Climate Reality Project Partners with Ben & Jerry’s to Serve Up Climate Truth
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Boulder, CO (July 21, 2014) – Nothing says summer heat like a melting ice cream cone. That’s why The Climate Reality Project is teaming up with Ben & Jerry’s to turn one of the celebrated symbols of the season into a rallying point for action in the face of rising temperatures driven by climate disruption.
As part of the I’m Too Hot campaign, Climate Reality will bring Ben & Jerry’s ice cream trucks to the four U.S. cities hosting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hearings on the newly-proposed Clean Power Plan – Atlanta, Denver, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C. – from July 29 to August 1. The plan offers an historic opportunity to cut carbon pollution from power plants that is accelerating climate change. The highly visual I’m Too Hot trucks will help raise public awareness of this opportunity in a fun-filled way, enable locals to speak up in support of the plan, and offer supporters an icy treat for their efforts, courtesy of Ben & Jerry’s.
“We are excited to partner with Ben & Jerry’s to bring both ice cream and information about the EPA’s proposed rule to the people of Atlanta, Denver, Pittsburgh and Washington D.C.,” said Climate Reality Project President and CEO Ken Berlin. “This past May was the hottest in recorded history, and was an example of the kinds of records that will keep being broken as our summers get hotter from climate change driven by carbon pollution. These EPA hearings are a crucial opportunity for people to let the EPA know they support the agency’s efforts to reduce harmful carbon pollution, and we’ll be there to make sure our supporters don’t get too hot.”
If approved, the EPA’s Clean Power Plan would provide the first-ever national standards to limit the amount of carbon pollution existing power plants can produce – aiming to cut emissions by 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The EPA estimates that the rule would provide significant economic and health benefits, including the prevention of 150,000 asthma attacks and 6,600 premature deaths annually by 2030 as well as the creation of 76,000 to 112,000 new jobs in 2025 by expanding the energy efficiency sector alone.
The EPA’s Clean Power Plan is open for public comment until October 16, 2014.
“The rule would be a critical step towards holding polluters accountable for the carbon pollution they dump into the atmosphere – but first, it’s up to us – the people – to make sure we support the EPA’s efforts and the rule becomes law,” said Berlin.
People visiting the trucks will have the opportunity to comment on the proposed EPA rule and tweet at the EPA (@EPA) and their elected officials about their support for the rule, using the hashtags #ImTooHot and #ActOnClimate.
Hearings will be held on the following dates in these four cities:
- Atlanta – July 29 & 30
- Denver – July 29 & 30
- Pittsburgh – July 31 & August 1
- Washington D.C. – July 29 & 30
Two-time Olympic skier Kaylin Richardson will testify in Denver on July 29th.
About Climate Reality:
The Climate Reality Project is one of the world’s leading organizations dedicated to mobilizing action around climate change. With a global movement more than 5 million strong and a grassroots network of trained Climate Reality Leaders, we are spreading the truth of the climate crisis to communities everywhere and creating cultural momentum to solve it. Former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore is the Founder and Chairman of The Climate Reality Project. For more information, visit www.climaterealityproject.org or follow us on Twitter at @ClimateReality.
About Ben & Jerry’s:
As an aspiring social justice company, Ben & Jerry’s believes in a greater calling than simply making a profit for selling its goods. The company produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream, yogurt and sorbet using high-quality ingredients. Ben & Jerry’s incorporates its vision of Linked Prosperity into its business practices in a number of ways including a focus on values-led sourcing. In 2014 the company plans to complete its transition to using entirely non-GMO (genetically modified organisms) ingredients by source as well as to fully Fairtrade-certified ingredients wherever possible, which benefits farmers in developing countries. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed in 35 countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Ben & Jerry’s became a certified B Corp (Benefit Corporation) in 2012. The Ben & Jerry’s Foundation’s employee-led grant programs totaled $2.5MM in 2013 to support economic and social justice, environmental restoration, and peace through understanding. For the inside scoop on Ben & Jerry’s visit www.benjerry.com.