Fred Krupp: EDF Voices

The biggest thing Congress has ever done to address climate change

Editor’s note: President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act on Aug. 16, 2022.

It’s a new day in the fight against climate change, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. With its $369 billion in climate and clean energy investments, the new law is the largest, most ambitious climate legislation Congress has ever passed.

Multiple independent analyses show the bill will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions some 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, a big step toward President Biden’s goal of cutting them in half by 2030.

It will make a difference in people’s lives, cutting energy costs and creating high-quality jobs.

It also restores U.S. leadership in international climate negotiations by signaling how seriously it takes climate change. This will lend more credibility to its calls on peer nations to do more, and hopefully will have an impact on global green investment and innovation.

Take action: Urge your leaders to keep fighting for the climate Why this law is such a big deal

This sweeping legislation will help families, communities and businesses across the U.S. It will create more than 9 million clean energy and manufacturing jobs, positioning the economy to compete successfully in a $23 trillion global clean energy market.

It will also bolster our energy security by accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and clean power.

As it relates to the environment, the bill includes:

• A nationwide program to reduce methane emissions. (Cutting methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the rate of global warming today.)
• More than $135 billion for clean energy tax credits to ramp up solar and wind power. This could save households $500 a year in energy costs.
• Tax incentives to help jumpstart adoption of electric vehicles.
• $60 billion for environmental justice — assisting communities that have long borne the brunt of environmental pollution.
• $21 billion to help U.S. farmers and rural communities cut emissions and make food production more resilient to climate impacts we can’t avoid.
• $2.6 billion to make coastal regions more resilient in the face of extreme weather and sea-level rise.

Take action: Urge your leaders to keep fighting for the climate

In addition, the bill includes the most extensive amendments to the Clean Air Act since 1990, reinforcing the Environmental Protection Agency’s long-standing responsibility to address climate pollution while giving the agency new tools and new funding to protect communities.

This will strengthen the EPA’s ability, over the next 18 months, to establish limits on methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas development, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger vehicles, trucks, power plants and industrial sources.

While there is much to praise, this law is not perfect. Progress was only made possible through compromise and shared belief that this legislation represents the floor of opportunity. There is more work to do, but this is a strong start.

And while the bill ushers unprecedented resources toward environmental justice, much more will be urgently needed to address the inequitable pollution burdens currently afflicting communities.

What's next for the climate and clean energy

Our next job is to help ensure that the $369 billion is spent strategically, efficiently and equitably, maximizing carbon reductions while providing opportunity for innovation and job creation for families.

And as we and our allies press to meet the president’s pledge of cutting U.S greenhouse gas emissions in half, we will continue to work intensively and collaboratively across sectors of government, business and communities.

We are committed to the work of tightening regulations on the oil and gas industry within states, strengthening the transportation sector guidance to reduce pollution and helping communities to not only adapt, but thrive.

This climate law's message: There is hope

The work ahead won’t be easy. Our collective responsibility to equitable climate action requires facing the tough issues if we are to create a just and equitable climate future.

But for now, there’s reason to celebrate. This is especially true for young people.

Over the summer, a number of EDF’s extraordinary interns asked me why I have hope for the future. Some worried about what kind of planet they might leave for their children if they choose to have them.

These questions reflect legitimate concerns about our ability to respond effectively to the climate threat. But the message of the Inflation Reduction Act is that there is hope, and that the future can be better.

And it should reenergize all of us — young and old — as we work to build a vital Earth for everyone.

Take action: Urge your leaders to keep fighting for the climate Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 mmelendez August 12, 2022 - 08:13

The biggest thing Congress has ever done to address climate change

Editor’s note: President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act on Aug. 16, 2022.

It’s a new day in the fight against climate change, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act. With its $369 billion in climate and clean energy investments, the new law is the largest, most ambitious climate legislation Congress has ever passed.

Multiple independent analyses show the bill will reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions some 40% below 2005 levels by 2030, a big step toward President Biden’s goal of cutting them in half by 2030.

It will make a difference in people’s lives, cutting energy costs and creating high-quality jobs.

It also restores U.S. leadership in international climate negotiations by signaling how seriously it takes climate change. This will lend more credibility to its calls on peer nations to do more, and hopefully will have an impact on global green investment and innovation.

Take action: Urge your leaders to keep fighting for the climate Why this law is such a big deal

This sweeping legislation will help families, communities and businesses across the U.S. It will create more than 9 million clean energy and manufacturing jobs, positioning the economy to compete successfully in a $23 trillion global clean energy market.

It will also bolster our energy security by accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and clean power.

As it relates to the environment, the bill includes:

• A nationwide program to reduce methane emissions. (Cutting methane emissions is the fastest way to slow the rate of global warming today.)
• More than $135 billion for clean energy tax credits to ramp up solar and wind power. This could save households $500 a year in energy costs.
• Tax incentives to help jumpstart adoption of electric vehicles.
• $60 billion for environmental justice — assisting communities that have long borne the brunt of environmental pollution.
• $21 billion to help U.S. farmers and rural communities cut emissions and make food production more resilient to climate impacts we can’t avoid.
• $2.6 billion to make coastal regions more resilient in the face of extreme weather and sea-level rise.

Take action: Urge your leaders to keep fighting for the climate

In addition, the bill includes the most extensive amendments to the Clean Air Act since 1990, reinforcing the Environmental Protection Agency’s long-standing responsibility to address climate pollution while giving the agency new tools and new funding to protect communities.

This will strengthen the EPA’s ability, over the next 18 months, to establish limits on methane emissions from new and existing oil and gas development, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new passenger vehicles, trucks, power plants and industrial sources.

While there is much to praise, this law is not perfect. Progress was only made possible through compromise and shared belief that this legislation represents the floor of opportunity. There is more work to do, but this is a strong start.

And while the bill ushers unprecedented resources toward environmental justice, much more will be urgently needed to address the inequitable pollution burdens currently afflicting communities.

What's next for the climate and clean energy

Our next job is to help ensure that the $369 billion is spent strategically, efficiently and equitably, maximizing carbon reductions while providing opportunity for innovation and job creation for families.

And as we and our allies press to meet the president’s pledge of cutting U.S greenhouse gas emissions in half, we will continue to work intensively and collaboratively across sectors of government, business and communities.

We are committed to the work of tightening regulations on the oil and gas industry within states, strengthening the transportation sector guidance to reduce pollution and helping communities to not only adapt, but thrive.

This climate law's message: There is hope

The work ahead won’t be easy. Our collective responsibility to equitable climate action requires facing the tough issues if we are to create a just and equitable climate future.

But for now, there’s reason to celebrate. This is especially true for young people.

Over the summer, a number of EDF’s extraordinary interns asked me why I have hope for the future. Some worried about what kind of planet they might leave for their children if they choose to have them.

These questions reflect legitimate concerns about our ability to respond effectively to the climate threat. But the message of the Inflation Reduction Act is that there is hope, and that the future can be better.

And it should reenergize all of us — young and old — as we work to build a vital Earth for everyone.

Take action: Urge your leaders to keep fighting for the climate Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 mmelendez August 12, 2022 - 08:13

Reducing methane will help hit the brakes on runaway global warming

At the Aspen Ideas Festival in Miami Beach, I spoke about the urgent need for swift, effective action to drive down climate pollution. On the same day, the World Meteorological Organization warned that the Earth now has a 50/50 chance of surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius warming within five years.

It was a stark reminder that as governments wrestle with the necessary task of cutting the biggest contributor to climate change, carbon dioxide, many are overlooking a low-cost, high-reward action that could serve as an emergency brake on runaway warming: clamping down on methane pollution.

Act now: Tell the U.S. EPA to cut methane The need for fast methane reductions

Methane is the main component of natural gas and its emissions are increasing rapidly. That’s particularly dangerous because methane is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide in its heat-trapping potential over 20 years.

The methane pollution released worldwide this year is expected to warm the planet more over the next 10 years than all the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels this year.

But this very potency also means that cutting methane emissions offers the fastest way to slow global warming. EDF has found that a rapid, full-scale effort to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations, agriculture and other sectors could slow the worldwide rate of warming by as much as 30%.

According to government estimates, U.S. oil and gas operations currently waste enough methane to fuel 17 million homes1.

See how the Inflation Reduction Act will curb methane pollution U.S. support for cutting methane waste

Cleaning up methane pollution makes economic and geopolitical sense, too. With Europe trying to get off Russian gas, President Biden has pledged to export a large amount of U.S.-produced liquified natural gas to the European Union by 2030. Capturing the methane currently being squandered could provide half the amount pledged to Europe just by eliminating waste.

For his part, Biden recognizes the need to reduce methane emissions: He was instrumental in kickstarting the Global Methane Pledge at the climate conference last year in Scotland.

The EPA is also considering new methane regulations on oil and gas companies. But these rules must be tightened to cover smaller wells, which produce just 6% of the nation’s oil and gas but generate fully half of all well site methane emissions.

