2020 goal: Make fertilizer pollution obsolete

On February 12, 2015 EDF hosted the first event in our Strategic Plan Webinar series; a discussion  about EDF’s work with Walmart and other major retailers to drive improved fertilizer practices on at least half of U.S. corn acreage.  The conversation featured:

 David Festa, VP, West Coast & Ecosystems

Jenny Ahlen, Manager, Supply Chain

Suzy Friedman, Director, Agriculture Sustainability

You can hear a replay of the audio as well as download the accompanying visual presentation here:

• Ending Fertilizer Pollution [PDF]

Featuring:
Dan Grossman Regional Director, EDF Rocky Mountain Office
David Festa Vice President – Land, Water, Wildlife
Suzy Friedman Deputy Director, Center for Conservation Incentives – Land, Water, Wildlife
Tracy Blackmer, Director of Research, Iowa Soybean Association
Denny Friest, Iowa Farmer

The invention of synthetic fertilizer in the early 20th century transformed the way the world feeds itself. But this life-giving revolution in agricultural productivity has become too much of a good thing. Excess fertilizer not absorbed by crops runs off farm fields and pollutes our rivers, contaminates our drinking water and creates oxygen-deprived "dead zones" in oceans and bays.

EDF is working with farmers and the Iowa Soybean Association to slash pollution in key waterways. What are EDF's science-based strategies for cleaning our waters, boosting farmers' income and maintaining agricultural yield?

Find out directly from a farmer why he and thousands of other farmers, normally wary of environmental groups, are embracing this work with open arms.

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Featuring:

David Festa, Vice President, West Coast and Land, Water, Wildlife
Gwen Ruta, Vice President – Corporate Partnerships
Andrew Hutson, Project Manager – Corporate Partnerships

Energy efficiency is often called the lowest-hanging fruit of climate change solutions: it can be achieved now, save consumers and companies money, and yield big environmental gains: an estimated 23% greenhouse gas reduction in the next ten years.

Listen to this discussion:

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Today’s release of the long-awaited climate bill by Senators Kerry and Lieberman has set D.C. abuzz.   As everyone delves into the details of this initial proposal (aka the “American Power Act”), it’s clear that this announcement marks real progress in the fight against climate change.

Most importantly, the formal proposal reignites the prospect that our country will take real action this year to reduce our dependence on oil and produce more American-made power and clean energy jobs. Amidst the Gulf Coast oil spill and a high national jobless rate, this energy bill is exactly where national leaders should be focusing.

Our colleagues in D.C. that have tracked this effort closely believe the draft is a good starting point for a bipartisan conversation. Among its key provisions are:

• Strong goals for reducing carbon emissions and protecting the climate
• Significant consumer protections against cost increases, and
• Provisions to ensure environmental safeguards of any domestic energy production

So with all the attention focused on the announcement back east today, what does this proposal mean for California?  Here are a few thoughts:

1) California, with our history of groundbreaking energy policy, made this bill possible. 

Our state has demonstrated conclusively over the last 30 years that bold new approaches can reduce energy use, cut pollution and save people money.  The average Californian now uses a fraction of what's used by the average American each day, while our state's economic output has outpaced the rest of the country.  More recently, California's actions in 2006 to pass the nation's first comprehensive climate change law—AB 32—has shaped the national conversation and led to innovative approaches within the proposed Senate bill.

2) Our early action on energy and climate will benefit California financially under the American Power Act.

In the current draft of the American Power Act, early actions taken to reduce energy and greenhouse gas pollution will be officially recognized by the federal program.  In some instances, California businesses will receive compensation for investments already made to reduce pollution.  As California’s transition to clean energy continues, our state’s residents and businesses will continue to benefit from growing clean tech investment and jobs creation in this area.

3) In the case of creating economic markets to reduce greenhouse gas pollution, bigger is clearly better. 

