Medhini Kumar, medhini.kumar@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Biden administration released a report updating Americans on the progress towards the ‘America the Beautiful’ plan, also known as 30x30, a framework to conserve at least 30 percent of U.S. lands, freshwater, and ocean areas by 2030 and ensure all people have access to the outdoors.
In response, Chris Hill, Senior Director of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign, released the following statement:
“We applaud the Biden administration’s strides, via the 30x30 initiative, in undoing some of President Trump's anti-conservation policies, including restoring the boundaries of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, Northeast Canyon and Seamounts National Monuments, along with protecting lands around Chaco Canyon and in the coastal plain of the Arctic Refuge from drilling. Access to the outdoors has been made more accessible through historic investments into the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership (ORLP) Program and work with the Department of Transportation to expand public transit to trails. Additionally, we welcome Secretary Haaland’s formation of a departmental task force to review and replace racist and derogatory place names among our country’s geographic features to make public lands more welcoming and inclusive.
However, truly addressing the climate crisis must go beyond revoking the previous administration’s actions; it must forge a cohesive, diverse locally-driven movement that prevails over the injustices perpetrated by extractive industries like oil, coal, gas, and logging -- to protect urban and rural public lands, waters, and our health.
The nature crisis and climate crisis are two sides of the same coin, and these crises cannot wait: they are harming our health, economy, and livelihoods, with Black, Indigenous and communities of color often facing the brunt of climate-fueled disasters and damage. With only about 12 percent of US lands protected, the time is now to double down on conservation efforts if we wish to safeguard ecosystems and address longstanding environmental injustices.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of 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.