Matt Petersen
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Matt Petersen, Global Green USA President, CEO and board member, joined Global Green USA in 1994. He serves on the Council of Green Cross International, and is Chair of the GCI Energy and Resource Efficiency program. Petersen drives and guides Global Green USA's new programs, including work on water and energy, green power, climate change, and nuclear weapons.

In the aftermath of the Gulf Coast hurricanes, Petersen put forth a vision and mobilized resources to create the Global Green "Healthy Homes and Smart Neighborhoods" initiative which resulted in: the New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition with Jury Chair Brad Pitt; the NOLA Green Schools Initiative funded by the Bush Clinton Katrina Fund; and work with Habitat for Humanity throughout the Gulf Coast to create more energy efficient housing.

Petersen is an advisor to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, a Member of the Pacific Council on International Policy and serves on the Environmental Media Association (EMA) Advisory Board, as well as the Automotive X Prize Advisory Board. Previously, Petersen served as Executive Director of Americans for a Safe Future, a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations and was a political campaign manager for candidates at the local, state, and federal level. Petersen is also active in his community as a member of the Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment.

Blog Entries by Matt Petersen

I'm Stuck in a Bad Relationship, Part 2

2 Comments | Posted March 3, 2012 | g:i A

Last month, I wrote about how we are stuck in a bad relationship with planet Earth.

A good relationship is built on respect.

A good relationship demands that you listen to your partner.

But we, as a society, have not been listening to planet Earth and the signals...

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I'm Stuck in a Bad Relationship, Part 1

Posted January 30, 2012 | g:i A

I'm stuck in a bad relationship.

I think you're stuck in a bad relationship too.

In fact, I think we're all stuck in a bad relationship.

And I'll tell you why. Starting with a little story.

Two planets walk into a bar.

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Ready for Rio: Earth Summit Call for Action

Posted October 28, 2011 | g:i A

Global Green USA will join presidents, prime ministers, other world leaders ­and thousands of citizens and activists from Brazil, the U.S., and around the globe in Rio de Janeiro for the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (a.k.a. Earth Summit) next June.

I will be leading a Global...

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Green Occupation of Wall Street

Posted October 10, 2011 | g:i A

If you haven't read yet, maybe you're living under a rock. Thousands of citizens have taken to the streets in NYC -- and now across the country in dozens of other cities -- for Occupy Wall Street protests.

Beginning as a protest against corporate greed and the actions of banks...

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Take the I AM Challenge to Fight Climate Change and Sea Level Rise

Posted September 21, 2011 | g:i A

Take the I AM Challenge, and Take Responsibility for a Green Corner of the World

Among other challenges, global warming is causing our sea levels to rise and putting our coastal cities -- and billions of people -- at risk across the globe.

We know first-hand about...

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Blessed Bounty: Reflections on the Sustainable Design Competition

Posted August 31, 2011 | g:i A

It was mid-July 2006, and I vividly remember walking through the first day of our design jury for the Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans -- and just being overwhelmed with joy at all the incredible ideas and work represented. We had a tremendous response, thanks in great part to...

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Introductions: Irene, Meet Katrina; Katrina, Meet Irene

Posted August 29, 2011 | g:i A

Our hearts are with those who have lost loved ones and are left with damaged homes, businesses and communities in the days that Hurricane Irene moved up the East Coast.

There was a collective sigh of relief when Hurricane Irene was downgraded to a tropical storm by the time...

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Remembering Ray Anderson: A Tribute to a True Green Giant

Posted August 9, 2011 | g:i A

Yesterday we lost a true giant, a green pioneer, dear friend, and mentor to so many: Ray Anderson.

I first met Ray in 1995, when he gave a speech at a greening of Habitat for Humanity event Global Green organized in Atlanta. Bill Browning, a good friend and colleague who...

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April: Auspicious and Alarming Anniversaries

Posted April 2, 2011 | g:i A

As April is upon us, we have a few important dates that really define the challenges we face as humanity and the future health of planet Earth. Yes, on April 22, we will 'celebrate' the 41st anniversary of the first Earth Day, but we will also mark some...

