Thde purpose of the California Foundation on the Environment and the Economy is to bring together business, labor, community, and environmental leadership with legislative and regulatory officials and expert academicians, in forums designed to address fundamental environmental and economic infrastructure issues.  These forums engender positive discussions of creative solutions and clear delineation of possible trade-offs, in an atmosphere of non-adversarial cooperation and a common desire to achieve long-term beneficial solutions to society.

The foundation believes that effective public policy decisions require clear definition of issues, development of objective information, analysis of options and informed public debate. The foundation is a catalyst for development and dissemination of information through roundtable forums for the discussion and debate of these issues with recognized academic authorities, business, and environmental leaders, and government officials.

By consulting with the board members, project participants, and elected policy makers, CFEE monitors the major issues confronting the regional, U.S. and world economies during the next several years. These issues range from the dynamic interaction of environmental protection and economic growth, water supply quality, and the development of alternative and renewable energy sources to the social and economic impacts of advanced technologies and techniques, such as in the fields of telecommunications, toxic waste, resource recovery, and the funding and project delivery of transportation and water infrastructure.

The concept of the foundation is to bring together the vast experience of project participants, board members and professional staff skilled in conflict resolution, pragmatic problem solving and consensus building, to an independent, non-advocacy institution.  The focus of the foundation's work is to provide information, often through direct interaction, to public policy decision makers. Information is developed and provided through a series of research studies, background briefings, public policy discussion forums, and study travel projects.

The result of these conferences, workshops and study travel programs is an ongoing educational process for term-limited legislators and their replacements in an environment of nonpartisan, multi-sector leaders who are working to achieve balanced and pragmatic consensus to conflictory environmental goals and requirements of healthy and sustainable economic growth.  In some cases, staff prepares background issue papers, which form the basis for future activities. In cases involving more complexity and controversy, research studies are commissioned and prepared which then serve as the basis for future forums or travel projects.