The Five Big Environmental Issues Facing Virginia’s Next Governor and What They Can Do About It

Virginia’s Next Leader Can Take Action to Save the Bay and Build a Better Future Across Virginia

As the campaign for Virginia’s governor heats up, Virginia’s next governor will need to tackle a host of environmental issues affecting homes and businesses, including flooding, climate change, pollution, toxics, and agriculture.  

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation outlined five key actions the next governor can take to ensure a healthier, more resilient Commonwealth for future generations.  

“Virginia’s next governor will assume office at a time when Virginia is facing increasing threats from flooding, toxins, a change climate, and pollutants. While the federal government should be ramping up protections to protect Virginia homes and businesses, just the opposite is happening. It will be up to Virginia’s next governor to catch Virginia up and protect our communities and wildlife from these impacts,” said Jay Ford, Virginia Policy Manager at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.  

CBF’s five key priorities include: 

1. Restoring and protecting waterways: This includes continued investment in reducing pollution from wastewater, stormwater, and agriculture; expanding wetland and shoreline restoration; and increasing environmental education for students. 
2. Creating a safe and climate-resilient Virginia: CBF urges the new administration to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), fund local resilience projects, and expand resources for homeowners and businesses to create climate-resilient coasts. 
3. Safeguarding Virginia’s diverse landscapes: Virginia must expand communities’ authority to conserve forests and urban trees, modernizing the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act, and fully funding programs to preserve special lands. 
4. Investing in Virginia farmers: The next administration must maintain strong support for the agricultural cost-share program and work with farmers to target pollution hotspots. 
5. Stopping toxics at their source: This involves taking bold action on emerging pollutants like PFAS and microplastics, holding polluters accountable, and accelerating the transition to clean energy in a way that protects green spaces. 

“The choices made by our next governor and elected officials will have a lasting impact on our rivers, streams, and the health of the Bay,” said Chris Moore, Virginia Executive Director at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. “Rising seas, supporting our farmers in their clean water efforts, or holding polluters accountable are not just environmental issues—they are economic and public health issues. CBF is ready to work with the new administration to make Virginia a leader in clean water protection.”