One of the best ways for members of the press to stay current on events and announcements is to sign-up for CEC’s action alerts. In addition, CEC Staff and Board are available to provide expert background and commentary on a wide range of issues. For help identifying the right expert, contact CEO Sigrid Wright at swright@cecmail.org.
If you are looking for information specific to CEC’s Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival, please visit the Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Press Page.
For articles published in 2020 and earlier, visit our Archived Press page.
Recent Press Releases
- Press Release: Santa Barbara Earth Day and Partners Announce Community Mural Artists. April 21, 2021
- Press Release: Earth Day. April 16, 2021
- TEDxSantaBarbara & Community Environmental Council Collaborate on the 2021 Making Waves Spring Speaker Series. April 9, 2021.
- New CEC Board Members and Officers. March 31, 2021.
- Earth Day Organizers to Honor Greenpeace USA’s Annie Leonard as 2021 Environmental Hero. March 25, 2021.
- Earth Day Mural Call for Entries. March 20, 2021
- Community Environmental Council Offers Affordable Electric Vehicle Clinic. March 4, 2021
- CEC Gathers Planners, Practitioners, and Doers to Build Local Climate Resilience. February 26, 2021
- CEC Announces #CelebrateClimateLeadershipVirtual Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival April 22-24. February 19, 2021
- CEC Announces New Members to Partnership Council. January 29, 2021.
- CEC Announces New Climate Leadership Course. January 27, 2021.
- Local climate advocacy group to significantly expand operations in downtown Santa Barbara. January 20, 2021.
- CEC Chosen as a 2020 Spirit of Service Climate Hero. December 15, 2020.
- CEC Chosen as a 2020 California Nonprofit of the Year. November 19, 2020.
- CEC Zero Emission Vehicle Equity Grant Focuses on Extremely Low- or No-Cost Leased or Used Electric Vehicles to Accelerate Transportation Justice. October 29, 2020.
- CEC Expands Climate Justice Efforts with Community Ambassadors. October 27, 2020.
- TEDxSantaBarbara and Community Environmental Council Host COUNTDOWN Event to Spotlight Local Environmental Experts, Building on International TED Climate Initiative. October 6, 2020.
- CEC’s Solarize Program Sets One Megawatt Solar Goal for Regional Nonprofit Agencies. October 1, 2020.
- CEC and Electric Drive 805 Coalition Spotlight Electric Vehicles for Low to Moderate Income Families During National Drive Electric Week. September 23, 2020.
- CEC Launches Solarize Ventura County with Webinars on Solar, Battery Systems, and Electric Vehicles. September 9, 2020.
- CEC Gathers with Frontline and Essential Workers, Indigenous Communities to Address Local Climate Resilience. August 25, 2020.
- CEC Launches Program to Continue Responding to Frontline Community Needs During COVID-19. August 20, 2020.
- CEC Joins Born This Way Foundation for its Annual “#BeKind21” Campaign. August 19, 2020.
- CEC Launches Solarize Santa Barbara with Webinar on Solar and Battery Storage. July 28, 2020.
- Community Invited to Take Action on Local Transportation System Reform. June 18, 2020.
- The Right to Breathe. June 1, 2020.
- Addressing Our Climate Emergency During a Pandemic: Virtual Community Forum on climate change hosted by the League of Women Voters of Santa Barbara. May 12, 2020.
- Santa Barbara County Food Rescue Network Expands to Offer Critical Support to Those In Need. May 7, 2020.
- Santa Barbara County Food Action Network Announces Shakira Miracle as First Executive Director. May 5, 2020.
- Community Environmental Council Announces #TogetherWeEarthrise Earth Day Live Festival on April 22. April 14, 2020.
- Community Environmental Council Postpones 2020 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival March 12, 2020.
- Community Environmental Council Gathers Local Leaders, Stakeholders to Address Impacts of Sea Level Rise & Flooding. March 9, 2020.
- Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Members to Board of Directors, Partnership Council and President’s Council. February 19, 2020.
- Community Environmental Council Announces 2020 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival—the 50th Anniversary of “Earth Day”. February 18, 2020.
Newsletter Archive
May 2020 – After COVID-19: How We Can Permanently Alter Transportation Systems
May 2020 – Saving Food, Saving Lives: CEC’s Santa Barbara County Food Rescue During COVID-19
April 2020 – #TogetherWeEarthrise Earth Day Live Festival
April 2020 – Join Us for Earth Day Live festival
April 2020 – Building Food Resilience During the Pandemic
April 2020 – How the Pandemic Could be a Crossroads for the Climate
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019 – Climate Crisis
December 2019 – Clean Transportation
December 2019 – Reduce Plastic Use
December 2019 – Clean Energy
December 2019 – Healthy Food System
Quick Facts
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Santa Barbara, California.
CEC’s mission is to pioneer real life solutions in areas with the most impact on climate change. Our programs provide pathways to clean vehicles, solar energy, resilient food systems, and reduction of single-use plastic.
Some of our areas of expertise include:
- alternative transportation (including bicycling and walking)
- carbon farming
- clean energy vehicles
- climate justice
- climate resilience
- energy conservation and efficiency
- environmental planning
- food waste reduction
- green building
- reduction of single-use plastics
- regional and statewide legislation
- solar energy
- traffic reduction
- wind energy
Press Photos
Social Media Links
CEC in the News
- ‘He was a seeker’: Former SB Mayor Hal Conklin dies at 75. Montecito Journal. May 22, 2021
- Former Santa Barbara Mayor Hal Conklin dies at 75. KEYT. May 22, 2021
- Hal Conklin, Former Santa Barbara Mayor and Civic Visionary, Dead at 75. Independent. May 21, 2021
- Her Star is Rising: Built on Family and Wanderlust, Meagan Harmon Earns Coastal Commission Nod. Montecito Journal. May 20, 2021
- Karen Telleen-Lawton: Earth Day Wrap. Noozhawk. May 17, 2021
- Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara — NURTURE OUR MOTHER | mural by Adriana Arriaga & Claudia Borfiga and more events. Amigos 805. May 5, 2021
- Earth Day Mural: ‘Nurture Our Mother’. Santa Barbara Independent. May 4, 2021
- New mural near Paseo Nuevo. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 29, 2021
- Making a Difference. Santa Barbara Independent. April 28, 2021
- Earth Day, the SB way. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 23, 2021
- UCSB Lecturer Partners with CEC in Advocacy of Sustainable Living. Daily Nexus. April 23, 2021
- Earth Day forum focus on ‘climate emergency’. Lompoc Record. April 23, 2021
- Every Day Is Earth Day at Maps.Com. Santa Barbara Independent .April 23, 2021
- For UC Climate Stewards, every day is Earth Day. UCANR. April 22, 2021
- SB Earth Day Festival begins. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 22, 2021
- Nurture Our Mother Mural to Represent Earth Day Theme of Climate Leadership. Noozhawk. April 22, 2021
- Virtual Earth Day forum will focus on climate emergency, farming, nature-based resilience. Lompoc Record. April 22, 2021
- Forum to discuss ‘Our Climate Emergency’. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 21, 2021
- Santa Barbara Foundation Announces Inaugural Conservation, Environment, and Public Trails Grant Program. Santa Barbara Independent. April 21, 2021
- Every Day Can Be Earth Day 21 Ways to Do Your Part and Make a Difference. Santa Barbara Independent. April 21, 2021
- CEC hosts virtual Earth Day Festival. Coastal View. April 21, 2021
