At Calvert Foundation, our mission is to fight poverty. Since it is often the most disadvantaged people and communities that are hurt most by pollution and climate change, we have collected a number of Web resources and news stories with various viewpoints on the intersection between poverty and the environment. And, in the spirit of Earth Day, we have included a list of resources that provide some steps you can take to protect the environment.

Views on the environment and poverty:

• Economics for a Crowded Planet (audio) – Economist Jeffrey Sachs on NPR’s "Talk of the Nation" speaks about the relationship between population, climate change, poverty and resource use
• Human Development Report 2007/2008 – report by the United Nations Development Program (summary recommended)
• Changing the Social Climate (PDF) – by the Tides Foundation – a conversation with the head of Redefining Progress on the economic implications of climate change
• Global Warming Effects (interactive map) – National Geographic’s online map of likely scenarios resulting from continued climate change, including unsustainable development and populations at risk

Ways you can make a difference:

• Recycle! Find out what and where you can recycle things on Earth 911.
• Go Green in multiple ways with the guides available on Treehugger.com.
• Invest to fight poverty in sustainable ways – learn more on our website.

In response to increased attention to microfinance, the Wall Street Journal featured an article on March 20th highlighting various options for individuals interested in investing in microfinance. The article provides an overview of microfinance investment, introduces key players in the field including Calvert Foundation, and addresses the Community Investment Note’s role in alleviating global poverty. 

> Read the article

To celebrate Earth Day, we want to highlight the work of E+Co, a Calvert Foundation borrower that works in Asia, Africa and South America, and empowers local and sustainable modern energy businesses. A prime example of their mission in action is a business started by Toyloa, a Ghanaian woman. E+Co helped Toyloa start a small business that sells small energy-efficient stoves for people to use in their homes. These stoves use 40 percent less coal than the standard models, providing a cost savings for the family in fuel cost and an environmentally friendly option. In Ghana, people traditionally cook on charcoal stoves in small homes that are not well ventilated. These stoves can be very harmful to the health of everyone in the home, particularly small children. E+Co helped Toyola purchase a truck, which she uses to deliver the new stoves to her customers, which include schools, markets and businesses. To date, the stoves have benefited over 7,000 households, which together will displace 3,360 tons of charcoal this year.

> Find out more about E+Co

Calvert Foundation sponsored an interactive presentation on “Fighting Poverty Through Microfinance Investment” at the historic La Peña Cultural Center in Berkeley, CA on April 2nd. La Peña is known for its work in making connections between local, national and international efforts for equity, true democracy and self-determination for all people, especially the Latin American and Bay Area Latino communities.

The event featured Justin Conway of Calvert Foundation and Ashwini Narayanan of MicroPlace, as well as considerable support from Eric Leenson of Progressive Asset Management, Geoff Ashton of Calvert Group, Ltd. (sponsor of the Calvert Family of Funds), and some representatives of domestic micro-lenders in California. The event served to educate people about how microfinance works, the impact it has on families and communities around the world, and ways to get involved through investing.  

> Learn more about Calvert Foundation and MicroPlace

Absolutely! A better environment can help everyone, especially the poor. Efforts to improve the environment, such as the ones I highlight below, will make more resources available to the poor and reduce some of the cost burden levied on the poor.

1. Energy Efficiency: Energy efficient homes, appliances and cars help us all save money and natural resources. This is particularly important for families that are barely making ends meet. Too frequently, energy efficiency is equated with high up-front costs that prohibit people from purchasing the long-term benefits of energy-efficient homes and appliances. Calvert Foundation is proud to partner with many affordable housing organizations that make energy efficiency a top priority in their home development, and understand the long-term impact for the family as well as the environment. 
2. Clean Up Environmentally Neglected Areas: Because land is cheaper in polluted areas or near sources of pollution, low-income families frequently suffer the most from industrial pollution. Cleaning up these areas provides cleaner air, water and land for some of the most vulnerable populations.
3. Conserving Natural Resources: A United Nations study in 1998 found that 20 percent of people in high-income countries accounted for 86 percent of total consumption, while the poorest 20 percent consumed only 1.3 percent.

Here at Calvert Foundation, we recognize that an improved environment is one of many factors that can transform lives and create opportunities to transition out of poverty. A recent survey of our investors and supporters showed an increased concern about environmental issues, and please know that I have heard you. We are currently researching possibilities for deepening the positive environmental impact of our portfolio, since this is such a critical element in creating sustainable solutions to poverty. Stay tuned!

> Ask Shari a question.