Sustainability

The following organizations can be assessed for information on various aspects of sustainability.  Although they are divided by subject for this guide, many of the subjects overlap.  They include local, regional, state, national, and international organizations.  BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Asian Pacific Environmental Network is an environmental justice organization which strives to help ascertain the basic right of a clean and healthy environment in which all communities can live, work, learn, and play. Their work centers on building the power of Asian immigrant and refugee communities. Although it focuses on California, they have formed deep relationships with organizations around the country that are taking on similar challenges.

Climate Jutice Alliance works to unite frontline communities, organizations and supporting networks in the climate justice movement into a formidable force in order to achieve a just transition to resilient, regenerative, and equitable economies. It consists of local, tribal, and regionally-based racial and economic justice organizations of Indigenous Peoples, African American, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, and poor white communities who share legacies of racial and economic oppression.

DAYENU  Their goals are to secure a just, livable, and sustainable world for all people for generations to come by building a multigenerational Jewish movement that confronts the climate crisis with spiritual audacity and bold political action.

Green Latinos  convenes a broad coalition of Latino leaders committed to addressing national, regional, and local environmental, natural resources and conservation issues that significantly affect the health and welfare of the Latino community in the United States by providing an inclusive table at which its members establish collaborative partnerships and networks for improvement. It amplifies the voices of minority, low-income and tribal communities, trains, mentors, and promotes current and future generations of Latino environmental leaders for the benefit of the Latino community and beyond and develops and advocates for policies and programs to advance this mission. 

Hip Hop Caucus – Green the Block Is a national campaign and coalition aimed at helping low-income communities of color become driving forces of the clean-energy economy through several methods, including youth advocacy and activism. It was created because the promise held by a new green economy presents the opportunity to fight climate change while simultaneously revitalizing communities struggling from decades of economic and environmental degradation.

Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO) is a group for Latinos, and others, who value our nation’s public lands.  Latinos rate protecting the environment as among their most important issues.  Works to protect healthy watersheds, clean air, and robust wildlife habitats so that everyone can continue to enjoy and practice centuries-old cultural traditions that depend on these open spaces. “It’s our culture, it’s our tradition, and it’s our history.  It connects us to our ancestors and guides how we see our future.” 

Indigenous Environmental Network  Formed by Indigenous peoples and individuals to address environmental and economic justice issues, their shared mission is to Protect the Sacredness of Earth Mother from contamination and exploitation by respecting and adhering to Indigenous Knowledge and Natural Law. Their activities are many but include protecting native sacred sites, land, water, air, natural resources, and the health of native people and all living things, building economically sustainable communities, and providing support, resources and referral to Indigenous communities and youth primarily throughout North America but also globally.

Jewish Climate Action Network Dealing with the human existential crisis of global climate change is the ultimate task of Tikkun Olam, repairing of the world.  They sound out an urgent and visionary Jewish voice on the crisis of climate change and build relationships with environmental and justice leaders in Jewish and other communal organizations.

The Latino Conservation Alliance (LCA) is a strategic partnership of five Latino organizations aligned to protect public lands, and includes HECHO, GreenLatinos, Hispanic Federation, and Latino Outdoors.

NAACP (The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People)

The vision of the NAACP is to ensure a society in which all individuals have equal rights without discrimination based on race, ensuring the health and well-being of all persons. Check out their list of environmental and climate justice resource organizations and their environmental justice page. This page includes reports and toolkits; newsletters, blogs, and publications; webinars and videos, and certifications.

Nonprofits Fighting for Social and Environmental Justice is a list of over 50 regional and national environmental justice organizations compiled by 1% For the Planet. This includes food and agriculture, conservation, outdoors and wilderness education, clean energy, voting, pollution, public service, leadership and more for African American, Indigenous, and Latino communities.

Outdoor Afro celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.  With leadership networks around the country, they connect thousands of people to nature experiences and are changing the face of outdoor recreation, nature, and conservation for all.

Sacred Land Film Project has a long list of Activist, Environmental, and Social Justice Organizations, which are mostly Indigenous in nature.

The following organizations can be assessed for information on various aspects of sustainability.  Although they are divided by subject for this guide, many of the subjects overlap.  They include local, regional, state, national, and international organizations.  BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

350. org  Founded by author, educator, and environmentalist Bill McKibben, has built a global grassroots climate movement that can hold our leaders accountable to the realities of science and the principles of justice. Keep carbon in the ground!

America Is All In is an expansive coalition of leaders in support of climate action in the United States. Mobilizing thousands of U.S. cities, states, tribal nations, businesses, schools, and faith, health, and cultural institutions, the coalition is working alongside the federal government to develop a national climate strategy that meets the urgency of the climate crisis, scaling climate action around the country to empower workers and communities and promoting the leadership of non-federal actors on the world stage.

