From the 1920s studies of flood control, erosion, and the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authority to the 2019 position on climate change, the League of Women Voters (LWV) has championed environmental protection. As is foundational to League positions, the LWV believes that understanding and action/advocacy are shared responsibilities by individuals, groups, and governments at all levels including local, state, national, and international. We support public education that provides a basic understanding of the environment including the costs and benefits of environmental protection, pollution control, and conservation. Citizens should be well-informed including their right to participate in decision-making. We support long-range planning for and legislation to protect our natural resources and public health while strengthening our economy through job creation.
The League believes that the serious threat of climate change needs an interrelated approach – through energy conservation, air pollution controls, building resilience, and promotion of renewable resources – to protect public health and defend the overall integrity of the global ecosystem. The League supports climate goals and policies that are consistent with the best available climate science and that will ensure a stable climate system for future generations.
The League of Women Voters believes that natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of resources should be mitigated to preserve the integrity of ecosystems and to protect public health.
The League supports maximum protection of the environment and public health through long-range planning and ongoing advocacy to meet goals that safeguard the environment through the recognition of the interrelationship of our resources. The LWV believes that although all levels of government share responsibility for protecting our environment, it is essential that the federal government should have the primary role in setting standards while also providing leadership and technical and financial assistance. The LWV believes that environmental protection is a cost of providing a product or service such that consumers, taxpayers, and ratepayers should expect to pay some of the costs. The League supports federal financial assistance for state and local programs.
For more information on LWV Natural Resources positions, see this extraction from Impact on Issues 2022--2024 (pdf; will open in a new window)
Links to related websites (all are pdf; will open in a new window) —
Recycling: The recycling industry is dependent on regional processors to make recycling pay. The West Coast and Northeast have relatively few recyclers, but virtually all of our recycling can be handled in the Southeast, making recycling more economical than simply burying this "waste" in landfills. Furthermore, Henderson County's facility can accept many materials, particularly a wide variety of plastics, not normally accepted for recycling. Contrary to widespread rumors, recycled items are not simply redirected to landfills. Henderson's recycling department is self-funding: payment for recycled materials funds operations.
See a 5-minute video (will open in a new tab/window) about the recycling center in Buncombe County that shows how recycling works.
The following links were provided to us by MountainTrue (all are pdf; will open in a new window) —
Information about joining Henderson County's clean water volunteer team.
Tool that allows people to report sediment erosion when they see it out and about to our Riverkeepers so they can follow up. It's been enormously helpful for our French Broad and Green Riverkeepers in tracking down some especially harmful pollution.
Swim Guide: Throughout the summer the Broad, French Broad, Green and Watauga Riverkeepers provide water quality updates on where it's safe to swim and recreate in these rivers.
Invasive Species: Smart plant buyer pocket guide helps avoid the spread of non-native plant species and find good native alternatives to prevent negative impacts on our mountain ecosystems.
Creation Care Alliance of WNC, a faith-based environmental program, has a guide to help faith communities implement sustainable practices.
MountainTrue's event calendar is a great way to stay up-to-date on hikes, hearings, workdays, and other environmental events.
