Community resources

One of the best ways to effect change is to work together with other people who share your values, and our area has a wealth of local environmental organizations to choose from. We have listed local organizations as well some of our favorite national organizations. We hope this list will be useful, whether you are looking for an organization to join, a place to intern, a place to volunteer or even a source of speakers for your organization. We have also provided a glossary of environmental terms.

Alliance for Cape Fear Trees (ACFT)
The mission of the ACFT is to preserve, protect, and plant trees to enhance the quality of life for present and future generations.

Cape Fear Arch Conservation Collaboration
The Cape Fear Arch Conservation Collaboration is a nonprofit partnership of organizations and individuals created in 2006 to realize a vision for the Cape Fear Arch region where man’s and nature’s needs are properly balanced. Their mission is to develop and implement a community conservation vision to build awareness, protection and stewardship of the region’s important resources.

Cape Fear Audubon
To conserve and restore natural ecosystems within our region, focusing on birds and other wildlife for the benefit of humanity and North Carolina’s biological diversity. See also Audubon North Carolina, at https://nc.audubon.org/.

Cape Fear Bird Observatory (CFBO)
Cape Fear Bird Observatory researches and protects birds and their habitats in North Carolina. They work to connect people with nature. They monitor birds in long-term studies, connect with other researchers and organizations and bring their love of nature into local schools. Their goal is to better understand local birds and their habitats to protect them from the threats of climate change and human development.

Cape Fear River Partnership
The Cape Fear River Partnership’s mission is to restore and demonstrate the value of robust, productive and self-sustaining stocks of migratory fish in the Cape Fear River. Building on the momentum of the newly constructed fish passage at Lock & Dam #1, this partnership of key federal, state, local, academic, and other organizations in the region is working together to provide long-term, habitat-based solutions for the most pressing challenges for migratory fish.

Cape Fear River Watch (CFRW)
Environmental education, advocacy and action for the Lower Cape Fear River basin.

Carolina Bird Club
The Carolina Bird Club is a non-profit organization that represents and supports the birding community in the Carolinas through its official website, publications, meetings, workshops, trips and partnerships.

Carolina Butterfly Society
Carolina Butterfly Society emphasizes identifying and watching butterflies in the field and garden rather than collecting them. They organize butterflying field trips to the various biogeographic regions of the Carolinas. They offer advice on butterfly gardening, encourage photography and record-keeping, provide fact sheets for outdoor educators, sponsor gardening workshops, and collect data for conservation use.

Coastal Plain Conservation Group
CPCG provides property owners and managers in southeastern North Carolina with ecosystem research, conservation education, and habitat management, with emphasis on longleaf pine, pocosin, and bottomland hardwood swamp habitats. CPCG is working to prevent extinction of two critically rare species of freshwater snails endemic to North Carolina.

Conservation Trust for North Carolina
Alongside community partners, Conservation Trust for North Carolina is committed to a process that increases funding for land and water conservation, factors the impacts of climate change into long-range plans, increasingly connects conservation to individual and community needs, and seeds equity and inclusion throughout the conservation sector.

Dogwood Alliance
Nonprofit works to educate people about the importance of forests and the negative environmental impacts of business-as-usual paper production. Having achieved systemic change throughout the paper industry through public campaigns against office super stores—the largest retail paper sellers in the U.S.—they are now addressing protection for forests in the South and around the world, mobilizing diverse voices to protect forests from industrial logging.

Earth Day Alliance
Organizers of the Lower Cape Fear Celebration of Earth Day.

Environmental Educators of North Carolina (EENC)
EENC provides a network of outstanding North Carolina environmental educators, individuals, and organizations who work together to accomplish EENC’s core mission: to build connections, provide professional development, and promote excellence in environmental education.

Feast Down East
Feast Down East is a nonprofit organization working to grow the local food system in Southeastern North Carolina. Our mission is to strengthen the farming communities in and around the Wilmington area by providing resources, education and distribution opportunities to farmers while addressing equitable food access in communities with the greatest need.

Green Built Homes
Green Built Homes, formerly NC HealthyBuilt Homes, is a voluntary green building certification program administered by the Green Built Alliance.

Historic Wilmington Foundation, Inc.
Since 1966 the Historic Wilmington Foundation has worked to preserve the architectural and historical integrity of the Lower Cape Fear region. The HWF is a resource for advice on historical renovations and repairs and provides rehabilitation product advice and technical assistance, as well as tax credit information and assistance.

