Conservation International Chairman and Founder Peter Seligmann, Vice Chair Harrison Ford and CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan Release Joint Statement on US Presidential Election

Arlington, Va. (November 7, 2020) – Conservation International today released the following statement on the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President of the United States. The statement was jointly signed by Chairman and Founder Peter Seligmann, Vice Chair Harrison Ford and CEO Dr. M. Sanjayan: 

“In 2018, Conservation International awarded Joe Biden our Global Visionary Award for his many achievements in support of responsible environmental policy. During the recent presidential debates, he acknowledged what we’ve long known: that there is no way out of the climate crisis unless we protect nature. We congratulate him on his election victory.

“Today, the United States has the opportunity to once again lead on climate and the environment.

“We also congratulate Vice President-elect Harris on her historic achievement of becoming the first woman — and first Black and Asian-American woman — to win that office. We also thank Americans who turned out to vote in record numbers because of their concern for the health of our planet. They have brought renewed momentum to the urgent need to reverse the climate crisis and protect nature.

“The climate and conservation movement, including Conservation International, has never waited for governments to act. Yet elections around the globe have consequences for our planet. President-elect Biden called the climate crisis the No. 1 issue facing humanity. We agree. His words give us hope that U.S. domestic and foreign policy and U.S. priorities for investment will align with the hopes and desires of communities across the country who know that protecting nature is critical for creating the future we want. These natural climate solutions give us the best return on our investment in meeting our climate goals and creating resilient and sustainable jobs, particularly in rural communities. 

“Conservation International also thanks the many bipartisan poll workers, ballot counters and election officials who worked tirelessly to count every vote. For more than 200 years, the world has watched in admiration of the election process and the peaceful transfer of power in the United States. It is still watching. In the midst of a global pandemic, Americans found a way to vote and to do so safely and fairly and in historic numbers.

“It is time now to focus on the work ahead. There is so much to do; fortunately, there is broad bipartisan support for taking action. We look forward to President-elect Biden’s leadership and to working with elected officials, as we always have — Republicans and Democrats alike — to make this a reality. There is no time for delay.”

About Conservation International

Conservation International works to protect the critical benefits that nature provides to people. Through science, partnerships and fieldwork, Conservation International is driving innovation and investments in nature-based solutions to the climate crisis, supporting protections for critical habitats, and fostering economic development that is grounded in the conservation of nature. Conservation International works in 30 countries around the world, empowering societies at all levels to create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable planet. Follow Conservation International's work on Conservation News, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.