Complete list of press releases

(Washington, DC – February 1, 2010) Companies with vehicle fleets can cut costs and carbon pollution by following a few simple steps as outlined in a new video from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). The video, titled The Power of Scale, visually depicts how small actions done by many can result in big changes for the corporate bottom line and the health of the planet.

“Companies need clear and compelling tools to help ‘green’ their operations,” said Jason Mathers, project manager at EDF. “Innovation is a cornerstone of our work at EDF, and we’re constantly working on new ways to help companies move towards sustainability. With this new video, we’re able to communicate a complex message in a creative way and bring the notion of ‘green fleets’ to life.”

Fleet efficiency has become an increasingly important issue for corporations as they look for opportunities to reduce their environmental impact. Currently, there are over 3 million corporate fleet vehicles in the United States emitting 45 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The Power of Scale demonstrates that companies can reduce their corporate fleet emissions by 6 million metric tons per year and collectively save over 2 billion dollars.

The Power of Scale video was produced by stresslimitdesign, a digital development agency specializing in interactive design, branding and marketing. The video uses stop-motion animation of models, combined with real-life time-lapse photography, leveraging sophisticated, innovative techniques for video production.

“Our goal was to present the core message around fleet efficiency in a meaningful, impactful way,” says Justin Evans, founder at stresslimitdesign. “We want people to watch this video and have a better sense of the steps they can take – as professionals or consumers – to incorporate sustainability into their everyday lives.”

The video is accessible at EDF’s website: http://edf.org/greenfleet

Contact: Kate Robertson, Energy Efficiency Specialist, National Energy Program (512) 691-3423
Chris Smith, Texas Communications Director, (512) 691-3451 or csmith@edf.org

AUSTIN, Texas (January 29, 2010) - Texas job seekers, students and policymakers have a new reference tool for seizing opportunities available in a burgeoning new economy with today’s release of the “Texas Green Jobs Guidebook” published by Environmental Defense Fund.

With support from the Meadows Foundation and review by the Texas Workforce Commission, the EDF publication profiles more than 200 types of green jobs, gives information on job training and placement programs, and provides city-specific overviews of workforce websites and community college program listings.

“Green jobs are where the action is, right now and into the foreseeable future,” said Kate Robertson, energy efficiency specialist with EDF’s National Energy Program. “The engine of future economic growth runs on clean technology and those who seek new training will reap the rewards.”

Robertson added that many jobs in existence today become green jobs when coupled with an additional layer of training, which need not take years. In many cases, an associate’s degree, continuing education or certification program provides the skills necessary to compete in this new workforce.

“Texas leads the nation in providing our workforce with outstanding renewable energy training opportunities,” said Texas Workforce Commission Executive Director Larry Temple. “The Green Jobs Guidebook will be a great resource for those interested in pursuing careers in the renewable energy field.”

For those with a high school diploma or GED, the Guidebook identifies numerous employment types, many exceeding $20 and $30 per hour. For those with a 2-year degree or who have taken part in an apprenticeship or trade school program, the Guidebook profiles additional job types, many paying even more.

EDF will be distributing the guidebook via email to all Texas high school guidance counselors, giving hard copies to counselors who request them. Others can download the Guidebook for free at: www.edf.org/txgreenjobs.
 

For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396 or sstein@edf.org

(WASHINGTON, January 28, 2010) “President Obama got it right when he said we must pass ‘a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America.’ The American people want less imported oil, less pollution, and more jobs - and Congress can deliver all three by passing a real clean energy bill that puts a limit on carbon pollution.

If we’re serious about creating jobs, beating the Chinese and Europeans in this new global market, and cutting imported oil, then Congress needs to move forward without delay and pass strong clean energy legislation. A traditional bill that completely exempts big companies from any limits on carbon pollution is a non-starter; it simply will not solve our most pressing national challenges.

With all the divisions in Washington, this is an issue that should unite the two parties. Both nominees in the last presidential election supported limits on carbon pollution, and legislators of both parties are now working to find a bipartisan solution. Americans want Congress find a way to cut imported oil, cut pollution, and create new jobs. Now it’s time to get the job done.”

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About EDF
Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
 

Contact: Peyton Fleming, Ceres, 617-733-6660 or fleming@ceres.org
                Steve Tripoli, Ceres, 617-247-0700 x155 or tripoli@ceres.org
                Sharyn Stein, EDF, 202-572-3396 or sstein@edf.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 27, 2010) – The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission today issued new interpretive guidance that clarifies what publicly-traded companies need to disclose to investors in terms of climate-related ‘material’ effects on business operations, whether from new emissions management policies, the physical impacts of changing weather or business opportunities associated with the growing clean energy economy.

