Since 2019, ECOLOGIA has become steadily more involved with the search to connect with Indigenous perspectives as a viable and valuable alternative to creating a more sustainable future. For a comprehensive menu, see "Indigenous Perspectives - ECOLOGIA's Resource Index." See also the Talking Leaves Forum website for articles, features, poetry and fiction, as well as links to all the Indigenous Perspectives audio podcasts and their transcripts.

 
The Virtual Foundation

ECOLOGIA's philanthropy program, The Virtual Foundation, supports a limited number of environmental, human health, and sustainable development projects designed by grassroots groups. The Virtual Foundation is their fiduciary agent (fiscal sponsor). Founded in 1996 at the start of the Internet era, the original model was based on a network of independent Consortium Members on the ground in over 20 countries. This did not survive the economic downturns and political shifts in many countries. However, the Virtual Foundation remains active today (2024), supporting a limited number of projects that meet our criteria, in places such as Haiti and Mongolia.

 
Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Governance

Linking local and global efforts to bring environmental values into daily organizational decision-making

ECOLOGIA has worked on developing international standards within the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the preeminent body for setting voluntary product and management standards for use in international trade. As a public interest group with official 'liaison' status within ISO, ECOLOGIA promotes transparency and broad participation.

ECOLOGIA participated in creating the ISO 26000 global social responsibility standard, designed to encourage all organizations to improve their impacts on the environment, workers and communities in which they operate.

Since 2018, ECOLOGIA has participated in the ISO 26000 Stakeholders Global Network. For more information, see "ECOLOGIA Works on Global Social Responsibility".

Unlike the other programs listed here, the Orthogonal Economy is still in the research/conceptual stage. We are documenting and analyzing the contributions of socially responsible small businesses whose owners' goals are to be of value to the community as well as running a viable business.

 
Past Programs

 
Organic and Local Agriculture:

Ecologically sound agriculture is one of the keys to sustainable development; a high quality food supply requires attention to renewable resources, knowledge of the ecosystem, and public awareness of the significance of healthy food choices.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization supports these efforts in developing countries. Randy Kritkausky participated in an FAO international mission to promote organic agriculture in Lithuania, in 2006.

Making professional and personal connections across cultures

International Exchanges:
ECOLOGIA has designed and hosted a variety of environmental and human services exchange programs. Visitors to the United States build connections to like-minded Americans working in their field, as they meet with specialists who provide in-depth training and partnership possibilities. Visitors enrich the American communities they encounter by sharing their knowledge and perspectives. ECOLOGIA has worked with over 350 individuals from such countries as Russia, China, Ukraine, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Lithuania, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan.

Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Environmental Management Systems

Environmental management systems help businesses reduce pollution by bringing environmental considerations into their day-to-day operations. ECOLOGIA participated in writing sections of the ISO Environmental Management Systems standard, ISO 14000 especially on Greenhouse Gas Accounting. ECOLOGIA has worked with partners in Russia and China to promote environmental management as a tool for sustainable development. In conjunction with Ecoline, its Russian affiliate, ECOLOGIA introduced environmental management systems to small enterprises in Russia. Factory managers were trained to use management tools to reduce the wasteful use of resources and energy. This decreases pollution while often increasing profitability. More information about this project can be found at the Ecoline website (mainly in Russian).