Solutions Vol. 46, No. 2 / Spring 2015

the China par ad o x

China burns as much coal as the rest of the world combined. It is also the world’s largest investor in clean energy. How EDF is helping it go green. Page 8

6 Success! 12 A Cuban 16 Defending 18 Invasion National rules scientist the environment of the habitat on methane speaks out in Washington snatchers Catching on Near and far, sustainable fishing is taking hold. In the European Union, where fisheries are in deep crisis, EDF is working with fishermen to help them become stewards of the resource. Our aim is to change policies and practices and make sustainability the norm in countries that account for nearly two-thirds of the global catch.

NICOLAS LIETAER LOOKING FORWARD

Pulling together in time

as your interest in environmen- tal issues sparked by a wake-up W call? Mine was. As a boy growing up in Verona, NJ, I lived a few hundred yards Environmental Defense Fund’s mission from a lake and played on its banks daily. One is to preserve the natural systems day, I came upon scores of dead fish and on which all life depends. Guided frogs. A chemical spill upstream was the by science and economics, we find cause. I learned that day about the fragility of practical and lasting solutions to the life. Such local problems are always impor- most serious environmental problems. tant, but today our biggest challenges also have global dimensions. Our work is made possible by the support of our members. No one entity—no country, no multinational corporation and cer- Solutions On the cover: tainly not Environmental Defense Fund—can address all of the glob- Vol. 46, No. 2 / Spring 2015 Napoleon Bonaparte al environmental challenges we face. It will take all of us working once said, “Let China together to turn the tide. At EDF, our goals are bigger, bolder and the sleep, for when China more international than ever, and partnerships are the key to achiev- par ad o x the dragon wakes, she will shake the

China burns as much coal as ing them. Sometimes EDF takes the lead, but often we play a sup- the rest of the world combined. It is also the world’s largest investor in clean energy. world.” China is now How EDF is helping it go green. porting role in places where others are more established. Page 8 6 Success! 12 A Cuban 16 Defending 18 Invasion National rules scientist the environment of the habitat fully awake and its on methane speaks out in Washington snatchers economy is booming. Consider the world’s oceans. EDF’s work to rebuild fisheries—in the But growth has come at a steep price United States and elsewhere—with local and international partners in terms of pollution, public health and climate change. has been extraordinarily effective. In Belize, for example, we teamed up with the Wildlife Conservation Society and local partners to estab- Senior writer Rod Griffin examines how lish a system of fishing rights that gives fishermen incentives to pro- EDF is helping the country address tect a key fishery for the long term. After just two years, fish those interconnected dangers by populations are rebounding and illegal fishing has dropped 60%. accelerating a transition to cleaner energy. Page 8 That success led the government of Belize to ask EDF’s help rolling out the system nationwide. Cover illustration: shutterstock and Leland Goodman

On global warming, one place where EDF has a long-standing pres- ence is China. The road to stabilizing the world’s climate leads Solutions through this rapidly changing nation, which burns half the world’s Editor Peter Klebnikov coal and whose carbon emissions are 60% higher than those of the Art Director Janice Caswell United States (see cover story p. 8). In 2013, EDF helped the Chinese Environmental Defense Fund government launch carbon emissions trading programs in five cities 257 Park Ave. South and two provinces, that account for about 25% of the nation’s econo- New York, NY 10010 my. This is a big first step toward the establishment of a national sys- Main number 212-505-2100 tem for cutting greenhouse gas emissions—planned for 2016—and Membership questions 800-684-3322 evidence that China is getting serious about climate. or [email protected] WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Another example of EDF’s expanding global role is the work we’re do- Send feedback to address above or ing in both the U.S. and Europe to reduce carbon emissions from email [email protected] buildings. Europe aims to reduce such emissions 90% by 2050, but CONNECT WITH US ONLINE private investment in energy efficiency projects is impeded by a lack edf.org of industry-wide standards. Our goal is to streamline how these proj- ects are financed, resulting in buildings with lower operating costs facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund and a smaller carbon footprint. twitter.com/envdefensefund linkedin.com/company/ By sharing knowledge and learning from others, EDF and its partners environmental-defense are helping bring about change at a global scale. Together, we can help address the world’s environmental ills. If we fail to cure them, it won’t be because we lacked remedies. It will be because we didn’t ©2015 Environmental Defense Fund. Published quarterly in New York, NY pull together in time. ASSN 0163-2566 New York / Austin / Bentonville, AR / Boston / Boulder / Raleigh / Sacramento / San Francisco / Washington / EDF President Beijing, China / La Paz, Mexico / London

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 3 FIELD NOTES

GETTY EDF’s winning BY THE model for clean air NUMBERS CLIMATE ISTOCKPHOTO TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES $889 million Amount the Koch brothers network is projected to spend to influence New Yorkers today are breath- legislation and political campaigns in 2016 ing the cleanest air in 50 years. Soot pollution from Sandhill cranes in migration over the Central Valley. 67% buildings has fallen by more Americans who support than 50% since 2011 in the carbon rules, even if this city, preventing an estimated California farms grow habitat means higher utility bills annual 800 deaths and 2,000 Not long ago, the Sacramento that paying farmers for con- hospital visits due to lung and River was rich with marshes serving habitat on their land 31% heart disease. Why? Largely that created vital seasonal is cost-effective. Amount Denmark’s carbon because of a partnership be- floodplain habitat for water- “Programs like this help us emissions have gone down tween EDF and New York City since 1990 fowl and fish such as the fulfill our responsibility to na- called NYC Clean Heat. In Chinook salmon. Today, fol- ture and to coming genera- 2012, the program launched a WIND SOLAR NATURAL lowing a century of agricul- tions,” says John Brennan, the 13 minutes $100 million financing pro- GAS Time devoted to climate tural expansion and reservoir Knaggs Ranch’s co-owner. change by ABC Evening gram to help buildings phase construction, only 5% of “This also helps diversify our News in all of 2014 out the dirtiest heating oil. So these habitats remain. income beyond farming.” far 4,000 buildings have con- Now, EDF and partners Soon Brennan will enable 7°F verted to cleaner fuel. The ini- are working with rice farms his farm to earn additionalCOAL How much hotter the planet tiative has won two awards there, such as the 1,700-acre revenue by reducing carbon will be over pre-industrial for innovation and design Knaggs Ranch, to keep water emissions. California is levels in 2100 if we do and has been so successful 0 26 198 687 nothing on the fields to support salm- poised to approve standards that Mayor Bill de Blasio is on nurseries and provide des- for rice farmers to generate using it as a blueprint for ret- WIND SOLAR NATURAL COAL SOURCES: THE NEW YORK TIMES, YALE PROJECT ON CLIMATE CHANGE COMMUNICATION, DANISH perately needed habitat for carbonGAS credits in the state’s ENERGY AGENCY, MEDIA MATTERS, IPCC WGI rofitting 20,000 buildings for migrating waterfowl and cap-and-trade market. energy efficiency. shorebirds. We’re making the Agriculture accounts for case to utilities and others about 10% of America’s cli- needing to mitigate impacts mate pollution. SHUTTERSTOCK

