About the Alliance

What is the Alliance?

The Arizona Environmental Strategic Alliance is a unique public-private partnership, created in 1992, which demonstrates environmental leadership to Arizona communities and businesses.  In addition to gaining opportunities to showcase their environmental leadership, regulatory and business members enjoy informal access to each other in a casual setting.  Further, businesses obtain environmental mentoring opportunities through interaction with other members.

The Alliance recognizes leadership characteristics, shares expertise, builds public trust, and works in partnership for positive environmental change.  As its cornerstone, the Alliance believes that organizations exhibit environmental leadership by achieving environmental performance beyond regulations and visibly models this philosophy to communities and businesses.

Alliance Activities.

In addition to bringing together members of the commercial, industrial, governmental/regulatory community, and other economic sectors, the Alliance creates and carries out activities that:

*   promote compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations;

*   encourage action beyond regulatory expectation

*   promote sustainability; and,

*   provide recognition for those who demonstrate environmental leadership. 

Formation of the Alliance

The Alliance was originally created in 1992 by APS, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), and Region IX of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as the first partnership of its kind in the nation to combine the resources of private industry and federal and state regulatory agencies.

Members now include other businesses and organizations which demonstrate leadership and commitment to environmental quality through their actions.

Environmental and Community Benefits

Alliance members work toward environmental improvement beyond regulatory mandates.  Interaction between regulators and business members on environmental issues not related to these mandates can produce far-reaching environmental solutions that otherwise might not be realized.

Benefits to Members

Alliance Members have identified key benefits of membership that they most value. The top three key benefits are: Collaboration between Industry and Government; Business Outreach & Mentoring of other Businesses; and Setting Goals and Obtaining Recognition.

As business work to achieve environmental goals, they also work to attain cost-effective solutions, bringing balance to environmental and economic sustainability.  Alliance members also receive:

*   opportunities for improved financial performance through pollution prevention solutions;

*   public recognition for outstanding environmental performance;

*   increased environmental credibility as a community “good neighbor”;

*   access to environmental regulators in a neutral setting; and, 

*   opportunities for mentoring with Arizona's most notable businesses and environmental leaders.

Alliance Funding

The board of directors determines the funding structure of the Alliance.  Currently, members provide voluntary contributions including in-kind services.

As a non-profit organization, the Alliance is eligible for and seeks grants and endowments to help carry out environmental leadership projects.

Alliance Structure

The Alliance consists of member organizations, a board of directors, and an advisory council.

Member Organizations

Members are comprised of an elite group of companies and organizations from throughout Arizona that have established themselves as environmental leaders, adopted environmentally responsible practices, demonstrated commitment to environmental quality, and maintained exemplary environmental compliance records.  Members adopt and implement the Alliance Principles, and carry out compliance awareness, pollution prevention, environmental education and mentoring projects.

Board of Directors

The board of directors is elected by and represents the Alliance member organizations. The board elects officers to form an executive committee.  These bodies provide leadership and management, and oversee the corporate and programmatic functions.  Board members conduct marketing and outreach efforts and act as community ambassadors for the organization.

Advisory Council

The advisory council is comprised of educators, environmental organization representatives, academicians, members of the public, and others with expertise in environmental management and technology, environmental law, and economic development.

Two standing seats are held by the founding regulatory partners, ADEQ and EPA-Region IX, and one is held by a representative county.  The advisory council recommends initiatives, membership, and priority development.

Expectations of Members

Alliance members must continue to meet the threshold set for applicants, participate in at least one Alliance project each year, and adopt and practice the Arizona Environmental Strategic Alliance Principles.

Ethics Within the Alliance

The Alliance principles establish organizational ethics.  By endorsing these principles, organizations pledge voluntarily to go beyond the requirements of law. 

The principles are not intended to create new legal liabilities, expand existing rights or obligations, waive legal defenses, or otherwise affect the legal position of any signatory company.

Since some Alliance members are responsible for enforcement of environ-mental statutes or have regulatory roles, members must address regulatory or enforcement issues through established channels for resolving these issues.

Membership Criteria

All potential candidates must meet Environmental Leader Mandatory Requirements. Performance Characteristics must be met as appropriate for the organization’s size.

A one-page summary of Membership Criteria is available for download here.

Membership Opportunity

The Alliance seeks organizations from the public and private sectors that share our commitment to environmental protection and demonstrate leadership in achieving environmental sustainability.

The advisory council serves as the membership review and selection body and accepts only those organizations that adhere to the performance standards.  The Alliance is not obligated to accept any applicant, even though the applicant may appear to meet all of the specified criteria.  Further, the advisory council holds the right to maintain the membership of only those organizations whose participation positively affects the credibility and image of the Alliance and its membership.