Door County Businesses Sign Ceres Climate Declaration

The Climate Change Coalition of Door County announced that more than 80 Door County businesses have signed the Ceres Climate Declaration. In doing so, these business leaders have recognized the reality of climate change and the threats that it presents to public health, security and our economy, and they have acknowledged the clear role of fossil fuels in warming our planet.

These businesses have pledged to work to reduce the carbon footprints of their facilities and activities. They know that conserving energy and adopting sustainable practices will not only benefit the planet but also save them money.

The Door County signatories, listed below, include companies in retail, media, hospitality, agriculture, building and professional services. They join more than 1,500 businesses around the country, many of them multinational enterprises, have signed the Ceres Declaration. Door County businesses are leading Wisconsin in this important effort.

“Priceless natural assets are the foundation of the tourism on which so much of Door County’s economy depends,” the Declaration’s Door County preamble notes. “But these invaluable assets are at grave risk. Global climate change threatens our water quality, the health of our forests and farms, the beauty of our natural surroundings, the well-being of our people and the vibrancy of our communities. We, Door County business leaders, endorse the Climate Declaration because its goals of energy efficiency, renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are essential to preserving and growing the Door County economy. They are key to protecting all that we love and value here.”

The signatories find the declaration to be a natural fit for them and their businesses.

“Whether you believe or agree with the overwhelming scientific data that climate change is happening, managing your business in an environmentally friendly way and committing to living green just makes good sense,” said Mike Baudhuin, vice president of WireTech Fabricators, Sturgeon Bay. “It takes little effort and is an economically sound practice that helps to ensure we leave the planet in better condition for our children and grandchildren. Plain and simple, it is the right thing to do. I urge other Door County businesses to sign onto the Declaration and help demonstrate that this is an issue that demands all of our attention. Adopting sustainable practices is good for business, Door County and our planet.”

Tom Lutsey of Waseda Farms agrees. “Changes in global and local climate are occurring. It is our responsibility, as individuals and businesses, to do all we can to reduce the negative impacts,” Lutsey said. “Growing and raising and consuming local foods without the use of artificial chemicals and cutting out hundreds of miles of transportation are important steps we’re taking. I think we need to innovate in all areas – agricultural, industrial, and personal – to keep getting smarter and keep reducing our oil and energy use. We all play a role.”

A commitment to future generations prompted Patsy and Jody Wuollett, owners of Chop, Pasta Vino and Lure restaurants, to endorse the Declaration. “We signed the Declaration because we care deeply about the world we will leave to our grandchildren and their children,” they said. “Living and working in beautiful Door County, we understand every day how precious our natural environment is and how important it is to protect it.”

“Signing the Declaration was easy,” said Bryan Nelson of The Blacksmith Inn in Baileys Harbor. “As a business, we know that energy conservation and efficiency and becoming more sustainable is key to a strong bottom line. It is also essential if we want to stem the tide of global warming and preserve Door County’s forests, orchards, birds and our Lake for future generations.”

The Climate Change Coalition continues to recruit signatories to the Declaration. For more information or to sign the Declaration, contact the Climate Change Coalition of Door County at [email protected]. To read the Declaration, visit climatechangedoorcounty.com/climate-declaration.

Door County’s Ceres Climate Declaration signatories:

Ahnapee Construction

Alexander’s

Angela Lensch Gallery

Artemis Photography

Baileys Harbor Yacht Club Resort

Base Camp

Bay Lakes Information Systems

Bay Point Inn

Bay Shore Outfitters

Bearded Heart Coffee

Bhirdo’s

Blacksmith Inn on the Shore

Bluefront Café

Bob the Green Painter

The Brodd’s Little Cottage

Center for Optimal Health

Chaudoir Glass Studio

Chop

The Cookery

Coyote Roadhouse

A Cut Above

Dancin’ on the Door

DC Specialty Foods

Door Country FM 97.7

Door County Brewing Company

Door County Daily News.com

Door County Ice Cream Factory

Door County Nature and Travel

Door Landscape and Nursery

Dorsal Sail

Ecology

Edge of Park Bicycle and Moped Rentals

Ellison Bay Farm Fresh

Ellison Bay Pottery

Emerson Chiropractic Wellness Center

First Impressions Hair Studio

Fish Creek Grill

Glidden Lodge Beach Resort

Gordon Lodge

Greens-N-Grains

Herbologie

High Point Inn

Holiday Music Motel

Idlewild Kennels

Image Maker Hairstylist

Inge Alverson Bacon CPA

Innovative Printing

Jason Feldman Landscapes

Junction Center Yoga and Zen

Lake Michigan Wind and Sun

Lakeshores Landscape & Design

Lfp Design!

The Lodge 106.9

Lost Moth Gallery

Lure

Lynn’s Pottery

Malcore Concrete

Margaret Lockwood Gallery

Midwest Wire Products

Nicolet Bank

Off the Wheel Pottery

Pasta Vino

The Peninsula Bookman

Peninsula Pulse

RestoreDoor EcoLogical Services

Sail Door County

Spa Verde

Steep Creek Farm

Stone Harbor Resort

Stone Path Yoga

Summer Kitchen

Sustain Audit

Sweetie Pies

The Rushes

Trillium Organics

Virge Temme Architecture

Waseda Farms

Webber Chiropractic

White Gull Inn

Wire Tech Fabricators

The Y

Young Automotive