0 26 198 687 Congress vs. a rare bird What are the thirstiest sources of energy? The greater sage grouse, an icon of the vanishing WIND SOLAR NATURAL COAL prairie, needs help urgently, GAS but Congress has delayed listing the bird as threat- ened or endangered. EDF is not stopping conserva- tion efforts: Our habitat exchange program is designed to help species 0 26 198 687 with or without a listing. ››› READ MORE››› Gallons of water used to power one home for a month edf.org/sagegrouse

SOURCES: NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LABORATORY, 2011 REPORT; EIA.

4 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 FIELD NOTES

The sea’s great predators face a RECYCLING, new threat: ocean acidification London style CORBIS

With the spread of mobile phones, London’s iconic red telephone booths have fallen into disuse. Today, some are being converted into solar charging stations. REDUX PICTURES A wind turbine grows in Brooklyn Acidifying waters could interfere with the extraordinary sense of New York City has installed its smell that has allowed sharks to thrive for millennia. first commercial-strength wind turbine. Powered by steady During their 420 million years scientist Dr. Jake Kritzer. We breezes 160 feet above the on Earth, sharks have evolved are working with Caribbean Brooklyn waterfront, the a hyper-acute sense of smell nations to identify and pro- turbine helps run a recycling that helps them home in on tect shark nursery grounds. plant. “If you can do it in New prey. Some species can smell But the best solution is to re- York, you can do it anywhere,” a drop of blood in an Olympic- duce carbon emissions by im- says project founder Thomas sized pool. But a new study plementing policies such as Outerbridge. published in Global Change the Clean Power Plan. Biology shows that ocean acidification, caused by glob- al warming, could interfere with their sense of smell and Deniers take note: 2014 broke heat records diminish their ability to hunt. Sharks have survived cata- Last year was the hottest on Earth since record keeping began in 1880; 14 of the 15 warm- clysmic events that killed off est years occurred since 2000. Only a few areas had below average temperatures. dinosaurs. But human activi- ty has pushed these magnifi- cent predators to the brink. Oceans absorb large amounts of atmospheric carbon diox- ide, turning them more acid- ic. Today’s rate of change is so rapid, sharks may not have time to adapt. Restoring populations of sharks can help them better withstand the impacts of cli- mate change and builds resil- iency in the entire ecosystem. 2014 temperature anomaly in Fahrenheit “Careful fisheries manage- (compared with 1951-1980 average temperatures) ment combined with marine sanctuaries can help sustain -1.8 0 +1.8 +3.6 +5.4 +7.2 F shark populations,” says EDF SOURCES: NASA GISS, WMO

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 5 Taking action on methane By Leslie Valentine

For too long, the dangers of methane pollution were all but ing is dead simple.” Until recently, there were no legal lim- ignored. EDF helped put the issue on the map. Today its on such pollution from most oil and methane—the chief component of natural gas—accounts gas operations. EDF has been a leader in bringing the issue to the public’s atten- for one-quarter of global warming. In January, the White tion and pushing for strong federal stan- House announced a bold target to slash methane. dards. We marshaled the science and made the case to the White House that What will it take to get there? dramatically cutting methane emissions is not only achievable but cheap. We also hat’s colorless, invisible emissions can help stave off disastrous mobilized our supporters, including to the naked eye and dozens of events such as increased droughts and those of Moms Clean Air Force. Together times more potent than CO as heat waves. And the best, most cost- we sent more than 100,000 emails urging W 2 a global warming force? Answer: meth- effective way to do that is by cutting fugi- that the Obama administration take ac- ane. Natural gas, which is mostly meth- tive emissions from the oil and gas tion to control methane. ane, is abundant and cheap, and we sector. Thanks in part to EDF’s efforts, policy depend on it for cooking and heating our An independent study commissioned makers have woken up. In January, the homes. It also produces 27% of the elec- by EDF found that the industry could cut White House announced a goal of tricity we use in our homes and methane emissions businesses. 40% or more for less ISTOCKPHOTO Natural gas, when burned, emits about than a penny per half as much carbon dioxide as coal. But 1,000 cubic feet of unburned methane—which leaks from natural gas produced wellheads, processing plants and pipe- by replacing leaky lines all along the supply chain—is 84 valves and properly times more potent than CO2 as a global maintaining pumps warming gas during the first 20 years af- and other devices. ter it is released into the atmosphere. “Reducing meth- Even small amounts vented or leaked can ane is not rocket sci- undermine the climate advantage natu- ence,” says EDF’s ral gas has over other fossil fuels. Mark Brownstein, In fact, one-quarter of the warming who leads our natural we will experience over the next couple gas program. “It’s Remote areas of Wyoming that once had clean air are now expe- of decades from today’s emissions will be largely a plumbing riencing high levels of air pollution. Natural gas and oil produc- due to methane. Reducing methane problem, and plumb- tion is virtually the only industrial activity in the area.

