Combating Climate Change and Global Poverty in One Fell Swoop

Native Virginian and Sierra Club member Tim Whitley was earning his MBA at the University of North Carolina's Kenan-Flagler Business School when he attended two presentations that fortuitously connected two of his animating passions: combating climate change and alleviating global poverty.

Four years later, Whitley has founded Carbon Offsets to Alleviate Poverty (COTAP), an Oakland, California-based organization that empowers individuals to simultaneously take action on climate change and global poverty by funding tree-planting programs that create wages for the working poor in the developing world. Below, a family-run tree-nursery in Uganda that COTAP is helping finance.

COTAP, for which Whitley serves as CEO, connects individuals' carbon footprints—determined using COTAP's online carbon calculator—with accredited forestry projects in less-developed countries, creating "meaningful and measurable" economic benefits for some of the poorest people in the world.

The organization now has up-and-running projects in Central America and Africa, with several more in the works that will expand COTAP's presence to three continents.

Its initial project, in Limay, Nicaragua, above and below, was done in partnership with Montreal-based Taking Root, a non-profit organization that develops social reforestation projects in collaboration with small-scale farmers in Nicaragua.

The community of San Juan de Limay has now planted more than 200,000 trees over an area of 160 hectares (about 235 football fields), and the trees planted by the project have generated more than $145,000 for the community.

Two subsequent projects have since taken root in Africa. In Sofala, Mozambique, below, COTAP is partnering with Envirotrade in its Sofala Community Carbon Project, where last year more than 1,800 participating farmers earned nearly $250,000 in rural areas where annual incomes are less than $50.

In Albertine Rift, Uganda, COTAP is working with Ecotrust's Trees for Global Benefits project, which has supported more than 1,000 farmers in planting native trees and fruit orchards while sequestering nearly 105,000 tonnes (metric tons) of carbon dioxide annually. Below, the program coordinator in Kasese, Uganda, records and monitors new tree growth.

The Green Sneakers Project

By Joan Saxe, Sierra Club's Maine Chapter

The Green Sneakers Project is a door-to-door Maine neighborhood campaign created to motivate local citizens to take personal actions that address the global challenge of climate change and deteriorating air quality.

Project plans included recruiting and training volunteers to talk directly to and educate 2,000 of their neighbors about residential energy and money-saving strategies they can implement as they reduce their contributions to global climate change. The Green Sneakers Project successfully canvassed in 14 Maine communities in 2010 and eight communities in the fall of 2011.

More than 50 volunteers including town community team leaders participated in the 2011 Green Sneakers Project York County, Maine, canvass. The one-day door-to-door canvass and follow-up election day at the polls educated local residents in eight communities on Efficiency Maine's PACE program (Property Assessed Clean Energy) and the Seacoast Energy Initiative loan program.

Conversations were held with over 1,500 residents and educational information on reducing carbon emissions and home energy efficiency efforts and low interest loan opportunities. Local businesses supported the initiative both monetarily and provided green sneakers cash coupons for specific services related to energy efficiency work.

This campaign required many materials. "Sorry We Missed You" door hangers were left if homeowners were absent at the time of the canvass. Homeowners interested in free follow-up home visits/walk-throughs with our volunteer teams provided contact information to us so that we can continue to engage them beyond the initial canvass conversation.

Lawn signs were up throughout the county. We had some good cooperation between community energy groups and town officials. We gained good media and we used tabloid inserts. We also had doorhangers, reusable bags. 

But the real keys to our success were our dedicated staff and volunteers. Overall it was a great campaign that brought us together.

(Images courtesy Andy Burt: Top: Youth from Green Sneakers' Future Homeowners smart energy project visit with Sen. Susan Collins; Door to door canvassers show homeowners the special tabloid full of relevant information to save energy; Green Sneakers volunteers of all ages pose after completing door-to-door canvass, reaching more than 200 homeowners on a Saturday morning and delivering goodie bags filled with energy information and gifts.)

