NCLCV Released the 2023 Legislative Scorecard, Urges Voters To Use It In 2024 Voting
Last week, we released the 2023 Legislative Scorecard, tracking the environmental voting scores of NC state legislators on the votes rated as most important to public health, pollution control, and conservation of natural resources during the 2023 legislative “short session.”
The overall results were ugly, as a pro-polluter supermajority gutted key environmental protections and declined to act on the most pressing environmental threats to the health of state residents.
2023 Scorecard Results
“This past session, legislators bowed to corporate greed and stripped wetland protections. Now, at least 2.5 million acres of wetlands are open for development in North Carolina. One acre of wetlands can store 1-1.5 million gallons of water, and one square kilometer of wetlands saves $1.8 million in property damage. During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, wetlands reduced damages for coastal states by an average of 11%. Yet during the hottest summer ever recorded, with sea level rising, and climate experts predicting more frequent and intense natural disasters, the legislature opened millions of acres of wetlands to developers,” stated NCLCV’s news release on the Scorecard. “The legislature also failed to address known carcinogens in water systems across North Carolina. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)–more commonly known as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to naturally degrade in our environment and our bodies–persist in the food and drink of many North Carolinians.”
“Last year, legislators were presented with real choices and many chose wrong,” said Dan Crawford, NCLCV’s director of governmental relations. “Too many legislators chose to side with polluters and corporate interests, instead of acting in the public’s best interest. Too many legislators chose to leave communities unprotected. This scorecard makes that very clear.”
Scorecard Can Guide 2024 Voting
“We believe the most important thing you can do for the environment is vote. And it is more important than ever for voters to elect environmental champions in the 2024 elections,” said Carrie Clark, executive director at NCLCV. “We urge voters to use this scorecard to hold legislators accountable for their votes.”
See the complete summary of NCLCV’s 2023 Scorecard.
Download and view the full scorecard, including individual legislators’ scores which can be used to help guide key 2024 voting decisions.
