Protecting Wildlife by Passing Strong Climate Legislation

Global warming poses an unprecedented threat to the wildlife and wild places we cherish, and to the natural resources that people and wildlife depend on for their everyday survival.

The science has confirmed if we don't take decisive action now to reduce carbon pollution, in the lifetime of a child born today one-third of all wildlife species will be at increased risk of extinction.

For all of these reasons, enacting comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation that address the causes and impacts of global warming is a top priority for the National Wildlife Federation.

Goals for Climate Legislation

NWF's two main goals for comprehensive climate and clean energy legislation:

1. Enacting legislation that places a national cap on carbon pollution.
2. Enacting legislation that safeguards wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of climate change.

Progress on Policy Goal

In June 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which will reduce emissions and has provisions to safeguard wildlife.

A counterpart bill, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, passed the Environment committee in the Senate, but a comprehensive clean energy and climate bill needs to pass the Senate for these policies to become law.

• Learn more about NWF's Global Warming Work  
• Learn more about NWF's work to increase funding for wildlife and ecosystem conservation