incredible amount of power, that when a corporation makes a decision, particularly at the board level, it ripples through their entire supply chain, through all their customers, through all their employees. A company like Walmart makes a decision and literally millions or tens of millions of people can be impacted.

So we looked at that, and went, that's a lot of power. If we can find the right leverage points that are going to be good for the company and good for all the stakeholders—and the stakeholders include employees, communities where they operate, their customers, their shareholders, and their supply chain—then as a small nonprofit we can have much greater leverage. And so that's basically what we've done. And we've done it very successfully over the years because we never ask a company to do the right thing, we always do deep research, and we figure out what are they doing, what are the key performance indicators, how do they measure themselves, and how do we as shareholders measure them in order to help them optimize and to become more competitive?

So it's evolved over the years, but fundamentally, we sit down with companies, we bring them a better business plan, and it's hard for them to say no because they want to be more successful.

**As you said, As You Sow dates to 1992. Was there a particular point at which you expanded the focus to climate and energy issues? And why did that seem a good area to tackle?**

When As You Sow was founded it was founded around the ideas around environmental health. And so that was its early years. I was brought in during 2010 to actually write a strategic plan. And one of the things in that strategic plan said that the organization should really start looking at energy issues, at coal and climate, at methane, all the different things around the energy sector, but also at racial justice, at diversity, equity, inclusion, at gender equality, LGBTQ, basically at justice. And those were really the two big adjustments that I made. And after I wrote the strategic plan, the board asked me to stay on as the CEO and execute the plan. So we started in 2010, really building out the climate work.

First working on coal ash ponds. And most people aren't aware, but when you burn coal, you have this ash and they mix it with water and make this slurry. And they put it in these billion-gallon, what they call lagoons. And there's thousands of them, there's like 2,000 of them around the country that have no liners, and all the cadmium and mercury and just everything lead just seeps right into the water systems. So that's not even climate. So we started working on it in that way, saying we got to retire coal.

And what we found is that utilities were fairly agnostic as to how they get their electrons. And as renewables have become less expensive, the transition from coal to renewables just makes business sense. You can get those electrons less expensively, all the better without all that risk.

But that led us into fracking. We were the first group to start to engage and file resolutions on fracking, which led us of course to pipelines because of methane, fugitive methane, which led us into the whole value chain. And then we got into banks and insurance because of the[ Dakota Access Pipeline](https://daplpipelinefacts.com/) where the banks had funded [pipeline builder] Energy Transfer Partners and the banks were saying we had nothing to do with it, we just gave them money, we didn't know what they [were doing]. And now Morgan Stanley's brand is associated with that. [We] kind of connected the dots between a loan book and what gets done with it, which translates now into what's called financed emissions.

So we've gotten all the banks to actually disclose the risk in their loan book and the way that they make the loans. Insurance companies underwriting, similar things. So that's been a real evolution over the years. Every year we're figuring out new, different ways of just exposing the risk within all the infrastructure that is leading to climate change. And then of course the biggest risk, which is this warming planet and you know, and the harm to every agricultural crop which is now we call climate inflation. And we've dedicated a site to that, [climateinflation.org](https://www.climateinflation.org/), where we just look at why is chocolate so expensive? Well, because you can't grow it where all the cacao trees are because it's too hot. Same thing with coffee.

**To go back to a comment you made earlier, describe the process of the research you do and how you select companies through which you will file resolutions.**

First of all, the resolution is an escalation. So we engaged, last year, 210 companies. Ninety-nine companies said, thank you for the research, we're going to go about becoming a better company; 111 didn't. So we escalated by filing the resolution. And once we did that, 56 of those companies said, well, you know, we agree with you, and if you'll withdraw we'll start to take action. So only about 30% ever go to a vote. Just realize the vast majority of the work is actually the relationship with the companies. 

So, yeah, even if you get a really high vote, you're still going to go sit down with the company and say, you know what, 60% of your shareholders think this is important, or 20% that this is important, and you have that conversation. So we've gotten some of our biggest wins with a 6% vote. The votes are not really as significant as people might think. It's really kind of just a step on the path.

We start with core research. How do you rate and rank companies on these issues? On plastics, we just released a plastic scorecard last week. We have 35 key performance indicators. Now, these are all developed by bringing together a team of experts, people who spent their whole career on these issues. And then we vet them with the company. So is this accurate? Is this how you rate and rank yourself? And then these evolve and we get them right. And we come up with a rubric to score them because some of the key performance indicators might have twice the weight of another. What companies say overall might only be 20% of the score. What they do is 80% of the score.

So we develop all that, the rubrics, and then we test it. So does this make sense? We show it to the companies. Then we go about the research.  So we'll go in one sector and we'll say you got a D, or in some cases numerical, you got a seven and your direct competitor got a B+ or got an 11. Here's why, these are the two things they're doing you are not. And here's the cost of doing those two things. You could become competitive at very little cost and here's the benefit of doing those. Here's the risk of not doing those. And so we just lay it out for them. And generally the companies go, you know what, you're right, you're dead on. We could make this change. And sometimes it's very insignificant to them but they become competitive and now investors are going to, rather than overweighting their competitors and their portfolios, they'll see them as either equivalents or see that they're doing better.

**And for the resolutions themselves, what is the mechanics of teaming either with shareholders who have enough stock?**

Sometimes As You Sow is the shareholder, but for the most part we represent other shareholders. The thresholds are you hold the stock for a year it's $25,000, you hold it for two years it's $15,000, and three years and beyond it's $2,000.

So let's say we're working on an issue around disposal of plastic in the ocean. We know that there's shareholders who are part of what we call an activate your shares network who really care about these issues, who are reading our reports, who know about this. And we say, we're engaging this company. And they go, oh, you know, I've owned that company for three years, I've got at least $2,000. And we say, well, we can represent you. And they sign a Docusign and they authorize us to represent them.

**Over As You Sow’s lifetime, and in particular on the clean energy and climate issues, do you know how many resolutions you've filed?**

I think in that database, it only goes back to like 2011, I think there's a thousand or so. I know that last year was 111, this year was I think 92. We'd like to file zero, frankly. If every company we met with said great idea, let's go get it done, it uses much less resources and we can talk to more companies. You know, the resolution process is a bit of a distraction from the actual work. We just care about companies optimizing their long-term sustainable growth, and the shareholder process, it's fairly cumbersome.

**In the total scope of engagements, how many have come out to what you would consider to be a successful resolution? And what generally might that look like?**

It depends on sector. So here's one I'll give you. We engaged Starbucks about the use of Styrofoam. Now, Styrofoam, a lot of it ends up in the ocean and it breaks down into tiny particles and gets eaten by marine life, and then they get eaten by marine life and up and up, and then humans end up eating the fish, and they're getting phthalates and DEHP and other endocrine disruptors from the plastics. And also just choking and killing ecosystems within the sea. 
We went to them and had a conversation with them, and, and they agreed that this was not good for their brand to be associated with this level of devastation. And so they signed a pledge that they would phase out Styrofoam in all their stores. So we used that to go and talk to, I think Starbucks was first, then McDonald's, and then Dunkin’ [Donuts]. All told, about 3 billion Styrofoam cups are not being produced this year because of that.

[Companies] actually make real changes and change their entire procurement systems because they don't want their brand associated with these kind of practices because they're going to lose market share.

The one area that's the hardest is the oil companies, because they just don't care about their brand. It's kind of like, what can you say? Darth Vader's a really bad guy.

You can have the Exxon Valdez and, well, still going to put gas in my car, although now everybody’s been switching to electric. So we have to go into the oil companies and we're making a case that [as shareholders] our business model is not viable, that the internal combustion engine is going to be obsolete very soon, and that what's our plan? It's a very different conversation with them about how is an oil company going to become an energy company?

And they're very resistant. And also culturally, they're very resistant to any kind of change. They somehow think they're going to just get every last drop out of the planet. I don't know what they think about their own children and their grandchildren.

**How many times has As You Sow engaged with oil companies, and is there one particular process that stands out either for the pushback you got or perhaps you got a result that you would see as successful?**

We've filed 29 resolutions at Exxon since 2010. Every one of them they've tried to block at the [U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]. And we have won the vast majority of those cases.

In 2014, we talked to them about stranded assets, about the fact that they're counting as assets reserves that will never be commercialized, and how are they accounting for that? In 2017, there was a majority vote around these issues, about transition planning, and that led to[ putting new people on the Exxon board in 2021](https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/engine-no-1-win-third-seat-exxon-board-based-preliminary-results-2021-06-02/).

Chevron's a little different. They're very tough to shift the culture at all. You know, some companies are much more willing to consider that.

The banks have been interesting. They actually have a brand. They have people who look at their brand and go, yeah, JPMorgan, that's a good bank. [Even though they're the No. 1 investors in burning down the Amazon](https://amazonwatch.org/assets/files/2021-banking-on-amazon-destruction.pdf), Indonesian rainforest, in the world. That's what they fund, they fund every oil project. It's hard to find a clean bank. They're out there.

There’s not a generic way to engage a company because people are very bespoke. And the people at the company, that is the company. You meet with them, they’re just generally really good human beings who don’t look in the mirror and see that they are inherently trying to destroy the planet.

**Where do you see your work, As You Sow’s work, the mission overall going from here?**

We feel blessed that we are in an era where change is happening, where we are in a position to actually help find a glide path into a new regenerative economy. The whole world's rebuilding a whole new energy system. We can power the entire planet with renewables. We don't need these commodities. We don't need to be held by these cartels charging whatever they want to charge. So there's this level of freedom that's going to be happening.

How we feed ourselves—entire farming systems across the world, we do not need petroleum products, we do not need pesticides. And each acre could triple the output. We can feed the world.

We see that there is a great lack of justice and a great lack of just reparations for all the harms that have gone before. There is a way to actually build this new world.

**Earth Hero is focused on climate efforts at the individual and community levels. Are there ways that people and small groups can contribute to the work of As You Sow and likeminded organizations?**

At the individual and community level, people have so much more power and they are aware of. First, most people have some type of retirement plan, usually a 401(k) or a 403(b), that is generally invested in the entire extractive economy. This means that they're investing their hard-earned dollars out of every paycheck in an unlivable planet, rainforest destruction, private prisons, and injustice. The person who earns the money has the right to invest it aligned with their values. If each person spoke to their retirement administrator at their company, and also spoke to their peers who would then raise the same issue, soon they would find that the majority of the participants in the plan want the same thing and the plan would change.

If you go to our website [www.investyourvalues.org](http://www.investyourvalues.org/) and click on “how this works” there is an action toolkit that includes emails you can send to peers to start the conversation, template letters you can send to your plan administrator, resources for the administrator to better understand their options, and a range of other resources. If everyone decided that they were going to use their savings to capitalize a future that is different than the status quo, things would change.

Everyone should realize that where they bank, the credit card they use, the products they buy, and how they save for retirement, all send signals to the broader economy that they are either satisfied with the status quo or they want to capitalize a different vision of the future.

**Supporters can assist As You Sow’s mission with [donations](https://www.asyousow.org/donate). Earth Hero has also compiled a list of [more than 50 environmental and climate organizations that you can get involved with](https://www.earthhero.org/activism-groups).**


Earth Hero Interview: As You Sow

Roads and [railways](https://www.earthhero.org/act/13-take-train-or-bus-instead-of-plane) empower human mobility, but they also divide natural landscapes making it difficult for wild animals to move freely in search of food, water, shelter, and mates. Migratory species travel long distances seasonally for survival, and even species that do not migrate often need wide ranges to thrive. Shifts in habitats and food supply caused by climate change make it even more important for animals to access different environments. Wildlife crossings provide safe paths for animals to navigate a landscape increasingly altered by humans.

Green bridges are built over roads and highways and designed to look like the natural landscape. They are often covered with soil and native plants to encourage animals to use them. The Netherlands has constructed over 600 wildlife crossings\*. For example, the Natuurbrug Zanderij Crailoo is a green bridge that people can [walk](https://www.earthhero.org/act/552-within-walking-distancequest-walk!) and [bike](https://www.earthhero.org/act/8-bike-instead-of-drive) across which also helps animals like deer and badgers move safely between sections of a nature reserve. Connecting otherwise separated populations of animals allows those animals to maintain a healthy population.

Australia has another kind of wildlife bridge that caters to the annual migration of millions of red crabs in Christmas Island National Park. These crabs travel from the forest to the beach annually to dig burrows for mating. Crab bridges assist them in crossing roads safely. Barriers are strategically placed along the crabs' natural paths to direct them towards the bridges, making their migration safer from vehicles.

Wildlife crossings can also be underground. The Henry Street amphibian tunnel in Massachusetts provides a safe passage under the street allowing salamanders to reach their breeding area. Before this tunnel was built, local volunteers carried the salamanders across the road in buckets. The volunteers helped the salamanders maintain a large breeding population until the amphibian tunnel was constructed.

When animals can select from a larger pool of mates, their offspring have greater genetic diversity. That diversity increases the chances that some individuals will have genes resistant to certain diseases or environmental stresses, helping maintain the overall health of a species. This allows populations to respond to changes, such as shifting climate and new diseases, keeping species robust and adaptable. A diverse gene pool also reduces the risk of genetic disorders caused by inbreeding.

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing in Las Angeles California aims to be the largest wildlife crossing in the world when completed in 2026. This overpass will help mountain lions, deer, and smaller animals like bats and lizards move safely across the 101 Freeway. The project was inspired by a mountain lion named P-22 who garnered media attention by crossing 10 lanes of traffic on one of LA’s largest freeways. People were moved by the story of this creature whose range was so fragmented compared to his ancestors, and he became a local celebrity. Unfortunately, an injury from a collision led to his untimely passing. P-22’s story highlighted the need for safe wildlife passages and motivated the community to begin thinking of wild animals as their neighbors and [donate](https://www.earthhero.org/act/659-donate-to-an-environmental-cause) to the Wildlife Crossing project.

Keeping wild animals off the road is also safer and more cost-effective. The US Department of Agriculture estimated that wildlife collisions in the United States result in 26,000 human injuries and 200 human deaths costing Americans $8 billion per year\*\*.

**HOW WE ALL CAN HELP**
Support initiatives that will address the need for animals to cross roads. This will reduce collisions by lowering the chances of encountering an animal while [driving](https://www.earthhero.org/act/20-drive-more-efficiently). Slowing down when driving through wildlife crossing zones also lowers the risk of accidents.

We can also be wary of building new roads, especially because cars and roads take up so much space while cutting up our wilderness areas. Especially because [adding more lanes and roads does not improve traffic conditions](https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/07/why-traffic-cant-be-solved-with-just-adding-more-highway-lanes.html). Plus it wastes our taxpayer money.

