The State of Disunion

On January 30, 2018, Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union address. He tried to sound optimistic and upbeat ignoring the dark cloud of the Russia investigation. However, all is not well in Washington, far from it. Trump has denigrated the presidency and many American institutions. In addition to being a climate denier, Trump is widely seen as racist, divisive, and erratic. More legislators boycotted his speech than any State of the Union address since Nixon.

While some suggested that Democrats should not stoop to the same level as Republicans, others have pointed out that we cannot afford to normalize Trump's behavior saying we must protest at every turn.

The State of the Union speech took place against the backdrop of a raft of executive and GOP malfeasance. Trump is widely described as a racist and a sexual predator who appears to be protecting Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Trump refused to implement sanctions against Russia for interferring with the 2016 election even though these sanctions have almost unanimous bipartisan support.

Trump and his Republican cohorts have been systematically trying to undermine the FBI with crazy conspiracy theories.  Amidst talk of refusing to testify about his role in Russian interference or the prospect of firing the special investigator outright, Trump indicated that he wants to release a Republican memo that casts aspersions on Mueller and the FBI. This memo is an unprecedented move from Republicans on the intelligence committee.  This memo cherry picks information to create a false narrative. The Department of Justice and the FBI both urged Republicans not to release it because it is "not accurate". They also expressed concern that it could jeopardize their practices and methods.

The goal is to muddy the waters to delegitimize the investigation into Russian collusion. Trump may also be favoring Russia because he is hoping that the ongoing Russian interference (along with the $400 million pledged by the Koch brothers) will help Republicans to maintain control of Congress in the forthcoming midterm elections in November.

As expected Trump boasted about killing more regulations than any previous administration. Trump continued to show support for the fossil fuel industry and completely ignored renewable energy. He even referenced, "beautiful clean coal".

Trump also took a shot at athletes who  protest the treatment of African Americans but he mostly used people as props to weave his false narrative about the threats posed by immigrants equating them with gangs like MS-13 (only a few dozen out of the almost one million dreamers are affiliated with MS-13).

In his first year in office Trump has been a nightmare, his litany of malfeasance is unprecedented. Nonetheless, Trump took credit for the economy and the stock market. He did not give due credit to his predecessor President Barack Obama. He also failed to mention that economic growth and new job creation was better under Obama than they are under his administration.

The Democrats response was delivered by rep Joe Kennedy who referenced the tragic role-back of environmental protections and the hatred and racism we saw in Charlottesville. "This is not right this is not who we are" Kennedy said as he railed against the culture of  inequality that has worsened under Trump. Kennedy pointed to DACA, the "Me Too" and "Black Lives Matter" movements. In contrast to the Trump administration's narrative, Kennedy described Americans as people who, serve, rescue and help. Kennedy concluded by saying, "our country will be judged by the promises we keep".

Trump may be wild and unpredictable, but he stayed true to his core personality traits of duplicity and deceit. Trump did what Trump does best, he lied. Just as he did with DACA, giving testimony to Mueller or a host of other issues, he says one thing then does another.

During the state of the Union Address, he offered an "open hand" but that means tomorrow we can expect brass knuckles.  Trump is the most destructive president in American history and a threat to America's democracy, global stability and world peace.  The sooner he is impeached the better. Even his own wife can't stand him and nor should the American electorate.

The Wave of Corporate Goodness

A wave of corporate activity is changing the traditional role of business. The often true cliche that businesses are singlemindedly preoccupied with profits is being challenged by a new more sustainable approach to business.  While the notion of responsible corporate conduct has been around for a while there is a new wave that goes far beyond the basic maxim "do no harm." This is about serving people, protecting the planet and turning a profit.

Most corporations know that there are multiple layers of value associated with corporate responsibility and a growing number are taking this one step further. They believe that philanthropy is the future of business. Consumers are increasingly making informed buying decisions and corporations are already leveraging their vast supply chains to demand change. It logically follows that those who do more will be able to bank goodwill and gain a competitive advantage.

Corporate leaders have openly challenged Trump on a range of issues from climate change to Charlottesville, and many CEOs had the courage to openly and publically withdraw their support for this administration.  Business leaders are stepping forward in defense of sustainability and in opposition to Trump because he is a corporate risk factor.

Moral bankruptcy and wanton corruption are defining features of this administration.  The ongoing support for this administration from evangelical Christians makes corporate efforts more important than ever.

Contrary to the narrative coming out of this administration sustainability is a boon and not a liability. Sustainability is now a  mainstream phenomenon and organizations are thriving with it and risk dying without it. The growth of sustainability is being driven by studies which show it is correlated with strong ROI. However, returns are only part of a larger picture in which corporations are breaking with tradition and getting more involved.

In many respects 2014 was a watershed year for the rise of corporate activism.  Ahead of the UN Climate Summit and the now famous People's Climate March, corporations formed coalitions with grassroots organizations and governments. The business community joined investment groups and governments in making bold pledges for serious action that included everything from methane reduction to carbon pricing and forest preservation. We have seen laudable sustainability leadership from hunddreds of companies including Amadeus, HSBC, Mars, BMW, GlaxoSmithKline, Unilever, and Patagonia.

Coalitions like We Mean BusinessCeres, and B Corps and campaigns like the Sustainability Charter, the Ceres Declaration, Global Divest-Invest, RE100, and  WWF Climate Savers Program, have helped corporations to coallesce around subjects with environmental and social importance.

An organization called Benevity is helping corporations to see the merit of being exemplary corporate citizens.  On their website Benevity describes their shared value mission as making Goodness matter more for companies, charities and communities.

Benevity encourages companies to tap into the pasions of people who are craving deeper engagement. Benevity hosts an annual conference that focuses on actualizing goodness. The forum is called "Goodness Matters" and it is scheduled to take place in February 2018.

There are a number of take-aways from the 2017 Benevity event. This conference addressed powerful approaches to change, including using behavior science to create a purpose driven culture and employee education related to business practices that align with the sustainable development goals (SDGs).  Another theme that was addressed at Goodness Matters 2017 event is collaboration between teams like those involved with giving, volunteering, grantmaking, sustainability, health and wellness. The event also discussed ways of increasing participation by encouraging members of an organization to help promote it. People get involved because they are asked to do so. This boils down to ongoing internal communications.

Never has the need for corporate leadership been more necessary than today. Sustainability is not impervious to Trump and we cannot deny the fact that his administration and the Republican party are inflicting great harm to both sustainable business and the fabric of the nation. 

Businesses have the power to change the world and an ever growing number of Sustainability focused businesses are leading the way forward.  Business leaderships cannot avoid making a choice and they need to decide side they are on.

In 2017 we saw a growing number of corporations take leadership positions and respond to some of the most pressing issues of our time. This gives us reason to hope that in 2018 we will see an even larger number of corporations embrace the notion that "Goodness Matters".

