Courtney Bourgoin, courtney.bourgoin@sierraclub.org
Albuquerque, NM— Today, the Department of the Interior released an outline that lays the groundwork for the national effort to protect 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030 (an effort known as “30x30”).
The agency recognized the importance of conserving natural places to fight the climate crisis, focused on addressing inequities in access to nature, and put forward a vision for a 30x30 effort that focuses on collaboration and Tribal sovereignty. The Biden administration originally announced the initiative to protect 30% of lands in waters in the country in its first week in office. See the outline here.
In response, Dan Ritzman, Director of Lands, Water and Wildlife at the Sierra Club, released the following statement:
“We applaud the Biden administration for taking bold steps to save 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030. The good news is that communities across the country are already working to protect everything from wilderness to local parks. Strong partnerships and an expanded vision of what it means to protect nature will help us reach the 30% target, expand equitable access to the outdoors, and fight the climate crisis.
“It will require strong collaboration by all levels of government, Tribal nations, local communities, landowners and the conservation community to make decisions that boost the health and wellbeing of our communities. We look forward to working with the administration to protect more spaces that promote access to the outdoors, preserve critical habitat, and boost our climate resilience.”
Background:
Scientists tell us that to halt mass extinction and solve the climate crisis, we need to not only preserve existing wild spaces, but also protect more nature. With only 12% of this country’s lands and waters protected, scientists say reaching 30% protections by 2030 will be key.
Protecting these lands will keep drilling and logging from dumping new pollution into the air and facilitate removing existing climate pollution out of the air. It will provide protection from extreme weather, homes for wildlife, and opportunities for people to enjoy the outdoors together. In January, the Biden administration took bold climate action in its first week, including the effort to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030. Read more about Sierra Club’s 30x30 work here.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.