Friends of the Earth Action is the political arm of Friends of the Earth, the environmental group founded in 1969 by David Brower.

FOE Action advocates in legislative battles has an affiliated political action committee that endorses mostly Democratic candidates for public office across the country. It also provides financial support to candidates that tout an environmentalist agenda.

Background

Friends of the Earth Action advocates for environmentalist energy policy, higher environmental-focused taxation, and higher spending on environmentalist priorities. The organization says opposition to deforestation should mean opposing certain trade deals that would promote deforestation abroad. This would also include opposing how governments and private industries invest in companies that have “destructive” environmental practices. ¹

FOE Action contends that action to stop global warming “must be swift, significant and fair.” By fair, the group notes that, “Those who bear least responsibility for global warming pollution are suffering most from its effects today.” ²

Presidential Politics

In 2016, Friends of the Earth Action was the first national organization to endorse the Presidential campaign of self-described socialist U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont). It continues to work closely with Our Revolution, the nonprofit that grew out of the first Sanders campaign. ³ It also aired a 30-second commercial touting Sanders in New Hampshire for his opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline and trade deals. Sanders went onto win the state’s primary that year. ⁴

As of May 2019, the organization has not backed a candidate in the 2020 Presidential election, but FOE Action protesters pushed Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke to commit to the Green New Deal during a New Hampshire event. When the candidate didn’t give complete support to the idea, FOE Action criticized the former congressman in a press release for being a large recipient of oil and gas contributions. ⁵

2018 Endorsements

FOE Action had a mixed record in the 2018 midterm elections. Endorsed candidates for gubernatorial races in Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Maryland, and Vermont all lost. The group had a stronger record in House races, and endorsed heavy favorites to win in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin. However, the endorsed Senate candidate in Maine lost. ⁶

People

Erich Pica is the president of FOE Action and the larger Friends of the Earth organization. He promoted allying with Black Lives Matter and including “racial justice” as a priority. ⁷

1. About. Friends of the Earth Action. Accessed April 27, 2019. https://foeaction.org/about-us/.
2. About. Friends of the Earth Action. Accessed April 27, 2019. https://foeaction.org/about-us/.
3. Press Release. “10 Reason FOE Action Backs Bernie.” Friends of the Earth Action. Accessed April 26, 201  https://foeaction.org/10-reasons-foeaction-backs-bernie/
4. Marica, Dan. CNN. January 15, 2016. Accessed April 27, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2016/01/15/politics/sanders-friends-of-the-earth-keystone/index.html
5. Press Release. “Beto Birddogged on Video, Fails on Green New Deal.” March 22, 2019. Accessed April 27, 2019. https://foeaction.org/news/beto-birddogged-video-fails-green-new-deal/.
6. Press Release. “Friends of the Earth Action Endorses Candidates in Races Across the country.” October 16, 2019. Accessed April 27, 2019. https://foeaction.org/news/friends-earth-action-endorses-candidates-races-across-country/.
7. About. Friends of the Earth Action. Accessed April 27, 2019. https://foeaction.org/about-us/.