It is impossible to separate your health from the health of your environment. Whether it’s the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, or the products we use in our daily lives, our exposure to toxics and pollution is shaping our future. These exposures are linked to lifelong chronic health issues, and Oregon’s most vulnerable–children, elderly and communities of color–are most at risk. Add an uncertain climate future to the mix–and action is dire.But together we can create positive change. Lawmakers need to hear from you–students, moms, dads, grandparents and caring voters–that you care about these issues and that you are demanding action today, for the health of Oregonians today, tomorrow and fifty years from now. BE HEARD. STAND TOGETHER. JOIN US on April 22 for Lobby Day for Clean Air and Families!
In 1965 – just three years before the founding of Oregon Environmental Council – the first Pinot Noir variety was planted in the Willamette Valley by David Lett. At the time, Oregon wine was commercially non-existent; the climate in the region, skeptics thought, was far too cold and wet to produce the quality grapes necessary for quality wine. Lett didn’t know just how wrong his viticultural experiment would prove them to be.
Many people these days are familiar with the fact that products for the home, from toys to cleaning products, can contain toxic chemicals. This fact alone is cause for concern. But, did you know that women, children, people of color and people living on lower incomes are at a greater risk of toxic chemical exposure? Or that access to consumer safety information may not be available to non-english speakers? Or that, because of their small size, kids
Oregon just took one of its biggest steps ever toward reducing climate pollution and delivering a stable climate for the future. Oregon just took one of its biggest steps ever toward reducing climate pollution and delivering a stable climate for
We’re pleased to announce that Multnomah County is the recipient of OEC’s first annual “Healthy Purchasing Champion” award for 2016. The County has demonstrated excellence and leadership in the pursuit of safer products through public procurement. While a number of local governments completed an impressive scope of work in the arena of purchasing safer products over the last year, Multnomah County rose above in their level of implementation.
Oregon Environmental Council works directly
“We stand, in most places on earth, only six inches from desolation, for that is the thickness of the top soil level upon which the entire life of the planet depends.”
When R. Neil Sampson wrote these words in 1981, climate change was barely on the radar screen. Today, we understand that soil health is key to protecting our climate.
2,300 gigatons of carbon are stored in the top three meters of the Earth’s soil. Th
The Problem
In 2007 the Oregon Legislature enacted ambitious climate pollution reduction goals to protect our clean air, safeguard our shellfish and tourism industries, and reduce Oregon’s contribution to climate change, drought, and severe weather.
But Oregon is not on track to meet these goals. To reduce climate pollution to 75% below 1990 levels by 2050, Oregon needs an enforceable, economy-wide climate policy. Only a comprehensive policy that leads to a s
