The Wilderness Society Responds to State of the Union Address
White House
Mason Cummings, TWS
Make Public Lands a Solution to Climate Change, Not Part of the Problem
WASHINGTON, DC (February 7, 2023) – Today, The Wilderness Society issued a statement in response to President Biden’s State of the Union Address.
The Wilderness Society President Jamie Williams said:
"Tonight, President Biden articulated his administration's commitment to addressing the climate crisis and promoting environmental justice. We look forward to supporting these efforts and the important role public lands will play in finishing the job.
"Federal public lands and waters are a ready and practical solution for the Biden Administration to lead globally and equitably on the crises of climate change and nature loss.
"With only about seven years left to avoid the worst consequences of climate change, one arena that remains drastically out of step with U.S. climate goals is fossil fuel development on federal public lands and waters which currently accounts for about one quarter of our greenhouse gas emissions.
"The Biden Administration can and should use its full legal authority to ensure public lands and waters are a major solution to climate change – not part of the problem. Step one should be rejecting the Willow project, a massive, proposed oil-development project in the Western Arctic estimated to release more than 280 million metric tons of greenhouse gases over its lifespan."
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