New Energy New Solutions Annual Report 2019 Environmental Defense Fund’S Mission Is to Preserve the Natural Systems on Which All Life Depends
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New energy New solutions Annual Report 2019 Environmental Defense Fund’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. Guided by science and economics, we find practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems. © 2019 Environmental Defense Fund EDF — ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND — FINDING THE WAYS THAT WORK AND CLIMATE CORPS ARE U.S. REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF 100% post-consumer recycled paper, process chlorine free. ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND, INCORPORATED. Please share this report with others and invite them to join you in supporting our work. Hope and resilience In September 2019, millions of young people around the globe — millennials and others who have the greatest stake in the future — led the largest climate action in history. Tired of waiting for elected officials, they bring new energy and passion to the cause. At Environmental Defense Fund, we’re contributing to this growing momentum. EDF’s achievements of 2019, which you can read about in the following pages, help chart our course for 2020 and beyond. We’ve helped win climate action at the local, state, corporate and international levels, and we’ll continue working to slash fossil fuel dependence and move toward a 100% clean economy. To protect human health, we’ll keep fighting the Trump administration’s assaults on vital environmental protections. We’re deploying powerful new technologies, such as networked air quality monitors and MethaneSAT, the satellite we announced last year that will launch in 2022 and revolutionize our ability to hold oil and gas companies accountable for their methane emissions worldwide. Such advances will enable EDF and allies to win victories that match the scale residents from powerful storms all address ongoing of the challenges ahead. challenges. We will ramp up our work in such areas to make an even bigger difference. We’ll also expand our efforts to help communities, oceans and ecosystems become more resilient to To accelerate our progress globally, we will keep climate change. This year’s collaboration between building a diverse and capable staff and board from countries to predict climate impacts on fisheries, the around the world. We value the support we get from agreement among three Western states to conserve all communities. Thank you for helping to make our water and the consensus to help protect Gulf Coast work possible. Carl Ferenbach Fred Krupp Chair, Board of Trustees President The power of perspectives 2 Since our founding by a small group of scientists in 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has been dedicated to building a world where people and nature prosper together. Scientific rigor and economic insights shape our solutions; partnerships and coalitions help refine and turn them into action. Working in 26 countries today, EDF’s 750 scientists, economists, attorneys and other associates — and our partners and allies around the world — bring unique perspectives to the quest. The combined power of these diverse perspectives creates new energy and new solutions. (continued on next page) EDF Executive Vice Presidents Gwen Ruta and Amanda Leland 3 THE POWER OF PERSPECTIVES (continued from previous page) Even in the best of times, it’s hard with some of the stories of EDF work winning lasting progress in partners who are helping get the Washington, D.C., and few would work done. call this the best of times. The Trump administration is trying to Thanks to our supporters who roll back national environmental understand the power of strong safeguards, and EDF and its allies science, we’re able to invest are fighting that constant assault in studies that answer difficult, in court (see p. 6). timely questions, such as how much methane pollution is being Yet even now, we’re making emitted from the global oil and breakthrough progress in U.S. gas supply chain and what cities and states — and elsewhere are the best ways to reduce it. around the globe — thanks to Answering such questions leads a broad range of partners with us to champion technological varied perspectives. For example, innovations that match the to reduce air pollution and fund scale of the problems. Among mass transit in New York City, we the most ambitious examples helped pass landmark congestion is MethaneSAT, a powerful pricing legislation (see p.19). We methane-detection satellite set to did that by building a powerful launch in 2022, which will usher coalition with more than 150 allies, in a new era of accountability for including leaders in environmental those who are putting methane justice, real estate and finance. pollution into the sky (see p.12). Cutting climate pollution and EDF builds durable solutions that putting the world on a rapid path stand the test of time and the ebb toward a 100% clean economy and flow of politics. In the United is our most urgent assignment. States, we strengthen bipartisan Achieving that goal, however, support for the environment. can’t stop the serious climate And the world over, we build impacts that are already baked in equitable, cost-effective solutions from past pollution. So, even as by listening to the people most we work to drive down emissions, affected and aligning incentives we’re also working to boost so that businesses can efficiently climate resilience — helping cut more pollution per dollar. communities and ecosystems The combined perspectives of thrive, despite the changes that stakeholders, science, innovation are inevitable. You’ll find examples and economics fuel the lasting throughout this report, along progress for which EDF is known. 