Meet the little-known group funded by left-wing dark money that is shaping federal climate policy
Published November 10, 2023 4:00am EST
A little-known, Boston-based organization focused on sustainability and combating global warming and fueled by millions of dollars in dark money funding has quietly established itself in recent years as a key federal policymaking power player.
Ceres, a nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1989, in recent years has established elaborate networks of financial institutions, pension funds, labor unions and major multinational corporations, rallying those members to pursue shared left-wing climate policies. The group has simultaneously worked hand-in-hand with other environmental groups and federal and state policymakers to forward its agenda.
"Ceres is trying to drive the climate agenda through subterfuge and milking the power of wealthy investment firms and big corporations," Jason Isaac, the founder and CEO of the American Energy Institute, told Fox News Digital.
"They're getting rich while they believe that they're saving the world. I say they're destroying the planet to save the Earth in their minds, and that the scourge of the Earth is us humans. At the same time, they just happen to be profiting very handsomely from their advocacy, so they feel good about it. I call it a cult. It has become their religion."
Isaac's American Energy Institute recently assembled a report, shared exclusively with Fox News Digital, that outlines how Ceres has grown into one of the nation's most influential climate organizations affecting policy. According to the report, Ceres is composed of three main membership networks — the Investor Network, the BICEP Network and the Company Network.
The Ceres Investor Network includes more than 220 institutional investors, which managea staggering $46 trillion in assets. That network, Ceres says, seeks to "accelerate the transition to a just, sustainable, net-zero emissions economy."
DARK MONEY GROUP PUSHING GAS STOVE CRACKDOWN HAS SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL STAKE IN GREEN ENERGY
The Ceres BICEP and Company Networks include companies like Doordash, General Mills, HP, Ikea, Kaiser Permanente, McDonald's, Nestle, Netflix, Nike, PayPal, Salesforce, Starbucks and Unilever. They work to adopt uniform strategies to lower emissions. For example, the BICEP Network contains a Corporate Electric Vehicle Alliance focused on "accelerating the transition to electric vehicles."
"They're using their influence and their power and their money to push these policies on Americans at the detriment of American energy producers and to the benefit of Chinese companies that now own or control more than 80% of the cobalt mines in Africa and the Congo to meet our green dream goals, if you will," Isaac told Fox News Digital, referencing critical mineral production vital to developing green energy technology.
"It's, again, to our incredible detriment, as we're seeing higher cost of electricity. We're seeing greater number of electricity disconnects and greater number of natural gas disconnects in American homes," he added. "Expensive energy hurts the poor, and I'm working against policies that make energy more expensive."
The American Energy Institute report also highlighted how Ceres has raised tens of millions of dollars to fund its operations. The majority of Ceres' funding has originated from left-wing grant-making foundations like the Rockefeller Family Fund, New Venture Fund, Climate Imperative Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation, which aren't required to disclose individual donors, in addition to individual donors who have remained anonymous.
According to Ceres' most recent 990 tax filing, between the period from November 2021 through October 2022, it received $26.6 million in contributions and grants. The year prior, it raised nearly $40 million for its operations. Two anonymous grantors contributed 35% of the $26.6 million raised, while one grantor was responsible for 14% of the $40 million raised, further financial filings showed.
The New Venture Fund, a key cog in the billion-dollar left-wing Arabella Advisors dark money network, has alone wired more than $5 million to Ceres since 2019.
Ceres declined to comment on the American Energy Institute report and its funding structure, instead pointing Fox News Digital to its most recent annual financial report that confirmed the figures.
The group has also actively worked with and engaged Democrats in Congress on various issues, leveraging its networks of stakeholders. For example, the group has helped develop policy with the Senate Climate Change Task Force, which includes Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Chairman Tom Carper, D-Del., and recently participated in an event focused on green investments with Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in Boston.
