Governor Newsom Announces Executive Order to Address Biodiversity Crisis

Sacramento - Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order announcing new actions in the fight against climate change and to protect biodiversity. The Executive Order includes a statewide “30 by 30” conservation goal, which was the focus of Assembly bill last session, AB 3030, cosponsored by NRDC and partners, authored by Assembly Member Kalra. 

A statement follows from Annie Notthoff, Senior Director of Western Advocacy at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“This Executive Order is a welcome step towards conserving California’s lands and coastal waters. With this move, California is tackling the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change together, by committing to conserve 30 percent of lands and coastal waters by 2030. Importantly, the EO calls for Tribal participation and input, as well as advancing equity in making these decisions, which is an essential change as disadvantaged communities and tribal voices have previously been excluded from both the process and the benefits of similar efforts in the past. It positions California’s soils and agricultural economy to play a bigger role in the state's natural carbon sequestration efforts and we need to double down our support for existing efforts that incentivize carbon sequestration.”

For background on NRDC’s work on these issues, please read these blogs:

https://www.nrdc.org/experts/arohi-sharma/microbes-matter-what-biodiversity-report-means-soil
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/arohi-sharma/building-roots-more-water-secure-california
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/arohi-sharma/valuing-independent-farmers-over-corporate-agribusinesses
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/allison-johnson/organic-means-healthy-people-and-healthy-soils
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/drevet-hunt/california-seeks-reduce-inequity-access-nature
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/drevet-hunt/save-species-protect-30-freshwaters-2030

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NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.