Dear John,

All over the country, climate change is fueling extreme weather more destructive than ever before — and unless we do something, it will continue to become worse.

While sea level rise and hurricanes ravage our coastal communities, historic droughts kill crops, create havoc for water management and spark record-setting wildfires in the West. These disasters took hundreds of lives and cost American taxpayers $95 billion in damages — last year alone. 

Tell Congress today: Take decisive action to build lasting climate resilience by funding natural infrastructure. Our leaders can and must protect American lives from climate-fueled natural disasters!

Why should Congress prioritize natural infrastructure when it comes to climate adaptation?

  • Natural infrastructure can help address our growing climate risk in a range of environments across the nation. Near our coasts, natural features such as restored wetlands and mangrove forests can protect communities from storm surge and sea level rise. Near rivers, reconnected floodplains can retain water to reduce flooding while providing wildlife habitat. And in areas prone to drought, healthy aquifers can provide a more resilient water supply.
 
  • Natural infrastructure saves human lives, and money. For every $1 invested in pre-disaster mitigation, taxpayers are saved $6 in post-disaster recovery. And the cost of human lives saved? Priceless.
 
  • Natural infrastructure delivers numerous other benefits to communities — including improved water quality, wildlife habitat, eco-tourism opportunities as well as job creation and economic growth.
 
  • Americans across regions, political parties and demographics overwhelmingly support natural infrastructure. More than 4 in 5 Americans support natural infrastructure solutions to reduce the impact of natural disasters before they occur. This includes sweeping majorities of Independents and Republicans, as well as Northeasterners, Midwesterners and Southerners.

Our nation’s leaders should not stand by idly while worsening hurricanes, floods, droughts and fires threaten our families and communities. Instead of spending tens of billions of dollars per year on clean-up and recovery after each natural disaster, Congress must prioritize prevention and mitigation by investing in natural infrastructure. 

It could save your home, and even your life.

Urge Congress: Protect Americans from climate-fueled extreme weather events by prioritizing natural infrastructure in communities across the country.

Thank you for standing with us,

Steve Cochran
Associate Vice President, State Affairs