E3G

Third Generation Environmentalism: A mini manifesto

By Chris Littlecott

Beginnings

E3G is a work in progress. It began as an idea – that it was time for a third generation of environmental action.

For the past eighteen months we have worked together and with others to turn that idea into a robust concept. We are now engaged in a further eighteen months of proving the concept – testing its application in the real world through a variety of projects.

We have developed a new model for an environmental organisation. At first, environmentalists believed that if enough good quality information and media profile could be generated on environmental issues progress would eventually occur.

Now we all know better. The scale and urgency of the environmental problems facing humanity are such that this is not enough. More is needed. Knowledge and public awareness must be actively drilled deeper into our decision making processes.

The first two generations of environmentalists clearly identified the problems and defined the goals we must reach – a stable climate, greatly increased resource efficiency, sustainable management of biological resources, reduced exposure to dangerous chemicals and radioactivity.

The third generation’s priority is to engage that knowledge and awareness more effectively so that those goals are reached. E3G will forge a stronger connection between what must be done and how things get done.

E3G adds value through our experience of the way institutions work and our networks of relationships with aware insiders everywhere. This is why our activities are structured differently from those of other environmental bodies.

It is not our job to research and campaign on the environment, duplicating the work of others. Rather, we take goals that are widely discussed, but rarely reached, and add the focus and political momentum necessary to turn aspiration into accomplishment.