Driving innovative sustainability and climate solutions by transforming communities, cities, and factories.
Driving innovative sustainability and climate solutions by transforming communities, cities, and factories.
Project Locations
Where We Work
ISC has worked on more than 100 projects in 30 countries throughout the world. We currently focus on countries with the largest share of climate emissions, and those hardest hit by the global climate crisis.
Albania
Learn MoreLithuania
ISC's work in Lithuania was part of ISC's community-based environmental education initiatives in Central and Eastern Europe and Eurasia. The work consisted of trainings, technical assistance, education, and demonstration projects.
Learn MoreKyrgyzstan
ISC adapted community action approaches to improve public health in Kyrgyzstan.
Learn MoreJapan
ISC's work in Japan explored how education for sustainability can serve as a means for building stronger links between educational institutions and communities in order to help promote an informed citizenry which is prepared to participate responsibly in a sustainable society.
Learn MoreMoldova
Learn MorePoland
ISC replicated its model of interactive teaching methods is introduced in 250 schools across Poland. As a result, Krag, a Polish network of environmental educators was formed.
Learn MoreUkraine
Learn MoreSouth Africa
Learn MoreSlovakia
Learn MoreRomania
Learn MoreMacedonia
Learn MoreLatvia
Learn MoreHungary
Learn MoreEstonia
Learn MoreCzech Republic
Learn MoreCuba
Learn MoreBulgaria
Learn MoreBosnia
Learn MoreRussia
Learn MoreDominican Republic
In 2014, ISC hosted a Regional Climate Leadership Academy in Santo Domingo on the climate resilience of infrastructure services in cities across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Learn MoreIndonesia
ISC brought together local leaders from ASEAN member states to learn from their peers about urban climate adaptation.
Learn MorePeru
Learn MoreThe Philippines
ISC implemented a two city exchange between Legazpi, Philippines and Ft. Lauderdale, Florida – each facing disaster risk and recovery challenges.
Learn MoreGeorgia
Learn MoreSerbia
Learn MoreBangladesh
Bangladesh is one of the places on the planet most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. ISC is working with factories, brands, and residents to make communities resilient in the face of climate challenges, and also to ensure that the country's largest economic engine – factories – are safe for workers and residents.
Learn MoreVietnam
ISC worked to build the capacity of local leaders to tackle challenges brought on by climate change and to develop low-carbon development approaches in Vietnam.
Learn MoreThailand
ISC worked to build the capacity of local leaders to tackle challenges brought on by climate change and to develop low-carbon development approaches in Thailand.
Learn MoreIndia
India is one of the fastest-growing economies and most polluted countries in the world. ISC works with international brands and supplier factories to adopt sustainable manufacturing practices, reduce emissions, and foster community resilience to water shortages.
Learn MoreChina
With a rapidly growing economy and heavy reliance on fossil fuels, China is the world’s largest CO2 emitter. ISC is working with cities and businesses to advance low carbon development, environmental health, and resource efficiency.
Learn MoreUnited States
The United States is the largest economy in the world and has the largest per capita emissions of climate pollutants. ISC is working with community-based organizations, municipalities, nonprofits, and residents to accelerate climate change solutions that are effective, equitable, and sustainable. Visit http://us.iscvt.org to view ISC's US resource library, or click below to learn more about ISC's US programming.
Learn MoreISC Statement on SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision
Though not entirely unexpected, yesterday’s decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to dismantle Affirmative Action in college and university admissions is a clear reminder that our society continues to struggle against structural and institutional racism. Affirmative Action is one of the hallmark policies that ensures institutions of higher education achieve equity in admissions, providing everyone the opportunity to succeed, especially students of color who have long been underrepresented.
We know that diversity at all levels – students, faculty, staff – provide the richest learning environments and ultimately the most engaging, thoughtful, and innovative dialogue. Diversity in higher education informs diversity in the workplace as those same students continue into their chosen professions backed by valuable lived experiences, discourse exchange, and knowledge.
For the field of climate change, which is intrinsically intertwined with racial and social justice, the SCOTUS decision has lasting, real life repercussions. Black people and other people of color are already underrepresented in climate work, particularly in leadership and policy-creation positions. Ending Affirmative Action worsens outcomes not only for students of color interested in climate work, but for communities of color. These communities’ interests and well-being continue to be overlooked through lack of representation as well as historical and continued disinvestment.
At the Institute for Sustainable Communities, we are intentional in collaborating with partners that are rich in diversity and are committed to uplifting the voices, knowledge, and the interests of communities and leaders of color. We have proven that the only way to create lasting change, in climate work and beyond, is through locally-led, people-focused, diverse partnerships.
This ruling is antithetical to our work and to finding the solutions needed to address the existing climate crisis. We are extremely disheartened by the SCOTUS’ majority decision. As Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson aptly stated, “Deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life. And having so detached itself from this country’s actual past and present experiences, the Court has now been lured into interfering with the crucial work that UNC and other institutions of higher learning are doing to solve America’s real-world problems.”