Our mission is to encourage and promote creative dialogue, partnerships, and integrative action strategies among organizations and networks working to build sustainable communities and societies.

ISF News

2009

National Sustainability Strategy among Top Ten at change.org

January 16, 2009, Washington, DC. After an extremely close vote, the idea of a National Sustainability Strategy was chosen last week to be among the top ten (out of 7,500) on the Change.org list of ideas for the new Obama administration. These were celebrated at the National Press Club today as Ben Rattray of Change.org welcomed participants and invited discussion of how the new media technology can promote greater public participation and citizenship through "open sourced democracy." Speakers included Macon Philipps (Director of New Media for the Presidential Tranisition Team), Chris Hughes (Director of Online Organizing, Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign), Lee Brenner (Political Director of MySpace) and Joe Trippi (Manager of Howard Dean's Presidential Campaign and author of The Revolution Will Not Be Televised.)

From the voting, over 9,600 people weighed in supporting the National Sustainability Strategy. In the coming weeks CitNet will work with Change.org to identify ways to apply new media methods to promoting the National Sustainability Strategy and to mobilizing those 10,000 voters in a new campaign strategy to build further support within the new administration, Congress and the country.

Vote at Change.org by Jan 15 for a National Strategy for Sustainability!

Change.org will send to the Obama administration and the new incoming Congress a set of ten recommended initiatives. Voters will determine the initiatives. Please vote for the National Strategy for Sustainability! CitNet member Rob Wheeler submitted this initiative . This proposal received the most support in the Environmental Conservation category in the earlier Change.org round of competition. On Friday, January 16, Change.org will announce the winning proposals at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

Please vote by January 15 !

2008

Developing a regional approach to sustainable production and consumption in North America

November 6-7, 2008, Washington, DC. In conjunction with members of the North American Sustainable Consumption Alliance (NASCA), ISF's director Jeffrey Barber helped write and present one of the three background papers for the long-awaited North American Workshop on Sustainable Consumption and Production, which took place at George Washington University two days after the presidential election. ISF Board member Dianne Dillon-Ridgley also spoke on one of the workshop panels. The background paper, "Producing and consuming sustainably in North America: A regional overview of initiatives and strategies promoting sustainable consumption and production" is available to download from the NASCA site, as is the slide presentation.

ISF and CitNet launch Citizens Guide to Sustainable Energy for
Community Summits on Climate Change

October 11, 2008. In conjunction with the Earth Charter's Community Summits on Climate Change taking place this Saturday, ISF and the Citizens Network for Sustainable Development encourages concerned citizens to endorse and move forward on the Citizens 5-Step Action Plan on Energy and Climate.

Also, as a tool to help put the 5-Step Plan into action, ISF and the Citizens Network launched version 1.0 of the Citizens Guide to Sustainable Energy, a website resource to help concerned citizens become more informed and engaged in the challenge of understanding and moving the country towards sustainable energy.

Biofuels, Food Security and Rural Development: ISF speaks at UN

May 9, 2008. United Nations, New York. At the 16th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, ISF with the Citizens Network for Sustainable Development and Energia hosted a panel on "Biofuels, Food Security and Rural Development." The panel included speakers from the US and Africa looking at both the threats to food security posed by ethanol and big industry marketing of biofuels in constrast to local and small-scale, community-based biofuel production by women entrepreneurs.

ISF writes about North America in new book on green consumerism

Green Consumerism book March 2008. The new book Green Consumerism: Approaches and Country Experiences (2008) , published by Icfai Books, features ISF through our article "Sustainable Consumption and Green Consumerism in North America." The article presents a brief glimpse of post-war consumerism in the region, and the evolving movement within civil society, business and government to address the impacts. The book contains articles from around the world, looking especially at the link between personal lifestyle and national and international policy. More.

