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edc-logo

Mission

EDC and the birth of a movement

Mission: The Environmental Defense Center works to protect and enhance the local environment through education, advocacy, and legal action.

Focus: Since 1977, we have empowered community-based organizations to advance environmental protection. Our program areas include climate and energy, protecting open space and wildlife, clean water, and the Santa Barbara Channel. We primarily work within Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo counties.

EDC is organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, and provides legal counsel to other nonprofit organizations. We remain the only such public interest environmental law firm between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and thrive on the support of community members from within our region and beyond.

EDC’s Commitment to Inclusion:

Each of us plays an undeniable role in the health and well-being of our environment and our communities. As a public interest law firm working to protect our natural resources and our climate, we are dedicated to being inclusive and mindful of the diversity of our members, clients, partners, board and staff, and the communities for which we advocate. The value of diversity is unparalleled; it expands our understanding and knowledge, enhances engagement and collaboration, and inspires innovation and creativity. We only have one planet, and it will take all of us working together to protect it.

Land Acknowledgement:
We recognize that EDC sits on occupied, unceded, stolen lands of the Chumash Peoples, on Shmuwich Territory, who have called this area home for time immemorial. We commit today to make space to elevate indigenous voices and support our local Chumash and indigenous communities in our work to protect our environment.

EDC by the numbers

EDC by the numbers

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