Energy

Creating a Clean Energy Economy

The 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is dramatic evidence of the deleterious environmental and economic impacts of our dependency on fossil fuels. Shifting to a more energy efficient, low-carbon economy would not only prevent similar catastrophes in the future but also reduce corporate energy costs and exposure to volatile fuel prices.

The energy demands of the 21st century are radically different than those of the past. Fossil fuels like oil and coal are becoming harder to secure and inevitable carbon reduction policies are motivating many companies to look for cleaner ways to power our factories, offices and homes.

Investors are becoming increasingly concerned with the long-term value of their portfolios and pressuring utilities to become more transparent about the long-term effects of climate change, water scarcity and other sustainability risks for the electric power industry.

Energizing Solutions for Sustainability

Ceres works with companies, investors, regulators and public interest groups to disclose and address the environmental, social and economic risks of the energy sources we use to power our economy. We work with these groups to advance innovative solutions that will reduce carbon emissions, increase energy efficiency measures and use of renewable energy sources and improve power grid technologies to deliver cleaner energy in better ways.

At the forefront of the clean energy movement, Ceres has:

• Organized major businesses to call for innovative policy solutions at the state, national and global level. The Ceres-led Business for Innovative Climate and Energy Policy (BICEP) includes major brands like Nike, Starbucks, Target, Best Buy and eBay
• Defined best practices for the U.S. power sector through the report The 21st Century Electric Utility: Positioning for a Low-Carbon Future
• Organized investors controlling $2.5 trillion in assets to call on oil and insurance companies to disclose risk management strategies to prevent future deepwater drilling spills
• Spearheaded investor efforts to push the oil industry to reduce the harmful impacts of Canadian oil sands production
• Led direct engagements with electric power, oil & gas, and transportation companies through Ceres stakeholder team process to improve sustainability performance and disclosure

For more information

Read articles, download reports and listen to podcasts about energy issues listed on the right-hand side of this page.