New Law Makes California's 30x30 Goal Official

California Governor Gavin Newsom just signed numerous bills, including Senate Bill (SB) 337. SB 337 was introduced by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) to formally establish a statewide goal to conserve at least 30 percent of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030, also known as 30x30. Conserving the Earth’s lands and waters is critical to preventing extinctions and protecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. Protecting lands and waters can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon, helping to advance climate goals. 

In October 2020, Governor Newsom signed his Nature Based Solutions Executive Order (EO) N-82-20, elevating the role of natural and working lands in the fight against climate change and advancing biodiversity conservation as an administration priority. As part of this executive order, California is committed to the goal of conserving 30 percent of our lands and coastal waters by 2030. With the signing of SB 337, this goal has now been codified. 

California’s 30x30 initiative is part of an international movement to conserve natural areas across the planet, through which scores of countries have established their own 30x30 commitments. California’s initiative seeks to protect and restore biodiversity, expand access to nature, and mitigate and build resilience to climate change.