Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Publishes FFC Executive Director’s Op-Ed “Smart Policy Key To Investment In The Keystone State”

February 25, 2014

Illuminating the mutualism between sound environmental policy and economic development is an important part of advocating for social and environment responsibility and long term economic stability. Too often, denying climate change or decrying the false trade-off between addressing climate change and jobs dominate the business opinion headlines. In addressing this skew, FFC seized the opportunity to both convey a progressive long term business view and explain the role of investors in compelling positive change. Smart policies, like the EPA’s carbon pollution standards for power plants, address the necessity for carbon pollution reductions and boost investment in the clean energy sector. In short, reducing pollution and growing the economy can go hand in hand. Innovative Pennsylvania companies are now building components for wind turbines, solar panels, energy-efficient light bulbs and developing new lightning technologies. In fact, in 2010, Pennsylvania’s “clean economy” was the fourth largest in the country. Pushing the real connection between environmental regulations and economic opportunity towards preeminence is an important component in advocating for social and environmental responsibility, as public opinion has a major influence on not only what becomes policy, but when that policy is adopted as well. The urgency of climate risk, and the still too prevalent business opinion of either jobs or environment, rather than both, compels Friends Fiduciary toward policy advocacy when we can voice an important business and investor viewpoint. To view the January 31 op-ed, click here