Environment Program: Climate Change Solutions

Environment Program: Climate Change Solutions is a major grant initiative from the Walton Family Foundation supporting climate-resilient approaches to water resource management, sustainable agriculture, and fisheries conservation. Awards range from $50,000 to over $1,000,000, targeting organizations working across three priority geographies: the Colorado River Basin, the Mississippi River Basin, and ocean systems.

The foundation funds nature-based solutions, market-based sustainability incentives, federal and state policy advocacy, and community engagement. Eligible partners include nonprofits, research institutions, and advocacy groups with demonstrated capacity for on-the-ground conservation impact.

The program prioritizes collaborative, systems-level approaches that benefit both people and nature in the face of escalating water and climate challenges.

Long wave on the coast, dawn on the sea, Tunisia large foam waves in the sand, diagonal clouds, yellow light of dawn in the blue sky Protecting Our Water for Future Generations In a Minute: Our Environment Program This short video provides an overview of the Walton Family Foundation's Environment program.

Protecting Our Water for Future Generations Protecting water during climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time. Whether it’s droughts, floods, wildfires, rising sea levels or changes in the ocean food chain – climate change affects every place we have water. We’re in a water crisis and we need to act like it.

The foundation's Environment strategy seeks lasting water solutions in three key geographies: the Colorado River Basin, the Mississippi River Basin and our Oceans. Our goal is to make sure there is enough healthy, available water for people and nature to thrive together. To meet this challenge, we need the best ideas from everyone.

Big decisions to protect water must include those closest to the problem. To learn how to grow enough food, while protecting soil and water – we listen to farmers. To keep enough fish in the ocean -- we listen to fishermen.

To find ways to use less water in the West – we learn from tribal nations. They have lived there longer than anyone else. Together, we can make lasting progress to create a secure water future.

We measure progress by the increasing use of conservation solutions that benefit nature and people, the number of wetland acres or river miles restored and the recovery of depleted fisheries. Theory of Change: Environment By engaging communities, working with nature and focusing on innovation, we can find lasting solutions to protect water and address climate change.

Environment Program Theory of Change full Environment Program Theory of Change full Environment Program Theory of Change full Environment Program Theory of Change full Environment Program Theory of Change full Environment Program Theory of Change full Learn More About Our Environment Program's Theory of Change Sustaining the Water Resources that Sustain Us Our work supports climate-resilient approaches to agriculture, water resource management and sustainable fisheries.

Our specific initiatives will: We work with on-the-ground partners to find nature-based solutions that lead to wider adoption of effective practices. • Use Markets to Advance Sustainability We support communities using market demand for sustainably produced products to improve agricultural practices and fisheries management. By doing this, we can show that sustainable sourcing is good for the environment and business.

Federal, state and local policy all drive long-term change to protect water. We elevate the voices of tribal nations, farmers, ranchers and fishers to craft policies that improve the economy and environment. • Engage & Empower New Environmental Allies The foundation works to bring communities, other philanthropies and the public into the environmental community.

We are specifically expanding engagement with frontline communities, who experience more severe impacts of climate change. Water and Climate: Opportunities and Challenges The Walton Family Foundation has a longstanding and deep commitment to protecting rivers, lakes and oceans. Our response to the water and climate challenges we face involves building broad coalitions around commonsense ideas.

Water & Climate: The Opportunity Before Us Water & Climate: The Opportunity Before Us A position paper presented by the Walton Family Foundation, working to protect and preserve water resources so nature and people Protecting Our Food and Water Against the Perils of Climate Change Protecting Our Food and Water Against the Perils of Climate Change The foundation’s Environment Program leaders discuss the threats posed by climate change – and the actions we can take to turn the tide A Future with Sustainable Food Our current food system has enabled the world to feed billions.

But it is also damaging to the environment and eaters alike. We must begin to produce our food in ways that are more sustainable for people and nature.

It’s Time to Fill the Public’s Appetite for Better, More Sustainable Food It’s Time to Fill the Public’s Appetite for Better, More Sustainable Food Creating a more just society depends on growing, distributing and eating healthier food We Must Think Bigger And Go Faster To Solve Our Water Challenges We Must Think Bigger And Go Faster To Solve Our Water Challenges Chef José Andrés urges action to ensure a safe, sustainable supply of water for people and the planet Feeding Ourselves Thirsty Feeding Ourselves Thirsty Tracking food company progress toward a water-smart future Americans want to protect water and address climate change Time and again, polling on climate change shows us what we already know from experience – water brings people together.