6 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 CORBIS reducing emissions of methane from the health and the environment from oil and oil and gas industry to nearly half of 2012 gas activities—and build momentum for Going high-tech for the levels by 2025. Once in place, the rules federal action—we set out to secure environment would be the first-ever federal require- strong rules in states where production is ment to control this dangerous pollutant most active. Finding natural gas leaks used to be under the Clean Air Act. In Colorado, for example, where toxic an onerous task involving workers with hand-held devices. Those days may soon Sen. James Inhofe (R-OK), chairman smog threatened communities, EDF was be over. Technology is revolutionizing of the Environment and Public Works asked by Colorado Gov. John the way pollution is measured. Satellite Committee, blasted the plan for impos- Hickenlooper to help find a solution. sensors in space make methane hot ing “a mandate designed to stifle our do- Working with Conservation Colorado, spots visible, and on the ground, infrared mestic energy industries.” The oil and gas Earthjustice and other groups, we found cameras capture plumes escaping from lobby and its backers in Congress say vol- common ground with three of the state’s oil and gas untary controls are sufficient. biggest oil and gas producers. This result- production ed in the nation’s first rules directly limit- equipment. But Reducing methane is ing methane emissions and other infrared cameras pollution such as ozone and benzene. aren’t cheap, not rocket science. These measures will cut methane as and companies ‘‘ well as reduce smog-forming pollution need ways to In fact, fewer than 30 of 6,000-plus’’ oil annually by an amount equal to that pro- monitor leaks and gas operators across the nation have duced by all the cars and trucks in the in real taken steps to lower their emissions. If state. We also worked with local groups in voluntary measures worked, we wouldn’t Wyoming, Ohio and California to get need federal standards. strong air pollution rules in place there. “It’s unrealistic to think an industry of In response to the White House an- this size would be able to police itself,” nouncement, EPA will propose regula- says Brownstein. “Regulations are abso- tions this summer for emissions of lutely necessary to assure that all compa- methane and other dangerous pollutants nies play by the same set of rules.” from new and modified oil and gas time. That’s why EDF challenged tech de- Of course, good regulation rests on sources. “This is a good first step,” says velopers to design a kind of smoke alarm good science, and until recently there was Krupp, “but we will make sure the ad- for methane leaks that can be deployed little reliable data on just how much ministration follows through on its com- at drilling sites. Our team is on the second methane is leaking nationwide. In 2012, mitment to cut emissions by nearly half.” round of testing four technologies from EDF launched the largest-ever effort to The rules are not expected to cover facili- applicants around the world. track leakage along the entire natural gas ties already in operation, which account It’s not just drilling equipment that supply chain. We brought together nearly for 90% of the industry’s methane emis- leaks gas but also old pipelines. EDF 100 partners from academia and industry sions. We’re urging EPA to set rules for ex- teamed up with Google Earth Outreach to conduct 16 field studies, which are be- isting wells, pipelines and facilities. to find and map leaks under city streets ing published in peer-reviewed journals. “There’s no reason to wait ten years to using Street View cars. We then analyzed As part of our strategy to protect com- fix a problem that can be addressed right the findings and made them available to munities from unacceptable impacts to now,” says Krupp. the public (edf.org/methanemaps).

Remember when you first realized we have to protect our environment? It still needs you.

Make a gift to EDF in your will or from your IRA. [email protected] Toll-free: 877-677-7397 Direct: 212-616-1201 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 7 China: Crisis and opportunity

By Rod Griffin

After years of “growth at any cost,” a rising middle class in China is demanding a shift to clean, sustainable development. EDF is helping Beijing deliver.

GETTY COVER STORY

hen world leaders called on Dudek to help design China’s convened in Beijing for the first experiments with economic incen- A LAND OF EXTREMES Asia-Pacific Economic tives for pollution control. Early success- Conference (APEC) last es in cutting SO followed by experiments W 2 26% November, the skies were uncharacteris- with capping carbon, have prompted the China’s share of global greenhouse gas tically blue: a fitting backdrop for government to expand the program and emissions (vs.16% for the U.S.) President Obama and President Xi establish a registry to track reductions. Jinping’s historic announcement to cut With support from EDF, the country 1.2 million greenhouse gas emissions and boost has launched carbon emissions trading Number of annual premature deaths in clean energy use. It was the first time programs in five cities and two provinces, China that air pollution contributes to China has publicly committed to a time- home to 250 million people. These pro- frame (around 2030) for capping its car- grams cover more than 2,000 sources, 154 million bon emissions. representing 16% of China’s greenhouse Cars in China—up from 16 million The blue skies were no coincidence. gas emissions. China says it will roll out in 2000 For the week preceding the APEC sum- national emissions trading in 2016. mit, some 10,000 factories within a 400- EDF’s goal is to help China develop 67% mile radius of the city were shut. the infrastructure, policies and regula- Energy produced from coal (vs. 20% for Schools and government offices were tions needed to place a legally binding the U.S.) closed, and nearly 12 million vehicles cap on emissions and shift the country’s were ordered off the road. Even outdoor economy as quickly as possible toward a $90 billion barbecues were snuffed. Air pollution in low-carbon future. Dudek serves on Investment in clean energy in 2014, nearly twice as much as in the U.S. the capital quickly fell to the lowest level China’s highest international advisory in five years. body on environmental affairs, which re- After the dignitaries left, normal life ports directly to China’s premier. 45% resumed—and so did pollution. Today, “EDF first introduced market mecha- China’s share of the world’s new wind energy production in 2013 Beijing’s average air quality reading for nisms to China’s power sector back in SOURCES: 1) EIA; 2) THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE particulates (PM 2.5) is five times that of 1999,” says Zhixuan Wang, secretary gen- LANCET; 3); CHINA MINISTRY OF PUBLIC SECURITY; Los Angeles. And Beijing isn’t even on eral of the China Electricity Council, an 4 & 5) BLOOMBERG; 6) GWEC China’s top-ten list of polluted cities. industry association of China’s power For many Chinese, “APEC Blue” has sector. “Since then, they have brought in- become an ironic catchphrase for any- novative ideas to China and provided billion fewer pounds of coal (enough to fill thing that is beautiful but temporary. substantial research support for energy 21,000 rail cars). “Obviously more needs Sarcasm aside, the clear skies over Beijing efficiency and pollution reduction. This to be done,” says Dudek. “We’re laying showed what’s possible when China’s has greatly helped reduce pollution in the groundwork.” central government decides to act. China’s power sector.” Even before the U.S.-China an- In Shenzhen alone, the government re- Cracking down on polluters nouncement on greenhouse gases, ports that CO2 emissions fell by more than Much of the choking pollution that regu- change was in the air. In a major speech 3.8 million tons in 2013, the first year of larly blankets the country’s north, includ- in March 2014, Premier Li Keqiang de- the pilot program, as compared to 2010. ing Beijing and the port city of Tianjin, clared “war on pollution.” Coal use de- That’s the equivalent of burning five comes from Hebei province, the center of clined in 2014, the first annual drop this century. The government plans to spend $275 billion on efforts to reduce air pollu- CORBIS tion over the next three years, and gener- ate 20% of its energy from renewables and nuclear by 2030. The question is how quickly China can turn the corner. “We cannot stabilize our planet’s climate without a targeted and rigorous campaign to curb climate pollu- tion in China,” says Dr. Daniel Dudek, who heads EDF’s China program.

