As world leaders prepare to wrap up global climate policy discussions at COP26, here in the United States we’re focused on the next step for federal climate action: passing the Build Back Better Act, which includes $555 billion in climate investments.
While the bipartisan infrastructure bill’s passage late last week was a major step forward, the U.S. must do more to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement and demonstrate leadership in the face of the climate and biodiversity crises. With unprecedented levels of support for a transition to a clean energy economy, advancements in environmental justice and deep investments in community resilience and natural climate solutions, the Build Back Better Act represents a rare opportunity for the transformational change we need to create a more sustainable future.
Nationwide and here in Washington state, we’ve been urging our partners in the business community especially to speak up in favor of the climate provisions in Build Back Better. Two of our volunteer trustees, Doug Reed and Maud Daudon, recently wrote an opinion column in the Puget Sound Business Journal calling on their fellow business and community leaders in the Seattle area to “walk the talk” on their own corporate climate commitments by advocating for this rare opportunity directly with policymakers.
Your voice matters, too! Take a moment to tell your senators and representative in Congress that there’s no time to wait on the Build Back Better Act by clicking the button below.
Banner photo by Carolyn Adams.
Since 2016, The Nature Conservancy in Washington’s involvement in the climate advocacy space has progressively increased. Throughout this journey we’ve seen that partnerships and coalitions are one of the most powerful ways to achieve broad support for climate legislation.
The 2023 Legislative Session in Olympia saw some major achievements for nature and people: investments in improving air quality, natural climate solutions, curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and better long-term resiliency planning. A big thanks to our staff who dedicated their efforts to our priorities.
Trustee Lobby Day is a highlight every year here at The Nature Conservancy. It’s a wonderful reminder of the real reason for our advocacy and policy efforts- to strengthen the relationship between people and nature so that both can thrive.
Passing a budget is one of the most important roles the State Legislature plays, as it determines how policies will be implemented and reflects what we value as a state. Our team dug into the details to see how our priorities are faring so far.
Realizing our clean energy future means rapidly transitioning to a clean, affordable, reliable, and sufficiently expansive energy grid. With HB 1216, the Washington State Legislature has the opportunity to take an important step towards that this session.
The 2023 legislative session is half-way complete - let’s check in on our priority bills, and what’s left to come.
Nestled in the mountains of the Central Cascades, the Teanaway Community Forest (50,241 acres) has been a conservation gem intended as a refuge for people as much as nature. In the past ten years, transformative restoration efforts including wildfire prevention and stream restoration have created a healthier forest that benefits people, wildlife, and the lands. There’s more work to be done.
Thirty years ago, Washington passed the Growth Management Act (GMA)—legislation that has helped communities across the state plan ahead. In the face of a changing climate, it’s become clear that the GMA also needs to be updated for our new climate realities.
In addition to building on the progress of the last few years, the 2023 state legislative session presents a momentous opportunity to invest in nature and people with the 2023-25 biennial budget.
Washington’s landmark climate law takes effect on January 1 — and you can still help shape it!
Speak up for cleaner air for all Washington’s communities by submitting a public comment to the Department of Ecology as they shape our new air quality program.
The Inflation Reduction Act is a big win for climate action. Here’s what it means for Washington.
The Inflation Reduction Act is on its way to President Biden’s desk, putting the U.S. on the path to reducing emissions by 40% by 2030.
This week, the 2022 Washington state legislative session concluded, with a few notable achievements for the environment in our state. Here at The Nature Conservancy in Washington, we built off the achievements from the 2021 session by securing investments and action in key climate and conservation areas.
Legislators in the state Senate must pass HB 1099 in order for Washington to build a climate resilient future and drastically reduce our carbon footprint that’s exacerbating the climate crisis.
A clean and just transportation package would greatly transform Washington while helping achieve the state’s climate goals, reducing emissions, and investing in a greener and more equitable future for all Washingtonians.
Members of our all-volunteer Board of Trustees trekked to Virtual Olympia for an action-packed day of discussing our legislative priorities. It’s more exciting than it sounds!
On the heels of big legislative wins in 2021, this year’s state legislative session is an opportunity to advance important work for nature and people in Washington.
We need your voice - contact your members of Congress to urge their support for the Build Back Better Act!
Major steps forward for nature and climate: the federal bipartisan infrastructure bill is about to become law!
Our volunteer Board of Trustees issued a resolution calling on Congress to protect the climate-change mitigation and resiliency provisions in the infrastructure and budget reconciliation packages currently under debate in Washington, DC.