Category Archives: Policy Reform

Organizations working to affect energy, emissions, and natural resource policy. This might include incentive (tax credit) and disincentive (tax) programs, efficiency standards and goals, protections, and regulations.

The Council of Canadians: For Social Justice

The Council of Canadians works to protect Canadian independence by promoting progressive policies on fair trade, clean water, energy security, public health care, and other issues of social and economic concern to Canadians.

They develop creative campaigns to put some of the country’s most important issues into the spotlight. We work with a network of over 70 volunteer chapters to organize speaking tours, days of action, conferences and demonstrations. The Council also produce research reports, create popular materials, and work with individuals and organizations across the country and around the world. They do all of this to ensure that governments know the kind of Canada we want.

The Council does not accept money from corporations or governments, and is sustained entirely by the volunteer energy and financial assistance of its members.

 CouncilofCanadiansChapters

 

Organization Type: Non-Government Organization

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(613) 233-2773

Address

The Council of Canadians 170 Laurier Avenue West, Suite 700 Ottawa, Ontario K1P 5V5

International Institute for Sustainable Development; Canadian Chapter

The International Institute for Sustainable Development is a Canadian-based, international public policy research institute for sustainable development.

IISD has chosen to focus on topics that are ripe for transformation—where a shift in policy has the potential to snowball and, before too long, to change the nature of the game. It is only through a focus on game-changers that we will make up the sustainability deficit that has accumulated and move towards a better future.

Because they aim to make a difference in how policy is crafted and implemented, they translate the research insight into practical, realistic and cost-effective policy options that can be taken up by policy-makers at all levels.

  • Their vision: Better living for all—sustainably.
  • Their mission: To champion innovation, enabling societies to live sustainably.
  • Their role: IISD promotes the transition toward a sustainable future; we seek to demonstrate how human ingenuity can be applied to improve the well-being of the environment, economy and society.
  • Their tools are policy research, information exchange, analysis and advocacy.
  • Their products are action recommendations based on careful analysis, knowledge networks to build the capacity of civil society and other organizations in both South and North, and timely reporting of international negotiations critical to the sustainability of the planet.
  • Their audiences are government, business and civil society.
  • Their style is to increase our influence by working collaboratively with other institutions—building long-term strategic alliances, while retaining the institutional agility necessary to confront the challenges of sustainable development. 

 Internation Institute for Sustainable Development; Candian Chapter


Organization Type: Non-Government Agency

Website

Telephone

1 (204) 958-7700

Address

161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada R3B 0Y4

Alaska Conservation Alliance

The website says, “Alaska Conservation Alliance works to protect Alaska’s air, land and water by being a powerful voice for the conservation community in the civic arena.”

Founded in 1997, the Alaska Conservation Alliance is a statewide non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose primary mission is to protect Alaska’s natural environment through voter education, engagement, and advocacy. The Alliance is the only statewide coalition group uniting Alaska’s conservation community and coordinating statewide grassroots into a powerful, cohesive force to impact public policy. We also educate policy makers and the public about environmental issues facing Alaska.

Alaska Conservation Alliance has three program areas: Advocacy, Education and Coordination.

 

Organization Type: Not-For-Profit Corporation

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(907) 258-6171

Address

Alaska Conservation Alliance, PO Box 100660, Anchorage, AK 99510

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources works with conservation and restoration, geology, earth, aquatic and marine sciences, forestry, forest health and forest ecology, watersheds, wetlands, and reparian sciences and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). With this work they help to conserve and restore natural resources.

Organization Type: Government

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(360) 825-1631

Address

Shoreline District 950 Farman Avenue N Enumclaw, WA 98022-9282

OilWatch Alaska

OilWatch Alaska monitors the activities of the oil industry and gives the public unfiltered information. They strive to reduce the power the oil industry has on the government, the media and public debate. Through activism and education, OilWatch Alaska aims to restore open government and fairness to the citizens of Alaska.

Organization Type: Non-Government Organization

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(907) 277-8910

Address

P.O. Box 1011553, Anchorage, Arkansas 99510-1553

Willamette Riverkeeper

The Willamette Riverkeeper is an organization that is dedicated solely to the protection and restoration of the Willamette River.

There are 165 other rivers, bays, inlets and waterbodies united with the Willamette Riverkeeper under the Waterkeeper Alliance.  Their strategies include, advocacy, monitoring, education and restoration.

Organization Type: Not-for-Profit

Website

Telephone

(503) 223-6418

Address

Willamette Riverkeeper
 1515 SE Water Ave. #102 Portland, OR 97214

Capital Region District

Our Strategy: Engage, Reduce and Prepare

Description:

The CRD’s Climate Action Program (CAP) acts as a regional hub and facilitator on climate change issues. We work with local governments, non-profit societies, public institutions and the private sector to help reduce emissions today and plan for climates of tomorrow.

By taking action on climate change, we can:

  • enhance quality of life through more complete, compact communities;
  • reduce congestion and improve mobility by increasing transportation choice;
  • lower energy costs through efficiency and conservation in transportation, infrastructure and building systems;
  • support community economic development and job creation by generating more energy locally and supporting low-carbon industries;
  • protect fragile ecosystems and productive agricultural land by containing growth;
  • improve fiscal sustainability of infrastructure systems by reducing solid waste, waste water flows, and concentrating development;
  • reduce infrastructure risk from extreme weather events; and
  • reduce health costs through improved air quality and active lifestyles.

Our Strategy: Engage, Reduce and Prepare

By ensuring that residents and businesses are engaged in the issues and understand the challenges, opportunities and case for taking action, we are likely to be successful in meeting our goals to reduce energy and emissions and prepare for climate change impacts.

The CRD Climate Action Program supports the necessary shifts in policy, attitudes, infrastructure and planning that we need to maintain a vibrant, healthy and green region.

Engage

The Climate Action Program (CAP) supports education and outreach programs that empower citizens, businesses and organizations to shift towards a low-carbon economy. The CAP is connected to a growing network of local, provincial and national organizations that are focusing on climate change issues and inspiring change across the country.
Read more 

Reduce

As a region, the CRD Board has set a target of reducing emissions by 33% below 2007 levels by 2020.  Through leadership at the regional level and by supporting local governments in developing and implementing bylaws, programs, events and initiatives, we can achieve our goal.

To effectively reduce GHG emissions and climate change, we not only require changes in personal behaviours and attitudes, but also in our systems and technology. Read more 

Prepare

Adaptation is needed now because the climate is already changing. Adaptation aims to enhance the livability of, and quality of life in our communities in the future. It will also reduce health risks and insurance costs, while protecting other investments. Climate change will create major challenges to the way we manage our resources and the services that the CRD delivers throughout the community. CRD staff is working to identify vulnerabilities and priorities for dealing with the impacts of future climates within the services we provide in order to help communities adapt. Read more 

 Capitol Region District

Organization Type: Government Agency

Website

Telephone

(250) 360-3000

Address

625 Fisgard Street Victoria, BC V8W 1R7

Sustainable Seattle

Mission statement:Sustainable Seattle’s mission is to bring together individuals, organizations, and businesses in the greater Seattle area to build a sustainable future through innovation, education and on-the-ground projects.

Sustainable Seattle’s strategies include working within Communities, the Government and Businesses to achieve sustainability in Seattle.  They employ technology and policy as well as hands-on work.

Organization Type:

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(206) 622-3522

Address

999 N. Northlake Way
 Seattle, WA 98103