Nature Conservancy president resigns in wake of sexual harassment probe

Zack Colman reports for Politico

Nature Conservancy
“Brian McPeek and I jointly agreed that the best way for TNC to move forward at this time is for him to resign.” Mark Tercek, CEO of the Nature Conservancy, emailed to staff on Friday. | Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan/Getty Images

Nature Conservancy President Brian McPeek resigned Friday, just days after the group completed an investigation into sexual harassment and workplace misconduct at the world’s largest environmental organization.

The news came two days after POLITICO first reported on the internal investigation at the group, which reported $1.3 billion in revenues last year and has long drawn support from both Democrats and Republicans. Its board of directors includes former Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and former Obama administration Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, and its executives include former Obama White House climate adviser Heather Zichal.

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CEO Mark Tercek emailed staff Friday afternoon to announce McPeek’s departure.

CEO Mark Tercek emailed staff Friday afternoon to announce McPeek’s departure.

“Brian McPeek and I jointly agreed that the best way for TNC to move forward at this time is for him to resign. We both think this decision is in the best interest of the organization as well as Brian and his family,” he wrote.

The investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and McPeek’s departure came amid rising scrutiny of executives of a vast array of companies and organizations, as the #MeToo movement has heightened attention to pervasive mistreatment of women.

In statement to POLITICO, a spokesperson for the group said Tercek and McPeek decided the best option was “for Brian to resign. They have agreed this decision is in the best interest of the organization and for Brian. “

McPeek had stepped aside from his role as president while the law firm McDermott Will & Emery investigated allegations of sexual harassment at the environmental group. The firm said it found that some employees complained of an organizational culture that is hostile to women, and that decision-makers often sided with the accused when people reported misconduct.

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Chinook bust: Spring returns worse than forecast on Northwest’s largest river

Big spring chinook like the one above are scarce on the Columbia River. An already-gloomy forecast has turned dismal, with returns at less than half of the 10-year average. It’s a frustrating and puzzling year for federal research fishery biologist Darren Ogden, above, and others working to bring back the most prized fish in the Columbia Basin. And the decline spells trouble for the hungry orcas who feed on chinook. (Photo: Steve Ringman / The Seattle Times)

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Revised agenda for NJ Senate Environment and Energy Committee meeting on Thursday, June 6, 2019

The committee will meet at 10 a.m. in Room 6 on the first floor of the State House Annex.

Following is the revised agenda of bills to be considered:

S2288 (Smith / Bateman) – Directs DEP to classify neonicotinoid pesticides as restricted use pesticides.

S3670 (Smith / Singleton) – Requires land use plan element of the municipal master plan to include climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment.

S3818 (Smith) – Modifies powers and duties of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank. (pending intro and referral)

S3819 (Greenstein) – Authorizes NJ Infrastructure Bank to expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2020. (pending intro and referral)

S3820 (Codey) – Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental infrastructure projects for FY2020. (pending intro and referral)

SCR168 (Corrado) – Approves FY2020 Financial Plan of NJ Infrastructure Bank. (pending intro and referral)

FOR DISCUSSION ONLY:

S3682 (Smith / Bateman / Greenstein) – Makes various changes to laws governing remediation of contaminated sites.

See previous committee agenda here

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California bills advance that would set 75% plastic packaging reduction goal

Bryan M. Gold reports for Waste Dive

Two bills collectively known as the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act have advanced in their respective legislative bodies. SB 54 passed in the Senate on May 29 and AB 1080 passed in the Assembly on May 30. Each bill will now head to the opposite legislative body for multiple rounds of committee votes — and possible amendments — before potentially coming up for a final concurrence vote that could send the legislation to Gov. Gavin Newsom by this fall.

Dive Brief:

  • California legislators recently introduced a pair of bills (AB 1080 and SB 54) known as the California Circular Economy and Plastic Pollution Reduction Act that would establish a comprehensive plan to “reduce and recycle” 75% of single-use plastics by 2030.
  • This bill takes a phased approach, calling for manufacturers of single-use plastic packaging or products distributed and sold in California to show a recycling rate of at least 20% by Jan. 1, 2022, and at least 40% by 2026. By 2030, all products would have to be “recyclable or compostable.”
  • In preparation, the legislation would require the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) to create and approve a scoping plan about how to measure and achieve those targets by Jan. 1, 2021. It also calls for CalRecycle to develop criteria – based on requested data from the public and private sector – to determine which types of single-use packaging or products are reusable, recyclable, or compostable.

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So, how’s that natural gas bridge to clean energy coming along?

TOM JOHNSON reports for NJ Spotlight | MAY 31, 2019

Advocacy group maintains building new pipelines and other gas infrastructure means carbon emissions will be around for decades

natural gas pipeline

A new study aims to dispel the notion that natural gas could be a bridge to a clean-energy future, suggesting it will instead undermine the Murphy administration’s goal to sharply curb climate-warming carbon emissions.

The report by Oil Change International, an advocacy group promoting renewable energy, recommends phasing out gas and other fossil fuels immediately if New Jersey wants to comply with state laws requiring 100-percent clean energy by 2050 and an 80-percent reduction in greenhouse-gas emissions by 2050.

The report aims to bolster the case for blocking the expansion of natural-gas infrastructure in the state, a scenario occurring at the same time that a wide range of clean-energy projects — including offshore wind, energy efficiency and electrifying the transportation system — are under review by the administration.

“New Jersey is now a poster child for proposed fossil-fuel infrastructure that is not needed,’’ said Barb Blumenthal, research director for the New Jersey Conservation Foundation, referring to proposals to build new natural-gas pipelines and gas-fired power plants across the state.

It points to the dilemma facing policymakers on how to juggle competing priorities to supplying the public with clean but affordable energy. On the one hand, the administration and clean-energy advocates want to shift away from climate-changing fossil fuels but officials fear the loss of a cheap source of energy that has lowered heating and electric bills and helped revive a manufacturing economy still recovering from a decade-old recession.

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