The guidance, the first economy-wide climate risk disclosure requirement in the world, was approved in a formal vote at today’s SEC Commissioners meeting in Washington. The lack of specific guidance until now has resulted in weak and inconsistent climate-related disclosure by public companies.

Today’s decision comes after formal requests by leading investors for the SEC to require full corporate disclosure of wide-ranging climate-related business impacts – and strategies for addressing those impacts – in their financial filings. More than a dozen investors managing over $1 trillion in assets, plus Ceres and the Environmental Defense Fund, requested formal guidance in a petition filed with the Commission in 2007, and supported by supplemental petitions filed in 2008 and 2009.

Investors hailed today’s new guidance and said it goes a long way to meeting disclosure needs outlined in their petition.

“We’re glad the SEC is stepping up to the plate to protect investors,” said Anne Stausboll, chief executive officer of the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), the nation’s largest public pension fund with more than $205 billion in assets under management. “Ensuring that investors are getting timely, material information on climate-related impacts, including regulatory and physical impacts, is absolutely essential. Investors have a fundamental right to know which companies are well positioned for the future and which are not.”

“Today’s vote is a clarion call about the vast risks and opportunities climate change poses for US companies and the urgency for integrating them into investment decision making,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres and director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of 80 institutional investors with $8 trillion in collective assets. “The business risks of climate change cannot be ignored. With this guidance investors can make more sound decisions based on better information – and businesses will have a level-playing field with clear standards and expectations for disclosure.”

“Companies across America are poised to prosper and create new jobs in the clean energy economy,” added Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp. “Investors have a right to know which companies are planning to be part of the clean energy future and which are lagging behind.”

Today’s decision is the latest in a series of major policy actions over the past year requiring more robust climate risk disclosure across various industry sectors. Those actions include:

The Environmental Protection Agency’s new mandatory greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting rule, requiring some 10,000 facilities that are large sources of GHGs to report those emissions to EPA, beginning data collection on January 1, 2010.
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC), the organization of insurance regulators for the 50 states, unanimously approved a mandatory requirement for insurers with annual premiums of $500 million or more to disclose climate risks to regulators, shareholders and the public beginning in May 2010.
A growing spate of climate disclosure related litigation, as well as subpoenas by New York’s Attorney General to five of the nation’s largest power companies regarding their climate disclosure in SEC filings. Three of those cases have been settled, including a major settlement in November, after the companies agreed to boost their disclosure.
A record number of shareholder resolutions seeking information on companies’ contribution and responses to climate change.

The Congress has also advanced major comprehensive climate protection legislation, including first-ever House passage of strong climate and energy legislation in June that caps greenhouse gas emissions; similar legislation is under consideration in the Senate.

Under SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro’s leadership, the SEC has also been active on disclosure issues. In October, the commission decided to allow shareholder resolutions that seek information from companies on the financial risks they face from social and environmental issues, including climate change. The decision reversed a rule that prevented investors from directly asking companies about the impacts of climate change and other pressing concerns on their bottom line.

The SEC is also evaluating a formal request from investors last June that companies be required to disclose material ESG (environmental, social and governance) risks. Schapiro has asked the new SEC Investor Advisory Committee to consider the request and make recommendations to the Commission.

To Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp, who attended today’s meeting, the importance of the SEC’s decision is simple.

“State Treasurers invest vital taxpayer funds. We oversee public retirement and pension systems, college savings plans and more,” she said. “As investors safeguarding the economic welfare of so many state citizens, we have to be informed about the risks of companies we invest in. Easy and understandable access to accurate, comparable information regarding these very real risks - and climate change is certainly one of them - is essential to protect the investments our states depend on.”

Last June, Ceres, EDF and The Corporate Library issued a report showing that S&P 500 companies – including those with the most at stake in responding to the risks and opportunities from climate change – are providing scant climate-related information to investors. The study was based on an analysis of 10-K and 20-F filings by 100 global companies in 2008.

Investors and other groups who were signatories to the climate disclosure petitions with the SEC include:

British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (Canada)
California Public Employees’ Retirement System
California State Controller John Chiang
California State Teachers’ Retirement System
California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer
Ceres
Connecticut State Treasurer Denise L. Nappier/Connecticut Retirement Plans and Trust Funds
Environmental Defense Fund
F&C Management
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink
Friends of the Earth
Former Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller
Laborers’ International Union of North America
Maine State Treasurer David G. Lemoine
Maryland State Treasurer Nancy K. Kopp
The Nathan Cummings Foundation
New Jersey State Investment Council
Former New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr.
New York State Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo
New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli
North Carolina State Treasurer Janet Cowell
Former North Carolina State Treasurer Richard Moore
Oregon State Treasurer Ben Westlund
Former Oregon State Treasurer Randall Edwards
Pax World Management Corporation
Rhode Island General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio
Vermont State Treasurer Jeb Spaulding

About Ceres
Ceres is a leading coalition of investors, environmental groups and other public interest groups working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as climate change. Ceres also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk, a network of 80 institutional investors with collective assets totaling $8 trillion. For more information, visit http://www.ceres.org

About EDF
Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Contact: Jennifer Witherspoon, (415) 293-6067, jwitherspoon@edf.org

(San Francisco, CA – January 25, 2010) The National Academy of Sciences should build on, rather than repeat, the work of two biological opinions on the effects of state and federal water projects on fish species in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta, according to Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). 