Event - Goodness Matters Benevity Conference

The Goodness Matters annual Benevity conference will take place on February 6 - 8, 2018 in Palm Springs, California.  The occassion also marks Benevity's tenth anniversary.  At GM2018 corporate giving professionals will gather in sunny Palm Springs to learn and participate in discussions that will augur the next era of corporate goodness. From insightful talks to client showcases, product previews to fun networking opportunities.


GM2018 will offer insight into the evolving role of corporations as catalysts for positive change and prosocial behavior in elevating both employee experience and business outcomes. With practical takeaways aimed at increasing your corporate Goodness program and more networking and peer learning opportunities than ever before.

Be among the first to hear about the accelerating shift from employee engagement towards a more holistic focus on employee experience. Learn how neuroscience, diversity, inclusion and a culture of belonging are helping shape the next era of Goodness.

Hear from your peers and thought leaders as they share success stories and proven best practices to help you tackle challenges and make the most of new opportunities. Gain unparalleled insight with the I10 series where 10 Inspired talks offer up the goods right from the source!

The best ideas and solutions to the toughest problems are seldom arrived at alone! Take advantage of the bevy of networking opportunities #GM2018 has to offer to make meaningful connections with likeminded Do-Gooders... perhaps over a shared bevvy or two of your own!

Get an exclusive first look at Benevity’s newest products and services. See how you can leverage their ongoing innovation through hands-on demos with on-site experts. They are ramping up to change workplace engagement programs to enable and empower more prosocial behavior than ever before.

GM2018 will also offer workshops alongside breakout sessions. Attend workshops to strengthen your understanding of what makes for an impactful program and dive deep into a breakout session to further your knowledge of Brevity's products and how you can benefit from best harnessing their power.

At the 2017 conference attendees heard from trendsetters and bold thinkers who are transforming their programs and workshopped big ideas with peers. Also on the agenda was finding out how to harness all the elements of Goodness including giving, volunteering and grants, to make big strides in their workplace and community.

GM2018 also offers practical takeaways aimed at increasing corporate goodness programs, as well as networking and peer learning opportunities. Realized Worth’s very own Chris Jarvis will join CEO Bryan de Lotinville in an opening night discussion.

To register for the 2018 Goodness Matters Benevity conference click here.

Event - Global Pro Bono Summit

The sixth Global Pro Bono Summit will take place in Mumbai, on February 6 – 9, 2018 at the Auditorium Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vaastu Sangrahalya (formerly, Prince of Wales Museum), Fort, Mumbai.  This is an annual invitation-only gathering of leaders from across sectors and around the world who believe the talents and skills of the entire business community should be accessible to organizations serving our collective good. Their mission is to connect, mobilize and equip leaders in the pro bono movement from across the world. The Global Pro Bono Network exists to promote knowledge sharing, mutual support, and collaboration among pro bono provider. The pro bono network of professionals voluntarily provide a public service without payment or at a reduced fee.

The Summit will bring together pro bono movement leaders from 30+ countries and will challenge them to identify ways to increase their impact and hold each other accountable when delivering and facilitating pro bono work that drives social change.

Participants will include Global Pro Bono Network Members (leading pro bono "intermediaries"), corporate leaders in pro bono programming, foundations supporting pro bono efforts, and other pro bono enthusiasts. Participants seek to collaborate with their peers and partners, learn how pro bono can elevate and amplify other tools being used to create social change, and create strategies to provide more high-quality and high-impact pro bono service.

The Global Pro Bono Summit has two facets, one focused on development and strengthening of the Global Pro Bono Network and the other to bring together pro bono leaders to share and collaborate to grow the pro bono movement globally.

At a time when the network moves from a project run and funded by the BMW Foundation and Taproot Foundation into a members-driven, self-governing and eventually self-funded network, it is crucial to have a closer look at the network itself. During our two days together as network members-only we want to deepen our relationships, build trust and have fun, but also devote time to the network's purpose, value proposition, strategy and priorities, as well as to its governance, roles, responsibilities and processes all allowing for a maximum of participation and future engagement of members.

Held since 2013, supported by BMW Foundation and Taproot Foundation, the Summit has been convened in a different global city each year to demonstrate the different facets of Pro Bono and to give an impetus to the its growth in each region. iVolunteer is proud to host the 6th Global Pro Bono Summit in Mumbai.

For more information and to register click here.

Event - GreenBiz 18

GreenbBiz 18 will take place on Februry 6 - 8, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge. This is the premier annual event for sustainable business leaders. GreenBiz 18 will look at pressing challenges, emerging trends and big opportunities in sustainable business today.  GreenBiz offers forward-looking big picture ideas mixed with practical things you can take back to the office. Join the world’s brightest thinkers and most influential sustainability leaders . More than 1,000 sustainability leaders from the business world, academia and NGOs will be in attendence to learn about the latest trends, make new connections with suppliers and peers and bring back innovative, actionable ideas. Check out the list of more than 160  speakers.

