MEMO: With Only 8 Years until 2030, We Must Prioritize Protecting ‘America the Beautiful’

*** Senior Sierra Club policy staff and spokespeople are available to discuss the need to advance the goals outlined in the America the Beautiful plan. ***

We must protect 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030, also known as ‘America the Beautiful.’ In addition to fighting the climate crisis, conserving more nature provides a myriad of health benefits, protections for vulnerable wildlife and plant species, diversification and growth of local economies, and communities’ increased access to nature. The Sierra Club calls on the Department of the Interior (DOI) to act quickly and protect 30% of this nation's lands by 2030. 

There is a broad bipartisan consensus that the US needs to do more to conserve natural places

• There is consensus in the scientific community that pursuing ‘America the Beautiful’ goals, coupled with energy transition measures, would avoid catastrophic climate change, conserve species, and secure essential ecosystem services.

• A recent survey of American voters found that 86 percent of voters support setting a national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and ocean areas by 2030 and 85 percent of voters support significantly increasing the amount of lands and ocean areas that the US protects. 

• 95 percent of people in the US support establishing marine protected areas to protect ocean wildlife and habitats and 78 percent think the government should establish more environmental conservation regulations to protect the ocean.

• 70 mayors from across the US and more than 400 state and local elected officials have declared support for the goal

Protecting more lands, waters, and green spaces and improving community access to outdoor spaces has a wide-range of health, economic, and climate benefits for all people

• Protecting more lands and waters and expanding access to those spaces is essential to the health, wellbeing, and prosperity of everyone in America.

• Conserved nature provides us clean drinking water and safe air quality. As the climate crisis threatens our access to water and worsens air pollution, we must protect lands and waters for the sake of stability and resilience.

• We’ve seen record breaking increases in popularity of public lands following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. By conserving more land we meet this increased demand and remove barriers to access for those who have been historically excluded or unable from accessing the outdoors.

• Nature, when conserved, would belong to all Americans, and this land is the inheritance of future generations. 

DOI can take action today to conserve our public lands and offer more health and recreational benefits to the American people

• DOI can meet these goals to conserve 30 percent of land in the next 8 years by expanding and designating more national monuments, creating more parks, wildlife refuges, and safe outdoor opportunities in nature-deprived communities, supporting Tribally led conservation and restoration priorities, and through voluntary conservation easement.