Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Includes Important Nature and Climate Advances

A bipartisan infrastructure bill introduced in the U.S. Senate today includes provisions to support clean energy, improve resilience, invest in natural infrastructure, improve the health of forests and more. 

“We must take care of nature so nature can take care of us,” said Kameran Onley, director of North American Policy and Government Relations. “This bipartisan bill reflects a strong understanding of how our lands and waters are as much a part of America’s infrastructure as roads and bridges, and how climate action is an imperative for our communities. It is heartening to see this broad support for beginning to address the worst impacts of climate change, drought, wildfires and other environmental challenges. We all need healthy forests, clean water, resilient communities, clean air and a stable climate – and investing in these things not only improves our quality of life, it creates jobs and economic opportunity.  

“The bill has critical investments in nature to ensure clean water, clean air, healthy fish and wildlife habitat and all of the essential services and benefits nature provides. Using nature-based approaches to repair, maintain and enhance the resilience of the country’s infrastructure and supporting clean energy and transportation are smart, sustainable solutions and wise investments for our future. We appreciate this bipartisan approach to addressing our country’s infrastructure needs, and we hope it passes through Congress quickly. We must also use this momentum to do even more to meet the scale of our biodiversity and climate crises.” 

The bill incorporates many elements of earlier bipartisan efforts from multiple Senate committees, including the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Environment and Public Works Commitee and the Commerce Committee.