Another way to help wildlife move safely in your region is to support projects like the [Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing](https://101wildlifecrossing.org/supporters/). Community donations play a significant role in building and maintaining these connective pathways. One of the most important steps you can take is to advocate for policies that protect animals and request that wildlife crossings be included in local transportation planning. An easy way to start is by following conservation-focused groups from your country on social media. Often these organizations update their audience about pending laws and suggest opportunities to [reach out to lawmakers](https://www.earthhero.org/act/180-write-your-representatives/) or [comment on government regulation](https://www.earthhero.org/act/197-comment-on-government-regulation).

Wildlife crossings benefit both animals and humans by promoting safety, preserving biodiversity, and enhancing genetic diversity. By embracing these structures in your area, you can help ensure a healthier, more connected natural world for future generations.

\*“Wildlife Crossings.” [nationalgeographic.org](http://nationalgeographic.org), Accessed 22 June, 2024, https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/wildlife-crossings/

\*\*“Highway Crossing Structures for Wildlife: Opportunities for Improving Driver and Animal Safety.” [Fs.usda.gov](http://fs.usda.gov), Accessed 22 June, 2024, https://www.fs.usda.gov/psw/publications/documents/psw\_gtr271/psw\_gtr271.pdf


The Road to Reconnection: Wildlife Crossings Address Habitat Fragmentation

Hi, Earth Heroes! This is Colleen – I’m a volunteer with the Earth Hero funding team. We just launched the [Tip Jar Campaign](https://www.earthhero.org/donate), and I wanted to tell you a bit about the campaign and why I’m so excited about it.

**What is the Tip Jar Campaign?**
In the age of remote work, I spend a good amount of time in coffee shops (okay, _a lot of time in coffee shops_), and one thing I always see are fun tip jar competitions between “Batman vs. Spiderman” or “tourists vs. locals” or “Beyonce vs Taylor Swift” ….you get the idea.  

I always thought the concept was kind of cute and realized it might be a great way to engage your guy’s thoughts on where you want Earth Hero to go as well as raise money to help us to, you know, _actually help get us there._

**How Does The Tip Jar Campaign Work?**
There are two projects in this campaign: Add 50 more actions vs. Launch a web app. 

Donate an amount of your choice to the project you want to “win” the competition. By the end of the fundraiser, the project that has the most money will take the money from both projects and use it to complete the project goal. 
 
We want to make the campaign fun and accessible, which is why the idea is to **donate one dollar** to the project of your choice. Of course, if you want to donate more, you’re more than welcome to, but we want to make sure anyone who wants to participate can. Keep in mind that the more you donate, the more power you’re putting behind your vote. 

**What Are the Two Projects, Anyway?**

**_Add 50 Action Items_**: If you’re like me, then chances are you’ve tapped out of all the Earth Hero actions. Researching which actions drive the most change, computing the actions to figure out how much impact it will create, and all other logistical hurdles takes a lot of time and a lot of money.  The action items will sprawl a range of new projects related to pets, children, driving system changes, and other exciting ways to advance your climate journey.

**_Launch A Web App:_** Right now, Earth Hero users can only access the platform through the mobile app. And while most people do have a mobile phone, having a web app would allow Earth Hero to expand its reach, drive more climate impact, and lower global emissions.

**Vote For Your Favorite Project Today!**
[Visit the campaign today](https://www.earthhero.org/donate) and vote for your favorite project. 

Which project will battle it out and become the undisputed winner? **Only you can decide. **


Donate to the Tip Campaign!

In the heart of Africa lies the conflict-ridden Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), abundant with valuable minerals such as cobalt, tantalum, tungsten, tin, and other essential elements vital for modern technology. Yet, this wealth is intertwined with a darker narrative of exploitation, violence, and human suffering. This issue stems from the very devices that we hold in our hands. The production of these products has come at a hidden cost, borne by the blood-soaked soil of the people of Congo.

For decades, [Congo's mineral wealth has been a double-edged sword, financing warfare and causing instability](https://trtafrika.com/africa/the-forgotten-war-in-dr-congo-and-the-scramble-for-minerals-15725389). Smuggled through porous borders, these minerals line the pockets of warlords and corrupt traders, perpetuating a cycle of violence and exploitation. A good example is cobalt, a vital component of lithium-ion batteries that is used in powering our smartphones and electric vehicles, but has however been identified as a major catalyst of this crisis. Despite international scrutiny and calls for accountability, the plunder of Congo's resources continues unabated, fueled by the insatiable demand for minerals in global markets.

In the thick jungles of eastern Congo, where over a hundred armed rebel groups are located, the extraction of these minerals often takes a heavy toll on human lives. [Chinese companies especially have been a major culprit in Congo's mining sector exploitation](https://nation.africa/africa/news/drc-moves-to-terminate-skewed-china-contracts-4194780), as their economic expedition continues to play a pivotal role in shaping the extraction and refining of cobalt. As this quest continues, children as young as six often work in perilous conditions, their labor fueling the insatiable demand for cobalt. Despite assurances of ethical practices, [Apple's supply chain remains shrouded](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/congo-lawyers-say-received-new-evidence-apples-minerals-supply-chain-2024-05-22/), leaving room for the infiltration of minerals sourced from regions ravaged by violence. The term “blood minerals” refers to mineral resources that are sourced through the suffering of a populace caught in the crossfire of armed conflict and rampant exploitation.

Reports of mass killings, forced labor, and child exploitation paints a harrowing picture of the human cost behind our sleek gadgets. [An Amnesty International report](https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/afr62/3183/2016/en/) notes that around 40,000 young boys and girls worked in copper and cobalt mines in southern DRC, a number likely to have increased with the expansion of electric car production. 

According to a research report from the US Department of Labor, over 40,000 children, some as young as six years old, are employed in cobalt mines. Working in tight underground spaces without proper safety measures, these child laborers face grave risks of injury or death, including falls into open mine shafts or being trapped in collapses. Women also engage in artisanal cobalt mining because it offers the highest earnings in the region, providing between $2.15 and $8.60 per day with minimal investment, training, or skills required, as reported by The Northern Miner Group. Even though the laws of the DRC prohibit children under 18 from working in mining, lack of enforcement and widespread poverty continue to fuel this exploitation. 

Beyond the sad tale of human lives lost, mining in Congo also has profound environmental repercussions. The extraction process yields hazardous byproducts that can poison ecosystems as mines rich in sulfur contribute to the formation of sulfuric acid when exposed to the environment; they contaminate the air, rivers, streams, and marine life.

**A Transformational Shift is Needed**

A sustainable approach demands a transformative shift. Key to this is embracing the recycling of lithium-ion batteries, which are generally much less polluting than oil. This evolution, however, will necessitate effective medium- and long-term strategies to address both environmental concerns and the soaring demand for batteries as electric vehicles gain more traction. For example, the long-term storage of batteries poses a significant threat when not properly managed, as lithium-ion batteries can release toxic substances into the environment, including heavy metals that seep into soil and groundwater.

Also, integrating plant-based strategies into mining rehabilitation efforts in Congo could significantly mitigate environmental impacts and promote sustainable land-use practices. Different plant species possess unique abilities to absorb and mitigate contaminants. For instance, sunflowers are known for absorbing radiation, as demonstrated at the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site in northern Ukraine (this site is well-known for the catastrophic nuclear accident that occurred on April 26, 1986). Mustard greens also excel at absorbing lead, making them valuable in safeguarding children from lead poisoning. Willow trees are adept at storing heavy metals in their roots, while poplars can efficiently absorb hydrocarbons from petrochemical pollution due to their water-absorbing properties. Alpine pennycress has also shown promise in absorbing various heavy metals, particularly when soil pH is adjusted to be more acidic. These plants not only clean up pollutants but also help prevent their spread via wind, rain, or groundwater, thereby preventing contamination within mining sites and safeguarding surrounding ecosystems.

It is also important for us to move beyond mere substitution of mineral resources towards adopting eco-friendly solutions. Therefore, encouraging infrastructure changes, such as promoting bicycling and walking should be embraced by all to alleviate the pressure on mineral resources from an over-reliance on cars. 

Multinational corporations like Apple also have a moral obligation to uphold the highest standards of corporate responsibility; profits should not come at the expense of human rights, despite the insatiable hunger for greater profits as demanded by the board of directors of any for-profit corporation. Companies must prioritize the well-being of workers and communities impacted by their operations. This means investing in sustainable development initiatives, supporting local economies, and empowering marginalized groups to shape their own futures. Naturally, action over superficial lip service is especially important.

Our gadgets and vehicles may connect us across continents, but it is our shared humanity that binds us together in the fight for a better world. If we are to build a more just and equitable future, we must confront this reality head-on and demand accountability from those who profit from exploitation. It is time for us all to heed the call for justice and stand in solidarity with the people of Congo as we promote the quest for ensuring environmental accountability and sustainability.


Exploitation in our Phones: How the World Failed Congo

Climate change affects all of us, but sometimes there are barriers that prevent people from getting involved. To have the greatest impact it is crucial to reach out to all communities and ensure everyone has a chance to join the movement.

Historically, many groups have struggled to access green spaces and connect with nature and the climate movement. A study highlighted this disparity, showing that parks in disadvantaged neighborhoods often receive lower quality ratings on Google Maps\*. Low-income earners have been disproportionately impacted by [environmental injustices](https://www.earthhero.org/act/683-learn-about-environmental-justice). [Women](https://www.earthhero.org/act/676-advocate-for-women's-rights) in certain parts of the world are treated as second-class citizens and have also been underrepresented. There is sometimes an urban bias to addressing climate change, which can alienate people living in rural communities. Those who have experienced such obstacles may feel sidelined and unheard. Extra efforts can be made to ensure all feel welcomed.

Here are some steps to consider to create an inclusive climate action event:

1\. **Ask for Guidance from Community Leaders**: Reach out to leaders in the communities you want to engage with. Building trust takes time, so be patient and consistent. Ask questions, listen to expressed needs, and show up to offer support without making promises you can't keep.

2\. **Partner with Community Organizations**: Collaborate with organizations that understand the challenges and priorities of those they serve. These partnerships establish trust and credibility for your event, and members of these organizations can assist with outreach.

3\. **Pick a Convenient Location**: Select a venue that's easy to reach via [public transportation](https://www.earthhero.org/act/6-use-mass-transit) if it is good in your area. Secure a space that is accessible, including those with mobility challenges. Be creative and make it easier for attendees to get to the event through carpooling, shuttle van services, or reimbursements for travel expenses if possible.

4\. **Interact Directly with Community Members**: Especially for more marginalized groups, this might involve meeting closer to where they live. Prioritize listening over speaking when you [talk about climate](https://www.earthhero.org/act/168-talk-about-climate). Ask how you can offer support rather than expecting them to respond to your needs.

5\. **Diversify Your Speakers and Programming**: Invite speakers from varied backgrounds and [organize programming](https://www.earthhero.org/act/682-engage-in-climate-change-education) that caters to wide-ranging interests. Develop promotional materials that include images of people from differing geographical, ability, gender, age, and economic backgrounds. When you [give a public talk about climate](https://www.earthhero.org/act/232-give-a-public-climate-talk), use plain language and avoid jargon to make the event more accessible to non-native speakers. Provide translation services and sign language interpreters for the deaf, if possible. 

6\. **Create a Welcoming Environment**: Greet people and answer questions as guests arrive. Confusion is often an unintended way to make people feel unwelcome. Post signs to guide attendees to the event space, and if you are offering refreshments provide clear ingredient labels for those with dietary restrictions. Communicate group expectations for respect and mutual support to foster an atmosphere where everyone feels safe and heard. Demonstrate a commitment to cultural sensitivity.

7\. **Facilitate Connection-Building Activities**: Break the ice with activities that help attendees connect across social and class boundaries. Encourage participation in breakout groups to hear diverse perspectives and provide opportunities for attendees to share their experiences and needs.

8\. **Gather Feedback**: Collect feedback from participants using comment cards or surveys. Options for anonymity and confidentiality can be reassuring to allow people to speak their minds. Use this feedback to improve future events and continue to increase their inclusivity.

9\. **Express Gratitude to all Involved:** Take the time to [thank your collaborators and attendees](https://www.earthhero.org/act/260-thank-climate-change-trailblazers) for their commitment to climate action. Emphasize that the conversation doesn't end with the event; it's ongoing and they will hear from you again soon.

By considering these ideas, we can host climate events that empower more people to take action and make a difference. Together, we will build a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

\*Walter, M., Bagozzi, B.E., Ajibade, I. _et al._ Social media analysis reveals environmental injustices in Philadelphia urban parks. _Sci Rep_ **13**, 12571 (2023).[ https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39579-4](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-39579-4) 


Breaking Barriers: Making Climate Events Inclusive for All Communities

33 Psychological Barriers to Climate Change Action

When was the last time you saw a butterfly? Not just a quick glimpse, but a real moment where you watched its colorful wings fluttering in the air. It's a question worth asking, because the fact that we see fewer and fewer butterflies tells us something is wrong with our world.

Since the 1970s, a lot of butterfly species have been disappearing. For instance, one famous butterfly, the monarch, is in big trouble. It used to be a symbol of nature across the globe but now it's struggling to survive because its homes are being destroyed and it's getting hotter. In just ten years, its numbers have dropped a lot, for instance, a report by the Centre for Biological Diversity revealed that over the past two decades, monarch butterflies have declined by 90% since the 1990s.

To further corroborate this, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 2021, classified the migratory monarch butterfly as endangered and added it to the Red List of Threatened Species. The IUCN's declaration of the monarch as endangered serves as a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need for action to safeguard these iconic butterflies. When experts say the monarch is in danger, it's like a big warning bell ringing. This tells us we need to act fast to save these beautiful creatures. It's not just monarchs in trouble; other insects are also struggling because of bigger problems with the environment.

The decline in butterfly populations is attributed to several interconnected factors. One, as we know, is climate change. As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, primarily due to burning oil and gas, it affects the places where butterflies live, find food, and reproduce. This is especially tough on migrating butterflies like the monarch. In some places, it gets too hot and dry, making it hard for butterflies to survive.  This crisis might be our last chance to save some of the world's favorite butterfly species. But even though we know how important it is, some governments still haven't done enough to protect them and phase out oil and gas faster.

Human encroachment is also to blame. We are cutting down forests, building cities, and expanding farms, which harms butterfly habitats or destroys them altogether. Butterflies need specific places to live, lay eggs, and eat, so losing these habitats hurts their populations. When we upset the balance of nature by destroying habitats and changing the climate, it affects the variety of plants and animals in an area. Butterflies depend on a variety of plants for food and shelter, so when we reduce the number of plant species, it hurts butterfly numbers too.