Speakers
  • Lindsey Longendyke Lindsey Longendyke Communications Officer World Resources Institute (WRI)
  • Aaron Nutter Chief of Staff, Responsible Business Leadership PwC
  • Abhishek Humbad Founder & Co-CEO Goodera
  • Al Iannuzzi Sr. Director, Worldwide Environment, Health, Safety and Sustainability Johnson & Johnson
  • Alastair Child Vice President, Global Sustainability Mars Wrigley Confectionery
  • Alex Bernhardt US Responsible Investment Leader Mercer
  • Alex Co Pittsburgh Living Product Hub Coordinator International Living Future Institute
  • Alexa Beaver Digital Innovation BASF Corporation
  • Ali Rotatori Associate Rocky Mountain Institute
  • Alistair Hirst SVP Global Supply Chain Kellogg Company
  • Allen Wilson Sr. Supply Chain Sustainability Program Manager Intel
  • Alyson Genovese Head of North America GRI
  • Amon Rappaport Senior Strategist Civilian
  • Andrea Brown Director, Circular Economy WBCSD
  • Andrew Winston Founder Winston Eco-Strategies
  • Andrew Behar CEO As You Sow
  • Andy Butler Associate Director P&G
  • Angela Nahikian Director of Global Sustainability Steelcase
  • Anita Kedia Senior Business Development Manager Waste Management Inc.
  • Anne Kelly Senior Program Director, Policy and BICEP Program Ceres
  • Anthony Rossi VP, Global Business Development TerraCycle
  • Ariana Meinz Associate Bank of America Merrill Lynch
  • Ashley White Director and Head of Corporate Sustainability Clean Energy Fuels
  • Audi Banny Interim Director, Market Engagement Institute for Market Transformation
  • Beth Richmond Manager BSR
  • Bob Langert Editor at Large GreenBiz Group
  • Brandon Middaugh Senior Program Manager for Distributed Energy Microsoft
  • Brendan LeBlanc Partner EY
  • Brian Janous General Manager of Energy Microsoft
  • Brian Werner Associate Director, Corporate Business Trucost, part of S&P Dow Jones Indices
  • Britta Gross Director of Advanced Vehicle Commercialization Policy General Motors
  • Bruce Smith Director Design, Global Seating & Surface Material Steelcase
  • Bruno Sarda VP of Sustainability NRG
  • Bryan Sheehan Director, US Quantis International
  • Candela Montero Director, Corporate Citizenship Disney Consumer Products and Interactive
  • Cassandra Fong MBA Student The Wharton School
  • Cassandra Sweet Senior Writer GreenBiz Group
  • Catherine Banat Institutional Portfolio Manager RBC Global Asset Management (U.S.) Inc.
  • Cecily Joseph ‎Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Chief Diversity Officer Symantec
  • Charlene Wall-Warren Director of Sustainability BASF Corporation
  • Charles Smith Vice President Human Resources & Diversity Guitar Center
  • Charlotte Blommestijn Senior Manager, Net-Zero by 2050 The B Team
  • Chris Walker Director, North America World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)
  • Chris Busch Manager Apple
  • Chris Cochran Executive Director ReFED
  • Christian del Maestro Manager of Corporate Citizenship Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media (DCPI)
  • Christopher Cooke Director, Technical Development The Sustainability Consortium
  • Cindy Drucker Executive Vice President, Global Sustainability & Energy Weber Shandwick
  • Claus Stig Pedersen Head of Corporate Sustainability Novozymes
  • Cristina Mittermeier Co-founder, Executive Director & Vision Lead National Geographic
  • Dan Strechay U.S. Representative, Outreach & Engagement Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)
  • Daniela Pigosso Co-founder essensus
  • Darla Stuckey Executive Director Society for Corporate Governance
  • Dave Stangis VP, Corp. Responsibility, Chief Sustainability Officer Campbell Soup Company
  • David Tulauskas Director, Sustainability General Motors
  • David Rinard Global Sustainability & Strategic Sourcing Equinix
  • Davida Heller ‎Vice President, Corporate Sustainability Citi
  • Dawn Danby Co-founder Spherical
  • Dayna Baumeister Partner Biomimicry 3.8
  • Deanna Bratter Director, Sustainable Development Strategy DanoneWave
  • Delwyn Hudson Head of US Operations Ellen MacArthur Foundation
  • Denise Naguib Vice President, Sustainability & Supplier Diversity Marriott International
  • Denise Osterhues Senior Director, Corporate Affairs Kroger
  • Derek Bingham Vice President Goldman Sachs
  • Devon Leahy VP of Strategy Futerra
  • Diane Biagianti Vice President, Chief Responsibility Officer Edwards Lifesciences
  • Diane Holdorf Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer Kellogg Company
  • Edward Farrington Executive Vice President Natixis Global Asset Management
  • Elaine Hsieh Program Director & Senior Analyst - VERGE GreenBiz Group
  • Elena Kocherovsky Manager, Member Services and Adoption Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)
  • Elim Sritaba Director of Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement Asia Pulp & Paper
  • Elizabeth Willmott Carbon Program Lead Microsoft
  • Elizabeth Sturcken Managing Director Environmental Defense Fund
  • Ellie Buechner Conference Director GreenBiz Group
  • Emilio Tenuta Vice President, Corporate Sustainability Ecolab
  • Emily Reichert CEO Greentown Labs
  • Emma Kurihara Recent Graduate Brown University
  • Emmanuelle Aoustin CEO Quantis
  • Eric Faurot CEO GreenBiz Group
  • Erin Meezan Chief Sustainability Officer Interface
  • Erin Robert Head of Capital Strategies JPMorgan Chase & Co.
  • Euan Murray Chief Executive The Sustainability Consortium
  • Faryal Diwan Implementation Specialist & Data Analyst Figbytes
  • Fawn Bergen Global Program Manager - Water Stewardship and Carbon Footprint Intel
  • Filippo Veglio Managing Director WBCSD
  • Freya Williams CEO, North America Futerra
  • Genriyetta Lund Procurement Manager, Controlling & Governance BASF Corporation
  • George Hodge Director, Supply Chain Program North America CDP
  • Greg Kandankulam Senior Manager, Sustainability NRG
  • Gregg Anderson Managing Director Crowe Horwath LLP
  • Gwen Y. Migita Vice President Social Impact & Chief Sustainability Officer Caesars Entertainment
  • Haley Rushing Chief Purposologist The Purpose Institute
  • Haley Lowry Global Sustainability & End Use Marketing Director Dow Chemical
  • Heather Clancy Editorial Director GreenBiz
  • Helena Barton Partner Deloitte
  • Holly Emerson Sr. Analyst, Innovation & Product Stewardship, Center for Energy Efficiency Ingersoll Rand
  • Ian van der Vlugt Associate Director, Data CDP
  • Iberia Zafira Senior Analyst UC Berkeley
  • Jacob Park Director Sustainable Futures Lab
  • James Barsimantov COO SupplyShift
  • James Gomme Director, Sustainable Development Goals WBCSD
  • Jeff Wooster Global Sustainability Leader Dow Chemical Co.
  • Jeffrey Hogue Chief Sustainability Officer C&A
  • Jennifer Silberman VP, Corporate Responsibility Target
  • Jessica Ginger Director, Implementation The Sustainability Consortium
  • Jill Kolling Global Sustainability Leader Cargill
  • Jillene Connors Belopolsky Senior Associate Earth Security Group
  • Jim Hanna Director, Environmental Affairs Starbucks
  • Joe Zazzera President Plant Solutions, Inc
  • Joel Makower Chairman & Executive Editor GreenBiz Group
  • Johannes Escuerdo Founder & CEO Coalition for Renewable Natural Gas
  • John Davies VP, Senior Analyst GreenBiz Group
  • Jon Radtke Water Sustainability Program Manager Coca-Cola
  • Jon Powers Co-Founder CleanCapital
  • Jon Dettling Global Director, Services + Innovation Quantis USA
  • Jorge Campana Paez Undergraduate Student Indiana University
  • JP Leous Strategic Partnerships World Resources Institute (WRI)
  • Juliette Gaussem Senior Manager - Guidance & Practice Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
  • Kara Peck Head of B Corp Growth B Lab
  • Karen Hughes Director, Strategic Initiatives Alliance to Save Energy
  • Karen Hanner Managing Director Manufacturing Product Sourcing Feeding America
  • Karen S. Carter Chief Inclusion Officer Dow