A long-standing partnership In 1990, Dudek pioneered the U.S. emis- sions trading program to cut acid rain from power plants. The program, written into the 1990 Clean Air Act, spurred inno- vation and cut sulfur pollution in half, at a fraction of the projected cost. Impressed by the results, Beijing Emission statement: Face masks are a ubiquitous sight throughout China.

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 9 COVER STORY

China’s steel and cement industries. SHUTTERSTOCK Hebei has seven of the country’s ten most polluted cities. On bad days you can’t see the other side of a four-lane road. A study by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences found that air pollution in the north of China reduces life expectancy by five-and-a-half years. On some days, emissions blowing across the Pacific from China account for up to a quarter of California’s airborne sulfur pollution. For China, the moment to address such costs is now. A 2013 poll by People’s Daily named the environment as one of the top issues citizens want the govern- ment to deal with. Under the Dome, a new documentary about China’s pollu- tion, racked up more than 200 million views in just five days. Historically, penalties for polluting in In 2014, the Chinese economy overtook the U.S. economy as the world’s largest. China were so low—the maximum was $160,000—that there was little incentive ordered six companies to pay fines total- graduated from our program and fanned to clean up. In 2014, China tightened ing $26 million for discharging waste acid out across the country to help protect penalties on polluters, a reform advocat- into two waterways. The fine is the big- natural resources. ed by EDF for more than a decade. The gest ever in a Chinese environmental ceiling on fines has been lifted, officials pollution case and signals a profound Green supply chain are being held more accountable and cit- change in attitude. Another way to reduce pollution is to izen groups have more power to sue. The China’s environmental transformation partner with companies that directly in- reforms, which Reuters called “the most will be implemented by a new generation fluence China’s supply chain. “By finding sweeping revisions to the law in 25 of enforcement officers, many trained these leverage points, we can rapidly years,” are modeled on an EDF pilot en- through a program EDF set up with scale change,” says Dudek. forcement project in Chongqing. Peking University. So far some 25,000 Our Green Supply Chain Initiative The progress isn’t just on paper. In professionals (nearly one-third of en- uses the purchasing power of the govern- December, a court in eastern China forcement officers nationwide) have ment and multinationals to improve

Cultivating climate solutions

Agriculture is still a pillar of the Chinese economy, and perhaps cil’s Poverty Alleviation Office, which has representatives in every the sector most vulnerable to climate change. With more than 700 county. Together, we’ve created a program in which poor farmers million people living in rural areas—and 100 million of them living in Xinjiang, Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces can earn income by below the international poverty line—reducing rural poverty is a top reducing carbon emissions through improved agricultural practices priority for China. such as no-till farming and turning waste into energy. “The desire for a higher standard of living is part of the human The national government last year linked poverty alleviation with condition,” says Dr. Zhang Jianyu, EDF China’s managing director. climate change and committed to working with us to support pilot “The path toward climate stability and the path out of poverty have projects. Sustainable farming reform in China could keep as much as to be the same.” one billion tons of greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere annually. To tackle these dual threats, EDF partnered with the State Coun- One such project is in Hebei province, where we are replac- ing traditional coal-burning stoves with clean biomass stoves that burn bricks of compressed straw. The reduction in household air pollution could help avoid hundreds of deaths. The new stoves cut carbon emissions 60% and sulfur dioxide emissions by 90% compared to those fueled by coal. So far, 3,700 households have the new stoves installed, with a goal of 500,000 by 2017. The local government will cover half the cost of the stoves— about $200 each—with farmers being responsible for the rest. EDF’s role was to design the project and link carbon credits to the emerging carbon market. The sale of credits should enable farmers to recoup their investment within two years. “It’s an investment in human health—and the health of the planet,” says Zhang. EDF programs help farmers like these earn 10 Solutions / edf.org /income Spring 2015 by reducing carbon emissions. COVER STORY

energy efficiency and cut carbon pollu- The government has proven it can conditioners have by themselves saved as tion. For example, we’re working with scale innovation with extraordinary much energy as Three Gorges Dam pro- Lianhua Supermarket, a subsidiary of speed. In 2013, China installed more so- duces, according to some accounts. Brilliance Corporation, one of China’s lar capacity than the U.S. installed over EDF is committed to helping China largest retailers, to develop guidelines for the previous six decades. China has also reach its ambitious goals. Our hope is green stores and supply chain manage- become the world’s leader in wind power. that one day in the foreseeable future ment. By adopting energy efficiency And new national energy efficiency stan- APEC Blue will no longer be a joke, and measures such as improved refrigeration dards for refrigerators and air Beijing’s skies will be blue year-round. and lighting, Lianhua demonstrated it can cut its energy use by as much as half. In Wuhan, the most populous city in central China, an environmental enforce- ment officer frustrated by his inability to stop illegal pollution from a factory turned to EDF for help. We showed him how to enlist a leading buyer of the facto- ry’s products in support of his campaign. The buyer demanded that the factory clean up its act. “You have to get your hands dirty at the local level,” says Dudek, “to empower local champions, the people who can stand up and tell their story.” EDF also placed six Climate Corps fel- lows, all Chinese nationals studying in the United States, in multinational com- Change agents: Dudek (center, in white shirt) and the EDF China staff in Beijing. panies in China, including Apple, Walmart and Cummins. EDF’s Climate Corps program trains top graduate stu- dents and places them with companies EDF’s work in China where they look for ways to increase en- ergy efficiency and reduce emissions. “Climate change is the biggest chal- lenge of my generation,” says Yinghuang Ji, a Ph.D. student at Columbia University Xinjiang who worked as a Climate Corps fellow at Walmart in Shenzhen and Shanghai last summer. She analyzed 11 factories that Beijing supply Walmart, and identified energy ef- Tianjin ficiency improvements that—if imple- mented across all of Walmart’s factories Hebei in China—could save the equivalent Shaanxi amount of electricity used annually in more than 400,000 Chinese homes. Shanghai Hubei Danger and opportunity China has reached a critical moment of both danger and opportunity. Fetid, un- Sichuan Guangdong healthy air is the reality today, but the Chongqing Shenzhe n country is moving rapidly to grasp the opportunity of a low-carbon future. If Beijing follows through with its vision, China could do for clean energy what it’s Our projects encompass provinces that account for 40% of China’s GDP already done for consumer electronics— EDF is providing technical assistance and training to all seven Carbon trading put it within reach of everyone. “There carbon trading pilots. can be no U.S.-only solution to the global climate crisis,” says Dudek. “The path to Low-carbon Farmers in our low-carbon farming pilots are rewarded for adopting climate- a safe climate future goes through both farming friendly agricultural practices that reduce carbon and increase efficiency. Washington and Beijing.” Our green supply chain pilots give factories an incentive to slash energy Will China meet its aggressive 2030 Green supply chain use: if they want to win contracts to supply big purchasers, they must targets? We have reason to be optimistic. meet environmental requirements.

