Solutions Vol. 49, No. 3/ Summer 2018

Meet the Fourth Wave A new era of environmental innovation gives us powerful new ways to protect nature

Page 8

EDF’s MethaneSAT, expected to launch within three years, will measure pollution from space.

6 SDispatches 148 Healthy S 1217 SA guide to 1418 SClimate and from EDF’s fisheries means the midterm social change legal war room healthier wildlife elections in India DEPARTMENT STANDING HEAD Partners in preservation Ending tropical forest loss would reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by about 15%. In Brazil, where two football fields of rainforest are destroyed every minute, beef ranching is the main source of deforestation. EDF is sending a powerful signal to Brazil’s producers and governments that their biggest buyers, including McDonald’s and Unilever, prefer sustainably grown beef and soy. With our corporate partners and local communities, we are working to eliminate illegal deforestation in the state of Mato Grosso by 2020, even as we expand agricultural production.

2 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 LOOKING FORWARD

The Fourth Wave of environmentalism

Recently, at a TED Talk in Vancouver, British Columbia, I announced a plan for EDF to develop and launch, within three years, a new Environmental Defense Fund’s mission satellite—MethaneSAT—to identify and is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Guided measure methane emissions from human- by science and economics, we find made sources worldwide, starting with the practical and lasting solutions to the oil and gas industry (see p. 10). most serious environmental problems.

Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas; Our work is made possible by the emissions from human activities are respon­ support of our members. Donate online at edf.org/newsletter or by sible for a quarter of the warming our planet is experiencing. Cutting mail: EDF, attn.: Member Services, methane emissions from the global oil and gas industry is the single 1875 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste. 600, fastest thing we can do to help put the brakes on climate change Washington DC 20009. right now. With data from MethaneSAT, both countries and companies will be able to spot problem areas, identify savings Solutions On the cover: opportunities and measure their progress over time. Vol. 49, No. 3/ Summer 2018 Environmental progress doesn’t MethaneSat is a prime example of Fourth Wave environmentalism, a just happen. It has been propelled by megatrend fueled by technological innovation that is transforming Meet the Fourth Wave successive waves of A new era of environmental innovation gives us powerful how we solve environmental problems by putting powerful new tools new ways to protect nature Page 8 ingenuity, each wave EDF’s MethaneSAT, expected to launch within three years, will measure pollution from space.

6 SDispatches 148 Healthy S 1217 SA guide to 1418 ClimateS and into the hands of people around the world. from EDF’s fisheries means the midterm social change legal war room healthier wildlife elections in India unleashing a powerful new set of tools. In this The Fourth Wave is the latest advance in a century of environmental issue, we explore how EDF is tapping evolution. First there was the land conservation movement led by advances in technology to scale an array President Teddy Roosevelt; second came the anti-pollution laws of of environmental solutions. Foremost the 1960s and 1970s; and finally, there was the rise of powerful among them is our plan to launch a satellite to track methane emissions market-based solutions and corporate partnerships in the 1990s, and help curb climate change. widely known as the Third Wave.

EDF is applying Fourth Wave innovation in a variety of ways—from using passive sonar to track sardine fish stocks in the Philippines, to Solutions developing precision agricultural tools to reduce fertilizer waste in the Midwest (see p. 12). And we aren’t alone. EDF is just one of many Editor Peter Klebnikov groups doing Fourth Wave work. Art Director Christina Baute and Janice Caswell Designer Anuranjan Pegu Of course, even as we launch into space, EDF continues to fight back against the anti-environmental policies of the current administration Environmental Defense Fund here on Earth. For example, our legal team is battling EPA’s plan to 257 Park Ave. South roll back the clean car standards established by the Obama ad­ New York, NY 10010 ministration (see p. 7), and we continue to expose EPA Main number 212-505-2100 Administrator Scott Pruitt’s cosy ties with polluters. Membership questions 800-684-3322 or [email protected] In any era, those doing the hard work of solving environmental WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU problems take advantage of the best available tools. Technology Send feedback to address above or can obviously be used for good or ill. But when satellites, sensors email [email protected] and data analytics are used to advance transparency, responsibility and low-cost solutions, the result will be smart policies that help CONNECT WITH US ONLINE people and nature prosper. edf.org

©2018 Environmental Defense Fund. Published quarterly in New York, NY ASSN 0163-2566

EDF President New York / Austin / Bentonville, AR / Boston / Boulder / Raleigh / Sacramento / San Francisco / Washington, DC / Beijing / La Paz, Mexico / London

PHOTO: GETTY

Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 3 FIELD NOTES PHIL COLLA Keeping score

78% A vast ocean wilderness protected of Americans believe schools should teach children about global A treasure trove of deep sea risk from the nets of bottom meetings with fishermen along warming. habitats are now protected trawlers searching for rock­ the coast—a­ process that built SOURCE: YALE PROGRAM ON CLIMATE CHANGE thanks to a historic accord fish. Simultaneously, 2,000 understanding between COMMUNICATION. between EDF and partners, square miles of previously­ stakeholders more used to fishermen and policy makers. closed grounds, where sandy legal wrangling: conservation

The plan, approved by the seabeds make trawling less groups, lawmakers and those GETTY Pacific Fishery Management invasive, were re-­opened for who earn a living from the sea. Council in April, will per­ fishing. “This was an amazing team manently protect 140,000 “This is now one of the effort,” said Ralph Brown, a square miles of ocean, mostly best-managed fisheries in the fisherman from Brookings, OR. off the California coast. With world,” said Shems Jud, the “Both fishermen and an area larger than the state of west coast director of EDF’s environmentalists focused on New Mexico, it is home to Oceans program. the goal of opening up closed coral reefs, sponges and The plan came to fruition fishing grounds and carving pinnacles. Parts of these after EDF and other NGOs out the areas that really need delicate ecosystems were at convened more than 30 protection.” Silt repairs a Victory on a storied Delta killer chemical Louisiana is embarking on massive sediment diversions American families scored a to help solve its land-loss crisis bittersweet victory when EPA —the worst in the nation. The decided not to block a rule to diversions will send sediment- ban a toxic chemical that has rich Mississippi water into claimed dozens of lives. wetlands, reinforcing them Last year, EPA’s Scott Pruitt