Island Wildlife—Cape Fear Region
Island Wildlife’s mission is Conservation through Education and Collaboration. Island WIldlife is the Lower Cape Fear regional chapter of the NC Wildlife Federation.

Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center
Dedicated to rescuing sea turtles and educating the public about them. Founder and Director Jean Beasley is Animal Planet’s Hero of the Year.

Keep America Beautiful of New Hanover County
This is a local non-profit that seeks to prevent litter, encourage waste reduction methods such as recycling, and promote community beautification projects. Their efforts include education and outreach, litter cleanups and tree and flower plantings.

League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear (LWVLCF)
The League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear is proud to be nonpartisan, neither supporting nor opposing candidates or political parties at any level of government, but always working on vital issues of concern to members and the public. LWVLCF is made up of a diverse group of people from Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender counties.

Lower Cape Fear Stewardship Development Coalition
The Coalition honors development projects that demonstrate outstanding environmental stewardship through the protection, conservation, improvement, and awareness of our natural resources.

The Nature Conservancy in North Carolina
Founded in the U.S. through grassroots action in 1951, The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world. Its mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. With more than a million members and the dedicated efforts of our diverse staff and over 400 scientists, they impact conservation in 76 countries and territories: 37 by direct conservation impact and 39 through partners.

NC Beautiful
Since 1967 Keep North Carolina Beautiful, DBA NC Beautiful, has helped preserve the physical beauty of North Carolina by providing environmental education and beautification opportunities that elevate the quality of life of North Carolinians. NC Beautiful is committed to fostering environmental stewardship through education and outreach to perpetuate the natural beauty of North Carolina.

North Carolina Native Plant Society – Southeast Coast Chapter
Promotes enjoyment and conservation of native plants and their habitats through education, protection, and propagation.

North Carolina Coastal Federation
NCCF is a non-profit tax-exempt organization dedicated to involving citizens in decisions about managing coastal resources. It provides citizens and groups with technical information and assistance they need to take an active role in the stewardship of North Carolina’s coastal water quality and natural resources.

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust
Non-profit organization formed to help protect locally and regionally valuable natural areas and waters.

North Carolina Conservation Network
Network of organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health. “Action Center” gives suggestions on making your voice heard on environmental issues. Their “Legislator Look-up” lists your Federal and North Carolina elected officials, complete with email addresses.

NC GreenPower
Independent, nonprofit organization established to improve North Carolina’s environment through voluntary contributions toward renewable energy. First statewide green energy program in the nation supported by all the state’s utilities.

North Carolina Interfaith Power & Light (NCIPL)
NCIPL connects the faith voice of North Carolina around climate change, encouraging mitigation of the effects and resilient communities through its programs and engaging in the public policy process by advocacy with compassion. We speak for what we love and take action for the future of our children and the children of all species.

North Carolina Pollinator Conservation Alliance
The mission of the alliance is to support the health and diversity of pollinators in North Carolina through protection, restoration and creation of pollinator habitat. Established in 2017, it is a partnership representing more than 20 conservation organizations, including state and federal government, non-governmental organizations and private entities.

North Carolina Sierra Club – Cape Fear Chapter
The Sierra Club works to pass groundbreaking environmental legislation from local to national levels.

North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA)
NCSEA is a 501c3 non-profit membership organization of individuals and businesses interested in sustainable energy. Located in Raleigh but active throughout the state, NCSEA works to ensure a sustainable future by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency in North Carolina through education, public policy and economic development.

North Carolina Wildlife Federation
Since 1945, North Carolina Wildlife Federation has worked for all wildlife and habitat, bringing together conservationists, outdoor enthusiasts, hunters and anglers, government and industry to protect North Carolina’s natural resources. NCWF is a diverse community of people who value wildlife and wild places and the many ways to enjoy them.

Plastic Ocean Project
The mission of Plastic Ocean Project, Inc. 501(c)3 is to educate through field research, implement progressive outreach initiatives, and incubate solutions to address the global plastic pollution problem, working with and for the next generation to create a more sustainable future.

Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project
Pleasure Island Sea Turtle Project works within federal and state guidelines to ensure the preservation and protection of threatened and endangered sea turtles. Project volunteers patrol Kure Beach and Carolina Beach during nesting season (May 1 through August 31) to help protect all sea turtle species.