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 11 EDF PARTNERS ALAMY Letter from a Cuban scientist By Dr. Jorge Angulo

hen i first heard the will help managers develop strategies to Batabano. For four days, scientists, con- United States and Cuba would rebuild shark populations as well as con- servationists and fishermen from the Wreestablish diplomatic rela- serve healthy reefs. Our coral research United States, Cuba and Mexico spent tions, I was very happy. I think our peo- could help American scientists restore time on Cuban fishing boats. ple—especially our scientists—have even damaged Florida reefs. Many of the fishermen had never met more in common than we realize. As a scientists before, but their knowledge marine scientist, I’ve seen international Cuba could be a proved invaluable. They traded fishing collaboration work. Cuban and American tips and compared gear. We all talked scientists, particularly those from EDF, haven for sustainable about how to sustain the resources of our have been quietly collaborating for more tourism.‘‘ beautiful oceans for future generations. than a decade to protect Cuba’s rich nat- From this, we all learned to trust one an- ural heritage and the shared ocean wa- Beautiful ecosystems like the Gardens other. I believe trust is the seed of any- ters that connect our two countries. could also offer’’ my country alternatives thing you want to do with humans. Now there will be new opportunities to traditional tourism. Many Caribbean Throughout the workshop, I was struck to expand this cooperation. But the thaw sun-and-sand vacation spots have de- by how political differences didn’t matter. will also mean more tourists and new de- pleted their natural resources. Cuba At the end of our stay, a Cuban tuna velopment, which will put greater pres- could be a haven for sustainable tourism. fisherman told us, “We share one ocean.” sure on coastal areas. Growth can be Visitors could go birding or on manatee For me, that tells the story. great news for creating jobs, but tourism or whale shark tours. The possibilities are and conservation must go hand in hand. endless (see also edf.org/ecocuba). Jorge Angulo is Director of Conservation In Cuba, we are determined to do the A lot depends on fishermen. With EDF at the University of Havana’s Center for right thing for our economy and our en- we’re working to improve the livelihoods Marine Research. vironment. Last month experts from EDF of fishermen by rebuild- and Florida’s Mote Marine Laboratory ing fish populations. We’re joined me and other Cuban scientists to creating plans to end advance a long-running study of sharks overfishing, manage coral and coral reefs in the Gardens of the reefs and mangrove Queen National Park, 50 miles off Cuba’s swamps, and protect southern coast. This marine park is the communities from rising Caribbean’s largest and, many would say, seas, the result of a warm- its most spectacular. Elkhorn coral—al- ing climate. most gone from Florida waters—thrive As part of ongoing ef- there. Apex predators, like Caribbean reef forts to improve fishery and silky sharks, are abundant and help management, my Center keep the reef’s ecosystem healthy. recently teamed up with These and other sharks are in trouble EDF to conduct a “float- elsewhere, and we need to learn how we ing workshop” on fishing can help them. Our work in the Gardens methods in Cuba’s Gulf of Angulo: Saving ecosystems that have vanished elsewhere.

12 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 BP blowout, five years later A Gulf restored? JOHN RAE CORBIS

Rader: “The biggest damage lies hidden under the surface.”

Dr. Douglas Rader, EDF’s chief oceans sci- entist, spent much of 2010 responding to the BP-Deepwater Horizon spill. Solutions sat down with him to get his take on the current state of the Gulf.

Q: What were the long-term impacts to It’s April 2010 and a disaster unfolds. Why are we still unprepared in 2015? marine ecosystems?

The BP-Deepwater Horizon oil disaster in reverse land loss within 30 years. Fixing Rader: It will take years before scientists the Gulf of Mexico dealt a crushing blow the coastline will be expensive—but if get a full picture of the cascade of effects to coastal Louisiana, a region already bat- successful, the investment will “pay divi- from the spill. I am convinced that the tered by hurricanes and long-term loss of dends for generations to come and be a creatures most affected were those that wetlands. What have we learned? What model for reviving other threatened del- are the least known—small creatures in progress have we made? An update: tas,” says Natalie Peyronnin, EDF’s sci- sensitive early life stages—floating larvae ence policy director for delta restoration. of shrimp, crabs, Atlantic bluefin tuna Pushing BP to accept full responsibility. and reef fishes—and creatures of the The BP civil trial determined that the oil Safety regulations and planning. The deep. A big question is how the recently company was liable for up to $13.7 bil- federal response to the spill was haphaz- discovered giant “bathtub ring of oil” on lion for violating the Clean Water Act and ard and largely ineffective. Government the seafloor will affect ancient deepwater acting with “gross negligence.” EDF is regulation still lags far behind industry’s corals and other deep-sea animals. Oil pushing for the maximum penalty and rush to drill in fragile areas such as the left behind works its way up the food demanding that BP halt its delaying tac- Arctic, where the science and infrastruc- chain. The harm to sperm whales in the tics so “real resources can finally be put ture for managing an oil spill are virtually northern Gulf came not from direct oil- to work restoring coastal Louisiana,” says nonexistent, according to a new study ing, but through their underwater prey. Steve Cochran, director of our Mississippi from the National Research Council. River Delta Restoration program. There is some progress: EPA has pro- Q: Why tighten standards on chemical posed tighter guidelines for the use dispersants? A one-two punch for communities. of chemical dispersants in spills, citing Louisiana is losing a football field’s worth lessons learned from the BP disaster. Rader: While dispersants may help in

of land every hour to erosion resulting SHUTTERSTOCK some situations, their use in deepwater is from years of abuse. Land that used to be questionable. It greatly expanded the farmed is today underwater. As wetlands zone of subsurface exposure to toxic disappear, says Cochran, “people who chemicals. can afford to are moving, leaving behind those least able to cope—the poor and Q: Is the United States now better pre- the elderly.” EDF is working to change pared for such a spill? this dynamic, but restoration takes time—and money. Rader: Insufficient progress has been The BP funds provide hope. EDF and made in understanding key risks as well our partners are pushing for 19 critical as protection and response. This is of projects to jumpstart restoration. great concern as we drill in unfamiliar Louisiana’s Coastal Master Plan, which Some 400 species of birds, like this roseate but increasingly sensitive and dangerous we helped to develop, would begin to spoonbill, depend on a healthy delta. places like the Arctic.