Climate Action KC (CAKC) is a regional collaborative bringing elected officials and community leaders together to reduce emissions, improve climate resilience, invigorate the economy, promote public health, and improve the quality of life across the Kansas City region. CAKC recently published its Regional Climate Action Plan in coordination with the Mid-America Regional Council for the bistate metropolitan area of 10 counties in Missouri and Kansas.  The Regional Building Energy Exchange serves as a one-stop-shop to help drive greater energy efficiency in the built environment.  Also hosts workshops throughout the year and an annual summit.

Climate + Energy Project (CEP) builds resilience in Kansas through equitable clean energy solutions and climate action.

Climate Central  Composed of scientists and science journalists, conducts scientific research, and analyzes and reports on climate science and energy issues.  Bridges the scientific community and the public by providing clear information to help people make sound decisions about these issues.

Climate Council of Greater Kansas City supports and expands the work already happening in the Kansas City metro area to address the climate crisis through partnering with individuals, organizations, businesses, legislators, and others in taking bold, effective action and assisting others in joining together. Offers free educational programming designed to inspire community action and supports advocacy for meaningful change at the local and regional level.

Climate Justice Alliance (CJA) works to unite frontline communities, organizations and supporting networks in the climate justice movement into a formidable force in order to achieve a just transition to resilient, regenerative, and equitable economies. It consists of local, tribal, and regionally-based racial and economic justice organizations of Indigenous Peoples, African American, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, and poor white communities who share legacies of racial and economic oppression. 

Climate Hot Map Sponsored by the Union of Concerned Scientists.  Provides information on hot spots around the world, impacts and solutions, but also an extensive glossary on climate change.

Climate Nexus  is a strategic communications organization dedicated to highlighting the impacts of climate change and clean energy solutions in the U. S.  Sign up for their excellent daily newsletter Hot News.  

The Climate Reality Project Founded by former Vice-President Al Gore in 2006, trains leaders to educate their communities through presentations and action on climate change to emphasize the urgency of the crisis.  Check out their Campus Corps!  

Climate Signals  curates cutting-edge climate change attribution science to explain the causes, extent, and immediacy of climate change hazards.  With a focus on extreme weather events and other climate change impacts in the United States, it explains the links to real time impacts and tracks stories in the news.  Is supported by Climate Nexus.

Drawdown of the Heartland  offers free courses about Project Drawdown and strives to inspire community level action around Drawdown solutions. Content is based on a collaboration between Project Drawdown and the Pachamama Alliance.  They work mostly in Kansas.  Find them on Facebook  

Inside Climate News A Pulitzer Prize-winning news organization that provides essential reporting and analysis on climate, energy, and the environment for the public and decision makers.  Sign up for their excellent newsletters.

KC Drawdown Society  provides information on the local Drawdown Movement.  They work mostly in Missouri. 

Post Carbon Institute leads the transition to a more resilient, equitable, and sustainable world by providing individuals and communities with the resources needed to understand and respond to the interrelated ecological, economic, energy, and equity crises (E4) * of the 21st century. They envision a world of resilient communities and re-localized economies that thrive within ecological bounds.  

*These crises can be summarized as:

• The age of extreme energy. Declines in the amount of affordable energy available to society mean far higher environmental, economic, and social costs.
• Overshoot abounds. Across the board—food, population, water, biodiversity, climate change, etc.—we are hitting biophysical limits.
• The end of growth. As a result of the limits within and outside the economic system, we are experiencing the end of economic growth as we’ve known it.
• Increasing inequality. Rising domestic and global inequality could lead to tremendous socio-political unrest (and ultimately economic and environmental disaster), as a growing population struggles to share diminishing economic and natural resources.

Project Drawdown Founded by author, environmentalist, and entrepreneur Paul Hawken, it is based on the book Drawdown which he edited.  Their mission is to help the world reach “Drawdown”— the point in the future when levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and start to steadily decline, thereby reversing catastrophic climate change — as quickly, safely, and equitably as possible.  Project Drawdown conducts an ongoing review and analysis of climate solutions—the practices and technologies that can stem and begin to reduce the excess of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Their work shows that the world can reach Drawdown by mid-century, if we make the best use of all existing climate solutions.

Real Climate  Climate science from climate scientists.

The Resilient Activist Based in Kansas City and also serving Lawrence, builds resilience, optimism, and hope in response to the impact of the climate crisis. Offers community-building programs, classes, workshops, discussion groups, stories, and articles that offer inspiration, self-care, and mental health support. Programs are immersed in deep nature-connection and designed to nourish positive ecological change.

Skeptical Science is a climate science educational blog and information resource that examines the science and arguments of global warming skepticism. 

The Sunrise Movement is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. Although their emphasis in on organizing a contingent of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the influence of fossil fuel interests on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people, people of all ages are welcome.