The larger the market for carbon emission reductions, the more pollution we take out of the atmosphere. The news that the Act will create national markets for reducing pollution is a great development.  What still needs to be discussed is the role that States will play in these markets and what States can do in addition to these proposed federal actions. California businesses and consumers have saved billions of dollars through our state's energy policies and clean technology companies are creating thousands of jobs here in California as a result of this policy leadership.  We want to ensure this California's ability to innovate is preserved in any federal climate bill. Getting the balance right between federal action and allowable state actions is critical.  Over the coming weeks, EDF will be working to help the Senate achieve this balance in the bill.

4) The fight against oil companies to preserve California’s clean energy laws has never been more important.

The current attack by Texas oil companies that on California's clean energy and jobs policy—AB 32— has never been greater.  If these oil companies are successful at killing clean energy policy in California, this rollback will have a damaging, chilling effect on passing strong federal clean energy laws.   Oil companies’ attempted roll back AB32 would also mean taking away economic rewards that California businesses will receive through a federal climate policy.  As our private sector takes early action to reduce energy use and pollution, they are lowering operating costs and racking up savings.  In the current proposal of the federal bill, these actions will be rewarded.  Killing AB 32 would take this money away from California businesses.

Important areas of the bill still need to be negotiated and members will have the opportunity over the coming weeks to shape the bill as it moves to the Senate floor.  We now have a foundation for those conversations.  EDF will be doing everything we can – working in and outside of the Senate – to help ensure a strong bill and to help achieve the votes it needs to pass in the Senate.

 On Sunday, Channel 5/KPIX-TV political reporter Phil Matier asked me if the Gulf Coast oil spill will be “President Obama’s Katrina.” That depends on what the president and Congress do next. The disaster's vivid projection by the media into every home, workplace, and public space in the country presents a unique opportunity for the president and Congress to demonstrate leadership on two fronts:

• restoring immediately the wetlands that protect so many people, livelihoods, economies and wildlife
• taking bold, decisive steps to move our country away from fossil fuel dependence that fouls our water and air and sends money overseas 

As oil continues to seep towards the Gulf coast, a huge priority must be placed on protecting and restoring the area's most valuable asset, the wetlands. The wetlands of the area are what hold the ecosystem together, and without them, much of the area's islands and protective shore will be lost to sea. This exposes the people of New Orleans to greater risks from hurricane damage, and undermines the fabric of life that supports birdlife and seafood, including half of the nation's shrimp, 35 percent of its blue claw crabs and 40 percent of oysters. This is a major body blow to the Gulf’s fishermen, who are leading on innovative programs to fish sustainably. Fishing has been placed on hold in the area, and no one knows for how long. And now the valuable properties along Florida's prized beaches are also at risk. 

The tragedy holds a number of lessons for California. First, we need to prioritize restoring the Bay-Delta ecosystem that provides water for millions of California families, farmers and fishermen and critical habitat for hundreds of species of birds, fish and mammals. Only 10,000 acres of the original 350,000 tidal marsh acres remain in the Delta and Suisun Bay system. Chinook salmon and other fish are rapidly dwindling, leaving thousands of fishermen out of work. This is a warning signal that something is seriously out of balance in the ecosystem, and we shouldn’t wait for a major disaster to begin to repair it.  Restoring the wetlands that historically lined the Bay-Delta system must be prioritized.  

Second, the Gulf Coast oil spill catastrophe is another reminder that America must transition to clean energy.  It won't happen immediately, but we've got to start now by passing a strong clean energy and climate bill. Here in California, we must stave off efforts by out-of-state oil companies to roll back our clean energy law, AB 32. Governor Schwarzenegger is to be commended for his recent decision to prevent new drilling off the Santa Barbara coastline.  He recognized that the risks didn't justify the rewards.

As the nation recovers from the oil disaster and considers its energy future, California can lead by example in restoring our own Bay Delta ecosystem and in the choices we make towards a clean energy future. Now President Obama and Congress must act quickly to protect the Gulf's wetlands and the vital ecosystem services that they provide and set the nation on a course to produce clean, safe and renewable energy.

I believe in US fishermen and our fisheries.  My brother and uncle both worked in fish houses and on fishing docks.  I have sorted fish alongside NOAA fish scientists on research cruises in the Gulf of Maine.  Even now, a great afternoon for me is talking with fishermen – maybe about fishing but about everyday stuff, too. 

