Continue your green education beyond the Live Green, Live Smart™ Library by taking a look at some of the following websites, books, and videos. Learn more about some of the leaders of the green movement.

Leaders
Environment and Policy
Habitat Conservation
Water
Energy
Biodiversity
Disease
Books
Magazines
Videos

Our Rating System: Each of our resources is given an A (excellent), B (good), or C (marginal) rating based on two criteria, Content and Accessibility.

Content refers to the quality and quantity of the information provided by the website. A higher rating means that the information is reliable and abundant. A lower rating means the information could be better sourced or cited, or more complete.

Accessibility refers to the user-friendliness of the site itself as well as how easy or difficult the information provided is to understand. A higher rating means the site is well-planned and easily navigated by the average user. A lower grade means that the site is less easily navigated, or that the information is more difficult for non-professionals to use.

TRAINING in global sustainability

Kym Hough, LGLS™ CT Green Science Trainer conducts classes all over the United States in Green Living.  At this time she is just one of 12 trainers in North America certified to teach this program.

LEADERS in the global sustainability movement

Amory Lovins
Cofounder, chairman, and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute, and all-around genius. An experimental physicist, economist, consultant, and author, Mr. Lovins has been one of the world's foremost authorities on energy efficiency. One of his main views – and the reason so many companies are flocking to his Rocky Mountain Institute – is that energy efficiency is not only valuable to the environment but to the businesses that undertake efficient practices, in the form of increased profit margins and productivity. Another of his ideas is "soft energy," where efficiency and conservation is coupled with renewable energy sources that are used near their sources, like a community ethanol plant. By 31 he had already published six books.
The Rocky Mountain Institute

Al Gore
The former senator and vice president has in recent years redoubled his efforts to educate the world on climate change with worldwide presentations, a book and an Oscar-winning documentary all of the same name, An Inconvenient Truth.
ClimateCrisis.net

Bill McKibben
Environmentalist and author Bill McKibben, with his book The End of Nature, became one of the first to outline the problems of climate change clearly and cleanly for a general audience. Since then he has published a number of books about climate change and humanity's relationship with the Earth. His most recent book is Deep Economy, which "[sets] out to challenge the prevailing view of our economy. For the first time in human history, 'more' is no longer synonymous with 'better' – indeed, for many of us, they have become almost opposites." He believes that we should change the focus of our economy from global to local.
BillMcKibben.com

Lester Brown
Considered by the Washington Post to be "one of the world's most influential thinkers," Mr. Brown has been an instrumental figure in the worldwide environmental movement. He started the Worldwatch Papers, which report yearly on the state of the planet. He is also the founder of the Earth Policy Institute and the author of over 20 books, the most recent being Plan 2.0.
Earth Policy Institute
Lester Brown's bio at EPI

Thomas L. Friedman
The influential New York Times columnist and best-selling author has recently turned his attention to the green movement. His latest article in the Times Magazine, "The Power of Green," argues that the future leaders in the global economy and geopolitics will be those who focus their attention on greening their countries and their citizens. More specifically, he argues that America will regain the world's trust and respect by becoming a leader in the world's green movement.
Thomas L. Friedman

Alice Waters
The owner and head chef of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA since 1971, she has been a leader in the local food, slow food, and sustainable agriculture movements.
Chez Panisse
Alice Waters bio

Bjorn Lomborg
Mr. Lomborg, a professor, writer, and speaker, has argued that while climate change is indeed a serious issue, it is trumped in seriousness by other global issues, such as famine and disease. He argues that we cannot successfully deal with climate change until we first devote our time and money to these issues. In The Skeptical Environmentalist he is critical of the environmental community's reactionary tactics, well-intentioned but misguided solutions, and "doomsday scenarios." He still believes in the basic tenets of the environmental movement – a cleaner, safer, healthier world – but worries about its priorities and hysteria.
BjornLomborg.com

Paul Hawken
A writer and businessman, Mr. Hawken has "dedicated his life to sustainability and changing the relationship between business and the environment." His latest book is Natural Capitalism, co-authored by Amory Lovins, theorizes that environmentally friendly and socially responsible business practices are not only good for the Earth and for humanity, but also will increase profits and productivity while improving efficiency and reducing expenses. He also heads the Natural Capital Institute.
Paul Hawken
The Natural Capital Institute

