** A chorus of calls for climate action
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Tuesday, January 26, 2021
MSNBC

With President Biden’s executive order on climate change expected on Wednesday, a growing chorus of officials across the country are encouraging him to take bold action. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer told MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow ([link removed]) that “it might be a good idea for President Biden to call a climate emergency,” noting that former President Trump used his emergency powers ([link removed]) “for a stupid wall, which wasn't an emergency. But if there ever was an emergency, climate is one.”

At the same time, more than 450 local officials from 43 states signed a letter calling on Biden to set a national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s land and ocean by 2030 ([link removed]) . The letter notes that “how we achieve 30x30 is also important ([link removed]) ,” and lays out six specific aspects to reaching the goal, including honoring tribal sovereignty, supporting locally-led and private conservation efforts, as well as putting low-income communities and communities of color at the forefront of conservation efforts.

The final details of Biden's climate order ([link removed]) appear to still be in flux. The Washington Post reports that Biden is poised to impose an indefinite moratorium on new oil and gas leasing ([link removed]) , but is leaning against a pause on federal coal leasing.


** The sky is not falling
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The oil and gas industry has already launched a Chicken Little-inspired campaign to convince the public that a pause on leasing would cost thousands of jobs and mean the end of oil drilling. CWP looked at publicly-available data ([link removed]) to show just how disingenuous that argument is. For starters, oil companies aren’t even using a majority of the leases they already have on public lands.
Quick hits


** Haaland’s nomination is historic and personal for Native Americans
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Denver Post ([link removed])


** Biden’s order to review monuments make expansion likely; economic benefits to follow
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | Resources Magazine ([link removed])


** Schumer calls on Biden to declare climate emergency; Manchin holds the key to Senate action
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MSNBC ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Boston Globe ([link removed]) | Bloomberg ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed])


** Local leaders call for national 30x30 goal as Biden finalizes climate action order; oil industry goes Chicken Little
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Huffpost ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | Westwise ([link removed])


** Former NPS directors: To protect parks, hit pause on leasing
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The Hill ([link removed]) (opinion)


** Trump administration threw Utah coal mine a midnight lifeline
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Tester pushes legislation to protect 336 miles of Montana rivers
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** Judge overturns permit requirements for commercial filming in national parks
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Hollywood Reporter ([link removed])
Quote of the day
The climate reality of today is higher temperatures, stronger storms, more destructive wildfires, sea-level rise, acidifying oceans and extended drought. We need a climate security plan for America that climate-proofs American infrastructure and puts climate and clean energy innovation front and center.”
—Sherri Goodman, former deputy under secretary of defense for environmental security, New York Times ([link removed])
Picture this


** @usfws ([link removed])
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Pronghorn live in #SagebrushCountry ([link removed]) across the American West. They’re North America’s fastest land mammals, reaching speeds over 50 miles per hour! Sagebrush leaves provide pronghorn with food & water during cold winter months. More: [link removed] ([link removed]) Photo: USFWS

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