Bobolink in Douglas County, Kansas
Bobolink, Douglas County, Kansas. Photo: Garold W. Sneegas/Audubon Photography Awards

Climate Initiative

Audubon taps into people’s love of birds to protect them from climate change

Climate change is affecting the places that birds need to survive. Audubon's Survival By Degrees report shows that two-thirds of North American bird species could face extinction if we fail to slow the rate of global temperature rise. That's why we support common-sense solutions to reducing carbon emissions, including conserving and restoring forests, wetlands, and grasslands that provide important habitat for birds and serve as natural solutions for storing carbon, and investing in responsibly sited clean energy.

Audubon's Climate News

Renewable Energy

New BIG WIRES Act Would Help Achieve a Clean Energy Future for Birds and People

By National Audubon Society
September 15, 2023 — “We have an urgent need to equitably and responsibly build out our nation's clean energy transmission infrastructure.”
News

Warmer Oceans Are Driving More Frequent Seabird Die-Offs, Preventing Populations From Recovering

By Anna Gibbs
August 31, 2023 — A new study used long-term volunteer data to show that marine heatwaves are linked to mass avian mortality at sea.
Renewable Energy

Offshore Wind in The Gulf Will Help Stabilize Climate, But Communities Must Fully Benefit

By Dawn O'Neal
August 30, 2023 — Responsibly sited and equitably managed offshore wind would be good for every living thing in the Gulf.
A young woman outside near a river holds a tripod and spotting scope and looks at the camera.
Books

Mya-Rose Craig’s Search for Family Amid an Extraordinary Life of World Birding

By Nicholas Cannariato
August 15, 2023 — Birdgirl, a memoir by the 21-year-old birder and activist, is an affecting story of a daughter seeking her parents as they, together, seek birds.
Renewable Energy

We Need Bird-Friendly Transmission to Fight Climate Change. Getting There Will Take Collective Action.

By Gary Moody
August 09, 2023 — By working together, we can help build the transmission grid birds need.
Climate Action Guide

The Audubon Guide to Climate Action

Feeling like you can't make a difference? That couldn't be further from the truth. Here's how to get started.

Climate Science

From community science observations to in-depth research from our staff scientists, Audubon applies its cutting-edge science in conservation, mitigation, and adaptation efforts across the United States and into Central and South America, where many of North America’s climate-sensitive birds spend their winters.

Climate

Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink

Read Audubon's new climate report, which finds that two-thirds of North American birds are at increasing risk of extinction from global temperature rise. Find out how species in your state will be affected, and which birds we can help by acting now.
Press Room

Audubon Report Shows That Important Bird Habitats are Key Natural Solutions to Climate Change

Important ecosystems for birds can also store tens of millions of tons of carbon naturally if maintained and restored.
Press Room

New Audubon Study: Climate Change Threatens Bird Populations in the National Wildlife Refuge System

Left unchecked, warming temperatures and increased climate threats could affect environmental conditions for half of the birds throughout all of the system’s refuges.

Clean Energy Initiative

Transitioning to clean energy is critical for birds and people because it will help to reduce pollution, slow the rise in global temperatures, and preserve the places that climate-vulnerable birds need to survive. That’s why Audubon strongly supports strategies and projects that deliver clean energy and transmission while also avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating negative impacts on birds and other wildlife. We also weigh in on permitting policies for species protected by longstanding federal laws.

Climate Policy

Climate change affects regions and communities in different ways. That's why Audubon staff, state offices, chapters, and members are working to advance climate policy and planning on the local, state, national, and hemispheric levels. With nearly two dozen state programs, chapters in all 50 states, and international teams focusing on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Canada, Audubon has the presence and committed membership to act on climate in communities across the hemisphere.  

 

A rosa walking through the grass in a wetland
Water

Supreme Court Decision Threatens Waterways that Birds (and People) Need

The Court’s ruling in Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency removes crucial protections for wetlands, limiting the Clean Water Act.
Press Room

Federal Permitting Reform Can Bolster Our Economy While Protecting Wildlife and Communities

Congressional reform of federal permitting and review programs presents an important need to balance conservation, community, and the economy.
A wood thrush sitting on a branch with its beak open.
News

New EPA Proposal Would be Key to Achieving Climate Goals for Birds and People

Climate pollution standards would reduce emissions from power plants to slow global temperature rise.

Climate Initiative National Leadership

Garry George

Garry George

Director, Clean Energy Initiative, National Audubon Society

Elizabeth Gray

Elizabeth Gray

Chief Executive Officer and Ex Officio Board Director

Andrew Mills

Andrew Mills

Vice President, Political Affairs

Gary Moody

Gary Moody

Director, State and Local Climate Strategy

Sarah Rose

Sarah Rose

Vice President of Climate

Robyn Shepherd

Robyn Shepherd

Communications Director, Advocacy

Jesse Walls

Jesse Walls

Senior Director, Government Affairs