Photo by Medhini Kumar
They say when it rains, it pours, and this week it has been pouring good news for the climate, protecting the lands and waters we love. Here is a quick rundown of some of the major victories we’ve seen in the last few days.
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Protections for the Tongass National Forest RESTORED
First up, the Biden Administration reinstated environmental protections for the Tongass National Forest in Alaska by reviving the “roadless rule.” The move is part of President Biden’s commitment to conserve and restore some of the country’s most cherished public lands and waters, and that are critical to addressing the climate crisis.. The order conserves southeast Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, aka the Climate Forest, from destructive logging and road-building and extends new protections for the forest, one of the last remaining temperate old-growth rainforests in the world and the country’s largest forest storehouse of carbon. Sierra Club was proud to stand with Indigenous leaders and local Alaskans who have been championing the effort to restore these critical protections for the Tongass. This is a huge win for the climate.
- Minnesota’s Boundary Waters SAFEGUARDED from Mining
But the Tongass announcement was just the start. Next, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland Interior issued an order protecting Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness from toxic sulfide-ore copper mining. Boundary Waters is one of the last pieces of untouched wilderness in the country, is a popular tourist destination, and provides the habitat for countless species of wildlife. Secretary Haaland’s move ensures that these pristine lands and waters will be there for the next generation to enjoy.
- EPA BLOCKS Pebble Mine and Protects Bristol Bay
And last but certainly not least, on the last day of January, the Environmental Protection Agency vetoed the proposed Pebble Mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay. The proposed copper and gold mine would have had disastrous effects on the ecosystems, wildlife, communities, and economy of Bristol Bay. Instead of a devastating mine, the Administration saved one of the largest salmon runs in the world. Not a bad way to end the month!
While all that was going on, Sierra Club helped lay out a vision for how to get our country closer to the ambitious conservation goals we need to take on climate change. For the last few months, the Sierra Club has been working with more than 100 other organizations to create the America the Beautiful for All Coalition. We officially launched on January 27, and as our first act, we released a comprehensive policy program that will help us reach the goal of protecting 30 percent of all lands and waters in the U.S. by 2030. I was lucky enough to participate on a panel marking the launch and got to talk about these recommendations and what we can do this year to get us on the path to success.
And we got to start February with great news, as the 10th circuit court of appeals said “no” to unlimited drilling at Greater Chaco in New Mexico, protecting this unique UNESCO world heritage site from harmful oil and gas extraction. This has been a great way to start 2023, and none of it would have been possible without the support, advocacy, and activism of you, the Sierra Club members and supporters, environmental advocates, and engaged folks who made calls, wrote letters, and sent emails to the Administration urging them to stick to their commitments to protect our lands and waters. We still have work to do. We still need to stop the Willow project in Alaska, and a lot more landscapes need permanent protections, but this week shows what we can achieve when we work together to protect our communities and our planet.