LWVIN NATURAL RESOURCES ADVOCACY
The League’s non-partisan core is, of course, everything connected with voting, which is the bedrock of our democracy. However, the League’s advocacy on behalf of the environment goes back over five decades involving extensive study and formulation of our “Natural Resources” positions on water, air, solid waste, energy, land use, management of all kinds of waste, and now…..
Are you concerned about climate change?
- League advocacy has focused on this issue with renewed efforts based on a 2019 consolidation of League positions into a short effective LWVUS statement on the existential issue of climate.
- At the state level, LWVIN strongly supports the efforts of a statewide high school group, Confront the Climate Crisis. Based on their fine work, both a resolution addressing climate change and economic development, and a bill creating a Climate and Environmental Justice Task Force, will be introduced by State Senator Ron Alting in the upcoming session of the Indiana General Assembly.
- LWVIN and eight local Leagues (Bloomington-Monroe County, Brown County, Calumet Area, Fort Wayne, Greater Lafayette, La Porte County, Montgomery County, and Southwest Indiana) have signed on to support these measures – thank you!
Confront the Climate Crisis
Your local League can do so, too, at tinyurl.com/ClimateCoalitionForm. This is just one example of recent LWVIN environmental advocacy.
Another example is LWVIN’s participation with the other state Leagues bordering Lake Michigan in the excellent work of the League of Women Voters Lake Michigan Region (lwvlmr.org). Local Leagues can also join as members. After doing so virtually last year, Indiana again hosted the 2021 LWVLMR annual meeting both virtually so League members from all four states could benefit from the excellent programs, and in-person in Porter County where field trips included the newly designated Indiana Dunes National Park. LWVIN has participated in a number of measures such as letters of concern regarding water quality threats as well as support for continued federal funding of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Much of our LWVIN environmental work focuses on the Indiana General Assembly, both supporting favorable legislation and joining others, such as our partners at the Hoosier Environmental Council, to defeat bills that threaten the environment. We present testimony at committee hearings and ask you to communicate with your legislators on key issues. Thanks to all of you who are on our Natural Resources Advocacy list of over 200 for your important responses to calls for action.
Please contact us at kristina.lindborg@gmail.com if you have stories or tips to share, would like more information, or would like to receive our Natural Resources updates.
We would love to have your help in protecting Indiana’s natural resources and addressing climate change.
Kristina Lindborg, Liz Solberg, Cheryl Chapman, and Lisa Harris, Co-Chairs
LWVIN Natural Resources Advocacy Coordination.