Parks and Climate Change
Advocating for climate solutions that protect parks and people.
Jacob Frank/National Park Service
NPCA works to protect national parks and communities from the causes and detrimental effects of climate change. From the halls of Congress to the courtroom, we fight to ensure our nation’s bedrock environmental laws are strong and hold polluters and the government accountable to those safeguards. We also advocate for place-based climate policies and best practices that value the needs of vulnerable populations as we seek to ensure our national parks endure.
While national parks are warming at twice the rate as the rest of the country, through swift and comprehensive climate action, we can reverse course and protect our national parks.
NPCA leverages the popularity and unique protections of national parks to mitigate greenhouse gas pollution, advance clean energy solutions and support measures to help natural, cultural and historic parks be more resilient to climate impacts. We do this work alongside partners and local communities, with Congress, and with federal and state agencies.
Climate Action
Advocating for Climate Solutions that Protect Parks and People
NPCA fights to protect our national parks and their climate, air, lands, wildlife and water. We hold polluters and the government accountable to the laws and policies that protect our…
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Climate Impacts
How the Climate Crisis Is Affecting National Parks
Climate change is the greatest threat the national parks have ever faced. Nearly everything we know and love about the parks — their plants and animals, rivers and lakes, glaciers,…
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Blog Post
The Fight to Save 30%
Congress has a new opportunity to meaningfully address the climate crisis by setting an ambitious land and water preservation goal for the United States.
More about Climate Change
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Read more about National Parks Group Calls for Confirmation of Charles Sams for Park Service Director
Press Release National Parks Group Calls for Confirmation of Charles Sams for Park Service Director Charles Sams will be a fierce advocate for all National Park Service employees and for protecting natural and cultural resources in our parks.
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Read more about Facing the Climate Catastrophe: What We Do Now Matters
Blog Post Facing the Climate Catastrophe: What We Do Now Matters The forecast on climate is stark, but the Biden administration can take meaningful action now to help avoid the worst effects of the crisis.
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Read more about President Biden Nominates Charles Sams for Director of the National Park Service
Press Release President Biden Nominates Charles Sams for Director of the National Park Service Today, after more than four years without an official director, President Biden nominated Charles “Chuck” Sams III to be the director of the National Park Service.
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Read more about EPA to Revisit Clean Air Standards, Prioritizing Science and Data
Press Release EPA to Revisit Clean Air Standards, Prioritizing Science and Data “We are pleased that the EPA is once again prioritizing science and its obligation to protect people and the environment." - Ulla Reeves, NPCA's Clean Air Program Senior Advocacy Manager
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National parks are a great escape for the human mind and spirit. Not only does it help the environment (obviously through air, life cycle, animals) but it helps society. Children who grow up going to different parks are more caring and open minded than those who don't. Everyone should experience multiple parks in their lifetime. — Alissa
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Read more about House Committee Passes Robust Investment in National Park Roads, Bridges and Transportation Systems
Press Release House Committee Passes Robust Investment in National Park Roads, Bridges and Transportation Systems "This legislation comes at a critical time for our nation and our national parks, as many parks across the country prepare for one of the busiest summer seasons while also trying to keep roadways, bridges and transit systems accessible and operational." - Emily Douce, NPCA's Director of Operations and Park Funding
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Read more about A Chilly Refuge
Magazine Article A Chilly Refuge Rock glaciers, long neglected by science, may help creatures from pikas to stoneflies endure climate change.
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Read more about President’s Budget Calls for Historic and Necessary Funding Increases to National Parks, Air and Water
Press Release President’s Budget Calls for Historic and Necessary Funding Increases to National Parks, Air and Water "Today's historic budget plan from the Biden administration comes as a welcome and much needed change for our national parks, their staff and all who love and care for these treasured places." - Theresa Pierno, NPCA's President and CEO
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Read more about Position on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021
Policy Update Position on the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Act of 2021 NPCA submitted the following position to members of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works ahead of a hearing scheduled for May 26, 2021.
