Big State and Local Wins for Climate and Conservation in the United States

Twelve state and local ballot initiatives related to climate and conservation, totaling more than $18 billion, that The Nature Conservancy engaged in were approved by voters in the United States yesterday. One was in the State of Washington, where voters blocked an effort to roll back their state’s climate and conservation policies.

The largest public funding measures were in California, where $10 billion was approved for climate priorities, including wildfire prevention, clean water and resilience; Suffolk County, N.Y., where $6 billion was approved for clean water; and Minnesota, where $2 billion was renewed for land and water conservation programs.

“When the issue of conservation and climate is highlighted and elevated on the ballot, we find time and again that voters overwhelmingly support these initiatives,” said TNC’s Senior Director of Strategy Adam Snyder. “This year is no different, with 66% of voters supporting conservation and climate proposals.”  

TNC state chapters engaged in the ballot campaigns in a variety of ways, such as leading them, serving as overall strategists and steering committee members, making direct financial contributions or leveraging our trusted brand through endorsements of the measures. The wins are summarized below.

State and Local Ballot Measure Wins 

• California: $10 billion climate bond that funds climate resilience, protecting clean drinking water and preventing catastrophic wildfires. Read TNCs statement here.
  
• Washington: An effort to roll back the state's Climate Commitment Act was defeated. The CCA provides millions for conservation, climate and wildfire funding, including funding for Tribal nations and at-risk communities.
  
• Minnesota: Renewal of the Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund for another 25 years. The fund will provide $2 billion ($80 million per year from state lottery proceeds) to protect water, land and wildlife across the state. Read the statement here. 
  
• Suffolk County, N.Y.: Voters approved a ballot measure that will generate $6 billion for clean water and conservation over the next 30 years. Read TNC's statement here. 
• Colorado: Remove the cap for water funding from an existing tax on sports gaming revenue, which will generate an additional $2 to $5 million.
  
• Dupage, Kane and Lake counties, Ill.: More than $500 million for conservation and forest preserve districts to buy land, maintain existing public places and improve public recreation opportunities.
  
• Jasper County, S.C.: A sales tax for transportation, which includes a greenbelt component for land conservation that totals $94 million over the life of the program.
  
• Louisiana: Directing federal revenues received by the state from energy production (such as wind, solar, tidal, wave and other alternative or renewable energy sources) to the Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund.
  
• Maine: A $30 million bond that will fund a four-year grant program aimed at enhancing and expanding the state’s trail networks. 
  
• Rhode Island: A $53 million environmental bond that will fund a variety of programs, including open space and parks, coastal resilience, forest management and restoration, farmland protection, brownfield reclamation and upgrading a port facility to support offshore wind development.