Research Guides: Environmental Studies Resources: Websites

Finding Information You Can Trust

Finding information on the web is easy. Finding good, reliable, credible information can be another story. Be very careful when reviewing websites. How can you find information you can trust? Ask yourself these questions:

Who sponsors the website? What gives this sponsor the authority to say what they are saying? Should you believe it? What are their credentials? Are they qualified to write on this topic?
What is the purpose of the website and the sponsoring organization? Are they trying to sell, promote, educate, inform, entertain, or persuade? Be aware of bias.
Is the website current and is it being maintained? Are there copyright dates or other dates indicating the age of the information? Are there broken links?

Environment: Non-Government Organizations (NGO)

Center for Climate & Energy Solutions (C2ES)
Formerly the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Presents wide array of resources to learn more about the impacts of climate change, what individuals can do to help, and which policies can make a big difference.
Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund’s mission is to preserve the natural systems on which all life depends. We work to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet. This has drawn us to areas that span the biosphere: climate, oceans, ecosystems and health.
Natural Resource Defense Council
NRDC works to ensure the rights of all people to the air, the water and the wild, and to prevent special interests from undermining public interests. Areas include: Climate, Food, Health, Energy, Water, Oceans.
Pew Charitable Trust: Research & Analysis
Interactive page that allows you to specify topic (environment) to access various research and analysis conducted by the organization. Pew’s work helps preserve wilderness, restore biodiversity, promote energy efficiency, and increase understanding of ocean ecology.
The Sierra Club
Founded by legendary conservationist John Muir in 1892, the Sierra Club is now the nation's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. successes range from protecting millions of acres of wilderness to helping pass the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and Endangered Species Act.
Union of Concerned Scientists
UCS was founded in 1969 by scientists and students at MIT as non-profit science advocacy organization. Today they dedicate themselves to combating global warming and developing sustainable ways to feed, power, and transport ourselves, to fighting misinformation, advancing racial equity, and reducing the threat of nuclear war.

Protecting Marine Life & Oceans

Marine Fish Conservation Network
The Marine Fish Conservation Network is a coalition of commercial and recreational fishing associations, regional and national conservation groups, aquaria, and marine science organizations committed to sustaining fish populations, healthy marine ecosystems, and fishing communities. Our goal is to maintain and strengthen the conservation and management objectives of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
Oceana: Protecting the World's Oceans
Established in 2001, Oceana is an international organization focused solely on oceans, dedicated to achieving measurable change by conducting specific, science-based campaigns with fixed deadlines and articulated goals
Wild Oceans
Wild Oceans was founded by anglers in 1973. Like the sportsmen before us who pioneered wildlife conservation on land, we are passionate protectors of fish and the wild world we share. Our mission is to keep the oceans wild to preserve fishing opportunities for the future

Overfishing

National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration: Fisheries
NOAA Fisheries is responsible for the stewardship of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat
WWF: Overfishing
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) discusses causes and consequences of overfishing.

Protecting Land

Economics of Land Degradation
The Economics of Land Degradation (ELD) Initiative is an initiative on the economic benefits of land and land based ecosystems. The initiative highlights the value of sustainable land management and provides a global approach for analysis of the economics of land degradation. It aims to make economics of land degradation an integral part of policy strategies and decision making by increasing the political and public awareness of the costs and benefits of land and land-based ecosystems.
International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)
IFAD works on reducing rural poverty with a focus on natural resources. Topics discussed include desertification, climate, land, and water.
Rainforest Alliance
The Rainforest Alliance’s ambitious mission is to conserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable livelihoods by transforming land-use practices, business practices, and consumer behavior.
United National Convention to Combat Desertification
Established in 1994, UNCCD is the sole legally binding international agreement linking environment and development to sustainable land management. The Convention addresses specifically the arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, known as the drylands, where some of the most vulnerable ecosystems and peoples can be found.
WHO: Land degradation and desertification
World Health Organization discusses land degradation and its impact on world health,.

Habitat Destruction and Fragmentation

National Wildlife Federation: Habitat Loss
National Wildlife Federation is a conservation organization that works to protect wildlife, help habitats, and confront climate change.

Water Pollution

CDC: Drinking Water
USDA: Water And Agriculture Information Center
Water and Agriculture Information Center (WAIC) provides electronic access to information on water and agriculture. The center collects, organizes, and communicates the scientific findings, educational methodologies, and public policy issues related to water and agriculture.

Air Pollution

American Lung Association: State of the Air
For 17 years, the American Lung Association has analyzed data from official air quality monitors to compile the State of the Air report.
NRDC: Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know
From the Natural Resources Defense Council. How smog, soot, greenhouse gases, and other top air pollutants are affecting the planet—and your health.