Commentary: Smart Environmental Policies Will Deliver a More Prosperous Future for All Virginians

As Virginia’s new governor and General Assembly prepare for the 2026 legislative session, our leaders should rally around a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the economy, protect lives and livelihoods, and invest in what makes our commonwealth a great place to live.

Virginia joins Chesapeake Bay states, D.C. in new watershed agreement

In December, Virginia, five other states, Washington, D.C., and federal leaders committed to an update of one of the most influential drivers of policy across our region: the Chesapeake Bay Agreement. Now the new Spanberger administration and General Assembly have a golden opportunity to make a lasting impact on the livability of our communities, Virginia’s economy and our quality of life.

The agreement guides an unparalleled federal-state effort to clean up the Chesapeake Bay over the next 15 years. But its impact reaches beyond the Bay. It is an effective tool to advance climate resilience, conserve farmland and forests, upgrade infrastructure, manage valuable fisheries, and reduce pollution in rivers and streams.

These are not only environmental issues, but cost-of-living and quality-of-life issues, too.

Industries ranging from tourism to seafood to outdoor recreation are vital to Virginia’s economy. They all depend on clean water. The closure of beaches and rivers, or the loss of shellfish harvests to pollution, has real costs to businesses.

Furthermore, as we saw in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, the rising costs to both lives and livelihoods from intensifying flooding and storm damage are undeniable.

The solutions to these problems are not radical, but they do require forward thinking. With smart decisions and investments now, policymakers can set Virginia on a path to not only meet the commitments it made in the Bay Agreement but also lay the foundation for a more prosperous future for all Virginians.

One of the first ways leaders can make an impact is by ramping up programs that have already demonstrated success and promise the greatest return on investment.

In 2025, Virginia celebrated the completion of oyster habitat restoration in six rivers, part of one of the largest oyster restoration projects in the world — exceeding goals of the previous Bay Agreement. By funding a long-overdue oyster stock assessment, Virginia will have the knowledge to build on this success, optimize its oyster recovery efforts, and aid the growth of the oyster industry.

Similarly, Virginia should increase funding for the Virginia Conservation Assistance Program. This program has shown success again and again, supporting private property owners, schools, and community organizations in installing nature-based projects that reduce stormwater pollution — one of the biggest challenges to improving our rivers and streams.

At the same time, promising initiatives like the Pay-for-Outcomes program are ready to scale up. By incentivizing innovation and only paying for results, the program means taxpayers are getting guaranteed reductions in water pollution for their money. And it’s popular; in its first year, demand outpaced allocated funding by nearly six to one, according to data from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

This session, legislators should also support proactive policies that save the commonwealth money by investing in the future.

First, they can ensure Virginia rejoins the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). Not only does this multi-state program help combat climate change, it also generates funding for energy efficiency projects that alleviate electric costs for vulnerable Virginians. Critically, it also pays for projects that protect homes and businesses from flooding.

Getting these funds flowing again as soon as possible is essential for Virginia’s economy. According to a recent report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, every $1 not invested in resilience today can cost communities up to $33 in lost economic activity down the road. As the federal government pulls back support for climate resilience and disaster relief programs, state action is even more urgent.

Policymakers can also protect our most cost-effective buffers against storms, pollution, and heat: our trees and wetlands. Virginia is losing both at alarming rates. Identifying and protecting corridors where wetlands can migrate to avoid rising sea levels, and giving local governments the authority to protect their tree canopy, are two basic steps to begin reversing these trends.

Bills that change how localities can conserve trees amid development await Youngkin’s approval

Finally, legislators can make a true investment in Virginia’s future prosperity by increasing environmental education opportunities statewide. Not only will this help equip students with the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that are necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing economy, but it will also help Virginia address the complex environmental challenges of the 21st century.

There’s an old adage that the best time to plant a tree was yesterday; the next best time is today. By enacting forward-thinking policies and smart investments now, Virginia’s leaders will put us on a path to not only meet environmental commitments but also plant the proverbial trees that will bear fruit for all Virginians long into the future.

by Jay Ford, Virginia Mercury

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