What is permitting, and why does it matter?
Before diving in, I’d like to clarify two important points.
First, EPIC believes that all levels of government have a critical role in protecting human health and the environment by mitigating risks and enforcing regulations and best practices to ensure the success of projects. Second, we believe it’s possible to improve how we manage what gets built by increasing efficiency, transparency, and meaningful public engagement, all while maintaining rigorous reviews.
In other words, we can —and should—get to a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ decision faster, without cutting corners.
So, what exactly is a permit, and why is it crucial for addressing the climate crisis?
Simply put, a permit is an official document giving someone authorization to do something. A permit applicant (those looking to build something) needs to obtain the necessary permissions from local, state, and federal agencies to ensure their project—be it a housing, road, solar panel, or restoration project—follows relevant laws and regulations. That said, the permitting process plays a key role in advancing efforts like ecological restoration, nature-based solutions, and renewable energy projects—initiatives that are essential for tackling climate change, addressing biodiversity loss, and building a more resilient and sustainable future.
Don’t we have national environmental laws that protect the environment?
Yes, and these laws—passed over 50 years ago—have been vital in combating industrial contamination and habitat loss, safeguarding public health and protecting our land, water, air, and biodiversity. Although these laws are essential in protecting the environment, their rigid interpretation and implementation often hinder the progress of ecological restoration and nature-based solutions.
One major issue is that we use the same permitting process for both environmentally destructive and restorative projects.
This approach is primarily designed to prevent environmental harm. However, it is not well-suited for projects aimed at reversing damage and restoring ecosystems. As a result, restoration projects are often treated as potential threats, leading to delays and wasted resources. Given the scale of restoration needed to address climate change and biodiversity loss, the current system is no longer practical. Permitting smaller projects is already a challenge, and as larger, more complex initiatives emerge, these delays will only increase, slowing down critical efforts to restore ecosystems, support biodiversity, and build climate resilience.
Fortunately, some states and district offices are working to change this status quo!
State and federal agencies are beginning to adopt innovative approaches to improve efficiency and coordination in the permitting process for ecological restoration and nature-based solutions. These efforts aim to reduce delays and administrative burdens, making the process more streamlined and effective. For instance, California has streamlined permitting for wetland restoration projects through the Cutting Green Tape initiative, which aims to reduce delays while maintaining rigorous environmental reviews. Similarly, in Washington, efforts to simplify permitting for salmon habitat restoration have accelerated the pace of recovery efforts.
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the permitting process for nature.
There is significant funding, momentum, and enthusiasm among state and federal agencies, nonprofits, and technology providers to improve permitting at the pace needed to conserve and restore our natural resources and protect communities.
We need a new approach to permitting that prioritizes and accelerates ecological restoration and nature-based solutions. Our vision is to reduce barriers and achieve faster, more effective outcomes while maintaining robust environmental safeguards. This requires reframing the permitting process, overhauling outdated systems, and focusing on high-impact interventions.
Now is the time to get involved.
We can accelerate restoration, strengthen climate resilience, and create a healthier environment for people and wildlife. Whether you're a practitioner, regulator, advocate, or technology provider, you can help to improve the permitting process by joining advocacy efforts, collaborating with agencies on innovative approaches, or sharing insights with organizations focused on permitting solutions. Reach out to us to be part of this critical movement to enhance restoration and build climate resilience.
And for the nerds among us that want to dive a bit deeper - check out our three complementary strategies for permitting interventions. We hope this can serve as a primer for different ways for folks to engage permitting improvements!
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Think of this strategy as a fish passage that allows some fish to access the upper reaches of a dammed river. While it’s not the most effective solution (that would be dam removal), it still makes a difference. The goal of this strategy is to facilitate progress. To achieve this, we propose establishing new and expanding existing interagency task forces or working groups dedicated to developing streamlined permitting processes and collaboratively addressing regulatory barriers. By fostering collaboration and communication among regulatory agencies, we can accelerate project approvals, reduce regulatory burdens, and improve transparency and efficiency in the permitting process. Overall, this is a crucial step toward improving the system and laying the groundwork for future work, as each local, state, and federal agency requires tailored approaches to refine its processes.
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If strategy #1 is like building a fish passage, strategy #2 is about dam removal. We need to fundamentally rethink how we approach permitting for ecological restoration and nature-based solutions. The reality is that the environmental laws we depend on weren’t designed with ecological restoration and nature-based solutions in mind. We must chart a new course to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss—delaying action only makes the challenges more costly and harder to address. Two ideas to start with are expedited reviews for nature-based solutions and online permitting portals.
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The inconsistencies in the current system have contributed to more habitat loss than we can restore at the necessary pace. To keep up with ongoing ecosystem degradation and the accelerating impacts of climate change, we need to protect remaining natural areas while significantly ramping up ecological restoration. This challenge calls for three key actions: First, agencies must prioritize avoiding environmental harm from the outset by choosing the least impactful options. Second, we need to shift from a “no net loss” policy to a “net gain” approach, making restoration a clear priority at both federal and state levels. Third, we must comprehensively track environmental impacts, conservation outcomes, and restoration efforts to measure success under this new "net gain" framework. From a permitting standpoint, this means addressing inefficiencies in compensatory mitigation to ensure lost habitats are fully restored. It also means supporting voluntary restoration efforts, which the first two strategies help streamline. Ultimately, integrating conservation and restoration is vital for a more proactive and strategic response to the environmental and climate crises we face today.