Story at a glance
- Environmental groups anxiously await President Biden’s forthcoming announcement to preserve 30 percent of U.S. ecosystems by 2030.
- Biden will also make additional pledges surrounding climate change and environmental action.
President Biden is slated to make a major announcement Wednesday detailing his administration’s plans to protect the environment and halt climate change.
A press release from the White House states that Biden will take executive action to support sustainable initiatives, including reestablishing the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, an Obama-era committee that updated the president on scientific and technical innovations.
“These Executive Orders follow through on President Biden’s promise to take aggressive action to tackle climate change and build on the executive actions that the President took on his first day in office,” the announcement reads.
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One hallmark initiative, known as 30×30, aims at conserving at least 30 percent of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030, a move that encourages conservation groups nationwide.
“Achieving a 30 x 30 conservation goal to protect nature in the United States is an important and feasible milestone that will protect America’s iconic wildlife, waters, and landscapes and that will demonstrate conservation leadership internationally,” said Joel Dunn, the president of the Chesapeake Conservancy.
The 30×30 initiative depends on the participation from community engagement, ranging from landowners, tribes, fisherman, and other local authorities.
“Getting to 30% by 2030 requires local support and adoption,” Dunn continues.
One of the more specific federal environmental justice initiatives is the Justice40 Initiative, which aims at delivering 40 percent of the overall federal funding and support to communities most vulnerable to environmental upheaval.
“We applaud the Biden Administration for advancing solutions that will accelerate our economic recovery and revitalize frontline communities, while simultaneously confronting our nation’s biodiversity, climate, and racial justice crises,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation.
The move appears popular with voters; a recent survey conducted by ALG Research found that about four out of five, or 80 percent, of voters support protecting at least 30 percent of American lands, waterways and oceans.
A slight majority of 51 percent reported strongly favoring this plan, with broad support from voters identifying as Republicans, Democrats and independents.
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