Sarah Susanka
Architect and author of The Not So Big House (and it's five follow-ups) and, in 2007, The Not So Big Life. Her books emphasize quality over quantity – "build better, not bigger." With her new book she aims to make the "Not So Big" philosophy applicable not just to our homes but to our lives as well.
Susanka.com

Jane Goodall
The world-famous primatologist has for 30 years also dedicated her time to the Jane Goodall Institute, a nonprofit "that empowers people to make a difference for all living things." The institute emphasizes ecosystem health and conservation, animal rights, primate research, sustainability, and activism.
The Jane Goodall Institute

Stewart Brand
Mr. Brand founded and compiled the original Whole Earth Catalog in 1968. He believes that given the right tools and knowledge, humans will be proactive in reshaping themselves and their world environmentally and sustainably. The purpose of the Whole Earth Catalog was to provide those tools and that knowledge. With the benefit of hindsight, many now see the Whole Earth Catalog as a precursor of sorts to the internet.

Denis Hayes
One of Time Magazine's "Heroes for the Planet," Denis Hayes was the original coordinator of Earth Day. Today he is still an organizer, and also a professor, attorney, and speaker.

Yvon Chouinard
The founder of Patagonia, Mr. Chouinard transferred his love of surfing, climbing, and the outdoors into a company that emphasizes sustainability, respect for the environment, and a counterculture business model, while still making stylish, well-designed clothes. Besides heading the company, he also is a writer (Let My People Go Surfing) and a public speaker.
Patagonia

Phil Sharp
President of Resources for the Future, a think-tank "devoted exclusively to policy analysis on energy, environmental, and natural resource issues." Prior to his service at RFF, he was a representative from Indiana for 20 years, sponsoring key energy bills, serving as congressional chair of the National Commission on Energy Policy, and serving on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Resources for the Future
Phil Sharp bio at RFF

Alex Steffen
Journalist and editor of Worldchanging, an online and print resource for tools and information to encourage sustainable practices (for which he has written "a thousand-odd pieces"). Bill McKibben has called Worldchanging "the Whole Earth Catalog for the 21st century." As a writer and producer, Mr. Steffen has done editorials and comments for many newspapers, appeared at conferences, and worked in radio and TV.
Worldchanging.com
Alex Steffen bio at Worldchanging

S. Richard Fedrizzi
President, CEO, and founding chairman of the US Green Building Council. After years of service as an environmental marketing consultant, he was president of the World Green Building Council, and has helped develop the Chinese Green Building Council. The USGBC has grown considerably under his leadership.
USGBC

Jonathan Lash
President of the World Resources Institute, an environmental think-tank, since 1993. Among his duties is a yearly presentation to the National Press Club on environmental trends and stories to watch in the upcoming year.
WRI
Jonathan Lash bio at WRI

Michael Pollan
Author of, most recently, The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, stories of how different kinds of meals – fast food, organic, and hunted/foraged – are sourced, prepared, and eaten. His results are startling. He is also a contributor to the New York Times, where he has written most recently on the far-reaching implications of the Farm Bill.
Michaelpollan.com

Paul Newman
Recently Paul Newman, one of the finest actors alive, announced he is officially retiring from acting to work full-time on his Newman's Own line of foods. Started in 1982, Newman's Own is an organic food company that began by making salad dressing, but has since branched out into cookies, sauces, juices, teas, coffee, and pet food. Newman donates all the after-tax proceeds from food sales to charitable organizations, including his own Hole In The Wall Gang Camp. His smiling face in a farmer's hat has become one of the most well-known images in organic foods.
Newman's Own

Pete Seeger
Folk singer and grassroots activist, Pete Seeger has given his time to many causes over the years. In 1966 he founded Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (called simply Clearwater today), an organization devoted to cleaning up the Hudson River in New York. The organization is recognized nationwide as being a pioneer in clean water activism and awareness. The most visible aspect of the organization is the sloop (sailboat) itself, the Clearwater, which has since entered the National Registry of Historical Places. It still sails frequently (often with Pete himself on board) between New York City and Albany, offering education on water pollution clean water practices.
Clearwater
Pete Seeger