Follow-up launch of Marrakech NGO Forum blog

Feb. 29, 2008. To provide a complementary vehicle to discuss and invite comments about the Marrakech Process, ISF and OneEarth members designed and launched the Marrakech NGO Forum blog. In contrast to the NGO Forum website, the blog will allow for a more open exchange of opinions and ideas about the process.

ISF helps Marrakech NGO Forum launch new website

Jan 25, 2008. As one of the participating members of the Marrakech NGO Forum, launched last June in Stockholm, ISF has designed and will manage the website for the NGO Forum. This will be one of the tools to nform and organize input from citizen and public interest organizations who want to influence the UN and governmental pollicy priorities and commitments on SPAC.

Updating North American database of SPAC initiatives

Jan 18, 2008. Along with the University of Massachusetts Lowell and the Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, ISF completed updating the North American Sustainable Consumption and Production Database. After four years, when the original survey took place, the team the team called sustainability advocates and practitioners throughout Canada, the US and Mexico organizations to find out what projects are still going strong and what has changed. The update was conducted for the North American Sustainable Consumption Alliance (NASCA) with support from the North American Commission on Environmental Cooperation (CEC). The database provides the public and decision makers with important examples of practical solutions to the major challenges facing the new century.

2007

Towards a Pan-European framework on SPAC

Oct 10-12, 2007, Belgrade, Serbia. At the 6th Ministerial Enviornment for Europe conference ("Building Bridges to the Future,") ISF once again chaired ECO Forum's SPAC Issue Group. In addition to continuing to build the network of mostly western and eastern european NGOs working on SPAC, our major campaign was to lobby for support for a Pan-European Framework to support SPAC efforts in the region ("Make SPAC a fact.") ISF participated as one of the three NGOs in the Working Group of Senior Officials (WGSO) which over time has developed the Ministerial Declaration, the key statement of priorities and commitments from the conference. While not successful in getting a ECE commitment to a Pan-European framework, despite support from several countries, we did manage to get support for a "Pan-European initiative" that would contribute to the Marrakech Process. More.

Conserving Biodiversity through SPAC

Oct 9, 2007, Belgrade, Serbia. In partnership with CEEWEB and ECO Forum, ISF co-organized this one-day Pan-European conference exploring the linkages between bidoversity and sustainable production and consumption patterns. Here we launched our "Make SPAC a Fact" campaign, part of the lobbying effort to get a Pan-European framework on SPAC adopted as one of the outcomes of the Environment for Europe conference.

Strategic Priorities for North America

Oct 3-4, 2007, Montreal, Canada. ISF presented, with Jack Luskin from the University of Massachusetts, "Strategic priorities in promoting sustainable consumption in North America," in one of the panels at the two-day conference "Pour un cadre g�n�ral d'action en faveur de la consommation durable," organized by the Fondation Claude Massey.

"Time for Action" - EU Action Plan on SCP

Sept. 26-29, 2007. Ljubljana, Slovenia. ISF participated as one of the NGO experts in the "Time for Action" conference, organized by the European Environment Agency, the Ministry of the Environment and Spatial Planning of the Republic of Slovenia and the UNEP/Wuppertal Institute Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP). Objectives were to: 1) Formulate recommendations for the development and implementation of the EU Action Plan on sustainable consumption and production (SCP); 2) Formulate recommendations for action towards SCP in European countries and encourage collaboration and partnerships between public authorities, business and civil society taking action; and 3) Discuss European inputs and recommendations to the United Nations' Marrakech Process to develop a 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable consumption and production for the period of 2012-2022. More.

3rd International Expert Meeting on production & consumption

June 26-29, 2007, Stockholm, Sweden. ISF gave the opening presentation "A Short History Behind the 10-Year Framework" at the NGO Forum held at the beginning of a three day meeting of experts on sustainable production and consumption. This meeting was the third in a series tasked with developing a "10-Year Framework to support regional and national initatiives on sustainable production and consumption," as mandated by the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, also known as the Marrakech Process.

