IKEA is a Corporate Leader in Renewables and Efficiency

The IKEA Group is investing massively in renewable energy and efficiency, they are even helping developing countries adapt to climate change. Ikea has invested almost $2.5 billion in renewable energy since 2009. This is not only about responsible corporate conduct this is also about reducing costs and managing business risks associated with volatile energy prices. IKEA is committed to generating an amount of renewable energy equal to its power requirement by 2020. IKEA's renewable energy investments put the company on track to become energy independent within the next couple of years.

IKEA has been a corporate renewable energy leader for years. In 2013, the IKEA Group produced 1,425 gigawatts of power from renewable sources, including wind and solar, equivalent to 37 percent of the company’s total energy needs. In 2014 Ikea Group chief sustainability officer Steve Howard called renewables "common sense energy" at a launch event on the opening day of the Climate Week. "We are delighted to make this investment – it is great for jobs, great for energy security, and great for our business. Importantly, it’s great for the future of our climate," Howard said.

As part of its People & Planet Positive sustainability strategy, the company is investing billions in wind and solar. The company is also investing in geothermal to supply its heating and cooling needs in stores in the Kansas City and Denver areas. IKEA now generates the equivalent of almost three quarters (73 percent) of the energy it used in 2017.

As explained by Kerri Molinaro, president of IKEA Canada, investing in renewable energy is a "win-win-win," that benefits customers and the planet.

W I N D

As of 2014 the IKEA Group owned or was in the process of acquiring 157 wind turbines globally, 110 of those turbines were in Europe (Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Ireland). IKEA now has 416 wind turbines worldwide.

So far IKEA has invested more than half a billion dollars in wind energy including a 98 megawatt wind farm wind farm in Illinois. Power produced at this farm is sold on in the open market to offset its own energy costs. The farm became operational in 2015.

IKEA also purchased a 46-megawatt, 20-turbine wind farm in Pincher Creek, Alberta. At the time of the signing in 2014 it was the largest wind farm owned by a Canadian retailer. It generates 161 gigawatt hours every year.

Molinaro called the Alberta windfarm, "a significant step to achieving IKEA’s global ambition to be energy independent by 2020, producing more renewable energy than we consume".

S O L A R

As of 2014 the company owned 550,000 solar panels in nine countries totaling 90 MW. As of 2018 IKEA owns more than 750,000 solar panels worldwide. IKEA has outfitted a number of its buildings with solar panels including 4,620 solar panels on a Miami-Dade area store. This one store produces about 1,738,876 kWh of electricity annually (equal to 1,227 tons of carbon emissions). The Miami-Dade-area store is located in Sweetwater, and there are also rooftop arrays in Orlando, Tampa and Sunrise making IKEA Florida's largest producer of non-utility solar.

“This array allows us to continue rolling-out solar panels atop 90% of our U.S. Locations,” said Mike Ward, IKEA U.S. president. “IKEA is committed to creating a more sustainable life for communities where we operate, so we are proud of investing in four Florida solar projects.”

IKEA USA has been recognized by the Solar Energy Industries Association and the Vote Solar Initiative for their investments in solar photovotaic technology. IKEA is investing in solar energy in Canada, they starting with solar panels on three Ontario stores almost 8 years ago.

IKEA is also selling solar panels and kits to consumers. In 2013 Christiana Figueres, then the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC tweeted, "Furniture giant #IKEA capitalizing on #cleanenergy revolution, selling DIY #solar panel kits".

The company started selling home solar panels in the Netherlands in 2014, they subsequently expanded to their other retail outlets around the world. In 2017 IKEA started selling home solar batteries in the UK. IKEA is committed to the sale of home solar solutions in 29 markets by 2025.

F U E L   C E L L S

In 2016 IKEA announced that it was deploying fuel cells to partner with its extensive use of onsite renewable energy. Like many of its sustainability focused efforts the installation of fuel cells will save the company money. As reported by Energy Manager Today, IKEA spokesperson Joe Roth, said that the fuel cells have the potential to cut costs by 20 percent to 40 percent when they are fully up and running.

Howard, said the company's emphasis on renewables is the result of "rational business decision with a decent payback." Forbes and a number of other analysis have independently corroborated the business benefits of the move towards renewables and energy efficiency.

E N E R G Y    E F F I C I E N C Y

The retail giant evaluates all locations regularly for energy conservation opportunities, they also innovated flat-packing of goods for efficient distribution. During FY2011, energy efficiency across all IKEA stores improved by 4 percent compared to FY2010, which the company says helped save 6.2 million euro ($7.26 million US). The gains were mainly achieved through improvements in store equipment, such as HVAC systems and lighting.

Between 2010 and 2014 energy efficiency measures have saved the company $54 million though its use of warehouse energy efficiency programs including HVAC and boiler upgrades and new energy management systems.

IKEA both uses and sells highly efficient LED lighting in many of its stores. As of 2016 the sustainabilitly leader only sells LED lamps and bulbs in its stores. IKEA is committed to making all of its stores to 100 percent LED lit.

IKEA has sold tens of millions of LEDs and the company is committed to selling these energy efficient lights at the lowest price on the market. IKEA has replaced millions of lights in its stores and it kicked off its plans by giving every one of its 130,000 employees an LED light. IKEA is also planning to offer only energy-efficient products like appliances and LED bulbs.

IKEA also recycles waste material (paper, wood, plastic, etc.) and incorporates environmental measures into the construction of buildings (ie HVAC, lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water conserving restrooms)

When combined with their focus on efficiency IKEA's renewable energy leadership and fuel cells are a smart investment and part of a good business strategy that will pay lucrative dividends..

Related
IKEA Goes All the Way with Sustainability
IKEA's Sustainable Supply Chain Leadership

Warming Temperatures are an Urgent Warning

We are seeing more intense, frequent, wider, and longer heat waves as well as five times more heat records than we did when the climate was stable. The global average temperature has been surpassing the 20th century average for more than 42 straight years. Last year was no exception with record breaking temperatures exceeding 129°F (54°C) which according to some analysts is the highest accurately recorded temperatures ever documented. Last year was the hottest year on record after 2016 and 2015. The trend is clear, all of the hottest years on record have occurred in recent years. The five warmest years have all come since 2010, the 10 warmest years have occurred since 1998 and the 20 warmest years on record have occurred since 1995.

In the face of overwhelming evidence deniers continue to look for ways they can refute the scientific consensus on global warming. We continue to debate the veracity of this issue despite the fact that it has been settled by decades of science. It is unconscionable that mainstream journalists continue to publish alternative interpretations of the data. A good example is a recent Wall Street Journal article that casts aspersions on James Hansen's predictions.

Individual data points notwithstanding, the fact remains that global temperature averages continue to increase and this is consistent with almost all the scientific predictions. The most recent observations are further corroboration of what we have known for years. In 2014 the AR5 (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC Fifth Assessment Report) noted that, "most global land areas analyzed have experienced significant warming of both maximum and minimum temperature extremes since about 1950" and concluded that it is "likely that human influence has more than doubled the probability of occurrence of heat waves in some locations." The dangers of heat waves were also cited in the EPA's endangerment finding.

