The Nature Conservancy remains committed to working with and for communities
TNC’s efforts to incorporate justice and equity into our work will continue, even as the federal government’s focus shifts.
Media Contacts
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Cody Sullivan
Associate Director of Communications, North American Climate Policy
The Nature Conservancy
Email: cody.sullivan@tnc.org
Today, President Trump signed an executive order ending many important equity and justice initiatives, including Justice40 and related federal programs, offices and activities. The Justice40 Initiative, launched in 2021, was the first all-of-federal-government effort to set a goal ensuring U.S. federal policies and programs directly support communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. The initiative’s goal was that 40% of overall benefits from federal investments in programs relating to climate and energy, transit, housing and more would flow to these communities.
According to the EPA, Justice40 has supported investments in education and job training, improved health by reducing exposures to harmful triggers such as lead, facilitated green infrastructure development, and provided training on water and air quality monitoring, among many other benefits.
Jan Glendening, The Nature Conservancy’s executive vice president of North America, Caribbean and Micronesia, issued the following statement in response to the end of Justice40:
“Justice40 represents a national commitment to environmental justice of a magnitude we haven’t seen before. It brought long-overdue attention to the needs of communities who are underserved, marginalized and adversely affected by persistent pollution, poverty and inequality. Justice40 and related initiatives fostered practices and tools that helped federal agencies connect with these communities, follow their leadership in addressing their needs, and measure overall progress toward reducing disparate impacts. By removing this directive, it will now fall to individual agencies, states and organizations to uphold the goals of Justice40 and related efforts.
“The Nature Conservancy's vision is a world where people and nature thrive. When certain groups of people are unable to thrive due to forces outside of their control, we will do what we can to elevate their leadership and remove roadblocks.
“That’s why The Nature Conservancy’s pursuit of equity does not end today. We remain committed to growing our understanding of equity and inclusion, and we will continue partnering with communities that request our support and collaboration. Practicing inclusive approaches to conservation and climate action is the right thing to do and is vital to achieving TNC’s vision. I encourage state and local governments, our partners, peers and everyone across the U.S. to continue to work towards a more equitable future.”
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.
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