Have a success story to share? We'd like to hear about it. Go to the Success Stories project on the Sierra Club's Activist Network and let others learn from your experience.

One Man's Environmental Epiphany Leads to Statewide Solar Success Story

Ever question whether one person's actions can make a difference? South Carolinian Bruce Monson learned the answer after he was penalized for going green.

"Six years ago, a dear friend asked if I'd be interested in supporting the Sierra Club," says Monson, a self-described conservative who had never before been an environmental activist. "I responded, 'Maybe—I don't know.'"

His friend, a resident of neighboring Georgia, was patient but persistent.

"Over the years I've watched her sacrifice and advocate vigorously to protect the environment," Monson says. "One day, after observing the anguish on her face as we paddled our kayaks through a disgusting pool of sludge on the Savannah River, something changed within me. I accepted culpability and joined the Sierra Club. Even without children of my own, I felt a responsibility to reduce pollution for the future of other children and advocate for the environment."

At a Sierra Club retreat in the Georgia mountains two years ago, Monson became interested in solar power as an alternative to coal. Back home, he followed through and assembled a 7-kilowatt solar array on his property outside Columbia.

"It felt like I was finally contributing in some significant way to help mitigate an environmental travesty," he says.

Monson signed a contract with Tri-County Electric, his local non-profit electrical cooperative. But he was shocked when he got his first bill.

Getting Students Involved in New Jersey

By Victoria Pan, New Jersey Chapter's High School Coordinator

One of our “success stories” includes the Students Saving Energy “Meet and Greet” event. The SSE meet and greet was held in October at the Ridgewood Public Library. It was a great opportunity for students from various high school environmental clubs throughout North Jersey to come together to learn more about our campaigns and brainstorm ideas for how they can make their schools more sustainable.

In addition, teachers, Sierra Club members, and representatives from other organizations like Youth Now participated as well.

We provided many resources, ideas, and supplies for clubs to take home so that everyone could start off the year on the right foot. There were guest speakers and refreshments, and everyone received a free reusable bag, too. Our goal was to create a strong network of students that work together to take action in our communities. We were able to engage many of them in becoming a part of the Sierra Club, especially in community environment functions.

After the event, we made sure to get feedback from students and maintain communication. This event was definitely an impetus for a new and exciting youth energy conservation movement.

Surveying the Scene in Montana

By Owen Weber, Montana Chapter Secretary

The Montana Chapter conducted a survey of its membership last year that turned out to be a very successul project and a learning experience. It was our intent to create a survey that would help the chapter identity issues important to members and create a list of potential volunteer leaders that the chapter could develop in its effort to build leadership across the state. We developed the survey using surveys done by other chapters. The survey comprised 21 questions with some multiple choice, some rated, some yes-and-no questions, and some short answer ones.

We gave members a month to respond. We extended the deadline two weeks after getting a lot of responses. All data were compiled into a database and we contacted respondents who offered their contact information.

The response rate was incredible. The Chapter mailed a survey out to every member (1,998) and we received 110 responses -- a 5.5 percent response rate on a lengthy survey where members had to fold the survey, seal it, attach their own postage, and mail it back. So far with the data compiled, the chapter has been able to hold a house party based on responses. We have added folks to committees and we are trying to help others in remote areas develop strategies for outreach.

One major factor for our success was following up with phone calls with respondents who provided a phone number. But there were challenges with following up with members who were on the fence about actually wanting to volunteer. A national staffer and myself developed a chapter summary of what the chapter had been up to as well as where the chapter wanted to go. During calls we also focused on what the respondents had said they were interested in. Using the summary as well as their interest, we would tell the respondent about openings for volunteer leaders within their desired areas and ask what they would be willing to commit to.

Developing a plan for following up is critical for success. Make sure you know what you are going to ask your respondents and be willing to meet folks face-to-face. Be sure to thank them for their time for completing the survey. And don't be deterred if folks can't volunteer even when they said they could on the survey, Ask them what they can do now and when they can participate at a later time.