  • Katherine Smith Executive Director Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship
  • Katherine Pickus Divisional Vice President, Sustainability Abbott
  • Katrin Ley Managing Director Fashion for Good
  • Keith Kenny Vice President Sustainability McDonald's
  • Kelli McCullough Governance, Stakeholder, & Sustainability Manager The Southern Company
  • Kelly Helfrich Manager - Maven Electric Vehicles & Charging Infrastructure General Motors (GM)
  • Kelly Fisher Head of Corporate Sustainability, U.S. HSBC
  • Kerry Cesareo Vice President, Forests WWF
  • Kevin Hagen Director, Corporate Responsibility Iron Mountain
  • Kevin Haley Manager Rocky Mountain Institute
  • Kevin Rabinovitch Global VP Sustainability Mars, Inc.
  • Kim Marotta Global Senior Director, Corporate Responsibility Molson Coors
  • Kim Carswell Director of Packaging Target
  • Laura Phillips SVP for Global Sustainability Walmart
  • Lauren Rogge Senior Manager, Climate Change and Sustainability EY
  • Lauren Smith Project Manager Renewable Energy & Sustainability Metrics General Motors
  • Lee O'Dwyer Sales Team Lead Bloomberg L.P.
  • Lee Ballin Head of Sustainable Business Programs Bloomberg LP
  • Leslie Samuelrich President Green Century Capital Management
  • Letitia Webster Vice President, Global Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility VF Corporation
  • Libby Bernick Global Head of Corporate Business Trucost, part of S&P Dow Jones Indices
  • Librian Angraeni Sustainability Manager Asia Pulp & Paper
  • Lise Kingo CEO & Executive Director United Nations Global Compact
  • Liz Baldridge Director of Sustainability and Food Waste Initiatives Feeding America
  • Lois Guthrie Director – Redefining Value WBCSD
  • Mara DeFilippis Project Engagement Manager ASU Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives
  • Maria Tikoff Vargas Senior Program Advisor and Director, Better Buildings U.S. Department of Energy
  • Mark McDivitt Head of ESG Solutions State Street Corporation
  • Mark S. Rossi Executive Director Clean Production Action
  • Marshall Chase Associate Director BSR
  • Marty Spitzer Senior Director, Climate and Renewable Energy WWF
  • Marvin Smith Senior Manager, Stakeholder Engagement Future 500
  • Mary McCarthy Sustainability Advisor (US) Forum for the Future
  • Matt Handel VP of Development NextEra Energy Resources
  • Max Weiss Global Social & Environmental Responsibility Manager Hewlett Packard Enterprise
  • Max Scher Sustainability Manager Salesforce
  • Maya Henderson Sustainability Manager Kilroy Realty Corporation
  • Meredith Ferguson Managing Director TMI Strategy / DoSomething.org
  • Meri-Margaret Deoudes President and CEO EarthShare
  • Michael Rohwer Associate Director BSR
  • Michael MacMiller Environmental Advocate Doxicom Global
  • Michelle Fehler Clinical Assistant Professor The Design School, ASU
  • Michelle Langlois Reporting Program Advisor Shift
  • Michelle Lapinski VP Market Development Earth Genome
  • Mike Wallace Managing Director BrownFlynn
  • Nell Fry Senior Manager Sustainability Field Support Sodexo Inc.
  • Nelson Switzer Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA)
  • Nicola Peill-Moelter Senior Director of Environmental Sustainability Akamai Technologies
  • Nicolai Lundy Director of Product and Partnerships SASB
  • Nicole Miller Managing Director Biomimicry 3.8
  • Nicole Lederer Chair and Co-Founder E2
  • Nicole Labutong Technical Manager, Science Based Targets CDP North America Inc.
  • Nicole Koharik ‎Global Sustainability Marketing Director GOJO Industries
  • Nicole Gaetjens Energy and Sustainability Analyst JLL
  • Niki King Director- Responsible Sourcing Campbell Soup Company
  • Nina Goodrich Executive Director, Director of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition Sustainable Packaging Coalition
  • Noah Deich Executive Director Center for Carbon Removal
  • Oforiwaa Pee Agyei-Boakye Regional Transportation Planner East Alabama Regional Planning Commission
  • Patrick Flynn Senior Director of Sustainability Salesforce
  • Patti Reiter Executive Director Walton Sustainability Solutions Initiatives/Arizona State University
  • Paul Hawken Executive Director Project Drawdown
  • Paul Carp Director of Research & Sr. Analyst GreenBiz Group
  • Pete Pearson Director, Food Waste WWF
  • Pete May President GreenBiz Group
  • Peter Byck Professor of Practice; School of Sustainability & School of Journalism Arizona State University
  • Philip Rudolph Executive Vice President, Chief Legal and Risk Officer Jack In The Box
  • Rachel Rigby Office of Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking U.S. Department of Labor
  • Raj Buch Director of Sustainability Arizona State University
  • Randy Gaines SVP, Operations & New Hotel Openings, Americas Hilton Worldwide
  • Rasmus Skov Head of Group Sustainability Ørsted
  • Rebecca Lucore Head of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility Covestro LLC
  • Richa Mittal Director of Research and Innovation Fair Labor Association
  • Richard Eidlin Vice President, Policy and Campaigns and Co-founder American Sustainable Business Council
  • Richard Mattison CEO Trucost, part of S&P Dow Jones Indices
  • Rob Kaplan Managing Partner Closed Loop Partners
  • Rob Threlkeld Global Manager - Renewable Energy General Motors
  • Robert B. Hirth, Jr. Chair COSO
  • Rodney Irwin Managing Director Redefining Value & Education WBCSD
  • Rolf Skar Forest Campaign Director Greenpeace
  • Rose McKinney-James Managing Principal McKinney-James & Associates and Energy Works LLC
  • Sam Hummel Outreach Director Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council
  • Samara Rudolph Director, Global Sustainability and Philanthropy Tiffany & Co.
  • Sara Allan Sustainability Analyst Annie's
  • Sarah Mihalecz Lead, Sustainability, North America Tata Group
  • Sarah Lewis Managing Director Members and Implementation The Sustainability Consortium
  • Sarah Fischer Undergraduate Student The Ohio State University
  • Shana Rappaport Director of Strategic Programs GreenBiz Group
  • Shannon Houde Leadership & Game Changer Coach Walk of Life Leaders
  • Shannon Schuyler Corporate Responsibility Leader PwC
  • Sheila Bonini Senior Vice President, Private Sector Engagement WWF - ‎World Wildlife Fund
  • Sophia Mendelsohn Head of Sustainability JetBlue Airways
  • Sophie Beckham Senior Manager, Natural Capital Stewardship International Paper
  • Steve Lippman Director, Corporate Responsibility Microsoft
  • Steve Ardagh Founder & CEO Eagle Protect, New Zealand & USA
  • Sue Lebeck Application Manager Cool City Challenge
  • Sue Allchurch Chief of Participant Relations and Communications UN Global Compact
  • Sunya Ojure Senior Manager, Sustainability Salesforce
  • Susan McPherson Founder & CEO McPherson Strategies
  • Suzanne Fallender Director, Corporate Responsibility Intel Corporation
  • Suzanne Shelton President & CEO Shelton Group
  • Tamara Barker Chief Sustainability Officer UPS
  • Thomas Ramos Director - Oversight Risk and Compliance GPSC Logistics Director
  • Tim Carey Senior Director, Sustainability PepsiCo
  • Tim McAloone Co-Founder & Professor essensus
  • Todd Reeve CEO Bonneville Environmental Foundation
  • Todd Cort Faculty Co-Director, Lecturer Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY) & Yale School of Management
  • Tom Cleves Vice President, Global Citizenship International Paper
  • Tom Murray Vice President of EDF+Business Environmental Defense Fund
  • Tommy Hayes Policy Partnerships Manager Lyft
  • Tony Calandro President Purposeful Strategies
  • Val Fishman Chief Development Officer BEF
  • Wayne Honeycutt President & CEO Soil Health Institute
  • William McDonough Chief Executive McDonough Innovation
  • William Brandt Director of Strategic Integration, LightWorks® ASU
  • Winston Vaughan Senior Manager for Renewable Energy Ceres, Inc.
  • Yuan Yuan Manager of Regional Hub China GRI

