Washington, D.C. — Today, the White House released a progress report on its America the Beautiful commitment to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands, waters, and ocean by 2030. In response, Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for Energy and Environment Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
In his first week in office, President Joe Biden took a bold and historic step to confront the climate and nature crises by creating the first-ever national conservation goal. This commitment to conserving 30 percent of U.S. lands, waters, and ocean by 2030 will slow the loss of nature, fight climate change, and ensure that Americans from all walks of life have access to the great outdoors. I applaud President Biden for his quick action to reverse the Trump administration’s attacks on public lands and waters. Special places such as Bears Ears, the Tongass National Forest, and Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument are once again protected for future generations.
But President Biden’s legacy will rely on more than undoing the destructive actions of his predecessor. At current rates of nature loss, the United States will lose 15 percent of nature’s potential to sequester carbon each year. The time is now for President Biden to build on his conservation achievements. We look forward to the president and his Cabinet moving forward on a bold, inclusive, and resilient conservation agenda that reflects the diversity of our natural heritage and that permanently protects 30 percent of our lands and waters.
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