Samantha Lockhart, Author at The National Wildlife Federation Blog

The National Wildlife Federation Opposes Pruitt for EPA

Samantha Lockhart — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 18:43:23 +0000

For the first time in our 80-year history, we are opposing the nomination of a presidential cabinet appointee, Environmental Protection Agency nominee Scott Pruitt. The National Wildlife Federation has a strong bipartisan membership, with members and supporters across the political spectrum, but what unites supporters from all stripes is a strong commitment to conservation values and to the importance of sound science.

Here is just a sampling of the words of some of our members who support wildlife and the habitat they rely on.

“As a proud Trump supporter in the election, I ask you to commit to strong, proactive measures during your Administration to protect our nation’s wildlife and their habitats. We took your statements during the campaign seriously: that you support wildlife conservation, protected public lands, expanded outdoor recreation opportunities and investment in our infrastructure.” – Michelle

Scott Pruitt at 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference (Flickr/Gage Skidmore)

“As a citizen and an outdoorsman, I [support] the National Wildlife Federation’s conservation agenda, and ask you to commit to strong, proactive measures during your Administration to protect our nation’s wildlife and their habitats. Wildlife is part of this beautiful country and we need to be responsible caretakers.” – Jerome

“President Trump – I have been a lifelong Republican and voted for you. That said, sometimes Republicans have a “reputation” for being against wise wildlife practices. Please side with us Republicans who are also strong supporters of saving lands and the wildlife that inhabits them, by standing strong for our nation’s wild lands.” – Jane

Following Wednesday’s hearing proceedings, Pruitt demonstrated that he is not the leader that America needs at the Environmental Protection Agency. The National Wildlife Federation has an obligation to represent the values and interests of our hunters, angler, and conservationist members – this is what leads us to oppose Scott Pruitt as the next EPA Administrator. In the words of our CEO, Collin O’Mara:

“…Mr. Pruitt’s record and policy positions represent a stark break with the Republican Party’s conservation legacy. He has sought to undermine climate science and questioned whether mercury pollution was bad for public health. He has repeatedly used the power of his office to fight to overturn the water and air safeguards that protect our fish and wildlife, public health, natural resources, and climate. He sued to stop the EPA from reducing water pollution entering upstream tributaries and wetlands. He sued to stop rules to reduce toxic mercury pollution, oxides of nitrogen, and sulfur dioxide, and sued to block the Clean Power Plan.

During yesterday’s hearing, Mr. Pruitt did not say anything to suggest he would change course from this record to represent all Americans, rather than special interests. Because of this track record and the positions he stated in yesterday’s hearing, his nomination is completely unprecedented in the agency’s nearly 50 year history and must be rejected.” Click here to read the full statement.

The National Wildlife Federation is standing up for our bedrock conservation values and we encourage our leaders in Congress to vote against this nominee.

TAKE ACTION

Call your Senators and tell them to support wildlife and vote “no” on Scott Pruitt for the EPA!

The post The National Wildlife Federation Opposes Pruitt for EPA appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.

NWF “Moosing” Presidential Hopefuls in New Hampshire

Samantha Lockhart — Thu, 28 Jan 2016 19:11:00 +0000

Presidential candidates pictured alphabetically by last name. Photo by NWF

New Hampshire’s moose are in big trouble, as are many other species of wildlife suffering from extreme impacts of climate change. As the New Hampshire presidential primary rhetoric ramps up, the National Wildlife Federation wants to know: will our leaders and elected officials commit to helping moose and taking action to put the brakes on climate change? So, we’re asking them.

This month, we’ve deployed local advocates to press our leaders and elected officials in person for their plans to curb climate change and protect our beloved wildlife, before species like New Hampshire’s moose disappear! At each stop, we offer candidates a toy moose to remind them of the plight of the moose and send the message that we want leaders who will take action on climate change.

So far, we’ve attended 22 presidential candidate events across the state of New Hampshire and have “moosed” the candidates pictured above in alphabetical order: Governor Jeb Bush, Governor Chris Christie, Secretary Hillary Clinton, Senator Ted Cruz, Carly Fiorina, Governor John Kasich, Senator Rand Paul, Senator Marco Rubio, Senator Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump. We are still here hoping to reach even more of these presidential hopefuls with our message!

Help NWF “moose” the candidates at events in New Hampshire by joining us at a town hall this month and speak for moose because they can’t speak for themselves.