R.O.A.R. Reaching Out for Animal Rights
The mission of R.O.A.R. is to promote the welfare of all animals. Members are dedicated to end the suffering, abuse and exploitation of animals, through education and information.

Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter
Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter in Oak Island, North Carolina cares for injured or orphaned wild birds. Once an animal is able to care for itself, it is released to the wild.

Skywatch Bird Rescue
The main goal of SkyWatch Bird Rescue is to rehabilitate and release injured birds back into the wild. They also focus on building and maintaining a lifelong sanctuary for their non-releasable patients.

Southern Environmental Law Center
The mission of the Southern Environmental Law Center is to protect the basic right to clean air, clean water, and a livable climate; to preserve our region’s natural treasures and rich biodiversity; and to provide a healthy environment for all.

Surfrider Foundation – Cape Fear Chapter
Holding our elected officials responsible for the preservation of our natural resources and the continued smart, well planned growth of our city.

Toxic Free NC
Toxic Free NC members believe toxic pesticides are over-used in North Carolina and around the world, polluting our food, our water and our bodies. Toxic Free NC fights pesticide pollution in North Carolina by advocating for common-sense alternatives that protect our health and environment.

Wilmington Vegan
Wilmington Vegan is a support group where vegans in the Cape Fear area can share information about food and plan local get-togethers. The group publishes an online guide to area restaurants that are vegan-friendly.

Airlie Gardens
Historic public garden providing cultural and environmental education.

Cape Fear Museum of History and Science
Oldest museum in North Carolina tells stories of the region’s history, science and cultures through exhibition and educational programs.

Bald Head Island Conservancy
Protects and preserves the natural environment of the Smith Island complex. The Conservancy offers educational programs throughout the year — weekly during the summer season — to educate visitors about Bald Head Island’s unique environment.

Brunswick Community College
Offers Associate in Applied Science Degrees in horticulture and in aquaculture technology. BCC’s 2+2 agreement with UNCW enables BCC Aquaculture Technology students to transfer aquaculture coursework into UNCW’s B.S. Marine Biology program.

Brunswick County Cooperative Extension Office
Information resource for residents of Brunswick County.

Cape Fear Community College (CFCC)
Programs for marine technology, sustainable technology, nuclear technology, chemical technology, architectural technology, and landscape gardening.

Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS)
The Center for Environmental Farming Systems develops and promotes food and farming systems that protect the environment, strengthen local communities, and provide economic opportunities in North Carolina and beyond. CEFS is one of the nation’s largest centers for the study of environmentally sustainable farming practices.

Fort Caswell Environmental Education
Fort Caswell is surrounded by a salt marsh, the Cape Fear River, and the Atlantic Ocean. Fort Caswell’s Environmental Stewardship Program uses these unique ecosystems as an amazing outdoor classroom. They partner with educators to give students unforgettable experiences that reinforce a sense of appreciation and respect for our environment. The program provides top-quality field trips for K–12 school groups, focusing on hands-on experiential learning. They also offer Community Programs, such as Explore the Shore, Bird Walks, Kayak Eco Tours, Sea Turtle 101 and Living Shoreline 101.

Ingram Planetarium
State-of-the-art facility within Museum of Coastal Carolina in Sunset Beach seats 85 people in its 40-ft dome theater. Our mission is to stimulate the general public’s interest and understanding of natural science, environment, and cultural history of the coastal region of the Carolinas as well as a broader understanding of our Earth, solar system, and universe by providing quality educational facilities for the public and school students through activities and exhibits.

Museum of Coastal Carolina, Ocean Isle Beach, NC
Our Mission is to stimulate interest and understanding of the natural science, environment, and cultural history of the Coastal Carolinas. “The Museum of Coastal Carolina is a natural history museum located at Ocean Isle Beach in Brunswick County, North Carolina. Animal exhibits include an aquarium and a touch tank with live sea animals, shells, fossils, insects, a display about sharks, live snakes, bird dioramas, and an ocean reef diorama that includes life-sized models of whales, sharks, sea turtles and rays. Other exhibits include river basins, the effects of stormwater runoff and beach litter on the water’s ecology, barrier islands and tides. Site of Ingram Planetarium.

New Hanover County Cooperative Extension Office
Information resource for residents of New Hanover County.