95% of Americans say that protecting the water in our nation’s lakes, streams and rivers is important . 84% believe protecting the health of our water is essential to address climate change. 3 in 5 voters say drought, increased temperatures, wildfires, extreme weather and flooding are a product of climate change’s effect on water .

3 in 4 adults are concerned about having access to safe drinking water over the next 10 years. Building a More Welcoming Environmental Movement As we work to protect water in the face of climate change, we need to bring more people and communities into environmental movement.

People of Color Must be Included in Colorado Water Plan Decisions People of Color Must be Included in Colorado Water Plan Decisions Tackling inequities like access to clean water and indoor plumbing requires working directly with the communities most affected U.S. Latinos and Ocean Conservation U.S. Latinos and Ocean Conservation More than 62 million people living in the U.S. are Latino or about one in every five.

Latinos make up the second largest demographic, yet Latinos are not a monolithic voting bloc. While the Latino community varies in political party affiliation, a new poll has found that the overwhelmingly majority support strong policies to protect the ocean and prevent plastic pollution.

According to the U.S. Latinos and the Ocean Poll, conducted for Azul, Latino voters want the nation to invest more, and are willing to pay more themselves, to advance ocean justice.

Building an Environmental Movement That Better Reflects America’s Diversity Building an Environmental Movement That Better Reflects America’s Diversity A trio of Atlanta HBCUs are leveraging Audubon’s national network for campus and community change Tribal Expertise, Engagement is Critical to the West’s Water Future Tribal Expertise, Engagement is Critical to the West’s Water Future We’re committed to helping tribal communities achieve their aspirations for protection and restoration of Colorado River water Once Overlooked, Latinos are Emerging as Passionate Allies for Ocean Conservation Once Overlooked, Latinos are Emerging as Passionate Allies for Ocean Conservation A national poll found overwhelming support among Latinos for measures to protect oceans.

Grassroots organizers are turning that passion into action Working with Nature to Protect Water and Communities With nature-based solutions, we can build healthier watersheds with improved flows that help us adapt to climate change.

How Beavers Are Inspiring Efforts to Restore Degraded Rivers How Beavers Are Inspiring Efforts to Restore Degraded Rivers In the West, conservationists, ranchers and land managers are restoring streams with techniques perfected by nature’s most diligent engineers Celebrating the Law That’s Reviving Louisiana’s Coast Celebrating the Law That’s Reviving Louisiana’s Coast Ten years ago, Congress passed the RESTORE Act.

Today, this landmark legislation is advancing natural infrastructure that protects Gulf communities Riverscapes as Natural Infrastructure: Meeting Challenges of Climate Adaptation and Ecosystem Restoration Riverscapes as Natural Infrastructure: Meeting Challenges of Climate Adaptation and Ecosystem Restoration Natural areas managed to provide ecological and societal benefits present an opportunity to address increasing climate change Watch these videos to learn more about the foundation's work to protect the Colorado River, Mississippi River, Coastal Gulf of Mexico and our Oceans.

Improving Fisheries for Healthier Oceans Improving Fisheries for Healthier Oceans All of us depend on healthy oceans for the air we breathe, the food we eat and the livelihoods our oceans support. The Roots of Conservation The Roots of Conservation Roots of Conservation is a series of stories about the people working to address threats to water quality and soil health in the Mississippi River Basin.

Water in the West is a series of stories about the people working to address threats to water supply in the Colorado River basin and find conservation solutions that make economic sense for people and communities. Family Voices: Our Environment Program At the Walton Family Foundation, we believe we must sustain the places that sustain us.

We focus on protecting oceans and rivers and the livelihoods they support, for the benefit of people and the environment. In this video, members of the Walton family explain the vision and values that drive the foundation’s conservation work.

Water and Wildfire: A Call to Philanthropy Water and Wildfire: A Call to Philanthropy Investments in wildfire resilience are essential for water safety and security Long-term Investment and Collaboration Between States and Tribal Nations Can Create Water Security for the Colorado River Basin Long-term Investment and Collaboration Between States and Tribal Nations Can Create Water Security for the Colorado River Basin The decisions we make about the Colorado River now will shape life in the West for generations to come Planting the Seeds of a More Resilient West Planting the Seeds of a More Resilient West With water supplies shrinking in the West, ranchers and scientists test forage crops for a hotter drier future