The Union of Concerned Scientists  uses rigorous, independent science and evidence-based decision making to solve many of the biggest challenges facing humankind including climate change and the threat of nuclear war.  They are a group of nearly 250 scientists, analysts, policy experts and strategic communicators dedicated to that purpose.  Joining with people across the country, they combine technical analysis and effective advocacy to create innovative, practical solutions for a healthy, safe, and sustainable future.

Yale Climate Connections  is a nonpartisan, multimedia service providing daily broadcast radio programming and original web-based reporting, commentary, and analysis on the issue of climate change.  Aims to help citizens and institutions understand how the changing climate is already affecting our lives. 

The following organizations can be assessed for information on various aspects of sustainability.  Although they are divided by subject for this guide, many of the subjects overlap.  They include local, regional, state, national, and international organizations.  BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

American Rivers works to create a future of clean water and healthy rivers everywhere, for everyone.  Rivers vitalize our economy, livelihoods, and agriculture; are essential for wildlife and are the lifeblood of ecosystems. Two-thirds of people in the United States get their drinking water from rivers, including the Kansas City metro area.

Grassland Heritage Foundation  protects prairies in Eastern Kansas through education, stewardship, and land protection.

Kansas Natural Resources Council  A voice for the Kansas environment since 1981. 

League of Conservation Voters (LCV) influences policy, holds politicians accountable, and help win elections in order to build a world with clean air, clean water, public lands, and a safe climate that is protected by a just and equitable democracy.  The National Environmental Scorecard provides objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered and the corresponding voting records of all members of Congress.

Monarch Watch  is a nonprofit education, conservation, and research program based at the University of Kansas that focuses on the monarch butterfly, its habitat, and its spectacular fall migration. It is a volunteer-based citizen science organization.  Promotes protection of monarch habitats throughout North America.  Sustaining monarch habitats will have the effect of protecting vital pollinators and other wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation unites all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. Learn how to create habitats for wildlife: attracting, feeding, and providing cover for wildlife at home, at school and on campus.  Their Eco Leaders program provides leadership and career development for college students and young professionals.  Also hosts the annual RecycleMania competition for colleges and universities.

Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) works to safeguard the earth-its people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. The combined power of members with the expertise of scientists, lawyers, and policy advocates across the globe ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water, and the wild.

Ocean Conservancy works to protect the ocean from the onslaught of many threats including ocean trash, overfishing, and ocean acidification.  Creates science-based solutions for a healthy ocean and the wildlife and communities that depend on it, because a healthy ocean means a healthy planet.

The Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working at the intersection of business, agriculture, and forests to make responsible business the new normal. They are building an alliance to protect forests, improve the livelihoods of farmers and forest communities, promote their human rights, and help them mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis.

The following organizations can be assessed for information on various aspects of sustainability.  Although they are divided by subject for this guide, many of the subjects overlap.  They include local, regional, state, national, and international organizations.  BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

American Clean Power Association is the voice of the companies from across the clean power sector that are powering America’s future and providing cost-effective solutions to the climate crisis while creating jobs, spurring massive investment in the U.S. economy, and driving high-tech innovation across the nation.  Check out the fact sheet for Kansas. Kansas produces 43% of our energy by wind – 2nd of all states in the nation. See other impressive statistics on wind energy in Kansas. Kansas Clean Energy Fact Sheet

Heartland Renewable Energy Society  works to further the development of the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency techniques, to promote those businesses on the cutting edge of renewable energy, and to educate the public, businesses, and our policy makers on the need to create a clean, safe, renewable energy future.  

Metropolitan Energy Center Through clean building and transportation practices, has been creating resource efficiency, environmental health and economic vitality in Kansas and Missouri since 1983. 

Rocky Mountain Institute transforms global energy use to create a clean, prosperous, and secure low-carbon future - through transportation, buildings, electricity, and innovation with business, entrepreneurs, institutions, communities, and people of emerging economies. 

The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is leading the transformation to a clean energy economy, creating the framework for solar to achieve 30% of U.S. electricity generation by 2030. Works with its member companies and other strategic partners for policies that create jobs in every community and shape fair market rules that promote competition and the growth of reliable, low-cost solar power.  Is the national trade association for the solar and solar + storage industries, building a comprehensive vision for the Solar+ Decade through research, education, and advocacy.

The following organizations can be assessed for information on various aspects of sustainability.  Although they are divided by subject for this guide, many of the subjects overlap.  They include local, regional, state, national, and international organizations.  BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.

Earth Guardians train and empower youth to be effective leaders in the intersections of environmental and climate justice. Using art, music, storytelling, on the ground projects, civic engagement, and legal action, they advance solutions to the critical issues we face as a global community.

The Sunrise Movement is a youth movement to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process. Although their emphasis in on organizing a contingent of young people to make climate change an urgent priority across America, end the influence of fossil fuel interests on our politics, and elect leaders who stand up for the health and wellbeing of all people, people of all ages are welcome.