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  Environmental Programs Kirsch Investigators Program | Medical & Scientific Project Grants Program Political Reform & Global Theme Grants Program | Silicon Valley Community Grants Discretionary Grants |
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Environmental Programs
As our first step toward improving our surroundings and ensuring a "healthy world," we are focused on cleaning up the air in California. Through aggressive lobbying and strategic grantmaking, we have made significant gains in the battle to improve California’s air quality by leveraging our resources – both human and monetary – toward that end. Through examining global issues such as climate change and clean energy, while also honing in on specific statewide and regional concerns such as the availability of zero-emission vehicles, the Foundation is becoming known as a champion of, and visionary for, clean air. Legislative/Lobbying Accomplishments Over this past year we have focused on zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) issues, specifically the preservation and continuation of California’s ZEV production requirements. • We played an instrumental role in the passage and implementation of Assembly Bill 71 (Cunneen), which allows ZEVs in the carpool lane as of July 1, 2000, regardless of occupancy. In September 1999, California Governor Gray Davis signed the bill into law and it will be in effect through December 2007. We had major roles in designing the special decals/stickers that are affixed to qualifying ZEVs and in promoting this incentive to the public. • We are active participants and leaders within the ZEV Alliance, the principal coalition working to preserve California’s ZEV program. While the result of the debate between automakers and environmental, public health, energy, and other advocates will not be resolved until sometime during the upcoming year, the Foundation’s role, both as a lobbyist and as a funder, has been critical throughout the long, often-heated campaign.
Grants Awarded July 1, 1999 – June 30, 2000
Through 14 grants totaling $351,000, the Foundation supported a variety of environmental organizations working to make a difference in California, the United States, and globally. More than 30% of the grants supported leading institutions working on zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) campaigns, studies, and outreach. More than 75% of the grants were made to organizations utilizing dramatic and unique techniques to achieve success in combating stationary and mobile source pollution, protecting marine biodiversity, and mobilizing people to take action. Fully 100% of our grants were focused on environmental education, research, activism, lobbying, and/or coalition building. Focus for the Upcoming Year The Foundation’s focus during the coming year remains as clear as our air is dirty: to clean up the air in California by reducing pollution from mobile sources. We also expect to expand our air quality focus by becoming more engaged in efforts to reduce global warming.
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