Overall, Ceres has dumped more than $1 million lobbying on federal environmental issues since 2017, according to federal data compiled by Open Secrets. Lobbyists hired by Ceres worked behind the scenes advocating for the Inflation Reduction Act, Democrats' $739 billion climate and tax bill that President Biden signed into law in August 2022.
Ceres President and CEO Mindy Lubber and Executive Vice President Dawn Martin attended a Sept. 13, 2022, ceremony at the White House where Biden touted the legislation.
"We are going to take the most aggressive action ever, ever, ever to confront the climate crisis and increase our energy security — ever in the whole world. And that’s not hyperbole, that’s a fact," the president remarked during the ceremony.
Lubber, who previously served as a regional administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and founded a green energy mutual fund, has visited the White House for meetings and ceremonies on at least five occasions since 2021. Martin joined Lubber on at least three of those visits.
Lubber also attended a July 2022 event where Biden announced climate-focused executive actions at the site of a shuttered coal plant in Somerset, Massachusetts.
"For more than 30 years, Ceres has shown that sustainability is the only way to build an economy for the long run," Lubber said on the day of the White House's Inflation Reduction Act ceremony she attended in September 2022.
"Our years of work organizing businesses as advocates for meaningful climate policy helped to marshal the hundreds of leading companies and investors that tirelessly advocated for the climate, clean energy and environmental justice investments the Inflation Reduction Act has delivered."
Ceres' activities and widespread influence, meanwhile, have attracted congressional scrutiny, particularly through its work gathering stakeholders to pursue climate actions together. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, issued a subpoena to Ceres in June, alleging the group may be facilitating collusion through its climate-focused initiatives in violation of U.S. antitrust law.
"Corporations are collectively adopting and imposing progressive environmental, social, and governance (ESG)-related goals, and Ceres appears to facilitate collusion through Climate Action 100+ that may violate U.S. antitrust law," Jordan wrote to Ceres counsel Matthew Miller.
"To advance our oversight and inform potential legislation related to collusive ESG policies, the Committee must understand how and to what extent Ceres and Climate Action 100+ facilitate collusion to promote ESG-related goals."
A month later, Consumers’ Research, a consumer advocacy organization, assembled a report for Jordan that outlined Ceres' initiatives pushing net-zero emissions goals on American companies.
In an accompanying letter, the group's executive director, Will Hild, said Ceres has spearheaded a "decade-long coordinated effort led by Ceres to assert regulatory influence and organize shareholder activism, all with the goal of mandating climate disclosure that benefits and feeds the ESG investing industrial complex."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/meet-little-known-group-funded-left-wing-dark-money-shaping-federal-climate-policy
Today at 9:31 am by Rocky
» MM&C 5/9/24 The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and the European Union discuss cooperation to fin
Today at 9:27 am by Rocky
» MM&C 5/9/24 Customs, security and economic aspects
Today at 9:24 am by Rocky
» Union of Arab Banks: Iraq's environment encourages investment
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Government advisor: Movement to recover bad debts for the benefit of the Iraqi Trade Bank
Today at 6:55 am by Rocky
» The International Development Bank announces the opening of its new branch in Erbil
Today at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Oil seeks to convert refinery products to “Euro 5”... high quality and environmentally friendly
Today at 6:50 am by Rocky
» Budget delay: the cry for help for paralyzed services and disrupted dreams
Today at 6:47 am by Rocky
» Oil: Completion of projects to improve the quality of petroleum products, and others are under imple
Today at 6:44 am by Rocky
» Chairman of the Securities Commission: 3 million shares, average daily trading volume
Today at 6:43 am by Rocky
» Tamim calls on the countries participating in the meetings of the Arab Administrative Development Or
Today at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Endowments: 39 thousand pilgrims, Iraq’s share, and waiving the religious obligation i
Today at 6:39 am by Rocky
» Washington refers to Iraqi legislation that “does not harm” his international presence, and Baghdad
Today at 6:34 am by Rocky
» Deputy: Extending the legislative term depends on sending the budget schedules
Today at 6:30 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Legal: 88 draft laws on the parliamentary shelf
Today at 6:29 am by Rocky
» The head of the movement denies any Iraqi-American negotiations to remove the coalition
Today at 5:23 am by Rocky
» A deputy expects to resolve the issue of electing the Speaker of Parliament next week
Today at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Obtaining the approval of the Minister of Electricity to fill the energy shortage in Dhi Qar
Today at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Economist on the decline in dollar prices: My time and it will not reach its official price
Today at 5:20 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Ministerial Council for National Security approves the 2024-2028 strategy
Today at 5:18 am by Rocky
» Mulla Bakhtiar: Nechirvan Barzani's visit to Iran melted the ice between Erbil and Tehran
Today at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Password "78"... Why did the Sudanese government's interrogations and noisy sessions decline?
