Acterra is a San Francisco Bay Area 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Palo Alto that brings people together to create local solutions for a healthy planet. They focus on what you can do locally to address current environmental problems. In the face of daunting environmental challenges, their science-based approach instills hope while building community.

Acterra's staff provides environmental education in the areas of energy and climate change, corporate sustainability, and advocacy to build an informed and empowered citizenry. Their programs include Energy and Climate, Business Partnerships for Sustainability, a Public Lecture Series, and an Environmental Library and Resource Center. Their programs engage people and companies in the Bay Area, with a focus on Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.

Their roots go back to 1970 with a long history of environmental education and action. Acterra and its predecessor organizations (Peninsula Conservation Center and Bay Area Action) developed innovative programs for wetlands preservation, residential and commercial recycling, green business practices, protection of old growth forests, environmentally responsible food choices, watershed management, habitat restoration, leadership development and residential energy conservation. As of July 1, 2016, Acterra's Stewardship Program became Grassroots Ecology, an independent fiscally-sponsored project.

Acterra now focuses its efforts on the most urgent issue of their time: climate change. They promote and support energy efficiency and renewable energy, transportation innovation, and sustainable business practices in their region. By popular demand, they are also expanding their public lecture series and community workshops.