RESTON, Va. – Congress and federal agencies should take immediate action to ensure progress toward the goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 with protections for frontline communities and support for communities economically reliant on fossil fuels. The National Wildlife Federation and its 53 state and territorial affiliates called for a fair and equitable transition along with more monitoring and collaboration toward this goal, along with other resolutions in support of minimizing the effects of climate change and protecting wildlife, at WildlifeUnite, the organizations’ conservation conference and annual meeting.

The resolution urges “robust monitoring of the progress toward an economy-wide net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal, mid-course adjustments to programs as needed, and the active and transparent collaboration among diverse stakeholders,” citing the importance of a net-zero carbon U.S. economy and the impacts of emissions on wildlife and humans alike.

The National Wildlife Federation also called for “minimizing and mitigating transition-related economic, social, and health disparities for all people and communities in the United States through implementation of all socioeconomic interventions needed to secure the rights and livelihoods of all, under the principles of a fair and equitable transition and environmental justice.”

The National Wildlife Federation is America’s largest conservation organization and, along with its 53 state and territorial affiliates and more than 6 million members and supporters, works to unite all people to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. The National Wildlife Federation’s affiliates also adopted resolutions that:

• Call for a science-based, inclusive, and equitable approach for effectively conserving and restoring the lands and waters needed to reverse declines in U.S. biodiversity and help stabilize the climate
• Support for creating an equitable civilian climate corps to create millions of jobs that would address these restoration projects
• Advocate for investments in strengthening conservation and research of plants
• Urge the protection of the American horseshoe crab through a transition to artificial alternatives to horseshoe crab blood in medical testing

Conservation Achievement Awards

The National Wildlife Federation also held its Conservation Achievement Awards, which began in 1966. Since then, the organization has celebrated individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting wildlife through education, advocacy, communication and on-the-ground conservation. This year’s awardees are as follows:

• National Conservation Leadership Award – Jay Kehne
• Affiliate of the Year Award – Michigan United Conservation Clubs
• Volunteer of the Year Award – Laura Mendenhall
• Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award – Brad Powell
• Charlie Shaw Conservation Partnership Award – Ben Kota
• National Conservation Young Leader Award – Charmayne Planter
• National Conservation Young Leader Award – John Frances Deitsch
• National Conservation Young Leader Award – Earyn McGee
• Environmental Justice 21st-Century Outstanding Board Member Award – Dr. Mamie Parker and John Robbins
• Environmental Justice 21st-Century “Outstanding Program Award,” – Earth Tomorrow
• Environmental Justice 21st-Century “For The People Award,” – Antonio Cosme and Samantha Lockhart

About WildlifeUnite

Hosted by the National Wildlife Federation, WildlifeUnite is the annual gathering of grassroots wildlife conservation leaders from across the nation.  WildlifeUnite is built around the core of the National Wildlife Federation’s Annual Meeting, America’s longest-running and largest annual convening of wildlife conservation advocates.

Because of the continuing impact of COVID-19, the 2021 WildlifeUnite conference was held completely online and hosted “virtually” from Milwaukee, Wisc., in partnership with our state affiliate the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation.  Sessions spotlighted the issues, people, and communities of Milwaukee, Wisc., and the Great Lakes region.