Today at 5:16 am by Rocky
» JP Morgan forecasts an increase in the oil capacity of Iraq and other countries in 2025
Today at 5:15 am by Rocky
» Turkish Minister of Transport: The development road will cost $20 billion
Today at 5:13 am by Rocky
» The Supreme Committee for Reconstruction and Investment approves a package of strategic projects
Today at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Work: Preparing a unified national strategy to create job opportunities for youth
Today at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Prime Minister's financial advisor reduces the risks of the budget deficit
Today at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Sudanese announces the signing of an agreement with Japan to finance small and medium enterprises in
Today at 5:09 am by Rocky
» Government Advisor: The Securities Commission represents the governance base for promoting financial
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A unified national strategy to create job opportunities for youth
Today at 5:07 am by Rocky
» A one-week deadline to decide the position of Speaker of Parliament
Today at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Parliament: We coordinate with the competent regulatory authorities to examine medicines
Today at 5:04 am by Rocky
» The Commission suspends the Kurdistan Parliament's voting procedures
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» $100 million to localize the pharmaceutical industry
Today at 5:01 am by Rocky
» Increase in external remittances at the Central Bank
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» A government advisor reduces the risks of a budget deficit
Today at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Culture: We seek to invest in the stability of the country to advance the tourism sector
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Integrity announces the results of a questionnaire on bribery in real estate registration department
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Parliament comments on Sudanese plan to restructure the government apparatus: It needs radical refor
Today at 4:49 am by Rocky
» The dollar rises again against the Iraqi dinar in Baghdad
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Politician: The government does not deal transparently with the issue of expelling the Americans
Today at 4:43 am by Rocky
» A government bank participating in an accounting project
Today at 4:42 am by Rocky
» Masrour Barzani: The Kurdistan Regional Government has implemented all its obligations and duties
Today at 4:41 am by Rocky
» French Consul: France strengthens relations with the Kurdistan Region
Today at 4:39 am by Rocky
» Studies Center: Sudanese faces the challenges of maintaining sustainable relations with the United S
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» “The absence of democracy is not possible.” The federal government remains silent on the postponemen
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» Taqadum Party: The absence of the Speaker of Parliament disrupted the general amnesty law
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» The file of oil export through Turkish territory is under the control of politicians
Today at 4:33 am by Rocky
» For the sake of the position of president and the budget schedules... there is a preference for exte
Today at 4:32 am by Rocky
» “If you bring the equipment, let’s begin.” Revealing the secrets of Erdogan’s visit to Iraq and the
Today at 4:31 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary moves to approve the Human Organ and Tissue Bank Law
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Electricity embarks on an 11-axis plan to develop the energy sector
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» Al-Asadi announces work on legislating a law on occupational health and safety
Today at 4:26 am by Rocky
» Al-Rasheed: Increasing the amount of loans for restoration and maintenance of buildings to 50 millio
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Under the chairmanship of Al-Sudani, Reconstruction and Investment agree on projects related to elec
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» Baghdad and Tehran.. New discussions regarding railway connectivity to transport visitors between th
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» Immigration: Our plan focuses on the voluntary return of displaced persons and rejecting their house
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» An Iraqi trade delegation in Iran to facilitate the export of agricultural crops to Iraq
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Sudanese launches work on the Union Mills Project in Babil Governorate
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary demands to resolve the selection of the Speaker of Parliament next week: So far, there
Today at 4:18 am by Rocky
» Sudanese inaugurates a sugar production factory expansion project and three other factories
