Who we are

We began in 1967, as a scrappy group of scientists and a lawyer on Long Island, New York, fighting to save osprey from the toxic pesticide DDT. Using scientific evidence, our founders got DDT banned nationwide.

Today, we’re one of the world's leading environmental organizations. In the U.S., Fortune magazine called our board one of the country's most influential nonprofit boards.

And science still guides everything we do.

Our mission and values

Environmental Defense Fund's mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends.

Guided by science and economics, we find practical and lasting solutions to the most serious environmental problems.

What distinguishes Environmental Defense Fund is the combination of what we protect and how we protect it.

We work to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet. This has drawn us to areas that span the biosphere: climate, oceans, ecosystems and health. Since these topics are intertwined, our solutions take a multidisciplinary approach. We work in concert with other organizations — as well as with business, government and communities — and avoid duplicating work already being done effectively by others.

Our core values

These values allow us to experiment courageously in our work, while staying true to who we've been as an organization for 50 years.

Results — Create environmental solutions that make a lasting difference in the world

Respect — Welcome diverse perspectives, talents and contributions

Innovation — Design and use a wide range of problem-solving tools

Optimism — Embrace ambitious environmental goals while taking into account real-world dynamics

Integrity — Uphold a commitment to science, rigorous analysis, intellectual honesty and ethical action

Be part of our progress

With news updates and action s, you'll find out when your support can help most. (See our privacy policy.)

Our website is: http://www.cet.net.cn/