Friends of the Earth

Friends of the Earth is a global network of environmental non-governmental organizations operating in over 70 countries. Founded in San Francisco by veteran conservationists David Brower and Donald Aitken, the organization advocates for systemic solutions to ecological crises, emphasizing social justice and the rights of Indigenous peoples. Its decentralized structure comprises autonomous national member groups that coordinate through an international secretariat based in Amsterdam.

History

The organization was established in 1969 following a philosophical split between its founders and the leadership of the Sierra Club, where David Brower had previously served as executive director. Its first major campaign opposed the supersonic transport (SST) program in the United States, successfully mobilizing public opinion against government funding. The network expanded internationally in 1971 with the founding of Friends of the Earth England, Wales and Northern Ireland and Les Amis de la Terre in France. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it played a significant role in global advocacy, contributing to the establishment of key treaties like the Montreal Protocol and participating in the landmark United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm.

Organization and structure

The network operates as a federation of independent national organizations, each with its own campaigns and funding. The overarching body, Friends of the Earth International, is governed by a Biennial General Meeting where representatives from member groups set strategic priorities. Day-to-day coordination is managed by an International Secretariat in Amsterdam, overseen by an elected Executive Committee chaired by Hemantha Withanage of the Centre for Environmental Justice in Sri Lanka. Prominent national members include Friends of the Earth EWNI, Friends of the Earth US, and Friends of the Earth Australia.

Campaigns and activities

Core campaigns focus on climate justice, opposing fossil fuel projects like the Keystone Pipeline and advocating for a transition to renewables. The network champions biodiversity protection, campaigning against deforestation in the Amazon rainforest and genetically modified organisms. It actively supports environmental justice communities, such as those affected by Shell's operations in the Niger Delta, and litigates for corporate accountability, notably filing a groundbreaking climate lawsuit against Royal Dutch Shell in the Netherlands. Other initiatives target plastic pollution, unsustainable trade agreements like the World Trade Organization policies, and the rights of Indigenous peoples.

Political positions and impact

The organization advocates for transformative economic models, challenging the primacy of GDP growth and promoting concepts like degrowth and the Green New Deal. It is a vocal critic of corporate influence, opposing the lobbying power of entities like the American Petroleum Institute and advocating for binding United Nations treaties on business and human rights. Its advocacy has influenced international policy, contributing to the Paris Agreement framework and shaping debates on loss and damage financing at COP27. The network's research, such as reports on fossil fuel subsidies, is frequently cited by institutions like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Criticism and controversies

The organization has faced criticism from some free-market think tanks, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute, which accuse it of promoting anti-capitalist agendas detrimental to economic development. Its stance on nuclear power as a climate solution has drawn opposition from some scientists and activists aligned with the Breakthrough Institute. Internally, the decentralized model has occasionally led to strategic disagreements between member groups, and some campaigns have been accused of Eurocentrism by partners in the Global South. Its alignment with direct action protests, such as those against the World Bank, has also attracted political scrutiny.

Category:Environmental organizations Category:International nongovernmental organizations Category:Organizations established in 1969