League of Conservation Voters

Their Mission The League of Conservation Voters (LCV) works to turn environmental values into national, state and local priorities. LCV, as part of the Conservation Voter Movement along their state LCV partners, advocates for sound environmental laws and policies, holds elected officials accountable for their votes and actions, and elects pro-environment candidates who will champion their priority issues. Enacting Strong Policies At LCV, advancing meaningful action to combat climate change is their top priority. They also push for progress on other key issues, including: Advancing the climate agenda launched by President Obama. Defending their existing environmental laws from extreme attacks in Congress. Keeping dirty fuels in the ground. Protecting their public lands and clean water. Working with their state partners to pass strong climate and clean energy solutions at the state and local level. Building a Grassroots Movement Protecting their  environment requires massive grassroots support. Their grassroots movement includes programs on the ground engaging people in their local community as well as online. In eight states, LCV has developed a powerful volunteer organizing structure to boost their grassroots reach and keep pressure on elected leaders. Their in-depth programs engage an increasingly diverse and committed base of activists to build relationships with their elected officials and to speak out every day about the urgent need to act on climate change. Here are highlights from their grassroots movement: LCV now has more than 2 million members across the country – an increase of nearly 150% since 2012. Since 2013, LCV has engaged more than 32,000 volunteers who have made phone calls, knocked on doors, attended events, and advocated on behalf of climate action. Their membership overall is now 10% Latino and with their successful Chispa program (“spark” in Spanish) they are working with Latino activists and training leaders in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Maryland, Nevada, and New Mexico. Holding Legislators Accountable Since 1970, LCV’s National Environmental Scorecard has provided objective, factual information about the most important environmental legislation considered in Congress. Their scorecard, which they produce in partnership with a number of leading environmental groups, has become the standard bearer to determine the environmental record of all members of Congress. They score the votes on the most important issues of the year, including energy, global warming, public health, public lands and wildlife conservation, and spending for environmental programs. Additionally, LCV’s work to pressure elected officials to stand up for climate action includes: Supporting and amplifying the work of climate champions – representatives who are leading the charge in Congress. Calling out politicians who deny climate change and block solutions. Utilizing extensive TV, digital, grassroots, and earned media campaigns to let the public know about lawmakers’ environmental voting records. Electing Environmental Champions From the state house to the White House, continued progress on climate change depends on who they elect in November. LCV and their state LCV partners run tough and effective campaigns to support those leaders who stand up for a clean, healthy environment and to defeat anti-environment candidates who oppose climate action. Their track record demonstrates their ability to use the electoral process to make environmental progress: Since 1994, LCVAF has helped elect and re-elect 73 U.S. senators and 330 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Since 1996, 60 percent of the candidates named to LCV’s notorious Dirty Dozen have been defeated. Since 2009, LCV Action Fund’s GiveGreen program has raised more than $17.6 million for environmental champions. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Climate change and other threats to clean air, clean water and health, safe communities are not niche issues that happen in a vacuum—their social structures impact how these problems manifest and who bears the greatest burdens. Unfortunately, because of racism, inequality and injustice, their low-income and communities of color disproportionately shoulder these burdens. At the same time, the action they can take to fight climate change presents tremendous environmental, social, economic, and community benefits that they are committed to ensuring benefit everyone. As they devise and implement the short- and long-term climate solutions needed for their collective survival, it is imperative that they address these disparities. Here are LCV’s diversity, equity and inclusivity priorities that they hope will foster a strong, participatory democracy and environmental movement rooted in racially, politically and geographically diverse communities across the country: Ensure their efforts to protect and advocate the environment are rooted in a deep understanding of racial, social and environmental justice. Ensure who they are and who they work with reflect their nation as a whole. Prioritize racial diversity and inclusivity as core LCV values. Create avenues and grow opportunities for communities of color to participate in the democratic process. LCV Family of Organizations The League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (LCVEF) works with their state LCVEF partners, educates the public, media and elected officials about key environmental issues, works to increase voter participation in the democratic process and mobilizes a diverse network of activists to advocate for sound environmental policies. The League of Conservation Voters Action Fund (LCVAF), the connected federal political action committee (PAC) of the League of Conservation Voters, works to elect candidates who will implement sound environmental laws and policies and to defeat those who stand in the way of progress. LCV Victory Fund (LCVVF) is a political committee that engages in independent expenditures to defeat federal candidates who stand in the way of a clean energy future and to elect environmental champions. LCV Political Engagement Fund (LCVPEF) is a 527 political organization that focuses on state electoral work conducted in conjunction with state LCVs.