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Environment and Sustainability Task Force

Overview of Policy on
Environment and Sustainability

As progressives, we advocate for the "triple-bottom-line" of environmental protection, social equity, and economic vitality. We stand for strong protection of the common good, including clean air, water, and soil, healthy ecosystems, a stable global climate, and natural treasures such as national forests, parks, and wilderness areas. We acknowledge that the impacts of environmental degradation often concentrate on the most vulnerable--developing embryos, children, and residents of poor urban and rural areas; we believe government must be aggressive in defense of victims of environmental injustice. And we believe that good environmental choices are also good business choices. When government and businesses join to take a long-term view of environmental health, they can produce win-win strategies that improve everyone’s quality of life.

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Policy Position Papers

The following white papers describe our policies in depth on issues related to the environment and sustainability. Unless otherwise indicated, all papers have been ratified by the PDA grassroots via our National Spokescouncil. Those papers marked as DRAFT are working drafts which are not yet ratified. We encourage you to send comments or suggestions by clicking on the "comment" link after each draft.

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What You Can Do

Our task force recommends the following actions for individuals and groups. Follow the links for tips, tools, and suggestions.

• (Individual) Visit the Natural Resources Defense Council web site for practical tips on how your individual actions can make a difference in over a dozen areas, from consumer choices to fighting global warming.
• (Individual) Drive less! Involve your neighbors, employers, and local businesses in resisting automobile culture. Demand good pedestrian and bicycle amenities and excellent public transportation. Organize a drive less car campaign, and/or join the Better World Club.
• (Group) Contact your representatives to stop the EPA from relaxing restrictions on sewage emissions to our waterways.
• (Group) Organize a True Cost of Food group to have fun, eat well, and change the way your local food industry does business.

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Educational and Action Resources

Keep abreast of breaking environmental news at these sites:
NRDC Legislative Watch -- a bulletin explaining the status of environmental bills in Congress
WorldChanging -- constructive ideas on how to "build a bright green future"

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In the News

6/27/05 Reaching the Saudi Peak, by Michael T. Klare, TomPaine.com.
Concerning new revelations that world oil production may decline sooner than we thought.
6/06/05 Global-warming fight goes grass roots Christian Science Monitor.
On what U.S. cities are doing to address climate change in the absence of a national policy.

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