Issues

The Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club places priority on promoting smart energy solutions to fight global warming, protecting the Commonwealth of Virginia’s wild legacy, and making our communities safer and healthier places for all of us. Currently, these are our primary campaigns:

Beyond Coal – It’s time for Virginia to move beyond dirty coal. Across the state, Sierra Club is organizing citizens through the Wise Energy for Virginia Coalition to fight new coal plants in Wise County and in Hampton Roads as well as actively opposing mountaintop removal mining.

Clean Energy Solutions – Our vision for a new clean energy future integrates energy conservation, more efficient energy use and significant substitution of renewable energy sources for fossil fuel based energy.

We already have the clean energy technology to tackle the pressing issue of global warming. The Sierra Club believes that in order to safely and effectively mitigate the effects of climate change, comprehensive global warming legislation must be enacted at every level of government that 1) reduces dangerous emissions, 2) transitions our communities to clean energy economies, and 3) adopts energy efficiency and renewable energy programs and goals.

Climate Change – Global warming is real, here, and happening faster than anyone predicted. But scientists also say we can curb global warming and its consequences — if we take bold, comprehensive action now.

Virginia’s economy currently relies heavily on fossil fuels and lags behind other states in curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, during the study for its Citizens Energy Plan (CEP), the Virginia Chapter Sierra Club found the state has considerable potential for efficiency and renewables.

Resilient Habitats – If we want Virginia’s wildlife and native plants to survive in a changing climate, we must help them adapt by protecting critical habitat and creating corridors that will allow for migration as climate changes, and temperatures and sea levels rise.

Green Transportation – The Sierra Club envisions a Virginia where our transportation systems and community design are part of the solution to global warming, not part of the problem. Our members advocate shifting to a more balanced transportation system – connecting vibrant, compact, mixed used neighborhoods – that respect pedestrians and bicycle users and prioritize investment in transit.