The National Park Service turns 98 year old this week. Almost a century ago, our leaders had the foresight to protect these incredible places and set them aside as national treasures. Since then, our national parks have been enjoyed by millions of people from the US and abroad.
But these priceless places-ones previous generations worked so hard to protect- are facing a new and bigger threat. Climate change is hurting our national parks and the animals that call it home.
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, the same person that is tasked with protecting these incredible places, also oversees the US federal coal leasing program, an agency responsible for leasing millions of tons of coal and carbon pollution from our public lands.
A few weeks ago,I asked Greenpeace supporters to join me in protecting the national parks we all love from climate change, and was astounded by the response. Since then, nearly 36,000 people have signed a petition asking Interior Secretary Sally Jewell to protect our national parks and public lands, not give them away to coal companies.
And her response?…..
Well, we are still waiting. In fact, we havent heard ANYTHING from Secretary Jewell on this issue. How can one person claim to be protecting national parks by addressing climate change, while leasing millions of tons of coal and pollution that causes climate change in the first place? Answer: You cant.
