ECOS is a powerful advocacy organization in the Sacramento region, working for over fifty years to curb sprawl, protect open space and habitat, and make our cities stronger through expanded transit, walking, and biking networks.
With the climate crisis upon us, we strive to be even more effective in our advocacy, to persuade elected officials to take bold, difficult, and even unpopular steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
We’d like your help. Contact us at office@ecosacramento.net
In our region, greenfield sites are rapidly being entitled for development, removing agriculture, habitat, and open space, and setting the stage for continual rise of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. In our region, by 2050, extreme heat is predicted for nearly half of each year, and even now we experience extreme storms with increased risk of flooding.
Global tipping points are approaching faster. We need elected leaders who will take these things seriously.
We need leaders who stand up for our region's iconic open space plans that are bulwarks for sustainability and assets to our economy, namely, SacCounty's Urban Services Boundary, Natomas Basin Habitat Conservation Plan, South Sacramento Habitat Conservation Plan, and American River Parkway, and who prioritize infill development and the retrofit of existing urban areas.
ECOS is energetic in fund-raising so that we can make our positions heard, retain our staff, and when necessary, fund legal action.
ECOS reorganized at the start of 2022 to reflect the increased importance of climate change, and the need to better coordinate our work in land use, transportation, air quality, environmental justice, and green building. This change created a more synergistic approach to our work.
We want to attract a new generation of enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and dedicated people, who are frustrated with the status quo, rightfully fearful about our future, and ready to get to work.
We host two major events each year:
- Every April since 2006, ECOS has hosted Sacramento Earth Day as our largest fundraiser. This event in Southside Park in Sacramento is an outdoor policy networking festival, a vibrant educational experience for families and the entire community, to explore the impact humans have on our environment and discover practical actions we can take to protect our planet. Through interactive exhibits, engaging workshops, and meaningful conversations, we empower individuals and organizations to build relationships, share knowledge, and strengthen sustainability practices.
- Every November since 1973, ECOS has hosted the Environmentalist of the Year Awards as our second major fundraising event, to recognize people and organizations whose work enhances our region's sustainability and equity.
ECOS MISSION: Our mission is to achieve regional sustainability, livable communities and economy, and environmental justice, as well as a healthy environment, for existing and future residents.
ECOS ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: We have established a team to lead the EJ effort, develop and gain board approval of an action plan to include training and self examination to correct identified barriers to access to ECOS, as well as a review of operational rules and practices that may create barriers to access and potentially exclude, target, or deter individuals of marginalized identities.
We recognize the deliberate policies that have been historically enacted in Sacramento and across the country to disproportionately restrict access to resources and place environmental burdens on marginalized populations, especially low-income communities of color.
We pledge to use our platform to dismantle historic environmental injustices to ensure that all people enjoy the same level of protection from environmental and health hazards and feel welcome to our decision-making process.
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The Sacramento area and its people are rich in heritage, culture, and tradition. This area was, and still is, the Tribal land of the Nisenan people. Sacramento was a gathering place for many local Tribes who have lived throughout the central valley and the foothills for generations and were the original owners and stewards of this land.
We would like to acknowledge the Southern Maidu people to the North, the Valley and Plains Miwok/ Me-Wuk Peoples to the south of the American River, and the Patwin Wintun Peoples to the west of the Sacramento River. We would also like to honor the Wilton Rancheria, the only federally recognized tribe in Sacramento County.
We acknowledge that we are standing on the tribal lands of Sacramento’s Indigenous people. As we work to preserve the health and future of Sacramento’s natural lands and climate, we will uplift Indigenous voices and initiatives wherever possible, and remain cognizant of our occupation and impact on the lands.
PROGRAM SUPPORT is our pressing need. ECOS needs $30,000 to maintain and enhance our advocacy work, our staff, and general operations.
Our advocacy work covers many areas -- land use, transportation, air quality, environmental justice, green building, habitat preservation, and water management for humans and the natural environment. Occasionally we take action in the legal arena, and we shoulder the related costs.
In terms of staff, with a total of 2.75 FTE, we have a senior policy analyst, an administrative/operations lead, a GIS mapping specialist, and a environmental justice policy specialist. We would like to hire a junior policy analyst.
We pay operational costs for our management systems including our website, accounting systems, contact and document databases, social media, and our office.
Our vision for Sacramento is improved equity, climate resilience, and health. A map by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (https://oehha.ca.gov/calenviroscreen/report/calenviroscreen-40) shows red and orange areas with the highest levels of air, water, and ground pollutants. These areas should be the focus for clean up of toxics, insertion of parks, and infill development at transit in a network of walkable shady streets.
The policy support that ECOS provides to Sacramento Investment Without Displacement (SIWD) is rooted in concerns for equitable treatment of existing residents and righting the wrongs of “red-lining” and its continuing impact. SIWD works to prevent displacement of low-income residents by new large developments, work that is essential to environmental and community health.
A few years ago, ECOS initiated the do-it-yourself home air filter program using window box fans and held training sessions with various community groups. This effort was literally a life-saver during past wildfires.
Since its founding, ECOS has fought against sprawl development on greenfields for many reasons, one of which is equity. Low density development is typically priced for high-income earners. Development on outlying greenfields depletes economic strength from existing developed areas, accelerating decay and loss of tax base. Low density development cannot economically be served by transit and requires car ownership. Suburban sprawl works against our urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution, as the transportation sector is responsible for more than half of all GHG emissions, and our region always ranks in the top ten worst in the nation for unhealthy air.
View our current participation opportunities.
In-Person Event
Become an all-round ECOS Volunteer
ECOS Office
In-Person Volunteering
Events Team Lead -Sacramento Earth Day and Environmentalist of the Year Awards
Sacramento - in person and on line
In-Person Volunteering
Policy lead for the ECOS Environmental Justice Team
Sacramento, CA
Organization name
Environmental Council of Sacramento
other names
ECOS
1971
Mission Category
Environment
Operating Budget
$100,001-$250,000
Organization Need
Funding: Program, Funding: Unrestricted, Volunteers
Demographics Served
General population, Low-income individuals/families, Black/African American
BIPOC Leadership
Board Chair
Local Counties Served
Sacramento
Equity Statement
Equity Statement
Address
PO Box 1526Sacramento County, CA, US