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani confirms the unlimited support from the government to develop the success story in the pri
Today at 4:16 am by Rocky
» From Babylon... Al-Sudani announces the referral of the large Hilla sewerage project, phase two, to
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The factories that opened in Babylon provide more than 4,000 job opportunities
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» A representative calls for the payment of lucrative compensation to farmers after the flooding of wh
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» Government Advisor: The Securities Commission represents the governance base for promoting financial
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 5/7/24 Iraq Dinar- IQD Update - Regional Trade - A Progession of Reforms - A Global Bac
Yesterday at 6:53 am by Rocky
» MM&C The Iraqi Private Banks Association told NEWS: These are the results of the Prime Minister’s me
Yesterday at 6:52 am by Rocky
» After a break of more than 9 years.. the resumption of a government trade meeting between Iraq and A
Yesterday at 6:51 am by Rocky
» Deputy: The general amnesty law will be passed
Yesterday at 6:46 am by Rocky
» A change in the fuel smuggling map... “control” over the central ports and “laxity” in the north
Yesterday at 6:43 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani takes three urgent decisions to block the wheat mafias in Iraq
Yesterday at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Electricity embarks on an 11-axis plan to develop the energy sector
Yesterday at 6:39 am by Rocky
» “Thug and smuggler.” A female representative talks about a crocodile in Parliament blackmailing exec
Yesterday at 6:37 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani told the US State Department: Iraq is keen to strengthen its democratic system
Yesterday at 6:36 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank sells more than $275 million at auction today
Yesterday at 6:34 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Commerce stresses the observance of the Iraqi standard in the supply of goods
Yesterday at 6:33 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Trade Bank announces its participation in the process of localizing the salaries of Kurdis
Yesterday at 6:32 am by Rocky
» Iraq adopts an advanced system to combat money laundering and terrorist financing
Yesterday at 5:25 am by Rocky
» Increase in Euphrates River levels due to Turkish water releases
Yesterday at 5:22 am by Rocky
» Demands the need to legislate the capital law
Yesterday at 5:21 am by Rocky
» Parliament decided to extend the legislative term by one month
Yesterday at 5:20 am by Rocky
» A bank participating in the process of localizing the salaries of employees in the region
Yesterday at 5:18 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary request to the Ministry of Finance regarding defense mobilization dues/document
Yesterday at 5:17 am by Rocky
» Dollar prices in Baghdad and Kurdistan today
Yesterday at 5:16 am by Rocky
» Al-Rasheed decides to increase the ceiling for granting “construction” loans to 75 million dinars
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» A government plan to expand the construction of water harvesting dams
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Frozen or banned? An Iranian official reveals the fate of Tehran’s money in Baghdad
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Iraqi Trade Bank participates in the process of localizing the salaries of Kurdistan Region empl
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Finance confirms the Iraqi government's desire to benefit from the expertise of French companies
Yesterday at 5:09 am by Rocky
» After targeting its branch in Kurdistan... Dana Gas announces a decrease in its profits to $38 milli
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» A parliamentary understanding to extend the legislative term to approve the 2024 budget schedules
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Stopping the Commission’s procedures regarding the region’s elections
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» Foreign oil companies violate Iraqi laws
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» The position of Speaker of Parliament depends on the political agreement
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» The Ministry of Finance decides to send the April salary to the Kurdistan region
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» It did not reach the Council.. Parliament determines the mechanisms for dealing with the 2024 budget
Yesterday at 5:01 am by Rocky
» 88 projects awaiting resolution.. What will happen to the stalled laws in Parliament? - Urgent
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani receives the US Undersecretary of State
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky