Are zero emissions possible?
By Steven Colomé
In early November fifty activists, policymakers and influencers gathered at the hilltop Ojai Retreat to hear Earthjustice attorney Adrian Martinez address the question – ‘Are Zero Emissions Possible?’.
The meeting was an introduction to the current legal and policy efforts of Earthjustice, and of their programs and plans under the ‘Right to Zero’ campaign.
The campaign not only targets important mitigation programs to fight the climate crisis – it is about reducing exposure to harmful air pollution. When we eliminate the combustion of fossil fuels, we also eliminate the principal sources of harmful air pollutants that cause smog.
The path to zero is through the elimination of fossil fuel production and consumption, to be replaced with clean renewable energy sources in transportation, the power and industrial sectors, and buildings.
Unlike carbon control programs such as Cap and Trade, that allow polluters to pay-to-play while continuing to pollute and use fossil fuels, the Right to Zero campaign aims to reduce fossil emissions where they occur. The reason this is so important is that many of the most polluting sources are centered in disadvantaged communities and continue to release harmful pollutants in these neighborhoods. Clean air combined with climate mitigation, that is the Earthjustice Right to Zero campaign.
A major focus of the Earthjustice program in California has been to replace fossil-burning buses with electric vehicles. To that end, attorneys with Earthjustice were instrumental in developing the nation’s first clean transit rule with California promising to convert 100% of all transit buses to zero-emission. Joining a coalition of labor, environmental and public transportation advocates, they were able to get LA Metro to commit to a fully electric fleet by 2030. Each bus converted from using methane or diesel reduces 170,000 pounds of carbon pollution annually.
The organization was also central in lobbying to override Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s minimalist commitment to electrification of the local postal delivery fleet. Now, the USPS has committed to an all-electric delivery fleet.
A unique feature of Earthjustice is that its 500+ clients are represented free of charge. There are over 200 lawyers in the organization’s 15 offices across the US engaged in over 600 legal fights against deep pocket interests. The organization lives by the motto “We’re here because the earth needs a good lawyer.”
The origins of Earthjustice will be of interest to Sierra Club history buffs. Started in 1971 as the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, the organization has a long string of significant legal and policy victories in its 50+ year history. The organization was co-founded by powerful San Francisco attorney and Sierra Club leader Phil Berry who served for over thirty years on the Sierra Club Board and twice as President. His first term as President was during the turbulent and environmentally significant period from 1969-1971.
I had the honor of knowing Phil Berry during the late 1970s while serving as the Club’s representative for the New England Chapter (chapter boundaries were larger then). The name change occurred in 1997 to reflect the broader representation of environmental clients beyond the Sierra Club.
As Club members we can take pride in this organization that is bringing legal strength to courts, Capitol Hill, and statehouses across our country in the good fight.
The Ojai Retreat event was hosted by Caryn Bosson, with co-hosts Rain Perry, Dulanie Ellis-La Bare, Michelle Ellison, Steven Colomé and www.ElectrifyOjai.Org