JULIE DERMANSKY against sea level rise. EDF bowed to industry pressure convened a group of leading and indefinitely delayed ban­ experts to advise the state on ning methylene chloride in paint strippers. But in May he the diversions, which have made a dramatic about-face never been tried before. after EDF arranged for families brave families who are fighting Kevin’s story to try to save more Louisiana is evaluating our of victims to meet Pruitt and to ban this deadly chemical,” lives.” EPA announced it will group’s recommendations, key members of Congress. said Dr. Sarah Vogel, EDF’s vice now finalize the rule as EDF such as operating diversions Home Depot, Lowe’s and president of Health. requested. “We’re watching in wintertime to minimize Sherman Williams also pledged Wendy Hartley (pictured), closely to make sure the harm to fish and wildlife. Other to remove products containing whose son Kevin, 21, died last administration delivers on its regions wrestling with the the chemical from their shelves. year while stripping paint from promise to ban this chemical,” consequences of sea level rise “The credit belongs to the a bathtub, said: “I want to use said Dr. Vogel. are monitoring the projects.

4 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 FIELD NOTES

Raleigh office shows the way forward The EPA administrator’s legal EDF’s North Carolina office shredding environmental laws arguments are fatally flawed and is celebrating its 30th an­ and weakening public health ‘‘ niversary. Over the years we and environmental agencies. reflect an egregious misreading have compiled a series of EDF’s Raleigh team, working environmental victories in closely with state and regional of the text, structure, history and this Southern purple state allies, battled back. that serve as a guide for We successfully defended purpose of the Clean Air Act. defending the environment the state’s clean energy in states across the country. policies, which have made —Excerpt from EDF’s comments defending’’ the Clean Power Plan, now under siege The 2010 elections swept North Carolina a national by the Trump administration into power a cadre of state leader on solar energy. And lawmakers with an anti- we’re fighting to restore regulatory agenda. North funding for clean water and Carolina’s legislature began conservation programs. NOTEWORTHY

EDF and Maryland pre- vailed in a legal battle with Fighting a dirty Executives see increasing EPA after a federal judge bailout for coal alignment between business and ordered the agency to stop delaying a rule requir- President Trump is dead set environmental goals ing neighboring states to on propping up the coal limit power plant emissions. industry. His latest scheme? 70% of Maryland’s smog To keep coal plants running comes from upwind states. by linking them to national security, under an obscure With EDF support, New Korean War–era legal pro­ 71% vision. The plan comes after more closely Jersey passed a bill requir- ing the state to source pleas from Ohio-based aligned than 50% of its electricity from FirstEnergy to bail out 80 in 2013 renewables by 2030. Gov- uneconomic coal and nuclear ernor Phil Murphy (D) has plants, at a cost of $8 billion—­­ pledged to increase that to to be paid for by utility cus­ 18% no change 100% by 2050. tomers. In June, Trump directed Energy Secretary 11% Rick Perry to proceed, despite more often EDF has 22 EDF Climate the absence of any threat to at odds Corps fellows in China this national security. EDF is summer—a record year and more evidence of China’s fighting to stop the maneuver. SOURCE: BUSINESS AND THE FOURTH WAVE OF ENVIRONMENTALISM, EDF REPORT, 2018 growing climate agenda. In total, this summer sees 115

ISTOCK fellows helping 97 compa- nies and institutions move toward cleaner, greener his beautiful manatee is one of operations. T300 species protected under a section of the Endangered Species Act now itself under threat. The A 1.5 million acre oil and gas White House is reviewing the project in eastern Wyoming­ “blanket 4(d) rule,” which provides threatens core sage grouse protection to species in decline but habitat, even as the Bureau not yet listed as endangered. EDF is of Land Management is monitoring the review closely. weakening key protections for the imperilled bird. EDF “This flies in the face of years-long is working to keep the collaborative conservation efforts,” protections in place. says EDF associate vice president Eric Holst.

Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 5 EDF LEGAL UPDATE

Lifting the curtain on Scott Pruitt’s misdeeds EDF finds weak spots in the administration’s environmental onslaught

