10 Organizations That Protect the Environment

By The Christian Science Monitor

29 June 13

ahatma Gandhi once said that "Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed." This statement seems to become more true every year, with what Al Gore describes in his book The Future as "unsustainable growth in consumption, pollution flows, and depletion of the planet's strategic resources."

President Obama is also addressing the environment, announcing at Georgetown University in late June 2013 a plan of executive actions to fight climate change.

With this in mind, we tell you about 10 organizations that are working to reverse this trend by protecting and conserving the environment. All 10 of these organizations have four-star ratings from Charity Navigator and at least $13.5 million in total annual expenses.

1. Conservation Fund

   Since its founding in 1985, the Conservation Fund in Arlington, Va., has protected more than 7 million acres of land in all 50 states. With a mission of saving land for future generations, the fund considers its "win-win" philosophy of balancing environmental and economic interests to be what sets it apart from other groups. The fund's overall conservation strategy has three units. The first is conservation real estate, or securing lands of both public and private interest; the second is sustainable programs, including a leadership network and a conservation institute; and the third is conservation ventures, some being sustainable forest management and green business lending. This three-pronged conservation strategy is assisted by the fund's strong partnerships with communities, businesses, and the government. The fund says that the No. 1 reason its partners keep coming back is "we keep finding new ways to get conservation done."

2. Conservation International

   "People need nature to thrive," Arlington, Va.-based Conservation International declares. Founded in 1987, the organization states the importance of nature for climate, air, water, food, and resource purposes; however, economic and infrastructure development is also stressed as crucial to what it terms human well-being. Conservation International's work comes in as bridging the gap between these two interests through sustainable development. The organization has four areas in which it operates: government policy, field work, partnerships, and science. Partnerships are made with the US government, the European Union, and other foreign governments to preserve and conserve natural resources. The organization also partners with local communities, scientists, NGOs, and corporations to work in 40-plus countries, especially those it designates as priority areas. In late June, Conservation International earned agency status from the Global Environment Facility, the biggest public funder of environmental projects in the world.

3. Earthjustice

   Humans aren't the only ones who need lawyers, apparently. Earthjustice, founded in 1971 and headquartered in San Francisco, has the slogan "Because the earth needs a good lawyer." In other words, the work of Earthjustice is providing legal representation to individuals and organizations involved in environmental litigation. Cases represented by Earthjustice attorneys are chosen according to three criterion: whether the case has high stakes, whether the case potentially has a landmark impact, and whether the case would forge strong partnerships with national and local groups. If a case is won, Earthjustice's policy and legislation team works with members of Congress to write new laws and strengthen old ones; this ensures that progress made in the courtroom isn't erased by congressional action. The three main categories of Earthjustice's legal victories have been wildlife and places, climate and energy, and health and toxics.

4. Environmental Defense Fund

   The Environmental Defense Fund's work, put simply, is in "finding the ways that work." Founded in 1967 and headquartered in New York City, the organization's mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. This is done with an emphasis on balancing the often-clashing interests of science and economics. This work in the four biospheric areas of climate, oceans, ecosystems, and health has prompted The Economist to name the staff of EDF as "America's most economically literate green campaigners." In describing its activities, the organization says that sound science dictates its agenda, and stemming from this are economic incentives the EDF develops with corporate and congressional partners. The Environmental Defense Fund prides itself as being the first group of its kind to hire a PhD economist in 1975, along with successes in reducing McDonald's packaging waste and FedEx soot emissions.

5. Natural Resources Defense Council

   The Natural Resources Defense Council calls itself "Earth's best defense." Founded in 1970 and headquartered in New York City, the organization has 1.4 million members and 350-plus staffers who are economists, lawyers, policy experts, and scientists. The NRDC has seven listed priorities: curbing global warming, creating the clean energy future, reviving the world's oceans, defending endangered wildlife and wild places, protecting health by preventing pollution, ensuring safe and sufficient water, and fostering sustainable communities. Policy research and analysis is frequently published by the organization as a resource used for working with local communities, businesses, and the government. The NRDC also encourages its members to take action, both on a small scale in one's daily life and on a bigger stage in petitioning their elected leaders. Recent results of the organization's work include last year's mandate of 54.5 MPG fuel standards by 2025.

