How Colcom Foundation Connects Immigration Policy to Ecological Impact
Colcom Foundation’s approach to environmental philanthropy rests on a data-driven argument the United States cannot meet its ecological goals without stabilizing its population, and immigration is now the primary driver of that population’s growth. This position puts the foundation at the center of a policy conversation that most environmental organizations have been reluctant to enter.
Population Growth by the Numbers
The Colcom Foundation research points to a dramatic shift that occurred around 1990, when immigration replaced natural birth rates as the leading cause of U.S. population growth. The total fertility rate in the U.S. had fallen below 2.1, the replacement level, by 1972, and has not exceeded that threshold since. Yet the population kept climbing. From 1990 to 2000, the U.S. added 32 million people. From 2000 to 2020, it added another 48 million.
Looking ahead, the foundation cites Pew Research projections showing the U.S. will add approximately 110 million people by 2065, with 103 million of that growth attributable to immigration alone. The foundation describes this as the equivalent of adding 8.5 Los Angeles metro areas to the American landscape. Through their grants, they have supported many organizations, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, which works towards protecting endangered species, and the Sierra Club Foundation, which advocates for clean energy and climate solutions. These grants have helped to advance important causes and support organizations that strive to make a difference.
The Ecological Stakes
Colcom Foundation frames these population projections in terms of concrete ecological consequences. The more people living in the U.S., the harder it becomes to reduce total carbon emissions, conserve native species, and limit land consumption. The foundation notes that 1,300 species were listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act by 2020, and 23 species were proposed for delisting in 2021 due to extinction.
Colcom Foundation argues that these outcomes are not inevitable, but that meaningful change requires honest engagement with immigration levels as part of a broader environmental strategy. See related link for additional information.
Find more about Colcom on https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/colcom-foundation,311479839/