The chemicals we use to kill pests and weeds also harm butterflies. They kill the plants their babies need to eat. For example, using weed killers can wipe out milkweed, which monarch caterpillars rely on for food. We therefore need to embrace sustainable farming practices by reducing reliance on harmful pesticides and herbicides. 

Invasive Species are also a threat. When non-native plants take over an area, they can crowd out the plants that butterflies need to survive. This disrupts their homes and makes it harder for them to find food and shelter.

The monarch's struggle shows us a bigger problem of the broader challenges facing biodiversity worldwide. Losing so many plants and animals could threaten the services that ecosystems provide to humanity, such as clean air and water, fertile soil, and climate regulation.

But there's some hope. To tackle the decline of butterflies, we all need to take action on multiple fronts. We can help the monarchs by planting more of the plants they need to survive (see these Actions: [Plant milkweed](https://www.earthhero.org/act/455-plant-native-milkweed), [Plant a pollinator friendly garden](https://www.earthhero.org/act/405-plant-a-pollinator-friendly-garden) and [Start or join a community garden](https://www.earthhero.org/act/474-start-or-join-a-community-garden)). For instance, native plants such as milkweed, lavender, coneflowers, and other butterfly-friendly species can provide essential food and habitat for butterfly larvae and adults so we do not end up being the last ones lucky enough to enjoy their beauty.

Also, cutting down on greenhouse gasses, using land in sustainable ways, and spreading awareness about why butterflies are important in our ecosystems. By working together, we can help ensure that these beautiful insects stick around for generations to come.


The Missing Butterflies: A Silent Alarm for Our Future

If you are more concerned about the climate than profit, you won’t be surprised to learn that many banks finance fossil fuel projects. A tougher challenge is to find banks that are both saying and doing the right things on the climate crisis. The good news is they are out there.

The _[Banking on Climate Chaos](https://www.bankingonclimatechaos.org/)_ report offers a damning picture of the financial sector’s continued financing of fossil fuels: From 2016 to 2022, the seven years following approval of the international [Paris Agreement on climate change](https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement), the global 60 largest banks provided $5.5 trillion for the fossil fuel industry.

That covers financing – which the report defines as loans and underwriting of debt and equity issuances – for fossil fuel infrastructure expansion, fracking companies, coal mining and coal power, oil and gas extraction in the Amazon, and other operations.

The top financier in those years was JPMorgan Chase, at $434.1 billion, according to the report prepared by the Sierra Club, Rainforest Action Network, and five other nongovernmental organizations and endorsed by hundreds of others. That was over $100 billion above No. 2 Citigroup, at $332.9 billion. Rounding out the top five were Wells Fargo ($316.7 billion), Bank of America ($279.7 billion), and the Royal Bank of Canada ($252.5 billion).

“Global banks often make public declarations that they are addressing climate change, but the scale of their continued financing of fossil fuels and industrial agriculture is simply staggering,” the _[Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/04/banks-pour-trillions-fossil-fuel-expansion-global-south-report-says)_[ newspaper](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/04/banks-pour-trillions-fossil-fuel-expansion-global-south-report-says) quoted Teresa Anderson, global lead on climate justice for ActionAid International, as saying after that organization published [its own report](https://actionaid.org/publications/2023/how-finance-flows-banks-fuelling-climate-crisis) finding that banks had provided $3.2 billion for fossil fuel activities in the Global South from 2016 to 2022.

Banks like JPMorgan Chase counter that they are mindful of both the climate crisis and their roles in powering the global economy. 

“At JPMorgan Chase, we work to power economies around the world and champion opportunity in good and difficult times,” JPMorgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon said in the introduction to the bank’s [Climate Report](https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/documents/Climate-Report-2023.pdf). “A key challenge is meeting governments and companies’ net-zero emissions goals by 2050 while also meeting the global need for secure, reliable and affordable energy. As I have said before, these objectives are not mutually exclusive. We can — and must — do both.”

The report highlights JPMorgan climate actions dating to 2004, including the 2017 declaration of the intention to “facilitate” $200 billion in clean energy financing over eight years. The Rainforest Action Network quickly responded by accusing the bank of “[greenwashing](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/greenwashing#:~:text=By%20misleading%20the%20public%20to,some%20more%20obvious%20than%20others.)”: an increasingly used pejorative for companies that publicly overstate or mislead regarding actual steps taken to address their contributions to climate change.

The transparency organization [Mighty Deposits](https://mightydeposits.com/) generally defines eco-friendly banks as “those that acknowledge that their lending and investment choices have an impact on the health of the planet, and take action to decrease funding projects that harm the environment.”

It provides lists of both [sustainable banks](https://mightydeposits.com/find-banks#/find?cause=sustainability&page=1) and [banks that are not financing fossil fuels](https://mightydeposits.com/find-banks#/find?cause=all&page=1&feature=dep_dont_fund_ff). Many are local or regional banks rather than the massive institutions cited in _the Banking on Climate Crisis_ report. For example: topping the list of banks that do not finance fossil fuels on the Mighty Deposits website is Ponce Bank, which lists just 14 locations in and around New York City.

The number of banks with this distinction is limited yet growing. As of March 2024, Mighty Deposits lists 13 banks across the United States that are not financing fossil fuels. However, [more than 300 credit unions](https://mightydeposits.com/find-credit-unions#/find?cause=all&page=1&feature=dep_dont_fund_ff&showmap=true) are also fossil fuel-free.

Mighty Deposits cites pro-environment banking options beyond those on the sustainability and no-fossil-fuel-investments lists. These encompass B-Corp Banks, which “meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose”; members of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values; and Aspiration, ATMOS, Ando, and other “environmentally focused neobanks.”

Other organizations, such as [Bank.Green](https://bank.green/) allows you to check if your bank is "funding climate chaos" and find alternatives in 50+ countries. [Bank for Good](https://bankforgood.org/), also offers guidance on finding environmentally focused-institutions in the United States.

Meanwhile, shareholders, regulators, and others worldwide continue fighting to push larger banks away from financing fossil fuels. In January 2024, the New York City Comptroller’s Office announced that the city had joined with three major city pension funds to file shareholder proposals demanding that JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and other financial institutions completely report their financing of fossil fuels versus clean energy. Within a matter of months, JPMorgan and Citigroup had agreed to the demand, [Energy Monitor reported](https://www.energymonitor.ai/news/citigroup-follows-in-footsteps-of-jpmorgan-chase-by-agreeing-to-disclose-green-financing-ratio/).

[The financing ratio must reach 4:1 clean energy vs. fossil fuels by 2030](https://comptroller.nyc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Bank-of-America-Shareholder-Proposal-Clean-Energy-Supply-Finance-Ratio.pdf), and improve from there, to keep the world on a path to net-zero emissions by 2050 and to prevent the Earth from exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance analysis cited in a Comptroller press release. The 2022 ratio for North American banks was 0.6:1.

“Despite all their talk, the big banks have made little progress in the energy finance transition over the past couple of years,” Comptroller Brad Lander said in a [press release](https://comptroller.nyc.gov/newsroom/nyc-comptroller-lander-nyc-pension-funds-launch-shareholder-drive-to-hold-banks-accountable-for-transition-away-from-financing-of-fossil-fuels/#:~:text=Analysis%20by%20Bloomberg%20New%20Energy,average%20ratio%20of%200.6%3A1.). “As long-term investors exposed to climate risk, we can’t just take their word for it.”

It’s not just a battle for powerful organizations – individuals can [recognize greenwashing](https://www.earthhero.org/act/468-recognize-greenwashing), [invest in clean energy](https://www.earthhero.org/act/198-invest-in-clean-energy), and[ talk about the relationship between their banks and fossil fuels](https://www.earthhero.org/act/495-talk-about-banks-and-fossil-fuels), among many other actions. [Earth Hero ](https://www.earthhero.org/act)will continue to add actions that can help you do your part to be part of the solution.


How to Bank Without Fossil Fuels

Acts of nonviolent civil disobedience can change a nation, the world, and history. The examples are numerous and consequential, from the Salt March led by Mahatma Gandhi in India to the Montgomery Bus Boycott of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement.

With powerful institutional interests opposed to weaning nations off reliance on fossil fuels because of money-making motives, civil disobedience has become a tool for activists who are forcibly and peaceably demanding stronger measures to curb the climate crisis.

“Nonviolent direct action (NVDA) is a crucial strategy in the fight for climate and social justice because it disrupts business as usual, shifts the spectrum for what people believe is possible, and returns power to the people,” said Reilly Polka, spokesperson for the Washington, D.C., branch of the Extinction Rebellion movement. “Simply asking for those in power to prioritize people over profit doesn’t work, so we turn to tactics like NVDA. NVDA puts public pressure on our institutions. It’s a way to stop the extractive economy in its tracks.”

The _Encyclopedia of Violence, Peace & Conflict_ (via [ScienceDirect](https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/civil-disobedience#:~:text=Nonviolent%20Civil%20Disobedience%3A%20A%20Definition&text=It%20is%20a%20nonviolent%20action,or%20the%20group%2C%20find%20unjust.)) defines civil disobedience as “a nonviolent action engaged in by an individual who refuses to obey the law for moral or philosophical reasons. The participants in civil disobedience willfully and openly refuse to comply with a law in order to dramatize the issue that they, or the group, find unjust.”

These actions have long been part of the environmental movement. Less than a decade ago, Native Americans from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation along the Dakotas led large-scale protests against the routing of the Dakota Access oil pipeline on nearby land that is considered sacred and provides drinking water for the region. The protests included establishing a temporary camp and, at times, individuals chaining themselves to construction equipment. (The American Bar Association has an in-depth explainer [here](https://www.americanbar.org/groups/gpsolo/publications/gp_solo/2018/may-june/standing-rock-case-study-civil-disobedience/).)

Actions by climate activists have taken many forms, as reported by [Vox](https://www.vox.com/23892818/climate-change-activism-radical-protest-civil-disobedience), from blocking entry to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the 2023 Climate Week to dyeing the water of the Trevi Fountain in Rome. Perhaps most famously, activists have defaced and even glued themselves to famous art pieces, including Johannes Vermeer’s _Girl with a Pearl Earring_.

Direct action has multiple effects, Polka said: claiming power for the people against powerful organizations, raising awareness for the climate crisis, disrupting “business as usual,” and re-centering the [Overton Window](https://www.mackinac.org/OvertonWindow) – the model for policies that have sufficient public support that political will pursue them.

“Something we have also heard from people who end up getting involved in XR is they were looking for ways to take action that matched their levels of climate anxiety,” Polka said. “We have found that NVDA, as a more escalated protest strategy, can be a really supportive way of taking action for those feeling intense climate anxiety.”

Extinction Rebellion DC highlights a steady stream of actions, including multiple actions to disrupt the 2023 American Gas Forum in the nation’s capital in opposition to messaging about natural gas as a transition fuel for a clean energy future.

Polka pointed to the organization’s [Electrify DC campaign](https://www.xrdc.org/gas) as a program with the potential to generate lasting change. The campaign aims to stop the local utility, Washington Gas, from spending billions of dollars on new methane gas infrastructure. The organization scored a win in February when 11 District of Columbia Council members issued a letter calling on the DC Public Service Commission to deny approval for the project.

 “This was a victory that XR’s NVDA played a role in making happen,” Polka said. “We pushed the issue onto the Council’s radar many times, from dropping off our demands to disrupting Council meetings to chaining ourselves to the doors of the DC Council building. When they wouldn’t take action, we took matters into our own hands to protect DC residents and shut down a Project Pipes construction site ourselves.”

Activists who undertake civil disobedience can be clear-eyed about the importance of such actions and the potential consequences.

In a [January 2023 commentary](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/10/opinion/scientist-fired-climate-change-activism.html?searchResultPosition=1) for _The New York Times_, earth scientist Rose Abramoff said she joined actions by the organization Science Rebellion after years as a “well-behaved scientist” researching issues of climate change. At a December 2022 meeting of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), Abramoff joined climate scientist and Earth Hero co-founder Peter Kalmus in briefly pre-empting one session by hoisting a banner with the message “Out of the lab & into the streets.” The two scientists were ejected from the meeting and their research for the event was pulled. Shortly afterward, Abramoff was fired from her position as an associate scientist at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. 

Abramoff was not deterred. She said she participated in numerous protests in 2023 against fossil fuel financing and infrastructure, and was arrested four times – with charges later dropped or resulting in small fines or community service. She has continued her research at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and the Ronin Institute, and she and Kalmus attended the AGU’S Fall 2023 meeting.

“After the accelerating climate impacts that we saw this past summer, I am more convinced than ever that collective action is the best use of my time, and is probably the best use of most people's time,” she said.

Interested in getting involved? Numerous organizations in the United States and abroad conduct nonviolent disobedience on climate issues, including Climate Defiance, Declare Emergency, Third Act, and others, Polka noted. Extinction Rebellion DC offers [trainings and other opportunities](https://www.xrdc.org/join) for volunteers. Consider exploring the [Earth Hero Climate Action Group Finder](https://www.earthhero.org/activism-groups) to discover a group that aligns with your interests and passion for environmental preservation.

Whatever approach is right for you, it is crucial to act. Earth Hero also offers a broad range of [actions](https://www.earthhero.org/act) at the individual and group level that can help address climate change, including joining climate rallies or organizations and other acts of [advocacy](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/advocacy-and-choice).


Step Out of Line Against Climate Change

The wheels of progress are in constant motion at Earth Hero, with new actions, features and initiatives being added all the time. Keeping those efforts on track is a herculean task, particularly when a team of volunteers is doing the work. It takes vision, organizational skills, and a keen attention to detail. Flavio Cannizzo, who helps to lead project management efforts here, has all those priceless qualities, and more.

Flavio has lived in London for the past three years, and leads a data science team at a FinTech company. He joined the Earth Hero team in 2023 because he was "looking for a long-term project where I could use my professional skills to help make a positive impact and meet fellow motivated volunteers to make change together."

He made an instant and positive impact here, bringing his experience in data-driven decision-making and knowledge of operational efficiency and resource optimization. "These are all key areas in a tech organization with limited available resources," he said. "In addition, I have experience helping junior talent development via hiring and mentoring. I am keen to help talented volunteers in their professional development journey by making sure they extract the value they need to grow from Earth Hero."

Growth at any organization presents some challenges along the way, and one of them is making sure that projects are prioritized so that time - the most precious commodity - is used wisely and efficiently. To address this issue, Flavio and his fellow volunteers on "Team Project Leads" led a five-session workshop series designed to align the current priority roadmap with a set of medium- and long-term goals. 

