Friends of the Earth U.S. is a part of Friends of the Earth International, the world's largest grassroots environmental network.[1]
Current campaigns focus on clean energy and solutions to global warming, protecting people from toxic and new, potentially harmful technologies, and promoting smarter, low-pollution transportation alternatives.
Friends of the Earth is led by Erich Pica, an environmental advocate for more than 10 years.
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Friends of the Earth (US) has four program fields around which its work revolves. These are:
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: 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.
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 other 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 successfully persuaded 10 of the world’s largest banks not to seek carbon offsets for nuclear power and large hydroelectric dams.