6. Oceana

   Not to be confused with the British nightclub chain, Oceana in Washington, D.C., is the biggest international organization exclusively dedicated to ocean conservation. Founded in 2001, Oceana has offices on three continents and states as its vision to "make our oceans as rich, healthy, and abundant as they once were." This obviously implies that human activity has had a negative influence on Earth's oceans, and Oceana has identified three main problems: taking too many fish out of the water, putting too many pollutants in the water, and squandering the oceans' resources. It continues to say that rivers and lakes have been restored over the years, but not enough has been done to help the oceans, which cover 71 percent of the planet. Oceana's work is conducted through policy-driven campaigns, including stopping ocean pollution, promoting responsible fishing, protecting marine wildlife, and preserving special places.

7. Rainforest Alliance

   The New York City-based Rainforest Alliance wants "a world where people and the environment prosper together." It's the group behind those three logos you see everywhere - the green frog seal representing Rainforest Alliance Certified and Verified marks, along with the checkmark-tree design for the Forest Stewardship Council. Founded in 1987, the organization states its mission as to "conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior." In plain English, this means that the Rainforest Alliance is applying environmental standards to corporations and organizations; in return, the companies earn better reputations and still continue to succeed economically. Some of the Alliance's activities are as follows: keeping forests standing, curbing climate change, protecting wildlife, alleviating poverty, and transforming business practices. Food brands that have earned Rainforest Alliance Certified status include Clif Bar, Dole, Lipton, Naked Juice, and Newman's Own.

8. Sierra Club Foundation

   "A healthy planet begins with a strong foundation," says the San Francisco-based Sierra Club Foundation. Founded in 1960, the foundation is most known for its connection to the Sierra Club, the organization founded in 1892 by esteemed conservationist John Muir. The previously mentioned "strong foundation" is made up of three components: educating, inspiring, and empowering. Specifically, these are executed in three ways. The first is supporting the Sierra Club and other environmental organizations through financial and material means; the second is fundraising; and the third is using those funds for the foundation's own conservation activities. These funds go to its Climate Recovery Partnership, its environmental law program, its partnerships in environmental justice and community, and its Mission Outdoors program to cultivate the next generation of environmentalists. Grants are also made to other environmental organizations, including the Blue Green Alliance and Veterans Green Jobs.

9. Union of Concerned Scientists

   The Union of Concerned Scientists is very concerned. But about what? In 1969, according to its founding document, students and faculty at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology came together to "initiate a critical and continuing examination of governmental policy in areas where science and technology are of actual or potential significance" and "devise means for turning research applications away from the present emphasis on military technology toward the solution of pressing environmental and social problems." For those of us who can't handle the genius-speak at MIT, the Union formed to address important environmental issues of the day. In 2013, these include scientific integrity, global warming, clean vehicles, clean energy, nuclear power, nuclear weapons and global security, and food and agriculture. The Union has been especially active in its work to prove that global warming is indeed occurring and is caused by human activity.

10. World Resources Institute

    Last but not least is the World Resources Institute, founded in 1982 and headquartered in Washington, D.C. The "resources" in WRI's title refers to environmental and socio-economic resources, and it works at the intersection of these two areas. The organization promotes sustainable development through four goals: protecting the global climate system, empowering people and strengthening institutions, harnessing markets and enterprise, and reversing rapid degradation of ecosystems. Working on six continents, the organization is also known for its World Resources Report, published every other year. The report is full of in-depth information and analysis on a number of environmental and development issues. The 2013-2014 edition is titled "Creating a Sustainable Food Future" and asks the following question: "How can the world adequately feed more than 9 billion people by 2050 in a manner that advances economic development and reduces pressure on the environment?"