The Foundation seeks to conserve, protect, improve and restore North Carolina’s natural areas; to ensure clean air and water for all North Carolinians; and to minimize the burden of the state’s environmental hazards, particularly on marginalized communities.

Results Sought:

Environmental Justice

• Prevent poor communities and communities of color from bearing a disproportionately high or adverse burden of environmental hazards
• Ensure a fair and effective system to monitor and enforce the placement of and reduction of environmental hazards
• Increase involvement of communities in the development, implementation, and enforcement of policies and regulations

Clean Water for All

• Prevent damage to water quality and quantity
• Improve and/or restore the water quality of rivers, wetlands, and lakes
• Ensure access for all to rivers and lakes

Clean Air for All

• Prevent damage to air quality
• Improve and/or restore the air quality of North Carolina
• Reduce toxic air pollution

Conserve Green Space

• Increase the amount of permanently protected land
• Protect and restore critical forest habitats
• Ensure access for all to open space and forests
• Improve community planning and development patterns to meet the growth demands of the state in environmentally sound ways

Healthy Coastal Ecosystems

• Prevent damage to wetlands, coastline, and coastal waters
• Improve and/or restore wetlands and coastal waters
• Ensure access for all to coastal waters and ocean

Clean Energy and Climate Action

• Prevent human-caused climate change
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in the energy production and transportation sectors
• Increase energy conservation and efficiency
• Promote low carbon, renewable energy sources
• Encourage appropriate adaptation to impacts of climate change

Within this focus area, priority is given to regional (multi-county) and statewide efforts.