Greenaction works with urban, rural and Indigenous communities and Native Nations in campaigns for clean, renewable energy and just solutions to the climate crisis. We are on the frontlines of community-based campaigns against fossil fuel, nuclear and uranium companies poisoning communities and the planet. We campaign and advocate for radioactive and toxic contamination sites along San Francisco Bay to be cleaned up before they are inundated by rising sea levels and storm surges caused by climate change. We work in many communities to reduce diesel pollution. Nuclear power is not safe and is not an answer to the climate crisis. We work to stop existing uranium mills and nuclear power plants and oppose proposed new nuclear reactors. We oppose existing and proposed “waste to energy” incinerators as that is not renewable energy nor is it clean. We work for the appropriate siting of renewable sun and wind energy projects.
Greenaction Supports Climate Change Principles
Protect Future Generations
The greatest impacts of climate change will come in the future. We should take into account the impacts on future generations in deciding policy today. Our children should have the opportunity for success and a healthy planet through the sustainable use of resources and renewable energy.
1. Climate Action Now
Climate change continues to accelerate due to oil and gas industries, industrial agriculture and mass deforestation. Greenaction supports the frontline communities working hard to create climate solutions.
Read letter from Greenaction & over 600 groups across US call on Congress to take strong action on climate as one part of a Green New Deal.
2. Protect and Empower Vulnerable Individuals and Communities
Low-income workers, people of color, and Indigenous Peoples will suffer the most from climate change’s impact. We need to provide opportunities to adapt and thrive in a changing world.
3. Ensure Just Transition for Workers and Communities
No group should have to shoulder alone the burdens caused by the transition from a fossil fuel-based economy to a renewable energy-based economy. A just transition would create opportunities for displaced workers and communities to participate in the new economic order through compensation for job loss, loss of tax base, and other negative effects.
4. Require Community Participation
At all levels and in all realms, people must have a say in the decisions that affect their lives. Decision makers must include communities in the policy process. U.S. federal and state governments, recognizing their government-to-government relationship, must work with tribes as well.
5. Global Problems Need Global Solutions
The causes and effects of climate change occur around the world. Individuals, communities, and nations must work together cooperatively to stop global climate change.
6. The U.S. Must Lead
Countries that contribute the most to global warming should take the lead in solving the problem. The U.S. is four percent of the world’s population but emits 25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases. All people should have equal rights to the atmosphere.
7. Stop Exploration for Fossil Fuels
Presently known fossil fuel reserves will last far into the future. Fossil fuel exploration destroys unique cultures and valuable ecosystems. Exploration should be halted as it is no longer worth the cost. We should instead invest in renewable energy sources.
8. No Cap and Trade
Cap and Trade policies and programs allow fossil fuel pollution to continue and do little or nothing to end the disproportionate burden of fossil fuel polluting industries on low-income, working class, communities of color and Indigenous peoples.
Campaigns and Programs
Cleanup Waterfront Radioactive and Toxic Contamination
Greenaction is leading the fight to challenge industry and government agencies to clean up waterfront radioactive and toxic contamination threatened with inundation by rising sea levels caused by climate change. Our work on this issue focuses on San Francisco Bay, where government, industries and mega-developers have ignored the true threat posed by rising sea levels in Bayview Hunters Point, Treasure Island and other communities.
Reduce Diesel Emissions
Greenaction has active campaigns to reduce the harmful and illegal idling of diesel trucks in Bayview Hunters Point/San Francisco, Kettleman City & Avenal in the San Joaquin Valley, and we are spreading this successful effort to other communities.
Read our English and Spanish fact sheets on kids and diesel school buses.
Read our English fact sheet on diesel idling myths and facts
Read our English and Spanish fact sheet on California diesel idling law
Read our English and Spanish fact sheet on diesel exhaust
Read our English fact sheet on the lungs of truck driers
Keep Fossil Fuels in the Ground
Statement of solidarity;
Greenaction stands with all communities fighting all over the world to put an end to the fossil fuel industries. We stand with Standing Rock, we stand with the communities organizing to stop the XL pipeline, and Line 3 in Minnesota. We stand with those organizing to stop fracking and drilling and those frontline communities organizing to end Tar Sands mining. We stand with the communities most impacted by the Chevron Refinery in Richmond California.
Read the San Francisco Bay Area Environmental Justice letter to Bay Area Air
Quality Management District in partnership with Communities for a Better Environment
No Uranium Mining, Milling or Nuclear Power
Close the Energy Fuels White Mesa Uranium Mill, Utah
Stop the proposed Green River nuclear power plant, Utah (FACT SHEET)
Greenaction continues our support of Native Nations and Indigenous peoples fighting the improper siting of renewable energy facilities on sacred and culturally significant lands.
Stop ‘Waste to Energy’ Incinerators
Greenaction works with low income and working class urban, rural and Indigenous communities that are disproportionately the location of, and targeted for, landfills and incinerators to “dispose” of or “treat” wastes that the heads of corporations or top government officials would never tolerate in their communities. Instead of continuing to pollute vulnerable communities with landfills and incinerators, government and industry need to pursue Zero Waste policies and practices.
Key Victories
- Successfully pressured state and federal agencies to begin to address the threat posed by rising sea levels to waterfront contamination sites along San Francisco Bay.
- Defeated the proposed Ward Valley nuclear waste dump on sacred Indigenous lands near the Colorado River in the Mojave Desert
- Defeated the proposed Avenal Energy fossil fuel power plant
- Defeated “waste to energy” plasma arc, gasification and pyrolysis proposals in California (Red Bluff, Watsonville, Gonzales, San Jose, Alameda, tribal lands), Arizona (Sierra Vista), Utah (Sandy), Wisconsin (Green Bay and Oneida Nation), Indiana (Logansport), Florida (Tallahassee and St. Lucie), Louisiana (New Orleans) and other locations.
- Shut the PG&E Hunters Point Power Plant in Bayview Hunters Point, San Francisco.
- Defeated PG&E’s plans for a power plant on a barge in Bayview Hunters Point