The environment is our life support system. It includes everything that we rely on during our lifetime such as air, water, metals, soil, rock and other living organisms. It is important to remember that the state of our environment is influenced by our behavior and that we have the opportunity to either nurture or mistreat it. The effects of human processes such as fossil fuel burning, urban expansion, deforestation and the use of chemicals, have put greater and greater strains on the environment, leading to problems such as pollution, resource depletion and the loss of biodiversity.

Environmental programs can assist residents in making environmentally healthy decisions. The State of California and the federal government has established numerous environmental programs for communities, families, and individuals. The City of Huntington Beach has already established several environmental programs to protect and preserve our beautiful city, including the Simple Green Adopt-a-Beach Program and the Huntington Beach Tree City USA Program.

Simple Green, makers of environmentally-friendly cleaning products have teamed up with the City of Huntington Beach in a joint venture, which has proven to be one of the best partnerships that each company has ever endeavored. During the winter when Beach Maintenance staff is at a minimum, 19 nonprofit organizations come out weekly to clean a section of the city beach. The five-month Simple Green Adopt-A-Beach Program begins in November, and the teams cover the area from Beach Boulevard to Goldenwest Street as well as four Huntington Harbor beaches. At the end of the program, which is the last week in March, Simple Green awards each group with a check for $750. In return, the City displays the Simple Green mascot, EGBAR, on the back of city lifeguard towers, which are seen by millions of beach visitors year round. Tim Turner and Tim Dugan, who helped develop the Adopt-A-Beach Program say that they don't get too much turnover in the groups, but that the volunteers are changing all the time. They say that they are now seeing the third generation of Simple Green Adopt-A-Beach volunteers, and the environmental awareness being passed on from generation to generation is priceless.

Huntington Beach is a Tree City USA.

The National Arbor Day Foundation established the standards for Tree City USA to ensure that every community would have a sustainable tree management plan and program. The Tree City USA designation recognizes the work of elected officials, staff, and citizens who plan and care for the community forest. Huntington Beach is fortunate to have an active Tree Society that has supplied hundreds of trees and planting materials over the past years.

California Climate Choices
http://www.climatechoices.org/ca/index.html

California Department of Conservation
http://www.conservation.ca.gov/Index/Pages/Index.aspx

California Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.calepa.ca.gov/

California Resources Agency
http://resources.ca.gov/index.html

California Environmental Resources Evaluation System (CERES)
http://ceres.ca.gov/index.html

Global Green
http://www.globalgreen.org

Natural Resources Defense Council
http://www.nrdc.org

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
http://www.epa.gov

[SITES FOR KIDS]
Environmental Protection Agency Kids Site
http://epa.gov/climatechange/kids/index.html

NRDC – The Green Squad
http://www.nrdc.org/greensquad