Earth Policy Institute

Mission

The Earth Policy Institute (EPI) was founded in 2001 by Lester Brown, the founder and former president of the Worldwatch Institute, to provide a plan of a sustainable future along with a roadmap of how to get from here to there. EPI works at the global level simply because no country can fully implement a Plan B economy in isolation.

EPI’s goals are (1) to provide a global plan (Plan B) for moving the world onto an environmentally and economically sustainable path, (2) to provide examples demonstrating how the plan would work, and (3) to keep the media, policymakers, academics, environmentalists, and other decision-makers focused on the process of building a Plan B economy.

Activities

People change behavior either in response to new information or new experiences. Earth Policy Institute disseminates new information to guide the process of change via its plan of a sustainable future as outlined in its Updates, Indicators, and books, the most recent of which is World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse.
You can also download our Annual Report, which outlines EPI's major accomplishments.

Books

EPI publishes its basic research in book form simply because there is a worldwide network of book publishers in all the major languages, a network that does not exist for monographs or magazines. Having books available in the world’s leading languages broadens the dissemination of its research findings. The Institute has published eight books.

LESTER R. BROWN, founder and President of Earth Policy Institute, has been described by the Washington Post as “one of the world’s most influential thinkers” and as “the guru of the global environmental movement” by The Telegraph of Calcutta. The author of numerous books, including World on the Edge: How to Prevent Environmental and Economic Collapse, chapters, articles, etc., he helped pioneer the concept of environmentally sustainable development. His principal research areas include food, population, water, climate change, and renewable energy. The recipient of scores of awards and honorary degrees, he is widely sought as a speaker. In 1974, he founded Worldwatch Institute, of which he was President for its first 26 years. As President, he launched the World Watch Papers, the Worldwatch/Norton books, the annual State of the World, World Watch magazine, the annual Vital Signs, and the Institute’s News Briefs. For relaxation, Lester runs. Read a complete biography. View a selected list of recent publications by Mr. Brown.

REAH JANISE KAUFFMAN, co-founder and Vice President, has assisted Lester Brown in his work since 1986. As in any small organization, Reah Janise wears many hats. She oversees the administrative aspects of EPI, including managing its worldwide publishing network, outreach program, website, marketing, fundraising, and personnel. Prior to her work at EPI, she worked at the Worldwatch Institute for 15 years as Lester Brown's special assistant and as Director of International Publications. Prior to joining Worldwatch, she was an editor and technical writer focusing on sustainable agriculture at Michigan State University, from which she graduated with a degree in English. Reah Janise squeezes exercise into her busy day by either running or biking to work. She is active in her church and relaxes by knitting socks and sweaters of her own design.

JANET LARSEN, Director of Research, holds a degree in Earth Systems from Stanford University. She is a co-author of The Earth Policy Reader and has written on topics ranging from natural resources availability to population growth and climate change. Her research has been translated into various languages and featured in a number of print, on-line, and radio publications. Prior to the creation of Earth Policy Institute in 2001, Janet worked at Worldwatch Institute, providing research support for State of the World and contributing to Vital Signs. She has conducted ecology fieldwork on the Chilean coast and in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest and continues to enjoy spending time outdoors.

MILLICENT JOHNSON, Manager of Publications Sales and Assistant Treasurer, brings with her more than 20 years of people-oriented sales/service experience. Warm and personable, Millicent manages easily the diverse and exacting area of customer service, publications fulfillment, database management, accounting, and ordering office supplies. Prior to Earth Policy, she was the Publications Sales Coordinator at Worldwatch Institute for 11 years. A graduate of Commonwealth College in Richmond, VA, Millicent enjoys classic movies and reading.

J. MATTHEW RONEY, Research Associate, graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 2006 with a BS in Environmental Conservation, summa cum laude. Matt has been with Earth Policy Institute since 2007, working closely with the research team on many publications and scanning internet resources for relevant news clips and scientific studies. He has also written Eco-Economy Indicator articles on world bicycle production/promotion and wind energy development. Currently, Matt is pursuing a master’s degree in environmental sciences and policy from Johns Hopkins University, with a focus on Chesapeake Bay conservation and management. In his free time, he enjoys eating crabs with his lovely wife Sarah, listening to reggae music, hiking, running, and suffering as an Orioles fan.

KRISTINA TAYLOR, Web Communications Coordinator, graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. in International Affairs, with a concentration of Comparative Studies of Northeast Asia. In college as an officer of the JMU Chapter of Amnesty International she worked to educate students on human rights issues, and organized fundraisers for the association and for human rights causes and nonprofits across the world. At EPI she is responsible for web communications, media outreach, and general assistance around the office. Native to the area, Kristina enjoys travel, hockey, and spending time with her dog Abigail.

BRIGID FITZGERALD READING, Staff Researcher, graduated from Smith College in 2010 with a B.A. in Anthropology. As a fellow at Smith’s Louise W. and Edmund J. Kahn Liberal Arts Institute, she conducted independent research on sustainability, utopianism, and possibilities for social change. At EPI, Brigid follows news stories and scientific studies on climate and energy, collects data, and contributes to the writing and editing of releases.  She is particularly interested in population issues, climate change’s social causes and effects, environmental politics, and science communication. Outside of work, Brigid follows feminist and LGBT issues, plays the cello, and explores DC with her husbian, Wiley.