Mission

Sightline Institute (formerly Northwest Environment Watch) is a research and communication center--a think tank-- based in Seattle. Founded in 1993 by Alan Durning, Sightline's mission is to bring about sustainability, a healthy, lasting prosperity grounded in place. Nonpartisan and wholly independent, Sightline's only ideology is commitment to the shared values of strong communities, fair markets, and responsible stewardship. Our focus is Cascadia, or the Pacific Northwest, a region that includes British Columbia, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, and adjoining parts of Alaska, Montana, and California. We identify and promote the most important long-term solutions for the region, such as development that leads to stronger, safer communities; a more equitable tax system; and market-driven policy changes that reward consumers for sustainable choices.