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 13 EDF ONLINE Featured writing by our experts at edf.org

ALAMY A call to action: tougher smog standards

Dr. Elena Craft is an EDF health scientist who works to reduce harmful air pollution from energy use and transportation.

A brown soup of pollution—familiarly called smog—hangs over many American cities, es- Carbon dioxide was last at today’s level during the Pliocene, when this carnivo- rous Titanis walleri was one of the neighbors. pecially during warmer months. Smog, or ground-level ozone, is formed when emissions from power plants, factories, cars and other Avoiding the really scary stuff sources react with heat and sunlight. When in- haled, smog irritates our airways and increas- EDF economist Gernot Wagner has teamed up with Harvard professor Martin es our risk of serious heart and lung diseases. Weitzman to write Climate Shock, a new book that zeroes in on the extreme ca- tastrophes that could result from unchecked climate change—and how we can EPA has proposed a new rule that would in prevent them. Wagner shared some thoughts with Solutions. fact cut down on smog pollution, but EDF is urging the agency to go even further. The last time our planet had an atmospheric level of carbon as high as it is Although EPA’s proposed limit of 65 to 70 now, sea levels were up to 66 feet higher. Camels lived in Canada. The geologi- parts per billion (ppb), down from 75 ppb, cal clock said, “Pliocene.” So we have plenty of reasons to act. The longer we would undeniably help, EDF, the American wait, the more likely it is that one of the extreme events described in our book Lung Association and others are calling for a will happen. threshold of 60 ppb.

If we have a 10% chance of being in a fatal car accident, we take precautions. Austin-based EDF health scientist Elena Craft But if we calculate a 10% chance that unchecked climate change could lead to used strong words when testifying in favor of catastrophes like entire cities going underwater, what then? stronger standards at a public meeting in Arlington, TX. “Exposure to ozone can harm We need to think about climate change the way we think of insurance. In the the respiratory system and aggravate asthma end it’s risk management—on a planetary scale. And it’s and other lung diseases. It is linked to early not really radical. We insure our cars and homes against the death from respiratory and cardiovascular worst that could happen. Why don’t we insure our planet? causes,” she said. “As a scientist, and as a mom of an 8-month-old baby boy, I applaud We have the tools to act, but only if we adopt policies to EPA’s efforts in protecting public health. guide the economy away from the current fossil fuel– Setting the ozone standard to 60 parts per bil- driven, high-carbon, low-efficiency trajectory and instead lion would help those of us in Texas and make the sustainable, low-carbon, high-efficiency path across the country breathe easier.” the profitable one. ››› TAKE ACTION ››› ››› GET THE BOOK ››› edf.org/climateshock edf.org/supportcleanerair

Farming and clean water Oil prices and clean energy Excess fertilizer that runs off farms contains Falling oil prices have not dampened EDF Voices blog chemicals that can U.S. demand for poison drinking water energy efficiency and Find out what our experts are and cause dead zones renewable power. In talking about. Visit EDF Voices in lakes and oceans. fact, renewables are at edf.org/blog. EDF’s David Festa has growing faster than a solution. edf.org/ ever. Here’s why: cleanwater edf.org/oilprices

14 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 Finally, a real chance for chemical safety reform CORBIS

Dozens of toxic chemicals are typically present in babies in the womb.

In products they use every were never made. Among other changes, the bill would: That could finally be about to change. day, Americans are Thanks to bipartisan leadership on • Mandate safety reviews for all chemi- exposed to thousands of Capitol Hill and hard work by EDF and cals in active commerce others, we have the best chance in a gen- untested chemicals. A new eration to fix this badly broken law. • Require a safety finding for new chemi- law could change that. In March, Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) cals before they can enter the market and David Vitter (R-LA), together with he no. 1 song was “disco seven Democratic and eight Republican • Require protection of vulnerable Duck,” the hot TV show was co-sponsors, introduced the “Frank R. populations T“Charlie’s Angels” and Gerald Ford Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st was President when America’s main Century Act,” named for the late New • Set judicially enforceable deadlines for chemical safety law was enacted. The bill Jersey senator who long championed EPA decisions Ford signed on October 11, 1976, the TSCA reform. This bill, which EDF helped Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), negotiate along with other stakeholders, • Collect fees from companies to allow was—from the beginning—seriously is a huge improvement over the existing EPA to do its job flawed. Among many other problems, it law. It would transform the way EPA eval- imposed a nearly impossible burden on uates and manages harmful chemicals, “Rare political circumstances have government to prove harm in order to sweeping away legal barriers that have opened a narrow window to pass mean- control or replace a dangerous chemical. made it so hard to remove them from the ingful reform that protects the health of Yet in the almost 40 years since, the market. American families,” says Denison, who crucial reforms to solve those problems “Americans are exposed to thousands worked to improve the bill with senators of chemicals every day in both parties, industry and other non- JOHN RAE —some of them linked profit groups. “Toxic chemicals take to cancer, infertility, di- Some of those groups are withholding a serious toll on our abetes, Parkinson’s and support in hopes of further strengthening health. We owe it to our other illnesses,” said the bill. “We understand their concerns children to pass the Dr. Richard Denison, and will continue to work with Senator strongest possible law lead senior scientist at Udall, the environmental community and to ensure the safety EDF. “This legislation others to get the strongest possible bill en- of commonly used provides EPA with the acted into law,” says Dr. Sarah Vogel, EDF’s chemicals.” tools it needs to better health program director. “It isn’t perfect protect American fam- but it is well worth supporting. Congress —Dr. Sarah Vogel, EDF ilies—especially preg- cannot afford to let this historic opportu- Health program director nant women and nity slip from its grasp. This is the best infants who are most chance in a generation to provide strong vulnerable.” protections for Americans.”