Here’s one thing I also believe: Fishermen get a rough deal from nearly every quarter.  I’ve watched them struggle with ups and downs in the economy, with regulations that aren’t working and with public opinion that casts them as the bad guys in stories about ocean declines.  All the guff fishermen take is as big a pile of crap as the notion that I am interested in some kind of sell-off of New England fisheries.

There is a story being circulated in the Gloucester Times that is playing on – and distorting – very real concerns, concerns that I share, about the recession and unethical financial dealings.  Although the allegations about EDF are not true, we strongly share the author's core concern: What’s the best way to evolve from today’s declining fisheries to ones that have lots of fish and jobs? 

One thing we’re going to need, for sure, is money.  From the fishermen’s point of view, where’s the best place to get that money?  One option is government. Some places, like New England, are blessed with powerful senators who can bring home the bacon.  Others aren’t so lucky.  In any event, government money always comes with strings.  Banks are another option.  But is there anyone out there who believes fishermen are getting the best possible deal from the government or the banks?  Fishermen tell us they’d welcome more choices because more choices mean a better deal. 

That is why we at EDF are working with fishermen to help them establish their own funds to purchase quota.  That is why we’ve set up the California Fisheries Fund to make loans to fishermen that banks won’t make.  That is why we help advise the Sea Change Investment Fund that directly invests in building markets for sustainably caught fish to benefit fishermen.  That is also why I will talk to anyone, anytime – including investors at the Milken Institute – about the incredible opportunity there is to work with fishermen to restore both fisheries and fishermen’s livelihood.

What I’m out there telling the wider financial community is that fishermen are good business partners.  Alerting new communities of investors to the risks and potential profits of catch share fisheries increases the number of options fishermen have for the financing they are going to need to evolve their fisheries.  And, obviously, the more options fishermen have, the better deal they will be able to negotiate within the bounds of the rules set up for each fishery.  Defining these fishery-specific rules well is important.  They can include such things as accumulation caps, owner on board, fishery association by-laws or whatever else is appropriate for each fishery. 

If you hear something that strikes you as wrong here, let me know.  EDF wants to get it right when it comes to helping fishermen and the industry.  I want to get it right.  If you have ideas about better things to try than simply more of the same that hasn’t worked over the past decades, please let us at EDF know.  Our minds are wide open.  There is room for improvement everywhere – including ideas EDF puts forward.

A lot needs to change (regulations, enforcement, financing, and marketing) to bring back our fishing communities.  Working together and pulling in the same direction, we can do it. 

Date:
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 – 10:30-11:30am PDT

Featuring:
David Festa, Vice President, West Coast, EDF
Derek Walker, California Climate Initiative, EDF

With Special Guest:
Mary Nichols, Chairman, CARB

Governor Schwarzenegger signed the boldest global warming law in U.S. history, AB 32, less than 2 years ago. Since that time, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) has been hard at work on a blueprint detailing how they will implement the landmark legislation. CARB released their final proposed blueprint – dubbed the "AB 32 Scoping Plan" – in early October. CARB chair Mary Nichols joined us to talk about the highlights and the role EDF is playing in the process.

This call was the second in a series of teleconference calls and communications EDF will be offering to keep you informed of new developments and progress on California's ground-breaking Global Warming Solutions Act.

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A landmark study in Science magazine shows that the focus of EDF's Oceans program – a fisheries management system called "catch shares" – is the only management system that prevents overfishing. In fact, the study finds, catch shares actually reverse overfishing and return fisheries to abundance.

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 2pm ET

Featuring:
David Festa, Vice President, West Coast
Diane Regas, Managing Director, Oceans program

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"California's air [resources] board [CARB] unveiled the nation's most ambitious plan on June 26th to require cleaner cars and fuels, energy-efficient buildings and more electricity from the sun and wind to cut greenhouse gases in the state." — San Francisco Chronicle, 6/27/08

Discussion on the implementation of AB 32, California's landmark global warming legislation.

Featuring:
David Festa, Vice President, West Coast
Jim Marston, Senior Attorney and Regional Director
Derek Walker, Director, California Climate Initiative

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