"This required input from a range of team representatives, which fostered engaging and constructive decision-making," he said. "It was remarkable to see that the intrinsic aim of each discussion was to foster long-term positive change."

Flavio loves playing guitar, hiking, and traveling, and has a particular passion for cooking the cuisine of his native Italy "as my grandma taught me!" 

Overall, he noted that his contributions to Earth Hero, and the part he can play in addressing greater challenge presented by the climate emergency, are particularly fulfilling. "All long-lasting change requires collective action, and collective action requires a motivated and well-educated community," he concluded. "Earth Hero's volunteers are helping create this community, and that's brilliant."
 


Earth Hero Volunteer Profile - Flavio Cannizzo

_This is the last of a series of articles providing guidance on how taxpayers in the United States can receive federal tax credits under provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 that are intended to promote clean energy. The previous articles in the series are [What You Need to Know About Electric Vehicle Tax Credits](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-electric-vehicle-tax-credits), [What You Need to Know About Residential Energy Tax Credits](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-residential-energy-tax-credits), and [What You Need to Know About Low-Income Communities Bonus Credits](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-low-income-communities-bonus-credits)_.

Each of the 26 clean energy tax provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) has the potential to help push the United States toward a future that is less reliant on the fossil fuels that are the central drivers of climate change. But if there are quiet game-changers at the national level in the law, they are perhaps the clean electricity production tax credit and clean electricity investment tax credit, according to one leading climate group.

“[T]he credits that have the greatest impact to drive forward the clean energy transition will operate largely out of sight from consumers,” Seattle-based Evergreen Action said in a [May 2023 post](https://www.evergreenaction.com/blog/what-are-clean-energy-tax-credits). “The clean electricity production tax credit (PTC) and investment tax credit (ITC) fit that profile: lesser-known, but among the IRA’s highest-impact investments to spur a fair and equitable clean energy economy.”

**PROMOTING CLEAN ENERGY**
The program’s intent is laid out in their names – to provide tax credits for investment in facilities that generate zero-emission electricity or for the production of similarly clean energy. Like other tax credit programs in the IRA, these initiatives are updated versions of existing programs, going into effect on Jan. 1, 2025. Only one of the credits can be used for a project, so no double-dipping. There is no technology specification in the updated credits; by comparison, the previous production tax credit applied specifically to renewable energy facilities, [according to the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center](https://programs.dsireusa.org/system/program/detail/734).

Eligible technologies for either program encompass various wind and solar systems, municipal solid waste, geothermal, and tidal. The ITC-only list adds energy storage, microgrid controllers, fuel cells, microturbines, and expenses related to interconnection. If applying solely for a PTC, the relevant technologies are biomass, landfill gas, hydroelectric, marine, and hydrokinetic.

Both start with modest credit offerings that can be boosted significantly based on wages offered to workers, the amount of domestic material used in the project, and whether they are located in an “energy community.” Anticipated levels of uptake of those credits to support clean energy projects could have substantial effects on emissions, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in its [2023 Annual Energy Outlook](https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/aeo/IIF_IRA/). In the “Reference” case that represents the agency’s most likely scenario, there is uptake of the base credits and certain bonus credits that propel a 33% reduction in national carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from 2005 levels by 2030.

“The emissions decline comes because carbon-free resources provide more electricity by 2050 than coal and natural gas. IRA provisions in the Reference case push wind and solar to 56% of electricity generation by 2050,” the EIA said.

**BASE CREDIT WITH ABILITY TO BOOST**
The Investment Tax Credit offers a ground-floor credit for 6% of the qualified investment in a facility that produces clean electricity, as well as certain energy storage technologies. The Production Tax Credit offers 0.3 cents per kilowatt for generation of electricity without greenhouse gas emissions.

From there, each program can raise credits by five times if the project meets “prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements” – for the initial decade of a Production Tax Credit project and for the initial five years of an Investment Tax Credit job, according to Evergreen Action. Here, a prevailing wage is defined as the average wage that workers are paid in a specific job and area.

Credit boosts are also available for projects in both programs that are built with sufficient amounts of domestically produced steel, iron, and manufactured products – 10% for the PTC and up to 10 percentage points for the ITC. Additional credits in those same levels are on the table for a project in an [energy community](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/45) – which, among other sites, encompasses a location that meets the federal definition for a [brownfield site](https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/brownfields/brownfield-overview-and-definition_.html); a metropolitan or other area for which since Dec. 31, 2009, has counted at least 0.17% of employment or a quarter of local tax revenue connected to “extraction, processing, transport of coal, oil, or natural gas”; or a census tract in which a coal mine closed after Dec. 31, 1999, or a coal-fired electrical generating unit shut down after Dec. 31, 2009.

“[Initial projections](https://evergreenaction.com/blog/evergreen-explains-the-climate-impact-of-the-inflation-reduction-act) indicated that the two credits alone will comprise more than $125 billion of investments. Multiple recent reports blow that figure out of the water. According to [Goldman Sachs modeling](https://www.wsj.com/articles/inflation-reduction-act-subsidies-cost-goldman-sachs-report-5623cd29), the IRA could drive three times the climate investments initially projected, with an additional $82 billion in clean energy credits,” Evergreen Action said. “The Congressional Joint Committee on Taxation, which issued the authoritative initial IRA cost estimates, produced even higher revised credit projections—their [April 2023 figures](https://www.jct.gov/publications/2023/jcx-7-23/) indicate the IRA’s clean energy tax credits will drive nearly $570 billion of new federal investments. According to the _Wall Street Journal’s_ coverage, “companies are rushing to cash in on tax credits that aren’t capped.”

These articles have presented just a slice of the tax benefits available for pursuing clean energy projects and technologies. You can find a full list from the White House [here](https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/clean-energy-tax-provisions/), with information also available from participating federal agencies.

Earth Hero also has [a number of actions](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/energy) to help you reduce your climate pollution footprint and help push our society toward better ways of living. Take action today!


What You Need to Know About Clean Electricity Tax Credits

_This is part of a series of articles providing guidance on how taxpayers in the United States can receive federal tax credits under provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 intended to promote clean energy. The first articles in the series are [What You Need to Know About Electric Vehicle Tax Credits](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-electric-vehicle-tax-credits) and [What You Need to Know About Residential Energy Tax Credits](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-residential-energy-tax-credits)._

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 offers opportunities for individuals to earn tax credits for buying electric vehicles and applying clean energy technology to their homes, but the benefits are meant to be spread more widely to reduce U.S. reliance on greenhouse gas-emitting fossil fuels. Case in point: the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program, which boosts the investment tax credit for electricity-generating solar and wind installations built in low-income communities or on Native American land.

“The Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program supports a transformative set of investments designed to create jobs, lower costs for American families, and spur an economic revitalization in communities that have historically been left behind,” [said the Department of Energy](https://www.energy.gov/justice/low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program) (DOE).

This program is notably different from those previously featured in this series, in which taxpayers can claim [EV](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-electric-vehicle-tax-credits) and [residential clean energy](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-residential-energy-tax-credits) credits when they file their income tax return. Instead, the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program involves a competitive application process in which a limited number of facilities will be approved for tax credit increases each year.

The IRA added a new component to the Internal Revenue Code: [Section 48(e](https://energycommunities.gov/funding-opportunity/clean-electricity-investment-tax-credit-26-u-s-code-%C2%A4-48e/#:~:text=Description,in%20Section%2013102%20through%202024).)), which broadly provides clean electricity investment tax credits “for any taxable year in an amount equal to the applicable percentage of the qualified investment for such taxable year with respect to” either a facility that meets certain qualifications or any energy storage technology. A qualified electricity production facility, [as now laid out in the code](https://www.law.cornell.edu/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=26-USC-1472377433-419203118&term_occur=999&term_src=title:26:subtitle:A:chapter:1:subchapter:A:part:IV:subpart:E:section:48E), must come online after December 31, 2024, with the expectation of emitting zero greenhouse gases.

The base credit level is 6 percent of a qualified investment for an eligible solar or wind project,[ according to the White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/clean-energy-tax-provisions/). But the credit can be boosted by 10 percentage points for projects in low-income communities or on native tribal land, and increased by 20 percentage points for a facility that is a component of a qualified low-income residential building or qualified low-income economic benefit project, said the DOE, which is managing the program with the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Qualified facilities for the investment increase, per this August 2023 _[Federal Register](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/15/2023-17078/additional-guidance-on-low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program)_[ notice](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2023/08/15/2023-17078/additional-guidance-on-low-income-communities-bonus-credit-program), encompass only a wind facility, solar energy property, or small wind energy property. They must produce under 5 megawatts of electricity in alternating current (AC).

The program uses the federal statutory definition for a low-income community: a population census tract in which the poverty rate is 20 percent or greater; a non-metropolitan tract in which median family income tops out at 80 percent of the statewide median; or a metropolitan tract in which median family income tops out at 80 percent of the statewide median or the metropolitan area median. To be considered part of the low-income residential building program a facility must distribute its electricity “equitably” among all occupants in a building that is part of a covered housing program under the 1994 Violence Against Women Act, a housing assistance program run by the Department of Agriculture under the 1949 Housing Act, a housing program through a tribally designated housing organization under the 1996 Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act, or another select affording housing program. To be considered under the qualified low-income economic benefit program, no less than half of the financial benefits of the generated electricity must go to households that are under 200 percent of the poverty line or under 80 percent of the area's median gross income.

The IRS is authorized to approve as much as 1.8 gigawatts of electricity per year, divided across the four categories: 700 megawatts of capacity each for low-income communities and qualified low-income economic benefit projects and 200 megawatts of capacity each for projects on tribal land and qualified low-income residential buildings.

The first application window opened on October 19, 2023, and closed after 30 days. “Following the 30-day period, DOE will generally accept applications on a rolling basis and will review applications and provide recommendations to the IRS in the order applications are received until the IRS allocates all Capacity Limitation in a program year,” the DOE said.

Organizations can begin the application process at this [DOE Web page](https://eco.energy.gov/ejbonus/s/). According to the agency’s latest accounting, a total of 200 capacity allocations have been approved, leaving just 365 megawatts to be allocated. More than 8,000 applications remained pending.

This series' fourth and final article will examine the tax credits available for clean electricity production and investment. In the meantime, Earth Hero has recommendations on [family and community-level actions](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/family-and-community) you can take to help address the climate crisis, including [joining a climate action group](https://www.earthhero.org/act/233-join-a-climate-action-group),[ acts of non-violent civil disobedience](https://www.earthhero.org/act/237-non-violent-civil-disobedience), and[ adopting a forest](https://www.earthhero.org/act/337-adopt-a-forest).  


What You Need to Know About Low-Income Communities Bonus Credits

_This is part of a series of articles providing guidance on how taxpayers in the United States can receive federal income tax credits under provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 intended to promote clean energy. Our first article, on electric vehicle credits, can be found[ here](https://www.earthhero.org/articles/what-you-need-to-know-about-electric-vehicle-tax-credits)._

If you are a homeowner who wants to add clean energy generation to your home, or to make your house more energy efficient, the U.S. government wants to help. In fact, under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022, it wants to help more than ever.

The law increased the tax credits available for installing a broad range of clean electricity products and energy-efficient home refurbishments, through at least the 2032 tax year. Depending on the amount of work done on a house, thousands of dollars worth of credits could be available. Homeowners can claim credits to offset select costs, as can renters in some cases. As with the electric vehicle program, the credits are nonrefundable, meaning you cannot receive more than the income tax owed for the year and credits cannot be passed on to future tax filings.

The mechanism to claim credits is Internal Revenue Service (IRS) [Form 5695](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf) for Residential Energy Credits, which would be filed with your Form 1040 income tax return. Under the IRA, the residential energy efficient property credit has been redesignated as the residential clean energy credit, while the nonbusiness energy property credit has been renamed the energy efficient home improvement credit. Standing houses and houses being built are covered under the first program, while the second program covers only existing structures, [according to IRS](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5695#d0e49) instructions for Form 5695.

**Residential Clean Energy Credit**

This program provides tax credits equal to 30 percent of the cost for eligible preparation, assembly, or installation of the following home clean energy projects: solar panels, solar water heaters, fuel cells, wind turbines, geothermal heat pumps, and battery storage technology. That includes labor costs and expenses for pipes or wires to link one of those systems to a house.
There is generally no dollar maximum for the credits, except $500 per half-kilowatt of capacity from a fuel cell property, which the IRS cites as “an integrated system comprised of a fuel cell stack assembly and associated balance of plant components that converts a fuel into electricity using electrochemical means.”

The credit match would drop to 26 percent in 2033 and 22 percent in 2034,[ the IRS said](https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/home-energy-tax-credits). It would end after that unless new laws are enacted, according to[ financial software firm Intuit](https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/going-green/what-is-the-irs-form-5695/L9D6ARQ0p).

The 30 percent credit level is equal to the tax credit that was available for the 2022 tax year for most clean energy installations, but the previous program did not cover battery storage at all, according to the Department of Energy. To be eligible for fuel-cell credits, a house is required to be in the United States and to be the taxpayer’s principal residence. The requirements for the other technologies are less strict – a home in the United States that serves simply as _a_ residence for the taxpayer.

**Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit**

The potential tax benefits have increased even more significantly under this program for a host of upgrades to your home, encompassing the purchase and installation of heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, biomass stoves, and other heating, cooling, and water heating technology; as well as expenses for energy-efficiency upgrades to doors, windows, and insulation. (The Department of Energy provides a full list[ here](https://www.energy.gov/policy/articles/making-our-homes-more-efficient-clean-energy-tax-credits-consumers).)

On January 1, 2023, the program expanded from a $500 lifetime credit to providing tax credits for up to 30 percent of a project cost in three areas: installation of energy-efficiency improvements, residential energy expenditures, and home energy audits. There is a $1,200 annual credit limit for much of this work, as well as limits for specific projects. For example: installing energy-efficient heating or water heating equipment is each limited to $600 in credits per year, which would be half of the total cap (though still significantly better than the previous credit cap of $300 for heating equipment and $150 for water heating equipment).

There is a separate $2,000 credit maximum for the installation of heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and biomass stoves (stoves that use wood pellets, plants, or other biomass fuel to generate heat). So, in any given year, a homeowner could receive as much as $3,200 in tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements.

There are additional qualifications for homeowners to receive credits under the program, including meeting efficiency requirements under the federal[ Energy Star](https://www.energystar.gov/) program for exterior doors, windows, and skylights. This [IRS fact sheet](https://www.irs.gov/pub/taxpros/fs-2022-40.pdf) details those and other requirements.