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 15 The environment in the crosshairs By Charlie Miller

America’s bedrock 1980s. A dozen coal-reliant states and Wildlife under attack coal giant Murray Energy are also chal- A provision that halts efforts to deter- environmental protections lenging the EPA’s authority in court, and mine whether the greater sage grouse are under assault in the we expect a barrage of investigations, should be listed under the Endangered hearings and oversight maneuvers and Species Act (ESA) was tucked into new Congress. We have an attempt to use the Congressional December’s must-pass deal to fund the the law and the weight of Review Act to derail the standards. EDF government. Grouse habitat overlaps will continue its staunch defense of the with oil and gas drilling areas in the West. public opinion on our side, carbon emission rules to ensure that the One month later, the lesser prairie chick- but here’s what we are up final standards are strong. en narrowly escaped being delisted against in what promises to We need Republicans and Democrats through political maneuver. (Delisting is to work together to fight the devastating usually a rigorously scientific process.) be a challenging year. effects of climate change. Sen. Kelly Weakening the ESA under the guise of Ayotte (R-NH) gets it. Rather than bat- reforming it has long been a rallying cry tling on climate, she says, Congress in the House. In the current Congress, we Climate of obstruction needs to “work together and come up can expect to see a volley of bills that Senate Majority Leader Mitch with longer-term solutions.” would make securing wildlife protections McConnell says he feels a “deep respon- sibility” to stop President Obama’s pow- er plant regulations, and his top priority will be “to get the EPA reined in.” The historic Clean Power Plan, which for the Polluters’ playbook first time would limit carbon pollution The new chairman of the Senate Environment and from power plants, represents our most Public Works Committee, James Inhofe (R-OK), is significant opportunity to curb climate poised to do serious damage to the battle against change. climate change. He’s made it clear he intends to One line of attack will be to hobble wield his gavel to defund, discredit and delay EPA EPA by slashing its funding and blocking action on climate and air. “I will do everything in my its authority with riders on appropria- power to rein in and shed light on EPA’s unchecked tions bills. The agency is already operat- regulations,” he says. Inhofe is the author of a book ing on one of its lowest budgets since the celebrating climate denial (The Greatest Hoax).

16 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015

CORBIS more expensive and arduous clean power plans, sweep The “Jedi Master” is on the case than ever. EDF has success- away obsolete rules and en- fully defended the ESA before courage clean energy. JOHN RAE and we will continue to do so. We are also introducing pro- The war on mercury, grams to protect vulnerable Part II species on working lands EPA’s landmark Mercury and with or without a listing. Air Toxics Standards will be challenged in a suit before “Model” legislation the Supreme Court this The American Legislative spring. The standards, final- Exchange Council (ALEC), a ized in 2011, set the nation’s lobbying group that brings first emission limits on mer- together politicians and cury, soot and other harmful corporate interests to draw pollutants from coal-fired up “model” legislation, had power plants. only limited success in rolling The rules, which were de- back state renewable energy cades in the making, prevent Don’t mess with them: Sean Donahue and EDF general counsel standards last year, and major an estimated 11,000 prema- Vickie Patton are on the front lines defending environmental law. corporate members like ture deaths every year and Google and Microsoft have have withstood the scrutiny of This past summer, The National Law Journal ran a story severed ties. But ALEC lower courts. Despite the fact on the remarkable string of successes of one lawyer, Sean remains a serious threat. that the health-care benefits Donahue, before the U.S. Supreme Court. “Donahue may This spring, ALEC has a exceed costs by at least three not be a household name as a Supreme Court practitioner,” new set of anti-environment to one, some in the fossil fuel the article read, “but in four Clean Air Act cases this term, bills for legislators to take industry have balked at the Donahue was the counsel of record for environmental groups home. At its annual policy price tag for implementation. supporting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in wins summit, ALEC unveiled some EDF will continue to do every- against the energy industry.” of its upcoming attack strate- thing we can to defend these Among those wins was EPA v. EME Homer City Genera- gies, including draft bills that life-saving standards in and tion, in which the court upheld EPA’s power to regulate air would expand offshore drill- out of the courtroom. pollution that crosses state lines. The ruling “may be EPA’s ing, weaken clean air protec- greatest win ever in the Supreme Court,” Richard Lazarus, TAKE ACTION tions and disband EPA. ››› ››› a professor at Harvard Law School and a member of EDF’s We need your help to fight EDF was involved in the Board of Trustees, told the Law Journal. successful pushback against Congressional attacks on ALEC’s effort to undermine strong climate standards and Donahue may only now be emerging as a star at the Supreme renewable energy standards other bedrock environmental Court, but at EDF, he’s been one for a decade. In case after in North Carolina, and will protections. Tell Congress to case, he has worked with EDF’s legal team and allies to pro- continue to help forward- let EPA do its job, at tect and strengthen the nation’s environmental laws. thinking states implement edf.org/handsoffenvironment. As a young lawyer, Donahue clerked for Ruth Bader Ginsburg CORBIS and John Paul Stevens. Today, EDF’s general counsel Vickie Patton calls him the “Jedi Master” for his ability to discern the best legal strategy to follow in a case, and for how he melds disparate groups of attorneys into collaborative parnerships.

“In the Obama administration, EPA has developed the first generation of protections to reduce climate pollution, and Sean is a leader in defending those policies,” says Patton. “His brilliant work in litigation has shaped the law on the na- tion’s most important climate protections.”

Donahue and EDF are busier than ever these days. “Every- body’s doing 40 things at once,” he says, pointing to the slew of lawsuits that have been filed to torpedo EPA’s plan for regulating carbon emissions from power plants.

“This is a time when we can make real progress on climate but there’s also a tremendous risk of backsliding in the face Clouds of migrating monarch butterflies have dazzled people for of really intense opposition,” says Donahue. “I’m encouraged generations, but their numbers have plummeted and they need help. that people on our side are really pulling together.” We’re making sure Congress doesn’t weaken protections for species.