To register click here.

Event - North American Community Foundations Summit

The inaugural North American Community Foundations Summit will take place on February 5 -6, 2018 in Mexico City, Mexico. This summit  will explore why and how the Sustainable Development Goals relate to the work of community foundations across North America.

This two day conference brings together community foundation leaders from the US, Mexico, and Canada to discuss shared challenges and opportunities for building more resilient and sustainable communities across North America. Discussions center around innovative approaches to challenges like poverty, inequality, immigration, economic development, climate change and more.

Attendees will hear inspiring speakers and learn from community foundation peers about innovative approaches to shared challenges like poverty, inequality, immigration, economic development, climate change and more.

Leaving No One Behind

Across the US, Canada, and Mexico, community foundations face shared challenges and opportunities as they work to improve the quality of life for all. The first-ever North American Community Foundations Summit will explore how community foundations can work locally to leave no one behind and discuss shared issues like education, health, economic development, integrating diaspora communities, immigration, and the evolving roles that community foundations play in communities across North America. Sustainable Development Goals

The Summit will be framed within the concept of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2015, 193 countries from around the world adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all, including in Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Over two days, we will explore how community foundations, working at the local level, have global impact towards these 17 goals.

This Summit is a collaboration between three countries and will explore innovative approaches to building stronger, more inclusive, and more resilient local communities. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and share with community foundation leaders and senior staff from across North America and take worthwhile lessons back to their communities, challenging us all to think globally while acting locally.

The 2018 North American Community Foundations Summit looks to focus our energy locally to then connect to one another globally in order to support the SDGs. The Council's President and CEO, Vikki Spruill, shares in this blog post why the Summit is an opportunity for us to think big together and seize the potential and promise that SDGs hold to improve the quality of life for all.

Click here to register.

A Summary of Trump's Malfeasance and his Disastrous Presidency

Donald J. Trump is a climate change denier and the most destructive man ever to disgrace the office of the Presidency of the United States. His incessant lies, moral turpitude and rampant corruption are already legendary. Trump has been challenged by corporate America, scientists and the press, however, in a stunning display of dysfunctional partisanship, Republicans continue to support his presidency and as a consequence they have tied their fate to his. The midterm election in November is our best hope to stop this man and end this nightmare.

Here is a summary of more than 100 links reviewing Trump's malfeasance and his ruinous presidency.

Trump and the GOP's Attacks on Climate and Environment

Trump Undermines Renewables to Help Fossil Fuels and Take Revenge
Climate Crisis Trumped by the Volatility of the US Commander-and-Chief
Trump was a Nightmare in 2017 and not just for the Environment
Trump is Unfit to Lead
Trump's Budget is a Declaration of War Against Environmental Protections, Climate Action and Scientific Research
Trump's First 100 Days are a Climate and Environmental Nightmare
Trump Seeks to End Climate Action in America
Trump's Corruption may be his Lasting Legacy and his Undoing
Pope Francis & Donald Trump: Environmental Advocacy vs. Climate Denial
Trump Addresses Congress and Offers More Environmental Doublespeak
Trump Orders an End to Vehicle Mileage Standards
Republicans to Sell Off Public Lands and Strip Powers from Federal Agencies
Pipelines Reborn: They're Back Thanks to Trump
Camps Raided as Trump Moves Forward with DAPL

Trump and Corporate America

US Corporate Climate Efforts in 2017 Offer Hope for 2018
France Shows Trump What Climate Leadership Looks Like
Republican Tax Scam is a Crime Against People and the Planet
Trump May be Irrelevant but he is Not Harmless
Corporations Offering Hope this Unhappy Thanksgiving
Corporate Actions the Combat Trump's Climate Ignorance
Sustainability is Not Impervious to Trump
Sharing Sustainability Matters Now More than Ever
Which Side is Your Business On?
Businesses Support Sustainability and Oppose Trump
Business Leaders Advocate for Sustainability and Refute Trump
Business Benefits from Science-Based Climate Action
Trump Represents a Serious Risk Factor for Investors and Corporate America
Sustainability is an Economic Boon not a Liability
Which Side is Your Business On?
Business Benefits from Science-Based Climate Action
Businesses Urge Trump to Respect the Paris Agreement
Why Business Leadership Matters More than Ever under Trump

Trump and the Paris Climate Agreement

Businesses and Governments React to Trump's Exit from the Paris Climate Deal
Trump Dumps Paris Accord Prompting Outrage and Action
If Trump Pulls out of the Climate Agreement Europe Could Impose a Carbon Tax on the US
Why Trump Should not Quit the Paris Agreement
Businesses Urge Trump to Respect the Paris Agreement
World Reacts to Trump's Win and Warn Him to Respect the Paris Climate Agreement (Videos)
Trump Casts a Dark Shadow Over COP22

Trump and the EPA

Pruitt to Decimate Environmental Protections and Climate Action
Emails Reveal Pruitt's Anti-Regulation Industry Advocacy
GOP Trying to Kill the EPA
The GOP Starts Gutting Environmental Protections and Transparency
Trump's War against the EPA has Begun
Trump Puts the Fox in the Henhouse: Pruitt to Lead the EPA
Republicans Trying to Kill the EPA

Trump and the Press

The Media has Learned How to Keep Trump from Escaping His Lies
The Importance of Fact Based News to Combat Trump's Lies
The Trump Administration Begins Shutting Down Press Access
How Conservatives Use Fake News to Control the Narrative
Trump and the Darkness of Post-Factual Media
Why Trump Hates Traditional Journalism and Loves Digital Media (Videos)

Trump Pre/Early Presidency

Bannon: Why Environmentalists are not the Only Ones who Should be Terrified (Videos)
The Importance and the Power of Protest: Why We Must Stand Up to Trump
The Obama Legacy and How Trump Signals the End of an Era (Videos)
Trump's Inauguration Met with Protests as Darkness Officially Descends
Global Warning 2017: Combating the Dystopia of the Trump Administration
Arguments for Climate Action that may Resonate with Trump and other Republicans
The Coming Darkness: What the Election of Trump Means for our Planet
Ivanka Exposes Trump to Climate Reality in the Form of Al Gore
What the Election of Tump Means for Our Planet
The Trump Administration and the Coming Climate Kakistocracy
Facing the Truth About What A Trump Administration Means for Climate Action
Trump's Victory Increases the Urgency of Climate Action
Environmental Economics and President Trump: Market Forces are Not Enough (Video)
Trump's Victory Must Not Cause us to Lose Hope We Must Continue to Fight for the Health of our Planet