44 “ Scientists don’t always How EDF thinks understand how to get people to about resilience act on their data. That’s where Resilience has multiple EDF has proven to be superb.” implications for our work, our Dr. Daniel McCleese policy approaches and our Chair, MethaneSAT Science Advisory Group; human interactions. You’ll see Former Chief Scientist, Jet Propulsion Laboratory examples throughout this report. ADVOCACY GUIDED BY CLIMATE RESILIENCE SCIENCE AND ECONOMICS Cutting climate pollution is job one, “Many decisions that cause but serious impacts are coming no environmental damage are rooted matter what. Climate resilience means in economics: what to produce helping people and nature thrive in and how, and what to consume. the face of those impacts. There are Understanding why people no easy answers, but if we start now make these choices helps us and focus on the right areas, we can find solutions that can shift dramatically improve outcomes for behavior,” says Dr. Suzi Kerr, communities and ecosystems. EDF’s Chief Economist. Adds Chief Scientist Dr. Steven POLICY RESILIENCE Hamburg: “Solutions based on sound science are effective. We’re in it for the long haul, so we That’s why rigorous peer- forge bipartisan coalitions and durable reviewed science underpins policy solutions. Today, our lawyers and allies are fighting the Trump all our work.” administration’s misguided attempts to dismantle environmental protections, and we’ve been winning far more cases than we lose (see p. 6). ORGANIZATIONAL RESILIENCE EDF is growing fast and working hard to meet environmental challenges. That means we have to work smart, with a lean and effective infrastructure, while fostering the diversity, equity and inclusion that strengthen our efforts. It Steven Hamburg and Suzi Kerr also means we need to take good care of our people — the heart and soul of the organization — as they work with communities directly in harm’s way. 5 Holding the line on national environmental protections EDF and its allies are fighting the Trump administration’s assaults on the environment — and winning victories. As we near 2020, the bedrock laws remain intact and we continue a strong defense. Heather McTeer Toney, national field director for the million-strong Moms Clean Air Force, testifies in defense 80% of strong mercury rules. Cases Trump’s EPA has lost before the D.C. Circuit Court, compared with 19% for the previous administration. DEFENDING THE RIGHT BATTLE OVER THE CLEAN STOPPING DANGEROUS TO CLEANER CARS POWER PLAN CHEMICALS The largest source of U.S. climate In June 2019, the administration A 2016 overhaul of the nation’s pollution is transportation, yet repealed the Clean Power Plan, badly outdated chemical safety the administration is trying to roll an Obama-era rule to curb law was a major victory for back vehicle pollution standards. carbon emissions from electric public health, and EDF was Some automakers have gone power plants, and substituted instrumental in that bipartisan along, but Ford, Honda, BMW its own, much weaker plan. win. But the Trump administration and Volkswagen rejected the EDF challenged the repeal in has repeatedly undermined the plan and agreed with California court, joined by a broad coalition landmark legislation. EDF had on stronger standards. When of states, municipalities and a major victory in 2019, winning the administration then moved electric companies, as well a federal court decision that to quash California’s authority to as other environmental and supports the public’s right to set its own standards, EDF, its health organizations. know about toxic chemicals in allies and 23 states — including homes, schools and workplaces. Michigan, home of the U.S. auto Meanwhile, in response to a industry — filed suit in federal petition from EDF and its allies, court to block the attempt. the Food and Drug Administration banned seven cancer-causing chemicals from food. 6 Putting climate back on the agenda It took a teenage girl from Sweden to New York City’s climate galvanize world opinion on climate change. march, where Swedish Days after millions of young people turned out climate defender Greta Thunberg (right) was for protest strikes worldwide, that teenager, a powerful mobilizing Greta Thunberg, told the United Nations, “The presence. eyes of all future generations are upon you.” It was a turning point.