Organization Description Founded in 2005, our mission is to help our communities equitably implement sustainable and regenerative practices to slow and adapt to climate change. Communities for Sustainable Monterey County (CSMC) is a 100% volunteer, non-profit organization comprised currently of eight Local Action Groups who focus their environmental projects in their respective communities of Monterey, Pacific Grove, Marina, Seaside, Salinas, Carmel, Del Rey Oaks, Big Sur and unincorporated Monterey County. Our Local Action Group leaders and volunteers work with partners from city sustainability staff, businesses and like-minded NGOs such as Regen Monterey, Waste Management, Surfrider, Everyone’s Harvest, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Habitat Stewardship Project Monterey Bay (formerly Return of Native Plants), and Blue Zones of Monterey.
Program Information The first organizing meeting of C4SM was held on April 20, 2009. We have about 160 members and continue to grow. Our steering committee meets to set goals and plans our public programs. We were selected to be the the lead planning group for Locke-Paddon Park Earth Day 2010 by the Monterey Peninsula Regional Park District. The Oak Woodland at Locke-Paddon has become one of our major work sites. Our projects and programs are open to the public, and admission is free.
We work on native restoration areas, encourage green building practices and new urbanism, waste reduction and cleanup, water conservation, use of alternative energy, energy reduction, carpooling, pedestrian-friendly urban design, city bike paths and urban parks, protection of endangered and endemic species, and alternate transportation. We supported the signing and implementation of the Urban Environmental Accords and the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, and all sustainability issues.