Ohio Environmental Council

TO SECURE HEALTHY AIR, LAND, AND WATER FOR ALL WHO CALL OHIO HOME.

DURING FY22, THE OEC'S ADVOCACY EFFORTS CENTERED AROUND SEVERAL KEY AREAS, INCLUDING: ENERGY, CLEAN WATER, PUBLIC LANDS, AND DEMOCRACY. IN ALL THESE AREAS, THE OEC INCORPORATED THE VALUES OF JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION (JEDI) AND USED CAMPAIGNS & COMMUNICATIONS TO FURTHER ITS MISSION. MOST NOTABLY, THE OEC GATHERED SIGNATURES AND COMMENTS IN SUPPORT OF STRONGER FEDERAL CLIMATE POLICIES AND SUPPORTED EFFORTS TO SECURE CARBON REDUCTION COMMITMENTS FROM OVER 40 MUNICIPALITIES ACROSS OHIO; ADVOCATED AT ALL LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT FOR STRONGER PROTECTIONS AGAINST WATER POLLUTIONINCLUDING EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE LEAD WATER LINES, LIMIT PFAS CHEMICALS IN OUR DRINKING WATER, AND ADDRESS TOXIC ALGAE IN OUR WATER BODIES; BUILT STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN OHIO TO PROTECT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 ACRES OF OHIO'S ONLY NATIONAL FOREST FROM LOGGING, FRACKING, MINING, AND ROAD CONSTRUCTION; TOOK BOLD LEGAL ACTION AGAINST GERRYMANDERED STATE LEGISLATIVE AND CONGRESSIONAL MAPS IN THE FIGHT FOR A FAIR REDISTRICTING PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE OEC LAW CENTER FILED 4 CASES AND AMICUS BRIEFS ON LAND, REDISTRICTING AND CLEAN ENERGY RELATED CASES IN FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS.

SEE DETAILS FOR OTHER PROGRAMS BELOW:

DURING FY22, THE OEC FIELD ADVOCACY DEPARTMENT UTILIZED A VARIETY OF TACTICS AND LEVERAGED HIGH LEVEL RELATIONSHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS TO ACHIEVE VICTORIES FOR THE LAND, WATER, AIR, AND DEMOCRACY FOR ALL WHO CALL OHIO HOME. IN CINCINNATI, THE OEC WORKED ALONGSIDE CITY LEADERS AND PARTNERS TO UPDATE AND ADVANCE THE GREEN CINCINNATI PLAN. IN CLEVELAND, THE OEC MET WITH CITY LEADERS AND WORKED WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO ADVANCE KEY POLICY PRIORITIES INCLUDED IN THE CLEVELAND COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY PLATFORM. IN SOUTHEAST OHIO, WE CONTINUED OUR WORK TO DRIVE A LOCAL CAMPAIGN TO PROTECT UPWARDS OF 30,000 ACRES OF THE WAYNE NATIONAL FOREST AND CREATE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCAL ECONOMIES OF SCALE THROUGHOUT SOME OF THE POOREST COUNTIES IN OHIO. IN NORTHEAST OHIO, THE OEC SUPPORTED LOCAL CLEAN ENERGY AND CLIMATE ACTION EFFORTS IN YOUNGSTOWN INCLUDING SECURING A COMMITMENT TO REDUCE THE CITY'S GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS 50% BY 2030 AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CITYWIDE SHADE TREE AND BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION. AND IN NORTHWEST OHIO, WE WORKED WITH CITY LEADERSHIP TO SUPPORT DIRECT AND INNOVATIVE INVESTMENTS IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND CLIMATE ACTION THROUGH THE CITY'S BUDGETING PROCESS.

DURING FY22, THE OEC HOSTED ENGAGING EVENTS FOR MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS, AND FUNDRAISING EVENTS. IN SEPTEMBER 2021 THE OEC HOSTED AN OHIO PUBLIC INTEREST LAW CONFERENCE THAT HIGHLIGHTED THE INTERACTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND WATER POLICY. IN MAY 2022, THE OEC BROUGHT BACK OUR ANNUAL GREEN GALA FUNDRAISER WHICH PROVIDED THE OPPORTUNITY TO UPDATE AND ENGAGE WITH OUR MEMBERS.