Green Goes Nationwide
The business climate in America is starting to see some major changes as more and more companies are beginning to understand the important correlation between the economy and the environment.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce continues to fight climate change policies that inhibit innovation, sustainability, and regulating harmful carbon emissions. Frustrated by these policies, major companies such as Apple, Microsoft, PG&E and Nike – to name a few – have even left the agency outright, while a huge proportion of American businesses remain excluded completely. But with a burgeoning green sector sweeping the nation, the need for a new kind of chamber of commerce has become more apparent now than ever.
That’s where the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce comes in. Founded a few months ago as more of a complement to – rather than a replacement of – the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the new organization bases its core values and motivations on sustainability. Working to embrace change rather than oppose it, the organization advocates for the kind of policies that will allow businesses to continue to operate more efficiently and reduce their carbon footprint. While the U.S. Chamber of Commerce pursues lawsuits against the EPA for insisting on greenhouse gas regulations, the U.S. Green Chamber can be found fighting any such legislation that would undermine landmark climate change law.
Take Proposition 23, for example – a ballot initiative that would have opened up doors for big oil companies along California’s coast, posing a threat to public health and sabotaging the state’s efforts to reduce pollution. After speaking to every city council in its surrounding community, the Green Chamber fiercely fought the passage of the initiative, backed by the overwhelmingly strong green business community throughout the state of California. It was a major victory for environmentalists, to say the least, and merely the beginning of what the community will be capable of in the future. The battle to curb America’s dependency on unclean energy is heating up – almost as fast as the planet. But if clean-energy advocates can stand up to big oil giants and the richest business federation in the world, the future holds some great possibilities.
All this happened while the U.S. Green Chamber was still just a locally based nonprofit organization in California’s eco-hub, San Diego County. As of February, the chamber launched itself to a national level with the community’s outcry for a more powerful, all-encompassing advocacy group that would position sustainable businesses at the forefront of all American business during a critical point in our planet’s history.
Job Creation
And what timing, too. The Obama administration has made it more than clear that America will now focus less on a carbon-fueled economy, directing a major portion of the stimulus bill towards funding renewable energy sectors. Due to the large scale, capital potential and innovation-intensive nature of such projects, the clean-energy sector alone is expected to create some 1.7 million jobs and counting. In California, the world’s biggest wind farm is under construction in the Mojave Desert, and scientists are discovering ways to turn algae into fuel, plants into plastics and sewage into energy. Electric car charging stations are popping up in major cities across the country along with net-zero homes and solar-powered buildings. Incentives, grants, stimulus money, and progressive environmental policies have helped facilitate such incredible initial achievements.
In response to the observations of productivity and positive growth the green sector holds for the country, the U.S. Green Chamber’s motto – Green is everyone’s business – suits the overall trends we’re seeing throughout the United States.
Changing Attitudes
As the future we don’t want – of economic and environmental instability – is coming at us at an accelerated rate, the most crucial and basic first step in bracing ourselves for these changes is to start shifting the way we think and behave. From individuals to small businesses and major corporations, we can not just wait on the government to institute policies or regulations that force us to re-direct ourselves from moving toward cataclysm to moving towards sustainability. Everyone has to start existing more responsibly or fail to exist on this planet much longer at all.
As a newly nationally based environmental nonprofit, the U.S. Green Chamber is stepping up its game to meet the mounting needs of its ever-growing member base. It is joining forces with other well-respected organizations like Environmental Entrepreneurs and other chambers from locations like Orange County, San Francisco, Texas and Florida. Under the Green Chamber’s umbrella, members will have incredible networking opportunities, national exposure and valuable educational tools to achieve the goals and needs specific to them.
A comprehensive membership directory, calendar of national events and distance-based learning via webinars are just a few of the valuable tools provided for members, not to mention national exposure and unlimited networking capabilities.
Although membership is open to anyone, members of the U.S. Green Chamber are required to make a green commitment. Though the chamber provides some general guidelines, a company coordinator is responsible for ensuring that certain provisions, such as waste reduction, energy efficiency and pollution prevention-be completed within a time frame of 60 days of signing up. These businesses are establishing modes of operation that not only benefit the environment and surrounding community, but also help reduce costs and increase efficiency within the companies themselves.
To the U.S. Green Chamber, its existence and the success of the organization is a direct reflection of the value it holds for its members. Through its extensive network, businesses are empowered with sustainable measures that build partnerships, create jobs and spur innovation, economic growth and a healthier planet. Building alliances across the nation will generate the kind of power the country needs right now: a redirection in the set of outcomes that bring capital to the table in a way that can help the environment.
Carin Hall is the chief of staff at the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce. For more information, send email to CarinH@usgreenchamber.com or visit www.usgreenchamber.com.
