House Democrats seek to conserve 30 percent of US lands, oceans by 2030

House Democrats introduced legislation Friday that would commit the U.S. to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s land and oceans by 2030, the latest push after the effort was introduced in the Senate in October.

“Globally, the loss of nature – accelerated by climate change – is putting up to one million species on the path to extinction. Conserving our lands and waters is essential to protecting humans and wildlife and stabilizing our climate,” Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who is spearheading the effort in the House, said in a release. 

The resolution cites recent reports that show how species are being affected by a changing climate, including research showing that the U.S. and Canada have lost 3 billion birds over the last 50 years and that 1 million species face extinction. 

The effort was initially introduced in the Senate by Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), helping to spell out the details of Bennet’s climate plan for the 2020 race.

“We’re in the middle of the sixth mass extinction. This one human caused. Combine this massive loss of nature with the devastating effect of CC and what does it add up to? An existential threat to our planet and the survival of humanity itself. So we must write a new playbook,” Udall said at an event Friday.

Also Friday, a coalition of 74 environmental groups sent letters to lawmakers seeking to raise support for the resolution.

“To confront the rapid loss of America’s natural places and wildlife, the U.S. needs to accelerate land and ocean protection and restoration efforts at all levels of government and across the country,” the coalition wrote. The letter was signed by groups including Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council and the League of Conservation Voters.