ACTERRA: Action for a Healthy Planet

Target demographics: Acterra is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. We focus on what you can do locally to address current environmental problems. In the face of daunting environmental challenges, our science-based approach instills hope while building community.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 500 individuals learn about environmental issues that face our planet and our region, and solutions that they can take part in to slow climate change and reduce their carbon footprint. We honored 9 organizations throughout the Bay Area for for their unique and important sustainability practices. From their stories, we can educate hundreds of local businesses on how to improve their own sustainability efforts.

Geographic areas served: Bay Area

Programs: Acterra's staff provides environmental education in the areas of energy and climate change, corporate sustainability, and advocacy to build an informed and empowered citizenry. Our programs include Energy and Climate, Business Partnerships for Sustainability, a Public Lecture Series, and an Environmental Library and Resource Center. Our programs engage people and companies in the Bay Area, with a focus on Santa Clara and San Mateo counties. Our roots go back to 1970 with a long history of environmental education and action. Acterra and its predecessor organizations (Peninsula Conservation Center and Bay Area Action) developed innovative programs for wetlands preservation, residential and commercial recycling, green business practices, protection of old growth forests, environmentally responsible food choices, watershed management, habitat restoration, leadership development and residential energy conservation. Acterra now focuses its efforts on the most urgent issue of our time: climate change. We promote and support energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation innovation, and sustainable business practices in our region. By popular demand, we are also expanding our public lecture series and community workshops.