The Spring and Summer of 2017 were extremely hot in the US, Europe, Asia and South America. Last year the US Southwest, (California, Nevada, and Arizona) smashed daily high temperature records set the year before. In 2017 we saw a number of high temperature records set in countries all around the world including Iran, Pakistan, Oman, Norway, and Austria. This is a trend that appears to be continuing this year with record setting heat waves in the US, Canada, UK, Pakistan, Iraq, Iran, Qatar and Australia.

North America

The southwest US had its warmest year ever in 2017 and a number of high temperature records were set. On June 20th 2017, Death Valley, recorded a temperature of 126.5°F (52.5°C), making it the highest temperature measured in the Western Hemisphere so early in the year. In the early summer of 2017 temperatures approached record levels in the US southwest and California with temperatures around 120.2°F (49°C) in places. In Phoenix Arizona the heat caused the cancellation of some flights. The warm weather is not just restricted to the summer. In the heart of winter of 2017 Oklahoma hit 100°F (37.7°C). Early in July 2017, a spate of high temperature records were set California and northern Nevada. This includes the communities of Stockton, Modesto, South Lake Tahoe, Reno and Downtown Los Angeles.

Canada is often associated with cold weather but even here we are seeing profound warming. On July 6th 2017 dozens of temperature records were broken in the Canadian province of British Columbia including the area around Cache Creek, Castlegar, Clearwater, Clinton, Gibsons, Hope Slide area, Kamloops, Kelowna, Mackenzie, Merritt, Nakusp, Nelson, Osoyoos, Penticton, Prince George, Puntzi Mountain, Squamish area, Vernon, Williams Lake and Warfield. On July 8th 2017 a number of records were set in Saskachewan including in the communities of Assiniboia, Coronach, Rockglen and Val Marie.

In 2018 the trend continued in Canada. Windsor, Ontario broke heat records in Februrary and in May records were broken in Alberta. Both Edmonton and Calgary had a record breaking heat wave. During the same period in May heat records were broken in B.C. and New Bruswick.

In 2018 the US experienced record warmth in February and the lower 48 states had the warmest May on record. At the end of May going into June south-central portions of the United States registered near record setting heat. It is expected that the period between May and July will be the warmest on record in the continental US.. It is hot but it will get much hotter if we continue with business as usual. By 2100 the average high summer temperature in the US is expected to warm by almost 20 degrees Fahrenheit (10°C).

According to the University of Winnipeg’s Prairie Climate Centre's new interactive tool called Climate Atlas communities across Canada will experience substantially more heat waves. Toronto will face 100 searing-hot days a year in the decades ahead. 

Europe

A protracted heat wave saturated Mediterranean nations (from Portugal to western Balkans) in the spring and summer of 2017. In Portugal temperatures exceeding 104°f (40 °C) caused forest fires that killed at least 60 people. Neighboring Spain recorded its warmest spring since 1965 and a number of Spanish cities broke records in June including Granda, Madrid, Salamanca and Zamora. French cities also broke records in June include Cuers, Toulon, Montpellier and Marseille. Last August much of Europe sweltered under a heat wave called "Lucifer". The UK also registered above average temperatures in 2017 and May 2018 was the warmest on record. The Spring of 2018 was exceptionally hot in Europe and the outlook for summer suggests the worst is yet to come.

Asia

Asia was also affected by heat waves in 2017. In 2017 temperature records were broken across Asia including the Middle East. On May 17 in Mesaira, United Arab Emirates, temperatures surpassed 122°F (50°C). One month later on June 15, Iran and Iraq recorded temperatures in excess of 122°F (50°C). Not only are the highs higher but the lows are getting higher as well. On June 17, Khasab, Oman set another world record for the highest nighttime minimum at 111°F (44.2°C). Oman tied all-time heat records in 2017. A 126°F (52°C) reading in Awhaz, Iran, on June 29, the highest temperature ever in that country and the highest-ever June reading in Asia. On July 21, Mitribah Kuwait recorded temperatures of 129.3°F (54°C) on the same day Basra, Iraq saw temperatures soar to 129°F (53.9°C).

In 2017 Eastern China had its warmest year on record. The town of Turbat in southwestern Pakistan reported a temperature of 129.3°F (54°C) on May 28 is the highest temperature ever recorded in May. The Hanoi region of Vietnam, smashed the previous high temperature record with a reading of 108°F (42°C) on June 4th.

The warm weather persists in 2018 with a number of record breaking high temperatures in Asia. For example on April 30th 2018, temperatures in Nawabshah, Pakistan reached 122°F (50°C). Pakistan's searing April temperatures set a new global record. On March 29, the temperature in Nawabshah, Iraq hit 113.9°F (45.5°C). On March 30, Pakistan registered its hottest weather ever so early in the season. On the same day, Abu Samrah, Qatar broke records with temperatures of 104°F (40°C). Other monthly records may have fallen in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the United Arab Emirates. On June 26th 2018 the city of Quriyat in Oman is alleged to have recorded the highest "low" temperature in known history with a reading of  108.7°F (42.6°C).

Australia

Australia has suffered through heat waves in 2016 extending into 2017. During the Southern Hemisphere's summer of 2017, record heat swept through Australia, which set more than 40 high-temperature records. Eastern Australia had its warmest year ever in 2017. In February Temperatures spiked to over 107°F (41.6°C) in Sydney and up to 117°F (47°C) farther inland. Several towns west of Sydney had record-setting streaks of temperatures above 104°F (40°C). The White Cliffs weather station in the Southeast, recorded the warmest-ever nighttime low temperature in Australia, at 94.3°F (34.6°C). Some spots in Queensland, in the Northeast, broke the 104°F (40°C) Celsius mark for the first time ever. In Canberra, the number of heat wave days has doubled in the past 60 years and records show that extreme heat has killed more Australians than any other type of natural disaster in the last 100 years. In 2018 Australia registered its warmest and driest April ever and on April 9, Sydney broke heat records.

South America

Parts of South America have also warmed to record levels during the Southern Hemisphere's summer of 2017. In Chile, where 12 different weather stations set all-time temperature records above 110°F (43°C) in late January. The sweltering heat contributed to the worst wildfires in Chile's history. These fires ravaged more than 300,000 acres.

Conclusion

Although individual temperature readings cannot be taken as evidence of global warming when we string them all together over the course of decades a convincing body of evidence emerges. The situation is growing ever more urgent as predictions for the future indicate the situation will get far worse.

"By 2040, we will see about 12 times more monthly heat records than in a stable climate, not just five times, as in recent years," said Stefan Rahmstorf, a climate scientist with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. "In that sense, four out of five monthly heat records are most likely man-made.... And these new heat records will also be hotter than past records, since, with every new record, the bar for topping that one again is raised."

