Policy makes conservation and climate action possible.
That is why we have experts on staff who help influence how government policies in the United States are written and brought to life. They focus on policies that are equitable, nonpartisan, ambitious and grounded in science.
And it is why we encourage you to speak up for nature by letting your leaders in Congress, the Executive Office, state capitols and government agencies know what you think can be done differently to address climate change and protect the diversity of life on earth.
Voices—ours and yours—are needed for meaningful policies all along the way. Speak up when new legislation is proposed, celebrate it when it is passed and defend it so that funding is not stripped away at a later date. We must also help shape how the fine print for new programs included in legislation is written and decisions are made on how to allocate new funding. That is TNC’s proven approach to policy—help create legislation, help implement it and help defend it.
Government leaders cannot address all the threats to nature. Private sector companies, Indigenous peoples and local communities, scientists, investors and others also play a critical role. But government action is one of the strongest levers we have for quickly creating durable, large scale solutions to protect the natural areas worldwide that are are the foundation for our economy, security and way of life.
We have years, not decades, to solve the interconnected crises of climate change and species loss. Take action now on our top policy priorities.
The Farm Bill
The Farm Bill is the largest source of federal funding for conserving, restoring and managing private land in the U.S. It is currently up for renewal in Congress, something that only happens once every five years.
U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act
This proposed legislation would leverage government, private sector and philanthropic funds to support communities and Indigenous Peoples around the world who want to conserve and manage protected areas and at-risk fish, plants and animals.
2024 Policy Priorities
We use decades of hands-on experience and knowledge to partner with local, state, federal and tribal governments on science-based policy solutions that benefit both people and nature.
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Funding Nature
The Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act are the largest investments ever in climate action and conservation.
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Protecting America's Wildlife
Many U.S. fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) would fund local and state efforts to save them.
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Permitting Reform
The U.S. needs to build more clean energy and increase habitat restoration projects. Modernizing permitting processes will allow us to move faster and smarter.
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Wildfire Resilience
Severe wildfires have become the norm. TNC's Wildfire Resilience Roadmap outlines our recommendations for restoring landscapes and reducing wildfire impact.
Recent Environmental Policy Wins
For decades, TNC has helped shape legislation. Historic policy wins from the past several years now show how far we’ve come in making conservation and climate action central policy issues in the U.S.
TAKE ACTION
Speak Up For Nature
You have the power to influence and advance meaningful policy. Reaching out to your elected officials in Congress and state capitols and urging them to support climate action can go a long way, and luckily, we make it easier than ever to contact your leaders.
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Our roadmap combines bold policy action with forward-thinking approaches to change how we manage and prepare for extreme wildfires.
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2024 Guide for Climate and Environmental Policy Action
It's never been more important to use our voices to speak up for nature. Here's how you can be an advocate for conservation legislation this year.
Congressional Leaders Release Farm Bill Proposals
The Nature Conservancy is encouraged by recent steps from the Agriculture Committee leadership in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to share proposals for a 2024 Farm Bill.
NOAA Announces $220 Million for Coastal Conservation and Restoration Projects
TNC was among the awardees that will receive funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for conservation and restoration projects across the country.
Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Doctrine Impacting People and the Planet
The decision by the Supreme Court to overturn the Chevron doctrine could present challenges to preserving the many decades of progress we have made in protecting people and the planet.
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