ABOUT US

InterEnvironment Institute is an independent, nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy center. We do problem-solving research, provide advice, and produce  online and print publications. Our main focus is on the natural environment, both internationally and in the United States, particularly in California.

Since we were founded in 1969, we have specialized in making connections that otherwise would be unlikely to happen. We have done this by convening  groups of leaders and experts to search for, design, and implement solutions to public and international problems; producing resource guides that "map" organizations; and defining and promoting the concept of sustainability, which cuts across political, social, cultural, and  economic, as well as ecological, concerns. Thus, the "Inter" in InterEnvironment stands for interconnectedness, as well as international.

Most of our international work is done with or through IUCN, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, of which we have been a member since 1980. See Our IUCN connection.  

Although we are not an academic institute, we work to build bridges between the practical and academic worlds, involve scholars from many institutions  of higher education, and have been affiliated since 1972 with Claremont  Graduate University, a member of The Claremont Colleges consortium. We  take no position on legislative issues or candidates for public office.

InterEnvironment Institute evolved from the California Institute of Public Affairs (CIPA), and many references to CIPA remain on this website. CIPA is now an activity of InterEnvironment Institute.

We believe small catalytic organizations such as ours have a special role to play in international and public affairs.