As pointed out in a Vanity Fair article extreme heat already makes some places uninhabitable for at least parts of the year. Computer models predict that increasing levels of heat will make larger portions of the earth uninhabitable for longer periods of time. As is often the case with climate impacts, poorer communities will suffer disproportionately.

High temperatures contribute to a wide range of serious and even life threatening problems including extreme weather, and wildfires. In 1995 a three day heat wave in Chicago killed more than 700 people, a 2003 European heat wave killed more 30,000 people across the continent. A study released in June 2017 indicates that 30 percent of the world's population is currently at risk from deadly heat waves. If we fail to act that number will climb to 74 percent of the people on Earth.

The implications extend beyond human lives and include serious risks to our infrastructure that represents both a threat and an opportunity for our economies. Increasing heat is impacting everything from air travel to construction. Extreme heat exacerbates social tensions and foments conflict. We can expect to see more mass migration and new classes of migrants including groups of individuals known as climate refugees. Melting sea ice will cause more sea level rise and this on its own could displace billions of people around the world. Heat is also causing extensive crop failures and it is killing vast numbers of coral reefs. Entire eco-systems are being degraded or destroyed and if we continue with business as usual the situation is destined to get far worse.

We are faced with an existential choice. We must act now if we are to have a chance of keeping temperatures from warming more than the upper safe limit of between 1.5°C and 2.0°C above preindustrial norms. Our window of opportunity is rapidly closing. Two independent studies indicate that we are facing perilous odds. The first study suggests that we have a 13 percent chance of keeping temperatures below 1.5°C. The second study suggests that the chances of staying within 2.0°C is very small and the chances of staying within 1.5°C are almost zero.

The planet is warming because of GHGs largely from the burning of fossil fuels so to address the problem we need to wean ourselves off of dirty sources of energy. We understand the problem and we know what we have to do to address it. The only mystery is why we have failed to act in the face of such overwhelming evidence.

This story was last updated on June 30, 2018

Related
The Warming Temperature Trend Continues Despite Trump
Decades of Hot Data: The Harbingers of an Impending Climate Catastrophe
In the Face of Record Setting Heat & Rain the GOP Doubles Down on Fossil Fuels
Consistent Ongoing Heat is Rewriting the Record Books (April Temperature Update)
The Warmest Winter Ever and the Coming Climate Catastrophe
2015 was the Hottest Year on Record and 2016 will be Hotter
Rising CO2 Emissions and Ongoing Heat Records Especially in the Arctic
Global Temperature Data Underscores the Urgency of Climate Action
Extreme Heat in the Western World Marks the Start of Summer 2015
At Least 30 Years of Above Average Temperatures
Heat Records Tell the Story of Climate Change
India's Heat Wave Offers a Glimpse into the Future
2014 is the Hottest Year in Recorded History
How Much Heat is Required to Spur Global Action?
Record Breaking Heat Suggests Accelerated Warming

Event - Companies Vs. Climate Change (Europe & US)

The European event will take place October, 9-10, 2018 at the Amsterdam ING Headquarters. The US event will take place on November 28-29, 2018 at the Adrienne Arsht Center, in Miami.

Companies vs. Climate Change (CvCC)  is an event series whose mission it is to bring together companies from around the world to discuss climate change and how they can work together to address it most impactfully. CvCC is a media and events company whose mission is to serve as a global forum for companies of all sizes to share best practices for solving climate change with wholly justifiable business value. CvCC strives to serve as a conduit that will bring companies together to create business driven solutions to the climate crisis. Certain things call for simplicity.

This conference is about three things

1. Climate change
2. How can companies address climate change?
3. How can companies collaborate to address climate change?

The B2B Climate Solutions Event

CvCC is dedicated to providing a forum for business leaders to connect around climate change solutions. We strive to be an open and straight-forward arena for companies to collaborate and share best practices for being part of the solution to the climate crisis. Companies vs. Climate Change is not a political organization. We are merely a platform for promoting joint business cooperation on an international emergency.

Who Will Attend?

This event is intended for any professional at any company who is involved in the process of decreasing their company’s carbon footprint and is part of the effort to solve climate change.  Job titles will include Managers, Directors, VPs and C-Level executives in the following areas: Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility, Renewable Energy, Marketing, PR, Communications, EHS, Supply Chain, Corporate Counsel, Facility Design and Construction, Emergency Response Risk Insurance, Brand Strategy, Infrastructure Finance

Unique Sustainability Events

We know you support green and sustainable events regularly. What’s different about Companies vs. Climate Change (CvCC)? In a word: everything. Are you planning on being in a room full of regulators and academics? Well, then you’re probably not planning on going to CvCC. CvCC is building a community around the idea that uniting businesses, in unison with governments, is the key to effecting change. Our community affords you with an opportunity to learn from and work together with those companies that have the sincere intention of driving global action as we face the emergency that is climate change – together.

Government agencies and educators have invaluable wisdom to share in our fight against global disaster – but we believe that the business world possesses the scale, resources, capacity, and genuine interest in helping to address this crisis.

So why is CvCC different? Because our stripped-down, red-tape-free, straightforward community of change drivers isn’t planning on sitting around pointing fingers or patting backs – it’s ready to act. To build. To unite. To influence….To bring about climate CHANGE!

Speakers at the European Event

Jurriaan Ruys
Founder, CEO Land Life Company

Louise Koch
Corporate Sustainability Director, Dell EMC, Europe, Middle East & Africa.

Rebecca Fay
CMO at Natural Capital Partners

Kathleen Enright
Deputy Managing Director, Salterbaxter

Huw Maggs
Director of Strategy, Salterbaxter

Ian Knight
Global Sustainability Senior Manager - MARS Inc.

Andrew McMullen
Renewable and Buildings Senior Manager at LEGO Group

Michael Cooke
SVP, HSE & Sustainability, ABB

Thibault d’Ursel
Global Head of Sustainability at bpost

Arnaud Brohe
CEO, CO2logic

Romy Miltenburg
Manager CSR & Sustainability EMEA at ASICS Europe BV

Axelle Bodoy
Global Milk CO2 - GHG manager at Danone

Kate Redington
Supply Chain Account Manager at CDP

Carla Neefs
Director, Supplier Sustainability and Audits, Signify

Andreas Follér
Sustainability Manager, Scania Group

Kati Kaskeala
Corporate Communications and Sustainability Director at Kellogg, Southern Europe

Tom Salisbury
Senior Sustainable Business Manager at Vodafone

Kaitlin Crouch-Hess
Global Environmental Program Manager, ING

Speakers at the American Event

Suzanne Shelton
CEO of Shelton Group

Nanette Lockwood
Global Director, Climate Policy and Advocacy, Ingersoll Rand

Arnaud Brohe
CEO, CO2logic

Maeve Burns
Sr. Sustainability Analyst, Steelcase

Nathan Nissen
Principal Engineer, Sustainability Kohler Co.

