Toolkit to take the “Encyclical to Action”

Success Stories From Every Sector

 
Examples of Climate Action in Business

• Mi Rancho, a family-owned supplier of Mexican foods in California, had no interest in sustainability, but they wanted to sell tortillas to Walmart. Natural Capitalism Solutions helped Mi Rancho meet Walmart’s Sustainability Scorecard through such measures as:
  • Implementing a lighting retrofit for their warehouse, production area, and office. The program cost $12,000 but cut their carbon footprint from lighting 63%, and delivered a $32,000 return on investment (ROI) every year.
  • Installing more efficient ovens increased their capacity 12% and cut their energy use in half with a $70,000 a year ROI
  • Reducing waste in their packaging is saving them $90,000 a year.
  • • http://www.mirancho.com/family-owned-tortilla-company-strives-to-go-green/

• A growing number of companies are committing to get 100% of their energy from renewable sources. Early adopters include:
  • Unilever, Apple, Walmart, and Ikea
  • More recently: Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson, Proctor & Gamble, Salesforce, Starbucks, Steelcase, and Voya Financial also took the RE100 pledge, organized by the Climate Group.
  • http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/09/23/3704565/more-big-businesses-pledge-100-percent-renewable/

• Several fast-food giants have adopted measure to eliminate deforestation across its supply chain.
  • Dunkin’ Donuts, Krispy Kreme, Yum Brands, and several others have made a commitment to sustainable sourcing.
  • McDonald’s will continue to improve and expand its responsible sourcing policies, and demonstrates how researching your supply chain can be a great way to become more sustainable.
  • http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/21/mcdonalds-deforestation-global-supply-chain

• Wyke Farms is leading the dairy industry in sustainable practices by using solar and biogas energy to become 100% self-sufficient.
  • Motivated by the damage from climate change, these UK farmers are converting dairy and farm waste, and using solar power to produce their own energy.
  • http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/30/cow-manure-powers-somersets-charismatic-cheese-makers

• IKEA is close to reaching its goal of using 100% sustainably sourced cotton, and is looking to transform the entire cotton industry.
  • IKEA supports the ‘Better Cotton initiative’, and is helping to make sustainable cotton a competitive, tradable commodity.
  • http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/30/ikea-makes-75-of-its-home-furnishings-from-sustainable-cotton

• Puma is using an environmental profit and loss account to quantify the sustainability of their products, and allow customers compare alternatives.
  • The EP&L shows customers the environmental impact of their decisions, and informs them about how to make more sustainable choices.
  • http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/blog/puma-scales-up-environmental-profit-loss-product

• UK supermarket chain, Sainsbury’s, is making a serious effort to reduce its carbon footprint.
  • Faced with sharp increases in energy costs, the company made a commitment to saving energy, using renewable energy, and encouraging sustainable behavior in its employees and suppliers.
  • The effort was a huge success; the company cut its operational carbon footprint by 35,200 tonnes in 2012-13, despite increasing its floor space by one million square feet.
  • http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/sustainability-case-studies-sainsburys-shrinks-carbon-footprint

 
Examples of Climate Action in Religion and Faith

• St. Johns Episcopal in Boulder has discovered a direct-investment method for funding rooftop solar.
  • Because the church is a non-profit, it cannot use the tax credits for rooftop solar. However, with a Limited Liability Company comprised of parishioners investing in the array, the church will save 40% of its monthly electric bill, about $500/month and the investors see great returns.
  • St. Johns will significantly reduce their carbon footprint, keep hundreds of tons of carbon pollution out of the atmosphere, and save the church more than $80,000 over the life of the panels
  • See “Solar Power for St. Johns” at http://www.stjohnsboulder.org/

• St. Peter’s Church in Maney, Birmingham is engaging the congregation and making significant efforts to become sustainable.
  • The Church has installed 39 PV panels and planted bee-friendly flowers to attract wildlife to their gardens.
  • Their Eco Maney project aims to inspire Church members and foster alliances among other churches and community groups.
  • http://www.churchcare.co.uk/images/St_Peters_Maney.pdf

• Over 300 rabbis have signed a Rabbinic Letter on Climate Change and pledged to support climate action in their communities.
  • The letter demonstrates how spiritual leadership can reach a large number people all over the world, and inspire them to take action.
  • The letter includes key actions for families, congregations, federal agencies, etc.
  • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rabbi-arthur-waskow/300-rabbis-sign-rabbinic-_b_7283354.html

• The Network of Buddhist Climate Action Network is using Buddhist teachings and practices to mobilize a network for collective action, and welcomes interfaith collaboration.
  • Local branches across the country are taking part in climate action, and collaborating with other Buddhist groups, as well as interfaith and secular climate movement groups.
  • Engaging and communicating with others to address these pressing issues and brainstorm solutions is the first step towards making change!
  • http://globalbcan.org/about/

• Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Decatur has formed a Green Ministry to promote stewardship and sustainable practices in the Church and local communities.
  • Holy Trinity is hosting a bicycle festival, Bike Solar, which features bike rides to solar arrays in the area.
  • The Church also has a solar array, which produces enough energy to sell some back to Georgia Power, and is working on several other energy conservation projects.

