Earth Pledge Is a Major New York Advocate of Sustainability

Earth Pledge began in 1992 as part of an effort by Ted Kheel to promote interest in the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. To aid in his efforts, Kheel enlisted the support of his friend and internationally acclaimed artist Robert Rauschenberg, who created Last Turn, Your Turn (1991), the official artwork of the Earth Summit. The proceeds from the sales of these limited-edition prints were contributed to Earth Pledge.

Today Earth Pledge has evolved into a major advocate for sustainability or what executive director Leslie Hoffman describes as the "interconnectedness of everything." Earth Pledge identifies and promotes innovative techniques and technologies that restore the balance between human and natural systems. Through demonstration, education, and research, it is delivering viable models to government, industry, and communities. For Earth Pledge, the New York region has become the laboratory for implementing replicable solutions to inspire and facilitate a global transition to sustainability.

With a series of unique initiatives, Earth Pledge is expanding its agenda of sustainability, initiatives designed to increase the connection between health and environment. Its Green Roofs project involves planting the tops of urban buildings with sod, plants, flowers and trees to ameliorate urban heat, lower energy costs, purify the air and reduce storm-water runoff. Its Farm to Table initiative, designed to create demand for sustainable local products, connects New Yorkers and others to farmers and vintners in the region to help boost the local economy. A third initiative, The Waste=Fuel project is working with anaerobic digestion to create new ways to turn human and animal waste into clean energy.

Earth Pledge's fourth initiative, Future Fashion, featuring ecocouture made with organic and recycled fabric, has been making headlines through highly visible events such as Verdopolis and New York Fashion Week. During New York Fashion Week, for example, 28 top designers dazzled New York with cutting edge eco-friendly fashions on the runway. Renewable, reusable, non-polluting fabrics such as organic cotton and wool, bamboo, corn-based fibers, recycled fibers and biopolymers were transformed into everything from elegant couture to street wear. The message is clear.

Sustainable fashion is within reach and need not limit the range and quality of products that designers can offer, from couture to sportswear to home furnishings. The use of eco-friendly products such as organic cotton, organic wool, corn fibers, recycled fabrics, biopolymers, natural dyes to industry proves that style and sustainability can coexist - creating market demand and improving health and the environment. Part of the Nurture Nature Foundation family, Earth Pledge's dominant message is environmentalism, says Kheel. "We are creating awareness. Most important, we are encouraging change by example."


home - about us - programs - urban nature journal - join - newsroom - shop - faq

Website design by Milton Glaser, Inc. 2004

New York Arts. New York Charitable Foundation. Central Park Project. New York Artists. Christo and Jeanne-Claude. NYC Arts. Urban Ecology and New York, New York Economic Development. NNYN. Ted Kheel. Support New York Arts. Protect New York Environment. New York Artists. Buy Art Prints. New York City Economy. Manhattan Arts. Manhattan Society. Gates Project Central Park. Nurture New York Nature. NNYN. NNYN.org.

Top Google Searches March 2005

     1.

nicole dehuff

     2.

 star wars trailer

     3.

 allison krauss whiskey lullaby

     4.

 chris ledoux

     5.

 ncaa brackets

     6.

 tara reid

     7.

 shannon elizabeth

     8.

 leprechaun

     9.

 harry potter

   10.

 mario vazquez