Pushing to Get Global Warming Right the First Time: Our "Fix It or Ditch It” campaign called on senators to fix or ditch the Lieberman-Warner Global Warming bill. Though quietly appreciated by some, our stance was not popular with all of our allies on the Hill. We and our activists were lone voices at the outset, but in the end our "Fix It or Ditch It" campaign was joined by Greenpeace, MoveOn, Working Assets, Public Citizen and over a dozen other progressive organizations that analyzed and agreed with our principled position. Before the bill died in the Senate, our campaign motivated the many positive changes to the bill, including cutting the trillion dollar giveaway to the fossil fuels industry in half. Our strong position on the bill changed the global warming debate in Congress and set the stage for 2009. Already the House of Representatives is considering bills with more aggressive carbon reduction targets and without the Senate bill's corporate giveaways.
Reduced Federal Giveaways for Nuclear Power: Proposed amendments to the federal energy bill would have allowed unlimited federal loan support for the construction of new nuclear reactors. Friends of the Earth, working with a coalition of environmental groups, led a successful effort to preserve Congressional oversight over the nuclear loan program and limited the total amount of loan guarantees.
Compelled Bush Administration to Produce Reports on Global Warming: In a 2006 lawsuit, Friends of the Earth, The Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace contended that the Bush Administration had failed to comply with a 1990 law requiring the production of scientific reports on global warming. The Federal District Court issued an order finding the Bush administration in violation of the Global Change Research Act of 1990 for failing to produce an updated Research Plan and a National Assessment as required by the statute. The Bush Administration ultimately released the report, endorsing for the first time what most scientific experts have long asserted: that greenhouse gases from fossil fuel combustion "are very likely the single largest cause" of Earth's global warming.
Remobilizing America For a New Energy Future: Friends of the Earth’s work on both the federal level and in California is aimed at getting government to stay one step ahead of the problems that plague our oil-driven economy. We secured provisions in several major climate change proposals for major expansions of public transportation and efficient smart growth development, backed by hundreds of billions of dollars in federal support. We partnered with the California Air Resources Board to provide credit for plug-in hybrid vehicles in the state’s zero emissions vehicles regulations – increasing the number of plug-ins likely to be produced for sale in California by tens of thousands.
Banning Gene-Doping: We succeeded in getting the National Hockey League (NHL), Major League Soccer (MLS), and Major Lacrosse League (MLL) to adopt an open anti-gene doping policy. We are now working with other major sports organizations such as the USGA (Golf), Major League Baseball (MLB), and the National College Athletic Association (NCAA) to do the same.
Saying No to Cloned Meat: We launched a major consumer campaign that succeeded in getting Albertsons, SUPERVALU, Harris Teeter and PCC Natural Markets to sign a pledge not to sell or stock food made from cloned animal meat. The campaign has more than 9,000 activists who signed our online petition and it has been covered by the Wall Street Journal, Reuters and other news outlets.
Protected 46 U.S. Cities from Trains Carrying Hazardous Materials: In response to pressure from Friends of the Earth and citizens concerned about "toxic trains," Congress and the President enacted homeland security legislation (H.R. 1) that will help protect 46 U.S. cities from attacks against trains carrying hazardous materials.
Cut Marine Emissions Near Large California Cities: Friends of the Earth helped develop and enact a new California policy curbing marine emissions in highly populated areas. A California Air Resources Board regulation now requires that dirty, older engines on ferries, excursion vessels, tugboats, and towboats be replaced with newer, cleaner engines. Friends of the Earth and partner organizations also achieved a new California policy requiring operators of large ships to shut down their diesel auxiliary engines while docked at the state's busiest ports, and instead use shore-based electrical power.
Achieved Environmental Improvements in the Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA): Through public and policymaker education, Friends of the Earth and our environmental allies secured provisions in a bilateral free trade agreement to counter the globally pervasive problem of illegal logging. The Peru FTA includes measures to stop the flow of illegally logged timber, including endangered mahogany. The FTA also provides parity of enforcement between the environmental and commercial provisions.
Curbing Carbon Offsets: Friends of the Earth successfuly persuaded 10 of the world’s largest banks not to seek carbon offsets for nuclear power and large hydroelectric dams.
