Our Approach

We have a long and respected track record of building functional coalitions of (sometimes unlikely) partners that get things done and advance smart public policies. We are just one of over 750 environmental and conservation organizations statewide. When united, we have the ability to scale up policy advocacy capacity in a big way. The Environmental Council strives to serve as a connector between these allies, building a movement that works collaboratively to combat our critical issues.

Every Michigander is impacted by our most pressing environmental issues, whether it be climate change, pollution, threats to outdoor recreation, or unsafe, unsustainable housing. We need each and every resident to help us advocate for big change. We work to bring these issues to the people through the power of storytelling. Then, we provide pathways to take action and ensure their voices are heard.

We have driven a statewide environmental agenda for more than 40 years, developing unwavering credibility and trust as experts in policies that protect the air we breathe, our water, and the places we love. Our policy experts are constantly engaging decisionmakers one-on-one, giving testimony and feedback on key bills and working collaboratively with environmental allies to build support for our priorities. Together, we drive high-level environmental wins like comprehensive climate protections, universal lead testing and more.

We look to convene the community around big-vision campaigns, ones that cannot be won through individual organizational advocacy at the Capitol and ones that have systemic impacts on environmental protection and the long-term strength of our movement. As we work to build relationships with decision makers through direct advocacy and to grow in our role as a “council” to convene Michigan’s diverse and powerful environmental network, these campaigns fuse those priorities to create exceptional impact.