Two EDF experts testified at a NAS public hearing this afternoon at the University of California at Davis as part of the NAS’ 15-member review of the biological opinions by two federal agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Marine Fisheries Service.

“The reasonable and prudent alternatives in the peer-reviewed biological opinions are essential to preserving threatened and endangered species like salmon and to sustaining thousands of jobs in the commercial fishing industry,” testified EDF Senior Water Resource Analyst Ann Hayden, who also is a member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) steering committee. “The biological opinions were not intended to evaluate the actions that don’t involve project operations, such as ammonia discharge from sewage treatment plants.”

“That’s the role of the more comprehensive Bay Delta Conservation Plan,” Hayden added.
“Instead, the Academy’s panel should be focusing its limited amount of time on: 1) building off the good work of the biological opinion; 2) evaluating the science of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan; and 3) evaluating the environmental needs of the Bay Delta, including the impacts of climate change and the need for adaptive management.”

“The Academy’s challenge essentially is a question of weighing water supplies vs. fishery needs,” testified EDF Economic Analyst Spreck Rosekrans. “The farms most affected by the biological opinions are those that: 1) have the least secure water rights; (2) tend to be among the most productive in the state; and (3) have invested the most in irrigation efficiency, with enough drip strips literally to reach the moon. However, in some cases, they have been forced to pay $600 per acre foot to keep orchards alive, while many farmers pay less than $10.”

“The farmers most in need would love to invest in increased efficiency Valley wide, if they could have access to some of the saved water,” added Rosekrans. “Unfortunately, regulations, paperwork, local resistance to water transfers and other obstacles collectively preclude such investments, severely limiting incentives for farms throughout the Valley to be as productive with a limited supply of water.”

“We should capitalize on this opportunity to provide incentives for farms throughout the Valley by expanding the marketing of that water, which is extracted from the environment,” concluded Rosekrans. “It is a reasonable and prudent alternative that should be added to the existing set of reasonable and prudent alternatives in the biological opinions because it will provide the water that endangered fish need, while making California’s farms as productive as possible.”

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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Sharyn Stein
202-572-3396
sstein@edf.org 

WASHINGTON (January 22, 2010) “We are deeply disappointed that Senator Murkowski has introduced a resolution to block the EPA’s -finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and safety. This approach would permanently stop the existing Clean Air Act from holding greenhouse gas polluters accountable for their actions, and replace it with nothing.

When Senator Murkowski introduced her resolution, she said that the Clean Air Act was written by Congress to regulate some pollutants, not greenhouse gases. Unfortunately that statement simply ignores the Supreme Court’s recent decision that it is “unambiguous” that greenhouse gases are pollutants under the Clean Air Act.

Senator Murkowski has said that she wants to see Congress adopt legislation dealing specifically with climate change. We completely agree that Congressional action is the best way to address the climate change crisis, and we will work with Senator Murkowski to pass strong climate and clean energy legislation. We also urge her to devote her energies to that end, rather than diverting time and attention to a measure that President Obama would surely veto if it ever reached his desk.”

— Steve Cochran, Director of Environmental Defense Fund’s National Climate Campaign

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About Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.edf.org
 

(Washington, DC – January 21, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) kicked off the third year of its Climate Corps program today, with commitments so far from more than 20 corporations to host fellows this summer. Matching of fellows to host companies is underway, so companies interested in saving money through energy efficiency should apply now at www.edf.org/climatecorps.

Climate Corps places top MBA students in companies to develop practical, actionable energy efficiency plans that cut costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Last summer, 26 Climate Corps fellows helped their host companies identify net operating savings of more than $54 million. These projects could also reduce energy use by more than 160 million kWh a year—enough to power 14,000 homes—and avoid more than 100,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

“The rapid growth of Climate Corps speaks volumes about the value it delivers to companies, and the real reductions in greenhouse gas emissions it achieves,” said Gwen Ruta, vice president, corporate partnerships, EDF. To date, projects that account for 97 percent of the energy savings identified by 2008 interns have either been achieved or are underway.

Host companies enrolled thus far include some returning members such as eBay, Genzyme, Savvis, SunGard and Yahoo! — as well as first-time participants such as Bloomberg, Carnival Cruise Lines, McDonald’s, PG&E, Staples, Target and Verizon.