- Earth Day 2021 goes virtual with a multi-day line up of speakers and videos. KEYT. April 19, 2021
- LOCAL ARTISTS SELECTED TO PAINT COMMUNITY MURAL INSPIRED BY CLIMATE LEADERSHIP. EDHAT. April 19, 2021
- Start a Discussion or Working Group, and Let’s Get to Work!. Citizens Journal. April 19, 2021
- Earth Day Mural Artist Announcement. Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara. April 19, 2021
- Santa Barbara-Based Artists Adriana Arriaga and Claudia Borfiga Selected to Paint Community Mural Inspired by Climate Leadership. Santa Barbara Independent. April 19, 2021
- Channelkeeper presents student art show. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 18, 2021
- Help Save the Planet With Native Plants. Noozhawk. April 18, 2021
- Community Environmental Council. The Montecito Journal. April 15, 2021
- Earth Day Festival. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 14, 2021
- Jennifer Hernández – Climate Justice: Essential Practices to Advance Justice and Equity in the Climate Movement. TedXSantaBarbara. April 13, 2021
- TEDxSantaBarbara and CEC announce spring Making Waves series. Santa Barbara News-Press. April 12, 2021
- Community Environmental Council Adds New Members, Officers to Board of Directors. Noozhawk. April 10, 2021
- Cynder Sinclair: 2021 Promises to Be Powerful Year for Nonprofit CEC’s Earth Day. Noozhawk. April 10, 2021
- She’s Our Hero. The Montecito Journal. April 8, 2021
- Ecology Action offers affordable electric vehicle clinic. Voices of Monterey Bay. April 8, 2021
- EARTH DAY ORGANIZERS TO HONOR GREENPEACE USA’S ANNIE LEONARD AS 2021 ENVIRONMENTAL HERO. Edhat Santa Barbara. March 28, 2021
- Biden and the Environment A Talk with the Community Environmental Council. Santa Barbara Independent. March 22,2021
- CEC offers online electric vehicle clinic. Santa Barbara News-Press. March 22, 2021
- UCSB Arts & Lecture Posts Race to Justice Spring 2021 Events. Noozhawk. March 20, 2021
- Nonprofit Spotlight: Collaboration for social impact bolsters nonprofit community. Santa Ynez Valley News. March 19, 2021
- Want to save $15,000 on a new car? SLO electric vehicle forum shows you how. The Tribune. March 17, 2021
- HAPPENINGS | MARCH 18-25, 2021. VC Reporter. March 17, 2021
- Museum’s poetry competition grounded in Earth Day. Santa Ynez Valley Star. March 3, 2021
- Santa Barbara Middle School Going Solar. California Solar Electric. February 22, 2021
- Nonprofit Spotlight: Food Action Network opening membership to all county residents. Santa Ynez Valley News. February 21, 2021
- Getting paid to go green. Clean Coalition. February 19, 2021
- New Course Creates Central, South Coast “Climate Stewards”. KCLU. February 18, 2021
- How’s The Weather? It’s Complicated. Noozhawk. February 18, 2021
- Wildling Museum of Art & Nature Designated as Innovator Green Business. Santa Barbara News-Press. February 16, 2021
- Wildling Museum hosts Earth Day poetry contest. Santa Barbara News-Press. February 8, 2021
- also listed on Lompoc Record and Noozhawk
- Thank You to our 2020 Donors Ad. SB Independent. February 4, 2021
- Cynder Sinclair: Local Nonprofits Prepare For Post-Vaccine Reality. Noozhawk. February 1, 2021
- Local Organizations Step Up to Help, Fund Businesses and Residents During Coronavirus Crisis. Noozhawk. January 31, 2021
- Santa Barbara Middle School Going Solar. Noozhawk. January 25, 2021
- CEC expands in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara News-Press. January 24, 2021.
- also listed on Edhat and Santa Barbara Independent.
- Katie Davis: All-Electric Future Will Reduce Emissions, Increase Housing Affordability. Unilad. January 24, 2021.
- Climate Action Continues Despite 2020 Headwinds. EcoAmerica. January 29, 2021
- Residents speak out on energy reach code. Santa Barbara News-Press. January 13, 2021.