The New Hampshire moose population has declined in the last decade from 7,500 to 4,000 – that’s nearly 50%! Scientists say shorter winters and summer heat stress brought on by rising temperatures are hurting New Hampshire’s moose. The lack of snow in northern New Hampshire during April and November has caused a dramatic increase in the number of winter ticks. These parasites are severely impacting remaining moose populations. This decline also means that fewer hunting licenses will be issued and fewer tourists will get to witness these iconic animals.

In the face of this dramatic decline, we need to cut carbon pollution through the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever federal regulations limiting industrial carbon pollution from new and existing power plants, and switch to clean energy as rapidly as possible.

The National Wildlife Federation does not endorse or oppose any candidate in connection with the presidential election or any other political campaign or election.

Take Action

Pledge to vote for moose and climate action in 2016!

The post NWF “Moosing” Presidential Hopefuls in New Hampshire appeared first on The National Wildlife Federation Blog.

The Future is Today!

Samantha Lockhart — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 15:30:28 +0000

Image courtesy of Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment

Bad news for all those procrastinators out there: the future arrived today. That’s right – in 1989, director Robert Zemeckis’ Back to the Future II hit theatres across the country and recaptured America’s imagination with the story of a teenage boy and a wild-eyed scientist who travel in a time machine that looks like a DeLorean from the year 1985 to the future… this time landing (can you believe it!) on October 21, 2015.

Although our 2015 doesn’t exactly match with the imaginings of Zemeckis and executive producer Steven Spielberg, the arrival of October 21, 2015 does beg the question: what would Marty McFly and Doc Brown think of our world today?

A lot has certainly changed. We’ve traded in giant car phones for smartphones, mixtapes for playlists, Aerobicize for Barre Workouts, and Tom Hanks for…. actually, we will never trade him in BECAUSE HE IS AN AMERICAN TREASURE. But more than that, the very environment in which we live has changed dramatically as a result of climate change.

So let’s take a look at a few key differences that Marty and Doc would see if they stepped out of the DeLorean today:

Shrinking Wildlife Populations

World wildlife populations have declined by 50% since 1970? Great Scott! Back to the Future III image courtesy of Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment

How have wildlife fared over the last 30 years? According to the London Zoological Society, world wildlife populations halved between 1970 and 2010, meaning while they were likely already on the decline in 1985, that trend has continued with some dramatic consequences. The report indicates that the populations of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish have declined by an average of 52 percent, with freshwater species declining closer to 76 percent.

This is largely attributed to human activity, including deforestation, overfishing, pollution and habitat destruction—all of which are exacerbated by climate change. The good news? A new report from the Center for American Progress notes that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) has been working – preventing wildlife species that are near extinction from vanishing completely. Unfortunately, those species at a lower risk of extinction are seeing rapid population decline.

A Much Drier Hill Valley

Hill Valley is a fictional town—though it will be a real place for a few days—but the state of California is definitely in real trouble from drought. The years-long troubles from drought are part of a trend of drier conditions that tie back directly to climate change. Warmer winters have led to a severe decrease in snowpack (down to just 5% of normal), a source that California relies on heavily in the summer months. The drought has had a particularly severe impact on wildlife from waterfowl to mountain lions and especially endangered species like the giant kangaroo rat!

In the immortal words of Marty McFly, “Heavy.”

Kangaroo rat. Photo by Pacific Southwest Region USFWS via Flickr Creative Commons

Higher Average Global Temperature

Marty might find things a bit warmer, with the global annual average temperature lying roughly 1°F higher today than it was in 1985. In fact, February 1985 was the very last time that the world was cooler than its 20th century average.

Increases in temperature can have devastating impacts for wildlife and people alike. For example, moose require cool climates to thrive and are especially at risk from a warming climate, as warmer temperatures cause them to overheat and become prone to diseases and tick infestation.

More Efficient Cars

Thankfully, not all of the changes are bad. Our cars might not fly, but they certainly are doing less damage to the environment than in 1985. Back in 1975, Congress passed the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards in order to improve fuel efficiency for cars and light trucks produced or sold in the United States. As a result of technology improvements and better CAFE regulations, fuel efficiency has increased by 8.7 miles per gallon for passenger cars since 1985.

Forget 88 miles per hour, it’s miles per gallon! Cars in 2015 are going an average of 8.7 miles further on a gallon of gas.