The Internal Revenue Service also provides line-by-line instructions for filling out Form 5695 on [this Web page](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i5695). Your tax advisor or tax prep software will naturally be able to help with all of this as well.

In the next article, we’ll examine the Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit. In the meantime, Earth Hero has many [energy-focused recommendations](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/energy) for reducing your climate pollution and saving money, including [using LED lightbulbs](https://www.earthhero.org/act/80-change-light-bulbs-to-leds), adding [rooftop solar](https://www.earthhero.org/act/79-get-rooftop-solar) to your home, and [installing a smart thermostat](https://www.earthhero.org/act/264-install-a-smart-thermostat).


What You Need to Know About Residential Energy Tax Credits

_This is the first in a series of articles that will provide guidance on how taxpayers in the United States can receive federal tax credits under provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 intended to promote clean energy._

The U.S. government is offering a straightforward route for consumers to receive up to $7,500 in federal tax credits for buying an electric vehicle (EV) – file the correct form with your upcoming tax return and claim the benefit. But “straightforward” does not necessarily mean “simple.” Here’s what you need to know when filing Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 8936.

Signed into law on August 16, 2022, the[ Inflation Reduction Act](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/08/15/by-the-numbers-the-inflation-reduction-act/) (IRA) contains, among a host of provisions, $369 billion for a decade of clean energy and associated incentives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are the primary contributor to climate change. The legislation is a central component of past and present activities that [the Department of Energy (DOE) projects](https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2022-08/8.18%20InflationReductionAct_Factsheet_Final.pdf) could by 2030 reduce U.S. emissions by 40 percent from 2005 levels.

The IRA revised the existing Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit, now rechristened the Clean Vehicle Credit. The program in 2023 and going forward provides a maximum of $7,500 in federal income tax credits for purchasing new four-wheel all-electric, fuel cell-electric, and plug-in hybrid vehicles, as well as $4,000 for used EVs, under Internal Revenue Code Section 30D. The authorized amount of nonrefundable credit would be applied to a filer’s tax payment for the year – for example, $7,500 from a $10,000 federal income tax bill, leaving just $2,500 to pay.

As described in [this explainer from the White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/clean-energy-tax-provisions/), the credits are available to buyers with adjusted gross incomes in the present or prior year of no more than $300,000 for couples, $225,000 for heads of households, or $150,000 for single tax filers, which means most people qualify.

Fortunately there are tools to help you figure out which vehicles qualify for the tax credit. For example, you can check [NerdWallet](https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/taxes/ev-tax-credit-electric-vehicle-tax-credit#:~:text=As%20of%202023%2C%20people%20who,tax%20returns%20filed%20in%202024.), which lists the eligible makes and models. The [Fuel Economy website](https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml) also has a tool to check what qualifies.

To be eligible, a new vehicle’s battery capacity cannot be less than 7 kilowatt hours, and its gross vehicle weight rating must be under 14,000 pounds, according to the [DOE](https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/tax2023.shtml#requirements). Only EVs from “qualified” automakers will be considered, except for fuel-cell vehicles. 

One new requirement is that EVs must undergo final assembly in the United States to be eligible for the credits if they are purchased and put into service after August 16, 2022. The vehicle must also be purchased for one’s use, rather than for resale, and it must be used largely in the United States, [according to the IRS](https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/clean-vehicle-and-energy-credits). The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) for eligible vehicles also maxes out at $55,000 for vehicles such as passenger cars or sedans and at $80,000 for vans, pickups, and SUVs, as noted by NerdWallet.

Half of the total credits for a new EV -- $3,750 – are available for vehicles with batteries that are built with a certain percentage of critical minerals such as lithium or cobalt that are extracted or processed in the United States or in a country that has a free trade agreement with the United States, or for batteries with a certain percentage of critical minerals recycled in the U.S. The percentage was 40 percent in 2023, which will increase by 10 percentage points annually to 80 percent in 2027 [the Treasury Department says](https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy1379#:~:text=Critical%20Mineral%20Requirement&text=For%202023%2C%20the%20applicable%20percentage,applicable%20percentage%20is%2070%20percent.). The other half of the credits are available for vehicles in which a “threshold percentage” of the value of battery components comes from parts built or assembled in North America – 50 percent in 2023, 60 percent for 2024 and 2025, then rising by 10 percentage points annually to 100 percent after 2028.

The tax credit for used vehicles is capped at 30 percent of the sales price, no more than $4,000.

Further updates are expected in 2024. For one, the IRS aims to provide EV buyers with the option of taking the tax credit or passing it on to the vehicle seller to reduce the cost of the vehicle during the transaction.

Tax filers will need to provide some specific information on [Form 8936](https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8936.pdf) when they submit it with their Form 1040 income tax form. Required information includes the EV’s vehicle identification number (VIN); the vehicle’s year, make, and model; the date the vehicle went into service; the percentage of vehicle business or investment use; and more. The IRS provides line-by-line instructions on filing Form 8936 [here](https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8936) and this is part of online tax filing tools as well.

The tax credit program is currently scheduled to continue to Dec. 31, 2032. The Biden administration hopes it will contribute to the [White House target](https://www.whitehouse.gov/cleanenergy/ev-acceleration-challenge/) to have EVs comprise half of all U.S. vehicle sales by 2030, from less than 10 percent today. The program’s future appears stable, though there is always the potential for an antagonistic presidential administration to seek to repeal IRA provisions after the 2024 election with assistance from like-minded lawmakers, [as highlighted by this article](https://medium.com/@PeteAltman/will-the-inflation-reduction-act-survive-the-2024-elections-5c1f94abdfb5) from Pete Altman of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

In the next article, we’ll look at tax credits available under the IRA for residential clean energy and home improvements that increase energy efficiency. In the meantime, Earth Hero has recommendations for improving energy efficiency at [home and work](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/home-and-work), from [reducing food waste](https://www.earthhero.org/act/46-reduce-food-waste) to [adding rooftop solar to your house](https://www.earthhero.org/act/category/home-and-work).


What You Need to Know About Electric Vehicle Tax Credits

Earth Hero’s active and motivated users span most of the globe - covering 153 countries by the latest count - and that means they speak many languages. Translating all that content - including descriptions of nearly 200 actions - is no small task, and it requires the diligent work of a dedicated and ever-growing team of volunteers.

At the head of the translation team is Till Hassel, a 27-year-old from Stuttgart, Germany, who works as a project manager in an IT consultancy. Till began volunteering with Earth Hero in June 2022, first jumping in as a German language translator, and he was quickly swept up in the excitement surrounding the growth and development of the app.

“I really enjoy working with such a motivated and caring team,” he said. Under his leadership, that team has doubled from fewer than 10 translators to an active group of about 20. When Till started, the Earth Hero app was available in three languages - English, French and  Japanese. The list of languages now also includes German, Greek, Portuguese, Spanish, and Hungarian, with Italian, Indonesian, and Traditional Chinese coming soon.

Till was also instrumental in getting Earth Hero up and running on Lokalise, a software localization tool used by many app developers. “When we began, we were using Google Sheets, but this upgrade has made a big difference,” he said. It helped to streamline the collaboration and implementation process, and facilitated the task of adding volunteers and languages.

Indeed, much of his volunteer effort is now focused on recruiting new volunteers and adding languages. Till says he communicates with the team in English, the lingua franca.

His work as the language team leader does take some time - as much as 15 hours on some weeks, a little as two on others. But he enjoys the flexibility, and he credits the work with Earth Hero with inspiring him to consider future work in the field of climate tech. “When I joined, I was not even thinking of something like that, but it evolved as I worked more with Earth Hero.”

When he’s not volunteering for Earth Hero or working at his day job, Till can often be found hiking or skiing in the beautiful mountains that are so close to his home. “I love being outdoors.” And he is proud to do what he can to help ensure that we can all continue to enjoy our planet.


Earth Hero Volunteer Profile - Till Hassel

Scientists have [confirmed](https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/) that current global warming is human-caused and not a natural fluctuation in climate, and that the rate of warming is faster than anything seen in the previous 10,000 years.  

Human-caused climate change began during the Industrial Revolution when humanity began to burn fossil fuels - oil, coal, and natural gas - to produce more energy. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been using increasing amounts of energy in order to keep up with consumer demand and sustain an economic system based on infinite growth. 

The gases from burning oil, coal, and natural gas are released into the atmosphere, trap heat from the sun, and in turn warm the planet. This is called the greenhouse effect. The most problematic gases are carbon and methane. They stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years. 

As global temperatures rise, they are altering the conditions of the atmosphere, oceans, and other ecosystems. This will lead to increasingly frequent and extreme wildfires, droughts, floods, heatwaves, and extreme weather events. These are causing food and water shortages, climate migrations, and damage to infrastructure, which will worsen as long as we continue on with business as usual. Climate and ecological breakdown threatens the health, safety, and survival of human and nonhuman life. 

_Floods and Storms_

Earth's lower atmosphere is warming because of fossil fuel emissions. Because warm air holds more moisture, this is leading to increasingly extreme floods, storms, and weather events.

_Droughts_

While some areas will experience flooding, others will experience drought. It’s also possible for an area to alternate between periods of flooding and drought. Warmer temperatures enhance evaporation that dries out soils and vegetation. Changes in the jet stream from warming global temperatures are also reducing rainfall in certain areas. 

_Wildfires_

With worsening droughts, trees and underbrush are drying out. This process creates conditions that make wildfires easier to start, spread, and harder to contain. 

_Heatwaves_

Climate change is leading to more frequent, longer, and intense heat waves. It has increased the size of stalled high-pressure weather systems called "blocking events”, which can produce deadly and long-lasting heat waves.

_Sea Level Rise_

Warming temperatures from burning fossil fuels is causing glaciers and ice sheets to melt and break apart, with the danger of completely collapsing and elevating sea levels enough to destroy and displace island and coastal communities, including major cities like Miami. 

_Sixth Mass Extinction_

We are in the middle of the sixth mass extinction, the first mass extinction caused by human behavior. The current rate of extinction is tens to hundreds of times higher than the average over the past 10 million years. Its main drivers include destructive land and sea use, direct exploitation of plants and animals, global warming, pollution, and invasive species. The sixth mass extinction threatens the biodiversity and ecosystems that humans rely on for survival. 

**Tipping Points**

Human-caused global warming from the burning of fossil fuels is triggering the Earth’s tipping points. These include the melting of glaciers and sea ice, die-off of the Boreal & Amazon rainforests, melting permafrost, coral reef die-off, loss of aerosols & cloud cover, and warming, acidifying oceans. Healthy ecosystems either act as carbon sinks or deflect sunlight, and are necessary to keep the Earth cool. 

Once several tipping points are triggered, it could lead to a cascade effect, triggering other tipping points and irreversibly transitioning the Earth into a state of runaway heating that is outside of human control. This would lead to what climate scientists call an ‘uninhabitable hothouse Earth.’ 

Some tipping points have already been triggered by global warming, while others won’t be triggered until warming worsens. 

**Timeline**

Humanity has a limited window of time left to transition off fossil fuels before we trigger irreversible tipping points and lose the ability to avoid runaway heating. 

The goal of the Paris Climate Agreement is to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius and decrease atmospheric carbon below 350 parts per million (ppm), considered the safe zone for maintaining a safe and habitable planet. To do this we basically need to cut climate pollution in half by 2030. 

The Earth has already heated 1.3 degrees Celsius since the Industrial Revolution. Extreme weather events and tipping points are happening faster and with more extremity than scientists projected, suggesting that we need to speed up our transition off fossil fuels and onto renewable sources of energy.

UN secretary Antonio Guterres is calling for First World countries to [reach net zero emissions by 2040](https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1n/k1n4wutrw2#:~:text=I%20urge%20governments%20to%20make,close%20as%20possible%20to%202050.) and countries who emit less to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

**Solution**

Although our situation is dire, we know the solutions and we [still have time](https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/03/20/climate-change-ipcc-report-15/) to act. The solution to climate change is to stop burning coal, oil, and natural gas for energy and make a global transition to renewable energy. Renewable energy includes solar, wind, tidal, and geothermal. 

In order to avoid ecological collapse, which is as important to human flourishing as climate change, we need to protect at least 30-50% of the land and water, which are critical carbon sinks, and stop consuming more resources than the Earth can safely regenerate. 

We still have time to take collective action in order to maintain a safe and habitable planet. Humanity is being given the opportunity to create a green and flourishing world that considers all life.


Climate Change and Solutions

With more of us adopting ways to live more sustainably, solar energy has been growing in popularity amongst homeowners. Panel technology has become more efficient and cost-effective. Installing solar panels provides renewable, [clean power](https://www.earthhero.org/en_GB/act/78-switch-electricity-to-clean-energy) while reducing your climate pollution and electricity bills. Today, their most common placement is on rooftops, solar technology can be integrated into properties in creative ways beyond just roof panels.

Advancements in solar panel design now allow homeowners to follow a greener lifestyle by installing systems on garages, patios, pergolas and even windows. For those with limited roof space, ground-mounted arrays optimised through strategic placement are an option. Community solar programmes also enable homeowners to buy into shared neighbourhood solar installations.

Thoughtful solar design allows homeowners to maximise their use of this clean energy source while adding aesthetic appeal to their properties. Plus a solar system helps increase resale values. When paired with other renewable sources like geothermal heating and cooling, solar contributes to fully sustainable and environmentally-friendly homes. Here, we explore the creative possibilities of solar systems as we move toward a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.

## Creative Ways to Use Solar Panels

Well regarded as a sustainable living idea, when it comes to using [solar panels](https://www.energysage.com/solar/solar-101/), roof installation tends to be the standard approach. However, there are many creative ways to integrate solar technology into your home and property beyond just placing panels on the roof.

**Panels on roof**

Even though [roof-mounted panels](https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/solar_panel_mounting/) are standard, you can get creative with the layout, such as installing vertical panels, arranging them in patterns or maximising space with custom panel sizes. Explore different roof areas like garages and extensions and use technologies like microinverters for flexible panel placement. 

**General upfront investment:** From $/£/€ 10,000 to 20,000+ plus for home installation (depending on size or property).

**Panels on garages, sheds, etc.**
Supplementary buildings like garages and garden sheds are ideal extra spaces for solar panels, allowing you to generate extra power from multiple structures. Tracker mounts can follow the sun's path for optimal angling. Make sure to check structural soundness before installation.

