Our Guiding Principles
We unite around the following principles that inform the direction of our joint work:
Appreciation and responsibility. We share a deep appreciation and respect for the diversity of life on Earth human and non-human. We honor the beauty, wisdom and biological integrity and necessity that such diversity represents. We embrace our responsibility to protect that diversity for our children and for future generations.
Environmental literacy. We dedicate our minds to understanding how people and societies relate to each other and natural systems, and we encourage those around us to adopt this mindset, in order to broaden our dedication to our work and increase the diversity of those who become advocates. It is not enough to know that climate change is a problem or that human life depends on a healthy environment. We must also dedicate ourselves to awareness of how we contribute to the health of and burden the environment -- the ways our actions affect what is happening around us. By developing appreciation and concern for the environment, we can more readily promote and demand the change needed to protect not only the Earth, but also those given the opportunity to live on it.
Respect for science. There is an overwhelming scientific consensus that climate change is real, it is caused by humans, it is already occurring, and if concentrations of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere continue to rise, the effects will be disastrous. We believe that scientific evidence and the long-term public interest, not ideology or wishful thinking, should guide policy making. Therefore, scientists' warnings must be heeded. The reality is that aggressive actions to lower emissions and prepare for climate change impacts are required.
The precautionary principle. We believe that policies addressing climate change and energy should follow this principle, which holds that if an action or policy poses potential risks to the public or to the environment, then, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy would not be harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those taking the action or implementing the policy.
Fairness and justice. Those who have done the most to cause climate change have a responsibility to lead the way in both implementing and paying for solutions. This includes a responsibility to support the vulnerable communities most affected by climate change inside and outside the U.S. Many potential solutions enable us to also effectively build more vibrant, equitable and economically and ecologically sustainable communities. We must choose those solutions.
The polluter pays principle. This principle follows from our commitment to fairness and justice. Corporate polluters should pay the costs of addressing the damages their pollution causes; they should not be allowed to shift these costs onto the rest of society. This has two policy ramifications. First, whatever mechanism to curb greenhouse gas pollution is created, it should not create perverse incentives in which polluters receive financial benefits or are otherwise encouraged to create more greenhouse gases. More fundamentally, reforms are needed so that the true costs created by pollution are reflected in market prices.
Democracy. We support democratic government and believe that the political process works best when people in a society are engaged and can meaningfully participate. Large corporate interests have unparalleled influence in Washington, D.C. They have skewed the information we have received and the decisions our elected officials have made related to climate change. Reforms are needed so that corporate sway over our government is curtailed. Corporations must not be trusted to regulate themselves or to author government policies which represent a conflict of interest.
A commitment to global solutions. Climate change is a global challenge that cannot be solved by any one nation. U.S. policies must take into account the impact of our nation's pollution on the rest of the world, and must be consistent with fair and robust international responses that reduce global emissions and support vulnerable communities as they adapt to climate change impacts.
Inclusiveness and collaboration. Our coalition consists of a wide variety of organizations that share a commitment to the public interest. We are committed to broadening our coalition (as well as the larger climate movement) so that it better reflects the people of our country and includes communities of color, youth, women, and other often-marginalized groups.