This report is based on the results of a scientific, national phone survey of 555 owners of small businesses (2 to 99 employees) conducted in June 2014. The survey found that clear majorities of small business owners are concerned about how climate change will affect their companies, including its impact on energy costs, health care costs and the infrastructure they depend on. Survey respondents voiced strong support for government action to address climate change, specifically, efforts to limit carbon pollution from power plants which produce a third of all U.S. carbon emissions. Significantly, a plurality (43%) of business owners surveyed self- identified as either Republican or Republican-leaning Independent.

Green building is steadily becoming one of the fastest growing sectors within the American economy. The business case for high performance buildings is being made by both Fortune 100 companies and small businesses, along with local, state and federal governments.

since ESG reporting is lack of quantifiable, verified data, it should be integrated into economic assessment to improve invest analysis and decision-making. The benefit of ESG is not just cost savings, but also improvment of environmental resource efficiency, employee engagement, and gender equality.

There is no good business case for trash incineration. Burning trash is the most expensive form of electricity generation, creates pollution that raises health costs to the public, destroys valuable resources, and produces the fewer jobs than comparable capital projects. The trash incineration industry markets themselves as “energy from waste” or “waste-to-energy” as if they’re primarily power plants, buy no one builds trash incinerators to produce energy. They are primarily waste disposal facilities with energy generation as a “secondary function,” as the industry has admitted on the record Incineration is the most expensive way to produce electricity. It increases health care costs for people and is not an efficient producer of jobs.

Climate change presents the biggest threat to America's economy. A price on carbon can be an efficient, business-friendly way to mitigate climate change. It can reduce emissions, spur innovation and job creation.

Small business owners believe that a higher minimum wage would increase consumer purchasing power and reduce employee turnover. Small business's support for raising the federal minimum wage is strong across the United States.

This report, which contains the results of a scientific national phone survey of small business owners (2 to 99 employees) conducted in March 2013, is designed to inform policy discussions about retirement security and serve as a basis for evaluating proposals that address the needs and concerns of small business owners.

The cost of business is not only measured by money but should also include air pollution, contaminated water, and other enviornmental impacts. Prices must be based on true cost to help our economy become sustainable. Fossil fuels and toxic chemicals can create a series of negative externalities. public policy must play a critical role in eliminating subsidies and incentives to reduce negative externalities.

On Jan. 21, 2010, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in its Citizens United decision that corporations are free to spend unlimited sums of money in elections. According to opinion polling released by the American Sustainable Business Council, Main Street Alliance and Small Business Majority, two-thirds of small business owners see this decision as bad for small business. The poll also shows small business owners overwhelmingly believe corporations have been given too much freedom to spend money that directly influences political campaigns.

Small business owners are suffering from weak sales and decreased customer demand, and on top of that, a lack of access to credit. It is difficult for small business owners to access the credit that will help them grow, hire and jumpstart the economy. This survey explores what small business owners want to see to free up access to credit.