The objective of this study was to improve the ability of regional and local decision-makers and communities to monitor and prepare for drought conditions through the development of a guide to locally relevant indicators for North American climate regions. Data were collected through an online survey that asked a series of questions on respondents’ experiences with drought in their geographical areas. A key series of questions queried the effectiveness of different drought indicators. Responses were analyzed to determine—according to the survey respondents—the most effective drought indicators for short-term and long-term drought in specific North American Köppen climate zones. Online webinars in English and Spanish were held to contribute additional information.
The purpose of this toolkit is to help North American urban, suburban and rural communities located inland or in coastal areas to mobilize and coordinate efforts to reduce and prevent improperly disposed trash from becoming marine litter. The toolkit was developed as an accessible resource for local organizations, community leaders and anyone passionate about leading […]
AirNow-International (AirNow-I) is a system that allows government agencies and organizations to collect, process, exchange, and communicate air quality observations and forecasts in real-time. With the goal of improving decision-making related to public health, AirNow-I also contributes to increased public engagement on air quality issues. Between 2010 and 2015, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) […]
Recycle Leaders, Loop Closing and Soilful are three small businesses in Washington, DC1 that teamed up to implement a Community Action Grant funded by Sustainability DC 2.0, a city-funded initiative. The grant supported piloting the “Team Up on Food Waste @ DC Wards 7 and 8” action research project with residents living in a food […]
The San Diego Food System Alliance (“The Alliance”) is a nonprofit organization working to cultivate a healthy, sustainable and just food system in San Diego County, California. The Alliance is a diverse and inclusive network that works across sectors to promote collaboration, influence policy and catalyze transformation in the food system.
The Spent Goods Company, founded in Toronto, ON, Canada in 2018, aims to prevent food loss and waste by teaming up with local breweries and bakeries to turn “spent” beer grains into new products. These products include loaves of bread, bagels, English muffins, buns, and snacks such as crackers and pretzels. Following this approach, Spent […]
As part of its industry leading sustainability program, Smithfield Foods strives to maximize the social, environmental and economic value of food. To do so, the company is committed to reducing food loss and waste. At its facility in Junction City, Kansas, a process-level prevention assessment with Enviro-Stewards identified and implemented measures that have reduced food […]
CEDO combines vision, leadership, knowledge, and experience to foster vibrant communities and resilient ecosystems. The organisation has been working in the northern Gulf of California for 40 years, as well as other ecoregions, by integrating people, knowledge, and solutions. More specifically CEDO have been working with small-scale fishermen and their communities to develop innovative and […]
Bruized, founded in 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is a women-run startup that aims to prevent food loss and waste and encourage plant-based diets. Bruized accomplishes this by using ingredients that would otherwise go to landfill or compost, thus preventing food from being wasted. Products include compotes, chutneys, cookies, and pulp-based granola for topping on […]
Bimbo Canada is pursuing an integrated water, energy, and produce conservation strategy across 10 of its facilities. To date, these assessments have identified measures to reduce food loss by 1,500 tonnes/year, which will also save 2,200 tonnes/year of embedded GHG and 5.5 million meal equivalents per year.
Version 2.0 of the guide, which was developed in 2020, provides a number of improvements upon the initial release based on feedback and input from pilot testers, expert contributors, and other individuals and organizations consulted by the authors. These improvements were designed to make the guide more user-friendly and allow readers to more easily find […]
The forests of North America play an important role in the global greenhouse gas balance by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it as “forest carbon” in forest ecosystems. Between 2013 and 2017, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) invested C$770,000 in two 2-year projects focused on generating scientific information to improve our understanding […]