The mission of Faith2Green is to instill a commitment to environmental protection rooted in our shared moral values.
Law and tradition mandate that we protect, serve, and care for all creation. As it says in Midrash Ecclesiastes Rabbah 7:13,
"do not corrupt or destroy my world; for if you do, there will be no one to repair it after you."
In seeking to fulfill this mandate we work to educate and activate our community in order to address and respond to the pressing and complex environmental problems we face today. Our fundamental goals are to develop and implement sound environmental practices within our community and it's institutions, to instill environmental stewardship in present and future generations, and to further support these practices by actively participating in the formation of public policy. As a resolution of the Central Conference of American Rabbis states:
"we have a solemn obligation to do whatever we can within reason both to prevent harm to current and future generations, and to preserve the integrity of the creation with which we have been entrusted. Not to do so when we have the technological capacity, as we do in the case of non-fossil fuel energy and transportation technologies - is an unforgivable abdication of our responsibility."
Locally, we are committed to collaborating with communities of faith in order to promote and effect environmental consciousness and behavior change. Faith2Green is a founding member of the Interfaith Environmental Council (IEC), all under the umbrella of Faith2Green, a coalition of religious institutions charged with making environmental issues a significant focus of life in Southern California. On the state level, we work with California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL) and the California Jewish Public Affairs Council (JPAC). On the national level, we are an affiliate of COEJL, a national organization housed in and supported by the Jewish Council on Public Affairs (JCPA) in New York and a Member of the National Religious Partnership for the Environment.
Our Community Council Members are: American Jewish Committee; Anti-Defamation League; B'nai Brith of Southern California; National Council of Jewish Women of Los Angeles; Hadassah of Southern CA; Hillel at UCLA; Hillel at USC; Shalom Institute Camp and Conference Center, Union of American Hebrew Congregations; Jewish National Fund; United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Pacific Southwest Region; and the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation.
Faith2Green's Environmental Partners are: CALPIRG, Children's Nature Institute, Environmental Defense, Environment Now, Heal the Bay, Natural Resources Defense Council, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Northeast Trees, and the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Please review some of our recent activities and accomplishments:
• The Green Sanctuaries Program continues to expand with the help of President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Global Initiative. The comprehensive program is working to improve the environmental profiles of religious institutions and their members. For instance, institutions can increase their use of renewable energy to protect the environment and improve their bottom line. A reduction in energy use and costs of 25% at 2,000 religious institutions will save a total of $3,257,328 and reduce CO2 emissions by 32,573 tons, the equivalent of planting 9,121 acres of trees. Through the creation of Green Teams, we have helped our member organizations employ green practices in their respective institutions, homes, and businesses.
• We are working toward implementation of our Green Bulk Purchasing Program to help our member institutions purchase environmentally friendly products and services at reduced cost.
• Our success with our California/Israel Eco-Technology Program has secured over $3 billion in hard contracts and helped create hundreds of jobs in the Israeli Technology Sector and allowed us to open an office in Israel to support environmental technology companies as they do business in California, such as Solel Inc., one of the premier solar thermal companies in the world that has a contract with PG&E for 553 MW in California.
• With California Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, we are sponsoring a California solar stimulus package. AB 1028 will suspend sales tax on solar energy sales in the state of California for one year after purchase. AB 1029 will suspend the manufacturing tax on solar energy. AB 1027 will allow for schools and other non-profit organizations to receive additional rebate monies to install solar installations on their facilities.
• Last year, our work with the Los Angeles Business Council led to the development of green building codes and incentives for sustainable construction in the city of Los Angeles.
• Furthermore, with Assemblymember Blumenfield, we are sponsoring a California Israel Environmental Technology Memorandum of Understanding Bill (AB 1032) that directs the state trade agency to adopt a MOU with the state of Israel that will support and expand the collaboration of environmental technology to the mutual benefit of both California and Israel.
• We facilitate social action programs, such as Tu B’Shvat activities and major tree plantings in conjunction with organizations such as Northeast Trees. We are proud to lead hundreds in Havdalah Hikes, cleaning the beach with Heal the Bay, and removing poisonous, non-native plants with the Friends of Ballona Wetlands.
• Along with Verdexchange, we hosted a one day conference on how our state can reduce global warming and dramatically expand the green and cleantech economies. Green power players from all over the nation gathered in Los Angeles to listen to and participate in expert panels, do business and share information.
• Our community education continues to expand with recent talks from Councilmember Wendy Greuel on her trip to Israel and with German Parliament Member Dr. Hermann Scheer to discuss solar and other forms of renewable energy. Furthermore, we are looking forward to our upcoming panel discussion on U.S. and Israel relations with Congressman Howard Berman and Rabbi David Wolpe.
• With Assemblymember Lori Saldaña, we are sponsoring a “Leash Your Lid” bill (AB 925) that would require all single-use plastic beverage containers to have an affixed cap in order to prevent litter and increase recycling of bottle caps.
• Our board was expanded with the addition of Former EPA Head and Schwarzenegger Cabinet Secretary Terry Tamminen, California Senator Fran Pavley, and Richard Ziman.
Now, more than ever, the definition of morality is vulnerable to misinterpretation and misuse. You can fulfill your moral and ethical obligation to environmental stewardship by supporting our efforts and participating in our actions to encourage the Jewish and Interfaith community to care for creation as commanded.
For more information on partnership opportunities and our projects, click here
Main Contact:
Director
Phone: 310.841.2970
Fax: 310.202.0433
info@faith2green.com
13 Board Members
1 Employee
Audited statements available to the public?: Yes
Locations Served: Southern California
