A Year in Review: VCN’s 2022 Annual Report
Over the last year, VCN worked with our 150+ Network Partners to maintain momentum around policy gains while continuing to navigate working within the confines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The year was defined by a gubernatorial election and the infusion of federal money into the state budget. It ended with a vastly different political landscape including a new, untested Governor and a change in conservation strategy from offense to defense.
Our Annual Report reviews Virginia Conservation Network’s work from Spring 2021 to Winter 2022. 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,
- our Network Partner engagement events,
- VCN staff updates,
- …and more!
Read more of our recent updates from our blog:
Factsheet: Gold Mines Harm Public Health and the Environment
The Southern Environmental Law Center provides a factsheet on gold mining impacts on public health and the environment.
Extended Producer Responsibility for Virginia
Environment Virginia provides an explanation on what Extended Producer Responsibility means, a policy approach which could be just what the US needs to revamp plastic recycling-- or eliminate the need for it altogether.
Guide to the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act
The Guide to the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act translates [...]
“Tanks for Nothing” Report
The Center for Progressive Reform released a report examining EPA and state policy failures regarding hazardous chemical spills, emphasizing the lack of information and preventative measures for storage tanks.
Vehicle Miles Traveled Calculator
The Rocky Mountain Institute released their SHIFT calculator, a tool that enables users to estimate long-run induced vehicle miles traveled and emissions impacts.
ROUNDUP: Virginia Conservation Community on the State Budget
Governor Northam's outgoing budget proposal prioritized our natural resources through historic investments in Virginia’s natural resources - fully funding nearly all of the Virginia conservation community’s budget asks which we outlined in Our Common Agenda.