Past Leaders

Rachel Carson
Considered by many to be the founder of the modern environmental movement. In her book Silent Spring she confronted the status quo of business, government, and agriculture and questioned the ways these institutions interacted with nature. She also challenged her readers to rethink their relationship with the environment, to see themselves not as rulers of the environment but as equals within it.
Rachel Carson (administered by biographer Linda Lear)

Donella (Dana) Meadows
In 1996 Dana Meadows founded the Sustainability Institute, which she led until her death in 2001. She was an organic farmer, professor at Dartmouth, systems analyst, Pulitzer-nominated journalist, and author of nine books on the sustainability movement and being a "global citizen."
Sustainability Institute

Aldo Leopold
Author of Sand County Almanac, a seminal book on environmentalism and conservationism, Leopold spent much of his life working on and writing about the land. Sand County Almanac was published a year after his death in 1949, and today it is still read by millions. The centerpiece of the book is the Land Ethic, an idea that humans live in a community, but that community includes not just other humans, but also plants, animals, water, and the earth itself. This community and all its elements must be treated ethically.
The Aldo Leopold Foundation

WEBSITES

Environment and Policy

UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization
This agency's main goal is to "build peace in the minds of men." They work to create respectful dialogue between and about culture, education, and values of civilizations and cultures. The site offers information and resources on environment, social issues, natural science, education, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

World Wildlife Fund
An international organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and ecological systems around the globe. Provides both overviews and detailed reports regarding various world/environmental issues, including the reasons why species are disappearing and what you can do to help save endangered species, plus information on deforestation, water shortages, climate change, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
This agency is dedicated to working for a cleaner and healthier environment for America. Site offers all the information you may want about any environmental issue, policy, or regulation; this group is also in charge of enforcing current policies, and developing new ones.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

World Resource Institute's Earth Trends: Environmental Information
A broad-based site offering stacks of information on various environmental issues such as climate change and biodiversity.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Earth Policy Institute
Founded and run by agricultural economist and author, Lester Brown. Provides endless information and statistics about the state of the planet.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

US Geological Survey
Organization serves to provide accurate scientific information about Earth. Site offers the option to browse through almost any earth-related topic a person may want to learn about.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

World Meteorological Organization
A Specialized Agency of the United Nations; the organization acts as an authority on the state and behavior of the Earth's atmosphere. Their site offers news, reports, and publications about the world's climate, including information on natural disasters, storms, and global warming.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Federal agency dedicated to the study of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere. Site offers reports and information on the state of the planet with respect to the aforementioned topics.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Natural Resources Defense Council
Environmentalist organization dedicated to providing information about global issues and persuading the public to strive toward a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Offers easy-to-read reports and articles with options for simple overviews or in-depth information.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Global Issues
This site offers a buffet of information on the environment, poverty, US and foreign aid, the military, human rights, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change
Established by the World Meteorological Organization and the UN Environmental Programme in order to assess the scientific, technical, and socio-economic information about human-induced climate change and to understand the potential impacts of this change. Their website offers technical reports about global warming, and reports about the present and future state of the planet.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

United Nations Environment Programme
Their goal is to provide leadership and to encourage partnership in caring for the environment. The site is a comprehensive guide to the environment, conventions, reports, news, etc.
Content: B
Accessibility: B

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
Originally a treaty signed by multiple countries concerned with the effects of global warming. Website offers official reports and resources for information regarding climate change.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

The World Bank
The organization is a technical and financial support system for developing nations. Their website provides information, data, research, and resources on economics, loans, environmental issues, employment, poverty, globalization, population, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

US Department of Agriculture
Information about the agricultural industry of the United States.
Content: B
Accessibility: B

Alliance for Sustainability
The mission of this organization is to "bring about personal, organizational & planetary sustainability through support of projects that are ecologically sound, economically viable, socially just and humane." The Alliance for Sustainability specializes in congregational outreach programs and seminars.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Congregations Caring for Creation / MN Interfaith Power and Light
Cofounded by the Alliance for Sustainability, C3/MN IPL promotes the "active care of creation as integral to spiritual life and social justice in Minnesota communities of faith." This group is doing important work in bringing together religion and environmentalism.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