Have a success story to share? We'd like to hear about it. Go to the Success Stories project on the Sierra Club's Activist Network and let others learn from your experience.

San Diego Chapter's Legal Eagles Watch Polluters Like a Hawk

By Richard Miller, Development and Membership Coordinator, and Pamela Epstein, Legal Eagles Environmental Law & Policy Clinic Program Manager, Carolyn Chase, 2011 Chapter Chair, San Diego Chapter.

The San Diego Chapter Environmental Law and Policy Clinic –- "Legal Eagles" employs strategic action and regulatory advocacy to ensure the protection of San Diego and Imperial Counties' natural resources, and challenge those who seek to pollute and/or violate our federal, state, and local environmental laws, including the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Quality Act. The Legal Eagles work toward honest governmental decision-making and respect for environmental laws.

The Legal Eagles oppose development projects that threaten clean water, wetlands, endangered species, environmental justice, "smart growth" and clean air in San Diego and Imperial counties. The Legal Eagles also build relationships by collaborating with others in the local, state, and national environmental and legal communities, including environmental organizations, community groups, and public officials. In assembling a network of groups who share our values and by engaging our existing grassroots supporters and recruiting new ones, we strive to maximize participation in program events, attend and participate in public hearings and other administrative advocacy.

The Chapter has increased the number of our comment letter responses by 500 percent and the Clinic has provided thousands of hours of technical support to Chapter Issues Chairs and our community partners. We filled a charter bus with concerned citizens to attend an administrative hearing and inspired more than 50 activists to send commentary letters. We have successfully obtained extensions to comment periods and were able to get a public release of previously undisclosed private property intended to be taken for the expansion of a freeway and have filed lawsuits where administrative advocacy was not enough.

This is an ongoing project and through monthly meetings of the legal committee, we are constantly reviewing, revising, and retooling the Clinic so that the Chapter can be most effective.   

Have a success story to share? We'd like to hear about it. Go to the Success Stories project on the Sierra Club's Activist Network and let others learn from your experience.

Minnesotans Say 'Thanks!' to EPA

Minnesotans gathered outside of the Environmental Protection Agency office in Duluth today to thank the agency for issuing strong new mercury pollution safeguards. They presented a large thank you card signed by local Duluthians and a banner made by Girl Scout Troop 12965. In December, the EPA finalized strong public health safeguards to limit mercury and other toxic pollution from coal power plants.

“The Sierra Club, and parents like me across Minnesota, applaud the President and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson for their courage and resolve in protecting Minnesota families – particularly women and children – from this dangerous toxin and for standing up to polluters’ attempts to weaken this life-saving protection,” said John Doberstein (pictured above), local dad and Sierra Club member.

Mercury is a dangerous brain poison that poses a particular threat to prenatal babies and young children. Exposure in the bloodstreams of pregnant and nursing women can result in birth defects like learning disabilities, lowered IQ, deafness, blindness and cerebral palsy.

“There are many coal plants across Minnesota that release dangerous levels of mercury,” said Kate Mensing (pictured above), University of Minnesota-Duluth student. “We thank President Obama and the EPA for the peace of mind that now these plants will not polluting our water and air with this dangerous poison anymore.”

How Sierra Club Activism Re-Established Itself on the Olympic Peninsula

By Ben Greuel, Public Lands Organizer, and Bob Lynette, North Olympic Group Executive Committee

Historically, the Washington Chapter had an active group on the Olympic Peninsula. But it had long fizzled out in the late 80s and early 90s, despite the fact more than 1,200 Sierra Club members call the Peninsula home.

That all changed with the informal creation of the Washington Chapter's North Olympic Group in early 2008. We began outreach in the forms of member meetings, presentations, and outings, where interpersonal communication between members was both a possibility and a goal.  Through these interactions bonds were made, issues identified and leaders emerged.