Act now: Tell the U.S. EPA to cut methane Companies must be held accountable

While regulation can achieve low-cost and rapid emissions reductions, it won’t be a cure-all. One challenge is some major companies selling off oil and gas assets to less scrupulous firms with weaker emissions standards — a practice that has the effect of “reducing” emissions for big corporations, at least on paper.

Many of these wells will end up “orphaned” and unplugged, left to seep more methane into the atmosphere.

Corporations that sell off these polluting assets, and the companies that buy them, must be held accountable. The same goes for the major banks and investors financing these deals (many of whom pride themselves on net zero emissions pledges).

But to solve this problem, the oil and gas industry must be on board. It’s time the operators went beyond mere words to show, not tell, that they are taking action.

Tech will help lead us to methane solutions

Whether these firms sign up to voluntary measures or pledge to follow the letter of the law, we no longer have to take their word for it. Emerging technologies are enabling us to see what is really happening.

From drones and aircraft to a new generation of observational satellites, researchers and regulators alike are equipping themselves with the ability to see, in real time, where emissions are taking place and who is responsible.

In 2023, EDF’s new subsidiary MethaneSAT will launch its own satellite with the help of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Once in orbit, MethaneSAT will provide a steady stream of publicly available emissions data, in higher resolution than ever before. With the capacity to measure even diffuse methane plumes, we’ll be able to watch in real time whether these prime emitters are living up to their promises.

Companies are already letting us at EDF know that they regard this tech as a powerful motivator to tighten up operations. We’re approaching a new era of evidence-based accountability and transparency. And that’s exactly what is needed as, together, we face down the climate challenge.

Act now: Tell the U.S. EPA to cut methane Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50

1 Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration: "U.S. natural gas residential consumption" and "Number of natural gas customers"; The World Bank, "Global gas flaring data"

mmelendez May 16, 2022 - 12:06

Reducing methane will help hit the brakes on runaway global warming

At the Aspen Ideas Festival in Miami Beach, I spoke about the urgent need for swift, effective action to drive down climate pollution. On the same day, the World Meteorological Organization warned that the Earth now has a 50/50 chance of surpassing 1.5 degrees Celsius warming within five years.

It was a stark reminder that as governments wrestle with the necessary task of cutting the biggest contributor to climate change, carbon dioxide, many are overlooking a low-cost, high-reward action that could serve as an emergency brake on runaway warming: clamping down on methane pollution.

Act now: Tell the U.S. EPA to cut methane The need for fast methane reductions

Methane is the main component of natural gas and its emissions are increasing rapidly. That’s particularly dangerous because methane is more than 80 times as potent as carbon dioxide in its heat-trapping potential over 20 years.

The methane pollution released worldwide this year is expected to warm the planet more over the next 10 years than all the carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels this year.

But this very potency also means that cutting methane emissions offers the fastest way to slow global warming. EDF has found that a rapid, full-scale effort to reduce methane emissions from oil and gas operations, agriculture and other sectors could slow the worldwide rate of warming by as much as 30%.

According to government estimates, U.S. oil and gas operations currently waste enough methane to fuel 17 million homes1.

See how the Inflation Reduction Act will curb methane pollution U.S. support for cutting methane waste

Cleaning up methane pollution makes economic and geopolitical sense, too. With Europe trying to get off Russian gas, President Biden has pledged to export a large amount of U.S.-produced liquified natural gas to the European Union by 2030. Capturing the methane currently being squandered could provide half the amount pledged to Europe just by eliminating waste.

For his part, Biden recognizes the need to reduce methane emissions: He was instrumental in kickstarting the Global Methane Pledge at the climate conference last year in Scotland.

The EPA is also considering new methane regulations on oil and gas companies. But these rules must be tightened to cover smaller wells, which produce just 6% of the nation’s oil and gas but generate fully half of all well site methane emissions.

Act now: Tell the U.S. EPA to cut methane Companies must be held accountable

While regulation can achieve low-cost and rapid emissions reductions, it won’t be a cure-all. One challenge is some major companies selling off oil and gas assets to less scrupulous firms with weaker emissions standards — a practice that has the effect of “reducing” emissions for big corporations, at least on paper.

Many of these wells will end up “orphaned” and unplugged, left to seep more methane into the atmosphere.

Corporations that sell off these polluting assets, and the companies that buy them, must be held accountable. The same goes for the major banks and investors financing these deals (many of whom pride themselves on net zero emissions pledges).

But to solve this problem, the oil and gas industry must be on board. It’s time the operators went beyond mere words to show, not tell, that they are taking action.

Tech will help lead us to methane solutions

Whether these firms sign up to voluntary measures or pledge to follow the letter of the law, we no longer have to take their word for it. Emerging technologies are enabling us to see what is really happening.

From drones and aircraft to a new generation of observational satellites, researchers and regulators alike are equipping themselves with the ability to see, in real time, where emissions are taking place and who is responsible.

In 2023, EDF’s new subsidiary MethaneSAT will launch its own satellite with the help of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. Once in orbit, MethaneSAT will provide a steady stream of publicly available emissions data, in higher resolution than ever before. With the capacity to measure even diffuse methane plumes, we’ll be able to watch in real time whether these prime emitters are living up to their promises.

Companies are already letting us at EDF know that they regard this tech as a powerful motivator to tighten up operations. We’re approaching a new era of evidence-based accountability and transparency. And that’s exactly what is needed as, together, we face down the climate challenge.

Act now: Tell the U.S. EPA to cut methane Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50

1 Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration: "U.S. natural gas residential consumption" and "Number of natural gas customers"; The World Bank, "Global gas flaring data"

mmelendez May 16, 2022 - 12:06

What carbon markets done right look like

As a devastating human tragedy unfolds in Ukraine, the dangers driven by our dependence on fossil fuels — including global instability, soaring prices, climate change, and extreme weather — are undeniable.

Last week’s North American Carbon World conference brought together companies, carbon market players and experts who believe fixing broken incentives is essential to reducing that dependence quickly, inexpensively and — if designed right — equitably.

The idea is simple: Companies chase profits, so the rules must change to make clean energy more profitable than fossil fuels. That will drive fresh innovations and conservation strategies.

Carbon markets can help. They’re already cutting pollution in California, Europe and Latin America — and delivering justice benefits as well.

Slashing deforestation in Brazil

In 2004, if the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso were a country, it would have been the world’s 10th-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the result of massive deforestation to produce soy and grain-fed cattle. After the state instituted programs to cut deforestation via the REDD+ framework (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), the state’s emissions dropped so much that by 2014, it would have been only the 77th-largest emitter, even as soy and cattle production increased.

In 2017, Mato Grosso’s success led Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development to award the state $54 million. Remarkably, 60% of the resources Mato Grosso received went to local communities — including Indigenous and traditional peoples and smallholder farmers — doing their part to protect the forest. And Mato Grosso has maintained relatively low deforestation despite deforestation recently spiking across Brazil.

While the state didn’t trade credits during this period, this is the kind of performance we can expect from tropical forest jurisdictions that participate in a market for high-quality, high-integrity tropical forest carbon credits that deliver the greatest impact for climate, biodiversity and people, allowing companies to purchase these credits with confidence.

Equitable inclusion and benefits are key

Mato Grosso and other REDD+ jurisdictions show that successful carbon pricing must be equitable and just — by supporting local forest communities who are stewards of the forest or by tackling climate pollution and harmful local air quality at the same time.

This can be done with the right policies.

In 2019, Colorado passed a mandate to cut statewide climate pollution while requiring strategies to cut air pollution in overburdened communities. In 2021, Washington State passed a cap-and-invest program that mandates increased local air monitoring — and new standards to improve air quality where necessary.

Revenues from California’s cap-and-trade market, a joint effort with Quebec, led to investments that are the equivalent of taking 14 million cars off the road and cutting 66,000 tons of pollution — while adding 170,000 jobs.

The Yurok tribe is one of the beneficiaries of California’s carbon market. The Yurok sold offsets for the carbon sequestered by forests they bought from a timber company, using the proceeds from their offset sales to invest in sustainable forest management practices and to buy additional ancestral land.

Huge climate and community impact

Carbon markets can drive private capital to countries and sectors that need it most. In 2021, the LEAF coalition (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance) mobilized $1 billion of voluntary payments to tropical forest jurisdictions around the world — the largest-ever public-private effort to protect tropical forests.

And let’s be clear: Companies in the LEAF coalition are complementing — not replacing — their efforts to cut their own supply-chain emissions. LEAF investments are also designed to deliver social safeguards and benefits for communities that are preventing deforestation.

The $1 billion LEAF has mobilized so far is a drop in the bucket compared with what will happen when this effort expands. Let’s imagine a future in which LEAF jurisdictions prevent 2.5 gigatons of CO2 emissions per year from deforestation or forest degradation. That could easily amount to $25 billion a year or more in results-based payments.

Lower costs and just outcomes

When done right, carbon-pricing policies can cut the costs of achieving lowered emissions targets, which can lower political barriers to more ambitious goal-setting.

Carefully crafted carbon markets can secure billions of tons of emissions reductions, ramp up global ambition, support forest communities and help realize the full promise of the Paris Agreement — speeding our transition to a safer climate for everyone.

Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 adavies April 13, 2022 - 03:51

What carbon markets done right look like

As a devastating human tragedy unfolds in Ukraine, the dangers driven by our dependence on fossil fuels — including global instability, soaring prices, climate change, and extreme weather — are undeniable.

Last week’s North American Carbon World conference brought together companies, carbon market players and experts who believe fixing broken incentives is essential to reducing that dependence quickly, inexpensively and — if designed right — equitably.

The idea is simple: Companies chase profits, so the rules must change to make clean energy more profitable than fossil fuels. That will drive fresh innovations and conservation strategies.

Carbon markets can help. They’re already cutting pollution in California, Europe and Latin America — and delivering justice benefits as well.

Slashing deforestation in Brazil

In 2004, if the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso were a country, it would have been the world’s 10th-largest emitter of greenhouse gases, the result of massive deforestation to produce soy and grain-fed cattle. After the state instituted programs to cut deforestation via the REDD+ framework (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation), the state’s emissions dropped so much that by 2014, it would have been only the 77th-largest emitter, even as soy and cattle production increased.

In 2017, Mato Grosso’s success led Germany’s Ministry for Economic Cooperation & Development to award the state $54 million. Remarkably, 60% of the resources Mato Grosso received went to local communities — including Indigenous and traditional peoples and smallholder farmers — doing their part to protect the forest. And Mato Grosso has maintained relatively low deforestation despite deforestation recently spiking across Brazil.

While the state didn’t trade credits during this period, this is the kind of performance we can expect from tropical forest jurisdictions that participate in a market for high-quality, high-integrity tropical forest carbon credits that deliver the greatest impact for climate, biodiversity and people, allowing companies to purchase these credits with confidence.

Equitable inclusion and benefits are key

Mato Grosso and other REDD+ jurisdictions show that successful carbon pricing must be equitable and just — by supporting local forest communities who are stewards of the forest or by tackling climate pollution and harmful local air quality at the same time.

This can be done with the right policies.

In 2019, Colorado passed a mandate to cut statewide climate pollution while requiring strategies to cut air pollution in overburdened communities. In 2021, Washington State passed a cap-and-invest program that mandates increased local air monitoring — and new standards to improve air quality where necessary.

Revenues from California’s cap-and-trade market, a joint effort with Quebec, led to investments that are the equivalent of taking 14 million cars off the road and cutting 66,000 tons of pollution — while adding 170,000 jobs.

The Yurok tribe is one of the beneficiaries of California’s carbon market. The Yurok sold offsets for the carbon sequestered by forests they bought from a timber company, using the proceeds from their offset sales to invest in sustainable forest management practices and to buy additional ancestral land.

Huge climate and community impact

Carbon markets can drive private capital to countries and sectors that need it most. In 2021, the LEAF coalition (Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest finance) mobilized $1 billion of voluntary payments to tropical forest jurisdictions around the world — the largest-ever public-private effort to protect tropical forests.

And let’s be clear: Companies in the LEAF coalition are complementing — not replacing — their efforts to cut their own supply-chain emissions. LEAF investments are also designed to deliver social safeguards and benefits for communities that are preventing deforestation.

The $1 billion LEAF has mobilized so far is a drop in the bucket compared with what will happen when this effort expands. Let’s imagine a future in which LEAF jurisdictions prevent 2.5 gigatons of CO2 emissions per year from deforestation or forest degradation. That could easily amount to $25 billion a year or more in results-based payments.

Lower costs and just outcomes

When done right, carbon-pricing policies can cut the costs of achieving lowered emissions targets, which can lower political barriers to more ambitious goal-setting.

Carefully crafted carbon markets can secure billions of tons of emissions reductions, ramp up global ambition, support forest communities and help realize the full promise of the Paris Agreement — speeding our transition to a safer climate for everyone.

Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 adavies April 13, 2022 - 03:51

5 takes on the future of climate tech

Last week, I spoke among tech, business and environmental leaders who are bringing bold solutions to the forefront of the climate crisis. Katharine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist, kicked off Techonomy Climate with a clear directive: “Every bit of warming matters. And every action matters.”

Here’s my view of the state of climate tech.

1. This is the era of climate innovation. A decade ago, one of our greatest challenges was collecting data to make the economic, social and environmental case for climate action. Today, the challenge is getting stakeholders — business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers — to act on the data and put forth solutions that drive down carbon pollution and build resilience. As Ryan Panchadsaram, co-author of Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now, put it: “We don’t need more science or more reports. We need the now and the new.” Many of the solutions needed to tackle our climate crisis already exist. We need to deploy them at scale, while investing capital into those areas where innovation is still needed.

2. We need to transform entire systems collaboratively. Reducing the climate footprints of individual companies and people is insufficient to drive change at scale. Delivering net zero carbon pollution by midcentury requires transforming entire systems. Hayhoe refers to this as taking into account our “carbon shadows,” advising individuals and companies to use their voices to advocate change in communities, across global supply chains and entire industries. The biggest environmental challenges can’t be conquered alone. Private-public sector partnerships and non-traditional collaborations are key to delivering impact at a transformative scale.

3. Equity must be at the heart of climate action. “Climate justice is the social justice issue of our time,” my colleague Heather McTeer Toney, VP of community engagement at EDF, told the audience. Devising inclusive and equitable solutions is imperative. But for those solutions to be effective, we need the voices of those who have experienced climate inequities represented. “Where are all the people who are being impacted in the room?” Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer & EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce recalled asking. Entrepreneurship happens at the local level, creating opportunities for community-led solutions. Native Renewables, for example, provides clean power to homes on Navajo and Hopi reservations.

4. Good policy drives innovation. Strong public policy can help deliver emission reductions at the speed and scale needed to avoid catastrophic consequences of climate change. “You need smart policies and courage if you're going to tackle climate change ambitiously…. Smart policy works to accelerate clean solutions,” said Catherine McKenna, former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Canada, and founder of Climate and Nature Solutions. The climate crisis has been, and will continue to be, confronted by policy obstacles. But there are also a lot of opportunities, like the new bipartisan infrastructure law, which includes funding to pilot new clean energy technologies, and the major clean energy tax credits Congress is considering right now. EPA is taking aggressive action on methane regulations and fuel standards. Meanwhile, businesses can use their political influence to accelerate climate policy.

5. Climate tech investment is booming. More than 600 climate tech startups raised over $60 billion in the first half of 2021 alone — a 210% increase from the prior year. That influx of capital is having two impacts: It’s driving down the green tech cost curve and making investments in climate tech look less risky. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s new rules for how publicly traded companies need to report the risks to their businesses from climate change could accelerate climate tech investing further. Looking ahead, investors can provide more opportunities for companies to unlock, test and deliver breakthrough solutions.

Energy transition is the biggest business opportunity we have today. As climate continues to propel the innovation agenda, we can reinvent business models, disrupt the status quo and drive solutions at scale.

 

Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 jbrown April 5, 2022 - 11:49

5 takes on the future of climate tech

Last week, I spoke among tech, business and environmental leaders who are bringing bold solutions to the forefront of the climate crisis. Katharine Hayhoe, a leading climate scientist, kicked off Techonomy Climate with a clear directive: “Every bit of warming matters. And every action matters.”

Here’s my view of the state of climate tech.

1. This is the era of climate innovation. A decade ago, one of our greatest challenges was collecting data to make the economic, social and environmental case for climate action. Today, the challenge is getting stakeholders — business leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers — to act on the data and put forth solutions that drive down carbon pollution and build resilience. As Ryan Panchadsaram, co-author of Speed & Scale: An Action Plan for Solving Our Climate Crisis Now, put it: “We don’t need more science or more reports. We need the now and the new.” Many of the solutions needed to tackle our climate crisis already exist. We need to deploy them at scale, while investing capital into those areas where innovation is still needed.

2. We need to transform entire systems collaboratively. Reducing the climate footprints of individual companies and people is insufficient to drive change at scale. Delivering net zero carbon pollution by midcentury requires transforming entire systems. Hayhoe refers to this as taking into account our “carbon shadows,” advising individuals and companies to use their voices to advocate change in communities, across global supply chains and entire industries. The biggest environmental challenges can’t be conquered alone. Private-public sector partnerships and non-traditional collaborations are key to delivering impact at a transformative scale.

3. Equity must be at the heart of climate action. “Climate justice is the social justice issue of our time,” my colleague Heather McTeer Toney, VP of community engagement at EDF, told the audience. Devising inclusive and equitable solutions is imperative. But for those solutions to be effective, we need the voices of those who have experienced climate inequities represented. “Where are all the people who are being impacted in the room?” Suzanne DiBianca, Chief Impact Officer & EVP of Corporate Relations at Salesforce recalled asking. Entrepreneurship happens at the local level, creating opportunities for community-led solutions. Native Renewables, for example, provides clean power to homes on Navajo and Hopi reservations.

