![](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/energy-environment.jpg)
Environment
States serve as environmental stewards through their roles in managing state parks and forests, outdoor recreation facilities, energy production and distribution, water resources, waste management, and the elimination of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and other forever chemicals. States also directly affect natural resources through their preservation and conservation strategies. To be effective environmental stewards, states must seek to balance efforts to maintain a healthy environment with efforts to develop and utilize natural resources.
Latest
![Congressional Briefing on Environmental Protection](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/2024Apr10_briefing2-150x150.jpg)
Congressional Briefing on Environmental Protection
![Leveraging Outdoor Assets in the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Sectors](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/trail_bridge-150x150.jpeg)
Leveraging Outdoor Assets in the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Sectors
![Advancing Equity in the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Sectors](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/AdobeStock_617872729-150x150.jpg)
Advancing Equity in the Travel, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Sectors
![Governors Urge Congress to Address Water Infrastructure Funding Cuts](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023_Sept_Water_final_v2-150x150.png)
Governors Urge Congress to Address Water Infrastructure Funding Cuts
![Innovative Workforce Development Programs for the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Sectors](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/bootstraps-150x150.jpg)
Innovative Workforce Development Programs for the Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Sectors
![Cleaning Up America’s Nuclear Weapons Complex: 2023 Update for Governors](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/2023_nuclear_weapons_cleanup_cover-150x150.png)
Cleaning Up America’s Nuclear Weapons Complex: 2023 Update for Governors
Meet the Team
- Jessica Rackley, Program Director
- Henry Ashley, Policy Coordinator
Projects
Outdoor Recreation Learning Network
![](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/outdoor2-150x150.jpeg)
The NGA Outdoor Recreation Learning Network and Economic Policy teams are working with state recreation and economic policy networks and the Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) to gather and analyze data in order to study the effectiveness of Economic Development Administration Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (TTOR) grants.
Travel, Tourism And Outdoor Recreation
![](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/TTOR2-150x150.jpeg)
The NGA Outdoor Recreation Learning Network and Economic Policy teams are working with state recreation and economic policy networks and the Oregon State University’s Center for the Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) to gather and analyze data in order to study the effectiveness of Economic Development Administration Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (TTOR) grants.
![](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/DER-Cyber-Feature1600x900-150x150.jpg)
The toolkit offers ideas to help governors respond to trends as they take action in their states in four areas — energy efficiency, clean energy, transportation electrification, and cyber and physical protection.
The mission of the FFTF is to bring together governor-designated representatives with U.S. Department of Energy officials to examine critical technical, policy and budget issues and improve coordination of major program decisions on a range of issues related to radioactive material and waste.
Related
NGA Resources
States serve as environmental stewards through their roles in managing state parks and forests, energy production and distribution, wildlife protection, land use and waste management. States also directly affect natural resources through their preservation and conservation strategies. To be effective environmental stewards, states must seek to balance efforts to maintain a healthy environment with efforts to develop and utilize natural resources.
![Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/resilient2-150x150.jpg)
Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities
![Planning For The Future Workshop: Strategies To Meet Governor's Clean Energy Goals](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/clean_energy-150x150.jpg)
Planning For The Future Workshop: Strategies To Meet Governor’s Clean Energy Goals
![New Jersey Stormwater Utility Virtual In-State Retreat](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/stormwater_preview-150x150.jpg)
New Jersey Stormwater Utility Virtual In-State Retreat
![Water-Energy Nexus Learning Lab](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/water_energy_nexus-150x150.jpg)
Water-Energy Nexus Learning Lab
![2020 Governors Advisors Energy Policy Institute](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/energy_lightbulb-150x150.jpg)
2020 Governors Advisors Energy Policy Institute
![EPA PFAS Standard Setting Process](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/drinking_water_PFAS-150x150.jpg)
EPA PFAS Standard Setting Process
![Source Water Protection for Safe Drinking and Recreation: State Partnerships and Funding Opportunities with USDA](https://www.nga.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/USDA_webinar-150x150.jpg)