**General upfront investment:** From $/£/€ 3,000 to 10,000+** **depending on the size of the property.

**Ground-mounted solar arrays**

For properties with limited rooftop space, ground-mounted solar arrays can be installed in yards and strategically placed and landscaped for aesthetic appeal. Arrays can be mounted on poles, framed with fencing, or built into hillsides. Consider spacing needs for cleaning and maintenance access.

**General upfront investment:** From $/£/€ 10,000 to 35,000+** **for a home system depending on the size of the property. 

**Solar carports**

Constructing [solar panel carports](https://carports-canopies.com/solar-carport/) over driveways or parking spaces provides cover in addition to [generating renewable power](https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-priorities/tackle-climate-change/climate-change-stories/choosing-clean-energy/) and helping homeowners to live more sustainably. Use garage or carport structures to mount standard or flexible panels. Ensure height clearance and account for future vehicle sizes.

**General upfront investment:** From $/£/€ 15,000 to 30,000+** **for a two-car garage size.

**Solar pergolas**

Install solar panels on pergolas to provide shade over garden areas and patios which produces extra electricity. Use pergola beams, louvres, and covering to hold panels while providing adjustable shade. Consider drainage system needs.

**General upfront investment:** From $/£/€ 20,000 to 50,000+** **depending on the size of the property.

**Solar awnings or canopies**

Solar awnings and canopies can be constructed over porches, windows, and other exterior areas to simultaneously create shade and harvest energy. Opt for retractable styles to control sun exposure. Check wind load capacity for your area.

**General upfront investment:** From $/£/€ 3,000 to 12,000+** **depending on the size of the property. 

**Solar patio umbrellas**

Patio umbrellas with integrated solar panels can transform outdoor relaxation areas into small power stations. Look for lightweight, waterproof umbrella designs with flexible solar fabric. Ensure pole base is stable for winds.

**General upfront investment:** Approximately $/£/€ 500 to 1,200 per umbrella. 

**Building-integrated Photovoltaic (PV) panels**

Integrate [solar technology directly into buildings](https://bipvco.com/) with products like solar shingles or windows to produce electricity which, in turn, serves structural and aesthetic purposes too. Solar roofing tiles can replace standard shingles. Energy-generating window coatings are also available.

**General upfront investment:** Approximately $/£/€ 25 to 40 per sq ft. 

**Community solar options**

Community solar programmes allow homeowners to invest in shared solar installations when their own property lacks sufficient space. Purchase a portion of a community project to earn credits on your utility bill.

**General upfront investment:** Varies, often little to no upfront expense. 

## Benefits of Creative Solar Applications

Taking a creative approach to solar panel installation enables you to maximise [clean energy](https://www.earthhero.org/en_GB/act/379-switch-electricity-to-clean-energy) production from all available exterior space, rather than just relying on the roof. Structures like garages, gazebos and pergolas become opportunities to harvest more solar energy when panels are mounted strategically.

This creative integration of solar also allows for innovations in aesthetics and design. Rather than looking out of place, solar shingles, windows, canopies and pergolas can enhance the architecture and landscape of your home when thoughtfully incorporated.

Beyond just improving the aesthetics, these types of creative solar applications reduce your dependence on carbon-intensive utility grid electricity by expanding your home's clean energy generating capacity. So your property becomes more sustainable and fully powered by the sun's limitless rays through [effective positioning of solar panels](https://www.geogreenpower.com/solar-panels/ultimate-guide-to-installing-solar-panels-for-your-property/), professional installation and innovative solar application.

## Considerations for Creative Solar Projects

For green living property owners, creative solar projects allow for increased energy production and aesthetic appeal, yet there are a few key considerations to research before installation. Important factors to evaluate include costs and ROI, structural engineering needs, regulations and zoning laws and optimising sun exposure through placement.

**Costs and Return on Investment –** While solar is a long-term money saver, creative solar projects can have higher upfront installation costs versus basic rooftop panels. Research your options thoroughly and calculate payback period and ROI. [Government incentives](https://www.fmb.org.uk/homepicks/solar-panels/solar-panel-grants/) like feed-in tariffs can offset costs.

**Structural Engineering Needs –** Any solar project impacting your home's structures requires an engineer's approval, like carports, pergolas and solar roofs. Ensure the building can handle the additional weight load before undergoing installations.

**Homeowners Association Regulations –** If you belong to a homeowner's association, ensure any creative solar plans meet their community rules and aesthetic standards before installing. Permitted solar projects may require approval paperwork.

**Zoning Laws and Building Codes –** Understand both local and national regulations that apply to solar structures in residential areas. Projects like solar carports and ground mounts may have zoning or land use restrictions to consider depending on location.

**Sun Exposure Optimisation –** Creative solar projects require careful placement planning to maximise sun exposure throughout the year. Consult solar mapping tools to identify optimal solar access areas on your property before installing panels.

Researching these factors will help ensure your creative solar project is feasible, maximally efficient and regulatory compliant. Regulations vary widely across localities so do your homework before installation. Reaching out to professionals that help you with installation is a great way to learn how to navigate any issues like this. They have a lot of experience and will gladly work with you to figure out the best approach.

## Take Control of Your Home’s Energy Solutions

Creative [solar panel installation](https://www.earthhero.org/en_GB/act/79-get-rooftop-solar) allows homeowners to live more sustainably and maximise clean energy production and green living insulation solutions from all available exterior spaces in conservatories and not just rooftops. Thoughtful integration of solar technology can enhance aesthetics while reducing fossil fuel dependence. With proper planning and consideration of regulations, creative solar projects enable beautiful, sustainable, sun-powered homes.


Let it Shine: Creative Ways to Use Solar Energy for Your Property

When you launch the [free Earth Hero app](https://www.earthhero.org/app/) (and we certainly hope that you do this regularly, or will very soon), you’ll be greeted by a rotating selection of salient and thought-provoking quotes from some of the world’s great thinkers. One of these quotes is from global climate leader Greta Thunberg, who said, “You're never too small to make a difference”.

Indeed, small is a very big deal. 

That concept is one of Earth Hero’s [guiding principles](https://www.earthhero.org/principles), namely that, “We support quick, simple, ‘easy’ personal actions, as they may help shift the culture within a household or change a local community, but they also count in motivating people towards further action.”

It’s also a main reason why many people choose to use the Earth Hero app. Alex Young of Nashville, USA, said he regularly launches the app to identify and implement “quick fixes" that help him decrease his carbon footprint. “I can, on a daily basis, while sitting on that couch over there, reduce the number of emails that I'm going to get, or reduce the number of promotional product mailers I get, or just understand what is my time-to-value with each of these things, which has been very good,” he told Earth Hero team member Sabrina Morellato during a recent app-user interview. 

And success in implementing smaller solutions can lead to gratifying, ongoing success, he noted. “Actions become easier as you do them several times. Like talking about climate. Hard at first, but it becomes easier as I learn how to implement and maintain an action.”

Mohamed Assem, of Canada, added that the app’s large selection of small, achievable actions allows users to participate in the effort to combat climate change, without feeling overwhelmed.  “The point of being an environmentalist is not to put too much pressure, but to use it in a positive way, not guilting myself,” he said.

And as a recent reviewer said on the Apple App Store: “[The Earth Hero app] teaches you that one person really can make a massive difference and not even with too much effort!”

When Mohammed and Alex and others all accomplish “quick fixes”, without feeling overwhelmed, it certainly adds up, and helps move the needle. As Vincent Van Gogh said, “Great things are done by a series of small things brought together.”

To help you get started with thinking small, we have compiled the following selection of “quick, simple, ‘easy’ personal actions.” You can use these to begin your journey, or to enhance the efforts that you are already making to decrease your carbon pollution. All of these actions, and more, are available on the Earth Hero app, where you can see how each small action you take contributes to the greater objective of addressing the climate emergency.

## **ADVOCACY & CHOICE**

**_1. Research Investing Jargon_**
Prioritize understanding investment jargon, whether you're an experienced investor or new to the field. Gain financial wisdom to support suitable companies and enhance your investments. Mastery of sustainable investment language empowers better financial decisions, aligning your investments with environmental values.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/280-research-investing-jargon>

**_2. Drawdown Climate Solutions 101_**
Dive into a free, enlightening video course on tackling the climate crisis! Hear from global leaders and expand your toolkit for positive change. Whether you're new or seasoned, explore solutions (and check out the trailer) at the [Drawdown Climate Solutions 101 site](https://drawdown.org/climate-solutions-101). 

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/453-drawdown-climate-solutions-101>

**_3. Write YOUR Representatives_**
Our actions matter, but the battle for our future needs everyone! If leaders stay stuck in pollution, we're stuck too. Let's rally! Elected folks shape the rules. Join Earth Heroes, join forces, and ping your reps about our needs.

Learn more here: https://www.earthhero.org/act/180-write-your-representatives

**_4. Watch Top Climate Documentaries_**
Boost decision smarts with fun science docs! Get clued in on climate, talk the talk, and be a change champ. Dive into cool films for a hotter planet.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/308-watch-top-climate-documentaries>

**_5. Research and Vote Accordingly_**
Familiarize yourself with representatives from local to national levels. Look beyond media portrayals, researching their environmental stance, affiliations, and solutions support. This brief effort enlightens you, aids informed voting, and facilitates discussions with peers. Identifying shared interests forges collaborative change.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/287-research-and-vote-accordingly>

**_6. Change Search Engine to Ecosia_**
Ecosia's not your typical search engine. They plant trees with every click! Hundreds of million so far, mainly in climate-vulnerable areas. Plus, they rock solar power for eco-friendly browsing. Small step, big win. Join the millions already using it and search with purpose.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/238-change-search-engine-to-ecosia>

**_7. Follow Sustainable Influencers_**
Explore sustainable influencers if you're into social media and visual learning. Sharing their content sparks conversations and introduces sustainability to others. Even subscribing boosts their reach, reaching new audiences unfamiliar with the concept.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/510-follow-sustainable-influencers>

## **FAMILY & COMMUNITY**

**_8. Talk About Climate_**
Speak up! Combat the climate crisis by discussing it openly. Sharing personal emissions and actions highlights the issue's personal relevance, inspiring action. Everyday conversations reach a wider audience, making a bigger impact than formal talks.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/168-talk-about-climate>

**_9. Join a Climate Action Group_**
Join a climate action group to amplify your voice collectively. Together, you'll learn, gain resources, allies, and confidence in your climate activism journey. Forge friendships with fellow passionate climate activists along the way.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/233-join-a-climate-action-group>

**_10. Thank Climate Change Trailblazers_**
Shift social norms by vocally supporting positive actions. Expressing gratitude not only fosters well-being but also impacts givers, receivers, and observers. Thank early green adopters in your community for driving positive change.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/260-thank-climate-change-trailblazers>

**_11. Review Eco-Friendly Businesses_**
Online reviews shape decisions for products, restaurants, and experiences. Review eco-friendly places to aid discovery and promote sustainable businesses. Hold non-sustainable ones accountable. Your voice drives positive change.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/212-review-eco-friendly-businesses>

**_12. Like, Comment, Share_**
Liking, commenting, or sharing a post sends a powerful signal and triggers positive effects. Social media algorithms favor interactive posts, amplifying positive environmental messages. Each interaction promotes a culture of progress in society.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/214-likecomma-commentcomma-share>

**_13. Be a Better Gift Giver + Receiver_**
Balancing climate actions with loved ones' preferences is complex. Harness gifting as a chance to influence positively. Choose eco-friendly gifts that enhance their lives and consider handling unwanted gifts gracefully. Your choices inspire a broader ripple effect, impacting beyond your circle.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/265-be-a-better-gift-giver-plus-receiver>

**_14. Borrow Library Books_**
By borrowing instead of buying books, each copy is read by multiple people - reducing the number of copies that need to be produced. This saves trees, and reduces the associated transportation fuel usage. 

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/684-borrow-library-books>

**_15. Watch Top Climate Documentaries_**
Boost decision-making with knowledge. Enjoy science documentaries to grasp the climate crisis, enhancing your advocacy for impactful solutions and a brighter future.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/308-watch-top-climate-documentaries>

## **FOOD**

**_16. Eat More Nuts!_**
Nuts are a top choice in terms of nutrition and environmental impact. Efficient production, low carbon emissions, and carbon storage in nut trees make them planet-friendly. Their natural state provides sustained energy and potential health benefits, promoting weight loss and well-being.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/283-eat-more-nuts>!

**_17. Drink Plant Milk_**
Plant-based milk options, like oat, almond, and coconut milk, gain popularity for various reasons: environmental concern, cow treatment, and taste preference. With over a third of some populations already consuming non-dairy milk weekly, the trend is growing. Cow milk's vast production, methane emissions, and land use contribute to climate issues and deforestation. Explore plant-based alternatives for a more sustainable and possibly tastier choice.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/284-drink-plant-milk>

**_18. Reduce Food Waste_**
Cut food waste to save resources and money. Discarded food wastes water, land, and energy from production and transportation. Global per-person food waste is substantial, equating to significant financial loss. Reducing waste could have a massive positive impact on both the environment and economy. Join the movement!