4. Good policy drives innovation. Strong public policy can help deliver emission reductions at the speed and scale needed to avoid catastrophic consequences of climate change. “You need smart policies and courage if you're going to tackle climate change ambitiously…. Smart policy works to accelerate clean solutions,” said Catherine McKenna, former Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Canada, and founder of Climate and Nature Solutions. The climate crisis has been, and will continue to be, confronted by policy obstacles. But there are also a lot of opportunities, like the new bipartisan infrastructure law, which includes funding to pilot new clean energy technologies, and the major clean energy tax credits Congress is considering right now. EPA is taking aggressive action on methane regulations and fuel standards. Meanwhile, businesses can use their political influence to accelerate climate policy.

5. Climate tech investment is booming. More than 600 climate tech startups raised over $60 billion in the first half of 2021 alone — a 210% increase from the prior year. That influx of capital is having two impacts: It’s driving down the green tech cost curve and making investments in climate tech look less risky. The Securities and Exchange Commission’s new rules for how publicly traded companies need to report the risks to their businesses from climate change could accelerate climate tech investing further. Looking ahead, investors can provide more opportunities for companies to unlock, test and deliver breakthrough solutions.

Energy transition is the biggest business opportunity we have today. As climate continues to propel the innovation agenda, we can reinvent business models, disrupt the status quo and drive solutions at scale.

 

Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 jbrown April 5, 2022 - 11:49

4 ways to make this year’s climate summit a turning point for our planet

Nearly one in three Americans lived through a climate-related disaster during this past summer.

One of the first signs of fall, at least for me, is what’s known as Climate Week, which took place last week alongside the annual United Nations General Assembly in NYC.

This year felt more urgent than ever. Climate change is now an unavoidable global emergency. So the momentum generated by Climate Week needs to be ramped up considerably when global leaders meet again at the U.N. climate summit — known as COP26 — in November.

What needs to happen between Climate Week and COP26?

1. Countries must amp up their emission reduction targets.

Current targets, agreed to in the Paris accord, simply aren’t good enough to avert disastrous climate impacts. We all need to do better.

While many countries including the U.S., EU and the U.K. have established new, ambitious reduction targets, others need to step up, including Russia, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, India and China.

During Climate Week, President Xi Jinping pledged that China would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. This is encouraging news, and we look forward to seeing that policy implemented.

All participating countries must submit new targets before COP26 begins. This moment demands action. Countries must commit to — and then deliver on — bold, ambitious plans to slash climate pollution. The vitality of our earth depends on it.

Take action: Now is the time to go bold on climate

2. Wealthy nations must come to the table with strong commitments.

Richer countries need to not only meet but build upon the $100 billion-per-year commitment, previously agreed to in the Paris Agreement, for climate finance for developing nations. Financial support for the most vulnerable countries needs to be top of mind when the world’s major economies gather at the G20 summit in Rome in October.

President Biden announced that his administration would seek to double aid aimed at helping developing nations address climate change — to about $11.4 billion a year by 2024. That would be an excellent start, but it’s uncertain because it requires congressional approval.

The U.S. pledge is considered one key to the success of COP26. Its fate will be closely tied to the success of Biden’s climate agenda in Congress.

If Congress doesn’t come through with significant climate and clean energy action in the coming weeks, the U.S. will have much less to bring to the table at COP26. But I am still hopeful that sanity will prevail.

3. Businesses need to support strong climate policies.

Businesses have to put their lobbying muscle where their mouth is on climate.

Right now, that means advocating for Biden’s climate provisions and helping get the bill across the finish line. I recently joined the CEOs of 12 environment and sustainability groups calling on businesses to do just that.

If businesses support climate action globally, they must also support the achievement of global goals by backing strong U.S. climate policy, as GM, Salesforce and other companies recently did. This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to pass meaningful climate and clean energy legislation, and business support is critical to get these provisions over the finish line.

In addition to supporting smart climate policy, businesses like Amazon and Microsoft recently pledged ambitious net zero emissions targets. This is great, and it is also building momentum for voluntary carbon markets.

However, we need to ensure that when businesses use carbon credits, they only use high-quality credits and they do so alongside internal reductions — this will reduce climate pollution faster, stimulate innovation and help drive investment in tropical forests and other urgent areas of climate action.

Businesses can also help support policies that clean up transportation — the top source of climate pollution in the U.S. — by driving investment in sustainable fuels and tech innovation to cut transport’s impact and by electrifying transportation and fleets.

Recently, IKEA, Nestle, eBay and others publicly called for the wide adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. And Ford just announced a historic $11.4 billion in investment in electric cars and trucks.

4. Countries must move quickly to slash methane pollution.

Cutting methane pollution is the single best chance we have to slow the rate of warming now, even as we accelerate the shift to a clean economy.

The U.S. and the European Union announced a Global Methane Pledge to galvanize international support for fast actions to cut emissions of methane — a pollutant that drives 25% of the warming we experience today.

In October, the U.S. is set to propose strong Environmental Protection Agency methane standards that will limit pollution from oil and gas production. This is the first U.S. action to begin delivering on its pledge commitment. Meanwhile, we expect to see more countries rally behind the methane pledge in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow and make their commitments known.

The increasing number of oil and gas producing and consuming countries backing the pledge is an important sign of growing political will to address industry’s methane problem and deliver deep reductions now — while we continue to scale solutions to address other methane sources.

There’s no denying that the climate moment is now. We must be prepared to go bold on climate and use the biggest levers, the wealthiest economies and the fastest actions to ensure a vital earth for everyone.

Take action: Now is the time to go bold on climate Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 mmelendez September 29, 2021 - 10:10

4 ways to make this year’s climate summit a turning point for our planet

Nearly one in three Americans lived through a climate-related disaster during this past summer.

One of the first signs of fall, at least for me, is what’s known as Climate Week, which took place last week alongside the annual United Nations General Assembly in NYC.

This year felt more urgent than ever. Climate change is now an unavoidable global emergency. So the momentum generated by Climate Week needs to be ramped up considerably when global leaders meet again at the U.N. climate summit — known as COP26 — in November.

What needs to happen between Climate Week and COP26?

1. Countries must amp up their emission reduction targets.

Current targets, agreed to in the Paris accord, simply aren’t good enough to avert disastrous climate impacts. We all need to do better.

While many countries including the U.S., EU and the U.K. have established new, ambitious reduction targets, others need to step up, including Russia, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Brazil, India and China.

During Climate Week, President Xi Jinping pledged that China would not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. This is encouraging news, and we look forward to seeing that policy implemented.

All participating countries must submit new targets before COP26 begins. This moment demands action. Countries must commit to — and then deliver on — bold, ambitious plans to slash climate pollution. The vitality of our earth depends on it.

Take action: Now is the time to go bold on climate

2. Wealthy nations must come to the table with strong commitments.

Richer countries need to not only meet but build upon the $100 billion-per-year commitment, previously agreed to in the Paris Agreement, for climate finance for developing nations. Financial support for the most vulnerable countries needs to be top of mind when the world’s major economies gather at the G20 summit in Rome in October.

President Biden announced that his administration would seek to double aid aimed at helping developing nations address climate change — to about $11.4 billion a year by 2024. That would be an excellent start, but it’s uncertain because it requires congressional approval.

The U.S. pledge is considered one key to the success of COP26. Its fate will be closely tied to the success of Biden’s climate agenda in Congress.

If Congress doesn’t come through with significant climate and clean energy action in the coming weeks, the U.S. will have much less to bring to the table at COP26. But I am still hopeful that sanity will prevail.

3. Businesses need to support strong climate policies.

Businesses have to put their lobbying muscle where their mouth is on climate.

Right now, that means advocating for Biden’s climate provisions and helping get the bill across the finish line. I recently joined the CEOs of 12 environment and sustainability groups calling on businesses to do just that.

If businesses support climate action globally, they must also support the achievement of global goals by backing strong U.S. climate policy, as GM, Salesforce and other companies recently did. This is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to pass meaningful climate and clean energy legislation, and business support is critical to get these provisions over the finish line.

In addition to supporting smart climate policy, businesses like Amazon and Microsoft recently pledged ambitious net zero emissions targets. This is great, and it is also building momentum for voluntary carbon markets.

However, we need to ensure that when businesses use carbon credits, they only use high-quality credits and they do so alongside internal reductions — this will reduce climate pollution faster, stimulate innovation and help drive investment in tropical forests and other urgent areas of climate action.

Businesses can also help support policies that clean up transportation — the top source of climate pollution in the U.S. — by driving investment in sustainable fuels and tech innovation to cut transport’s impact and by electrifying transportation and fleets.

Recently, IKEA, Nestle, eBay and others publicly called for the wide adoption of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule. And Ford just announced a historic $11.4 billion in investment in electric cars and trucks.

4. Countries must move quickly to slash methane pollution.

Cutting methane pollution is the single best chance we have to slow the rate of warming now, even as we accelerate the shift to a clean economy.

The U.S. and the European Union announced a Global Methane Pledge to galvanize international support for fast actions to cut emissions of methane — a pollutant that drives 25% of the warming we experience today.

