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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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.