Cross-Cutting Issues
There are a number of environmental issues that cut across boundaries and demand a “whole thinking” approach. Climate change, water (quality, quantity, ownership), consumption, population growth -- these are complex issues that challenge us to re-think how we conceive of "protecting" the environment and each other, ask us to re-examine our work in terms of whole systems, and demand us to respond at many levels: personal, organizational, and societal. Following are some resources and organizations we have found informative.
Climate Change
Innovative collaborations
The Climate Group: a collaboration of organizations and businesses in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia dedicated to advancing business and government leadership on climate change.
Stop Climate Chaos: a collaboration of environment and development groups, faith groups, humanitarian organizations, women’s groups, trade unions and many others mobilizing public concern, and through this the necessary political action, to stop climate chaos. By working together in a diverse, broad-based coalition the group believes it can deliver results that none of its members can achieve alone.
United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP): a group of businesses and leading environmental organizations that have come together to call on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.
Interfaith Power and Light, a program of The Regeneration Project, a Jewish, Muslim and Christian interfaith campaign mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.
Step It Up/1Sky organizes grassroots activism to raise awareness about climate change and push lawmakers to act. They’re calling for 5 million green jobs conserving 20% of our energy by 2015; for carbon emissions to be cut by 80% by 2050; and for a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants.
Tools for tackling carbon footprints
Energy Star (tips on organizational energy management): Guidelines for Energy Management Overview
Natural Resources Defense Council: Greening your Business
Native Energy (sells renewable energy credits that support new renewable energy projects)
Reading
Land Conservation Organizations Addressing Climate Change: a document prepared for Center for Whole Communities by Tamarack Media based on online research. 2007. Download PDF
Shellenberger, Michael, and Nordhaus, Ted. 2004. The Death of Environmentalism: Global Warming Politics in a Post-Environmental World. Download PDF
Water Issues
Fleischer, Jeff. 2005. "Blue Gold: An Interview with Maude Barlow." Mother Jones January 14, 2005.
More coming...send us your recommendations!
Consumption
Center for a New American Dream has an abundance of resources about the issues resulting from increased resource consumption.
Ryan, John C. and Durning, Alan Thein. 1997. Stuff: The Secret Lives of Everyday Things. Northwest Environment Watch.
More coming...send us your recommendations!
Population Growth
The Committee on Women, Population and the Environment takes a highly nuanced view of population issues, including an analysis of the population and environment connection.
More coming...send us your recommendations!