Ecofficiency pushes for a free and fair market-based consumer system that maximizes positive impacts to our planet.
The fundamental question: Are the impacts associated with producing, shipping, packaging, storing, and disposing of the products, resources, and services we consume worth the benefits they provide us as individuals or to society at large?
"The greatest threat to our planet is thinking someone else will save it"
- Robert Swan
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead
Education
Ecofficiency.org has developed a base curriculum that identifies and connects major components and key concepts, which contribute to the social, economic, and environmental problems our world faces. We draw from a number of academic disciplines – such as economics, business administration, international development, political science, history, and the natural sciences – to build a structured message of where, and how, we can address today's most pressing problems.
As individual consumers, our choices play a major role in global economic systems that have resulted in impacts such as climate change, labor exploitation and human trafficking, water pollution, and the spread of infectious disease. This also means that our consumer choices hold immense power in solving these problems. To realize this power, each of us must first understand the basic connections we all have with each other and the environment.
Through our interdisciplinary and structured presentations, understanding global economic systems and how we can contribute to solving our world's problems becomes much easier. We illustrate unique, yet intuitive, pathways towards constructive and proactive efforts focused on long-term success, based on free market systems and democracy.
All of our presentations are tailored to specific audiences, events, and/or industries, and are designed to stimulate thought that leads to action. We pay particular attention to ensuring that concepts and themes have practical use in solving real world problems.
Important note: We do not advance any specific political ideology; we advocate an apolitical stance, designed to address problems in a way that government is often unable.
Inquiries:
We are available to give presentations at your school, business, organization, or event.
If interested, please send an email to jesse@ecofficiency.org.
Ecofficiency Presentations:
Jesse Baker
As a PhD candidate at UC Irvine, studying environmental policy and international development, I have first hand experience with the consequences of our local and global consumer impacts. I have been fortunate enough to have travelled, conducted original research, and worked on a variety of projects and expeditions throughout Latin America, the United States, and Antarctica. Having conceptualized the philosophy, principals, and structure of Ecofficiency, I am uniquely suited to offer a variety of educational presentations, lectures, and workshops on sustainability, "being green," and Ecofficiency in practice.
Field Research |
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|---|---|
Latin America |
- Oil, the "Resource Curse" and political turmoil in Venezuela |
United States |
- Southern California wildfires: examining policy conflict |
Antarctica |
- Climate Change |
Recent Topics:
- Charting a New Course for Being "Green"
- Antarctica: Climate Change, Sustainability, Global Cooperation, and Cultural Difference
- Venezuela: The Resource Curse, Oil, and Socio-Economic Instability
- Colombia and Ecuador: What Oil Companies Can Learn About Community Development From Pablo Escobar and the Drug Cartels
- Consumer Impact Linkages – Upstream and Downstream Effects
- The Ethical Imperative of Practicing Ecofficiency
Selected Presentations:
- UC Riverside: guest lecturer for Dr. Mahutga's Global Change and Inequality class; Riverside, CA – March 8, '10
- E-Vocal: Green Drinks and Ecofficiency.org outreach party;
Costa Mesa, CA – December 17, '09 - Go Green: Green Movement Awareness Day; Newport Beach, CA – November 21, '09
- The Camp: Greenology; Costa Mesa, CA – November 8, '09
- The Boathouse Collective: Endless Summer Benefit Concert;
Costa Mesa, CA – October 17, '09 - East Los Angeles College: Summer Environmental Academy;
Los Angeles, CA – August 7, '09 - University of California, Riverside Spring Fest:
Sustainable Living Road Show – Riverside, CA; May 2, '09 - Environment Furniture: Ecofficiency.org Launch Party – Orange County, CA; August 1, '09
- Orange County Sustainable Business Group; Newport Beach, CA – June 24, '09
- Long Beach Polytechnic HS: guest speaker for Mr. Manack's Science class; Long Beach, CA – June 4, '09
- John F Kennedy HS: guest speaker for Ms. Hernandez's English class;
Norco, CA – June 2, '09 - University of California, Riverside Spring Fest: Sustainable Living Road Show;
Riverside, CA – May 2, '09 - The Chapel School: Economics, Science, and Social Studies;
São Paulo, Brazil – April 7, '09 - Akademik IOFEE Research Vessel: Individual Actions Leading to Global Change; 2041 expedition to Antarctica – March 26, '09
- International Studies Association: International Conference;
New York, NY – February 16, '09 - International Studies Association: West Conference;
San Francisco, CA – September 26, '08
Inquiries
We are available to give presentations at your school, business, organization, or event.
If interested, please send an email to jesse@ecofficiency.org.