Climate legislation affects a wide range of public priorities, including renewable energy incentives, pollution enforcement, and more. There are hundreds of laws affecting our environment, but you don’t need to know all of them to get involved. Start by understanding the overall legislative process and a few key pieces of national legislation. Then, you can take it to the next level by researching specific policies related to your location and interests.

In the United States, governments are divided into three levels: local, state, and federal (a.k.a., national). Each level has three branches: the legislative branch writes the laws, the executive branch enforces them, and the judicial branch interprets them. Each level and branch has a unique role to play, so understanding this structure can help you focus your advocacy. Visit the “Definition” link below for a video overview of the federal legislative process.

Some of the most influential pieces of federal climate legislation in the US include:

• The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), passed in 1970, requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impacts of their actions.
• The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are two acts that protect our air and water by promoting research, providing for enforcement, and supporting state and local efforts.
• The Endangered Species Act (ESA) provides for the protection and conservation of endangered and threatened flora and fauna.

Visit the “Action” link below to learn more about these and other federal laws affecting our environment.Your state and local laws will vary, but the EPA’s list of State Health and Environmental Agencies is a good place to start learning about relevant agencies in your locale. You can also use a search engine or local news to learn about contemporary policy issues in your community (just be sure to fact-check your sources). To take it to the next level, consider joining a local community group focused on environmental issues. Not only will this help you learn about relevant legislation, but it’s also a great way to build your network for future advocacy. Once you have selected your policy area(s) of interest, explore the rest of the Political category for actions to build your impact, such as monitoring new legislation, commenting on proposed legislation, and contacting lawmakers.