What is 30 x 30?
The twin crises of climate change, and the rapid loss of biodiversity threatens humanity's survival, if we do not take immediate action. The loss of nature poses a grave threat to our clean air and drinking water, the survival of wildlife, the prosperity of communities, and nature’s ability to protect us from natural disasters and other intensifying impacts of a changing climate.
The 30 x 30 campaign springs from this stark reality. It was proposed by the Unted Nations as a way to educate, and engage people (tribes, governments, and organization) to work to collaboratively to conserve and protect 30% of the world’s land and oceans by 2030:
- The campaign acknowledges that activities that involve land clearing for development and food - are reducing and degrading nature.
- And without healthy, nature-based carbon sinks, we won’t be able to avert a climate catastrophe. The IPCC has shown that moving from fossil fuels to renewable energy is not enough.
America the Beautiful
In May, the Biden administration issued Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful, a report that opens the door to an inclusive model for science-based, locally driven conservation of lands, inland waters, and ocean areas. It highlights the importance of equity, and bringing together diverse voices that too often have been excluded from the decision-making processes around conservation.
The report lays out the following 5 goals:
- Create more parks and safe outdoor opportunities in nature-deprived communities. The Biden administration has agreed to direct 40% of Federal investment in parks and outdoor areas to disadvantaged communities, while emphasizing the importance of community-led efforts.
- Support Tribally-led conservation and restoration priorities. This includes working with and engaging Native Americas on conservation initiatives, particularly as they are related to sacred and ceremonial sites and treaty rights.
- Expand collaborative conservation of fish and wildlife habitats and corridors. Stemming the decline of fish and wildlife populations, and restoring and expanding habitats is a key components of the plan. This includes developing a Civilian Conservation Corps that restores public lands and waters and improves the function of natural systems
- Increase access for outdoor recreation. This goal focuses on the importance of ensuring access to quality open space in underserved neighborhoods. At present, neither quality, open space and natural areas nor access to such areas is not provided equitably.
- Incentivize and reward the voluntary conservation efforts of fishers, ranchers, farmers, and forest owners. The Biden Administration plans to advance and support programs that incentivize conservation through funding. Keeping lands healthy, productive, and whole - is also good for rural economies.
Downstate Caucus of the ICJC
The Downstate Caucus of The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition has established a working group for Natural Solutions and to support Illinois' 30 x 30 campaign, sponsored by the Illinois Environmental Council. Read more here.
