Home

Our Purpose
Our Mission
Our Approach
Our Solutions
WHY WE EXIST
Our Purpose
To create the first sustainable region in the world to emerge.
To create the first sustainable region in the world to emerge.
LEARN MORE
SOLVING FOR SUSTAINABILITY
Our Mission
We are accelerating the Great Lakes region’s transition to a sustainable future by bringing diverse perspectives and interests together as one to explore and solve the most pressing socioeconomic and environmental issues facing the region.
We are accelerating the Great Lakes region’s transition to a sustainable future by bringing diverse perspectives and interests together as one to explore and solve the most pressing socioeconomic and environmental issues facing the region.
LEARN MORE
FOSTERING SHARED OWNERSHIP
Our Approach
Through our powerful dialogues, evidenced-based research, loud advocacy, and impactful programs and projects, we are driving systems change by bringing the environment and economy together in the region’s public policy choices, business decisions, regional planning, scientific research, and investments.
Through our powerful dialogues, evidenced-based research, loud advocacy, and impactful programs and projects, we are driving systems change by bringing the environment and economy together in the region’s public policy choices, business decisions, regional planning, scientific research, and investments.
More info
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY TOGETHER
Our Solutions
Sustainable development and solving for sustainability is uniquely complex. Our programs and projects are designed to move stakeholders toward shared solutions and action.
Sustainable development and solving for sustainability is uniquely complex. Our programs and projects are designed to move stakeholders toward shared solutions and action.
Find out more

Carousel
The Great Lakes Mega-Region’s Vital Signs
110 million people
or the 16th largest country in the world by population if it were a country
US$6 trillion GDP
the world’s 3rd largest economy, if the region was a country
Over 50%
of the total value of US-Canada goods trade
51 million jobs
or 1/3 of the combined US and Canadian workforce
50%
of US and Canadian university graduates across all disciplines.
20%
of the earth’s surface freshwater
3,500 Species
of plants and animals, including 200+ fish and rare species
10, 000 miles of coastline
longer than the East and West Coasts combined
40 million
Americans and Canadians rely on the Great Lakes for drinking water
Program Updates
Program / Circular Great Lakes, Great Lakes Carbon Collaborative, Great Lakes Higher Education Consortium, Great Lakes WISE
Program Updates
Circular Great Lakes
Great Lakes Plastic Cleanup (GLPC) Shares New Data and Insights for Plastic Free July
July 15, 2024
Circular Great Lakes
Meijer Expands Great Lakes Stewardship Commitment with Donation to the Council of the Great Lakes Region Foundation
April 22, 2024
Great Lakes WISE
Founding Corporate Partners of CGLR’s Great Lakes Water Innovation and Stewardship Exchange Announced
March 28, 2024
Learn more about our programs
CTA Section
Progress Through Collaboration
Get Involved

The CGLR seeks to convene interests from government, business, academia, environmental groups and labour and then bridge diverse perspectives on the economy and environment so that we can solve the Great Lakes region’s most pressing sustainable development challenges. If you are serious about sustainability and would like to be a part of forging a more effective path forward, a better future is just a click away.

Click to get involved
Recent – Column
Recent News & Press
A Great Lakes Champion to Lead the Council of The Great Lakes Region into the Future
September 17, 2025

Vance Badawey Appointed President & CEO of CGLR Toronto, ON / Cleveland OH – The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR) through its Canadian nonprofit corporation (CGLR Canada) is …

Read more
CGLR Media Backgrounder – Document de référence pour les médias 
September 16, 2025

Media Backgrounder  

OVERVIEW 

Purpose: To create the first sustainable region in the world. 

Mission Statement: To accelerate the transition to a sustainable future by convening diverse  perspectives and interests to address the region’s most pressing economic, social and  environmental challenges. 

Founded: 2013 

Headquarters: Toronto and Cleveland

Read more
Council of the Great Lakes Region Announces New Board Members and Committee Appointments Following Annual General Meeting
August 14, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:TORONTO, ON and CLEVELAND, OH | August 15, 2025 The Council of the Great Lakes Region (CGLR), through its Canadian nonprofit corporation (CGLR Canada), is pleased to announce …

Read more
More News & Press
One plus Three
Event /
Events
Recent Events
Webinar
Preserving Nature, Protecting Communities: Building Climate Resilience with Land Preservation
September 18, 2025

Webinar Topic: Building Climate Resilience with Land PreservationGuest Speaker: Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, Kristin Schultheis, Senior Project PlannerModerator: Council of the Great Lakes Region, Lora Shrake, Interim Executive Director Watch …

Read more
Webinar
Breaking Down Consumer Sustainability Trends in the Great Lakes Region
April 24, 2025

Thursday, April 24 | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM ET Watch the Webinar Recording on YouTube! We recently hosted an insightful webinar exploring consumer attitudes and sustainability trends in the …

Read more
Partner Event
Great Lakes Freshwater Symposium: Possible Future Uses of New Lakefront at the Port of Milwaukee
April 22, 2025

The Center for Water Policy hosted an Earth Day webinar featuring James Wasley, Professor at UW-Milwaukee and 2024-2025 Water Policy Scholar. He presented his research on the possible future uses …

Read more
See all our events

CTA Section
Be a part of our network
Stay Informed

Get the latest updates about our events, insights, dialogues, and programs to see how we are creating the context for a sustainable Great Lakes region to emerge.

Sign up