“eBay is eager to participate once again in EDF’s Climate Corps program,” said Bence Oliver, eBay’s senior manager for operational sustainability. “Our 2009 fellow Cindy Chen was crucial to eBay’s effort to articulate our carbon emissions reduction target and chart a course to meet it. Cindy provided 10 months of value to eBay in 10 weeks.”

“At McDonald’s we recognize value when we see it, and saving energy and reducing costs for the benefit of our customers and the environment is a win-win proposition,” said Jerry Sus, senior director, development & strategic technology, McDonald’s Corp. “We’re pleased to be a part of this worthwhile program, and have the student see our commitment to the environment in action.”

This year’s cohort of Climate Corps fellows will represent top-tier MBA programs at universities such as Columbia; Duke; Georgetown; MIT; Stanford; University of California, Berkeley; The University of Chicago; University of Michigan; The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Yale. EDF has continued its partnership with Net Impact—a global network of leaders who are changing the world through business—to develop a pool of more than 200 qualified applicants.

Through more than 150 MBA school chapters worldwide, Net Impact educates and equips thousands of MBA students to use their business skills to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world.

The list of 2010 Climate Corps host companies thus far include: Akamai (AKAM), Bloomberg, Carnival Cruise Lines (CCL), Eaton (ETN), eBay (EBAY), Genzyme (GENZ), Hospital Corporation of America (HCA), JBG Properties Inc., JohnsonDiversey (JNJ), McDonald’s (MCD), PG&E (PCG), PHH Arval (PHH), Savvis (SVVS), ServiceMaster, Staples (SPLS), SunGard, Target (TGT), Verizon (VZ), VivaKi and Yahoo! (YHOO).

For more information on Climate Corps and details on how to host a fellow in 2010, visit www.edf.org/climatecorps.

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All trademarks, including company names, are the property of their respective owners.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tony Kreindler
202-572-3378
tkreindler@edf.org

WASHINGTON, DC (January 21, 2010) –Pollster Frank Luntz today announced new research that shows the American people are eager for Congress to act on climate legislation that would promote energy independence and a healthier environment. The newly released public opinion data indicates a widely shared bi-partisan consensus on the need to reshape the energy-environmental debate and illustrates a clear path forward for Senators as the 2010 climate change debate begins on Capitol Hill.

Luntz said today that passing legislation that boosts national security and energy independence, promotes innovation and new technology, creates jobs, and reduces pollution as part of a declining cap on carbon emissions is smart politics for Republicans and Democrats alike. Joined by Environmental Defense Fund President Fred Krupp and David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy, Luntz released polling results that he says “provides a road map for generating consensus and support for cleaner, safer, healthier, policies and proposals regarding climate legislation.”

“Americans want their leaders to act on climate change – but not necessarily for the reasons you think,” Luntz said. “A clear majority of Americans believe climate change is happening. This is true of McCain voters and Obama voters alike. And even those that don’t still believe it is essential for America to pursue policies that promote energy independence and a cleaner, healthier environment. In reference to recent political events, Luntz added: “People are much more interested in seeing solutions than watching yet another partisan political argument.”

Luntz’s firm, The Word Doctors, conducted a national poll of 1007 registered voters (+ 3% margin of error). The firm also conducted a series of “Instant Response” qualitative dial sessions around the country. Luntz’s research unveiled areas of clear agreement on climate legislation between Obama and McCain voters, and among the general public:

Republicans and Democrats agree that national security is the top reason to enact comprehensive climate policy. Luntz noted that national security “crosses demographic lines, is embraced by opinion elites and doesn’t require a belief in climate change.”

• Pitted against economic and environmental arguments, national security was consistently the highest priority.
• McCain voters in Luntz’s qualitative research strongly believe “the costs of our addiction to oil are too high in terms of lives, money, foreign policy and standing in the world.”

Reducing pollution and holding companies that pollute “accountable” enjoys broad bipartisan support.

• Americans see climate legislation as more than just corporate social responsibility. When given a list of business and economic reasons to support the legislation, the top choice mirrored the public’s highest priority for Washington and Wall Street: accountability. The exact language of the statement:  “Cap and trade will limit the amount of pollution companies can emit, giving companies incentives to reduce emissions—and holding those who don’t accountable…”

This was chosen as the top reason for supporting the policy among both Obama and McCain partisans – a rare example of bi-partisan public consensus.

“This is a crucial moment in the effort to pass national climate legislation that limits carbon emissions,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “Frank’s research proves that that no matter who Americans voted for in 2008, in 2010 they want to see Congress act on climate legislation. It’s a national security priority, it’s a crucial means to reduce pollution, and it’s essential to creating permanent American jobs.”