Joe Doolan
Head of Environmental Affairs, TD Bank

Emilio Tenuta
Vice President of Corporate Sustainability - Ecolab

Angela Foster-Rice
Managing Director - Environmental Affairs & Sustainability, United Airlines

Tyler J. Krutzfeldt, CFA
Managing Director – Mont Vista Capital

Maureen Hart
Executive Director International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP)

Stacy Smedley
Director of Sustainability at Skanska USA

Dawn Emling
Vice President and Head of ESG Institute, Thomson Reuters

Mike Dieterich
Energy and Sustainability Manager at MedImmune/Astra Zeneca

Olivia Sprinkel
Head of Salterbaxter North America, Salterbaxter MSLGROUP

Chris Castro
Director of Sustainability, City of Orlando

Kristina Joss
Head of Strategy & Commercial Director - Salterbaxter MSLGROUP

John Kotlarczyk, Jr.
Senior Director, CSR & Waste Reduction at Walgreens

Hugh Welsh
General Counsel, Secretary & President, DSM North America

Brendon Steele
Director of Stakeholder Engagement, Future 500

Greg Hamra
Leader, Citizens Climate Lobby

Roian Atwood
Director of Sustainability at VF Corp (Wrangler/Lee)

Click here to register for the European event.
Click here to register for the American event.

IKEA Goes All the Way with Sustainability

The IKEA Group is the world's largest furniture retailer and a leading sustainability-focused corporate brand. IKEA recently promised to make all of its 12,000 products from renewable and recyclable materials by 2030. This is in addition to adopting science-based emission reduction targets and deriving all of their energy from renewable sources by 2020.

The Dutch-based company of Swedish origin has an enormous customer base estimated to be approximately one billion people. To put that number into context that is almost two times Apple's client base and more than a tenth of the global population. IKEA has built an empire that now totals 418 stores in 49 markets around the world. In 2017 IKEA had $45.3 billion in retail sales, an increase of $8 billion over 2016 totals.

IKEA is leveraging their tremendous economic clout to address climate change, arguably the most serious threat ever faced by humanity.

"Through our size and reach we have the opportunity to inspire and enable more than one billion people to live better lives, within the limits of the planet," Inter IKEA CEO Torbjorn Loof said in a statement to accompany the group’s 2030 sustainability strategy document. "We are committed to taking the lead, working together with everyone – from raw material suppliers all the way to our customers and partners."

Renewable & recyclable materials

By committing to using only renewable and recycled materials the "Life Improvement Store" is completing their company-wide sustainability strategy. Currently, IKEA diverts around 90 percent of its overall operational waste from landfills and 60 percent of IKEA's products are made from renewable materials (10 percent use recycled materials). IKEA has several recycling programs including mattress and incandescent bulbs. Now the company has pledged that by the end of the next decade everything the company sells will be renewable and recyclable.

As explained by Lisa Davis, IKEA’s U.S. Sustainability Manager: "In keeping with our People and Planet Positive Sustainability strategy, IKEA has decided to take a lead in turning waste into resources. The goal is zero waste to landfill, with as much recycling as possible. We are committed to securing recycled materials while ensuring key parts of our range are easily recycled, - all contributing to a closed-loop society."

IKEA is hardly new to sustainability they have been at it for more than a decade. They phased out plastic bags in 2007 and incandescent bulbs in 2010. They got into the electric transportation market when they started selling electric bikes several years ago. In 2011 they were among the first to host recharging stations for electric cars in the US. Ahead of the launch Mike Ward, IKEA's US president, explained the company's commitment to charging stations, "furthers our commitment to a smaller carbon footprint and technological opportunities that help protect the environment. This project is part of a global effort to promote the sustainable transport of people."

Comprehensive solution

As a member of the Science-Based Targets initiative, IKEA is seeking far more than just reputational benefits. The initiative is a collaboration between the Carbon Disclosure Project, the World Resources Institute, the World Wide Fund for Nature, and the United Nations Global Compact. IKEA is also involved in tiny scale agriculture. In 2016 they started selling an indoor garden that can grow food all year round. They have even created a more eco-friendly vegetarian substitute for their famous swedish meatballs.

By focusing on both its stores and its supply chain, IKEA is sending a powerful message. These moves show the world what it means to be a responsible corporate actor. As explained in their 2030 sustainability strategy document their ambitious goal is to reduce the climate impact of each of their products by more than two thirds by 2030. They are planning on slashing the climate impact of their retail outlets and other operations by 80 percent compared with 2016 emission levels.

However, reigning in their huge carbon footprint is not an easy feat. In 2013 IKEA emitted a staggering 28 million tonnes of greenhouse gases. To put this number into context this represents half the emissions for the entire nation of Sweden.

IKEA acknowledges the scope of the problem but they are committed to meeting the challenge. To prove just how serious IKEA is about sustainability they recruited Steve Howard, founder and CEO of The Climate Group, to be their chief sustainability officer (CSO). When he met with Ikea's CEO Mikael Ohlsson, Howard said: "If you're interested in being incrementally less bad, I'm the wrong guy. If you're interested in transformational, I'm in."

The Business Case

The retail giant is mitigating business risks and making their brand more cost efficient. As IKEA warned in its 2020 Sustainability Report, rising energy, and raw material costs are a concern as is the fact that by 2030, almost half of the world’s population will be living in water-scarce areas.

Using recycled materials reduces costs particularly in the context of a circular economy. Simply put the less raw materials you use the lower your costs. It also reduces waste that goes to landfill and it conserves natural resources by minimizing the demand for raw materials.

As explained by Kerri Molinaro, president of IKEA Canada, "We are able to support the transition to a low-carbon future, reduce our energy and operating costs, and pass those benefits on to our customers by continuing to offer high quality home furnishings at low prices."

This is not just about corporate responsibility this is a smart business strategy.

Related
IKEA is a corporate Leader in Renewables and Efficiency 
IKEA's Sustainable Supply Chain Leadership

Event - Sustainability Summit: How Corporate Superstars Get it Right

This event will take place July 17 – 18, 2018, at the The Conference Board Conference Center, 845 Third Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY. The Conference will focus on the tools used for sustainability and it will provide a unique opportunity for sustainability practitioners to enjoy a safe space to address the most urgent and persistent strategic, operational, and implementation challenges they face in addressing the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance of their companies. The Summit enables peer-to-peer exchange and engagement with leading sustainability practitioners and subject matter experts to work in a collaborative way through the major challenges that corporate sustainability professionals face.

