We must act with courage and perseverance in these challenging times. That is one of the key takeaways I shared in a newly released book, Facing the Climate Future Together: Voices for Advocacy and Action, highlighting The Climate Center’s work alongside 32 other climate leaders.
These leaders know that taking action is essential to advancing our urgent climate goals, especially as the president relentlessly destroys years of climate progress in days. In service of corporate polluter profits, the administration intends to repeal federal limits on pollution from tailpipes and smokestacks and end funding for federal efforts to assess the impact of climate change on U.S. communities. The White House is also attempting to undercut state climate laws, which has some California lawmakers advocating for troubling delays in climate action.
On the other hand, the president’s blatant disregard for science, the rule of law, and our collective future could catalyze more action here in California. It’s more important than ever for each of us to urge state lawmakers to fight for life-saving climate policies, not capitulate to pressure from DC.
While the world is now missing critical emissions reduction targets, every tenth of a degree of warming prevented can still make a huge difference for the health of our communities, ecosystems, and climate.
We in California’s climate movement must come together, remain visible and vocal, and insist that state leaders not backtrack on climate progress. Instead, they must act boldly, commensurate with the science, to pass legislation for a livable future.
Here are two actions you can take right now. Please share with your networks, urging state decision-makers to support accelerated, equitable climate policy:
- Make polluters pay for climate destruction, not working-class Californians
- End polluter giveaways in California’s Cap and Trade program
As I shared in the newly released book, “No single organization can do this alone. We have to work together. We’ll never have the money that Big Oil or Big Utility has to lobby. But what we do have is people power.” Thank you for all you do, today and every day!
This blog first appeared in The Climate Center’s bi-weekly newsletter. To keep up with the latest climate news and ways to take action for a climate-safe future, subscribe today!
