Hundreds of scientists donned white lab coats and rallied outside the American Geophysical Union annual meeting in San Francisco to remind the incoming Trump administration that science does not bend to political agendas. Bearing hand-made signs with messages including “Ice has no agenda… it just melts,” the researchers made it clear they won't tolerate political interference in their work. Joined by citizen groups from across the Bay Area, the scientists reaffirmed their commitment to help vulnerable communities address climate change. The next day, the Trump transition team announced it would not require the Energy Department to identify all employees who have worked on climate issues.
Cater Communications was pleased to assist ClimateTruth.org and the Natural History Museum with the Stand up For Science rally, which received significant coverage, including the Associated Press, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Washington Post, Buzzfeed, and Mashable, along with dozens of other outlets. It was also featured on ABC World News Tonight and CNN.
A post-election poll conducted by the Republican firm Public Opinion Strategies found 75 percent of Drumpf voters support action to accelerate the deployment and use of clean energy, including wind, solar, efficiency, and community-renewable projects. The Conservative Energy Network released the results at the National Press Club, earning coverage in national and state-level media outlets.
The second annual Conservative Clean Energy Summit highlighted strong support among conservatives for renewables and efficiency. The September event, hosted by Young Conservatives for Energy Reform and the Christian Coalition, featured themes of economic strength, national security, and family health. Senators including Chuck Grassley, Lindsey Graham, Dean Heller, Cory Gardner, and Mark Kirk spoke at the Conservative Clean Energy Summit, as did Reps. Mark Sanford, David Young, Chris Gibson, and Tom Reed. TTwenty-five outlets covered and/or attended the event, including national news outlets like Reuters, Washington Examiner and Politico; state outlets including Virginia News Connection and Florida News Network; and radio stations across Michigan and Florida.
Ceres’ Insurer Climate Risk Disclosure Survey Report and Scorecard found, since the last report two years ago, that the largest insurers – those with more than $5 billion in direct written premiums – are increasingly accounting for climate change risk to their clients and investments. Forbes, Insurance Journal, International Business Times, Insurance Business, Hartford Courant, Hartford Business, Business Insurance, MarketWatch, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sustainable Brands, GreenBiz, and Triple Pundit covered the news.
California is the first state in the nation to set energy efficiency standards for computers and monitors. Californians will save up to $373 million each year, while saving enough energy to power 350,000 homes annually. Cater Communications worked with tech firms, small businesses, schools, and efficiency experts to place op-eds and build a drumbeat of support for the pioneering rules, which were the result of years of negotiations among industry leaders, consumer advocates, and environmental groups.
Cater also worked with consumer groups and the California Delivers coalition to earn coverage in Reuters, Venture Beat, the Associated Press, San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News, The Sacramento Bee, The San Diego Union-Tribune, the Daily Bulletin, and many other outlets.
In just four years, electric vehicle (EV) sales are hitting numbers it took hybrids a full decade to reach, according to the Consumer Federation of America's second annual survey and report on electric cars and trucks. Younger Americans are especially interested in EVs, and that demographic bump paves the way for sustained future growth. Coverage included Washington Examiner, Green Car Reports, Consumer Affairs, Vox, Motley Fool, Michigan Radio, and Cars.com.
As for the biggest car buying state – California – it just hit a major milestone. The Golden State saw its 250,000th electric vehicle sold in November. A PEV Collaborative release on the achievement quoted Air Resources Board Chair Mary Nichols saying, “Californians can take pride in driving the nation toward a zero-emission future. A widespread shift to zero-emission vehicles is technologically feasible and economically sensible. It will clean our air and protect our climate.” LA Daily News, Capitol Public Radio, KPBS, Clean Technica, HybridCars.com, Green Car Congress, Inside EVs, and Electrek are among the outlets that covered the story.
In a powerful reminder of the hidden cost of driving gas-powered cars, the American Lung Association of California looked at 10 states and found petroleum-powered vehicles are responsible for $37 billion in health and climate costs each year. If drivers in these 10 states were to switch to emission-free vehicles by 2030, the states would collectively save $13 billion in health costs annually. Stories appeared throughout these states and nationally, including in Wired, Fortune, TakePart, The Drive, Fleet Owner, Greentech Media, Gas2.0, Sacramento Bee, San Diego Union-Tribune, San Gabriel Valley Tribune, Press Enterprise, Fresno Bee, Connecticut Post, and NJ Spotlight.
After a planned technical review of fuel economy standards, the Obama Administration confirmed the fleet-wide average goal automakers first agreed to back in 2009. Ceres, Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union (the policy arm of Consumer Reports) and CALSTART say maintaining robust fuel-economy standards help American automakers stay competitive around the world, generate and protect jobs, and insulate consumers from gas-price spikes. Coverage included USA Today, Detroit News, BNA Bloomberg, Detroit Free Press, Green Car Reports, Fleet Owner, The Hill, Consumer Affairs, Washington Examiner, Cars.com, Clean Technica and more.
Ceres’ transportation program leader, Carol Lee Rawn, joined industry analysts Alan Baum and Dan Lauria in making the case for strong fuel-economy standards in the Wall Street Journal and Midwest Energy News. Their analysis underscores how strong fuel economy standards protect automakers, supplier profits, and jobs from volatile fuel costs – whether gas prices spike or drop.
The New York Energy Democracy Alliance – whose members include community-based organizations, grassroots groups, and policy experts – is working to accelerate the State’s efforts to chart a clean energy future, and ensure it benefits all New Yorkers, especially low-income and working class households and communities of color. From op-eds to television interviews to online news coverage, Alliance members are keeping the pressure on Albany to do the right thing. And from media guidance to branding work, Cater is excited to help the Alliance put a human face on energy policy.
Methane – a primary component of natural gas – is one of the most potent greenhouse gases. Across the country, natural gas extraction, transportation, and storage are leaking huge amounts of methane and other chemicals. This is taking a toll on the climate and the health of millions of Americans – especially those in vulnerable communities. Stop Fooling CA, a social media campaign created and managed by Cater Communications, launched a micro-campaign, #CAMethProblem, to draw attention to California’s little-talked-about methane problem. In collaboration with partners from Environment California and with support from equity partners, SFC created a series of 6 videos, reaching more than 2.6 million Californiansthrough Facebook and Twitter.
The Solutions Project’s Mark Ruffalo joined Wahleah Johns of Native Renewables to deliver Navajo-made solar trailers to power the camp where Native Americans and their allies have spent months fighting the Dakota Access Pipeline. What began as one Native American tribe’s stand to protect water and sacred sites on their land has become a historic gathering of members from every North American tribe. Cater Communications helped generate widespread coverage including television outlets CNN, HLN, and MSNBC; the Associated Press; dozens of newspapers; and celebrity-centric outlets like People and Entertainment Weekly, as well as a heartfelt opinion piece Mark Ruffalo published in The Guardian. A few weeks later, the Army Corps of Engineers denied an easement and threw the pipeline’s future into question. Stay tuned.
The Solutions Project launched the Fighter Fund to provide rapid-response grants, targeting situations where up to $15,000 invested at the right time can make all the difference. These action grants, supported in part by actors Mark Ruffalo and Leonardo DiCaprio, help community-based groups on the front lines fight for clean energy and climate justice. Outlets ranging from Fast Company to Inside Philanthropy to Politico’s Morning Energy picked up the story.