Who Should Attend

Vice Presidents, Directors, and Senior Managers of:
  • Sustainability
  • Corporate Responsibility and Corporate Social Responsibility
  • Environment, Health, and Safety
  • Corporate Giving / Foundation
  • Public Affairs / Government Affairs / Corporate Affairs
  • Communications
  • Human Resources
  • Strategy
  • Marketing

Speakers
  • Henry Boerner, Chairman, Governance & Accountability Institute
  • Timothy Fleming, Director of Enterprise Sustainability, AT&T Inc.
  • Alyson Genovese, Director/Head of Regional Hub: USA & Canada, GRI
  • James Gowen, Vice President Global Supply Chain and Chief Sustainability Officer, Verizon
  • Maureen Kline, Vice President Public Affairs and Sustainability, Pirelli Tire North America
  • Kristina Kloberdanz, Senior Vice President, Chief Sustainability Officer, MasterCard Incorporated
  • Wanda Lopuch, Chairman of the Board, Global Sourcing Council
  • Rick Love, Director, Environmental Programs, United Technologies Corporation
  • Luis Neves, Managing Director, the Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI)
  • Delilah Rothenberg, Operating Advisor ESG & Impact, Pegasus Capital Advisors
  • Jeffrey Senne, Corporate Responsibility Strategy and Implementation Leader, PwC
  • Thomas Singer, Principal Researcher, The Conference Board
  • Amy Springsteel, Associate Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Voya Financial
  • Dave Stangis, Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Chief Sustainability Officer, Campbell Soup Co.
  • Matthew Swibel, Director, Enterprise Risk and Sustainability, Lockheed Martin Corporation
  • Hugh Welsh, General Counsel, Secretary, and President,, DSM North America

Sessions
  • Making a business case for sustainability that persuades the C-Suite
  • Telling investors the sustainability story the right way, with the right data
  • Building bridges: When sustainability has a strategic partnership with marketing and branding, everybody wins
  • How companies can navigate the sea of sustainability ratings and rankings
  • You’re accountable for your supply chain. Is your supply chain accountable to you?
  • Better together: integrating ESG and enterprise risk management (ERM)
  • Making reporting work for you and your company
  • Hitting the carbon wall: Cost-effective sources and solutions

Credits

Earn up to 14 CPE credits Specialized Knowledge Requirements : Attendees must sign-in each day for full credit. Delivery Method: Group-Live; Program Level: Intermediate, Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree or higher, Advanced Preparation: None

Cost

Non-members $1995 Members $1795

Click here to register.

Do You Still Think that Sustainability will Outlast Trump?

After Trump won the US presidency in 2016 there were a number of articles that reassured us by saying that sustainability will persevere. While some were very pessimistic there were a slew of optimists in 2017 who defiantly proclaimed that sustainability will outlast Trump. A year and a half later many of those voices are silent.

One year ago an article by Ken Silverstein said that Trump has not slowed sustainability. Silverstein pointed to demand and economics to argue that sustainability is resilient. He cited a poll by Lucid’s Phil Pinson and Urjanet’s Tim Porter which says that 73 percent of companies expect their commitment to be the same while 21 percent planed to increase their involvement. Only 7.7 percent planed to decrease their commitment. Silverstein points out that sustainability budgets did not decline between 2016 and 2017. The research shows that sustainability is driven by compliance, corporate mission, business performance, employee satisfaction and industry recognition. "Regulations are helping [drive sustainability] but economics are driving it," said Porter.

An October 2017 article published in the Guardian defiantly proclaimed Trump can't stop sustainability.  However, over the course of the last year we are coming to terms with just how destructive this administration has been.  The Trump presidency is an Orwellian nightmare. The list of Trump's malfeasance grows by the day and the lapdogs in his party have made the political calculation that they are safer to stick by a pathological liar than to tell the truth.

Both the president and the GOP have worked together to eliminate climate action in the US.  Trump made his intentions clear in his budget and if there was any doubt his energy priorities have become obvious. He is working to weaken renewable energy while aggressively supporting fossil fuels. Trump has also imposed tariffs on solar panels and he is using energy to wreak vengeance on cities and states that oppose him.  According to Greenbiz this hurts solar developers, installers, consumers, corporate renewable energy buyers, and states with renewable energy goals.

Trump named fossil fuel advocate Scott Pruitt to head of the EPA. He is a chip off the old block and it appears he can do no wrong in the president's eyes. After all Pruitt has succeeded in eviscerating the EPA and he is aiding polluters including efforts to repeal the Clean Power plan.  This adversely impacts energy efficiency providers, wind and solar power developers, and other clean-technology developers.

The Trump administration has even proposed eliminating the Energy Star voluntary labeling program for energy efficient appliances. Both consumers and businesses will be harmed by this decision as the program massively reduced energy consumption saving both groups a total of $34 billion in 2015.

One of the most disconcerting efforts is the initiative to overturn the "endangerment finding," a 2009 determination that acknowledges that emissions are a danger to public health. This is harmful to renewable energy developers and buyers, as well as states companies and other organizations that have clean energy goals.

The Trump administration's proposed changes to power markets rules was designed to let coal and nuclear power plants recoup their costs from market sales. This amounts to unfair subsidies that hurt cleantech including renewables and related technologies like energy storage and AI.

Early in June, the Trump administration revealed just how far it will go to protect the fossil fuel Industry. They are invoking an obscure 20th-century national security act in their most recent ploy to buoy coal and nuclear power in the face of competition from declining renewable energy costs.  The law they are invoking would force energy buyers to continue to subsidize coal-fired electricity-generating stations and nuclear power plants.

The fossil fuel industry already gets three times the subsidies of the renewable energy sector and that does not include a number of tax loopholes that benefit dirty energy.

Sustainability may indeed outlast Trump, but he is doing some serious damage that won't be easily overcome. Trump may be incompetent he may even be irrelevant but he is not harmless.

Trump's Trade Wars and Love for Despots: Why Environmentalists are Not the Only Ones Who Should Fear the Rise of Populism

The rising tide of populism is antithetical to good government. We are teetering on the brink of a climate catastrophe yet we are distracted by a number of surreal political dramas as the window of opportunity to act is closing. Although widespread ecological degradation demands urgent action the influence of populism is eroding environmental protections and diminishing climate action. 

Those who subscribe to science-based policy decisions have every reason to fear populism. This is a brand of politics commonly premised on xenophobia. It preys on people's darkest fears and panders to tribalism. Populism creates an enemy out of the marginalized and unravels the fabric of the social contract. It enfeebles multilateralism and strikes at the heart of our democracies.

America may no longer be the leader of the free world but Donald Trump is the de facto leader of this populist movement. He has started a trade war with his his closest allies while lauding despots. Trump imposed tariffs on its friends under the ridiculous pretext of national security. It is an insane irony that while branding its closest allies as national security threats Trump is inviting Russia to rejoin the G7 and lauding the barbarous regime of North Korea.

Before and after the G7 meeting in Quebec Trump and members of his administration lambasted America's friends. Trump made a plea to invite Russian thug Vladimir Putin into the G7, he then flew off to Singapore where he claims to have built a "special bond" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

In recent weeks Trump is treating North Korea a lot like he treats Russia. He has lauded Kim without mentioned anything about the flagrant human rights violations committed by one of the world's most tyrannical regimes. At the meeting in Singapore, Trump made major concessions to the man who has killed thousands including his own brother and uncle, without getting anything in return.

The two men that Trump seems to admire most are the same two men who have in one way or another threatened America with nuclear weapons. Juxtapose this against the outrage expressed by Trump and his administration towards Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. All Trudeau did was say that using national security concerns to impose tariffs on aluminum and steel is an insult. For reasons that are entirely unclear a member of the Trump administration said that the Canadian leader "stabbed us in the back" and another added that this is a "betrayal" saying there is a "special place in hell for Trudeau". Trump then followed up by saying that this will cost Canada "a lot of money". All this because the Canadian Prime Minister had the audacity to politely push back against Trump's irrational tariffs.

