Organization Spotlight : Environmental Defense Fund (EDF)

Love, Care and Consciousness are built into our DNA at DrTung’s.  It’s a concept we weave into every part of our business model — from our products, to our consumers, to our team, to our planet and to all sentient beings.  There are many, many organizations working diligently to make this planet a better place.  Some of these organizations have touched our hearts in very deep ways.  To share the amazing work from a few of our favorite groups, we’re spotlighting one incredible organization each month throughout the year.

The 4th organization in our series is…

ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND

EDF—Building a Better Future Together

One of the world’s leading international nonprofit organizations, EDF’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends.  Guided by science and economics, they find practical and lasting solutions to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet.

With more than 2.5 million members and offices in the United States, China, Mexico, Indonesia and the European Union, EDF’s scientists, economists, attorneys and policy experts are working in 28 countries alongside hundreds of partners to fight climate change and protect people and the planet.¹ 

How it started…

In the late 1960s a scrappy group of scientists and a lawyer on Long Island, New York, went to court on behalf of the environment — fighting to save osprey from the toxic pesticide DDT. Using scientific evidence, this founding group got DDT banned nationwide.  The osprey has since made a dramatic recovery, and the bald eagle and peregrine falcon have been removed from the endangered species list.

EDF founders Art Cooley, Charlie Wurster and Dennis Puleston

The first victory presented the group with an opportunity to expand their work and in 1967 they incorporated as Environmental Defense Fund.  Over the years, EDF has grown into a leading national nonprofit organization representing more than 2.5 million members and activists – and in 2017, celebrated 50 years of progress.  And science still guides everything they do!!!

What they do… 

EDF follows the evidence to target the areas where their expertise can make the biggest difference.

Climate: working to stabilize the climate — creating new ways to cut emissions

Energy:  transforming the world's energy system — making it cleaner

Ecosystems:  crafting sustainable ways to grow food and supply water — protecting nature

Oceans:  working globally to create oceans and coastal communities that thrive

Health: a healthier environment means healthier people — focusing on both

How they do it…

To forge the most effective solutions, EDF approaches the biggest environmental challenges from these angles:

Science — EDF was founded by scientists more than 50 years ago. Whether mapping climate pollution from space or cutting air pollution on the ground, science drives all they do.  It takes rigorous science to protect people and the planet. The groundbreaking studies put the powerful climate pollutant methane on the international agenda — and EDF is the only environmental organization building a satellite to map, measure and reduce it.

Economics — Every environmental problem is examined through an economic lens. This helps create ways to use economic forces to protect rather than harm our environment.  EDF values economics because it’s the study of what people value. When people are rewarded for protecting the environment, it makes a healthy planet more valuable to everyone.

Partnerships — EDF pioneered environmental-corporate partnerships almost 30 years ago, and their list of unlikely partners has only grown since then.  It takes all kinds of allies to solve the toughest environmental problems — universities, community groups and even energy companies working to cut pollution. By not accepting funding from corporate partners, EDF is able to help them raise the bar for climate leadership and meet their sustainability goals.

Advocacy — The biggest environmental problems require that we all work together. That's why we build coalitions — and fight to win and defend great environmental laws.  The longest-lasting environmental solutions have the broadest support. EDF works with activists, companies and other allies to defend environmental protections, address inequities and craft strong, bipartisan policy.

 Stories of Success…

The Takeaway…

Again, we’ve barely scratched the surface of the incredible work of these various organizations. EDF creates environmental solutions that make a lasting difference in the world — you can read more about them on their site or follow them on social media.  If their work resonates with you, we encourage you to share their story with your friends and family and donate if you can.  

As always, do what resonates with you.  One thing we can all do is to take a few moments each day to take care of ourselves and cultivate positive energy.  When you feel positive, you share that feeling with those around you — it’s contagious (in a good way).  Each of us adding positivity to ourselves and spreading it to those around us adds to the collective Love, Care and Consciousness of humankind.  Together we can make a difference to each other, to our environment and to all sentient beings. 

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
― Margaret Mead

 Copyright © 2022 Environmental Defense Fund. Used by permission. The original material is available at https://www.edf.org