TOM BRENNER/REDUX PICTURES Trump’s plans to revive the coal industry. Then, in January, we obtained emails indicating that Pruitt himself was per­ sonally involved in scrubbing infor­ mation on the website. “Pruitt’s pattern of ruling EPA under a cloak of secrecy is no way to run an agency entrusted with protecting public health and environment,” says EDF attorney Ben Levitan. To push back, we and our allies need to know who is influencing Pruitt’s EPA. Through another FOIA request, we received 1,800 pages of correspondence between EPA and the Heartland Institute, a hub of climate denial supported in the past by the Koch brothers and billionaire Trump supporter Robert Mercer. The emails showed EPA political appointees collaborating with Heartland, soliciting the group’s assistance on everything from climate policy to media coverage. EDF is expanding its use of FOIA as new threats emerge. In April, we learned EPA’s Scott Pruitt of Pruitt’s efforts to censor the science used in EPA rule making, which could his spring, scott pruitt strike down the new policy as a violation have calamitous consequences for clean outdid himself. Without notice or of the Clean Air Act. air and public health protections. Tpublic input, the head of the Like so many of Pruitt’s initiatives, this Legal fellows on EDF’s Clean Air team Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gift to polluters was created in secrecy, are on the front lines of our FOIA efforts, created a new loophole in the Clean Air with no opportunity for public comment. filing FOIA requests and sifting through Act that allows many industrial polluters We learned about the new policy only thousands of documents. to turn off pollution control equipment after seeing an unheralded memo to One fellow is Erin Murphy, a 27-year- and pump additional benzene, lead, EPA’s regional air directors. old graduate of Georgetown Law School. chromium and other air toxics into To expose Pruitt’s evasions and ensure “It’s an honor to be part of this team,” neighborhoods around the country. transparency at federal agencies, EDF is says Murphy. She traces her commitment It was one of his most brazen moves. using another tool: the Freedom of to the environment to a family vacation Fortunately EDF and our allies were Information Act (FOIA). EDF has filed at Montana’s Glacier National Park. It was prepared. We moved swiftly to file suit in 50 FOIA requests since the advent of the there that the 14-year-old saw a federal appeals court, asking the court to Trump administration. dramatically receding glacier. Our first FOIA request was “I knew then what I had to do with my filed on Inauguration Day. life,” says Murphy. “Nothing is more Anticipating that Pruitt would important.” hide information about Charlie Miller climate change, we asked for files that might reveal whether SUPPORT EDF’S LEGAL EPA had made changes to the CHALLENGE FUND! agency’s website. Last August, we got our From day one of the Trump admin­ istration, EDF has taken legal action answer: Under Pruitt EPA had to block assaults on the environment. removed or modified 1,900 We win because we arrive in court fully pages and documents on the prepared. Help EDF’s ace legal team site. The URL that previously defeat the Trump agenda and we’ll led visitors to the Clean Power double your donation $1-for-$1. Here’s Plan now redirects them to a how: edf.org/LCFMatch EDF’s Erin Murphy digs up the truth. webpage touting President

6 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 EDF LEGAL UPDATE ISTOCK

A gift to EDF can pay you back for life… Clean car showdown in California

eople like cleaner cars expected to attack this authority, setting because they save money, pollute up a major legal confrontation with What’s more, new Pless and are good for public health. California and the other states that have increased payout rates So why are President Trump and EPA adopted that state’s standards. Administrator Scott Pruitt rolling back EDF has a long history of will become effective clean car standards? New standards championing clean cars. California’s July 1, 2018—the first would spur improvements that would landmark Clean Cars law, enacted in change since 2012. If nearly double the average fuel economy 2002 with vigorous support from EDF, you are 59 1/2 or older, of new cars to 54.5 miles per gallon by mandated ambitious emissions 2025 and cut oil consumption by about reductions. Twelve states, representing a charitable gift annuity 12 billion barrels. The standards would a third of the national market, followed will pay you or your also reduce carbon pollution by about six suit. EDF successfully defended the beneficiary a lifetime billion tons over the lifetime of all cars California law in court against a income. At the end, affected by the rules. challenge by automakers. “The whole world is moving toward With equal resolve, we’ll defend everything left over will cleaner cars, but not the United States, today’s clean car standards and states’ support EDF’s important which is stuck in reverse,” says EDF authority to lead on clean air. “With the environmental work. general counsel Vickie Patton. “Trump help of our members, we believe we will seems to enjoy swinging a wrecking ball prevail,” says Patton. at environmental standards out of spite, Charlie Miller New rate* regardless of merit.” Age Rate The rollback would increase carbon 60 4.4% 4.7% emissions at a time when vehicles are BY THE NUMBERS eclipsing power plants as the nation’s top SCOTT PRUITT’S DIRTY 65 4.7% 5.1% source. Even some major car companies CARS PLAY are raising concerns. Honda said plainly, 70 5.1% 5.6% “We do not support their rollback,” while Ford said, “We support increasing clean Zero 75 5.8% 6.2% car standards through 2025 and are not Number of times Pruitt mentioned the 80 6.8% 7.3% asking for a rollback.” words “children,” “health,” “air pollution” or “climate” when announcing rollback In May, California and 16 other states plans 85 7.8% 8.3% sued to challenge the drive to weaken existing standards. EDF also asked a *Gifts made on or after July 1, 2018 federal appeals court to review the 63 administration’s action. “We stand on Number of times Pruitt cited the auto Contact us today for your free solid legal ground,” says Patton. industry personal gift illustration. More lawsuits will undoubtedly follow if the new, weaker rules are finalized. Zero California already has the authority to set Toll-free: 1-877-677-7397 Number of cited EPA analyses that [email protected] its own, stronger clean car standards support rollbacks under the Clean Air Act. Pruitt is edf.org/legacy

SolutionsSolutions / edf.org / edf.org / Summer / SpringPHOTO: 2018 2017 ISTOCK77 COVER STORY

The new frontier of environmentalism By Rod Griffin, Tasha Kosviner and Leslie Valentine

8 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 COVER STORY

Fifty years ago, NASA astronauts sent photos emergence of market-based solutions. The of the Earth from space. The riveting images Fourth Wave builds on that progress with helped inspire the modern environmental technological advances that are making the movement. Today, cell phones have as much invisible visible. This is giving local groups power as the computers that guided the powerful tools to help the environment: Apollo flight, and EDF is launching a satellite remote sensing that tracks deforestation; to help put the brakes on climate change. data analytics that reveal pollution patterns; artificial intelligence that curbs overfishing. The mission is just one example of how technological innovation is transforming These tools are solving long-standing environmental protection. We think history problems, changing behavior, reining in will remember this as the Fourth Wave of polluters and rewarding corporate environmentalism; the first being the Teddy responsibility. Like the Apollo mission of Roosevelt-era land conservation movement; 1968, Fourth Wave environmentalism is the second, the 1970s use of the law to opening new frontiers that could change combat pollution; and the third, the 1990s the course of history.

