Tag Archives: Sustainability

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

Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship

The Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship works with the community to teach development for sustainable rural communities and natural resources-based economies by implementing projects across North Central Washington. One project they have done is Classroom in Bloom which is a one-half acre farm on a shared campus for the Methow Valley. Initiative for Rural Innovation and Stewardship has three programs that they take part in, Regional Food Systems, Nature of Place in North Central Washington, and Healthy Lands. These programs help the community though education, promote biodiversity in the ecosystem, and produce and promote exchange of food in North Central Washington.

Organization Type: NGO

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(509) 881-1812

Address

P. O. Box 4563 Wenatchee, WA 98807

Seattle Tilth

Mission: To inspire and educate people to safeguard our natural resources while building an equitable and sustainable local food system.

Organization Type: Not-For-Profit Corporation

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(206) 633-0451

Address

Seattle Tilth Association, 4649 Sunnyside Avenue N, Suite 100, Seattle, WA98103

Corvallis Environmental Center

The Corvallis Environmental Center is a nonprofit organization that helps educate communities, individuals both young and old, and business to operate in an environmentally friendly way.  According to their mission statement:

“The Corvallis Environmental Center is a key player in the creation of a sustainable community – one in which the environment, the economy and social systems are connected in a way that meets the needs of present generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. As a result of these efforts, the concepts of sustainability will be widely understood and practiced by individuals and organizations, and Corvallis will be known for its commitment to an ecologically sound future.”

Based in Oregon, they work with other environmental groups to advocate sustainable lifestyles.

Organization Type:

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(541) 753-9211

Address

214 SW Monroe Ave, Corvallis, OR 97333

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

Description:

NRCS offers voluntary programs to eligible landowners and agricultural producers to provide financial and technical assistance to help manage natural resources in a sustainable manner.  Through these programs the agency approves contracts to provide financial assistance to help plan and implement conservation practices that address natural resource concerns or opportunities to help save energy, improve soil, water, plant, air, animal and related resources on agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land.

Financial Assistance Programs:

  • The Agricultural Management Assistance(AMA) provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to voluntarily address issues such as water management, water quality, and erosion control by incorporating conservation into their farming operations.
  • The Agricultural Water Enhancement Program (AWEP) is a voluntary conservation initiative that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to implement agricultural water enhancement activities on agricultural land to conserve surface and ground water and improve water quality.
  • Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production.
  • The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a voluntary program that provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers through contracts up to a maximum term of ten years in length.
  • The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program(WHIP) is a voluntary program for conservation-minded landowners who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat on agricultural land, nonindustrial private forest land, and Indian land.

 USDA Washington State Office

Organization Type: Government Agency

Website

Telephone

(509) 323-2900

Address

316 W. Boone Ave., Suite 450 Spokane, WA 99201-2348

Coolmom

Coolmom is a non-profit organization that encourages families (specifically with mothers) to join in to combat climate change.  They advocate multiple programs such as an activity called “Walking School Bus”, in which a large group of children would walk to school instead of ride the bus.  They participate in events to publicize their cause.  Coolmom is supported by large scale companies like Safeway and Organic Valley.  While their financial information is not available Coolmom is a trustworthy organization.  Coolmom is part of the “De-Carbonization of Community” wedge because the organization tries to pass on environmentally friendly ideas and projects to as many people as they can.

Organization Type:

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(206) 280-2828

Address

PO Box 46228 Seattle, WA 98146

Ecoadapt

According the their website, “EcoAdapt, founded by a team of some of the earliest adaptation thinkers and practitioners in the field, has one goal – creating a robust future in the face of climate change. We bring together diverse players in the conservation, policy, science, and development communities to reshape conservation and resource management in response to rapid climate change.”

 

Organization Type:

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(206) 201-3834

Address

P.O. Box 11195 Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Earth Ministry

They state on their website “Earth Ministry is a non-profit organization committed to engaging the Christian community in environmental stewardship. They work in partnership with individuals and congregations to respond to this great moral challenge through education, individual and congregational lifestyle choices, and organizing for social change through environmental advocacy. While Earth Ministry is rooted in the Christian tradition, They actively engage all religious communities on climate and energy issues through Washington Interfaith Power & Light. Our programs and resources are in use across the US and Canada and available to all.

Organization Type: Not-For-Profit

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

(206) 632-2426

Address

6512 23rd Ave NW, Suite 317 Seattle, WA 98117

Facing the Future

According to their website, Facing the Future “is a nonprofit leader whose mission is to create tools for educators that equip and motivate students to develop critical thinking skills, build global awareness and engage in positive solutions for a sustainable future.”

Their mission:  To learn about our strategic objectives and the metrics by which we evaluate our success.

Organization Type: Not-For-Profit Corporation

Website

Contact e-mail

Telephone

206-264-1503

Address

1904 Third Avenue, Suite 510, Seattle, WA 98101

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

From their website –

“Mobilizing the market toward energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet our future energy needs. Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization using the market power of the region to accelerate the innovation and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. Since 1997, NEEA and its partners have saved enough energy to continuously power more than 600,000 homes — enough to power Portland, Boise and Seattle each year.”

Organization Type:

Website

Telephone

1 (800) 411-0834

Address

421 SW Sixth Avenue, Suite 600, Portland, Oregon 97204