C40 Cities
In 2005 leaders from a group of 18 cities from across the globe met and signed an agreement to become allies in the fight against climate change. The group has since grown to 40 cities worldwide, and also has the support of former President Clinton and his Clinton Climate Initiative.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Clinton Climate Initiative
An offshoot of the William J Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Climate Initiative was founded in 2006 to reinforce the former president's commitment to the environment, and use his influence as a world leader to do so. Currently President Clinton is working with the C40 Cities organization.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Habitat Conservation

Global Forest Watch
Information on the problem of deforestation
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Forest Stewardship Council
Group dedicated to sustainable forestry; learn about FSC certified wood and why you should use it.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

UN Convention to Combat Desertification
Provides options to search for reports by region, and offers quick overviews of topics as well.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

World Rainforest Movement
Contains countless articles on forests and deforestation including causes, prevention, the importance of trees, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Water

UN Environmental Programme's Global Environment Monitoring System
This program is a science center dedicated to providing information about water quality around the world. Site offers resources to build knowledge about water quality and quantity around the world.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

UNESCO Water Issues Page
Comprehensive and inclusive information on the world's water issues.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

International Water Management Institute
A center for knowledge on water and food around the globe. Allows people to look up information by region and offers the option to look at more general, broader-based information.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

World Lakes
Information about the world's freshwater sources. Offers a plethora of resources and links.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Pacific Institute
Provides information and detailed (but sometimes a bit technical), reports about the world's water sources and how to protect freshwater around the globe.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

UN Water for Life
The United Nation's promise to promote and fulfill the international efforts and commitments for clean and sustainable water by the year 2015. The site offers information regarding the world's water shortage and quality issue.
Content: B
Accessibility: B

Energy

US Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
A sub-group of the U.S. Department of Energy that is dedicated to providing information and reports about renewable energy sources.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Energy Information Administration
The sector of the U.S. government that offers official energy statistics. The website is a fairly user-friendly guide to energy from oil to wind. Site provides countless charts and statistics about U.S. and international energy sources. Also check out www.eia.doe.gov/kids for super accessible energy information.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

World Wind Energy Association
Extensive information on everything that wind energy technology has to offer.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Very easy-to-use and extensive guide to renewable energy, complete with excellent resources. Provides practical user information for business and homeowners, as well as farmers.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

International Energy Agency
Founded during the energy crisis of 1973-4, the agency acts as an energy policy advisor for its member countries. Site provides in-depth reports on the world's energy sources, both renewable and non-renewable. Can be a bit technical.
Content: A
Accessibility: C

International Solar Energy Society
Offers information on solar projects and events, and white papers on solar energy.
Content: B
Accessibility: B

American Solar Energy Society
A membership organization dedicated to accelerating the nations use and knowledge of solar energy. Site offers good resources on solar energy, but does not offer much direct information.
Content: C
Accessibility: B

Biodiversity

World Wildlife Fund
An international organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and ecological systems around the globe. Provides both overviews and detailed reports regarding various world/environmental issues, including the reasons why species are disappearing and what you can do to help save endangered species, plus information on deforestation, water shortages, climate change, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Biodiversity Hotspots
Explore the details of the world's challenging battle against biodiversity loss and extinction.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Australian Government: Department of the Environment and Water Resources
A look at biodiversity issues around the world. Offers a look into various papers on conventions, and more technical writings on biodiversity. Also offers information on such things as invasive species, wildlife trade, and conservation incentives.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Global Issues Biodiversity Page
Brief blurbs about the causes of biodiversity loss and why it is so important to keep diverse species of plants and animals on Earth.
Content: B
Accessibility: A

The African Conservation Foundation
Offers research, resources, volunteer opportunities, country profiles, and other resources.
Content: B
Accessibility: B

Center for Biodiversity and Conservation
From the American Museum of Natural History. Offers a look into news, events, and projects the organization is doing to sustain biodiversity. Also provides opportunities to help.
Content: C
Accessibility: B

Disease

World Health Organization
A specialized branch of the United Nations, the organization is dedicated to providing optimal health and information to people around the world. Site offers general health and disease information as well as information relating disease to such issues as climate change, the water crisis, hunger, etc.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Center for Disease Control
A component of the Department of Health and Human Services, the group's focus is research and control of infectious and chronic disease around the world. Their site offers information on diseases and issues surrounding disease, including those influenced by the environment.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy
Based at the University of Minnesota, this group is dedicated to preventing illness and death from infectious disease through research and by providing practical knowledge to the public. General information about various diseases. Can be somewhat technical, but not difficult.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

BOOKS

Island Press
Chelsea Green
Two excellent publishers/distributors of books on sustainability.

