Kathryn Phillips, Sierra Club California, 916-893-8494
Virginia Cramer, National Sierra Club, virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org
SACRAMENTO, CA -- California Governor Gavin Newsom today announced new efforts in the state’s work to combat climate change and protect nature, focusing on the role of lands and waters as climate solutions. Through a Executive Order N-82-20, Newsom makes California the first state to proactively advance work to protect 30 percent of U.S. lands and waters by 2030, a vital component of international efforts to save half the planet by 2050.
In response Sierra Club representatives issued the following statements:
“The governor has helped move the nation forward today by establishing California as the first state to embrace 30 by 30. He has also required that identifying how to achieve the 30 by 30 goal will involve a stakeholder process. That’s important. We all need to work together to effectively address the climate emergency.”-- Kathryn Phillips, Director, Sierra Club California
“Scientists tell us that to mitigate the climate crisis and protect communities, we must protect nature. This order brings our country closer to protecting the 30 percent of lands and waters that experts say is needed to avoid the worst consequences of climate disruption, with a host of benefits for our air, water, wildlife and families along the way. Sierra Club is committed to ensuring this process improves access to nature for communities most harmed by the climate crisis and loss of green space.” -- Michael Brune, Executive Director, Sierra Club
###
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.