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Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC) formed in 1987 to stop a toxic waste dump/incinerator proposed for a low-income community near Huntington, WV. We won that campaign. By supporting organized voices and empowered communities, we’ve been winning environmental and social justice campaigns ever since.

Fight Climate Change

The climate crisis is one of the most urgent issues of our time. We work to make change at the local level by supporting opposition to polluting industries and promoting sustainable alternatives.

Defend Democracy

We depend on democratic institutions at every level to support strategic litigation, a tool that has helped us protect communities and environmental quality since we started up in a living room in 1987.

Reclaim Our Resources

Healthy and thriving communities across our region require us to protect public health and preserve our natural environment.

Think Global, Act Local

The Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition values not only our mountain ecosystems, but also the people and culture of the Central Appalachian region.

We believe everyone has the right to clean air, clean water, and an environment that does not harm people’s health, but enhances their quality of life.

We believe social change can happen when ordinary citizens feel personally powerful and see themselves as agents of change; we work to make this happen through our efforts to develop new leaders, promote civic participation, embrace biodiversity and cultural diversity, amplify the voices of affected residents, and nurture new and burgeoning community groups.