As reported by the Globe and Mail, these tariffs serve nobody except for America's overseas competitors. According to a report from the C.D. Howe Institute, these tariffs could result in the loss of as many as 400,000 American jobs. A forthcoming paper on the study written by economist Dan Ciuriak and Jingliang Xiao says the move will diminish the US GDP. Although America's overseas competition will benefit all three countries in North America will suffer.

There are serious real-world consequences to Trump's actions, this absurd drama is a political ruse created by the Trump administration to serve its nativist agenda. This is populism in action. It creates conflicts to achieve political gains.

In Trump's case, it is also designed to undermine institutions like the G7. This decades-old institution was created by his predecessors to bring together major democracies with shared values. Now Trump wants Putin, one of the biggest political thugs the world has ever known, to join the club. Perhaps its so that he will not feel so alone.

Trump wants to undermine the G7 to derail economic cooperation, multilateralism, and climate action. In 2015 the G7 committed to phasing out fossil fuels, emissions reduction, and climate finance.

Populism's irrational ideology gives people a sense of national purpose at a time when globalization is contributing to a widespread sense of alienation. This is helping to grow support for populist parties all around the world. Even centrist governments are feeling the gravitational pull of these populist movements.. The Brexit vote in the UK is only one of many strands of evidence that support this thesis. Even in Canada we recently saw a Trump wannabe by the name of Doug Ford elected as the premiere of Ontario, Canada's wealthiest province.

Both Turkey and Poland are currently being led by populist leaders. Last September the populist Alternative of Germany, or AfD ran on an anti-immigration platform to become the first far-right party since World War II to be voted into the German parliament. In March of this year Italy elected two populist parties, the radical-right Lega and the Movimento Cinque Stelle (Five-Stars Movement, or M5S). In April Hungary elected a far-right populist leader Viktor Orban and his Fidesz party.

However, election outcomes show that the values of openness and respect for others are far from dead. Last March the Netherlands' anti-immigration far right populist Freedom Party (PVV), failed to win the day and in April France's far-right Front National succumbed to a similar fate. When you combine the two populist parties in Italy they get less than half the vote and in Germany the AFD has the support of only 15 percent of the German population.

Liberal values are not dead, not yet anyways, however they are under siege. If men like Trump's former adviser Steve Bannon have any say liberal values will be erased from the face of the earth along with the institutions of democracy. This will end any hope of climate action and erode the edifice of civilization as we know it.

The threat posed by the cancer of populism is very serious but it is not impervious, it can be beaten. Populism is inherently weak because it is premised upon mountains of lies. To defeat their lies all we need do is unrelentingly tell the truth.

Doug Ford's Victory Will Reverse Ontario's Green Leadership

The election that gave Doug Ford and the PCs a majority in the Canadian province of Ontario has disastrous implications for both the environment and climate action. The PCs stated policy priorities will slow the growth of clean energy and undermine the green economy. 

This is a radical shift from where the province was four years ago. In 2014 the Liberals had a majorityo government in the province and they passed a raft of environmental legislation. Ontario became the first place in North America to end coal power generation.

Four years later the province appears to be doing a 180. Once a global environmental and climate leader Ontario is now poised to win the race to the bottom. The PCs have a track record of environmental neglect, it was under PC leadership that the Walkerton deadly tainted water disaster occurred. Under Ford's leadership the situation is likely to be even worse.


Energy

Ontario's investments in renewable energy and the privatization of province's hydroelectric resources have increased electricity prices. This is likely a salient factor contributing to the demise of Kathleen Wynne's Liberal party after 15 years at the helm of the province.

Ford's win does not bode well for the province's ten-year-old green energy initiative. Ontario is Canada's renewable energy leader and the largest producer of wind energy in the nation with 2,550 wind turbines capable of generating 5,000 megawatts of power. Ontario is one of Canada's leading generators of hydroelectric power producing 30.4 terawatt hours in 2015..

The newly elected PCs are expected to kill the Green Energy Act and they have promised to immediately impose a moratorium on all new energy contracts. They are promising massive changes to Hydro One including firing the CEO and the board of directors.

The PCs have indicated that they will also cut a provincial fuel tax which will likely result in increased fossil fuel consumption in the province.

Climate

With the election of Ford's PCs, Ontario is about to transition from being a climate leader to being a climate Luddite. While Ford will likely make changes to Hydro One almost immediately it will take longer for him to get rid of Ontario's cap-and-trade system. When he does succeed in dismantling Ontario's carbon pricing program it will decrease the province's revenues by $2 billion. This will be problematic for Ontario's partners Quebec and California. It will also encourage industries to emit more carbon as they will no longer have a financial incentive to reduce emissions.

Ford can also be expected to make good on his pledge to oppose the federal Liberal's  Pan-Canadian climate plan. The first step will involve a legal challenge to the constitutionality of the deal in the Ontario Court of Appeals.

Incoming Ontario premier has allies in his opposition to the federal Liberals national climate action plan. Ford can be expected to partner with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe. Alberta's United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney will also be an ally if he can win next years provincial election. Moe is already challenging the federal government's constitutional authority to impose a carbon price on the provinces.

Social

The election of Ford also has troubling implications for the social fabric of the province. Ford may not be as overtly xenophobic as Donald Trump but his election undermines diversity and tolerance in the province.

Ford personally picked Ontario PC candidate Andrew Lawton who believes that gender and racial discrimination should be legal. Lawton is well known for opposing Human Rights and for making a number of homophobic and racist remarks.

"I think if someone wants to open a business and only hire people of one race...I think they should have that right," Lawton said.

Corruption

In a move reminiscent of Russia's use of social media profiles to help Trump win in 2016, the PCs are implicated in the theft of personal data. There is evidence to suggest that 29 PC candidates may be involved in stealing tens of thousands of Ontarians' personal data to help them win their seats.

As a reporter explained to Doug Ford: "We have sources telling us that 29 of your candidates paid substantial amounts of money to use a specific method to win your candidacy. And that method is international students were paid a couple hundred dollars per trip, and they would vote using names off the 407 ETR list. Basically, identity theft. And 29 of your candidates were elected using this method."

Ford became the PC leader three months ago after Patrick Brown stepped down due to allegations of sexual misconduct. Doug Ford stepped into the national spotlight while defending his late brother Rob Ford after the latter admitted to smoking crack cocaine when he was mayor of Toronto.

Ford is contending with legal allegations of his own as among other things, his sister-in-law has accused him of mismanaging the family business. The Premiere elect is also accused of being involved with selling bogus party memberships.

