Who is the largest single U.S. consumer, one of the largest worldwide consumers, and a supporter of environmentally friendly products and services? Answer: the U.S. government. With $350 billion in annual spending, it is no surprise that the federal government makes a big impact with their massive purchasing power. Currently federal laws and executive orders require factoring in environmental considerations and sustainable practices in governmental purchasing decisions. Assisting governmental agencies, green vendors, and consumers is the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) Program.
In 2003 Carbonfund.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, was established. They made it their goal to provide an easy and affordable way for individuals or businesses to reduce their carbon footprints, thereby taking the vision of a greener tomorrow one step closer to reality. Today, they have more than 1,700 partnered businesses. The organization strives to achieve their goal of speeding up the transition of the present environmental condition to a clean energy future.
Environmental advocacy is a wide playing field that is full of opposition in every corner. This is why many environmentalists band together in promoting focused advocacies, such as energy efficiency or the perils of climate change, so that their collective effort would have a bigger impact. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) is an organization that is composed of eco minded individuals who banded together to further the cause of the environment.
Ancient forests are the original or primary forests that cover 7% of the planet. Almost 80% of the world’s old-growth forests have been exploited or completely destroyed. The ever increasing demand of wood products, like paper, has increased the number of trees being chopped down. As trees and their forests are utilized for their wood material, rapid deforestation threatens our ancient forests.
Due to the surmounting environmental problems that exist today, individuals are coming from different sectors gathering together to create non-profit organizations or collaborations to serve as watchful eyes in society. One such organization is the Alliance to Save Energy.
EPA is the acronym for the Environmental Protection Agency, a government organization tasked to regulate any practice that may have an adverse effect on the environment. Created in 1970, the EPA became the US government’s answer to increasing qualms about the wanton disregard of some industries and their unsafe practices that pose hazards to human health and the environment in general. In fact, the world as you see it today would have been in a much worse state had the EPA not been created.
The US Department of the Interior (DOI) is a division of the federal government responsible for protecting the natural resources of the U.S. The department also protects the country’s heritage, honors the culture of various tribal communities, and supplies domestically produced energy to the country. One of their eight bureaus is the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This agency is responsible for ensuring our land is protected and managed wisely.
One of the foremost issues haunting the world today is deforestation. It poses a risk to the whole world since trees have a direct impact on climate change. The Forest Stewardship Council’s mission is to promote responsible logging and to bring awareness to different parts of the world. The FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) is a not-for-profit organization. It seeks to promote the proper management of forests in order to preserve this natural resource.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is the fourth largest agency of the federal government. You may have seen the USDA seal of approval stamped on meat or even noticed the rise in popularity of USDA organic products. Most people are surprised to discover the other roles of the USDA also include soil, land, water, forestry and rural development. Despite this diversity, they are best known for overseeing farming, agriculture and food safety.
We are on the verge of a greener dawn. As environmental concern and awareness rise, everyday people are beginning to make a difference. A variety of environmental organizations have launched to assist consumers by creating logos that indicate eco-friendly products. The Rainforest Alliance has implemented programs to help in this as well as the conservation and preservation of the environment.
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