We Need Climate Action—Now

This piece was originally published in the April 13, 2022 edition of CAP Action’s newsletter, the Progress Report. Subscribe to the Progress Report here.

“We are at a turning point right now, where the threat of climate change is existential, the demands of young people cannot be ignored, and the fossil fuel industry must be held accountable. I believe Congress will pass a historic climate bill that finally confronts this crisis.” – Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)

A report released last week by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) doubled down on a dire warning: It is “now or never” to halt the harmful effects of climate change. If we do not reverse the increase in carbon emissions within the next three years, the planet will exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming that is considered by many scientists to be the point of no return. 

Climate change is not a crisis that can be solved by any one action or any one government. But as one of the world’s largest carbon polluters since the Industrial Revolution, the United States bears a special responsibility to take action at this critical moment for the planet’s safety. 

That’s the catalyst behind President Joe Biden’s clean energy plan. In addition to fighting climate change by cutting emissions in half by 2030, the plan creates millions of well-paying jobs and saves the average family $500 per year in energy costs. 

The stakes are too high to let this moment pass without action.

Share this graphic to show your support for Biden’s clean energy agenda:

In the news

• President Biden visited Menlo, Iowa, to unveil a plan to deliver relief to Americans struggling with high prices on food and fuel. The president also touted investments in rural America made as part of the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
• Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) signed a near-total ban on abortion into law in the state. The move follows other high-profile anti-abortion legislation such as that in neighboring Texas and the Mississippi law that advocates fear could overturn Roe v. Wade.

What we’re reading

• “The Cost of Insulin Puts Lives at Risk and Congress Must Act, Lucy McBath Says” by Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA) (Teen Vogue)
• “Not just Florida. More than a dozen states propose so-called ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bills” by Dustin Jones and Jonathan Franklin (NPR)
• “Americans are experiencing ‘harassment and intimidation’ from medical debt collectors, Kamala Harris says. Here are 4 ways she plans to prevent that.” by Ayelet Sheffey (Business Insider)
• “PG&E agrees to pay $55 million in penalties and costs over two wildfires.” by Ivan Penn (The New York Times)
• “Methane in atmosphere hits new high, rising at fastest rate recorded, NOAA says” by Evan Bush (NBC News)

This piece was originally published in the April 13, 2022 edition of CAP Action’s newsletter, the Progress Report. Subscribe to the Progress Report here.