Agenda 21 is a non-binding action plan of the United Nations with regard to sustainable development. It is a product of the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1992. It is an action agenda for the UN, other multilateral organizations, and individual governments around the world that can be executed at local, national, and global levels.
The International Chamber of Commerce is the largest, most representative business organization in the world. Its over 45 million members in over 100 countries have interests spanning every sector of private enterprise.
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, for example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community. Local businesses are members, and they elect a board of directors or executive council to set policy for the chamber. The board or council then hires a President, CEO or Executive Director, plus staffing appropriate to size, to run the organization.
Junior Chamber International, commonly referred to as JCI, is a non-profit international non-governmental organization of young people between 18 and 40 years old. It has members in about 124 countries, and regional or national organizations in most of them.
Seventh Generation, Inc. is an American company that sells eco-friendly cleaning, paper, and personal care products. Established in 1988, the Burlington, Vermont–based company distributes products to natural food stores, supermarkets, mass merchants, and online retailers. In 2016 Anglo-Dutch consumer goods company Unilever acquired Seventh Generation for an estimated $700 million.
An economic development corporation ("EDC") is an organization common in the United States, usually a 501(c)(3) non-profit, whose mission is to promote economic development within a specific geographical area. These organizations are complementary to Chambers of Commerce. Whereas a Chamber of Commerce promotes the interests of businesses in a particular geographic area, an EDC typically focus on longer term economic growth by attracting new businesses. Generally, an EDC can be found at the state level to attract business to a particular state. The state level EDC often works closely with local EDCs and may offer low interest loans, grants, tax credits and other economic incentives to attract businesses.
A sustainable business, or a green business, is an enterprise that has minimal negative impact, or potentially a positive effect, on the global or local environment, community, society, or economy—a business that strives to meet the triple bottom line. They cluster under different groupings and the whole is sometimes referred to as "green capitalism". Often, sustainable businesses have progressive environmental and human rights policies. In general, business is described as green if it matches the following four criteria:
- It incorporates principles of sustainability into each of its business decisions.
- It supplies environmentally friendly products or services that replaces demand for nongreen products and/or services.
- It is greener than traditional competition.
- It has made an enduring commitment to environmental principles in its business operations.
The National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) was incorporated as The National Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc., in 1993. It is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of African American communities. Additionally, the organization indicates that it represents the views of its members regarding economic and political policy issues; domestically and internationally. It is organized as a 501(c) corporation and has at least 190 chapters within the United States. The NBCC also has international chapters in the Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana and Jamaica. As with all Chambers of Commerce, affiliate branches are committed to carrying out the goals of the main Chamber within their areas.
Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C. was a law firm based in St. Louis, Missouri. Its founding was in 1976 with 10 original attorneys. In the 80's it grew to become the 12th largest corporate law firm in the United States. The firm's headquarters was in the Interco Tower in downtown content://media/external/file/19136, Missouri. The firm no longer practices law and entered a wind down phase on May 1, 2012. The reason given on its website was that, "Recently, like all too many companies in America, the law firm of Gallop, Johnson and Neuman has struggled with the challenges resulting from the nation’s current slow economy. Because of those challenges, Gallop has decided that effective May 1, 2012 it will no longer engage in the practice of law and will begin the process of winding down the business of the law firm."
This article includes information about environmental groups and resourcesthat serve K–12 schools in the United States and internationally. The entries in this article are for broad-scope organizations that serve at least one state or similar region (Kenya).
Audubon International is a not for profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization based in Troy, New York. Established in 1987, the organization works with communities, developments, resorts and golf courses in 36 countries to plan and implement sustainable natural resource management practices, as well as receive public recognition for employing sound environmental stewardship.
Green growth is a term to describe a path of economic growth that uses natural resources in a sustainable manner. It is used globally to provide an alternative concept to typical industrial economic growth. This path would lead to what is known as a green economy.
Clean Air Cab was an Arizona-based carbon-neutral taxi service provider, and the second taxi fleet in the U.S. to use only hybrid vehicles. Based in Mesa, Arizona, it served the Phoenix area with environmentally friendly transportation service by using clean automotive technology. Clean Air cab ceased operations November 2016.
A sustainability organization is (1) an organized group of people that aims to advance sustainability and/or (2) those actions of organizing something sustainably. Unlike many business organizations, sustainability organizations are not limited to implementing sustainability strategies which provide them with economic and cultural benefits attained through environmental responsibility. For sustainability organizations, sustainability can also be an end in itself without further justifications.
ASU@Lake Havasu City is a small, low-cost extension of the Arizona State University system offering high-demand, undergraduate degrees. The campus opened in Lake Havasu City, Arizona in the Fall of 2012 and focuses on an experiential, student-centered approach to learning. The education and experience a student receives at ASU Havasu is akin to that of a private liberal arts college, with the name and resources of a large state school.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is an Arizona based business-advocacy group. Since 1974, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been promoting statewide business advocacy at the Arizona Capitol and with the Arizona congressional delegation. Its membership employs 250,000 Arizonans from all sectors of the Arizona economy. The Board of Directors of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is composed of more than 90 business executives, representing industries across Arizona. The Arizona Chamber is governed by the Board of Directors and its Executive Committee, including the seven board officers.
IDEAS For Us is a United Nations–accredited non-governmental organization which works to advance sustainability through local action projects in countries and on campuses around the world. IDEAS For Us focuses on reaching communities furthest from sustainable development and advancing the global goals for sustainable development by helping to develop, fund, and scale local action projects from within communities which have the potential to grow into ongoing programs. IDEAS For Us has three major programs: Fleet Farming, the Hive, and the Solutions Fund.
The Academy for the Love of Learning is a non-profit organization conceived by American composers Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Stern. The Academy was incorporated as a 501(c)3 in 1998. Its campus is located in southeast Santa Fe, NM, on the former estate of Ernest Thompson Seton. Through its programming and research, the Academy seeks to "awaken, enliven, nurture and sustain the natural love of learning in people of all ages."
The American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China is a nonprofit, nongovernmental organization whose membership compromises 4,000 individuals from 900 companies operating across China. The chamber's mission is to help American companies succeed in China through advocacy, information, networking and business support services. The chamber provides information, networking opportunities, business support services, and advocacy to promote a mutually beneficial bilateral business environment for the United States and China.
Esperança (non-profit), the Portuguese word for hope, is a registered 501(c)(3) based in Phoenix, AZ. Founded in 1970 by Luke and Gerald Tupper. It currently operates programs in Mexico, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Peru, Mozambique and Phoenix, Arizona.