North Carolina Aquariums
Inspiring appreciation and conservation of North Carolina’s aquatic environments. The North Carolina Aquariums operate three facilities located on Roanoke Island, at Pine Knoll Shores, and at Fort Fisher.

North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center
The N.C. Clean Energy Technology Center was founded in December 1987 as the North Carolina Solar Center. For the last 30 years, the Center has worked closely with partners in government, industry, academia, and the non-profit community while evolving to include a greater geographic scope and array of clean energy technologies. As a result of this evolution, the Center has grown into a state agency respected for its assistance to the burgeoning “clean tech” sector in North Carolina, as well as one of the premier clean energy centers of knowledge in the United States.

North Carolina Cooperative Extension
North Carolina Cooperative Extension is based at North Carolina’s two land-grant institutions, NC State University and NC A&T State University, in all 100 counties and on the Cherokee Reservation.

Pender County Cooperative Extension Office
Pender County Center gives Pender County residents easy access to the resources and expertise of NC State University and NC A&T State University. Through educational programs, publications, and events, Cooperative Extension agents deliver unbiased, research-based information to Pender County citizens. They can answer your questions on a wide array of topics.

University of North Carolina—Wilmington (UNCW)
Environmental degree programs, extensive environmental course offerings.

City of Wilmington Stormwater Services
Maintains and improves the City’s stormwater drainage system for the protection of the community and the environment. Provides comprehensive stormwater management that takes into account both the quantity and quality of stormwater runoff. Stormwater education, outreach, and public involvement are important components of this mission.

North Carolina Office of Environmental Education
The Office of Environmental Education serves as a clearinghouse linking people to Environmental Education (EE) materials, facilities, programs and professionals across the state. Their staff serves all North Carolinians whether in the field of education, business, government, non-profit, or members of the general public.

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC)
The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is the state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain the state’s fish and wildlife resources through research, scientific management, wise use and public input. The NCWRC is the regulatory agency responsible for the enforcement of North Carolina’s fishing, hunting, trapping and boating laws, and is dedicated to the wise-use, conservation, and management of the state’s fish and wildlife resources.

American Institute of Architects – Wilmington Section
Continuing education seminars to members as well as public outreach to educate the public.

Brunswick Beekeepers Association
There are 83 established chapters of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association throughout North Carolina. Receive personal advice from beekeepers in the local community to learn beekeeping and to stay up-to-date on successful beekeeping methods.

Brunswick Electric Membership Cooperative (BEMC)
BEMC is North Carolina’s fastest growing electric cooperative with more than 79,000 customers.

Cape Fear Cyclists
The information hub for Southeastern cyclists.

Cape Fear Economic Development Council (CFEDC)
CFEDC is an all-volunteer endeavor promoting innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship as essential to successful local economic growth, regional competitiveness, and jobs and income generation.

Cape Fear Garden Club
The Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. in Wilmington, North Carolina is one of the oldest and largest garden clubs in North Carolina. They are Federated with The Garden Club of North Carolina, Inc., The National Garden Clubs, Inc., and a member of the South Atlantic Region of National Garden Clubs.

Carolina Farm Stewardship Association (CFSA)
Carolina Farm Stewardship Association’s mission is to promote local and organic agriculture in the Carolinas by inspiring, educating and organizing farmers and consumers. Produces Carolina Guide to Local & Organic Food.

Environment North Carolina
This is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization. The professional staff combines independent research, practical ideas and tough-minded advocacy to overcome the opposition of powerful special interests and win real results for North Carolina’s environment. Environment North Carolina Research & Policy Center is their sister 501(c)(3) organization.

Friends of Mountains to Sea Trail (MST)
The Mountains to Sea Trail of North Carolina is a 935+ mile trail consisting of footpaths, roads, and state bike routes. Friends of MST’s efforts are underway so that one day a complete foot trail will reach across the state, from the Mountains to the Sea.

New Hanover County Beekeepers
The NHC Beekeepers Association was founded in the fall of 2010 by a group of like-minded and passionate beekeepers wanting to centralize our resources and expertise and share the knowledge and experience with others.

North Carolina Shell Club
Dedicated to providing a friendly and enthusiastic organization where people of all levels of expertise, ranging from beginner to professional, can meet and share knowledge and information about the fascinating world of shells.

