Mission


The Safe Climate Transport Campaign, formerly the Safe Climate Campaign, fights global warming by working for big, specific measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We run tough advocacy campaigns to:

  • Slash auto emissions and cut the nation’s oil use in half;
  • Pressure federal and state governments to adopt steps that dramatically cut global warming pollution;
  • Hold polluters and government officials accountable, to achieve the maximum reductions in greenhouse gas emissions; and,
  • Educate the public about global warming and the actions that will combat it.

The Safe Climate Transport Campaign is a project of the Center for Biological Diversity.

Support

The Safe Climate Campaign is grateful to the 2032 Trust, Changing Horizons Fund of the Rockefeller Family Fund, Crow’s Nest Fund, Lillian S. Isaacson Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Communal Fund, Tortuga Foundation, Better World Fund and Moxie Foundation for providing financial support.

Dan Becker, Director

As head of Sierra Club’s Global Warming and Energy Program and then as the director of the Safe Climate Campaign, and later the Safe Climate Transport Campaign, Dan Becker developed the strategy and led the fight for the biggest single step any nation has taken to fight global warming: The Obama administration’s ground-breaking program that has begun to cut in half emissions from cars, SUVs and pickup trucks. Over the 23-year fight, Dan engineered path-setting measures that paved the way for the administration’s tough standards. He assembled coalitions that led to crucial victories in Congress, designed and helped win passage in California of the nation’s first law attacking global warming pollution from cars, and co-founded the BlueGreen Alliance, the leading labor/environmental coalition that brought key unions into the fight against global warming. The pioneering campaign won a crucial victory against global warming: U.S. government rules that will deliver a new-car fleet in 2025 that averages 54.5 miles per gallon, cut oil use by 12 billion barrels, save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump and keep 6 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.  No country has taken a bigger step to cut carbon dioxide pollution.

These critical mileage-and-emissions standards are under attack by the auto industry. Even the best rules are no better than the government’s readiness to enforce them and the industry’s willingness to comply. In the new fight to preserve and protect the standards, Dan is watchdogging both, working behind-the-scenes with decision-makers and marshalling public pressure to prevent automakers from undercutting the rules. Much work remains. Without a strong monitor, there is no guarantee the standards will deliver the emissions reductions they promise. Dan has also begun working with a coalition to develop a new campaign to cut America’s oil use in half, adapting the strategy and tactics that brought the auto industry to heel for use against Big Oil in the next climate battle.

Dan has been recognized by foe and friend alike. Automotive News, the auto industry magazine with close ties to car makers, named him to its list of top 10 Washington players who most affect the auto industry. Rolling Stone magazine and Salon.com have named Dan one of the world’s 28 “Climate Heroes,” along with Tony Blair, Al Gore and James Hansen. In 2010 the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy awarded him its 30th Anniversary Award. In 2012 the IHS Energy Daily honored him with its Public Policy Leadership Award.