In October, the U.S. is set to propose strong Environmental Protection Agency methane standards that will limit pollution from oil and gas production. This is the first U.S. action to begin delivering on its pledge commitment. Meanwhile, we expect to see more countries rally behind the methane pledge in the lead up to COP26 in Glasgow and make their commitments known.

The increasing number of oil and gas producing and consuming countries backing the pledge is an important sign of growing political will to address industry’s methane problem and deliver deep reductions now — while we continue to scale solutions to address other methane sources.

There’s no denying that the climate moment is now. We must be prepared to go bold on climate and use the biggest levers, the wealthiest economies and the fastest actions to ensure a vital earth for everyone.

Take action: Now is the time to go bold on climate Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 mmelendez September 29, 2021 - 10:10

A defining moment for ExxonMobil's biggest shareholders — and for the climate

This is a watershed moment for the oil and gas industry and leading investors in the race to transition to a net zero energy system.

Leading companies across the globe recognize that climate change presents a massive systemic risk, and that solving it is a multitrillion-dollar opportunity. Others, such as ExxonMobil, have defied calls to align their business strategies with a decarbonizing economy. For them, a financial reckoning may finally have arrived.

On May 26, ExxonMobil faces an investor vote to replace up to four board members with forward-thinking leaders who could help catalyze and accelerate a much-needed transition toward a clean energy future.

Three major proxy advisory firms (Glass Lewis, ISS, and Pensions and Investments Research Consultants) have already come out in support of some or all board nominees. Legal & General, the U.K.'s largest asset manager, has also pledged to vote for the nominees to improve Exxon's transition readiness and financial viability.

CalPERS, CalSTRS and New York State Common Retirement Fund — three of the country’s largest public pensions, responsible for providing retirement security to millions of people — have also decided to vote their shares in favor of the new board candidates.

Investors must walk the talk

ExxonMobil’s four largest shareholders — asset managers BlackRock Vanguard, State Street and Fidelity — together hold almost 20% of the company’s stock, giving them powerful leverage in the upcoming vote.

With the exception of Fidelity, these firms have also signed a pledge through the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, “supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius” and “supporting investing aligned with net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.”

How they vote will be evidence of whether these shareholders are willing to act now to address the serious emerging risks to the U.S. financial system and to transition the firm toward cost-competitive and rapidly innovating clean energy technologies.

The climate crisis is a business imperative

Pressure on companies and investors to respond to the climate crisis continues to surge. The real winners will emerge based on their ability to maintain the social license to operate and stay competitive in a rapidly shifting and hypercompetitive clean energy market.

Investor confidence is flagging for companies that pursue business-as-usual investment strategies with consistently poor returns.

For example, from 2010 to 2020, Exxon delivered lower returns to investors than its peers BP, Shell, Chevron and Total. The U.S. shale industry also lost $300 billion in that time, including unprofitable investments by ExxonMobil that led to a multibillion dollar devaluation of assets.

The simple fact is that new products and technologies entering the market have no use for oil and gas. From solar and wind in the power sector to electric vehicles in transportation and high efficiency heat pumps in buildings, oil and gas is now in competition with cleaner — and increasingly cheaper — alternatives.

A clear case for action

The International Energy Agency, which helps shape energy policy for 30 member countries, made clear in a report on May 18 that development of new oil and gas fields — the kind of investment ExxonMobil has continued to make — has no place in a climate-stabilized world.

The report says that in order to reduce emissions at the scale and pace that the science demands, investors and energy companies need to start to practicing what they preach on climate change. After all, commercial opportunities abound in the growing field of clean energy, not in the fading future of traditional oil and gas.

It’s a jarring wakeup for anyone in the oil and gas industry who thought they could finesse their way through the energy transition. So, too, is Ford’s electron-powered F-150 Lightning pickup, unveiled last week, the first version of America’s most popular vehicle to have no need for ExxonMobil’s products.

Coming so close on the heels of these developments, the ExxonMobil shareholder vote stands as a potential inflection point.

This is the chance for ExxonMobil’s four largest shareholders to do the right thing for the climate and long-term value creation by making their voices — and votes — heard.

Now is the time to go bold on climate Get innovation updates

We'll send regular updates about developments in technology, science and the environment.

Thank you for subscribing to the Climate Tech Brief.

mmelendez May 21, 2021 - 07:39

A defining moment for ExxonMobil's biggest shareholders — and for the climate

This is a watershed moment for the oil and gas industry and leading investors in the race to transition to a net zero energy system.

Leading companies across the globe recognize that climate change presents a massive systemic risk, and that solving it is a multitrillion-dollar opportunity. Others, such as ExxonMobil, have defied calls to align their business strategies with a decarbonizing economy. For them, a financial reckoning may finally have arrived.

On May 26, ExxonMobil faces an investor vote to replace up to four board members with forward-thinking leaders who could help catalyze and accelerate a much-needed transition toward a clean energy future.

Three major proxy advisory firms (Glass Lewis, ISS, and Pensions and Investments Research Consultants) have already come out in support of some or all board nominees. Legal & General, the U.K.'s largest asset manager, has also pledged to vote for the nominees to improve Exxon's transition readiness and financial viability.

CalPERS, CalSTRS and New York State Common Retirement Fund — three of the country’s largest public pensions, responsible for providing retirement security to millions of people — have also decided to vote their shares in favor of the new board candidates.

Investors must walk the talk

ExxonMobil’s four largest shareholders — asset managers BlackRock Vanguard, State Street and Fidelity — together hold almost 20% of the company’s stock, giving them powerful leverage in the upcoming vote.

With the exception of Fidelity, these firms have also signed a pledge through the Net Zero Asset Managers Initiative, “supporting the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with global efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius” and “supporting investing aligned with net zero emissions by 2050 or sooner.”

How they vote will be evidence of whether these shareholders are willing to act now to address the serious emerging risks to the U.S. financial system and to transition the firm toward cost-competitive and rapidly innovating clean energy technologies.

The climate crisis is a business imperative

Pressure on companies and investors to respond to the climate crisis continues to surge. The real winners will emerge based on their ability to maintain the social license to operate and stay competitive in a rapidly shifting and hypercompetitive clean energy market.

Investor confidence is flagging for companies that pursue business-as-usual investment strategies with consistently poor returns.

For example, from 2010 to 2020, Exxon delivered lower returns to investors than its peers BP, Shell, Chevron and Total. The U.S. shale industry also lost $300 billion in that time, including unprofitable investments by ExxonMobil that led to a multibillion dollar devaluation of assets.

The simple fact is that new products and technologies entering the market have no use for oil and gas. From solar and wind in the power sector to electric vehicles in transportation and high efficiency heat pumps in buildings, oil and gas is now in competition with cleaner — and increasingly cheaper — alternatives.

A clear case for action

The International Energy Agency, which helps shape energy policy for 30 member countries, made clear in a report on May 18 that development of new oil and gas fields — the kind of investment ExxonMobil has continued to make — has no place in a climate-stabilized world.

The report says that in order to reduce emissions at the scale and pace that the science demands, investors and energy companies need to start to practicing what they preach on climate change. After all, commercial opportunities abound in the growing field of clean energy, not in the fading future of traditional oil and gas.

It’s a jarring wakeup for anyone in the oil and gas industry who thought they could finesse their way through the energy transition. So, too, is Ford’s electron-powered F-150 Lightning pickup, unveiled last week, the first version of America’s most popular vehicle to have no need for ExxonMobil’s products.

Coming so close on the heels of these developments, the ExxonMobil shareholder vote stands as a potential inflection point.

This is the chance for ExxonMobil’s four largest shareholders to do the right thing for the climate and long-term value creation by making their voices — and votes — heard.

Now is the time to go bold on climate Get innovation updates

We'll send regular updates about developments in technology, science and the environment.

Thank you for subscribing to the Climate Tech Brief.

mmelendez May 21, 2021 - 07:39

Now is the time to go bold on climate

Our greatest opportunity to make real progress on climate change is happening right now. Frankly, it’s the greatest opportunity I’ve seen in my lifetime. The window is opening — but to take advantage of it, we have to be willing to go bold.

After four years of science denial in Washington, there’s no time to waste. But with the Biden Administration stepping up on climate and equity issues, and CEOs from over 300 businesses calling for bold emission reductions, it’s clear that international ambition is once again on the rise.

What happens between now and the next global climate summit, COP26 in Glasgow, can set us on course for a dramatic breakthrough. Here are three bold moves we need to see on the road to COP26.

1. Electrify the transportation sector while cleaning up electricity generation

Ensuring that healthy communities can continue to exist on a thriving planet means cutting emissions where the greatest gains can be made most rapidly — and transportation is the single largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. Fortunately, we have the technology to drive this huge triple win for jobs, for cleaner air and for a big reduction in climate pollution.

By 2035, all new cars — and by 2040, all new trucks and buses — sold in the U.S. must be zero emission, with deployment prioritized in frontline communities that have long suffered a disproportionate burden of air pollution.

