The federal government’s decision to reject the scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten our health ignores long-established research with very serious implications: It takes away the basis for the government’s power to limit dangerous pollution that causes climate change.

But we will keep pushing forward.

Scenic Hudson remains committed to working with communities to address the increasing temperatures, shifting weather patterns, intensifying storms, and climbing sea levels that we’re already experiencing firsthand in the Hudson Valley. The new decade has brought us not only the hottest years ever recorded in New York State, but also some of the worst air quality on the planet during catastrophic wildfires.

We believe in the power of climate solutions — for a healthier environment, a healthier public, and a healthier economy. And we’re continuing our work, full steam ahead.

We Protect Land — providing a natural climate solution that locks carbon into forests and vegetation, protects local ecosystems and habitats, and reduces risks from flooding and extreme heat. We’ve conserved more than 54,000 acres of land across the Hudson Valley and are continuing to work with partners to protect more of the landscapes we love.

We Partner with Farmers to Conserve Farmland — on more than 150 farms to date — nourishing the Hudson Valley and New York City with fresh, healthy food. We also support farmers making the shift to regenerative practices, which not only reduce agricultural carbon emissions but also help farmers stay in business, supporting soil health and resiliency in the face of destructive flooding, droughts, and storms.

We Collaborate to Create Parks — providing communities and visitors with free access to more than 45 featured parks across the Hudson Valley. Scenic Hudson parks are thoughtfully designed to safeguard precious natural resources, as well as the plants and wildlife that call these landscapes home. We’re also continuing to take steps to prepare our parks to withstand the harsh impacts of climate change so they are around for future generations to enjoy.

We Support Urban Conservation and Green Planning — by collaborating with partners and community groups in cities along the Hudson on projects that flip traditional thinking on its head: Cities are not just adding to today’s challenges — they are also part of the solution. In our hometown of Poughkeepsie, for example, we’re working to heal the ecology of the Fall Kill Creek and convert it into a community connector and asset for regional climate resilience. We’ve also worked with stakeholders to reimagine a neglected city lot as Pershing Community Farm, which has grown and shared thousands of pounds of free fresh produce in a neighborhood hurt by decades of disinvestment.

We Ground Our Work in Science — from maintaining healthy forests to supporting smart growth. Our efforts to protect wetlands safeguard sensitive, vibrant ecosystems, for example, while ensuring that housing is not placed where people will have to deal with flooding down the road. We’ve also developed mapping tools to inform communities in local planning, highlighting core forest that plants and animals rely on and laying the groundwork for a smooth transition to solar power.

We Innovate and Model Sustainable Practices — at our new Northside Hub in Poughkeepsie, reducing our footprint in a context where buildings contribute about 40% of carbon emissions. We led a historic renovation of the former Standard Gage factory and cleaned up a polluted brownfield to create inspiring carbon-neutral staff offices and community gathering spaces. The Hub runs entirely on solar power drawn from rooftop arrays and timber canopies above our parking lot, and keeps all rainwater on site to reduce the downstream impacts of storms.

We Advocate — in Albany, Washington, D.C., and beyond — for policies and funding that support all of this critical work, from climate-smart farming that strengthens resilience to renewable energy that greens our grid and reduces our dependence on fossil fuels. We sync up with others who share our concerns to be the strongest possible voice for the Hudson Valley.

With the recent change in federal policy, the stakes just got higher, but we will not falter.

We believe in protecting what we love and will continue to do so — for the health of the Hudson Valley, for the health and well-being of everyone who calls it home, and for all generations to come. — Scenic Hudson