David Crane, CEO of NRG Energy, Inc., a major energy company, noted, “Comprehensive climate and energy legislation has the potential to address effectively our nation’s critical dependence on foreign sources of energy and solve the climate change problem. Sensible legislation, drafted by Republicans and Democrats alike can create private sector jobs driving the new energy economy. This research conducted by the highly respected Frank Luntz makes it clear as day that the door is open and the time to act is now.”

Luntz concluded, “Americans want clean, safe, healthy, secure energy. That’s why Republicans and Democrats alike strongly support action to address climate change. Sure, Republicans are more concerned about the national security component and Democrats the health component, but support for action right now spans all partisan and ideological lines.”

Download Luntz’s full report: The Language of the Clean Energy Economy [PDF]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Isabelle Silverman, (917) 445-6385, isilverman@edf.org  

(New York, NY – January 20, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) praised Mayor Bloomberg for addressing the pressing issue of toxic heating oil in New York City during his State of the City speech this afternoon. The mayor pledged that his administration will be “greening the heating fuels used in our schools and big buildings.”

The mayor’s announcement follows an EDF report last month showing that just one percent of New York City’s buildings—those burning the dirtiest grades of heating oil—produce more pollution than all the city’s cars and trucks combined.

“Mayor Bloomberg’s pledge to green the dirtiest types of heating oil is one of the biggest steps New York can take to reduce soot pollution linked to asthma and heart disease,” said Isabelle Silverman, an attorney for Environmental Defense Fund. “The dirtiest grades of heating oil must be phased out by 2020. Ten years is a long enough timeframe for buildings to convert and get the best use out of the older burners that can’t burn cleaner fuel right away.”

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www.edf.org/dirtybuildings

Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Witherspoon, California Communications Director, 415-293-6067, jwitherspoon@edf.org 

(San Francisco, CA – January 19, 2010) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today announced the hiring of the former Legal Director of the Save San Francisco Bay Association, Cynthia Koehler, as a senior attorney and its California Water Legislative Director.

“Cynthia displayed her California-sized talent as one of the lead negotiators for California’s water reform legislation in 2009,” said Elgie Holstein, EDF’s Vice President for Land, Water, and Wildlife programs and former Associate Director of the U.S. Office of Management and Budget for Natural Resources, Energy and Science. “She’s been a great consultant for EDF during the last two years, but I know she’ll be an even greater employee.”

“Cynthia’s strong negotiation skills were instrumental for ensuring that needed flows are identified to recover the Bay Delta ecosystem,” said Laura Harnish, EDF’s California Regional Director. “She is a real asset to EDF who will play a major role in water policy reforms in 2010.”

Koehler currently is an adjunct professor at Golden Gate University School of Law, where she teaches water law. She also is an elected member, and past president, of the Marin Municipal Water District Board of Directors.

In her new position at EDF, Koehler will work with other staff members to:
• Craft legislation, regulations and other policies to reform California water laws, restore rivers and the San Francisco Bay Delta ecosystem;
• Manage the planning and implementation of the legislative agenda for EDF’s California water program; and
• Develop opportunities to expand EDF’s California water policy agenda at the federal level.

Cynthia has worked for two decades on water and natural resource protection issues. Her accomplishments include:
1.Serving as co-trial counsel in the landmark Mono Lake proceeding before the State Water Resources Control Board;
2.Winning the lawsuit to list spring run salmon as an endangered species; and
3.Serving as lead counsel in litigation to enforce the Central Valley Project Improvement Act (the Miller-Bradley bill of 1992).

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Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 supporters. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.environmentaldefense.org blogs.edf.org/waterfront/
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Claudia Gunter, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
(646) 839-6479, cgunter@itdp.org 
 

Washington, D.C., January 12, 2010—The developing world is leapfrogging developed countries when it comes to urban transport, with the city of Ahmedabad, India, today announced as winner of the 2010 Sustainable Transport Award for the successful implementation of Janmarg, India’s first full bus rapid transit (BRT) system.

“This year’s Sustainable Transport Award nominees demonstrate the relevance of the developing world in the fight against climate change while improving citizen’s quality of life and enhancing their international competitiveness,” said Walter Hook, Executive Director of the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy. “Cities have the power to significantly reduce carbon emissions by actively seeking ways to improve transport.”

The Sustainable Transport Award is given annually to a city that uses transport innovations to increase mobility for all residents, while reducing transportation greenhouse and air pollution emissions and increasing cyclist and pedestrian safety and access.

Ahmedabad’s Janmarg BRT system is a sustainable model for the future of transportation in India, where a quarter of the world’s population lives. “BRT systems can positively impact air quality if car and motorbike drivers start taking trips by bus,” said Sophie Punte, Executive Director of the Clean Air Initiative for Asian Cities (CAI-ASIA). “This is particularly important in Asian cities, where air pollution levels are often far above guidelines of the World Health Organization.”