• A Benedictine monastery in North Dakota has introduced the use of wind power in a state dominated by coal.
  • The Sacred Heart Monastery’s success has been recognized across the state, and has attracted visits from schools, colleges, and other groups.
  • The Monastery has also incorporated geothermal energy for heating.
  • http://www.grandforksherald.com/content/north-dakota-monastery-sees-pay-back-wind-turbines

 
Examples of Climate Action in Government

• The Denver Office of Sustainability developed the 2020 Sustainability Goals roadmap:
  • Focuses on 12 resource areas and sets goals for the City and County of Denver as well as the community at large
  • The Denver Sustainability Summit on December 3, with several roundtable meetings leading up to this event, is calling on companies, communities, and individuals to make commitments to achieve these goals. Register for this summit! https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/office-of-sustainability/summit.html
  • • https://www.denvergov.org/content/denvergov/en/office-of-sustainability/2020-sustainability-goals.html

• The city of Fort Collins has adopted bold new carbon reduction goals
  • To reduce community carbon emissions by 20% below 2005 levels by 2020, by 80% below 2005 levels by 2030, and to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
  • The city reduced its municipal carbon by 12% between 2005-2014 – a higher rate than that of the overall community, which reduced emissions by 3%
  • • http://www.fcgov.com/climateprotection/pdf/2014_CAPStatus_WebFinal.pdf

• New York City’s PlaNYC lays out an ambitious agenda to make the City truly sustainable and resilient to climate change.
  • New York’s strategies are extensive and address a wide variety of areas, such as transportation, energy and buildings, and waste and recycling.
  • The program is hugely successful; New York was named the “Greenest City in America” and plans to lower its greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050.
  • http://www.nyc.gov/html/planyc/html/sustainability/sustainability.shtml

• Arlington, Virginia’s General Land Use Plan sets out clear guidelines and a vision for a sustainable growth and land use.
  • Elements of the plan include placing high-density, mixed-use development near mass transit centers, and making the city easily accessible by foot or bike.
  • http://projects.arlingtonva.us/plans-studies/general-land-use-plan/

• As part of the Urban Heat Island Initiative, the roof of Chicago’s City Hall has been turned into a massive rooftop garden.
  • In the right location, rooftop gardens can improve air quality, conserve energy, reduce stormwater runoff and lessen the urban heat island effect.
  • The project was a joint effort between the City of Chicago and the EPA, and shows how collaboration between different areas of government can be effective.
  • http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dgs/supp_info/city_hall_green_roof.html

• The US Navy bought solar power for 14 California bases in the largest renewable energy purchase by the US government ever.
  • Congress is directing the Department of Defense to achieve at least 25% renewable energy by 2025.
  • The Navy’s own goal is to “produce 50% of all energy from renewables by 2020.”
  • http://news.usni.org/2015/08/21/secnav-mabus-feds-industry-hail-historic-solar-power-pact

• Through the adoption of cap-and-trade, New England and Mid-Atlantic states are experiencing an economic surge, as well as a huge reduction in energy costs and carbon emissions.
  • The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the first market-based regulatory program in the United States.
  • The program lowers electricity costs for consumers, and because of the proceeds are reinvested, it acts as a macro-economic driver.
  • http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/07/14/3680269/rggi-boosts-economy-lowers-carbon/

• The state of California is a leader in Renewable Feed-In Tariffs, which are designed to expand small-scale renewable energy generation.
  • The program involves the state legislature, public utilities commissions, and individual investor-owned and municipal utilities.
  • California’s ambitious goals should inspire other cities and states to start developing their own programs.

 
Additional Resources:
Simple Actions For Individuals

• Transportation: Carpool, use public transportation (take a bus to the airport), combine errands into one trip, reduce highway speeds, maintain correct tire pressure
• Heating/Cooling: Adjust thermostat and AC, buy more efficient units, caulk/weather-strip your home
• Household: Use LED bulbs, use warm or cool settings for washers and dryers, switch to energy-efficient appliances, replace damaged windows with high efficiency units, use power strips to cut phantom load
• http://www.environmentmagazine.org/Archives/Back%20Issues/September-October%202008/gardner-stern-table2.html

 Resources For Business, Government, Faith

• The Environmental Protection Agency’s Smart Growth Program provides communities with resources, such as funding avenues, detailed strategies, case studies, and access to webinars and conferences.
• http://www2.epa.gov/smartgrowth

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit.
• https://toolkit.climate.gov/content/funding-opportunities,

• Examples of communities and businesses taking on climate change and using their resources wisely to minimize their vulnerability to climate change https://toolkit.climate.gov/taking-action?f[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][0]=field_workflow_step%3A60; and for tools that can be used to resilience and planning: https://toolkit.climate.gov/tools

• Forbes’ top ten practical, effective ways for your company to go green and save money. http://www.forbes.com/sites/kateharrison/2013/02/07/10-ways-to-green-your-business-and-save-money/

• The in-depth case studies from the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards illustrate how companies can integrate sustainability into their business models. http://anthesisgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Sustainable-Business-case-studies-2014.pdf

• The EPA’s Clean Power Toolbox for States helps states to develop a clean power plan. http://www2.epa.gov/cleanpowerplantoolbox

• The Climate Protection Manual For Cities. See the “Resources” tab on our website at: https://natcapsolutions.org

• The Department of Energy’s “Consumer’s Guide to Getting Your Energy from the Sun.” http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35297.pdf

• The 3% Solution provides stories and detailed strategies for making sustainability a cost-saving business opportunity.

http://assets.worldwildlife.org/publications/575/files/original/The_3_Percent_Solution_-_June_10.pdf?1371151781

• Laser (Local Action for Sustainable Economic Renewal): A Guide to Community Development.

https://natcapsolutions.org/LASER/LASERguide.pdf

• Presidential Climate Action Report: the complete Action Plan, recommendations by agency, and a summary are all available.

http://www.climateactionproject.com/docs/PCAP_Report_2012.pdf

• Michigan Interfaith Power and Light has a list of free resources for congregations.

http://www.miipl.org/resources/congregations/
 
 
 
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