OEC's Strategic Plan
Revised April 2008. Originally adopted 2002.
Our Mission: Bringing Oregonians together for a healthy environment.
To download this document in PDF format, click here.
Priority: Protect kids’ health from toxic pollution
Vision: Oregon children will live and play in toxic-free environments. Businesses and governments will reduce the use of and prevent the release of chemicals that harm human health. Parents and caregivers will protect our children from toxic chemicals, even before birth, as vigilantly as we now protect them from tobacco smoke or alcohol. As a result, we will see declines in asthma, learning disabilities, cancer and other health problems triggered by pollution, especially among children.
2012 target: The use and release of at least twelve toxic pollutants will have measurably declined from 2001 levels.
Key strategies:
- Dramatically reduce discharges of and exposures to the twelve toxic chemicals of greatest concern to the health of Oregon’s children.
- Help parents and caregivers secure and act on the information they need to reduce children’s exposure to toxic chemicals.
- Partner with health professionals and other concerned Oregonians to create, support and implement comprehensive chemical policy that protects kids’ health.
Priority: Clean up the Willamette and other major rivers
Vision: The Willamette and other major rivers, such as the Rogue and the Deschutes, will no longer violate standards that protect people from bacteria, toxic chemicals and other pollutants. Preventing household pollution and conserving water will be a part of everyday living, just as recycling is today. Oregon businesses, including ranchers and farmers, will be national leaders in protecting clean water while thriving economically. Towns and cities will protect their watersheds as they grow. As a result, future generations of Oregonians will be free to swim, boat and fish in our rivers – and to eat what they catch – without being concerned about their health.
2012 target: The majority of Oregon’s ten largest rivers will have improving water quality and water quantity conditions.
Key strategies:
- Reduce stormwater runoff pollution from Oregon’s cities and towns.
- Promote farmer and rancher participation in programs to improve water quality.
- Increase water conservation and more efficient water use.
Priority: Slow global warming
Vision: Oregon will demonstrate leadership by taking the steps necessary to slow global warming, thus protecting human health, saving our snowpack, keeping water in our rivers year round, and defending our coast from rising sea levels. By investing in clean and efficient energy and transportation technologies and adopting climate-friendly ways of living, Oregon will reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases to levels scientists say are safe for the climate.
2012 target: Oregon will have halted the growth of greenhouse gas emissions and begun a downward trend toward meeting its statutory goal of 10% below 1990 levels by 2020.
Key
strategies:
- Highlight the impacts of global warming and engage individuals, businesses, state and local governments in reducing their carbon footprint.
- Build a politically influential groundswell of support for policies that reduce global warming pollution.
- Advance climate-friendly transportation and land use solutions.
Priority: Build a sustainable economy
Vision: Oregon will be a model in developing local sustainable businesses and industry clusters in a range of areas such as green building and manufacturing, biofuels and renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture. Rural and urban businesses will thrive economically by integrating environmental stewardship as standard practice into their operations.
2012 target: Oregon will emerge as a leader in at least two new sustainable industry clusters between 2006 and 2012.
Key strategies:
- Support the growth of sustainable businesses and industry clusters via policy, economic development strategies, and public outreach.
- Help businesses choose environmentally responsible practices and catalyze pilot projects that demonstrate sustainability.
Priority: Create a sustainable food and farm system
Vision:
Oregon will become a leader in food production and farming that protects our health and our environment. Oregon’s farmers and food businesses will flourish economically, and be rewarded for their stewardship of our rivers and water, air, and wildlife.
Oregon farm acreage independently certified as managed sustainably will increase from 15% to 20%, an increase of 1.5 million acres; and the number of Oregon farmers and food businesses independently certified as sustainable or environmentally friendly will increase by at least 25% from 2006 levels.
Key Strategies:- Promote state policies that support creation of a sustainable food & farm system in Oregon.
- Assist farmers and food businesses in using healthier food production practices and accessing consumers who will support their environmental stewardship.
- Help consumers understand the effects of food & farm production practices on their health and quality of life, and improve their access to healthy, sustainably produced food
Priority: Strengthen support for effective environmental policy in the Oregon Legislature
Vision: The Oregon Legislature will recognize a healthy environment as a fundamental priority. Oregon will adopt visionary environmental laws and be a model of environmental stewardship.
2012 target: The Oregon Legislature will have passed at least one major proactive bill based on OEC’s priorities each session, will regularly seek OEC’s advice, and will support OEC’s agenda and policy leadership.
Key strategies:
- Strengthen and sustain a strong yearround legislative program.
- Improve information sharing and increase public profile of environmental issues among Oregon legislators and policymakers within the executive branch.
- Strengthen our political power by increasing resources to advance our legislative agenda.