Plan B: 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble
Lester R. Brown, author
Find it at Amazon
This book, written by the president of the Earth Policy Institute, is packed with startling statistics about the environment and the state of the world in general. It is written in a very accessible manner while remaining a scientific and fact-based account.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

The Long Emergency: Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century
James Howard Kunstler, author
Find it at Amazon
This book offers an overview of what is happening to the planet in a more narrative tone. It’s informative and highly readable.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

State of the World: Our Urban Future
The Worldwatch Institute, authors
Find it at Amazon
The Institute’s 2007 report of the state of our planet. Includes many practical topics such as agriculture, urban sprawl, health and disease, water quality, transportation, urban farming, and natural disasters.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

The No-Nonsense Guide to Climate Change
Dinyar Godrej, author
Find it at Amazon
An almost pocket-sized book the ways and reasons that climate change is altering our planet. It is written in a style that is accessible and includes graphs to help illustrate various statistics.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Ecology: A Pocket Guide
Ernest Callenbach, author
Find it at Amazon
This is a convenient topic-based book that allows a person to read about various subtopics within the larger definition of ecology.
Content: B
Accessibility: A

An Inconvenient Truth
Al Gore, author
Find it at Amazon
The Oscar-winning movie in book form. Contains many of the same graphics seen in the movie as well. Lively and packed with information.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Worldchanging: A User's Guide to the 21st Century
Alex Steffen, editor, Al Gore, introduction
Find it at Amazon
While difficult to simply read from beginning to end, this book is so full of wonderfully useful information that it should be considered an essential purchase as you move to a greener future for yourself. Built on a seemingly endless selection of well-written short articles on a variety of topics, from scooters to outdoor couches made from dirt and grass (a real why-didn't-anyone-think-of-this-before moment) to rainwater gardens to solving human rights issues, Worldchanging keeps the promise of its lofty title.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

MAGAZINES

Green Technology by BusinessWeek
Great resource of free information.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

E Magazine
A “clearinghouse” of information on the environment. Offers resources and articles for people who want to know “what can I do for the environment?”
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Grist
A less serious-toned examination of green issues, sustainable living, and up-and-coming green trends. A definite must-read for those who want a witty and fun perspective on environmental issues. This magazine faces the world’s demise with a little bit of a smirk.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Orion Nature Quarterly
Stresses the responsibility of humanity to care for the Earth and everything on it. This magazine also approaches cultural issues and works to stimulate activism in local as well as global communities.
Content: A
Accessibility: A

Conservation
This magazine presents articles on current research and scientific thought regarding natural resource conservation, development, and management, as well as wildlife management and extinction. "A sophisticated, readable, and utterly practical magazine for people who are serious about conservation—managers, policymakers, researchers, students, advocates, and funders."
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Green @ Work Magazine
Offers articles about sustainable businesses and business people. Also includes general state of the planet articles.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Resources Conservation & Recycling
Contributions from researchers on all aspects of resource management, with particular regard to conservation and sustainability objectives. This magazine also emphasizes the transformation process involved in a transition toward more sustainable production and consumption systems.
Content: A
Accessibility: B

Biological Conservation
This magazine is for the serious conservation enthusiast. It includes original papers on conservation of wildlife and biological resources. Its concerns cover plants, animals, and their habitats in the man-dominated world.
Content: A
Accessibility: C

VIDEOS

An Inconvenient Truth
Al Gore, writer/narrator, Davis Guggenheim, director
Find it at Amazon
The seminal, Oscar-winning documentary on global warming from "former President-elect" Al Gore. This film deftly weaves Mr. Gore's personal history as an environmental advocate with his presentation on humanity's past, present and future impacts on the environment. Essential watching.
Content: A
Accessibility: A