A new forum for those interested in discussing environmental issues has sprung up in downtown Saratoga Springs.

The group, known as Green Drinks, is part of an international network of people who get together informally in local venues for drinks and discussion about topics such as climate change and renewable energy.

The network is active in more than 600 cities worldwide and has 18 chapters in New York state alone, including three in New York City. The Spa City chapter of Green Drinks was formed this summer by Keith Forbes, a local climate change and sustainability analyst who works at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).

“My aim is to get people who work on environmental issues or those who are interested in environmental issues to have an open discussion,” Forbes said.

He stressed that it’s neither a networking happy hour nor an activist group, but an informal discussion held by people with a common interest in the environment.

“People come together and talk about a common interest with the goal being inspirational and intellectual,” Forbes said. “If at the end of each meeting everyone left a little more excited about what they did, I think the meetings would achieve their purpose.”

The group meets the fourth Tuesday of each month from 8 to 9 p.m. at Virgil’s House at 86 Henry St.

“We’ve had a high of 12 (attendees),” Forbes said, adding that the meetings are open to all and the only rules are that the discussion be on a non-attribution basis.

Green Drinks will meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22. Anyone interested in attending should RSVP to kforbes "at" gmx "dot" net.