Trump as the Republican Presidential Nominee

Trump's Energy and Environment Agenda will be Countered by Businesses and Investors
Donald Trump Laid Bare: Comprehensive Summary of Reasons Why Trump is a Disaster
Voting for Trump is Tantamount to Treason
Trump's Litany of Lies Captured on Video
Is Trump Clinically Insane? (Videos)
Trump's Litany of Lies Captured on Video
It is Up to the Young to Secure their Futures this Election
Trump's Political Obituary and Legacy after Taking a Final Beating from Hilary
The Climate Implications of Dodging Trump's Fossil Fuel Powered Energy Bullet
Climate Gets Woefully Little Time in the Presidential Debates
Clinton Trounces Trump in the First Presidential Debate
Trump's Energy Lies from the Second Presidential Debate
Pence and Kaine on Climate and Energy
A Review of Trump's Positions on Climate, Energy and the Economy
California's Climate Leadership and the Losers who Strive to Undermine these Gains
Green Party a Threat to Climate Action in the 2016 Presidential Elections
The Vote Rigging Fallacy
In the Face of Record Setting Heat & Rain the GOP Doubles Down on Fossil Fuels
Louisiana Flooding Climate Change and the Politics of Ignorance
Exposing the Fantasy of Trump's Policy Positions on Energy and the Economy

Candidate Trump

Republicans Opposing Trump Say he is Dangerously Unqualified to be President
Climate Action and the Binary Choice between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump
Trump Promises to Kill Climate Action in RNC Speech: The False Flags of Fear and Division
Climate Avoidance, No-shows, Discord and Nepotism Mark the Start of the Republican National Convention
Trump's Climate Ignorance Would be Laughable if the Implications weren't so Serious
GOP Platform Augurs Environmental Destruction and Runaway Climate Change
Trump's Pick for VP Fails to Secure Support from the Koch Brothers (Videos)
Climate Polls Give the GOP Cause for Concern
Climate Change and the US Presidential Election of 2016
Hilary Clinton is our Last Best Hope of Tackling Climate Change
Trump Takes his First Beating with More to Come
A Trump Presidency Would Kill Climate Action and Push us Past Irreversible Tipping Points
Trump Could Win and We All Could Lose
Trump Wants to Mine Coal Frack for Gas and Drill for Oil
Climate Doomsday Clock Advances as Trump Wins the Republican Nomination
Trump is Unelectable So Say the Koch Brothers and Others

Science 

Why Trump Does Not Want a Science Advisor
Scientists Take on Trump and GOP Climate Denial
Sham Hearings Make a Mockery out of Climate Science
Trump's Budget is a Declaration of War Against Climate Research
Scientists Tell Trump to Act on Climate Change
The Implications of the Trump Administration's Disdain for Science

Business

US Corporate Climate Efforts in 2017 Offer Hope for 2018
France Shows Trump What Climate Leadership Looks Like
Republican Tax Scam is a Crime Against People and the Planet
Corporations Offering Hope this Unhappy Thanksgiving
Corporate Actions the Combat Trump's Climate Ignorance
Sustainability is Not Impervious to Trump
Sharing Sustainability Matters Now More than Ever
Businesses Support Sustainability and Oppose Trump
Business Leaders Advocate for Sustainability and Refute Trump
Business Benefits from Science-Based Climate Action
Trump Represents a Serious Risk Factor for Investors and Corporate America
Which Side is Your Business On?

The Importance History and Status of Education as a Sustainable Development Goal

Education is a vital part of sustainable development which is why it is Goal 4 of the SDGs. This review of Goal 4 encompasses the importance, recent history and current status.

In addition to economic benefits investing in education pays lucrative dividends in a number of ways. Education empowers people to improve conditions for themselves and the communities in which they live. It enables them to meet the challenges they face and it helps them to steward their resources more efficiently.

Education has implications for political leadership and while most of this article focuses on poorer countries education is also important for some of the wealthiest nations on Earth. Education can help people to cast off the shackles of tyranny and it can help them to build representative democracies. It is also essential to the well being of existing democracies. As we have recently witnessed uneducated and uninformed electorates are easily deceived by those who preach the destructive politics of fear and division.
The importance of education is far-reaching and the summary above merely scratches the surface of possible benefits. Suffice to say almost all aspects of human endeavor benefit from people who have the benefit of an education. We now proceed to the full text of the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) which reads as follows:

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and quality education for all and promote lifelong learning

Obtaining a quality education is the foundation to improving people’s lives and sustainable development. Major progress has been made towards increasing access to education at all levels and increasing enrolment rates in schools, particularly for women and girls. Basic literacy skills have improved tremendously, yet bolder efforts are needed to make even greater strides for achieving universal education goals. For example, the world has achieved equality in primary education between girls and boys, but few countries have achieved that target at all levels of education. 

To help us to further appreciate the central importance of education here is a summary of the recent history and current status of SDG 4.

In 2015 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) replaced Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). SDG's emphasis on sustainable economic development expands on MDG efforts to reduce poverty. A total of 193 world leaders engaged in a process that formally accepted the SDGs at the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda which took place on September 25 and 27, 2015 in New York. There are 17 SDGs and the 4th sustainable development goal consists of "ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education, and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all." (United Nations, 2017).

In many respects, education is key to addressing other SDG's. Education is also central to the development aspirations of the world's poorest countries. While the MDGs have made progress on this front much more needs to be done to ensure that an equitable quality education is available to everyone.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS (MDGs)

Sustainable Development goal 4 is derived from the Millennium Development goal number 2, which was t achieve universal primary education by 2015, as well as the Dakar Framework. The Dakar Framework for Action on Education for All aimed to eliminate all gender disparity in primary and secondary education by 2005, and at all levels by 2015.

In 2000, world leaders set out the MDGs to help eliminate poverty worldwide. MDGs were inaugurated as the "world’s greatest promise" in the pursuit of concrete, measurable improvements in global poverty, hunger, health, education and other key social issues. In June, 2013 the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, called the goals "the most successful global anti-poverty push in history."

In total, there are eight MDGs, 21 specific targets and more than 60 indicators. One of the outstanding accomplishments of the MDGs involve cutting the number of people who live in extreme poverty by half.

We have seen progress on seven of eight MDGs including education (we have also seen progress on poverty, hunger, child mortality, HIV, water and sanitation). However we have not seen the progress we would like to see on gender equality, particularly as it relates to schooling for girls and women.

Rio+20 CONFERENCE

In June 2012, countries at the Rio+20 Conference on Sustainable Development put forth the basic outline of SDGs and member states agreed to establish an "inclusive and transparent intergovernmental process open to all stakeholders, with a view to developing global sustainable development goals". They agreed to build upon the MDGs and converge with the post-2015 development agenda that included a process to develop a set of SDGs. A number of work streams were commenced to elaborate on the proposed SDGs.

In the Rio+20 outcome document, member states agreed that sustainable development goals (SDGs) must be based on Agenda 21 and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation and respect all the Rio Principles, while staying consistent with international law and build upon commitments already made. Members will address and incorporate in a balanced way all three dimensions of sustainable development and their interlinkage, and be coherent with and integrated into the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015, not diverting focus or effort from the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and including active involvement of all relevant stakeholders, as appropriate, in the process.