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/46-reduce-food-waste>

**_19. Save Singles at the Supermarket_**
Opt for single bananas and loose produce to save money, cut food waste, and reduce plastic use. The myth of faster banana ripening in bunches means you can choose exact amounts. Combat household food waste, which drains money and resources, while supporting eco-friendly shopping practices.
Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/430-save-singles-at-the-supermarket>

## **HOME & OFFICE**

**_20. Change Light Bulbs to LEDs_**
Boost energy efficiency by switching to LEDs as bulbs burn out. This collective effort slashes energy use and pollution. Longer-lasting LEDs save time, money, and energy costs compared to incandescents, lasting 25,000+ hours versus 1,000.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/80-change-light-bulbs-to-leds>

**_21. Wash Clothes on Cold Cycle_**
Modern detergents with enzymes are more effective in cold water, being gentler on clothes, preventing fading and shrinking. Cold water washing saves money too, as 90% of energy used in laundry is from water heating, while just 10% powers the washer motor.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/92-wash-clothes-on-cold-cycle>

**_22. Turn Down Your Water Heater_**
Lowering your water heater's temperature not only saves money but also prevents scalding accidents. Many heaters are set hotter than needed; adjust the temperature to conserve energy and experience the benefits.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/108-turn-down-your-water-heater>

**_23. Unsubscribe from Email Lists_**
Unwanted spam emails harm the environment by consuming energy, often from non-clean sources. Unsubscribing curbs energy waste from both sender and receiver, saving time and resisting unnecessary purchases. Unsubscribe for a minor personal benefit and a positive environmental impact.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/227-unsubscribe-from-email-lists>

**_24. Use Cloth Napkins and Towels_**
Join the trend: swap paper for cloth napkins and towels, conserving trees and funds. Elevate your home, cut waste, and ditch disposable products for a more convenient, eco-friendly choice.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/135-use-cloth-napkins-and-towels>

**_25. Use Bar Soap, Shampoo, and More_**
Traditional liquid personal care products like hand soap, shampoo, and conditioner come with hidden environmental costs due to plastic packaging and shipping water. Bar options, with lower carbon footprints, offer a greener alternative. Compact, waste-reducing, and efficient, they help cut down on plastic waste and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/482-use-bar-soapcomma-shampoocomma-and-more>

**_26. Gift Plants and Cuttings to Others_**
Share plants and cuttings as gifts for a generous act with added benefits. Plants enhance aesthetics, air quality, and mental well-being, fostering care for nature. Gifted plants promote mindfulness and positive mental health, while also potentially aiding biodiversity and community connections.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/341-gift-plants-and-cuttings-to-others>

**_27. Manage Your Fridge and Freezer_**
Refrigerators and freezers are major energy consumers at home, especially if aged. Enhance efficiency by setting optimal temperatures, sealing doors, cleaning coils, and maintaining airflow. Properly filling them to about three-quarters capacity boosts cooling and reduces energy usage.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/215-manage-your-fridge-and-freezer>

## **TRAVEL & TRANSPORT**

**_28. Drive More Efficiently_**
Cars, motorcycles, buses, and taxis contribute significantly to global emissions. Regardless of your vehicle's efficiency, driving smarter saves money and cuts pollution. If you are still driving a vehicle that uses gas/petrol/diesal, each drop of saved fuel lessens climate impact, and improved driving habits could enhance fuel efficiency by nearly 40%.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/20-drive-more-efficiently>

**_29. Stop Vehicle Idling_**
Switch off your gas vehicle when idle, even at lights or stops if you are still driving a vehicle that uses gas/petrol/diesal. Improve local air quality, protect health, and combat pollution. Engine idling links to asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer due to emissions. Implementing this easy habit makes a difference.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/28-stop-vehicle-idling>

**_30. Avoid Hotel Toiletries_**
Carry your own toiletries for convenience and reduced plastic consumption. Admire but avoid single-use mini products. Opt for bar soaps and mention bulk dispensers to hotel staff. This small change lessens plastic demand and contributes to fighting climate change.

Learn more here: <https://www.earthhero.org/act/515-avoid-hotel-toiletries>

**BUT THAT’S NOT ALL!** Didn’t find an action that fits your lifestyle? There are plenty more ideas for easy yet impactful actions on the[ Earth Hero website](https://www.earthhero.org/act), and in our[ amazing free app](https://www.earthhero.org/app). Please visit, download, and start doing anything you can to help save the planet.


30 Easy Ways to Kickoff a Sustainable Lifestyle

## Green Jobs: The Sustainable Career Path of the Future

As the effects of climate change continue to be felt, going green has evolved from being optional to an absolute necessity. The costs to our well-being are adding up quickly and working to get climate change under control is the smart thing to do.

Governments, organisations and institutions worldwide are taking steps to lessen the environmental damage that we are causing our only planet. The UN’s [net zero commitments](https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/net-zero-coalition) have been agreed by over 70 countries, in which carbon emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030, and reach net zero by 2050, as stipulated in the Paris Agreement. 

However, we are not on track to meet these climate pollution reduction targets. Businesses, of which [100 are responsible for 71% of greenhouse gas emissions](https://www.activesustainability.com/climate-change/100-companies-responsible-71-ghg-emissions/), need to listen and respond accordingly and transition to more sustainable practices. While most businesses account for far fewer emissions than the top 100 emitters, that does not absolve them of the responsibility to act and take meaningful action. 

One of the most impactful facets of this continuous shift involves the introduction and expansion of ‘green jobs’ that contribute to preserving or restoring our environment. In this short article, we will define some examples of green jobs and their importance, and how you might join up to help build a better future.

## What Are Green Jobs?
Green jobs span a wide range of industries and sectors. They encompass those roles that are actively focused on creating a positive impact on the current or future environment. While there is no official definition of the word ‘green job’, the ethos behind the idea should be self-explanatory enough.

Below are some of the major categories of green jobs:

**• Renewable energy**: Some of the fastest-growing jobs are related to solar, geothermal or wind energy and other sources of clean energy production and maintenance. Examples include solar panel installers, wind turbine technicians, engineers, and renewable energy technicians.

**• Green construction**: These jobs focus on increasing the energy efficiency and sustainability of domestic and commercial buildings. Such roles can include smart home installers, green building designers, or any form of work that involves the use of renewable, energy-efficient materials.

**• Conservation**: This field of work involves the preservation and protection of the environment, plants, wildlife and natural resources. These can include wildlife or marine biology, environmental science, ecology, or marine conservation, among many others.

**• Biodiversity**: Biodiversity overlaps with conservation work in many ways, but also exists as a broad umbrella term. Biodiversity is all about preserving vital ecosystem functions like erosion control, tree pollination, soil fertilisation, ecology, and[ top-level careers that focus on sustainable development](https://info.lse.ac.uk/current-students/careers/information-and-resources/employment-sectors/sustainability). 

**• Green transport**: These roles are all about finding innovative new fuels, technologies and services that reduce the impact of our travels. These include the fast-growing electric vehicle sector (encompassing roles from engineers to manufacturing), as well as electric haulage and public transport operations.

**• Agriculture and forestry**: Organic farming, crop rotation and agriculture technicians all fit under this umbrella term alongside [green careers](https://www.careeronestop.org/GreenCareers/ExploreGreenCareers/explore-green-careers.aspx) related to using natural pesticides, efficient land management or aquaculture, where strides are being made in sustainable-farming practices, landscaping and forestry. Fossil fuels are a massive input to agriculture both for fuel and fertiliser. Anything that helps spread better, cost-effective practices without them is a big step forward.

**• Waste reduction and recycling**: Manufacturers are working hard to create eco-friendly packaging and materials, and these jobs go hand-in-hand. Roles in this space would range from waste management and recycling coordination to composting and refuse collection, among many others. This field is set on minimising the environmental damage caused by our waste.

**• Administration**: Creative and strategic thinkers are needed for roles that focus on helping companies meet sustainability initiatives and environmental compliance standards. Alternatively, it’s not uncommon to find roles for environmental health specialists, green data analysts, or environmental health and safety specialists listed for in-house vacancies.

**• Technology and IT**: The tech job market is growing and is constantly seeking technically-minded experts to help companies leverage technology to meet their sustainability targets. Individuals can work in fields like web development or cloud infrastructure within a company that’s forthcoming about their environmental goals, or even as data centre operators or [penetration testing](https://www.redscan.com/services/penetration-testing/) providers. 

## Why Are Green Jobs Important?
While it’s clear that we still have a long way to go to reverse the detrimental environmental damage we’ve done, as well as tackle the looming climate crisis. However, the boom in the green jobs market has shown that the potential is there, and how pivotal they are at preserving our planet’s resources and long-term future.

Here are just some of the reasons why green jobs are crucial:

**•** They address urgent environmental issues by tackling climate change and helping companies overcome their sustainability challenges. 

**•** They help companies - and by extension, their economies - create increased demand for eco-friendly and self-sufficient systems.

**•** If a net zero pathway is followed, it will create millions of new jobs. 

**•** Green jobs typically provide long-term job security, given that many employers are, understandably, resistant to offshoring.

**•** Investing in green and sustainable jobs means that companies will use less energy, emit fewer emissions, and create lower amounts of waste, so there is a cost incentive here.

**•** [Surveys](https://recyclinglives.com/news/report-reveals-81-people-prefer-buy-sustainable-sellers/) show that consumers tend to prefer socially responsible products, services and brands. Therefore, establishing sustainable practices will help companies meet this demand and retain a competitive edge.

**•** Transitioning to green jobs ultimately reduces pollution and ecological damage, which has a positive knock-on effect on public health.

**•** Green jobs tend to be very accessible and inclusive to under-represented groups. In turn, demand for green jobs provides opportunities for people regardless of ethnicity, gender, or background.

## Getting Involved in the Green Economy
Arguably the most difficult part is finding a green job, given that the term is quite open to interpretation at this stage. Some companies may choose to advertise vacancies on targeted job boards that attract eco-conscious candidates, while others may choose to advertise internally. 

However, if you want advice on how you can get involved in the green jobs market, consider the following steps:

**• Gain training or certification**. If you can undertake environmental awareness training, internships or apprenticeships in agriculture, green building, renewable energy or waste management companies, your real-world experience will prove invaluable.

**• Modify your current job if you can**. If moving into a brand new green job isn’t feasible at this moment, look for ways to make your existing job more sustainable. Whether it’s digitising your paperwork, switching to eco-friendly materials, or establishing new environmental policies, this work will translate well to a prospective new employer, if you ultimately pursue that route.

**• Advocate and spread awareness**. If you aren’t currently in the green sector, you can get involved in [local community sustainability projects](https://www.earthhero.org/activism-groups), or undertake volunteer work in the industry that you’re most passionate about. You can advocate for the environment by taking grassroots action, provided that you are ethical and mindful of others in doing so.

**• Make your business more eco-friendly**. If you’re a business owner or entrepreneur, there are plenty of ways you can demonstrate your commitment to sustainability. Invest in renewable energy sources to heat your premises, cut down on waste, transition your supply chain to create eco-friendly products, partner with like-minded suppliers, and develop sustainability policies. 

**• Accelerate climate solutions in your workplace.** As the backbone of any business and organisation, employees can be the most powerful climate advocates. With a passion to make change happen, they can appraise their roles and work with business leaders to identify and [spearhead effective climate solutions in their workplaces](https://www.drawdown.org/publications/climate-solutions-at-work).

### Climatebase: A Green Job Board to Bookmark
If you are looking for a job board where you can see the types of green vacancies available worldwide, look no further than [Climatebase](https://climatebase.org/). This is a great place to start learning about the types of careers you can pursue that address climate change and preserve our planet’s resources. If you want an introduction to this job board, we’d recommend reading this [short guide](https://www.earthhero.org/act/36-make-climate-your-career).

It’s clear to see that green jobs are at the epicentre of our economy’s future. If businesses resist change for the betterment of our environment, they will miss out on potential job applicants and future earnings. Therefore, it’s in their best interest to start now, driving positive change through daily decisions. Join that trend and help build a better future!


What Are Green Jobs and Why Are They Important?

**[Climate change and global warming](https://www.wwf.org.uk/climate-change-and-global-warming) are not topics to consider casually or procrastinate about addressing at some later date. They are our biggest worldwide priorities. Or at least they should be, and the more that time drags on, the more pressing the issues become.**

Each decision we make as people, on a planet with finite resources and rising global temperatures, impacts the atmosphere and environment in some way or another. From the energy that we use to power our mobile phones and vehicles to the food we eat, from the ways we heat and cool our homes to the ways we wash our clothes, eco-friendliness and sustainability remain hot topics of conversation (no pun intended). 

Being eco-friendly is increasingly important to minimise the damage we inflict on the environment. As more people continue to strive to reduce carbon emissions, even more are trying to find other, sustainable ways they can live and work on a planet on the brink of reaching an [‘irreversible’ climate breakdown](https://climate.nasa.gov/faq/16/is-it-too-late-to-prevent-climate-change/). Despite this bleak outlook, every action, however little, can decrease the extent of damage done.

## Being Sustainable Should Not Be Seen as Temporary

Currently, global carbon emissions must fall by about half by 2030 if all nations are to meet the [internationally agreed target of a 1.5°C rise in temperatures](https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement) above pre-industrial levels (also known as the Paris Climate Agreement). Most countries are then aiming to achieve net zero carbon status by 2050.

However, many people are still unclear on how they can be helping as individuals, or even whether there is any merit to them making large-scale changes of their own, especially considering influential and powerful oil corporations continue to [make record profits](https://www.energymonitor.ai/finance/big-oil-profits-soared-to-nearly-200bn-in-2022/) while pushing pollution costs onto the rest of us. 

Around [40% of carbon emissions](https://www.theccc.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/5CB-Infographic-FINAL-.pdf) come from households, with the average home producing 8.2 tonnes of CO₂ per year. While this sounds daunting, this is an improvement from [the 1990 averages](https://heatable.co.uk/boiler-advice/average-carbon-footprint#:~:text=In%20short%2C%20the%20report%20makes,current%20average%20of%208.1%20tonnes.), decreasing by about 4.7 tonnes. Fundamentally, much of these emissions come from how we heat and power our homes, as well as our transportation choices and food choices. It’s widely believed that we have to [reduce our emissions by 57% by 2030](https://www.greenmatch.co.uk/blog/2019/02/households-fight-greenhouse-gas-emissions) if we are to reach the next milestone of becoming carbon-neutral.

Making sustainable swaps in energy, transport and diet can make a huge difference. Fundamentally, however, it doesn’t have to be seen as an ‘all or nothing’ change, nor should you view this as a way to live sustainably for a short period, until, say, the milestone is reached, and then revert to older, unsustainable habits. 

Making smaller, incremental changes to your lifestyle can combine to make a positive long-term difference. If everybody made such changes, the collective benefits would be even greater. The good news is that many meaningful changes, including those highlighted below are easier to achieve and commit to than you might think. Plus a lot of these will help improve your life and save you money!

## 1. Go Vegetarian or Vegan or Eat Less Meat

Animal agriculture is responsible for producing more greenhouse gases than the entire world’s collective transportation systems together. It takes approximately [1,850 gallons of water](https://www.watercalculator.org/news/articles/beef-king-big-water-footprints/) to produce one pound of beef, inflicting significant demand on water supplies. This isn’t even accounting for the [ethical considerations](https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/food-drink/what-factory-farming-why-it-problem) associated with intensive factory farming, or the wide amount of health benefits anyone can experience by adopting a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

The reality is that eating a mostly or entirely plant-based diet is easier than ever in many areas. Supermarkets and restaurants are bringing more inclusive and tasty vegetarian and vegan options to their shelves and menus, respectively. By reducing your meat intake - even in small amounts to begin with - you will be reducing pressure on land used to grow animal feed. This reduces threats to biodiversity and the earth’s ecosystems, which in turn helps to minimise the effects of climate change. 

## 2. Recycle, Sell or Donate Unwanted Items

Getting rid of any unused or unwanted items can give them a new purpose. You may know friends or family that would benefit from reusing electronics, ornaments, artwork, furniture or numerous other household essentials. Alternatively, used or unwanted items can often be donated to charities that will put them to good use. 