PHOTO: GETTY Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 9 COVER STORY

EDF fights climate change from space COURTESY OF TED TALK

EDF president Fred Krupp announces the methane satellite project at a TED Talk in Vancouver, British Columbia

om ingersoll, a highly greenhouse gas, responsible for about successful satellite entrepreneur, a quarter of today’s global warming. EDF will be a trailblazer Twas surprised last year when he got Cutting these emissions is the fastest, for the concept of using a call from EDF’s chief scientist, Dr. cheapest thing we can do to slow the rate ‘‘ Steven Hamburg. of warming today, even as we attack the power of space and Hamburg said EDF wanted to build carbon dioxide emissions. and launch a satellite to help fight Refineries, pipelines and remote oil remote sensing to climate change—and wondered whether and gas fields can be hard to monitor, but Ingersoll would consider leading the an orbiting satellite traveling over four address a wide range of effort. “I thought, ‘Wow, that’s kind of miles per second can measure a facility’s problems on a not-for- crazy for a nonprofit,’” recalls Ingersoll, emissions more cheaply, more accurately the former CEO of Skybox, a satellite and more often than other monitoring profit basis. imaging company that sold to Google for methods. Some government satellites — Tom Ingersoll, $500 million. already track methane, but they lack MethaneSAT’’ project director After examining the technologies adequate resolution to monitor carefully, Ingersoll signed on as project emissions at the source. manager in February. “It will be difficult,” Once launched by 2021, MethaneSAT he says, “but the potential benefits for should provide a new level of precision in society are huge and worth the risk.” monitoring about 50 major oil and gas Two months later, EDF president Fred regions, covering 80% of global Krupp unveiled the plan during a TED production. Ingersoll says some of the Talk in Vancouver, British Columbia. technologies to be incorporated in the The new satellite, called MethaneSAT, satellite were developed for military will initially track methane emissions purposes, so “it’s rewarding to see this from oil and gas fields, but will also be technology benefit society in other capable of measuring emissions from ways.” feedlots, landfills and agriculture. Our goal: a 45% reduction in oil and Methane is an extremely potent gas methane emissions by 2025. That

10 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 COVER STORY SEAN BOGGS would deliver the same 20-year climate benefit as closing one-third of the world’s coal-fired power plants. In the United States, the oil and gas industry is the single-largest industrial source of methane pollution, but 42% of oil and gas companies don’t report any information on methane emissions. How much is actually leaking was unknown until EDF brought together 140 scientists from 40 institutions to publish 35 peer- reviewed papers on the subject. The studies revealed leakage approximately 60% higher than EPA had estimated and led to the first national methane standards. Data on global emissions are even more uncertain. The International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates half of the gas leaks could be stopped at no net cost, Drones join campaign against emissions because energy companies could sell the extra gas captured. But currently public df’s methanesat will be spent a week navigating increasingly information about leak rates is scarce critical for spotting methane challenging blind, controlled leaks. and near-absent in regions where Eemissions across large regions. But They then used their own algorithms to scrutiny is unwelcome. how will oil and gas companies pinpoint overlay information from sensors with “An effective response to the problem the precise size and location of leaks on other data, such as GPS and wind of methane emissions requires good the ground so they can be stopped? conditions, to determine the presence, data,” said IEA executive director Fatih That was the question occupying the location and size of leaks. Birol. “This [project] is a major step minds of the inventors guiding drone- The findings are now being analyzed forward, and continues EDF’s pioneering mounted sensors across a methane leak by Stanford scientists. By 2019, the aim work in seeking to tackle these emissions testing facility in Colorado this summer. is to have oil and gas industry leaders worldwide.” “Mobile methane detection is the next piloting the most promising tech­ MethaneSAT, which is being frontier for the oil and gas industry,” said nologies, leading to broad commercial developed in collaboration with Harvard James Scherer of Aeris Technologies. use. and the Smithsonian Astrophysical Aeris Technologies was one of ten “We can localize and quantify Observatory, will help fill important data teams invited to participate in the 2017/8 emissions in a third of the time of gaps, but action will require other Stanford/EDF Mobile Monitoring traditional methods,” says Andrew measurements as well (see Drones story, Challenge. Using sensors mounted on Aubrey, co-founder of challenge right). drones, trucks and planes, the teams participants, SeekOps Inc. EDF will make the data publicly available so that companies, policy makers and regulators can take action. This is all the more significant at a time It’s in the wristband when the Trump administration has undercut support for science. ur genes help determine With more detailed information at the our health. But air pollution and level of individual fields, Hamburg says, Oindustrial chemicals in consumer companies will have the data to help products also play a role. EDF is identify and plug leaks. And governments exploring technologies capable of around the world will have more detecting an individual’s exposure to a information to develop policies to drive broad spectrum of chemicals. We real reductions. launched a project in which volunteers “EDF will be a trailblazer for the wore a silicone wristband capable of concept of using the power of space and detecting over 1,400 chemicals in the remote sensing to address a wide range environment. We found 57 chemicals, of problems on a not-for-profit basis,” including carcinogens and endocrine says Ingersoll. disruptors. Now, with the price of “We’re the first,” says Hamburg, “but I precision information going down, we’re think we’re going to see this approach supporting innovation in technologies used by others as well.” that enable people to detect when and The sky, it turns out, is not the limit. where unhealthy exposure occurred. COVER STORY