Ford is a stalwart Trump supporter whose support never wavered. It appears that Ford may have studied Trump's playbook. Like Trump, the Premiere elect is a wealthy businessman who draws support from the "little guys" as Ford calls them. Also like Trump, Ford won with a minority of voter support. The PCs received substantially fewer votes than the two other parties combined (40 percent compared to 60 percent). Just as some Americans are calling for electoral reform, people in Ontario are also wondering aloud if it is time to change the first past the post system.

In the face of multiple alligations of impropriety, Ford, like Trump has vowed to "drain the swamp". 

Populism

The platform that the Ontario electorate voted for is a basket of hard to pay for goodies that smack of right-wing populism. In many ways Ford's victory is  a redux of the nightmare augured by Trump's win in 2016.  In 2011 the PCs failed to gain the support of voters with promises of tax cuts. However, in 2018 the voters seem to welcome tax cuts and eschew responsible political leadership.

Like other populists, Ford has promised a raft of gifts for the electorate without addressing the ways that these giveaways can be paid for (Ford never released a fully costed platform). His goodie bag includes child care tax rebates, cuts to hydro rates, corporate and small business tax cuts, and personal income tax cuts. He also spoke directly to his base through his promise to make beer cheaper and make both beer and wine available in corner stores. He also promised to freeze minimum wage although the addition of a provincial income tax credit would mean that minimum wage earners would not have to pay income tax.

Ford has also promised to pour hundreds of millions into the health care system and get rid of the updated sexual education curriculum.

Populism is by definition irresponsible governance because the emphasis is on what serves constituents in the short term with little or no regard for the long-term implications (eg soaring deficits).

Ford's election win in Ontario comes in the wake of Brexit, Trump and the rise of populist political parties in Europe. The fact that this brand of politics has now taken hold in Canada is yet another wake-up call. People are pursuing self-interest at the expense of the global commons. This signals a breakdown in both the social contract and our global responsibilities.

Straws

Looking for an upside to this election we are forced to grasp at straws. One of the few highlights for those who value the environment is the win by Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner who captured the party's first-ever seat in the Ontario legislature. Schreiner is only the seventh provincial Green party member to be elected in Canada. Elizabeth May is the only elected member of the federal Green Party.

Ford's policy agenda is a disaster, but he has promised $5 billion for subway projects in Toronto, he has also vowed to complete the next phase of the Ottawa LRT and support regional transit projects elsewhere.

It is hard to find a silver lining in Ontario's electoral outcome. This type of political change in Canada's wealthiest province is certain to have national consequences. With the defeat of Wynn Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has lost his staunchest and greenest provincial ally.

Voters in Ontario may have simply rejected high energy prices, but if voters were also rejecting green energy and climate leadership it is another sad reminder of just how dangerous a misinformed electorate can be.

Related
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Event - Solar Canada Conference & Exposition 2018

The 2018 edition of CanSIA’s annual Solar Canada Conference & Exposition will take place starting with pre-conference events on June 19th. The event will take place in   in Calgary, Alberta and it formally begins on Wednesday, June 20 and concludes on Thursday, June 21. 

This is the largest solar energy conference and a must-attend event for solar energy professionals, stakeholders, and advocates. At this event, attendees can connect with the entire spectrum of the solar energy industry. Solar Canada offers unique educational opportunities to gain the latest insight into solar policy frameworks in each of Canada’s provincial markets from industry leaders and influencers. Topics will also include both utility-scale and consumer/business focused installations.

At this event attendees can network and build relationships with Canada’s most important solar energy professionals. They can also discover the latest innovations, technology, trends, and visions the industry has to offer as well as promote their brands.

Featured Speakers

  • The Honourable Sandra Jansen, Minister of Infrastructure, Government of Alberta
  • The Honourable Iain Rankin, Minister of Environment, Government of Nova Scotia
  • Monica Curtis, CEO, Energy Efficiency Alberta
  • Bernadette Del Chiaro, Executive Director, California Solar & Storage Association
  • Tim Eckel, Vice-President, Asset Management, Planning & Sustainability, SaskPower
  • Autumn Proudlove, Lead Author of “50 States of Solar” Quarterly Report & Manager of Policy Research, NC Clean Energy Technology Center
  • David James, MBA, Assistant Deputy Minister, Electricity and Sustainable Energy, Alberta Energy Guy Lonechild, Chief Executive Officer, First Nations Power Authority
  • Rob Sinclair, Manager System and Sector Development, Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
  • Merran Smith, Executive Director, Clean Energy Canada

Full Conference Schedule

June 19
  • Pre-conference workshops on June 19th:
  • 9:00am-12:30pm Solar Power Market Primer: Doing Business in Alberta
  • 2:00pm-4:30pm Solar Energy Land-Use Planning for Municipalities: The “Least Conflict Lands” Approach
  • Pre-Conference Event on June 19th – Going Solar: Getting connected with the people, products and processes
  • Solar Canada’s Summer Solstice BBQ hosted by SAIT – June 19th 7pm-10pm

June 20 -21
  • Access to Conference Plenaries & Breakout Sessions on June 20th and 21st
  • Entrance to the Expo on June 20th and 21st (includes learning pod sessions in Exhibit Hall)
  • Lunch on June 20th and 21st
  • Happy Hour June 20th in the Exhibit Hall (5:00 pm to 6:00 pm)
  • SolarPalooza on June 20th beginning at 7:00 pm
  • Farewell Dessert Reception June 21
  • Post-Conference workshop on June 22nd:
  • 9:00am-12:00pm Distribution-Connected Generation in Alberta

To register click here.

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Can the Courts Defend Water Protections Against Assaults from Trump and the GOP?

The courts have shown that they can protect America's water resources from the Trump administration and the GOP. Few issues are more important to current and future generations than water management. Water is the key to life and directly related to some of the central concerns of our times including the all important issue of energy.  Water stewardship efforts are being adopted by countries, cities, businesses and citizens. However, if we are serious about our efforts to protect finite water resources we must concede that voluntary efforts must be enjoined by the enforcement of laws.

We are at a crossroads as we are witnessing profound changes to the distribution of water around the globe. A recent study by a team from NASA found that drier areas are getting dryer and wetland areas are getting wetter. In addition to natural cycles these observations were attributed to climate change and the way humans manage water. No matter how we parse the issue, effective water management strategies are absolutely essential for multiple levels of government and the business community.

Concerns about supply disruption and financial incentives have forced the business community to pay attention and recognize water as an essential resource. In response many businesses are voluntarily adopting commercial water conservation measures to deal with water scarcity and reduce costs. We are increasingly seeing leadership in the form of cohesive water stewardship strategies and a growing appetite for public-private partnerships. The beer industry's pioneering use of recycled or reclaimed water is a good example of innovations with tremendous promise.

Despite the actions of some businesses water protections have taken a turn for the worse in the US in recent years thanks to the Trump administration and the GOP.  Soon after Republicans took control of both legislative chambers in 2017 they passed a resolution to block implementation of a regulation known as the Stream Protection Rule that prohibited coal companies from dumping their waste into American waterways.