If not, they may be recyclable, so it’s worth checking with your local waste management department to [ensure your items can be recycled](https://www.earthhero.org/act/122-recycle-everything-you-can) instead of added to the landfill pile. By recycling, items get broken down into materials which can be used in new products, which can lessen the impact of raw material production. 

## 3. Buy Less and Shop Sustainably

The best thing you can buy for the environment and your bank account is nothing. It takes a lot of energy and resources to create new stuff. Sure, we need some new things to lead a good life, but is all really necessary and bringing you happiness?

Beyond that, whopping as sustainably as possible can reduce the impact of widespread industrial waste pollution. Food shopping is a necessity, yet presents a variety of challenges such as  single-use plastic in packaging (which isn’t recyclable), the carbon emissions caused by imports throughout the numerous product supply chains, and the amount of food waste. As a consumer, you can do your part by bringing your own containers for food or shopping in sustainable stores that import local, fair trade or organic produce. 

Sustainable shopping doesn’t just extend to food, but clothing and electronics as well. The clothing industry is responsible for [10% of global greenhouse gas emissions](https://earth.org/fast-fashion-pollution-and-climate-change/) (1.2 billion tonnes of CO₂ released per year), so buying second-hand clothes from outlets or charity shops is a good way to counteract this. You can repurpose old items and reduce the impact of new production lines, not to mention saving in costs too. As far as electronics go, e-waste continues to be a growing problem, but there are options for reusing old equipment such as laptops, TVs, and even [digital cameras](https://www.mpb.com/en-uk), if you are a tech aficionado. If reusing is not feasible, check with your local waste management agency for details on how to properly dispose of electronics and other household hazardous waste.

## 4. Green Travel Choices

Choosing to walk, cycle or take public transport are [greener alternatives to driving](https://www.earthhero.org/act/8-bike-instead-of-drive). Switching to these alternative methods of transport can decrease the amount of carbon created by vehicles. While public transport vehicles like buses or trains still create emissions, the fact that multiple people can use the same vehicle instead of driving individual cars means that public transportation is much greener. 

Walking and cycling also have plenty of health benefits, and more companies are taking advantage of schemes like [the Cycle to Work scheme](https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/cycle-to-work-scheme-everything-you-need-to-know/), which can be incentivised. However, depending on where you live, sometimes this may not be feasible. In this case, switching to electric cars is a much more eco-friendly way to reduce emissions, and these cars look set to become more available and affordable in the coming years.

## 5. Be Smarter With Energy

Becoming more environmentally friendly often begins by looking at your energy usage and conserving as much energy as possible. By draught-proofing your home, and adding double or triple glazing and insulation, you’ll naturally make the home warmer, while not relying so much on central heating. Choose LED light bulbs and high-energy efficiency appliances to keep your electricity consumption to a minimum. 

If it’s feasible for you to do so, you may want to consider switching to low-carbon heating systems like heat pumps, which are significantly more energy-saving than standalone gas boilers. There are often government schemes to help with the upfront costs associated with installing heat pumps in your home. 

Induction hobs are far more energy-efficient, cooking at faster speeds than gas stoves, which can save more electricity over time as well as avoid causing fumes in the home. Therefore, it’s worth upgrading this appliance if you can. 

Furthermore, you may also wish to approach alternative energy suppliers, particularly those that use clean energy. This can also end up saving you money, which is handy in turbulent, financially-testing times when energy prices are soaring.

For an easy and engaging way to track your progress and impact, along with more inspirational ideas on how to improve your life in a sustainable and eco-friendly way, why not [download the Earth Hero app](https://www.earthhero.org/app)? Through action comes hope!


5 Easy Tips to Start Working and Living More Sustainably

**Think about your personality and working style when you begin searching for climate groups!**

**Who do you want to work with?**
Consider what types of people you want to work with. Do you prefer to work with people the same age, religion, race, gender, sexual orientation, or do you have no preference? There are plenty of groups that create a space specifically for young people, elders, mothers, scientists, BIPOC, Buddhists, etc. There are also groups that are open to all. Check out some options [here](https://www.becomeaclimateactivist.org/join-a-climate-group). 

**How do you like to spend your time?**
Consider how you like to spend your time so you can choose a group and pick up responsibilities that are fun and enjoyable for you. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Do you like making art, following politics, writing, or meditating? There are groups like [Awakening for Earth](https://www.awakeningforearth.com/) that sit quietly in meditation while other groups like 350.org do lots of lobbying and political work. If your passion lies with animals and wildlife, there are groups that focus on protecting biodiversity and animal rights. 

**What kind of tactics and strategy do you think will work best?**
Some activists believe nonviolent direct action (NVDA) is our best shot at creating the system change needed in the short amount of time we have left, while other groups focus on lobbying, getting out the vote, and working with politicians. Think about which strategy you believe will be most effective. 

**What level of risk are you willing to take?**
It’s important to consider the level of risk you are willing and able to take. We need to push out of our comfort zones as activists, but it’s important that we feel relatively comfortable and are not betraying our core values. At first, you might want to start with a lower-risk group and move to higher-risk group that utilizes NVDA if and when the time is right. 

More people from all walks of life are deciding to risk arrest in order to draw attention to the climate and ecological crises and pressure decision-makers to take action and pass policy that aligns with maintaining a habitable Earth, but this is not for everyone. Consider whether you are comfortable being in a group that breaks the law. 

**Are you an introvert or an extrovert?**
It’s important to consider the ‘vibe’ of the group and your temperament when choosing a group. Some groups are better for extroverts who enjoy crowds and disruption, while other groups are better suited for introverts who prefer casual digital involvement, emailing key people from home, and small online or in-person gatherings. There are also groups that present as more ‘extroverted,’ like Extinction Rebellion, but have opportunities for people who prefer more quiet or solitary activities like art and writing. 

[Check out this quiz](https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2022/10/what-can-you-do-about-climate-change-take-this-quiz-to-find-out/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=substack) by Yale Climate Connections, “What can YOU do about climate change? Take this quiz to find out”

And if you don’t want to or can’t join a group, you can always [take action from home](https://www.becomeaclimateactivist.org/act-from-home) with more ideas from the [Become a Climate Activist website](https://www.becomeaclimateactivist.org/). 


Choose the right climate group for you

**Getting people to join climate groups is difficult and retaining members can also be a struggle. Here is a list of suggestions about onboarding and retaining members based on the experiences of activists who have worked in a variety of climate groups:**

## **How can groups effectively onboard new members?**

1. **Be welcoming and inclusive.** Make sure new members feel like they are part of the group, that their ideas and feelings matter, and that their contribution is important. 
2. **Educate.** Offer education about the climate and ecological crises, why we need urgent action, and what your group does. It might be helpful to have reading material available about the climate emergency and exactly what your group does to push for individual and/or system change.
3. **Offer hope.** It’s easy for activists to give up when they hear about the severity of our planetary emergency and how little governments and big business have done to address it. Make sure they understand that climate scientists report that there is still time to act, and that all of our actions count to make things “less bad” for ourselves, our children, and all forms of life on earth. 
4. **Create a team environment.** Activists need to understand that solving the climate and ecological crises is about collective responsibility and that we are in this together. It’s easy, with so much being online these days, for activists to feel disconnected from the group. It’s important to check in through email, text, and offer in person gatherings to maintain a sense of connectedness and maintain a community of support and mutual care. 
5. **Have a clear first project.** Help new members feel involved and like they have a purpose that makes a difference. Try to avoid feelings of “what should I be doing?” and “what’s the point of this?” from arising in new activists. 
6. **Contact person for support.** New members having a contact person, knowing at least knowing one person in the group well, helps them feel like they have support and a good place to start. 
7. **Assign tasks with written or visual instructions.** Give new members instructions and procedure docs for tasks and be available to answer questions until they ‘learn the ropes’ and can confidently branch off on their own. 

## **How can groups maintain solidarity and retain active members?**

1. **Supportive community.** Since most activists don’t get paid, it’s important to aim for a supportive working environment and express gratitude for each other's time, energy, and work. Holding gatherings where members can casually check in, outside of the stress of work/activism, and sending thank you notes are two ways that groups can maintain a healthy work environment.
2. **Check in.** Stay in touch with each other to be sure that no one is taking on too much work and responsibility, and that everyone is feeling heard and supported.
3. **Transparency and accountability.** Any conflicts that arise should be handled with  with respect and consideration for everyone involved. Consider offering training in [nonviolent communication](https://www.cnvc.org/trainings) so members learn how to communicate in ways that consider everyone’s point of view and end with a compromise or a solution that feels comfortable for all. 
4. **Maintain equity**. Be aware of maintaining equity when it comes to gender, race, class, etc. and including the voices of people who tend to “step back” so more dominating personalities who are accustomed to taking charge, making decisions, and leading don’t take up too much, or all of, the space.
5. **Clear decision making procedures.** Let new members know how decisions are made. Is your group a hierarchy or is it a democracy? If you make decisions by majority, can one member block the decision if they are very strongly against it? Make sure it’s easy for members to feel that their voice is both being heard and has the power to affect decision making. 
6. **Off-boarding.** Hold a quick exit interview when members leave to figure out why they are leaving - whether it’s for personal reasons or has to do with how the group is operating. 

Have other ideas? What has worked well in your experience? We would love to hear from you!

Otherwise, check out the [Become a Climate Activist website](https://www.becomeaclimateactivist.org/) to learn more and find other helpful related resources.



Onboarding and retaining members in climate groups

**The Amazon Studios documentary film Burning explores the sociopolitical, historical, and scientific causes of the harrowing Australian bushfires of 2019 and 2020, in what has become known as “Black Summer.” Directed by Academy and Emmy-award winner Eva Orner, the film opens with clips of climate change protests, smoke, fire, and a grim overview of the delicate state of the Australian bush. As the word “Burning” comes on screen, the audience is told that “the greatest tragedy of the Australian brushfire season is that we saw it coming.”**

The Australian director combines interviews with climate change activists, fire survivors, scientists, and politicians to contextualize how 59 million acres burned. Greg Mullins, the former Fire and Rescue Commissioner of New South Wales, says, “I feel like we’ve just been sleepwalking into catastrophe.” Mullins is a recurrent face and voice throughout, as is Marian Wilkinson, an author and journalist, who introduces the political sparring: “There has been a concerted effort to undermine the science of climate change.” Australia, as the largest exporter of coal and gas, has reason to undercut climate science. In August 2018, when a conservative government took power under the leadership of Prime Minister Scott Morrison (the antagonist and villain of the story), their first order of business was pushing aside the climate commission.

Mallacoota resident Jann Gilbert, a fire victim who lost her house, says, “I did not predict how brutal the fires were going to be as the summer went on. It rocked Australia to the core.” Images of the 200-foot flames blaze across the screen, along with newspaper headlines, photos of destruction, and satellite images of the smoke spreading across the continent. Foreboding music amplifies anxiety. “The biggest red flag went up when the rainforest was burning,” says Gilbert. “Those forests have never burned.”

There are moments when the film overdramatizes. The accounts themselves are powerful, as are the images and facts. But it is, unfortunately, a narrative about the horrors of climate change and the political forces at bay that has been told before. Orner’s major struggle is battling against a jaded and desensitized viewer.

The film shifts to firefighters and news reports. Thousands of tourists become trapped on a beach as the fire encircles them. Brian Ayliffe, who has been fighting fires for 60 years, says, “They attacked it with bombers, large air tankers. It didn’t matter what they did; [the fire] worked its way down the coast.” All of this unfolds as the Prime Minister vacations with his family in Hawaii. Orner emphasizes this by displaying Morrison’s family vacation photos. This, the viewer is reminded, is a political story. There is a face to blame.

The viewer is reminded, as ecologist Mark Graham says, that “we’re bearing direct witness to so many processes of change playing out around us. We’re essentially right in the middle of this stretch of some of the oldest forest on the planet, unchanged for tens of millions of years. Through continents splitting apart, asteroids hitting the earth, those trees have been like an ark through time and space…The fires of Black Summer burned into these ancient refuges.”

The residual trauma from the fires is apparent. The wind is a reminder to many victims: “You could hear it,” says one survivor. “It was like a dragon.” The soot came ahead of the fire in Mallacoota, which turned a morning sky black. Camera phone footage at 9:13 a.m. shows total darkness before the sky transforms into an intense red. “It was like being on a plane that was going down,” says another survivor. “The roar and the noise of it was horrendous. I just called it a vicious monster.” The psychological damage becomes clearer as Michael Harrington, from Cobargo, discusses flashbacks. Birds drop dead from the sky. Insidious smoke invades Sydney for months. New Year’s is celebrated while the Cobargo burns. Roads are littered with dead kangaroos. It looked “like a nuclear bomb has gone off.” Pregnant women had “grey, crumbly, disgusting placenta” from constant smoke inhalation. One woman says, “This origin of life is this canary in the coal mine.”

The film pans out again, emphasizing the scale of the fires, which formed their own weather systems as smoke columns went 10 to 12 kilometers into the atmosphere. The fires created their own thunderstorms, sending fire-starting embers up to 30 kilometers away. The audience is told that 21 percent of the Australian bush burned: “we’ve entered a new era.” The fires burned more than 10 times more than they had ever burned before. Driving through New South Wales for hundreds of miles, all you see is blackened earth—“like walking out into the apocalypse.” Prime Minister Morrison goes to Cobargo and starts taking selfies, smiling, until a local yells, “You’re not welcome you fuckwit!”

Just when the trauma, pain, and destruction begin to anesthetize the viewer, Orner changes the chorus by offering a glimmer of hope. Australians take to the street and demand change—the sentiment embodied in the young activist Daisy Jeffrey. As COVID hit, Australia declared a pandemic 12 days before world health organization. The right-leaning government seemed to become socialist overnight. There was hope that actions might be taken on climate change. Instead, Morrison spoke about a gas-led recovery.

Daisy Jeffrey’s story is a story of national change: her grandfather was a coalminer in a family of coalminers. The myth of a reliance on fossil fuels is challenged by her, and by tech billionaire Mike Cannon-Brookes, who describes climate change as “the existential crisis of the human race.” Cannon-Brookes is attempting to build the world’s largest solar farm in Australia and then export that renewable energy through a network of cables from Australia to Asia.

At the end, Greg Mullins comes back into view: “We’re having fires in Greenland, the Arctic Circle—places where we never had them before,” he says. “Climate change scares the shit out of me…We need to learn together again how to really manage this land at that very large scale. This is the critical moment for humanity.” The film ends familiarly: a black screen before the credits is the backdrop for the following in white lettering: “Prime Minister Scott Morrison declined to be interviewed for this film.”


Advocacy and Choice

Use your voice, vote, and lifestyle choices to push for policies and systems that protect the planet.