Environmental Defense Fund

The Endangerment Finding is in danger. The key science-based protection empowers the EPA to do its job – safeguard people in the U.S. from harmful climate pollution. Today's news reports say EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has urged the Trump White House to strike down EPA’s bedrock determination, an unprecedented and unlawful step that would hurt all Americans. Our full statement: https://lnkd.in/eFXVMfC2

Decarbonizing the maritime industry will require financial innovation and collaboration among sectors.?Environmental Defense Fund?recently partnered with the?Lloyd's Register?Maritime Decarbonisation Hub to bring together shipping, finance and policy stakeholders to find actionable solutions that will accelerate finance for net zero shipping.?A new blog from our colleague?Guillaume Morauw and?Dana Rodriguez highlights ideas in three areas for financial institutions to accelerate progress toward net zero shipping:?? ? ???Energy Efficiency & Retrofits? ?? Public & Private Finance Mobilization? ? Clean Fuel Infrastructure?? ? ?Keep reading:?https://www.edf.org/Z6Rv??

Maritime shipping has an ambitious #NetZero goal, but to meet it requires financing, and lots of it - €39bn per year according to the EU. So how does shipping unlock the sustainable financing it needs to decarbonize? It needs to overcome financing barriers and this will require collaboration among shipping, finance and policy stakeholders.? ? As part of?Environmental Defense Fund’s partnership with?Lloyd's Register's?Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, we recently convened a group of stakeholders to discuss solutions to green shipping’s financing conundrum. Our colleagues Guillaume Morauw and?Dana Rodriguez recap the intriguing conversation in a new blog post:?https://www.edf.org/Z6Rv????

It's easy to miss important news that stands to impact your health, safety and livelihood. Every week, our new newsletter, The Work, collects stories that show how climate, energy, and environment politics in D.C. are shaping people's everyday lives everywhere else. It's free, sent directly to your email on Fridays. Check out this week's edition: https://lnkd.in/eSqMAjWa

Banks are shifting their approach to climate finance. Some are expanding disclosures under European regulations, while others in the U.S. take a more voluntary and inconsistent path, raising questions about accountability.??? ? EDF + Business’?latest analysis explores the Energy Supply Financing Ratio (ESFR), a new tool designed to assess how banks balance financing between fossil fuels and low-carbon energy. While ESFR provides valuable insight, it does not fully resolve how financing decisions drive real emissions reductions. Read more on how ESFR highlights both progress and the remaining gaps in transparency from our colleagues?Maximilian Schreck?and?Andrew Howell:?https://www.edf.org/Z6Ry

NOAA invests in America. In 2022 and 2023, NOAA’s grants for coastal and fisheries management generated over $1.4 billion in economic output and created more than 7,800 jobs in coastal communities. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/e2mRXZWc

The energy and grit at #GreenBiz25 were undeniable. In a time of anxiety around climate and meeting sustainability goals, the business leaders at GreenBiz were focused on solutions. Why? Sustainability is smart business. Companies embedding strategies in their plans today will be the leaders of tomorrow – regardless of the political headwinds we are experiencing right now. Here’s what?EDF + Business Managing Director?Elizabeth Sturcken?knows for certain about business sustainability coming out of GreenBiz and her suggestions for what companies should do next:?https://www.edf.org/Z6RV

Bragging about EDFers’ amazing accomplishments is one of my absolute favorite things to do. And I’m so excited to congratulate Daniel Whittle, Valerie Miller and Eduardo Boné Morón for receiving the AAAS Dave & Betty Hamburg Award for Science Diplomacy. The award honors their “long and sustained success in fostering environmental and scientific cooperation between the United States and Cuba to protect both countries’ fragile, shared marine ecosystems.”? This recognition is so well deserved, and it’s been decades in the making. Nearly 25 years ago, Daniel Whittle was part of an EDF team that reached out to Cuban scientists studying the region’s marine ecosystems. That initial meeting developed into a partnership that continues to this day. EDF’s science diplomacy work helped during the thawing of relations, which led to multiple bilateral environmental agreements.? Valerie Miller said “The health of our shared ecosystems depends directly on good science and sound decision-making in both countries. Neither country can go it alone.” And thanks to the hard work and extraordinary leadership of EDF’s Caribbean team neither country has to.? https://lnkd.in/eR2stRCB

Chocolate is one of America’s favorite Valentine’s Day gifts. But did you know that the chocolate you choose can have a lasting impact on the environment and the lives of small-scale cocoa farmers? At the heart of every chocolate bar is cocoa – a crop grown in tropical countries, where it supports the livelihoods of millions of farmers, many of whom are Indigenous people. These small-scale cocoa farmers face many challenges, from fluctuating prices to environmental threats like deforestation. However, there is hope: by choosing sustainably produced chocolate, you’re not only indulging in a treat, but you’re also helping to protect the planet. Sustainable cocoa farming supports biodiversity in tropical forests and helps improve the lives of farmers and their communities. We’d like to highlight the work of Wi?ak, an organization that represents small Kichwa farmers in the Amazon of Ecuador. Since 1996, Wi?ak has been dedicated to improving the lives of local farmers by providing technical support, promoting environmentally friendly practices, and creating fair market opportunities for their high-quality cocoa. The organization empowers women and youth, helping them build sustainable livelihoods while preserving the forest ecosystems surrounding their farms, helping them to increase cocoa production, improve quality through training, and reduce the intermediaries that often take a disproportionate share of profits. Their commitment to traceable, high-quality production ensures that consumers can enjoy chocolate that is not only delicious but also responsibly sourced. So, this Valentine’s Day, we encourage you to make a conscious choice. Instead of buying mass-produced chocolate that may be linked to deforestation and exploitation, support brands that prioritize sustainable cocoa from organizations like Wi?ak. Your purchase can help protect the environment and uplift small cocoa farmers and their communities. Let’s celebrate love and sustainability – one chocolate bar at a time. https://www.winak.org/

?? Ecuador reaches a milestone in forest conservation and climate action ?? Ecuador has officially signed its J-REDD+ purchase agreement, marking a significant step in scaling up high-integrity forest carbon markets. This achievement reflects the leadership of the Ecuadorian government and the collaboration between Indigenous federation CONFENIAE, Afro-Ecuadorian organization CANE, Emergent, the LEAF Coalition, and many other partners. Environmental Defense Fund has been honored to support Ecuador and IPLC organizations throughout this process, working alongside local and national partners to strengthen technical capacities, policy frameworks, and inclusive decision-making. A key aspect of this milestone is the integration of Indigenous and local organizations, ensuring that those who have long protected Ecuador’s forests play a leading role in shaping climate solutions. This reinforces the importance of equity, inclusion, and shared benefits in jurisdictional REDD+ programs. ?? Learn more in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/dCTSE5jv