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Read more about Senate Committee Passes Transportation Bill to Increase Funding for National Park Roadways
Press Release Senate Committee Passes Transportation Bill to Increase Funding for National Park Roadways “This bipartisan legislation comes at a critical time for our National Park System, as roads, bridges, tunnels and transportation systems are reaching a breaking point at many park sites across the country." - Emily Douce, NPCA's Director of Operations and Park Funding
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Read more about Bureau of Land Management Moves Forward Oil Drilling Plan by Dinosaur National Monument
Press Release Bureau of Land Management Moves Forward Oil Drilling Plan by Dinosaur National Monument Agency sets ball in motion to allow drilling within half a mile of national monument
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Read more about Marine Programs in the Sun Coast Region
Resource Marine Programs in the Sun Coast Region NPCA’s Sun Coast Region approaches our marine work with an eye toward ecosystem conservation, restoration and resilience. We work strategically to identify, assess and proactively address the evolving threats to marine ecosystems and all species and resources within them.
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Read more about Climate Change and Florida’s National Parks
Resource Climate Change and Florida’s National Parks Florida is among the most climate change-threatened states in the United States. Florida’s treasured national parks—spanning the Greater Everglades ecosystem northward into Gulf Islands National Seashore and beyond—are being impacted by our changing climate.
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Read more about Sustaining Indiana Beaches
Resource Sustaining Indiana Beaches The scenic beaches of Indiana Dunes are disappearing. In order to sustain this critical asset to Indiana’s economy and quality of life, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must conduct a federal damage mitigation feasibility study.
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Read more about Support Strong Climate Protections
Advocacy in Action Support Strong Climate Protections Parks can — and should — be a cornerstone of climate action.
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Read more about Wolves at Isle Royale
Victory Wolves at Isle Royale Isle Royale National Park in Michigan is a wild, remote island in Lake Superior that serves as a natural refuge for wildlife, including its most famous residents: wolves and moose. Ninety-nine percent of Isle Royale is designated as a federal wilderness area and as the island’s top predator, wolves are essential to controlling the island’s moose population.
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Read more about Court Ruling Saves Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bears
Victory Court Ruling Saves Greater Yellowstone Grizzly Bears Judge's ruling overturns Trump administration decision to remove endangered species protections from grizzly bears in the Yellowstone and Grand Teton region.
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Read more about California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air
Advocacy in Action California's National Parks: Struggling for Clean Air It might come as a surprise that California’s crown jewel national parks — Sequoia, Kings Canyon, Joshua Tree and Yosemite — struggle with some of the dirtiest air of any parks in the nation.
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Read more about Climate Change and Our National Parks
See a Map Climate Change and Our National Parks See an interactive map highlighting some of the national parks facing the effects of climate change.
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Read more about Forward, Not Backward
Fact Sheet Forward, Not Backward Climate change is the greatest threat facing our national parks and people across the world. But the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking strident measures to strip the U.S. of necessary rules to curb climate pollution.
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Read more about 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate
Resource 10 Ways to Be a Park Advocate Want to be an advocate for parks, but don't know where to start?
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Read more about Fighting to Keep the Clean Power Plan
Advocacy in Action Fighting to Keep the Clean Power Plan This common-sense rule is critical for protecting national parks from the worst threat they face — climate change.
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Read more about Our National Parks and a Changing Climate
Resource Our National Parks and a Changing Climate How NPCA and its supporters are working to address climate change.
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Read more about Climate march posters
Resource Climate march posters You can print these posters to show your support for national parks in a changing climate.
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Read more about Wolves at Isle Royale: Background Materials
Resource Wolves at Isle Royale: Background Materials Right now there are only two wolves left on Isle Royale, the lowest population at the park in over 50 years.
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Read more about National Park Groups Thank President for Methane Announcement
Letter National Park Groups Thank President for Methane Announcement New rules will help protect parks from the impacts of climate change.
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Read more about Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks
Report Polluted Parks: How Dirty Air is Harming America’s National Parks “Polluted Parks” graded the pollution-related damage in the 48 national parks required by the Clean Air Act to have the highest possible air quality.
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