Stabilizing Climate Change at the Local, State and National Level.

We focus on programs that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create economically competitive, sustainable, and equitable communities by:

• Mobilizing new constituencies to make the case that climate change is more than an environmental issue and to promote policies and individual actions to address it.
• Advancing state, regional, and city policy and leadership to create and implement comprehensive plans that address climate change.
• Accelerating energy efficient solutions to conserve energy, reduce emissions and spur economic development and job creation.

Spurring the Transition to a Green Economy.

The Surdna Foundation is interested in shifting investments toward the new energy economy and demonstrating the benefits, including job creation, economic development and greater social equity by:

• Creating good, green jobs by scaling up efforts to retrofit our nation’s residential and commercial buildings.
• Growing green industry and revitalizing our manufacturing sector through policies and investments that drive the production of wind turbines, solar panels, and transit systems.
• Fostering green jobs policies and training to create pathways out of poverty. This includes improving access to good jobs for low-income residents, building partnerships with labor and business, and supporting innovations in workforce development.

Improving Transportation Systems and Encouraging Smart Growth.

Over time, we seek to alter the prevailing land use and transportation systems in the U.S. through federal, state, and local policies that encourage smart growth, twenty-first century transportation systems, and sustainable, equitable communities. Areas of focus include:

• Reducing automobile dependency through federal, state, and regional policies, which foster infrastructure investments that improve transportation networks, increase mobility and accessibility, and reduce vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions.
• Supporting state and city leaders in the development and implementation of innovative solutions and the transfer of best practices that create environmental, economic, and social benefits.
• Strengthening public involvement and accountability to ensure equitable transportation and planning practices.

We are currently exploring additional priority areas and will update these guidelines periodically to reflect the conclusions from these explorations.

Generally, the Surdna Foundation does not support: Programs addressing toxics, hazardous waste, land and habitat conservation; animal welfare, biodiversity and ocean management; individuals; academic fellowships.