Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
On the second anniversary of the announcement of the Biden Administration’s America the Beautiful initiative to protect 30 percent of lands and waters in the United States by 2030, a new coalition has released a policy agenda to help achieve this ambitious goal.
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition, representing more than 100 organizations , including Sierra Club, working to take on the climate crisis, stem the loss of global biodiversity, expand access to nature for all people. The coalition’s policy recommendations focus on achieving 30x30, while ensuring at least 40 percent of conservation investments support communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen underinvestment in conservation and equitable access to nature.
More information on the coalition, including its policy recommendations, are available at its website, https://americathebeautifulforall.org/.
In response, Chris Hill, senior director of Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign and steering committee member, released the following statement:
“Two years ago, the Biden Administration laid out the most ambitious conservation goal in the history of this country – protecting 30 percent of all lands and waters in the US by the end of the decade. The administration has made important progress since then, but we need to move faster if we are to achieve this goal and secure a sustainable future. Falling behind means putting more landscapes, species, and communities at risk.
“The America the Beautiful for All Coalition provides an opportunity for organizations across the country to work together, center the voices of the communities facing the worst effects of climate change, and get us on the path to reaching 30x30. We’re facing multiple overlapping crises threatening the lands and waters our communities and wildlife rely on, and it will take our combined efforts to stave off climate catastrophe. Now is the time to take bold action 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.