Below are some great networks in the sustainability space. Some are networks that you can join as an individual, others are networks you can only join through your workplace.
Don’t be discouraged if you’re not eligible to join a particular network directly, many often have free content available on their websites or events that are open to the public. If any network sounds interesting, be sure to check their website for events, conferences, job boards, webinars, newsletters, blogs, and other great resources. Also look at their partners page or the sponsors for any of their conferences. Those are usually great for-profit companies in the space that are worth looking into.
If you’re a woman, also be sure to see if your city has a “Women in Energy” or “Women in Sustainability” or similar group that meets regularly. Most cities have one and if yours doesn’t, it’s a great opportunity for you to start one!
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| Category | Organization | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainability | International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) | The International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP) is the world's leading professional association of sustainability professionals. We work to make sustainability standard practice through empowering professionals to advance sustainability in organizations and communities around the globe. As a professional association, ISSP improves the skills of sustainability practitioners through ISSP Sustainability Professional Certification, education, knowledge sharing, research, and professional credentials. |
| Sustainability | Ceres | Ceres is a sustainability nonprofit organization working with the most influential investors and companies to build leadership and drive solutions throughout the economy. Through powerful networks and advocacy, Ceres tackles the world’s biggest sustainability challenges, including climate change, water scarcity and pollution, and human rights abuses. |
| Sustainability | Corporate Eco Forum (CEF) | Corporate Eco Forum (CEF) is an invitation-only membership organization for large companies that demonstrate a serious commitment to sustainability as a business strategy issue. CEF’s mission is to help accelerate sustainable business innovation by creating the best neutral space for senior business leaders to strategize and exchange best-practice insights. |
| Sustainability | Sustainable Brands | The Sustainable Brands Member Network is the leading peer-to-peer, learning and networking group designed to support brands in meeting their sustainability goals and ultimately becoming leaders of the next sustainable economy. |
| Sustainability, CSR | Net Impact | Net Impact is a global community of students and professionals who want to become the most effective change agents they can be. |
| Sustainability, CSR | Women in Corporate Social Responsibility | Women in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a Bay Area professional networking group that brings together women from the non-profit, corporate, government and consulting fields focused on embedding the triple bottom line (economic, social and environmental) into organizations business models. |
| Sustainability | The Young Sustainability Network | The Young Sustainability Network aims to empower individuals to make informed decisions about a long-term career in sustainability. Their mission is to support early-career individuals as they enter and navigate the world of sustainability professions by hosting events and providing resources. |
| Energy Efficiency, DER, Government | The Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) | The Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) is a wonderful place to meet people and network and has a fairly broad scope – energy efficiency, demand response, and DER. They have a big national conference every year as well as regional and specialized conferences. |
| Energy | Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) | Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) is a non-profit organization with more than 40,000 members worldwide. By providing a forum for networking and career development through social, educational and civic service opportunities, YPE aims to facilitate the advancement of young professionals in the global energy industry. |
| Energy | National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) | NREL's Workforce Development and Education Programs inspire students, teachers, and executives to explore sustainable energy solutions to meet our future needs. |
| Energy Efficiency, Government | National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) | NASEO is the national non-profit association for the governor-designated energy officials from each of the 56 states and territories. Formed by the states in 1986, NASEO facilitates peer learning among state energy officials, serves as a resource for and about state energy offices, and advocates the interests of the state energy offices to Congress and federal agencies. |
| Built Environment | Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) | BOMA represents the owners and managers of all commercial property types. Its mission is to advance a vibrant commercial real estate industry through advocacy, influence and knowledge. They incorporate sustainability into most conferences and events. |
| Built Environment | Urban Land Institute | ULI is the oldest and largest network of cross-disciplinary real estate and land use experts in the world. ULI is its members—delivering the mission, shaping the future of the industry, and creating thriving communities around the globe. |
| Built Environment | US Green Building Council | The U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a sustainable, prosperous future through LEED, the leading program for green buildings and communities worldwide. Members may join at the individual or organization level. |
| Built Environment | Green Building Alliance | Green Building Alliance (GBA) advances innovation in the built environment by empowering people to create environmentally, economically, and socially vibrant places. |
| Built Environment | Urban Green Council | UGC has a robust program of events centered on the built environment. |
| Built Environment | Building Energy Exchange | The Building Energy Exchange in New York hosts an event series called Women in Sustainability and Energy (WISE) which highlights women as speakers and leaders. |
| Built Environment, Energy | Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) | NESEA advances the adoption of sustainable energy practices in the built environment by cultivating a community where practitioners share, collaborate and learn. |
| Built Environment, Energy Efficiency | GreenHomeNYC | GreenHomeNYC's mission is to promote an energy efficient and sustainable built environment and to support green professional development in NYC. We provide sustainability information to the general public and technical education to advance sustainability careers through a diverse array of programming, events, peer-to-peer mentoring and networking opportunities. |
| Climate, Government | C40 | C40 is a network of the world’s megacities committed to addressing climate change. C40 supports cities to collaborate effectively, share knowledge and drive meaningful, measurable and sustainable action on climate change. |
| Climate, Government | Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance (NCNA) | The Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance is a collaboration of leading global cities working to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80-100% by 2050 or sooner — the most aggressive GHG reduction targets undertaken anywhere by any city. |