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Arriving in the Congo to Celebrate the #CityofJoy

Posted February 4, 2011 | g:i A

BUKAVU, Democratic Republic of Congo, February 3 -- I just arrived in the Democratic Republic of the Congo via an amazing -- albeit a little bumpy -- drive through Rwanda, after arriving in Bujumbura, Burundi yesterday. I am here with Eve Ensler and other supporters of V-Day to join in...

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Rebuilding the Future

Posted October 6, 2010 | g:i A

Yesterday was the 10:10:10 global work day, an amazing show of action to combat global warming, and improve lives around the globe.

Sadly, yesterday also marked 30 days since a terrible tragedy rocked San Bruno. A natural gas line ruptured and exploded, causing a horrific...

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On Eve of 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Green Renaissance Takes Hold in New Orleans

Posted August 26, 2010 | g:i A

NEW ORLEANS - As New Orleans, the nation and the world prepare to mark the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina on Aug. 29 (and the devastating aftermath), I have been reflecting on the personal journey I have taken these past five years in my love affair with this great city.

...
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Passing of a True Giant -- Leading Climate Expert Steve Schneider Passes Away

Posted July 19, 2010 | g:i A

Those of us who knew Steve Schneider thought he was invincible. He had beaten back a rare form of cancer, and wrote a book about it, The Patient from Hell.

When I got the news of his passing this morning due to a heart attack, I was shocked, and deeply...

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Declaring Energy Independence -- Citizens of New Orleans and Gulf Coast Respond to BP Oil Spill

Posted July 1, 2010 | g:i A

While fireworks, fun, and family punctuate our annual 4th of July celebrations, it is sometimes easy to forget that the 4th of July commemorates America's declaration of independence. Our nation's founders signed the Declaration of Independence to escape the tyranny of Britain and establish our citizens' inalienable right: life, liberty...

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BP Oil Spill Police State? Sophia Bush, Austin Nichols Join Us on Grand Isle (VIDEO)

Posted June 25, 2010 | g:i A

On Monday, I toured the waters off Grand Isle and their beaches with a group who came ready to learn more about the BP Oil Spill, and to help the community which is reeling. Joining me were the actors Sophia Bush and Austin Nichols, writer Justine Musk, and Global Green's...

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Ask President Obama to Help Hard-Working Gulf Coast Residents Toward a Cleaner, Greener Future

Posted June 20, 2010 | g:i A

Somewhere in the Air, USA -- I am on the way down to the Gulf Coast as I write (Delta has wifi!) to go out on the water in the Gulf tomorrow, and attempt to help clean up the Louisiana beaches impacted by the BP oil spill.

Joining us...

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Mr. President, BP's Fines Should Also Fund a Foundation to Help Hard-Working Gulf Coast Residents Toward a Cleaner, Greener Future

Posted June 15, 2010 | g:i A

Mr. President, we need you to lead in creating a clean energy future for this nation that starts with energy and fuel efficiency, advances renewable energy, puts a price on the pollution created from fossil fuels, and ends subsidies of oil, gas, and coal. We also need you to hold...

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Clean Air, Clean Water, Healthy Planet -- Will it Take Leadership, Disaster, or Both?

Posted June 7, 2010 | g:i A

In April of 1997, I arranged for a meeting between President Mikhail Gorbachev and US Congressional leaders to discuss the growing environmental crisis.

President Gorbachev, who founded the international movement Green Cross International which is represented by my organization Global Green in the United States, wanted to talk with...

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BP Oil Spill - Let's All Join Together and Say, NEVER AGAIN

Posted May 27, 2010 | g:i A


Like most Americans, I continue to be depressed and angered by BP's wholly inadequate response to the tragic BP oil spill, despoiling the Gulf Coast and wetlands of Louisiana. Hopefully, the 'top kill' works to stop the continued leak. But if that succeeds, its only the beginning...

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Welcome to Reality, Tony; Grand Isle Citizens Speak - and Sing - Out on BP Oil Spill (VIDEO)

Posted May 25, 2010 | g:i A

Last week, BP CEO Tony Hayward claimed the massive BP oil spill would have 'modest' environmental impact. As he walked the beaches of Grand Isle on Monday, May 24, Tony said he underestimated the possible environmental impact of the massive oil spill, and was "devastated."

Welcome to reality, Tony.

...
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