What We Do: Our Mission

Oregon Environmental Council champions equitable, innovative, and collaborative solutions to Oregon’s environmental challenges for today and future generations.

What Drives Us

Our Vision:

All people in Oregon have equitable access to the benefits of clean air, pure and abundant water, a user-friendly and low-carbon transportation system, a healthy climate, and resilient communities.

Oregon Environmental Council envisions a future in which every person in Oregon flourishes in a healthy environment regardless of their geographic location, race, or social and economic status. Public policy ensures a livable climate; clean air, water, and land; consumer products are free of toxic chemicals; a thriving economy powered by efficient and renewable energy; and access to safe, clean, and convenient transportation options for everyone.  Oregon’s people, along with our businesses, governments, and non-profit institutions, are recognized globally for their contributions to the realization of a thriving, equitable, and sustainable modern society.
What Guides Us

Our Values:

We build credibility through sound reasoning, respect, and civility.

  • Equity, inclusion, and justice are central to our goals and processes.
  • We embrace the opportunities and complexities of collaboration.
  • Our tenacity enables us to achieve lasting change.
  • We seek feedback and opportunities for personal and collective growth.
How We Get Things Done

Our Approaches:

  • We specialize in advocating for and implementing effective and equitable public policies that safeguard Oregon’s today and tomorrow.
  • We build inclusive, broad-based coalitions, finding common ground in support of environmental solutions.
  • We listen to communities and partner to develop community-based and on-the-ground projects that create tangible benefits throughout Oregon.
  • We provide support to community-based organizations and activate individuals to participate in more inclusive environmental decision-making.
  • We create educational tools to provide credible information for individuals, businesses, communities and decision-makers.
Our Results
Our work ensures Oregonians live healthier lives because our air, water and land are cleaner; our food is more sustainably produced; and the products, energy and transportation we rely on are safer for our environment.Back in 1968, a group of Oregonians came together to form Oregon Environmental Council. These were PTA and garden club members, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists and others who believed they could get more done by working together. See our results.
Our Legacy
Oregon Environmental Council is the first multi-issue, statewide environmental group in Oregon. Look at any “green” idea that put Oregon on the map over the last 50 years—the Bottle Bill, our landmark land-use planning laws, curbside recycling—and you’ll find that we were integrally involved, if not the driving force, behind these critical protections. View our legacy timeline.
Celebrate 50th years of #LovingOregon.
A Vision for Justice
Oregon Environmental Council envisions a future in which every Oregonian has access to the healthy air, water, climate and community we need to thrive. To achieve this vision, we strive for equitable environmental policies and practices that give every Oregonian a fair shot at acting on their environmental values, being a part of decisions that affect them, and living in healthy environments. More about our work on diversity, equity and inclusion.
OEC Strategic Plan

Our complete Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 has more details.

 
  • "Oregon Environmental Council is doing extraordinarily important work to help advocate for a cleaner, healthier, more environmentally friendly future in the Pacific Northwest."
    Great Nonprofits Review
  • "Simply put, Oregon would not be the great place to live in that it is without Oregon Environmental Council."
    Great Nonprofits Review
  • "I have tracked their success' over the years and I've noticed that their particular skill is bringing people together to make things happen. The everchanging environmental agenda, along with a fluid political scene requires skill, tact, commitment and long hours of work all of which they seem to do gladly and efficiently. Oregon is well rewarded by their record of success"
    Great Nonprofits Review
  • "One of OEC's most admirable qualities is the skill with which the organization builds statewide and regional coalitions—bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and with often diverging interests—to successfully address pressing environmental challenges."
    Great Nonprofits Review
  • "I have worked with the Oregon Environmental Council for more than 30 years as a volunteer. I also served on the board for 6+ years. This is a great organization with dedicated and talented staff, strong leadership and innovative approaches to difficult environmental issues."
    Great Nonprofits Review

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Climate Protection

Clean Water

Toxic-Free Environments

Transportation Solutions

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Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Find

Mailing:
P.O. Box 14822
Portland, OR 97293

Physical:
1500 NE Irving St
Suite 430
Portland, OR 97232

Phone: 503-222-1963

Oregon Environmental Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with tax ID:
93-0578714

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