A Year in Review: VCN’s 2023 Annual Report
Thanks to highly coordinated efforts and despite political headwinds, VCN — in our role as the strategic facilitator of our 150+ Network Partners — was successful in holding onto major environmental and climate policy successes from the last few years while celebrating historic investments in conservation funding through the budget.
Our Annual Report reviews Virginia Conservation Network’s work from Spring 2022 to Winter 2023. While it feels almost impossible to cover everything we worked on last year in only a few pages, we did our best to squeeze in the highlights, including:
- our strategy to advance conservation initiatives year-round,
- our policy gains and challenges through the General Assembly session and beyond,
- our Network Partner engagement events,
- and more.
As we sent this annual report to the printer, we learned of the tragic loss of our Clean Energy & Climate Justice Policy Manager, Shawn Soares, on May 4th, 2023. Shawn was committed to devoting his career to bettering the Commonwealth and was a rising star in the climate movement. We are dedicating this annual report to him and are committed to working in his honor moving forward.
Read more of our recent updates from our blog:
6 Takeaways for the Environment from the Compromise Budget
The General Assembly reconvened for a special session on Monday, May 13th to vote on a bipartisan compromise budget. VCN shares the 6 takeaways on what the negotiated budget did for our environmental priorities.
Kicking Off Our Racial Equity Learning Series
Our Racial Equity Learning Series allows VCN Partners to broaden their knowledge on their racial equity and diversion, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) journey.
Alarming Loss of Virginia’s Tree Canopy
Friends of the Rappahannock's Brent Hunsinger and Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Ann Jurczyk talk about the alarming loss of tree canopy in the region and state and the impact of heat islands in an interview on "Town Talk with Ted Schubel".
Missed Opportunity to Rejoin RGGI Through the Budget
Our Partners at the Virginia League of Conservation Voters released a joint statement, signed on by VCN and several of our Partners, addressing the absence of language for the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in the new budget.
A Year in Review: VCN’s 2024 Annual Report
VCN shares our conservation victories and challenges from Spring 2023–Winter 2024 in our Annual Report.
First Draft of Transportation’s Six-Year Improvement Program Plan
The Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation recently shared their Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) draft plans with the Commonwealth Transportation Board.