On a quiet October afternoon in 1995, a small group of people met for the first time in the Sacramento home of a well-respected environmental activist. What made this day historical was not the topics discussed, but rather the individuals facing each other who represented major environmental groups as well as some of the most important companies in California-and thus, the world. Inspired by the roundtable discussions at the Aspen Institute, founding CED members were intrigued by the possibility that dialogue could move California beyond traditional win-lose outcomes. Building on lessons learned from the Aspen Series on the Environment in the 21st Century, the founders of CED were determined to create an on-going dialogue between environmental and economic stakeholders in California.
Quickly, the membership grew to around thirty participants, including the Secretaries of the California Resources and Environmental Protection Agencies and a top-ranking US EPA regulator. CED was fortunate (and forever changed) by the recruitment of Linda Gioja, a national expert in "collective intelligence", as its facilitator. Over time, the California Environmental Dialogue emerged as a uniquely credible source of alternative policy options to inform decision-makers and stakeholders alike.
Over the next several years, the CED produced important policy briefings for public and private sector stakeholders in California's future. These included papers on transportation; habitat and its value in increasing California's prosperity; a plan for land conservation; and a timely analysis on the investments made by California in land conservation and drinking water resources, through propositions 12 and 13.
California is moving into the new millennium as one of the most diverse states in the nation. Worldwide, California is ranked fifth among the wealthiest economies. Attracting the best and the brightest, California is home to prestigious universities, cutting edge industries, international arts and entertainment, mining, timber, major agriculture, international shipping and manufacturing facilities, professional services, and a bustling tourist industry. At the same time, economic disparity between people is increasing, and the population is growing rapidly in the face of critical resource shortages and static infrastructure investment.
As home to one of the most ethnically diverse and culturally rich populations, California reflects the changing nature of the global world. To reflect this important diversity, CED in 2001 included issues of equity into the dialogue.