The result of the events and outreach was the creation of the North Olympic Group –- the newest Sierra Club group in Washington State.  The Group’s creation has greatly benefited the Washington Chapter by building volunteer leadership in a geographical location where the Club previously did not have an organized presence.  Further, the Club’s growth on the Peninsula has added additional capacity and strength to the local environmental community and has provided both support and leadership within a number of campaigns.

This accomplishment could not have happened without strong volunteer leadership. We were lucky to work with seasoned and savvy volunteer leaders who had been involved within the Sierra Club in the past and were willing to give it a second go. Without the engagement and hard work from those volunteer leaders, creation of the Group would not have taken place.

The key to creating a new group is finding leaders who are interested in not only conservation work, but the nuts and bolts of administrative work that comes with ensuring a group that is viable and organized. It was an initial challenge finding local leaders to take responsibility for managing the group. Another challenge was the large geographical area we were working within. A challenge solved through the recruitment of Ex-Comm members representing each of the three largest population centers.

The Group received formal approval from the National Sierra Club in 2010, and it now represents the largest grassroots organization on the Olympic Peninsula.  Further, the group has been a founding member and leader within the Wild Olympics Campaign – a coalition of conservation and recreation organizations working to protect the Peninsula’s ancient forests and wild rivers.

Since its formation, the North Olympic Group has rapidly become a respected and affective voice for conservation on the Olympic Peninsula.

Have a success story to share? We'd like to hear about it. Go to the Success Stories project on the Sierra Club's Activist Network and let others learn from your experience.

How Renewable Energy Is Getting a Charge from the Hoosier Chapter

By Steve Francis, Chairperson of the Hoosier Chapter.

While helping organize the implementation of a renewable-energy feed-in tariff in Indiana, we were able to collaborate with labor, environmental stakeholders, business leaders, and social justice groups. This is an ongoing organizing effort through a series of campaigns and events to get this program off the ground in Northern Indiana for solar, wind, and biomass power. The Chapter worked with ally organizations to craft the program in a way to set long-term contracts, prices, and small-scale set-aside which will be advantageous to collaborating with a utility and non-traditional groups, and bringing in new members and supporters.

We currently have a Green Corps organizers working the area and collaborating with an allied environmental group (Save The Dunes) in northwest Indiana. We are using existing member base to reinvigorate the Group in the area, as well as reaching out to involve labor organizations, social justice groups, and businesses to provide a broad-based effort for a successful program. Our hope is to expand this program in a broader beyond-coal-to clean-energy campaign and challenge other utilities to competitively offer this type of program in other areas. We will then use that expansion to enlarge our collaborative base.

So far, we are in the middle of the campaign, but we have held several meetings and rallies with excellent participation of dozens of people and several organizations. We will continue to hold events that will attract media attention as well as engage customers who will support the program and other efforts to expand renewable power in Indiana.

Major factors include: 1) Involving the utility from the beginning, 2) thinking beyond environmental allies to bring in non-traditional groups, and 3) leveraging those who are interested in renewable energy to spread the effort to those who will potentially benefit from the clean air and water, jobs, and investments. Having an organizer on the ground is a key component with backup volunteer and Chapter support.

A Cruise for Water on Lake Erie

By Pat McKenna, Executive Committee Chair of the Northeast Ohio Sierra Group.

One of our recent successes was the "Sunset Dinner Cruise" aboard Lake Erie's largest cruise ship, the Goodtime III. The lake cruise included dining and an environmental/political satirist folk singer. By holding this event, we were able to enhance our relationship with one of our major supporters by choosing water as our main topic. We created club awareness by reaching non-members, we generated camaraderie amongst the ranks, and we raised awareness of our greatest environmental asset here in northeast Ohio -– Lake Erie!

The event drew more than 100 people. When disembarking, EVERYONE said they "can't wait until next year's cruise!" and that they all "had a wonderful time." These comments were enough to make us commit to making it an annual event and plan the next one for August 2012.