As the influential “Fourth Branch of Government” the Press impacts our understanding of all topics. So how is the media here in Sacramento addressing the topic of sustainability? Attendees of the next Sacramento Sustainability Forum (SSF) will have the opportunity to ask that question, find out what key members of our local media are doing themselves to be more sustainable, and learn about how these news leaders view the sustainability of their industry. The Sacramento Sustainability Forum has assembled a panel of local media leaders that includes: Joe Barr, News Director – Capital Public Radio, Ben Ilfeld, Co-Founder and Operations Manager – The Sacramento Press, Michael Sanford, VP of C

Business owners, members of various organizations and political representatives attended the seventh Sacramento Sustainability Forum on Thursday at the Sacramento News & Review offices at 1124 Del Paso Blvd. Since August 2009 the SSF has been holding these meetings to discuss local solutions to environmental, economic and political problems. The discussion focused on Senate Bill 375, which calls for lowering greenhouse gas emissions by curbing urban sprawl. The bill would have city and transportation planners achieve this by placing housing, industry, schools and retail in close proximity to each other. The bill is complex and would pertain to many segments of population and organization

The first Sacramento Sustainability Forum of 2010 will feature two dynamic speakers covering the recent climate change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, and the effects of product stewardship policy for California. Larry Greene, the executive director of the Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District, will report on developments at the COP15, the United Nations’ climate change conference that took place in December in Copenhagen. Heidi Sanborn, an independent consultant and executive director of the California Product Stewardship Council, will cover product stewardship policy and the implications for consumers and businesses in California. Jacob Grissom, one of the founder

Flanked by towering racks of wine barrels, and with the sweet smell of yeast in the air, close to 55 area citizens gathered at RailBridge Cellars on North 16th Street for the second gathering of the Sacramento Sustainability Forum (SSF) last Thursday evening. Winemaker Jon Affonzo opened his doors and donated his facility to host the monthly forum established to connect businesses, non-profit organizations, government, and interested individuals for the purpose of promoting sustainability in the Sacramento region. It was a memorable day for Affonzo, in addition to playing host, his second daughter was born early that morning. “I pretty much pulled an all-nighter last night,” Affonzo said

Ending urban sprawl is one of the keys to fighting global warming. That's why Sacramento and its outlying areas must focus on building sustainability through infill development and other measures, developer/architect David Mogavero said Thursday night at the first Sacramento Sustainability Forum. In fact, land use is the most important environmental issue in the state and the country, said Mogavero, who said he's been fighting sprawl in Sacramento for 20 years as head of the sustainable design firm Mogavero Notestine Associates. While the environmentally friendly or green elements of buildings are important, issues involving land use and transportation are even more critical because the

The move toward a more sustainable city will take a step forward when the Sacramento Sustainability Forum launches next Thursday. The regular monthly forum has been created to raise awareness about sustainable practices and development among people living and working in Sacramento, including those in business and government, said Rick Noss, who founded the forum with Jacob Griscom. "For us, it gets the whole topic elevated throughout the community," said Noss, who also owns Green Vision, which helps companies reduce the use of paper and toxic presentation materials. "Awareness fosters growth and a paradigm shift to a more sustainable existence." Sacramento is home to other groups and bu