In the heartland, tech-savvy JONATHAN ALCORN farmers rewrite the rules

utrient runoff “We invested in tech­ from farmland causes nologies and software to help Nwidespread algae us understand every detail blooms in waterways across about how our grain is the U.S. In 2014, an outbreak grown,” says Scott Henry, a in Lake Erie contaminated 28-year-old farmer in central the drinking water of more Iowa. than 500,000 Ohio residents. Henry is an EDF farmer Meanwhile in the Midwest, adviser and participant in runoff from farmland in 12 Land O’Lakes SUSTAIN, a states enters the Gulf of program developed in Mexico via the Mississippi collaboration with EDF to River. There, it stimulates improve sustainability on 20 massive algal growth, which million acres of land by 2025. consumes the oxygen needed One of the tools he uses to support ocean life and analyses soil, topography causes a vast “dead zone.” and farming practices to Fertilizer is critical to recommend the best location In cities, an early warning agriculture but knowing for buffer zones—unfarmed precisely how much to use areas that help prevent system for toxic pollution has been a challenge. fertilizer runoff into streams. Now, a new generation Another recommends the here are more than technology have increased of tech savvy, data-hungry optimal quantity and timing 3,500 active oil and gas the affordability and young farmers are using of fertilizer application. Twells in Los Angeles precision of air monitors, precision agriculture tools “Today,” says Henry, “we County, many of them lo­ removing cost as a barrier for to improve nutrient can write prescriptions at a cated near schools, hospitals­ companies to install this management and protect granular level for an indiv­ ­ and homes. Roughly 110,000 equipment and enabling waterways and air. idual field.” people live within 500 feet of communities to launch their these wells. own monitoring networks. LESLIE VON PLESS People living that close to “This gives communities EDF partner Scott Henry an oil well have a cancer rate power they didn’t have before eight times higher than the to become advocates and national average, and more track pollution at hazardous frequent respiratory illnesses, oil and gas sites,” says EDF studies show. This concerns project manager Irene Burga. Compton-Gardena residents Data alone aren’t enough. like Lloyd Duvernay, a retired That’s why EDF helped pass cop who lives just 40 feet state regulations in 2017 that from the Breitburn oil field. include provisions for real- “The air quality isn’t time monitoring of some monitored at all,” says components of oil and gas Duvernay, whose son has operations near underserved asthma. “It’d be a relief to communities—and for the know kids here can grow up rapid development of being safe—and their parents pollution-reduction plans. don’t have to worry about Says Burga: “Now toxic fumes affecting their companies and safety health.” regulators no longer have The good news is that excuses for dragging their feet recent breakthroughs in implementing solutions.”

An emerging megatrend The Nature Conservancy is applying human facial-recognition technology Until recently, environmentalists, policy makers and regulators often operated to fish to help identify and track catches. from partial data and guesswork when it came to addressing environmental The FishFace project could offer a low- problems. But today, thanks to rapid technological advances, new tools for defin- cost way to help manage fisheries and ing and fixing those problems are being introduced, offering benefits that were monitor declining species. unimaginable only a few years ago. And it isn’t only EDF that’s riding this wave. COVER STORY COURTESY OF SHEDD AQUARIUM Putting big buildings on an energy-efficient diet

rom arctic beluga whales to tropical fish, the animals at Shedd FAquarium in Chicago need the right water conditions to thrive. Balancing their care with a commitment to energy conservation, the famous aquarium has joined a program EDF is implementing Using software developed by EDF, Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium with ComEd, Illinois’s largest utility. slashed energy use The aquarium is one of ten buildings in the pilot, which helps managers of large buildings save energy. Buildings use about 40% of all energy consumed in the owners financially for reducing energy. simple mechanical efficiency. United States and hold great promise for Our first-of-its-kind program is We’re now bringing the model to other reducing global warming pollution. already making Illinois into a clean Midwestern cities. Today, the Shedd In our project, smart meters feed data energy leader among states. It brings Aquarium saves at least $150,000 a year to software developed by EDF and the together efficiency experts, building in energy costs. Says Dick Munson, EDF Accelerate Group that provides building engineers and the utility, and provides Midwest clean energy director: “This is operators with a picture of real-time building operators with real-time clearly a win for the environment and for energy use. The program rewards building information to find savings beyond utilities and customers alike.” PABLO SANCHEZ QUIZA for Filipinos—and a critical link in the Eavesdropping to help marine food chain. But they’re in steep decline due to overfishing. The Philippine a Philippine fishery government recently reformed its fisher­ ies law, adding provisions for science- based management, but there’s currently no reliable way to assess the sardine population. Fujita believes new acoustic technologies could help. “Active sonar,” such as that used by submarines, emits sound waves that are reflected back from fish schools. “Passive sonar,” in contrast, uses ultra-sensitive microphones to detect unique acoustic signatures associated with different species. EDF scientist Dr. Rod Fujita tests advanced sonar The use of these technologies to assess sardine populations is still experimental, but initial results are ff cebu island in the the water to deploy sounding devices. promising. If successful, they could be Philippines, millions of sardines The research team is testing sophis­ used to rapidly and cost-effectively Oswirl on Moalboal reef. Dr. Rod ticated acoustic technology to estimate assess the health of fish stocks, under Fujita, director of research and develop­ sardine abundance, which would help pressure due to climate change as well ment for EDF’s Oceans program, joins authorities better assess how many can as overfishing. And that would protect colleagues from the Atkinson Center at be caught sustainably. an important source of food and jobs Cornell University and other partners in Sardines are a vital source of protein for hundreds of millions of people.