Momentum is building. GM, Volvo and some other automakers have already embraced this goal for cars. The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $162 million in funding to pioneer electrified medium- and heavy-duty trucks as well as a range of approaches to electrification. And as we speed the transition to electric vehicles, we must also ensure that electric power is 100% clean by 2035.

Globally, we must reduce climate pollution from transportation by driving global markets, policies and investments to jumpstart all transportation to net-zero emission technologies. This includes ensuring that by 2030, zero-emission cargo ships are using green alternative shipping fuels to travel deep-sea shipping routes and sustainable aviation fuels are meeting a significant portion of global demand by 2030.

By the middle of the 21st century, transporting our goods across the globe should no longer add to the world’s climate pollution.

Sign the "Go Bold, America!" climate action petition 2. Harness the power of nature to help stabilize the climate

Develop scientific and stakeholder consensus on the value of nature-based climate solutions.

Achieving net zero emissions by mid-century requires stopping tropical deforestation and removing some of the climate pollution already released into the atmosphere. This demands scientifically sound natural climate solutions, such as protecting and managing forests, farms, oceans and grasslands to store carbon — while also creating markets and investments to bring these solutions to scale — for example, by rewarding indigenous people and other rainforest defenders for their invaluable work.

If we spur investment in natural climate solutions, we can limit global temperature rise while safeguarding ecosystems, thus helping communities to become more resilient to the climate impacts we can’t avoid, such as increased flooding and dry spells.

3. Slash methane pollution to supercharge planet-saving strategies.

The fastest way to put the brakes on climate warming right now is to reduce highly potent methane pollution. Our climate plan can’t stop at carbon dioxide.

Methane pollution drives over 25% of today’s warming and reducing it requires immediate action to prevent more extreme climate impacts, such as severe storms and hotter fire seasons. Only by slashing methane pollution can we save Arctic sea ice.

We need an economy-wide decline in methane pollution, starting with oil and gas, where the International Energy Agency says we have the greatest opportunity for rapid reductions at the lowest cost.

The world cannot avoid climate catastrophe without China’s active participation. This includes making firm commitments for methane reduction targets and national methane standards. Europe has an opening to play an outsized role too. The world’s largest gas importer can use its buying power in coordination with countries outside the EU to signal to the global market that only the gas with the lowest methane emissions profile will be purchased.

Addressing methane is the single most effective thing we can do to limit temperature rise in the near term.

There have been moments throughout history that have tested the will of humankind. The bold have stepped forward to change the course of history and transform the world for the better.

Our climate moment is now — right now.

It's an opportunity unlike any other for bold climate action. Together, we can meet this moment to drive real change for healthier communities and a thriving planet.

Sign the "Go Bold, America!" climate action petition jkornegay April 16, 2021 - 02:55

Now is the time to go bold on climate

Our greatest opportunity to make real progress on climate change is happening right now. Frankly, it’s the greatest opportunity I’ve seen in my lifetime. The window is opening — but to take advantage of it, we have to be willing to go bold.

After four years of science denial in Washington, there’s no time to waste. But with the Biden Administration stepping up on climate and equity issues, and CEOs from over 300 businesses calling for bold emission reductions, it’s clear that international ambition is once again on the rise.

What happens between now and the next global climate summit, COP26 in Glasgow, can set us on course for a dramatic breakthrough. Here are three bold moves we need to see on the road to COP26.

1. Electrify the transportation sector while cleaning up electricity generation

Ensuring that healthy communities can continue to exist on a thriving planet means cutting emissions where the greatest gains can be made most rapidly — and transportation is the single largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. Fortunately, we have the technology to drive this huge triple win for jobs, for cleaner air and for a big reduction in climate pollution.

By 2035, all new cars — and by 2040, all new trucks and buses — sold in the U.S. must be zero emission, with deployment prioritized in frontline communities that have long suffered a disproportionate burden of air pollution.

Momentum is building. GM, Volvo and some other automakers have already embraced this goal for cars. The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced $162 million in funding to pioneer electrified medium- and heavy-duty trucks as well as a range of approaches to electrification. And as we speed the transition to electric vehicles, we must also ensure that electric power is 100% clean by 2035.

Globally, we must reduce climate pollution from transportation by driving global markets, policies and investments to jumpstart all transportation to net-zero emission technologies. This includes ensuring that by 2030, zero-emission cargo ships are using green alternative shipping fuels to travel deep-sea shipping routes and sustainable aviation fuels are meeting a significant portion of global demand by 2030.

By the middle of the 21st century, transporting our goods across the globe should no longer add to the world’s climate pollution.

Sign the "Go Bold, America!" climate action petition 2. Harness the power of nature to help stabilize the climate

Develop scientific and stakeholder consensus on the value of nature-based climate solutions.

Achieving net zero emissions by mid-century requires stopping tropical deforestation and removing some of the climate pollution already released into the atmosphere. This demands scientifically sound natural climate solutions, such as protecting and managing forests, farms, oceans and grasslands to store carbon — while also creating markets and investments to bring these solutions to scale — for example, by rewarding indigenous people and other rainforest defenders for their invaluable work.

If we spur investment in natural climate solutions, we can limit global temperature rise while safeguarding ecosystems, thus helping communities to become more resilient to the climate impacts we can’t avoid, such as increased flooding and dry spells.

3. Slash methane pollution to supercharge planet-saving strategies.

The fastest way to put the brakes on climate warming right now is to reduce highly potent methane pollution. Our climate plan can’t stop at carbon dioxide.

Methane pollution drives over 25% of today’s warming and reducing it requires immediate action to prevent more extreme climate impacts, such as severe storms and hotter fire seasons. Only by slashing methane pollution can we save Arctic sea ice.

We need an economy-wide decline in methane pollution, starting with oil and gas, where the International Energy Agency says we have the greatest opportunity for rapid reductions at the lowest cost.

The world cannot avoid climate catastrophe without China’s active participation. This includes making firm commitments for methane reduction targets and national methane standards. Europe has an opening to play an outsized role too. The world’s largest gas importer can use its buying power in coordination with countries outside the EU to signal to the global market that only the gas with the lowest methane emissions profile will be purchased.

Addressing methane is the single most effective thing we can do to limit temperature rise in the near term.

There have been moments throughout history that have tested the will of humankind. The bold have stepped forward to change the course of history and transform the world for the better.

Our climate moment is now — right now.

It's an opportunity unlike any other for bold climate action. Together, we can meet this moment to drive real change for healthier communities and a thriving planet.

Sign the "Go Bold, America!" climate action petition jkornegay April 16, 2021 - 02:55

Celebrating Black History Month — and reflecting on EDF’s past and future

EDF celebrates Black History Month with a renewed sense of promise and purpose. We are taking purposeful action to help fulfill the promise of a world where racial and environmental equity are basic human rights. This goal must be integral to all of our work. To achieve it, we must acknowledge and learn from the past.

Achievement in the face of inequity

In 2020 the United States repeatedly witnessed gross inequities — from the disproportionate number of COVID-19-related deaths suffered by communities of color to horrific police brutality and the questioning of presidential votes cast by millions of Black Americans.

These events represent only a minuscule portion of the systemic adversities and atrocities Black Americans have faced for centuries, including the current threats from white supremacists. And yet throughout all the years of pain and hardship, the Black community has made contributions of incalculable value to all areas of American life. During Black History Month, we celebrate these achievements, bear witness to the pain and recognize EDF’s own past and future responsibilities.

Critically examining our role

While we can point to notable examples where we have sought to address the disproportionate environmental burden borne by communities of color, we have not been consistent or intentional in this work. EDF’s focus on solving environmental issues at the global, national and regional levels has led us to overlook local environmental problems and neglect Black community concerns. As a result, our policy stances have sometimes been at odds with local communities’ needs and priorities.

For these reasons, EDF is critically examining our role. We acknowledge the need to stop, listen and learn. We’re meeting with leaders of Black community groups and the environmental justice movement to strengthen relationships; compare policy agendas to identify potential synergies and conflicts; broaden access to grant-makers; and commit EDF as an ally so that the communities most affected by pollution can secure clean air, clean water and freedom from exposure to toxic substances. We are also looking inward to examine how our structure, strategy and culture can better reflect these communities.

EDF’s leaders have been constantly encouraged by younger colleagues, especially our younger colleagues of color, that now is the time to act. They are the bridge from EDF’s past to our future, and I thank them for their courageous contributions as we work to identify the ways our organization needs to change.

Supporting Black leaders and perspectives

We recognize that growing into a diverse, inclusive and equitable international environmental organization will require honest introspection and a significant shift in our practices and priorities. We must authentically engage the perspectives, skills and ideas of our international workforce, board and membership, as well as build lasting relationships with diverse constituencies.

We must also support leaders of color. For the first time in our nation’s history, the federal environmental agenda will be shaped by two Black Americans, EPA Administrator nominee Michael Regan and Council of Environmental Quality Chair nominee Brenda Mallory. I have had the privilege of working closely with both of these individuals and know how fortunate we all are to have them taking on these leadership roles.

