Climate Recovery Partnership News and Events

Foundation Goes Four for Four

 

For the fourth year in a row, the Sierra Club Foundation (TSCF) has earned the highest possible rating—four stars—from Charity Navigator. Not only that, TSCF now ranks fifth among the 226 environmental groups focused on conservation and protection.

This year, the watchdog group revamped its rating system to also assess the accountability and transparency of organizations. As a result, TSCF’s ranking improved even more!

Founded in 2001, Charity Navigator, assesses the financial health of over 5,000 of America’s best charities. To read more about the new rating system on The Chronicle of Philanthropy website, click here.

 

Fighting Smog in the Sunshine State

In August, Sierra Club members held a hugely successful rally in downtown Tampa, increasing public attention to the problem of smog pollution and calling for clean air protections from the EPA.

Smog pollution remains especially problematic in sunny Florida, where toxic gases emitted from coal-fired power plants and cars is a threat to residents. A danger to respiratory health, smog aggravates asthma, inflames and irritates airways, and increases hospitalization rates. Despite the severe health consequences, EPA regulations to limit smog are lacking.

Alongside the Sierra Club’s 18-foot inflatable inhaler, dozens of concerned residents at the rally listened to speakers from partner organizations like Physicians for Social Responsibility Tampa Bay and the Suncoast Pediatric Asthma Coalition. Rally participants also signed onto the Clean Air Promise, pledging to protect the health of children and families from dangerous air pollution.

Our efforts garnered attention from local media, including CBS Channel 10, ABC Action News, WMNF (the NPR affiliate for Tampa), and Creative Loafing.

Sierra Club Resolve Preserves Washington D.C.'s Transit System

Sierra Club members from the Great Falls Group and throughout the Washington D.C. region collaborated through our Sustainable Metro D.C. program to stop proposed fare increases and $44 million in bus and rail service cuts. The operating budget revealed a large deficit and the latter proposed negative changes but did not offer one cent more in funding from local jurisdictions.

Through Sustainable Metro D.C., we engaged seven government jurisdictions to ensure sufficient funding for the Metro and  launched FairShareForMetro.com to enable our members and the public to express their feelings towards Metro service decision-makers. Additionally, the Sustainable Metro D.C. program distributed nearly 10,000 flyers, secured campaign support from local organizations and citizens, sent 1,500 email messages, and generated more than 1,800 public comments on the budget hearing process. As a result of our incredible efforts, no bus or rail services were cut.

Increased Transit Funding in Missouri

St. Louis County voters passed Proposition A, a half-cent sales tax (equaling approximately $80 million per year) to fund the operation and expansion of mass transit (bus, light rail, para transit) in the county. Sierra Club ran a vigorous campaign to educate and mobilize our 2,600 St. Louis County members. The campaign included phone calls and mail distribution to members persuading them to vote for Proposition A, web advertising, press releases, group meetings, and participation in regular Transit Alliance meetings.