Greater World Energy Mix

Good news! Though the impacts of climate change have risen dramatically since 1985, so has our use of renewable energy. According to the Renewable Energy Policy Network (REN21), roughly 19% of world-marketed energy consumption is from renewable energy sources, and in 2014 there was more global power capacity added through renewable energy than coal and gas combined.

The United States now has thirty-six times as many wind farms as it did in 1985, allowing us to power nearly 15 million more homes from wind farms today than in Marty McFly’s time. Taking steps to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and address climate change is good news for species like the sea turtle, whose habitat is disappearing due to sea-level rise.

Take Action

So while Marty and Doc’s 2015 may not be quite the same as ours, we still have a chance to keep our future bright.

Lend your voice for wildlife and climate action and ask Congress to stand up for the Clean Power Plan!

Image courtesy of Universal Studios/Amblin Entertainment.

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NWF Hosts 2015 Wildlife Conservation Briefing with Congresswoman Ann McLane Kuster

Samantha Lockhart — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 20:41:19 +0000

On January 3, 2015 the 114th Congress was sworn in – and with it came an incredible opportunity to make 2015 a year of conservation victories for wildlife. That’s why we got together last night by phone with over 150 of National Wildlife Federation activists and leaders from across the country for a 2015 Wildlife Conservation Briefing!

A river otter swims through a canal in the Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, FL. Photo by Sara Lopez.

Just a few days into the new Congressional session, a series of bills and amendments were introduced to undermine conservation and threaten wildlife. At the same time, President Obama has the opportunity to finalize one set of historic new rules that reduce pollution from power plants and another that would safeguard millions of acres of wetlands and streams vital for river otters, migratory birds and waterfowl.

We know that what we do at the National Wildlife Federation to advocate for critical conservation protections makes a huge difference in Congress. Congresswoman Kuster (D-NH) explains in this clip why taking action, reaching out to our representatives and fighting for our conservation values is more important than ever in 2015.

Clean Air

President Obama’s Clean Power Plan is taking unprecedented steps to reduce carbon pollution, combat climate change and protect people and wildlife. The plan has set carbon limits for old and new power plants, taken steps to reduce methane leakage and has begun making landmark agreements with foreign nations to reduce carbon. And all of this is being done using longstanding authorities under the Clean Air Act. Listen, as CEO Collin O’Mara explains how we need to work together to protect these important actions as Congress tries to derail them.

Congress has started its session by voting on the swift approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The Keystone XL Pipeline has long been opposed by NWF because of its climate impacts, and because of its potential impacts to wildlife, ecosystems and the Ogallala aquifer. However, even as we saw this attack on the environment move forward, Congress also voted on several amendments to the Keystone XL Pipeline bill that garnered unprecedented bi-partisan support for the scientific consensus that climate change is happening and that humans are having a significant impact.

Clean Water

As this new Congress unfolds, the health and safety of our streams and wetlands, lakes, rivers, and bays hang in the balance. Most immediately, next week, on February 4th Congress will hold a rare joint House-Senate hearing to attack the Clean Water Rule – a critically important EPA initiative that will clarify and restore Clean Water Act protections for millions of wetland acres and stream miles, and the drinking water supplies of 1 in 3 Americans.

This important rule clarifies and restores longstanding protections for headwater streams and wetlands that feed our drinking water supplies and play an important role in fishing, hunting, and the future of our outdoor economy. Additionally, the proposed rule gives much-needed certainty to farmers, land owners, and businesses, saving them time and money. Without this rule, confusion over which waters are protected under the Clean Water Act would continue. Listen, as Collin O’Mara talks about the Toledo algal blooms that happened just a few months ago and why it’s so important that we take action to protect clean water for people and wildlife.

Our Public Lands

Supporters of making Colorado’s Brown Canyon a national monument hope that President Obama will approve a designation. Photo courtesy of Friends of Browns Canyon.

The Arctic Wildlife Refuge is a spectacular ecosystem and home to some of the nation’s most iconic wildlife. Unfortunately, the 114th Congress is likely to push for drilling in the refuge instead of protecting it. Now, we have an opportunity to fight back and support President Obama’s proposed new management plan that calls on Congress to protect this special place.

The President also has the opportunity to protect places like Brown’s Canyon in Colorado or Boulder White Clouds in Idaho by establishing them as National Monuments under the Antiquities Act (first used by President Theodore Roosevelt to establish the Grand Canyon as a national monument.) Unfortunately, Congress is looking to attack or eliminate the President’s ability to designate national monuments under the Act.

Hear from CEO Collin O’Mara about why we need to fight back against these anti-conservation bills.

