American Conservation Coalition

The American Conservation Coalition,[1] commonly referred to as ACC, is a 501c4 nonprofit environmental advocacy organization focusing on limited-government, conservative[2] approaches to environmental issues. Founded in Appleton, Wisconsin in 2017.

History

ACC was founded by twenty-one year old, college student Benji Backer[3] with the original goal to add conservative voices to environmental conversations. However, since its founding, ACC has evolved to advocate for legislation at the federal level and educate students on environmental issues.

Mission

ACC's stated mission is: "The American Conservation Coalition is changing the narrative on environmental discussions through promoting a mix of free-market, pro-business, and limited-government environmentalism in legislatures, college campuses, the political arena, and beyond."

The organization focuses on five environmental pillars:[4] conservation, competition, clean energy, property rights, and climate change science. ACC has used several slogans including "Changing the Narrative," "Green GOP," "Right on Climate," and "The Right Way Forward" throughout its operations.

Issue advocacy

ACC activates on a variety of environmental issues areas including land and wildlife conservation, developments in clean energy and emission-reducing technology like carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and other free-market environmental policies. ACC supports the development and deployment of nuclear energy as well as renewable sources. In 2019, the ACC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the US Environmental Protection Agency[5] to educate and "prepare students for careers and opportunities within today's various environmental fields."

ACC advocates on behalf of the National Parks Service (NPS) and aims to empower local conservation leaders, rather than pushing large-scale federal action. ACC was involved in the formation of the Roosevelt Conservation Caucus, a bicameral caucus that focuses on bringing conservatives into environmental policy-making.

Recently, ACC has focused on climate change. In April 2020, ACC released the American Climate Contract,[6][7] a conservative response to climate change that promotes energy innovation, 21st Century infrastructure, natural solutions, and a global approach. Prominent conservative organizations, like the Young Republicans National Federation, endorsed the plan.

Political activity

In 2018, ACC endorsed a slate of Republican congressional candidates including Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Brian Mast (R-FL), and Senators Martha McSally (R-AZ) and Mitt Romney (R-UT). ACC also endorsed three gubernatorial candidates: Charlie Baker (MA), Chris Sununu (NH), and Larry Hogan (MD).

In 2019, ACC and ConservAmerica worked to help form the bicameral Roosevelt Conservation Caucus.[8]

ACC Campus

Founded in 2018, ACC Campus[9] is ACC's 501(c)(3) educational program. Activists on more than 200 campuses host educational events on their respective campuses and support ACC's projects.

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References
  1. "American Conservation Coalition". American Conservation Coalition. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  2. Meet the Republicans devoted to fighting climate change - CNN Video, retrieved 2020-05-05
  3. "Meet the 21-year-old conservative spreading a message about climate change". TODAY.com. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  4. "Our Platform". American Conservation Coalition. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  5. US EPA, OA (2019-07-24). "EPA Administrator Wheeler Signs MOU with American Conservation Coalition to Enhance Environmental Education". US EPA. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  6. "Meet the conservative answer to the Green New Deal". Grist. 2020-04-27. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  7. "American Climate Contract". American Climate Contract. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  8. "The Green New Deal Spurred These Republicans to Start a 'Conservation Caucus'". Time. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  9. "American Conservation Coalition - Campus". American Conservation Coalition - Campus. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
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