2016 National Forum

Clean water, renewable energy and environmental justice take center stage at the third annual NCEL National Issues Forum

More than 100 state legislators from 32 states and both major parties recently convened to learn about emerging environmental issues at the 2016 National Issues Forum hosted by the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL). The event, held in Chicago August 5th-7th, 2016, promoted collaboration between state legislators across the country and provided education and resources on pressing environmental and conservation issues facing the states.

Topics covered at the forum included renewable energy, environmental justice, water quality and conservation, toxic chemicals in consumer products, among others. Sessions were led by nationally recognized experts as well as fellow state legislators.

“Our forum is an essential part of our work,” said NCEL Executive Director Jeff Mauk. “State legislators are at the forefront of enacting environmental protections, and NCEL’s forum empowers them by offering an opportunity to quickly learn about a wide array of environmental issues while collaborating with their peers from across the country and across the aisle.”

NCEL is a nationwide network of more than 1,200 state legislators from all 50 states and both major parties. Created by and for state legislators in 1996, the Caucus serves as a resource on environmental issues through legislative research, organized events, and by facilitating collaboration between lawmakers working on similar issues.

Forty states have part-time legislatures where policymakers often have to balance an additional job on top of their legislative duties. Moreover, many legislators have few or no dedicated staff to help them understand environmental issues. The NCEL National Issues Forum allows legislators to build relationships with experts while providing the tools and resources necessary for environmental protection within their state.