Stopping coal mining and fracking – preserving our public lands and defending our climate.
Keep It in the Ground
Americans own more than 600 million acres of public lands. These public lands provide half of the nation’s coal. When the federal government sells our public lands to coal, oil, and gas companies, those lands are fenced off; they become “public” in name only. We have no choice in what happens to our national heritage, and we can only watch as the places we (and our kids, and our grandkids) enjoyed are transformed into coal mines and fracking wells.
That isn’t right. In fact, it’s downright un-American.
WildEarth Guardians is fighting for our freedom to choose what’s best for our public lands. We’re fighting not just to reduce fossil fuel consumption, but also to stop fossil fuel production in its tracks. When we secure our freedom to choose, we can stem the climate crisis and preserve an enduring legacy for future generations.
Keep It in the Ground Key Strategies
Keep It in the Ground Milestones

Photo: WildEarth Guardians
March 2018 – New Mexico
Stopped oil and gas lease sale in Greater Chaco
After years of work alongside allies, compelled Interior Secretary Zinke to cancel planned sale of 4,400 acres of Greater Chaco for oil and gas development.

2017 – Wyoming
Locked up 2,000,000,000 tons of coal
Successfully won a suit to keep two billion tons of coal in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin in the ground, on the basis that burning it would have disastrous consequences for climate change.

2016 – Rocky Mountain West
Kept 1,800,000,000 tons of coal in the ground
Helped secure a “moratorium” on new coal leasing on public lands in the Rocky Mountain West, keeping 1.8 billion tons of coal in the ground.

Photo: Matthew Brown
2014 – Colorado
Secured a major legal victory
Won a precedent-setting legal ruling involving a coal mine in Colorado that requires federal land management agencies to consider the social cost or cumulative and inclusive effects of mining and burning coal.

2010 – Colorado
Shut down three Western coal-fired plants
Partially or completely shut down three coal-fired power plants in Colorado and New Mexico.
How You Can Help
Help shift the power to create a fossil-fuel-free American West! Be a guardian for climate by joining the conversation, learning about current issues, and making your voice heard. Together, we’re a powerful force for nature and a force to be reckoned with.
Climate + Energy Press
WildEarth Guardians calls on New Mexico to ban toxic forever chemical use by the oil and gas industry
Broad coalition supports move, urges Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham administration to rein in use of hazardous substances in drilling and fracking
Read more >Get rid of all ‘forever chemicals’
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham wants to protect New Mexicans from dangerous PFAS “forever chemicals.” Will she include oil and gas PFAS as well?
Read more >Oil and gas land sale nets $79M. New Mexico environmental groups fear climate impacts
A contentious auction of public land to the oil and gas industry brought in about $78.8 million to the federal government this week, amid outcry from New Mexico environmental groups calling for a halt on using the lands for fossil fuel drilling.
Read more >We want to stay in touch with you
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