Take Action

If one thing is clear from last night’s Wildlife Conservation Briefing, it’s that we are going to need your help this year to protect wildlife and habitat and fight for conservation victories!

Here are three ways that you can take action today!

1. Urge your Senators to vote to support the Clean Power Plan. We will face all to many attacks in the coming year, and will need rapid responses to members of Congress telling them that Americans like you want to see action on climate and clean energy

2. Please call, email, tweet, and post on your member of congress’ facebook pages your own version of this basic clean water message: “The proposed Clean Water Rule is a critical priority for hunters, anglers, nature lovers, fish, and wildlife in (state). We urge Senator/Representative _____ to #ProtectCleanWater and express support for the Clean Water Rule.”

3. Please send a message to President Obama thanking him for his actions to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and urging him to use his authority to protect additional public lands, including Browns Canyon.

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Heading to the People’s Climate March for Wildlife!

Samantha Lockhart — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 13:38:05 +0000

On September 21st, I will be marching with climate activists from across the country in New York City to deliver a clear message: it is time to get serious about climate change.

NWF marching for wildlife #actionclimate

The event is called the People’s Climate March and hundreds of thousands of people will be there marching together for our climate. The event coincides with a United Nations Summit on the climate crisis. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is urging governments to support an ambitious global agreement to dramatically reduce climate pollution — and National Wildlife Federation will be there to back Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and advocate for climate action on behalf of wildlife.

National Wildlife Federation is endorsing the march and our International Team is partnering with the United Nations Office for REDD+ (Reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation) Coordination in Indonesia and the UN Environment Program for an event which will focus on success stories in reducing deforestation and tying it to the green global economy.

Be a part of this incredible day of action

Attend the march in NYC on September 21st: Meet up with National Wildlife Federation staffers at the march and walk with us together!

10:30am: Anyone who would like to get an NWF sign, banner, sticker or other materials for the march with other members of the NWF family can rendezvous at Le Pain Quotidien on W. 65th St between Columbus Ave and Central Park West.
11:30am: March begins! The assembly location will be in the area north of Columbus Circle, there will be different corners where different groups will begin marching by category, such as “wind energy” “youth” “tar sands” and more.

Take action to fight climate change! The best way to show solidarity to the folks who are marching for climate justice is by supporting our efforts to reduce carbon pollution here in the US through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan.

Moose and young in New Hampshire. Photo Credit: Flickr user Dave Spier

National Wildlife Federation has been fighting the root causes of climate change because we know the threat that this crisis poses to our precious wildlife and their habitat.

From devastating moose populations in New Hampshire to causing dangerous algal blooms in Ohio – the impacts of climate change on wildlife across the country are evident. However, this is a global problem which means we need global solutions and we need our government here in the US taking a leadership role.

Join us at the People’s Climate March on September 21st or take action today to speak up for wildlife.

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EPA Holds Hearings on Clean Power Plan!

Samantha Lockhart — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 18:05:28 +0000

The Environmental Protection Agency took an exciting leap forward for our environment last month when they announced a proposed new rule to regulate carbon pollution from coal-fired power plants. The rule, informally called the “Clean Power Plan,” aims to reduce our carbon dioxide pollution from power plants by 30% nationwide by 2030 – representing the most aggressive step ever taken by the US government to address climate change pollution, protect our public health, and safeguard our wildlife habitat.

At the end of July, the EPA is opening their doors for a cumulative eight days of public testimony in four cities across the country. This is our opportunity to speak out in support of the EPA’s common-sense approach to reducing carbon pollution from our nation’s coal-fired power plants.

Click here to register to give testimony!

Atlanta, Georgia:
July 29 and 30, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (EST)
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
Main Tower Bridge Conference Area, Conference Room B
61 Forsyth Street, SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
Information and directions to EPA’s Atlanta office
Register for the hearing

Denver, Colorado
July 29 and 30, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (MDT)
EPA Region 8 Building
1595 Wynkoop Street
Denver, CO 80202
Information and directions to EPA’s Denver office
Register for the hearing

Washington, DC
July 29 and 30, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (EST)
William Jefferson Clinton East Building, Room 1153
1201 Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20004
Information and directions to EPA Headquarters
Register for the hearing

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
July 31 and August 1, 2014
9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (EST)
William S. Moorhead Federal Building, Room 1310
1000 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Directions to the William S. Moorhead Federal Building
Register for the hearing

Check out this blog from Penn Future (NWF affiliate organization in Pennsylvania) for more information regarding the Pittsburgh hearing!