City residents have embraced their new BRT system; 18,000 daily passengers use Janmarg to commute to work, to school and elsewhere. In just a few months of operation, Janmarg has transformed the delivery of transit in South Asia. Janmarg uses innovative central median stations pulled away from the junctions. Bus stations feature passive solar design, an inexpensive way to keep stations naturally cool. The city is making continued efforts to be a leader in sustainable transport, including incorporating high‐quality pedestrian facilities in some corridors, as well as bicycle lanes. Ahmedabad has initiated car‐free days and recently announced more.

For the first time in the six-year history of the Sustainable Transport Award, all of the nominees are cities in developing nations. The four honorable mentions go to Cali, Colombia, for transforming citywide BRT service with MIO; Curitiba, Brazil, for opening a new BRT line and city park on a former federal highway; Guadalajara, Mexico, for completing a full BRT system in less than two years and at an affordable cost; and Johannesburg, South Africa, for creating Rea Vaya, Africa’s first BRT and the first public transit system that connects Soweto to the downtown district.

The official award ceremony will take place tonight, January 12, 2010, from 6:00-7:30 pm at the Hilton Washington, 1919 Connecticut Avenue NW. Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan, New York City Department of Transportation, will be the keynote speaker. The event is hosted by Enrique Peñalosa, ITDP Board President and former Mayor of Bogotá, Colombia. To attend, please RSVP to Claudia Gunter at cgunter@itdp.org or +1 646 221-7288.

The cities that received honorable mentions were all recognized for creating new BRT systems that reduce carbon emissions and create an optimal environment for pedestrians and cyclists.

The city of Cali, Colombia, is revolutionizing public transit with a complete overhaul of its transport systems. Cali opened its BRT system, called MIO, introducing a new type of service that allows the buses to work both within and outside its dedicated corridors.

Curitiba, Brazil, continues its sustainable transport heritage to link land use policy to transport interventions, including not only buses but also cycle ways, public space and pedestrian access.

“Curitiba has laid the foundation for innovative transit,” said Kathryn Phillips, a transportation policy expert with Environmental Defense Fund based in Sacramento. “Everyone recognizes it deserves to be an honorable mention recipient for the 2010 Sustainable Transport Award.”

Guadalajara, Mexico, opened a full BRT system in just two years. This rapid implementation shows the city’s courage and its political dedication to delivering public transport access to its residents.

“The Guadalajara Macrobus BRT System is an extraordinary example of farsighted leadership, good planning, and effective implementation,” said Daio Hidalgo, Senior Transport Engineer, EMBARQ, The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport. “Macrobus is now fully operational just two years after the idea was embraced by the local authorities, with high quality and extraordinary performance.

“Nominations to three major Latin American cities (Cali, Curitiba and Guadalajara) for this year’s Sustainable Transport Award reaffirm the leadership role adopted by this region of the world to develop cleaner and more efficient transport systems,” said Sergio Sanchez, Executive Director of the Clean Air Institute. “Examples like these should enlighten other Latin American cities and elsewhere to keep moving to build more competitive cities, while improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions”.

The city of Johannesburg, South Africa, opened the first full BRT in Africa, and completed the first mass transit investments in the city since the fall of apartheid. Rea Vaya is the first public transit system to link the previously disadvantaged Soweto area to the central business district.

“In under three years, Johannesburg opened a state-of-the-art BRT system that uses the cleanest buses on the continent,” said Manfred Breithaupt of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH. “Johannesburg’s accomplishment against enormous challenges and the upgrading of the corridor in Soweto with lighting and sidewalks makes it an exceptional honorable mention.”

Chosen by a selection committee that includes the most respected experts and organizations working internationally on sustainable transportation, this year’s nominated cities have successfully addressed a diverse range of urban transport challenges. The Sustainable Transport Award selection committee includes the most respected experts from organizations working internationally on sustainable transportation. The committee members include:

• Walter Hook, Executive Director, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy
• Kathryn Phillips, transportation policy expert, Environmental Defense Fund
• Ralph Gakenheimer, Chair, Transportation Research Board Committee on Transportation in Developing Countries
• Sophie Punte, Executive Director, Clean Air Initiative for Asia Center
• Sergio Sanchez, Clean Air Institute, Clean Air Initiative for Latin American Cities.
• Dario Hidalgo, Senior Transport Engineer, EMBARQ, The World Resources Institute Center for Sustainable Transport
• Manfred Breithaupt, Senior Transport Advisor, GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit)
• Heather Allen, Senior Manager, Sustainable Development, International Association of Public Transport (UITP)
• Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty, Environmental Expert, United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD)

