From the Piney Woods to the Gulf Coast, Texas is blessed with extraordinary natural beauty. As Davy Crockett once wrote, Texas is a “garden spot of the world,” home to sweeping landscapes, abundant wildlife, and places that shape who we are as Texans.
In 2026, Environment Texas will continue working across the state to protect these special places by advancing practical solutions that safeguard nature, expand clean energy, keep our water safe, reduce waste, and hold polluters accountable – so future generations can enjoy the Texas we love.
In 2026, our priorities include:
Protecting parks, open spaces, and wildlife habitat
Texas’ parks and natural lands provide places to explore, recharge, and connect with nature, while also supporting wildlife and ecological health. We are working to protect what we have and expand access to nature for a growing state.
Advancing clean energy
Texas leads the nation in renewable energy and we can continue to power our state while cutting pollution and protecting the landscapes and communities Texans care about.
- Speeding up rooftop solar and home energy resilience through streamlined permitting
- Reducing pollution and strain on the electric grid by improving the energy efficiency of, and ending taxpayer subsidies for, fast-growing data centers
- Pushing back against discriminatory barriers to renewable energy development while ensuring projects are responsibly sited and built to protect land, water, and wildlife
Protecting clean water and the coast
Clean water is fundamental to public health, outdoor recreation, and thriving ecosystems. We are working to stop pollution at its source, invest in modern infrastructure, and protect Texans’ drinking water from toxic contaminants.
- Stopping plastic pellet (“nurdle”) pollution before it reaches rivers, bays, and the Gulf
- Fighting fecal bacteria pollution in rivers, lakes, and swimming holes by securing funding to repair and upgrade broken wastewater infrastructure that contaminates waterways and drinking water supplies
- Protecting drinking water from lead, PFAS, and other toxic pollutants that threaten public health in communities across Texas
- Stop oil companies from dumping fracking wastewater into the Pecos River and other waterways
- Save the Lavaca River from a proposed dam which would threaten oyster reefs and fish populations
Improving recycling systems and reducing waste
Texas’s waste system is a major and often overlooked source of pollution. Landfills, trash incineration, plastic waste, and so-called “chemical recycling” contaminate air and water, drive climate change, and harm wildlife and human health — even as valuable materials that could be reused or truly recycled are thrown away. We are working to modernize recycling, cut waste at the source, and give Texans more control over the products they buy and use.
- Leading the campaign to improve recycling and reduce waste in Houston
- Opposing chemical recycling schemes that burn plastic, release hazardous pollution, and lock Texas into continued plastic production instead of real waste reduction
- Expanding Right to Repair so Texans can fix their own products, waste less, and keep usable materials out of landfills and waterways
Protecting birds, bees and butterflies
Bees, butterflies, and birds are part of the quiet beauty of the natural world – the flicker of wings over a meadow, the hum in a garden, and the ancient migrations that return life to our landscapes. Many of these species are now in steep decline. We are working to protect them and the places they need to exist, not only for what they do, but because they belong.
- Expanding pollinator-friendly habitat along roadsides, in parks, and in communities
- Reducing the use of harmful pesticides that threaten bees, butterflies, birds, and other wildlife
- Advancing bird-friendly design practices in buildings in Dallas and across the state
Holding polluters accountable
Air pollution is linked to asthma attacks, heart disease, premature deaths, and other serious health harms — and in Texas, much of it comes from oil and gas operations, refineries, and chemical plants. We are working to reduce dangerous air pollution, enforce existing laws, and protect public health across the state.
- Reducing methane and other air pollution from oil and gas operations
- Preventing harmful emissions from refineries and petrochemical plants
Expanding transit and building bikeable, walkable communities
Texas communities are stronger, healthier, and more connected when people have safe, clean and convenient options for getting around. We are working to expand public transit and create bikeable, walkable places that give Texans more freedom in how they travel and more access to jobs, schools, and everyday destinations.
- Supporting the successful build-out of Project Connect to build light rail and other high-capacity public transit in Austin
- Protecting funding for Dallas Area Rapid Transit and other transit systems across the state
- Promoting bikeable and walkable community design, including safer streets, connected trail networks, and infrastructure that protects people walking and biking
Protecting the Gulf
The Gulf is a living, breathing place – shaped by tides and storms, rich with wildlife, and central to the natural heritage of Texas. We are working to protect the Gulf from pollution and industrial expansion that threaten its ecosystems, its wildlife, and its future.
- Protecting endangered Rice’s whales, one of the most imperiled whale species on Earth, whose remaining habitat overlaps with heavily industrialized waters
- Opposing expanded offshore oil and gas drilling that increases the risk of spills, chronic pollution, and habitat destruction
