More than 180 members of Virginia’s conservation community convened in the Commonwealth’s capital for the Virginia Environmental Assembly and Annual Meeting – our two-day conference bringing experienced and emerging conservation leaders together to learn, strategize, and network. Mayor of Richmond, Levar M. Stoney, kicks off the Environmental Assembly moderating a panel on innovative conservation efforts in Richmond. Highlights from the Environmental Assembly There are a lot of things exciting things to highlight from about this year's Environmental Assembly [...]

On September 19, 2019, the Trump Administration officially repealed the Clean Water Rule, as crucial protection of the Clean Water Act protecting approximately 60 percent of the nation’s stream miles and millions of acres of wetlands. The Clean Water Rule was finalized by the Obama administration after years of planning, 400 stakeholder meetings, and more than a million public comments. It safeguards our water and restores protections to the drinking water sources for a quarter of Virginians and a third [...]

Governor Ralph Northam announced an Executive Order setting ambitious, statewide goals to reduce the Commonwealth’s carbon emissions and move the state’s electricity goal to 30% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2050. The Virginia conservation community released the following statements: Kristie Smith, Policy & Campaigns Manager, Virginia Conservation Network "Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and we are at a defining moment. Today, Governor Northam issued Executive Order 43, which establishes a goal of getting to 100% [...]

VCN’s own Mary Rafferty is featured in the Richmond Times Dispatch laying out a pathway for the Northam administration to ensure his 2020-22 budget reflects Virginia's shared priorities to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, protect our landscapes, and enhance our agencies. ...Virginia ranks 47th in budgeting for the protection and enhancement of our natural resources, less than 1% of the general fund. This lack of investment is particularly concerning in light of the many environmental rollbacks and budget cuts from [...]

Virginia’s Secretary of Natural Resources released their report on commitments to enhance Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) under Gov. Northam’s Executive Order 6, issued in April 2018. EO6 was was released by the Governor last year. It looked to get immediate feedback on ways to strengthen policies at the agency in light of some of the worst environmental rollbacks we’ve seen at the federal level. In addition, the EO looked to identify ways to increase communications and public engagement [...]