As 2024 comes to a close, here are some of the year’s top highlights. Green Century experienced some amazing events and impacts this year and we want to share some exciting examples of our nonprofit ownership, shareholder advocacy and environmentally responsible funds.
10. Protecting rare Right Whales
Green Century works on an array of environmental issues, including helping protect the imperiled North Atlantic Right Whale. Our partners at Environment America have been educating the public on how these rare whales are subject to injuries from fishing gear, strikes from vessels, plastic debris, and warming ocean temperatures. Right whales are especially vulnerable to human activities because they travel near the ocean’s surface and along the coastline.
9. Pressing tech companies to curb emissions.
While IBM has a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030, the iconic computer giant was not setting rigorous science-based targets to reduce its climate pollution. Green Century’s proposal asking IBM to set comprehensive climate emissions targets won 31 percent of the votes at its annual meeting.
8. Providing client-ready issue impact reports
Green Century has created and shared 15 client-ready Issue Impact Reports for you or, if you are a financial professional, to share with clients. These issue impact reports demonstrate progress in cutting plastics, preserving nature’s biodiversity, protecting tropical rainforests, and sharing details about Green Century’s investment strategy, shareholder advocacy and ownership.
7. Protecting rare natural spaces
Chemours: The Okefenokee is one of the largest freshwater wetlands in the world, a massive carbon sink, and home to over 1,000 species of plants and animals. In response to a shareholder proposal filed by Green Century, Chemours – the DuPont chemical company spinoff – agreed in 2022 to not buy titanium sourced from mines adjacent to the Okefenokee. Green Century continued to press Chemours in 2024 to make that commitment permanent.
6. Unwavering commitment to fossil fuel free funds
Green Century helped lead the fossil fuel free investing movement so individuals have the opportunity to invest without supporting the industry that has driven climate change. Other mutual funds in the responsible investing space had followed Green Century’s lead but now are backtracking. You can count on Green Century to remain steadfast in its opposition to coal, oil, gas and other environmentally dangerous industries including nuclear power.
5. Reducing plastic use
After our shareholder engagements, retail giants Costco and Disney, toymakers Hasbro and Mattel, hotels Marriott, Hilton, and Choice Hotels, and other companies agreed to disclose their plastic footprints and/or set goals to cut plastic use. Learn more here.
4. Increasing forest protections
Costco, the nation’s third largest retailer, agreed to increase its protection of forests. In response to a shareholder proposal from Green Century this summer, Costco committed to publish a deforestation assessment and action plan for its Kirkland Signature brand with the goal of preserving forests and biodiversity.
3. Our nonprofit owners winning environmental victories
One of Green Century’s owners, the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG), played a critical role in helping the Golden State reduce the single-use plastic bags that are tainting waters, littering lands and harming wildlife. After a decades-long effort, CalPIRG’s staff convinced lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign the measure into law.
2. Gaining high-profile media recognition
Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century, was named to Forbes 50 Over 50 list and for the second consecutive year to Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance. She Leslie has been a vocal and active leader, promoting environmentally and sustainable investing and growing Green Century to about $1 billion in managed assets.
1. Investors who align savings with planet protection
Our environmentally minded investors are what motivate and fuel our passion. Investors like you are the most important part of our days. Without you, our support of our nonprofit owners, robust shareholder advocacy and growing environmentally responsible mutual funds would not be possible.