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 17 GREEN LIVING FROM OUR MEMBERS SHUTTERSTOCK Protecting your local ecosystem from alien invaders

ive million feral pigs, descended from domestic hogs F and imported wild boars and pos- sessed of a boundless appetite for native plants and animals, run wild in 35 U.S. states, causing up to $2.5 billion in dam- age every year. Tiny zebra mussels, na- tive to Russia, have hitched rides in the ballast of transoceanic ships and be- come a major problem in the Great Unwelcome guests: Imported for their fur, nutria now run wild in Louisiana and other Lakes. In the American South, kudzu states. They are described as “marsh-destroying machines.” vines from Japan choke trees, telephone lines and entire houses. Nutria—giant ■ Avoid exotic pets waterways in New York’s Adirondack Park South American rodents—eat their way It can be tempting to buy cute, unusual looking for invasive aquatic plants. through wetlands, driving out endan- animals like sugar gliders, kinkajous, ser- At the Moore Creek Preserve in Santa gered species. And thanks to irresponsi- val cats and wallabies (especially when Cruz, CA, teams go after harmful French ble exotic pet owners, giant pythons they’re babies). But your purchase almost broom under the watchful eye of the lo- now make their home in the Everglades. invariably supports an irresponsible cal Land Trust. And the tech-minded are It sounds like science fiction, but inva- breeding or trapping operation. And re- learning from the National Wildlife sive species—aided by our global trans- leasing these pets into the wild is not Refuge Service how to use hand-held portation system—are a serious and only cruel to the animal, it’s also danger- computers and GPS units to track and growing issue. Invaders travel on the ous and illegal, says the ASPCA. “The ani- analyze the damage done by invasives on soles of shoes, in the wheel wells of mal can spread diseases to native species protected land. planes and in soil brought in by plant or kill native animals and free-roaming nurseries. Kind of scary, isn’t it? pets.” ■ Invasive species on the menu Here are some simple steps you can “If you can’t beat ’em, eat ’em!” Kudzu take to help keep local ecosystems in bal- ■ Volunteer for containment vine, for example, makes a delicious jelly ance. And, if you want to do more, sign programs and can be baked into a quiche or up for volunteer action to help keep a It can be very satisfying to go hands-on in brewed for tea. Lionfish (which damage bad situation from getting worse. the war against non-native species, and East Coast reefs) have meat that is but- there are plenty of opportunities to get tery and flaky. The giant tiger prawn, a ■ Don’t plant problems involved in your own part of the country. danger in the Gulf of Mexico, is another Kudzu vine, Japanese knotweed and For instance, volunteers paddle the gourmet treat. Bon appétit! marsh-invading purple loosestrife were once sold as ornamentals. Make sure the plants you buy are not invasive, and re- port any non-native infestations to your Invasive species dos and don’ts local county extension agent or land Help preserve local species. Volunteer for a balanced environment: manager. •A partial list of what not to plant: •National Wildlife Refuge Association: ■ Don’t spread problems bit.ly/1CEuaeZ bit.ly/1vCjOaj Avoid transporting firewood more than •Why exotic pets are a bad idea: •Adirondack Park: bit.ly/1vSTRZG bit.ly/1zLtSyl 10 miles. You could be spreading tree- •National Invasive Species Council: killing diseases and pests. After hiking, •Don’t transport firewood: bit.ly/1vClT6e on.doi.gov/18XMVPX clean or rinse off your shoes or boots. As •Eat exotics: bit.ly/1L8PZac and •Appalachian Trail Conservancy: the Minnesota Department of Natural bit.ly/1cqFEHr bit.ly/1zLtnnG Resources puts it, “Come clean, leave clean.”

18 Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 FROM OUR MEMBERS

Letters MEMBER SPOTLIGHT Can agriculture be sustainable? A mom and climate In “Agriculture: Conservation’s New Fron- scientist shakes up tier” (Winter 2015 Solutions), there is no mention of GMO crops, insecticide use or Florida glyphosate. How can we talk about sustain- GETTY ability of agriculture without including these unsustainable practices? —Joseph Thompson

David Festa, head of EDF’s Ecosystem program responds: Thank you for your comment, Joseph. You put your finger on the complexity and number of issues that are important to consider when working toward a more sus- Corn is the biggest source of excess fertilizer. tainable agricultural system. To the few you mentioned, you could add diet, population growth, distribution, food waste and more. There’s certainly no shortage of things to Faith and climate tackle, and many organizations are looking I am a Dominican sister of Adrian, MI, and For her work on climate change, Nicole into different parts of the challenge. a member of EDF. First, let me congratu- Hammer (in red) was chosen to sit in the For advocacy organizations like EDF, late you on your winter 2015 issue of Solu- First Lady’s private box. the difficulty lies in choosing which issue to tions, “Blueprint for Climate Stability.” It is work on. When we considered where we a superb presentation. At January’s State of the Union speech, could get the most environmental bang for Our congregation has been involved in Nicole Hernandez Hammer was invited to our resources, fertilizer rose to the top. The study and action around climate change sit in First Lady Michele Obama’s personal problem itself is substantial. But solving it for years.The topic is so involved that box. Hammer, a climate scientist and can deliver huge benefits—cleaner drink- learning will go on for decades! I would mother of a young boy, recently became ing water, a more stable climate, healthier love to give each member of my group a manager of the Florida chapter of Moms coastal habitat and improved quality of life copy of the issue. Hopefully, reading about Clean Air Force, a movement of more in rural communities. your successes will inspire us to promote than 400,000 parents taking direct action We’re already part of the way there. Our what you have accomplished and how you against climate change that EDF helped team has decades of experience working are moving forward—and to spread the catalyze. with farmer networks to increase adoption hope you give us for saving our Earth, our of nutrient-efficient practices. By going be- planet and human life. Of Cuban heritage, Hammer was born in yond farmers and engaging the rest of the —Sister Noreen O’Connell, O.P. Guatemala and came to the United States grain supply chain, we can scale up these when she was four. She later studied cli- practices and make them the norm, which We want to hear from you! mate change and taught at the University will dramatically increase the resilience of Email us at [email protected]. Letters may be of Southern Florida, where she became an the natural systems that sustain us all. edited for clarity and length. expert on the impacts of rising seawater on freshwater reserves in the region.

Currently, Hammer is committed to rallying MORE AND MORE EDF MEMBERS 2,273,000 parents—especially those in the Latino community of south Florida—to fight ARE SPEAKING OUT! climate change and do something about 1,579,000 sea level rise that disproportionally affects lower income and immigrant communities 1,205,500 in the region.

661,000 “I worked with my colleagues to confirm that our planet’s climate is changing,” says Hammer. “Now the debate is settled. Our seas are rising. In Miami, which is built on porous limestone, we’re already having 2008 2010 2012 2014 problems with sewers and water sys- tems. It’s time for action. I am working on EDF member emails to elected officials and political leaders have surged in recent years. behalf of my son. We need to fight climate Join other members in making your voice heard. Sign up at edf.org/how-you-can-help. change today.”

Solutions / edf.org / Spring 2015 19 THE LAST WORD

In the rainforest, no niche lies unused.‘‘ No emptiness goes unfilled. No gasp of sunlight goes untrapped. No other place on Earth feels so lush. —Diane Ackerman, author and naturalist’’

MINDEN PICTURES