Redefining Progress was a left-of-center public policy organization based in Oakland, California, that described itself as seeking allegedly market-based solutions for environmental issues. Redefining Progress called for stopping global warming through carbon taxes, auctioning emissions permits, and securing multinational treaties on emissions. The organization called for ending the exploration for new fossil fuels, claimed stopping global warming would reduce racial inequities, and called for increased government oversight to fight global warming and citizen pressure in local communities. The organization terminated operations in 2011. ^{1 2 3 4}

History

Redefining Progress was formed in 1993 as a public policy think tank committed to an environmentally sustainable and equitable world. ⁵ Redefining Progress described itself as a market-based environmentally friendly organization. ⁶ The organization provided an ecological footprint calculator and global warming information. ⁷ The organization terminated operations in 2011. ⁸

Positions

Redefining Progress stated that global warming might cause potential public health concerns such as expanding the geographical ranges of deadly diseases, losing species biodiversity, raising sea levels, increasing storm severity, and increasing infrastructure costs. Redefining Progress advanced reducing global warming through allegedly market-based policies including carbon taxes and/or the auction of emissions permits. Redefining Progress proposed that countries implement an international emissions trading agreement. ⁹

Redefining Progress called for the United States to end the exploration for fossil fuels. ¹⁰ Redefining Progress called for climate justice so that no racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic group has a disproportionate share of the perceived consequences of global warming. ¹¹ Although published in 2006, Redefining Progress warned of devastating global warming scenarios in California but only cites estimated predictions that begin in 2050 or 2070. ¹²

Redefining Progress’ director of sustainable economics program postulated that a strategy and policy to fight global warming also advances racial and economic justice. ¹³ Redefining Progress, in conjunction with Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative, called for a federal climate justice advisory board, every state implementing an ambitious climate plan, working with labor and environmental alliances, persuading individuals to force churches to take stands on environmental policies, and schools and workplaces to reduce global warming pollution. ¹⁴

Redefining Progress advocated for the “precautionary principle” that states the burden of showing a benefit to society through new construction or advancement must include introducing preventative measures by the proponent for issues known and unknown. ¹⁵ This may include a proponent of building a factory must also disclose any real or potential negative effects of the proposal. ¹⁶ The burden of implementing preventative action, even in the absence of scientific uncertainty, must be incorporated to save the environment. ¹⁷

Funding

Redefining Progress received support from left-wing and other foundations, including the Ben & Jerry’s Foundation, Columbia Foundation, Compton Foundation Inc., Nathan Cummings Foundation, East Bay Community Foundation, Edgerton Foundation, Edna Wardlaw Charitable Trust, Energy Foundation, Epstein/Roth Foundation, Flora Family Foundation, Ford Foundation, Global Environment Project Institute, Lisa and Douglas Goldman Fund, Richard and Rhoda Goldman Fund, Roy A. Hunt Foundation, Joyce Foundation, Kendeda Sustainability Fund, Merck Family Fund, Katherine and David Moore Family Foundation, New York Community Trust, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, Surdna Foundation, Taproot Foundation, and Weeden Foundation. It also declared support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. ¹⁸

1. “Redefining Progress.” Internal Revenue Service. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/.
2. DeCanio, Stephen. “The Economics of Climate Change.” Redefining Progress. October 1997. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://stephendecanio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Economics-of-Climate-Change-1997.pdf.
3. “Climate Change in California: Health, Economic, and Equity Impacts.” Redefining Progress. January 2006. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/climate-change-in-california-health-economic-and-equity-impacts-12133/full-article.
4. “Climate Change in California: Health, Economic, and Equity Impacts.” Redefining Progress. January 2006. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/climate-change-in-california-health-economic-and-equity-impacts-12133/full-article.
5. “Redefining Progress.” Zoominfo. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.zoominfo.com/c/redefining-progress/164626751; “Ted Halstead.” Influencewatch.org. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.influencewatch.org/person/ted-halstead/.
6. DeCanio, Stephen. “The Economics of Climate Change.” Redefining Progress. October 1997. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://stephendecanio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Economics-of-Climate-Change-1997.pdf.
7. “Redefining Progress.” Ecology Center. September 28, 2013. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://ecologycenter.org/directory/directory-entries/redefining-progress/.
8. “Redefining Progress.” Internal Revenue Service. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/.
9. DeCanio, Stephen. “The Economics of Climate Change.” Redefining Progress. October 1997. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://stephendecanio.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Economics-of-Climate-Change-1997.pdf.
10. “Climate Change in California: Health, Economic, and Equity Impacts.” Redefining Progress. January 2006. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/climate-change-in-california-health-economic-and-equity-impacts-12133/full-article.
11. “Climate Change in California: Health, Economic, and Equity Impacts.” Redefining Progress. January 2006. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/climate-change-in-california-health-economic-and-equity-impacts-12133/full-article.
12. “Climate Change in California: Health, Economic, and Equity Impacts.” Redefining Progress. January 2006. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/climate-change-in-california-health-economic-and-equity-impacts-12133/full-article.
13. ^[1] Hoerner, J. Andrew and Nia Robinson. “A Climate of Change.” Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative. June 2008. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/a-climate-of-change-african-americans-global-warming-and-a-just-climate-policy-for-the-us-37862/full-article.
14. Hoerner, J. Andrew and Nia Robinson. “A Climate of Change.” Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative. June 2008. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://www.environmental-expert.com/articles/a-climate-of-change-african-americans-global-warming-and-a-just-climate-policy-for-the-us-37862/full-article.
15. Bell, Ann Maria. “Taking Externalities Seriously: An Economic Perspective on the Precautionary Principle.” Redefining Progress. February 2002. Accessed March 10, 2024.
16. Bell, Ann Maria. “Taking Externalities Seriously: An Economic Perspective on the Precautionary Principle.” Redefining Progress. February 2002. Accessed March 10, 2024.
17. Bell, Ann Maria. “Taking Externalities Seriously: An Economic Perspective on the Precautionary Principle.” Redefining Progress. February 2002. Accessed March 10, 2024. http://faculty.washington.edu/rturner1/Sustainability/Bibliography/docs/AMBell_precaution.pdf.
18. ^[1] “Funding and Financials.” Redefining Progress – Funding and Financials. Archived from the original February 18, 2008. Accessed March 20, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20080218031714/http://www.rprogress.org/about_us/funding_and_financials.htm.