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House Democrats have released the American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act, an expansive piece of legislation to fight climate change through mitigation efforts on public lands.
The bill tasks the Department of the Interior and the US Forest Service with achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from public lands and waters by 2040. The task is huge, but necessary. Greenhouse gasses cause climate change, the increasing impacts of which affect the environment, the economy, and our everyday lives. Fossil fuels from public lands and waters currently account for a quarter of US total emissions, while public lands absorb only 15% of those emissions each year.
In order to achieve net-zero emissions, the bill would limit development of fossil fuels while developing more renewable energy on public lands, manage land to sequester more carbon in ecosystems, and use public lands for geologic sequestration or negative-emissions technologies.
The legislation lays the groundwork for a meaningful energy transition on our public lands. As part of a five-year phasing plan, the bill would put a temporary moratorium on leasing on federal lands while plans are made. Leasing fees and royalty rates on fossil fuel development that haven’t been changed in decades would be increased. Funds produced from the bill would go to communities that will have to transition their economy away from fossil fuel development.
White Sands' national park status in Trump's hands
Senator Heinrich's bill to turn White Sands National Monument into White Sands National Park has passed the Senate. The new designation, which is included in a large defense spending bill due to the nearby military presence, will go to the president's desk for approval.
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Our public lands and waters should be managed for the public’s benefit, not for the benefit of oil, gas and coal corporations... we’re not just protecting Americans – we’re helping protect the entire planet and meeting our ethical responsibilities to future generations.”