- Santa Barbara Council Tackles Police Reviewing and Greenhouse Gases. Santa Barbara Independent. January 13, 2021.
- Santa Barbara Names Spirit of Service Awards. Edhat. January 5, 2021.
- It’s Time for Santa Barbara to Ditch Fossil Gas. Santa Barbara Independent. December 31, 2020.
- Karen Telleen-Lawton: Green New Year’s Resolutions. Noozhawk. December 28. 2020.
- Nine Honored With 2020 Spirit of Service Awards. Noozhawk. December 16, 2020.
- SYV nonprofits get part of Montecito B&T Community Dividends Awards. Santa Ynez Valley Star. December 15, 2020.
- Agencies Join Forces to Protect Farmworkers. Santa Barbara Independent. December 9, 2020.
- Capturing Carbon in a Lemon Orchard. UCANR. December 4, 2020.
- A Climate Action Plan For Santa Barbara: Help Envision A Local Green New Deal. Society of Fearless Grandmothers. November 29, 2020.
- Cynder Sinclair: Are You Ready for Giving Tuesday?. Noozhawk. November 29, 2020.
- Local Heroes 2020. SB Independent. November 25, 2020.
- Give the Gift of Giving. SB Independent. November 24, 2020.
- $1 million given out to nonprofits by Montecito Bank & Trust. KEYT. November 23, 2020.
- 194 Local Nonprofit Organizations Receive Community Dividends® Awards and Share of $1 Million at Montecito Bank & Trust’s 18th Annual Luncheon. SB Independent. November 23, 2020.
- Support CEC. Noozhawk. November 20, 2020.
- County’s One Climate Initiative Aims to Get Public Onboard to Improve Environment. Noozhawk. November 17, 2020.
- Tesla to Help Power Santa Barbara’s Cater Water Treatment Plant. SB Independent. November 17, 2020.
- Major utility companies are betting big on electric cars. The Week. November 17, 2020.
- Panel discusses food sovereignty, justice. SB News-Press. November 15, 2020.
- Isla Vista Community Services District Wins $182,158 State Transportation Planning Grant. Noozhawk. November 9, 2020.
- Tesla Starts Installation of 15 Megapacks at Carpinteria, Santa Barbara County. Tasmanian. November 5, 2020.
- Facts and Figures Children, Pesticides, and Schools. Beyond Pesticides. November 5, 2020.
- Environmental Group On South Coast Helping Low And Middle Income People Get Into Electric Vehicles. KCLU. November 1, 2020.
- Westmont College Expanding Downtown Presence. SB Independent. October 29, 2020.
- Electric Bike Share Coming to Downtown Santa Barbara. Edhat. October 22, 2020.
- Actor-Musician Jeff Bridges Reveals He Is Being Treated for Lymphoma. Noozhawk. October 21, 2020.
- Local Dry Cleaners, Ablitt’s, Upholds Santa Barbara’s Legacy as a Pioneer in Environmental Stewardship. Edhat. October 21, 2020.
- Santa Barbara’s State Street to Get Electric Bike Share Program. Santa Barbara Independent. October 21, 2020.
- The New World of Virtual Convening. The Montecito Journal. October 20, 2020.
- Local experts discuss sustainable solutions at TEDxSB virtual event. The Channels. October 19, 2020.
- Nonprofits Can Apply Now for 2020 Food System Resilience Grants. Noozhawk. October 13, 2020.
- The Saga of the Historic Landmarks Commission and Bike Share. Santa Barbara Independent. October 7, 2020.
- Not for El Pueblo Viejo If It Ain’t Malaga Green. Santa Barbara Independent. October 5, 2020.
- Saving the World One Byte at a Time: Last Call for Food, Chowmatch, EVMatch, and Other Companies Using Tech for Good. Santa Barbara Independent. October 1, 2020.
- Tech Talk Santa Barbara 2020. Santa Barbara Independent. October 1, 2020.