In the Great Lakes, robotic instruments Off Cape Cod, the Woods Hole A wind farm in Texas is using radar detect pathogens in drinking water and Oceanographic Institution and Cornell systems, developed for NASA, to detect email data to resource managers to have deployed acoustic sensors on approaching birds. If they’re in danger avert the sort of health crisis that affected buoys to alert commercial vessels of flying into the blades, the turbines are 400,000 people in Toledo, OH, in 2014. when they are on a collision course with programmed to shut down, restarting endangered North Atlantic right whales. once the birds are safely on their way. How healthy fisheries support ocean wildlife around the world

ustainable fishing not only helps fish populations and the people who depend on them, it’s also critical for SOOTY SHEARWATER (near threat- ened) These migrants cover nearly Sprotecting other ocean wildlife. A new study co-authored 40,000 miles a year. The numbers by EDF Trustee Dr. Chris Costello concludes that better fishery have declined 90%, largely due to management can reduce, and even reverse, the loss of rare species bycatch in tuna fisheries. Limit- of turtles, dolphins and ing the use of driftnets has saved seabirds. 350,000 annually. Healthy fisheries The study, the first comprehensive estimate of are crucial to the benefits of sustainable fishing for the world’s ocean thriving ocean wildlife, relies on a database ecosystems, which of more than 4,700 global fish stocks that EDF helped include a diversity compile. It focuses on the impact of sustainable fishing of ocean life, from on 20 wildlife species microscopic threatened by accidental AUSTRALIAN SEA LION (endangered) capture and injury through plankton to Gillnet closures around breeding colonies and fishing. colossal blue 100% observer coverage on fishing vessels are Published in Science, the helping revive the endangered sea lion. Only 6,500 adults remain. research finds that sustain­ whales. able fishing can help preserve 50% of vulnerable species, while the other half can be safeguarded through marine protected areas and other measures. “Fishermen are often seen as a threat,” says Dr. Douglas Rader, EDF’s chief Oceans scientist. “But when given a secure stake in how fisheries are managed—and tasked with the challenge of avoiding vulnerable species —they develop plans that achieve better results than top-down mandates alone can.” Rod Griffin PHOTOS: MINDEN PICTURES

INDO-PACIFIC HUMPBACK DOLPHIN LOGGERHEAD TURTLE (vulnerable) (vulnerable) The main threats to this This highly migratory species has been charismatic species are entanglement in around for 110 million years. In the U.S., nets and vessel collisions. Bangladesh protected nesting sites and gear modifications created its first marine protected area in such as turtle excluder devices have helped 2014 to protect the dolphin. reduce mortality.

14 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 JOEL SARTORE

THE WILSON LEGACY The power of environmental bonds

By Frank Convery, EDF Chief Economist

Hurricane Katrina ravaged the U.S. Gulf coast in 2005, causing about $125 billion in damage. These costs would have been lower if natural protections— dunes, wetlands, barrier islands—had not been degraded, a process that continues as global warming contributes to sea level rise. Don’t mess with the dusky gopher frog EDF is pioneering ways to make vulnerable, and valuable, coastlines more resilient. One major question An endangered frog gets its is how to pay for that resiliency. For example, the cost of providing day in Supreme Court protection against the next Katrina is expected to be about $50 billion. hen frightened, the dusky immediately habitable. If the Court gopher frog covers its eyes agrees, the fallout could be devastating to In the Gulf region, led by EDF economist Wwith its hind legs and plays many species. “Recovery today depends Diego Herrera, we are exploring the dead. on creating new habitat and allowing feasibility of an Environmental Impact It’s perhaps not the best survival species to migrate and adapt to a Bond (EIB)— issued by Louisiana’s strategy, but the real reason the stubby changing climate,” says EDF attorney Coastal Protection and Restoration frog is critically endangered is because its Holly Pearen. “Species are in trouble due Authority—to raise money to protect longleaf pine habitat has almost to habitat loss. Restricting critical habitat the coast. The state will then pay back the bonds’ principal with interest, disappeared. Longleaf pine forest once to areas currently serving as habitat using future oil spill related revenues covered 90 million acres from Virginia to consigns many of them to almost certain dedicated to restoration. Texas, but less than 5% remains. Among extinction.” the many casualties is the frog, whose The case could also be a test of the By issuing EIBs, Louisiana would save range has shrunk to three remote ponds Chevron Deference, an important money by acting more quickly to restore in Mississippi. judicial doctrine that holds that scientists wetlands that reduce the extent of Improbably, Lithobates sevosus has at wildlife agencies, not judges, are best potential future flood damage. become the vehicle for a concerted qualified to make decisions on habitat. attack on the Endangered Species Act. The attack is being led by the Pacific The idea is to attract capital from so- In 2012, the Fish and Wildlife Service Legal Foundation. The Center for called impact investors—those seeking designated 6,477 acres of pine forest as Biological Diversity is defending the Act, a beneficial social or environmental critical habitat. The timber company with business owners who support impact alongside a financial return— Weyerhauser and others challenged the species protection. willing to cover the upfront costs for decision in Louisiana District Court and In addition to crippling species’ wetland restoration. in the 5th Circuit, losing both times. recovery, an adverse ruling would suggest The case is now before the U.S. that non-pristine lands aren’t important. Major players in the Gulf economy (the Supreme Court. It’s the first time in a This would send the wrong message to ports, the oil and gas industries)—all decade that the Court is addressing a landowners. EDF’s work has shown that beneficiaries of coastal protection— core issue of the Endangered Species working lands are essential for would then complement EIB funding by Act, and it comes at a time the Act is conservation of species like sage grouse providing additional finance for coastal under sustained assault in Congress. and kit fox. “The fact is we can no longer protection. The Court will decide if the rely only on pristine ecosystems to If this funding model works, we will have government has the authority to preserve species,” says Pearen. a flexible, scalable way to fund coastal designate critical habitat in unoccupied Today, the guttural call of the dusky protection wherever it is needed. lands that possess some, but not all, gopher frog is still heard in three remote features necessary for endangered ponds in Mississippi. Whether it will still species survival. Opponents argue that be heard in the future is up to the U.S. This regular column honors the memory of the government can designate as critical Supreme Court. The case will be argued Robert W. Wilson, a longtime EDF supporter habitat only areas where the threatened in November. and champion of harnessing market forces to species already exists, or areas that are Peter Klebnikov drive environmental progress. See edf.org/wilson

Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 15 ELECTION SPECIAL ELECTION SPECIAL

This year, vote for the environment

s politico has reported, aides spoke out. Also, Moms Clean Air Force, are planned, featuring some of the to President Trump are bracing for an EDF project with more than a million brightest and most successful political A“a possible bloodbath” in the 2018 members, has run dozens of actions in minds in the country, including John midterm elections, which could “paralyze Washington over the past year and a half, McCain’s presidential campaign manager the president’s legislative agenda.” including rallies to protest the cuts that Rick Davis and Barack Obama’s For the environment, that would be were proposed for the EPA budget and battleground states director Mitch a very good thing. rollbacks of critical environmental and Stewart, who once worked at EDF. Trump is the most anti-environmental public health protections. “We want to make sure that this is the president in American history, and the In many states, anti-environmental place to go to run a successful current Congress is equally bad on the members of Congress are sensing a campaign,” says Stewart. environment—a poor combination. growing backlash. They are facing We know that when more people are We are witnessing wholesale efforts protests at home nearly every weekend, engaged in the political process and vote, to roll back environmental safeguards, and many admit to feeling out of touch we have a much better shot at pushing including the Clean Power Plan, clean car with their constituents. politicians to take pro-environment rules, rules protecting Americans from That uncertainty has created an positions. That’s why we are also running toxic chemicals and much more. No opening for EDF and EDF Action. voter registration drives. EDF’s Defend fewer than 180 members of Congress With the environment emerging as ­ Our Future initiative, a campaign deny the science behind climate change. a major issue in battleground House focused on mobilizing young people, has And 46 senators received a League of districts, EDF Action has launched organized several dozen events in five Conservation Voters score of zero in Campaign Academy, a first-of-its-kind states. And Moms Clean Air Force plans 2017, voting repeatedly against the program designed to give political events in 20 states where organizers will environment and public health. candidates the skills and knowledge they also gather pledges to vote. “We can now see what government need to become stronger environmental “Our job is keeping people politically looks like when it’s run by special in­ advocates while building winning engaged and informed,” says Jeremy terests,” says Joe Bonfiglio, president of campaigns. The program is aimed at Symons, EDF vice president for political our partner advocacy group, EDF Action. candidates at all levels, from city council affairs. “We’re not taking anything for Now, however, the tide may be turning. to U.S. Senate, and trainees are learning granted. We’re counting on EDF A relatively good budget, with funding about fund-raising strategies, how to members in every state to help stop increases for EPA, passed Congress in part craft an effective message and how to get Trump’s environmental assaults.” because more than 125,000 EDF members out the vote. About ten training sessions Charlie Miller

16 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 ELECTION SPECIAL

Maximize your voice in the midterms start Nature doesn’t have a vote. But you do. Whatever your level of political engagement, here here’s how to step up your impact in this November’s elections.

Register at defendourfuture.org/register-to-vote and Are you registered NO, not yet sign up for election reminders at edf.turbovote.org to vote?

YES Learn about your candidates and current represen- but I have questions tatives at usa.gov/voting. View their stance on key environmental issues at scorecard.lcv.org I’m a voting pro!

Be sure to vote all the way down the ballot. Environmental progress Are you an online activist? happens at every level. Knowledge center

Hone your environ­ YES NO It’s easier than you might think. Follow your representatives on Twitter and Face- mental talking points tell me how book, and subscribe to their email news- with fact sheets from Cyberspace is WIKICOMMONS letters. Like, share and respond often. these EDF affiliates: my happy place Sign up for, and share, EDF action alerts at edf.org/EhX Moms Clean Air Force edf.org/EhB Do you lobby your representatives? Defend Our Future Make your voice heard during office hours, edf.org/Eh2 town halls and other public meetings. YES NO If you can’t get out, write or better yet, call, tell me more using contact information on their website.

but I’m a bit rusty When engaging your representatives, begin by emphasizing you live in their district and mention roles that highlight your community influence. I have my reps on speed dial Concisely detail the issue you’re interested in and its effect on your community. Explain the action you wish to see. Be respectful, personal and heartfelt.

Do you engage your friends and family?

YES Difficult conversations become easier by finding common ground. Discuss It’s complicated... how environmental issues and policies affect your community, and how They know politicians can help. Deal courteously with alternative viewpoints. where I stand

Do you volunteer? Great! A campaign depends on the commitment of its volunteers. Sign up at your candidate’s office. YES NO Expect to stuff envelopes, man the phones, but I’d like to distribute fliers and canvass door-to-door.

First in line, every time Remember, every action helps! Thank Host an Election Day party or block walk to increase you for giving the environment a voice awareness and voter at the ballot box this November. turnout.

Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 17 Cookstove engineer Padmavati showing how for millions, sustainability and social change go hand-in-hand In India, climate action empowers women A plan to install biogas cook stoves in rural India goes beyond helping the country meet its climate goals. It also elevates the role of women both inside and outside the home.

admavati places the heavy Frontiers in Nutrition, found the stoves gesture of abundance. black bag at her feet and settles save women two hours a day in cooking “From then on, my walls were no Pinto the auto rickshaw. As the and collecting firewood, improve nu­ longer black with soot, and my eyes driver navigates the muddy track to the trition and offer relief from the risks stopped constantly watering,” she says. next village, the contents of the bag rattle, of collecting wood—snake bites and “My sons got to school on time since pliers against wrenches and spare parts. harassment from men. There are social breakfast is ready in minutes.” Her oldest Padmavati is a biogas cookstove benefits too. Under the program, women son is now studying to become a doctor. engineer, trained by EDF partners in who want stoves must first join a village Padmavati, who left school at 11, is rural India to maintain environmentally administrative body, the sangha. The one of 110 engineers trained so far. The friendly stoves. The program replaces sangha monitors installations for role brings an income and a measure of wood burning with stoves powered by compliance with the project’s funding respect. Arriving at her appointment, she methane from cow dung, or gobar. source, carbon credits from the airline discovers and repairs a break in a pipe. To date, some 94,000 stoves are being IndiGo. But it also addresses other social “In the beginning, people were installed, curbing pollution and de­ issues and grants small loans. surprised to see a woman in this job,” forestation and saving nearly 500,000 “Women start to take ownership of she says. “Now they think it is normal.” tons of carbon emissions a year. The their education, health, even reproductive Tasha Kosviner and Bharati Ramachandran byproduct, a rich slurry, is used as rights,” says EDF India fertilizer. EDF and Fair Climate Network director Richie Ahuja. SHAMS UL HAQ QARI are now working with the states of Bihar “Many start small and Uttarakhad to bring biogas to an businesses, gaining additional 80,000 homes. Success could economic autonomy for the see it go national, helping the world’s first time.” third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases Padmavati, 35, was meet its ambitious climate targets. among the first to adopt “Harnessing gobar to generate energy biogas in her village. She and fertilizer is essential to India’s low recalls skepticism turning carbon growth strategy,” says India to delight the day the gas Member of Parliament Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal. first flowed. She made For many households, there are also coffee for curious neigh­ profound social benefits, particularly for bors, allowing the milk to women. A 2015 report published by overflow—a symbolic EDF’s Richie Ahuja (l): “Progress starts with the grassroots.”

18 Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018

DEPARTMENTFROM OUR STANDING MEMBERS HEAD

EDF MEMBER SPOTLIGHT ASK AN EXPERT “I live outside the monarch migratory route. Can I still help the butterfly?” ISTOCK CHANDON S. Doctor Kari Nadeau’s research charts the effects of climate change on children’s health Doctor, scientist, environmental campaigner and EDF member

Long after the last of the 2017 California is air quality conditions related to climate Members Carolyn and Mike Durak, of wildfires had died out, researchers at change.” Hardin County, TN, ask: Stanford University noticed a surprising We have numerous areas of butterfly and This year, Dr. Nadeau will be one of the phenomenon. In Fresno, 200 miles south of pollinator habitat around our farm but alas, conveners of a symposium on the effects of the fires, emergency rooms were still admit- we are not quite on the monarch’s spring global climate change on children’s health. ting patients with breathing difficulties at a migration route. Can our habitat still help rate of one every six minutes. In 2017 Dr. Nadeau’s research hit a road- the monarchs? Sophisticated rooftop sensors revealed that block when it was announced her funding, David Wolfe, EDF’s conservation strat- even at that distance, particulate matter from National Institutes of Health and En- egy director, responds: from the fires was still thick in Fresno’s air. vironmental Protection, would be ending. She was also one of the scientists to lose While the concentration of migrating mon- The data were collected by a team includ- a seat on EPA’s Science Advisory Board archs is heavier in some parts of the U.S. ing EDF member and preeminent child- following Scott Pruitt’s well-documented than others, the migratory corridors of both hood asthma expert Dr. Kari Nadeau. Dr. purges. the eastern and western monarchs are Nadeau hopes her research on the impacts actually very broad. With the exception of “We are only as good as our data,” Dr. of extreme weather on children’s health a narrow strip along the Rocky Mountains, Nadeau says. “When you dilute the will do to climate change what proving the there are few places where planting native expertise and cut the funding you lose the link between smoking and cancer did to milkweed or wildflowers doesn’t help. tobacco. objectivity necessary for initiating and main- taining critical regulation.” The U.S. needs millions of acres of restored “Our research, conducted over 12 years habitat to reverse the monarch’s cata- and involving 800 children, proved a link, Raised on a houseboat in New Jersey, strophic decline. It’s fantastic you have at a molecular level, between air pollution daughter of a pediatric nurse and a marine habitat, and come spring, you should see and asthma,” says Dr. Nadeau, who is also biologist, Dr. Nadeau has public service butterflies coming in to feed. Even if there a scientific advisor on the California Air Re- in her DNA. She maintains her faith in the are fewer than in more densely visited sources Board. “We see similar impacts on power of people—and the not-for-profit areas, you’re also providing critical habitat children’s health wherever climate change community—to drive positive change. for other threatened pollinators, including related events are happening in the world.” “When it was proven that BPA affected bees. Take a look at Monarch Butterfly The impacts are as disparate as the ex- puberty, it was the public that demanded Habitat Exchange (edf.org/Eh7) to see how treme weather associated with them. change,” she says. “The same can happen EDF is supporting landowner efforts. with climate change. But we have to link “Following Hurricane Harvey, we saw an elbows. EDF keeps communities engaged If you want to do even more for the mon- increase in allergic reactions caused by wa- and informed and that empowers them archs, check out EDF’s resources (edf.org/ terborne toxicants; following dust storms in to act.” Eh6) where you’ll find links to projects that Saudi Arabia or extreme smog in China, we facilitate monarch tagging, counting and witnessed an uptick in severe cardiovascu- To lend your voice to the drive for a tracking—all crucial parts of the nationwide lar conditions. The common denominator healthy climate, join edfaction.org. conservation effort for this beloved insect.

Solutions / edf.org / Summer 2018 19 THE LAST WORD

 Look up at the stars and not down at ‘‘ your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. — Stephen Hawking,’’ 1942 – 2018

PHOTO: OFFSET