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Climate One from The Commonwealth Club
Benji Backer: Nature is Nonpartisan
57 minutes Posted Apr 3, 2026 at 7:15 am.
– Intro
– Benji Backer on his relationship with nature
– Benji Backer on how Nature is Nonpartisan came to be
– Benji Backer on making conservation culturally relevant
– Benji Backer on the hard work of moving policy forward
– Benji Backer on why political leanings are labeled on staff page
– Benji Backer on bringing more people into the tent
– Benji Backer on where there is bipartisan support
– Benji Backer on where his work has had the most impact
– Skyler Zunk on his time working for the first Trump administration
– Skyler Zunk on a farmer who has solar panels on the sheep farm
– Skyler Zunk on the importance of being able to relate to locals
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57:19
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Show notes
In a moment when nearly everything feels polarized, Benji Backer is trying to carve out a different path, one where caring about the natural world isn’t a partisan issue. As the founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan, he’s bringing together voices from across the political spectrum who might disagree on climate policy, but still share a desire to preserve public lands, wildlife, and the outdoors. 
Can conservation still serve as common ground in a divided country? What does it take to make environmentalism resonate beyond traditional audiences? Is a bipartisan movement possible in today’s political climate?
Guests: 
Benji Backer, Founder and CEO, Nature is Nonpartisan
Skyler Zunk, Founder and CEO, Energy Right 
For show notes, transcript, and related links, visit ClimateOne.org/podcasts.
Highlights:
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