It was agreed that SDGs must be action-oriented, concise and easy to communicate, limited in number, but global in nature and universally applicable to all countries while taking into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities.

The outcome document also mandated the creation of an inter-governmental Open Working Group, that will submit a report to the 68th session of the General Assembly containing a proposal for sustainable development goals for consideration and appropriate action. SDG Open Working Group had its first session in March 2013, in total there were eight sessions that concluded in February 2014.

SDGs ADOPTED

On the morning of September 25, 2013, the UN General Assembly officially approved the inclusion of SDGs to replace MDGs. This measure passed thanks in part to a new coalition of poorer countries and the U.S., Europe, Japan and other nations.

“We are resolved that the post-2015 development agenda should reinforce the international community’s commitment to poverty eradication and sustainable development. We underscore the central imperative of poverty eradication and are committed to freeing humanity from poverty and hunger as a matter of urgency. Recognising the intrinsic interlinkage between poverty eradication and promotion of sustainable development, we underline the need for a coherent approach which integrates in a balanced manner the three dimensions of sustainable development. This coherent approach involves working towards a single framework and set of Goals –universal in nature and applicable to all countries while taking account of differing national circumstances and respecting national policies and priorities. It should also promote peace and security, democratic governance, the rule of law, gender equality and human rights for all.”

BACKGROUND TO THE CREATION OF THE SDGs

The creation of the SDG involved "substantive discussions" from various working groups and a debate in September 2014 at a session of the General Assembly. The final goals were released in September 2015.

A September 2013 special report from a consortium of organizations led by CIGI and the Korea Development Institute (KDI) reviewed a number of options for the post-2015 successors to the MDGs. The report concluded the global community must build on the current MDGs and move beyond meeting basic human needs. In addition to emphasizing the role of adolescent girls, the report supports the creation of inclusive sustainable development goals.

HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM (HLPF)

To ensure the prioritization of sustainable development at the highest levels of government, members at Rio+20 agreed to change from the CSD, which was formed after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, to the High-level Political Forum (HLPF) on sustainable development.

The HLPF brings together government leaders every four years as part of the General Assembly to address the challenges of sustainable development. It also meets annually at the ministerial level, as part of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The first HLPF meeting on SDGs took place at the 68th session of the General Assembly. On September 24, 2013, the HLPF on Sustainable Development reiterated the agreements articulated at Rio+20.

At the inaugural ceremony for the HLPF, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said, "Your forum is a key platform for examining today’s challenges in a holistic and integrated manner. This forum can be the catalyst for a strengthened global partnership for sustainable development, providing political leadership grounded in solid science."

To advance the work of the HLPF, the UN General Secretary created a Scientific Advisory Board. General Assembly President John William Ashe said, "We have created this HLPF for the express purpose of delivering more effectively on our aspirations and agendas at a time when we realize that the practice of sustainability provides the only real bridge from our past to our present and our future, and from our planet to our peoples and our prosperity."

The HLPF is also involved in accountability and ensuring that there is an ongoing focus on action. In 2016, the HLPF reviewed the implementation of sustainable development by all countries and the UN system.

"People have a right to expect real results from the new Forum," said Wu Hongbo, UN under-secretary-general for economic and social affairs. "There are real challenges that must be faced. People need jobs, healthcare, and education,” he said. “And they also need food security, clean air, and clean water. They need development that is sustainable, and the Forum has to deliver progress in all of these areas."

When the UNESCO launched the United Nations Decade for Education for Sustainable Development in 2005, it was raised that education should also align societies’ values with supporting sustainable development. As a follow-up from the UN Decade for ESD in 2014, UNESCO also released the Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development in which “the overall goal is to generate and scale up actions in all levels and areas of education and learning to accelerate progress towards sustainable development. In its actions, GAP focuses on policy support, whole institution approaches, educators, youth, and local communities, as key areas to work on.

After Rio+20, the HESI Partnership was created, (Higher Education Sustainability Initiative) with the intention of motivating higher education institutions to teach as well as promote research on sustainable development, greening campuses and supporting local sustainability efforts. As a result, almost 300 universities around the world have voluntarily joined the partnership. (United Nations, 2017).

SUMMARY OF PROGRESS ON GOAL 4

More work needs to be done to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. This is especially true in sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia. We have made progress on education but many challenges remain. While education enrollment is up around the world, the quality of this education is directly related to development status.

There are 263 million children and youth that are not going to school, this includes 61 million children of primary school age. This problem is especially severe in Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Asia which accounts for over 70 percent of the out of school population.

In many parts of Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America children do not attain minimum proficiency levels in math and reading. To underscore the point wealthier households tend to produce children with the highest levels of academic proficiency. There are also significant disparities between developing and developed nations when it comes to pre-primary and primary education.

One of the hurdles to ameliorating the situation involves the scarcity of well-trained teachers and the condition of schools in some developing regions. In Sub-Saharan countries, this situation is compounded by schools that have less access to the Internet and even basic necessities like electricity and potable water.

While more funding is required there has been a $200 million decrease in funding between 2014 and 2015.

Related
Comprehensive Green School Information and Resources 2010 - 2016

Trump Undermines Renewables to Help Fossil Fuels and Take Revenge on Cities and States that Oppose Him

Donald Trump is both an avid supporter of fossil fuels and an enemy of renewables. Trump is not only seeking to end climate regulations and environmental protections he is actively undermining clean energy. He appears to be targeting solar focused cities and states that oppose his presidency.

Job killer 

Trump is not just a climate denying, lover of fossil fuels, he has earned his place as a job killer. As reported in Time, Trump has decided to impose duties as high as 30 percent on all solar equipment made outside of the US. Although it will benefit domestic solar makers, it will slow the US solar industry as a whole. This will not only make imported solar panels much more expensive, it will also increase the cost of maintaining existing US solar infrastructure.

The net result will be job losses at a time when renewables were suppying more jobs than oil and coal combined. As explained by Frank Maisano, senior principal at Bracewell, a law and government relations firm serving the energy industry, "Jobs are growing dramatically in both wind and solar."

Employment in the solar industry grew 24.5 percent in 2016 compared to 2015. There are now 374,000 people working in renewable energy wihich is double the number of jobs in traditional fossil fuels.

In addition to solar panels and equipment imported for new instalations, as much as 80 percent of the $28 billion solar industry relies on parts made abroad. This means that solar projects will be abandoned, and some companies will be forced to close. Tens of thousands of jobs will be lost. Even worse the promise of far more jobs has been dashed for the foreseeable future.

Helping a dying industry

Trump's assault on renewables is about buoying fossil fuels. In his first year in office Trump proved his credentials as an ally of the fossil fuel industry by being an anti-environment climate denier, now he is going after renewable energy by imposing a tariff on solar panels. This will adversely impact states, cities and companies looking to ramp-up or maintain their existing power production from renewable energy.