CSD meets on sustainable energy and climate

April 30-May 11, 2007. New York. The UN Commission on Sustainable Development returned for the second phase of its discussion on energy, air pollution, climate change and industrial development. ISF attended, coordinating the CitNet delegation of over 125 citizen organizations. One of the outcomes from this effort was a statement from US NGOs calling for greater responsibility on sustainable energy. In the follow-up to the meeting, we are gathering endorsements as part of a campaign to encourage efforts for a national sustainable energy strategy.

ECO Forum NGO Strategy Meeting

March 1-3, 2007. Brussels, Belgium. At this NGO strategy meeting to prepare for the UNECE Environment for Europe conference this October in Belgrade, ISF chaired a 4-hour SPAC Issue Group meeting and co-chaired another session to discuss a joint proposal for a one-day NGO conference linking SPAC and biodiversity protection, on October 9, the day before the UNECE Belgrade conference. One of the aims of the ECO Forum strategy is to push for a Pan-European regional SPAC strategy.

Building Capacities in Central Eastern Europe

Feb. 27-28, 2007. Prague, Czech Republic. Participating in the CEE Network's regional NGO conference "Reunion 2007: Building Capacities and Partnership on Sustainable Consumption," ISF gave an opening presenation on "Accelerating the Shift: 10-Year Frameworks, the Marrakech Process and CEE Regional and National Initiatives." This event, which continued into the weekend, opened at the Czech Environment Ministry, where the region's first national SPAC strategy was created. We are hoping that the Environment Minister will play a leading role in partnership with the CEE Network in promoting national SPAC strategies throughout this region, as well as in the Environment for Europe.

Linking Knowledge to Action at Chiang Mai conference

Jan. 23-27, 2007. Chiang Mai, Thailand. The purpose of this dialogue event. "Linking Knowledge and Action for Sustainable Production and Consumption Systems," was "to foster and increase collaborations between scientists and practitioners to advance research and action agendas pursuing sustainability of production and consumption systems." ISF gave a presentation on "International Initiatives and Cooperation Opportunities" and facilitated a 3-hour dialogue session on energy goods and services. ISF also participated in the SPACES Working Group sessions before and following the conference.

2006

Appalachian Roundtable on Sustainable Energy and Livelihoods

Sept 16-17, 2006. Kentucky. ISF joined with CitNet regioners Steve Owen and Jeff Boyer and the Appalachian Coalition for Just and Sustainable Communities at the famous Highlander Center for another of the citizen roundtables on sustainable energy taking place around the country, part of CitNet's Campaign for Leadership on Sustainability.

ISF talks SPAC in Ukraine

Sept 6-10, 2006. Kiev, Ukarine. ISF gave two presentations on sustainable production and consumption at ANPED's Annual General Meeting, as well as contributing to ANPED SPAC Working Group strategy. Part of the strategy involves coordination with ECO Forum and other groups in preparing a regional NGO statement on SPAC at next year's Environment for Europe ministerial meeting.

CitNet Working Group sends UN recommendations on energy

Aug 18, 2006. ISF and other members of the CitNet Working Group on Energy and Climate Change sent the UN CSD secretariat recommendations for the UN policy paper on energy, climate and industrial development. The UN paper will provide the basis for policy discussions on energy at the upcoming CSD sessions in 2007.

Assessing energy and climate at the CSD

May 1-12, 2006, New York. Hosting a CitNet delegation of nearly 40 US NGOs, ISF participated at the 14th Session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development in New York. The CitNet delegation included a strong showing by coal mining activists from Appalachia, telling their story about mountaintop removal and other impacts of coal mining. ISF also helped organize a side event on The Sustainable Production and Consumption of Energy: Views from Civil Society, including presentations from Russia, South Africa, Appalachia and from American Heat author, Don Brown.

2005

CitNet roundtable promoting sustainable production and consumption of energy

Dec 13 2005, Washington, DC. On behalf of the Citizens Network for Sustainable Development and the North American Sustainable Consumption Alliance, ISF organized a roundtable titled Leadership on Sustainability in 2006: Promoting Sustainable Production and Consumption of Energy as a part of the People Speak 2005 series. This event was held in Washington DC on Dec 13 2005.

ISF in Bulgaria discussing transatlantic NGO alliance on SPAC agenda

Sept. 8-13, 2005, Borovets, Bulgaria. ISF at ANPED Annual General Meeting in Bulgaria, will discuss links between European and North American NGOs on common SPAC strategy based on recent regional statements. ISF also contributed to the background documents to the AGM titled "Making sense of Sustainable Consumption and Production".

ISF in Costa Rica promoting civil society participation on SPAC

Sept. 5-8, 2005, San Jose, Costa Rica. ISF encouraged coordination and collaboration of NGOs at the Second International Experts Meeting on Sustainable Consumption and Production, organized by UNEP and UN DESA, held in San Jose, Costa Rica. Veena Ramani represented ISF and SPAC Watch at this intergovernmental meeting that focused on national and regional SPAC policies and priorities.
ISF's report on the Costa Rica Meeting

Labor Day launch of North American statement on SPAC

Sept. 5, 2005, Washington, DC. Labor Day press release: "Producing and consuming in North America: Are we improving or undermining our quality of life?" highlights the North American regional statement on Sustainable Production and Consumption.

ISF Featured Partner by OneWorld

Jul. 2005. ISF has been profiled as the July Featured Partner of One World United States. Additionally, Jeffrey Barber, ISF's Executive Director has written ISF's viewpoint on climate change for the One World E-Newsletter Perspectives.

CitNet News Summer 2005 released

Jul. 2005. In its capacity as the Secretariat for the Citizen's Network for Sustainable Development, ISF has released the Summer 2005 edition of the newsletter CitNet News. The newsletter features editorials on values and sustainability, regional news from across the country, national and global news, publications and sustainability events.
.

Workshop on North American Framework for SPAC

May 31-June 1, 2005, Washington, DC. This week, ISF and NASCA host a regional multi-stakeholder workshop to discuss and report on what is happening in North America to promote sustainable production and consumption. One objective of the meeting is to develop a regional framework to improve cooperation and effectiveness. Another function of this meeting is to provide citizen input into the upcoming International Experts Meeting on SPAC in Costa Rica this September.

SPAC at CSD-13

May 2005, New York. ISF has published a short report about sustainable production and consumption issues during the 13th Session of the Commission on Sustainable Development. The report is available here.

Getting the Goods (April 2005) released

Apr. 2005. ISF has released the latest edition of "Getting the Goods" its newsletter on Sustainable Production and Consumption. This edition contains articles on the developments in SPAC across the world.

Goodbye SURFREE!

Mar 2005.Last November, the Survival in Freedom Foundation (SURFREE) sadly closed its doors, looking back over 35 years of supporting those working to make the world a better place. In addition to helping over 100 organizations and individuals working on population, peace, economic justice and sustainability issues, SURFREE was responsible for pulling together the groups, resources and vision which led to the creation and evolution of ISF. To show our appreciation and help preserve our memory of SURFREE, we've created a SURFREE web page. For those of you who have been touched in some way by SURFREE, we invite you to share a photo, a story, or quote you think might be appropriate to add to the site.

ISF designs ANPED SPAC WG page

Mar 2005. ISF designed and released the home page of the Sustainable Production and Consumption Working Group (SPAC WG) of the Northern Alliance for Sustainability (ANPED). ISF is an active member of the SPAC WG. The new website can be accessed at http://spac.anped.org

ISF attends CSD IPM

Mar 2005. ISF attended the Intergovernmental Preparatory Meeting (IPM) to the 13th Session of the Commission on Sustainable development, held in New York, between Feb. 28 and Mar. 4. The ISF report on sustainable production and consumption at the IPM can be found here.