Benji Backer: Nature is Nonpartisan

In this episode of Climate One, host Arianna Brocious speaks with Benji Backer, founder of Nature is Nonpartisan, about his evolving approach to climate advocacy in an era of deep political polarization. Backer, a former conservative and founder of the American Conservation Coalition, shares how he's moved beyond bipartisanship to champion a movement rooted in shared human connection to nature—something he believes transcends ideology. He argues that the climate crisis is not a political issue but a fundamental human one, and that the key to mobilizing people lies in meeting them where they are: through hunting, fishing, hiking, and the simple joy of being outdoors. Backer’s new organization uses pop culture, digital storytelling, and community-driven campaigns—like 'Going Public,' which lets Americans claim symbolic ownership of public lands—to build a fun, inclusive, and culturally relevant environmental movement. He also discusses the importance of reframing the conversation away from 'climate'—a term that has become politicized—and toward tangible, values-driven actions like protecting forests, improving water infrastructure, and restoring ecosystems. The episode also features a segment on Energy Right, a conservative-led nonprofit in rural Virginia that promotes solar energy through education and community engagement, highlighting how rural conservatives are embracing clean energy not as a political act, but as a practical, economic, and stewardship-driven choice.