U.S. Public Policy Leader Al Bartell has emerged as chairman of a global environmental network emanating out of the city of Atlanta that has committed to building the capacity of individuals, groups, institutions, and organizations -- including government -- to interact with environmental data.

The network's mission: to impact the environment through environmental public policy driven by community engagement.

Conducting roundtable discussions, development sessions, summits, and conferences, the network empowers people to communicate environmental data, as well as collect and distribute environmental data, informs Bartell, an environmental activist:

"We'll be inviting residents to participate in local, state, national and global events and encouraging a diverse spectrum of stakeholders to work on environmental projects, programs, and initiatives.

"At the same time, we'll be engaging government agencies to improve environmental conditions at the level of neighborhoods and communities, and initiating public private partnerships to make available environmental technology stakeholders."

With President Trump's withdrawal of the United States from the world climate change agreement, the network was launched, with Atlanta chosen to be the model for the global capacity-building strategy.

Bartell asserts there must be another communication coming from the American people to the global community other than the communication from the American president.  He explains the rationale for the global environmental network in this way:

"In the age of technology, research shows a network is the most effective framework for participation of individuals, groups, institutions, and organizations.  

"Research also shows the greatest barrier to people's participation in the Environmental Movement, especially in urban centers across the globe, is people's relationship to and unfamiliarity with environmental data. Our intention to remove those barriers to participation.

"Environmental data is the cornerstone of any effective public policy scope of work -- and the heartbeat of the Environmental Movement.

"There is no more pressing global, epic conversation or issue in the dawning of the 21st century than the environment.

"And the environment needs us."