- Local nonprofit teams with Lady Gaga to promote kindness. Santa Barbara News Press. September 7, 2020.
- CEC Gathers with Frontline and Essential Workers, Indigenous Communities to Address Local Climate Resilience. Santa Barbara Independent. September 2, 2020.
- CEC roundtable to address climate change. Santa Barbara News Press. August 27, 2020.
- CEC Launches Program for Frontline Community Needs During COVID-19. Edhat. August 24, 2020.
- More Places to Recycle Plastic Bags, And Other Environmental Updates. Noozhawk. July 28, 2020.
- Mission Wealth Proudly Continues to Support Sea Center Solar Project for 2020. Mission Wealth. July 28, 2020.
- Have COVID Conditions Affected Trash? Santa Barbara News Press. July 24, 2020.
- Karen Telleen-Lawton: Plastic Free July. Noozhawk. July 13, 2020.
- Kathi King: With Plastic, We Are What We Eat and Breathe. Noozhawk. July 8, 2020.
- Community input requested on local transportation reform. Santa Ynez Valley Star. July 7, 2020.
- CEC to host web seminar series on plastics. Santa Barbara News Press. July 7, 2020.
- Cynder Sinclair: Nonprofits Adapt Vital Services to COVID-19 Challenges, Shifting Landscape. Noozhawk. June 23, 2020.
- TEDxSantaBarbara Spurs Change with Critical Dialogue around COVID and Systemic Racism. Santa Barbara Independent. June 17, 2020.
- What Comes After COVID-19? Santa Barbara Independent. June 11, 2020.
- Local Lessons About Local Food: A Call to Invest in Local Food Infrastructure. Montecito Journal. June 4, 2020.
- Our Next School Superintendent. Santa Barbara Independent. June 3, 2020.
- For The Community Environmental Council, The Show Must Go On. Santa Barbara Foundation. May 20, 2020.
- Making a Match. Santa Barbara News Press. May 18, 2020.
- Virtual Community Forum to Address Climate Emergency During Pandemic. Noozhawk. May 13, 2020.
- Solarizing Made Simpler. Santa Barbara Independent. May 13, 2020.
- Addressing Our Climate Emergency During a Pandemic. Citizens Journal. May 13, 2020.
- Community Rallies to Meet Food Resource Needs of Santa Barbara County Residents Affected by COVID-19 Sbc Food Rescue Launches Online Collaboration Hub. (leer in español abajo) Santa Barbara Independent. May 7, 2020.
- La comunidad se reúne para satisfacer las necesidades de recursos alimenticios para los residentes del condado de Santa Bárbara afectados por COVID-19 SBC Food Rescue lanza un centro de colaboración en la web. Santa Barbara Independent. May 7, 2020.
- Santa Barbara County Food Rescue Network expands efforts to feed those in need during COVID-19 pandemic. KEYT. May 7, 2020.
- Santa Barbara County’s Network of Nutrition. Santa Barbara Independent. May 7, 2020.
- Santa Barbara County Food Action Network Announces Shakira Miracle as First Executive Director. Citizens Journal. May 6, 2020.
- Solvang’s Wildling Museum celebrates its 20th anniversary by going solar. Santa Maria Sun. May 6, 2020.
- Fiesta Mulls its Options, I Madonnari Takes Chalk Paintings Online. Santa Barbara Independent. May 5, 2020.
- Local Girl Scout Floats Project to Deflate Use of Mylar Balloons. Noozhawk. April 29, 2020.
- “The Ocean Is Boiling” | The Disaster That Led To The Creation Of Earth Day. The Beachwood Reporter. April 23, 2020.
- EYE ON THE ENVIRONMENT | EARTH DAY 2020: 50TH ANNIVERSARY GOES ONLINE. VC Reporter. April 22, 2020.
- Santa Barbara’s Earth Day Celebration Shows That ‘Virtually’ Anything Is Possible. Noozhawk. April 22, 2020.
