|
International Committee
 Mission
To respond to international environmental issues that relate to national Club issues. Working in concert with the U.S.- Canada International Committee (UCIC), we maintain regular communications with an increasing number of environmental NGOs around the world, support fellow conservation organizations (e.g. IUCN, ASOC) with active participation and funding, attend international environmental conferences, monitor UN and World Bank Group activities, meet with foreign NGO representatives, and communicate to members the issues surrounding international environmental issues, such as the deforestation in Latin America, the damming of rivers in China, pollution from tourism in Antarctica, pollution in India, and ocean noise and its effects on marine life, among others.
Priority Activities
A. Contribute to the Sierra Club's Global Energy Solutions
Continue Kyoto Protocol follow-up work with Sierra Club of/du Canada (UCIC), the Global Warming & Clean Energy Committee, and others.
Develop opportunities to engage Chinese and Indian environmental NGOs, academic institutions, government officials, and individual activists.
Develop a plan to involve international NGOs to support green building standards (GBSs).
Continue to oppose investments of financial institutions (international to local) that promote fossil fuel consumption or destruction of forests and to advocate institutional reforms that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
B. Further Sierra Club engagement with India and China
Build networks with Chinese and Indian NGOs and individuals; working with staff to implement their program on India.
Increase Club expertise about China through cultural and educational exchanges.
Develop training programs for NGOs on grassroots organization working with government agencies, and improving their governments' environmental impact assessment processes.
Exchange information on smart energy solutions, community health and safety, and biodiversity conservation.
Inform other Sierra Club entities about environmental issues and activities through the International Committee Activist Newsletter, etc.
Work with the International Outings Committee (IOC) to offer China and India excursions targeted to potential new activists and donors.
C. Maintain a "window on the world" for the Sierra Club through on-going information exchanges with environmental NGOs and individuals globally to empower communities to protect and enhance environmental quality
Continue coordination with the International Outings Committee - encourage outings in harmony with International Committee goals.
Coordinate with Club issue committees about pressing international environmental issues and opportunities for action.
Work with Sierra Club of/du Canada through the U.S. - Canada International Committee (UCIC) to continue participation in the activities of IUCN-The World Conservation Union.
Respond to requests from foreign individuals, NGOs, and countries for environmental information and assistance.
Encourage International Outings Leaders to distribute existing brochures and Sierra Club grassroots environmental organization techniques on International Outings. These materials could be handed out at trip meetings with NGOs, environmental activists or environmentally engaged citizens.
Continue to challenge the World Bank and their multilateral development institutions to do less to promote fossil fuel consumption and tropical forest conversion and more to support green, or at least carbon-neutral projects.
Other Activities
Facilitate a common position on international issues of concern for Sierra Club (US) and Sierra Club of/du Canada.
Oversee the Club's participation in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
Publish the International Activist Newsletter
Propose nominees for Sierra Club International Awards
Who serves on the International Committee?
Volunteers on the International Committee are chosen by the Club's Conservation Governance Committee and serve for a period of two years. Membership is open to all Sierra Club members who have an interest/expertise in International issues. Current members are:
Michael Dorsey
Christine Elwell
John Harbison
Kathryn Hutton
Pritpal Singh Kochhar
Amanda Leung
Lynne Simpson
Robert Smythe
Barry Wulff
Contact the Sierra Club International Committee:
Barry Wulff, International Chair
Richard Cellarius, Vice-President for International Affairs
Michele Perrault, Vice-President for International Affairs
Up to Top
|
