“This defining challenge for the conservation community requires the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to apply the skill, determination, creativity and commitment to conserving the nation’s natural resources that have defined the American conservation movement since its inception more than 160 years ago,” according to the plan.

“The National Wildlife Federation is enthused about this latest step by the Fish and Wildlife Service to address the causes and effects of global warming,” said John Kostyack, executive director of Wildlife Conservation and Global Warming for National Wildlife Federation. “It is time to stop debating global warming as if it were solely a question of what might happen in the future. Warming is happening now and it is disrupting the natural systems that support both wildlife and people.”

For example, earlier this month nearly 20,000 walruses hauled themselves out of the Alaska’s Chukchi Sea, abandoning their traditional habitat due to the rapid decline of sea ice. “These are warning signs that we need to get moving quickly to both reduce our global warming pollution and safeguard communities from the inevitable impacts of warming,” Kostyack said.

Learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s work to help safeguard wildlife and habitat from global warming impacts:
Effects of Global Warming on Wildlife and Habitats
Investing to Safeguard Wildlife and Ecosystems

Dianne Dillon-Ridgley, National Wildlife Federation Board of Directors thanked the CBC for its efforts to successfully pass the American Clean Energy and Security Act in June of 2009 in the U.S. House.

“The fight continues,” Dillon-Ridgley said, “and we look forward to working with the CBC and others who are committed to building a clean energy economy.”

Dillon-Ridgley (third from right) joined Green for All CEO Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins (second from right) in presenting CBC members with awards of recognition for their support of clean energy.

We must continue fighting for climate legislation on behalf of all Americans because:

1. We need to reinvest in our economy

· Clean energy is the key that will unlock millions of jobs. Those jobs should be “made in America” – not somewhere else, such as China.

2. We need to help families and workers

· We need to protect low-income Americans, who spend a much larger share of income on energy-related
expenses.

· We need to help Americans working in carbon-intensive industries transition to clean-energy jobs.

3. We have got to start cutting the global warming pollution that is already affecting our communities and our natural world

· Our cities are getting hotter, we’re running out of water, our coastlines and floodplains are getting
slammed by more intense storms.

· If we don’t start turning the corner, these impacts are going to become more severe and more difficult to
adapt to.

Dillon-Ridgley with Van Jones, senior policy advisor of Green for All.

On Wednesday, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson joined the tour with Members of Congress and celebrities to lead the rally, encouraging people to rebuild our economy, regain our communities and restore our planet.

“The clean energy choices we make today will have a profound impact on the environment of our young people and communities of color — the very people this tour is bringing together and the voices we need to hear,” said EPA Administrator Jackson.

Studies show that comprehensive clean energy and climate policies could create up to 1.9 million new jobs new jobs nationwide and save households up to $1,175 per year by 2020.

Here’s a clip from the event:

Check out additional videos of Actress Gloria Reuben, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) & DJ Biz Markie at my YouTube account.

For more information about the tour, visit: HipHopCaucus.org.

PHOTO: (from left) Mike Williams, chairman of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council; Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico; Jerry Pardilla, executive director of the National Tribal Environmental Council; and John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund.

Sitting in the ballroom of the Renaissance Hotel, I was impressed to see dozens of powerful leaders from American Indian tribes all across the U.S. gathered together discussing the serious concerns they have about how climate change will impact tribal lands, as well as the great potential they see for how tribes can benefit from a clean energy economy that reduces carbon pollution.

NWF partnered with three major tribal organizations: the National Congress of American Indians, the National Tribal Environmental Council and the Native American Rights Fund to host a lunch meeting to discuss congressional action on climate change.

The tribal leaders are in town for the White House Tribal Nations Conference to discuss a host of issues important to Indian Country, but they took time out to convene on Wednesday to share perspectives on climate change’s impacts to tribes, climate legislation, tribal efforts to adapt to climate change impacts and how tribes are prepared to provide clean energy solutions.

Jacqueline Johnson-Pata, executive director of National Congress of American Indians said that renewable energy is one of the most significant economic development opportunities available to tribes during these difficult economic times, particularly tribes in remote areas, many of which have never experienced meaningful economic opportunities.

John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, pointed out that Indigenous Peoples have contributed very little to the global carbon footprint, yet they are suffering disproportionately from the effects of climate change. And  Jerry Pardilla, executive director, National Tribal Environmental Council, said that it is incumbent upon the Obama Administration and Congress to include Indian tribes and their leaders in the development of policies and strategies to reverse these impacts.

The lunch meeting really highlighted how important the tribes are in finding solutions to climate change that also bring much-needed jobs and economic security to communities most vulnerable to its impacts.

For example, the Intertribal Council On Utility Policy estimates that the total tribal wind generation potential is about 14% of the total U.S. electric generation – based data from the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.