“Birds are telling us we are in a climate emergency and it is wreaking havoc on our communities, our lands, and our waters,” said David Yarnold, president and CEO of the National Audubon Society. “We’re living in a warming planet, with growing inequities, where natural spaces, birds, and wildlife are disappearing at an alarming rate. Today’s actions point us toward a much brighter future for birds and people, but they must be followed with durable and inclusive policies that can keep us on that path.”
President Biden signed a series of executive orders and memorandums today aimed at combatting climate change, conserving and restoring our public lands and waters, and incorporating social justice into the federal government’s efforts to protect the environment. Among the president’s new actions was the creation of a council to coordinate climate efforts across the federal government, including matters of climate injustices and national security among federal agencies.
“The creation of the National Climate Task Force is a clear demonstration of the scope of this administration’s approach to addressing the climate crisis,” said Yarnold. “The task force and its actions must be met and magnified by Congress in passing comprehensive legislation to reduce carbon emissions.” New science has revealed the loss of 3 billion birds in North America since 1970 and that two-thirds of those birds are at risk of extinction due to climate change. President Biden also announced a federal commitment to conserve and restore 30 percent of the nation’s lands and waters by the year 2030. To view the full article visit the National Auduban Society.