North Carolina State Beekeepers Association
There are 83 established chapters of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association throughout North Carolina. Receive personal advice from beekeepers in the local community to learn beekeeping and to stay up-to-date on successful beekeeping methods.

Pender County Beekeepers
There are 83 established chapters of the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association throughout North Carolina. Receive personal advice from beekeepers in the local community to learn beekeeping and to stay up-to-date on successful beekeeping methods.

Tidal Creek Co-op
Natural foods cooperative.

Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association
The largest trade association in eastern North Carolina, WCFHBA serves as the voice of the building and development industries in New Hanover and Pender Counties. It represents more than 1,025 member-firms, employing 9,000 individuals.

1% for the Planet
1% for the Planet was founded to prevent greenwashing, certify reputable giving and provide accountability. The 1% for the Planet certification is given to businesses and individuals that meet our high-bar commitment—donate 1% of annual sales or salary to environmental causes.

Alliance To Save Energy
Founded in 1977 by two U.S. senators who recognized the enormous opportunity of energy efficiency, the Alliance to Save Energy is a bipartisan, nonprofit coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders advocating to advance federal energy efficiency policy.

American Solar Energy Society
Nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in the U.S.

Boating Clean & Green
California tips that apply to the east coast. The Boating Clean and Green Campaign is an education and outreach program that promotes environmentally sound boating practices to marine business and boaters in California.

Built Green
See what’s happening across the country with this nonprofit, residential building program in Washington state that certifies homes built with eco-friendly principles on a five-star system.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency
DSIRE (the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) is one of the best resources available to help you find information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives and policies promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Earth Day
Earth Day is just an annual reminder that there are ways to get involved year-round. Check out Wilmington Earth Day for a bit of history and follow the links to global Earth Day sites—get inspired by what’s happening around the world!

Earth Force
Award-winning, international education program that involves young people in hands-on river education, conservation and restoration projects.

Electric Cars are for Girls
Electric Cars are for Girls is a “Mostly Painless Guide to Electric Vehicles and Conversions.” Articles and links provide great information about electric cars, from the basics on up.

Electric Vehicle Association (EVA)
The Electric Vehicle Association (formerly the Electric Auto Association) is North America’s leading nonprofit that accelerates the adoption of electric vehicles by supporting its 100 chapters and thousands of members as they educate their communities about the benefits of driving electric.

Energy Star
Federal program that labels household products that have met energy-efficient standards set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Environmental Voter Project
The Environmental Voter Project identifies inactive environmentalists and transforms them into consistent voters to build the power of the environmental movement.

Environmental Working Group
The Environmental Working Group is an American activist group that specializes in research and advocacy in the areas of agricultural subsidies, toxic chemicals, drinking water pollutants, and corporate accountability. It publishes free consumer guides including those for avoiding pesticides in food, PFAS in water and toxic ingredients in sunscreen. EWG is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1992.

FSC
Forest Stewardship Council certifies wood and wood products and promotes responsible forest management. Its certification ensures wood is harvested sustainably and then tracks the wood through manufacturing to the store. Considered the leading standard for responsible forestry management.

Green-e
Green-e is the nation’s leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market.

Green Hour
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) recommends that parents give their kids a “Green Hour” every day, a time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world. This can take place in a garden, a backyard, the park down the street, or any place that provides safe and accessible green spaces where children can learn and play.

To give parents and caregivers the information, tools, and inspiration to get their kids—and themselves—outside, NWF has created greenhour.org, a Website rich in family-friendly content and which hosts a supportive virtual community where families can learn, explore, and share their outdoor experiences and backyard adventures.

Green Seal
Nonprofit group that independently tests household products to meet its environmental standards.

Hornby Eagle Group
The Hornby Eagle Group was formed to facilitate the return of Doug Carrick’s Hornby Island Bald Eagle nest cam to the World Wide Web. Our Mission is to foster the appreciation and stewardship of wildlife and the environment. By providing a glimpse into the lives of a pair of bald eagles, we hope to encourage viewers to look beyond the eagles’ nest and recognize the interdependence of humankind and the natural world.

