If you’re not pissing people off, you probably aren’t doing anything important.
By: Meg Haywood Sullivan and Amelia Joy
America’s newest environmental nonprofit, Nature Is Nonpartisan, is giving all Americans a seat at the table. We, a self-described "crunchy liberal" and a "MAGA Republican," are part of the founding team, united by the belief that environmental stewardship should transcend partisan divides.
This mission has sent both political camps into a frenzy.
From the far right, word is spreading that we’re “the Green New Deal repackaged,” “greenwashing conservatism,” and pushing a hidden liberal agenda. They’re claiming that we are a wolf in sheep’s clothing — the latest scam the liberal environmentalists have come up with to push their progressive agenda.
From the opposite end of the spectrum, the far left claims that we’re providing Republicans with a “way to avoid accountability,” calling us a “propaganda arm of the fossil fuel lobby,” and warning that we’re “dangerous” for meeting with the Trump Administration. They also say we’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing — but, to them, we are the MAGA extremists pushing a billionaire agenda and anti-environment policies that destroy our public lands.
These diametrically opposed accusations highlight the very need for an organization like Nature Is Nonpartisan.
Our Board of Directors has a 1:1 political ratio.
Our Strategic Advisory Council has a 1:1 political ratio.
And our staff has a 1:1 political ratio.
This transparency, while publicly available, hasn't silenced the polarized rhetoric.
The reality of the modern American political landscape is that both sides spend most of their time speaking into their own respective echo chambers, with the few months leading up to Election Day spent fighting to win over the ever-shrinking percentage of “swing voters.” It is characterized by drastic policy shifts that occur with each change in leadership. This instability hinders long-term progress, especially on complex issues like environmental conservation. Meaningful environmental policy requires sustained effort over many years.
So, how do we create policy that transcends the political culture wars?
We do something that so many would never dream of doing these days — we reach across the aisle. We realize that those who disagree with us are not inherently bad. And we accept that the long-lasting impact we can make together is far better than the momentary impact we can make alone.
Nature is the perfect place to start. Historically, nature has served as a unifying force. Legislation like the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, demonstrates that environmental protection can rise above political differences. No matter the political climate, our physical climate was always something we could come together to protect. Today, that kind of bipartisan cooperation is unfathomable — but it shouldn’t be.
There are fundamental principles that most Americans share: responsible stewardship of natural resources, conservation of natural habitats for wildlife, clean air and water for all communities, and community resilience in the face of natural disasters.
These are not radical concepts; they represent common-sense conservation.
Nature Is Nonpartisan is committed to working with politicians from all sides, promoting policies developed by diverse experts from , and supported by a broad coalition of Americans. Our audience is the vast majority of the nation — the everyday Americans who care about the world we live in; who are ready to step out of the political gridlock and create something real.
We understand that our approach will face criticism from those entrenched in partisan ideologies. And while our mission is a noble one, we do not doubt that the loudest voices will continue to be those who are too stuck-in-their-ways to see the larger effort at hand. But, as they say, “if you’re not pissing people off, you probably aren’t doing anything important.”
Meg Haywood Sullivan is the Chief Marketing Officer for Nature Is Nonpartisan. A 15-year veteran in sustainability, with experience at the Harvard School of Public Health, Protect Our Winters, and NATO, and a Master’s degree from Harvard, she builds campaigns for positive change.
Amelia Joy is the Communications Director for Nature Is Nonpartisan. She previously handled communications for Brooke Rollins during her confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and served as Press Secretary for former South Dakota Governor Krsiti Noem.