Acterra

About us

Acterra is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. We focus on what you can do locally to address current environmental problems. In the face of daunting environmental challenges, our science-based approach instills hope while building community.

Our roots go back to 1970 with a long history of environmental education and action. Acterra and its predecessor organizations (Peninsula Conservation Center and Bay Area Action) developed innovative programs for wetlands preservation, residential and commercial recycling, green business practices, protection of old growth forests, environmentally responsible food choices, watershed management, habitat restoration, leadership development and residential energy conservation.

Acterra focuses its efforts on the most urgent issue of our time: climate change. We promote and support electrification, energy efficiency and renewable energy; transportation innovation; food sustainability; resilience and adaptation in the context of empowering underserved communities; and sustainable business practices in our region. We collaborate with community partner organizations as well as local and regional governments to effect change. We provide educational outreach in the form of our popular public lectures and free community workshops.

Acterra's staff provides environmental education in the areas of energy and climate change, corporate sustainability, and advocacy to build an informed and empowered citizenry. Our programs include Workplace Sustainability, Beneficial Electrification for All, Healthy Plate, Healthy Planet, and continuing education through You(th) Be the Change and our Public Lecture Series.