| Wind | American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) | The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is the premier national trade association that represents the interests of America’s wind energy industry - Together, with hundreds of our member organizations, we work to help drive wind energy demand and to make it as cost-competitive as possible. |
| Biofuels | BBI International | BBI International produces globally recognized bioenergy events and trade magazines. In addition to the International Biomass Conference & Expo and its allied regional events, BBI owns and operates the largest, longest-running ethanol conference in the world—the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo (FEW)—and the National Advanced Biofuels Conference & Expo. |
| Solar | American Solar Energy Society (ASES) | The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is a non-profit that advocates for sustainable living and 100% renewable energy. We share information, events and resources to cultivate community and power progress in the U.S. and beyond. |
| Solar | Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) | SEIA is the national trade association for the U.S. solar industry, and we embody the innovation and entrepreneurship that defines solar energy. |
| Utilities, Retail | Edison Electric Institute (EEI) | The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. EEI provides public policy leadership, strategic business intelligence, and essential conferences and forums. |
| Utilities, Solar, Storage, DER | The Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) | Since 1992, SEPA has been a trusted platform for smart energy education, research and collaboration to help the electric power sector deploy and integrate solar, storage, demand response and other distributed energy resources. |
| Water | The Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) | The Alliance for Water Efficiency is a stakeholder-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the efficient and sustainable use of water. |
| Wine | California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance | The California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA) is a San Francisco-based nonprofit organization that promotes the benefits of sustainable winegrowing practices, enlists industry commitment and assists in implementation of the Sustainable Winegrowing Program. |
| Consumer Engagement | Engage For Good | Engage For Good's goal is to provide business and nonprofit professionals working at the intersection of cause and commerce with the practical information and connections they need to succeed. If your focus is to engage consumers and/or employees around social issues, you’ve come to the right place to learn best practices, tips and trends as well as connect with others in this growing field. |
| Apparel | Sustainable Apparel Coalition | The Sustainable Apparel Coalition is the apparel, footwear, and textile industry’s leading alliance for sustainable production. |
| Product Sustainability | The Sustainability Consortium | The Sustainability Consortium (TSC) is a global non-profit organization working to transform the consumer goods industry by partnering with leading companies to define, develop, and deliver more sustainable products. Membership is at the company level, but they have a large network and a conference. |
| Circular Economy | The Circular Economy Network (CEN) | The Circular Economy Network brings people together to advance regenerative systems locally and globally. |
| Life Cycle Assessment | American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) | The American Center for Life Cycle Assessment (ACLCA) is a nonprofit membership organization providing education, awareness, advocacy and communications to build capacity and knowledge of environmental LCA. |
| Recycling | National Recycling Coalition (NRC) | The National Recycling Coalition is a non-profit organization focused on promoting and enhancing recycling in the United States. They offer webinars, conferences, training, and other resources for waste professionals and students. |
| Recycling, Waste | Solid Waste Advisory Board (SWAB) | The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) is a volunteer citizens’ advisory board dedicated to helping NYC achieve its zero waste goals. The Board meets monthly, and meetings are open to the public. |
| Recycling, Packaging | Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) | The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) has a sustainable packaging resources group, and you don't have to be an engineer to join. |
| Recycling, Packaging | Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) | The Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) is the leading sustainable packaging network with a membership that encompasses the entire supply chain. |
| Recycling, Plastics | Association of Plastic Recyclers (APC) | The Association of Plastic Recyclers (APC) is the national trade association representing companies who acquire, reprocess and sell the output of more than 90 percent of the post-consumer plastic processing capacity in North America. |
| Recycling | Northern California Recycling Association (NCRA) | NCRA is an association of recycling businesses, community groups, municipalities, and individuals committed to promoting, expanding, and institutionalizing recycling. |
| Recycling | California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA) | CRRA is dedicated to achieving environmental sustainability in and beyond California through Zero Waste strategies including product stewardship, waste prevention, reuse, recycling and composting. |
| Higher Education | Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) | AASHE is the hub for all things sustainability in higher education. Their STARS (Sustainability Tracking And Rating System)program is the leading sustainability protocol in the field. |
| Higher Education | The Sustainability Curriculum Consortium | We envision a consortium that builds our collective capacity as educators and change agents, along with the administrators and stakeholders who can support them, to improve the ways sustainability is perceived, modeled, and taught; that serves as a generator of principles, practices, and shared resources, to move the “education” component of higher education sustainability up to and beyond campus operations. |
| Advocacy | Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) | Environmental Entrepreneurs is a national, nonpartisan group of business owners, investors and others who advocate for policies that are good for the economy and good for the environment. |
| Impact Investing | Social Capital Markets (SOCAP) | An ongoing event series, SOCAP 365 features world-class speakers and opportunities to connect at the intersection of money and meaning. Through thought leadership panel discussions, inclusive dialogues, and community-building events, SOCAP 365 serves the rapidly growing network of impact investors, social entrepreneurs, conscious corporations, philanthropists, government agencies, and innovators in every sector. |
| Impact Investing | Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) | The Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN) is the global champion of impact investing, dedicated to increasing its scale and effectiveness around the world. |
| Supply Chain, Labor | The Fair Labor Association | FLA is a collaborative effort of universities, civil society organizations and socially responsible companies dedicated to protecting workers’ rights around the world. |
