CONSERVATION NEWS ACROSS VIRGINIA
Happy Earth Day! Three quick and easy ways to celebrate.
Happy Earth Day! Fifty years ago today, advocates mobilized more than 20 million people to demand action on the environmental challenges of the time. Today, Earth Day is observed in around 190 countries, celebrated by almost 100,000 organizations, and is the largest civic observance in the world. While we can’t celebrate in person this year, here are three quick and easy ways to celebrate today while still observing social distance guidelines: Tell the EPA they can’t suspend pollution enforcement amid [...]
Tell the EPA they Cannot Suspend Pollution Enforcement Amid Global Health Crisis
Last week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it had suspended enforcement of U.S. environmental laws indefinitely, blaming the global COVID-19 pandemic. With this lawless and unprecedented decision, the EPA is avoidably placing communities in danger through unchecked air pollution and other pollution that threatens our air, water, land and wildlife resources -- putting vulnerable Virginia communities at risk. Air pollution exacerbates the severity of COVID-19. According to the New York Times, the millions of Americans already exposed to air pollution are at [...]
Conservation Updates from the 2020 General Assembly – Week 9
VCN Network Partners and advocates with VCEA bill patrons Sen. McClellan and Del. Sullivan. Updates on VCN Priorities VCEA heading to the Governor's desk (HB1526/SB851). In a whirlwind 18-hours, the Senate version of VCEA (SB851) cleared the House after defeating several floor amendments. It was then passed by the Senate this morning and heads to Gov. Northam for his signature. This win belongs to the entire VCN Network but particular thanks go out to Will Cleveland (SELC), Harrison Wallace and Mike Tidwell (CCAN), Mike Town [...]
Roundup: Historic Win for Climate with Passage of Virginia Clean Economy Act
The Virginia legislature has passed the Virginia Clean Economy Act, establishing the Commonwealth as a national leader in the fight against climate change!
Conservation Updates from the 2020 General Assembly – Week 8
Passage of the SB1027 to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Photo credit: Danielle Simms, VaLCV. Updates on VCN Priorities Budget conferees selected. The House and Senate money committees conferees have been selected and they have some significantly different budgets to work with. Governor Northam also just released a letter to the budget conferees with a nod to conservation; check out No. 6. ACTION: Contact budget conferees and ask for strong funding for our natural resources. RGGI passes House and Senate - amendment free (HB981/SB1027)! After [...]
Conservation Updates from the 2020 General Assembly – Week 7
Updates on VCN Priorities VCN budget memo now available. Investing in our natural resources is essential to ensure every Virginian has access to clean air, clean water, and our natural landscapes. Our 202-22 budget priorities include a commitment to meet our Chesapeake Bay clean up goals, investments in land conservation programs, and ensuring funding for our natural resources agencies, specifically the Department of Environmental Quality. Check out VCN's comments in response to the Virginia House and Senate 2021-2022 biennial budget here. Governor Northam invested [...]