Trump expressed his disdain for the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule during the campaign leading up to the 2016 election. Shortly after being inaugurated he signed an Executive Order to dismantle the Clean Water rule. "It is such a horrible, horrible rule," Trump said as he signed the EO. "It has such a nice name, but everything about it is bad." He called the rule "one of the worst examples of federal regulation" and "a massive power grab." Trump's EPA subsequently suspended the rule.

In response to a government that is flagrantly hostile to water protections the courts have enforced and upheld existing protections. State attorney generals are litigating to challenge the Republican assault on water protections. A multi-state coalition led by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman are suing the EPA over the suspension of the Clean Water rule.

Early this year the Supreme Court unanimously ruled that cases litigating the Clean Water Act should be heard by federal and district courts. Dozens of parties have filed lawsuits over the regulation in both federal appeals courts and district courts.

While the justice system may be a powerful recourse it is not impervious to government.  Court actions in defense of water may soon be moot as the Trump administration has taken steps to repeal and replace WOTUS.

Laws are important but governments have the constitutional authority to change laws.  However, the constitution also endows people with the right to change governments.

Related
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The Courts Will Expose Trump and the GOP

The courts are a bulwark against Donald Trump's pessimal presidency and the malfeasance of the GOP. Trump has sought an end to climate action in the US, however, there is good reason to believe that the courts may offer our best hope to counter this administration and Republican lawmakers.

Soon after Trump was inaugurated Republicans started to slash both transparency and environmental protections. They are also working on dismantling the Clean Power Plan. The GOP and Trump are both complicit in their support for fossil fuels and climate denial.  History will judge Republicans harshly for supporting this president and it should be pointed out that their support for fossil fuels predates Trump, as does their resistance to protecting the environment and refusal to act on climate change. Although Republicans have environmental roots, in the last couple of decades they have consistently opposed environmental legislation and worked to kill existing laws and regulations.

Like the GOP the White House has done what it can to cast aspercions on climate research calling it a "waste".  Nonetheless, government agencies support science and this refutes Trump and the GOP. The 2018 National Climate Assessment is legally mandated, meaning the Trump administration could face lawsuits if they suppresses it. The scientific section of the report requires sign-off from 13 agencies, including the EPA and others now headed by climate deniers, and the White House. On March 12, the NASEM released an independent, expert peer review of the draft NCA4 Vol. II. Final release is currently scheduled for December 2018.

Although Trump's corruption is hardly a secret, in March a federal judge gave legal credence to the claim by allowing an emoluments lawsuit against him to proceed. Most recently Trump softened his stance on ZTE in response to what a Vanity Fair article alleges may be a bribe.

The justice department's investigation into Trump may be the best remedy to his rule. Trump is vulnerable to a wide range of legal challenges including those associated with corruption (the emoluments clause of the Constitution*), collusion (treason) with Russia to win the election of 2016 and obstruction of justice.  Trump is using all of his powers including the bully pulpit of the presidency to interfere with these investigations and to stymie opposition. The White House has called climate change research a ‘waste.’ However, even the commander and chief cannot circumvent the fact that climate research is required by law.

He may not be indictable while in office but his criminal malfeasance is grounds for impeachment. The facts may also encourage some of the stubborn minority that continue to support him to come to terms with reality.

The powers of legislators are considerable, however, they are only as good as the lawmakers who craft them. Right now both chambers have a Republican majority and this has led to the passage of legislation that is often referred to as the Tax Scam.

Republicans are on the wrong side of both history and science. As explained by a supreme court ruling in Columbia, the environment is of paramount importance. "Without a healthy environment, subjects of law and living beings in general will not be able to survive, let alone safeguard those rights for our children or for future generations," a Columbian Supreme Court judges said.

* The emolument clause of the Constitution can be found in Article I, Section 9. An “emolument” refers to compensation for a service or labor, ie foreign payments to Trump-owned businesses like his DC hotel.

Related
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Event - Zero Hour: Youth Climate Lobby Day and Climate March

This event will take place on July 19 - 21, 2018 in Washington DC. It will start with Youth Climate Lobby Day on July 19th. This is a day when young people will assemble on Capitol Hill to deliver their demands to politicians.  Zero Hour is calling for the immediate implementation of a science based climate action program.

On July 20th art builds will take place around the DC area. They will prepare for the march by creating signs and banners.  This event will celebrate both the movement and our planet while building community and combating hopelessness.

The Youth Climate March will take place on July 21 in Washington DC. At 9:00 AM marchers will assemble at 120 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC. They will then march to the National Mall and deliver the demands to politicians. They will rally and highlight the voices and stories of youth on the front lines of the climate crisis. Then, they will flood the streets as a demonstration of youth power and show how #ThisIsZeroHour to act on climate change.

Sister events will take place alongside the three days of scheduled events in Washington DC.  People are hosting community climate actions starting with a Lobby Day on July 19. On this day people are encouraged to meet with local elected officials to communicate the urgent need for climate action.   On July 20th people are staging local art builds where communities will come together around art projects focused on climate change. On July 21 sister marches are scheduled to take place across the country.  For information on sister marches or to register your own march click here.

To RSVP for the DC climate march click here.

Court Rulings Check Pruitt's Vision of the EPA

EPA administrator Scott Pruitt's vision for the agency is being challenged in the courts. Pruitt is leading the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle the agency he was tapped to lead. This is a reflection of Trump's agenda and a longstanding Republican goal. Although his mandate concerns the health of Americans, Pruitt has demonstrated that he is guided by an agenda that advocates for polluters. A.court-ordered release of Pruitt's emails reveal that he is a stalwart advocate for the fossil fuels industry who has no interest in science. Trump put the Fox in the Henhouse when he named Pruitt to head the EPA. Shortly after assuming his role as administrator Pruitt's intentions became clear as he began targeting environmental protections and climate action including the Clean Power Plan.

However, groups like the NRDC are successfully challenging this administration and the GOP in courtrooms across the country. It is ironic that prior to taking over the EPA Pruitt repeatedly used the courts to try to kill the government's environmental protections, now the courts are protecting the agency.

In June 2017 Pruitt announced that he would stay enforcement of methane leaks called "fugitive emissions". In response to a lawsuit, the Court of Appeals for the Washington, D.C., Circuit ordered the EPA to lift its stay on the methane rule.

The federal court prevented Pruitt from extending the suspension of the methane pollution rule from 90 days to two years calling the Trump administration’s actions "arbitrary, capricious, and "in excess of statutory authority". The ruling ordered the full implementation of the rule without further delay. The ruling came on July 3, 2017, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit struck down the extension of the suspension in a 2-1 decision.

According to the District Court for the Northern District of California, Trump’s Interior Department "misused a provision of the Administrative Procedure Act when it stalled key provisions of a rule aimed at reducing methane venting and flaring on public and tribal lands." The decision indicated that the Trump administration acted unlawfully when implementing the order.

Pruitt has also been forced to back off a decision to stay a 2015 regulation on ozone after sixteen states sued the EPA. Court challenges brought by environmental groups or states are pending on several other stays, and seventeen states have filed suits over his intention to rescind the Clean Power Plan.

Related
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