Links on Environmental Issues

United Nations

United Nations Environment Program
The challenge before UNEP is to implement an environmental agenda that is integrated strategically with the goals of economic development and social well-being - an agenda for sustainable development.

United Nations - Oceans and Law of the Sea
Provides a description, with relevant documents, of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Global Environment Outlook
Two over-riding trends characterize the beginning of the third millennium. First, the global ecosystem is threatened by grave imbalances in productivity and in the distribution of goods and services. A significant proportion of humanity still lives in dire poverty, and projected trends are for an increasing divergence between those that benefit from economic and technological development, and those that do not. This unsustainable progression of extremes of wealth and poverty threatens the stability of society as a whole, and with it the global environment. Secondly, the world is undergoing accelerating change, with environmental stewardship lagging behind economic and social development. Environmental gains from new technology and policies are being overtaken by population growth and economic development

US Government

Eight Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences
To help the U.S. government identify new environmental science projects that should receive high priority, a new report from the National Academies' National Research Council identifies eight important areas of environmental research for the next generation.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) - Environmental Themes
USGS activities in the environment theme area include studies of natural physical, chemical, and biological processes, and of the results of human actions; the goal is to provide the understanding and scientific information needed to recognize and mitigate adverse impacts and to sustain the environment. Activities include data collection, long-term assessments, ecosystem analysis, predictive modeling, and process research on the occurrence, distribution, transport, and fate of contaminants as well as the impacts of contaminants on biota.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) - National Water Conditions
Features data on water quality, river flow, and usable contents of selected reservoirs.

United States Geological Survey (USGS) - Water Resources of the United States
Provides information on water quality and water use.

United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water
Law and regulatory information, databases and publications relating to a range of program areas including ground water, drinking water, wastewater, wetlands, oceans, and watersheds.

Natural Resources Conservation Service
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is a Federal agency that works in partnership with the American people to conserve and sustain our natural resources.

NASA
NASA is deeply committed to spreading the unique knowledge that flows from its aeronautics and space research

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Describes Administration programs and provides data related to NOAA's mission to describe changes in the environment and conserve coastal and marine resources. Contains the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, the National Ocean Service, and NOAA Fisheries.

United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation
Searchable site containing information on the Bureau's management of water related resources west of the Mississippi River.

Organizations

American Society of Civil Engineers
We must change or our profession as we know it shall perish. We must be leaders, not followers if we are to remain among the world's elite professions

American Society of Agricultural Engineers
The American Society of Agricultural Engineers is a professional and technical organization dedicated to the advancement of engineering applicable to agricultural, food, and biological systems.

Water Environment Federation
The Water Environment Federation (WEF) will be the preeminent organization dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the global water environment

American Water Works Association
The American Water Works Association is dedicated to the promotion of public health and welfare in the provision of drinking water of unquestionable quality and sufficient quantity

Owasco Watershed Lake Association
An Owasco Watershed Lake Association Citizen's Guide to the Design of Sustainable Streambank Protection and Riparian Habitat Restoration Practices

EnviroLink
EnviroLink is committed to promoting a sustainable society by connecting individuals and organizations through new communications technologies.