- Kenny Loggins, Michael McDonald to perform at online Earth Day festival streaming live today. Van 92.7. April 22, 2020.
- EARTH DAY 50TH ANNIVERSARY. Edhat. April 21, 2020.
- Celebrate Earth Day 2020 at Home With These Livestreams. Green Matters. April 21, 2020.
- ‘Issues like the environment don’t take a hiatus’: CEC to take 50th Earth Day Festival online. Santa Barbara News Press. April 21, 2020.
- ‘Conviction of the Heart’: Kenny Loggins to perform his song with local teens during today’s online Earth Day festival. Santa Barbara News Press. April 21, 2020.
- WSL PURE Celebrates The 50th Anniversary Of Earth Day. WSL Pure. April 21, 2020.
- New regional climate collaborative launches. Santa Ynez Valley Star. April 21, 2020.
- Earth Day Live moves celebration online. KEYT. April 19, 2020
- Eco-tip: 50th anniversary of Earth Day provides inspiration. Ventura County Star. April 18, 2020.
- Gather on Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary With Birthplace of Modern Environmental Movement. Yahoo Finance. April 18, 2020.
- Earth Day’s Coronavirus Connections. Santa Barbara Independent. April 16, 2020.
- Community Environmental Council Holding Virtual Event to Observe Earth Day Noozhawk. April 15, 2020.
- How COVID-19 Could Help Us Get Through the Climate Crisis. Santa Barbara Independent. April 15, 2020.
- First Postponed, Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival Now Moves Online. KCLU. April 15, 2020.
- Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival postponed until July. KSBY. March 13, 2020.
- Earth Day Festival Postponed Until July for Coronavirus. Santa Barbara Independent. March 12, 2020.
- New Regional Climate Collaborative Launches to Address Climate Threats. Santa Barbara Independent. March 12, 2020.
- TEDxSantaBarbara Teams With UCSB on Interactive Event Series. Noozhawk. March 6, 2020.
- Hit the Road: Festivals, food, fun and more. The Coast News Group. March 5, 2020.
- The Light Blue Line: 13 Years Later. Independent. March 4, 2020.
- Getting to the Root of it All: Could Replanting Prairie Help Slow Climate Change?. EWU Biology. February 19, 2020.
- “Two Years After Fire and Flood”: Santa Barbara Community Evaluates Impacts and Responses. Daily Nexus. January 30, 2020.
- Santa Barbara Co. Supervisors Ok Controversial Wind Farm Project on Lompoc. WindAction. January 29, 2020.
- Santa Barbara Co. Supervisors Ok Controversial Wind Farm Project on Lompoc. KEYT. January 28, 2020.
- Santa Barbara Co. Supervisors Ok Controversial Wind Farm Project on Lompoc. National Wind Watch. January 28, 2020.
- Disaster Readiness and Impacts Discussed at Packed Auditorium in Santa Barbara. KEYT. January 27, 2020.
- Experts Offer Insight into Fires, Debris Flow. Santa Barbara News-Press. January 27, 2020.
- Community Conversation on Fire and Flood. Edhat. January 27, 2020.
- Thomas Fire, Montecito Debris Flows Subject of Forum Explaining Research and Ongoing Impacts. Noozhawk. January 26, 2020.
- Canary: Environmental Conundrum. Santa Maria Sun. January 15, 2020.
- Groups Are Concerned That A Proposed Wind Project Could Damage Birds, Plants. Santa Maria Sun. January 15, 2020.
- Wind Turbines Won’t Fix Santa Barbara’s Greenhouse Gas Problem. KCRW. January 7, 2020.
- Sea Center Goes Solar. Santa Barbara Independent. January 7, 2020.
- Support for Strauss Wind Energy. Santa Barbara Independent. January 7, 2020.
- Street Smarts: Ask Amy Recommends Donating to Direct Relief. Pacific Coast Business Times. January 3, 2020.