Interfaith Power & Light
Interfaith Power & Light is mobilizing a religious response to global warming. The mission of Interfaith Power & Light is to be faithful stewards of Creation by responding to global warming through the promotion of energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for assessing the science related to climate change. The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

The Land Institute
The Land Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Salina, Kansas, that was founded in 1976. The Land Institute co-leads the global movement for perennial, diverse, truly regenerative agriculture at a scale. Our work, led by a team of plant breeders and ecologists in multiple partnerships worldwide, is focused on developing perennial grains, pulses and oilseed bearing plants to be grown in ecologically intensified, diverse crop mixtures known as perennial polycultures. The Land Institute’s goal is to create an agriculture system that mimics natural systems to produce ample food and reduce or eliminate the negative impacts of agriculture.

League of Conservation Voters
LCV influences policy, holds politicians accountable and wins elections. This is their approach to gilding a world with clean air, clean water, public lands and a safe climate that are protected by a just and equitable democracy. Over the last 50 years they have built a national movement, 30 state affiliates and grassroots and community organizing programs across the country. They publish the National Environmental Scorecard showing how elected officials have voted on environmental legislation.

LEED
National program of the U.S. Green Building Council that certifies commercial buildings and homes as environmentally friendly based on performance.

Local Harvest
LocalHarvest is America’s largest website for organic and local food, offering a public nationwide directory of small farms, farmers markets, and other local food sources.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
NOAA’s mission is to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, ocean, and coasts, to share that knowledge and information with others, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine ecosystems and resources.

National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL)
NREL advances the science and engineering of energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable power technologies and provides the knowledge to integrate and optimize energy systems. The organization transforms energy through research, development, commercialization, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

North American Sarracenia Conservancy
The North American Sarracenia Conservancy is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the natural habitats and genetic diversity of carnivorous Sarracenia, North American pitcher plants. The Conservancy promotes conservation of the species through plant rescue and maintenance as well as other conservation efforts.

Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP)
The Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides protects the health of people and the environment by advancing alternatives to pesticides. NCAP is dedicated to promoting pesticide use reduction.

Outrage + Optimism
Outrage + Optimism is a weekly climate podcast embracing the complexity of the climate crisis + solutions we urgently need, hosted by Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac and Paul Dickinson.

Plug In America
Plug In America is a nonprofit grassroots advocacy organization promoting electric vehicle technology.

Politico Morning Energy Newsletter
Sign up for the Politico Morning Energy news to receive a daily update on energy and environment news—an easy way to keep tabs on legislation in progress.

Roots & Shoots
Roots & Shoots USA is the youth action program of the Jane Goodall Institute empowering young people to be the change in their communities.

Sustainable Business
SustainableBusiness.com provides global news and networking services to help green business grow, covering all sectors: renewable energy, green building, sustainable investing, and organics. A weekly Clean Energy Roundup offers sustainable business and sustainable investor news. Check out their “Green Jobs” section to learn about exciting career opportunities across the country… and the world!

Understanding Packaging (UP) Scorecard
A free, easy-to-use web-based tool to assess the sustainability impacts of common foodware and food packaging choices.

USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
The Cooperative Extension System is a nationwide, non-credit educational network. Each U.S. state and territory has a state office at its land-grant university and a network of local or regional offices. These offices are staffed by one or more experts who provide useful, practical, and research-based information to agricultural producers, small business owners, youth, consumers, and others in rural areas and communities of all sizes. Follow Link to find your nearest Cooperative Extension office.

U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
USGBC is a non-profit trade organization dedicated to sustainable building design and construction. Developers of the LEED building rating system.

The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
The Xerces Society is a nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat.For forty years, the Society has been at the forefront of invertebrate protection worldwide, harnessing the knowledge of scientists and the enthusiasm of citizens to implement conservation programs.

Classroom resources

We invite educators to use pages from our magazine as handouts for the classroom. If you identify an article you want to use,download the issue to print pages of interest. Our magazine is oversize, but pages are designed to be legible when printed on 8 ½ x 11 paper. (They’ll print at 84% size.) We ask only that you credit us as the source.

Giving guide

Being mindful about gift-giving is lovely way to celebrate an event or holiday. Visit our Giving Guide  for fun eco-friendly gift ideas for any occasion. We also suggest gift-wrapping ideas that don’t create
unnecessary trash destined for the landfill. We hope you will find ideas that are just the right choice for your family and friends.

Recipe booklet

We publish some original vegan recipes in every issue, and they have proven so popular that we have
assembled some of the most recent into a separate booklet. Download the booklet —we’d love to hear how your dish turns out!