The Sustainable Transport Award is given each year during the annual Transportation Research Board meeting in Washington, D.C. Past winners include:
2009 – Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York, United States, for making bold moves to achieve the ambitious goals of PlaNYC 2030.
2008 – Mayor Bertrand Delanoë, Paris, France for implementing a range of innovative mobility solutions with vision, commitment and vigor.
Mayor Ken Livingston, London, United Kingdom for expanding London’s congestion charge program and developing other low emissions programs that dramatically impacted air quality.
2007 – Mayor Jaime Nebot, Guayquil, Ecuador for revitalizing the downtown, creating dynamic public spaces, and instituting a new public transit system.
2006 – Mayor Myung-Bak Lee, Seoul, Korea for the revitalization of the Cheongyecheon River and the implementation of its bus rapid transit system.
2005 – Former Mayor Enrique Penalosa, Bogotà, Colombia for the TransMilenio bus rapid transit system, bicycle integration, and public space reclamation.

For more information, photos, and videos about the award and a list of past winners, visit www.st-award.org.

For more information please contact: Claudia Gunter, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, +1 646 839-6479, cgunter@itdp.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:

Tony Kreindler, (202) 445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org
Cal Baier-Anderson, (202) 572-3306, canderson@edf.org
Vickie Patton, (720) 837-6239, vpatton@edf.org

(Washington, DC –January 7, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed a new science-based nationwide air quality standard for ozone “smog” to protect human health.

“EPA’s proposed standards promise clean air protections that reach from the nation’s urban neighborhoods and communities to our rural forests and croplands,” said Cal Baier-Anderson, Ph.D., a toxicologist with Environmental Defense Fund. “Children are especially vulnerable to ozone air pollution. For millions of children, high pollution days make it difficult to attend school, to play outside and to simply breathe.”

The Agency’s new action reverses a 2008 decision under the Bush EPA and follows the recommendations of expert scientists. EPA is scheduled to issue final standards in August 2010.

Today’s action proposes two standards: one that would limit pollution concentrations in the range of 0.60 to 0.70 parts per million (as measured over an eight-hour period), and a second biologically-based standard to protect against ecological effects that would limit cumulative pollution concentrations during the summertime growing season.

Ozone or “smog” is formed from a photochemical reaction when oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic compounds mix in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone is associated with serious respiratory-related health effects in children and other vulnerable populations including missed school days, emergency room visits, hospital admissions and early death. Ozone pollution is also associated with deleterious impacts on the vitality of our nation’s forests, plants, and valuable agricultural commodities.

Administrator Johnson’s March 2008 Departure from Unanimous Scientific Recommendations, Explicit Presidential Nullification

In March 2008, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson finalized an identical national health- and welfare-based standard for ozone of 0.075 parts per million. This decision departed from scientific recommendations for protecting human health and natural systems from ozone air pollution.

EPA’s own statutorily-established Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee unanimously advised Administrator Johnson that the nation’s health standard should be between 0.060 to 0.070 parts per million: “Therefore, the CASAC unanimously recommends a range of 0.060 to 0.070 ppm for the primary ozone NAAQS.” Emphasis in original.

The Committee also unanimously recommended that science compelled a distinct “biologically-relevant” ozone standard to protect against the adverse cumulative welfare-based ecological effects on vegetation: “the CASAC unanimously agrees that it is not appropriate to try to protect vegetation from the substantial, known or anticipated, direct and/or indirect, adverse effects of ambient ozone by continuing to promulgate identical primary and secondary standards for ozone.” Emphasis in original.

Immediately after this decision, a March 13, 2008 White House memo to Johnson was released revealing that the President had concluded that the national ozone standard must be identical for health and ecological effects notwithstanding the unanimous scientific findings that a distinct biologically-relevant standard was necessary to protect natural systems.

Sky-is-Falling Prognostications Ignore Time Tested Progress

Industry representatives and their congressional allies vigorously claim the “sky-is-falling” – including the demise of the nation’s hair salons – when EPA establishes more protective national air quality standards. In 1997, EPA Administrator Carol Browner strengthened the nation’s particulate matter and ozone health standards in response to compelling new science. EPA’s decision engendered claims of economic demise and social havoc:

“So economically you are strangled, you are hung up, you are not going to grow, jobs will not occur.” Congressman Ronald Klink. 143 Cong. Rec. 3560 (1997).

The new standards “will wreak havoc on economic growth, jobs, and even personal lifestyles.” Congressman Fred Upton. 143 Cong. Rec. 1286 (1997).

“Dry cleaning establishments, hair salons, and other small businesses will not be able to absorb the increased costs imposed by these regulations.” Senator Spencer Abraham. 143 Cong. Rec. S10813 (1997).

