CONSERVATION NEWS ACROSS VIRGINIA
Environmental Leaders Converge on Richmond for 2019 Virginia Environmental Assembly
More than 180 members of Virginia’s conservation community convened in the Commonwealth’s capital for the Virginia Environmental Assembly and Annual Meeting – our two-day conference bringing experienced and emerging conservation leaders together to learn, strategize, and network.
ROUNDUP: Trump Administration Repeals Crucial Clean Water Rule Act
The Trump Administration repealed the Clean Water Rule, as crucial protection of the Clean Water Act protecting approximately 60 percent of the nation’s stream miles and millions of acres of wetlands.
ROUNDUP: Northam Announces 100% Carbon Free by 2050
Governor Ralph Northam announced an Executive Order setting ambitious, statewide goals to reduce the Commonwealth’s carbon emissions and move the state’s electricity goal to 30% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2050.
Mary Rafferty: Protecting and enhancing Virginia’s natural resources
VCN’s own Mary Rafferty is featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch laying out a pathway for the Northam administration to ensure his 2020-22 budget reflects Virginia's shared priorities to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, protect our landscapes, and enhance our agencies. ...Virginia ranks 47th in budgeting for the protection and enhancement of our natural resources, less than 1% of the general fund. This lack of investment is particularly concerning in light of the many environmental rollbacks and budget cuts from [...]
Northam Releases EO6 Report to Enhance DEQ
Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources released their report on commitments to enhance Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under Gov. Northam’s Executive Order 6, issued in April 2018. EO6 was was released by the Governor last year. It looked to get immediate feedback on ways to strengthen policies at the agency in light of some of the worst environmental rollbacks we’ve seen at the federal level. In addition, the EO looked to identify ways to increase communications and public engagement [...]
VCN, Virginia Transit Association Conclude Summer of Listening Sessions
Over the course of the summer, VCN partnered with the Virginia Transit Association to host community listening sessions throughout the Commonwealth to find out how public transportation could be improved. The six sessions were hosted by Jay Fisette, former chair of the Arlington County Board, and covered a wealth of local transportation-related issues. “I was very pleased with the diversity of the groups that we had at the sessions, it really felt like we had a great representative community,” said [...]