Sustainable San Mateo County

Sustainable San Mateo County (SSMC) was established in 1992 by a group of San Mateo County citizens who sought to create a broader awareness of the sustainability concept.

As a grassroots non-profit organization, we aim to educate our community and its leaders on the "Three Es" of sustainability--Economy, Environment and Equity. We do this by providing local sustainability metrics, highlighting excellent local programs and projects, educational programs that focus on the importance of long-term planning and the inter-connectedness of the three Es, and participating in projects and coalitions that align with our Mission, Vision and Values. 

Our core programs are the Indicators Report which has been produced annually since 1997 and the Awards Event which has been held annually since 1999.

Right now we are launching a new project, which we expect to run through 2017. In celebration of our 20 years of teamwork with local communities, SSMC will generate a white paper and toolkit of sustainability lessons learned. For two decades, political and community stakeholders have utilized our research to educate, inform, and guide policy, social action, systems changes, and community discussions for a sustainable future. In response to the inflection point currently facing our culture, SSMC will create a living portrait of the county to inform decision-makers of trends for a welcome future: "Pathways to Sustainable Communities: How Lessons from 20 Years of Research Show the Way to Sustainable Communities". 

Vision
Sustainable San Mateo County is dedicated to the long-term health of our county’s economy, environment and social equity.

Mission
To stimulate community action on economic, environmental and social issues by providing accurate, timely and empowering information.

Values
Fact-based Objectivity
Integrity and Transparency
Inclusivity
Intentional Collaboration
Local and Regional Impact-focused