But, during the 1997 debate, Montana Senator Max Baucus provided perspective on the predictable cycle of discourse that ensues from EPA’s decision to strengthen the nation’s air quality standards. He recounted the inevitable prognostications of economic demise. He also explained a world where, in the final analysis, costs are in fact reasonable and millions breathe healthier air:

This is a familiar pattern. Air quality standards have always been met with claims of economic demise. But then technology catches up. Innovative programs are implemented. Further research bolsters the initial decision. In the end, costs are a fraction of initial claims, and everyone breathes cleaner air.

Hundreds of Counties with Millions of People Achieved 1997 Ozone Standard

Environmental Defense Fund examined EPA data and found that EPA has proposed or finalized its determinations of compliance for 217 of the 474 counties originally identified as failing to meet the 1997 ozone health standard. This means that 58 million people living in the 217 counties are now realizing the benefits of vital clean air protections. As Senator Baucus observed, innovation and progress have a time tested history of delivering cleaner air to millions of Americans.

Ozone-Forming Pollution from Power Plants Dropped Significantly in Summer 2009
The nation can make considerable progress in cutting ozone-forming pollution. The oxides of nitrogen (NOx) discharged from power plants are a major contributor to unhealthy ozone concentrations that reach across the eastern United States. 

Preliminary EPA data, recently released, from the summer of 2009 indicates that power plant NOx emissions in the eastern United States dropped by 25 percent – nearly 200,000 tons – during the summer ozone season under the requirements of the Clean Air Interstate Rule.

EDF has analyzed that data and presented it in graphical analysis available here: http://www.edf.org/documents/10711_Ozone-Season-2009-NOx-Emissions-Under-CAIR.ppt

The underlying EPA data is available under “What’s New” at the following url: http://www.epa.gov/airmarkt/

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Ann Hayden, Senior Water Resource Analyst, 415-293-6086, ahayden@edf.org

(San Francisco, CA – December 22, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) welcomed a Federal Action Plan today that shows how the federal government will coordinate and prioritize the activities of six federal agencies to address the water crisis in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta. 

“The Federal Action Plan reinforces the Obama administration’s commitment to partner with California to solve the state’s water crisis,” said Ann Hayden, EDF Senior Water Resource Analyst and a member of the Bay Delta Conservation Plan steering committee. “We welcome the focus and partnership that this plan will bring to implement much-needed near term actions in the Bay Delta, one of the most important estuary ecosystems in the nation.”

EDF praised the plan for its focus on:

1. Enhanced water transfers to bring needed water to farmers;
2. Scientific evaluation of water quality and flows for recovery of endangered fish; and
3. Efforts to increase agricultural water efficiency.

The Federal Action Plan was announced today following a September Memorandum of Understanding listing actions to be taken over the next two years by six federal agencies: the Department of the Interior, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture, Department of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, and the Council on Environmental Quality.

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Environmental Defense, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 700,000 supporters. Since 1967, Environmental Defense has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. www.environmentaldefense.org blogs.edf.org/waterfront/
 

“We have never been so close to having so many agree on so much. If anything was clear at the Copenhagen talks it’s that the world is waiting for the U.S. to act. When it does, President Obama can knit together the historic breakthroughs obscured by the end of the Copenhagen meeting,” said Fred Krupp, president of Environmental Defense Fund.

“The coalition of the willing that emerged today represents roughly 60 percent of the world’s carbon emissions. It will undoubtedly be joined by others as ‘low-carbon’ becomes the new term of engagement in the global economy.

“A lot of hard work remains, but a lot of hard work is finished. “The new positive steps taken here, many of them by developing countries, present the U.S. Senate and President Obama with an historic opportunity.

“When most of the pieces of the puzzle are in place, it’s much easier to add the missing ones later.”
–—

Jennifer Haverkamp at jhaverkamp@edf.org 00 45 28 47 42 23
Peter Goldmark at pgoldmark@edf.org
Annie Petsonk at apetsonk@edf.org 00 1 202 365 3237

Statement of EDF President Fred Krupp on Copenhagen Climate Accord

“Today’s agreement leaves the U.S. in control of its own destiny. We have always known that the path to a clean energy economy goes through Washington, D.C. As President Obama said today, strong action on climate change is in America’s national interest.

“It’s the Senate’s turn to speak next. Whether we move ahead with a common-sense plan to create new manufacturing jobs in the U.S. and reduce dependence on foreign oil is not up to other countries; it’s up to us. A year from now we can be further ahead or further behind, and the Senate will make the difference.

“Today’s agreement takes the first important steps toward true transparency and accountability in an international climate agreement. The sooner the U.S. speaks through Senate legislation, the sooner we can set the terms of engagement for talks to come.”

Contact: Tony Kreindler: 001-202-445-8108, tkreindler@edf.org