Glossary of terms

Acid Rain

Rain with increased acidity due to absorption of airborne pollutants such as C02 and sulfur dioxide. Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic. It has harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and buildings. Acid rain is mostly caused by human emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds which react in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Bali Roadmap
The Bali roadmap, named after the Indonesian island where the deal was struck in December 2007, is an important milestone. The roadmap will plot how all countries must take action to tackle climate change.

Biodegradable
Biodegradable
Any material that can be broken down by living things including microorganisms such as bacteria. Biodegradation is the process by which organic substances are broken down by living organisms, and nitrogen compounds which react in the atmosphere to produce acids.

Biodiversity

The variety of different species within a set habitat. For example, the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest is greater than that of the Gobi desert.

Biofuels
Biofuel (also called agrofuel) can be broadly defined as solid, liquid, or gas fuel consisting of, or derived from biomass. A fuel that is made from (in whole or in part) renewable organic sources, such as rapeseed oil. These can include refined fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel as well as unrefined such as wood.

Biomass
In energy terms, biomass refers to the use of organic material for the generation of heat, electricity or motive power. Biomass is the mass per unit area of living plant material, or, the organic materials produced by plants, such as leaves, roots, seeds, and stalks. Biomass is produced from organic materials, either directly from plants or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products. It is carbon neutral as the CO2 released when energy is generated from biomass is balanced by that absorbed during the fuel’s production.

CFL
Compact fluorescent light bulbs, are more energy efficient than standard incandescent light bulbs and last longer.

Carbon capture
New technology can now capture large amounts of carbon emissions and store them in isolated areas. This means they don’t float into our atmosphere and speed up climate change.

Cap and Trade
Cap and Trade is a market-based policy tool for protecting human health and the environment. A cap and trade program first sets an aggressive cap, or maximum limit, on emissions. Sources covered by the program then receive authorizations to emit in the form of emissions allowances, with the total amount of allowances limited by the cap. Each source can design its own compliance strategy to meet the overall reduction requirement, including sale or purchase of allowances, installation of pollution controls, and implementation of efficiency measures.

Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a gas that’s made when fossil fuels are burnt to provide power for everything from driving your car to boiling the kettle. It’s also made when organic things like trees are burnt. It’s then released into the earth’s atmosphere and is one of the harmful gasses known as Greenhouse Gasses.

Carbon footprint
We all have a carbon footprint; it’s the amount of CO2 each of us produces in our daily lives (for example through using electricity in our homes or driving) and the impact that has on the environment. Other gasses such as methane (produced by cows!) also contribute to a carbon footprint. For example. consuming meat and dairy products adds to our footprint.

Carbon negative
Any process or product that removes carbon from the atmosphere. Growing trees are carbon negative.

Carbon neutral
Because so many of the things we do involve burning carbon at some stage (for example though riding a bike does not produce emissions, manufacturing the bike did) it’s so far been difficult to say what being carbon neutral really is. But many people agree that it’s all about cutting down carbon emissions as much as possible by doing things like switching to renewable energy. You can also be more carbon neutral if you offset things like foreign holidays (see below).

Carbon offset
Carbon offsetting is a way of balancing your carbon emissions. There are a number of ways of doing this including funding schemes to plant trees or replace energy production from fossil fuels with renewable energy such as wind or solar power. It can help to reduce your carbon footprint but is best viewed as a last resort once actual energy use has been reduced as much as possible.

Carbon tax
A carbon tax is a tax on energy sources which emit carbon dioxide – including fossil fuels like oil. It is an example of a pollution tax, which some economists favor because they tax a “bad” rather than a “good” (such as income). It’s based on the amount of carbon each fuel gives out when it’s used.

Carbon trading
Carbon trading is a way of reducing carbon emissions. Many companies are now part of a carbon trading scheme where the government gives each company a set amount of carbon credits each year. If a company doesn’t use all of their credits, they can sell them to other companies who have used all of theirs.

Climate change
Over the years our climate has changed. Climate change can be due to natural causes, but most scientists agree that the rises in the Earth’s temperature are linked to the way we live and activities like burning fossil fuels. This means that the temperature of the Earth is getting hotter, causing ice caps to melt and sea levels to rise. According to the World Wildlife Fund, climate change could cause a global, humanitarian and environmental disaster.

Cradle to cradle
This is a construction and production ethos proposed by Walter R. Stahel that aims to make all components of a made object reusable or disposable with no negative ecological effects – virtually waste free.