The efforts underway at Environmental Defense Fund will take time, but we feel the urgency needed to meet the moment and drive the change required to make EDF and the environmental community more equitable and just. Everyone at EDF must join our colleagues in building a bridge to the future. I for one am all in.

Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 tmoran February 4, 2021 - 04:17

Celebrating Black History Month — and reflecting on EDF’s past and future

EDF celebrates Black History Month with a renewed sense of promise and purpose. We are taking purposeful action to help fulfill the promise of a world where racial and environmental equity are basic human rights. This goal must be integral to all of our work. To achieve it, we must acknowledge and learn from the past.

Achievement in the face of inequity

In 2020 the United States repeatedly witnessed gross inequities — from the disproportionate number of COVID-19-related deaths suffered by communities of color to horrific police brutality and the questioning of presidential votes cast by millions of Black Americans.

These events represent only a minuscule portion of the systemic adversities and atrocities Black Americans have faced for centuries, including the current threats from white supremacists. And yet throughout all the years of pain and hardship, the Black community has made contributions of incalculable value to all areas of American life. During Black History Month, we celebrate these achievements, bear witness to the pain and recognize EDF’s own past and future responsibilities.

Critically examining our role

While we can point to notable examples where we have sought to address the disproportionate environmental burden borne by communities of color, we have not been consistent or intentional in this work. EDF’s focus on solving environmental issues at the global, national and regional levels has led us to overlook local environmental problems and neglect Black community concerns. As a result, our policy stances have sometimes been at odds with local communities’ needs and priorities.

For these reasons, EDF is critically examining our role. We acknowledge the need to stop, listen and learn. We’re meeting with leaders of Black community groups and the environmental justice movement to strengthen relationships; compare policy agendas to identify potential synergies and conflicts; broaden access to grant-makers; and commit EDF as an ally so that the communities most affected by pollution can secure clean air, clean water and freedom from exposure to toxic substances. We are also looking inward to examine how our structure, strategy and culture can better reflect these communities.

EDF’s leaders have been constantly encouraged by younger colleagues, especially our younger colleagues of color, that now is the time to act. They are the bridge from EDF’s past to our future, and I thank them for their courageous contributions as we work to identify the ways our organization needs to change.

Supporting Black leaders and perspectives

We recognize that growing into a diverse, inclusive and equitable international environmental organization will require honest introspection and a significant shift in our practices and priorities. We must authentically engage the perspectives, skills and ideas of our international workforce, board and membership, as well as build lasting relationships with diverse constituencies.

We must also support leaders of color. For the first time in our nation’s history, the federal environmental agenda will be shaped by two Black Americans, EPA Administrator nominee Michael Regan and Council of Environmental Quality Chair nominee Brenda Mallory. I have had the privilege of working closely with both of these individuals and know how fortunate we all are to have them taking on these leadership roles.

The efforts underway at Environmental Defense Fund will take time, but we feel the urgency needed to meet the moment and drive the change required to make EDF and the environmental community more equitable and just. Everyone at EDF must join our colleagues in building a bridge to the future. I for one am all in.

Act when it matters most

Every day more than 60 people sign up for news and alerts, to find out when their support helps most. Will you join them? (Read our privacy statement.)

Donate to support this work $35 $50 tmoran February 4, 2021 - 04:17

Why GM’s clean cars announcement is a really big deal

I was pleased to lend my support to GM’s dramatic announcement that it is working to eliminate tailpipe emissions from all of its new light-duty vehicles by 2035, and to be carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. EDF has been working with GM to develop a shared vision for an all-electric future, and we’re proud to have played a part in this breakthrough moment.

Why is this a big deal? When a leading U.S. carmaker takes such a step, it sends a powerful signal to the industry that being on the road to zero emissions is an essential element of every automaker’s business plan. There can be no doubt: The future of transportation, starting now, is electric.

Why zero-emissions vehicles matter

Transportation and power generation are America’s two biggest sources of climate pollution. Cleaning them up will help stabilize the climate, boost the economy, create jobs, save money for consumers and clean up air pollution — especially in communities of color that have been unfairly burdened by pollution for far too long.

Here are just some of the benefits we’ll enjoy:

• Cost savings for families. In 2027, just six years from now, the buyer of a new battery-electric vehicle will save more than $5,300 over the life of the car compared to a gasoline-powered car — including lower upfront costs, avoided fuel costs and lower maintenance costs.
• Jobs and investment. The electric-vehicle industry employed nearly 130,000 people across the U.S. in 2019, but that’s just the beginning. This year there will be 60 different models of electric cars available to U.S. consumers — including SUVs, pick-ups and models under $30,000 before rebates. But automakers will spend more than $257 billion through 2030 developing new electric models, and eight manufacturers have announced plans to spend more than $22 billion to open new or renovated plants in the U.S. These plants will directly employ almost 24,000 workers and drive more job creation by suppliers and local businesses. GM recently announced it would invest $2.2 billion — its largest manufacturing investment to date — to repurpose a Detroit factory as its “flagship assembly plant in [its] journey to an all-electric future.” The investment is projected to create 2,200 jobs.
• Climate stability. By 2040, according to EDF analysis, making new zero-emission vehicles a reality industrywide will cut the U.S.’s climate pollution by 600 million metric tons per year — growing to 875 million metric tons each year by 2050. That’s a cumulative reduction of more than 11.5 billion tons through 2050, nearly as much as the combined climate emissions from China and India last year.
• Cleaner air. Huge reductions in conventional air pollution will result as well. By 2040, smog-forming nitrogen oxide will be reduced by 284,000 tons each year, increasing to more than 430,000 tons annually in 2050. The health benefits of this will be remarkable, with huge reductions in smog and particulate pollution — both of which cause respiratory diseases that unfairly burden people of color. These reductions will prevent as many as 5,000 premature deaths each year by 2040 — a total of 98,000 lives saved through 2050.

Overall by 2050, zero-emissions vehicles will deliver more than $100 billion in net societal benefits each year (economic and pollution benefits) and provide $1.6 trillion in cumulative net benefits to Americans by 2050 — almost 10% of the U.S. gross domestic product.

A new day to move our nation forward

That’s what happens when one of America’s most important sectors gets serious about going 100% clean. And that’s why GM’s announcement is so important. EDF and GM have had serious disagreements. Last year, EDF supported and GM opposed California's clean car standards (though GM later reversed course and withdrew from the litigation).

But this is a new day in America — one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward.

Act now for clean energy and climate progress mmelendez January 28, 2021 - 09:13

Why GM’s clean cars announcement is a really big deal

I was pleased to lend my support to GM’s dramatic announcement that it is working to eliminate tailpipe emissions from all of its new light-duty vehicles by 2035, and to be carbon neutral in its global products and operations by 2040. EDF has been working with GM to develop a shared vision for an all-electric future, and we’re proud to have played a part in this breakthrough moment.

Why is this a big deal? When a leading U.S. carmaker takes such a step, it sends a powerful signal to the industry that being on the road to zero emissions is an essential element of every automaker’s business plan. There can be no doubt: The future of transportation, starting now, is electric.

Why zero-emissions vehicles matter

Transportation and power generation are America’s two biggest sources of climate pollution. Cleaning them up will help stabilize the climate, boost the economy, create jobs, save money for consumers and clean up air pollution — especially in communities of color that have been unfairly burdened by pollution for far too long.

Here are just some of the benefits we’ll enjoy:

• Cost savings for families. In 2027, just six years from now, the buyer of a new battery-electric vehicle will save more than $5,300 over the life of the car compared to a gasoline-powered car — including lower upfront costs, avoided fuel costs and lower maintenance costs.
• Jobs and investment. The electric-vehicle industry employed nearly 130,000 people across the U.S. in 2019, but that’s just the beginning. This year there will be 60 different models of electric cars available to U.S. consumers — including SUVs, pick-ups and models under $30,000 before rebates. But automakers will spend more than $257 billion through 2030 developing new electric models, and eight manufacturers have announced plans to spend more than $22 billion to open new or renovated plants in the U.S. These plants will directly employ almost 24,000 workers and drive more job creation by suppliers and local businesses. GM recently announced it would invest $2.2 billion — its largest manufacturing investment to date — to repurpose a Detroit factory as its “flagship assembly plant in [its] journey to an all-electric future.” The investment is projected to create 2,200 jobs.
• Climate stability. By 2040, according to EDF analysis, making new zero-emission vehicles a reality industrywide will cut the U.S.’s climate pollution by 600 million metric tons per year — growing to 875 million metric tons each year by 2050. That’s a cumulative reduction of more than 11.5 billion tons through 2050, nearly as much as the combined climate emissions from China and India last year.
• Cleaner air. Huge reductions in conventional air pollution will result as well. By 2040, smog-forming nitrogen oxide will be reduced by 284,000 tons each year, increasing to more than 430,000 tons annually in 2050. The health benefits of this will be remarkable, with huge reductions in smog and particulate pollution — both of which cause respiratory diseases that unfairly burden people of color. These reductions will prevent as many as 5,000 premature deaths each year by 2040 — a total of 98,000 lives saved through 2050.