Trump and the GOP have made their support for fossil fuels well known, but the latest move against solar adds another dimension to their war against climate action in the US. Trump is changing the ground rules in an effort to reverse a trend that is seeing renewable sources of energy replace fossil fuels.

If left to market forces solar was well on its way to eclipsing fossil fuels. The idea that clean energy can replace fossil fuels in the US is neither new nor a fringe observation. All the way back in 2012 NOAA predicted that renewables can replace fossil fuels in the US.

As is obvious to all who follow energy, fossil fuels are the leading cause of global warming and clean energy is absolutely central to any effort to combat climate change. However, it is the economics that are making renewables attractive. "By our forecasts, in most cases, favorable renewables economics rather than government policy will be the primary driver of changes to utilities’ carbon emissions levels," a Morgan Stanley analysts wrote.

Trump's support of dirty energy makes no economic sense prompting Jeremy Firestone, director of the Center for Carbon-free Power Integration at the University of Delaware to conclude that "the Trumpadministration is living in the last century." Utilities see the value of renewables so why can't Trump? Put simply the solar tariff is not about seeing the value of clean power it is about helping a dying industry.

"They are trying to put their fingers on the scale in favor of coal and other polluting fossil fuels, and trying to do things to slow down the penetration of clean, renewable energy technologies," said Alden Meyer, director of strategy at the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Prodigious growth

These duties come at a time when US renewables are experiencing prodigious growth. Cities, states, corporations, and investors are all contributing to the growth of renewable energy in the United States. Innovations from companies like Tesla are revolutionizing renewable energy. We are also seeing a cluster of factors that are helping to grow clean sources of power like solar energy. This includes innovation, falling prices, and advances in energy storage.

Renewable power production in the US is way ahead of forecasts. As reported by Solar Industry Mag, the projected growth for US renewables is 40 years ahead of previous predictions. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) latest Energy Infrastructure Update massively increases projected growth in renewables compared to the U.S. Energy Information Administration's (EIA), 2012 Annual Energy Outlook.

Total domestic renewable electrical generation in the US nearly doubled in the past seven years. The EIA’s Electric Power Monthly states that renewables accounted for 19.35 percent of net US electrical generation during the first quarter of 2017 compared to 17.23 percent in the first quarter of 2016. In that same year solar (solar thermal, utility-scale PV and distributed PV) grew by 34.1 percent.

Clean is cheap

Trump's withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement has not stopped the growth of renewables or slowed the rate at which the cost is going down. According to research analysts at Morgan Stanley, renewable sources of energy like solar and wind are destined to be the least expensive form of energy on Earth.

Solar prices were already falling dramatically in 2016 and they declined a total of 50 percent between 2016 and 2017. A similar situation is taking shape with wind power. Wind power is becoming more efficient and may go as low as one third that of coal or natural gas.

As reported by Climate Central an EIA report indicates wind and solar passed a milestone doubling in the last five years. In April 2017 wind and solar generated 10 percent of all the electricity in the US. Christopher Clack, CEO of the power grid modeling firm Vibrant Clean Energy thinks that the US will get 15 percent of its energy from wind and solar by 2020.

States get payback

Both red and blue states are benefiting from the renewable energy revolution with Texas dominating wind production and California dominating solar production. It should come as no surprise that Trump opted to target solar rather than wind. Texas is Trump country. California and New York are investing massively in solar and they are also the two most powerful anti-Trump states in the union.

The political leaderships of both California and New York have openly opposed Trump. The anti-Trump statements and actions we have seen by Gov, Brown and Gov Cuomo almost certainly put them on Trump's hit list. Trump's move against solar may be a targeted effort to hurt states that oppose him.

In May California has passed legislation mandating that 100 percent of the state's power needs be met by renewable sources of energy by 2045.In June New York announced that it was investing $1.5 billion in renewable energy projects to achieve their goal of getting one half of their power from clean sources by 2030. This is the largest state procurement of renewable energy in US history translating to 2.5 million megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity per year. '

The initiative in New York supports the Clean Climate Careers program that trains people for jobs in the green economy. Both New York and California are part of the U.S. Climate Alliance.

Cities fight  back

As reported by Climate Action there are a total of 36 cities that are committed to 100 percent renewable energy as part of the "Smart Cities" program. According to the Sierra Club, there are 40 cities in its "Ready for 100%" renewables campaign. Trump has very little support in urban centers so he may be deliberately targeting these locations as well.

Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin said: “It’s up to us as leaders to creatively implement clean energy solutions for our cities across the nation. It’s not merely an option now; it’s imperative. "Cities and mayors can lead the transition away from fossil fuels to 100 percent clean and renewable energy." he added. Mayor Benjamin is also a co-chair of the Mayors for 100% Clean Energy initiative.

In total more than 200 mayors have joined thousands of businesses, investors and academic institutions to sign a pact that commits them to continue the fight against climate change in the US.

Clean energy advocates will not be cowed by Trump and market forces can be expected to keep accelerating the transition to renewables. It is not without irony that despite Trump's best efforts, the growth of renewables is expected to enable the US to achieve and even surpass its Paris commitment.

Trump is indeed making an impact but not the way he would hope. It is because of Trump that cities and states are ratcheting up their ambitions. It is because of Trump that subnational leaders are becoming stalwart champions of energy for a better world. These duties will hurt, but they will not stop renewables, not by a longshot.

Climate Crisis Trumped by the Volatility of the US Commander-and-Chief

Climate change and environmental degradation are recognized as the most pressing issues facing humanity, however, these serious threats have been trumped by the man who now occupies the Oval Office. The first year of Trump's presidency has been a nightmare of Orwellian proportions. If the highly unorthodox commander and chief has convinced us of anything it is that he is capable of auguring events that are even more destructive than the climate crisis.

We have every reason to worry about the coming year.  As the Mueller investigation continues and the midterms loom Trump can be expected to ramp up his post-truth bombast. We have every reason to believe that he will become even more irrational as the noose of reality tightens around his neck. We are drawn to the terrifying conclusion that Trump's incompetence and his petulance are an even greater threat in 2018 than they were in 2017.

Trump's impending challenges combined with his bizarre behavior makes surviving the second year of his presidency a higher priority concern than the climate crisis. Trump's childish tirades and incoherant rants could lead to calamity. Under Trump's "leadership" the specter of a nuclear apocalypse is an even greater threat than the climate apocalypse he is actively abetting.

According to a report from the World Economic Forum (WEF), climate and environmental threats pose a significant risk to businesses around the world in 2018. Environmental disasters stemming from climate change are high on the WED's ranking of global threats but the risk of nuclear, chemical and biological war is at the very top of the list. While extreme weather events are considered the most likely threat, the report ranks weapons of mass destruction as the threat with the greatest impact.

The failure of climate adaptation and mitigation is the number five most likely threat and man-made environmental disasters are number seven. A number of other climate-related threats are mentioned in the report's top ten lists including food and water crises, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, involuntary migration and infectious diseases.

The WEF report also points to the rise of populist anger and singles out Trump by name saying that the policies of his volatile presidency could have unexpected consequences.