(WASHINGTON DC – 05/20/2022) Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury) announced today that he has signed on to the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators’ letter to President Joe Biden urging him to establish a National Biodiversity Strategy. The letter’s release coincides with Endangered Species Day.
Signed by 365 state legislators from 48 states and territories, the letter highlights the rapid decline of animal and plant species and their habitats primarily driven by habitat destruction, climate change, wildlife exploitation, pollution, and invasive species. There are currently over one million species recognized to be at risk of extinction globally.
“The United States stands on the world stage as one of the only major countries to have not yet developed a national strategy to protect biodiversity. This bipartisan letter, signed by hundreds of legislators from coast to coast and beyond, urges President Biden will use his presidential powers to create and implement a plan that matches the scale of this crisis,” Senator Moore said. “Biodiversity is essential to health and wellbeing of our communities, our country, and our planet. We must act now to preserve our world as we know it for the next generation.”
In the letter, the legislators recognize the work the Biden Administration has already done but urges further action, pushing to “…build on existing policy initiatives while providing the strategic, comprehensive, and whole-of-government approach urgently needed to secure our nation’s rich biodiversity.” The letter advocates for the Strategy to direct federal agencies to do more within their existing laws and identify where new ones could be developed, for the federal government to better engage with states, Tribes, and non-governmental organizations, and for the United States to use its diplomatic apparatus and financial investments to promote biodiversity conservation worldwide.
The National Caucus of Environmental Legislators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes over 1,000 environmentally-committed state legislators from all 50 states and both parties. NCEL provides venues and opportunities for lawmakers to share ideas and collaborate on environmental issues.
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