Overall by 2050, zero-emissions vehicles will deliver more than $100 billion in net societal benefits each year (economic and pollution benefits) and provide $1.6 trillion in cumulative net benefits to Americans by 2050 — almost 10% of the U.S. gross domestic product.

A new day to move our nation forward

That’s what happens when one of America’s most important sectors gets serious about going 100% clean. And that’s why GM’s announcement is so important. EDF and GM have had serious disagreements. Last year, EDF supported and GM opposed California's clean car standards (though GM later reversed course and withdrew from the litigation).

But this is a new day in America — one where serious collaboration to achieve transportation electrification, science-based climate progress and equitably shared economic opportunity can move our nation forward.

Act now for clean energy and climate progress mmelendez January 28, 2021 - 09:13

Clean trucks can deliver Biden’s goals for climate, jobs and equity

Editor's note: This post originally appeared in Forbes.

President-elect Biden has made clear that clean transportation is at the heart of his plan to Build Back Better. That's the right focus — but it can't be accomplished without a strong emphasis on America's 13 million heavy-duty trucks and buses, which produce significantly more climate pollution than the entire British economy.

To achieve its goal, the Biden administration should put the United States on a path to 100% zero pollution new trucks and buses by 2040 — and commit to quickly setting ambitious pollution standards to drive this transition.

More jobs and healthier communities

The world has already begun moving toward zero pollution electric vehicles. Every major manufacturer from Ford to Cummins to Freightliner has made significant investments; GM just jumped into the electric delivery-van market with FedEx as its first customer.

The race is on to build market share, and the only real question is whether these good new jobs will be created here in the U.S. or just in Europe and China.

In 2019, China dominated 95% of this fast-growing market. It accomplished this through requirements for zero emission truck and bus manufacturing and policies to help ease and accelerate the transition.

Now the European Union and its member states are doing the same thing — setting strong vehicle standards and making investments to expand domestic supply chains for batteries and other key components.

And it's working for them. In response to these policy directives and public investments, European truck makers have pledged to transition their production lines to zero pollution technologies a decade earlier than planned.

Soon zero pollution trucks will be a familiar sight on American highways — and delivering packages in every neighborhood. The Biden administration wants those trucks to roll off assembly lines in places like Hamtramck, Michigan, or Spartanburg, South Carolina, not arrive by boat from Hamburg and Shanghai.

So it needs to act quickly — with an executive order setting goals that help drive investment in American electric truck manufacturing to create jobs for communities that need them.

Clean trucks and buses can also help address inequities in exposure to air pollution, by bringing health and economic benefits to communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods. These Americans often live near ports, highways, distribution centers and industrial sites — leading to significantly increased exposure to harmful air pollution from trucks.

Just one example: Data from Oakland, California, shows that those who live in closer proximity to heavy-duty truck traffic live shorter lives than those that don't. One study by the California Air Resources Board found that trucks contributed over 70% of the elevated cancer risk in West Oakland, the community adjacent to the Port of Oakland.

Clean truck standards can help reduce hundreds of millions of metric tons of climate pollution and hundreds of thousands of tons of local health harming pollutants. Medium and heavy-duty vehicles make up approximately 4% of all vehicles on the road, but contribute 90% of all nitrogen oxides pollution from diesel mobile sources.

Clean school buses are also critically important. Currently, 99% of the nation's school buses emit harmful pollutants, contributing to asthma, cancers and other ailments. This impact, particularly on disadvantaged communities, is why buses — along with urban delivery trucks — should transition to zero pollution vehicles even earlier, by 2035.

The technology is ready

At least 125 zero emission truck and bus models are in production, development or demonstration in the U.S. There are models for each major segment of the heavy-duty truck market, including transit and school buses, delivery vans, box trucks and combination trucks.

Established manufacturers such as Mack and recent entrants like Rivian and Lion Electric are already producing. And companies from Amazon to Walmart to Pepsi are looking to switch their fleets to zero emissions trucks.

How to get the job done

Despite all of this promising activity, federal standards are needed to set a clear pathway. Without it, U.S. manufacturers will be hesitant to invest in full-scale production capacity. As these companies have proven time and time again, they can rise to meet any challenge — but they need a predictable business climate to get out of the gate.

Congressional investment will also be needed to promote job growth and accelerate the transition in the early years: Policies and programs to help local governments and school districts get electric work trucks and school buses on the road, make sure charging infrastructure is in place, and build out domestic supply chains for batteries.

The new administration can get things started by using its authority under current law.

Joe Biden ran for president on the strongest climate action platform in American history, with a promise to rebuild our COVID-battered economy in ways that will make the country stronger and more equitable for the long term.

But unless he seizes the opportunity presented by electric trucks and buses as well as cars, he'll be missing a chance to drive good jobs and promote environmental justice. Turning the innovative genius and industrial might of America to the problem of clean trucks and buses is central to achieving his goals.

Why it's time to rebuild better tmoran January 19, 2021 - 10:45

Clean trucks can deliver Biden’s goals for climate, jobs and equity

Editor's note: This post originally appeared in Forbes.

President-elect Biden has made clear that clean transportation is at the heart of his plan to Build Back Better. That's the right focus — but it can't be accomplished without a strong emphasis on America's 13 million heavy-duty trucks and buses, which produce significantly more climate pollution than the entire British economy.

To achieve its goal, the Biden administration should put the United States on a path to 100% zero pollution new trucks and buses by 2040 — and commit to quickly setting ambitious pollution standards to drive this transition.

More jobs and healthier communities

The world has already begun moving toward zero pollution electric vehicles. Every major manufacturer from Ford to Cummins to Freightliner has made significant investments; GM just jumped into the electric delivery-van market with FedEx as its first customer.

The race is on to build market share, and the only real question is whether these good new jobs will be created here in the U.S. or just in Europe and China.

In 2019, China dominated 95% of this fast-growing market. It accomplished this through requirements for zero emission truck and bus manufacturing and policies to help ease and accelerate the transition.

Now the European Union and its member states are doing the same thing — setting strong vehicle standards and making investments to expand domestic supply chains for batteries and other key components.

And it's working for them. In response to these policy directives and public investments, European truck makers have pledged to transition their production lines to zero pollution technologies a decade earlier than planned.

Soon zero pollution trucks will be a familiar sight on American highways — and delivering packages in every neighborhood. The Biden administration wants those trucks to roll off assembly lines in places like Hamtramck, Michigan, or Spartanburg, South Carolina, not arrive by boat from Hamburg and Shanghai.

So it needs to act quickly — with an executive order setting goals that help drive investment in American electric truck manufacturing to create jobs for communities that need them.

Clean trucks and buses can also help address inequities in exposure to air pollution, by bringing health and economic benefits to communities of color and lower-income neighborhoods. These Americans often live near ports, highways, distribution centers and industrial sites — leading to significantly increased exposure to harmful air pollution from trucks.

Just one example: Data from Oakland, California, shows that those who live in closer proximity to heavy-duty truck traffic live shorter lives than those that don't. One study by the California Air Resources Board found that trucks contributed over 70% of the elevated cancer risk in West Oakland, the community adjacent to the Port of Oakland.

Clean truck standards can help reduce hundreds of millions of metric tons of climate pollution and hundreds of thousands of tons of local health harming pollutants. Medium and heavy-duty vehicles make up approximately 4% of all vehicles on the road, but contribute 90% of all nitrogen oxides pollution from diesel mobile sources.

Clean school buses are also critically important. Currently, 99% of the nation's school buses emit harmful pollutants, contributing to asthma, cancers and other ailments. This impact, particularly on disadvantaged communities, is why buses — along with urban delivery trucks — should transition to zero pollution vehicles even earlier, by 2035.

The technology is ready

At least 125 zero emission truck and bus models are in production, development or demonstration in the U.S. There are models for each major segment of the heavy-duty truck market, including transit and school buses, delivery vans, box trucks and combination trucks.

Established manufacturers such as Mack and recent entrants like Rivian and Lion Electric are already producing. And companies from Amazon to Walmart to Pepsi are looking to switch their fleets to zero emissions trucks.

How to get the job done

Despite all of this promising activity, federal standards are needed to set a clear pathway. Without it, U.S. manufacturers will be hesitant to invest in full-scale production capacity. As these companies have proven time and time again, they can rise to meet any challenge — but they need a predictable business climate to get out of the gate.

Congressional investment will also be needed to promote job growth and accelerate the transition in the early years: Policies and programs to help local governments and school districts get electric work trucks and school buses on the road, make sure charging infrastructure is in place, and build out domestic supply chains for batteries.

The new administration can get things started by using its authority under current law.

Joe Biden ran for president on the strongest climate action platform in American history, with a promise to rebuild our COVID-battered economy in ways that will make the country stronger and more equitable for the long term.

But unless he seizes the opportunity presented by electric trucks and buses as well as cars, he'll be missing a chance to drive good jobs and promote environmental justice. Turning the innovative genius and industrial might of America to the problem of clean trucks and buses is central to achieving his goals.

Why it's time to rebuild better tmoran January 19, 2021 - 10:45