Unfortunately, big corporate polluters and their allies in Congress don’t want to pay their fair share (surprise surprise!). These corporate bad-actors want to create the illusion that Americans are divided on these groundbreaking new rules. But we know better. According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC poll, 67% of Americans support regulation on climate pollution. That’s why we need to demonstrate the overwhelming public support for protecting the nation’s wildlife and wild places by speaking out at these public hearings!

Not sure whether you want to testify, but you KNOW you want to make a difference? Email info@nwa.org and a National Wildlife Federation team-member will follow up with you from one of these key cities about what it means to testify as well as other ways that you can have an impact.

What to Say When You Attend

Make it personal

(USFWS) From Atlantic puffins in Maine facing starvation, to moose in Minnesota suffering from worsened ticks and heat, and fish in Colorado dying from toxic runoff caused by extreme wildfires—wildlife are counting on us to address climate change.

Why does climate change matter to you? Use your comments to add a personal face to this national problem.
Climate change is causing more intense weather events. Have you been impacted by worsened extreme weather such as Hurricane Sandy, the extreme flooding in Colorado, prolonged drought in the southwest or other severe weather events?
Smog and air pollution can cause or worsen respiratory illnesses- including allergies and asthma. Have you or members of your family felt any of the negative health impacts of climate change? Or, are you a health professional who works with people who are harmed by air pollution from coal-fired power plants?
Climate change is harming wildlife and the outdoor places that we love most. How is a changing climate affecting the wildlife and outdoor places that you love?

Include a few key facts

Plant and wildlife species are shifting their entire ranges to colder locales, in many cases two- to three-times faster than scientists anticipated.
If carbon pollution continues at the current rate, scientists predict that higher temperatures will lead to major extinctions of 50% of species around the globe.
Coal-fired power plants release upwards of 2 billion tons of carbon emission each year—80% of all carbon emissions released from the electric utility industry annually.
The average US coal fired power plant is 50 years old and not operating efficiently; so standards that push the modernization of our electric power sector are long overdue.

Write your comments down

The time limit is 3 minutes. People usually read 150 words in one minute, so keep your comments under 450 words.
Bring two hard copies of your written comments to submit to the Environmental Protection Agency, with your name and contact info written on the comments. They can be typed or hand-written.
If you can’t make it, still be sure that your voice is heard. You can speak up by submitting your comments to The Environmental Protection Agency.

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March With Us to Reject the Keystone Pipeline and Protect Our Wildlife

Samantha Lockhart — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:33:31 +0000

On Saturday, April 26, thousands will be joining a brave and bold alliance of tribal communities, ranchers and farmers here in Washington, D.C. to demonstrate and make sure President Obama recognizes the true cost of approving the Keystone XL pipeline.

NWF staff deliver nearly 50,000 comments generated by NWF supporters.

Together, we will deliver the message to the President that he needs to reject the Keystone XL pipeline and protect our nation’s people and wildlife from the significant environmental, health, social and cultural costs of the tar sands pipeline.

Please RSVP to join us at the march to protect wildlife from the Keystone XL Pipeline!

What: Keystone XL Reject and Protect March to the American Indian Museum

When: Saturday, April 26, 11 a.m.

Where: National Mall between 9th and 12th Streets, Washington DC – at the Cowboy Indian Alliance encampment

The morning will begin with a presentation of final arguments against Keystone XL. Then thousands of people will converge to deliver a hand painted tipi to the American Indian Museum in honor of President Obama —a symbol of both our hope that he will live up to his promises, and our promise to stand with farmers, ranchers and tribal leaders to resist the pipeline.

Saturday, April 26th Schedule (Washington DC):

9:30 am: People invited to add thumb prints on tipi liner
10:30 am: Everyone gathers at the National Mall here
The National Mall, between 9th Street and 12th Street NW, in front of the Smithsonian Natural History Museum, Washington, D.C.
11am: Speakers and Gifting Ceremony of Tipi to the American Indian Museum
12:15 pm: Procession begins
1:30 pm: End at encampment, speakers/ musicians perform
2:30 pm: Event ends

The loss of boreal forest habitat from tar sands development puts the survival of thousands of Alberta woodland caribou at risk.

The Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline would drive production of tar sands oil in Canada, which has three to four times the carbon footprint of other oil produced in North America. In addition to fueling the climate change crisis that is melting sea ice for polar bears in the Arctic, the expansion of tar sands in Canada is pushing entire herds of caribou to extinction as their forest habitat is destroyed.

