Green Cities California

Green Cities California (GCC) is a coalition of ten local governments that have implemented groundbreaking environmental policies. Their mission is to take collaborative action to accelerate the implementation of sustainability policies and programs.

Current GCC members are the cities of Berkeley, Los Angeles, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Marin County, all leaders in developing and implementing leading edge sustainability policies and practices. The bar for GCC membership is high, by design. Pre-requisites include the adoption of 1) a local sustainability plan, 2) the United Nations Urban Environmental Accords, and 3) the Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

Every wonder what is better for the planet - paper or plastic?  GCC recently completed a Master Environmental Assessment (MEA) on single use and reusable bags.  See more »

Vote Solar

The Vote Solar Initiative is a non-profit organization with the mission of stopping global warming and increasing energy independence by bringing solar energy into the mainstream. Vote Solar is working on the key policies necessary to bring solar to scale by helping state governments to build sustainable solar markets, removing regulatory barriers and laying the necessary groundwork for a solar future. See more »

Instituto Terra

Instituto Terra seeks to rebuild the forest ecosystem of the area through different forms of intervention and by restoring the ecological processes and contributing to the maintenance of the local biodiversity. The goals outside the reserve include recovering native forest and encouraging farmers and landowners to reforest at least 20% of their land as required by Brazilian law; recover and protect water resources; create ecological corridors to facilitate the fauna; and undertake general monitoring activities. See more »

Center for Ecoliteracy

The Center for Ecoliteracy is dedicated to education for sustainable living. By providing information, inspiration, and support to the vital movement of K-12 educators, parents, and other members of the school community, they cultivate those who are helping young people gain the knowledge, skills, and values essential to sustainable living.

They recently released a dyanmic discussion guide to Food, Inc. Check it out today and visit their website to find resources for your school or to simply be inspired by insightful essays authored by renowned thought leaders. See more »

Environmental Working Group

The mission of the Environmental Working Group (EWG) is to use the power of public information to protect public health and the environment. EWG specializes in providing useful resources (like Skin Deep and the Shoppers' Guide to Pesticides in Produce) to consumers while simultaneously pushing for national policy change.  They recently launched an updated and illuminating guide to farm subsidies in the United States.  Check out this searchable database today and see how industrial agriculture continues to receive government bailouts.  As informed citizens, we can demand change. See more »