Congressman Neguse Sets National Goal of Conserving 30% of U.S Lands and Ocean by 2030

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representatives Joe Neguse (CO-02), Deb Haaland (NM-01), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Ruben Gallego (AZ-07), and Ed Case (HI-01) introduced the Thirty by Thirty Resolution to Save Nature to set a goal for the United States to conserve at least 30% of the ocean and land by 2030, which scientists say is the minimum step needed to pull us back from the tipping point that nature and our climate have reached.

This resolution, a companion to S. Res. 372 introduced by Senators Tom Udall (D-NM) and Michael Bennett (D-CO) details the extinction, climate, and biodiversity crisis that our world is facing and follows the suggestion of a growing number of scientists that we must increase the amount of land and ocean protected around the world.

"Conservation of our public lands and oceans is inextricably linked to climate action," said Congressman Joe Neguse. "A commitment to conserve 30 percent of America's lands and oceans by 2030 is absolutely essential and as many scientists suggest is a minimum step that must be taken to pull us back from the tipping point that nature and our climate have reached. I'm honored to join my colleagues in the House and Senators Udall and Bennet in the Senate to champion this essential resolution. Climate change is the existential threat of our time, one that cannot be ignored or idled on, but one that must be met with bold and pragmatic solutions that protect our future and our planet."

"Globally, one million species are at risk of extinction--many within decades--as a result of interconnected factors involving habitat destruction and climate change. These species and our ecosystems are not only inherently valuable, they are also necessary to sustain humanity's own economic success and survival," said Senator Udall, ranking member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies. "We must write a new playbook for conserving the environment to protect nature, fight climate change, champion diversity and include all communities, including Native Americans. Our national history of protecting the natural world has shown us that conservation leads to healthy communities and economic success, as evidenced by the vibrant outdoor recreation economy in New Mexico."

"Our communities deserve to have fresh air to breath, clean water to drink, and a livable plant, but right now inaction on climate change is putting everything at risk. Globally, this loss of nature -- accelerated by climate change -- is putting up to one million species on the path to extinction" said Rep. Haaland. "Conserving our lands and waters is essential to protecting wildlife and stabilizing our climate, so I'm following the direction from leading scientists and introducing this resolution to set a national goal of conserving 30 percent of America's land and oceans by 2030 to tackle this urgent crisis."

"Conservation offers the United States a brilliant opportunity to fight the climate crisis, stabilize ecosystems and save wildlife--it's an opportunity that we must seize immediately," said Rep. Lieu.

"America's unique lands and waters are our most powerful tools in the fight against climate change. We must be bold in the preservation of these natural resources, which sequester millions of tons of carbon each year and support thriving and healthy ecosystems that are critical to long-term climate health," said Rep. Gallego. "That's why I am proud to support this resolution to preserve 30 percent of U.S. lands and oceans by 2030 to ensure a safe and prosperous climate for future generations."

The Thirty by Thirty Resolution to Save Nature will establish a national goal of conserving at least 30 percent of the land and 30 percent of the ocean within the territory of the United States by 2030 by:

Working with federal agencies, local communities, Indian Tribes, States, and private landowners to conserve natural places and resources under their control;

Including public incentives for private landowners to voluntarily conserve and protect areas of demonstrated conservation value and with a high capacity to sequester carbon and greenhouse gas emissions;

Improving access to nature for all people in the United States, including for communities of color and economically disadvantaged communities;

Using land and ocean of the United States to sequester and store carbon;

Focusing work at a large-landscape scale that is biologically and ecologically meaningful;

Preventing extinction by recovering and restoring animal and plant species;

Stabilizing ecosystems and the services of ecosystems, restoring degraded ecosystems, and maintaining ecological functions; and

Increasing economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and foresters.

The resolution is supported by a number of organizations including the Center for American Progress, League of Conservation Voters, National Wildlife Federation, National Parks Conservation Association, Wilderness Society, Campaign for Nature, Sierra Club, GreenLatinos, The Nature Conservancy, Marine Conservation Institute, Mountain Pact, Hispanic Access Foundation, Oceana, the National Audubon Society, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.