Wildlife need your voice to protect their precious habitat! I hope you’ll join me and other wildlife advocates on Saturday the 26th to tell President Obama that it’s time to reject Keystone XL and protect our land, water, climate—and wildlife.

Have questions about how to attend this march? Email me at lockharts@nwf.org

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EPA Holds Hearing on New Carbon Pollution Standard

Samantha Lockhart — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 18:52:03 +0000

Congressman Waxman speaks in front of EPA building.

Yesterday, I joined hundreds of people in taking to the podium here in Washington, D.C. in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to reduce carbon dioxide pollution emitted from power plants. I spoke yesterday, not only as a wildlife advocate, but also as a citizen, New Jerseyan and young person. Check out my full testimony here.

It was an incredibly inspiring day, as I watched students, teachers, moms, health professionals, and many more praise the EPA’s taking a major step into a cleaner and more sustainable future for people and wildlife. Congressman Henry Waxman spoke at a press conference during the hearing in praise of the EPA’s actions along with a fourth generation coal miner from Kentucky and a representative from the National Hispanic Environmental Council. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse also testified yesterday at the hearing, sharing his strong support for the EPA’s rule-making and reinforcing the importance of the EPA’s actions in our fight against climate change. The agency’s carbon rule, as many noted, is a first step toward curbing global warming and the most significant action ever taken by the US government to address this problem.

Tell EPA you support wildlife and a strong carbon pollution rule. Take Action Here

Global warming is the greatest threat to wildlife in modern history. If nations do not curb climate change, we could see the loss of one-quarter to one-third of all species on earth over time.

The Carbon Rule

EPA has proposed the first Clean Air Act standard for industrial carbon pollution from new power plants. Though the proposed rule applies to new, not existing, generating units, this rule is can pave the way for regulations that would limit carbon pollution from existing power plants as well.

While the EPA currently regulates other pollutants such as mercury and smog, carbon pollution remains completely unregulated in the U.S. This rule would fix this glaring loophole and set in place long overdue protection for our planet.

Wildlife, Habitat at Risk

A polar bear cub cuddles against its mother in Wapusk National Park, Canada. Photo by Christine Haines.

Already, in the western Hudson Bay of Canada, polar bears have plummeted in number from about 1,200 bears three decades ago to only about 850 polar bears remaining today. And polar bears are not alone; species across the planet are at risk as a result of climate change pollution. To learn more about Wildlife in a Warming World check out the report here.

Speak up for polar bears by showing the Environmental Protection Agency your support for strong limits on pollution from coal-fired power plants.

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NWF Rallies Against Keystone XL Before State of the Union

Samantha Lockhart — Tue, 28 Jan 2014 20:02:48 +0000

I just got back from a rally outside of the U.S. Capitol against the Keystone XL pipeline. National Wildlife Federation joined partner groups like 350.org and CREDO Action in chanting and marching against the proposed pipeline which would pump toxic tar sands oil from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries, accelerating climate change and putting wildlife at risk of spills and other accidents. Just hours before President Obama will address Congress and report on the State of the Union, we wanted to remind him about the role that this pipeline will play in his legacy: will he be the “Climate Champion” or the “Pipeline President?”

Photo by Steven C. Tuttle, 350.org

We were nervous about whether he was going to get the message, so our friends at 350.org painted it onto the side of a giant, inflatable pipeline and together we paraded around the Capitol.

Swift foxes at Pawnee National Grasslands in Colorado. Photo by Robert Palmer.

Despite the 16 degree weather here in D.C., it was reinvigorating to get out in the field with NWF staffers and volunteers to send a message to the President, reminding him to consider the wildlife impacts of his decision on this project.

Today marks the second time that NWF has braved extreme cold in order to protest the Keystone XL pipeline—last February,we gathered at the Capitol for the “Forward on Climate” rally despite frigid temperatures.

The Keystone XL pipeline would not only accelerate the impacts of climate change, the largest threat to wildlife that there is, but it would also directly impact many North American species.

Northern swift foxes, for example, were once common throughout the plains of the United States and Canada. Now, they survive in only a few places that would be destroyed by the Keystone XL pipeline. Swift fox dens along KXL’s right-of-way could be crushed by pipeline construction.

Speak up for the swift fox and tell President Obama to reject the Keystone XL Pipeline and protect the State of Our Union.

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